My name is Amanda Jo and I spent many years eating unhealthy foods and putting make-up on my skin. As I got older, suspecting that parabens and other chemicals were to blame for cancer and other deadly diseases, I vowed to make my health a priority. Now I find myself trying to live greener. Knowing that you’re not sacrificing your health in the name of beauty feels glamorous and amazing.
For me, one of the hardest parts of starting a new healthy habit is, well… just getting started. Sometimes it can be so overwhelming, and you can feel that small changes don’t matter. So why bother? Well, I am here to remind you that small changes DO matter and DO make a difference, because every toxic item we can remove from our lives is a win, right? However, when it comes to clean beauty, it’s hard to know which items will work for most of us, so I wanted to share some of my favourites that I think you’ll love! Make it your goal to swap out at least ONE of the items on this list. Then, next time your budget allows, swap out another! Soon your routine will be clean and green, without the toxins that threaten your health. Hopefully this article will make it easier to know where to start by shedding some light on the best areas to focus on!
Also check my store that provides amazing organic, natural and non-toxic alternatives!
My all-time favourite body wash is Aleavia Body Cleanse. The whole family can use it, even the kids. As well as the obvious body cleansing, I use it for shaving, cleaning my make-up brushes and sometimes even as a shampoo! For people with eczema, psoriasis, keratosis, sunspots, dry skin, irritated skin and so much more, this body wash is amazing. They make a variety of amazing scents and a ton of other products such as facial cleansers, which are perfect for acne-prone skin and especially for teenagers! This is one brand you should check out as it really does leave your skin so much better than you found it.
Most of us know by now that you should avoid aluminium in your deodorants, but the problem is that most natural deodorants stink! Deodorant can be a really tricky item to replace as it comes down to your personal chemistry and how you work with the formula. What I can say is that I have a bestselling brand and that is the Rustic Maka. Not only do all their deodorants contain no toxic aluminium, but they also avoid baking soda, which is a very common, natural but irritating ingredient for so many people. I avoid baking soda at all costs. A tip here is that because they are aluminium free, they will NOT be a complete sweat blocker. Aluminium is a heavy metal. It is designed to clog your pores to physically block sweat. These will not do this, so you can still have a little bit of sweat, which is healthy. You need to adjust your expectations a little bit because when we don’t sweat, we store toxins inside us. For maximum results, I also recommend using their deodorants alongside their famous charcoal and clay soap!
You really want to make sure you are using a clean shampoo and conditioner because our scalp is actually a rather large part of our body. Rahua Voluminous and Under Luna’s Warrior are my all-time favourite shampoos. These shampoos are amazing for your overall scalp health. They balance oil production, dandruff prone, oily scalp, and dry scalp. It is all about getting your hair back to the right balance! After I have shampooed with one of these, I then condition from the ears down, never the scalp, with either Rahua Voluminous or Under Luna Revive conditioner. This stuff is a dream come true. It leaves my hair so soft, moisturised and smelling like fresh jasmine. Do you also need a shampoo that the man in your life will love? You MUST get him this Jack Henry shampoo. It a top choice and smells amazing!
Synthetic fragrances containing hormones are one of the worst products you can invite into your home. One quick way to significantly cleanse your home, whether you are still using conventional perfumes, cleaning products, detergents, air fresheners, candles or Febreeze, is to simply remove them. Hormone disrupting chemicals are invisible, leading many to believe that they can do no harm. But did you know that they are damaging our fertility at an alarming rate?
Shanna Swan, an environmental and reproductive epidemiologist, predicts that sperm counts could be at zero by the year 2045 thanks to hormone-disrupting chemicals that are “everywhere”. Without sperm, where would we all be? No one would be spared, which is a big reason to get your whole family on board with this lifestyle. The chemicals behind this are literally hiding in everything in our homes. The problem is that once they enter your body, they do not break down, they just build up and accumulate over time. You may not be having any problems right now, but what happens after years and years and years of this toxic build-up?
Throw it all out. It will literally only harm your family. For safer alternatives, you can visit my website. There you will find all-natural essential oils, perfumes, candles, air fresheners, body lotions and more. Hormone-disrupting chemicals are found in just about everything in the home. The more you can replace, one by one, the better.
Toothpastes + Oral Care
Another important product to replace is anything that goes into your mouth, as let’s face it, we all swallow tiny bits of these products, even lipsticks and glosses! I carry a wide range of toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, toothbrushes and much more. If you are looking for the most traditional toothpaste option that your family will still really enjoy and won’t notice too much of a difference, then my top pick is Davids. The Sensitive variety is my all-time favourite. It keeps my breath minty fresh and my teeth white thanks to the nano hydroxyapatite.
Many of you have heard, but if not, earlier this year studies found that 78 popular sunscreens contain benzene, a known carcinogen. Studies have shown that exposure to benzene increases our risk of developing cancer, in particular blood cancer. In addition to benzene, many brands also contain oxybenzone, a chemical that is harmful to coral reefs in our oceans because it is washed away after application. Oxybenzone is also an endocrine disruptor, with research showing that its use by pregnant women can cause changes in breast tissue. To minimise the risk of pollution when choosing a sunscreen, always opt for a more natural, mineral-based product.
by Amanda Jo
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