In our world we are exposed to so many chemicals everyday just by living and breathing.

Are you aware there is a way to reduce our chemical exposure and start living a healthier life just by changing one routine?

Every single morning we all walk into our bathroom to have a shower, wash our hair, clean our teeth, use our deodorant and put our makeup on before heading out for the day. If we are using the conventional products we see in our supermarkets and beauty salons, what are we exposed to before we even leave the house? It’s so shocking that something so simple as our personal care routine is exposing us to so many chemicals.

The beauty industry is a really big business just look around us with all the advertisements in our magazines, TV and billboards. These companies are compelling us to buy their products with beautiful people in their advertising, pretty boxes and marketing to make us want to purchase their products. Underneath all of this hype you are left with a product that are causing you more harm than good. Your skin is the largest organ of your body so everything you put on your skin is been absorbed straight into your bloodstream. So what measures can we take to start improving our beauty routine starting today?

Learn to read your labels and be informed.

The best way to know what you are putting on your skin is to learn about the chemicals. There are thousands of resources at our fingertips thanks to the Internet, we can research on line and find out everything we would like to know. Another good way is to ask people you know, what they use on their skin and if they are using organic products. Go to your organic shop and have a talk with them about what products they recommend or an alternative health care professional.

So what are the top 4 chemicals you should be looking out for in your products?

These 4 products are:

• Sodium laureth sulphate – banned in Europe and Central America
• Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl & ethyl) – banned in Japan and Sweden and under review in the UK
• Formaldehyde family – Diazolidinyl urea, 3-diol Imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Nitorpropane-1, Formalin, Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Methylene oxide etc. banned in Europe
• Phthalates – banned in Europe

So why should you choose organic and how do you know if the product is really organic?

There are no regulations for a product to propose to be organic on their label even if it’s not organic. The best way is to look for the symbol of USDA organic, Australian Certified Organic and NASAA on the back of the products. These products have already gone extensive testing to be certified so you know this provides cleaner air for everyone to breathe.

The more we learn about our personal care the more we can make the best choices for ourselves. Knowledge is power so been able to make the best decisions you can your body will thank you for this. When you change your routine you will notice changes straight away just by changing your products. Changes like clearer clean, less skin irritations, brighter eyes and just looking healthier. So my challenge for you is to walk into your bathroom and start looking at what you are using daily. Do your research and start making more informed choices for your body starting today.