I shared my Three Home Detox Basics for Beginners to get you started on detoxing your home. If you've ever been frustrated, overwhelmed, or procrastinated on detoxing your home, then this is the podcast for you. Going non toxic and eco friendly doesn't have to be hard or difficult. Listen in on my tips to get started.
Listen in on the 3 Detox Basics for Beginners workshop.
Here’s a personal invite to come join something that is going to be really fun. I am doing a free workshop and I think you are going to love it! It will give you the first 3 steps to detoxing your home with some great nuggets of information to get going, and it’s free!
You get to interact with me and ask questions. It’s going to be really fun. It’s tomorrow February 2 at noon (PST) in my Facebook group.
How do you know if this workshop is worth your time?
First of all, there will be giveaways!
Second, if you feel overwhelmed about detoxing your home and you’re not sure where to start or maybe you have started detoxing your home but your husband says “I don’t really like this stuff let’s go back to the other products” or maybe you really really want to make some changes but you’re worried that It will cost you an arm and a leg and you just don’t have the bandwidth to take it all on right now…
No girl I got you! We are going to walk you through it!
Come join me for the 3 Detox Basics for Beginners workshop in my Facebook group.
Catch us there at noon pacific and if you can’t make it, you can always catch the replay!
Can’t wait to see you, bye.
Just a reminder that on Tuesday, February 2nd at 12:00 PM, I will be doing a free workshop - The Three Home Detox Tips For Beginners. This is for people who want to detox but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I’ll go through the first 3 tips to start on your detoxing journey. It’s free, and you could win some gifts. Head on over to my Facebook group Detox By Design Insiders to get more information. I’ll kick it all off there on the 2nd. Can’t wait to see you there!
We as moms have a lot of guilt. An example of this is eating healthy. I have an 8th grader and a 5th grader and sometimes they get annoyed with me buying the healthier version of their favorite snacks. I feel guilty that they might not be eating what their friends are eating and on the other side I feel guilty that they are just eating crap.
Mom guilt can creep in at any time. I have friends that have little kids and they are working from home and they feel like their child is getting too much screen time. Which is a big mom guilt. I have that with my older kids too.
You might feel guilt from hearing this podcast. You might feel guilty that you haven’t switched your products yet. Or putting your kids in the wrong activities. I put my girls in soccer at a young age because their friends were doing it, but what if they become tennis stars? I had an epidural, did I make the wrong choice for my daughter’s birth 15 years ago? A lot of people hang on to that mom guilt. It can effect your parenting and mental well-being.
Do something for me… Take a pause. Say out loud all the ways you feel mom guilt. Just acknowledging it helps. Release that mom guilt. Just the fact that you feel guilty shows what a wonderful mom you are. It shows just how much you want the best for for your kids.
Now let’s move forward. As I always say, we’re just taking small steps and doing a little bit better every day.
To continue the conversation, join my Facebook group at Detox by Design Insiders. I want to her what you have to say about mom guilt.
Just a reminder that on Tuesday, February 2nd at 12:00 PM, I will be doing a free workshop - The Three Home Detox Tips For Beginners. This is for people who want to detox but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I’ll go through the first 3 tips to start your detoxing journey. It’s free, and you could win some gifts. Head on over to my Facebook group Detox By Design Insiders to get more information. I’ll kick it all off there on the 2nd. Can’t wait to see you there!
Have you noticed how many women are accepting their gray hair and quitting the constant color routine? I love the confident look and man of them have such gorgeous gray hair.
But some of us aren’t quite ready for that. Yep, I color my hair. I have been dying my hair since high school. I got my first perm in third grade. Now that was toxic! Remember how awful that smell was? I have been chemically treating my hair since about third grade.
My hair is very thick and wavy and now, dark brown. I like having highlights in my hair because it adds some dimension and brightens up my look. The last couple years, balayage has been very popular. That is when your roots are a bit darker, and the ends are lighter. Balayage, and highlights, are a bit better because the chemicals aren’t as close to the scalp and the chemicals are less likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream. With balayage you can often go longer between treatments which reduces exposure.
