3 reasons to swap to low-tox and what to use instead
If you know me at all, you know how important a low-tox lifestyle has been to me. It all started in college. I was staying up late either studying for exams, writing papers, or working. I wasn’t much of a party-gal, I found myself far too busy for that. But, one of my favorite ways to get in the “zone” was to play some reggae music, dim the lights, and burn a few candles. The general ambiance, scent, and the time creating that space really helped me get ready to dive in deep.
Well, I started to get these massive headaches before falling asleep. For a long time, I just thought it was because of stress, lack of sleep, or probably dehydration. Finally, my then boyfriend (now husband) quickly googled headaches and burning candles…
Y’all.
Here is a snippet from an article by Well and Good on this very topic: "Many people say that they get a headache when burning candles. Often they think it's the fragrance that's giving them a headache, but the main culprit comes from the petroleum soot emitted from paraffin and from the quality of the fragrance," Bresler says.
If that doesn’t stop you in your tracks…welllllllll
This journey to swapping out candles missile launched me into an entire lifestyle swap. What else was I using daily that was causing reactions that I may not have noticed? If I could get in the zone and delete the post-4-hour work session headache, what else could change if I got rid of other toxins in my environment?
Here are 3 reasons to swap to a low-toxic lifestyle and the products I now use:
ONE
You want to clean up your home.
The old habit: candles, room sprays, and dryer sheets.
The new habit: diffusers, homemade sprays, and wool dryer balls.
Reason to swap: if you’re using anything that has the ingredient “fragrance” I would highly, highly recommend finding a swap for it asap. I’ll just leave this with you for your reading pleasures.
Diffuser: It didn’t take long for me to decide to swap to a diffuser or a higher-quality candle, and it wasn’t until a few years ago that I found Young Living which was a total game changer. I know, I know, it’s an MLM, and what the heck, Kayla? But I truly, * truly * wouldn’t share this company if I didn’t trust their products. While I’m not an extremist on essential oil usage, I do enjoy the general ambiance a diffuser gives while also making my home smell amazing without the worry of an open flame or the toxins pumping into my house. In fact, most of the blends we are diffusing in our home have benefits to using them.
Homemade Sprays: I have to shout out to my friends at GreenGo, again. While I do make some of my own sprays (recipes coming soon!), I absolutely love some of the air mists GreenGo creates. My absolute favorite is the cedarwood eucalyptus, anyone else love a good woodsy smell? I have a bottle in both of my bathrooms, a homemade thieves spray in my living room, and homemade sleep spray in my bedroom.
Wool Dryer Balls: okay, this was the easiest swap to date. Wool dryer balls are so inexpensive and last forever. We have 3 in our dryer at all times, and every 3rd or so rotation I add some essential oils to help boost the smell of our clothes. Hate static in your clothes? Throw a clothespin on your wool dryer ball and voila, no more static. This swap is so affordable, so easy, and pays itself off quickly! Win win.
TWO
You want to use clean products on your body.
The old habit: use the best-smelling, most inexpensive option at the local drugstore.
The new habit: intentionally investing in products that are clean, smell good, and work.
Reason to swap: Your skin is your biggest organ, absorbing everything you put on your body. When you layer it in toxins like phthalates, fragrances, and loads of other unrecognizable chemicals, your body will react with inflammation which is the leading cause of disease. So, want to feel better? Use better products.
My favorite clean deodorant: There is a tie here, ladies and gents. I go back and forth between the magical Beauty Counter Clean Deo (which works well but is $$$), or Young Living’s Deoderant (which never seems to be in stock, but is magical when you can get your hands on it).
My favorite perfume: I almost never wear perfume, y’all. Seriously… If I feel fancy, I’ll rub on a little roller I make about once a year: castor oil topped with a combination of warm and cozy essential oils like vanilla and clove.
Makeup: Once again, coming at you with…I own next to no makeup. Wearing makeup is not a part of my daily routine, in fact, I hardly wore any on my wedding day. It just isn’t important to me, but when I do decide to wear some, I will use Ilia’s mascara and a little Young Living lip gloss (love it in the color Abundant)!
Skincare: This might be my least “clean” round-up, but I have been using this line for years which makes it hard to stray. Origins have been my go-to brand for skin care for as long as I can remember. While they are definitely on the pricey side, I probably purchase every single thing I need once a year. A little goes a LONG way, and it truly, truly works.
Three
You want to use non-toxic household cleaners.
The old habit: bleach, Clorox, pine-sol, and other harmful household cleaners.
The new habit: Using products that are safe around pets, kids, and you.
Reason to swap: Here is a long list of items we all have been exposed to at some point in our lives, and a list of reasons they might be causing you more harm than good. For me, swapping to nontoxic household cleaners was a huge step in my PCOS healing journey, and a major step toward conceiving my daughter!
Cleaning Products: From toilets to floors, I use GreenGo or Seventh Generation.
Laundry Detergent: Seventh Generation is what we use, but I’d love to try Young Livings in the future!
For pretty much everything and anything else we use a combination of water and vinegar!
And there you have it.
I hope one of these three reasons encourages you to make small, sustainable swaps towards a less toxic lifestyle. Whether it be for you, your family, or for the environment, I hope this list makes your journey a little easier to navigate.
It can be so overwhelming to swap products in your home, but starting with one small thing can make a huge impact. Next time you run out of shampoo, choose a better option. Next time you’re out of detergent, upgrade to a better choice. No need to go full send on throwing out what you’ve got, but instead actively choose to invest in a better choice next time. One last little helpful thing to keep in mind? Download the EWG app or the Think Dirty app, and next time you go out to buy your low-tox swap, simply scan the barcode to get a better read on your choice before spending your well-earned dollar!
You won’t regret it.
I’d love to hear what you end up buying and loving! Please stay in touch with me as you embark on this journey!
XO
la