We all want to keep our homes clean and healthy, but did you know that some of the products you use every day may contain toxic ingredients that can harm your health and the environment? To keep yourself and your family safe, it’s important to be aware of the toxic ingredients that can be found in common household products and how to avoid them. We started our clean living journey many years ago, when we first started having children. We now have 8 children and we are still learning! It is impossible to avoid all toxins, as they are everywhere, but when we know better, we can do better. There are so many toxins we really can’t avoid, but we can control what comes into our homes and what we use on our bodies. 

 

I am extremely passionate about helping other moms switch over their products to safer alternatives, whether that be cleaning products, beauty products, skin care, personal care, fragrances and more. If you need some more help in this area, please do not hesitate to reach out to me on Instagram or Facebook. It truly is my pleasure. A couple years ago, my then 9 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Since then, my passion has only heightened and I want to shout from the rooftops about how important it is to avoid as many toxins as possible. Better, not perfect.

 

---

Important note: our now 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in 2021. While she has finished 2.5 years of treatment and is doing well, we are all pretty traumatized. We will likely never know for sure what caused her cancer, but we have taken steps since to ensure the healthiest and safest home environment possible. It has taken many sacrifices, but you don’t know the value of those sacrifices until you are faced with losing your child every day. This is just one more reason I am so passionate about educating and helping other moms.

---

Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Your Products

 

Phthalates:

These are chemicals that are commonly used in fragrances, plastics, and other consumer products. They have been linked to hormone disruption, developmental problems, and reproductive issues. Phthalates are commonly found in fragrances, air fresheners, plastics, vinyl flooring, shower curtains, and some personal care products such as lotions and shampoos.

 

Triclosan:

This is an antimicrobial agent that is commonly found in hand soaps, toothpaste, and other personal care products. It has been linked to antibiotic resistance, hormone disruption, and environmental damage. Triclosan is found in antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, deodorants, and other personal care products.

 

Formaldehyde:

This is a preservative that is commonly found in cleaning products, cosmetics, and even some clothing. It has been linked to cancer, respiratory problems, and skin irritation. Formaldehyde can be found in some types of pressed wood products, such as furniture, and some clothing items. It can also be found in some cleaning products, cosmetics, and personal care products.

 

Parabens:

These are preservatives that are commonly used in cosmetics, skin care products, and hair care products. They have been linked to hormone disruption, reproductive issues, and cancer.

 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES):

These are foaming agents that are commonly found in soaps, shampoos, and other personal care products. They have been linked to skin irritation, hormone disruption, and environmental damage.

 

What Can You Do?

We realize that even this list can be overwhelming and you may not know where to start. So, how can you avoid these toxic ingredients in the products you use at home? Here are some tips:

 

Read labels carefully:

Look for products that are free of phthalates, triclosan, formaldehyde, parabens, SLS, and SLES. If a product contains any of these ingredients, consider finding an alternative. While this seems simple, it can be a daunting task. Companies do not disclose ingredients readily, nor are they required to. These ingredients also have multiple names that make it hard to know what they are. Unfortunately, the United States is far worse than other countries in this aspect. 

 

The United States only bans about 30 ingredients in our personal care products, while Europe bans over 1400. Beauty products are not nearly regulated enough, which is why we need to educate ourselves.

 

You can not go into your typical box store and expect to find natural, non toxic products on the shelves. The Never List is a list of 2800 ingredients that are never in any Beautycounter product. While it is almost impossible to avoid all these ingredients when you shop, this is at least a good resource to have. If you want to make it easy on yourself, you can save 20% and shop clean beauty, skin and more here, using the code “cleanforall20.”

 

—> SHOP MY FAVORITE TOXIN FREE PRODUCTS HERE <—-

Choose natural alternatives:

Look for products that are made with natural, plant-based ingredients instead of synthetic chemicals. Many online companies now offer natural alternatives to common household products, including cleaning products, personal care products, and more. Shop for some of my favorites here. Earthley is also another favorite store for our family. We get personal care products, home cleaning, all our tinctures and more here.

 

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON NATURAL PRODUCTS

 

Make your own products:

You can also make your own cleaning products, beauty products, and other household items using natural ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils. There are many recipes available online for DIY products that are safe and effective.

 

Use fragrance-free products:

Fragrances can contain a variety of chemicals, including phthalates, that can be harmful to your health. Consider using fragrance-free products whenever possible. We switched from candles to essential oils many years ago. However, we still love to use candles on occasion, and have found these natural candles to be clean and non toxic.

 

By taking these simple steps, you can help to protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of toxic ingredients in household products. Just start with one thing– switch over your makeup or skincare, or cleaning products. Once you have a handle on that one thing, and it works within your budget, decide on the next thing. With a little bit of effort, you can create a healthy and safe home environment that you can feel good about.

 

Like I stated before, I am always willing and available to help you start the non toxic journey with your family. Our online community for moms is another resource and support you can use.

 

THE BEST CLEAN BEAUTY MEMBERSHIP (discounts, free products, free shipping and more!)

Join my mission of getting safer products into homes and creating true change. More info here.