Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD

Thyroid Pharmacist

Hashimoto's & Toxic Beauty

Are You Sacrificing Your Health for External Beauty?

Medically reviewed and written by Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP

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I’ve been a girly girl for most of my life. I started carrying around a purse when I was three, loved dressing up in fancy outfits for school dances, and used to drape myself in my mom’s and aunt’s “treasures and jewelry.” When I came to the United States at age nine, my proudest possession was my first real Barbie doll (they were hard to get in Poland), and I got my first “kid” make-up set at age ten — complete with pink lipstick and neon blue and purple eyeshadows!

My fascination with fashion trends continued throughout my teenage years. I loved reading beauty magazines and raiding the cosmetic aisles of Walgreens, where I worked as a pharmacy technician during high school, undergrad and pharmacy school.

By the time I was in my mid-twenties, I had caboodles of makeup, perfumes, lotions, hair styling products, and every other type of beauty “enhancing” potion. I had dyed my hair numerous different colors, trying to determine whether blondes, brunettes or redheads had the most fun.

After I finished pharmacy school, I dabbled in cosmetic chemistry and experimented with creating my own highly effective (read: highly chemical) antiperspirant. I developed the formulation and experimented with raw ingredients in my apartment kitchen. My fiancé, Michael, (now my husband), was in business school at the time, and even wrote up a business plan for my antiperspirant. We had a mini “Shark-Tank” moment, presenting our product in front of venture capitalists that came to the class.

I never thought being a girly girl would be a detriment to my health… until I started doing research for the “Toxins” chapter of my first book, Hashimoto’s: The Root Cause. Learning about the hundreds of chemicals that we, as women, put on our bodies every day — in the name of beauty — was a huge eye-opener for me. I had many “aha!” moments when I began to realize how harmful many of those ingredients are… and what they were doing to my body.

In this article, I’d like to share a little bit more of my personal journey with beauty products, including:

  • How the ingredients in personal beauty products can affect our health
  • Common toxic ingredients to avoid
  • How to find safer alternatives to conventional hair, skin, and makeup products
  • My favorite non-toxic beauty products

The Danger Lurking in Beauty Products

We are bombarded by toxins in our environment from numerous sources every day… but often times, we overlook the toxins that we apply to our own bodies, in the name of beauty and cleanliness. This is especially important to those with Hashimoto’s, as they have an impaired ability to remove toxins from their bodies.

The Centers for Disease Control released a report in 2006 that stated that the average American has 116 out of the 148 environmental chemicals (found in water, food, soil, air, dust and consumer products) that were tested, in his or her body, at any given time. Most commercial personal products that we use every day are full of endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are toxic and wreak havoc on our hormones and health.

Women, on average, use 12 personal care and cosmetics products per day, which amounts to 168 different chemical ingredients! In contrast, men use an average of six personal care products, with an average of 85 different chemicals, on a daily basis. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact reasons as to why seven women develop Hashimoto’s for every one man with the condition, perhaps the use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals may play a role.

If you take a look at the average American woman’s bathroom, you will probably find close to 100 personal care products, including hairspray, nail polish, lotion, shampoo, cleansers, makeup, and perfume. Most of the chemicals in these products have not undergone safety studies to verify their nontoxicity to humans, because most cosmetic chemists only test the chemicals on themselves to see if the products make them more aesthetically appealing.

Conducting laboratory tests to assess blood levels and changes in organ or immune system function — or any other available medical tests, for that matter — are not a practice followed by the cosmetic industry. Sadly, there is very little regulation as to the safety of the products that we apply onto our bodies, and little regard for how much is absorbed through our skin and into our bodily systems.

The truth is that the skin is our largest organ, and its porous nature allows most of what it comes in contact with, to be absorbed. One study published in the American Journal of Public Health reported that 64 percent of chemicals found in drinking water were absorbed by the skin when it came into contact with the water. Some areas of the body, such as the underarms and genitalia, have been shown to have a 100 percent absorption rate, meaning that all of the chemicals that are placed on these areas are directly absorbed into the body!

