Here is a Beauty Product Swap you Need to Make!

Here it goes...I am answering the question that no one wants to answer...How old are you? Well this year I turned 49! That means taking care of my skin is super important. There are so many products on the market that “help” with anti-aging, yet they are so harmful to your body. Products like Olay Regenerist can easily be swapped for one of my favorite products...Beautycounter’s Countertime line! This gives me young-looking skin without the risk of cancer. That is why I LOVE Beautycounter products! Let's talk a little more about why it’s important to make healthy swaps like this!

If you’re like me, I didn’t know much about the cosmetic industry before learning about Beautycounter. I knew some of the ingredients weren’t great, but I had no idea how harmful they really are. So I started digging, just a little. I have been the “health nut” of the family for years and have focused more on what is going in my body rather than what I was putting on my body. I have since changed my tune. Knowing what goes on my body is important to me because I have lived through cancer and I have watched loved ones go through cancer. Could their beauty products have contributed to their cancer? Possibly. The more I learned about the beauty industry the more I realized that what you put on your body has a bigger impact on you than you may think.

It is super important to know what you are putting on your face or skin. Did you know that the FDA does NOT regulate the cosmetic industry? That means cosmetic companies can put pretty much anything they want in their products. And some of those ingredients are very harmful. Especially when combined with other toxic ingredients.

Many of the ingredients in beauty products have carcinogens meaning they could cause cancer. A lot of the ingredients are also endocrine disruptors. That means they mess with your hormones. There are so many conditions that go back to hormones being out of whack. Breast cancer can sometimes be related to hormone imbalance. Thyroid conditions and weight gain are also hormone-related. There are a lot of products to be on the lookout for, but I’m only going to highlight a few of them.

1. Retinol/Retinol compounds. This is found in anti-aging creams, lotions, moisturizers, and foundation. The health concerns are--Cancer and developmental and reproductive toxicity. (This means it affects the baby in utero)

2. Sodium Laureth Sulfate or PEG (This would include propylene glycol). This will be found in shampoo, liquid soaps, and bubble baths. It makes the product sudsy. The health concerns are-- cancer, organ system toxicity, and irritation.

3. BHT & BHA. This will be found in lip products, make-up, hair products, deodorants/antiperspirant, and perfumes. The health concerns are --endocrine disruptor, organ system toxicity, reproductive toxicity, a possible carcinogen.

4. Talc--Talc can contain asbestos! Two-thirds of the baby powder tested in Korea had asbestos in it. Health concerns--Irritation, cancer, organ system toxicity, especially the lungs.

5. Formaldehyde. This will be found in hair-smoothing products, baby shampoo, body soap/wash. Health concerns--Cancer. It is a known carcinogen!

Wow! I learned, even more, looking into this for this post. Before I go I wanted to talk a little more about why I love the Countertime line! I have noticed less wrinkles, especially on my forehead, and more elasticity in my skin. My skin simply looks healthier and younger! I love using a product that has great results but isn’t harmful for my body. If you want to find out more information about the Countertime product line check out this blog post from goodness greenish!

I want to bring awareness to people so they can make mindful swaps and ultimately decrease their exposure to harmful everyday products. A great resource is the Red List from Safe Cosmetics. If you need help navigating the beauty product aisle, that is something I do with my clients too. Let’s nurture our bodies inside and out!