Your Morning Routine is Toxic!
What’s you 168?
Many people are surprised to learn that the FDA regulates cosmetics differently than food and drugs, meaning most cosmetic products are not approved before they are sold, which makes consumer awareness more important than ever.
Most women are putting dozens of products on their bodies every single day without ever being told the full truth about what is in them.
That includes shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, lotion, deodorant, sunscreen, makeup, perfume, lip products, hair products, and all the other things that have become so normal in our routines that we barely think about them anymore.
But when you add it all up, the average woman can have around 168 different chemicals touching her body in a single day, often before her morning coffee.
That number should make you pause.
I think women deserve to know the truth about how much we are being exposed to, how little most of us were taught to question it, and how easy it is to trust a product just because it looks clean, smells good, or says the right words on the front of the bottle.
For a long time, I trusted all of it.
I trusted the pretty packaging. I trusted the word “natural.” I trusted “gentle.” I trusted “clean.” I trusted “dermatologist tested.” I trusted that if a product was sitting on a store shelf, someone had already checked it carefully and made sure it was safe before it ever made its way into my bathroom.
But that is not how it works.
What the FDA Actually Does and Does Not Approve
According to the FDA, cosmetic products and ingredients do not need FDA approval before they are sold, with the exception of certain color additives. Companies are responsible for making sure their own products are safe and properly labeled.
You read that right.
Companies are responsible for making sure their products are safe.
Ladies, we cannot just assume someone else has our back.
The FDA can take action when products violate the law, but that is not the same thing as every product being reviewed and approved before it lands on a shelf.
We deserve to know that.
Because once you understand that the front of the bottle is marketing, you start paying a lot more attention to the back of the product. And once you start reading the back, you realize how much we have been expected to trust the companies creating our products.
When “Clean Beauty” Is Not So Clean
The world is starting to take note of unnecessary chemicals, which means you will see more promotions for “clean beauty.”
However, any company can use the word “clean” because there is no official FDA definition or standard for that term in cosmetics. That means “clean” on the front of a bottle does not always tell you what is actually inside.
It does not actually have to meet a clear “clean” standard for a company to call it clean.
That is the problem.
It feels more like a marketing scam than the truth.
And companies are getting smarter with their marketing.
Some of the ingredients consumers may want to avoid can still be tucked under broad terms like “fragrance.” Under FDA labeling regulations, fragrance ingredients do not have to be listed individually and can simply appear on the label as “Fragrance” or “Flavor.” That means you may not always know exactly what is included in that category.
Fragrance sounds harmless.
Who doesn’t want to smell like a yummy cookie or a field of flowers?
What are they using to create that cookie crumble smell? What ingredients make something smell like vanilla frosting, fresh laundry, coconut cream, or a field of flowers?
But “fragrance” can be used as a broad ingredient term, and the full blend behind that scent is not always disclosed to the consumer.
Ingredients Worth Paying Attention To
Phthalates
Found in: some nail polish, hair sprays, cleansers, shampoos, aftershave lotions, and fragrance products.
- Why to watch: Some phthalates are linked to hormone disruption, fertility concerns, and reproductive development issues. They can also be hard to identify because they may be included under “fragrance” instead of listed clearly on the label.
Parabens
Look for: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben.
Found in: lotion, makeup, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, body wash, moisturizers.
- Why to watch: Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body, which is why they are often questioned for hormone disruption. Since they are used in products we apply directly to our skin, daily exposure is the concern.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Look for: DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, bronopol, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate.
Found in: shampoos, conditioners, body wash, liquid soaps, nail products, hair products.
- Why to watch: These ingredients can slowly release formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, over time. The concern is repeated exposure from products we use often, especially shampoos, soaps, and body products that seem harmless on the shelf.
PFAS, also called forever chemicals
Look for: PTFE, perfluoro, polyfluoro, fluoro, perfluorodecalin, perfluorononyl dimethicone.
Found in: some long-wear makeup, waterproof mascara, foundation, lipstick, nail polish, moisturizers, and cosmetics marketed as water-resistant or long-lasting.
- Why to watch: PFAS are called forever chemicals because they do not break down easily and can stay in the body over time. Certain PFAS have been linked to immune, liver, cholesterol, pregnancy, and cancer concerns, which makes repeated exposure something worth taking seriously.
Talc
Found in: loose powder, pressed powder, blush, eyeshadow, baby powder, some dry shampoos.
- Why to watch: Talc is a mined mineral, and the concern is contamination with asbestos because talc and asbestos can naturally form close together in the earth. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, especially when inhaled, which matters when talc is used in powders, dry shampoo, blush, and products used near the face or lungs. This is why talc-based products should be carefully tested, not blindly trusted.
Triclosan
Found in: some antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, and older personal care products.
- Why to watch: Triclosan was used to kill bacteria, but it has raised concerns because it may affect hormones and contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The FDA banned it from over-the-counter antibacterial hand soaps because companies did not prove it was safe for long-term daily use or more effective than plain soap and water.
