I know you have all been holding your breath in anticipation of this promised post on how I keep poisons off my body. Okay, I'll try to make it more exciting than it actually is. You know how some people have an obsession for office supply products? That's how I feel about toiletries, so now that I don't use really anything, I have to exercise a lot of self control when walking past the health and beauty section at Target.
It was about a year and a half ago that I realized that just as it matters what I put in my body, it also matters what I put on my body. We buy lotions for the way they absorb into our skin, but do we think about the chemicals in the lotion that just absorbed into our skin and are now in our blood stream? No? Go to Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website to check out how your products rate. It's crazy!
So what do I use and does any of it actually work?
It was about a year and a half ago that I realized that just as it matters what I put in my body, it also matters what I put on my body. We buy lotions for the way they absorb into our skin, but do we think about the chemicals in the lotion that just absorbed into our skin and are now in our blood stream? No? Go to Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep website to check out how your products rate. It's crazy!
So what do I use and does any of it actually work?
Tom's of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening, Fluoride-Free Natural Toothpaste- EWG Score: 1
I really like this toothpaste, it does the job and I love that it's fluoride free. I've been using this for about a year and when I have had to "borrow" toothpaste from someone, it tastes SO sweet and fake. I also oil pull using coconut oil. I aim to do it 2-3 times a week in the shower and I have noticed whiter teeth and fresher breath.
Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Soap- EWG Score: 1
This soap is awesome! I love the peppermint but the lavender is good too (it smells like real lavender which has a very gender neutral smell unlike the fake, girly "lavender"), the almond is not so good. This soap is not drying, has a great lather and the mint has a cooling effect.
Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Natural Aluminum Free Deodorant Stick- EWG Score: 1
This deodorant leaves something to be desired, like a fresh smell... I like that it is aluminum free since aluminum may be linked to Alzheimer's, but I don't like that it doesn't work well. Once the weather warms up and this tube runs out I will be trying something different. (I'll let you know...)
Oil Cleansing Method (for my face)
I have never had awesome skin, I've tried every acne cream and wash, visits to the dermatologist, with no real improvement. Cutting out grains and switching to "washing" my face with oil has made such a difference! I use a mix of castor oil and olive oil. In the winter I typically use 3 tsp of olive (the moisturizing oil) to 1 tsp of castor (the cleansing oil) but change to 50/50 in the summer. My face is clear and I think looks really healthy. When it does get really dry in the winter I just use some coconut oil. Which takes us to...
Coconut Oil (for moisturizing)
I use coconut oil for my hands, lips, face, everywhere. It absorbs quickly, works great and smells nice. We buy a tub from Costco and even with cooking, oil pulling and used as a moisturizer it lasts a while.
No 'Poo (for my hair)
I have super curly hair so I have never been a big shampooer, maybe once a week, but for the last 2 months or so I've been "no 'poo". In college I read an article about how if you have curly hair you should only use conditioner, that made me a greasy mess! So I went back to shampoo. Then about 2 years ago I tried it (as the linked article describes) with the baking soda and apple cider vinegar rinse, I did it just like they say to but I was left with a greyish film on my hair after a while. So I went back to shampoo. Now I just rinse it, scrub my scalp with my fingers and I'm good to go. It did take some adjusting time and my hair was a bit dandruffy, but it's all cool now.
I do use Clear Care Triple Action Cleaning and Disinfecting Solution for my contacts. But I'm not going to mess with "weird" stuff for my eyes. Forgive me.
I really like this toothpaste, it does the job and I love that it's fluoride free. I've been using this for about a year and when I have had to "borrow" toothpaste from someone, it tastes SO sweet and fake. I also oil pull using coconut oil. I aim to do it 2-3 times a week in the shower and I have noticed whiter teeth and fresher breath.
Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Soap- EWG Score: 1
This soap is awesome! I love the peppermint but the lavender is good too (it smells like real lavender which has a very gender neutral smell unlike the fake, girly "lavender"), the almond is not so good. This soap is not drying, has a great lather and the mint has a cooling effect.
Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Natural Aluminum Free Deodorant Stick- EWG Score: 1
This deodorant leaves something to be desired, like a fresh smell... I like that it is aluminum free since aluminum may be linked to Alzheimer's, but I don't like that it doesn't work well. Once the weather warms up and this tube runs out I will be trying something different. (I'll let you know...)
Oil Cleansing Method (for my face)
I have never had awesome skin, I've tried every acne cream and wash, visits to the dermatologist, with no real improvement. Cutting out grains and switching to "washing" my face with oil has made such a difference! I use a mix of castor oil and olive oil. In the winter I typically use 3 tsp of olive (the moisturizing oil) to 1 tsp of castor (the cleansing oil) but change to 50/50 in the summer. My face is clear and I think looks really healthy. When it does get really dry in the winter I just use some coconut oil. Which takes us to...
Coconut Oil (for moisturizing)
I use coconut oil for my hands, lips, face, everywhere. It absorbs quickly, works great and smells nice. We buy a tub from Costco and even with cooking, oil pulling and used as a moisturizer it lasts a while.
No 'Poo (for my hair)
I have super curly hair so I have never been a big shampooer, maybe once a week, but for the last 2 months or so I've been "no 'poo". In college I read an article about how if you have curly hair you should only use conditioner, that made me a greasy mess! So I went back to shampoo. Then about 2 years ago I tried it (as the linked article describes) with the baking soda and apple cider vinegar rinse, I did it just like they say to but I was left with a greyish film on my hair after a while. So I went back to shampoo. Now I just rinse it, scrub my scalp with my fingers and I'm good to go. It did take some adjusting time and my hair was a bit dandruffy, but it's all cool now.
I do use Clear Care Triple Action Cleaning and Disinfecting Solution for my contacts. But I'm not going to mess with "weird" stuff for my eyes. Forgive me.
So, that's "beauty" routine. How does it compare with yours?
Oh and don't worry, in the coming weeks I'll talk about our "posion free" cleaning pro