A simple way to begin increasing your well-being is to choose not to expose yourself to toxins that can voluntarily be avoided.  The foods we eat, the cleaning products we use or the body products we put on our skin are all voluntary toxic exposures if we choose for them to be.  Since you are in control of what you wash your hair with or rub on your skin – is it worth it to you to expose yourself to harmful toxins and chemicals on a daily basis? And, is it worth the potential to compromise your health and well-being to save a few dollars today when you buy synthetic body care products?

Body and skin care products, hair care, toothpastes, mouthwash, shaving cream, and lotions can all be bought without all the chemicals and toxic garbage.  Make your medicine cabinet a healthy one by avoiding synthetic items, and be wary of products saying they are natural and yet still contain harmful additives.

Some common items to avoid include:

• Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate
• Diethanolamine (DEA)
• Triethanolamine (TEA)
• Diazolidinyl/Imidazolidinyl Urea
• PVP/VA Copolymer
• PEG
• Stearalkonium Chloride
• Petroleum and Mineral Oil
• Talc
• Toluene
• Triclosan
• Parabens
• Propylene glycol

Did you know propylene glycol is also used in antifreeze and brake fluid? Gloves and protective coverings are used in manufacturing because exposure can cause eye and skin irritation, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.  There are also some catchall phrases to be wary of such as “fragrance,” “parfum,” “perfume,” all of which can conceal many synthetic ingredients.

For more information about cosmetic standards and what’s in your skincare visit:
www.safecosmetics.org or www.organicconsumers.org.

Also, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) at www.ewg.com has done an excellent job in making educational materials about common toxins available on their website and has a rating system body care products and has a cosmetics shopping guide available online.