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Simplifying Beauty with Non-Toxic Essentials for #LoveYourLifeFriday

Non-Toxic makeup, hair care and skin care favorites by Summer Saldana for Love Your Life Friday at karenehman.com.

Hey guys, it’s Summer here!

Okay, so as I shared in my last post on Love Your Life Friday, over the last few years my family and I have really made an effort to simplify our lives, and today I wanted to share with you guys a little more in detail on just one of those areas (beauty care) where I personally have really benefitted from changing things up.

As a beauty blogger/YouTuber, I am sent a ton of stuff to test and review and somehow over the years I had acquired quite the collection — that no one girl should ever really need.

It was definitely fun at first, but the more stuff that came in, the more overwhelmed and yucky I began to feel. Not only did I need to buy more stuff to house the stuff, but then there was the pressure to actually USE all the stuff…and again, I’m only one girl with only 7 days a week to wear it all. (and let’s just be honest, I’m really only wearing makeup maybe 2-3 days out of my week anyway!)

So, when we decided to finally move and downsize our home and belongings, I knew it was the perfect time to finally begin getting rid of all the beauty clutter as well.

Around the time I began decluttering, I was also starting to read and study a lot about ingredients and health and how the two really do go together. And, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to not just get rid of the excess, but to actually replace what I didn’t need with only the essentials…and to choose only healthy non-toxic ones at that.

I got really serious with myself — I mean, as serious as you can about beauty products — and when it all came down to it, all I really needed to keep were the bare essentials. I didn’t keep extras of this and that or this little product for the just in case, one day, or the maybe I’ll be into the gold glitter cat eye moment again. I had to let all that go, and know I was going to be just fine with the basics, since really, the basics were all I had been reaching for over the last year anyway!

It’s now been about 6 months since I’ve nearly completed the entire beauty collection renovation, and oh my word! Let me just tell you, it is so freeing to let go of the stuff, and I love knowing that what I now own and use isn’t harmful to my skin, my hormones, or my body.

I share all this because not only am I passionate about encouraging others to simplify their lives in order to better live a life of intention and worship, but I’m also incredibly passionate about encouraging others to do all that they can to take care of their bodies and their health in order to fully LIVE that life of intention and worth.

Simplifying our beauty with non toxic essentials is just one of those areas to consider, as it has been so worth it in my own life and health.

And because I love testing things out and sharing my discoveries, below is my most recent video where I update you guys on all that I’ve been using and loving the most, and all that I find to be worth our time, money and space that it takes to store it all. (I’m talking like one drawer goals here!)

{Also, just in case you’re interested in simplifying your own beauty products, and would love to begin making the switch to more natural and safe options, I’d love for you to consider removing the following ingredients (posted below the video) as seen in the book, Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe. This really is a great place to start!}

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A little excerpt from Eat Dirt – which explains exactly why it’s been so important for me to switch over to natural beauty (and now cleaning) products and then be able to share with you guys all that I’m testing and loving!

I truly want us all to benefit from living healthier lives, and I want to help however I can!!!

A survey by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health analyzed 2,983 chemicals in personal care and cleaning products and determined that: 18 over 800 were toxic nearly 800 caused acute toxicity (triggering a rapid reaction) 314 caused a biological mutation in the living system of the body 376 caused skin and eye irritation 148 could cause tumors in laboratory animals 218 caused reproductive complications Toxin overload is one of the main causes of leaky gut. 

When the gut gets inflamed over time, the tight junctions degrade and leave you more vulnerable to food particles, environmental chemicals, and bacterial waste leaking from your digestive tract and traveling into your body. 

While listing all of the most problematic household toxins could probably be a book in itself, here are a few of the most common:

Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). This duo can be found in 90 percent of all shampoos and many cosmetics, toothpastes, and hair conditioners. SLS and SLES are known as surfactants, meaning they reduce surface tension in products. These toxins can irritate the skin for up to a week, causing inflammation and damaging healthy skin oils. In a study published in International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, Canadian researchers found that exposure to surfactants significantly increases the permeability of the mucous layer and actively disbands and separates tight junctions. 

Parabens. Also commonly found in lotions, shampoo, shaving gels, makeup, and many other personal care products, parabens are readily absorbed into the body and affect hormonal balance, sparking scientific debate and studies regarding the risk of breast cancer and male reproductive problems. 

Phthalates. These chemicals lengthen the shelf life of cosmetics, hair spray, mousses, and fragrances. Phthalates damage the liver, kidney, and lungs, affecting the body’s ability to process toxins. About one billion pounds of this chemical toxin are produced annually. 

VOCs. Volatile organic compounds are common petroleum-based chemicals that are neurotoxic and are present in perfumes, aftershave lotions, toiletries, shampoos, household cleaners, furniture polishes, and air fresheners. 

DEA. Diethanolamine (DEA), used as an emulsifier and foaming agent in shampoos, toothpaste, and bubble bath, is a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been linked to stomach and esophageal cancer in laboratory animals. It’s telling that DEA has been banned in Europe but is still permissible in the United States. 

Triclosan. We’ve talked about this one before. The Environmental Protection Agency has labeled triclosan a pesticide, but we know it as the “active ingredient” in antibacterial soaps, body washes, and toothpaste. Triclosan is proven to accumulate in body tissues, leading to kidney and liver issues, yet it’s been added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. Triclosan is also found in products ranging from kitchenware and furniture to clothing and toys. Way back in 2004, British researchers demonstrated that triclosan made E. coli O157 antibiotic resistant after just two “sublethal” exposures—in other words, enough to hurt it, but not enough to kill it. Once it acquired that resistance, the E. coli was able to resist many other antimicrobial agents, including chloramphenicol, erythromycin, imipenem, tetracycline, and trimethoprim, as well as a number of biocides. 19 (Hmm, I wonder what’s happened in the decade since?) 

Chlorine. Commonly used in municipal water systems as well as backyard pools, chlorine is also found in many household cleaners. A recent study published in the journal Water Research found that chlorinating water not only increased the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among known bacteria, it also increased the number of brand-new antibiotic-resistant genes. That’s right: our drinking water is actively encouraging the evolution of antibiotic resistance.

This, as I mentioned before, is just a partial list. Consider that you likely run into these seven classes of chemicals daily—along with dozens more. Your goal should be to minimize your exposure to potentially harmful toxins that are proven to not only damage your gut lining and create antibiotic resistance, but affect your body’s endocrine system, leaving your thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands even more vulnerable than before.

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Summer Saldana is one of those women who certainly isn’t trying to hide anything — except maybe what is behind her beloved bangs. She is refreshingly open about her mommy meltdowns (she has 2 children, but one is strong willed, so it’s more like 4), her faith, and her obsession with bargain shopping and makeup/skincare hauls. But whether it’s through writing, speaking, or the missions work she & her family do, Summer’s greatest passion is connecting with others. Connect with Summer on her blog, on Instagram, or on Youtube.

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