Say Goodbye to Dangerous Personal Care Products

If you are the average American woman, you expose yourself to over two hundred synthetic chemicals that are found in the products you use as you prepare yourself for the day. These products do not simply sit on your skin; approximately sixty percent of these ingredients get absorbed into your bloodstream. Your beautiful bottles, tubes and containers are filled with unpronounceable toxins. Go ahead and just try to read the ingredients in your shampoo, soap, moisturizer, toothpaste and deodorant. rnFor example, such chemicals as phthalates, commonly used in nail polish, perfumes and hairspray are disruptive to hormones. Phthalates act as “endocrine disruptors” and can have damaging effects even in small doses, resulting in problems with reproductive health and fetal development. Banned in Europe, American companies are still free to use them in their products. rnThe good news is that there are loads of fantastic, all-natural, organic alternatives in the marketplace. You will not find them in most local chain drugstores or grocery stores, but a wide assortment of products are available at natural food stores and online. Just beware that the word “natural” is currently a buzzword and it can be found on many products that contain the standard synthetic ingredients. rnOne thing I love about using truly natural products is the way some of them smell. Crack open a bottle of natural shampoo and you will smell real ingredients! The best contain certified organic botanicals and essential oils and, they actually smell like real botanicals and essential oils! Ingredients like lavender, rosemary, chamomile, grapefruit, honey, tea tree oil, palmarosa, eucalyptus and peppermint are found in personal care products. Delicious! Currently, I have been sniffing and lathering with EO® brand shampoo that has chamomile and honey and it smells divine. rnLike any other product, you will need to test a few before finding your favorites. I have found that many of the natural brands exceed the performance of their synthetic counterparts. For example, my husband swears that Trader Joe’s® Moisturizing Cream Shave (private label manufactured by Alba) gives him a closer shave than his old synthetic brand and that his blades last longer. rnManufacturers do not like to use natural ingredients because they are expensive and many have a short shelf life. So they use synthetic chemicals that are cheap and long lasting. The United Nations Environmental Programme estimates that approximately seventy thousand chemicals are currently in use, with a thousand new ones introduced yearly. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has reported that nearly nine hundred of the chemicals used in cosmetics are toxic. rnThe risks of synthetic chemicals that are found in cosmetics, perfumes and body care products extend beyond human health. In Drop Dead Gorgeous, Kim Erickson writes, “Many of the ingredients used in cosmetics are environmental pollutants. Along with the waste produced during the manufacturing process, millions of gallons of synthetic chemicals are washed down the drain and into the sewer every day. Petro-chemicals commonly used in makeup, skin creams, and hair care products not only contaminate our waterways but also can destroy marine life. Several studies have shown high levels of benzene and naphthalene in the brain tissue of rainbow trout and coho salmon. The surfactants in hair rinses, shampoos and lotions can end up in the soil, significantly changing the way plants grow. And the production of acetic acid and ethylene glycol, ingredients found in many lotions and hair dyes, contributes to air pollution.” rnAdditionally, excessive packaging of cosmetics accounts for thirty percent of the trash disposed every year. This waste leeches toxins into soil and groundwater and eventually back into food and water. 36rn rnAlso, natural personal care manufacturers do not test their products on animals. In American laboratories, ten to fifteen million animals are tortured and killed every year to test the safety of cosmetics and household products. The animals tested include dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice, guinea pigs and even primates. rnAnother option is to make your own cosmetics. You can save money and the resources from the packaging. Drop Dead Gorgeous has lots of recipes. rnCommercial perfumes are essentially nothing but synthetic chemicals. If you want to wear fragrance, try true essential oils. Derived from plants, they contain the life force energy of the plant itself. rnHair dyes are another product to avoid, as they contain dangerous chemicals and pregnant woman should never use them. A few of the chemicals found in hair dye and their dangers are listed below. The safest option is henna. However, I have found one product, Naturcolor™, from Italy, that is herb based, contains no ammonia and only a small amount of chemicals. Some natural food stores, including Whole Foods®, carry it, and it works really well, leaving hair well-coated and shiny. Excerpt from Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet.