Detox your life: beauty

Let’s talk about beauty…

Did you know that an average woman uses around 12 beauty products with about 168 chemicals daily?

From soaps to toothpaste and lotions to cosmetics and fashion, experiences, cultures, and relationships.We all approach self-care differently, prioritizing some things based on our knowledge or marketing. Like in nutrition, some self-care practices and products energize or drain us. 

Finding a routine and products that support your and the environment's health can energize you and offer nourishment. It can help you create moments that connect you to your values. Choosing products that support the health of your skin, hair, and body can also inspire you to support yourself in other areas. According to Ayurveda, you shouldn’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat. This makes sense, as the skin is the largest organ of our body, and everything it absorbs goes to our bloodstream. Have you ever thought about it?

Much of the beauty industry is self-regulated, meaning companies can make claims about safety without much testing . Regulations vary widely worldwide, and marketing tactics can add another layer of ambiguity. The more you understand about what’s in the products you use and how they were made, the more empowered you’ll be to make choices that support health.

The best products you can use are 100% natural, organic, green, beauty and sustainable. Sometimes we find “vegan,” “cruelty-free”, “parabens-free” labels, but that doesn’t mean that they are toxic-free. 

I’ve made a list of the ingredients you should avoid. Remember the first five ingredients on the label are the most important.

1. Fragrance: contain between 10 and hundreds of ingredients to create a smell

2. Colors and dyes: contain heavy metals and petroleum

3. Aluminum: it promoted alzheimer’s and autism

4. Hydroquinone: very common in hai conditioners and nail polishes

5. Parabens: can increase the amount of estrogen, causing breast cancer

6. Petroleum derivates: Probable cancerigen

7. Phthalate: Found in lotions, cause male infertility

8. Retino: Damage-free radicals and skin tissues

9. Triclosan: Affects the gut microbiome

10. Silicones: impairs the skin

11. PEGs/PGs: worsen eczema, kidney and liver damage

12. Phenoxyethanol: found in shampoos and creams and used as a preservative. It is linked to kidney damage. 

This information serves as a guide to adopting a clean beauty practice that nourishes your skin and brings more light and joy into your life. 

Namaste, 

Paula.