I just posted our favorite baby product list and now I’m already posting our favorite non-toxic products?! Lists galore! But, you all ask and I (try to) deliver as quickly as possible.
I have been meaning to post this roundup of our favorite non-toxic products for a while, ever since posting our non-toxic journey, and don’t worry – I am still going to write dedicated posts about specific products (ie. a dedicated post to sunscreen, dedicated post to laundry detergent, etc.) and why they are not the best options for you/what they have the potential to do to your health, but I wanted to first, go ahead and get a full list of the products we are using/have used, since so many of you requested it.
In this list, I am also going to include items that I am wanting to try/change out. I’ll make sure that I note each item that I have not personally tried. 90% or more of these are items that Ian and I have tried and currently use, however.
Please keep in mind that just like you, we are a work in progress. Ian has a degree in tax (accounting) and I have a degree in education. I’m not the end all be all – I do not know everything. Actually, there is a lot that I do not know! There are so many research articles out there that I recommend looking into for yourself. Please do not just take my word on any of this. DO YOUR RESEARCH. I’m just sharing the little bit that I do know with you all and I hope that it encourages you to dig deeper and get a little bit out of your comfort zone, in order to improve your health and overall lifestyle.
Last but not least, please also keep in mind that we are not perfect. We are still working on finding better options, and we still use some toxic items that we are (slowly but surely) trying to replace. It is costly to replace everything at once and honestly, it is overwhelming. If you are not sure where to start, just start with one thing. That’s what we did! It’s okay not to do it all at once.
Ian asked me the other day, “You just ate a Reese’s cup. You know that is toxic. Why do you choose to eat that but not use weed killer or fragrance?” 1) I’m a work in progress and I’ll never be perfect + 2) You cannot remove EVERY SINGLE THING that is toxic from your life, all of the time. You can only do your best and you have to give yourself a little grace along the way.
What if you are on a walk and come into contact with weed killer? What happens if you are at a friends house and they use fragrance on their couch? What happens if you go out to eat and the chicken the restaurant uses was from a farm that uses pesticides and/or antibiotics? Guys – all of this probably will happen and it is OKAY as long as you are okay with it. YOU get to choose what is okay for yourself and what is not. The 1 or 2 or 3+ switches that you choose to make is benefitting yourself and your family. Don’t focus on the things that you have not or even cannot change. You are a work in progress, just like me, and you can only do your best.
Sure, I knew that the Reese’s cup wasn’t good for me. Did I choose to eat it anyway? Of course! Why? Because I AM NOT PERFECT and I do not claim to be. I can’t remove every single thing bad from my life and I’m okay with that. I am personally, just focusing on the things that I can change – the things that are easier for me to change and I am taking it one thing at a time. If I want something bad for me every so often, it’s okay, and (for me specifically), it is nothing to stress about.
I hope you take on the same mindset – replace what you can, but do not stress about the things that are harder for you to replace completely. Any better option(s) that you choose to make will hugely benefit yourself and your family members. I really hope that this list of our favorite non-toxic products helps you! It makes me really excited to see that so many of you are wanting to start (or continue) on a non-toxic journey! As you read through this, please let me know if you have any questions at all.
Our Favorite Non-Toxic Products
Cleaning Products
I’ve said this many times before, but we use Branch Basics for everything. All purpose, bathroom cleaner, floor cleaner, laundry detergent, fruit wash, glass cleaner, and more. I’ve even seen people use it as a body wash and a dog wash. Branch Basics is fragrance-free, non-toxic, and it cleans SO well. Seriously – so well. We started off putting essential oils in our bottles to get used to not having a fragranced cleaner, but now we just use the concentrate without adding essential oils.
If you are looking for a different cleaner, try Aunt Fannies! Most (maybe all – I’m not sure?) of their products are non-toxic and they use essential oils to fragrance each individual product. Their vinegar cleaner scores an A on EWG, their cleaning vinegar wipes are all rated as an A, as well, and most of their other products also come in as an A rating (floor cleaner, etc.).
The only exception that I have seen is Aunt Fannie’s Microscomic Probiotic cleaners. These rank as C’s, which is still better than most other cleaning products. Luckily with these, the cancer risk is still very low, as well as the developmental and reproductive toxicity. There are, however, potential environmental concerns and slight concerns for people with allergies.
Shampoo + Conditioner
Okay, shampoo and conditioner were definitely one of the hardest swaps for us to make. We use the Beautycounter shampoo and conditioner and I also LOVE Under Luna. I really want to try Innersense, as well.
First starting out on your non-toxic hair journey? Start with Beautycounter (use the links above) and let me know if you want 20% off your first order. The reason for this is because Under Luna has an adjustment period to it (it doesn’t sud up very well).
Body Wash
This was also a harder thing to switch. I love Aleavia (I purchase through Amazon or their site), or the Beautycounter citris mimosa body wash, or the charcoal body bar. This is also a great option for men!
Baby
I could go on and on and on about baby products, but I’ll try my best to be quick!
Body wash – Aleavia, hands down. Primally Pure also has their baby bar, which is fantastic too, but we love Aleavia here!
Diapers — We use Bambo Nature or Parasol. Parasol is my current fav!
