My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

Guide to Personal Care Products for the Chemically Sensitive

I have been trying and testing the most cost-effective non-toxic, biodegradable personal care products for those sensitive to chemicals.

I started with a more DIY approach, but in time I found ready-made products I liked more and were easier than making things myself.

Here is what I use and recommend now. 

This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

a banner that says bath and beauty products with a few generic products around it

SOAP

Pure Castile or glycerine soap for hands and body are the simplest options. I don’t always feel like glycerin soap gets the cleanest clean though, so I use Tom’s Unscented Soap.

And for removing toxins from the skin I love this charcoal soap.

FACEWASH

I wash my face using the oil cleansing method (for acne-prone skin) or the soaps above.

For cleaning up between showers you could wipe your face with a Microfiber Face Cloth.

MOISTURISER

For my face and body, I use Sweet Almond Oil or Argan oil (which is pricier than almond oil). Both almond oil and argan oil have a natural very light scent.

I recently tried Rose Hip Oil which is supposed to be very good for preventing acne. I really liked how it made my skin look. 

It was the most luxurious of the three oils and I was really happy with that brand.

SHAMPOO

I used Desert Essence – Fragrance-Free shampoo for years when I was very sensitive.  

Some people prefer how Jason brand (fragrance-free) makes their hair feel.

AFM also makes a shampoo and body wash specifically for the chemically sensitive.

All three options are formaldehyde-free and free of balsam of Peru.

I also tried the “no poo” method! Which is baking soda and a rinse of apple cider vinegar. It works!

CONDITIONER

I used Desert Essence Conditioner – Fragrance-Free when I was super sensitive. Not all super sensitive people do well with this. There is a light natural odor to it.

Honest Company fragrance-free conditioner is what I use now.

I use this fragrance-free detangler which I was so excited to find.

For African hair types, coconut oil can be added to conditioner, argan oil can be used after shampooing, and Jamaican Black Castor Oil can be used as a sealant. 

BODY SCRUB & SHAVING CREAM

Mix olive oil with brown sugar to make a simple exfoliating face or body scrub.

I also sometimes mix baking soda into my liquid face wash, that works well too.

I wash with soap after exfoliating or you can rinse the sugar off with water and then use the oil as a shaving “cream.”

 If you prefer a lathering shaving cream, try this all-natural recipe or just use soap.

LIP BALM

A simple, cheap and very effective lip balm can be made with two ingredients: beeswax and almond oil.

My go-to ready-made made lip balm (with simple ingredients that don’t dry out your lips) is Bert’s Bees with Shea Butter. 

For a scent-free balm try this one. 

TOOTHPASTE

One of the cleanest brands out there is Dr Bronner’s toothpaste, which is fluoride-free and comes in anise, peppermint, spearmint, and cinnamon. Flavor-free and fluoride-free brands include Cleure, and Jack N Jill. They have very clean ingredients and are free of balsam of Peru.

These biodegradable bamboo brushes are on my wish list.

DEODORANT 

Tom’s of Maine brand deodorants work well but the really effective ones contain zinc ricinoleate or aluminum.

The point of a “natural” brand was to get away from those toxins, especially aluminum. The Healthy Deodorant comes highly recommended. The best natural solution I have found is this magnesium oil. I don’t know how it works but it does, and I’m smelly.

There are more options now on Amazon that are pastes based on magnesium and can contain sorbent material like charcoal or clay.

Many people have recommended just using baking soda.

Wiping down with vinegar first and letting it dry, can help kill bacteria that are making you smelly.

Wiping down with baby wipes throughout the day helps too.

LAUNDRY

Some favorite laundry detergents for the chemically sensitive are BioKleen liquid free and clear, Charlie’s powder, ECOS laundry detergent, Nellie’s, and Branch Basics.

Eco Nuts Soap (soap nuts) might be an option if you can tolerate their natural scent. Many do well with soap nuts and some can’t tolerate the scent.

A non-toxic soap that is appropriate for washing down jackets and down sleeping bags is pure soap flakes.
                                          
There are some non-toxic options for Fabric Softener, Dryer Sheets, and Chlorine-Free Bleach.

Or try these cool chemical-free, reusable Dryer Balls to reduce energy bills and soften fabric.

NATURAL SUNSCREEN

I really like Badger Sunscreen which comes recommended by many people who are super sensitive.

It has simple ingredients, is fragrance-free, and uses non-nano zinc oxide. 

STYLING PRODUCTS

Non-toxic, scent-free styling products are only just starting to become available when I first wrote this article. I use this to help my hair hold curls. 

