Trying to navigate the confusing topic of non toxic beauty can be quite overwhelming and leaves many of us wanting to throw our hands in the air and say, Forget it!"
Don't worry, I have been there. I remember how much conflicting information there was and how much it overwhelmed me. All the fear mongering can be a reason to just want to run and hide. Am I right? Don't worry, I want to present you with some facts to make things a little clearer and hopefully alleviate some of the stress around switching to non toxic beauty products.
Before we begin I want you to know there is no such thing as, "non toxic living."
It is impossible to avoid all toxins and to be a perfect person. Plus how boring would that be? Yikes! The key is to do your research so you feel confident in making healthier choices that feel good to you.
Stressing over being perfect is unhealthy in itself.
I like to use the term, "non toxic living," but it is just a buzzword to identify a topic. With that being said let's take a look at some facts surrounding non toxic beauty so you can feel informed going forward. I created slides to make it more fun!
Myth 1
Let's face it, chemicals are all around us and not all of them are bad. The air we breathe, and the food we eat are all made of chemicals because its made of matter. #Science101.
That delicious organic apple you love is made of chemicals. It's important that we stop demonizing chemicals and pay attention to the facts. Some chemicals are harmful and can compromise our health when used regularly so let's try to minimize the unhealthy ones as much as possible while not stressing to much over it and making ourselves sick.
You can check out my non toxic beauty guide HERE to learn the top ingredients to avoid in your beauty products and why.
Myth 2
This myth is spread all over the internet and is just plain fear mongering. From a scientific perspective, there is absolutely no way to estimate how much or how fast a product can enter your bloodstream.
The truth is that not all ingredients can be absorbed. There is a major difference between an ingredient being penetrated and one that is absorbed. If everything that came into contact with our skin was absorbed into our bloodstream it would be very dangerous.
Here is an analogy I like t use with my clients: "If everything that comes in contact with are skin could be absorbed then we could simply pour alcohol on our skin and we would be drunk."
Our skin acts as a barrier to protect us and not all ingredients have the ability to be absorbed. They can add to our body's toxic load which is where health issues can arise overtime so it is important to use non toxic ingredients. The point is to use healthy products as much as possible to avoid toxic load. Please don't live in fear because that is also unhealthy.
Myth 3
Preservatives are necessary for a lot of products to help protect us from bacteria that can be harmful to our health and beauty. Products especially those containing water need preservatives because without them we can get sick. Some products that do not contain water can be okay without preservatives so don't worry if you don't see them in pure oil based products.
It all boils down to the type and quality of ingredients and some preservatives can be harmful when used regularly so it is essential your research. The ones listed above are good ones to stay away from.
Myth 4
It's easy to get confused by this one and assume it's a healthier option because "vegan" is such a buzz word in the health space. Vegan beauty means it does not have any ingredients derived from animals. It still can contain a lot of harmful toxins so it's important to learn how to read labels.
Myth 5
This is a common misconception that prevents women from trying more natural based beauty products. I worked in beauty salons and had all my favorite high end products that I would have never thought of leaving behind. When I found out how unhealthy many of the products I was using were I started researching like crazy. It took me years to entirely switch over to natural beauty products because I wasn't willing to settle for products that did not work well.
Years ago many of the products were less than desirable. I did not enjoy all the patchouli and crazy amounts of essential oils that irritated my skin. Don't even get me started on the natural beauty foundations years ago. I felt frustrated but I kept trying until I found brands and products that actually worked better than the toxic ones I once loved. I don't miss them, not one bit.
Products with healthy ingredients can feed the skin beneficial nutrients that encourage healthier more luminous skin while toxins can actually speed up the biological aging process.
Beauty products with health harming ingredients claiming to be, anti aging, are just plain nonsense. The ultimate approach to graceful aging is being healthy.
How can slathering our face with toxins support anti aging?
Simple answer it doesn't. While conventionl beauty products with toxic ingredients may provide quick results they can cause health issues and speed up aging. No thank you! Hard pass for me!
A lot of natural based products contain ingredients the skin can recognize and utilize. It's all about protecting the integrity of the skin instead of doing harsh procedures and using products that can negatively influence our health.
Some of my favorite non toxic beauty products can be found HERE
Myth 6
The truth is that wellness and natural beauty are at an all time high. As the demand for healthier products continues to grow so does their popularity. You can find natural beauty brands in stores like Target, Whole Foods, Ulta, and many major retailers. There are stores popping up everywhere.
Non toxic beauty is becoming the norm and it's amazing!
One quick search on the internet and you will see that there is an endless supply of natural beauty brands to meet the needs of all women. We vote with our dollar and each time we purchase from a natural beauty brand we are sending a message to manufacturers that we want healthier ingredients.
Have you noticed some of your favorite brands now offering, "cleaner ingredients?" That is not by chance. It's because of us voting with our dollar and demanding healthy ingredients for all women everywhere. Every small shift makes a big impact.
Well, there you have it. I hope this was informative and helped you to feel a bit more confident going forward. The biggest piece of advice I can offer is to research everything you read, hear, and see. Question everything! That is how we stay in our power and make informed decisions for ourselves and our family.
You got this! Wishing you so much success on your healthy journey.
Xo
Jessica Rose
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