Tag: toxic products

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Protect Yourself Against the Sun AND Toxins

With the rising cost of living, fuel, and food, beach vacations, and travel may not be an option for your family, but you can still get outside and get some fresh air and vitamin D no matter where you are.

Forty percent of people are deficient in vitamin D. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin D for an adult is 800-1000 IU. Doctors recommend a diet rich in vitamin D foods along with 5-15 minutes of unprotected midday sun several times per week since regular sun exposure is the simplest and most natural way to get vitamin D. If you have darker skin or live further from the equator where the sun’s rays are not as strong, you may need more than 15 minutes outside.

woman sitting between brown trees
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Chemical vs Mineral Sunscreen

Chemical Sunscreen

Chemical UV filter sunscreens contain toxins such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, homosalate, and octocrylene to aid in absorbing the sun’s rays safely but are then absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.

These chemicals can also be inadvertently passed to babies through the breast milk of nursing mothers. Potential side effects of these toxins in chemical sunscreens include neurological, hormonal, and reproductive problems or inflammation in the brain causing cognitive impairment.

Mineral Sunscreen

Mineral sunscreen reflects the sun’s UV rays instead of absorbing them like chemical sunscreen. The active ingredient in mineral sunscreen is usually titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreens are considered safer than toxin-filled chemical sunscreens but can leave a white residue on the skin (and clothing) and make the skin feel sticky.

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BEWARE of products advertised as “pure” and “natural”!

The terminology and symbols on the ingredient panel of sunscreen and other health and beauty products can be difficult to translate.

Some products may be advertised as “Natural” or “Pure” but can still contain toxic ingredients. There is little to no regulation on the labeling of products this way.

Learn ways to decode these labels by educating yourself on labeling terms and symbols or using an app like EWG‘s Healthy Living app.

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My Top 4 Mineral Sunscreen Picks:

*Kiss My Face Kids Defense Continuous Sunscreen Spray, SPF 50

*Supergoop 100% Mineral Sunscreen Mist, SPF 30

*ATTITUDE Mineral Baby and Kids Sunscreen Lotion, Fragrance-free, SPF 30

*Love Sun Body Natural Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance-free, SPF 50

For other safe, toxin-free sunscreens, check out EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens.

Choose Wisely

So when you are able to get outside, don’t forget to protect yourself and your little ones from the sun AND from harsh toxins and chemicals by choosing a clean, mineral-based sunscreen.

I have filled you in on my favorites and I would love to hear what your favorites are too!

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Educate Yo’self on Toxins

Women & Toxin Exposure

I have touched a little on some of the toxins in our everyday routines.  As women, we tend to use numerous beauty products daily (and sometimes, several times daily.)

The average woman uses 12-17 products in her daily hygiene, beauty, and home routine!

LADIES — You would not believe the number of chemicals and toxins you are exposing yourself to! 

woman doing makeup
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Daily Toxin Exposure

I have touched a little on some of the toxins in our everyday routines.  As women, we tend to use numerous beauty products daily (and sometimes, several times daily.) LADIES! You would not believe the number of chemicals and toxins you are exposing yourself to! 

Many of these products have the same or even more dangerous ingredients than cigarettes, yet they do not come with a Surgeon General’s warning regarding the myriad of risks to your health and safety. Side effects from chemical and toxin exposure include:birth defects, weakened immune system, advanced aging, hormonal and fertility problems, disruption of endocrine system and an increased risk of cancer.

Now, I am not naive to think this is something that has just begun to happen, however, one would think in a developed and regulated country such as the United States, more legislation would exist to control exposure from food, water and personal care and cleaning products.Toxins and chemicals are sneakily slipped into ingredient panels on product packaging or sometimes not even required to be listed at all if determined a “trade secret”. 

Legislation

Despite the ever-growing number of products in the cosmetic industry, there has been no federal legislation on cosmetic safety since 1938! The United States has only 11 banned chemicals while Europe has more than 1,300 toxins and chemicals that have been banned for use in consumer products. State legislation is making better strides on the local level though, with 211 bills banning toxins in water and consumer products pending in 32 different states. You can check pending legislation in your state by clicking here.

