As we strive to increase our health and awareness we all come to a realization that many of our household products contain chemicals that are actually harmful to us, our pets, or the environment.

Did you know that many of the common products we use each day for personal hygiene and care contain around 168 ingredients?  Since the average woman will use 12 different personal care products a day that is a lot of possible toxins to sort through!

When we get up in the morning it is common to use toothpaste, soap, shampoo & conditioner, shaving cream, body wash, lotion, makeup, deodorant, and even hair styling products.

While not everything we use is harmful there are many products that contain chemicals that will mess with our hormones and cause serious health issues. Some of the most common ingredients to watch out for are dioxins, phthalates, and parabens.

“12.2 million adults – one of every 13 women and one of every 23 men – are exposed to ingredients that are known or probable human carcinogens every day through their use of personal care products.” [2]

If you come into contact with these chemicals once or twice your body can detox from them, but when you use them every day they build up in your system and your body can’t keep up with the toxic load.

“One of every 24 women, 4.3 million women altogether, are exposed daily to personal care product ingredients that are known or probable reproductive and developmental toxins, linked to impaired fertility or developmental harm for a baby in the womb or a child.

These statistics do not account for exposures to phthalates that testing shows appear in an estimated three-quarters of all personal care products but that, as components of fragrance, are not listed on product ingredient labels” (EWG et al. 2002).

When you decide that you want to live a more pure, higher quality life do some research and find products that that will improve your self-care. You can also check out resources such as the Think Dirty App and the EWG Healthy Living App to help you find what you are looking for. Continue reading →