Let’s face it. Most of us have a personal care routine that includes products with synthetic chemicals. When you use a face wash or shampoo, and it goes down your drain, where does it go? It certainly doesn’t disappear into thin air.
There’s a lot of controversy over which chemicals aren’t good for our skin, but most people don’t consider how these chemicals affect the environment. Even though we expect what goes down our drain to go through water treatment, sometimes, water contaminated with personal products can leak into the environment through leaky pipes or damaged septic tanks. Personal products can also contaminate nature when you go camping and take a shower or wash your face outside or when you are swimming in a river, stream or the sea. Sometimes, we throw away old personal care products, but those creams, lotions and washes can leak from a landfill or dump truck into the environment.
Synthetic chemicals can harm plants and animals and contaminate bodies of water. Natural and biodegradable products are better for you and for the environment. Something biodegradable can be decomposed by bacteria or living organisms, so intensive water treatment isn’t needed to remove biodegradable products from water. By using these products as often as possible, you can reduce the amount of synthetic chemicals you send spiraling down your sink or tub. Most companies label their products as biodegradable if they are 100 percent environmentally safe.
Instead of shopping for synthetics (brands like Neutrogena, Olay and Clean & Clear), shop for natural ingredients such as lemon, aloe vera, rosewater, tea tree oil and African black soap. Google and maybe Whole Foods will be your best friends for finding natural and biodegradable products and recipes for homemade products that are right for you.
