Your Ultimate Guide to Achieving a Fresh Clean Hygiene Routine
Good personal hygiene is important for your physical, mental, and social well-being. Poor personal hygiene can increase the risk of infections and other health issues. Unfortunately, personal hygiene is not as simple as it should be.
Conventional personal hygiene products are full of toxins and chemicals. These chemicals in conventional personal care products can cause allergies, dry skin, rashes, and skin problems. Used regularly, they may also increase chronic inflammation in your body, which can increase your risk of cancer, hormonal issues, obesity, autoimmunity, and other health issues.
Using organic, natural personal hygiene products instead of toxin-filled conventional options is the best way to reduce your exposure to these chemicals and lower your health risks. Finding the right natural personal hygiene products that work and fit your budget can be a challenge. I want to help you with your choice. In this article, I will share my favorite natural personal hygiene products from trusted brands that gently cleanse your body and protect your health. But before that, let’s talk about the importance of personal hygiene and the risk of using chemical-filled conventional personal hygiene products.
The Importance of Personal Hygiene
Good personal hygiene is very important for your health. Personal hygiene entails cleaning your external body clean and healthy. Poor personal hygiene can create an ideal environment for germs to grow and spread. It can increase your risk of infections and health issues. Poor personal hygiene can increase the risk of Athlete’s foot ringworm, pinworm, other fungal infections, body lice, head lice, pubic lice, swimmer’s ear, hot tub rash, scabies, bacterial infections, rashes, digestive issues, and other health issues (1).
Poor personal hygiene may also impact your social, professional, and personal life, and increase loneliness and isolation. As a result, it may trigger depression or other mental health issues which may reduce your ability to take care of yourself feeding the cycle of poor personal hygiene, health issues, social issues, and mental health problems.
Personal care should involve body care, hand washing, nail care, and dental care. Good body hygiene helps to reduce bad bacteria on your body and reduces the risk of bad body odor, skin irritation, infections, and inflammation. Good body hygiene includes taking care of your hair and scalp as well. Hand washing helps to reduce the spread of communicable diseases and infections (2). Clipping your nails and keeping them clean reduces the risk of dirt and germs collecting under them and spreading infections. Good dental hygiene can reduce your risk of bad breath, gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues.
The Problem with Conventional Personal Hygiene Products
Practicing good personal hygiene is only step one. The products you use on your body matter too. In fact, using high-quality organic and natural personal hygiene products should be part of any good personal hygiene.
Unfortunately, most conventional personal hygiene products are far from organic or natural. They are loaded with chemicals and toxins that can harm your health. According to the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses about 12 products with 168 chemical ingredients every single day (3). For men, this number is about half, at 6 products with 85 chemical ingredients per day. Remember, these are only averages. Many people use a lot more products filled with a lot more chemicals and toxins every day.
If you have a chemical sensitivity, you may experience an immediate reaction to conventional personal hygiene products. If you are like most people, using these products once in a while won’t cause any immediate problems. However, the lack of obvious or immediate symptoms doesn’t mean that conventional personal hygiene products are safe.
Exposure to these toxins and chemicals in personal hygiene products can add up over time. These chemicals can act as carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. They may increase chronic inflammation. They may disrupt your hormonal health. And they can contribute to some serious health issues, including autoimmune conditions, hormonal health problems, and cancer (4, 5, 6).
