Personal Care and Cleaning Products that We Use and/or Sell
We mostly avoid synthetic and petroleum-derived ingredients as well as ingredients made from corn, soy, cow dairy, and gluten. Products that are left on the skin or used in the mouth or in other parts of the body should be avoided if they contain unrecognizable chemical names or inedible ingredients. It is quite surprising how often these ingredients cause inflammation, pain, skin reations, and/or digestive complaints, even when they are used externally or in toothpaste. Even products labeled pure/natural/organic often contain the following ingredients which are best avoided:
Citric acid (usually corn)
Xanthan gum (usually corn)
Tocopherols (usually soy)
Decyl glucoside (usually corn) a corn sugar soap in most natural lathering products
Glycerine (usually corn or soy)
Alcohol (usually corn)
Vitamins A, C, E, etc. are usually corn and/or soy and synthetic
All of the above ingredients can be made from things other than corn or soy, but this is rare and more expensive, so companies will usually highlight the use of alternative sources. Sometimes you can contact a company to ask about sources, but getting an accurate answer is uncertain. In our office, it is easy to test people through sense of taste to products and determine if they react to them. When you find a product that works for you, or for the items on our list below, check labels frequently as formulas often change with these small and/or alternative companies.
Another problem is that people can develop secondary sensitivities to almost anything when chronic intestinal infection and leaky gut are present. There are those who experience symptoms or have health concerns about ingredients such as canola oil, guar gum, baking soda, carrageenan, calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, palm oil, and others. While we may prefer simpler ingredients or alternatives to these, and while some forms of these ingredients may test poorly depending on their source and processing, in certain forms in certain products we consume these with confidence. However, we test any uncertain products that we bring home if we will be eating or using them much. We also choose to avoid products with known ecological or social justice issues.
We, and most of our patients, do well with the following products, but you need to proceed cautiously if you tend to be sensitive. We can’t guarantee that you won’t react to these products.
Products we use and/or sell:
Deodorant:
Pretty Frank, lavender, jar. Sold in our office or www.amazon.com
Fat and the Moon Deodorant cream, jar www.fatandthemoon.com
Milk and Honey Regular Strength Lemon Vanilla, stick www.amazon.com
Toothpaste/powder:
Redmond Earthpaste Unsweetened Spearmint (their sweetened toothpaste contains corn xylitol). Sold in our office or www.vitacost.com or www.amazon.com
Redmond Earthpowder Unsweetened Spearmint (without xylitol). Sold in our office or www.vitacost.com or www.amazon.com
Bar Soap:
Kiss My Face Pure Olive Oil Soap www.vitacost.com
Tierra Mia Organics Soaps www.vitacost.com
Sheaterra 33% Shea Soap www.sheaterraorganics.com
Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash:
Raw Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash by Bright Earth Foods. Preserved with probiotics. Available at our office or www.brightearthfoods.com
Liquid Soap:
Uncle Harry’s www.uncleharrys.com
Sunscreen:
Badger Clear Zinc Sunscreen Cream (or possibly the scented verities excluding face sunscreen) www.amazon.com
Hand and Body Lotion:
Shea Terra Organics Nilotik Shea Butter www.amazon.com
Alaffia Whipped Shea Butter and Coconut Oil, Mandarin Ginger (other scents uncertain) www.amazon.com
Face/Skincare:
Fat and the Moon: Face Oil and/or Aloe Lotion www.fatandthemoon.com
Badger: Cleansing Oil, Beauty Balm, and Face Oil www.badgerbalm.com or www.amazon.com
Shea Terra Organics: Nilotik Shea Butter, Unscented (other scents uncertain) www.amazon.com
Face Wash:
Bright Earth Body Wash or Shampoo. Preserved with probiotics. Available at our office or at www.brightearthfoods.com
Lip Balm:
Badger (all varieties) www.amazon.com
Hair Styling Pomade:
Badger Man Care (good for women too) www.amazon.com
Personal Lubricant:
Sliquid H2O (contains citric acid that tests well) (other varieties uncertain) www.amazon.com
Makeup: We are not current on best makeup sources. They tend to be difficult.
100% Pure www.100percentpure.com Mostly their citric acid is sourced from citrus peels and their tocopherols from rice bran. Individual types of makeup can be tricky: please call and verify the source of all the ingredients as they continually offer new products (they have recently added xanthan gum from an undisclosed source to some products which is most likely corn).
Laundry: Commercial laundry soap contains chemically derived surfactants, preservatives, and fragrances and should be avoided. Dryer sheets should also be avoided as they coat the laundry with chemicals and soy.
Powdered Laundry Detergent:
Molly’s Suds All Natural Laundry Powder www.amazon.com
Liquid detergent options like BioKleen, Ecos, and others are preferable to commercial detergents, but they likely contain allergens which may or may not be rinsed off adequately.
For a laundry detergent alternative, Eco Nuts Soap Berries www.amazon.com This is an inexpensive, natural option that we have no experience with, but may work with certain water types and machines.
Instead of dryer sheets try Wool Dryer Balls www.amazon.com
Dish Soap: We have not found corn-free dish soap. What we use, but don’t particularly recommend for extended skin exposure is:
Puracy (mostly coconut with corn derived preservatives/chemicals) www.amazon.com
Dishwasher Pods: We have not found corn-free dishwasher pods. What we use, but don’t particularly recommend for extended skin exposure is:
Grab Green www.amazon.com