Oxybenzone
Found in: some chemical sunscreens, moisturizers with SPF, lip balms with SPF.
- Why to watch: Oxybenzone is a chemical UV filter that can be absorbed through the skin. It has been questioned because of hormone-related concerns, including possible effects on estrogen and thyroid activity, and it is also a concern for aquatic life and coral reefs. Since sunscreen is often used heavily and repeatedly, especially on kids, this is one I would pay attention to.
PEGs and ethoxylated ingredients
Look for: PEG, polyethylene glycol, sodium laureth sulfate, ceteareth, laureth, ingredients ending in “eth.”
Found in: body wash, shampoo, face wash, bubble bath, lotion, creams.
- Why to watch: PEGs and ethoxylated ingredients can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a manufacturing byproduct that is considered a possible human carcinogen. The frustrating part is that 1,4-dioxane will not show up clearly on the label because it is not added as an ingredient. That means it can be in products that look completely normal, like shampoo, body wash, face wash, and lotion.
BHA and BHT
Found in: some lip products, makeup, moisturizers, fragrance products, creams.
- Why to watch: BHA and BHT are used to preserve products and keep oils from going rancid, but they are often questioned because of hormone disruption concerns, skin irritation, and possible cancer concerns with BHA. Since they can show up in products used on the lips, face, and body, repeated exposure is worth paying attention to.
Ethanolamines
Look for: DEA, MEA, TEA, triethanolamine, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine.
Found in: cleansers, shampoos, soaps, lotions, shaving products, makeup.
- Why to watch: Ethanolamines can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs, but the bigger concern is how they can react with other ingredients in a formula. Under certain conditions, they can form nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer concerns. Since they are used in everyday products like cleansers, shampoos, soaps, lotions, and makeup, they are worth watching closely
Why Daily Exposure Matters
This is not about one product used one time.
It is about the buildup of what we use every day, every week, and every year.
When an ingredient is called “safe,” I think we should be asking, safe how?
Safe in one product?
Safe in a small amount?
Safe once in a while?
Safe when we are using it every day, on ourselves and on our kids?
We hear “safe” or “allowed,” and we assume the conversation is over. But I want to know what our bodies are being asked to carry over time, from everything we use day after day.
What Goes On Your Skin Matters
Your skin is not just a surface. It is your largest organ. It protects you, but certain substances can also pass through the skin. We already understand this with things like nicotine patches, hormone creams, and pain relief gels.
So I think it is reasonable to ask what our everyday products may be contributing over time, especially the ones we leave on our skin for hours.
The truth is, marketing can make something look safer than it really is.
The truth is, the word “clean” does not always mean much when there is no real standard behind it.
The truth is, “fragrance” can be a lot more complicated than one simple word on a label.
And the truth is, no one is coming to sort this out for us.
We have to start paying attention ourselves.
We have to read the labels ourselves.
We have to ask better questions ourselves.
Because this is not just about beauty. It is about what we are putting on our bodies, what we are using on our kids, what we are bringing into our homes, and what we are allowing to become normal without ever questioning it.
Where to Start
Start with the products that stay on your skin the longest.
Deodorant, lotion, moisturizer, perfume, sunscreen, foundation, and lip products are good places to look first because your body is sitting with those ingredients for hours.
When one of those products runs out, replace it more intentionally. Read the ingredient list. Look for fragrance-free options when you can. Choose brands that fully disclose what they use. Simplify your routine where it makes sense. Stop assuming the front of the bottle is telling you everything you need to know.
And then keep going.
Look at what you are using on your kids.
Look at what is sitting in your shower.
Look at what your family is breathing in, rubbing on, spraying, washing with, and reaching for every single day.
This does not mean you have to change everything overnight. But it does mean you cannot unlearn what you now know and keep pretending it does not matter.
It does matter.
Your body matters.
Your health matters.
Your children matter.
Your home matters.
And women need to stop being made to feel “dramatic” for caring about any of it.
We are the ones buying these products. We are the ones using them. We are the ones putting them on our families. We are the ones reading the labels, making the swaps, asking the questions, and deciding what gets to come into our homes.
That is not overthinking.
That is taking responsibility.
That is taking care of the people we love.
You start turning bottles around.
You start noticing vague words.
You start questioning the claims on the front.
You start wondering why you were never taught this sooner.
And then you start choosing differently.
That is where change begins.
With one woman paying attention.
One product at a time.
One label at a time.
One better choice at a time.
And then teaching another woman to do the same.
Because this information should not stop with us. We should be talking about it with our daughters, our sisters, our friends, our husbands, our moms, and anyone else who has been blindly trusting the same products we were.
Start with one product.
Turn it around.
Read the label.
Then do it again.
That one small moment may change the way you shop, the way you trust, and the way you care for yourself and your family from here forward. So ask yourself, what is your 168, and what can you start doing today to lower that number?
Love, Andrea.