I was raised by two people who take health and wellness very seriously. It has taught me not to put just anything in or on my body. This has created a passion for products that are safe for my family.
When I was young, my parents drove very far to shop at “Health Food Stores.” Fruit snacks and Lucky Charms? I didn’t know what those were until I was in high school, more like twigs and berries for me 🌿🍓. Let’s say no one ever traded with me during lunchtime. Oh, how I coveted those full-size candy bars 🍫.
Over the years, this thinking has gone from an overly cautious one to a more mainstream one. People want to know what they are putting on their bodies as much as what they are putting in their bodies. People are tired of companies using cheap ingredients that irritate and cause us harm. We want to live a healthy, detoxified life, and that means doing some research.
Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Since it has pores, it absorbs what is put on it (to a certain extent). Some research states that our skin absorbs ~60% of what we put on it. Many variables affect this research. The chemicals that ARE absorbed in our skin get transferred into our bloodstream. This fact is the reason why self-care companies go through great lengths to make sure the products they produce are safe for the general public. Even so, not all products are created equal.
There are toxic ingredients that are banned in other parts of the world but are still allowed in the US. To make things more confusing, I learned that words such as natural, whole, and clean on the packaging have no real meaning since the FDA does not regulate them. This thought can be paralyzing. When I first had children, I knew every ingredient to watch out for and every ingredient that was in the products that I purchased. It was exhausting, and it filled me with fear.
So, I decided to research brands and companies instead of individual items. I searched for companies and brands that share my philosophy. I let them handle the ingredients and the rest, I left to God.
Unlike my parents, I don’t have to travel so far, or at all with the conveniences of online shopping to make sure my family has excellent products.
My favorite store to discover new, safe and affordable products is Whole Foods. If you have ever been there, you might have noticed that they don’t carry any of the “mainstream” brands. There is no Dove, Johnson, and Johnson or Suave. Even companies that taut themselves as clean and natural don’t make the cut. It is because they don’t pass their standards. Off the bat, they do not allow 100 potentially harmful chemicals and other ingredients. Whole Foods claims to have “industry-leading standards for organic skincare.” You might not think of Whole Foods as an affordable company, but when you start to research the price tag on some self-care products go well into the $100’s for high-end brands online.
Here is a list of my trusted, affordable, safe products:
My care: (pictures are amazon links)
1. Body lotion: Nature's Gate Moisturizing Lotion Fragrance Free, 32 Fluid Ounce
2. Moisturizing oil: Jojoba oil – I use this on my face after showers. It has multiple uses; hair, massage oil and essential oil base.
3. Face cream: Everyone facial nourishing moisturizer 4 oz. – I use this at night after washing my face
4. Face cleanser: Everyone face cleanser, 8 Ounces - my everyday face wash
5. Face scrub: Everyone Face Exfoliate, 8 Ounce
6. Toner: Thayers Alcohol-Free Cucumber Witch Hazel Facial Toner with Aloe Vera Formula - 12 oz
7. Face mask: alba Botanica Warming Detox Mask, 4 Ounce
8. Face Day cream: DERMA E Hydrating Day Hyaluronic Acid Cream, 2oz
9. Hand cream: Weleda Regenerating Pomegranate Hand Cream, 1.7 Ounce
10. Body wash: Schmidt's Natural Plant Based Vegan, Paraben Free, and Sulfate Free Body Wash for Men and Women Bergamot + Lime 16 oz
11. Shampoo: Avalon Organics Tea Tree Mint Scalp Normalizing Shampoo, 14 oz.
12. Conditioner: Avalon Organics Tea Tree Mint Scalp Normalizing Conditioner, 14 oz.
Food grade toxic free make-up
this is the highest of standards for make-up, it follows the same standard of food, even though these companies do not need to do this. They are the leaders in safe, non-toxic products.
13. Concealer and foundation: Un Cover-Up All Natural Concealer and Foundation – RMS Beauty Foundation and Concealer – Organic Ingredients – Easy Application (11.5)
14. Lips and cheek: RMS Beauty - Lip2Cheek Demure, 0.15 oz.
15. Eye Shadow: Lily Lolo All-Natural Eye Shadow Palette (Laid Bare)
16. Foundation: Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation SPF 15 - Barely Buff - 10g by Lily Lolo
17. Mascara: W3LL PEOPLE - Natural Expressionist Mascara (Pro Black) | Clean, Non-Toxic Formula
Kid care:
18. Everyone 3-in-1 Soap for Every Kid Safe, Gentle and Natural Shampoo, Body Wash, and Bubble Bath, Tropical Coconut Twist, 32 Fl Oz
19. Everyone Lotion, Coconut and Lemon, 32 Fl Oz
20. Toothpaste: Himalaya Complete Care Toothpaste - Simply Mint 5.29 oz/150 g (1 Pack) Natural, NO Fluoride, NO SLS
21. Cuts, scrapes, bug bites: Boiron Calendula, 2.5 Ounce, Topical First Aid Cream
Whether you buy into clean products or not. Here are some heavy hitters to stay away from:⚠️⚠️
Parabens (preservative – hormone disrupter)
Formaldehyde (a toxic irritant)
Phthalates (hormone- disrupter)
Fragrance (artificial smells – a toxic irritant) – this is in almost everything
As a scientist, I have read enough MSDS sheets to know that chemicals can be harmful. Our skin is a means that they can enter our bodies. In a laboratory setting, there are many safeguards set in place to avoid contact with skin. It goes against everything I know to then put a known toxic chemical on my skin. Even though these toxins are in small amounts, there is no reason why they should be there at all. As people grow more aware and use the power in their wallets, companies will transition away from harmful ingredients because they will have no choice. My intention is not to frighten anyone by writing this but to inform. Many, many great companies can be trusted out there.
God has given us an abundance of ingredients that are safe for our skin and body; the companies we trust and support should take advantage of that. I would rather have products that I can put on safely every day than ones I can keep forever and have an overpowering sweet scent.
If you are ever curious about how your products measure up I recommend installing the app Think Dirty. You can scan your products at home and see how they score in safeness.
Thank you for reading this,
Comment if you would like me to look into any particular product.
Share if you liked it!
Angie
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