First 5 Swaps for a Healthier Home
This is a list of my first five swaps I would make if I was just starting on my journey of a healthier lifestyle. If you do nothing else, just start READING THE INGREDIENTS LABELS! You will be shocked at what they put in everything!
In today’s day and age, there are so many options for us to choose from. In every area of your life, it seems like there’s so many things we are told to stay away from that it’s hard to even know where to start. Although, I will just be giving a brief explanation, I hope this inspires you to dig a little deeper into what is really in your products before buying items in the future. So, in no particular order… here they are.
Soap
My Swaps – Dr.Bronners, Monat, and Handmade Bar Soap!
This was one of the first things I swapped when I started my health journey. I was selling Monat full time in college is when I learned just how bad all the chemicals that make up soaps/beauty products are for you. Most chemicals can be fully absorbed in your bloodstream within 7 seconds of making contact with your skin. I don’t want my body to work harder than it already does to have to get all that stuff back out, so I try to keep it from happening in the first place.
Dr. Bronners
Quit buying a different soap for EVERYTHING. I use Dr. Bronners soap for essentially everything around the house. You do not need to have a separate soap in every area of your home. I make my own laundry detergent out of the bar version and I use the liquid version for dishes, wiping down counters, body wash, hand soap… all of it.
Handmade Soap
I also use handmade soap from a friend of mine that I swear by. If you can get any locally that is made without all the colorants and fragrances, I would recommend that. You can also check out her website Ashley Marie Soap and buy it online (not sponsored, I just love it).
Monat
Lastly, I use Monat haircare whenever I wash my hair (which is like 2-3 times a month at this point). I’ll share my full haircare routine soon, I get asked about it all the time once people find out that I don’t really wash my hair anymore. (While I have worked/used these products since ’17, I definitely have some favorites and some not so much items. I will share these soon, so stay on the lookout for that. I love this company, but that doesn’t mean every product is a slam dunk.)
These three items pretty much cover all my bases in the soap department. I would highly recommend making the switch. Not only are all three of these things concentrated, meaning you aren’t paying for water, but they are also made with the best ingredients.
Additionally, according to the EWG, the best rated Bath and Body Works product is at a 3 which is still a moderate hazard (excellent products are at a 10). If you have any of their products you can almost guarantee that they are toxic. They would be the first thing I would remove from my home (as well as basically any type of air freshener). Another popular (not so healthy) option is Dawn Dish soap. This one was a hard one to let go as it works so good. Therefore, it’s technically still in our house, but I don’t use it unless I have a tough laundry stain or stuck on food and I wash the dish again after to remove as much of the chemical as possible.
I use the EWG website to search products so I don’t have to search everywhere for what a product is made of, it gives me the gist of it there on their website. I also recommend getting the Yuka app and using it to scan all your beauty and body care products. They are few and far between when it comes to good options, but they are out there. If you are interested, comment below and I will share my healthy beauty favorites.
Sugar
My Swaps – Natural Sweeteners (Maple Syrup & Honey) when possible & Organic CANE sugar to replace your regular sugar!
This one is simple you just have to read your labels a little bit. The first thing I would do is replace my sugar with the best option I could find. I try to use natural sweeteners whenever possible instead of regular sugar, ie maple syrup, honey, agave, etc. That isn’t always possible when you are looking for a certain result, especially in baking. SO, opt for ORGANIC CANE SUGAR instead of whatever other options are out there. Costco is typically where I buy mine most of the time. I know Azure Standard also has great bulk options when it comes to any of these products (if you live in the middle of nowhere like me).
I use my organic cane sugar just as I would any other sugar. However, I will warn you it comes in larger granules. Therefore, you will have to wait a little longer for it to fully dissolve when baking etc. It’s not AS processed as the super fine white sugar you might be used to, this is a good thing. It should be slightly chunkier and more tan than the sugar you are used to. If you have ever been to Mexico or Bali. It should be similar to the sugar they serve with coffees there!
Pro tip- I mix mine with the organic molasses to make my own light and dark brown sugar. This just makes it so I don’t have to buy three separate sugars. I can buy the organic cane sugar in bulk to save more money. Again, I try to use natural options whenever possible because there is significantly less processing in them and they retain more micronutrients.
Salt
My swaps – Celtic Sea Salt & Redmonds Real Salt
Next time you find yourself in the grocery store, read the ingredients of the different salt on the shelves. You will be shocked how much is either made of chemicals or has added chemicals in it. It might be surprising to learn that most people are actually deficient in sodium and it is a vital nutrient in your body. Not table salt (sodium chloride) but natural salt that comes from the earth.