Sunscreen – Badger and ThinkBaby have been the most highly-rated and we LOVE them. Badger and Little Hands Hawaii are my go-to brands for Avery. For Ian and I? We use Beautycounter and it is amazing! This bottle lasted us on our week-long trip and it’s not even halfway gone…and for reference, we were in the sun 99% of the time, so we used a lot. It lasts a long time. This is my favorite face sunscreen (for adults). They of course, also have suncreen sprays.
Diaper rash cream: primally pure baby balm 1000% of the way.
Clothing – We try to use natural fibers and choose 100% organic cotton whenever possible, but this is not always realistic, especially when others buy clothes. Just keep it in the back of your mind to try your best to find affordable clothes that are non-toxic. One thing that is important to me is sleepwear. Most sleepwear contains flame retardants, which is just ridiculous. Look into that!
Deoderant
We had the hardest time with deodorant for so long. We tried ALL of the natural deodorant brands – seriously. We used Native for the longest, but I found out that 1) they use fragrance, which is SO toxic and 2) after a while of using their products, I formed an insane rash. It was painful, blistering, and really itchy. So, I switched back to normal deodorant which contained aluminum and other harmful ingredients. I kept trying out different brands and always got the rash…until I found Primally Pure. We now use their charcoal deodorant and it has been a lifesaver! Highly recommend.
Other Primally Pure products that I recommend:
–everything spray: the best toner ever!
–the oil cleanser: you honestly haven’t lived until you start deep cleansing your face with oil. sounds strange, but it is amazing!
–plumping serum: gives the perfect glow!
–the baby bar: love washing my face with this in the morning AND I use it as Avery’s bath wash too
-their chapstick: clean, really moisturizing, and affordable!
–dry shampoo: blends in to my hair nicely, adds texture, smells so good, and works really well!
–their seasonal line (right now it’s the spring line and it’s amazing!). I always get the essential oil and hand soap. Regretting that I didn’t get the room spray this round because it’s that good
–lavender complexion mist: honestly not sure what this is supposed to do, but I love it as a pick-me-up during the day!
–baby balm: diaper rash, eczema, and everything in between. AMAZING
–tinted lip balm: buildable color and just so good
Cookware
Did you know that SOME non-toxic cookware items contain harmful ingredients such as Teflon (it’s more so the chemicals within teflon that is the issue). Thankfully, “a lot of companies stopped using Teflon and similar chemicals in non-stick pans. But little is known about the newer chemicals, so EWG still recommends stainless steel or cast iron cookware.”
We prefer cast iron and stainless steel. We do have a few non-stick pans left and you CAN find non-toxic non-stick options, so do not think that you cannot, but just keep this in mind and do your research before choosing a random non-stick option. HomeGoods has great deals on pans!
Tooth Paste
Okay, I used to use “Hello” toothpaste, but found out that because hello doesn’t have any fluoride or fluoride substitute in it, it’s not really great for your teeth. We now use Boka or Risewell, which contains a non-toxic fluoride alternative, that is 100% safe to use and some say that it’s better than fluoride! Risewell is what Avery uses, as well. I also love their floss, but it is THICK.
Hand Soap
Branch basics AND Primally Pure (my fav, I think) carries my favorite hand soap, which is super safe. Aunt Fannies is a close third, but my hands do dry out more when using it. Aleavia has one, as well, but I haven’t tried it.
Laundry
Branch basics. Other products to use: baking soda, vinegar, and essential oils (if you want).
Make Up
This is a new one for me! I just started out using non-toxic makeup, so I will be back with my thoughts and favorites soon. I am already loving a couple of products!
Update as of August 2021: I now use a lot of Beautycounter! I will update this with my favorite options later on.
Pest Control + Yard Items
Wondercide is amazing for pest control! Weed control? I’m not sure… Vinegar is great for beds, but it kills grass, so keep that in mind.
Linens + Mattresses
Like I said in my baby product post, If there is anything you want to be specific with, it’s the mattress that your baby will be sleeping on and the sheets, as well. We chose this Bundle of Dreams crib mattress because it is non-toxic (SUPER important with a crib mattress), breathable, and has one firm side for infants and a softer side for toddlers. Babies spend a large amount of time sleeping in their crib, so if there’s ONE swap to make to a non-toxic lifestyle, please please please consider switching out your crib mattress + sheets (choose an organic cotton sheet option!).
Linens like sheets, bath robes and towels, and hand towels are important to consider. We have not totally done a renovation on our sheets and towels yet, but I’m hoping to slowly build up my non-toxic options. All of Avery’s sheets are 100% organic cotton or natural fibers.
Rugs
some great options are Willaby (my favorites!) and Hook & Loom (this is what we have in the living room).
Water
Wait – water is toxic? Haha. No, but the things that might be in water could be and it all depends on your specific water plant. We use a Berkey to remove tons of harmful chemicals and LOVE it. Go look into it more! We also just purchased a reverse osmosis system from Aquasana
As you can see, we do not have a 100% non-toxic home yet, but we do have a pretty decent-sized list when it comes to our favorite non-toxic products. We are, however, working on creating a home that is free of toxins. I will continue to add to this list over time and hopefully, I can find more products that will help us become healthier, as well as help you all in the process! The list will go on!!
Please reach out if you have any questions at all and I hope you loved this post on our favorite non-toxic products!
Read more:
How To Boost Your Immune System
Why In-Season Produce Is Better For You
GMO Talk (and older post that needs updating!)