When I started thinking more critically about the impact people have on the planet, I couldn’t stop. I started to wonder, if consumer goods can harm the environment what sort of impact do they have on us? As I dug deeper into product ingredient list rabbit holes, I became increasingly worried. So much of the stuff we buy and use daily has the potential to impact our health!
If you’re trying to lead a low-impact life, then there’s no doubt that you’re striving to make your actions as environmentally friendly as possible. But you should try to minimize harm all around and look out for your well-being too! So, let me de-influence you and share a handful of things that you may not realize can negatively impact you. Here are 3 personal care items I no longer buy and the lower-impact products I now use instead.
1. Deodorant with aluminum.
If applying a product with aluminum in it, such as conventional deodorants and antiperspirants, the aluminum has the potential to accumulate in the body. That’s because aluminum is easily absorbed through the skin. This is particularly damaging to people who shave because shaving increases the potential irritation and absorption. Other studies have shown aluminum can also damage DNA and prevent DNA repair which are steps in the formation of cancer.
More studies are needed to make aluminum a carcinogen conclusively, but until then I’d rather be safe than sorry. My family has a history of breast cancer so I definitely need a lower-impact option. So, I’ve made it a habit only to buy aluminum-free deodorants. I love Attitude’s and Schmidt’s sensitive skin options, they have much better ingredients, work amazingly, and don’t irritate my skin! Don’t wait and swap out your aluminum-filled deodorant with a deodorant that won’t irritate your skin.
2. Petroleum-based products.
This one may be controversial, but the stuff you’re slugging your face with can contain some toxic chemicals. Products like Vaseline are often contaminated with PAHs, or Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, that occur naturally in coal, gas, and crude oil. PAHs are toxic to living things and as it’s a derivative of the refining process, the risk just seems too great. Mineral oil, petroleum, and petrolatum all come from the same material – fossil fuels – and all have the potential to contain PAHs and cause inflammation and skin toxicity.
Using petroleum products, especially topically, imposes potential health hazards on us. So, to avoid these toxic chemicals and lessen the demand for fossil fuels, I refuse to buy petroleum-based products. Instead, I opt for products with shea butter, beeswax, or skin-safe oils to give me that same barrier protection without the health hazards. Alba Botanica has a petroleum jelly alternative that I love which soothes my dry skin without weighing it down with PAHs!
3. Nasty nail polish.
Although skin absorbs products more easily, things can still get absorbed through your nails! Ingredients like aluminum powder are known to cause developmental and reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and organ toxicity. Meanwhile, ingredients like camphor and formaldehyde are allergens that are toxic to living things and the environment. These ingredients not only get absorbed into the nails and skin but are toxic to inhale! If you’ve ever felt nauseous or dizzy when around nail polish, camphor and formaldehyde are to blame! Inhaling these chemicals, and doing so often, can impair brain function, cause organ damage, and lead to respiratory issues.
Aluminum powder, camphor, and formaldehyde are just the tip of the iceberg. The toxic chemicals in nail polish are seemingly never-ending and are in many popular nail polish brands. But, I love having my nails painted so I desperately needed an alternative. The brand Ella+Mila says they are a 17-free nail polish and are some of the polishes I now reach for the most. I also love polishes by the brand Zoya, which claim to be free of the 10 most harmful ingredients in nail polish. Both of these brands offer good quality polishes that have good staying power without the scary chemicals making them great low-impact options.
Personal care products I no longer buy:
- Deodorant with aluminum.
- Petroleum-based products.
- Nasty nail polish.
The road to learning what is actually in the stuff we consume is a long one, but we can choose better alternatives. It’s not about being perfect, but being aware and doing what you can! So, let’s show ourselves (and the environment!) some care to cultivate sustainable and healthy lives.