Non-Toxic Cosmetics Stack
Throw away your toiletry bag. It's making you infertile
If there is ONE area you need to be ruthless about, its what you put on and in your body on a daily basis
Personal hygiene products are NOTORIOUSLY toxic. Not only are they toxic, they’re also counterproductive
Face wash that makes your skin WORSE
Shampoo that makes your hair WORSE
Fragrances that make your smell WORSE
You can have better skin, hair, and teeth with just a few one-time tweaks.
If you haven’t read my Cosmetic overhaul series. You check them out here:
Cosmetics Overhaul Part 1
Cosmetics Overhaul Part 2
This post will cover what I use for
Shampoo
Conditioner
Toothpaste
Face wash
Body wash
Skincare products
Moisturizer
Most of these you can make at home. I’m going to include some affiliate links to products I use and endorse. I know the people behind these brands and trust their manufacturing & mission.
Why the Cosmetics Industry is a Sham
your skin is an absorbent organ
What you put on your skin gets absorbed into your system. Not only does it get absorbed, it bypasses our first line of defense which is our intricate digestive system. Putting something on your skin could be potentially WORSE than ingesting it
The three pathways of skin absorption
Your scalp, armpits & genitals have the highest rate of absorption
This is where we use the most cosmetics → shampoo, deodorant, body wash
Large-scale cosmetic companies only care about profit marigns & repeat purchases
Its all a rouse. 7 companies control the entire market. They funnel BILLIONS into convincing you their products are necessary
Lets Talk Soap
Before talking about specifics, I want to teach you about soap.
Whether for dishes, clothes, or skin. Soap is simply a compound that emulsifies oils and allows them to be carried by water
Its a molecule with an oil-soluble tail (long hydrocarbon chain) on one end and a water-soluble head (short ionic group) on the other.
The fat-loving tail “catches” oils & particulates on your skin. The water-loving head lets the whole chain be washed away with water.
Big cosmetics doesn’t want you to know this. They want you to think that you need a different soap for each function. Dishes, clothes, face, body, balls, hands. They don’t want you to know that olive oil makes the greatest soap. Its why we’ve been using it for a thousand
Now lets take a look in my cosmetics bag:
Hair Care
I don’t shampoo often. I go in the ocean regularly and exfoliate my scalp in the shower. But scalp/hair care is beneficial. Especially if you live in a city/during the winter months.
Shower Filter
This is more important than any soap. Tap water is chlorinated & contaminated. Aside from damaging your hair, it seeps into your skin. If you’re taking hot showers, you’re inhaling all those vaporized contaminants too
Use EWG’s Tap Water Database to see what contaminants are in your municipal water.
Some shower heads only soften water (remove calcium). More advanced ones remove chlroine. Few remove a broad array of contaminants.
Dual Head KTF filters are best. Live Pristine has the most efficacious filter I’ve found. If you have the means, a whole-house filter is a worthwhile investment.
(Get Dual-Head KTF filter here)
Tallow & Honey Soap
I use shampoo maybe once a week. When I do, its usually diluted Tallow & Honey soap. I exfoliate thoroughly and rub it into my scalp.
I use this soap for most cleaning, just at different dilutions. Cleanses, removes oils, and hydrates.
You can get Health Y Sol’s Honey & Tallow soap here (Code NOAHRYAN10)
Egg Wash
Eggs are loaded with key nutrients for follicle health (A,E,B12, Biotin). The yolks have a fat called lecithin that moisturizes your hair.
Crack one on your head or use just the yolk. Pasture raised. Rub in deeply and let sit for 5 minutes
Apple Cider Vinegar
(1:4 AVC to water ratio)
Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Balances scalp pH, Locks in moisture, Cleansing.
Highly efficacious for Dandruff. Make sure to moisturize after
Olive oil/Beef Tallow (Conditioner)
After I shampoo, I’ll put olive oil or beef tallow in my hair. I’ll then go & rinse it out thoroughly with lukewarm water. Moisturizes my hair without getting too greasy.
Bonus: Exfoliation
Aside from products, exfoliation is crucial for scalp health. You can use a spiked scalp scrubber or just use your fingers. Get in deep to break up dead tissue & improve bloodflow. Use a wooden comb as well (both can be found on Amazon)
Moisturizer
If you want a smooth, healthy, and protective skin barrier, You need to be moisturizing.
Harsh cleansers, environmental contaminants, and constantly conditioned air has left our skin barrier vulnerable. We’ve destroyed our natural sebum production (which keeps our skin safe).
Damaged epidermis leads to Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL). Which leads to skin damage and aging.
Counteract this by nourishing your skin with a bio-similar moisturizer. Something that mimics your natural sebum (skin oil) AND provides nourishment.
A few great options:
Tallow
Lard
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Shea butter
If you struggle with acne, be cautious about the comedogenic rating of each oil (capacity to clog your pores).
Methylene Blue Tallow Balm
This is my only face moisturizer.
Tallow is high in palmitic, stearic, and oleic acid. They improve skin barrier integrity, moisture retention & prevent environmental damage. Its also loaded with fat-soluble vitamins that nourish your skin cells & act as antioxidants
Methylene Blue is a cosmetic wonder drug. Its actually been patented for skin anti-aging. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging. MBlue addresses this. Its a potent antioxidant that can delay cellular senescence (death).
Most importantly, Methylene Blue enhances your collagen and elastin matrix. This keeps your skin tight, supple, and reduces wrinkles.
I personally think wrinkles build character. But my skin barrier has been destroyed by acne and using Methylene blue topically has made my skin noticeably more vibrant
You can get Meraki’s Methylene Blue Infused Tallow Balm Here (Code: NOAHRYAN15)
Face & Body Wash
I’m acne prone so I need to be particular about face wash. Typical “acne” face wash strips your skin of its natural protective barrier and destroys your skin biome. Ruins your complexion and leads to more skin issues.