Letβs take a look at some ingredients you want to say no to in your
πΉππ»π ππΈπβ
Phenoxyethanol-it is damaging to your DNA, neurotoxin-especially to babies. It is a very “green washed” ingredient.
Fragrance-any given fragrance mixture can contain up to 3000 chemicals and has been linked to reproductive issues, respiratory distress, allergies, and more.
BHT-used as a synthetic preservative and is linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and many more health concerns.
There are several more toxic ingredients to look out for but these are easy to spot!
Safe Alternatives
*Alaffia (the ones that do not contain fragrance)… Click here-> Alaffia Body Wash
Our skin is our largest organ and it has the ability to absorb up to 64% of what we apply to it and some studies have shown our underarms and privates can absorb 100%!
It takes a minimum of 26 seconds of some ingredients we apply to our skin to be absorbed into our blood stream. So it is very important that we pay close attention to what we apply daily to our bodies!
As always I am happy to take a look at an ingredient list for you to help decipher if it is safe or not!
I personally have never been able to use a shaving cream as I always broke out in horrible razor burn every time I tried. But, when I used regular body wash my legs would itch and itch SO badly. I FINALLY found a solution in my toxin free Gentle Cleansing Bar and it is all I will ever use to shave my legs now. The gentle soap moisturizes my legs while shaving so I have zero itch after shaving for the first time in my dang life!
Chances are, youβll use shaving products every day or every week for decades of your life. Even if it takes just two or three minutes to shave every day, this amounts to around a thousand hours of exposure to whatever chemicals are in those products or more if you use toxic aftershave or lotion after shaving.
β Phenoxyethanol β A member of the glycol ether family and is the product of the reaction of highly corrosive phenol with carcinogenic ethylene oxide. As a result, it may contain residue amounts of both. The American Society of Contact Dermatitis lists phenoxyethanol as one of its core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 1%.
β Fragrance β A chemical mixture of over 3k components used to create or mask a specific scent. The FDA does not require the disclosure of individual ingredients used to create fragrances. Many ingredients of fragrances are associated with contact allergy and may contain diethyl phthalate.
β Propylene glycol β It is a controversial ingredient associated with skin irritation. Numerous patch tests on humans have shown that it has a very low risk of causing a skin reaction even at concentrations as high as 20%.
β Petrolatum β There is strong evidence that mineral oil hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminant of the human body, amounting to approximately 1 g per person. There have been studies done on women post delivery and scientists have found these contaminants in breast milk as well! -> The scariest of these possible contaminants is called 1,4 dioxane, an impurity found in 22 percent of all petroleum-based cosmetics that is a known human and animal carcinogen.
One awesome gal shared that she uses Dr. Bronnerβs Shave Gel and it passes with flying colors
β Lots of organic ingredients
β Toxin free
I personally have only ever had success with my favorite Gentle Facial Bar. It is the first time in my life that my legs donβt itch after I shave and has been a literal god send.Β
β Lots of organic ingredients
β Toxin free
β RSPO certified sustainable palm oil
β Vegan
β Zero Waste
β Cruelty Free
β Made in the USA
PS – have a safe swap request? Drop it below!
To learn more about the gentle cleansing bar I mentioned and get access to half priced and free products, you’ll want to hop over to my community on FB π https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/ β€οΈ I’ll see you over there!
So, I stumbled upon this company on instagram and thought it was definitely worth sharing. It is called Natural Dog Company and the post mentioned 100% organic products, so obviously I wanted to do some digging to see if it was greenwashed or not.Β
Iβm ordering the Paw Soother, PawTection, and Skin Soother for my pups. Check out the ingredients:
So much better than the other creams Iβve found for itchy paws that contain ingredients such as:
β Propylene Glycol
β Petroleum
β EDTA
β Diazolidinyl Urea
β Fragrance
If you’re not sure why those ingredients are bad or you just want to continue learning about living a more toxin free life, please join my wellness community on FB -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/ π±π±
A review of SeneGence(LipSense) was requested by a member of my wellness community.
Please note that Iβm not bashing a company. Iβm simply reviewing the products. This is not personal; it is merely education. People need to know whatβs in the products they put on their skin every day. You all know that I focus on promoting safe, healthy, toxin free skincare and makeup and educating on all things toxin free. This is not what SeneGence does.
Instead of going through each product (because that would be crazy), I will outline the ingredients that the company allows in its products, you may not find each of these in every product, but youβll find at least one (probably more) in every product.
The ingredients you will find in this brand that I would not personally use or recommend are:
β’ Artificial Fragrance β βFragranceβ or βParfumβ is a loophole that should be avoided. There are NO laws requiring the ingredients in fragrance to be disclosed and itβs always a toxic storm that will compromise your health.
β’ Japanese Honeysuckle π«sounds super natural and innocent, but it contains parahydroxy benzoic acid, which is found to behave in a similar way (with very similar molecular structure) as a paraben inside the body.
