Winter in Erie, PA means one thing for sure — furnaces are running nonstop and the air is dry everywhere you go. During this time of year, I notice I’m using a lot more products on my body: lip balm, body oil, lotions… on top of my everyday essentials like shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant.
It got me thinking—what exactly is in all of these products we’re putting on our largest organ: our skin?
We often forget that our skin doesn’t just absorb moisture. It absorbs everything else in the products we use, including chemicals we may not even realize are there.
For me, the Yuka app has been an absolute game-changer. I’ll be honest—I’m not great at reading ingredient labels. Most of the words are hard to pronounce, and really, I have no idea what many of them actually mean. Once I started using Yuka, I was shocked by what I found in some of what were my favorite products. Many of them contained ingredients linked to potential health concerns—and most had very low ratings.
Slowly, I began switching my self-care products to ones made with ingredients I recognize and trust. What surprised me most was how hard these products are to find. So many items are packaged to look natural, when in reality, they’re anything but.
Some people may wonder if switching products like these really makes a difference in their everyday life. All I can say is—for me, it absolutely has.
For years, I struggled with brain fog. Then, after switching to a natural shampoo and conditioner, it was like someone flipped a switch. The brain fog lifted in a way that truly amazed me. The products I had been using before? Their Yuka ratings were 0 and 1. Even though my hair felt great, the chemicals my skin was absorbing every time I washed my hair were likely contributing to how I was feeling.
That moment was one of many that confirmed this journey toward living a more balanced life. Today, I’m far more conscious of what I put on my skin—and I continue to learn as I go.
Because small, intentional changes really can make a big difference.