Maybe you can relate to me on this: as much as I talk about switching to cleaner products and food, a lot of my friends and family members still are not quite on board. So this year for Christmas, I asked my mom to send me a list of the top products she uses most frequently that she would be willing to try safer swaps for! To be honest, I’m probably more excited about this gift bag than she is, but hopefully it will show her how great natural, organic products can be compared to the conventional ones.
Everyone has their own reasons for not wanting to switch to non-toxic products. Maybe they don’t realize the importance. Maybe they don’t think they’ll work as well. Maybe they don’t want to go out of their way to find new products. You get the idea. But if you’re in the same boat as me, all I can say is KEEP PUSHING your friends and family to make the switch because It’s so important for their health!
By making this gift bag for my mom, I think it will show her that natural products truly are great. And because everything is gifted to her, it takes the stress away from searching for and choosing new products.
So let’s dive in. Below are the conventional products my mom uses frequently, and the safer swaps I chose for her. For each one, the major ingredients of concern are called out in red. I also note each product’s number rating on the Think Dirty app. Not all products are in the database so you might see a NA rating – but I’m pretty positive they would all be a 3 or lower.
(Note: not all the products I suggest are 100% perfect ingredient-wise, but they are 100x better than their alternatives. Just letting you know in full disclosure!)
I encourage you to do the research if you like to learn more about specific ingredients.
Olay Complete Facial Moisturizer → Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream [SPF 30]
Vaseline Intensive Advanced Care Lotion → The Wonder Seed Hemp Oil Body Lotion
Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Cream → The Wonder Seed Hemp Hand Cream
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm → Kiss Me Honey Organic Mint Lip Balm
Colgate Total Care Toothpaste → Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Toothpaste
Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap → Kosmatology Foaming Hand Soap
Kosmatology also available on Amazon.
Dawn Ultra Antibacterial Dish Soap → Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes → Clean Well Botanical Disinfecting Wipes
409 Antibacterial Multi-Surface Cleaner → Branch Basics All-Purpose Spray
My mom didn’t include deodorant in the products she was willing to swap, but I got her some anyway because switching to natural deodorant is so important. The deodorant I bought for her is Ursa Major (also available on Amazon).
If you or a loved one is trying to switch to safer products, I have a few resources available on this blog:
- My Faves page which is a master list of products I’ve tried and recommend
- 5 Myths About Green & Organic Beauty
- Green Beauty Starter Pack: 12 Essential Items to Add to Your Routine
- 21 Green Beauty Brands That Offer Sample Sizes
- The Beginner’s Guide to Green Beauty on a Budget
Maybe this post will inspire you to do the same for a family member or friend! Let me know in the comments.
This post contains affiliate links.
I love the Schmidt’s deodorant, but I am so sensitive I break out in a rash when I use it (even the sensitive skin variety). Do you have any natural deodorant suggestions for super sensitive skin?
Yes! Check out the Ursa Major No B.S. deodorant. Made without baking soda which causes problems for some people.
Thank you so much!! ?