EDIBLE BEAUTE :: self-care support

Toxin-Free Beauty + Health: Stories, Support, Recipes By Laena

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Acne + Scar Removal :: A Daily Cleansing Ritual

What makes our skin healthy, glowing, and rejuvenated? The same thing that makes our insides and gut happy too: cleaning off dirt and toxins, creating a protective environment of acidity to balance and prevent bad bacteria, and adding healthy fatty-acids to retain moisture and reduce inflammation.

This is a self-care ritual that I’ve created for my students and clients, inspired by the wisdom of my herbalist and skin gurus, to reduce acne and scars with a daily regimen. Our skin is naturally acidic, but when we use cleansers and soaps that are harsh or full of chemicals, the natural acidity is removed, and the protective acid mantle of our skin (which is needed to protect our skin from toxins, germs, bacteria, and pollution) is disrupted. The combo of oil cleansing and then toning with apple cider vinegar is a great cure for acne because it reduces inflammation with herbs and therapeutic oils, returns a healthy, pH balanced acidity to our skin with the toner, and restores the protective acid mantle, while killing bad bacteria, removing excess makeup, oil and dirt, and dissolving dead skin cells that dull and irritate our skin.

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

PREPARATION (make or buy 2 products)

1) Make (or buy) a cleansing anti-inflammatory scar oil: 1 part castor oil, 1 part rosehip seed oil, 3 parts carrier oil like sunflower; infuse calendula, chamomile, and lavender flowers in the oil for 4 weeks (ratio: 1 part flowers to 5 parts oil). Strain and use. [You can buy it on my website if you don’t feel like making it.]

2) Make (or buy) apple cider vinegar toner: 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water. Infuse this with witch hazel leaves, calendula, chamomile, and lavender flowers. Add a few drops of tea tree essential oil.  [You can buy this too on my website.]

RITUAL (do this daily, before bed)

Rinse your face a few times with a few splashes of warm water.

Massage your face with the oil, which removes dead skin, reduces the production of acne-causing sebum, cures inflammation related to it, and keeps the acne-prone skin sufficiently moisturized (key to oil control).

DIY sink facial: remove the oil with a steamy washcloth by soaking the cloth in hot water, then hold it over face for a minute to steam open pores (lean over the sink and gentle press the cloth to your face), then gently wipe clean; repeat this a few times (soak in hot water, steam face, wipe face).

Finish by dabbing face with the apple cider vinegar toner to balance the skin's pH and reduce inflammation; pour a capful (or a few spritzes) into hands or use a cotton square to dab on the toner. Let it dry on your face, don’t towel off.

The next morning, your skin will feel baby soft and pleasantly hydrated.

A NOTE FOR CITY DWELLERS AND THOSE THAT WORK OUTSIDE: in the sticky dog days of summer, or if I'm feeling gross from lots of city huffing, I do a midday on-the-go cleanse: I use water wipes to remove the dirt, grit, toxins, and then I spritz my face a few times with my apple cider vinegar toner. 

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8 Toxins to Avoid in Skin + Hair Products

If you want to clean up your shower + beauty routine, these 8 common toxins are a great place to start. Many of the chemicals to avoid in skin + hair products are the same as those found in other skincare. These are toxins that are bad in a number of ways, from disrupting hormones to causing cancer. They are also easy to avoid, and you can refer to my list of toxin-free products if you need to restock your bathroom (many of these are inexpensive, this is not Goop).

Triclosan [FDA now recommends not using antibacterial soaps with triclosan; it’s similar to the pesticide Agent Orange and can cause decreased fertility, birth defects, and damage to major body organs; endocrine disruptor and thyroid disruptor; when combined with chlorine in tap water it becomes carcinogenic]

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) [hair loss, irritation; linked to skin and eye irritation, organ toxicity, developmental/reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicological, and biochemical or cellular changes, and possible mutations and cancer, as reported by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database]

Dioxane [although proven to cause cancer, and banned in California, it’s considered a ‘contaminant’ or ‘by-product’ of the ethoxylation process, rather than an ingredient, hence it is not listed on ingredient labels; however, it is in all synthetic ethoxylated ingredients, including those with myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other “eth,” PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol, in their names]