Common Toxins in Beauty Products

While there are far too many chemicals present in beauty products to list them all, xenoestrogens are common components of commercial beauty products that most people use on a regular basis, and can be particularly damaging to thyroid health.

Xenoestrogens are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic the effects of the sex hormone estrogen and include soy, BPA, phthalates, and parabens. The continued use and accumulation of these substances may lead to estrogen dominance and can have a profound impact on the immune system, adrenal health, and thyroid function. They can also cause birth defects, infertility, and cancers.

Here are three xenoestrogens commonly found in personal care products:

  • Phthalates are present in cosmetics, plastics, moisturizers, soaps, and perfumes. Implicated in cancers, endocrine disruption, diabetes, and obesity, phthalates may be listed on product packagings (e.g. as diethyl phthalate), or they may be disguised under the word “fragrance.” Check the ingredient list of your beauty products and refrain from using those that contain dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Avoid using personal care products, detergents, and cleansers that contain “fragrance” in the ingredient list, as this usually denotes phthalate ester (DEP).
  • Triclosan is commonly found in soaps, deodorants, hairsprays, toothpastes, and anything labeled “antibacterial.” The structure of triclosan resembles the structure of thyroid hormones and has been associated with altered levels of thyroid hormone in animals. Fortunately, triclosan has recently been banned for use in consumer products in the United States. However, this ban does not apply to hand sanitizers and wipes, and it may still be present in products manufactured in other countries, or found in older products you may still have sitting on your shelves.
  • Parabens are used as antimicrobial agents, and are found in body washes, shampoos, and lotions. They have been implicated in breast cancer and have been associated with causing skin reactions. Look for the ending “paraben” (as in methylparaben) in your personal care products, and choose products that do not list parabens in the ingredients.

Other ingredients to watch out for in your beauty and skincare products include triclocarban, retinyl palmitate, retinol, PEG, ceteareth, polyethylene, DMDM hydantoin, formaldehyde, formalin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, and oxybenzone.

I know firsthand how scary some of the ingredients lurking in our beauty products can be. Back in 2014, I suffered a flare-up of Hashimoto’s from a lipgloss I had used. I have toxicity labs and a third party test to prove it. My symptoms started within 24 hours after beginning to use this particular product. It was a major turning point for me in recognizing the dangers of chemicals that were lurking in something as seemingly benign as lipgloss. To my surprise, the lipgloss had the power to bring my autoimmune condition into a full flare-up!

Now, I check every cosmetic product I use with the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database, and I encourage you to do the same. Their database features thousands of personal care products, each with its own safety rating based on dozens of toxicity and regulatory databases. You can search for various companies to see their overall rating, and also search for individual products. I try to use products with a 1 or 2 rating (lowest toxicity). The EWG even has a mobile app, so you can search while you shop.

EWG's Skin Deep Database

Another great resource with information on products that are safe for your health is the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website.

How to Avoid Toxins

My Safe Beauty Recommendations

I know that finding cosmetics that are both safe and effective can feel a little bit overwhelming, and many of you regularly send me emails and inquire on my Facebook page as to what specific low-toxin products I use. I have spent time trying a lot of different products through trial and error, so I’d like to share my favorites:

Make-Up

Looking at my headshots on my website or videos I’ve made, you may think that I wear makeup on a regular basis, but the truth is, I do not. Most days when I’m running around town, consulting, running my business, writing, or taking care of my family, I don’t apply anything to my face. I feel that this gives my face some breathing room, and makes applying makeup a fun treat instead of a daily chore.

That said, I recognize that I live in a world where women who wear makeup are perceived to be more professional, intelligent, and put together. I do wear makeup when I’m making public appearances, for photo shoots, and to attend formal events. When I do wear makeup, I have a lot of fun with it and like to use brands that are as clean as possible.