Top Chemicals in Conventional Personal Hygiene Products
The number of chemicals in conventional personal hygiene products is shocking. Some are more commonly used than others. The top 10 chemicals found in conventional personal hygiene products that can harm your health include:
Formaldehyde, mainly found in shampoo, body soap, hand soaps, nail polish, hand spray, and children’s personal care
Methylene chloride, mainly in aerosol deodorant, hair spray, and other aerosol sprays
Phthalates, mainly found in shampoo, body soap, hand soap, moisturizes, shaving creams, aftershave, nail polish, cosmetics, and fragrances
Triclosan, mainly found in body wash, nail polish, deodorant, acne products, and toothpaste
Fragrance, mainly found in deodorants, antiperspirants, colognes, perfumes, lotions, shampoo, cleansers, feminine care products, soaps, and body wash
Glycols, mainly found in shampoo, body wash, facial cleanser, sunscreen, cosmetics, and anti-aging products
Sodium benzoate, mainly found in hair bleach, hair color, nail polish, facial cleansers, conditioners, tanning agents, and toothpaste
Synthetic colors, mainly found in cosmetics, mouthwash, toothpaste, moisturizers, soaps, cleansers, and vitamins
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), mainly found in foaming soaps, shampoo, and mouthwash
Common Symptoms Caused by Conventional Personal Hygiene Products
Conventional personal hygiene products are full of chemicals and toxins that can cause skin inflammation and irritation. Skin inflammation and skin irritation from conventional personal hygiene products may manifest in various ways. It can lead to a laundry list of skin problems, including:
Dry skin
Cracked or raw skin that may bleed
Oily skin or oily scalp
Itching, burning, or stinging
Redness
Peeling or scaly skin
Thickening of the skin
Dandruff
Brittle hair and breakage
Dull-looking hair
Dull skin
Eczema or dermatitis
Rashes
Other signs of skin irritation
Increased symptoms of rosacea, psoriasis, and other skin issues
Ringworm, athlete’s foot, and other fungal infections
Acne or pimples
Blackheads and whiteheads
Wrinkles and fine lines
Age spots
Other Health Issues Caused by Conventional Personal Hygiene Products
The risk of using conventional personal hygiene products doesn’t stop at skin inflammation and skin irritation. Unfortunately, toxins and chemicals found in conventional personal hygiene care can lead to body-wide chronic inflammation and increase the risk of all kinds of health issues.
There are countless studies that linked chemicals and toxins found in conventional personal hygiene products to an increased risk of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, formaldehyde is a carcinogen that can increase the risk of cancer (7). A 2013 review published in Toxicology Pathology has also found that it may act as a carcinogen and increase the risk of cancer (8).
According to a 1991 study published in Annali Dell’Istitutto Superior di Sanita, methylene chloride may increase the risk of lung and liver cancer (9). A 2010 study published in Environmental Health Perspective has linked phthalates to an increased risk of breast cancer (10). A 2014 review published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health has found that triclosan may increase the risk of cancer (11).
Cancer is not the only risk though. Toxins in personal hygiene products may increase chronic inflammation and contribute to the increased risk of chronic pain, hormonal health issues, autoimmunity, and other health issues.
According to a 2019 study published in JBRA Assisted Reproduction, many toxins act as endocrine disruptors that may affect hormonal and reproductive health (12). A 2015 study published in Environmental Health and a 2015 study published in Reproductive Toxicology have linked phthalates to poor maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and childhood health (13, 14).
A 2010 research published in Chemical Research in Toxicology has found that toxins in personal hygiene products may increase the risk of autoimmune disorder (15). According to a 2010 study published in Toxicology In Vitro, chemicals found in soap, nail polish, and other personal care products may increase the risk of obesity (16). A 2017 review published in Reproductive Toxicology has found that these toxins may increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and metabolic issues (17).
Recommendations for Natural Personal Hygiene Products
Recognizing the dangers of conventional personal hygiene products and deciding to buy natural personal hygiene products is the easy part. Selecting the right natural personal hygiene brands can be challenging. Fortunately, there are many natural alternatives on the market.
There are a few problems though. Some of these options are only marketed as natural, but they still contain some chemicals or additives. As for the truly natural options, some of them just don’t work — despite costing a lot.
You want to feel clean and refreshed after taking a shower. You want shiny, strong, and thick hair instead of an oily, dry, and dull-looking one. And you most certainly need your deodorant to work and not leave you with stinky sweat stains. Buying natural personal hygiene products can be a hit or miss. You don’t want to spend all your money on products that don’t work until you find the ones that do.
Fortunately, I’ve done all the research for you. I’ve tried countless natural personal hygiene products on the market and searched until I found the right ones. Here are my favorite brands I use every day as part of my natural personal hygiene routine.