Parabens [hormone-disrupting; have been detected in human breast tumors. This is concerning because parabens have been shown to mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can encourage the growth of human breast tumors]

Propylene glycol, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) [yes, this is the main ingredient in anti-freeze; linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity]

Synthetic fragrance [aka, phthalates, which are endocrine disrupters that mimic hormones and may alter genital development]

Cocamidopropyl Betaine [Despite being made “from coconut”, it’s actually a chemical derivative, and contains traces of nitrosamines, a human carcinogen]

Diethanolamine (DEA) [recent FDA report showed that approximately 42% of all cosmetics were contaminated with NDEA; it’s linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity; really bad for pregnant ladies + kids]

It can be super overwhelming to have to look at labels and decipher what is toxic and what is just the scientific name for vitamin e. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) created a sweet database of cosmetics chemicals and ranked them, giving them a hazard score. 

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(clean-ish) Toxin-Free Beauty Brands [a list]

I promised to update my safe beauty shopping list, with links too. It’s in no way definitive, as no products are ever fully toxin-free. But if you’re trying to clean out the rubbish in your life, you do what you can. It’s about doing with less. Less is more; and less mess leaves more room for the good stuff in your life.

HAIR 

Aubrey Organics

Jason Organics (i use the fragrance free one, and add my own essential oils)

Dr. Mercola’s Shampoo and Conditioner

John Masters Organic

California Baby (for kids, but great for adults too)

Pineapple Heads (only in NZ or Australia, but great)

Dr Hauschka

Weleda

MAKEUP

Rms

Zuii Organics

100% Pure

Kjer Weis

Adorn

Karren Murrel Lipsticks

Nudus Lipsticks

W3ll People

Lily Lolo

Vapour Organics

Bite Beauty

Hurraw

SKINCARE

My skincare line for Anarchy in a Jar, of course

Ursa Major (love this vermont company, plus it’s very gender neutral)

Kiss My Face (i love their aluminum and paraben-free spray deodorant)

Mountain Rose Herbs oils (rosehip seed, jojoba, castor, etc)

Dr. Bronner’s Soap (see my other post, where I use this as a base for so many cleaning products!)

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A Tool for Makeup + Skincare Ingredient Research

EWG has developed a database and search tool for researching ingredients and toxins in makeup and skincare. It’s really helpful! Though I will note that not ALL products are in their database, so if the brand you are researching is small, or just hasn't been entered, that should not invalidate that product. And remember, if a product has a small enough ingredient list, you can usually determine if it’s safe or not. 

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Check Your Mind, Mindful Checkin :: A Daily Self-Care Meditation

A mindful check-in is a brief, one- to five-minute formal practice of checking in to how you’re feeling in the present moment, acknowledging whatever is present, and letting it go. 

I like to think of it as a barometer of myself: my emotions, physical, and mental state. And as we checkin, we’re asking both a light question, “what’s up?” and a deeper question, “how are you and who are you right now?” Your feelings, thoughts, and reactions are your lived experience and taking a moment to checkin and acknowledge our true self makes who we are more valid and grounds us in the moment. For me, I walk away from this simple mindful moment feeling lighter and more grounded at the same time. Like I’ve wiped the heavy fog of daily stress away from my eyes and my spirit. 

PREPARATION: Find a quiet space. Close your office door, go in the bathroom stall, sit in your car, wherever it is that you can close your eyes and not feel weird; lying down or sitting are both fine. I’d recommend closing your eyes, but really do what you gotta do: it’s cool to simply lower and soften your gaze.

Give yourself 3 to 5 minutes to complete this practice.

1) I BREATHE IN, I BREATHE OUT. Start this practice by breathing in, thinking to yourself “I BREATHE IN,” and feeling the breath to be warm and full of good juju. As you breathe out, think “I BREATHE OUT,” and as you exhale, smile, feeling the weight and anxiety, the bad juju, melt off of you.

