Ask Tamara: What personal care products do you use?

 

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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).

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Mascara? Eyeliner? Lipstick? Lotion? Toothpaste?
Shampoo? Conditioner? Deodorant? Perfume? Soap?

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So many of my followers 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).

My immediate answer is “nothing… on most days I don’t even bother — with four kids, I’m lucky if I manage to take a shower and brush my hair before a business meeting, let alone put on makeup!”

(A lot of days recently, I don’t even wear a bra — but that’s also because I read an article recently about how they can be bad for the development and maintenance of the muscles in your breasts!) (Note: When I do wear bras, I only wear custom ones made of organic cotton from Decent Exposures, out of Seattle! I have been wearing their bras for 22 years!)

But giving the question of “What personal care products do I use?” a little more thought, I actually do have a few that I really like — and use on a (fairly) regular basis! I have done my research on all of these brands and products, and am comfortable with their business practices and promises! I also am extremely sensitive to many synthetic compounds (especially artificial scents and dyes), so I steer clear of those by sticking to natural-ingredient-focused companies with good reputations. I also avoid certain products known to have ingredients that are notorious for having high levels of Lead… like products with any kind of clay as an ingredient — especially bentonite clay!

Given that makeup and personal care products are not a priority for me, I try to make sure the few I do use are as “pure and simple” as possible. The litmus test is whether or not I experience any kind of reactions… which, unfortunately, happens with the majority of popular products — and is the main reason I use so few.

I never use things like base makeup, powder, eye shadow, lip liner, eyebrow pencil, creams or lotions, etc. I just don’t find them useful (I’ve also been blessed with pretty good skin) — plus, most of those things cause me to have fairly severe reactions (even the all-natural versions of those products) because I have such super-sensitive skin!

As you may use more products than I do, I also am open to hearing your feedback about experiences with any of the following products (since I am not a personal care product guru… just a Lead guru!). For now, here’s a list of my current favorites:

• Oops — a December 2022 update: I removed everything from the list here because I pretty much use NO personal care products now. I will give this some thought and see if there is anything else I want to do to update this post, so stand by for that — lol.

As always, feel free to ask questions!

Tamara Elise Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Owner of Lead Safe Mama, LLC
Mother of four sons

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