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I only get "fully" ready about 4x/week, but when I do, I use about 20 skincare and beauty products from shower to makeup. In just one year, that is roughly over 4,000 times my body gets exposed to different products!
In this week's YouTube video, I’m talking about why the ingredients in your products matter and what kind of non-toxic, all-natural alternatives I’ve switched since being over 40.
According to the Endocrine Society, there are nearly 85,000 man-made chemicals worldwide, and at least 1,000 of these may be endocrine disruptors.
But as of February 2022, the FDA lists only 11 harmful ingredients prohibited or restricted from use in cosmetics in the US.
So, unfortunately, there are several other harmful beauty ingredients in all kinds of products still on our store shelves.
Basically over 40, we are more like delicate flowers and just more susceptible to chemicals found in our food and everyday products. So, we need to do our best to protect our endocrine system by using non toxic beauty products.
WHAT IS OUR ENDOCRINE SYSTEM?
The endocrine system consists of about 10 glands, such as the thyroid, ovaries, and pancreas. These glands produce chemical messengers called hormones that go into our bloodstream and the fluid surrounding cells.
The hormones are in charge of switching on or off major activities in the body. These include our growth, the development of our brain and nervous system, our reproduction system, our response to stress, as well as our metabolism and blood sugar levels.
HOW DOES ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION HAPPEN?
First, in a normal or desired hormonal response, the hormone locks in or attaches to its perfectly matched cell, and all is well.
However, when disruption of the endocrine system occurs, it can happen in various ways.
To simplify, some chemicals pretend to be natural hormones, like estrogen. These are called xenoestrogens.
Xenoestrogens can basically pick the lock and still attach to the cell receptor. So our body thinks we have more estrogen and builds up in our fat cells, causing confusion and creating more menopausal symptoms.
And lastly, there are other endocrine disruptors that block the response of a hormone to certain receptors altogether. For instance, if your thyroid hormone is blocked from working properly, it could throw it into under or overproduction.
We can’t completely avoid all Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), however, we can make more informed choices to reduce our exposure.
WHAT EDCs SHOULD WE LOOK FOR?
EDCs can also be in plastics, pesticides, cleaning products, and water, but in this video, we’ll just focus on skincare and beauty products.
My two favorite resources for knowing the safety of a product are the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database and the Think Dirty App. They both rate ingredients based on whether they are carcinogenic, hormone disruptors, or allergens.
You can also look for the green “Clean Beauty” label on products in stores like Sephora and Target, but still read the ingredients for any of the following - especially heavy metals.
When looking at your labels, you’ll want to avoid these 10 toxic chemicals:
Parabens
Phthalates
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-Releasing Compounds
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Artificial Fragrances
Mineral Oil and Petroleum Jelly
Oxybenzone and Octinoxate
Toluene
Talc
Heavy Metals
Being aware of these harmful chemicals is the first step towards making informed choices for your skin and overall well-being. Always read labels and choose products that are safe and nurturing for your beautiful self. Learn more about the harmful effects of these EDCs in my video.
MAKING THE SWITCH
Making the switch to toxic-free products takes time and money. This is not an overnight process for most people.
So, here’s my recommendation. Check the labels of the products you are using. As you use up each conventional product or when you need to throw an expired product away, just replace it with a more natural option. You can also start by switching out the toxic products you use daily to limit your exposure.
Check out my Natural Beauty/Skincare Product list in my Amazon Storefront: https://amzn.to/3Me9rLc
Don’t lose heart if you feel like you can’t find an equal alternative to a favorite product. Using one product with a toxic ingredient is still better than using 20 products per day. For me, fragrance is my one downfall, so I just limit it.
Just like eating healthier food, it’s all about progress over perfection! So take small, manageable steps to get your beauty and skincare routine just as clean as you can.
Hope you're feeling FIRED UPP!
Nat