2) Embrace the moment. What are you feeling? What are you thinking? Is there a weird tingle in your neck? An itch you want to scratch near your shoulder blades? A thought or feeling you can't dismiss? It’s cool. Don’t analyze or judge. The point is to simply be with yourself fully, in the present moment and let it all be cool. If you feel anxiety rising, acknowledge it, give a wave, and then move on and keep scanning your body and breathing IN and OUT. Don't forget to smile on that exhale, for real. Let that bad juju go!

3) As you finish this practice, give yourself a hug, a high-five, a truly blessed moment of gratitude, for taking the time to love yourself, checkin, tune in and work on strengthening yourself and fortifying your scaffolding. Your willingness to show up and be present to yourself and for yourself, will in turn enrich your life and the lives of those you love. 

Self-care is everywhere; is right here, right now, in us. 

Don't forget, the revolution starts in you.

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NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT FOR KIDS [recipe]

This All Natural Insect Repellent for kids smells amazing, is toxin-free, safe for delicate skin, and keeps the bugs away (yes, I tested it on my kid and her friends). My special mix of essential oils are all proven bug repellents. Take an 8-oz spray bottle, add 1 cup distilled water, 12 drops of essential oils: 3 drops lemongrass, 3 drops citronella, 2 drops geranium, 1 drop eucalyptus, 1 drop tea tree, 1 drop rosemary, 1 drop peppermint.  

Shake well before use Spray on skin directly or on hands and rub in Re-apply every two hours or as needed

WARNING: Avoid spraying in eyes, mouth, and diaper area.  Adult supervision required; keep out of reach of children.  Do not apply to children’s hands. First Aid: In case of eye contact, flush eyes with plenty of water. If eye or skin irritation persists, consult your physician.  This is safe for kids 6 months and older.  Always test first on their arm or leg before spraying kids to make sure it will not irritate.

Tested to repel mosquitoes. Should work for gnats, ticks, and fleas too,

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NATURAL INSECT REPELLENT FOR ADULTS [recipe]

My Homemade Bug Repellent smells amazing and keeps the bugs away, while also being good for your skin. Apple Cider Vinegar and Witch Hazel are natural astringents. ACV naturally balances the pH of your skin, while Witch Hazel helps ease skin abrasions and irritations such as acne, bruises, redness, eczema, oily skin, excess sweating, varicose veins, razor burn, and sun damage. My special mix of essential oils are all proven bug repellents. 

Take an 8-oz spray bottle, add 1/2 cup witch hazel, 1/4 cup organic apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup distilled water, 44 drops of essential oils: 12 drops lemongrass, 12 drops citronella,10 drops eucalyptus, 6 drops tea tree, 5 drops rosemary, 3 drops peppermint.  

Avoid spraying in your eyes and mouth as the vinegar and oils can irritate.

1/2 cup witch hazel 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup distilled water 48 drops essential oils (lemongrass, citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, peppermint) one 8 ounce glass spray bottle

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[info] The Stink on Phthalates

What on earth are phthalates? 

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to soften and increase the flexibility of plastic and vinyl, and are used in hundreds of consumer products.

A key component of products such as flexible plastic and vinyl toys, food packaging, and plastic wrap, in the USA, Phthalates are also used in cosmetics and personal care products, including perfume, hair spray, soap, shampoo, nail polish, and skin moisturizers. 

Phthalates were also used to make baby items, such as pacifiers, soft rattles, and teethers, but because they are so toxic, at the request of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. manufacturers of baby items stopped using phthalates in 1999.

And why are they bad? While the human health effects of phthalates are not yet fully known, several government agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the National Toxicology Program's Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction are in the midst of epic studies on their long term effects.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is listed as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" in the Fourteenth Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program.

The National Toxicology Program concluded that high levels of one phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, may adversely affect human reproduction or development.

High levels of exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate through the use of medical tubing and other plastic devices for feeding, medicating, and assisting the breathing of newborn infants affects the development of the male reproductive system, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

In 2001, the CDC published a report noting elevated levels of phthalates excreted by women of child-bearing age due to the use of cosmetics. Does this have a direct correlation to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and reproductive issues? TBD, as these are very tricky correlations to prove. But it certainly is not good that we have such high levels of a toxic chemical in our bodies. 

