How to look Good in an Environmentally Friendly Way

How safe is your morning beauty regiment to your daily health? I’m going to scare you with this next statement. According to a recent study, people “apply an average of 126 different ingredients to their skin daily”, making the collective impact of these chemicals very dangerous. We might not have to worry so much if it was only one or two products a day we used, but on average, we use between ten to fifteen personal care products every day.

What are we to do? We can’t use any personal care products and expect to have any friends left by the end of the day. At some point we will need to use soap, toothpaste, shampoo, makeup, hair removal and, of course, that time of the month women so dearly love. Everyday we are faced with choices that affect us physically and socially.

This following list hopes to give you a little bit of information, and hopefully point you in the right direction towards changing your personal care routines in the bathroom. You’re going to buy most of these products anyway, so why not choose ones that won’t hurt the environment and more importantly won’t harm you.

1. Toothpaste - We all want a big, bright smile. TO help us out with that toothpaste makers add chemicals like titanium dioxide for whitening, and high levels of fluoride. The level of fluoride that we ingest on a daily basis both through drinking water and toothpaste has been a concern for health experts for some time. Even though fluoride helps fight tooth decay, high doses are poisonous. There are a few natural toothpastes on the market or just using a bit of baking soda does the trick, as well.
   


2. Hair care - The number of chemical women put in their hair easily outweighs the amount on our skin. Just take a quick look at some of the things. There is shampoo, conditioner, serum, wax, gel, hair spray, color, etc. Your hair is absorbent and all those products can contain harmful chemicals. Stay away from products containing petroleum products when shopping for shampoos. Be careful with hairsprays and hair gels which contain high amounts of petroleum derivatives, formaldehyde, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance.
   


3. Look at the label – Unregulated chemicals are easily the most complicated and publicized issue regarding cosmetics and what that are used to make them. There are certain common substances you should always watch out for. Find out which ones to avoid the most and then check the ingredient label of any cosmetic products you purchase. Instead of reading every label, look for which cosmetics companies use certified organic and natural ingredients.
   


4. Aluminum-free deodorant - Aluminum, commonly found in antiperspirants, known to cause skin irritation, but also more general inflammation may spread beyond the applied areas. They also block pores, preventing the body from eliminating toxins by perspiration. This reduces your body’s ability to regulate its temperature. Try using natural deodorant brands that don’t contain aluminum, instead. Try a crystal stick which uses natural mineral salts.
   


5. Petroleum-free products – You’d be very surprised at how many petroleum derivatives are found in not only everyday cosmetics but also in other personal care products like sanitary pads. Mineral oil, paraffin, and propylene glycol are used as basic ingredients in a great deal of cosmetic products. Read the ingredients and look for certified labels.