Your skin is a living organ. It protects you from irritants and effectively eliminates waste. When you lather things onto your skin, try to remember that your skin also absorbs substances. Not just any substance can pass through the cell membrane, but those that do are absorbed directly into your blood stream. This counts for lotions, soaps, shampoos, oils and more.

The small amount of chemicals found in most commercial products, by the single dose, do not cause serious damage. However, using the same harmful product for many months or years, increasing your exposure, can have a lasting effect. When you choose the right products for your body and home you will see a significant difference in your skin, especially in these late winter months. The winter cold and wind can leave your skin dry and dehydrated. Season changes can also cause upheaval for your skin.

Not all “green” products are as clean as they seem. While the packaging may have you believe it is the better choice, you always have to turn the package over and read the label, just incase it is a marketing ploy. To help you out, here is a run down of some products that are indeed green AND effective. Here are a few product lines researched to be the least harmful (1).

Shampoo/conditioner:

Green Beaver: Canadian company. Clean ingredients list, works with most hair types.

Live Clean: Canadian, 96-98% plant derived, readily available at drugstores and cost effective. While it still contains synthetic scents, they score lower on the toxic scale than some other, more expensive “green” brands. Will leave your hair clean, soft and silky.

Laundry Detergent:

Ecomax: Hypoallergenic, 100% plant based, biodegradable and sustainable, and it works!! Readily available.

ECOS Earth Friendly Products: Found this one at Costco, so its readily available, and it is a very effective natural detergent, considering the price. Available as scented, or non scented, hypo allergenic, biodegradable, palm oil free and uses coconut based derivatives.

All purpose cleaner:

Ecomax All Purpose: Non-toxic, plant based and high performance cleaner. Easy to find and works great for wiping multiple surfaces. I have even used it on a wooden table, and it is gentle enough that it won’t harm the surface.

Dr. Bonners Magic ALL-ONE: Although this one looks like an expensive investment, at $16+/bottle,  it is worth your money! This soap is a truly all purpose cleaner. You can mix it into an all purpose spray, you can make dish soap with it, you can use it to clean your floor, and numerous more actions I have yet to try. It is certified fair-trade, made with organic oils and is scented with essential oils.

Habitations Essentials: I had to add this one to the list, because it is so impressive. This is cleaner is made in Toronto, so it may be hard to find but if you can get your hands on it, it is the BEST green cleaner I have ever encountered. You can spray on your kids toys and feel safe knowing that it is plant based and will actually kill lingering bacteria. You can spray it in your sink, on your dish rack, on your hand towels, your sponges, your cutting board and walk away, knowing it will clean while your gone. Expensive, but you won’t need to buy it as often as your other all-purpose cleaners.

Soap Bars:

Rooted Goddess: Hand-crafted, Castile soap bars, and are minimum 72% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. EVOO helps to replenish moisture and cleanse your skin all at once. They are made with essential oils, natural clay, coconut oil and goats milk. Every bar is of the highest quality, and can be used to help skin conditions such as acne and eczema.

The Soap Works: This Toronto based company uses zero packaging, making them extremely cost effective. They have an outstanding selection of soaps, with a soap suited to each different skin type or condition. Never tested on animals, phosphate free, SLS free, however they do contain palm oil derivatives.

Body Lotions & Body Scrubs:

Rooted Goddess: Locally made and 100% plant based, scented with essential oils and made with coocnut oil so it leaves your skin silky and soft.

Green Beaver: They make multiple types of lotions, including Green Beaver Winter Body lotion, it is economical and available at most health stores, with a clean list of ingredients

Weleda: Amazing quality and is rich in biodynamic and organic ingredients. However, it is more on the expensive side, so if you are trying to be frugal, go with Green Beaver.

Using Oils:

Using pure oils instead of lotions has recently become popular, based on the fact that your skin absorbs the essential fatty acids from the oils, an essential nutrient for the health of your skin. Always look for an oil that is 100% Pure, and not mixed with any other type of fragrance or oil.

For a more neutral oil, try Jojoba oil. It is great for your skin, face and hair and is readily absorbed, without leaving an oily residue. You can try adding 1 tsp of Jojoba oil into your shampoo, conditioner or body wash, to give your skin and hair some extra moisture and nourishment.

Argan oil is a bit more nutritive, for skin that is seeking extra attention from the dry temperatures.

Rose hip oil is great for fine lines, wrinkles and scars, and will rejuvenate your skin naturally.

Brands:

Skin Essence Organics: 100% pure plant based oil and it is a local company based in Toronto.

Cocoon Apothecary: Organic, 100% pure plant oils. Easily absorbed into your skin and hair, and they also make many high-quality, plant based skin care products.

