There are over 1,700 known cancer-causing, hormone-disrupting, and allergy inducing substances in many of the personal care products you may be using every single day. Many people don't realize the products they are using to make themselves beautiful/handsome could have toxic elements that may be putting their long-term health at risk.
Europe has already banned some of these horrible substances that are still found in many Canadian products. Environmental Defense is a great website to review products that are risky to our health. They have a little pocket guide of the Toxic Ten that can be printed off and referenced when shopping for personal care items such a makeup, shampoo, lotion, etc.
Of course you are well aware that skin is the largest organ of the body. So, please realize that what goes on your body gets absorbed into your body. Meaning that skin is very pourous and since it is the defense between our inside and outside worlds limiting the exposure to toxins really does matter. Some estimates state that skin can be absorb as much as 60% of the substances put on it. When we shower or bath that water is absorbed as well (which is why our fingers get wrinkly). I remember reading somewhere that we may absorb more water in the shower than some of us drink daily.
I have just started to switch over all of my personal care products in the last few months. I have to admit it is quite the undertaking to find products I like that are natural and on par with the product quality I am currently used to. The process reminds me of when I was a teenager trying to find a skin care regiment that stopped my breakouts. Here are some helpful tips I have found during my transition:
1) At first the process is very much trial and error. But, this is what I have found really works. Start switching over products when you still have some of your current products left. It reduces the pressure for that product to HAVE to work. It has helped me to evaluated the products more objectively knowing that I have something I know works until I find a suitable replacement.
2) Take it slow. Learning about parabens, triclosan, petrolatum, phthalates (pronounced thalates), sulfates, cyclomethicone, and all of these chemicals that are toxic can be very overwhelming. I equate it to being similar to learning another language. Just when you think you have it figured out it's possible that not all the ingredients are even listed on the product in the first place. (In our current laws not all the ingredients need to be listed.) So take it easy and think of it as turning up the volume start out slow and stay conscious.
3) Start at a healthfood store because chances are the personal care products they carry are safer to begin with. They seem to have strict guidelines to even be able to make it on the store shelves in the first place.
4) Trial sizes are helpful to get a feel for whether the product is going to be able to suit your needs while being economical.
5) Give products to friends as gifts to try or have them buy some too so you can compare notes on what you liked or didn't like about the items. It helps when you are learning the process with other people as well.
6) Research, research, and research. I know this is the time consuming part but if you are like me health is important! Although as consumers there are so many things we need to be informed about I always think it is better to be know what is going consciously than to ignore the facts. I like to read books, use google to find out about certain ingredients and find helpful websites to guide me through this process.
7) Shake hands with the people that make the products you are buying (or at least know who they are). By that I mean, it is nice to be able to look someone in the eye that has a vested interest in your health. Many people have created local companies because they are concerned about these very same issues. Your money helps them to find a solutions and their products help you to be healthy. Sounds like a win-win to me!
Until next time!
Healthfully yours,
Marbles
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