Tara Mackey for #tossthetalc
Now, more than ever, it’s so important to be mindful of what we’re putting on our bodies. The greatest lesson in all of this has been balance.
Balance in the world and balance in our lives. We’re all washing our hands more often these days, using skin-drying hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray. And while this is keeping us healthier in the short term, it’s also a good time to focus on balancing out what it’s doing to us in the long run.
If we’re using a strong, bacteria-killing soap, great. But for balance, we need to be mindful of the ingredients contained in the rest of our products.
What ingredients should you look out for that are a total no-no?
Talc is a main culprit, found in tons of conventional skincare and hygiene products, like soaps, laundry detergent, cosmetics, and baby powder. Talc can be detrimental to one’s health for a myriad of reasons, and many countries have banned talc due to serious health risks.
Talcum powder fibers can take many years to fully dissipate inside the body, and at least 35 published epidemiologic studies since the 1980s have examined the link between genital talc use by women and ovarian cancer. In its natural state, talc can sometimes contain asbestos, and even talc deemed to asbestos-free has been under scrutiny for possibly being carcinogenic.
While there have been stringent quality controls in the E.U. (where cosmetic talc is banned entirely), the U.S. hasn’t made any significant changes to our cosmetics and personal care product regulation in more than 80 years! So, if you see talc contained in the ingredients, move on! There are healthier options out there for you and your loved ones!
Here are some of my favorite Talc-Free alternatives:
Talc is used in conventional dry shampoo formulas because of its excellent absorbent abilities, which makes perfect sense until you learn more about its dark underbelly. Talc is a material made of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen and may also have asbestos fibers. It’s the asbestos fibers that are the scary part, which can pose health risks such as respiratory toxicity as well as cancer.
The organic, talc-free dry shampoo from Green & Gorgeous has been a staple in my house for years. It’s actually one of the first green beauty products I got Andrew to switch over to when we met, and it remains a favorite of his. (He’s always asking me where “that G&G stuff is!” when I borrow it.) When your hubby is hunting down your beauty products, you know it’s a great grab!
I simply apply to dry hair, brush, blow-dry, and style. Andrew uses it as a texturizer. It works great for both!
Did you know that some deodorants also contain talc? Some talc contains asbestiform fibers, which are a carcinogen and can lead to cancer. However, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the ingredient. If cancer-causing ingredients in deodorant are a concern to you, consider avoiding the ingredient altogether. Talc is not regulated in personal care products, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I have been on a deodorant detox for years, but Andrew’s become obsessed with natural deodorants since we met… like this one from G&G. He actually asked me where it was not 20 mins after I took it to do research for this article, so you know, he’s gotten attached!
Talc is also sneaking around in some conventional serums, body oils, cleansers, bar soap, anti-aging treatments, lip balms, liquid foundations and concealers, where it adds opacity and contributes to the texture of the products. It may also be used in skincare products where it serves as an absorbent.
Look for skincare that has no nasties – especially no talc! To be safe, you may wish to avoid all personal care products that contain talc and seek alternatives such as organic and naturally made skincare, including serums and cleansers.
For serums, I rotate between these three talc-free babies. They’re effective, 100% organic, and designed for every skin type.
This is my favorite talc-free bar soap.
I’m obsessed with my go-to talc-free lip treatment.
A talc free liquid foundation (I use it every time I wear makeup).
A talc free concealer (it’s coverage is great and I wear it all – the – time!)
Go to TheTruthAboutTalc.com to learn more about why you should avoid talc in your products and stay tuned for more on this subject coming up! You can also find more talc-free/clean beauty swaps on their Instagram stories!
Much love,
Tara