Can Beauty Hurt? How Chemicals in Skincare + Cosmetics Can Impact Your Health
Switching to cleaner beauty goes beyond skin deep. Learn how chemicals in your skincare items can be harming your hormones, mood, and physical health—plus what you can do about it with these easy-to-implement tips.
BY Dr. Lauren dyer
DAC, LAC, DIPL. AC (NCCAOM)
Spring cleaning isn’t just for your closets or yard anymore. Have you ever thought of updating your skincare routine? This blog is all about why…
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG)—a non-profit, non-partisan organization— “on average, women use 12 personal care products a day, exposing themselves to 168 chemical ingredients.” Men use six, exposing themselves to 85 unique chemicals.”
Think about that for a second...
How many do you apply a day?
Looking at the safety of cosmetics + everyday products is something I talk about with patients, especially if they are coming in with:
depression
anger + irritability
food/chemical sensitivities
headaches/migraines
pms-related symptoms
hormonal acne, hives, etc
waking from 1-3am regularly
Why am I calling out these symptoms?
They point to a root imbalance in the Liver.
Why does this matter?
It’s all connected. The chemicals in cosmetics + related products get absorbed into your skin and therefore, your bloodstream. Eventually they make their way to other other organs to be processed including, yep—your Liver.
LIVER HEALTH
The Liver is a known key detox organ. It filters your blood, breaking-down chemicals from food, drinks, drugs, plus personal/household products. It also helps keep your sex, thyroid, and adrenal hormones in check.
In TCM, we refer to these roles more broadly in saying the Liver ensures the free flow of qi and blood〰️When bombarded by chronic chemical exposure, my patients notice their mood, energy, skin, and hormones suffer.
How clean are your cosmetics?
To determine how safe your products are, be weary of ingredients you cannot easily pronounce, including these known endocrine disruptors:
Formaldehyde and formalin (shampoos)
Synthetic “fragrance” and “parfum”
Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, isopropyl-)
Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP and others)
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and others
Aluminum chlorohydrate (deodorants)
RESOURCES
Can’t remember this list? No problem.
There are mobile apps that let you look up your go-to products & their ingredients!
You can even scan items through your phone & compare safety ratings before you buy:
Here are some apps I recommend:
Think Dirty
GoodGuide
Healthy Living
For more information, visit the Environmental Working Group’s Skin-Deep Database.
My Top Clean Beauty Picks:
🌿 Beauty Counter
🌿 Neal’s Yard Remedies
🌿 Badger Balm
🌿 Primally Pure
Not affiliated, just love these brands.
Hope you found this blog helpful. If you are ready to start cleaning up your makeup routine, know that your liver, skin, and mood will thank you.
Our Top Health + Wellness Gift Guide
We are sharing our top health-conscious gift ideas inspired by our favorite brands. Whether you need ideas for the athlete in your life, the chef, or the clean-beauty obsessed, we’ve got you covered. Learn how each of these items promote wellness to earn a spot on our list.
by lauren dyer, dac
As if the holidays were not stressful enough, finding the perfect gift for those you love only adds to the pressure. Even if you want to take advantage of the sales and buy for yourself, knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
To make things easier, here are our Top Picks for holiday gifts inspired by our care and favorite brands. With an emphasis on quality, functionality, and experiences, each item is meant to elevate your health and nurture your well-being. Plus, everything included is something we personally use and trust—so you know it’s legitimate.
this ARTICLE contains links for some Companies we are affiliated witH. However all opinions are 100% our own and we are TRue fans of everything we choose to endorse. the brands featured are ones we want you to know about so you can benefiT from them too.
FOR THE CLEAN-BEAUTY CONNOISSEUR
BEAUTY COUNTER
This is a skincare company that places their customer’s health as their #1 priority. Their mission is simple but powerful: to get safer products into the hands of everyone because “beauty should be good for you.”
