Did you know the average woman uses 12 skincare and beauty products containing 168 different ingredients daily?

Many ingredients in our cosmetics and body products are designed to penetrate the skin’s inner layers, which then enter into our body and bloodstream. Don’t believe it? This is the mechanism of how pain and nicotine patches work (transdermally). Among some ingredients found in our system: industrial plasticizers, phthalates, parabens and persistent fragrance components. 

Women tend to use many skincare products, but so do teenage girls. From hair gels and straighteners to eye make-up, body wash and lotions, and then some! Knowing which ones are healthy — and which ones aren’t is important. Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that adolescent girls’ bodies harbor 16 potentially toxic chemicals — phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks — in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls. Studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption.

To make matters worse, teens may be particularly sensitive to exposures to hormone-disrupting chemicals, given the complex role they play during puberty – precisely when girls typically experiment with an increasing number and variety of body care products. When EWG surveyed the teenage participants, they  reported using an average of 17 personal care products each day, 40% more than an adult woman.

When on a tight budget, most of us aren’t able to purchase absolutely everything organic. The Environmental Working Group’s website has been my go-to for years when learning what to purchase organically. 

For many years the EWG has published the “dirty dozen” and “clean 15” which are free printable lists, and super helpful when navigating the grocery store. EWG tracks which conventional fruits + veggies that are low in pesticides, and also explains what should always be purchased organically. EWG has since expanded to include new lists of hazardous ingredients in cosmetics, water,  and more.  The searchable lists are incredibly helpful in weeding out potential health hazards in commonly used products. 

Everyone can make safer choices by reducing the number of conventional body care products and cosmetics, always checking ingredient labels (a good lifelong habit!), and following EWG guidelines to select safer products and foods.  

Our skincare, bath, baby and home products are designed for those who may be sensitive to synthetics and additives found in commercial bath and home products. Meadowlark Botanical products are free from chemical preservatives, dyes, artificial fragrance, phthalates and parabens- a safe and natural choice for all.