Spring is finally here in Charleston (we are usually sweating by now)!  Many of you will be doing your spring-cleaning soon, but don’t stop with dusting and organizing your closets!  This is the perfect time to purge your medicine cabinet, make-up bag and shower.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Detoxing your Bathroom:

1. Take a look at the “This isn’t Pretty” section of the website and print it out.  You will be both furious and anxious that these toxic ingredients are in your home.  This is the perfect motivator for cleaning!  Also, bring your iPod dock.  You might as well whistle while you work.
2. Don’t force yourself to do this all at once, or you will become overwhelmed and either a.) be left with an empty bathroom, or b.) give up.
3. First, attack the products you use on your whole body, especially body lotion, since its ingredients are absorbed into your bloodstream in less than thirty minutes (!)
4. That means body wash/soap/ shaving cream is next.
5. A totally painless swap is toothpaste.  It is also a necessary swap.  You use it twice a day and most of the ingredients are poisonous if swallowed.  (Um, what??!!  This stuff is made to go IN your mouth!)
6. Shampoo and conditioner cover the second largest surface area and have tons of nasty ingredients in them.  There are lots of clean options out there and most come in trial sizes.
7. Next come the hair styling products.  Ditto for these.
8. Facial skincare products.
9.  Make-up.  I know, it’s hard.  You can do it.
10. Nail Polish and other nailcare products.
11. Deodorant.  I know this is a tough one to swap out.  You don’t have to do it right away, but promise me you will before next spring.
12. Once you have all this under control, try swapping your perfume, self-tanner, and all the other products you use a little less often.

 A few tips:

1. Remember, don’t be fooled by the front of the label.  Just because it says “natural”, “botanical” or “cruelty-free” doesn’t mean it is safe.  These terms are not regulated by the FDA or any other government agency.
2. Chances are if you cannot pronounce an ingredient, unless it is in Latin, it’s not natural.
3. Generally, the fewer ingredients in a product, the better.
4. Moderation is key: Don’t hold yourself to an impossible standard.  Living a healthy lifestyle is a process; just switch out your old stand-by’s for cleaner options as you are able.

OH!  Did you need recommendations??  Stay tuned – I’ll have some for you tomorrow.