With all over hair color, you’re getting a bit more exposure because the dye is saturating your scalp during the treatment. There are some safer options. One option is to find a stylist who uses Oway, a safer color product. Another option is to use Hair Print. It somehow only impacts the grey hairs and takes them back to you original color. This you can order online and do it all yourself, at home.
My friend tried Hair Print and shared her experience in my Facebook group, Detox By Design Insiders. Truly, the safest option is to not color your hair, but I’m glad there are some healthier options these days.
So tell me, do you color your hair? Is there a brand you feel comfortable using?
Just a reminder that on Tuesday, February 2nd at 12:00 PM, I will be doing a free workshop. The Three Home Detox Basics For Beginners. This is for people who want to detox but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I’ll go through the first 3 tips to start of your detoxing journey. It’s free, and you could win some gifts. Head on over to my Facebook group Detox By Design Insiders to get more information. I’ll kick it all off there on the 2nd. Can’t wait to see you there!
Eating organic can often be more expensive. When you compare a Doritos chip bag to a Doritos like organic version, it’ll usually be more expensive. Often, choosing healthier products will help you save in the long run.
Eat real food. Don’t buy processed food.
Processed foods cost more and you get less nutrient dense food for the price. For example, if you buy a pre-maid meal it’ll feed only 2 people and if you buy the same items and make something similar, you’ll be able to feed your whole family and have leftovers. This is also true when it comes to snacks. On a strict budget, going back to real food will save you more money. Instead of chips, eat fruit or vegetables for a snack. Snacks aren’t nutrient dense foods and they won’t satisfy your hunger. You end up eating a lot more than you would real food.
Choose dried beans, rice, or grains
You can save a lot of money choosing dried beans and grains instead of canned or ready to eat foods. Buying pre-made rice is more expensive because you are paying for the convenience. It might take more time but its not hard to cook dried beans and grains.
Eat Fruits and Vegetables that are Currently in Season. Choose Frozen in the Off-Season
In season fruits and vegetables are more plentiful and usually cheaper. Choosing frozen fruits and vegetables can help you get more organic foods in your diets and is often cheaper than off-season fruits and vegetables. Right now, almost all of our fruits and vegetables that we eat are organic. One way that helps us stay in budget and eat organic is through shopping via Imperfect Foods. (Shopping with this link will give you $20 off.) It is very affordable because it takes foods that aren’t up to grocery store standards and sells them through delivery. You order online and choose what you want in your box each week and it’s delivered right to your door.
Shop organic based on the Dirty Dozen
Before going 100% organic we were choosing organic based on the dirty dozen. The environmental working group has done studies on which foods you should choose that are organic. Check it out here.
Meal Plan
To make sure you don’t over buy and end up throwing away food, plan your meals before the week starts.
As moms, we end up making alllllll the decisions. It gets tiring! One thing that we do in our family is that each week, each person picks a meal that they want to have that week. We all work together to cook the meal. When we follow our meal plan, we aren’t wasting as much food and our expenses goes down.
Repurposing leftovers
My husband barbecued some pork chops the other day and to repurpose them I threw them in my instant pot, put some green chile sauce on them, and cooked them till they were falling of the bone. They turned into the most delicious Chile pork filling for taco night. Repurposing leftovers is a great way to reuse food and save some money.
What tips do you have to share about staying on budget when eating healthy and organic foods? Have a friend who would love this? Send it along and share the love!
Have your eyes recently been opened to the fact that just because something is sold in stores, doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe?
Overwhelmed?
When I first learned about toxins in my home, I couldn’t unlearn it. It became a bit of an obsession for me.
First it started with BPA in plastics while my daughter was a toddler and still throwing dishes off of the table. I had no idea how I was going to ditch plastics and not have broken glass everywhere.
I know how hard it is and that’s why I’m here.
Small steps really can make a big difference.
When I work with clients, I have two types of people who react:
Some people, once they have the knowledge, have to switch everything right away. This can take a lot of work and can be a bit more expensive.
But most of the time, clients want to work slowly through switching out their products. Because, let’s be honest, it’s really overwhelming to switch everything out at once.
