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.
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
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.
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.
