Low toxic living has become an increasingly popular ‘trend’ over the last 5+ years and encompasses a large variety of daily necessities. We are beginning to realize the importance of understanding what is in the products that we put on our bodies. In an article titled, 'I went 'low tox' for a year and it changed my life', by Olivia Storre, low tox living is described as “eliminating the harmful chemicals that litter our everyday existence whilst promoting a sustainable and rewarding way to live. From skin care and cleaning products to cookware and bedding, no area is left untouched.” The essential reasons for going low tox can be linked to eliminating hormone disruptors such as parabens and other toxins that we are exposed to daily. EWG explains that, "Since 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers have reported using 88 chemicals, in more than 73,000 products, that have been linked to cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm.” Just by changing the products that you use on your skin, you help reduce the risk of potential health risks in the future.

In the United States, the FDA has only banned 11 cosmetic ingredients, whereas, in the United Kingdom, they have banned over 1,300 cosmetic ingredients. This discrepancy shows a clear gap in our regulatory system, and reflects a lack of governmental concern for protecting our health in this area. According to EWG, women use roughly 12 cosmetic products a day which equates to roughly 168 chemical ingredients while men use around 6 cosmetic products a day which is about 85 chemicals per day. This overwhelming statistic is the reason behind our need to understand the regulations, or lack thereof, in the United States around cosmetic/personal care products and what we can do to take our health into our own hands. Although cosmetic and personal products are the driving factor behind this movement, it is also critical to look at other daily necessities such as cookware and mattresses. Establishing a low tox lifestyle can be a huge task, and researching which products are best can be overwhelming. This is why I’ve compiled a list of some my favorite low-toxic products!

Hi! My name is Sadie and I am a certified health coach, mental health advocate, and I am passionate about living a low tox life. My interest in low tox products began when I learned about all the different chemicals that are used in our products. I was constantly experiencing rashes on my face, stomachaches, and low energy. When I learned that the products I was using in my day to day life may have an effect on these issues, I was determined to eliminate as many toxic products as possible as well as educate myself on why my body responded the way that it did to these products. I have tried many different products over the years and here is my list of my absolute favorites - go low tox with me.

Before diving into the list , I want to offer a pro-tip when shopping for low toxic products. One of the largest issues with toxic products is fragrance, but I am not here to tell you that fragrance is always “bad”. It becomes problematic when companies label scents as “fragrance”. According to EWG, by labeling scents as “fragrance”, it can hide up to 4,000 chemical ingredients that we are unaware of as consumers. In doing this, it allows companies to not fully disclose what is being put into their products. So quick tip: try to find products that are low in fragrance or fragrance free. Okay, now, without further ado, my low-toxic product recommendations:

Makeup Brands

Makeup alone is one of the most misleading powerhouses behind what we put on our bodies. It is easy to get swept away by eye-catching packages and clever branding. Trust me, when I see the bright pink cylinder packaging, I want it too. But let me remind you of the alarming statistics on the lack of regulations in the United States around the intense chemicals used in these products. I am not trying to deter you from wearing makeup, rather I am here to point you in the direction of ‘cleaner’ and safer options.

The first makeup brand I want to highlight is Beautycounter. This company was founded by Gregg Renfrew whose goal is to, “Formulate, advocate, & educate”. Beautycounter believes that makeup should be good for you. On their website, they include a list of what they call, “The Never List”, which includes 2,800 ingredients that are seen as questionable for our health and are never used in their products. The most significant fact and the essential reason as to why I recommend this company is because they test every batch of their color cosmetics for heavy metals before selling the products. I recommend this brand because of their commitment to being transparent about what they use in their products and their devotion to ensuring that their products are as healthy as possible for consumers.

In addition to Beautycounter, another brand that I highly recommend is Ilia. This brand has become increasingly popular in the last few years. It is most known for their dewy skin tint that gives that sun kissed glow that everyone loves. Ilia was started by Sasha Plavsic who was inspired after reading the unsatisfactory ingredients in her lip balm, launching her interest in creating clean products. Ilia prides themselves on being fully open and transparent about what is used in their products. Not only are their products what we consider ‘clean’, but they are amazing and my go to choice when it comes to makeup.

Body Wash

The first brand that I recommend is Dr. Bronner’s Pure–Castile Liquid Soap. This brand also offers bar soap which according to an article called, “Soap vs Body Wash: Which one is better for you?” explains that bar soap often has a shorter ingredients list because they don’t need as many preservatives for their shelf-life. Not only does Dr. Bronner’s body wash come in a variety of different scents but it is fully transparent about the ingredients used in it. For those of us intrigued by a low toxic lifestyle, transparency in products is a must. Otherwise, how else are we to know what is in our products?

Shampoo and Conditioner

When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, it can be tricky to find the right products for your hair type, let alone products that are considered ‘low tox”. A brand that I truly rave about is Innersense Beauty. They cover all the basics from curly to wavy to straight hair and, they are fully honest and transparent about the ingredients that they use. And, none of their ingredient lists say “fragrance”.

Another shampoo and conditioner brand that I highly recommend is the Carina Organics brand because they also carry an unscented option. As I previously mentioned, using scented products is not always “bad”, but if you want to do everything you can to live your low tox lifestyle, then I recommend removing scented products from your regime.