  • For foundation, I like Annmarie Skin Care’s Minerals and bareMinerals. (Annmarie has a special trial package, so you can test their products out and see how you like them, available for my readers here.)
  • For eyeshadows, I like bareMinerals.
  • My blush is from bareMinerals.
  • My mascara and eyeliner are from Physicians Formula Organic Wear Line.
  • The entire line of make-up and skincare from Beautycounter is luxurious and highly effective!
  • Araza Paleo makeup and skincare products are made with healthy fats, organic plant based ingredients and minerals, that all work together to feed and nourish your skin — while playing with modern, fun color. 

Hair Care

I’ve always taken pride in my hair, but after restoring my hair loss (a symptom of Hashimoto’s), I have been particularly careful about using products that won’t be damaging to my hair or my thyroid health.

I wanted to find a shampoo that was gluten free and didn’t contain the harsh chemicals (such as sodium lauryl sulfate, polyethylene glycol, and triclosan) that are commonly found in shampoos. At the same time, I wanted to find products that smelled nice and made my hair soft and shiny like some of the commercial and high-end salon shampoos out there. I’ve tried numerous shampoos from the internet and health food stores that just didn’t quite make the cut. Some of them made my hair look like straw; others didn’t seem to wash out. I also had a brief trial with going “no poo” (using apple cider vinegar + baking soda instead of shampoo), but that experiment made my hair feel like a pile of hay on top of a grease ball.

I was really excited when I came across Acure at my local Whole Foods Market (you can also find them online through the links below). Their products are vegan and cruelty free, and are also free of gluten, parabens, sulfate, silica, sodium chloride, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Additionally, they are color safe, smell nice, and make my hair beautiful and shiny!

My hair tends to be on the oily side, so I mostly use the Acure Organics Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner.

Many people with Hashimoto’s may have hair that’s naturally dry and dull (mine used to be before I stabilized my thyroid hormone levels), and for that, I love Acure Organics Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. I use this combination when I want to give my hair an extra boost of shine, or when I want some deep conditioning. (As a bonus, it smells wonderful!)

I’m also loving the shampoos and conditioners from Katie Wells’ (Wellness Mama) new line, Wellnesse, that are safe and full of beneficial ingredients.

For people with tangled hair (often a tell-tale sign of an underactive thyroid), I recommend the Acure conditioner and the Tangle Teezer brush. These two together did wonders for me when my hair was tangled, and I still like to keep my brush with me at all times, especially when I travel.

Skin Care

I have a number of favorites that I turn to for clean, hydrated skin, without the use of harsh chemicals. Here are the ones I use on a daily basis:

  • Body Wash: Dr. Bronner’s Shikakai Body Wash is organic, free trade, and made with natural ingredients. I love the scent and the lather. It also performs triple duty for me as a hand soap and shaving cream.
  • Lotions: I have always been partial to scented lotions. However, most are full of toxic synthetic fragrances. I love Acure Organics body lotions, which are free of toxins, are very moisturizing, and have a lovely smell.
  • Facial care: When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I noticed that my skin became more dull and lackluster. My dermatologist recommended the Clarisonic device, which I love and use to this day. This is a little exfoliating brush that uses gentle vibrations to remove the dead surface cells on our skin. I noticed an improvement in my skin’s texture immediately.
  • Facial cleansers: I have liked MyChelle in the past, and also enjoy the SpaDr line. A while back, I also became obsessed with the entire Annmarie Skin Care line of moisturizers, creams, and cleansers. My favorite Annmarie products are:
    • Aloe Herb Facial Cleanser – This feels luxurious, and my face feels remarkably clean after I use it.
    • Coconut Honey Face Mask – This is a moisturizing mask that I like to use once or twice a week… partially because it makes my skin soft and dewy, partially because I like to lick it off my face. It’s made with edible ingredients like honey and coconut oil!
    • Herbal Facial Oil – This is a wonderful daily moisturizer, and it smells soft and lovely.
    • Neroli Toning Mist freshens up my face, and I sometimes use it as a light perfume.

