How To Switch From Toxic Products To Non-Toxic Products

Last year I made it a goal start slowly switching products I used in my house over to non-toxic or reusable products that were not only better for me, but also better for the environment.

me sitting on a counter in a white kitchen

When you think about switching all the products that you love, it’s no easy task. I replaced each product one by one and I think that helped make it feel more manageable.

When you’ve been using the same products for so long it can really shake things up when you make a switch. I used to get upset if I had to use a different scented hand soap because the store was out of the one I normally bought!

Getting used to a new product with a totally different consistency or scent was a whole new level for me

So I took it one thing at a time.

Now I LOVE the products I’ve switched to, I notice a huge difference in how I feel, how my skin looks, etc. I can’t imagine going back to my old favorite (toxic) products.

Some advice for swapping out your toxic products

1. Have patience! I didn’t love everything I tried on the first try. I always used the product until it was empty to give it its best shot. If I truly didn’t love it after that, I moved onto another brand.

2. One thing at a time. Don’t try and do everything at once. The thought of swapping everything at once and doing all this research for so many different products completely overwhelmed me.

I swapped out one or two products at a time to make it easier on myself. And major bonus for you – I’ve already done all the research and testing so you don’t have to!

3. Give yourself grace. There is no pressure to switch every single product in your house! Even small changes make big impacts.

Here are some of my favorite non-toxic products:

Non-toxic wine

Each Scout and Cellar wine goes through two rounds of independent lab testing to guarantee that it’s free of yucky stuff like synthetic pesticides and chemical additives, and also to ensure it has fewer than 100ppm of total sulfites.

After switching to non-toxic wine, the biggest difference I noticed was less hangovers. I also stopped getting sleepy after 1-2 glasses of wine—yay for being able to hang!

Non-toxic household products

Reusable sponge cloths – I still use paper towels, but these have significantly reduced the amount I use.
Branch Basics – This is one of my favorite swaps. I like it better than any of my other cleaners and I use essential oils for fragrance. Use this link for $10 off.

Molly’s Suds laundry detergent – I love the story behind the woman who started this company and the detergent works so well, even on my workout clothes!
Wool dryer balls – chemical free and last up to 1,000 loads.
Metal water bottles – my favorite water bottle, and it comes in several sizes and colors.
Glass straws – this was one of the first and easiest switches I made. I like glass straws better than metal because you can really see when they’re clean.
Stasher bags – I’ve been slowly stocking up on these to replace ziploc bags. Even just buying 1 or 2 sets helps decrease the amount of plastic I’m using.
Diffuser & essential oils – I’m slowly moving away from candles and using a diffuser with essential oils instead.
Hand soap – this is my most recent swap! You can even divide the soap between two bottles and dilute with water because it is so concentrated.

young living diffuser and essential oils

Non-toxic skincare

My most recent switch has been non-toxic skincare and makeup. I ordered a sample kit from Beauty Counter and became obsessed.

Their products are SO good. They smell amazing, the consistency is the best I’ve ever used, and most importantly – they actually work! Here are some of my favorites:

All Bright C Serum – instantly brightens skin and helps reduce the appearance of existing dark spots while helping to protect against new ones.
Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil – a lightweight cleansing oil gently yet effectively removes makeup and impurities without stripping essential lipids from the skin. It smells INCREDIBLE.
Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence – a radiating formula that works similar to a toner, but better.
Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum – this replaced my retinol serum! It visibly increases skin firmness and elasticity, while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Ultra Renewal Eye Cream – a high-performance eye cream revitalizes the eye area for a youthful, brighter appearance.
Antioxidant Soft Creme – my day time moisturizer! It visibly plumps and firms the skin while boosting hydration to protect skin from drying environmental stressors throughout the day.
Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream – my night time moisturizer! It supports elasticity and visibly firms while minimizing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Counter+ Charcoal Facial Mask – I use this twice a week to help minimize the appearance of pores, calm my skin, and help with breakouts.
Crystal deodorant – I’ve been using this for years and it actually works. If you’re not already using a natural deodorant, it might take your body some time to get used to it.
Ilia skin tint – I love the way this feels on my skin. It has an SPF 45 and is very lightweight.

Next on my list to switch

I’ll continue updating this list with more products I try and love. If there are any non-toxic, eco friendly products you use at home that aren’t on this list, leave a comment below!