DIY Essential Oil Body Wash Recipe

Personal care products… those products we use everyday to keep ourselves smelling fresh and clean. Unfortunately, many of the well-known brands lining store shelves have a hidden secret… they’re full of toxic, health-harming chemicals!

In a talk delivered at the Harvard School of Public Health in 2014, audience members learned that “In the United States, the average person is exposed to more than a hundred chemicals from cosmetics, soaps, and other personal care products before leaving the house in the morning [1].”

Avoid These Ingredients in Your Body Wash

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a watchdog coalition of groups dedicated to eliminating harmful chemicals in personal care products. On their website they share information with consumers on the health-harming chemicals found in personal care products.

Here’s a quick list of common soap and body wash ingredients they say you should actively avoid…[2]

1. 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant linked to cancer found in products that create suds, such as shampoo and liquid soap. On the label look for: Sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds, chemicals that include the clauses xynol, ceteareth, and oleth.
2. Coal tar is a known carcinogen found in shampoos, soaps, hair dyes, and lotions. On the label look for: Coal tar solution, tar, coal, carbo-cort, coal tar solution, coal tar solution USP, crude coal tar, estar, impervotar, KC 261, lavatar, picis carbonis, naphtha, high solvent naphtha, naphtha distillate, benzin B70, and petroleum benzin.
3. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are often found in shampoos and liquid baby soaps. On the label look for: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol), and glyoxal.
4. Fragrance – Many products list “fragrance” on the label, but very few name the specific ingredients which prevents consumers from knowing the full list of ingredients in their products. On the label look for: Fragrance, perfume, parfum, aroma.
5. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT) are common preservatives are found in many liquid personal care products, and have been linked to lung toxicity, allergic reactions, and possible neurotoxicity. On the label look for: Methylisothiazolinone (MIT): 2-methyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one, Neolone 950 preservative, MI, OriStar MIT and Microcare MT. Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT): 5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, and MCI.
6. Nitrosamines are impurities that can show up in a wide array of cosmetics ingredients. Nitrosamines are usually not listed on product labels because they are impurities, but on the label look for: DEA and TEA.
7. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative in cosmetic products and a stabilizer in perfumes and soaps. Reaction to exposure to phenoxyethanol can range from eczema to severe, life-threatening allergic reactions. On the label look for: Phenoxyethanol, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Euxyl K® 400 (mixture of Phenoxyethanol and 1,2-dibromo-2,4-dicyanobutane), and PhE.
8. Parabens are preservatives used in a range of products including shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial and shower cleansers and scrubs. On the label look for: Ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, and other ingredients ending in –paraben.
9. Pthalates are chemicals linked to endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, and cancer. While banned in cosmetics in the European Union, they still remain prevalent in U.S. products. On the label look for: phthalate, DEP, DBP, DEHP, and fragrance.
10. Talc (which is found in some body and shower products) may contain the known carcinogen asbestos. Talc should be avoided in powders and other personal care products unless it is known to be asbestos-free. Even asbestos-free talc should be avoided in the pelvic areas. On the label look for: Talcum powder and cosmetic talc.
11. Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent found in a wide variety of antibacterial soaps and other products that is linked to endocrine disruption, triclosan-resistant bacteria, and environmental toxicity. On the label look for: Triclosan (TSC) and triclocarban (TCC).

Healthier Alternative: Make Your Own Essential Oil Body Wash

If you love the feeling of lathering up with a sweet smelling body wash, here’s an easy recipe you can make at home. This body wash uses castile soap as a base, which is one of the safest commercially-available soap options. A good choice is Dr. Bronner’s unscented liquid castile baby soap which you can then scent with your favorite quality essential oils.
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