I am definitely not perfect when it comes to living a completely non toxic life.

But there are certain things we use every single day that I’ve become pretty picky about.

These are a few areas where I really don’t like to compromise.

Lipstick + Lip Gloss

Lip products were one of the first things that made me start paying attention to ingredients because think about how much of your lipstick or gloss you probably end up ingesting throughout the day.

Between synthetic dyes, fragrance and other ingredients I’d rather avoid when I can, this is one category where I’ve gotten much pickier.

I used Counter lip gloss for years and still love it. I also really like ILIA and Saie, especially because both are easy to grab at Sephora if you want something a little easier to find.

Laundry Detergent

This is a HUGE one for me because I am so sensitive to smells.

I cannot handle walking around all day smelling like I’ve been marinating in laundry detergent. Some of the popular detergents and scent boosters are so heavily fragranced that I honestly don’t know how people do it.

And since our clothes, sheets and towels are touching our skin all day and night, this is an easy place for me to choose something simpler.

I rotate between Seventh Generation and Molly’s Suds and have been really happy with both.

Clean clothes do not need to announce themselves from three rooms away.

Sunscreen

We do not avoid the sun. Regular sunlight is important and healthy in moderation, and I’m not interested in slathering sunscreen all over us every single time we walk outside.

But if we’re going to be out for a long time, especially in the Florida sun, I’m really particular about what we use. I’ll usually focus on faces, shoulders and the areas that tend to burn first.

A lot of conventional sunscreens contain chemical UV filters, fragrance, preservatives and other ingredients I personally would rather avoid when there are simpler options.

Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two ingredients I specifically look out for. Hawaii has even restricted the sale of sunscreens containing them because of concerns about damage to coral reefs.

And honestly, if an ingredient is causing enough concern that we’re trying to keep it out of the ocean, that definitely makes me look a little harder at whether I want it all over my body too.

We usually stick with mineral based sunscreens. Counter has been our favorite, but we also use Think and Badger.

Body Lotion

Your skin is getting exposed to whatever you put on it over and over again, and lotion isn’t exactly something you use sparingly. We are literally rubbing it all over our bodies.

So this is one area where I really pay attention to ingredients and fragrance.

Right now I am completely obsessed with OSEA. It feels amazing, smells good without being overwhelming and makes my skin feel ridiculously soft.

Toothpaste

There can be a lot going on in conventional toothpaste beyond the ingredient you’re actually buying it for, including artificial flavors, sweeteners, foaming agents and other additives.

I’ve also personally decided to move away from fluoride toothpaste.

There has been enough research raising questions about higher fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment that I’d rather reduce my exposure where it’s easy to do, especially when there are good alternatives available.

So I’ve switched to hydroxyapatite toothpaste instead.

Hydroxyapatite is a mineral naturally found in our teeth and is used in toothpaste to help support enamel and remineralization. I’m currently using and really like it, but I also like Risewell.

For me, this was just one of those easy swaps where I thought, if I have another option I really like, why not?

The Point Isn’t Perfection

It’s not always easy to find perfectly clean products but even just making the better choice is worth it! Once I learn about certain ingredients or find out there are better alternatives, I usually just replace things as we run out. Most of the time, I find the better options work just as well anyway.

I can’t control every ingredient I’m exposed to, and I’m definitely not trying to live in a bubble. But when it comes to products we use every single day, these are a few places where I think making a cleaner swap is pretty easy.

What are some of your non-negotiables?