The other day I stopped in the store to grab something. My older boy wanted to go see something all the way on the other end of the store, so we cut through a middle isle, which happened to be the deodorant isle. At the time we were kind of in a hurry, so I did not think too much of it, but I have a very photographic memory. The image I saw in my mind as I thought back to that moment was nothing but bright, colorful, perfectly packed, neatly lined up plastic containers containing some of the worse mix of chemical slews on the market.
One of the first things I thought about was, I wonder how many people really know about this...?
I mean these little containers have lined the shelves of the stores for years. Years. Nothing has changed, so that stuff must be selling.
Are there really harmful chemicals in deodorant? Yes, absolutely.
Sadly, it's not just in deodorant... it's in the majority of the brands that line the shelves at the stores.
It's in deodorant, mascara, makeup, shampoos, face washes, lotions, baby products, baby powder (forget using that all together) , baby wipes, hand sanitizers, toothpaste, you name it, if it's not organic and derived from plants and essential oils, then you better bet there is a chemical slew going on.
The scary thing is, these products are used by millions every single day and not only are the chemicals from these products entering our bodies as we slather them on our skin, the process in making such products are killing our earth. I once read somewhere the average woman is exposed to over 2,000 chemicals before she leaves the house in the morning. That sounds almost unreal to me. Yet there can be a list of hidden chemicals in just the simple words 'natural scent' or 'natural fragrance' alone that companies are not required to list out. Sadly the big name companies don't care. They make it cheap, load it with fragrance, they see a profit, and the vicious cycle continues.
Now, I am no health expert. Nor am I telling you to throw away every product you have (although really, you should check into doing so it it's made up of chemicals you can't pronounce 😉 ) But seriously, if we are not aware of this and start making a change, not only will we continue to harm ourselves but these companies will get away with making these toxic chemical laden products (that can smell wonderful, by the way) and hurt not only the users but the earth as well.
And speaking of deodorants, it has been proven certain chemicals in them have been linked to breast cancer. So why even risk it?
The majority of the products on the market have no good intention on any living species. That's why it is so important to watch what you buy and know and understand what's in it. It doesn't matter if the fancy front label reads 'All Natural'. What matters are the ingredients listed on the back of the label. Can you pronounce them and understand what they are? If not, perhaps type in some of the ingredients into your search site and just double check what they are used for and if they are safe. Yes, it might take some effort on your part but it will sure out weight what could happen after being exposed to harsh chemicals for years to come. Not to mention, once you do some research, you'll find what's right for you and you'll know exactly what to buy. It's not like you will have to do it every time you shop.
Not only are the products on the market made of a toxic soup, sadly there is so much waste as well, and the majority of the waste gets dumped into our oceans. It may seem so far out, especially for those not near the ocean. Or when looking out over the ocean it can seem so vast and unharmed. Yet our beautiful oceans are effected deeply. If you had a son like my boy who is all about the ocean, I've seen more then I ever expected to over the years through watching documentaries with him. It's really sad. We can do better. So much better.
And I won't even get into the chemicals in our food. That's a whole other thing.... I think the majority of us know.....
I do want to share a couple of things!
First of all, one website that has been wonderful is ewg.org/skindeep (you'll be directed to another website) You can look up your products on there and actually see the cancer rating on them! YIKES!!! Yes, it's the real deal.
Also, a podcast I'll listen to is Darin Olien's Fatal Conveniences. You can check that out here. (You will be brought to his website) I love how Darin brings attention to what seems like some of the simplest of products, after listening you will see there really is nothing simple about them.
As I said, after walking that isle, and really thinking back to it, it just blows my mind millions of these products are still on the market. I just wonder how many are really aware...
As for deodorant? I've been loving this (you will be brought to their website) by Little Seed Farm. Maybe you'd like to give it a try.
And just so you know, I have zero affiliation with any of these websites or products I mentioned. Just finding my own little ways to live a healthier life and I thought it'd be nice to share on here and help others become more aware. 🙂
I hope this finds you and helps you in someway.
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