About two years ago, I started REALLY looking at some of my bath and kitchen products and reading the labels. What were these ingredients I could hardly pronounce? Some of my most used products either had items that sounded like chemicals and some kitchen items didn't even show the ingredients!
I decided that I would slowly start looking at each and every one of these products I used in my home and find out what was in them. Not only that, I made a commitment to toss those that I became convinced had "some of the bad" ingredients and find new more natural products to replace them with. This of course was the biggest challenge- trying to find natural choices that were affordable.
Here is where I begin documenting the products I used and what I found during my research. I hope it save you a little time if you've been wondering the same about these particular products.
JOHNSON's Baby Lotion
I hadn't used this sweet smelling lotion for at least 7 or 8 years (when we used it frequently when my daughter was a baby), until recently. I purchased some Johnson's Baby Lotion still thinking it might be one of the mildest lotions on the market; afterall, it's in the baby product aisle in the markets. My daughter's skin at age 8 is a little sensitive so we've been searching for the perfect after-shower lotion. We've tried the ones her pediatrician recommended, but we were not that pleased, so I thought we'd go for simple. I mean, this is suppose to be lotion for BABIES right? So, after using it a few times, we decided we didn't love it either, but in midst of using it one day, I looked at the labeling. I was surprised and recently took to the internet again to check it out on the safecostmetics.org site to see how it rated. Here are the results:
Garbage pail, here comes more toxins!!
This was about the time I started experimenting with making our own lotions with natural butters and oils. We now use a very very simple -easy to make lotion of our own- email me for the recipe! essentialoils4u@hotmail.com
NEUTROGENA Body Oil
So, here again, I'm checking out the ingredients of one of my favorite shower products and saddened to see the results.
This was a product I would regularly use before I'd step out of the shower for added moisture and a silky feeling before towel drying my skin.
My favorite site for checking out ingredients, again, is the http://safecosmetics.org/ site.
What I found was that the Body Oil shown here rated a overall score of "4". This is not too bad in my opinion,
However, there are individual ingredients that do trouble me, rating much higher.
I'm tossing this one out. I love the feel of the oil, but I'm headed out to buy pure sesame seed oil and maybe mix it with Fractionated Coconut Oil and a little of my own Essential oil and I'm betting it will be cheaper too! No synthetic fragrances, no chemicals needed in a simple after shower oil!
Follow up.... I did start making my own oil for after-shower and I love it! Here is my simple recipe:
50% Fractionated Coconut oil (I use doTERRA brand but you can use any from a company you trust)
50% Sesame Seed Oil (this is not cooking oil, I purchase from brambleberry.com or thesage.com)
I generally mix this in a 4 oz plastic bottle with a flip top lid that keeps well in the shower (for about $1).
Then I add about 15 drops of my favorite 100% pure essential oil to it- I like Roman Chamomile!! Try your own favorite scent!
Mary Kay Oil-Free Makeup remover:
We all (well, almost all- I wish I was one who felt I didn't need makeup) need a good MakeUp remover to remove the eye liner, eye shadow and mascara at night don't we? Well, over the years I've used many different kinds and recently I decided it was one more thing I needed to pay attention to in terms of what the ingredients were in the products I use. The one I was using at the time was Mary Kay Oil-Free Makeup Remover. I was really pleased with how effective it was and it didn't leave my eyes/face too greasy after using it. I turned the bottle around and of course...no ingredient list at all. I went to the Mary Kay web site to search for a ingredients list, nada, nothing there at all. I went to my favorite Skin Deep site and here is what I find:
As you can see, this is a 2006 rating, so it's possible their ingredients have improved, but for now, a 5 is too high for me, so to the trash it goes.
It shows two ingredients rating a #5: Cyclotetrasiloxane (Endocrine disruption among other things)and Imidazolindinyl Urea (which is Formaldeyde by the way). Bye-Bye Mary Kay. It makes me think a bit more about that mascara I have in my drawer from Mary Kay too, though I don't know if there is such a thing as a "natural/safe" mascara. This is something I struggle with- makeup, nailpolish, hair dye? Where do we stop- do we really NEED any of this? What is more important? Our health or our vanity?
