Avoiding Environmental Toxins
Everyone is panicking about coronavirus. It is concerning – especially for those individuals with compromised immune systems – but let's not forget about the 1,600 people in the U.S. who died today from cancer. In the United States, 40% of the population will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime. So before you go buying that case of hand sanitizer, stop and ask yourself, "Does this contain synthetic fragrance or triclosan or parabens?"
I don't know what caused my cancer. IVF? Birth control pills? Stress? Too much alcohol? Not enough red wine? Those years when I forgot what a vegetable was? Pesticides? Vinyl shower curtains? The carpet in my childhood home? Heating plastic in the microwave? Air pollution? What I do know is that once you've been diagnosed with cancer, you become very aware of everything potentially harmful that you're being exposed to. I look at an apple and all I can see is residual pesticides. That long list of ingredients on the back of my toothpaste might as well just read "cancer." The smell of my kids' squishy toys? If cancer had a smell, that would be it.
As the Environmental Working Group will tell you, "Chemicals and contaminants linked to cancer can be found in food, water and many other everyday products. However, no category of consumer products is subject to less government oversight than cosmetics and other personal care products." Cosmetics in the United States contain over a thousand chemicals that have been banned in Europe. I've been using the EWG Skin Deep Database for years, ever since I was pregnant with Julia, but half of the products I buy aren't listed. I love researching, but even I get overwhelmed when it comes to knowing which personal care products are "safe." I make a serious effort and I still can't say that I'm entirely confident about the products I'm using.
If you're curious, here's a peek into my bathroom cabinet. Natural deodorant is a tough one; I have tried more than half a dozen, and Underarmed is my favorite.
Now let's talk cosmetics! I don't wear dresses, I hate shoe shopping, and I refuse to spend more than 10 seconds styling my hair, but I've been obsessed with makeup ever since I got my first Clairol illuminated makeup mirror and Maybelline eyeshadow palette. Since my cancer diagnosis, I've been replacing my favorite makeup products with cleaner versions. It hasn't been easy. I have a "Drawer of Failure" in my vanity table. But I think I've finally succeeded in finding green beauty products that actually work.
Note: Rest assured, no one is paying me to promote these products because this is an unknown blog with precious few readers.
Favorite Old Product:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain
Replaced with:
Thrive Buildable Blur CC Cream in Fair Light
Beauty Counter Tint Skin Hydrating Foundation in Porcelain
Favorite Old Product:
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer in Ivory (I miss this one SOOOO much!)
Replaced with:
Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer in Chicory
Favorite Old Product:
Mac Blot Powder
Replaced with:
Jane Iredale Beyond Matte Powder
Favorite Old Product:
Nars Blush in Orgasm
Replaced with:
Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Blush in Freja
P/y/t Cheek Color in Heart Beat
Favorite Old Product:
Urban Decay Naked Palettes
Replaced with:
Ilia Palette in Cool Nude
Aether Beauty Palettes
Thrive Brilliant Eye Brightener Pencil in Stella
Favorite Old Product:
Lancome Définicils Mascara
Replaced with:
Ilia Mascara
(Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara works really well, but I find it difficult to remove)
Favorite Old Product:
Kat Von D Tattoo Eye Liner
Replaced with:
Ilia Clean Liquid Liner
Favorite Old Product:
Anastasia Brow Wiz
Replaced with:
Anastasia Brow Wiz (good score on EWG!)
Thrive Infinity Waterproof Eyebrow Liner
Favorite Old Product:
A slew of ancient lip glosses
Replaced with:
Thrive Lip Gloss in Ruth
Kosas Lipstick in Rosewater
I can attest to the fact that Thrive Causemetics donates their beauty products to women in need. Every time I go somewhere cancer-related, someone is handing me a free bag of Thrive makeup. All the more reason to buy their products.
I hope someone found this helpful. The other night, there was a flurry of activity on my blog, and I thought, "Maybe a woman with breast cancer stumbled upon my blog and posted about it and I've sparked a productive conversation in the cancer community!" It turned out to be a whole lot of spam comments about elite escorts in Bangalore. Sigh. Well, maybe some of those spammers will rethink the toxins they're exposing themselves to.
