Skin Deep

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Don’t eat too many chips or you’ll break out, right?

We’ve all heard  that drinking gallons of water can not only keep your insides running right, but also help you with clear skin. So it’s no surprise to any of us that what you eat and drink can impact not just your weight and love handles, but also the clearness and elasticity of skin – which also happens to be signs of health.

Skin health is also linked to foods like cabbage, carrots, and pumpkins because they help our skin to release the gabillion toxins that get into our bodies. But just as I am careful of the food I buy, I have become more and more conscious of what I put on my skin. After all, 60% of chemicals get directly absorbed through our skin into our bloodstream - why do you think nicotine patches work?.

We see organic soaps at the farmer’s markets. We’ve written about how BPA can leech into our food. So if we care about what we ingest, why do we sometimes view natural or organic cosmetics and household products a luxury? Yes, I use bamboo pillows (cool to the touch) and my duvet is made of recycled materials. Before you think I have exorbitant amounts of money – I wish – I don’t.

I just don’t have that much stuff.

The few items I do buy I spend a little more money because I’d rather not use a dangerous toxic chemical to clean my dishes, even if it’s on sale for $0.99. I went through my entire house and pulled out all the products that my skin potentially absorbs. I thought I would share them here and why I use them. Three things of note:

• No company paid me for writing about them – I just use them
• This might be TMI – but I’m gonna share with you my daily habits
• This is ALL the household cleansers and toiletries and cosmetics I use.The only exception is that I do have a bottle of that goo-ey orange stuff that helps in sticky situations.  The point is: it doesn’t require a lot of money – just buy fewer, higher quality items.

My day starts with brushing teeth with all-natural Tom’s of Maine. They are free of artificial preservatives and colorings, and do a ton of research. And if you’re like me and you sometimes swallow your toothpaste by mistake, I want to be careful I’m not eating some weird toxin.

I use Avalon Organics for my facial cleanser and moisturizer for several reasons. They’re affordable, the moisturizer has SPF 15 and I’m often forgetful to use it (when I do, my favorite is California Baby – fabulous and doesn’t clog your skin. They are also paraben-free, petroleum-free, and propylene glycol-free (propy-huh?), which is known to negatively impact the kidney and liver. Petroleum doesn’t allow the skin to breathe properly.

What are parabens? They are chemicals that preserve stuff. They are also know to be carcinogenic (link to breast cancer) and screw up your endocrine systems by mocking estrogen.

I don’t use deodorant. OK, before you wrinkle your noses, I use a stone instead, the Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal. They don’t contain the type of aluminum that is tied to kidney problems and if I’m putting this near my lymphnodes, I want to be as safe as possible.

I use an eyeliner by Gabriel Cosmetics, as they also use natural preservatives. I use Earth Science’s Chamomile & Green Tea Eye Make Up Remover – it’s hypo-allergenic, non-irritating, and paraben-free.

Bored of my daily routine yet? In the bathroom, I keep Nature’s Gate Organics soaps and hand moisturizer. They not only smell good, but they are a company dedicated to supporting clean water.

My body wash is from Burt’s Bees, a recognized leader in environmental sustainability and social responsibility. I’m a night showerer, so this feels fabulous after a long day, but you don’t need a lot so a bottle goes a long way.

If you have a dry scalp like me, finding the right shampoo is not easy. TheraNeem Organix uses neem, which is made from the seed of a fruit and rich in fatty acids and anti-oxidants, and known for its positive effects on skin.

My two skin indulgences that I splurge on are my Evan Healy products. I have this terrible sun spot on my cheek and I use their Pomegranate Repair Serum with Sea Buckthorn Oil. Sounds fancy, huh. Sea buckhorn is known to have restorative properties to help with skin sensitivities and serve as an antioxidant.

Their French Rose Clay is also a lovely (and less expensive) way to give myself a facial at home.

And for you ladies, I use Seventh Generation’s Chlorine-Free pantyliners and pads. They’re safe, chlorine-free and absorbant!

Did I gross you out? Sorry…but it’s life. Moving to the kitchen (almost done …), I also use Seventh Generation’s Natural Dish Liquid. They are hypo-allergenic, bio-degradable, and free of phosphates.

This brand also finds its way to my laundry with its Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Detergent. It saves me money because I can use less and it’s non-toxic for my skin.

Kitchen soap is Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, which has “a near neutral pH that makes them safe for skin contact.”

Lastly, my floors and countertops.  I use Method. Their almond Wood for Good Floor Cleaner makes your house smell amazing and their non-toxic cleaners are perfect. They make me feel more comfortable that if I drop some food on the countertop, it’s not going to be touching some dangerous chemical.

Whew. If you got to this line, thanks for sticking with me. It seems like a lot, and I probably could just use vinegar and water in some cases, but given that this is my entire use of personal and household products, I think I’m doing OK. I also like these companies because what they stand for.

It’s amazing when you go through your house, how much stuff has the potential to hurt you – and it’s not only with what we ingest. If you have children or thinking about having them, this is even more important. There’s just a lot we don’t know, but I’d rather be a bit safer. Consider going through your house and do an inventory. You don’t have to spend a lot, just spend it smarter.

A great site to check the safety of your products is from the Environmental Working Group.

Our skin requires healthy food, too.

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Category: Featured Articles: Food Politics, Featured Articles: Health & Nutrition, Food Politics, Health & Nutrition