Taking it one step at a time is a great place to start. For example, you notice you’re almost out of laundry detergent. That’s the perfect time to take a small step and make one little change and choose a safer product that can make a big difference.
Our clothes are physically on most of our body for most of the day. Then we lay in sheets that have been washed and dried in whatever products we used in the laundry process. This means that our body has 24 hour exposure to whatever fragrance and chemicals are in your laundry routine.
It may seem small but just changing your laundry products can make a big difference.
Another example, you notice that your dish soap is almost gone. Another perfect time to switch to a safer dish soap. You may think “that’s not a big deal”, but really, you wash all of your dishes in that soap and it gets on your hands. There are ingredients commonly found in dish soap that exacerbate eczema and a lot of people have eczema on their hands. It may seem like just a small step, but switching out your dish soap can make a big difference.
Product by product, as you run out, choose something safer.
Previously I shared about the safety of non-stick pots and pants. It can be really expensive to switch out all of your pots and pans at once. We know that scratches and worn non-stick cookware emit more chemicals, so If you notice that one of them is looking worse for wear, switch it out. Switching out your non-stick cookware one at a time is a great option for staying in budget but still taking steps towards living with fewer toxins in the home.
I want to encourage you to take small steps instead of getting stuck being overwhelmed. You can get free tips in my podcast “Toxin-Free Talk”, join my Facebook group, or get my emails for free tips.
Dry winter skin. We get dry skin, especially in the winter, because we are inside even more because of the weather. The changing weather really takes a toll on our skin.
I put together a few tips to help your skin to feel more hydrated and soft.
Lower your thermostat. Moderate is better.
Use a cool air humidifier. You can use it while you are sleeping which will add more moisture to the air which helps your skin.
Diet - Your gut is connected to all of our body and especially our skin. If you have a lot of sugar, you might notice your skin reacting with a breakout. When we think about our dry winter skin, there is a lot of things that we can eat and drink to help our skin be clearer and have less acne. Eat lots of good oils like walnuts, fish oils, and avocados to benefit the skin. Also, watch the alcohol or caffeine. Those can dehydrate the body and our skin. It’s also really important to make sure we are drinking enough water. To help with that you can set goals or bring your water bottle with you wherever you go.
Exfoliate regularly - but don’t use a super harsh exfoliator. I prefer Crunchi’s Clarilight facial essence that I put on my skin after washing with the charcoal facials bar. Both are so gentle that I can use them every day. Now that it’s winter and my skin is drier, I use a bentonite clay mask which I mix with water and use every 1-2 weeks. Using too extreme of products could dry out your skin even more. Daily SPF is an important thing to remember on winter days because you can still get UV damage through the clouds. In addition to SPF make sure to moisturize your skin before going outside to help protect your skin from the elements.
My routine in the morning is to wash my face, sometimes I’ll use my facial essence, then I apply my day time moisturizer and mix that with my SPF, then apply the rest of my makeup. For nighttime, I use a charcoal facial bar, facial essence, and then my night cream moisturizer. Maintaining your daily skin care routines in the morning and night are very important for dry winter skin.
If you have any questions, email me (megan@detox.design) or join my Facebook group if you haven’t already.
This post contains a affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to buy. I'm recommending these products because they might help you choose toxin-free and eco-friendly products and I've found success with them, not because of the small commission I make.
I have some exciting stuff coming! Make sure you don’t miss out! Sign up to get my Free Toxin-Free Living Guide and emails to stay informed.
People always say that they can’t afford healthier products because they are more expensive. Detoxing every item in your home at once can get expensive. I don’t encourage that method because it is expensive. A lot of people like to slowly ease into toxin-free living which is much more affordable.
Another misconception - people often think that if it is more expensive, it’s probably a better product. Whether that’s better for you or better for the environment, but that often isn’t true. It is often the niche the product is in and who they are marketing the product to. So don’t always assume that the more expensive the product, the better it is. As I always say, make sure you read the ingredient label to make sure it is safe.