Beauty Counter has become the gold standard in the clean beauty movement because of their strict sourcing and production qualifications. In fact, there are over 1,500 harmful and questionable ingredients they forbid from their formulations (The Never List™) whereas the U.S. government restricts only 30 ingredients while Canada restricts more than 600 and the E.U. more than 1,400 ingredients. If you are wondering why such a disparity exists, here is an eye-opening statement from Founder/CEO Gregg Renfrew:
“Decades of studies indicate that serious health issues (including but not limited to asthma, cancer, and infertility) are on the rise and are due in some part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals—whether it's in the shower, on our commute, while we eat lunch at a local restaurant, or when we clean our kitchens at home. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of those used in the skin care and beauty industry. What's worse is that the Food and Drug Administration (the agency that regulates cosmetics in the United States) does not have the authority to remove harmful ingredients from the products we put on our bodies and on our kids' bodies every single day, day after day.”
This brand don’t just advocate for change, they take action. Their founder recently testified as an expert witness in Congress for a landmark hearing on Cosmetic Reform, “the first time in 80 years since the U.S. government has passed legislation protecting consumers from harmful ingredients used in personal care and beauty products.” If passed, this bill would empower the FDA to screen ingredients and remove unsafe products from the market—finally.
When it comes to their products, there is something for everyone—men too . My everyday staples include their Dewy Skin Moisturizer, Charcoal Facial Mask, Vitamin C Facial Oil, Brow Gel, and Cream Highlighter. If you or someone you care about is wanting to make the switch to cruelty-free, safer beauty too, I cannot recommend Beauty Counter enough.
(NOT AFFILIATED, JUST OBSESSED)
FOR THE SELF-CARE ENTHUSIAST
FACIAL GUA SHA STONE & ROLLER SET
If you followed any major wellness blog in 2019, you have probably seen Gua Sha & Jade Rollers make a few appearances.
These Traditional Chinese Medicine tools have come into the spotlight for their ease of use and ability to smooth + sculpt facial muscles when paired with the right technique. Facial Gua Sha and Jade Rolling works by gently boosting blood flow to the skin, mobilizing connective tissue in the facial muscles, while stimulating the production of elastin + collagen. When done consistently, these tools can re-pattern the way the skin ages.
In Chinese Medicine, our face is a reflection of our life experiences, emotions, and internal health. Every line and wrinkle emerges from the consistent expressions of our lives and stories we tell ourselves. In that sense, our ability to glow and feel beautiful is truly and inside-out job.
Facial Gua Sha and Jade Rolling is also ideal if you get frequent headaches and jaw pain which can emerge from tension stored in the muscles of the face. It makes a soothing self-care ritual to start or end your day alongside your skincare routine (I prefer evening).
To find your own set, check out this review of the “10 Best Gua Sha Facial Tools” by Rank & Style. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but a nice resource to get you started.
I personally use the 6Babe Beauty Facial Bundle by expert Cosmetic Acupuncturist Amrit Singh, RAC in Toronto. Follow her Instagram (@6babebeauty) where she shares tutorials on her Highlights!
When it comes to proper use, you’ll need to learn the technique. So before trying it at home, check out Amrit’s videos or this How-To Video by Mind Body Green so you can get your glow on like a pro.
(Not affiliated, JUST sharing the love)
FOR THE FOODIE & CHEF
CLEAN COOKWARE
If you are like me and enjoy cooking, you probably know that using the right cookware for the job can make or break your meal. Nowadays with countless options on the market, there are bigger concerns like how safe (or not) non-stick cookware is, since not all are created equally. This scrutiny is in light of the FDA recently confirming “Toxic Nonstick Cookware Chemicals Are Contaminating Our Food and Water Supply.”