Fragrance

Most perfumes have endocrine-disrupting chemicals in them, and often, we’re applying them to our neck. I like to use essential oils as a healthier alternative, blending a mix of aromas that appeal to my senses. I really enjoy the smell of frankincense, rose, and lavender, though everyone has their personal preferences.

While I haven’t tested this personally, some of my friends and colleagues, like Carrie Vitt, swear by using essential oils (like frankincense, clove, myrrh, marjoram, basil, and lemongrass) to support thyroid function naturally, along with dietary and lifestyle interventions.

Jodi Cohen, a Hashimoto’s patient and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, has also created a line of essential oil blends. My favorite scent is Circadian Rhythm, and she has also created a thyroid-specific blend along with many other wonderful blends.

If you are not an oil connoisseur, you can purchase premade essential oil-based natural perfumes like the Aura Cacia Chakra Roll-ons. The “Expressive Throat” essential oil smells like my high-end department store perfumes without the added toxins! It was named after the throat chakra, which, according to Eastern medicine, is connected to the thyroid gland. The throat chakra is believed to govern our outspokenness. Wearing this reminds me to be bold about my lifestyle choices — including the choices I make to avoid “beauty” products that might be sabotaging my health!

Note: Essential oils may need to be avoided by those with chemical sensitivities, and some oils are contraindicated for women who are pregnant or nursing.

Beauty Luxuries

When I want to indulge in a little bit of self-care, I like to take baths with epsom salts (1-2 cups per full bath tub is all you need!) and add in some lavender essential oils or a natural bath bomb. The epsom salts are a natural source of magnesium, and aid with relaxation, detoxification, and pain relief. They also support the thyroid and adrenals. Please note, I only recommend plain epsom salts, as the ones infused with scents (and even essential oils) can cause disruptions in vaginal flora when used in large quantities.

The Rejuvelle bath bombs are a fun, fragrant treat to add to the tub. They were created by parents of a daughter with an autoimmune skin condition. They are made with organic materials and are free of gluten, endocrine disruptors, and dyes.

I do believe that everyone is different, and I also like to vary up my routine, for different occasions and seasons, or when I feel like I want to mix things up.

A Special Skincare Offer

If you’re ready to switch out your old skincare with products that are safe for your thyroid, I can’t recommend Annmarie Skin Care enough!

Annmarie and her husband Kevin Gianni, two self-proclaimed health nuts, decided to start their line of luxurious skincare because they were frustrated with the toxic products on the market. Their overall rating in EWG is between 1-2, which is the cleanest rating I’ve seen for any beauty products. Here are just a few benefits of their skin care products:

  • Formulated to even skin tone, reduce sun spots and make your skin look more vibrant
  • Made with researched skin-repairing herbs
  • Cruelty free and not tested on animals
  • Made with natural, organic/non-GMO and wildcrafted ingredients

Annmarie Skin Care has put together a trial package, so you can get to know their line before you invest in a big package. It’s a great, low-risk opportunity to see if their products work for you — or to send a gift to someone you love.

The Takeaway

Navigating our way through the myriad of personal care products on the shelves can feel overwhelming, and it doesn’t help that beauty magazines are perfectly designed to make us feel inferior. Most human beings innately strive towards personal growth and self-improvement. Beauty magazines and advertisements exploit that inner drive and are designed to highlight our “flaws” and offer solutions for “improvement.”

Here’s what they’re really saying:

Breakouts? Well, with skin like that, you’ll never be as happy as the models in our ads. But we do have lotions and potions that can help! Try our new acne cream/wash/pads.

Oh, your skin is not as tan as the beautiful model in the ad? Well, you’re not good enough, but we can fix that. Here, use a self-tanner and tinted moisturizer!

