the problem with products for women

We Need to Talk About the Dangers Lurking in Women’s Skincare and Makeup

In a world where women face a wide range of challenges, from discrimination and unequal opportunities to health issues and environmental degradation, it’s essential to support each other in every way possible. That’s why we want to shed some light on major issues in the products we use regularly, from cosmetics and personal care items to household cleaners and laundry detergent.  

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s time to remind ourselves of the power of sharing knowledge and advocating for each other’s health and well-being by spreading awareness about the dangerous chemicals and toxins found in many common products. After all, in the age of greenwashing, we can’t rely on brand transparency. By spreading the word, we can empower ourselves and our fellow women to make informed choices and prioritize our health and the well-being of our planet.

There's more to women's skincare and beauty than meets the eye. Here's what you need to know about the mainstream products you apply to your skin every day

Here’s the problem

Between cosmetics, perfumes, personal care essentials, and feminine hygiene products, women apply approximately 168 synthetic chemicals to their body every day on average. While not every synthetic chemical is harmful, others are endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and neurotoxins, most of which have not been independently reviewed before hitting the market. Thank you, poor regulation and money-hungry brands. 

While ingredients labels are required by law, if you don’t know what to look out for you, you don’t know how to avoid harmful chemicals in your daily routine. Unfortunately, cosmetics aren’t required to note that their products may cause cancer or hormonal disruptions. So, here’s what you need to know. 

What they don’t tell us

How can these chemicals impact your body as a woman? Shockingly, researchers have found dangerous levels of mercury in skin lightening and anti-aging creams, while chemicals in hair dyes and straighteners have been linked to breast and uterine cancer. And that’s not all – fragrances in your favorite soaps and shampoos may be impacting your fertility and hormonal balance. 

Sadly, this isn’t just an adult problem – most American children are also exposed to toxic chemicals from a wide variety of sources, which could be causing learning and developmental disorders, obesity, and asthma. It’s time to take a closer look at the products we’re using and their ingredients, so we can make healthier choices for ourselves and our families.

What to look out for

Before you buy a product, check labels and avoid these dangerous ingredients:  Some brands will try to trick with clever marketing (hello, greenwashing). You might see bold words like “natural ingredients”, “eco-friendly,” or “biodegradable” (Well, it will biodegrade in 100 years, so let’s call it biodegradable… this is the logic of greenwashing). As for when a product says “natural ingredients”, that can literally mean that it uses a few natural ingredients among heaps of toxic chemicals.  So, here are the harmful ingredients to look out for when shopping for skincare, haircare, laundry detergent (eco-friendly option attached), etc (anything that touches your skin!):

Fragrances 

You’ll see this written as fragrance, parfum, or perfume. This is a secret way to hide hundreds, maybe even thousands, of ingredients into one simple, seemingly harmless word. Many of these are known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors toxic to male and female reproductive systems, according to the EWG.   

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) 

This is a foaming agent that is commonly found in face wash, shampoos, and even toothpaste. It is a known skin irritant and is often contaminated with potent carcinogens, nitrosamines, and 1,4-Dioxane.   

Parabens 

This endocrine disruptor is found in the majority of all beauty and skincare products sold in the U.S. Big no no, America! This ingredient can cause skin cancer and reproductive health. It’s a major one to avoid, so brands will proudly display it when their product is paraben free. But don’t forget: Just because it’s paraben-free doesn’t mean it is clean beauty. Always read the label or research before purchasing.  

Heavy metals 

 No list would be complete without mentioning the most widely known toxins. Lead, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals are known neurotoxins linked to learning disabilities, fertility issues, disrupted hormones, and respiratory issues. In particular, mercury can also cause kidney damage, skin rashes and discoloration, and disrupt the skin’s resistance to infections. 

!!! Your favorite lipstick may have lead in it.

A huge percentage of US lipsticks contain some about of lead. Think Covergirl, Revlon, Maybelline, L’Oréal, M.A.C, Estée Lauder and more.  The FDA has a list of lipstick shades containing lead here. 
what to know about womens skincare

My recommendations for natural alternatives to synthetic, mainstream skincare

shampoo & conditioner

When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, this natural conditioning shampoo bar from Etsy gets the job done. Its straightforward ingredients are easy to understand and being fragrance free means there are no hidden ingredients/harmful chemicals in your shampoo.   

