How to detoxify your make-upoutine

For centuries, women around the world have dying to be beautiful. . . literal. In Renaissance Europe and Victorian England, women from extracts of fatal nightshade and toxic plant announced to paralyze and even kill their skin or to dilate their eyes to achieve a large eyes, breathless appearance, causing the blurry view and blindness to risk the effect. In the eighteenth century, royalties and other women with a high society of the foundation made with lead, sometimes developing lead poisoning as a result. In the United States, sixteen women were seriously injured or blinded in the 1930s after the use of Lash Lure, an eyelash paint made of parafenylendiamine – a toxin that is still used in some hair colorants today.

Although these stories may sound shocking, not much has changed since then. Nowadays we still use cosmetics and personal care products that have harmful effects, which increases the risk of everything from cancer to autoimmune disorders, disrupts hormone and immune function, making us more sensitive to allergic reactions and even stimulate our sensitivity for premature death. At the same time, we have seen a large tree in ‘clean’ products of beauty and personal care, where retailers such as Sephora create standards and logos to indicate items that contain less synthetic ingredients. The only problem is that there are no universal standards or regulations for “clean” cosmetics and products for personal care, so what a company or retailer regards as safe is not really safe or consistent with what is considered safe by other companies and retailers. I learned a lot along the way that can help you make smarter choices without sacrificing what you appreciate or the way you want to look.

Almost everything I used on my face, hair, skin and nails contain toxic ingredients. Many of these toxic ingredients disrupt hormone function, interfere with immunity and cause numerous other health problems. In short, I was myself in a gigantic chemical cocktail every day, all in the name of “beauty” and “hygiene”. However, I did not immediately throw everything away on the day I decided to clean up my routine. I made slow, calculated choices, starting with what seemed to me as the most obvious perpetrators: the products that I have lubricated and entangled every day. I started trading conventional soap and my brand name shampoo and conditioner for products that scored a 1 on the deep database of the environmental group (see www.ewg.org/skindep/). This free online database assesses the safety of more than ninety -six thousand products on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 that indicate products and ingredients that are most dangerous.

Then I started considering what I used in the largest amount on the largest surface of my body: my moisturizing lotion. This was a must change for me, and although the earliest iterations of completely natural moisturizing creams did not smoke as well as the fruity stuff that I was used to using, I am grateful that I stopped rubbing chemicals on, in and around the largest organ of my body (our skin!). In fact, the skin works as such an effective sponge that many current medicines are the most effective way to get medicines in our body.

However, not every swap was an immediate or immediate success. When I first tried a brand of non-toxic facial moisturizer, I broke out, and it took days to get the ingredients of the product, while all vegetable and non-toxic, from my system. Here is the lesson: not all clean products may sue your skin or hair – a situation that is no different than conventional products made from synthetic (read: annoying) ingredients.

What you may initially think, often turns out to be win-wins for both your health and your appearance. For example, when I switched to clean shampoo for the first time, the products did not work. My hair looked greasy, even if I had washed it that morning. But in a few weeks, my scalp adjusted, causing less oil to be produced. Now I don’t have to wash my hair that often, and as a result it is much less damaged and softer and healthier. It also took me a long time to find and switch to a clean version of mascara that I really enjoyed – before I did this, I just limited how often I used conventional mascara. Reducing your exposure can therefore also mean that you are changing your behavior, so that you are simply not exposed to a toxin as you had been before.

Some important lessons in finding clean personal care products

Less is more

I guarantee that you don’t have to use as many products as today. Reducing the number of products you use is the easiest way to reduce your toxic load. The use of fewer chemicals on your body, face, hair and nails will make them healthier, so that they in turn look more radiant, nourished and glowing.

Trial and error are important

If the completely natural deodorant or toothpaste that you used ten years ago did not work as well as you had hoped, try today’s iterations that are safer, more effective, more smelling and easier to use. Clean personal care products can also differ greatly from one to another, so experiment with different brands and formulations to find the right one for you.

Don’t let the enemy of good be perfect

There is no golden rule that says that once you go clean, you have to make every product change possible. Use as many clean products as possible as you can, but at the same time know that it is great to make a conscientious decision to continue to use a certain conventional product or service.

Go slow

I did not thrown my entire toilet bag or cosmetics on the day I decided to pay more attention to my regime for personal care. Start by making one or two swaps and then switch to a cleaner alternative if you are sitting a little more.

Give priority to what you use the most and the most

Get the biggest thing for money by updating the products that you use in large quantities every day, such as soap, body lotion, shampoo, toothpaste and sunscreen. If you are a woman, give priority to the use of non -toxic deodorant and organic tampons or pads, because conventional versions can increase the risk of cancer.

Do -it -yourself deodorant that works

• 2½ teaspoons of unrefined coconut oil
• 2½ teaspoons of unrefined shea butter
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ cup of arrowroot
• 6 drops of lavender or orange essential oil
• 6 drops of grapefruit essential oil
• 2 drops of tea tree oil

Place coconut oil and shea butter in a glass bowl or pot and then place the pot in a medium -sized saucepan. Add enough water to the pan to surround the bowl or pot and bring the water to the boil over medium heat. Stir the melted coconut oil and shea butter and stir in the baking powder, arrow root and essential oils. Transfer the mixture to a small glass jar with a lid and let cool at room temperature. Once cooled, cover with the lid and set it aside until they are ready for use. Apply with your fingertips and save in a cool, dry place.

Author bio

Dr. Aly Cohen is a rheumatologist and integrative doctor certified by the Council, nationally recognized for its expertise in the field of environmental health and medical education. She is the author of Detox: the daily toxins that harm your immune system and how you can defend yourself against them” That connects the dots between daily chemicals and the epidemic rise in immune disorders and car -immune diseases … and what we can do about it! She continues to teach, give and practice medicines in Princeton, New Jersey.