Switching over to safer products can seem like a daunting process. Most of us have been using certain brands that we really enjoy for quite some time and are hesitant to try something new. It was only a few years ago that I became aware of the fact that the things I was using on my skin were potentially harmful. I’ve always been mindful of exercise and nutrition, it’s where my main focus has been for the past 12+ years. So when I started doing research into chemicals and toxins that are in our every day products I thought, “Great, yet another thing for me to focus on and read about.” I mean, how bad could my deodorant, makeup, face wash and lotion really be? (By the way, click here to read about my current 5 minute morning skincare routine!)
Fast forward to my current self, sitting on the couch writing this blog post. My world has shifted a bit. Instead of coaching others only on nutrition and fitness, I’m now very aware of and realize the importance of living a well-rounded healthy life. This means eating well, moving often, using safer skincare, cosmetics and cleaning products, sleeping on organic mattresses etc. The amount of crap we come into contact with each and every day is somewhat terrifying and while I’m not walking around in a plastic bubble, I am trying to make sure my home and lifestyle are as clean as possible. Especially before we have a little family of our own to care for.
Fact of the day: The European Union has banned/ restricted 1,400 ingredients from personal care products. Canada has banned 600. The United States has banned a whopping 30. Now that is scary.
Did I switch all of my products all at once? Heck no. That would’ve been very overwhelming and expensive. I started with one and as I ran out of others I began to replace them with safer alternatives. It’s important I share this with you and if you can take one piece of advice from this and say, get a safer deodorant, you’ve just done something wonderful for yourself and your body, which makes me very happy!
Cool tip: Use this website (there’s also an app) to search what you’re currently using and see how they score. I was shocked at how harmful some of the things I was using were!
Here are the products I started with:
Deodorant: I’ve tried so many different brands and nothing comes close to my favorite, Primally Pure. My pits don’t get irritated (which happens to many of us when using a safer brand) and I don’t stink! Trust me, living in hot Charleston and being a personal trainer, not smelling is very important. I don’t think there’s a better kind out there, this stuff amazes me. I use both the charcoal and the geranium. Mike uses the tea tree and the lemongrass. A little piece of advice: you do NOT need a lot of this. 1-2 swipes and I’m good for the entire day! I also love their Everything Spray and spray it on my pits after I shave, plus I use it as a face toner!
**Use the code CaitM10 to get 10% off of your first Primally Pure order!
Sunscreen: This one is also so important because I slather this on every day. And our skin is our largest organ, so we want to be using high quality products that aren’t harmful!
I use Beautycounter’s sun protection and love it. Here are the benefits:
- Formulated with non nano zinc oxide and antioxidant rich California poppy to protect against UVA, UVB and BLUE LIGHT! Blue Light has been found to be just as harmful as the UVA and UVB rays and contributes to hyperpigmentation, premature aging and oxidative stress
- It’s reef friendly! You won’t find oxybenzone or Octinoxate in this sunscreen! These sun filters are known to contribute to the collapse of coral reefs. Hawaii just banned them, woohoo!
- For the sunscreen mist option: Innovative air powered continuous mist that goes on white to help with application, but leaves no white residue. Non-aerosol, bag-on-valve actuator system delivers the convenience of a spray without the potential of harmful propellant chemicals going into the atmosphere or into your skin. Particle size of the non nano zinc oxide has been evaluated to ensure there is no potential risk of respiration when sprayed.
There’s a lotion, mist, travel mist and body stick. I’ll be using the lotion and mist on repeat all summer long!
Shop the sunscreen here
Lip balm & lip gloss: I use and love this lip balm (peppermint and grapefruit are my faves). For lip gloss I’m obsessed with this one in bare shimmer, it really moisturizes too!
Toothpaste: Jāsön is our favorite and we’ve tried a bunch. I like this kind in particular!
Shaving Cream: I wanted a shaving cream that still lathered up nicely and Kiss My Face is one I’ve been using for a few years now! I always get the lavender but they have a few different kinds.
There you have it, the first few things I began switching over to during my quest toward safer products. If I remember correctly, I purchased the deodorant first and then did sunscreen, toothpaste, lip balm and shaving cream. Hopefully this is helpful as I know how overwhelming it can be when looking for quality brands that don’t just slap a “natural” label on the packaging. If you have any questions about this please email or message me on Instagram <3
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