Finding Safe Products for your Skin and Hair

A 2009 study out of the UK states that the average woman wears 515 chemicals on her body every day. Most women are unaware of the toxicity of their healthy and beauty products. Have you every wondered what was in your shampoo or lipstick?

Until my doctor mentioned heavy metal toxicity I had not considered the ingredients in the products I used every day. Now that I am aware I make most of my products, using primarily coconut oil, clay, baking soda and vinegar.

For those of you who do not have the time or inclination to do this, the Environmental Working Group has a new website and phone app that will make your search for non-toxic products much easier.  Skin Deep is a data base of nearly 70,000 products. Each product will contain a picture, description, ingredient list and toxicity rating. Products can be searched by name or category.  My favorite piece of this fantastic site is that the phone app allows you to simply scan the UPS in the store and have this information instantly at your disposal. The research has been done for you making the search of safer toiletries easier than ever.

DIY Toothpaste

For those who follow me on facebook I promised a few recipes for making your own bath and beauty products. Why bother, you might ask? The answer lies in the ingredient list of the products lining the drug store shelves. Many of these products are loaded with irritants, neurotoxins, and carcinogens.

Let's start this series with a lesson in toothpaste (mostly because I am out and have to make more so I can brush my teeth tonight). My transition to homemade toothpaste was a gradual one. I used Aquafresh until my dental hygienist told me that it was eating away the enamel of my teeth. Colgate was an improvement but still not great. Next was Tom's of Maine. Tom's is much better than the others but still contains some potentially toxic ingredients. All of these pastes also contained sugar. Doesn't that somewhat defeat the purpose of brushing your teeth?

Here is a quick breakdown from the Environmental Working Group's cosmetics database. I have highlighted the hidden sugar:

Aquafresh ingredients:  Sodium Fluoride (0.15% w/v fluoride ion), Inactive Ingredients: Water, Hydrated Silica, Sorbitol, Glycerin, PEF 8, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Saccharin, D&C Red 30

Colgate:Sodium Monofluorophosphate (0.15% W/V Fluoride Ion)Inactive Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate, Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cellulose Gum, Flavor, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Saccharin

Tom's of Maine:  Calcium Carbonate, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate, Xylitol, Carrageenan (Chondrus Crispus), Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) Oils, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha), Propolis (Propolis Cera).


Moving on to the homemade version. There are several recipes to choose from on Pinterest or other similar sites. I tried a few then tweaked the ingredients to meet my own tastes. I encourage you to play around with the essential oils to find a flavor that works for you.

Using a clay toothpaste does take a bit of getting used to. The kids made faces when they first tried it. I transitioned them first to Earthpaste (affiliate link). Now they use this with no problem.

Clay toothpaste:

1/2 cup warm water
1/4 cup red clay (affliate link)
1/4 tsp sea salt
10-12 drops peppermint essential oil
5-6 drops cinnamon essential oil

Combine ingredients and store in a covered jar. Scoop out a small amount and brush as normal.

Detox Bath Salts

This morning I made a double batch of a wonderful bath salt blend designed for detox and relaxation. I used this batch as a thank you gift for some amazing moms I know. I tend to keep a supply on hand for myself as well.

Detox baths can do a number of wonderful things for your body while you are relaxing. In addition to the relief of any muscle soreness, you will be removing toxins from the body, increasing circulation and softening the skin.

So the next time your family gives you a hard time about sneaking off for a quiet bath with a good book, tell them you are doing it for your health (because you are).

Here is the recipe I used, courtesy of Amazing Herbs and Oils

 Detox Bath Ingredients:
*2 cups Epsom Salts
*2 cups baking soda
*2 cups sea salt
*5 tbsp ground ginger
*1 cup vinegar

Directions:
*Combine dry ingredients, storing in a close container
*At bath time, add 1 cup of dry ingredient mix and 1 cup vinegar to hot running water.
*Optional: add several drop of your favorite essential oil

Detox Bath Ingredients:
*2 cups Epsom Salts
*2 cups baking soda
*2 cups sea salt
*5 tbsp ground ginger
*1 cup vinegar
Read more at http://www.amazingherbsandoils.com/an-extraordinary-diy-detox-bath-soak-with-recipe/#LiKqbcc8cdhu7rXP.99

 Detox Bath Ingredients:
*2 cups Epsom Salts
*2 cups baking soda
*2 cups sea salt
*5 tbsp ground ginger
*1 cup vinegar
Read more at http://www.amazingherbsandoils.com/an-extraordinary-diy-detox-bath-soak-with-recipe/#LiKqbcc8cdhu7rXP.99