Cosmetics Overhaul Guide (part 1)
Cosmetics Overhaul Guide (part 1)
Get rid of the toxic goop, replace them with efficacious alternatives
Gm Gentlemen. One of the most CRUCIAL steps in improving your health is finding non-toxic alternatives to things you use daily.
Remember, its about being better, not perfect. Always look for the 20% of actions that’ll yield 80% of results.
If there is one area that is in the 20%, it’s cosmetics. The things you’re putting on your skin every day.
God knows why, but the modern cosmetic industry is SO toxic. Absolute absurdity. Did you know cosmetic products have the second highest profit margin behind jewelry?
You’re essentially paying outlandish sums of money for products that aren’t only inefficacious, but TOXIC.
I want to offer a better alternative. An au-natural toiletry stack that is not only non-toxic but more effective than the petroleum-based, price-gouging, dermatologist-endorsed slop products you’re told you need. All from experience
My personal stack
I’m going to be honest, There was an 8 month period where I was using nothing but beef tallow & coconut oil
Beef tallow for my face, coconut oil for my body, deodorant, and toothpaste.
As somebody who has always had issues (acne etc), my skin had never been better.
Now I can probably get away with less products than most. I sweat buckets daily, go in the ocean 1-2x/day, and shower in jungle well water. What I’m trying to say here is less is more.
Keep in mind that skin & hair health starts from within. Skin has the highest turnover rate of all your cells so it’ll be the first to be affected by gut, liver, and other organ health fluctuations.
What to avoid:
Avoid anything that has a TV commercial or is sold at Target. I’m not going to bore you with the details, just know that a lot of ingredients in common cosmetic products have been linked to hormonal disruption, neurotoxicity, reproductive issues, and even cancer.
Avoid these in particular:
Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, and Ethylparaben): Used as preservatives. Associated with endocrine disruption & reproductive issues
Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP and others): Linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and birth defects.
Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (Quaternium-15, DMDM Hydantoin, Urea): Antimicrobial. Known carcinogens, can cause skin irritation
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Foaming agent. Can cause skin irritation and may be contaminated with potentially carcinogenic substances during manufacturing.
Synthetic fragrances (listed as Fragrance or Parfum): Contain hundreds of chemical compounds. Exact composition is rarely disclosed. Avoid
Oxybenzone and Octinoxate: Chemical UV filters found in sunscreens & skin creams, linked to endocrine disruption.
Triclosan and Triclocarban: Antimicrobial agents found in soaps and sanitizers. Bacterial resistance and endocrine disruption.
Lead and other heavy metals: Not intentionally added, but often found in color additives.
Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs): Can be contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, both carcinogens.
Triclosan: Antibacterial. Endocrine disruptor that accumulates in fat cells & keeps body in state of toxicity (AVOID, been seeing more & more studies on its toxicity)
These are some of many.
Avoid exposure in High-absorption areas
Your scalp, face, armpits, and genital area have high absorption affinity to whatever you put on them. This just so happens to be where most cosmetics are applied. How convenient.
Lets start from the top
Shampoo:
Like I said, I don’t use shampoo. Haven’t in years. But we all have different scalps & lifestyles, some requiring more support than others.
Store-bought shampoo dries out your scalp, resulting in more oil production to compensate. More oil makes you need more shampoo, hooking you as a customer for life. You need to break this cycle & regain a balanced scalp.