Your Skin

Your skin is your largest organ, and sixty percent of what is put on your skin is absorbed into your body. All those lotions and potions on your bathroom counter? Look at the ingredients. Your body is absorbing sixty percent - that means your other organs, like your liver, are having to detox your body from those items. Do you need all those chemicals in your lotions? No.

I now use 100% olive oil soap. Kiss My Face makes it.

I put a filter on my shower to reduce the amount of chlorine. You can find these at your local home improvement store, and they are incredibly easy to install. Even I had it done in less than two minutes.

I will not use shampoos or conditioners with sulfates or parabens. These are known skin irritants as well as possible carcinogens. At first I really missed the softness that the old shampoos provided, but a week with the filter on the shower head changed all that. I couldn't believe the difference in softness because of decreasing the chlorine with the filter. Parabens deserve their own post one of these days, because there are countries that have banned them from cosmetics and toiletries completely.

Natracare feminine products are great for women with skin sensitivities. No plastics! No chlorine used in the manufacturing process! (If you have endometriosis, limiting your exposure to chlorine products might be something to consider. Doesn't hurt to try! There is research that shows it can affect endo. Of course, there are those who argue with the research.) According to the ALAA, these are latex-free.

My mom now uses Vanicream's products. The lotion is free of formaldehyde, lanolin, dyes, fragrances, and parabens. She likes the cream and the soap. When she starts really itching, Grandma's Lye Soap helps her. She got the Vanicream sunscreen in her stocking at Christmas, but hasn't quite had the chance to use that considering it's been snowing for days. You can buy Vanicream online (drugstore.com or amazon.com). We haven't found it in our local stores yet, but pharmacists have offered to order it for her.