Let’s be blunt - Toxic substances are in our food, households, on our skin, in the air, soil and water.
How to Avoid Toxic Load?
We can’t change the air we breathe, the water in our taps, the soil beneath our feet… but we can reduce the toxic load by limiting:
- Type of exposure
- Direct ingestion/putting in your body is worst
- Degree of exposure
- Check levels/amounts if possible and minimise
- Length of exposure
- Risk from occasional use is far less than everyday
- Total exposure
- Be aware harmful effects are additive and cumulative
Of course we need to know what to look for so let’s start with a list of nasties to keep away from the skin where they may cause a problem and also end up inside your body.
What to avoid putting on your Skin?
- Aluminium
- Sulphates especially sodium lauryl sulphate
- Parabens
- Artificial fragrances
- Formaldehydes
- Benzyl alcohol
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Petrochemical derived ingredients
- Triclosan
- Dimethicone
- Triethanolamine
- Some nanoparticles
- And the acronyms: PABA ; EDTA ; DEA ; TEA ; MEA ; DMDM ; PEGs.
Regrettably some or many of these ingredients are found in popular personal care products.
How do I Avoid These Toxins in Real Life?
In real day to day life we can’t be examining and analysing every product or food!
These suggestions may help limit your family’s toxic risk when it comes to skin care & are a good place to start:
- Choose genuine all-natural personal care products
- Ensure that they are produced in reputable countries
- Go for brands that are super transparent about their ingredients
- Look for independent verification of the brands claims from organisations like
- Safe Cosmetics Australia
- Think Dirty
- EWG
- Look for independent awards that only allow non-toxic products like
- Organic Beauty Awards
- Clean + Conscious Awards
- Global Green Beauty Awards
- Get independent guidance from independent organisations like EWG, Think Dirty or Toxinless.com
Lead by example with your children so they learn to protect themselves too, and don’t hold back in asking companies exactly what’s in their products!
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