Here’s some serious reports, if you want an in depth analysis:

Check the Kind of Plastics You Use (Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Center) (PDF — 1.24 MB) Cosmetics - Phthalates (Food and Drug Administration) DEHP in Plastic Medical Devices (Food and Drug Administration) Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP). ToxFAQs (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) Di-n-butyl Phthalate. ToxFAQs (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) Di-n-octylphthalate (DNOP). ToxFAQs (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) Diethyl Phthalate. ToxFAQs (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) Phthalate Esters. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine) Phthalates and Bisphenol A (Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units) (PDF — 196.10 KB) Phthalates. Fact Sheet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) PVC - A Major Source of Phthalates (New Jersey Department of Human Services)

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TOXIN-FREE SOAP (multi-purpose, add your own scent) [recipe] :

I love using Dr. Bronner’s unscented super gentle soap and adding essential oils to control the aromatherapy for whatever thing I need cleaned and scented. See my recipes below for bug repellent, hand soap, etc. The BUG REPELLENT BODY WASH is great to use to repel ticks and mosquitos. See my post on HOMEMADE BUG SPRAY for a topical, safe, super easy DIY spray.

Pour 6 ounces of Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap - (Baby Unscented), into a container (old jar, squeeze bottle, etc), add 10 to 15 drops of essential oil, or less if you’re particularly sensitive to scent. 

Here are my recipes, all safe for kids and pets too:

BUG REPELLENT BODY WASH: 6 oz Dr. Bronner + 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil, 5 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil, 2 drops lavender DISHWASHING: 6 oz Dr. Bronner + 7 drops lavender essential oil, 5 drops rose geranium essential oil HAND SOAP: 6 oz Dr. Bronner + 7 drops cedar essential oil, 5 drops rose geranium essential oil BODY WASH: 6 oz Dr. Bronner + 5 drops bergamot essential oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil SHAMPOO: 6 oz Dr. Bronner + 5 drops rosemary essential oil, 5 drops tea tree essential oil, 2 drops lavender essential oil (prevents hair loss, lice, fungus)

Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild Castile Liquid Soap contains no fragrance and replaces it with double the olive oil, so it is great for people with allergies or sensitive skin (and babies). Certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program, certified Fair Trade, packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic bottles.

Completely biodegradable and vegetable-based, this soap is usable for cleaning your body, your stuff, and your house; gentle enough for washing body, face or hair, but also powerful enough for dishwashing, mopping, laundry; even pest control.

INGREDIENTS: Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Palm Kernel Oil*, Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol *CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS ** None remains after saponifying oils into soap & glycerin.

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BEAUTÉ BALLS (raw, organic, easy) [recipe]: 

in a food processor, grind almonds, pistachios, garam masala, turmeric, nutritional yeast, flax seeds, coconut; add dates, pulse till minced and sticky. Roll into balls, refrigerate. 

Good for your skin, good for breastfeeding mamas, good for digestion, good for energy, good for kids.

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LIST :: Toxins to Avoid

Parabens (in personal care products, baby lotions, cosmetics; endocrine disrupters, hormone disruptors)

Phthalates (found in cosmetics, perfumes)

Insecticides and Pesticides (i.e., in food, and in agricultural regions, in water and air)

Toluene (in cosmetics, nail polish)

Synthetic Fragrance (in soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, conditioner, perfume; linked to hormone disruption. early puberty, breast cancer)

VOC’s (in smelly stuff like perfumes, shampoo, household cleaners, furniture polishes, air freshener, nail polish remover, hair relaxers, adhesives, foams, plastics, toiletries, aftershave lotions)

Chlorine (in tap water, shower water, pools, household cleaners)

PCB’s (although banned in the 1970’s, millions are unaccounted for - i.e., still used in manufacturing)

Dioxins (in chlorinated cleaners, often found to be stored in our fat and fatty animals we eat (pork, fatty fish)

Heavy Metals (such as mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum, cadmium; often found in nasal sprays, shampoo and antiperspirant deodorant)

Asbestos (cancerous, found in walls, construction)

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CleanUP your makeUP :: Parabens

What the heck are parabens?