Would you like to have those big doe eyes like the cover girl with the handsome boyfriend? Your eyes are too small, so you’re not as lovable. But if you use our eyeliner, mascara, and eyeshadow, you might have a chance at finding love.

I understand how advertising works, and advertising can be educational and helpful in making people take action and change something that they may not know they need to fix. After all, I’m spreading awareness about symptoms (like dry skin, lackluster hair, or weight gain) that could indicate that our thyroid is out of balance, and that we need to take better care of ourselves. I am a big proponent of self-improvement, educating people about taking charge of their health, and offering solutions for changing their diet and habits so that they are healthier and feel better.

My problem with advertisements for mainstream personal care products, however, is that most items marketed to improve our outer appearance actually diminish our inner health, and in the long run, hurt our outer appearance, too. These days, I hear another news story every week about skin issues clearing up when women dump their commercial personal care products. Skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and dry skin improve, in some cases, drastically.

First and foremost, beautiful skin and hair come from within, so proper nutrition and good hormonal balance are key. But know that you don’t have to ditch your lipstick for good in order to take care of your thyroid. There are plenty of safe alternatives out there that might just become your new favorite!

I hope these resources are helpful for you on your journey towards better health!

P.S. For continued updates and interaction, please become a part of our Facebook community and sign up for my newsletter to get a free book chapter from my first book, recipes, a Thyroid Diet start guide, and notifications about my latest research.

References

  1. Cold F, Health E, Disease H et al. Lipstick, Hair Dyes Raise Lupus Risk?. WebMD. 2017. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/lupus/news/20051117/lipstick-hair-dyes-raise-lupus-risk. Accessed June 29, 2017.
  2. Wang J, Kay A, Fletcher J, Formica M, McAlindon T. Is lipstick associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?. Clinical Rheumatology. 2008;27(9):1183-1187. doi:10.1007/s10067-008-0937-6.
  3. Brown et al. The role of skin absorption as a route of exposure for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water. Am J Public Health. 1984 May; 74(5): 479–484.

Note: Originally published in June 2016, this article has been revised and updated for accuracy and thoroughness.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any health problems and before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

Lifestyle changes can result in improved thyroid function and/or an increased absorption of thyroid hormone medications, leading to a lower required dose and possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism at a dose that was previously stable. Please discuss lifestyle changes with your physician and ensure that your thyroid function is monitored every 6-8 weeks while making lifestyle changes. Symptoms of overmedication include, but are not limited to: rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, irritability or mood swings, muscle weakness or tremors, diarrhea, menstrual irregularities, hair loss, weight loss, insomnia, chest pain, and excessive sweating. Do not start, change, increase, decrease or discontinue your medications without consulting with your physician.

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Comments

  1. What about your sunscreen, which one do you use?
    Bleaching product for the face, is there any without so much chemistry?
    I would like to congratulate you on the articles I’m loving studying your site, I read all the texts. Thank you

    Reply

    • I am looking to change my skin care/beauty regimen to see if it helps my hashimoto’s. It’s just so overwhelming I don’t know where to begin. Do you have a starting point with the basics? Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, make up, lotion, sunscreen, etc? I literally feel like I am fighting for my life with this disease.

      Reply

      • Brittany – thank you for reaching out. I am so sorry you are struggling. I understand how hard it is. <3 Check out this link to my resources page and scroll down to the personal care products I recommend.
        RESOURCES
        https://thyroidpharmacist.com/resources/

        Hashimoto’s is very much an individual condition. While there are root cause commonalities, each person will have their own or in some cases, more than one root cause. You will have to start with the simplest modifications, by removing triggers, followed by repairing the other broken systems to restore equilibrium, allowing the body to rebuild itself. You will need to dig down to why the immune system is imbalanced in the first place and this will tell you how you begin to finally feel better, reduce your thyroid antibodies and even take your condition into remission.

