How do we get rid of the chemicals in our lives? Well, start with the stuff we use to keep clean - soap and shampoo, or look good - cosmetics and moisturizers, or protect ourselves from the sun. Why prevent skin cancer with a sunscreen which is full of toxic chemicals that cause cancer?
Environmental Working Group has this great database of products that touch our skin and rates them on a scale of one to ten as to their toxicity. I buy Dove soap because I have such dry skin and if I use it daily, I don't have itchy skin year round. Its a 4 meaning it is in the middle. I'll poke around and see what I can find to replace it - after I use up what I have.
I also use Trader Joe's shampoo and it is rated a 4... But contains Tea Tree Oil which is a no-no for ER+ breast cancer people. Drat. I'll find something new. I am almost out of shampoo anyway. I am cheap and was considering Burt's Bees shampoo - which are 4s or 5s and twice the price. On to another choice... I'll keep researching this one.
Well I need a better conditioner for my hair. The one I use by Pantene is rated a 6, which is a little high but Pantene has some others that are rated a 2... And here's one that is rated a 2 by Hugo's Naturals Vanilla & Sweet Orange Conditioner... but on closer inspection has 14 LINES of ingredients and one of them, right in the middle of the list, is rated a 5 and is a carcinogen...
This is complicated. I am going to research everything and replace them one by one. But it makes for a cleaner me and a cleaner world so its worth the effort.
1 comment:
I'm going through the same process, Caroline. That's a great website. Thanks for the heads up about tea tree oil - I use it all the time. To quote Cathy, "Aaaack!"
Good luck. I'll let you know if I find any good products on my search.
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