By: Catalina Patane, co-founder of Dèfii Botanicals

Non toxic living is becoming more popular; could it be the choice right for you? Learn about the lifestyle changes, skin conditions, and other situations when all natural skin, beauty, and personal care products make sense. 

 

Get radiant skin and relief from symptoms

Chances are, you started researching natural alternatives for you favorite products due to a lifestyle change. Maybe you’re addressing an underlying condition or root cause disease at the recommendation of a functional medicine doctor, nutritionist, or alternative healing practitioner. Perhaps you’re on a fertility journey, or were recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Or maybe, you’re just trying to make some radical changes to your health choices, so you can feel more confident and comfortable in your body. 

No matter your reason for seeking out natural remedies, your body will benefit in more ways than you expect! The glowing skin and dewy complexion is a fun bonus to the long list of health benefits you’ll experience. 

 

Why switching to non-toxic alternatives helps your health 

Unfortunately, many of the products you use every single day contain all kinds of ingredients that might be affecting your health (and your skin!). 

For example, many perfumes and beauty products contain artificial fragrances that can disrupt your hormone production and function.

Many personal care products contain stabilizers, emulsifiers and preservatives, allowing them to be stored for long periods of time, or maintain a certain texture without natural separation. Some even contain harmful ingredients (like aluminum in deodorant) that can have serious health implications. 

Even your furniture and clothing is made with materials that can harm your health.

The degree to which you change your environment and product choices depends on the seriousness of your condition or concern, and it’s always your choice. We’ve outlined the most common reasons why you might benefit from switching to all natural alternatives of your favorite personal care products. 

 

When to try natural alternatives to your favorite products

When you’ve been diagnosed with a condition. If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of any kind, but especially an auto-immune, hormone, skin, or gut condition, switching to clean household and beauty products is one of the best things you can do to support your healing. 

If you’re experiencing symptoms that just won’t go away. Maybe you haven’t been diagnosed, but the same pains, inconveniences, or or signs that you’re not really at your best keep popping up. Nagging symptoms like these are often indicative of a root cause imbalance that hasn’t been identified or addressed yet. Switching to natural products can help. These symptoms might include: 

Skin 

• Eczema 
• Rashes 
• Acne or frequent breakouts 
• Irritation or swelling 

Hormone 

• Weight gain or inability to lose weight 
• Poor sleep 
• Increased anxiety
• Exhaustion, lack of energy, or sluggishness 
• Infertility
• Low libido
• Mood swings

Gut 

• Bloating 
• Gas 
• Constipation or diarrhea 
• Food sensitivities or allergies 
• Stomach pain 
• Brain fog

This certainly is not an exhaustive list, and we always recommend consulting your health provider(s) prior to treating any symptom or condition. 

If you’re struggling to become or stay pregnant. Many people who desire to be parents struggle with fertility. This was our journey (Paul and Catalina, co-founders of Dèfii), and the reason we sought out natural products in the first place. If you’re experiencing infertility, chances are you’ve been recommended to make some lifestyle changes. The products you use on your body are one of the greatest sources of toxins you can avoid.

If you’re trying to lessen your toxic load. Perhaps you want to live a cleaner lifestyle in general, or due to some other circumstance, you’re looking to lessen the burden on your body’s natural detox pathways. While your body is designed to remove toxins from your body, it can only handle so much. While you may not need to engage in extreme detox protocols, you can take actions that lessen the toxic burden on your body, starting with your environment and exposure to toxins.

To align with your values and beliefs. Perhaps you’re on a vegan diet, and are looking for ways to practice veganism in all areas of your life. Or maybe you feel strongly about your environmental responsibility and making sustainable choices. Or perhaps there’s a social or religious belief that informs the products you buy. Many times, natural products align with these other choices, and can be a great option for conscious consumerism. We talk about some of our beliefs in this blog post. 

Just because you want to. If you’re generally not feeling like yourself, and you desire to feel healthier in your body, making changes to your day-to-day lifestyle can help. You don’t need a reason to make better choices for your health and wellness! 

Why are you switching to natural products? We’d love to hear. 

 

How to start making non-toxic choices

Changing your daily habits can be hard. We often hear that the reason someone is avoiding switching to all natural products is because: 

• They’re more expensive 
• They don’t seem to actually work as well 
• They’re less convenient and harder to find

 

Any change requires adjustment, ad we’re here to help! We put together some recommendations on how to make the switch to natural products.

Don’t change everything all at once. Pick one product that you use every single day, and swap it out for a healthier alternative. For example, maybe you stop using your drugstore lotion, and try a rich, moisturizing body butter instead. 

Give it time to work. Overnight results don’t exist….even for the most “powerful” (or toxic) products. Allow your body time to adjust to the new, natural product. We recommend using a product for at least 30-90 days before expecting dramatic results. 

Ask questions. While natural alternatives have become more accessible, misinformation still exists (did you read our post about greenwashing yet?). Be sure to read product labels, reviews, and ask your trusted health and wellness providers to find the right products for you. 

 

How to start making non-toxic choices

Questions? We’re here to help. As we mentioned, our fertility journey is what set us on the path of natural products and non-toxic living in the first place. Our passion for healthier, more sustainable products is what inspired us to start Dèfii and we’re always here to guide you towards the natural product that’s right for you.