I use Celtic Sea Salt & Redmonds Real Salt, it’s an easy swap and you probably won’t notice a difference at all. Himalayan Pink Salt is great too if that’s actually what you are getting. Himalayan pink salt is known to be falsely marketed. When it became so popular, many people were finding ways to “make it”. So, in order to make my life easier, I just reach for Celtic Sea Salt & Redmonds Real Salt.
Cookware
My Swaps – Use only Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, and Glass (Porcelain & Ceramic).
This one is a big one, especially because it tends to be a little more of an investment. Get rid of all the non-stick coated, toxic cookware, it’s TERRIBLE! There is a ton of info on this all over the internet. I would just suggest searching about the specific cookware you have so you can see what you are working with. I have opted for all stainless steel and cast iron. You can get these for a very good deal if you search online or if you live in an area with good antique stores.
Here is a list of some of my favorites : Mauviel, you can find these for a good deal at TJ Maxx a lot of the time as well. Wagner Cast Iron, they are no longer in business I believe. However, you can find them on Ebay, the older the better most of the time. All-Clad, they are a high quality reputable brand. Something to note as with most stainless steel they do have an aluminum core so you want to be sure to prevent scratches. Le Creuset, I feel like I don’t even need to explain myself here. Make sure that your Le Creuset is made in France, some is made in China and it is known to have a high lead content. For baking dishes I often opt for glass but porcelain and ceramic tend to cook better..
Skin/Body Care
My swaps – Mineral Sunscreen, Fluoride Free Toothpaste, less is more skincare routine!
This one is pretty broad as there aren’t just a few products that you typically use that you can swap out. To be honest, most of the time I just don’t wear makeup at all anymore. Coming from someone that used to love ALLL the makeup and beauty things it seems kind of crazy. I just don’t want to add hormone disrupting items to my routine if I can help it and… skincare is FULL of it.
Sunscreen
First things first, SUNSCREEN. Ironically there are often more cancer causing ingredients in sunscreens that you would be better off going without. However, there are plenty of really good options on the market. Opt for MINERAL BASED (meaning zinc oxide) when it comes to sunscreen and opt for sunscreen and skincare WITHOUT phthalates, parabens, petroleums, aluminum, formaldehyde, fragrance, oxybenzone, triclosan, BHT, sulfates and many more but these are the big ones. All of the things to stay away from are really hard for me to understand. It overwhelms me when I am shopping and there are so many ingredients and things to look out for. So, I use the Yuka app to help break it down for me. I am not a scientist and don’t know all about each of these items and it makes it so much easier doing it this way.
Skincare
Lately I have been loving the brand ACURE. They have high quality skincare at an affordable price and they don’t have all the crap in them. A few of my favorites are the Unicorn Root Cleanser, Inter-Gly-Lactic Cleanser, Brightening Glow Serum, and their Vitamin C Serum. Another of my favorite brands is Cocokind! Their Oil-to-Milk Cleanser and AHA Cleanser are amazing. These all rate as “excellent” on the Yuka app.
My latest favorite is a brand called OLIVEDA. They are based out of Europe and are all organic. You can read more about them here. It is expensive, but the quality is untouched! My favorites that I have tried so far are the Corrective Face Serum, Orac & Camu Camu Concentrate, The Beauty Molecule, The Beauty Fountain, and the Honey Enzyme Face Mask. To get the most bang for your buck, I recommend getting one of these starter kits. I wish I would have done this, because I ended up spending the same amount of money without getting as many of the products as the kit has. I would recommend the Holistic Beauty from the Inside Out Kit. It has 16 products and all of my favorites are there.
I also use Cocokinds sunscreen and really enjoy it, but I think I am going to keep searching for the “best”. It doesn’t rate as good as all of the other products mentioned. I’m just trying to help my body heal itself by not continuing to damage it, so every little bit helps. Less is more, you don’t have to do your 80 step skincare routine morning and night with all the chemicals, you can just have a simple routine with just a few good products. It’s okay to age, you deserve it! You don’t have to look 20 when you are 60, you’re beautiful just as you are!
Toothpaste
This one could have its own post, so it’s definitely worth mentioning. TOOTHPASTE! Y’all, I don’t know what you are using for toothpaste but if it still has fluoride in it please make the swap. If you want to go down that rabbit hole, I invite you to research fluoride and brain health. I use this BOKA toothpaste and really like it and it’s remineralizing but any fluoride free toothpaste will probably be fine, just read the ingredients.
Laundry Detergent
This isn’t exactly skincare BUT it can cause rashes if you use detergent containing harmful ingredients. Here is a link to my homemade laundry detergent that I love!
