from top to bottom, left to right: tom's of maine tooth paste/ tom's of maine apricot deodorant/ la vanille roll-on perfume/ bella b tummy butter/ josie maran argon oil / scotch naturals/ korres lip butter in coral/ 365 everyday facial cleanser/ eco tools/ alba organics mineral sunscreen
These are products that I've tried and love as well as a few home remedies such as this Kiwi Scrub and DIY Oatmeal/Lavendar facial scrub. I especially love the awesome colors of Scotch Natural nail polish and I am addicted to argon oil. It is my favorite thing to put on my hair.
We've talked a lot about what to put in your body to look and feel your best, but what about what goes on your body? Sadly, so many products are on the market that are full of harmful chemicals that totally go under the radar. Let's talk about a few of these shall we? Oh, and if you didn't know... “Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, cosmetics and their ingredients are not required to undergo approval before they are sold to the public. … This means that manufacturers may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives and a few prohibited substances, to market a product without a government review or approval.” So don't think the FDA has your back. (source)
Parabens, also known as Methylparaben, Propylparaben, IIsoparaben, Butylparaben: an inexpensive synthetic preservative widely used in skincare products. Studies have shown that parabens have shown estrogenic behaviors. Estrogen has been widely linked to breast cancer and there have been no studies conducted to prove that prolonged usage is safe. (source)
Phthalates, also known as Dibutylphthalate, DBP, DEP, DEHP, and butyl ester): this is one to really watch out for. Phthalates are synthetic fragrances. DBP actually helps the skin to absorb whatever cosmetic you are wearing and DEHP has been found to be a "probable human carcinogen."
Petrochemicals: Petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffins all form a barrier when applied to the skin. This keeps your skin from being able to breathe and also clogs your pores.
Sulfates: Look for sodium laurel and sodium laureth. This ingredient is what gives soaps and shampoos their latherability. It is found in almost every soap on the market and it a harsh detergent that dries out skin, causes eye irritation, and skin rashes.
See the rest of the list here.
In regards to sunscreen and sunless tanners, there is more and more info coming out about the harmful chemicals found in these products. The DHA found in sunless tanners is under heat right now because studies show that traces of the chemical are being found in the bloodstream and it has only been approved for "external use" (see the report here). When choosing a sunscreen make sure to read the label and look out for oxybenzone, a toxic chemical that penetrates the skin and can cause major hormone imbalance. Check out this report from the CDC which also lists the almost 600 products that contain the ingredient.
I think we forget that what we put on our body goes into our body. Ingredients you should avoid when pregnant: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids. These ingredients can be harmful to your baby. They are typically found in acne face washes or blemish control products and wrinkle creams. (source)
For tons of info on natural skincare as well as product reviews check out this awesome blog: No More Dirty Looks. Also, please share with me some of your favorite home remedies/ natural products that you love, etc.
