We tend to focus on what we put in our mouths and forget about what we put on our skin. Before I started my nutrition course, I didn’t even think about it so much but as you learn just how many toxins are in these products, it certainly makes you think twice about what you are actually putting on your skin.

Why is it important to consider what we are using topically?

• The skin is the largest and one of the most important organs of the body.
• Up to 60% of what we put on our skin gets absorbed
• Many ingredients found in traditional skincare like face washes, lotions, sunscreens have now been linked with health issues like allergies, eczema, cancer, hormonal disruption and reproductive problems.
• Because the FDA does not regulate skincare, almost any ingredient can be added to the formula, some of them dangerous for our health

So yes, your skincare can make you sick!

A lot of big words coming but just check your labels for them.

1. ALUMINIUM – Aluminium can act like oestrogen does in the body, causing oestrogen dominance and disrupting the healthy functioning of the endocrine system. It’s found in almost every personal care product, especially commercial deodrant!
2. DEA, MEA and TEA (Diethanolamine, Monoethanolamine and Triethanolamine) – These are usually in foaming products. They can also be in eye makeup, fragrances, hair products and sunscreens.
3. DMDM HYDANTOIN AND UREA – Preservatives that often release formaldahyde which can cause joint pain, skin allergies, headaches and sleep issues. Usually found in skincare products, cosmetics, shampoos, conditioners and detergents
4. MINERAL OIL – A petroleum by product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging pores. Why is this harmful? Well, it stops the skin from doing one of it’s jobs properly which is to eliminate toxins. What does this mean? More chances of acne etc. Usually found in creams, ointments, lotions and cosmetics.
5. PARABENS – Not always labeled but they add it as a preservative and can cause hormone imbalance – another endocrine disruptor. Found in lots of moisturizers and deodrants.
6. PEG (Polyethylene glycol) – This ingredient can reduce the skin’s natural moisture factor and is usually found in cleansers.
7. PHTHALATES – Chemicals used to increase the flexibility and strength of plastics and not often listed on the ingredients lists! It can be found in fragrance oils and listed under the term fragrance.
8. PROPYLENE GLYCOL AND BUTYLENE GLYCOL – Gaseous hydrocarbons, they penetrate the skin quickly and can weaken the protein and cellular structure.
9. SILOXANES – Look for ingredients ending in”siloxane” or “methicone”. Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and soften. Another endocrine disruptor and can affect fertility.
10. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) AND SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES) – Detergent that makes products foam, lather and bubble. It i is found in 90% of the products that foam like shaving foam.
11. SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES – Anything that is artificial should always raise a red flag. These are made up of hundreds and thousands of different ingredients not listed on the label, so you are never sure what you are actually being exposed to. Usually found in cosmetic and skincare products but also household products like candles and air fresheners.
12. TRICLOSAN – A synthetic anti-bacterial agent that may disrupt thyroid function and can degrade into a dioxin, which is linked to cancer. Usually found in soaps, mouthwash, shaving cream, deodrants, toothpaste

Seriously, I hear ya! I’m on a journey with skincare and to be fair, I have not been great with a skin care regime when I was younger. As I get older and as I learn more, I certainly count those toxins more, although I am not quite ready to let Charlotte Tilbury makeup go yet! I have made changes with shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, sunscreen, face masks and facial washes, aswell as moisturiser but the makeup, I am not there yet. When I find a good alternative, I will change but Charlotte tibury is not tested on animals and doesn’t have Parabens at least but of course, not all natural.
Many of these toxins, as you have seen are endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic oestrogen mainly in the body and cause hormone imbalance.

Other options?

I love my doterra essential oils And you can use them to make products. I make my own facescrub, which you can find on my instagram with just himalyan salt, brown sugar and a mix of essential oils like teatree, rosehip, peppermint and lavender. Doterrra are therapeutic grade which is what you want. You can join and just get 25% ongoing off your orders here. I will do another blog post on easy products you can make as I explore more with homemade natural products.

I found the ageless glow oil recently and love it. You can use RYSEGOLD10 at checkout for 10% off.

Of course, we always look at the source and we support our other organs from the inside out with nutrition movement and mindset tools, reducing stress and cortisol levels. Skin is just another organ!

Fostering a wholefood, anti-inflammatory diet and supporting our health in terms of reducing overall inflammation, of course is paramount. For many skin conditions and issues, gut health is key, aswell as reducing stress and sugar in the diet. All the same anti-inflammatory tools – Yoga, meditation, exercise, cold water therapy, wholefood nutrition, Infrared saunas, Red light therapy support skin health from the inside out.

It always comes back to nature and supporting the body to do it’s job to come back to balance or homeostasis.

I have found my skin is always better also, with more of a glow when I give digestion a break with intermittent or water fasting. The callagen supplement I am using is definitely supporting hair, nails and skin at the moment.

Collagen is the main structural protein in the human body constituting 70% of our dry-mass skin content. Did you know it starts to decrease from the age of 25? Collagen fibres provide the infrastructure for elastin, which maintains skin elasticity. I use Callagen Peptides as they are more bio-available in the body. Callagen Peptides have been shown to resist peptidase digestion and are absorbed into the blood circulation system at relatively high levels.

Other organic skincare and makeup brands that you can try:

• Green people organics
• Moogoo skin care
• The chuckling goat
• Jurlique
• Dr Hauschke
• Tropic skincare
• Konjac sponge company
• Borlind
• Neals yard remedies
• Lily Lilo makeup
• Evolve makeup
• Pai skincare
• Inika organic
• Faith in nature
• Ere Perez
• Vapour beauty
• Mother dirt
• The natural deodrant company

So count your chemicals and read your labels!

We can always start with 1 or 2 products that you are willing to change and build on it. It’s not about all or nothing.

Just like food labels, if we can’t pronounce it, let’s not buy it!