What goes on your body matters just as much as what goes in it.
I remember the first time I learned about toxins in household and beauty products. I was 16 years old, and at a family Christmas party, I was thrilled to open a Yankee Candle as a gift. My sister, who is 20 years older than me and had been on her health journey for much longer than I had, looked over and instantly killed my excitement.
“It’s too bad they’re full of toxic fragrance and other harmful chemicals,” she said.
Huh?
I had never once considered that a candle could be harmful to my health.
She told me that when I got home, I should scan all of my products with the EWG app. So that’s exactly what I did. By the end of the day, I had filled four trash bags with makeup, face washes, serums, shampoo, Moroccan hair oil, heat protectant sprays, perfumes, and every other chemical concoction marketed to teenage girls. My parents were not exactly thrilled with this costly new obsession of mine, but my health certainly was.
Since that day 13 years ago, there have been at least four more occasions where I found myself filling trash bags with products I once believed were clean, only to discover they weren’t. I went deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, learning about ingredients and their impact on our health…especially our hormones and fertility. Parabens, phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde, petroleum-based ingredients, PEGs, flame retardants, PFAS, and, oh, only about 40,000 other chemicals.
Looking back, it’s no wonder I got my first period at just 9 years old and spent years suffering through excruciating menstrual pain. For 16 years, my body had been bombarded with chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system and interfere with healthy hormonal function. Unfortunately, I spent several more years assuming that products labeled “natural,” “non-toxic,” or even “organic” were generally safe. It wasn’t until I joined some ultra-crunchy mom groups on Facebook that I learned just how common I remember the first time I learned about toxins in household and beauty products. I was 16 years old, and at a family Christmas party, I was thrilled to open a Yankee Candle as a gift. My sister, who is 20 years older than me and had been on her health journey for much longer than I had, looked over and instantly killed my excitement.
“It’s too bad they’re full of toxic fragrance and other harmful chemicals,” she said.
Huh?
I had never once considered that a candle could be harmful to my health.
She told me that when I got home, I should scan all of my products with the EWG app. So that’s exactly what I did. By the end of the day, I had filled four trash bags with makeup, face washes, serums, shampoo, Moroccan hair oil, heat protectant sprays, perfumes, and every other chemical concoction marketed to teenage girls. My parents were not exactly thrilled with this costly new obsession of mine, but my health certainly was.
Since that day 13 years ago, there have been at least four more occasions where I found myself filling trash bags with products I once believed were clean, only to discover they weren’t. I went deeper and deeper down the rabbit hole, learning about ingredients and their impact on our health…especially our hormones and fertility. Parabens, phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde, petroleum-based ingredients, PEGs, flame retardants, PFAS, and, oh, only about 40,000 other chemicals.
Looking back, it’s no wonder I got my first period at just 9 years old and spent years suffering through excruciating menstrual pain. For 16 years, my body had been bombarded with chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system and interfere with healthy hormonal function. Unfortunately, I spent several more years assuming that products labeled “natural,” “non-toxic,” or even “organic” were generally safe. It wasn’t until I joined some ultra-crunchy mom groups on Facebook that I learned just how common greenwashing really is. Greenwashing is when companies use words like natural and non toxic to appear like their ingredients are clean, when they are far from it.
These days, I don’t rely on labels or scanning apps. Instead, I read every single ingredient on the label to make sure they are truly clean ingredients that align with my standards. Our skin is our largest organ, and everything you apply to it is absorbed into the body. That’s why I take what I put on my body just as seriously as what I put in it.
For years, I struggled to find makeup that was genuinely clean and organic. Then I found Toups & Co., and they completely changed the game for me. Not only do they use exceptional ingredients, but they also go above and beyond in their manufacturing practices. For example, they use 100% stainless steel vessels to create their products. Did you know many cosmetic companies use nonstick, PFAS coated equipment in manufacturing? It’s no surprise PFAS contamination has become such a concern in beauty products.
Toups & Co. takes a different approach, and that commitment to quality is one of the many reasons I’m so excited to welcome them as a new sponsor of Moms Across America.
I’ve been obsessed with their Extra Strength Deodorant and makeup for years. It feels lightweight, wears beautifully, and gives me that healthy glow without compromising on ingredients. I also just got their Glow Serum, and I can’t wait to try it.
They’re sharing a special discount with Moms Across America supporters. Visit toupsandco.com/americamoms and use code AmericaMoms at checkout for 25% off.
One of my favorite things about their products is the simplicity of their ingredients. Their tallow lip balm, for example, contains just 100% grass-fed tallow, beeswax, and organic essential oils of spearmint, basil, and orange.
Just as importantly, they are deeply aligned with our mission. When you support our sponsors, you are also supporting Moms Across America and our work to create a healthier future for families everywhere. really is.
These days, I don’t rely on labels or scanning apps. Instead, I read every single ingredient on the label to make sure they are truly clean ingredients that align with my standards. Our skin is our largest organ, and everything you apply to it is absorbed into the body. That’s why I take what I put on my body just as seriously as what I put in it.
For years, I struggled to find makeup that was genuinely clean and organic. Then I found Toups & Co., and they completely changed the game for me. Not only do they use exceptional ingredients, but they also go above and beyond in their manufacturing practices. For example, they use 100% stainless steel vessels to create their products. Did you know many cosmetic companies use nonstick, PFAS coated equipment in manufacturing? It’s no surprise PFAS contamination has become such a concern in beauty products.
Toups & Co. takes a different approach, and that commitment to quality is one of the many reasons I’m so excited to welcome them as a new sponsor of Moms Across America.
I’ve been obsessed with their Extra Strength Deodorant and makeup for years. It feels lightweight, wears beautifully, and gives me that healthy glow without compromising on ingredients. I also just got their Glow Serum, and I can’t wait to try it.
They’re sharing a special discount with Moms Across America supporters. Visit toupsandco.com/americamoms and use code AmericaMoms at checkout for 25% off.
One of my favorite things about their products is the simplicity of their ingredients. Their tallow lip balm, for example, contains just 100% grass-fed tallow, beeswax, and organic essential oils of spearmint, basil, and orange.
Just as importantly, they are deeply aligned with our mission. When you support our sponsors, you are also supporting Moms Across America and our work to create a healthier future for families everywhere.