We often talk about the importance of eating organic, but many women slather on beauty products as often (more often?) as they take in a meal. I’ve always loved eating clean organic produce simply for the way it tastes and feels, but being pregnant gave me a reason to be even more diligent. As I was re-accessing my fridge, I also took a hard look at my beauty routine.

I started by switching to brands I trust for shampoo and lotions, my top choice being Yes to Carrots. Their website discloses all ingredients and I have found the company more than willing to interact with myself/consumers. Since becoming pregnant, I have also developed a love for Earth Mama Angel Baby products.

I feel like I’d be lying if I didn’t mention the huge “emergency” bottle of Tresemme shampoo under our sink, but the majority of products – and especially any we have brought into the home in the past eight months – are choices that I am proud of. Like with food, every change counts. Chemicals in beauty products are in small amounts (it’s why the companies get away with it) but build up with each toxic product you use. If you aren’t sure about a particular product, I encourage you to look it up, even if the brand has a ‘green’ reputation. Also: The words “organic” and especially “natural” are not regulated, so look for products marked as “USDA Certified Organic” to avoid greenwashing.

Buzzword: Paraben-free. Why are parabens bad? “Parabens imitate the chemical makeup of our hormones and can cause the body to over react or react to the chemicals which it thinks are hormones and consequently won’t produce enough natural hormones for the body to properly function.” (Examiner)

I’d heard awhile ago about the Cosmetics Database but was kind of scared to try it before this week, and for good reason – the results are scary. Knowledge is power but that doesn’t mean it’s pretty. For instance, I spent the better part of 2004-2005 slathered in The Body Shop’s Mango Body Butter. Even Burt’s Bees, which I had trusted wholly in the past, doesn’t score great, and neither do LUSH products. I don’t take necessarily take all of the ratings at face value but I think they’re worth considering, and I’ll definitely be avoiding any products rated above a 6 (especially while pregnant / breastfeeding).

The last big hidden toxin in my bathroom is fragrance. Seeing my fave SJP Covet fragrance rated at a toxic 10 on Cosmetics Database is an eye-opener, so my next mission is to replace my (and the husband’s) scents with healthier alternatives. I’m not going to toss my remaining parfum but rather save it for special occasions and use sparingly (and not buy them again). It is no surprise that perfumes and colognes are so toxic, as it is the fragrance in most bath and beauty products that makes them so unsafe.

Some products require possible toxins as their active ingredients (many acne products, for instance) but it’s hard to justify having even possibly hazardous chemicals in body wash and perfume. Like with the food industry, the fucked up part is that truly safe products are the exception and there is no rule that toxic products carry any warning.

Some products don’t have a comparable organic and/or natural substitute, but using those that do I can feel the difference (in my hair, skin) as much as you can feel the difference when eating clean and organic, which is a much bigger motivator for me than fear.

How much do you worry about what you put on your body? What are your favorite safe/organic beauty products? Any products you can’t live without even though you know they likely contain toxins?