Happy stockpiling!
I don't know what caused my cancer. IVF? Birth control pills? Stress? Too much alcohol? Not enough red wine? Those years when I forgot what a vegetable was? Pesticides? Vinyl shower curtains? The carpet in my childhood home? Heating plastic in the microwave? Air pollution? What I do know is that once you've been diagnosed with cancer, you become very aware of everything potentially harmful that you're being exposed to. I look at an apple and all I can see is residual pesticides. That long list of ingredients on the back of my toothpaste might as well just read "cancer." The smell of my kids' squishy toys? If cancer had a smell, that would be it.
As the Environmental Working Group will tell you, "Chemicals and contaminants linked to cancer can be found in food, water and many other everyday products. However, no category of consumer products is subject to less government oversight than cosmetics and other personal care products." Cosmetics in the United States contain over a thousand chemicals that have been banned in Europe. I've been using the EWG Skin Deep Database for years, ever since I was pregnant with Julia, but half of the products I buy aren't listed. I love researching, but even I get overwhelmed when it comes to knowing which personal care products are "safe." I make a serious effort and I still can't say that I'm entirely confident about the products I'm using.
If you're curious, here's a peek into my bathroom cabinet. Natural deodorant is a tough one; I have tried more than half a dozen, and Underarmed is my favorite.
Now let's talk cosmetics! I don't wear dresses, I hate shoe shopping, and I refuse to spend more than 10 seconds styling my hair, but I've been obsessed with makeup ever since I got my first Clairol illuminated makeup mirror and Maybelline eyeshadow palette. Since my cancer diagnosis, I've been replacing my favorite makeup products with cleaner versions. It hasn't been easy. I have a "Drawer of Failure" in my vanity table. But I think I've finally succeeded in finding green beauty products that actually work.
Note: Rest assured, no one is paying me to promote these products because this is an unknown blog with precious few readers.
Favorite Old Product:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Porcelain
Replaced with:
Thrive Buildable Blur CC Cream in Fair Light
Beauty Counter Tint Skin Hydrating Foundation in Porcelain
Favorite Old Product:
Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer in Ivory (I miss this one SOOOO much!)
Replaced with:
Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer in Chicory
Favorite Old Product:
Mac Blot Powder
Replaced with:
Jane Iredale Beyond Matte Powder
Favorite Old Product:
Nars Blush in Orgasm
Replaced with:
Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Blush in Freja
P/y/t Cheek Color in Heart Beat
Favorite Old Product:
Urban Decay Naked Palettes
Replaced with:
Ilia Palette in Cool Nude
Aether Beauty Palettes
Thrive Brilliant Eye Brightener Pencil in Stella
Favorite Old Product:
Lancome Définicils Mascara
Replaced with:
Ilia Mascara
(Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara works really well, but I find it difficult to remove)
Favorite Old Product:
Kat Von D Tattoo Eye Liner
Replaced with:
Ilia Clean Liquid Liner
Favorite Old Product:
Anastasia Brow Wiz
Replaced with:
Anastasia Brow Wiz (good score on EWG!)
Thrive Infinity Waterproof Eyebrow Liner
Favorite Old Product:
A slew of ancient lip glosses
Replaced with:
Thrive Lip Gloss in Ruth
Kosas Lipstick in Rosewater
I can attest to the fact that Thrive Causemetics donates their beauty products to women in need. Every time I go somewhere cancer-related, someone is handing me a free bag of Thrive makeup. All the more reason to buy their products.
I hope someone found this helpful. The other night, there was a flurry of activity on my blog, and I thought, "Maybe a woman with breast cancer stumbled upon my blog and posted about it and I've sparked a productive conversation in the cancer community!" It turned out to be a whole lot of spam comments about elite escorts in Bangalore. Sigh. Well, maybe some of those spammers will rethink the toxins they're exposing themselves to.
Happy stockpiling!
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