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It’s no surprise that a majority of the products women use nowadays need to be re-evaluated.

The cosmetics industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and while we use these products to enhance our beauty and feel good about ourselves, many of these products contain harmful chemicals that can have serious health consequences. 

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Research has shown that many of the chemicals used in these products have been linked to a range of health problems including cancer, hormonal imbalances, PCOS, and reproductive issues. Even despite this, many of these chemicals continue to be used in products we use on a daily basis, without adequate regulation or testing. 

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So, let’s get into it! 

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WHY SHOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR CLEANER OPTIONS?

One of the biggest drivers of inflammation and hormone imbalance for women is simply the products we use. This includes (but certainly not limited to) deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, skincare products, makeup, lotion, perfume, and I could go on and on. 

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The products we put on our bodies gets directly absorbed into our skin. 

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The toxic chemicals in these products are mimicking our estrogen hormone causing us to have high estrogen levels. We call these endocrine disruptors because the endocrine system in our body is also known as our hormone system. 

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Our endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream, which allows the hormones to travel to cells in other parts of the body. The endocrine system controls many aspects of our health including mood, the way our organs work, growth and development, immune system, inflammation, reproduction, and metabolism. 

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Do you have painful periods? Heavy periods? Long periods? 

Acne?

Chronic headaches or migraines? 

Feel fatigued often?

Depression or anxiety?

Constipated or having diarrhea? 

Infertility?

Insomnia?

Overweight or have type 2 diabetes?  

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All of these symptoms could be caused by the products you are using. 

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Marketing has gotten really good at tricking us into thinking that a certain product is “clean” when in reality it is not. Two apps I love to use are ThinkDirty and EWG. Both of these apps allow you to type in whatever product you’re looking at and it will give you a rating of how “clean” it is. The higher the rating, the worse it is. 

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*NOTE: there may be some products that you can’t find a rating for in these apps

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WHAT ARE THE MAIN TOXINS YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR?

While there are many toxic chemicals used in women's products, the ones I mention below are the most commonly seen.

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These chemicals are:

  • Phthalates 
  • Parabens 
  • Fragrances 
  • Sulfates 
  • Aluminum 
  • Glyphosate (in food) 
  • Dioxin (in tampons)
  • BPA (in plastic) 
  • PFAS (cookware) 

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Now, I know what you're thinking, “Wow, that seems like a lot.” Yes, it can feel overwhelming at first, but don't stress! It's not your fault that you have products with these chemicals in them. You may not have known they could affect your health; you were just trying to smell nice and look good. I understand.

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But now that you do know, let’s do something about it! 

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WHAT TO DO NEXT 

Moving forward, the next time one of your products runs out, replace it with a cleaner option. Don’t feel like you have to throw everything away right now and spend hundreds of dollars at the store buying all new stuff. I mean, if you want to, you go, Glenn Coco. 

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I personally did not have the luxury or the funds to do that, so I just slowly switched all my products to a cleaner option. Just like any product, it might take some trial and error to find what works for you. Below are some of my favorite clean brands: 

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Deodorant - Native or Schmidts 

Body wash - Native, Beauty by Earth, or Attitude 

Lotion - Honest, Limelife forty cure creme, or Limelife Raining Zen lotion 

Shampoo/Conditioner - Viori, Attitude, or Honest

Perfume - Dime 

Skincare - KPS Essentials, Limelife or Dime   

Makeup - Limelife, Ilia, or bareMinerals 

Self-tanner - Beauty by Earth

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It might be a bit of an adjustment switching your products, and I know it can be hard, but your health will thank you! 

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One product that comes to mind that people have told me they didn't love when they switched was deodorant. If you switch to an all-natural deodorant and don't feel like it's doing its job, then you need to do an armpit detox.

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Armpit detox instructions: 

  • 2 tbsp of bentonite clay 
  • 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar 
  • Water - as needed 
  • Mix it all together and lather it on your armpits for about 4-6 minutes and then wash it off with a warm washcloth (tip: do this before getting into the shower and wash it off then - less messy) 

 

Benefits of an armpit detox: 

  • Increases the effectiveness of natural deodorants 
  • Removes build-up from toxic deodorants 
  • Soothes skin irritation

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WHAT TO REMEMBER

Will you be able to avoid all endocrine disruptors? Absolutely not. But do you have the ability to reduce your exposure to them? Yes.

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Perfection is not the goal here. 

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Change can be hard, but it can also be so rewarding. Soon you can be supporting your health while STILL looking cute. Win, win!?

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Our hormones are not something that should be messed with. How you FEEL is just as important (if not more) as how you LOOK.

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