Ask Tamara: What personal care products do you use?
For those new to this website:
Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) to test consumer goods for toxicants (specifically heavy metals — including Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Antimony, and Arsenic). Tamara’s work was featured in Consumer Reports Magazine in February of 2023 (March 2023 print edition).
Mascara? Eyeliner? Lipstick? Lotion? Toothpaste?
Shampoo? Conditioner? Deodorant? Perfume? Soap?
So many Lead Safe Mama online community members have asked me what products I use for personal care (“... given so many popular brands include toxic ingredients, have questionable quality control and/or ethics… what do YOU use?“— they ask).
- I pretty much use NO personal care products these days.
- I generally use local bar-soap (or soap made by a friend) to wash my hair and my body.
- I have been using this toothpaste since we tested it and it came back clean: https://amzn.to/4cE7UeD
- I never wear any makeup of any kind (no lipstick, foundation, blush – or anything like that!)
- I don’t dye my hair.
- I get my nails done every now and then with my kids – I like having sparkles on my nails. I think I have gotten my nails done three times in the past year. (Since my husband requested this 25 years ago, we don’t keep nail polish – or nail polish remover – in the house due to toxicity concerns).
- I will give this some thought and see if there is anything else I want to do to update this piece, so stand by for that — lol.
As always, feel free to ask questions!
Tamara Elise Rubin
Owner — Lead Safe Mama, LLC
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Thank Tamara! Dr Bonner’s now has toothpaste too. Have you seen them? If so, I’d be curious about what you think.
Hi Tamara, what about shampoo for your boys? Do you have a trusted shampoo? Thank you!
Kelly
Hi Tamara. I’ve recently been researching, looking for the best non-toxic cookware options. Was wondering what brands/types of cookware you use around your house? Thanks!
Hi Tamara,
We’re moving to a new apartment that has a chandelier. I’m guessing it may have lead and am planning to replace it. Is there any chandelier that is safe? The light fixture is right above the dining room table and I’m worried about lead dust ending up in our food.
I have actually tested quite a few chandeliers that ended up being cut glass and not leaded crystal, so you might not have to worry about that. If you wanted to you could take a crystal or two off for testing (you could send to me for testing) – email for deets if you don’t have them already.
Thank you for the work you do to keep us informed! Six or seven years ago I purchased the Denby “Elements” (light blue outside and light grey inside)dinnerware because the company claimed lead and cadmium free. I am now interested in purchasing the Denby “Heritage Terrace” dinnerware. Any information would be helpful. Thank you
You are very welcome! I am not sure that I have tested anything new from that company. I will double check and get back to you.
You’ve tested a few toothpaste and found them to be toxic for children. Any non-toxic/recommended toothpastes for adults or children? Thank you
Hi Tamara, have you tested the ZuZu mascara and liner, and the Logona lipstick, for lead? I figured probably but didn’t want to assume since I didn’t see it explicitly mentioned. Thanks!
My kids are often gifted lip balm. One we have around is Disney brand. Blueberry flavored with Elsa on it and another one with Anna. Have you tested these? What is the best way to test makeup and lip balm at home?
Hi Dana,
Unfortunately these things have to be tested in a lab. They are toxic below limits of detection of any home test or even an XRF instrument. However, if they are Disney branded – they have likely been tested.
Tamara
Dear Tamara,
Your site has become a life guide for so many people and I’m among them! Priceless work,so much important information! Thank you!!!!!!! I haven’t found anything about sunscreens here… I wonder if you and your family use any? I would love to buy one for my 19 months old son, but worry so much as read many articles saying they are full of heavy metals(even organic ones). Can you recommend any brand?
Thank you so much in advance!!!
Maryna
I use an amazing website called EWG.org to find sunscreens. They rate all the products in their database with a number, 1-10. One being the best/safest and 10 being the worst. You can see each ingredient and all the studies that have been done on it and why it got that rating.
I no longer trust them – they list several lead-contaminated products with top ratings. Read this:
https://tamararubin.com/2022/12/cognitive-dissonance-several-lead-contaminated-products-have-received-1-ratings-from-ewg/
Tamara
now that Iam 64 i don’t dye my hair anymore but i do put on a little bit of eye shadow on my eye lids for a light dusting of darkness instead of hard liner and i do wear mascara but just very lightly. that’s it. I did a little research and found Gabriel cosmetic line which has been around a while to be a safer choice. I’am a very sensitive person chemically I mean, so usually If something is toxic Ill be the first one to know it. I’ve been using their line of make up for years without problem but would love if you could test their charcoal colored eye shadow and black mascara. I know you are probably swamped but it was worth a try to ask. Thanks a million for all the important brave work that you are doing to make companies responsible for thier products lines. Thanks again Tamara T.W.