It shows two ingredients rating a #5: Cyclotetrasiloxane (Endocrine disruption among other things)and Imidazolindinyl Urea (which is Formaldeyde by the way). Bye-Bye Mary Kay. It makes me think a bit more about that mascara I have in my drawer from Mary Kay too, though I don't know if there is such a thing as a "natural/safe" mascara. This is something I struggle with- makeup, nailpolish, hair dye? Where do we stop- do we really NEED any of this? What is more important? Our health or our vanity?
I have decided to try a straight Virgin Coconut Oil to remove my eye make-up. So far, I've been using it for about a week and I'm very pleased. It takes EVERYTHING off very well. I think I'll stick with it! Give it a shot and see what you think! Note: this is the hard coconut oil so I put a tiny bit in the palm of my hand and allow it to melt, then use it on my eyes and wipe off with a cotton pad.
Windex Multi-Surface cleaner:
What is in Windex anyway?
I've
used this cleaner in various forms for probably 20 years now in my
home. I'm finally asking this simple question and when I look on the
label, NOTHING! All I see that is important to me is Keep out of reach
of children and pets in big bold letters. It has a nice GREEN sticker
that says "Greenlist Ingredients" on it, but says for additional
information, see their http://www.scjohnson.com/ web site. On the back label, it says "Questions? and the info to contact Helen Johnson @ SC Johnson & Sons".
Here is what the SC web site say is contained in the Multi-Surface cleaner:
"All
but two Windex® Glass and Multi-Surface Cleaners contain detergents,
solvents, fragrance, Ammonia-D®, and alcohol. They should not be used if
ammonia is not recommended for use on surface. (Windex® Multi-Surface
Vinegar and Windex® Outdoor Multi-Surface do not contain ammonia. They
are safe to use in these cases.)"
Additionally, they have a link to another one of their own sites,
http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/en-us/products-by-brand/windex/windex-multi-surface-vinegar.aspx that I must say I was impressed with. It's a site where you can look up their products and see what they contain.
So here is the detail on what is in Windex Multi-Surface Vinegar Cleaner:
Carriers:
Cleaning Agents:
Wetting Agent:
Hmmmm...............what
is all that? Where is the VINEGAR in the ingredient list- isn't that
odd? Is one of these ingredients Vinegar called by another name? Ah yes, it's Acetic Acid. There
is no ammonia, that's good. Nothing here that tells me it's a
disinfectant or antibacterial or that it will do anything to kill germs,
just clean surfaces. All I can tell you is that this list looks like
chemicals/sythetics and if I don't know what it is, I need to keep
researching.
Ive been using this product over the years not
having given much thought to what was in it. Not unusual I suppose. What
a shame, I know, but in my hustle, bustle world, I really thought it
was my only option other than making a vinegar/water mix to use on
windows and who knows what for countertops, stovetop, frig, etc.; what a
hassle that seemed to me (making your own).
Since having
recently become aquainted with essential oils, I'd heard that there IS a
option and it's so simple, anyone can do it. Find simple recipes on
line- they vary a bit, but here is mine- Get a nice sized empty/clean
spray bottle about the size of a Windex bottle. Fill it with tap water,
place about 10-12 drops of Pure Lemon Essential Oil and
shake. Shake each time before using. Cleans like a charm! Works great
on granite too. Plus, Pure Essential Lemon Oil from Doterra (my personal
choice, you can go for any pure oil brand) is antiseptic and
anti-bacterial -much more than you'll get w/ Windex Multi-Surface
Vinegar cleaner (the non-vinegar disinfectant version has ammonia...no
thanks). And here's the bonus- no worries about what gets on the
floor for you pets to walk in/lick, etc.
Now that I realize I can
make my own basic cleaners for use around the house that are much
cheaper AND safer for my family and pets- WHY NOT? That is my only question now~!
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