Tips for Eliminating Toxins from Skincare

As someone who has personally done the GAPS protocol, using (and avoiding) foods to heal my body, I know that good health is dependent on many factors. While food is a powerful healer, it can't work alone. Eliminating toxins in our environment, managing stress and cleaning up what our skin is exposed to is also important. 

Why is our skin so important to our health?

Skin takes in information about our environment and sends messages to others about our internal health. Just looking at our skin tells us about our nutrition, liver health, fertility and more! Our skin protects us from ultraviolet radiation, microorganisms and is our first line of immune defense. It also works in tandem with the liver to excrete waste and toxins from the body. On the other hand, it’s exposed to a large number of toxins that can be absorbed into our body.

While cleaning up your diet is certainly important and pivotal to your health, most people stop there and overlook the impact of what is entering their bodies via their skin. When you eat something, your body does have some systems in place that can help eliminate toxins before they enter your bloodstream. When you apply something to your skin, however, it skips some of these safeguards and can potentially enter the bloodstream directly. Detoxing your skincare is an important step towards your overall health and wellbeing.

So let's get started! Here are some steps on how to detox your skincare.

Step #1 :  Say no to fragrances

Perfumes and fragrances are found in a wide array of products. Chemicals used in artificial fragrances can disrupt hormone production, affect the release of hormones, promote cancer and even cause an allergic reaction in many people. Companies aren’t required to disclose the ingredients they use to add fragrance to their products, meaning loads of chemicals and known carcinogens are disguised behind the word “perfume”, “parfum”, “fragrance” and even “natural fragrance” in the ingredients list. Regardless, our desensitized noses are drawn to these strong scents. The first thing we do with new skincare or haircare products is smell them. An adjustment away from over-scented products is a transition that may take some time and adjustment. 

While it’s wise to scrutinize all the products you buy for this sneaky ingredient, an important starting point is to eliminate the ritual spritz of perfume from your daily routine. Spare yourself and those around you from common allergens and hormone disruptors by eliminating the cloud of fragrance that follows you around. Instead, why not spritz yourself with a refreshing floral hydrosol?

Other things you can include in this category are candles with synthetic fragrances and other toxic ingredients that can be transferred to the air and inhaled. Why not invest in a long-lasting and naturally sweet smelling beeswax candle? It’s also wise to do away with any form of air fresheners. Why not simmer a few slices of citrus fruit on the stovetop to scent your home or burn a homemade candle in the bathroom? Your guests will thank you that they’re not walking into a room full of toxic fake flower fragrance. Even smelling someone else perfume can cause an allergic reaction and disrupt hormones, it’s a change our society needs to make as a whole.

Step #2 : Switch laundry detergents

Speaking of products loaded with artificial fragrances, laundry detergents and softeners are major culprits. Even many baby laundry detergents are chalk-full of fragrances, chemicals and other irritants. In fact, if you have frequent skin outbreaks it would be no surprise if your laundry detergent was behind it. It’s something we assume just washes off and doesn’t affect us, but detergents adhere to your clothes and bedsheets, which are up against your skin all day and night. Additionally, if your laundry liquid is blue, pink, green, etc. - you know there’s some major synthetic substances at work - harmful dyes, thickeners and foaming agents.

The easiest way to escape the heavily chemical-laden detergents is to choose a cleaner brand. However, some of these still have unsavory ingredients. One natural option that my family employs is using soap nuts in combination with washing soda for each load. Additionally we use white vinegar in towel loads to kill smelly bacteria and hydrogen peroxide on our cloth diapers to fight stains. We’ve been using them for well over a year and have no complaints about the cleanliness of our clothes.

Step #3 : Ditch the commercial deodorant sticks

It’s become increasingly popular to opt for natural deodorants, but a majority of the population still hasn't made the switch. Commercial deodorant sticks contain ingredients that can potentially lead to developmental and reproductive issues as well as cancer. One such ingredient is aluminum - which is a toxic heavy metal once it enters the blood stream. Scientists argue that it’s safe because it’s not penetrating the skin deep enough to enter the blood stream. But as we well know, the skin readily absorbs what you put on it, debunking that myth (these are also the scientists who recommend getting botox injections under your arms to stop sweating if you're allergic to commercial deodorants).

With so many natural brands on the market, you have plenty to choose from. We recommend looking for brands that are baking-soda-free, because it can irritate some people’s skin. There are other moisture-absorbing ingredients that do the job just as well - such as arrowroot powder or bentonite clay. We also highly recommend looking for magnesium hydroxide on the ingredient list, we’ve found this essential to the “odor-eliminating” quality of the formula. Additionally, most will contain essential oils to help eliminate bacteria growth - which you may opt to avoid. We craft our own deodorant formulas with infused oils of lavender or a citrus fruit peel to produce similar results while being much gentler on the skin.

