Synthetic chemicals - we can't escape them, they are part of the way we live and function. Our bodies are exposed to hundreds or thousands of synthetic chemicals every day, substances which are found in our food, the products we use on our skin, in our water, plastics, furniture, cosmetics, toys and clothes, and some of these substances have a negative impact on our health and the environment we live in. 

This post isn't meant as a scare tactic but rather to make people aware so they can actively make informed choices about what they eat, what they drink from, what they cook with, and what they put on their skin.

Shockingly, according to the European Environment Agency, 6% of the world's diseases and 8% of deaths are caused by man made chemicals. Every year the world produces more than 250 billion tons of up to 150,000 different man-made chemical substances, and in Europe 225 million tonnes of chemicals were consumed in 2021; two-thirds of which are classified as hazardous to health, with 40 million tonnes classed as carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (transferred through the womb).

These synthetic chemicals are tested for safety - but only when used singly. Herein lies the problem - we are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands of synthetic chemicals each day, but these substances (which are classed as safe to use alone) have never been tested when used alongside other synthetic chemical substances. Never.  No-one actually knows the true effects these synthetic chemical cocktails are having on our bodies and on the environment.

Some of these toxic chemicals have been banned over the years and are no longer in production. However these synthetic chemicals persist in the environment for many years as they don't easily degrade. Some synthetic chemicals, known as forever chemicals, can remain in our bodies flowing around our bloodstream for years. Forever, in fact. 

So what can we do about it?

We can help to reduce the number of synthetic substances that we are exposed to by being mindful of the products we buy. Generally speaking there are always products that are free of synthetic chemicals offering safer, natural alternatives. There are safer natural alternatives for skincare products, cosmetics, plastics, cleaning products and even the food we eat (think organic).

Why do many companies choose to continue using toxic synthetic chemicals in their production methods and in the products themselves? There's a LOT of money in chemicals, and they're cheap to produce. Cheap ingredients = more profit.

Always read the ingredients list

Every skincare and cosmetic product that you use on your skin enters your bloodstream. That's why it's our mission to make people aware of the potential harmful ingredients that are found in skincare products the world over.

Do your health a favour and take a look at the ingredients list on the back of every product you use on your skin. Do your research and decide if you want to continue using that product, based on your findings. 

We thoroughly research ingredients before we use them in our products, and always choose natural or naturally derived ingredients over their synthetic counterparts. That's why we only use botanicals to colour our products, and essential oils to add scent - you'll never find synthetic mica colours or fragrance oils in our natural soap bars, shampoo bars, body butters and shower steamers.