Deodorant

When it comes to deodorant, there are many opinions about the harm of antiperspirants. It has been suggested that antiperspirants could potentially be linked to breast cancer. Kicking the deodorant with antiperspirant to the curb can be hard. It is incredibly challenging to find a natural deodorant that truly works and prevents all the sweats and other smells that you may or may not experience on a daily basis. However, once you find the one that works for you, it is worth the hassle because not only are you choosing a non toxic product, you are choosing your health. The best natural deodorant that I have tried is from Humble. They even have a scented free option for those of you who want to go the full nine yards. This brand is also at the top of my list because of its transparency with its labeling.

Body/Face Lotion

I couldn’t let this highly recommended product go unmentioned because the story behind it is incredible. The brand is called Luxe Beauty. After Jane May Graves’ mother was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, she was inspired to create products with only the highest quality ingredients. Her mother is now a cancer survivor and the brand has taken off. Not only is the story inspiring, but the product is amazing and it is clean! It leaves your skin feeling smooth and rejuvenated–what more could you want?

Laundry Detergent

With all the different types of laundry detergents out there, it can be hard to pick which one to use. An article titled, “7 Reasons to Go All Natural With Your Laundry Detergent”, states that many of the traditional laundry detergents are full of chemicals. Additionally, these chemicals include phosphates which are known to be harmful for you and the environment as well. A brand that I strongly recommend is Branch Basics, which not only has laundry detergent but other cleaning products as well. It is a company that was created by women who changed their health by going low tox. Their website includes a fully transparent price breakdown of their products and they include additional information about what their products have in them and why. An alarming message on their website states, “Since the average family in the United States washes about 80 pounds of laundry each week, with ½ cup of detergent per load, an average of 4 cups of detergent per home ends up in the waterways and affecting air quality each week”. By using low tox laundry detergent, you can help improve the overall toxins within your home.

Mattress

In an article titled, “Is Your Mattress Toxic? Symptoms & Solutions”, they explain the idea of chemical off gassing, stating, “Flame retardants, formaldehyde, and benzene have been found in some mattresses and can be linked to health issues such as cancer, infertility, and developmental brain disorders.” They recommend that when shopping for a mattress, it is important to look for the GOTS logo, which is the Global Organic Textile Standard to ensure that your newly purchased mattress is fully organic. Knowing this, there are also many mattress companies these days that ensure that their mattresses do not include these toxic chemicals. Two companies that pride themselves on being organic are Awara Sleep and Avocado Green Mattress. These companies ensure that their products do not contain toxic chemicals.

Pots and Pans

There has been a more recent discovery regarding the pots and pans we use for cooking. It used to be that everyone was looking for the best non-stick pan but we have learned some new information about this potentially harmful cookware. According to Healthline, non-stick pans are coated with Teflon which is a synthetic chemical that is used to create the non-stick feel. However, Teflon breaks down over time and releases toxic chemicals into the air that can have negative side effects. Because of this, the importance of stainless steel and ceramic cookware has been emphasized. The best stainless steel brands that I recommend are Heritage steel and Green Pan. And, a tip I can recommend is to preheat the pan on the stove for a few minutes before adding the food in order to prevent it from sticking.

Helpful Apps

This list is far from comprehensive and there are many other low-toxic products out there. Luckily, today’s technology can help us find these products easier. Certain apps allow us to look at the ingredients used in different products. We might as well take advantage of this opportunity and use it to our benefit. Here are a few apps that allow you to look at the ingredients in products and help you discern if they are safe or not.

None of these brands or products mentioned are sponsors of this blog, nor do I have a vested financial interest in their success. I am here simply to give an explanation on why I recommend these products for the difference they can make in your long term health. You don’t need to make a 180-degree change in your lifestyle in order to notice a positive change, as this is not an all-or-nothing scenario. I urge you to take one step in a new direction to see the difference that you can feel in your life. Don’t try to make drastic changes all at once, but buy one new product and see how it works with you and then continue to put one foot in front of the other after that. These recommendations are not meant to be one size fits all, but rather they are bioindividual. This is just a stepping stone into finding what works best for you for your low tox lifestyle.

Article by Sadie Peters

https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/beauty/beauty-collections/i-went-low-tox-for-a-year-and-it-changed-my-life/news-story/38f3e04f1822068da79158ff46f3512b

https://www.ewg.org/personal-care-products-safety-act-would-improve-cosmetics-safety

https://www.beautycounter.com/faqs

https://iliabeauty.com/pages/about

https://www.drbronner.com/products/baby-unscented-pure-castile-liquid-soap

https://humblebrands.com/collections/deodorant/products/natural-deodorant-rosemary-mint?selling_plan=3175940310

https://www.scrubd.com/blogs/premium-bodycare-journal-for-men/soap-vs-body-wash

https://luxebeauty.com/pages/our-story

https://www.carinaorganics.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA0oagBhDHARIsAI-Bbgdx2X0r99uMJzZZh-H8hKreV2k0VtZkpKGdA6ioKj6djEKR3TDFLf4aAu-DEALw_wcB

https://www.charliesoap.com/7-reasons-to-go-all-natural-with-your-laundry-detergent/

https://savvyrest.com/blog/your-mattress-toxic-symptoms-solutions