Here is an excerpt of their findings:
“The agency has been conducting studies on the prevalence of PFAS—a common chemical ingredient in nonstick pans—in various food and water sources. These chemicals (are used) as a means of repelling oil and water—but at the price of potentially leaching into our next meal […] The FDA presented its findings from three studies on the prevalence of PFAS at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's [and] explained that these chemicals that have been widely used in nonstick cookware, contact paper, food packaging, cleaning products, and other industrial products have leached into our food and water supply, as well as contaminated our livestock and the sewage sludge used for fertilization. This is a serious problem as these “forever chemicals” are linked to liver damage, certain types of cancers, thyroid disease, infertility, high cholesterol…and several other serious health conditions.”
If you would like to switch to safer options, here is a reliable article on “The Best (and Worst) Cookware Materials” written by Chris Kresser, a fellow Acupuncturist and Functional Medicine expert. In summary the CLEANEST materials are: Cast Iron, Ceramic (Enamel), and Stainless Steel. The most TOXIC and questionable ones are: TEFLON (including cheap teflon replacements), COPPER (potentially less worriesome if stainless-steel lined), and ALUMINUM.
So whether you want to gift yourself or the beloved chef in your life some safe and quality cookware, now you know what to look for.
As for me, I’ll be adding some more Le Creuset to my kitchen this season.
(NOT AFFILIATED JUST A FAN)
FOR THE GO-GETTER + ORGANIZER
DAY DESIGNER PLANNER
This planner is a game-changer if you thrive on routine, structure, and organizing. Being “Type-A” is a badge I don’t mind wearing and if you can relate, neither should you. I began using Day Designer’s Planners at the start of 2019. When researching options, I was drawn to how different their layout was compared to most agendas. Instead of trying to fit your daily goals and to-dos in an inconveniently small rectangle that covers 1/4 of the page (since most planners cram Monday-Wednesday and Thursday-Sunday onto two pages), Day Designer’s layout is a breath of fresh air. They give you—get this—an ENTIRE PAGE for every day of the year. Genius.
Now, if you are thinking that’s unnecessary, I assure you it’s not. Their daily spread gives you a nice balance of structure and space. You have an area to list your “Top 3” priorities, a free-form section for listing your to-dos on paper as well as a hourly break-down to schedule-in more time sensitive tasks and appointments. I regularly used their “Don’t Forget,” “Dinner” and “Daily Gratitude” boxes too. After using Day Designer for a year now, I can confidently share how thankful I am for the ability to go about each day with clearer intentions and efficiency.
You can take a close-up look at their layout here.
As a bonus, these planners are just as durable as they are aesthetic: their brass binding, hardcovers, and chic patterns all convey how this brand is for those who are serious about planning (and living) their best life. Be sure to check them out and you can even sample their free printables before investing!
(NOT AFFILIATED, JUST OBSESSED—AGAIN)
FOR THE ATHLETE IN YOUR LIFE
WHOOP FITNESS TRACKER
Whoop is the next generation of fitness trackers. This all-in-one, light weight strap monitors your heart rate, calories burned, sleep (including the breakdown for how much of each stage you’re getting) plus Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to determine your daily strain and recovery levels.
What is HRV? It measures the time between individual heart beats, reflecting your central nervous system’s (CNS) response to stress. A high HRV is positive: it shows your CNS can easily shift out from a sympathetic “fight or flight” state to one that can “rest and digest.” Low HRV is seen in those with poorly managed chronic stress, where the CNS becomes stuck on high-alert, often associated with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and cardiovascular issues. HRV is considered a new way to measure overall health and fitness—and it is a metric Whoop accounts for unlike other trackers on the market. To learn more about HRV and its benefits for athletes, read Whoop’s blog about it here.
Dr. Travis Dyer actually uses Whoop to optimize his training and loves it. As a clinician, competitive powerlifter, and coach, he always says “if it can’t be measured, it can’t be managed.” This is especially true when it comes to athletes looking to build strength or endurance while managing fatigue. It can be a hard balance to find which is why knowing the ins-and-outs of how your body works is, in his opinion, the key to performance. What sets Whoop apart is its ability to help you intuitively understand your strain + stress + sleep levels to optimize your performance.