        You will have to create your own health timeline. Look back at your overall history as far back as you can remember. Look for infections, periods of severe stress, the use of medications (especially antibiotics, antacids, and oral contraceptives), accidents, and exposure to toxins. These are events that may have contributed to Hashimoto’s. Once you do, you will know what types of changes you need to implement to make yourself feel better.
        If you need further support, please check out the list of lab tests inside the “Testing” chapter of my book, Hashimoto’s Root Cause. I also offer a 12-week program, Hashimoto’s Self Management Program. Here are some resources I hope you find helpful as well.

        BUILDING YOUR OWN HEALTH TIMELINE
        https://thyroidpharmacist.com/sample-health-timeline/

        Hashimoto’s Self-Management Program
        https://thyroidpharmacist.com/enroll-in-hashimotos-self-management/

        Reply

  3. I have tried so many natural (and “natural”) hygiene and beauty products, my goodness! I’ve tried two Acure hair lines and initially loved the moisturizing line (Orange) as well, but eventually my hair stopped liking it. The green line (strengthening, I think) was terrible for my hair! I know no one with hair that tangles like mine. Now I’ve been using Andalou shine conditioner for quite a while and it is by FAR the best I’ve found. Smells wonderfully orangey, too. I’ve tried a handful of other Andalou products and generally they all seemed nice, and are rated pretty well on Ewg. Andalou Brightening BB Cream is by far the best aunscreen I’ve found; its zinc based, without the white cast. The best deodorant I’ve come across is EO brand spray- particularly the vetiver- or just straight lavender essential oil. I am no makeup pro, but I like the lipstick I got from 100% Pure.
    I wish people were more considerate with what they wear. I work around a lot of people, and one woman’s perfume can ruin my whole day.

    Reply

  4. Hi – Love your site and agree with your recommendations on products. I use organic pure essential oils for a lot of things, including cleaning house and perfume. Another good idea is to make your own shampoos, conditioners and laundry soaps using essential oils and other simple ingredients often already in your home. For beauty products, though, easier to just purchase them so thank you for all your recommendations!

    Reply

  5. What do you recommend for products that can change the color of our hair back to the color of our youth? Are there safe products for those of us that have gray color sprouting out and/or have much darker hair than when we were younger? Thanks! If you addressed this already, sorry but I didn’t see it.

    Reply

  6. I would like to know which lip gloss you found that is not toxic. You were using a lip gloss at one time that was high in arsenic. I’m wondering if you found one that is not toxic.

    Reply

  7. So thankful to be reading this invaluable information. I am an RN recently diagnosed with Haxhimotxicosis and still in the phase of trying to determine if my adrenals are also impacted. All my life I have promoted healthy/fresh eating and fitness. However, I have had much more to learn when it comes to other environmental/personal products. I am in the early process of pitching and detoxifying my home. I have your two books that are a godsend to my nutritional health and I am now starting to focus on the rest of the environment in which I live. I am ordering some of the items you have recommended above at this very moment and can’t wait to try them. I only wish I could locate a naturopathic physician in my local area that specializes in thyroid/glandular disorders. Can you offer a suggestion?

    Reply

  8. I’ve been using Suzanne Organics with a lot of luck. I had a broken out face for decades until I went chemical free with Suzanne Somes products and have clear skin for the first time ever.
    I would also like to know what you’re recommend for sunscreen. I have very light skin and have had skin cancer (my father too) so my integrative dr feels I should wear some sunscreen.

    Reply

    • Cynthia – while I haven’t done specific research on safe sunscreens, people with Hashimoto’s are very prone to sensitivity to harsh synthetic chemicals. I recommend natural products whenever possible to reduce the toxic burden on the body.