For black hair, try Honey Fig shop. For various hair types, Moroccan Method uses simple, pure ingredients and offers free shipping across Canada.
                                        
For homemade recipes try this natural orange juice hairspray; this grapeseed/jojoba, essential oil & vit E hair serum.

A simple solution – glycerin alone de-frizzes, and is my go-to hair product. 

MAKEUP

For chemical-free makeup try The Honest Company.

Marcelle Brand can be found on Amazon and at most drugstores – it is scent-free and hypoallergenic but not necessarily non-toxic (it is the main brand I use).

MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS & BIRTH CONTROL

While many companies will be willing to sell you pesticide-free and chlorine-free Tampons and Pads, those items are so wasteful and expensive compared to menstrual cups. Menstrual Cups are convenient and save you tonnes of money.

Safer options include latex-free and spermicide-free polyurethane condoms (scent-free).

HAIR DYE

To lighten my hair I use hydrogen peroxide. Just the kind you get from the drugstore. It does create a chemical reaction with the hair that has a bit of a strange smell, but it doesn’t last. Then I use henna to dye my hair.

Henna has a very earthy smell which comes from the plants that are used to make it. You should test it first to see if you tolerate it. I have used basic brands of pure henna that can be very affordable, and this brand which comes in a variety of colors. Both worked very well, and they do cover grey! I use them to dye my eyelashes too.

I have looked deeply into the salon brand hair dyes here. None of the permanent ones are totally non-toxic.

I would first suggest trying pure henna or other henna or plant-based dyes like Hairprint or Palette by Nature before the semi-permanent salon brands and lastly consider the permanent.

NAIL POLISH

I use Zoya which claims to be non-toxic. It has a strongish chemical smell when wet (but not as bad as the typical brands) but once it’s dry (about 20 minutes) I find it to totally benign.

My new favorite is Sophi which I find to be almost odorless when wet, much better than zoya.

Other non-toxic brands to try are Suncoat and SpaRitual.

SELF TANNER

I have looked into a lot of the natural self-tanners out there.

Almost all of them contain DHA. It may be naturally derived, but this ingredient may not be safe.

This one by Haut Cosmetics is truly safe and natural. It’s expensive though!

ACNE CREAMS 

Some people have reported amazing results with rosehip oil and charcoal soap. I like those products a lot but they didn’t help my acne until I fixed my hormone levels.

Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist Practitioner with 8 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

Did you find this post helpful? If so you can buy me a coffee to support the research behind this blog. Thank you!

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com
Category: Tag:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Courtney

    I don’t have MCS, but I found Badger on my own at looked at the ingredients individually, only to find out that MCS tolerate it. Just trying to reduce my toxin exposure.

    If the Badger sunscreen linked above is unavailable (which it was at the time of this writing), this one is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/Badger-Sunscreen-Unscented-Resistant-Ingredients/dp/B08Y9B73QB?psc=1

    From description online: (‎Just 4 Ingredients: Uncoated Clear Zinc Oxide, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Beeswax, Sunflower Vitamin E (98% Organic & Certified Non-GMO))

    It has ingredients rated by EWG as 1 safety rating and at least limited data (limited being Beeswax)

    Reply

  2. Amy

    Thank you for this topic and I appreciate the time it took to share! Some of these products I use or have tried and some I will have to explore more.

    I am not only sensitive (MCS) to fragrances, but have also been diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis if I encounter. This includes essential oils, such as lavender, jasmine, citronella, tea tree, etc. Another sneaky ingredient that I’m allergic to is balsam of peru. It’s a fragrant resinous liquid harvested from trees grown in Central America and although not commonly used, can still be found as a fragrance, flavoring agent in foods or antibacterial ingredient.

    I have found a few fragrance-free, balsam of peru-free and essential oil-free products that I can tolerate and I’ll share here for others it may help.

    Laundry:
    Soap Nuts or Berries – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DU4XPY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I purchase the USDA Organic Soap Nuts on Amazon. The soap nuts do not have a smell until activated in warm water and I actually love the vinegary smell. My clothing comes out smelling clean with ZERO scent! It’s also cost effective as I boil it down to make a liquid which can also be used in the laundry, for household cleaning, insect repellent, body/hair wash, and because they are biodegradable, I toss the spent ones in my plant pots and in my garden. Note: The brand mentioned in this post is no longer available.
    NOTE: I use to use Branch Basics in my laundry, but my laundry was not smelling clean and it was very costly.
    Wool Dryer Balls – Branch Basics sells a great set of 3 organic wool dryer balls
    Oxygen Boost – https://branchbasics.com/products/oxygen-boost I use a scoop in the drum of my HE washer as a bleach alternative. It also works great as a stain remover and removing odors!

