Why Ditch Toxic Products?
Do you feel like all you’re hearing about is how you’re constantly being poisoned by the toxic ingredients of just about everything you have in your home? From your pots and pans to your favorite workout leggings, it seems like everything is suddenly about to make you sick. Maybe you’re brand new to learning about the importance of swapping toxic products for non-toxic, or maybe you’ve started and are just looking to expand your horizons. Either way, I’ve got a full list for you with a reasonable approach to implementing non-toxic products into your own routine.
Understanding Toxic Ingredients
Many common household products contain toxic ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde, and parabens, which can pose serious risks to your health. These chemicals are often found in cleaning supplies, air fresheners, and personal care items, and they can contribute to respiratory issues, skin irritation, hormone disruption, and even long-term diseases like cancer. Exposure to these toxins can also harm indoor air quality, affecting everyone in your home, including children and pets. Swapping out these products for non-toxic alternatives can help reduce these risks and create a safer, healthier environment.
Where to Start: Prioritizing Your Swap
If you are just starting from scratch, it can understandably be overwhelming knowing where to start! Financially, it can seem daunting as well as it’s obviously not reasonable for most people to throw out all of their cleaning supplies, soaps & lotions, pots & pans and more. I like to implement this strategy for switching over to non-toxic products:
- Start by replacing products that come in actual contact with your skin (lotions, soaps, makeup etc) since these are directly affecting you on a daily basis
- Replace each product as you run out – finish up that detergent you currently have, but replace with a non-toxic variety when you run out and continue with this plan as you use up your products.
- Educate yourself – use apps like the Yuka app to scan your beauty products for the presence of harmful chemicals. If you are splurging on a few items to replace, pick the ones with the most harmful ingredients first.
- Progress is greater than perfection – don’t beat yourself up over having items with toxic ingredients in your home. Replacing items as you are able to is better than not replacing them at all!
Personal Care: Switching to Clean Beauty
Since many of these products are being applied directly to your skin, I would prioritize swapping these out first. Here’s a list of beauty products with clean ingredients:
- Makeup: Well People, Ilia, rms, Henne, Honest 2 in 1 mascara
- Deodorant: Humble
- Skincare products: Osea, Indie Lee, Aleavia, Cocokind, Primally Pure, Ursa Major (available at Walmart)
- Shampoo/Conditioner: Cleo + Coco dry shampoo, Rahua, Griffin Remedy, Earth Science, Avalon Organics, Acure, Innersense, 100% pure
- Soap/body wash: Aleavia, Dr. Bronners
- Lotion: Osea, Ursa Major, Just Ingredients, Aleavia
- Sunscreen: Sky and Sol, rms, Kinfield, Solara, Babo, Earth Mama, Badger
- Teeth whitening strips: Lumineux
- Hairspray: Intersense, Evolve
- Toothpaste: Dr. Bronners, Boka, Lumineaux, David’s
- Mouthwash: RiseWell, Lumineux, Dr. Brite
- Perfume: Lavanila, By Rosie Jane
- Feminine Hygiene Products: Look for products that consist of 100% organic cotton
Cleaning Up Your Home: Safe Household Products
- Laundry detergent: Truly Free, Branch Basics
- Dishwasher detergent: Truly Free
- Candles: Meaningful Mantras, Stonelight, Primally Pure, Fontana Candle Co
- Food storage: choose glass over plastic
- Cookware: ceramic, stainless steel or cast iron; some brands are: Lodge, 360 Cookware, Made In, Misen
- Cutting boards: look for wood or stainless steel surfaces (avoid plastic)
- Cleaning Products: Branch Basics, Truly Free
- Kid’s dishes/drinkware: Elk and Friends, Klean Kanteen
Clothing/Bedding
- Men’s underwear: Nads
- Women’s underwear: Pact
- Workout clothing: Pact, Namarie, Blue Canoe, Pure Woven
- Bedding: Boll and Branch, California Design Den 100% Cotton
Flouride-Free Water
- Reverse Osmosis is the only way to remove flouride from your drinking water – you can get an installed system for your whole house or just for drinking water
- Aqua True has a few different countertop options that are more affordable than an installed system
- Many grocery stores have Reverse Osmosis water refill stations
- Re-mineralize RO filtered water with trace mineral drops
Navigating Labels and Certifications
When reading product labels, it’s important to check for harmful chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances (usually labeled as “fragrance”), which can be toxic to your health. Look for natural, plant-based ingredients and certifications like organic or cruelty-free to ensure product safety. On Amazon, you can filter for EWG certified products. Additionally, avoid products with long, unfamiliar ingredient lists that often contain hidden toxins or preservatives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, being mindful of what you put on your skin and in your body is essential for maintaining your overall health and well-being. By carefully reading labels, scanning products and choosing products with natural, non-toxic ingredients, you can avoid harmful chemicals that may cause long-term damage.
Check out some of my other posts on healthy living:
Overcoming insomnia: Tips and tricks for an amazing night’s sleep
Avoid these habits that can cause leaky gut
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This information is for educational purposes only, please consult with your medical provider before implementing anything new into your daily regimen.