It's summertime! Time for bug sprays and sunscreens, self tanners and hair highlighters, SPF lotions and lip balms. We use personal care products everyday, but have you wondered how safe they are — for you and the environment?
Many soaps, shampoos, conditioners, make-up products, sunscreens and bug repellents are filled with harsh chemicals and preservatives. Our skin soaks up at least 70% of what we put on it, so when we use products with harsh ingredients, it could have long lasting effects on our bodies. What we don't soak up is washed down the drain into our water systems, affecting all of us, including plants and animals.
Educate yourself on the common ingredients used in these products. Examples of ingredients that are a cause for concern are listed in the table below. After you check the labels on your current products, learn about alternatives for future purchases that are good for you and the environment.
- Look for self-preserving organic products to avoid parabens, such as moisturizers made from organic cocoa butter, sunflower oils, peppermint oils, coconut oil and organic spearmint oil. These products can stay preserved naturally for up to 18 months. The best way to find a paraben-free product is to look through the ingredients, or research products on Skin Deepʼs website: www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2
- Many bug repellents contain 5-25% of the pesticide DEET, which can have many side effects such as rashes or convulsions, if used consistently over a long period of time. Natural alternatives are essential oils such as lavender, rosemary or cedarwood which trick insects into thinking you are a plant and repel bugs naturally.
- The active ingredient in most antiperspirants and deodorants is aluminum, which has been linked to cancer and Alzheimerʼs disease. Natural deodorants neutralize smell and help protect against bacteria, the odor causing agent.
- For hair cleaning products, look for almond, sunflower and safflower oils, or cocoa butter and lanolin. Soften your hair with glycerin, honey, chamomile or sorbitol.
Companies dedicated to providing natural products in an environmentally safe way include Burtʼs Bees, Aveda, Blooming Lotus, Tomʼs of Maine and many others.
Natural personal care products are good for your health and the environment. Using these products for all your personal care needs, no matter what the season, is a worthwhile investment.
This article was provided by the Cincinnati Nature Center. Written by Sophia Turczynewycz, an education intern.
