Summer To-Do List: Take Healthy Baby Steps

In a previous post, Breaking the stress cycle, I mentioned how I wanted to form baby steps to help me on a healthier lifestyle path. (By the way, for the most part, I have succeeded in reducing my sugar intake. I have a nice sugary treat every once and a while, but my daily intake is much reduced - yay!)

This summer I've been trying to replace some of my regular cosmetics and cleaners with better options. Or, at least, on-my-way-to-better options.

Photo source: Martha Stewart

For cosmetics, I'm trying to switch to products with better ratings on the Skin Deep database. I haven't tried to go extreme on anything - i.e. I'm totally not ready to try the no shampoo trend yet - just make a few minor adjustments. Also, very important, my strategy has been to only replace products as I run out of them, that way I'm not wasting the money I invested in the past. Maybe not the healthiest option, but it makes me feel better about the frugality of these choices.

Switches I've made so far:

1. Loreal True Match Foundation --> Everyday Minerals Base
What I like: the quality of the Everyday Minerals product. It doesn't act like a mask on my skin like my previous foundation did. It has an "Overall Hazard" rating of 2 on Skin Deep, as opposed to a 4 for the Loreal.
What I dislike: The overall hazard rating of the Everyday Minerals may be lower, but it doesn't score better in every health hazard category.

2. Chapstick --> Burt's Bees
This really isn't that much better of choice (they have the exact same rating), but the Burt's Bees doesn't contain as many "moderate hazard" ingredients as Chapstick.

3. Suave Professionals Shampoo --> Yes to Carrots Shampoo
This was an overall hazard change from a 6 rating to a 2. Pretty good, right? Ya... If I actually liked the product. I've only been using the Yes to Carrots shampoo for a few days, but I haven't been happy with the effect on my hair. Hmm...

4. Dial Soap --> Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap
Really happy with this transition from a 4 rating to a 2 rating. Funnily enough, even though the fragrance in Dr. Bronner's isn't as irritating for people, I find its smell way more overwhelming than the Dial.

I'm also working on switching to better cleaners. I made homemade laundry soap for the first time recently. I messed up the recipe a little bit (added too much water), but I've been pretty happy with the results. It's not as tough on my clothes, which is good for the fabric, but not great if I slack on getting stains out before the wash.

I totally admit to not completely succeeding at this goal, though. I bought bug spray yesterday because I didn't have the time to find a better option. Eventually I will need to find more natural options to replace  even what I've discussed above. And yesterday I totally bought regular dishsoap because it was cheaper than getting something like 7th Generation. Ah well... Baby steps.

Summer Goal #4: Go easy on myself as I try to switch to healthier products.