Despite being advertised as beneficial to our overall wellbeing, it turns out the everyday items essential for our personal hygiene upkeep can be most detrimental to our health, often containing hormone, endocrine and reproductive system disruptors.

Conventional antiperspirants and deodorants have been linked to everything from Alzheimer’s to the Big C, whereas Triclosan — an antibacterial chemical that has been linked to various cancers, precocious puberty in girls and the weakening of immune systems — is still being used in our toothpastes. While common shampoos and conditioners are laden with sulfates, preservatives and fragrances that not only strip hair of its natural oils but can also cause everything from cancer and liver damage to skin rashes, eye injury and even depression.

Despite all this don’t let your relationship with beauty product shopping become tempestuous. While the threats of harmful, chemical-laden products may seem overwhelming, there are plenty of toxic-free saviours on the market. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the best alternatives.

Deodorant
The Biologika roll-on deodorant is a natural antibacterial formula which uses only organic and natural ingredients — such as avocado oil and chamomile extract — instead of parabens and aluminium to truly diminish odour causing bacteria. 

Mouthwash and Toothpaste
Combining naturally derived ingredients like magnolia bark and kanuka oil with menthol, clover-leaf and spearmint flavouring, Ecostore’s new mouthwash and toothpaste help to reduce plaque, fight cavities and prevent tartar build up without any of the detrimental ingredients found in conventional oral care.

Shampoo and Conditioner
For a winning formula that’s free from parabens, synthetic perfumes, synthetic dyes and sulphates, look no further than Ecostore’s bergamot and orange shampoo, while A’Kin’s avocado and calendula conditioner mean that your hair can get the full nourishing treatment toxic-free.

Soap and Body-Wash
A creamy, nourishing soap and a natural exfoliant rolled into one, Ecostore’s coconut variation ticks all the right boxes and still leaves out all the nasties. For those that prefer a silky body wash, Only Good offers multiple variations that are free from petrochemicals and leave the skin thoroughly cleansed and smoother to the touch.   

Feminine Care
Unlike many other tampon brands, whose applicator tubes are usually made from plastic, Natracare’s Organic tampons are created from 100% cotton. Additionally, they are chlorine-free, contain no rayon, plastics or dyes, and are fully biodegradable and compostable.