#216: How to Avoid Toxins in Personal Care Products

Today, I am thrilled to welcome Rachel Downey, a health and wellness advocate, to discuss how to avoid toxins in personal care products. Rachel, a mom of three, began her journey eight years ago, driven by her desire to make safer choices for her children. 

Rachel shares that her journey started when her daughter experienced reactions to certain products, prompting her to explore and switch to safer alternatives. She emphasizes the importance of making "swaps," or replacing commonly used products with safer options. For example, when shopping for baby shampoo, instead of grabbing a familiar brand, she advises turning the product over and examining the ingredients. 

Many of us are aware that toxic ingredients in beauty products can cause issues like dry eyes. Rachel highlights some common toxins to watch out for, such as fragrances, parabens, PEGs, talc, and dyes. Fragrance, in particular, can hide numerous chemicals, while parabens are known endocrine disruptors. 

To help identify safer products, Rachel recommends using the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep database. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using this valuable resource: 

Steps to Use the EWG Skin Deep Database: 

1) Visit the Website or Download the App: 

Go to ewg.org on your desktop. 

Alternatively, download the Healthy Living app on your mobile device. 2)

2) Access the Skin Deep Database: 

From the EWG homepage, navigate to the “Skin Deep” section. 

You can find this under the “Consumer Guides” tab or directly search for it in the website’s search bar. 

3) Search for Products: 

In the Skin Deep database, you can search for specific products by typing the product name into the search bar. 

For example, you can look up “Maybelline Great Lash Mascara” to see its rating. 

4) Understand the Ratings: 

EWG rates products on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the safest and 10 being the most harmful. 

Each product’s page will show a breakdown of its ingredient safety, highlighting any concerns such as allergens, endocrine disruptors, or carcinogens. 

5) Explore Ingredient Details: 

Click on individual ingredients within a product listing to learn more about their potential health impacts. 

This can help you understand why a product received its rating and what specific ingredients to watch out for. 

6) Find Safer Alternatives: 

Use the “EWG Verified” tab to find products that meet the highest safety standards. 

You can also browse the database for safer alternatives by searching for products with lower ratings. 

7) Scan Products on the Go: 

With the Healthy Living app, you can scan barcodes of products while shopping to instantly see their EWG rating. 

This is especially useful for quick, informed decisions in stores. 

8) Use the Information to Make Informed Choices: 

Decide which products to avoid based on their ratings and ingredient concerns. 

Choose for products with better ratings for daily use, and be more flexible with occasional products like special occasion makeup. 

By following these steps, you can effectively use the EWG Skin Deep database to make safer choices for you and your family. Rachel also offers a guide to eliminating toxins from your lifestyle, available through her Facebook group. She advises not to get overwhelmed and to make one swap at a time, gradually reducing your body’s burden of harmful chemicals. 

For those interested, Rachel's guide to eliminating toxins is available, and she welcomes anyone to join her community for more tips and support.