Toxic Skin Care

Skincare is a huge topic when it comes to our toxic exposure today. Our skin is the biggest organ in our bodies, and what we put onto it gets directly absorbed into our cells and blood stream. If you stop and think about the amount of products you use each morning just to have a shower, moisturise, do your makeup and hair, the chemicals that go into all of those products is truly staggering. Especially when you factor in modern skincare and its plethora of toxic chemical ingredients, some known to be carcinogenic and others known to be neurotoxic in nature, yet others known to contribute to infertility, and the list goes on. Headaches, joint pains, depression, gut inflammation and hormone disruption can also arise from toxins found in our seemingly safe skincare.

We wouldn’t knowingly put these products onto our precious skin, and many major skincare companies don’t advertise the reality of what goes into their products. There are also no regulations as to what goes in skincare, so companies can put all manner of toxic ingredients into products in the name of beauty. The more we are exposed to these chemicals, the more they build up in our bodies. Over time we can accumulate enough toxic matter to really put a dampener on our health. Therefore it is up to us to do the research ourselves, to listen and to learn how we can do better.

The good news is that there are some beautiful, ethical and responsible skincare brands out there today, with products that work beautifully and keep both us and the environment safe.

When purchasing skincare products for yourself and your family always look for the following:

• Paraben and phthalate free
• Preservative and parfum/fragrance free
• No petrochemicals
• Not tested on animals
• Choose organic products with botanical ingredients

You can also search for products on the environmental working groups skin deep database here

This database rates products based on their ingredients, gives you information on what the ingredients may do to your health, and puts the power in your hands as the consumer. It’s a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn more about non toxic skincare.

Another beautiful site for information and chemical free products is Nourished Life. Everything on this website is toxin free and rigorously tested for safety.