Helping your guy to switch to nontoxic products

There are a lot of differences between me and my husband, Jeff. Maybe one of the biggest differences is our skincare routine. Let me tell you how it goes:

I use a wash, toner, serum, eye cream, exfolitor, mask, and moisturizer – all before I do my makeup.

My husband on the other hand lets the water hit his face in the shower call it a wash and puts lotion – HAND LOTION – on his forehead…once a week. Did I mention that he has the most perfect skin? (I promise I’m not salty – ok, I kinda am.)

We really do agree on most everything, the skincare products we use being a big exception. While it’s fair to say that my husband is probably exposed to less toxins just by nature of using less products, it doesn’t mean that guys’ skincare/body care products are off the hook in the toxins department. I’m sharing this because in my 5 years as a Lemongrass Spa consultant helping women find nontoxic products for themselves I’ve heard a lot of, “I wish my dad/husband/boyfriend/brother/fiancé/<insert other guy in your life> would switch out his products too. That will never happen though!”

Sometimes guys just need some data and facts to back up their decision 😉

Some top toxins in guys’ products:

-Fragrance/parfum: found in shaving cream, soap, lotion, shampoo; a compilation of over 200 toxins summed up in one word; linked to cancer.

-Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): found in shampoo and body wash; a skin irritant and virtually useless ingredient besides it makes a nice lather.

-Parabens: found in shaving cream; linked to endocrine system damage.

-D.E.A (Diethanolamine) M.E.A (Monoethanolamine) and/or T.E.A (Triethanolmine) : found in soaps and body washes; linked to cancer, especially liver and kidney.

I’ve been an ingredient reader for years and I prioritize clean and healthy ingredients. My husband wants cheap and functional. (For the record, both are valid priorities, they are just different.)

Here are some tips to helping the guy in your life live with less toxins:

1. Make a lateral switch. Don’t try to switch all your products at first. Find nontoxic options for the products your whole family uses like toothpaste, hand soap, laundry detergent. This starts a nontoxic trend in your home.
2. Ask him. He will probably feel insulted if you throw out his deodorant while he’s at work and replace it with a different, nontoxic one. (How would you feel if he took it upon himself to replace your favorite concealer or shampoo?) Tell him you read this awesome blog and learned that some of the ingredients in his <insert product> are linked to cancer and skin irritation and ask ‘Would you like to try x instead?”
3. Don’t feel attached to every nontoxic product you try. There will be some flops in nontoxic products along the way. (Trust me, been there, done that!) Be humble enough to admit that and try something else.
4. It’s ok to settle. Settle for less toxins v no toxins if that’s what brings peace to your household and works for your budget.

At the time of this writing my husband still uses his drugstore brand toothpaste, deodorant, and hair care. But he has switch his lotion and soap. And because of the changes we’ve made in our home he is much more conscious of toxins and is VERY picky about what products go on our daughter’s skin/in her environment. Baby steps, ladies, baby steps. They add up!