Ten Simple Steps to Reduce Body Burden: Step Three

I hope that Steps One and Two were helpful to you! Switching to safe cleaning and laundry products can reduce a huge amount of the toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis. Starting here at home is our best strategy because this is where most of us spend the biggest part of our 24 hour day.

Now for Step Three:

3. Go to your bathroom and read the shampoo, makeup and moisturizer labels. Ask yourself, "Do I really need scent in these products?" Take stock of all of your other products and try to replace one a week with a safer, greener choice.

My introduction to healthy skin care began nine years ago when Burt's Bees first hit the market. For Christmas, my mom gave me a Burt's Bees gift pack with several skin care products. They all smelled so delicious! I guess that's because they are made with all-natural ingredients like foods, oils or other botanicals. I liked some of the products better than others but I really liked the fact that I wasn't absorbing toxic chemicals through my skin. The next year, my mom gave me their Baby Care Gift Package. This again was an extra special gift since I was really on the lookout for safe baby products.

Thanks to my mom, my transition into healthy skin care was pretty smooth. I know it's not always that simple. It can be downright scary to switch from a "real" antiperspirant to a natural product you have no idea will work!


Sloan recommends replacing one product per week. That certainly would be a good thing. Or, you could choose the three products you use most, like your face cleanser, toner and moisturizer or your shampoo, conditioner and bath gel. Switch these three main products with a non-toxic alternative. Then, add in the rest as you run out.


I've been in the "healthy skin care" market for nine years now. I've tried an abundance of products! Some have performed well, some beneath my expectations. This is what I've been using for the last two years. And I am very pleased.


So what's in personal care products that we want to stay away from? Check out the Environmental Working Group website. You'll find a list of the hazardous ingredients to lookout for, plus several articles about personal care products... or, just give me some time and I'll post my comments about the most significant ones.