Chemicals like parabens are added to personal care products as a preservative to keep bacteria and mold from growing in the packaging (yes, there are many natural alternatives). 

The issue is that over time, and with constant use in so many daily products, you have cumulative exposure, where these toxins build up in our bodies. Parabens mimic estrogen by binding to estrogen receptors on cells. Why is this bad? Cumulative exposure leads to hormone-related cancers and early onset of puberty in girls. “Of greatest concern is that parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity,” reports the non-profit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC).

How do you avoid these? Read labels carefully and if you can, choose products with a short list of all-natural ingredients.

SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SAYS:

“First commercialized in the 1950s, parabens are a group of synthetic compounds commonly used as preservatives in a wide range of health, beauty and personal care products. If the product you are using contains methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben and isobutylparaben, it has parabens.

These ingredients are added to deodorants, toothpastes, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions and makeups, among other products, to stop the growth of fungus, bacteria and other potentially damaging microbes. Researchers have also found that some 90 percent of typical grocery items contain measurable amounts of parabens, which is why even those who steer clear of potentially harmful personal care products also carry parabens around in their bloodstreams.”

The European Union banned parabens in 2012. 

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LIST :: Toxin-Free Beauty Brands

A - E : African Botanics Alkaitis Amala Amber Blue Axiology Baudelaire Beard Balm Bottega Organica Brickell Captain Blankenship Crux Earth Tu Face Ecobrow Eir Erbaviva F - L : Farmaesthetics Follain French Girl Organics Gressa Hannes Dottir Herbivore Botanicals Hurraw! ILIA Indie Lee Intelligent Nutrients Josh Rosebrook Kahina Kari Gran Kjaer Weis La Bella Figura Laurel Whole Plant Organics Lulu Organics Jane Iredale M - R : May Lindstrom Meow Meow Tweet ORGAID OSEA One Love Organics Organic Bath Co. Osmia Pai Palermo Body PiperWai Province Apothecary Pursoma RICA RMS Beauty Rahua Raw Elements Raw Is Everything S - Z : SW Basics Saipua Schmidt's Skincando Soapwalla Stewart & Claire Suntegrity Tammy Fender Tata Harper True Botanicals True Organics Of Sweden Ursa Major Vapour Vered Organic Botanicals Vintner's Daughter W3LL PEOPLE Yarok Zoe Organics

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LIST :: Clean Beauty Brands :: The Credo List

The Alphabetical LIST of Brands that Credo Beauty carries... A) ABHATI ACURE ORGANICS AFRICAN BOTANICS ALIMA PURE ANTONYM COSMETICS AQUAREVEAL AROMAFLAGE AURELIA PROBIOTIC SKINCARE B) BATTINGTON LASHES BEUTI SKINCARE BUDDHA NOSE C) CAPTAIN BLANKENSHIP COCOFLOSS COCOVIT COOLA ORGANIC SUNSCREEN CULTIVAR CV SKINLABS D) DE MAMIEL DR. ALKAITIS DR. JACKSON'S E) ECOBROW EIR NYC ELLIS BROOKLYN EU'GENIA EVELYN IONA EVOLVH F) FIG + YARROW FORAGER BOTANICALS FRENCH GIRL G) GOLDFADEN M.D. GOOP GRAYDON GRESSA H) HAN SKIN CARE COSMETICS HANA ORGANIC SKINCARE H. GILLERMAN ORGANICS HENNE HERBIVORE BOTANICALS I) ILIA INDIE LEE INNERSENSE INTELLIGENT NUTRIENTS IN FIORE J) JANUARY LABS JAO BRAND JENNY PATINKIN JILLIAN DEMPSEY JOSH ROSEBROOK JUARA JUICY BAMBOO JUICE BEAUTY K) KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY KARI GRAN SKINCARE KJAER WEIS KOSAS KYPRIS L) LA TIERRA SAGRADA LAKE + SKYE LANI LILFOX LILY LOLO LINA HANSON LOVEFRESH LURK M) MARIE VERONIQUE MAYA CHIA MCMC MUN MDSOLARSCIENCES MEOW MEOW TWEET MINI ORGANICS MOONDANI MOTHER DIRT MV ORGANIC SKINCARE N) NU EVOLUTION O) OLIO E OSSO OSEA OSMIA ORGANICS ONE LOVE ORGANICS P) PAI PATYKA PLUME SCIENCE POUR LE MONDE PRITI NYC PROVINCE APOTHECARY R) RAHUA RED FLOWER REVERIE RITUEL DE FILLE RL LINDEN RMS BEAUTY S) S5 ORGANIC COSMECEUTICALS SAHAJAN SANS SKIN OWL STEWART + CLAIRE STRANGE INVISIBLE PERFUMES STUDIO 78 PARIS SUNTEGRITY S.W. BASICS OF BK SUSANNE KAUFMANN T) TAMMY FENDER TATA HARPER THERAPI HONEY SKINCARE TONY & TINA TRILOGY TRUE ORGANIC OF SWEDEN U) URSA MAJOR V) VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY VERED ORGANIC BOTANICALS VIOLETS ARE BLUE W) W3LL PEOPLE Y) YUNI Z) ZOE ORGANICS ZYDERMA