β’ Loose Titanium Dioxide βThe health concern involving use of TD involves inhalation of the loose powder form. The International Agency for Research on Cancer identifies inhalable titanium dioxide as potentially carcinogenic.
β’ Mineral Oil π«a liquid mixture obtained from crude petroleum oil used as a moisturizer. It may contain various amounts of carcinogenic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and other petroleum contaminants, depending on the level to which it has been refined. There is consistent evidence that untreated or mildly-treated mineral oils cause cancer of the skin in humans.
β’ Parabens π« are becoming very well known to be avoided in cosmetics, skincare, and body products. It is a synthetic preservative that mimics the role of estrogen in the body, wreaking havoc on your endocrine system. It has also been linked to breast cancer and reproductive toxicity. There is some evidence that parabens can accumulate in human breast tissue. Parabens have been found in 99% of breast cancer tumors.
β’ Parafin π«There is strong evidence that mineral oil hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminant of the human body, amounting to approximately 1 g per person. There have been studies done on women post delivery and scientists have found these contaminants in breast milk as well! The scariest of these possible contaminants is called 1,4 dioxane, an impurity found in 22% of all petroleum-based cosmetics that is a known human and animal carcinogen.
β’ PEGβs π« While PEGs can be mild irritants, they’re less than desirable primarily because they help traffic nasty chemicals across your epidermis, including a slug of impurities they’re often contaminated with. π±According to a report in the International Journal of Toxicology by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, pollutants found in various PEG compounds include ethylene oxide (used to manufacture mustard gas), 1,4-dioxane, polycyclic aromatic compounds, and heavy metals (lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, arsenic).β π³
β’ Phenoxyethanol π« is used as a preservative in cosmetic products to limit bacterial growth. Skin exposure to phenoxyethanol has been linked to allergic reactions ranging from eczema and hives to anaphylaxis. Infants exposed to phenoxyethanol can experience a depressed central nervous system leading to a decreased appetite, difficulty waking, skin color change, damaged DNA, and limpness of extremities. It is neurotoxic to infants…
β’ Urea π« Diazolidinyl Urea is an antimicrobial preservative that works by forming formaldehyde in cosmetic products. Urea in cosmetics is man-made in the laboratory and the raw materials are ammonia and carbon dioxide. Not something youβd think youβd put on your skin, right?Β
β’ BHT β BHA and BHT can induce allergic reactions in the skin. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a possible human carcinogen. The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has also listed BHA as a Category 1 priority substance, based on evidence that it interferes with hormone function.
β’ Disodium EDTA βIs a penetration enhancing ingredient. Which can be absolutely fantastic… but ONLY if itβs enhancing the penetration of great quality instead of enhancing the penetration of toxins.
– No certified organic ingredients are used β«οΈCertified organic cosmetic ingredients insure a higher level of purity and peace of mind. Many women with sensitive skin also prefer cosmetics made with as many organic ingredients as possible because the organic certification removes the risk of concentrated pesticide residue – a potential irritant that holds additional health concerns with repeat exposure.
– Unspecified if minerals used are non-nano. Non-Nano and EcoCert are the most pure and safe options that you can look for. One of the many scary things about nanoparticles is that the materials are small enough to penetrate the skin or get inside the body through inhalation. Just to list a few common nanoparticles they are: titanium dioxide, zinc, silver, and fullerene. When these nanoparticles are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried around the body it can cause DNA and cell function damage, brain damage, liver damage, and affects on the immune system. On top of all of that, titanium dioxide specifically has shown MAJOR potential repercussions in offspring.
– Not Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty free. – No explanation needed here. This is such an important certification in my opinion.
-Unspecified if plastics used are toxin free (majority of packaging): Not only is plastic significantly worse for the environment, but not knowing if plastic packaging is toxin free means you risk toxins from the packaging leeching into your product.
Numerous ingredients in these products contain ties to cancer, hormonal disruption, liver damage, skin irritation, eye irritation, breast cancer and birth defects. And this is why I do these reviews. Women deserve to know that they are using products linked to serious diseases. If you’re ready to start detoxing your products and making the change to a more toxin free life, please head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/ where you will find my exclusive toxin free master list.
We LOVE cereal in my family. Addie snacks on some every day and Christopher and I have a bowl before bed almost every night.
During my last trimester with Adeline, I ate frosted flakes every day and couldn’t go without it. I didn’t find out until after she was born that it has toxic ingredients in it π I was being so mindful about all the products I was putting on my body but was putting poison in my body, unknowingly, with this craving.
Are you wondering what some of the ingredients hiding in common cereals are?
BHT β BHA and BHT can induce allergic reactions in the skin. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies BHA as a possible human carcinogen. The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has also listed BHA as a Category 1 priority substance, based on evidence that it interferes with hormone function.
Artificial Dyes π« Artificial colorings are linked to attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivity in children.Β Theyβve been linked to headaches, stomachaches, asthma, cancer, chromosomal damage, lymphomas, insomnia, eczema, hives, organ tumors, etc.Β Animal studies have even linked artificial dyes to organ damage, birth defects and certain cancers.