    Dish Soap and Hand Wash: Branch Basics – https://branchbasics.com/products/dishwasher-tablets and https://branchbasics.com/products/the-concentrate I mix the concentrate in foamer bottles: https://branchbasics.com/products/foaming-wash-bottle?variant=42907777040548 I have also used as a body wash and my husband likes to shave with the foaming dilution.

    Deodorant: I really like the Unscented deodorant from Bubble & Bee! https://bubbleandbee.com/unscented-pit-putty-cream/ Stephanie started her small business specializing in natural/organic deodorants. The Unscented contains some baking soda (which can irritate some people in high quantities) but mostly arrowroot powder along with organic shea butter, organic sunflower oil, and non-nano zinc. That’s it! I find this combo to be soothing under my arm and does a great job to keep me odor-free too! For those with challenging body odor, you could try the Unscented Pit Primer before applying the deodorant or anywhere on the body to fight odor: https://bubbleandbee.com/pit-primer-1/
    *Note: She also has a great Unscented Shower Gel (great for washing hair too), Body Butter (does contain macademia nut oil), lip balm and Soap (the glycerin is from USP grade coconut/sunflower/flax). Stephanie is very transparent and has always answered any questions I may have had regarding her products.

    Skin care/Body care: Bubble and Bee or currently I’m trying Osmia’s Unscented and Essential Oil Free products – https://osmiaskincare.com/collections/unscented Unfortunately, I can’t use the lip balm since it contains lavender (my allergen) and there is citric acid (someone metioned they were allergic) in the Toner and Handcream. I like to use the Oh So Soap to wash my short hair.

    Note: I’m looking now into Unscented soap and body butter made from tallow!

    Toothpaste: This is one where I’ve had trouble finding for my sensitive teeth. Currently, I’m trying Bubble and Bee’s toothpaste in Spearmint: https://bubbleandbee.com/natural-toothpaste/ The spearmint is still an essential oil, but one I am not allergic to. It’s been difficult finding a flavorless toothpaste! Risewell has one I may try: https://risewell.com/products/mineral-toothpaste-flavorless Although, I’m not a fan of the Propanediol listed in the ingredients.

    I hope this helps someone and to note that I am NOT affiliated with any of the companies I have mentioned.

    Reply

  3. Korina Allen

    I am SUPER chemically intolerant. I cannot use any of the popular DIY cleansers, including baking soda or apple cider vinegar. I’m even intolerant of natural soaps, like Dr. Bronners. So, needless to say, I have a real problem trying to find a decent alternative to deodorant. I’m looking for something natural I can use. It can’t be online, causes chances are, I am intolerant to that too, and I don’t want the hassle of returning it. I’m seeing oatmeal as a way to dry up oil that causes the bacteria hard to rinse with just water, cause that’s what I’m down to; water alone just doesn’t cut it. Does it work?Everything I try just ends up as another dead end. (No I can’t use lemon, either.) Needless to say, I an beyond frustrated. I hate body odor and here I am struggling with it.

    Reply

  5. Sandy

    It is good to find more ideas though the brands I have tried that you have listed caused me problems I have not tried all that you have on the list. I have decided to post my own list just in case there are people like me out there that are desperate enough to read down this far. At one point I was that desperate and it has taken years of trial and error wasted searching and trying products that failed me to get to a fairly stable place. I hope to save others that same sort of hassle and frustration.
    Laundry Simply Clean Laundry soap when I found this a few years back I read it was made by a man who’s kids have mcs. This is the best laundry detergent I have found when you find it in stock load up they tend to have production problems so after your first try and see shop load up.
    I use the same brand of dish washing soap to hand washing dishes I water it down as it is pricey leave some full strength for big jobs. Also use it for cleaning mix it with baking soda and vinegar in a spray bottle for tubs and any other place you would use general purpose cleaners. With hot water and vinegar for floors … I sprinkle baking soda on bad spots that need scrubbing or put the soda down first and spray with vinegar… which releases oxygen good for bad smells like the garbage pail.
    Deodorant baking soda sometimes with vinegar but generally not and on special occasions pit putty I tried them all in sample size and settled on the charcoal best of the best.
    Now for my latest and fav to date bambo nature bath buddy made for babies but it works great on as shampoo and show bath soap. As I live in Canada and can’t find it on a stable basis here yet I have been ordering from bambonature.usa it is a bit slow coming but well worth the wait.
    Wool dryer balls though I don’t always use them as I got use to a few wrinkles better then being sick in my book. I will never use a dryer sheet or fabric softener again.
    I did try the soap buds from eco and they worked ok the smell was a bit much but tolerable when I could not get them I tried a different soap bud really made me sick that was before I found simple clean laundry detergent… as long as they make simple clean I will be using it not switching.

