It's a rotten, stinking shame that most commercially produced bath and body products contain toxic chemicals. I wish that I could click my heels together three times and wake up in a world where a girl could shop without worrying about carcinogens and neurotoxins. Alas, that world is just a dream. In reality, it takes some serious scrutiny to stock our bathrooms with safe products.
Luckily, we have the Environmental Working Group on our side. The folks at EWG have done the hard work for us of compiling an ever-growing database cataloging almost any commercial beauty product you can think of. If it comes from a big company, EWG probably has it profiled in the Skin Deep Database, where you can check out its overall safety score and find out how safe or sketchy it really is. Each individual ingredient is given a safety score as well, and you can read about what makes the product or ingredients dangerous. EWG also offers some handy-dandy consumer guides that make finding the safest possible cosmetics really easy.
- Skin Deep Database: Search for safety information on any product
- Skin Deep Database: Browse products by category to find the safest options
- Skin Deep App: Search for safety information as you shop using your Apple or Android smartphone
- EWG Consumer Guide: Best Sunscreens with SPF
- EWG Consumer Guide: Best Beach Sport Sunscreens
I realize that the idea of our cosmetics being toxic is pretty overwhelming. In fact, the very idea can seem so daunting that it might even be construed as far fetched. Before you write the whole thing off as a tin-foil hat conspiracy, check out this video from Heather White, EWG's executive director. She does a really great job of explaining some of the documented and researched dangers of commercial cosmetics and how our current systems allow these dangerous products to make it onto shop shelves.
Of course, another option is to take matters into your own hands and start making your own beauty products. I'm a big supporter of that option for a few reasons. First off, it is the best way to know without a doubt what is in your products. Going DIY can also save you a ton of money, especially if you keep things simple. Finally, making your own products is easy and really pretty fun. If you're interested in learning more about how to replace your store-bought products with a handmade routine please sign up for my book's mailing list. The Natural Beauty Solution will be coming out this Spring and will include game plans and recipes to help you ditch commercial products completely.