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LIST :: Toxin-Free Beauty Stores :: NYC

CAP Beauty

Credo Beauty

Follain

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In general, when it comes to knowing if what is in your moisturizing balm is bad for you, it’s a murky, marketing-driven world. The Food and Drug Administration oversees only certain topical products like sunscreen, and other than requiring that labels don’t misstate benefits, it lets the beauty industry regulate itself. Words like natural, nontoxic and safe have no official or legal meaning when it comes to cosmetic labeling, and dermatologists routinely caution that people can be allergic to any ingredient, natural or not.

New York Times

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Toxins in Makeup + Skincare  :: Information

Chemicals and toxins are all around us. From pesticides in agriculture to endocrine disrupters in upholstery, it can feel really overwhelming; especially when you live in a city, surrounded by pollutants and environmental hazards to the degree that we just tune them out.

But you can systematically eliminate a number of toxins and see healthy results when you start by cleaning up your makeup and skincare. These are products that you use every day, that are being applied to your skin (an organ), your face, your mouth, and eyes; therefore being ingested. 

Cosmetics in American are unregulated. That's right, un-f*ing-regulated. Food? Super regulated and still there are hundreds of recalls every week for contaminated and toxic food. Because there is no oversight on a federal level, cosmetics can be labeled “natural” without containing natural ingredients. Products that are certified organic? When investigated, a number of these products contain as little as 10% organic ingredients. [check out Skin Deep, which is a website dedicated to showing you what sunscreen, lotions, makeup, etc. are toxic and which are safe.]

“Safe” is not a standardized term, either. The FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors does not define safety. So cosmetic companies consider carcinogens, though they are known to cause harm, safe to use in products because they are legal. The U.S. law that governs the $60 billion cosmetic industry was last passed in 1938 and it doesn’t provide the FDA with the power to ask cosmetic companies for safety data or issue recalls of cosmetics that aren’t safe. The European Union bans 1,300 ingredients from cosmetics. Here in the United States, only 11 ingredients have been banned or restricted in cosmetics. Holy moly.

Toxins, like carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, are widely used in your favorite personal care products such as makeup, deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner! Endocrine disruptors are known to cause cancer, autoimmune disease, and an array of hormonal issues in women, from infertility to PCOS.

When I started to clean up my cosmetics, I was pretty shocked to find that EVERY product that I had contained toxic ingredients. Even my fancy Sephora makeup and my fancy salon shampoo. But fear not, it is totally possible to clean up your cosmetics and find trusted products.

Truth: our skin absorbs 60% of any topical product we use and more than 10,000 ingredients are permissible for use in personal care items. Many of these ingredients are hazardous to our health but are used in the majority of products on the market; from makeup to moisturizer to shampoo. The average woman in America wears nearly 520 chemicals a day and will consume nearly 4 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Whole Foods Market or Sephora are not castles of purity (actually, they're chains selling expensive products), and many of the products sold in these stores still contain Parabens and Phthalates just like any conventional brand. 

But you can take control of this paradigm. Check out my lists of toxin-free products and where to get them (follow the tag "lists").