part 1: nontoxic 23
We all know that proper nutrition, adequate sleep, consistent movement, and hydration play a critical role in optimal wellness. BUT! Have we stopped to think about the environmental toxins we encounter every single day and the impact they have on our ability to achieve wellness? Let’s explore the nontoxic swaps I’ve made this year and the brands I am LOVING while doing so!
The greatest resource for this transition is the Environmental Working Group — take advantage of their database to learn more about the products you’re using.
Coffee filters - swapped my bleached coffee filters for unbleached, nontoxic coffee filters by If You Care. I use If You Care for all of my kitchen paper needs — parchment paper, muffin tins, and beyond.
Glass food storage containers! While BPA-free plastics do exist, there is research to support the presence of additional components in plastic that can cause harm. Choosing glass when possible is ideal to avoid toxins leaching into your food! I bought mine on Amazon.
Household cleaners! Moving into a new space required LOTS of cleaning. Immediately, I knew this was an opportunity to choose better quality, nontoxic alternatives to get the job done. A few reliable brands include Branch Basics, Grove Collaborative, and Better Life.
Bath salts! I am a SUCKER for a good bath and truly love Dr. Teal’s soaks. However, I also know that these types of soaks (don’t even get me started with bath bombs) are typically loaded with fragrances that can be toxic. Instead, I’m choosing pure Epsom salt and essential oils added to my bath to avoid any potential toxicity. While I may not have the ‘sudsyness’, I know it is much better for my body. Choosing either a standard Epsom salt with pure essential oils or this brand for my next bath!
Tooth paste and all my oral care needs! I’ve been using nontoxic oral products for a while now — whitening strips, tooth paste, and mouth wash. I love the brand Lumineux.
Produce wash! Instead of using any type of store bought spray/wash, I use distilled white vinegar diluted in water to soak and clean my fruits and vegetables.
Dry shampoo! I am only recently stepping into the dry shampoo world as I have trouble avoiding washing my hair with it’s thickness and the impact on my hair from my workouts. Although, it is something I am working on. Check out the EWG website to find out how your dry shampoo ranks! Planning to choose from the best ones listed; brands that are recommended include Be Green Bath and Body, Inna Organic, Beauty Society, Primally Pure, and Acure.
Face cleanser! Celebrating my face cleanser today as it scores a 2 on the EWG Hazard Scale. Check out how the Environmental Working Group scores your face cleanser and consider alternative options!
Dish soap! Move on over Dawn, you’re outta here. Dish soap is another easy swap that anyone can make in their kitchen. Dish soap options include: Branch Basics, ECOS, Molly’s Suds, and Attitude
Opting for digital receipts! This one may shock you, but the paper used for your store receipts are actually considered toxic. Check out this article by the Environmental Working Group to learn more. When possible, opt out of your receipt or have it emailed to you instead. Store receipt contain BPA, otherwise known as bisphenol A:
“A rapidly growing body of scientific evidence strongly indicates that BPS disrupts hormones and harms reproductive, developmental, metabolic and cardiovascular health, just like its predecessor, BPA. Other preliminary evidence suggests BPS may play a role in altering immune function or in the development of certain cancers and asthma.”
Tea bags! Yes, we have to think of everything. I always choose Traditional Medicinals for my teas as they are certified organic, are ethically sourced, and are rigorously tested for heavy metals, microbial contaminants, and more.
From their website:
“What are your bags made of?
Like you, we’re concerned about what goes into our bodies and into the ecosystem. That’s why our compostable tea bags are made from a combination of wood pulp and abacá (Musa textilis), also known as manila hemp. The tea bags are attached with food grade aluminum staple wire to teabag string made of raw cotton (Gossypium spp.) and a paper tea tag. The tea bags are naturally gluten-free and do not contain plastics.”
My favorites by them are their Chamomile Lavender, Nighty Night Tea (original with passionflower) and their Ginger tea.
Perfume! I am SO thrilled to have found a nontoxic perfume/fragrance company. I stumbled upon the brand By Rosie Jane — they are eco-friendly, 100% vegan, and avoid use of over 4,000 ingredients that are considered harmful to health. I also love the brand, Dime Beauty, and recently purchased their fragrance as well.
Deodorant! Another topical product to be aware of. I linked my current deodorant and what I am switching over too — what’s funny is the products are nearly identical, free of parabens, phthalates, and aluminum, BUT — because one contains fragrance and the other is unscented, it bumps it from a 2 to a 5 on the EWG scale. Good rule of thumb: choose fragrance free or unscented as a precaution. Consider the following brands: Beauty Counter and Primally Pure.
Stain remover! Ditch the Tide to Go pens — there’s a new stain remover in town! Stain remover is one of those products that you might not always have in your closet, but when you need it, you need it. I saw this particular one on sale at my local natural market and decided to snag it for the sake of those desperate moments! Check out the one I chose here or consider Molly’s Suds or Grove Collaborative.
Nontoxic tea kettle! This one is unsuspecting but as someone who uses my tea kettle daily, I want to be sure I am supporting my wellness while doing so! Choosing stainless steel is best. Check out this article to help guide your decision!
Sunscreen! While sunscreen protects your skin from the sun, what is protecting your skin from the sunscreen? Interesting turn of events! Consider these brands when shopping sunscreen: Beauty by Earth, Babo Botanicals, All Good, and Ilia.
Dryer sheets! Heavily fragranced, dryer sheets are a product to swap out. Personally, I don’t use dryer sheets too often. Here are a few brands I can recommend: Molly’s Suds and Earth Breeze.
Body wash! Consider these brands as alternatives: Attitude, Babo Botanicals, Honest, and Everyone.
Glass, glass, glass! I have a glass gallon jug that I’ve been refilling at my local natural market with high quality, filtered water and it lead me to thinking about how many swaps we could make just from plastic to glass alone. If you have the option for plastic vs. glass, always choose glass.
Laundry detergent! Consider these brands: Molly’s Suds, Branch Basics, Attitude, and Grove Collaborative.
Mattresses! Was recently in the market for a new mattress and I wanted to be sure I was doing my due diligence in finding one that I love, while also considering how I could also support my health while doing so. I went with Brentwood Home. Brentwood Home is eco-conscious, are organic, and are made without mercury, lead, heavy metals, formaldehyde, phthalates, and more. You can also shop Avocado.
Tampons! I recently purchased a box of Tampax tampons at BJ’s. I realized how toxic tampons likely are as their ingredients are directly absorbed into the body upon insertion. See the brands linked here I am considering on my next purchase!
