Are Your Personal Care Products Making You Sick?
What you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. We know there are toxins all around us, and we can’t control everything we’re exposed to. However, you can control what you put on your body in the form of personal care and beauty products.
Understanding ingredients and knowing which ones to avoid in food, beauty, and cleaning products is so empowering, and making simple switches to cleaner, safer options will make a big impact on your overall health.
When looking for skin care products, follow the same rules that you follow for a healthy diet: look for unprocessed ingredients, without any harsh chemicals or anything artificial. The closer to nature the natural skin product is, the more your skin will know what to do with its beneficial ingredients in order to improve your skin’s health.
Store-bought skin care products typically contain toxic ingredients and chemical fragrances that are linked to a variety of issues − from hormonal problems, irregular periods and infertility to allergies and even cancer.
One of the most significant consequences of built-up toxin exposure from artificial skin care products is hormone imbalances, since many products contain hormone disruptors. [1]
Below are some key ingredients to avoid when choosing skincare products:
- Phthalates
- Parabens
- Synthetic colors (derived from petroleum or coal tar sources)
- Fragrance (associated with allergies and respiratory distress)
- Sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS ( can cause kidney and respiratory damage)
- Petroleum-based gels/Mineral oil
- Triclosan
- PEGs and ceteareth
- Hydroquinone
- Formaldehyde
- Oxybenzone (synthetic sunscreen)
- Toluene
- Vitamin A compounds (retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinol) [2]
When it comes to personal care, we often get comfortable and complacent in our daily routines. We find a product that we like and use it every day without giving it a second thought. Although we may be comfortable with our routine, it is important to ask ourselves, “What am I putting on/in my body?” Becoming aware of the toxins you regularly put on and in your body is the first step in making healthy changes.
Applying Mindfulness to Personal Care
If you’ve been looking for a way to clean up your personal care routine, to embrace the natural, and avoid harmful chemicals, essential oils and other plant-based ingredients provide the perfect solution. Take a look at the following suggestions to see how you can detox your personal care routine.
Try a Natural Deodorant
There is a lot of controversy about the potentially harmful effects of antiperspirant ingredients on the body. Many worry that the chemicals and questionable ingredients used in deodorants may absorb into the body through the skin.
If you want to avoid these chemical ingredients altogether, I recommend trying doTERRA’s Natural Deodorant, which uses clean ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, Shea butter, and essential oils to nourish the skin and fight against body odor. Not only does this formula utilize the pleasant aroma of essential oils, but it is free of aluminum, parabens, artificial colors, and fragrances. This is the first natural deodorant I’ve found that actually works! I love it and recommend to everyone.
Ditch the Chemical-Ridden Perfumes
While they may smell nice, many perfume and cologne formulas on the market are full of synthetic chemicals. Instead of inhaling or absorbing these chemicals every time you spritz, why not swap your pricey perfumes for the naturally uplifting aroma of essential oils?
Essential oils offer endless combinations of beautiful blends. Get creative and mix your own signature scent! I haven’t worn perfume or body sprays in over 10 years. Now, when I smell them, I can literally smell the synthetic chemicals.
I love using essential oils as my perfume, lotion, and body spray. They smell pure, natural, and lovely. Plus they have therapeutic benefits that boost the mood, calm the mind, and soothe the skin.
A few of my favorite oils to use as perfume or in body lotion include:
- Lavender
- Ylang ylang
- Frankincense
- Patchouli
- Roman chamomile
- Helichrysum
Try DIY Recipes
A great way to limit the toxic load in your hygiene routine is to make your own personal care mixtures at home. In addition to the benefits of essential oils, homemade products give you peace of mind about what exactly you are putting on your body. Not to mention, when you put together your own personal care products, you’ll know exactly what you are putting in your body. A few safe ingredients to incorporate into your DIY recipes include:
- Coconut oil
- Essential oils
- Argan oil
- Jojoba oil
- Shea butter
- Apple cider vinegar
- Raw honey
- Avocado
- Aloe vera
Check out some DIY recipes and resources and the links below:
Be Kind to your Skin
Whether or not you have sensitive skin, you want to be selective about the products you use. Many products on the market contain harsh and potentially damaging chemicals.
I love using essential oils in my skincare routine. A few of my favorite include frankincense, lavender, myrrh, helichrysum, and melaleuca. doTERRA offers plenty of essential oils and safe skincare products that are infused with essential oils to help you clean up your skincare routine and transform your skin.
My personal favorite blend that I use daily is called Immortelle. This fabulous anti-aging essential oil blend includes oils that have been used for centuries for their beautifying properties such as frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, rose, helichrysum, and lavender.
Give your Hair a Break
Between the harsh chemicals in hair products and the relentless damage of coloring, drying, curling, and straightening, sometimes your hair needs a break. Help fortify and smooth your frazzled strands by using essential oils in your hair care routine. Below are some of my favorite essential oils to promote healthy hair.
- Rosemary – promotes hair growth and thickness
- Lavender – antimicrobial properties; soothing to dry scalp and hair
- Melaleuca – antimicrobial properties; combats bacterial and fungal issues
- Cedarwood – promotes hair growth and slows hair loss
- Peppermint – promotes hair growth; reduces inflammation and flaky scalp
By swapping out your regular hair care products and taking a little help from essential oils, you can reduce some of the damage done by coloring and styling while you enjoy the lovely smell of essential oils on your hair.
I would love to hear from you. What are some of your favorite DIY recipes or clean personal care products?
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