caring for your skin naturally for the intimate parts of our body
Caring naturally for the most intimate parts of our body, in my view, is essential. These are not only things we absorb through our skin, but these products are also items we put in our mouths, inside our bodies or wash with.
I have trialled many products over the last 20 years or so and listed below are some of my favourites that work for my body.
Body soaps and underarm
I remember well when I first questioned why there is aluminium (possible link to breast cancer) in our antiperspirant deodorants and I started using salt of the earth deodorants combined with a natural more fragrant one on top - honestly, they didn’t do anything for me! I’m a big sweater! I was 26 at the time, living in France during a hot summer, as a labourer temporarily and sweating a lot. Over the following years, I once again experimented with many natural deodorants and the ONLY one that helps with sweat is www.tomsofmaine.com - it was a break through moment for me some 5 years ago, a natural, aluminium free deodorant and stops sweat!
The best natural body wash for me is Faith In Nature. This company have been going strong for years, I love their rose body wash and I think it’s fantastic that you can fill up your bottle at many health shops!
favourite mouth care products
Mouthcare
I haven’t been blessed with the best teeth despite many sets of braces as a child (!) and I have to work hard to maintain their health, nowadays they’re in pretty good condition and I’m a big fan of Aloe Dent products, toothpaste and mouthwash.
Whether or not to choose their fluoride or non fluoride option has always been a tricky subject for me. Whilst dentists always tell you to use fluoride as it’s excellent at preventing cavities, strengthens tooth enamel etc, there is concern that we have a lot of fluoride in our water already, which over time can cause bone disease, thyroid and neurological problems. However, I think this has to be a high amount of fluoride. We switch between the two types of toothpastes, just to keep my conspiracy theories antenna some reassurance!
I still use basic dental floss and the tepe brushes, not keen on the plastic side of this however, I have tried natural flossing string and it’s either too harsh or breaks in between my crowded teeth - so any recommendations are welcome.
I bought a new electric toothbrush last year as the old one finally died. This time I chose www.trysuri.com as their heads are biodegradable - what a fab idea! So far so good, battery isn’t quite as long as the oral b but I feel it makes up for it with the biodegradable heads.
best natural feminine hygiene products
Female hygiene
This was one of my first changes. The continual waste of tampons (4.8 pieces of single use period protection were found on every 100 metres of uk coastline during beach cleanups!) but also, what was in them? What are we putting in our body?
Lately in the news, they are now questioning the very high and rather shocking levels of pesticides in tampons - tampons in one box contained Glyphosate (identified as a probable carcinogen by the WHO) at 40 x the level allowed in drinking water - what is this doing to us? What are we absorbing directly into our bloodstreams!?
So for years I used natural sponges - yes they were wonderful! I loved the name of them too - jam sponges ! I find they are easier to use than tampons. Just look for unbleached natural environmentally friendly sponges for periods. In recent years, I resorted back to tampons, mostly for convenience. We do a lot of coastal and moor walking - carrying a little one (& often taking the dog!) into a small toilet cubicle and then the sink being located publicly was just no longer an option for sponges! However, I used a natural, organic cotton tampon from TOTM, they are affordable, ethical, organic and not toxic. I have started using sponges again these past few months now I am not continually sleep deprived and surviving young children demands, I have to say I have missed them, they are convenient and comfortable.
I am also a big fan of using reusable bamboo pads and period underwear such as www.modibodi.co.uk provide, lots of different options for your flow, great for nightwear and the end of the period.
I did try and switch to a old style metal razor where you replace just the blade but to be honest, my partner ended up giving me his old razor where you just change the head, as I was useless at changing the blades and if I didn’t change them regularly enough, I would scrape my leg.
I hope this has been a little helpful in your transition towards using natural products on and within your body.
My main advice, as mentioned in a previous post caring for your skin naturally, throughout my 20 odd years of trialling natural products, I have discovered that it’s better for overall well being, to not become imprisoned by strong moral decisions. Living life in a gentle flow with a basic moral compass swinging towards compassion for ourselves and our planet is easier and kinder on our overall health.
Stay tuned, I will be writing about household products next…