When I finished writing the "fresh face" post, I realized that I should have just broken it out into two separate posts - ahh.. hindsight! So, let's talk more about liquid soap, bar soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, and fabric softeners.
People with skin sensitivities need to pay particular attention to this post as well as "fresh face" and "healthy skin." All three talk about the things that touch your skin having potentially adverse reactions. Skin sensitivities typically are either due to a food allergy or a skin reaction to something it has come into contact with. Everything you purchase (including food) that does not say 100% organic or botanical may have artificial colors, artificial scents, chemicals, carcinogens, and / or preservatives; not to mention pesticides, hormones, and herbicides.
One more thing before we get started, "anti-bacterial." The marketing companies have done a GREAT job at brainwashing us on the "benefits" of anti-bacterial ANYTHING. Let me give you a couple REAL facts about these products. 1. Anti-bacterial soap does NOT clean your hands any better than any other type of soap. 2. However, it DOES increase the "super" bugs like MRSA. Germs adapt to all the chemicals we put into our bodies - or clean things with - and become resistant. If you have allergies, you understand this concept - how often do you need to change your allergy medicine because it stops working? This also applies to hand sanitizer.
Recommended reading: http://willtaft.com/146/antibacterial-soap-danger-still-a-hot-topic
Liquid Soap - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and triclosan are the most dangerous ingredients of any soap product and is found in liquid soaps. Triclosan when combined with chlorinated water creates chloroform gas. It is a carcinogenic - cancer causing chemical. Not only will you find it in liquid soap but deodorants, cosmetics, childrens toys, clothes, kitchenware, first aid products, and a host of others.Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has been used world wide as a skin irritant. YES! I did write exactly what I meant. Testing facilities use it to irritate the skin to test other agents to heal the irritation. Not only that, it can cause hair loss, cateracts, and cancer. It also is a carcinogenic. Aubry organics (http://www.aubrey-organics.com/) has all natural liquid soap if you are determined to use it!
Recommended reading - Triclosan: http://www.natural-soap-making.com/triclosan-dangers.html
Recommended reading - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: http://www.healthy-communications.com/slsmostdangerousirritant.html
Bar Soap - so... this is a copy and paste from "fresh face." When I was a child there were only 3 - 4 choices now we have HUNDREDS - and not all of them good. READ YOUR LABELS!!! There are artificial colors, perfumes, and other harmful things in even your soap. You want to use something as natural as possible. So... some good soap manufacturers - http://www.plantlife.net/ - 100% botanical ingredients, no preservatives, carcinogens, synthetics, or chemicals. www.aubrey-organics.com/ - same as above - not only soap, but hair care products, makeup, pet care, and cleaning products. http://www.iherb.com/ is my source for all my essential oils, they also have a good source of soaps. Before you go out and order a bunch - go to a natural foods / health food store that carries soaps and take your nose. What do you want from your shower or bath? To relax? To energize? To feel sensual? What? Find the scents you like and record them. Plantlife.net has samplers if you still aren't sure. My favorite scent for an energizing / eye opening morning shower has mint or eucalyptus in it. It is fresh, and bright, and has a cool, invigorating sensation. For a calm restful bath it has ginger blooms - while it isn't heady floral, it is a soft musky floral scent. I also love sandalwood and patchouli.
Laundry Detergent - Remember that like body wash / soap laundry detergent and softeners touch every part of your body. The same issues with commercial soaps are found in laundry detergent and more. There are so many toxins in laundry detergent that I don't have room to list. I will include in the recommended reading a good page for you to review. Instead of detergent try the laundry ball, or "soap nuts." Seventh Generation (http://www.seventhgeneration.com/) has some good cleaning products too that are earth friendly and non-toxic.
Recommended reading: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/07/06/the-toxic-dangers-of-typical-laundry-detergent.htm
Soap Nuts: http://www.naturoli.com/soapnuts/what.html
Fabric Softeners - I think this lady says it best about fabric softeners, "When marketing fabric softeners and dryer sheets, advertisers promise soft, fragrant towels, sheets and clothes. The reality is, fabric softeners contain a very high amount of strong and toxic chemicals. The chemicals used are so strong, that large amounts of fragrances are used to cover up the fumes from the chemicals. For those reasons fabric softeners and dryer sheets is known as one of the most toxic household product used today." from http://greenandchic.com/blog/alternative-to-fabric-softeners. I haven't used fabric softeners in years. I have a mix of eucalyptus oil and lemongrass oil in water that I use in place of liquid fabric softener (32oz spray bottle, 40 drops eucalyptus oil, 15 drops lemongrass oil, and water - shake well before using). This kills bugs / moths etc... and I like the smell of the eucalyptus and lemongrass. You can also use the dryer balls or fragrance sticks. http://www.gaiam.com/ also has some great things for natural living.
