Admit it: under your bathroom sink there is a sea of personal care products that haven’t seen the light of day since Derek and Meredith were still a couple (incidentally, that’s the last time I watched that show, and someone is telling me they killed off a character a long time ago, so do with that what you will). My point is, that stuff has got to go. And while you’re taking part in the great purge we call spring cleaning, consider these swaps for a healthier, cleaner, chemical-free home.
1. Lotions and perfumes and make up, oh my!
There’s this great meme floating around the internet that says something along the lines of: If you’re eating all organic food and putting toxic chemical-filled products on the largest organ on your body, you’re doing it wrong. And while you know I’m not the all or nothing type, this is one I have to agree with. We’re exposed to over 80,000 different chemicals every day, a large portion of them from the products we use on our body. Make the switch to safer body lotion, perfume and makeup to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals.
2. Hair care
I know you might be thinking, “Whatever, it just goes down the drain”, but trust me, it only takes a couple of seconds of exposure for your skin to start absorbing the toxic chemicals in your hair care products. Look for brands like Acure Organics, Desser Essence and Alba Botanica, which are free from parabens, unnamed fragrances and phthalates.
3. Personal care products
From cotton balls to feminine hygiene products, what you find on a typical store shelf is so cram packed with toxic chemicals and substances already proven to have links to diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and more, you’ve really got to make a clean break (pun entirely intended) with these products. Stock your cabinet with organic cotton balls, organic toilet paper and organic pads and tampons.