Step #4 : Look for mineral-based sunscreens

Sunscreens are a major headache for chemical-conscious consumers. While they claim to prevent cancer, it’s actually more likely that they cause it. They contain chemical filters that are known to pass through a mother’s breast milk to their infants! You definitely want to avoid spray sunscreens, which can be inhaled and cause even more damage!

Luckily there are mineral-based sunscreens available on the market. But before you slather up yourself and your kids with it, remember that some daily sun exposure is healthy and can actually help build up your skin’s tolerance to the sun’s rays. Also, many natural fats and oils can offer mild SPF protection which may do just fine if you’re not in the sun for extended periods of time or having a beach day. Judge for yourself what precautions you need to take for sun safety based on your own skin sensitivity and lifestyle.

 Step #5 : Use natural fats & oils to moisturize

When it comes to moisturizing, many turn to lotions. However, lotion is water-based, meaning it doesn’t penetrate and moisturize your skin cells as effectively and it promotes microbial growth over time. So, unless you’re making your own lotions and using them within a few days, you can almost guarantee they are chalk-full of preservatives to make them last. Additionally, most lotions are plant-oil based. Plant oils aren’t as shelf-stable, meaning they go rancid easily and increase free radical damage on the skin.

We recommend using a fat-based skin salve or body butter. Fats penetrate cell walls, providing moisture and essential fat-soluble vitamins to nourish and repair skin cells. Fats are much more stable and can be formulated into body butters without preservatives. Using fats and oils on your skin may even act as a barrier that protects your skin, helping it to retain moisture and modulate skin inflammation. Our favorite fat-based moisturizer is tallow whips.

Step #6: Make the Switch to Bar Soaps

While even the simplest hard soaps contain lye, the chemical that saponifies the fats and oils into soap, it fully reacts while the soap cures and is not harmful in the final product. Most soap companies don't stop there, though. Commercial soaps are loaded with lab-derived chemicals that are meant to fulfill a variety of "product enhancing purposes". Liquid soaps can be even more tricky, requiring additional chemicals to enhance their appeal to consumers.

Most liquid soaps contain some kind of fragrance (and, thus, phthalates). I know that’s why people flock to Bath and Body Works for their favorite seasonal soaps with the little exfoliating beads, but they’re really not doing our skin any favors. They’re also likely to contain some sort of sulfate or paraben. Most also contain synthetic coloring as well as foaming agents, preservatives, etc.

My recommendation is to make the switch to bar soaps in your household. Not only does it allow you to skip some unnecessary ingredients needed to make those sudsy hand soaps and body washes, but they also last a lot longer, thus creating less waste. We exchanged the hand pumps next to our sinks with soap dishes and little bar soaps and did the same in our shower.

Now, be forewarned that bar soap ingredients can be just as tricky. Unless they specify that they’re scented with essential oils, if they have a strong smell they contain fragrances. The best option is to find smaller soap making businesses that are upfront about what they do (and do not) add to their soaps. Unfortunately most of these can’t be found in your average supermarket, so you may need to find an online retailer and stock up (which, like I said, you won’t have to do frequently since they do last).

When we create bar soaps for Wilde Flora we opt to just use tallow, herbal-infused jojoba oil, olive oil and lye. We don't add any fragrances (not even in the form of essential oils) because we want to keep our daily exposure to potential allergens as low as possible. 

Tip #7: Avoid Antibacterial Soaps, Sanitizers and Wipes.

Many commercial soaps contain antibacterial agents in the form of triclosan, which is known as a possible carcinogen and endocrine disruptor. The primary reason we recommend avoiding them, however, is because we value our precious microbiome. Keeping a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut is so important for your overall health and the plethora of antibacterial products that we over-expose ourselves to only encourage the formation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

While it’s great to start by discontinuing your use of these products at home (including that triple-antibiotic ointment and that go-to hand sanitizer you keep in your purse) it’s important not to overlook all the areas you’re exposed to antibacterial products in public places as well. Yes, I’m taking about public bathrooms (and maybe even your friend's house). If I’m being honest, I couldn’t tell you the last time I used the soap available in a public restroom to wash my hands. I recommend keeping a bar of soap in your purse in a handy little travel soap container (yes, we’re becoming those people) or just opt for rinsing your hands well in warm water. Your good bacteria will thank you later.