Natural Flavors β Natural flavors is one of those nasty little phrases we avoid at all costs on every label. It sounds so harmless, but do you actually know what status our lovely FDA has given those two words?Β Proprietary. Trade Secrets. This allows all kinds of toxic or just disgusting things (google castoreum and know that this is allowed within the term “natural flavors”) to be in your food. It is like the term “fragrance” on personal care products, AVOID IT!
Artificial Flavors π« Artificial flavoring is derived from inedible sources, like petroleum. The problem with natural and artificial flavors on a nutritional label is that you have absolutely no idea what youβre consuming.
Now for the good news. You don’t have to consume these things or feed it to your children if you enjoy a bowl of cereal like I do. Now, that I know better, I make sure I do better, and you can too. I started testing out different cereals with clean ingredients immediately after discovering what’s in the cereals I had been eating. It was discouraging at times when I got some that just didn’t taste good at all. But, I kept trying, and now we have a handful that we absolutely love!
π€―Β I am not a sales person. π€―Β I am not an ingredient guru (I’m still learning everyday!) π€―Β I am not a health freak. π€―Β I am not a makeup artist.
Sometimes people think I’m this all knowing, health crazed, makeup genius, rockstar sales person. I am a normal girl, learning how to be a mom for the first time, trying to be more conscious about the products my family uses, while sharing the green beauty movement with other women and helping them to reduce their toxic body burden! I love what I do and more than that I love that what I do allows me to be home with my little girl.Β
If any of this sounds intriguing to you, I’d love to just chat more. NO pressure, you don’t have to sell me your soul (even though I am a ginger..), I’d just love to share with you what it’s really like to do my job.
πΒ Drop a fun fact or two about yourself below if you’d like to chat!
Last week I talked about Red 40 and why you should be adamant about keeping it out of your children’s bodies. But, some parents might be wondering about safe treats for the kids to enjoy on Halloween. If you’re swapping your kid’s harmful treats with healthier ones, but are unsure what to get, here are some ideas. Keep in mind, I’m mainly looking at ones that do not have artificial colors and flavors. They may have “natural flavors” which we also do our best to avoid, but that’s incredibly difficult with treats.
Let’s look at the ingredients inside of the popular lollipops Dum Dums: Sugar,Β Corn Syrup,Β Citric Acid, Malic Acid,Β Salt, ArtificialΒ Flavor,Β ColorΒ Added (Includes Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
Now, let’s compare that to YumEarth Organic Lollipops: Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Natural Flavors, Colored With Concentrate (Carrot, Blackcurrant), Colored With Organic Concentrate (Carrot, Apple, Blackcurrant), Turmeric (Color), Organic Annatto (Color).
I know which one I’d rather Adeline eat…
Know any other healthy treats that kids will love? Please share below, food is the newest aspect of toxin free living for me and I’m not 100% there yet!
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I have so many memories of Halloween nights, walking the neighborhood with my parents and sister then with my friends as I got older. Dressing as Mother Goose, an angel, a baby, and so many more. Then, of course the thrill of going through my candy after hours of hard work. My sister and I actually used to sit on the floor, dump out our treasure, and sort it by category π (strange little kids I know). It was always one of my favorite days of the year.
Now that I have a child of my own, inevitably, I’m starting to think about taking her trick or treating. But, as a toxin free family, how do we go about navigating this holiday, keeping it fun for her, and keeping toxins like red 40 out of her little body? Let me tell you a little bit about red 40…
Red 40
What is it?
Red 40 is a certified color that comes from petroleum distillates or coal tars. The FDA mandates that it has to be listed by name on food and product labels. let’s look at the facts about this ingredient:
-Red 40 and other AFCs (Artificial Food Coloring) can cause allergic reactions.
-AFCs can cause hyperactivity in children and immune system tumors in mice.
-Red 40 contains p-Cresidine, which is likely a human carcinogen.
-One study found that Red 40 lowers reproductive success in rats.
-Red 40 reduced parental and offspring weight, decreased brain weight, and lowered chances for survival in newborn rats.
-The colorant showed evidence of physical and behavioral toxicity in developing rats that consumed Red 40 as 10% of their diet.
Products containing Red 40
FDA regulations say that Red 40 must be listed on labels as “FD&C Red No. 40” or “Red 40.” However, manufacturers donβt have to specify how much is in their product. In the EU, warning labels are required on most dyed foods, which has caused a major downturn in their use. Foods that arenβt red or orange could still include Red 40. It is going to be incredibly prevalent in your child’s trick or treating bag.
To learn about our plan for avoiding Red 40 (and other candy that a child really doesn’t need) without removing trick or treating or taking the fun out of Halloween, hop on over to my Wellness Community where I explain what our favorite holiday will look like in our home! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/
Phenoxyethanol-it is damaging to your DNA, neurotoxin-especially to babies. It is a very “green washed” ingredient.
Raising Clean 