Recommended reading: https://shop.sixwise.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=92
So now that I have provided two days of doom and gloom... we will revert back to some more positive things tomorrow. Blessings... E
People with skin sensitivities need to pay particular attention to this post as well as "fresh face" and "healthy skin." All three talk about the things that touch your skin having potentially adverse reactions. Skin sensitivities typically are either due to a food allergy or a skin reaction to something it has come into contact with. Everything you purchase (including food) that does not say 100% organic or botanical may have artificial colors, artificial scents, chemicals, carcinogens, and / or preservatives; not to mention pesticides, hormones, and herbicides.
One more thing before we get started, "anti-bacterial." The marketing companies have done a GREAT job at brainwashing us on the "benefits" of anti-bacterial ANYTHING. Let me give you a couple REAL facts about these products. 1. Anti-bacterial soap does NOT clean your hands any better than any other type of soap. 2. However, it DOES increase the "super" bugs like MRSA. Germs adapt to all the chemicals we put into our bodies - or clean things with - and become resistant. If you have allergies, you understand this concept - how often do you need to change your allergy medicine because it stops working? This also applies to hand sanitizer.
Recommended reading: http://willtaft.com/146/antibacterial-soap-danger-still-a-hot-topic
Liquid Soap - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and triclosan are the most dangerous ingredients of any soap product and is found in liquid soaps. Triclosan when combined with chlorinated water creates chloroform gas. It is a carcinogenic - cancer causing chemical. Not only will you find it in liquid soap but deodorants, cosmetics, childrens toys, clothes, kitchenware, first aid products, and a host of others.Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has been used world wide as a skin irritant. YES! I did write exactly what I meant. Testing facilities use it to irritate the skin to test other agents to heal the irritation. Not only that, it can cause hair loss, cateracts, and cancer. It also is a carcinogenic. Aubry organics (http://www.aubrey-organics.com/) has all natural liquid soap if you are determined to use it!
Recommended reading - Triclosan: http://www.natural-soap-making.com/triclosan-dangers.html
Recommended reading - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: http://www.healthy-communications.com/slsmostdangerousirritant.html
Bar Soap - so... this is a copy and paste from "fresh face." When I was a child there were only 3 - 4 choices now we have HUNDREDS - and not all of them good. READ YOUR LABELS!!! There are artificial colors, perfumes, and other harmful things in even your soap. You want to use something as natural as possible. So... some good soap manufacturers - http://www.plantlife.net/ - 100% botanical ingredients, no preservatives, carcinogens, synthetics, or chemicals. www.aubrey-organics.com/ - same as above - not only soap, but hair care products, makeup, pet care, and cleaning products. http://www.iherb.com/ is my source for all my essential oils, they also have a good source of soaps. Before you go out and order a bunch - go to a natural foods / health food store that carries soaps and take your nose. What do you want from your shower or bath? To relax? To energize? To feel sensual? What? Find the scents you like and record them. Plantlife.net has samplers if you still aren't sure. My favorite scent for an energizing / eye opening morning shower has mint or eucalyptus in it. It is fresh, and bright, and has a cool, invigorating sensation. For a calm restful bath it has ginger blooms - while it isn't heady floral, it is a soft musky floral scent. I also love sandalwood and patchouli.
Laundry Detergent - Remember that like body wash / soap laundry detergent and softeners touch every part of your body. The same issues with commercial soaps are found in laundry detergent and more. There are so many toxins in laundry detergent that I don't have room to list. I will include in the recommended reading a good page for you to review. Instead of detergent try the laundry ball, or "soap nuts." Seventh Generation (http://www.seventhgeneration.com/) has some good cleaning products too that are earth friendly and non-toxic.
Recommended reading: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/07/06/the-toxic-dangers-of-typical-laundry-detergent.htm
Soap Nuts: http://www.naturoli.com/soapnuts/what.html
Fabric Softeners - I think this lady says it best about fabric softeners, "When marketing fabric softeners and dryer sheets, advertisers promise soft, fragrant towels, sheets and clothes. The reality is, fabric softeners contain a very high amount of strong and toxic chemicals. The chemicals used are so strong, that large amounts of fragrances are used to cover up the fumes from the chemicals. For those reasons fabric softeners and dryer sheets is known as one of the most toxic household product used today." from http://greenandchic.com/blog/alternative-to-fabric-softeners. I haven't used fabric softeners in years. I have a mix of eucalyptus oil and lemongrass oil in water that I use in place of liquid fabric softener (32oz spray bottle, 40 drops eucalyptus oil, 15 drops lemongrass oil, and water - shake well before using). This kills bugs / moths etc... and I like the smell of the eucalyptus and lemongrass. You can also use the dryer balls or fragrance sticks. http://www.gaiam.com/ also has some great things for natural living.
Recommended reading: https://shop.sixwise.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=92
So now that I have provided two days of doom and gloom... we will revert back to some more positive things tomorrow. Blessings... E
Q: I've been on the Seventh Generation site and I see that they have SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) in some products. What's your opinion or thoughts on that?
ReplyDeleteA: LOL! I was just thinking that I needed to write a post about marketing ploys! :) Just because it is ok for the environment - doesn't mean it is ok for our bodies. Like everything else - unless it specifically says it is certified organic - and you have checked the ingredients for any personal allergies... you are not doing your due diligence! ALWAYS check ingredients.