We’re used to reading ingredient lists on our foods—we’d rather not consume chemical dyes, artificial flavors, trans fats, or anything that might have a negative impact on our health. But what about everything else we use on a daily basis? Brushing our teeth, washing our hands or our hair, doing our laundry…the list of personal and home care products we use goes on and on. Those products have ingredient lists, too, but most people never look at them, probably because most people assume those products are subject to FDA safety rules. Unfortunately, many of them are not. (Cosmetics in particular have a murky track record – I use young Living Savvy Line – Learn more here.)
But here’s the good news: consumers are gradually starting to pay attention to the ingredients used in personal and home care products, and more and more companies are starting to avoid known problematic ingredients in everything from laundry detergent to shampoo. Agencies like Health Canada, the European Commission, the State of California, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, etc. have banned certain chemicals, and those determinations are helping eco-minded companies create safer products. In general, health authorities recommend avoiding the following ingredients:
- Parabens [shampoos, skin care products, shaving cream, sunscreen, cosmetics, toothpaste]
- Synthetic dyes [used in many products]
- Phthalates [nail polish, eye shadow, body washes, moisturizer, hair care products]
- Triclosan
- Formaldehyde [hair care products, nail polish]
- Toulene [hair care products, nail polish]
- Fragrance [used in many products]
- Vitamin A compounds like retinol [skin care products, particularly “anti-aging” products]
- Sodium lauryl sulfate/sodium laureth sulfate (SLS/SLES) [shampoos, body washes, shaving cream]
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains a comprehensive list of personal care products and makes recommendations as to what to avoid. You can download their wallet guide to help guide your decisions (https://secure.ewg.org/images/EWG_WalletGuide_SD_LetterPrint.pdf), and you can also view their criteria for which products are eligible for the EWG VERIFIEDTM program (https://static.ewg.org/ewgverified/docs/EWGVERIFIEDcriteria.pdf?_ga=2.139157115.911174011.1520187857-214881017.1520187857).
In terms of home care and cleaning products, some companies like Ecos or BioKleen have taken the initiative to get rid of some of the harmful additives (or never used them to begin with).
My personal favorite products and the ones I use to brush my teeth, clean my house, wash my hands, do my laundry with are all actually by Young Living and made with Thieves® essential oil, which is a powerful combination of Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils. Thieves® essential oil blend was inspired by the legend of four 15th-century French thieves who formulated a special aromatic combination composed of clove, rosemary, and other botanicals they used while robbing the dead and dying.
My favorites include:
Thieves® Household Cleaner
- Naturally derived, plant-based ingredients
- Multipurpose
- Non-toxic
- Pleasant, spicy smell
- The highly concentrated formula makes Thieves® Household Cleaner versatile and cost effective
- Can be used on virtually any surface in your home or office, including fabrics, upholstery, carpet, floors, walls, dishes, and more.
Thieves® Laundry Soap
- Plant-based formula
- Gently and naturally washes clothes
- Cleans clothes without chemical or synthetic residue
- Free from SLS, dyes, petrochemicals, formaldehyde, phosphates, synthetic perfume, and optical brighteners
- Safe for high-efficiency washers
- 6X ultra concentrated (64 loads)
- Contains natural enzymes
- Uses Thieves®, Jade Lemon™, and Bergamot essential oils
Thieves® Dish Soap
- Plant-based formula
- Leaves dishes sparkling clean
- Free from SLS, dyes, SLES, formaldehyde, phosphates, and synthetic perfume
- Uses Thieves®, Jade Lemon™, and Bergamot essential oils
Thieves® Toothpaste
- NO fluoride
- NO dyes
- NO SLS
- NO synthetic ingredients
- NO preservatives
- NO GMOs
And of course, when cleaning, a lot of times you can just use some vinegar, baking soda, and elbow grease! Essential oils like lemon, lavender and oregano have anti-microbial properties, too. Or you can give DIY personal and home care products a try—look online and at your local library for books on how to make natural body care products. You probably already have most of the ingredients you need! Come to my FREE CLASS May 31 to learn more
If you want to find out how to get Thieves® Cleaner, Laundry, Hand or Dish Soap and other products in your household, contact me or click here for an amazing Thieves® Premium starter kit with $250 worth of products for only $160 (36% off retail for your first order and then after that you continue to get 24% off retail for LIFE!) You can add Laundry soap and dish soap to this package and qualify for some FREE gifts…
The Thieves® Premium Starter Kit is perfect for anyone wishing to replace harmful chemicals in their home with powerful, natural alternatives. Also, Thieves® is great for killing mold – Contact me for the protocol for this!