Tip #8:  Shave with Soap, not Shaving Cream.

Since we’re on a bar soap kick, we have to mention shaving as well. Those heavily foaming shaving creams are not the cleanest products on the market. In fact, even our research on some of the “simplest” men’s shaving soaps and creams left us overwhelmed. The bottom line is this: consumers have come to expect a high standard for a nice, foamy lather, a strong scent and sometimes even a bright blue or pink color… so this is what commercial shaving cream companies cater to.

The reality is, pretty much any old soap can be lathered up to shave with. If you’re wanting a bare bones natural shave bar, a simple blend of tallow and shea butter have a nice, smooth lather that we love. It’s not going to overflow your sink with bubbles like a lab chemical may, but it’s going to treat your skin well and get the job done. 

Tip #9: Clean Out Your Household Cleaning Arsenal

This tip could probably be a blog post all on its own, but we’ll just skim the surface. When you clean your home, does it require you to put on latex gloves, crack all the windows and put on a gas mask? That’s probably an indication that you’re cleaning with some pretty heavy chemicals. 

The good news is there are natural options for a cleaner home. Essential oil companies sure haven’t overlooked the possibilities. If you’re looking to steer clear of these volatile oils, however, a few other options include: herbal hydrosols (which smell divine and can be made on your stovetop), herb-infused vinegars (try making a four thieves blend), diluted castile soap, baking soda, white vinegar or even just making a strong soap nut tea and using it wherever needed.

There are also plenty of “cleaner” brands on the market if you just want to grab something easy at the store. Overall, I highly recommend not overlooking this cabinet in your household. Not only are you exposed to it while cleaning, but they linger on in your home (or are in the air) where you can be exposed to them regularly. 

Tip #10: Ditch Your Commercial Dish Soap

Here’s another tricky product that you may be exposed to daily - commercial dish soaps. These contain most of the same culprits as hand soaps and body washes, which we wouldn’t think to eat, so why do we want them on our dishes?

Also, if you have a dishwasher, you’ll want to look for both a dish soap and dishwasher detergent that pass the “safety” test. My family goes so far as to make our own dishwasher liquid out of lemons, salt and white vinegar. We can’t boast streak-free results but it helps us save money and feel good about a chemical-free alternative.

If you want to go the extra mile, look for clean brands who make baby-safe dish soaps, which are more likely to exclude fragrances and colorants, but do tend to be more expensive. Buying in bulk sometimes helps cut the costs, as well as looking for refill bags instead of hand pumps.

Change takes time to adjust to but you’ll create new habits and routines in no time. It takes a little research and a little prepping to stock up the items that you need (or learn how to make them) but it’s well worth it. The convenience of running to the nearest drug store isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and your skin will be the first to pay the true costs of "cheap" products.

 

Step #11: Say Goodbye to Commercial Shampoo & Conditioner

Some of the biggest culprits for toxic additives can be found in shampoos and conditioners. Companies know that people will pay big time for a magic product that can make their hair more manageable, so they load them with a variety of chemicals to strip oils, add shine, detangle, etc. Not to mention the perfumes, artificial colors, thickeners, lathering agents and more. How many of you walk around days later still smelling like your hair products?

I’ll admit, this is a hard step for most of us. I’ve saved it for the last week because we know it may take some time. While there are plenty of recommendations to choose from out there - shampoo bars, no-poo method, baking soda & vinegar, bananas & avocados, you name it - changing up your haircare takes some time, adjustment and commitment.

My personal regimen involves only washing my hair every 10 or so days, and alternating between a natural shampoo and conditioner and a simple tallow soap bar. I find when I travel I really love the way my hair feels after using my travel tallow soap, but after the second day of washing it feels oily to me, so that’s why I alternate. I also tried making my own castile soap-based foaming shampoo, followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse, and I loved the lather but it still felt oily after (keep in mind I have SUPER thick, curly hair). If you’ve found a regimen that’s working for you, do share it below in the comments so we can help each other out.

Step # 12 : Simplify Your Haircare 

We’re not going to stop at shampoo and conditioner when it comes to haircare. I remember when I first started researching what was in my everyday products, one of the first things I looked up was my hair gel. It was in the red on my clean ingredients app for all kinds of irritants and I reluctantly gave it up. This includes the whole suite of haircare products - gels, serums, pomades, hair dyes and hairsprays! 

Why do we consider this as part of our skincare? For a long time I would have consistent breakouts on my back and around my hairline. When I changed haircare products they cleared up! We don’t realize just how much our skin is affected by everything we come in contact with until we become mindful of what we allow it to be exposed to.

