So, flashback to 2008, and I didn’t know anything about harmful skin care ingredients. Learning how to treat my cancer naturally really gave me a crash course in junky beauty and hygiene products and the chemicals that make them harmful. I was working incredibly hard eating a cancer-combatting diet, implementing a detox strategy, and changing my lifestyle, so it didn’t make sense to continue to use carcinogenic chemicals on my skin. Creating a non-toxic shower experience became an absolute priority.
The most common offenders such as “sodium laurel/ laureth sulfate”, “propylene glycol,” or anything ending in the word “-paraben” are in the majority of commonly store bought products. Not only are these ingredients harmful to you, but they are washed into our water supply with little concern for the generational impact that could have. I quickly learned that when it comes to detoxifying my body, less ingredients = way more.
My Non-Toxic Shower: Soaps, Shampoo, and Shave
Originally posted November 1, 2013, updated January 2019
Over the next few posts, I’ll introduce you to products I used while treating my cancer and also a few products I discovered along the way that I like even better or just found to work better for my busy life as a mom.
Know that healing is a JOURNEY. I did not start doing this all in one day, but I was VERY INTENTIONAL about doing everything I could to help my body reverse what CAUSED my cancer in the first place. Yes, eventually you need to leave the chemicals behind, but take it one product at a time. You can start by using the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep archives to check your commonly used products’ levels of toxicity. Go HERE and enter in the name of your product. Green is good and the lower the number, the better.
Other posts in this series:
The Ultimate Cancer Fighting Bathroom Series: Lotions, Deodorant, Make-Up, and More!
The Ultimate Cancer Fighting Bathroom Series: THE SALON POST: Nail Polish and Hair Color
My Non-Toxic Shower: Soaps, Shampoo, and Shave
Face Wash:
For the longest time I would simply use the Oil Cleansing method to remove the day from my face, but today I use Annmarie Aloe-Herb Cleanser. the 100mL bottle last me 5-6 months used once daily in shower. I use Annmarie Skincare for all things face and anti-aging.
Shampoo/ Conditioner:
1. “No ‘Poo” (baking soda and white or apple cider vinegar method) This method would hands down be the least toxic method of cleaning your hair (and also the cheapest!) “No Pooing” was total weirdness for me until my hair started to look AMAZING a few weeks after starting. I noticeably received hair compliments then that I don’t get now that I’ve stopped. You can click on my friend Brittany’s blog, The Pistachio Project for the complete rundown on how to do this. There are also some GREAT YouTube videos on how to apply it. If you’re doing it correctly, your hair will NOT smell like vinegar once it is dry. I eventually switched back to regular shampoo and conditioner, but my hair looked REALLY good while I used the “No ‘Poo” method, and if it weren’t for it being so long now, I would still be “no poo-ing.”
2. Hugo Naturals Volumizing Shampoo Vanilla-Sweet Orange: I really like this shampoo for my long, frizzy hair. The other more natural shampoos I tried didn’t cut it for me and made my hair smell like patchouli-enriched hippie locks. It is a fabulous 1 / 10 in toxicity on the EWG’s Skin Deep rating scale. It’s accompanying conditioner is also safe and smells yummy.
3. Andalou Shampoo and Conditioner: this combo also works great and is low on the EWG scale.
4. My favorite shampoo for my oldest daughter’s long, curly “Rapunzel” hair is Nature’s Baby Organic Tangerine-Vanilla. 1 /10 on Skin Deep rating scale. I also use it to bathe both of my children. We detangle with Shea Moisture Coconut detangler spray after using one of the conditioners above.
Soap:
1. I have used Grandpa’s Oatmeal Soap for YEARS now and have never switched. It doesn’t dry out my skin in the winter which I love and has a low rating on the Skin Deep rating scale.
2. While healing from cancer, you can use Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Castile Soap for almost anything. 1/ 10 on the Skin Deep rating scale.
Shaving Cream:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kiss My Face Shaving Lotion. It has a moderate rating on the EWG’s Skin Deep rating scale, but I still think it’s much better than other naturally-leaning shaving products I have tried. Simply using a non-toxic conditioner on your legs or face works as well.
Shower Water Filter:
I have written about the topic of chemicals and pharmaceuticals in our water a few years ago, so make sure to read that article here if you drink or shower in water. (: The shower filter we use is very moderately priced. You can find the model we use HERE.
In the future I am planning on changing over to a Berkey shower filter since its filters last MUCH longer.
And check out the other posts in this series:
The Ultimate Cancer Fighting Bathroom Series: Lotions, Deodorant, Make-Up, and More!
The Ultimate Cancer Fighting Bathroom Series: THE SALON POST: Nail Polish and Hair Color
You can also see my other Beauty and Hygiene recommendations HERE and read about how I clean my home using only non-toxic ingredients HERE.
I am definitely doing that to support you (and us)
: )
Are you familiar with Dr Hauska products? They use biodynamic ingredients.
YES- I love Dr. Hauschka and also Evan Healy who studied under him. 🙂
We love http://www.100percentpure.com/Default.asp for make up and baby bath products.
Thanks Lana. I will check that out as a possible better alternative. (:
Love the Hugo Naturals line! We had good results with both shampoo and conditioner, and also use their liquid bath soap, although in summer nothing is more refreshing than Dr Bronner’s original peppermint soap.