    Laundry soap dish soap I use a couple other things from this company like stain remover ect but don’t need to buy them all the time this is a link that shows the places you can buy these products. There are a few stores that sell them online like well.ca and healthy planet as well as Amazon sometimes… there are always the health food stores you may be lucky and have one close to you. The first time I used simply clean I bought it at a health food store that is now closed 🙁

    when they are out online I have spent hours calling most of these stores and travelling to buy laundry soap only other mcs people would understand this.

    Wipes were the first product I used from bambo nature I had been using a similar product this one blew it out of the water I wipe my eyes with this one and no reaction at all… says a lot for other sensitive body parts.

    From there I went on to try bath buddy hair and body wash LOVED this product still love it. I tried a few other of their products since shampoo was a no…. for me. I tried 3 of the moisture products and why not I thought I had found a winner out of the three only one was suitable for me and I have only used it the one time I am sure when the dry skin of winter comes I will give a better test drive.

    So that is it for me I hope it saves you some time and money and frustration.
    well.ca is suppose to get all of these products in stock may well have them by now.

    I have no connection to any product line other than being a MCS consumer with specific needs.

    I can get this product for 3$ less at bambonatureusa.com but the don’t seem to have it in stock just now. I would not be surprised to find once you try to order if from this place it comes up empty.

    I find this is a problem with a lot of the product I need so when I find them I buy as many as I can afford.

    I think I used the wrong name for the deodorant it is this one it detoxes
    sorry for any mistakes dealing with MCS brain fog as usual… add my brain fog to the readers brain fog I wonder what the outcome will be … wishing you all well.

    https://www.amazon.com/PACK-Primal-Charcoal-Magnesium-Deodorant/product-reviews/B07D9X33VB?reviewerType=all_reviews

    Reply

    • Corinne

      Thanks for sharing your experience Sandy, I hope it can help others! At that level of sensitivity, you are still tolerating quite a few normal ingredients so you’re not in the most extreme category but at that level most people have to try many many brands to find what works. I removed a couple of the links from your comment because the bamboo link was an affiliate link. I don’t know if it was your link or you might have just grabbed the link off of a blog by mistake, but just to let you know

      Reply

      • Jennifer

        I haven’t found anything I can use. Any kind of liquid soap burns my ears, makes my nose run and makes my lungs feel like I burned in fire. I am sure there is a cause but I cannot figure it out and feel like I’m going crazy. Even ECOS dish liquid does it too. Any thoughts or recommendations?

        Reply

  6. Shelley Petit

    Thanks for this….
    A couple suggestions…for soap, contact Canary Whiskers. This is a small home business in the US developed by a fellow canary who struggled to find truly safe soaps for extremely sensitive canaries ( I’m one such person, and would not be able to tolerate many of your recommendations). They will even send you trials bars to see which you prefer. This company is also starting an education on mcs program with soap purchase ( I have no association with this company, except to have chatted on FB with owner a few times).
    Also, would you review and consider removing 7th generation from reccomended products- they were bought out by Unilever several years ago and since changed their formula and is no longer safe for canaries. ( even those who can tolerate it are adding to their toxic load)

    Reply

  7. Susan Vavak

    I love the Innersense haircare line. It has no bad stuff in it, and it makes my hair shiny and healthy. You can purchase it on Amazon or through their website.

    Reply

  8. Cade

    No way on the first hand sanitizer that contains "Benzalkonium chloride" as its active ingredient. You should use something like "Aquavert Multi-Purpose Sanitizer" which uses Hypochlorous Acid(HOCL) made from salt water and electricity. It's 100 times stronger than bleach, too.

    Reply

  9. Ellen Kitchin

    Myself and my two daughters have had good results using the all natural deodorant Lavanilla . It does have a pretty scent from essential oils and they have a few to choose from .

    I just came across your site and I'm so excited because my daughter has started having anaphylaxis attacks to we think formaldehyde . She can't have any contact with perfumes and she's had reactions going to look at flooring with me . I'm now searching for flooring for our home that is safe for her . Thank you for everything you do to help people like us .

