Are you ready for the next step towards a healthy lifestyle this year? If you are following this 12-step guide with us then you know we are bringing it back to the basics so there is no room to fail. It is all about taking steps toward wellness and health that are good for you, your family and the planet.

Pick Safer Cosmetics

Have you added up all the personal care products and cosmetics you use in a day? Chances are, close to 10. What many people don’t know is that the government regulations allow just about any ingredient to be used in the manufacturing of products that we use daily on our skin, nails and hair. Even though the FDA has a set of regulations and standards regarding these products, many harmful and toxic chemicals still manage to slip through the cracks. The worst part is that some of the more harmful ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate and DMDM Hydantoin to name a few, are found in most traditional skincare products (face washes, lotions, sunscreen, etc)  and have been linked to health issues such as cancer, hormonal disruption, and reproductive problems.

Let’s make March the month we take more time to read labels and ditch those with dangerous chemicals.

Hair Straighteners/Relaxers: Treatments that change how strands of the keratin protein (what your hair, nails and skin are comprised of) stick together use chemicals that can cause cancer, allergies, skin and scalp irritation and hair damage/hair loss.

Loose Powders: Often used in mineral powders is an ingredient called Bismuth Oxycholoride. This can be a skin irritant for some and can cause extreme itching and skin sensitivity. Look for powders that a certified natural and/or organic and does not contain this ingredient.

Perfumes/Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances can contain hormone disruptors and are among the top 5 allergens in the world. You would be surprised how many make-up products from mascara to lipstick contain it as an ingredient.

The term fragrance on an ingredient list often refers to a chemical cocktail - made up of hundreds to thousands of different ingredients not listed on the label, so you are never sure what you are actually being exposed to.

Usually found in cosmetic and skincare products but also many household products such as candles, air fresheners, and scented trash bags.

Dark Permanent Hair Dyes: Minimize use of dark, permanent hair dyes. Many contain coal tar ingredients, including aminophenol, diaminobenzene, and phenylenediamine, linked to cancer.

Skin Lighteners: Can cause skin irritation and damage.

Below are some useful links to articles that will help you pick safer cosmetics:

Click here to learn about top 12 ingredients to avoid in your skincare.

Learn which 5 skincare products you need to ditch first when switching to all natural alternatives by here.

Find out what happened in this shocking study when a hundred teen girls swapped their beauty products with ones free of chemicals such as phthalates, parabens triclosan and oxybenzone.

Search your favorite products and find out how they rate here.