Going toxin-free doesn’t have to be expensive. Some of the most toxin-free cleaners go back to the roots of simple cleaning, like baking soda and vinegar. Very inexpensive and they work really well. They might not come in pretty packaging or smell really good but you can add essential oils to help with that. However, a lot of people don’t want to make their own cleaners. That’s the main reason I created my shop because I was fine with making my own products but a lot of people prefer to be told specific products to buy.
With most cleaning products you find there’s a different product for every single cleaning purpose. When really you can just buy one product that does multiple things well. It’s really quality over quantity. And some of the better products might cost more but if you’re buying a product for each singular cleaning purpose, you end up spending more. Plus, all of the extra products you don’t need creates clutter.
To me, it is so much more worth it to choose an eco-friendly product that might be a little bit more expensive. An example of this is would be to say you have a favorite lipgloss, my personal favorite is the Crunchi lipglosses, you love the ingredients, the packaging, and how it works so well. On the other hand if you or go to Target and buy a $6 Burts bees and it works fine. Then you try another brand and don’t like it. And then you try a cheaper option than any of them and you don’t love it. They’re all sitting in your purse and you aren’t using them. With those 3 lipglosses, you spent more the that 1 lipgloss that you really liked. Do I need to buy this and will it live up to my toxin-free standards? It’s quality over quantity people.
If you enjoyed this I would love to hear about it. Share this with a friend. You’re always welcome in my Facebook group or email me at megan@detox.design
Are you constantly being annoyed with junk mail, a full email inbox, or maybe your social media feed is filled with negative energy… it’s time to take action to detox your mental load.
Remove yourself from all of the junk mail. Valpack, political ads, credit card applications, etc. Get on the Do Not Mail Registry - directmail.com and remove yourself from the Valpack list here: https://www.valpak.com/coupons/show/mailinglistsuppression
Or call 888-5-OPTOUT.
Tired of getting solicitation calls during the middle of family dinner? Get on the Do Not Call Registry - donotcall.gov
Are you a person that has an overwhelming number of unread emails in your inbox? That drives me crazy! I have to clear out my inbox regularly. You can click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of the email to get off the list or for another easy step to reduce the number of emails you get is unroll.me.
With Unroll Me, they can choose which emails you want to continue to get and they will group those emails all into one email for you. On top of that, you can choose those you want to unroll from and they will unsubscribe you from those lists.
Is there some negative energy on your social media feeds? Or people you’re not connected to anymore. It’s ok to unfollow them.
If there are Facebook Groups that you don’t connect with or aren’t very active anymore, feel free to leave them.
These simple actions will open up opportunity for more positivity and less mental clutter in your life.
Do you have other suggestions to share? How do you take action to detox mental clutter?
Have you ever wondered if your gum is good for you? How about if your floss is coated in chemicals? I shared some tips for choosing safer products for your mouth.
I’m sure you’ve seen the disclaimer on a package of sugar-free gum that says it contains a chemical linked with cancer. Yep, it says it right there on the package! Also, have you noticed how much plastic packaging is used for gum is these days? We know that 90% of plastics aren’t recycled even if they go in the recycling bin and gum packaging is something to consider when you purchase gum. Don’t forget to check the ingredient label. If you wouldn’t eat and swallow it, then you probably don’t want to chew it. A better ingredient gum I would suggest is Pur.
Have you ever thought about how wasteful a tube of toothpaste is? I don’t think those plastic tubes are recyclable. I’ve been trying out a tablet toothpaste that you chew and then brush your teeth with. I like it but my husband isn’t quite on board yet. Ingredients you want to look out for in toothpaste includes triclosan, natural flavors (because “natural” doesn’t mean anything), and artificial colors.
For disposable toothbrushes, choose something that isn’t plastic. We use a Sonicare in our home and I’m waiting for them to come out with a more eco-friendly option for replacement heads. But when I go to the dentist, I say no to the bag of goodies. All those little packages of floss, toothpaste, and free toothbrush are all plastic that likely can’t be recycled. When traveling I use a wooden toothbrush like this one.
I’m a big flosser because I’m genetically disposed to bad teeth and gums. Did you know that Glide Floss is coated in PFAS? You can check out more about why PFAS are bad in this episode.