Feminine care products 

Feminine care products are PACKED with harmful ingredients like bleach, Dioxins & furans (linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity), pesticide residues (some are linked to cancer and potential endocrine disruption), plastics & plasticizers – linked to endocrine disruptions and cancer), paraffins, and undisclosed ingredients in the form of perfume.  These may apply to both tampons and pads. So, what I use instead is a period cup. I started off the with moon cup about five years ago, and switched over to Saalt cup about two years ago. I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend.  They’ll take some getting used to, but you’ll be eliminating toxins from your feminine care products and further helping the environment along too.  If you still prefer pads, look into period panties and reusable cloth pads.   

Sunscreen 

Most storebought sunscreen isn’t only bad for your health but ocean life as well. Look at for these harmful ingredients in sunscreen:  Oxybenzone or benzophenone-3, Avobenzone, Homosalate (all hormone disrupters); Octinoxate, known as octyl methoxycinnamate (a hormone and endocrine disruptor), Octocrylene, and Octisalate.  Instead, look for a non-nano zinc oxide natural sunscreen. I swear by Raw Elements face + body sunscreen. I use it all over and even apply it every morning before putting on my makeup.   

Laundry detergent 

Since laundry detergent goes onto your clothes which inevitably touches your skin, I wanted to highlight it here too.   Regular detergent comes with a veritable laundry list of ingredients to avoid. Those include such irritants and toxins as phosphates, formaldehyde, dyes, chlorine bleach, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium sulfate, ammonia, nonylphenol ethoxylate, and phenols.  That’s why I use SaltyLama laundry strips instead. They avoid all of those ingredients and the HEAVY plastic jug and turn laundry day into a painless experience. You can actually get 10% off if you use code CHRISTA. Available in Europe, UK, and USA.   

Face wash

I’ll preface this by saying that I do have a problem with many of the women’s skincare products from Lush, however, Angels on Bare Skin is their most natural product. In fact, it’s 100% natural with no sneaky synthetic ingredients. As someone who has constantly been based in different countries, this product has been a consistent for one for me to find around the world. I’ve been using it for years and will probably continue to do so for many more.
Note: Some of the links above contain affiliate links. This doesn’t increase the cost of any item to you, but simply means that I’ll receive a small commission of any sales from those links. But don’t worry — I only share products that I love and trust!
Hot girls don't gatekeep. You deserve to know what you put on your body. There's more to women's skincare and beauty than meets the eye. Here's what you need to know about the mainstream products you apply to your skin every day
The Dark Reality of Women's Beauty & Skincare. Here's what you need to know about the products you put on your body every day and why you need to avoid toxic ingredients

My Top Travel Recommendations ♡

These are a few of my top travel tips that will save you time and money while setting up for an AMAZING trip.

Booking flights: I almost exclusively use Google Flights. They have a cool feature where you can type in your departure airport and discover where you could fly within a certain budget. Otherwise, you can also compare airports and see what day is best to fly in/out to help you save money and have the most efficient flight path.

Travel insurance: SafetyWing is my go-to choice for travel insurance. They have a global policy that covers 180+ countries. You can visit any doctor, cancel anytime, and you’re even covered for a few weeks after returning to your home country.

Anti-theft bag: To help protect against pickpockets, I like to carry my beloved Travelon bag. It’s slash-resistant, has locked zippers, and is very sleek and functional for traveling abroad.

Accommodation: I love using Booking.com to find places to stay when traveling. Booking has everything from hotels and hostels to b&bs and entire house/apartment rentals.

Travel Credit Card: I love-love-love my Capital One Venture One credit card. It has a $0 annual fee and no fees when using abroad or paying in a foreign currency. Plus you get 20,000 bonus miles when you spend $500 in your first three months when you get this card.

Car rentals: I use DiscoverCars.com when renting a car. Great deals, customer support, and range of comapnies. You can save up to 70% via the website instead of booking a car directly.

Tours: I don’t travel on complete tours as I like to travel on my own terms, but I do like to book experiences and walking tours on GetYourGuide. They have an amazing line-up of things to do in destinations around the globe. You can also access skip-the-line tickets.

Hi there!

Hi, I’m Christa! Welcome to my sustainable solo travel blog dedicated to inspiring others to travel slowly, embracing a heart-forward and spirited approach to adventure. 

-The Spirited Explorer

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