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Educte Yo’self!

Education is the key! Learning more about the ingredients in the products you and your family use is a great way to have some control over chemical exposure. Here are some ways you can educate yourself:

 

  • Read articles online, magazines, books and blogs.
  • Follow EWG on social media. EWG’s website also has an abundance of information on all topics environment related.
  • Use an app. EWG’s Healthy Living app contains 128,000 products and is growing daily. I use this app and LOVE it! Use the app to scan items and see ingredients’ potential toxicity. If you are not able to find your product in the app, you are asked to participate in helping EWG grow its database by snapping photos of the front and back of the product and barcode so the product can be added. Other apps include Think Dirty, Yuka, and INCI Beauty Analysis.
  • Read/scan ingredient panels and labels.
  • Listen to green and eco related podcasts. Some of my favorites are The Toxin Terminator, The Green Dudes and Green Divas, and Talking Clean with Irene.
  • Engage with other like-minded people by getting involved in local community groups, online communities and attending events both online and in person. Facebook is growing with so many groups for every interest. Offer information, ask questions and show support. I have made some awesome connections this way!

 

Bonus!

Educating yourself is an essential step to greening your home and lifestyle. I am sure you’ve heard it before, knowledge is POWER.  By educating ourselves on these issues we can make better and cleaner choices. We can also use our consumer buying power to help drive the industry in a toxin-free direction by supporting and purchasing cleaner alternatives.

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Are Your Products Poisoning You?

beauty products on shelves

Did you know the average person is exposed to over 500 chemicals and toxins from products they use in their daily routines?

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), many beauty, hygiene, and cleaning products have toxins that can cause a wide variety of side effects, from headaches and indigestion to more serious conditions including an increased risk of cancer.

assorted eye shadow and blusher palette
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Daily Toxin Exposure

The average person uses approximately 12 products on a daily basis. Women use more products than men on average and teens can use as many as 17 or more products daily containing hundreds of toxic chemicals.

It is scary to think that you and your family may be using harmful products on a daily basis. Research has shown numerous common products contain toxins and chemicals such as lead, aluminum, phthalates, mercury, arsenic, parabens, and so much more! These toxic chemicals have been proven to cause a wide range of ailments including allergies, hormonal and neurological issues, infertility, and cancer.

I have felt so guilty just thinking about how many toxins I am exposing my children to regularly and this has motivated me to ACTION!

makeup brushes on case
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Green Your Routine

When I first started my less toxic journey, it was overwhelming to think about greening our whole routine all at once, especially replacing favorite products I have used for years.  It was less intimidating and more manageable, at least for me, to replace products slowly, focusing on one at a time. Finding a cleaner alternative can take some research, and perhaps some trial and error, in order to the right product for you and your family, but I assure you, there is one out there! And if all else fails, I probably have a simple natural recipe for you to try instead.

Here are a few simple steps to begin greening your routine:

  • Less is MORE! It is not necessary to use so many health and beauty products! Pare down the products you are using. Keep it simple.
  • Read labels.  If you cannot pronounce it, it’s probably not good for you.  Educate yourself.
  • Avoid products with added fragrances. Chemicals used to make fragrances are absorbed through the skin into the blood. These toxic chemicals are categorized as allergens, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins and carcinogens.
  • Get crafty and make your own cleaning (and/or beauty) products. My favorite homemade cleaner recipe is a great one for beginners to try. In a 12 oz. spray bottle, add 8 oz. water, 3 oz. white vinegar and 1 oz. lemon juice. This simple antibacterial spray works fantastic for wiping down counters in the kitchen or scrubbing soap scum in the bathtub.
  • Use an APP.  EWG has a great app where you can scan product barcodes and give you feedback on the ingredients and their toxicity levels.  There are many other similar apps out there too!

Detoxifying your lifestyle can have many positive effects including making you feel better, improving your overall health, and reducing your risk of side effects from toxic chemicals. And since many toxins have many aging effects, cutting them out in your daily routine will also help you look better too!