I’ve been using a floss that is an eco-friendly material and not coated in any sort of chemical. If you use individual flossers or floss picks, I encourage you to start using something that is more eco-friendly. Here’s on option of a biodegradable flosser.
If you use whitening products, you might want to think about the ingredients in the products you’re using. Dr. Brite is a safer option.
This post contains an affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to buy. I'm recommending these products because they might help you choose toxin-free and eco-friendly products and I've found success with them, not because of the small commission I make.
I recently did an episode on detoxing products for babies and kids, but I didn’t really share about how having my own kids is what started me on my own toxin-free living journey.
When my 14 year old daughter was one, I came across a recall notice that a toy had lead in it. I was shocked.
I got my masters in public health and studied a bit on environmental health, but my work and studies focused more on healthy eating and physical activity. I didn’t realize how little regulation there was around toys and other items we buy and bring into our home. So I dug in.
One product I thought was safe and non-toxic was Dreft laundry detergent. I thought that smell was perfect for babies. Little did I know that Dreft still had “fragrance” in it. (Fragrance is a loophole that can hide thousands of chemicals within that one term.) If you’re looking for a safe laundry detergent for babies and little one’s I’d recommend the unscented laundry detergent available in my shop.
Before I knew what I know now, I chose products based on the packaging. I assumed that I could trust the marketing on the front of the package. Pretty packages specifically designed for babies and children. Often these products were MORE expensive, higher end products specifically made for babies. But little did I know that the ingredients in these products weren’t any better, healthier, safer, or toxin-free.
I also was duped by a few other products as I continued to detox our home. For example cleaning products. I used to assume that going to the “natural” section of the grocery store meant that the products sold there would be safe. For example, Mrs. Meyers. That cute packaging, it had to be safe, right?!?
Mrs. Meyers is a greenwashing brand. There is no Mrs. Meyers. It’s the brain child of a larger corporation to make a niche cleaning product that they could charge more money for. You can check out more about Mrs. Meyers in this blog post, but the most annoying thing they do is sandwich the ingredient “fragrance” between a bunch of essential oils. You think it’s safe because it has all those essential oils in there but really…there’s fragrance. Ugh! So annoying!
As I continued to learn more and more about the toxins in our home, I learned about BPA in plastics and we switched to using glass as much as possible.
It took me even longer to detox our laundry detergent. I just didn’t think about the fact that our clothes and linens touch most of our body throughout the day or that we’re breathing in whatever fragrance is making our clothes smell “fresh”. That is a whole lot of exposure to chemicals. As we know our skin is our largest organ and our skin is absorbing whatever chemicals are left on our clothes. (Of course absorption depends on the size of the molecule, we don’t absorb everything that touches our skin.)
I often hear people say “the damage is done, there’s no point in switching now.” But nope! That’s wrong! There’s always time to improve, change, and do better. Our body burden is made up of all of our exposures that add up within our whole system. We always have the option to lower our body burden by making better choices. The products you choose today can improve your wellbeing for the future.
Chelsi Jo is a mom of two girls and she started her academy at Chelsi Jo.Co to teach women to be successful mothers. A sign language interpreter for 15 years, she realized she had a lot to balance between mom life and work. People were amazed that she could balance it all so well as it came so naturally to her. She realized this wasn’t something everything was good at, so she started her business, Chelsi Jo and Co.
As her business grew she added more information on mom life including the Academy. It all starts with productivity in motherhood, then moves to systems in your business, how to organize your house, and communication.
Her podcast covers the fundamental needs of taking care of yourself, cleaning, and managing your schedule. Chelsi Jo shared how she uses a task management software for her business and a paper planner to organize her mom stuff.
Chelsi Jo shared some great advice…
listen to the voice in your head - never sleep on something because it just gets worse
When I asked Chelsi Jo what we should be doing to prepare for 2021, she suggested taking some time out of your day to sit and ask yourself what do you want to do in the upcoming year, then write those goals down. If your goal is big, break it into chunks, then break the tasks down into two week blocks to make sure you reach your goal.