    Reply

  10. Jessica Verghese

    Good read! I came to know about different natural solution for skin care from your blog post. I too use coconut oil as a natural conditioner, forskin care I always use herbal products from Cosmic Nutracos. They are 100% natural and cause no side effects on skin.

    Reply

  12. Anonymous

    Corinne:
    I saw your article on fb – "Woman builds herself a gorgeous, tiny, healthy, 'chemical free' house," TreeHugger, Lloyd Alter, 2014.08.12 posted by Tiny Green Cabins. One of the terms Mr. Alter used was "other auto-immune illnesses." Actually, these

    are classified as diseases. However, I'm a diabetic; diabetes is an auto-immune disease. I posed a comment on fb, "Why cannot we build w/ this in mind for all to help prevent "diseases" pre-emptoriarly?
    I'd love to "pick-your-brain" on the 'chemical free' house subj., If I may please? Txs. (;>} dCb

    David C. Burdick
    https://www.facebook.com/david.burdick.589

    Reply

  13. Kitty

    Holy cow, it's so refreshing to meet another Canary! I'm looking into building a tiny house in the future, and I love yours! I use a lot of Tropical Traditions products. I use their soap with a vinegar rinse for a shampoo/conditioner (I have a citric acid allergy so it's almost the only soap I can use). I'm so excited to have found your blog!

    Reply

  14. Horsepower

    You may also want to try Shep’s Wool Dryer Balls. They are placed in your dryer to soften clothes. Never use Chemical fabric softeners again on your laundry (and skin)!

    WoolDryerBalls.com I am sure your readers would love to hear your testimonial!

    Reply

  15. Corinne

    Yes, I have heard from many people that baking soda is good for deodorant. Baking soda for washing hair is called the no-poo method. Glycerine is not environmentally friendly when being processed but the final product is non-toxic. A lot of people can't handle essential oils yeah.

    Reply

  16. The Multiple Chemical Survivor

    For deodorant, I usually use vinegar and add baking soda on it. The vinegar kills germs so you don't smell and the baking soda keeps you dry. Baking soda can be used to wash hair, too, and leaves it squeaky clean. Baking soda for teeth, too. I've read glycerin is very toxic and I can't be around essential oils. Since I've eliminated chemicals for beauty products and don't eat them, I don't get sunburns and I'm a fair-skinned red head.

    Reply

    • Jan

      I just use Corn Starch and take a shower every day. Easy on the skin and with me having MCS so bad this works great for me an my budget. We all need to share the best things for all of our health issues….Keep everyone safe from cancers and breathing issues.

      Reply

  17. Joan Price

    I always use when I go outdoors. I don't like the idea of putting anything on my skin to absorb that I wouldn't ingest. It all goes in your system in one way or another, and I like to make sure I'm as healthy and natural as possible.

    Reply

  18. Rachael

    Toothbrush solution: have you ever tried a mishwak?
    http://www.amazon.com/Miswak-Stick-Al-Falah-Hygienically-Processed/dp/B001G47L24/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371776424&sr=8-1&keywords=miswak
    They're used a lot in the middle east and actually have good scientific evidence behind them. You don't even need to use toothpaste, the compounds in the root are antimicrobial. I started using one a few months ago and really like it, no more plastic toothbrushes!

    Also, I find that just throwing some baking soda onto my armpits works remarkably well as deodorant. I had the darndest time finding something cheap that didn't give me rashes and that's what I've settled on.

    Reply

    • Corinne

      you're the second person to say just use baking soda as deodorant so I'll have to try it! Yes, they used those in Ghana where I was staying, not sure if it's exactly the same tree but it is essentially the same – I should have brought back lots of them when I had the chance (super cheap).

      Reply

      • jan

        I just use Corn Starch. Feel that baking soda maybe harsh on the skin of used very often. I have used corn starch for 30 years and just make sure I take my daily shower. Some people may need to take a second shower or wash more often under their arm pits. I have been luck with my routine working for me.

        Reply

  19. Anaphylaxing

    Good post! I have a nut and molasses allergy…but I bet I could do that scrub with just white sugar….Great ideas here. I'm supposed to avoid beeswax since all my siblings are anaphylactic to bee stings, but still loads of ideas here. I hadn't heard of Desert Essence. I am going to look into it! Do all smells bother you or just chemical ones?

    Reply

    • Corinne

      Hi, I think white sugar would work! I don't know if it dissolves easily. I would use the lipbalm recipe that uses cocoa butter as a base. I'm not generally bothered by essential oils so I don't avoid most of them unless it's really strong. Hope you find some good solutions!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *