Health

I remember going to the dentist as a kid and dreading the experience. Why? Not that any kid loves going to the dentist, but I was definitely ending up with cavities more often than not. This continued into adulthood unfortunately, and when I asked the dentist what I was doing wrong, he would explain to me that I had “strong gums, but weak teeth.” Great, I thought. “What toothpaste do you recommend I use?” I asked the dentist, thinking that must be the culprit. He would reply with” it doesn’t matter, as long as you have flavor and fluoride.” Sodium fluoride has long been known to be a cavity fighter. And to my knowledge was never really a health concern until recently…

What exactly is oxybenzone? It is an organic compound used in sunscreens because of its ability to absorb UVB and short UVA rays. As a chemical ingredient, it is also helpful in maintaining the qualities of other ingredients and therefore you will also find it used in conjunction with other chemical ingredients in other personal care products such as lotions, lipstick and nail polish. As an ingredient in products, it may be referred to as Benzophenone-3.

I have always considered myself to live a pretty healthy lifestyle. I eat vegetables, I exercise regularly and drink one cup of coffee a day. I have also considered my beauty regimen to be pretty low maintenance. I take a shower, apply body lotion afterward and face cream. Then I usually call it a day. If I’m headed out somewhere special, I may put on a little make-up, nothing too fancy. So, imagine my surprise when I started learning about harmful chemicals being used as ingredients in most of my personal care products. There I am going about my daily life thinking I’m doing the best for not only myself, but my family (husband and two little girls), only to find out that the personal care products I’m using may be causing more harm than good, especially in the long run…

So you’re thinking about switching to natural deodorant. Aluminum free deodorant seem to be a sure-fire way to return to basics and reduce the increasing health concerns associated with aluminum and parabens in relation to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory and brain disorders. Yikes! We are right there with you – read our research on which aluminum free deodorants work best when it comes to smelling fresh while reducing your health risks associated with this sometimes sticky (and smelly!) situation…