Any toothpastes you recommend for adults and children? Also looking for shampoo and body wash.
What about grass-fed tallow soap?
Tamara, What do you use to clean your hair and skin?
Hi Tamara, I need a skin moisturizing lotion for dry skin, e.g. hands, feet. Have you tested any? Can’t find the brand names like eucerin, lubriderm, aquaphor on your website except occasionally associated with sunscreen or diaper cream. Love the work you are doing, although the products rarely seem to apply to me.
Hi, thanks for all that you do. In this article you mentioned that you pretty much don’t use any body care products does that include deodorant as well. I put deodorant in the search bar above, and that didn’t come up with you testing any of them. I was wondering if you had and you just haven’t printed it.
Hi Anna,
Yes – that is correct – I do not use deodorant, nor anti-perspirant. I don’t use perfume either. I don’t shave my under arms or legs 🙂 — I don’t use lipstick, foundation, eye makeup (liner / shadow), blush, skin lotion, or any of those things.
Years ago a friend told me that my body odor was not great one day when I as traveling and I realized that the main issue was that I was wearing bras more than once between washings (when we have been very poor there have definitely been times where I have only had 2 or 3 bras that fit me, so I would alternate bras and air them out between wearings and wear them two or three times between washings).
Since then I found a bra I love that is quite inexpensive and incredibly comfortable. It can easily be washed in the normal laundry and it does not shrink. I bought ten of them. I always bring one for each day of travel with me – plus one extra (so for a 7 day trip, I bring 8 bras). I have not had any B.O. complaints since I started doing this!
Unfortunately these bras are from Italy and cannot be purchased in the United States — so I always buy more when I go overseas (and have them shipped from Italy to wherever I am in Europe). I am in love with the brand. They cost about $10.00 each (sometimes as much as $13.00 but not more). Here’s the link to the company – and one of the bras I love on their website (I wear the XXL): https://risalti.it/products/top-spalla-larga-soft-touch-bamboo [Who knows?! It looks like they may ship to the States now! Woot!]
If I am going to be in close quarters with other people and I have a concern for body odor (which is rare), I dab a little vanilla on my shirt under my arms (and anywhere else that might get stinky because of the heat.)
Best of luck!
Thanks for commenting.
Sorry to not have more info for you — I am a crunchy hippie, born in 1969 (child of beatniks and all that!)
Tamara
Tamara, great that you’ve got a system that works for you! Two of my doctors have told me I need to use moisturizer on my dry skin to minimize the risk of injury. I suspect that most body creams and lotions contain heavy metals, and would thus be interested in any test results. Your results on baby products did not make most of them look suitable for babies or adults. BTW, my sister used to apply desitin to her dry lips—no more!
Hi Ann,
Oh wow! (about the Desitin!) Yikes.
We have tested a few creams and lotions that have come back clean and may be helpful products for you:
1.) Sold for use by babies: https://amzn.to/3YmKxy1 (this is not their diaper lotion, their diaper lotion was contaminated & their sunscreen was also contaminated)
Lab report: https://tamararubin.com/2025/05/babo-botanicals-sensitive-baby-fragrance-free-hydrating-lotion/
2.) Sold for use by babies: https://amzn.to/40NbUlA
Lab report: https://tamararubin.com/2026/03/la-petite-creme-organic-diaper-balm/
3.) What my son uses – he has severe debilitating plaque psoriasis, this is a UK product so sometimes hard to find – we order from the UK in the larger pump size and it now costs about $50.00 per bottle (in the UK it is closer to $17): https://amzn.to/4lXkyH5 — this can also be useful for bum wiping for those who have skin conditions and need help with that (just squirt a tiny amount on a piece of toilet paper to make that go more easily). The little pump bottles are great to keep in a purse or backpack (the product linked to here on Amazon).
Lab report: https://tamararubin.com/2025/08/epaderm-cream-psoriasis/
4.) This is a face oil. I never use anything on my face (I break out if I do, because I am super sensitive!) but I have used this product on other parts of my body (specifically “down there” creases, as – in my “old age” – my skin can tear after bathing or swimming if I am not careful): https://amzn.to/43hy2XO — note potential perceived conflict of interest (not a real conflict though): I am friends with the owner of this company.
Lab Repot: https://tamararubin.com/2025/03/kora-organics-noni-face-oil/
These are all on our Lab-tested safer choices list. Here’s that link: https://tamararubin.com/safer-choices/
In general if I desperately need to moisturize my skin I use organic almond oil (food grade) if possible. We haven’t tested it though — but I will see if we can get that on the list to see if it can be confirmed to be clean: https://amzn.to/4cfpLGW
Tamara
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NOTE: The bras mentioned in an earlier comment (to Anna) are not available in the US. I got my hopes up, and then translated the text on the order page and it says “Not available in your region”.