Young Living Coconut Lime Body Butter
Young Living
Young Living is known for its amazing essential oils. But did you know that Young Living is offering natural personal hygiene products as well? I absolutely love the body care, bath care, hair care, and skincare products by Young Living Essential Oils. They even sell natural make-up and make-up remover. They are all natural, made with the highest quality of essential oils.
My favorites include their Evening Peace bath and shower gel and Sacred Mountain bar soap. For your face, I recommend the Bloom Brightening Cleanser. I absolutely love their Lavender Volume Shampoo and Conditioner made with 8 essential oils for a fuller, thicker hair. Their Bon Voyage Travel Pack is very handy for traveling, camping, or even keeping it in your car.
Primal Life Body Bar Soap
Primal Life Organics
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Another excellent option for natural personal hygiene is Primal Life Organics. I have already recommended their dental care products before, but I am obsessed with their body care line too.
The Primal Life Organics Body Wash Bar is organic, plant-based, natural, and free of plastic. It’s perfect for your home and handy when traveling. After my shower, I use Primal Life Organics Body Moisturizer. I can tell you, my skin feels softer and smoother than ever. Primal Life Organics Deodorant is an organic, natural, paraben-free, and aluminum-free deodorant that actually woks. I can even on hot days or during my workouts. I also love Primal Life Organics Funki Foot Repair Balm for foot care.
Purity Woods
I have already recommended Purity Woods in my article on natural skincare. They are truly one of the best when it comes to holistic facial cleansing and skincare. I use their Pur-Radiance Face Cleanser every morning and evening. It cleanses and rejuvenates your skin without drying it out with chemicals. It uses a natural formula of 21 natural ingredients, including elastin-boosting maple leaf ingredients.
But skincare is more than just facial cleansing. You are caring for your skin every time you take a shower or wash your hair. Even choosing the right hand sanitizer should be considered when it comes to skin health. I recommend Purity Woods Pur-Defense Instant Hand Sanitizer when soap and tap water are not available to clean your hands. This sanitizer 70% ethyl alcohol hand sanitizer that protects you from viruses and other pathogens while protecting your skin without causing damage with unwanted chemicals.
Holistic Thingz Shampoo and Conditioner
HolisticThingz
Holistic Thingz is my favorite when it comes to hair care. Organic Thingz Organic Holistic Shampoo and Conditioner is my go too shampoo-conditioner combo. It’s made with Dr. Emolo Miracle Water, organic Jamaican black castor oil, organic amla oil, and other organic herbs to clean your hair without irritating your scalp. I also love their Holistic Hair Serum with Jamaican black castor oil, ginseng oil, ginger oil, rosemary oil, and amla oil to reduce breakage and frizziness.
Holistic Thingz offers more than shampoo and hair care though. I absolutely love their Holistic Sea Buckthorn Mint Face and Body Scrub to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and toxins from my face and body. It helps to rejuvenate dry skin through gentle care and moisturizing. I love their Organic African Black Soap from Burkina Faso and find it handy when traveling. I enjoy adding the Organic Sea Buckthorn Moisturizer with Lavender to reduce dry and brittle skin. Lastly, their Himalayan Rock Bar Deodorant is another natural deodorant that actually works without harsh chemicals.
Final Thoughts
Conventional personal hygiene products are loaded with chemicals and toxins that can increase your risk of allergies, skin reactions, inflammation, hormonal issues, autoimmunity, and cancer. Using natural personal care options is critical for your health and well-being. I highly recommend trying out Young Living, Primal Life Organics, Purity Woods, and Holistic Thingz for natural personal hygiene care.
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are based on personal experiences, opinions, and my own research. Information on this website is for educational purposes and is not meant to diagnose, replace, treat, or cure any medical or mental health condition. Please see your doctor with any health-related questions. Statements on this website have not been approved or evaluated by the FDA. While perusing this site, please use your best judgment in conjunction with your Naturopath or other health care provider.