Features any athlete will appreciate:
WHOOP LIVE: Record yourself your during a workout, going for a big lift, a sprint, etc. and see your metrics change in action.
STRAIN COACH: Know when to go all out and when to dial-it-back. Whoop’s Strain Coach lets you know what your exertion levels should be for your training that day based on your recovery.
SLEEP COACH: Find out what time you need to go to bed by and how many hours of sleep you need to recover from daily activities. You can alter these metrics based on whether you are trying to “Get By” “Perform” or “Peak.”
GET A FREE WHOOP 3.0 STRAP Plus $30 TOWARDS YOUR MEMBERSHIP WHEN YOU JOIN below:
(dR. TRAVIS Dyer IS A WHOOP member and ATHLETE)
FOR THE OVERWORKED & OVER-STRESSED
DAO LABS CHINESE HERBAL TEAS
If you’ve worked with us, you have probably heard us recommend DAO Labs as a way to compliment your care—and for good reason.
Each tea is a modern adaptation of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine but with better taste, delicious flavors, and hassle-free enjoyment: just pour in water, stir, and sip! We trust DAO Labs for our patients because they have the highest standards for quality control and sustainable sourcing—with third-party testing to ensure the integrity of each formula. All of their teas are made and tested in the USA without any artificial ingredients or fillers. They also donate a portion of each sale to Wildaid to end illegal wildlife trade.
The teas that we recommend (and our patients love the most) are:
EMOTIONAL BALANCE
Inspired by the calming, popular and powerful herbal blend Free & Easy Wanderer (Xiao Yao San), this formula is ideal for those with overwhelming stress and a tendency towards irritability. It is also beneficial for mood swings due and symptoms due to PMS.
MENTAL TRANQUILITY
Mental Tranquility is for the stressed sleeper whose mind won’t turn off in the night, leaving them stressed and restless—then fatigued the next day. Inspired by the classic Chinese herbal bled Return to Spleen (Gui Pi Tang), this natural, non-habit forming formula is for those with a tendency towards worry, daytime anxiousness, and a racing mind that makes it hard to fall asleep or fall-back to sleep if wakened during the night.
PHYSICAL TRANQUILITY
Physical Tranquility is for the physically restless and overheated sleeper, who wake repeatedly or toss and turn through the night, leaving them agitated the next morning. Inspired by the classic formula Emperor of Heaven Elixir (Tian Wang Bu Xin Dan), this natural, non-habit forming sleep formula is designed to calm and cool the body during the night, delivering peaceful rest and more energy the next day. I also like to recommend this formula for women looking for relief from menopause-related hot flashes.
DIGESTIVE HARMONY
Digestive Harmony, inspired by the classic herbal blend Preserve Harmony Decoction (Bao He Wan) is a soothing yet powerful solution for balancing one’s stomach, upgrading digestive health, and generally delivering gut happiness when other western options have fallen short. It provides fast digestive balance and harmony after over-indulging, when you’re in an urgent digestive pinch, as well as daily support to keep your stomach settled.
I like to recommend this formula for those who get digestive disturbances that are clearly linked to (and worse with) stress. However, its also best for bloating, heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion/nausea after meals.
USE THE CODE *EMPOWER* AT CHECKOUT TO SAVE 10% ON YOUR FIRST ORDER!
WE ARE AFFILIATEs OF DAO LABS
FOR THE EXPERIENCE-SEEKER
GIFT A TREATMENT
SHARYN PEAVEY PHOTOGRAPHY
SHARYN PEAVEY PHOTOGRAPHY
If buying “stuff” is not your style and your loved ones would much rather have an experience dedicated to elevating their health, we would be grateful to serve them.
Our practice specializes in supporting those in our community with Chronic Pain, Sports Injuries, Chronic Stress, Burnout, Anxiety, Depression, Digestive Imbalances, and more. If you are wondering if we are the right practice for you, feel free to contact us.
