*Full Disclosure at bottom of page
Did you know that most hand soaps contain harmful ingredients that can make us resistant to antibiotics, disrupt hormones, & even be carcinogenic?
Triclosan for instance has many known adverse health and environmental effects - from skin irritation, endocrine disruption, bacterial and antibiotic resistance, to the contamination of our water. It also has a negative impact on our ecosystems.
The FDA has established and ruled that the following 19 ingredients are not GRAS/GRAE (generally regarded as safe or effective) for use in consumer antiseptic wash (consumer hand soap). Cloflucarban Fluorosalan Hexachlorophene Hexylresorcinol Iodophors (Iodine-containing ingredients) Iodine complex (ammonium ether sulfate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate) Iodine complex (phosphate ester of alkylaryloxy polyethylene glycol) Nonylphenoxypoly (ethyleneoxy) ethanoliodine Poloxamer--iodine complex Povidone-iodine 5 to 10 percent Undecoylium chloride iodine complex Methylbenzethonium chloride Phenol (greater than 1.5 percent) Phenol (less than 1.5 percent) 16 Secondary amyltricresols Sodium oxychlorosene Tribromsalan Triclocarban Triclosan Triple dye
"The available information and published data for the 19 active ingredients are insufficient to establish the safety of long-term, daily repeated exposure to these active ingredients used in consumer wash products. Consequently, the available data do not support a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) determination for the consumer antiseptic wash active ingredients included in this rule." FDA Yet, even though the FDA has said that these ingredients are deemed not safe and manufacturers had until September 2017 to comply with removing them, they are STILL in many of our soaps and personal care products today!
Many of the soaps on the market also contain synthetic fragrances which are toxic to the human body and inhaling them can actually harm us!
Chemicals from the phthalate family are commonly found in synthetic fragrances and known to be endocrine disruptors and suspected carcinogens. In one study, phthalates were linked to developmental abnormalities in the fetuses of exposed mothers. It has also been linked to later learning disabilities in children of exposed mothers.
It is estimated that 95% of the synthetic fragrances on the market today are derived from petroleum by-products. Trademarked fragrances are not required to list their concoction of synthetic chemicals on the product label. They are only required to list the term "fragrance". Petrochemicals are like many of the other ingredients in synthetic fragrance which build up in the body over time. Repeated exposure has been linked to endocrine disruption and several types of cancer.
With the over-abundance of these artificial fragrances being added in almost all of our household products, we have seen a leap in allergies, cancers, chronic disease, infertility, and so much more. Protect your family by avoiding synthetic fragrances.
So what are you to do? Why not make your own DIY hand soap? DIY foaming hand soap is one of the most affordable & healthiest things you can ditch and switch when moving towards a synthetic toxin free environment in your home. This hand soap recipe is an easy, gentle and effective alternative to toxic synthetic chemical soaps.
What you will need:
2 TB Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Castile Soap (available at most stores and Amazon*)
5 drops of an Essential Oil like Lemongrass, Lavender, or Thieves.
Google the amazing benefits of different essential oils to find the benefits of each that you might want to use. (Get oils HERE)
Water. Preferably filtered, purified or distilled.
Optional: Add some Vitamin E oil if you'd like a more moisturizing hand soap. I like this brand of Vit. E*
Directions:
Fill your empty foaming soap pump 3/4th of the way full. Add your Castile soap along with your desired drops of essential oil and screw on the top. Give a gentle shake to mix and give the dispenser a pump or two and enjoy your healthy foaming soap!
Cost breakdown: (prices reflected are from 2017 - prices are subject to change)
1 - 32 oz bottle of Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby Castile Soap available @ Whole Foods $13.00/32 oz. = .20¢ per TB X 2 TB = .40¢
1 - Bottle Lemongrass Essential Oil $11.25/250 drops = .05 ¢ per drop X 10 drops = .50¢
1 - Foaming Hand Soap Pump (free if you recycle and reuse an old one or around $1-2 per pump at various suppliers online)
Water = FREE
To make 1 batch of foaming hand soap with Lemongrass it would cost you ONLY .65¢!
( .40¢ + .50¢ + FREE + FREE = .90¢) If using a Premium Starter Kit oil, multiply the number of drops used times the cost per drop on the graphic above. Lavender foaming hand soap would cost you ONLY $1.30 and Purification only $1.20! WOW! What a deal for healthy soap that's FREE of all toxins!
I only use and recommend a brand of oils that I am confident are free from adulteration. To order your own oils head HERE.
Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/06/2016-21337/safety-and-effectiveness-of-consumer-antiseptics-topical-antimicrobial-drug-products-for *Full Disclosure: Some of the links found in this post are affiliate links. If you click on one of these affiliate links to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because I want to share what brands I recommend. The decision is yours, whether you decide to buy something or not. It's completely up to you.