      I have a wide range of recommended products that can help you avoid exposure to toxic ingredients:

      RESOURCES
      https://thyroidpharmacist.com/resources/

      Reply

  9. I also love Acure! The first skincare brand that I could tolerate was DHC, it’s a Japanese company and not all of their products are hypoallergenic or skin-friendly, but the facial cleansers and soaps seem to be most gentle and hypoallergenic ones I’ve used. I use Jason’s body wash, it’s really good, I even cleanse my face with it sometimes. I tend to just use my own face oil as moisturizer, equal parts jojoba and rosehip seed oil- applied when I need it. Otherwise I don’t use lotion or products that much, I agree that nutrition and wellness is the most important factor in your skin and hair health. My makeup is definitely not that kind of “clean”, but I rarely wear it. I’m allergic to most eyeshadows and talc.

    Reply

  10. Thank you Izabella for sharing your girly girl story. I was using the Acure products and loving them until I learned recently that glycerin can be a corn derivative, and I have a corn allergy. I called the company to verify and was told that the glycerin in their products is derived from corn so I had to stop using the shampoo, conditioner and body lotion.? I switched to a shampoo bar from Queen of the Meadow, and my daughter in law is making body lotion from all organic ingredients. I do miss the Acure as it made my hair feel great.

    Reply

  11. I am in my mid-50’s and have hypothyroidism that my endocrinologist thinks may be causing my high cholesterol levels. I eat a plantbased diet, no oils, very low processed sugars or other processed foods. I have no weight or other health issues but cannot bring my LDL cholesterol level down. I’ve searched over the years for products that work for my sensitive skin and am so happy to see that many are referenced here. I use Dr. Bronner’s almond or baby soaps, Acure fragrance free body lotion, and Acure Clarifying Shampoo and Conditioner. Each of those products works great for me! I use 100% Pure foundation, mascara, eye shadows and blush; One Love Organics face polish; and Indie Lee squalane oil as a facial moisturizer. I look forward to reviewing your other lists to see if those products are mentioned! Thank you!

    Reply

  12. I’ve always been a bare minimum girl. I could never keep up with the latest trends. So subconsciously doing the right thing but still copped it ? but I would like to go lighter in hair colour. Without those orange turning lemon tricks, is the another way to do it, as naturally as possible?

    Reply

    • De – thank you for following this page. I wish I could give you more direct advice but, each person will react differently, even to products applied to the skin. I would advise you to ask your personal pharmacist or a trusted clinician who’s care you are under. I am not able to respond directly to these types of questions here but, I will make a note to research adding this information to an article I write in the future

      Reply

  13. Thank you for the helpful info & recommendations. It does look from the EWG Skin Deep site that the newer formulations of bareMinerals are not ranked well, though. Have you seen these?

    Reply

  14. I let my hair go gray at 42 because I was nervous about the chemicals in hair dye. Any recommendations for a good natural professional dye? I checked your resources section and could not find any?

    Reply

  16. Thanks for sharing your recommendations on beauty products. I’ve been trying to swap out my conventional products for awhile and it certainly can add up in cost with all the trial and error. For those readers looking for a natural deodorant, I love Primally Pure’s sensitive skin in lavender. They offer sample sizes to try out first. This is by far the best I’ve found that actually works and doesn’t leave me smelly even after exercising in the summer in the southeast. I also really like Coola Organics sunscreen for body and face. Lastly, I really like Osmia Organics face care products. I developed perioral dermatitis recently and the products have really helped out. I haven’t tried many of their body lotions and soaps yet. Here are the links:
    https://primallypure.com/products/deodorant-sensitive
    http://shop.coolasuncare.com/Product-Line/Classic-Collection
    https://osmiaorganics.com/
    POD: https://osmiaorganics.com/blogs/articles/14683877-perioral-dermatitis-the-faqs

    Reply

  17. Thank you so much for all the suggestions!

    My skin is mildly irritated most of the time now and I know it’s from non-organic products, though I have yet to start the elimination process. I don’t wear makeup because it’s impossible to find anything that doesn’t bother my skin. I can’t wear bareMinerals (I’ve tried it several times and, even though its ingredients are good, it makes my skin feel ‘burned’), and I’m reluctant to try anything that has ‘mineral’ in it. Can anyone please recommend another brand?