HAVE A RESTFUL and HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON!
Disclaimer: Information contained in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace the care for any health concern or medical condition. Please seek out professional advice from a licensed medical provider for any concerns you have.
What Self-Care Really Means
Learn why the “treat yourself” mentality is problematic when it comes to self-care and how you can make a life you don’t need to escape from.
Lauren Dyer, D.Ac
Self Care…
The phrase has become so trendy in the health & wellness space. It’s great how there is this collective awareness of a need to invest in ourselves.
But at what cost?
Does “self care” need to be an indulgence or expensive? Do we need to feel guilty or selfish for it to count? Does it need to be an escape from reality?
As a clinician, I treat so many people who describe themselves as “run-down,” physically and emotionally, because they feel like they cannot put themselves first. They struggle with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and exhaustion from trying to keep it all together and be the person they need to be for their job, partner, kids, or friends. The way self-care is marketed to us seems to make some object, vacation, or indulgent behavior a “quick fix” for momentary abandonment of how ‘wired and tired’or ‘stressed and depressed' we really are. So how we create consistent space for our needs is something I have been reflecting on quite a bit lately.
That is why I have come to think of self care as a process instead of a purchase.
Instead of an occasional reward or some “me time,” I see it as a continuous practice of self-development and growth. By holding ourselves accountable, we can create the life we want, one that allows us to give to others without neglecting ourselves in the process. Treating yourself is great but this concept has to go deeper than that if we want to enjoy life instead of just get by—if we want to have sustainable shifts in our mental outlook and emotional health.
Even I reward myself and still think there’s a slippery slope when “self care” becomes synonymous with “treat yourself.”
Here are some of my favorite quotes explaining why by Forbes and Thought Catalog :
“Self-care is not an indulgence, it is a discipline. It requires tough-mindedness, a deep and personal understanding of your priorities, and a respect for both yourself and the people you choose to spend your life with”
“Ironically when you truly care for yourself…you are actually in a much stronger place to give of yourself to those around you. You will be a happier parent, a more grateful spouse, a fully engaged colleague”
“It often means looking your failures and disappointments square in the eye and re-strategizing”
“It is living a way that other people won’t, so maybe you can live in a way that other people can’t”
“True self care is…making the choice to build a life you don’t regularly need to escape from.”
“It is no longer using your hectic and unreasonable life as justification for self-sabotage in the form of (substance abuse) and procrastination”
“If you find yourself having to regularly indulge in consumer self-care, it’s because you are disconnected from actual self-care, which has very little to do with “treating yourself” and a whole lot to do with parenting yourself and making choices for your long-term wellness.”
“It is learning how to stop trying to “fix yourself” and start trying to take care of yourself…and maybe finding that taking care lovingly attends to a lot of the problems you were trying to fix in the first place”
“It is becoming the person you know you want and are meant to be”
At the end of the day, self care can’t always be purchased.
Or at least, it shouldn’t be.
Thankfully there are plenty of inexpensive ways to practice it, such as:
GO FOR A WALK
TAKE A BATH (OR A NAP)
MAKE A COZY DRINK OR HEALTHY MEAL
WEAR YOUR FAVORITE OUTFIT
CALL A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER
UNPLUG FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
SPEND TIME OUTDOORS & IN NATURE
WRITE A LIST OF THINGS YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR
WATCH A FAVORITE SHOW OR READ A BOOK FOR PLEASURE
MEDITATE WITH A FREE APP LIKE CALM OR HEADSPACE
There are so many options! Find what works for you and regularly build it into your life.
So… What does self care mean to you?
. . .
Disclaimer: Information contained in this article is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical symptoms/condition. If you have any health concerns or an emergency, seek out medical attention. If you are a patient of ours with a health concern, contact us so we can help and make appropriate referrals as needed. If you have questions, feel free to reach out via email at empowerchiroacu@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!