After months in therapy working through personal, emotional issues, I just couldn’t seem to shake a constant feeling of sadness. I was regularly consumed with overwhelming and uncontrollable emotions that caused me to cry at the smallest things and often at inappropriate times, and caused me to lose my temper over nothing. I had no idea that I was dealing with estrogen dominance at the time, and that using paraben-free beauty products could help reduce the high levels of estrogen in my body.
Finally, my counselor recommended that I see my doctor for a blood draw, as she had a sneaking suspicion I may be dealing with a hormonal imbalance. Well, she was right! And, let’s just say I’m now a totally different person than I was a year ago.
My doctor helped me reduce the amount of estrogen in my system to balance it back out with my progesterone. And, I’ve been working diligently to set myself up for continued success by avoiding certain foods and keeping parabens and BPAs out of my daily routine.
If you’ve been diagnosed with estrogen dominance, cutting products containing parabens out of your daily routine is a huge step in the right direction. But, which products do you replace them with?
“The more natural or eco-based products you can introduce into your beauty regimen, the more beneficial it is for your skin. It’s similar to introducing organic food into your daily diet.”
~Ivanka Trump
Shampoo & Conditioner
Honestly, I’ve cut shampoo and conditioner totally out of my daily routine. I wash my hair about three times a week with a mixture of 1 part baking soda, 4 parts water. Then, I follow up with a mixture of 1 part apple cider vinegar, 4 parts water. My hair has never been so clean!
On my “no wash” days, I supplement with this dry shampoo. A tip for the ladies with dark hair like me: Sprinkle this stuff on before bed and your hair will be both grease AND white powder-free by morning!
Soaps & Bodywash
My friends over at Shipwreck Apiaries make incredible beeswax soaps! These are what we use for bodywash and for hand soap around our house these days. Shipwreck Apiaries makes a ton of my favorite paraben-free beauty products, check out their whole collection.
Toothpaste & Floss
Okay. My toothpaste actually isn’t new. I’ve been using a really great natural toothpaste for years, and it was so refreshing to know this was a part of my daily routine that I didn’t need to change.
Floss, on the other hand, turned out to be a different story. It wasn’t something I’d thought much about until I learned that the floss I’d been using has recently been linked to certain types of cancer.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather find a new floss just in case, than find out later these studies were accurate. So, I found this one!
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is so important for skincare, but there are some scary ingredients mixed in with a lot of them. I’ve found mineral sunscreen that I absolutely love, though!
Makeup & Lip Balm
Speaking of scary ingredients going onto our skin, makeup is another big one! Beauty Counter is a truly amazing company making clean and safe makeup easy to find.
My dailies include their concealer (goodbye undereye circles!!), mattifying powder, eye liner and mascara.
I also can’t live without this lip balm from Shipwreck Apiaries. The unscented is my fav (just smells like honey!), but there are so many fun choices!
Deodorant
If you subscribe to my newsletter, you already know about the dilemma I went through in trying to find the perfect natural deodorant. I tell you what, finding the perfect combination of affordability and quality is tough!!
I’m going to warn you now, sit down before you look at my favorite natural deodorant if you haven’t journeyed into the world of natural deodorants yet. It costs significantly more than your standard grocery store stuff. But, it’s made with natural ingredients (and no aluminum!), and it gets the job done! It’s an absolute must-have if you are just beginning your collection of paraben-free beauty products.
You’ll also be pleased to know that it works even better than the $35 brand I tried originally.
Lotion
For body lotion and at-home use, I’m a big fan of just slathering some shea butter on. Seriously, next time you shave your legs, throw on a little shea butter. You won’t be able to stop feeling how smooth and soft they are!
I keep this little beeswax lotion bar in my purse, though. It does amazing things for my hands and elbows! Plus, it travels well in its cute little tin.
Food Storage – Containers & Bee Paper
Just say no to plastics. They aren’t safe in the microwave, they aren’t safe in the dishwasher, and personally I question whether they’re safe at room temp.
Do yourself a favor and replace all your plastic Tupperware with some glass storage containers. And, start using bee paper in place of plastic wrap whenever possible, too! I’m obsessed with this stuff!
Facewash
At the end of the day, just keep things simple. I keep a glass jar of coconut oil on a little candle warming plate in my bathroom. A tiny bit of the coconut oil will clean all the makeup off and then I wipe that off with hot, damp washcloth.
Easy.
If you want to take it to the next level, follow up with Noelle Tarr’s Apple Cider Vinegar toner.
Where to Start Determining Your Need for Paraben-Free Beauty Products
If you suspect that your hormones may be out of balance, the best thing you can do for yourself is see your doctor and request a blood draw.
From there, you will be able to work a plan out together for your body’s needs. However, eating whole foods and eliminating parabens from your daily routine is a great place to start, and even a preventative measure.
Try replacing the products you use every day with those I’ve shared here as a jumping-off point, and then go from there. Share your favs in the comments!
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