Greetings!
Here’s a bit of a shocker: Did you know your favorite ORGANIC skin and personal care products could contain some toxins?
We spend a lot of time and money carefully picking our beauty and skincare products. After all, we only want to put the very best stuff on our face and body.
But, surprisingly, some so-called organic products have a lot of toxins in them. I kid you not.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it deserves your mindful attention because self-care can actually be self-harming if we’re not careful.
While some of these toxins can irritate the skin, what’s more concerning is that every time you slather on your favorite body lotion or facial serum, toxic chemicals are potentially entering your body. They could be traveling through your bloodstream and accumulating in your organs. Over time, these toxins can potentially cause serious health issues like autoimmune diseases and cancer.
I was shocked when I first discovered this in 2017 when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition.
With a little investigating, I revamped all of my bathroom products.
In my research, I discovered that even a product like Aveeno contains gluten that was irritating my skin and affecting my digestive health. At the peak of my suffering, I wasn’t able to tolerate many foods. And I had severely itchy skin.
While I had eliminated gluten from my diet, my gut wasn’t able to completely heal until I addressed the source of gluten in everything. That included all of my personal care products. In fact, gluten can be found in toothpaste, deodorant and shampoos. While not exactly a toxic chemical, I mention gluten because many people have an allergy or sensitivity to it – making it “toxic” to their health.
As a result of my personal health challenges, my interest in this topic has grown and I’m always fascinated to learn about the most current research.
So, here’s the alarming thing about organic beauty and personal care products: the term “organic” doesn’t mean much in an industry that’s largely unregulated. A product could have 1-2 organic ingredients among mostly synthetic ingredients. And it still could be called “organic” or “natural”.
What are these 6 deadly toxins?
Let’s take a look:
1. Parabens – they are known to cause major health problems because they affect the proper functioning of hormones and cell function that can cause major health problems. They also increase fat storage in your body.
2. Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids (Lactic and Glycolic Acids) – contrary to what you would think they speed up the appearance of aging skin, and recent studies show they don’t prevent it. These acids can actually double UV-induced cellular damage to your skin.
3. Hydroquinone & Benzophenone – are linked to skin and other forms of cancer. Some studies have shown they are potentially toxic to your kidneys, liver and eyes. They can also cause a skin condition called ochronosis, that causes your skin to thicken and turn bluish-grey. These chemicals are so toxic that they’ve been banned in Europe.
4. Octinoxate – also called octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), this is a UV filter that mimics hormones and could lead to breast cancer and thyroid dysfunction.
5. Fragrances – this is a catch-all term that includes thousands of toxic chemicals including carcinogens, allergens and hormone disruptors. The number of adults that have reactions to fragrances is skyrocketing with 35% of US adults reporting health problems when exposed to products containing fragrances. I’m one of these people who gets a migraine whenever I walk through the cosmetics counter in a department store – I dread it.
6. PFA’s and PEG’s – these chemicals are often disguised as “fluoro” something and are linked to causing cancer, immune dysfunction, thyroid disease and liver damage.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
Holistic healthcare experts recommend that you buy USDA Certified Organic products. Or look for the ones that have the non-GMO label on them. In Canada, you might not find these labels at all. So you’re on your own to discover which products are truly organic.
USDA Certified Organic means the product is free of synthetics like chemical fertilizers, pesticides and dyes. It also means the product wasn’t processed using irradiation, industrial solvents or genetic engineering. You want to buy non-GMO products.
I have a simple grounding tip for you: Sort through your skin and personal care products carefully, especially if you haven’t been feeling well. Check the ingredients to see if these toxins are present. Then decide to toss them out.
Replace them with truly organic and all-natural products and see if your health improves. Be patient. It could take a few days before there’s any noticeable improvement.
Curious to know which skin and personal care products I use?
***I’m thrilled to announce my new online storefront in time for the holiday season!***
Check out my personal favorites at the Grounded in Love Storefront, at discounted prices for you to try 😊
Here are some of them, with special holiday pricing:
All-natural, organic skincare products from The Ayurveda Experience
3 All-in-One All-natural Ayurveda eye and body care formulations
SkinRnR all-natural, organic day and night cream, holiday bundle
SkinRnR all-natural, organic hand and body cream
SkinRnR all-natural & organic acne solution kit that works!
SkinRnR all natural, organic eye brightening cream
Give your body some love today and throw out anything toxic that could be harming you through your skin.
After all, your skin is an important doorway to your overall health. It deserves only the very best, purest self-care products as nature intended.