More Natural Personal Care Products

Green personal care products

There's a long list of products you should avoid. The best rule of thumb is if you can't pronounce it, there's a good chance it's not good to put on your body.

Consider downloading the Healthy Living App and scanning products to see how they rate on a scale of 1-10. (1 being very green, and 10 being toxic.)EWG app logo

Try to look at products with a wholistic lens: the company producing it and where they harvest the ingredients, the container it's in- can it be reused or recycled?, and the ingredients themselves.

(Keep in mind, products you use end up in the water so it doesn't stop with your body absorbing them!) 



Soap

  • The most environmentally friendly choice is a bar of soap with no covering to cut back on plastic.
  • Avoid artificial dyes and fragrance.
  • Stay away from parabens, sulfates, phosphates, and phthalates.
  • Look for a location you can refill liquid soap at.


Facial Products

  • Look for limited ingredients, organic, and palm oil free
  • Purchasing at a health food store is typically a good bet for green options
  • Stay away from fragrance!
  • Consider creating your own face masks with fruits and vegetables. (Don't forget to compost when you're done!)

Feminine Products

  • Make sure to only use 100% organic cotton or bamboo tampons to avoid chemicals and off-gassing.
  • Consider reusable pads and period underwear.
  • Menstrual cups have been shown to eradicate, or minimalize cramps and period symptoms. 

Makeup

  • Visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to learn more and find out which companies are more reputable.
  • "Cruelty-free" and "No animal testing" are labels that are not regulated or verified
  • Instead look for the Leaping Bunny logo which indicates a pledge not to conduct or commission animal testing in accordance with the Coalition on Consumer Information on Cosmetics. CCIC also has a list of companies certified as refraining from animal testing.
  • Finding makeup at health food stores like Natural Grocers is usually a good place to start.

Deodorant

  • Avoid antiperspirants- sweating releases toxins, you're supposed to sweat!
  • Look for herb-scented deodorants instead of "fragrances"
  • Find a location that has a refillable deodorant stick. (Fill and Refill in Edwards).

Sunscreen

  • Higher SPF sunscreens contain higher concentrations of chemicals.  
    • SPF 15 prevents 93% of the suns radiation
    • SPF 30 prevents 97% of the suns radiation
    • SPF 50 prevents 98% of the suns radiation
    • SPF 100 prevents 99% of the suns radiation 
  • Use the type that provides "broad spectrum protection" including UVA and UVB
  • Mineral sunscreens like zinc oxide and titanium oxide are great, but if you can, look for those ingredients that are NOT "micro-sized" or show "non-nano". This means the zinc oxide and titanium oxide don't have the opportunity to seep into your skin. If it shows up white, that's a good sign. 
  • Being "reef friendly" is not regulated. 


Dental hygiene

  • Fluoride is harmful if swallowed or overused, with toothpaste ingestion remaining the main source of fluoride toxicity. You might want to use a natural toothpaste that does not have fluoride.
  • Consider looking for compostable, zero waste floss, and/or reusable floss holder.
  • Did you know Listerine used to be used for surgical antiseptic and floor cleaner? Instead of killing off germs both good and bad, consider using a metal tongue scraper to rid yourself of mouth bacteria.


Insect Repellent

  • If using DEET, make sure to use repellant with less than 30% DEET and do not spray on skin.
  • Wash off as soon as you get back indoors.
  • Plants such as citronella, lemongrass, eucalyptus, pennyroyal, neem, lavender, cedarwood, cloves, peppermint, and many other oils have proven to repel insects as well.
  • Notice how some people are more susceptible to mosquito bite than others? Test out different sprays that mix with your scent to see what works best for you.