AuraCacia:  All of the oils are available as conventional or organic, 100% pure plant oil. Each oil lists the country of origin and it is always ethically sourced.

Essential Oils:

Doterra: These essential oils are my number 1 choice – therapeutic-grade, meaning they are the most effective quality you can get. They can be added into all purpose cleaners, used for disinfecting, added into the laundry, or into a carrier oil or cream for skin and body care.

AuraCacia: 100% pure essential oil and it is easily accessible, found at most health food stores.

Toothpaste:

Green Beaver: Available at most health stores and Loblaws, it is generally effective with a clean ingredients list.

Jason Smile: Not all Jason products are created equal. Some of their products contain more synthetics than others. However Jason’s toothpaste is very effective and readily available with a clean ingredients list.

Deodorant:

It is very crucial to avoid aluminum based deodorants/antiperspirants. Aluminum is used to literally block your pores to stop you from sweating. Aluminum is a known neurotoxin, and for a body that is already overloaded with toxins, some may have trouble excreting it. Yet when it comes to “natural” deodorant, I think I can speak for everyone when I say “I WANT IT TO WORK!” So these picks are tested, and actually work.

Rooted Goddess: My top choice…locally made by an amazing woman with 100% plant based material and its food grade, so when your skin eats it up, it will actually work to nourish you, as oppose to filling you with more toxins. Yes ladies, it works…60 minutes of Vinyasa Flow and I still smelled of Grapefruit….tried and tested true

Nourish Organics: I have tested this one, and it definitely works. Plant based ingredients, including coconut oil, so it is great for someone who has to shave everyday. A little on the pricey side.

Dom’s Deodorant: Aluminum free, alcohol free, paraben free, phthalate free, cruelty free, organic and vegan. Comes in a recyclable jar, and one jar will last up to 4+ months. If you can get used to the application (its more like a cream) this one really works.

Weleda: Excellent quality, but it is alcohol based, so those of you who have to shave often may not like this one. The lemon scented one really gets the job done.

Over all brand favourite:

You guessed it…Rooted Goddess!!  Locally made, ZERO chemicals and my top choice. Green Beaver comes in close second because it is widely available. This Canadian company has a clean, green ingredients list all-across the board, making them a safe bet with any product you choose. It’s also easily accessible.

Ingredients to look out for:

I am sure you have heard the phrase “estrogen mimicker” and at least one of you is a little fuzzy on what that actually means. So here is a definition: Estrogen Mimicker: Synthetic hormone that imitates estrogen in the body, linked to reproductive  issues for both male and female.

There are so many chemicals found in body-care products its a wonder why people haven’t switched to greener solutions sooner. Most chemicals found on the shelves are estrogen mimickers, carcinogenic, endocrine disruptors that are barely regulated and make their way into our cells, our water supply and wild life. Linked to reproductive issues, cancer and can speed up puberty.

Here is a short list to look out for:

BHA and BHT: Suspected endocrine disruptors, with cancer warnings going up in American states like California.  This one is really bad for aquatic wild life, and is definitely NOT biodegradable which leads to a build up that the ecosystem can’t get rid of.

Parabens: Estrogen mimickers and one preliminary study found it in breast cancer tissue (yikes!)

Sodium Laureth sulphate (SLS): A foaming agent, often contaminated with carcinogenic properties. There is a different form, Sodium lauryl sulphate, which is found in some “green” brands like Seventh Generation. It isn’t as bad as its carcinogenic cousin, but it is an irritant.

Phthalates: Usually disguised as “fragrance” on ingredients lists, this has been banned by the European Union, and there are regulations against it being used in children’s toys. Yet for some reason you can lather it onto your skin, hair and face…

Always read your labels and make informed choices.

Recipe for homemade air-purifying spray:

This simple spray can be used to freshen and purify your bedroom, bathroom, car, or simply sprayed onto your face to awaken your senses. For this you will need a cosmetic-sized spray bottle.

  • 3/4 parts distilled water, rose water or orange blossom water
  • 1/4 part witch hazel
  • 5-10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
  • 5-10 drops of lemongrass essential oil

Fill the spray bottle with water/witch hazel mix. Add essential oils. If you don’t have witch hazel on hand, just use water.

Shake. Spray. Smell. Enjoy!

 

Resources:

  1. Adria Vasil, Ecoholic Body, your ultimate guide to living healthy & looking good, Random House 2012
  2. Kristina Fiore, Bisphenol A Mimics Estrogen, Phthalates Target Testosterone
    http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/12767, 02/28/15

 

Posted in Eco-friendly cleaning, Essential Oils, Skin care