This is very similar to the the process I’ve created in the 2021 Wellness Goal Setting Challenge! Great minds think alike!
You can find Chelsi Jo on her Facebook group, Systemize your Life, Facebook page, Instagram, and her podcast, Systemize Your Life.
Have you wondered how I research which brands we use in our home and what products go in Detox by Design | The Box?
In this week’s podcast episode I share my methods for finding and supporting brands that are doing the right thing.
Oh man! This year has been tough. But the good news is we learn from every experience we have!
Let’s take some time to reflect, create a vision for what we want in the next year, and sets some wellness goals for 2021.
I hope you’ll join me in this challenge! Click <<HERE>> to join!
It’s so important to use safe and toxin-free products when you have kids. Over 20 years ago, scientists discovered that children are much more sensitive to toxins in our environment. They’re developing so quickly and growing so fast, this is a time of major development for their little bodies. The environment and the products you use actually impact their bodies and their health more than adults.
While babies grow and develop, their hormone systems are more impacted by toxins. Plus little ones are often putting things in their mouths, or crawling on the ground and then putting their hands in their mouth. All of this adds up to potential exposure to toxins.
So what is safe? Well, first let’s chat about utensils, dishes, and bottles.
Glass is safe and very eco-friendly. I know it can be scary to give a baby glass, but I want to challenge you to try glass. Of course, be careful with it. A mason jar, is a thicker glass and will be harder to break. Your kids will learn to be careful with glass. It is also nice because it is heavier and less likely to topple over. I remember when my girls were little I would put water or milk in their plastic cup -yes we used to use a lot of plastic and if I could I would go back and change that if I could, but at the time I didn’t know it wasn’t safe- and the plastic cup would topple over so easily. Of course you have to supervise and be careful!
Another option that isn’t as breakable is still safe is Corelle dishes. They are hard to break, toxin-free, and inexpensive. Another option is stainless steel bowls or wooden bowls that have suction cups on the bottom. All are safe and great. For bottles, silicon nipples, natural latex nipples with glass bottles are great options. In our house, we use stainless steel water bottles. Our girls love their Hydroflask’s and another great water bottle brand is Eco Vessel. For carrying snacks silicone bags work well and are safe.
Most toys are made of plastic and kids put everything in their mouths. It’s a great idea to crawl around on the floor to see you child’s perspective and you’ll see what they see and what draws their attention. Move stuff that you don’t want your kid grabbing. You’ll be surprised to see what is so enticing at their eye level. As far as toys go, I would choose wood toys. Or natural materials like plush toys in wool, linen, or cotton. I always like to support a local toy story and, at our local toy store, there are so many eco-friendly and toxin-free toys. Most local toy stores are a great place to start. Of course, avoid plastic as much as you can. You can check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall list for toys that have been recalled. A lot of toys get recalled because of lead. Can you believe that they can sell products that have lead in them, especially when they are marketed to kids? But thats the way it is. Products are sold in stores before being proven safe. We have to be vigilant consumers and do our best to protect our children.
With babies and children often comes diapers. I am not on the “up and up” on safe diapering but if you visit my Facebook community Detox by Design Insiders I would be happy to share some safe diaper brands and even do more research for you and you could just post a question there.
I personally used cloth diapers and I loved them. Some people say “you’re crazy” but it’s not as hard as it sounds. My daughters potty trained early and quickly because they could feel when their diaper was wet. For my oldest, we used a diaper service, which of course made it a lot easier. And with my youngest we used a diaper service in the beginning but then they went out of business, so we ended up washing our own. My husband will disagree with me and tell you that he threw away a couple of really nasty diapers, but for the most part, washing the diapers was not that big of a deal. It was so economical and affordable. And I felt so much better about not putting diapers in the landfill. We did use disposable diapers when we were out and about, but for the most part, we used cloth diapers and it worked really well.
As you may know, I have a subscription box service and I also sell products individually in my online shop. Everything in my store is safe for children. No fragrances, toxin-free, and I do a lot of research choosing the products that go in my boxes. Not only is it safe, the products work really well. My clients have given me rave reviews! You can start detoxing your cleaning and laundry routines by taking a look in my shop or subscribing to my box service.
