When you’re pregnant, everything changes. All the sudden, you’re living for two and reading the labels of everything you’re putting on your body becomes a task in and of itself. It’s not just about scanning for common toxins anymore, it’s about asking the tough questions with each ingredient listed: how is this going to affect me – and my baby?
Eco-chic mama Grace Lee, founder of Nine Naturals, was fed up with the bevy of so-called “natural” products on the market that were either not as pure as they claimed to be or simply didn’t perform well – and so she decided to create the hair and skin care line she wanted to see for pregnancy and beyond, free of harsh chemicals and harmful environmental toxins. We love Nine Natural’s glossary of ingredients, and asked Grace to break down some of the basics for us. Read up, then enter to win her entire product line before Mother’s Day!
While pregnant or breastfeeding, I highly recommend avoiding the five chemicals commonly found in beauty products listed below. Why? A growing number of studies have shown that common chemicals in everyday personal care products, such as shampoo, makeup and moisturizers, are associated with developmental, reproductive and behavioral disorders, hormone disruption and cancer. Women who use these products during pregnancy can potentially pass on their toxin exposures to their babies.
5 Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
Parabens:
Parabens are the most widely used preservative in cosmetics. Intended to stop the growth of bacteria in your products, they are endocrine disruptors – chemicals that act like hormones and disrupt the reproductive system. Parabens can build up in the body over time and have been associated with reproductive disorders in babies.
Sulfates:
These cleansing agents are used to make soaps that foam and lather. Nitrosamines and 1,4-dioxane are the two primary culprits present within sulfates and have been labeled carcinogenic. Sulfates have also been shown to disrupt hormonal balance, incite reproductive and developmental problems and seriously pollute the environment.
Phthalates:
Phthalates are plasticizers found in a wide variety of personal care products such as shampoos, conditioners and perfumes, which are often a component of fragrance in products. Exposure to phthalates is associated with hormone disruption, birth defects and endometriosis.
BPA:
BPA is a chemical commonly found in plastics, mostly used for containers. More importantly, BPA can seep into the product it holds. Recent studies have associated BPA with developmental disorders, such as cancer, ADHD and asthma in fetuses when pregnant women interact with the substance.
Petrochemicals:
Made from natural gas liquid and crude oil, petrochemicals are used to create a slew of raw materials including all plastics. What many people don’t realize is that petrochemicals are also added to food, personal care products and household products. Though widely used, petrochemicals are known hormone disrupters and have been linked to causing many health problems such as cancer.
I believe in creating products that are not only safe and natural, but also high performing. Another belief of our brand is full transparency. we provide an ingredient glossary describing all of the ingredients we use in our products. During my first pregnancy, I remember tirelessly scanning ingredient labels and not fully understanding what some of them were, which proved to be a daunting task during an already stressful time!
Therefore, it was crucial when developing the brand that we create the ingredient glossary to eliminate this hassle for our customers and ensure them that the products they are using are completely safe for them and their babies. There are a lot of amazing natural, plant-based ingredients out there, but some of Nine Naturals’ favorites include:
5 Ingredients to use during pregnancy
Tamanu Oil:
Extracted from the fruit of the Polynesian tamanu tree, this oil is highly regarded for its superior emolliency and ability to soothe and protect skin. This oil is the star ingredient in our Natural Belly Oil as it helps to soothe stretched skin in order to minimize the risk of stretch marks.
Argan Oil:
High in vitamin E and linolenic acid, argan oil is wonderful for moisturizing the skin and hair. Ours is sourced from a women’s collective in Morocco. It is a prime ingredient in our Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner.
Broccoli Seed Oil:
This oil is a natural replacement for silicone/dimethicone. It is an amazing emollient loaded with omega-9s that makes your hair and skin look and feel great. It’s used in Nine Naturals hair conditioners and skin creams.
Cupuaçu Butter:
Packed with an array of rich compounds, including omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids and phytosterols, cupuaçu butter helps to balance skin’s natural moisture levels. We use it in all of our products that focus on restoring moisture in the skin and hair, including our Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter.
Coconut–Derived Soaps:
Soaps that are naturally derived from coconut oil are gentle cleansers that clean well without over-drying your skin or hair. Coconut-derived soaps are used in our Citrus + Mint Nourishing Shampoo and our Citrus + Geranium Soothing Body Wash.
WIN THE FULL NINE NATURALS COLLECTION!
Give the mama in your life (or yourself!) some extra love this Mother’s Day and win the entire Nine Naturals skin and hair care line! One lucky reader will win all 11 products in the collection, which includes their Natural Belly Oil, Natural Sunscreen, Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter, Citrus + Mint Nourishing Shampoo, Citrus + Mint Nourishing Conditioner, Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner, Unscented Moisturizing Body Cream, Natural Deodorant, Citrus + Geranium Soothing Body Wash, Simple Natural Lip Balm, and Repairing Body Balm – adding up to a total value of $235!
To enter, sign up for our weekly TCM newsletter here, then leave a comment telling us why you want to win. Giveaway ends Monday, May 4th 2015 at 5pm P.S.T. Open to continental US readers only. Good luck!
