Personal Products

Throughout the curriculum we discuss personal products to swap out for healthier alternatives. Below is a snapshot of some brands that we recommend and trust. The good news is that more and more companies are producing better for you personal products, so this list is just the beginning of acceptable alternatives.

1. Sunscreen

A safer option to the chemical based sunscreens are mineral based ones. One caveat here, you want to make sure to use a mineral based sunscreen that is non-nano zinc oxide based for safe and natural protection. A few of our favorites for adult use are Alba Botanica Sport Sunscreen, fragrance free, Sunology Mineral Sunscreen, Beautycounter, and Burt’s Bees Sunscreen Stick. For the little ones in your life, we like Goddess Garden Baby, Honest Co Mineral Sunscreen, and Babyganics sunscreen

2. Cleaning Products

Top chemicals to avoid are sodium hydroxide, phthalates, chlorine, ammonia, triclosan, 2-butoxyethanol, and sulfates. 

Some of our favorite trusted brands for cleaning products are Better Life, Dr. Bronner’s, 7^th Generation, Branch Basics, Greenshield Organic Glass Cleaner, AspenClean, Four Monks, and Biokleen. When purchasing candles, it is best to look for cotton-wicked vegetable (often soy-based) or beeswax candles. A few of our favorites are Burt’s Bees vanilla honey soy candle, Mrs. Meyer’s soy candles, Pure Plant Home coconut candles, and Thistle Farms soy candle. When you want a quick fix for odors in the house, an air freshener is a great option. Our go-to picks are Mrs. Meyer’s room freshener or diffusing essential oils using a diffuser.

3. Personal Hygiene/Toothpaste

While this list is not exhaustive, these are the top chemicals we encourage you to avoid when it comes to personal hygiene products and makeup. For a more exhaustive list, visit the Dirty Dozen Cosmetic Chemicals to avoid from EWG.com. Avoid aluminum, paragons, sulfates and sulfites, synthetic colors, fragrance, formaldehyde, sodium laurel sulfate, and fluoride. Below are products we recommend.

Deodorant: Rooted Athlete, Primal Pit Paste, Lafe’s roll on, Alba Botanica Clear, Kiss My Face Active Life Aluminum Free

Shampoo & Conditioner: Acure, Avalon Organics, Biolage Color Care, Desert Essence, Babyganics

Makeup: Beautycounter, Burt’s Bees, W3LL People

Bar Soap: Makes 3 Organics, Dr. Bronner’s, Soap for Goodness Sake, Aveeno Moisturizing Bar

Lotion: Burt’s Bees, Avalon Organics

Face Moisturizer & Anti-Aging: Tata Harper, Juice Beauty,

Face Wash: Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil, Acure Brightening Face Scrub, Goddess Garden Organics Erase the Day Mineral-Removing Cleanser, Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

Nail Polish: Sophi nail polish, Piggy Paint

Shaving Cream: Badger Shave Soap, Jack Black Beard Lube

After Shave: Badger After Shave Moisturizing Oil and After Shave Tonic, Every Man Jack

Toothpaste- There are many excellent fluoride free brands of toothpaste available for purchase. Tom’s of Maine sls-free, fluoride-free, botanically bright toothpaste is one of our favorite go to brands. Tom’s also makes a fluoride-free toddler training toothpaste that is great. Jason Powersmile whitening toothpaste and Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil are also trusted fluoride-free options. If you do not want to use toothpaste at all, simply brushing with baking soda is a great choice and will kill off any harmful bacteria in your mouth that can cause tooth decay.

4. Water Filters

For bottled water, Crystal Geyser is a great choice. If you would like to use a water filter, the Zero Water filter pitcher helps to eliminate any chlorine and fluoride that could be lurking in your water supply. We also recomment the Berkey water filter and shower head filter. If you are looking to filter fluoride and chlorine from your whole house, including your sink, bath, and shower, then the Pelican fluoride water filter system or the Pure-Master V700 and Fluoride Master Combo by Vitasalus may be for you.

5. Cookware

The best pots and pans to cook with are made from cast iron, stainless steel, ceramic, glass, or copper lined. 

For safe food storage, opt for BPA free storage containers. To make sure and avoid any possible chemical contamination, go with glass storage containers.