    Reply

    • Angela – thank you for following this page! Different hair dyes have varying levels harmful chemicals, even the safer ones can trigger symptoms. Depending on how sensitive you are some of the more natural ones may cause you less health issues but, I personally don’t feel great about recommending any on my page. I hope that is helpful. You can also check out the website http://www.safecosmetics.org/ or search http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php to see how your products compare. You can search companies to see their overall rating, and also search for individual products. I try to use products with a 1 or 2 rating (lowest toxicity).

      Reply

  20. I am very sensitive to scents and I find it hard to find products that are healthy or healthier which are unscented. Even natural scents bother me. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for your work!

    Reply

  21. I am in the process of ditching all toxic products and switching over to Pure Haven for everything! I love it, certified organic toxin free skin care, hair care, body care, home care, baby care and pet care!!

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  22. I am not certain about organic soy in body lotions – and I am certain now not to purchase any product with any type of aluminum. Just in case! Thank you so much for this information.

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  23. I appreciate your post. I recently found out that I’m highly sensitive to so many items including coconut. Up until now, I was using everything has coconut as ingredient, and now I don’t know what to do. The items you mentioned in the article has coconut ingredients, so I’m disappointed and don’t know where to look for alternatives especially shampoo and conditioner. If you have heard of any options without coconut, would you share with me?
    Thank you for all your hard work!

    Reply

    • Yoshimi – thank you for reaching out and sharing. I understand how frustrating this can be. <3 I encourage you to research beauty products and check the ingredients on a website like the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database (ewg.org) to check the safety of the products. I try to use products with a 1 or 2 rating (lowest toxicity). I hope this helps.

      https://www.ewg.org/

      http://www.safecosmetics.org/

      Reply

  24. I have actually been trying to figure out different brands of shampoo/conditioner to try for myself and my kids. I just ordered from Acure.com!! I cannot wait to try the product for myself that you love and say is safe while also working!

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  25. I have used Annmarie foundation and I love it! I am also currently using Araza beauty makeup as it is first makeup line in the world to become Paleo Certified. I like that they have more makeup products available than Annmarie. I still love Annmarie though too! I do not yet see Araza on the websites to check though. Hopefully it will be added soon.

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    • Jen – thank you so much for reaching out. <3 Different hair dyes have varying levels harmful chemicals, even the safer ones can trigger symptoms. Depending on how sensitive you are some of the more natural ones may cause you less health issues but, I personally don't feel great about recommending any on my page. I hope that is helpful. You can also check out the website https://www.safecosmetics.org/ or search https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/search.php to see how your products compare. You can search companies to see their overall rating, and also search for individual products. I try to use products with a 1 or 2 rating (lowest toxicity).

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  27. For someone with hypothyroidism, would you recommend using a shampoo/conditioner that has Dht blockers to help with hair loss?

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  28. Hi Doctor, I have recently been diagnosed with hashimoto’s , Dec 21. I am struggling with diet, I am practically vegan, the only thing I eat are eggs. I have gone gluten and dairy free now, not a lot left to eat. Also I find products irritate my skin, shampoos, cleansers etc. And if I get a whiff of lynx that my boys have sprayed, that affects me big time. My Mom had hypothyroidism, but my Doc thinks she may have had hashimotos (deceased 11 years). My query and I know you can’t give out advice is.. I was perfectly fine up until May 2018, I had 3 shots in total of depoprovera. Since then everything in my body has not been right. I just want to know if it may have triggered the start of my hashimotos..
    Thanks
    Cathy..

    Reply

  29. I absolutely love nail polish but it seems hard to find brands that are actually on the clean side. Do you have any recommendations?

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  30. Hi there! Thank you so much for all the information you provide!! I was wondering if you have any updates for this page? Particularly for the mascara… the one listed is no longer available and I’m wondering if you might know of other safe brands as well. Hoping for a brown since I’m a redhead and black is pretty dark for me. 🙂 Thanks so much!

    Reply

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