When it comes to products you put on your body, let’s start with the basics. Let’s say you go to Target, you’re walking down the aisle of baby products. There are so many products. There’s shampoo, lotions, diaper creams and many more with so many different uses. But the thing is, that’s just a company marketing to get you to buy more products. I don’t think you need a separate shampoo and body wash, its a cleanser. I personally would use the CRUNCHI gentle bar. It’s perfect for washing baby’s skin and hair because it’s so gentle and not scented at all. I would use that for shampoo and for body washing. That’s all you need. You just ned one bar soap, it’s so simple.
As far as moisturizing I would probably stick with a homemade body butter or something that you know has really clean ingredients. Here’s the recipe. I would omit the essential oils if using for a baby or little one. For diaper cream a great brand is Curasalve which is safe and uses organic ingredients. Overall, when we think about products for our babies or children we want to use as few toxins and fragrances as possible. Also remember to check the labels for fragrances. You probably need to also look out for essential oils and get something that has almost no scent at all, no added scents, and just the raw material scent. You can always ask me questions by DM’ing me on Instagram, Facebook, or you can join my Facebook group and ask in that group which is Detox by Design Insiders.
If you found this podcast helpful, I would love it if you shared it with a friend! Please subscribe and leave me a review. Reviews and sharing the podcast help eco-friendly and toxin-free living info go further. My goal is that everyone who is listening will become empowered and enlightened in with this information and our world will become better and be less toxic.
Lip products are often one of the first things that people switch to toxin-free. Let's face it. What you're putting on your lips, you're likely eating too.
What's In Your Lip Balm, Lipgloss and Lipstick? Plus, Some Non Toxic Suggestions and Safe Swaps
Ingredients to avoid:
Parabens: (methylparaben, butylparaben, anything ending in -paraben)
Health concerns include: endocrine disruption, cancer, and developmental and reproductive toxicity. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has the best breakdown of research on parabens that I’ve found.
Synthetic Colors & Dyes: (FD&C Blue 1, Green 3, Yellow 5 & 6, Red 33):
Derived from coal tar
Health concerns include cancer and organ system toxicity
Butylated Compounds: Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Health concerns include: endocrine disruption, organ-system toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cancer, irritation
Fragrance and Flavor: Fragrance, natural fragrance, parfum, flavor, natural flavor
A proprietary term that can hide over 3,00 individual chemicals within the term
Health concerns include: cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, sensitivities
Petrolatum: Petroleum jelly, mineral oil, paraffin oil
Byproduct of refining petroleum
Health concern: cancer. Could potentially be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Safer Options
He originally imagined focusing on sustainable businesses helping them create more eco-friendly policies. But when he started working with Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company while at the same time realizing the personal health issues their mattress was causing him and his wife, he realized just how important a safe mattress really is.
Then when the opportunity to take over Holy Lamb Organics presented itself, they jumped at the chance.
Jason shared his experience of hearing from clients. People who couldn’t figure out what was going on with their health. Visiting all types of doctors and naturopaths who couldn’t give them any advice. Eventually they would decide to try and swap out their mattress.
A common conversation would be, “you’re sleeping on formaldehyde, something you shouldn’t be around and you’re spending eight hours a night sleeping on it.”
Jason also shared the environmental impact of conventional mattresses. They’re not built environmentally friendly, they’re not built to break down, and there’s no “end of life plan” for mattresses. They’re the number two item in landfills by volume, following carpet.
While latex beds will last up to 30 years without needing to be replaced, when they do break down, you don’t have worry about it impacting the environment because it will break down over time. Same with the natural wool that is used as a flame barrier. Most companies use rayon, a petro-chemical derivative, or formaldehyde. The most common flame barrier today is a powder that clearly rubs of the mattress and is likely inhaled when you sleep on the mattress every night.
“if you’re rolling around on your bed in a dark t-shirt, you’ll see that (flame resistant) powder all over your shirt. That’s a hard reality that you’re breathing that in. At the same time none of that is designed to be broken down.”
