Almost 8 months ago now we made the decision to go ‘chemical free’ in our home and our lifestyle. It seemed the natural step after understanding the importance of what we put in our body i.e. food. Research just gradually led us to discovering that what we put on our body, breathe in through our lungs and cleaned my environment in all matters too. We were really motivated by just wanting to teach our kids to live the best life possible by making wise decisions. We see so many kids who are being taught that McDonald’s and other fast food places is like a rite of passage and we constantly hear “if you’re “good” we’ll go to that fast food place with the playground”. Then parents are wondering why there’s a rise in children’s diseases like cancers and other immune disorders. If we know better we should do better. Well we KNOW that we want a better life than that for our kids.
The first step we took was a mass clean out of the kitchen & bathroom. We threw out a 3 huge garbage bags of products that were not suitable. It was amazing how much ‘stuff’ we had accumulated over time and simply didn’t use! This was rather therapeutic and cleansing plus it cleared up a lot of space in our house.
Here’s a list of some of the ingredients that were removed from our home.
Lead: It seems crazy, but according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC), more than 60% of popular lipsticks contain lead. Brands with the highest lead levels were L’Oreal, Maybelline, Cover Girl and Revlon. And an FDA study found lead in hundreds of lipsticks (five of the 10 most lead-contaminated were made by L’Oreal). Lead is a proven neurotoxin, and its particularly dangerous for pregnant women and children.
Triclosan: Triclosan is a suspected endocrine disrupter, meaning it messes with your hormones and could lead to fertility problems (in men and women), breast cancer and thyroid issues (they’re particularly dangerous for fetuses and tween/teen girls). Because triclosan is antimicrobial, it’s found in deodorants, toothpaste and soap (including Bath & Body Works soaps). But studies have shown no evidence that it’s better than soap and water at killing germs.
Formaldehyde: Formaldehyde is present in more beauty products than you’d think, even though it’s been classified as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Though there’s been outcry about formaldehyde in chemical hair straighteners, it can also be found in nail polish, face wash and makeup. DMDM-Hydantoin, a preservative that releases formaldehyde, is also common in shampoos. Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin – These are formaldehyde donors, which means that they are derivatives of the formaldehyde, which is what scientists and morticians use to preserve corpses and body parts. Remember dissecting frogs in school? These chemicals are linked to allergies, chest pain, chronic fatigue, depression, dizziness, ear infections, headaches, joint pain, loss of sleep, and can trigger asthma. They can weaken the immune system, and—surprise surprise—cause cancer. Imidazolidinyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin are used in skin, body and hair products, antiperspirants, and nail polish.
Toluene: Found in nail polish, perfume and hair dye, toluene can cause dizziness, headaches and skin irritation. It also poses special danger to developing fetuses, upping risk of both miscarriage in moms and birth defects in babies. The European Union banned its use in cosmetics in 2004. It might also appear on labels as phenylmethane, methylbenzene, or toluol.
Hydroquinone: Hydroquinone is one of the most toxic chemicals still used in cosmetics today. A carcinogen in and of itself, it can also increase exposure to UV rays (thereby upping risk for skin cancer, too). It’s most commonly found in skin-lightening products, but it’s also found in hair relaxers, hair dye, hair-extension glue, hair removers and sunless tanning products. The FDA moved to ban its use in these products back in 2006, but never has.
Phthalates: Used to preserve color and scents in makeup, phthalates are endocrine disruptors that have been linked to cancer, sperm damage and reproductive problems. Phthalates are often added to synthetic fragrances, which are uber-common in soaps, lotions, cleansers and hair care products. Because products are allowed to list ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient without specifying what that means, many products contain phthalates even though their ingredient lists don’t.
Parabens: Used as a preservative in cosmetics, shampoos and lotions, parabens are also endocrine disruptors that have been linked to breast cancer and male reproductive problems. Look out for ingredients methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben and propylparaben. Banned by the European Union in 2003, phthalates and parabens are a group of chemicals commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. They keep hairsprays sticky and bacteria and fungus out of things like nail polish and perfume. Both have demonstrated themselves to be carcinogenic and particularly linked to breast cancer.
DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine): These three chemicals are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing agents—research indicates a strong link to liver and kidney cancer. They are commonly found in shampoos, soaps, bubble baths, and facial cleansers.
Quaternium-15: Commonly causes allergic reactions and dermatitis, and breaks down into formaldehyde. Quarternium-15 is used as a preservative in many skin and hair care products.
Mineral Oil: A petroleum derivative that coats the skin like Saran Wrap, which prevents the skin from breathing, absorbing, and excreting. It also slows the skin’s natural cell development, causing the skin to age prematurely. Note that baby oil is 100% mineral oil—and 100% bad for your baby’s sensitive skin.
PEG (Polyethylene Glycol): PEGs are most commonly used in spray-on oven cleaners and in many hair and skin products. PEG’s main functions are to dissolve oil and grease. Thus, on the body, they take the protective oils off the skin and hair, making them more vulnerable to other toxins.
Before we threw everything out we had researched several brands that were going to be our “clean” replacements. Be careful when searching for safe brands that you still take the time to read the ingredients. Remember there are no laws that govern the use of words like “natural” or “clean” companies can slap those words on anything to draw you into buying it.
For our home products and personal care items we went with all Mōdere products. Excellent everyday essential items: laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, shampoos, amazing skin care line and much more. If you’d like to try out a product from Mōdere simply use this code 600574 at check out for a FREE $10.00 with NO Minimum purchase.
Now this part is for all the ladies out there… Did you check your make-up for these toxic ingredients? I was shocked to find out how much junk was in my so called natural mineral make-up.
Considering how easily the chemical and synthetic additives in commercial lipsticks, glosses, and balms are ingested, it’s doubly important to buy all-natural or organic lip and face care products. Popular makeup products, including lipsticks and glosses, use an array of chemical ingredients, from pigments and dyes to fragrances and flavorings, that can harm one of the most sensitive parts of your body. Why expose yourself to possible dangers when you don’t have to?
So to help make it a little easier for you here are a few companies you can look to for healthier cosmetics:
Foundation Options: Painted Earth
Eye Shadow Options: ZAO
Mascara Options: LashLuxe PE
Lip Options: Au Naturale Liner , LipStick , Gloss
Anti-Aging Skin Care: M1 by Mōdere (I highly recommend this product! If you are looking to improve the health of your skin this M1 is amazing. I wanted to get away from wearing so much make-up and decided to focus on improving the health of my skin so I could be confident enough to not feel that NEED to cover it all up. Check out my before & after photos here: Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4.)
We hope this helps you in your journey to live clean. We have learned a lot in a short amount of time and we just want to share our passion for living the best life possible and for us that means a clean healthy lifestyle. If you have any questions or need help searching out some other safe products let us know we’d be happy to help!