IN WITH THE NEW: Women's Razors
Welcome to my weekly featured ”IN WITH THE NEW” CLEAN SWAP! This week we are taking a closer look at razors!
I’m always fielding questions from clients and friends about how they can swap out some of their favorite products for safer, toxin-free options without a loss in quality, taste, or performance (depending on the product). Every week, I cover food, cosmetics, personal care, cleaning and laundry products, and even behavior, so if you enjoy these Clean Swaps, please follow me on Instagram and sign up for my 360° OF WELLNESS Newsletter (⬅️by clicking on this link to the left) so that you never miss a new one.
Let's talk RAZORS🦵🏼🦵🏼🦵🏼
Summer's coming and we're going to be shaving a lot more often (or at least the single girls among us😂🙈).
Ever think about what's in those moisture strips that every single razor seems to have? Probably not, because they’re certainly not listed, and those strips… they’re so small… who cares, right?
SO WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT razors? 💁♀️
Shaving exfoliates, exposing newer, more vulnerable skin, and warm water opens your pores. This combination means that whatever is on your skin will penetrate quicker and deeper. And let's not forget the delicate places that strip touches, like your armpits (among others), where there’s a high concentration of lymph nodes. The chemicals in these moisture strips can make their way into our lymphatic system, as well as the tiny capillaries and veins (even more so if you accidentally knick your skin).😱
So what's in those strips? Chemicals you definitely don’t want anywhere near your sensitive areas, like:
🚫 POLYETHYLYNE GLYCOL (PEG)is often contaminated with carcinogens.
🚫 TITANIUM DIOXIDE is a concern for cancer & organ system toxicity.
🚫 POLYSORBATE 20 can be contaminated with a dangerous carcinogen & has been linked to skin allergies (razor rash anyone?).
🚫 BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) is a toluene-based synthetic preservative (toluene was rated 37th most toxic chemical by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in 1992) that’s used as a preservative in personal care products. It can mimic estrogen and is a known endocrine disruptor. It is also a possible carcinogen and has been linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity.
🚫 TOCOPHERYL ACETATE is a skin toxicant and allergen that may be linked to cancer.
🚫 FRAGRANCE (aka “secret toxins”) can hide hundreds of ingredients bc the FDA considers them to be “trade secrets.” However, these are dangerous synthetic chemicals, such as phthalates, powerful hormone disruptors linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, liver and breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, and worsening allergy & asthma symptoms.
🚫 FD&C COLORS are derived from coal tar, a petroleum byproduct. Some coal tar dyes have been linked to cancer. Others have been associated with thyroid & kidney tumors, allergic reactions, and hyperactivity.
READY FOR the CLEAN SWAP?🙋♀️
BILLIE Razor
Check out Billie Razors, a woman-focused, anti-Pink Tax (i.e., that extra amount women are charged for certain products or services, for no good reason—e.g., clothing, dry cleaning, personal care, and razors) company, and one of Alure's Best of Beauty 2018 award winners.
Each cartridge razor has 5 super sharp, 100% stainless steel blades that are encased in 360° of charcoal shave soap, which consists of the following toxin-free ingredients according to the company:
Charcoal powder
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice
Shea Butter
Cyclodextrin
Polyethylene Glycol
Maldodextrin
Tocopherol (vitamin E)
The result is a great, super smooth, and SAFER shave. Your new razor also comes with a nifty magnetic holder to keep it out of the shower puddle, and out of trouble.
And I also LOOOVE the subscription option because I don’t ever have to think about when to replace my razor.
For only $9, you get a Billie Starter Kit which includes a Billie handle, the magnetic holder and two 5-blade razor cartridges. Then ongoing, you’ll get a delivery of four replacement cartridges for still, ONLY $9 whenever you need them. And shipping is always FREE!
The packaging is adorable (see what my kit looked like when I got it below). The razor feels great in your hand and works perfectly. I honestly love love love mine!
If the subscription option is not for you, here are some other safer options you can get right on Amazon.
Do you have a favorite clean brand?
Send me a message or leave a comment below and share what it is. If I feature it, I’ll give you credit and may even send you a free gift!
If you enjoyed this weeks’s Clean Swap, share it with a friend and sign up for my 360° OF WELLNESS Newsletter (below) so you never miss a new one.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Gregory is an Integrative Nutritionist and founder of NEWTRITION NEWYOU. Her focus—whether with private clients, readers of her blog, or her followers on social media— is whole body wellness, incorporating whole-food nutrition, supplementation, exercise, toxin-free living, and mindset coaching. Victoria’s personal mission is to help make the world a healthier place, one person at a time, and she has helped thousands of people find joy and self-love through better eating habits and mindfulness. Learn more about Victoria.
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