Jason shared that a lot of big mattress sellers sell air filters to use along with your mattress, to filter out the off-gassing of the mattress. But is that really the right solution? I don’t think so!
In terms of comfort, the rayon barriers are designed to block all air flow to prevent fire. When sleeping in that bed, there’s no air flow “it’s like running in a polyester suit”. As soon as your body temperature increases you start to sweat because there’s no place for that heat to go. Yuck!
Jason also shared ways to repurpose and recycle mattress. The Springback Network can take a mattress in decent shape to donate to families in need or break down the pieced of the mattress and recycle the materials in different ways. What can you do if you don’t have mattress recycling near you? Contact your local authorities and request that they set up a program to deal with the problem of mattresses.
I wanted to get Jason’s take on tips for better sleeping and he had some great ideas:
No screens for at least 30 minutes before bed time.
You don’t need over 500 thread count sheets. The ideal thread count is between 220 and 500. Over 500 it feels nice, but the tight weave doesn’t allow air flow.
Jason also gave some tips on mattress shopping. He said to ask to see the law tag to find out what is in the mattress - all contents will be on the label. If they don’t provide a label, that’s a red flag! Look for and avoid formaldehyde or a rayon barrier. What you want instead is wool and natural latex.
I recorded this bonus episode because I know we’re all struggling right now. This Thanksgiving, and probably holiday season, is going to look a lot different for most of us.
In our family, we’re staying home and it will be just the four of us. We’ve never had a quiet Thanksgiving before. We’re usually with the entire extended family, celebrating together.
On top of having a unique Thanksgiving, we’re eight months in. From the stress of a worldwide pandemic, to social distancing, to working and schooling at home, our lives have been completely turned upside down this year.
Even amongst all this crazy, I want to remind you that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of others. It’s not selfish to include yourself on the priority list.
I’ve been doing some daily tasks to help keep me in a good headspace.
Gratitude journaling - I write down ten things I’m grateful for each day and why I’m thankful for them
Meditation - the Calm app is my go to for guided meditation
Exercise - getting on my Peloton is a little break from reality each day
I’ve also found that when I’ve been feeling a little bit down. Getting dressed, doing my hair, putting my makeup on makes me feel better. It’s not because I look prettier, it’s because I’m taking care of myself. And because I’m taking care of myself, I just feel better!
Some people feel that makeup is a mask you’re putting on, that it’s not truly you…
For me, it’s a creative outlet, a way to play with new colors and try different things, and it’s just a lot of fun.
I wanted to remind you that you deserve that. You deserve that time. You deserve that space, you deserve safe products that will help you feel more beautiful, more confident, and more empowered.
I’m here to help guide you in choosing safe makeup and skincare that will make you feel beautiful and leave you feeling relaxed and confident that the products are truly safe.
Elysha’s Free Closet Cleanout Guide
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I cleaned out my closet. Then I interviewed personal stylist, Elysha Lenkin, for Toxin-Free Talk and realized I had a lot more editing to do!
I love Elysha’s holistic way of curating your closet! I learned a lot from chatting with her, and I’m sure you will too. Now go listen!
I think this is my most favorite podcast to date. I love hearing from entrepreneurs and creators and I had the opportunity to chat with four different people who inspire me.
I also created a Gift Guide to help you give thoughtful, eco-friendly, and toxin-free gifts this holiday season. You can download the guide <<HERE>>.
This week’s podcast features:
Alisha, a chocolatier who started My Sweet Reverie
Adam, from the Ramblin’ Restaurants Group
Cassie, creator of beautiful accessories at Holder Industries
Andrea, owner of Browsers Bookshop
I love supporting local and small businesses, especially for the holidays. I like to know that I’m not only gifting the individual, I’m supporting the community and creators with my purchase.
I hope this podcast inspires you to support your local stores and restaurants and that the gift guide makes holiday gift giving a little easier.
Go listen, share with a friend, and tell me, what’s your favorite gift to give?
The experience was eye opening and encouraging. I believe the changes I’m making will have long lasting positive health effects for my family.
— Stephanie K., Olympia, WA
