That can’t be true, can it??
I was as surprised as you are about to be when I found out that the chemicals found in normal beauty products could be deregulating my hormones and leading me to:
- Store fat
- Have low energy
- Make me irritable
- Cause digestive issues
- Create heart palpitations!
WTAF???
Endocrine disruptors are defined as chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system.
The endocrine system are glands and organs that produce hormones.
EDC’s (endocrine disrupting chemicals) can imitate hormones and destroy others while creating internal signalling issues that cause premature cell death.
Crazy, right?
These kinds of products are everywhere, and the marketing on them tells me that I’m going to be ageless and radiant – not fat, tired, and sick!
And putting these products on our skin (especially when the pores are open in, or after a warm shower or bath) means that these products have direct access into our bloodstream. (Think of how a nicotine patch delivers nicotine, through the skin, directly into the bloodstream.)
The average woman uses around twelve products daily on her skin, which includes roughly 126 different ingredients 90% of those ingredients have ever been researched!
Whilst there are many, the main 5 to avoid are:
1. Parabens
Parabens are cheap preservatives that are put in a lot of cosmetic products that can wreak havoc on the hormone estrogen and can increase breast cancer risk.Parabens are one of the most talked-about endocrine disruptors. They are found in things like shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and face cleaners.Parabens can be called many different names such as: butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, and methylparaben. Just avoid anything that has a paraben at the end of it.
2. Fragrance
Fragrances are rife in cosmetic and beauty products. No one is really sure what’s in it because manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients that make up a fragrance. What is known is that it can be any number of over 3000 chemicals.
So if all the label says is “fragrance,” assume it’s a secret chemical cocktail that may be damaging for your health.
You will also want to avoid using any air fresheners including plug-in air fresheners, dryer sheets, candles, and many cosmetic and self-care products like deodorant.
Now, I know that is a long list of things to avoid but it doesn’t mean you can’t still wear makeup, or deodorant it just means that you need to be selective with the options that you choose. I share some of my favourites with you (see resources at the bottom) so you can see just how easy it is to avoid these toxic chemicals.
3. Phthalates
These chemicals are common in many cosmetics and are well-known for causing a range of issues, including reproductive dysfunction, congenital disabilities, asthma, diabetes, and ADHD.
They’re used in many products to make them more liquid, like moisturizers and skin lotions.
They are also found in certain plastics and can get into our food if we consume things like butter or milk from plastic containers.
When talking about cosmetics, you will want to avoid things like perfumes, as well as moisturizers, eye shadows, nail polishes, shampoos, and conditioners that contain phthalates.
To help you identify these ingredients, look for items listed as DBP (dibutyl phthalate) DEP (diethyl phthalate), BBP (benzyl butyl phthalate), or similar.
4. Triclosan or Microban
These are chemicals used to prevent bacterial growth, but neither of them discriminate between your good and bad bacteria and may be responsible for the rise of superbugs and other dangerous illnesses.
These were banned from antibacterial soaps several years ago; HOWEVER, they’re still allowed and common in deodorants, shaving products, creams, colour cosmetics, and more.
5. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a common ingredient used as a foaming agent in soaps and shampoos, it is also the same chemical found in many floor cleaners and even engine degreasers. It is crazy to think that an industrial product like SLS would be allowed to wind up in our bottle of shampoo or hand soap.
It’s typically safe when used briefly and rinsed from the skin.
But it’s also used as a thickening agent in facial creams, lotions, cleansers, and hair dye, which your skin absorbs. SLS has been linked to endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, skin irritation, and even cancer.
The best way to avoid this chemical is to opt for shampoos, body washes, hand soaps, and toothpaste brands that are labelled as “SLS free.”
What to Use Instead?
Now that you might be thinking of eliminating certain products from your beauty routine (if you feel overwhelmed, just finish up what you’re currently using, then make the switch to better alternatives) I want to share some of my favourites.
The great news is that some safe and natural alternatives will work just as well as what you may be used to without the harmful effects endocrine disruptors have on the body.
1. Essential Oils
One of my favourite non-toxic options for beauty and self-care products is the use of essential oils. These oils are great alternatives to fragrance and for skin-care. They smell so much better than anything that would come out of a synthetic lotion bottle!
I love to diffuse essential oils, which smell even better than the candles with their synthetic fragrances that I used to love, but also have an amazing effect on calming the nervous system, boosting the immune system, and uplifting the mood. (This is only true of therapeutic grade essential oils, many are made from synthetics! See here for my favourite brand.)
To learn more about essential oils grab my Beginners Guide here.
Join our Wellness Buddies Facebook group which has tons of resources, including natural healthy skincare & green cleaning.
2 Homemade Products
If you are feeling adventurous and want to stay away from all store-bought options, you can always make your own skin and beauty products.Here are some simple DIYs:
- Laundry Detergent https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/diy-powder-laundry-detergent
- Whipped body cream https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/diy-whipped-body-butter
- Liquid dish soap https://www.doterra.com/US/en/blog/diy-dish-soap
- Candles: https://www.breatheeatmeditate.com/blog/2020/12/18/it-s-easy-to-make-your-own-candles/
We have a whole section on ton-toxic skincare and green cleaning in our wellness buddies facebook group, which you can join here.
3 Makeup
I love the brand Tropic.
They are committed to using non-toxic and vegan ingredients.
Don’t stress Toxins are found everywhere and the more educated we are about the products that we put on and in our body, the better we can protect our body and stay in vibrant health. But, please don’t stress if you’re only finding out about this information now, after all you can’t change the past.
As Maya Angelou says, ‘Do the best you can, until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.’
Interested in learning more? Join my Essentials for Women’s Health Workshop, register here.
Do you suffer from:PMSWeight that won’t shiftMood swingsHeadachesLow energyTrouble sleepingYes to any or all of the above?
It could be because your hormones are imbalanced.Hormones control more than just our cycle and pregnancy, they are super important to our overall health.We’ll be sharing some simple practical steps that you can take to re-address this balance in our online workshop.You will learn:- What hormones are- Why they become out of balance- What essential oils are- How they work in the body- About the importance of nutrition and digestive health- Lifestyle factors that contribute to hormonal imbalance and how to address these factors- An invitation to join our 5 day challenge so that you can start feeling amazing again.
We’d love to see you there. Xx
