Lord knows, we are all reluctant to let go of something. Sometimes our “stuff” is like a safety blanket. Sometimes we just resist change. After all, that’s why you still hang on to your favorite pair of shoes and wear them until they fall apart, right? It’s the same reason we keep things from childhood. We just hold onto them because.

And I guess that’s why I still had all this stuff in my bathroom, even though I haven’t used it in ages. Months. Maybe YEARS for some of it. And yet, it still made it past two moves, and it was still hanging out in my bathroom, taking up space.

Until this week. When I decided it just had to go.

Why do we need a zillion products anyway?

The reason why I’m junking these products is because they are TOXIC or “junk”. Some are more toxic than others. A lot of them are masquerading as “healthy” products, and some of them even sit in the “organic” or “green” section of my supermarket. But odds are, if it’s got more than two lines of ingredients, there are chemicals hiding out in your lotions and potions.

It’s hard to get rid of them, I know. These products are created and marketed especially to make us feel like we’re doing something good for our hair and skin. They are sold to us in ways that convince us we’ll be better, prettier, more likeable, younger-looking people. But are they HEALTHIER?

And WHY—if we had the information—would we choose to use chemicals on ourselves and our children that cause toxicity in our bodies, can cause skin irritation (like it did for me), and can contribute to numerous diseases over time…

…WHEN there are alternatives that are not just great for all your bath and body needs, but can actually make a difference in your overall body health?

Is it so great to “look young” when it’s killing you in the meantime?

I’m not trying to be dramatic here. But have you ever looked at that ol’ ingredient label?

Cleansing Make-up Remover and Towelette with Vitamin E:

• 2-Octyl-1-dodecanol: (C₂₀H₄₂O) An alcohol that is classified as a eye and skin irritant as well as a respiratory irritant. Why would they put this in a makeup remover wipe that you’re putting on/near ALL of those??
• Polysorbate 20: Ah, the wetting (surfactant) and dissolving (solubilizing) agent. Polysorbate starts out as sorbitol that is then treated with 20 “parts” of carcinogenic ethylene oxide. (Polysorbate 60 has been treated with 60 “parts” ethylene oxide.) The resulting chemical, is then combined with various fatty acids and can be laced with heavy metals. Yum!
• Phenoxyethanol: (C₈H₁₀O₂) A skin and eye irritant that is also an endocrine disrupter, can affect the brain, nervous system, and the bladder, as well as the reproductive organs. May also be in shampoos and bug repellants.
• All those -parabens: Preservatives that, according to MANY studies, are directly related to breast cancer. That’s right ladies. Breast cancer. Parabens also act as endocrine disrupters that mimic estrogen and can cause weight gain. Just say no!

Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal Bath Treatment:

Even this Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal Bath Treatment, often used to treat eczema, contains Laureth-4! Laureth-4 is made by treating Lauryl alcohol with 4 parts carcinogenic ethylene oxide. There are many different types of Laureths, with the lower the number, the more irritation. Doesn’t it seem counter intuitive to add it to a bath “treatment”? No wonder it never worked for me.

A & D Ointment:

Contains petrolatum, a by-product of petroleum, which is related the development of breast tumors and mammary gland cancer. According to the Herb Research Foundation, our skin can absorb 60% of the chemicals it comes in contact with, and these chemicals move directly into the bloodstream. Petrolatum essentially suffocates the skin, preventing oxygen flow, and allowing the chemicals it’s mixed with to be absorbed instead. Petrolatum can also cause premature aging of skin through the creation of free radicals and disrupt your body’s natural moisturizing mechanisms and cause chapping. (Defeats the purpose wouldn’t you say?) Petrolatum is also found in Vasoline and Aquaphor. Stay away!

Hiding in Plain Sight

Chemicals aren’t just hiding in conventional products. They’re in “healthier” products, too!

Take a look at these products and their ingredients:

Tom’s Deodorant:

Propylene Glycol is found in the majority of personal care products these days, and I’ve even seen it in salad dressings and ice-creams! It is used as a penetration enhancer to bring other chemicals closer to your bloodstream, and it is also ANTIFREEZE! Um, no thank you. It has been linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive issues, allergies/immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption. Concentrations as low as 2% can cause skin irritation and sensitization, and yet cosmetics can contain up to 50% concentrations!
ALSO KNOWN AS – 1,2-Dihydroxypropane; 2-Hydroxypropanol; Methyl Ethyl Glycol; 1,2-Propanediol; Propane-1,2-Diol

Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

This is the lip balm I used to use and love until I realized that it had less-than-preferable oils in it. :( Take a look. Soybean oil and canola oil.

Crystal Body Deodorant Stick:

This is actually one of the deodorants I tried when I switched from my old antiperspirant 5 years ago. Except, as Frank pointed out to me, Ammonium Alum is just another form of aluminum! But it says “NO Aluminum Chlorohydrate” on the label! Doesn’t matter. You can read more about Crystal deodorants from Dr. Mercola in his article Aluminum Lurks in Crystal Deodorants.

Jason’s Deodorant:

Propanediol: Synonym for Propylene Glycol, just like in Tom’s deodorant.

Tom’s Toothpaste:

Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser:

So…what am I supposed to use now?

Most of your products can be replaced with simple, cost-effective, and healthier alternatives.

Coconut Oil

• Face and Body Moisturizer (add some therapeutic grade essential oils for some lovely scents and healing properties)
• Oil Pulling (Oral health)
• Toothpaste (every other day with baking soda and peppermint oil)
• I mix coconut oil with baking soda and essential oil to make deodorant.
• THE BEST make-up remover and eye-makeup remover ever!
• Frizz tamer

Olive Oil

• Face cleanser using the oil cleansing method.

Apple Cider Vinegar

• Toner (use like regular toner)
• Conditioner Rinse (makes hair nice and shiny!)

Baking Soda

• Shampoo rinse
• Toothpaste ingredient and teeth whitener
• Deodorant (Check out my super awesome DIY solid deodorant recipe HERE!)

Coconut oil and baking soda for homemade toothpaste. It’s divided into two glasses because I’ve found it stays fresher, it’s easier to dip our toothbrushes in the oil THEN the baking soda, and I’ve gone to doing baking soda every other day and only using coconut oil on the other days. You can put therapeutic grade peppermint essential oil in the coconut oil to make it taste minty and delicious. : ) Peppermint oil is also a natural whitener!

As you can see, Frank and I decided to use the most basic ingredients. And they WORK. Not only do they work, but my acne has cleared up significantly since using the oil cleansing method, my hair is softer, shinier, and I have more highlights since getting rid of shampoo and conditioner, and my teeth and gums feel better than ever! No tooth sensitivity (which I got from using Crest for just TWO days on vacation. NEVER again.) and my front teeth are lighter. I’m hoping to see an improvement in all of them over time. Gotta counteract those turmeric stains, man. ; )

My friend Heather (The Mommypotamus) has spent countless hours and hundreds of dollars researching and testing recipes to bring you practical solutions for TOTALLY NATURAL beauty products!

In This eBook, You’ll Learn How To. . .

• - Make your own shampoo, conditioners, lotions and deodorant
• - Whiten your teeth naturally without harsh chemicals like coal tar, fluoride, aspartame, aluminum and benzene
• - Nourish yourself from the inside out for radiant skin, hair and nails
• - Use natural preservatives, make sure your skin and hair remain PH balanced, and formulate products that are safe for small children

There are even video tutorials to help guide you, step-by-step!

Click here to view more details

This post is a part of Thank Your Body Thursday.