Tips for how you can too!
After my #Endometriosis diagnosis and first surgery last December, I started down a rabbit hole of how toxic things are and how our health problems are related. And I soon found out that there is so much around us - from our household products to our clothes and especially the skincare and makeup brands we use. It's been a whole year of eliminating toxic items and starting to live a healthier and toxic-free lifestyle. Of course, no-one can be 100% toxic free, but I've been trying to live by the 80/20 rule (80% non-toxic and 20% toxic). Here are some of the healthy swaps I've made.
Tip #1 - Fragrance is not your friend!
Skincare and beauty swaps to be more toxic free
Do you really know what it means when something says "fragrance" or "perfume"? Neither did I! The term fragrance is a blanket term for any substance that makes something smell nice or to mask a smell. It can be naturally derived from plants but also manufactured as well. There are over 3,000 "fragrance" ingredients that can comprise of carcinogens, reproductive toxins, and allergens. And if you really think about it, this is going into your skin, the biggest organ in your body.
"Fragrances are linked to a staggering number of health risks. Across multiple research studies, chemicals used to make fragrances are classified as allergens, hormone disruptors, asthma triggers, neurotoxins & carcinogens. The punchline: fragrances are highly toxic.." – full article linked here
What should I be looking out for when I'm shopping? I love the website EWG (Environmental Working Group) in order to search for products before buying. They have a great rating system on how hazardous (or how toxic) something is. They have everything from makeup to skincare and even baby products. Here is a screenshot of what the site looks like. You can search for an ingredient, brand or specific product and see how they rank things. I don't buy anything now without consulting this first. And for products you already have that may be toxic? It's up to you whether you want to continue using it or get rid of it and start over.
If you want to know what makeup and skincare products I've been using, some of my favorite brands to check out would be:
Dime Beauty - I love their TBT cream
Ilia Cosmetics - They aren't 100% toxin free, but it's pretty dang close! Their Volumizing Mascara is great and is non-toxic.
Rael skincare - I just started using the Exfoliating Cleanser and love it!
Innersense Hair products - I've been using the Love Prep Spray
Lumineux Teeth products - I have the toothpaste and the teeth whitening strips
Tip #2 - Toxic-free swaps for your home
Okay, now that I scared you a little, I'm here to help you make some healthy decisions for what you can do to live a less-toxic life!
I highly recommend going through your house and searching the EWG website to see what you are currently using. The good news is, there are more and more brands on the market that are effective and also less-toxic or non-toxic.
One of the brands I love for house cleaning is Attitude. I switched from using normal dish detergent to the Attitude brand and it works great and it's non-toxic. This is the one I currently use:
I love it because it comes in a big container and I can just add it as needed to my glass soap dispenser container.
Another easy swap is your laundry products. Again, check the EWG website or look up all the ingredients in your laundry detergent, and especially dryer sheets and fabric softeners! Please go throw out your dryer sheets now! All you need are some of the wool dryer balls. They do the same job and they are non-toxic! Also, a great brand for laundry detergent is Molly's Suds (See photo below). We also use their Dishwasher Pods.
Everything linked is on Amazon! Go check it out!
Tip #3 - How I am starting to change my wardrobe
Do you know what PFAS are? It's okay if you don't because I didn't either. PFAS are highly fluorinated chemicals also called "forever chemicals" meaning they don't go away and can cause serious harm to your health. They do not break down, ever. They are added for oil, stain and water-repellent uses.
Thankfully, more and more brands are trying to get away from using these chemicals but we still have a long way to go! This website has a great list of all the brands moving away from PFAS.
Again, as I shop, I am trying to look more into where the items come from and what they are made out of. A great brand I have been buying from recently is Pact Clothing. Their Amazon store (linked here) has some great basics. They have a great selection of underwear, tees, tanks, loungewear, dresses, and even home products on their website wearpact.com. Everything is 100% Organic and fair trade!
Tip #4 - Toxic-free (and healthier) kitchen swaps
My goal in 2024 is to get rid of all my plastic Tupperware and only use glass or stainless steel. I have stopped heating things up in the plastic containers because of the BPAs and other chemicals that get released when heated. But we have not fully moved away from the convenient plastic containers.
Another concerning item is the "non stick" cook-wear we all use and love. Those PFAS from before, are also lingering in the Teflon pans. While research is still being done, it's safest to use either cast iron pans, stainless steel, or silicone for cooking and baking.
Tip #5 - Need more suggestions?
Feel free to message me! I'm always searching for new ways to live a healthier life and I'd be happy to share more finds with you. You can email me at thelexiconoflife@gmail.com or DM me on Instagram @thelexiconoflife
I hope this post helps you make more informed-decisions when you are out shopping.
Companies are trying to trick us! That's the magic of commercials and marketing. For years I never thought twice about buying something that "seemed" healthy. Greenwashing is real and I just hope this post just helps bring awareness and helps you to be a healthier person! I love that as a society, we are becoming more conscious consumers.
If there is anything else you want me to cover - let me know! I'm always looking for new ideas for blog posts.
-Lex
If you click on any of the links posted, I may make a teeny-tiny commission off of it. I would be grateful if you clicked on the link and then continued your Amazon shopping. Anything helps!
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