While the notion that you should potentially be able to eat your body and skincare products sounds a bit funny it's not all that far fetched. It's better not to put something on your body that you wouldn't want in it since your body, skin and make-up products are absorbed through the skin and end up inside you. Until not too long ago we were oblivious to all the body products with petroleum derived ingredients (lotions, petroleum jelly or vaseline, lip balm), but come to think of it, you probably wouldn't want to brush gasoline on your skin. Growing up in Europe, I used Nivea lotion and that brand’s Labello lip balm all through young adulthood until I found out about their petroleum derived ingredients and hormone inhibitors. Haven't used them since.

Then there is the controversy about lead in red lipstick. Not kidding, although the jury is still out. And the synthetic fragrances that smell soooooooo....artificial once you become aware (read here an earlier post on that). And the hormone disrupters, and all sorts of other toxic ingredients that have no place on your skin and in your body.

If you are new to this exercise, start by reading the ingredients on the shampoos and lotions you have at home. Have you noticed that even large chain stores are beginning to offer more natural skincare and cosmetics brands? There are several comprehensive databases where you can research whether what you have in your bathroom cabinet is reasonably safe or if it would be better to replace it. This can be overwhelming, so do it one item at a time starting with the product that you use in the largest quantities and most often, perhaps body lotion or shampoo. If you have children begin with their products. Here are some databases that are very helpful in this process - ewg.org, safecosmetics.org and goodguide.com, although I find the latter cumbersome to use.

I wouldn't want to eat that Nivea lotion I grew up with, but I probably wouldn’t die if I ate my rose lotion.