At first I tried making my own hair gel, and it was a sticky mess. I eventually gave it up altogether and, after a period of adjustment, found that my hair looked better and curled more naturally without any product at all. A dab of tallow or coconut oil can be added to wet hair to tame the frizz.

Step #13 : Clean Out Your Makeup

This is a tricky one for most of us as well. When I started detoxing my skincare, I had just joined the Sephora Insider loyalty program and was stocking up on all kinds of makeup that I, painfully, ended up throwing away. Though it hurt, any time I used it the chemical-laden makeup I could feel the difference and I knew there was no point in keeping it lying around.

Natural makeups are tricky in themselves. Many brands that tout themselves as natural, upon further inspection, weren’t much better than their mainstream alternatives. Even the shelves at “natural” stores like Whole Foods have some hidden culprits. Most of the companies I ended up taking a liking to were much smaller companies that I could only buy online (which makes testing colors a little tricky, that’s how I ended up with 20+ shades of mineral eyeshadow).

The other problem I encountered is the mica debate. Almost every natural makeup brand you find contains some sort of mica, pigment or oxide (including lip balms, eyeshadows, soaps, foundations, etc). While these are natural minerals, most of them are synthetic (created in a lab). It’s incredibly hard to determine where they were mined, if they have added dyes, if they’re naturally occurring or if they’re synthetic when sourcing them, in my experience. Also, although they’re natural, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe. I’ve read some concerns on inhaling them (which happens a lot if using powdered makeup) and harm they can cause over time. So I’m still undecided on them.

That being said, there are still some even more natural alternatives to micas, such as activated charcoal (for mascaras), arrowroot powder mixed with beet root powder or kaolin clay for blush or cinnamon and cocoa for foundation. You’ll likely have to make your own makeup if you want these, however, because it’s incredibly hard to find companies that exclusively use these ingredients.

Step #14 : Nix the Nail Polish

Unfortunately, nail polish is a big no-no. The standard nail polish contains dozens of toxic chemicals. Several brands have started claiming they are “3-free, 5-free and even 12-free” meaning they don’t contain that amount of commonly used chemicals. However, they are frequently substituting one harmful chemical for another. The fact that they can come up with 12 of the worst chemicals to “leave out” should tell you all you need to know about the standard nail polish on the market. Additionally, many people leave nail polish on for extended periods of time, allowing the chemicals more time to leach through their nails into their bodies.

This doesn’t end with DIY manicures either. Salons are chalk-full of chemicals via lotions, washes, cuticle creams, nail polish removers, etc. That’s why you may frequently come out of a “relaxing” salon day with a headache. I’m not saying you’ll never enter a nail salon again, however. In fact, there are now some natural nail salons popping up that try to lighten the chemical load. They don’t offer acrylic or nail dip services because they’re too toxic, and instead use only safer products and 12-free nail polishes.

Best alternative: go natural and polish-free. Give your nails some time to recover from constant polish (they may be thin, brittle, yellowed, etc. from always having polish on them) but they’ll be beautiful once they have time to heal.

Step #15 : Nurture Your Face

Our last tip is to take a look at any additional product you may be using on your face. Whether it’s a face soap or cleanser, makeup remover or wipes, masks, exfoliators, serums, toners, acne creams, eye creams, night creams, pimple reducers, etc. The market is saturated with these kinds of beauty products because they know how desperate we are to have our faces look good.

Rather than offering a variety of options to replace these items, my biggest recommendation would be to simplify your facial care routine. I truly believe the fewer things you use on your face, the better your skin will look and feel. If we overdo it with cleansers, plumpers, moisturizers, etc our skin gets confused about how to act.

A super simple skincare regimen can look like this:

• Use a simple tallow soap or oil cleanser to cleanse your face once a day or less.
• If you’re a toner person, a cornflower or rose hydrosol could be a super refreshing follow-up to cleansing.
• After cleansing, apply a touch of moisturizer. If you’re using tallow, take a small dab, rub it between your hands and then massage into your face well until completely absorbed (you should only need to do this once a day, twice if you suffer from incredibly dry skin or during dry months).
• If you have a skin condition that needs a little extra attention, focus on herbs that can benefit your skin, we have some serum blends that do well for this.
• Every 3-5 days exfoliate your face with a natural loofah sponge or a homemade salt or sugar scrub.

And, as with everything in detoxing, give your skin some time to adjust, lash out, etc. as you’re allowing it to clear out all the toxins stored up in your body.

That's a wrap! Tell us what you learned in the comments below!

xoxo, Wilde Flora