If you and I have connected here for any length of time you know I’ve been vegan for 20 years. What you also may or may not know is that I pride myself on using skin care products that are not only cruelty free and toxin free but that are also not going to place further burdens onto our beautiful suffering planet.
If you have been interested in getting more in alignment with non-toxic cruelty free hair care, skin care and cosmetics. Or, if you are just desiring to become more Conscious about what you place on your body (both inside and out) I highly suggest you check out this new page I just created on my website!
Everything I share on the page is...
cruelty-free
vegan
organic
toxin free
NEVER tested on animals
I even share the internal supplements formulated along with a custom skin oil that was created just for me!
If you have always wanted
* beautiful long HEALTHY hair
.* strong nails (that are yours)
* incredible skin (y’all ALWAYS ask me this)
NOW, ONTO THE REAL DIRT!
THE DIRTY DOZEN ~ MY TOP 12 INGREDIENTS TO AVOID IN YOUR HAIRCARE, SKINCARE OR COSMETIC ROUTINE!
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It performs several vital functions for the body including protecting other vital organs, bones, muscles, tendons and nerve endings. One would think that we would have a need to be extremely mindful of what we are putting on our skin.
Here’s Why:
Our skin acts as a sponge! In fact 60 to 65% of what we put on our skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream within 15 minutes! I KNOW RIGHT?!
Because the FDA does NOT regulate skincare, (YEP! They don’t) almost any ingredient can be incorporated into formulas! Many are incredibly dangerous to your health and the health of your family.
Many ingredients found in traditional skincare products (facial washes, lotions, sunscreens, deodorants etc) have been linked to health issues such as allergies, allergic reactions, psoriasis, eczema, cancer, hormonal disruption, and reproductive problems.
QUESTION: So the age old question is this... Can you trust your haircare, deodorants, laundry detergents, skin care and makeup? Or, could they be making you sick? The simple answer is absolutely yes!
Always Remember Johnson & Johnson! Just look at the Johnson and Johnson lawsuit there is a prime example of how a baby powder caused millions of women to get ovarian cancer.
Of course, until people step forward... nothing happens to these companies when typical products such as a baby powder causes millions of women to die until people like you and I stand up, speak out and stick up for our rights. The biggest way we can do this is by not supporting the chemical laden toxin filled companies that often test on animals!
Prior to reading my top 12 TOXIN list below please bear in mind that what you should be doing before avoiding chemicals and toxins is making certain that all the brands you and your family are using are not tested on animals and that they contain no animal byproducts!
My Top 12 Ingredients To Avoid In Your Skincare, haircare and cosmetics are as follows...
1. ALUMINUM ~ A toxic metal that can have estrogen like effects in our systems, disrupting the healthy functioning of the endocrine system.
Usually found in almost every personal care product, especially antiperspirant deodorants. NOTE: Men often test high for aluminum!
2. MINERAL OIL ~ A petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging pores often causing breakouts. This is incredibly harmful because it interferes with your skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, therefore increasing likelihood of several skin disorders. Mineral oil is often found in creams, lotions, ointments, and cosmetics.
3. DMDM HYDANTOIN ~ Preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause skin allergies, headaches, and a major loss of sleep. This chemical is usually found in skincare products, cosmetics, shampoos and conditioners, and especially in laundry detergents.
4. Diethanolamine ~ Monoethanolamine and triethanolamine ~ Clear, colorless, horrific liquids with ammonia odors. Usually found in products that foam such as soaps. They are found specifically in eye makeup, hair products, and sunscreens. NOTE: Please note I use a straight zinc oxide for sunscreen and I rarely use one!
5. PEG (Polyethylene glycol) ~ An Ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin’s natural moisture factor. It's often used as a thickener in products to dissolve oil and grease.
6. PARABENS ~ Not always labeled, used as preservatives, and may contribute to hormone imbalance and even breast cancer. Usually found almost everywhere including skincare products such as moisturizers, deodorants and cosmetics.
7. PHTHALATES (THIS ONE IS NEVER LISTED)! ~ It’s almost always called “fragrance”! This chemical is used to increase flexibility and strength of plastics, and not often listed among the ingredients on products.
8. SILOXANES Look for ingredients ending in "siloxane / methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics and lotions to soften, smooth and moisten. But at who’s expense?! Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Note: From a vegan standpoint this particular ingredient is harmful to fish and certain wildlife!
9. PROPYLENE GLYCOL & BUTYLENE GLYCOL ~ Gaseous hydrocarbons which in a liquid state act as “surfactant”. They penetrate the skin so quickly and can weaken the protein and cellular structure. Usually used to make extracts from herbs.
10. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE ~ This was actually the first chemical I stopped using 20 years ago. Back then, it was almost impossible to find any shampoo or conditioner that was sulfite free. Now, I demand it in any salon I enter.
11. TRICLOSAN ~ Known as a synthetic antibacterial agent. Studies show this can greatly disrupt thyroid function and lead to cancer. Usually found in soaps, mouthwash, shaving products, deodorants and toothpastes.
12. FRAGRANCE UGH! ~ This one angers me because it is a cover up word used for many different ingredients that the cosmetic industry doesn’t want you to know when they are hiding other ingredients! Anything that is synthetic or artificial should always raise a red flag. These are made up of hundreds to thousands of different ingredients not listed on the label! Again
NOTE: BE MINDFUL! Many of these companies are out for the money therefore you are never sure what you are TRULY being exposed to. NOTE: One thing I wanna point out about fragrances many people use air fresheners in their home and their cars and do not realize how toxic these are. I remember taking an Uber last year and having a headache for three days after I was exposed to an air freshener in a car.
Please please please take the above into serious consideration the next time you are shopping for haircare, skincare or even household products! But I also want you to be mindful that the cruelty free bunny is on the label of everything you purchase. This little bunny means that no beagle dogs, no mice and no monkeys have their eyes and bodies poked and prodded for your beauty products.
Remember, you get one body in this lifetime treat it like the temple it is and do not fill it with toxins chemicals and fragrances that disrupt your hormonal system and your livelihood.
Now is the time for you to get truly healthy and happy in your own skin!
Remember I only want the very best for you!
Cilantro kisses
Love you, Isn’t it time you love yourself
~ Andrea
