- Food toxins
- Replace store bought coconut milk and almond milk beverages with homemade almond milk.
- Research which bulk supply stores carry organic non-GMO foods.
- Beauty care
- Find a toxin-free toothpaste
- Make facial cleansing wipes and lip balm
If you read my original list then you'll see that I've come a long way. There are still some things I'm working on, but I'm getting closer and closer to a toxic-free lifestyle. I've realized that there are things out of my control. There are toxins in things I don't even realize or things that I might not have control over. I've come across several items that I didn't even think about when I created my initial action plan. I didn't consider candles, cookware/bake ware, the plastics that foods are already packaged in, toilet paper, hand soap containers, tap water, etc. Every day I'm realizing more and more that this is a LONG journey. There are things I cannot afford to change right now, and things that are going to take time to change. There is a good possibility that I will never get every single toxic thing out of my house, and I'm okay with that. YES I would LOVE to live COMPLETELY toxin-free, but in this day and age that's almost impossible. I would literally need to live in the wood somewhere living off of my own land with no modern conveniences and stores. My goal is to eliminate as many toxins as I possibly can.
The most recent thing I've checked off of my action plan was switching out the plastics for glass, stainless steel, and aluminum. I posted pictures of the food that I switched into glass jars last month, but today I went another step further. On April 7th I posted about the Specialty Bottle website that sells glass bottles and jars for a great price. I purchased a few things and they arrived today and I'm very satisfied. I purchased a 32oz swing top glass bottle, three aluminum 4oz bottles with pump tops, and two 4oz glass bottles one with a pump and one with a spray top. The swing top bottle I will be drinking out of, the aluminum bottles are for hand soap and dish soap, and I'm using the 4oz glass bottles for my jojoba oil. I put jojoba oil in my hair to hydrate and tame the frizz, and I also use it as moisturizer. It can get messy when handling the bottle that it comes in, so I bought these glass bottles. Now I can spray it in my hair or pump it into my hand. I'm very pleased with my purchase.
On Sunday I made my own deodorant. I used cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, magnesium oil, tea tree oil, and non-GMO corn starch. I think it turned out well since I just winged it, and it works great. So far it has lasted at least 12 hours. I haven't officially timed it but I put it on in the morning and by time I go to get in the shower at night it still smells like the deodorant and not sweat. The only modifications I will make in future batches is to use more cocoa butter, less jojoba oil, and I will add an essential oil for fragrance. It mostly smells like cocoa butter but with a hint of tea tree oil. I'd like it to smell more like "normal" deodorant. I'll probably add lavender or citrus essential oil in the future. The reason I'd use more cocoa butter and less jojoba oil is because it currently melts too fast when applied. It is solid at room temperature, but not as solid as I would like it to be. These modifications would make the consistency harder and less malleable. It would still melt onto the skin when applied, but should not melt as quickly as it does now.
The most recent thing I've checked off of my action plan was switching out the plastics for glass, stainless steel, and aluminum. I posted pictures of the food that I switched into glass jars last month, but today I went another step further. On April 7th I posted about the Specialty Bottle website that sells glass bottles and jars for a great price. I purchased a few things and they arrived today and I'm very satisfied. I purchased a 32oz swing top glass bottle, three aluminum 4oz bottles with pump tops, and two 4oz glass bottles one with a pump and one with a spray top. The swing top bottle I will be drinking out of, the aluminum bottles are for hand soap and dish soap, and I'm using the 4oz glass bottles for my jojoba oil. I put jojoba oil in my hair to hydrate and tame the frizz, and I also use it as moisturizer. It can get messy when handling the bottle that it comes in, so I bought these glass bottles. Now I can spray it in my hair or pump it into my hand. I'm very pleased with my purchase.
On Sunday I made my own deodorant. I used cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, magnesium oil, tea tree oil, and non-GMO corn starch. I think it turned out well since I just winged it, and it works great. So far it has lasted at least 12 hours. I haven't officially timed it but I put it on in the morning and by time I go to get in the shower at night it still smells like the deodorant and not sweat. The only modifications I will make in future batches is to use more cocoa butter, less jojoba oil, and I will add an essential oil for fragrance. It mostly smells like cocoa butter but with a hint of tea tree oil. I'd like it to smell more like "normal" deodorant. I'll probably add lavender or citrus essential oil in the future. The reason I'd use more cocoa butter and less jojoba oil is because it currently melts too fast when applied. It is solid at room temperature, but not as solid as I would like it to be. These modifications would make the consistency harder and less malleable. It would still melt onto the skin when applied, but should not melt as quickly as it does now.
Here is a rough estimate of the recipe that I used (this does not include the above modifications).
1/2 cup cocoa butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/8 cup jojoba oil
1/8 cup magnesium oil
1 tsp tea tree oil
2 tbsp non-GMO cornstarch
I will continue to work on my toxin-free action plan and I will update you about my progress. If you are also on this journey please feel free to comment below. I'd love to hear what things you've gotten rid of, what you're still struggling with, and any advice or questions you may have.
I will continue to work on my toxin-free action plan and I will update you about my progress. If you are also on this journey please feel free to comment below. I'd love to hear what things you've gotten rid of, what you're still struggling with, and any advice or questions you may have.
Have a great day and may your journey to a toxic-free life be a prosperous one!
