Cleaning Out the Bathroom Cabinet: What to Look for in Everyday Personal Care Products

Personal care products are easy to overlook when you’re thinking about everyday chemical exposure. Soap, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, and sunscreen are products we use regularly, often directly on our skin or in our mouths. That makes the bathroom cabinet a practical place to start when you want to make more intentional choices about the products you use at home.

When I clean out my bathroom cabinet, I look at each product individually: what’s in it, which ingredients I want to avoid, and whether there’s a simpler alternative that works for my routine. You can start by understanding what you’re using and making better-informed swaps as you run out of products. Here’s what you want to know.

Quick Overview: What to Check in Your Bathroom Cabinet

• Soap and body wash: Look for synthetic fragrance, sulfates, and triclosan. Choose fragrance-free options or products scented with essential oils and shorter ingredient lists.
• Deodorant: Conventional antiperspirants use aluminum compounds to reduce sweating, and some formulas also contain synthetic fragrance and parabens. Consider an aluminum-free deodorant.
• Lotion and body moisturizer: Check for parabens, synthetic fragrance, and petroleum-based ingredients such as mineral oil. Look for plant oils and butters.
• Feminine care products: Check product materials and added fragrance. Consider alternatives with clearly disclosed ingredients and materials.
• Toothpaste: To avoid fluoride, triclosan, artificial dyes, and SLS, look for a nano-hydroxyapatite formula.
• Sunscreen: Review the active ingredients and consider mineral sunscreen made with non-nano zinc oxide.

1. Soap and Body Wash: Start With What You Use in the Shower

Soap and body wash are among the first products I check when reviewing my bathroom cabinet. Many conventional formulas contain synthetic fragrance, sulfates, and antibacterial agents such as triclosan. Synthetic fragrance can also make it difficult to identify every ingredient on the label alone.

Triclosan has raised concerns about potential effects on the endocrine system, so I prefer to avoid it in everyday personal care products.

What I look for:

• Fragrance-free soap or products scented with essential oils.
• Formulas without triclosan or ingredients I’ve chosen to avoid.

Non-toxic swap: Try a simple bar soap with a straightforward ingredient list instead of a heavily fragranced body wash.

2. Deodorant: Rethink Your Daily Routine

Conventional antiperspirants often contain aluminum compounds that temporarily block sweat ducts to reduce perspiration. Many also contain synthetic fragrance and preservatives such as parabens.

When choosing deodorant, I look for aluminum-free formulas and pay attention to the other ingredients, especially added fragrance.

One thing to keep in mind when switching: deodorant and antiperspirant don’t do the same thing. Antiperspirants reduce sweating, while deodorants help manage body odor. If you move to an aluminum-free deodorant, give yourself a week or two to adjust to the new product and routine.

What I look for:

• Aluminum-free deodorant.
• Minimal added fragrance.

Non-toxic swap: Replace your conventional antiperspirant with an aluminum-free deodorant when you’re ready for a change.

3. Lotion and Body Moisturizer: Pay Attention to What You Apply Every Day

Moisturizer is another product worth checking because it can remain on your skin for hours. Some conventional lotions contain parabens, synthetic fragrance, and petroleum-based ingredients such as mineral oil.

I prefer moisturizers made with plant oils and butters, including shea butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. I also look for products with minimal added fragrance so that I can be more intentional about the ingredients in my daily routine.

What I look for:

• Plant oils and butters.
• Minimal added fragrance.

Non-toxic swap: Choose a moisturizer formulated with ingredients such as shea butter or jojoba oil instead of relying on heavily fragranced lotions.

4. Feminine Care Products: Check the Materials, Too

Menstrual products deserve a closer look. Research has detected PFAS in some menstrual products, and studies have reported trace metals, including lead and arsenic, in some tampon samples. Added fragrance is another ingredient my family prefers to avoid in feminine care products.

When comparing options, we look at the materials used, whether fragrance has been added, and how clearly the manufacturer discloses product information.

We’ve switched to Pixie Organic Cloth Pads, made from 100% organic cotton and bamboo, and the Pixie Period Cup, made from medical-grade silicone with nothing added.

What I look for:

• Clearly disclosed product materials.
• Options without added fragrance.
• Reusable alternatives that fit routine and preferences.

Non-toxic swap: Consider reusable menstrual products, such as cloth pads or a menstrual cup, if they’re suitable for your needs.

Explore the products I use: Pixie Organic Cloth Pads, made from 100% organic cotton and bamboo, and the Pixie Period Cup, medical-grade silicone with nothing added.

5. Toothpaste: Take a Closer Look at Your Ingredients

Toothpaste is one of those products we use every day without necessarily checking what’s in it. Depending on the formula, conventional toothpastes may contain fluoride, triclosan, artificial dyes, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which can irritate the mouth lining in some people.

I prefer nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste as an alternative to fluoride toothpaste. Nano-hydroxyapatite is a calcium-phosphate material used in oral care formulations to support enamel remineralization.

What I look for:

• Nano-hydroxyapatite as the active ingredient in my preferred fluoride-free formula.
• No triclosan or artificial dyes.
• A formula without SLS.

Non-toxic swap: If you’re looking for a fluoride-free option, explore nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste and review the full ingredient list before choosing a product.

6. Sunscreen: Choose Your UV Protection Intentionally

Sunscreen is an important part of protecting your skin, but the ingredients still deserve attention. Some chemical sunscreen formulas contain oxybenzone and octinoxate, ingredients associated with concerns about potential endocrine effects and environmental impacts, including effects on coral reefs.

I prefer mineral sunscreen made with non-nano zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreens use ingredients such as zinc oxide to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation.

What I look for:

• Non-nano zinc oxide.
• Broad-spectrum protection.
• An SPF appropriate for my needs.

Non-toxic swap: Consider a mineral sunscreen made with non-nano zinc oxide instead of a formula containing oxybenzone or octinoxate. Choose a product that provides broad-spectrum protection and use it consistently.

How to Clean Out Your Bathroom Cabinet Without Replacing Everything

A practical approach is to review your products one by one and replace them as needed. Here’s where I’d start:

1. Read the labels. Look beyond the marketing claims on the front of the package and check the ingredients.
2. Prioritize the products you use every day. Soap, deodorant, moisturizer, toothpaste, and sunscreen are a good starting point.
3. Identify the ingredients you want to avoid. Knowing what you’re looking for makes it easier to compare products.
4. Make gradual swaps. Replace products as you run out rather than buying an entirely new routine at once.
5. Keep product performance in mind. Your alternatives should still meet your needs, whether that means moisturizing your skin, managing odor, supporting oral care, or protecting you from the sun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What personal care products should I check first?

Start with the products you use most often, such as soap, deodorant, moisturizer, toothpaste, and sunscreen. Review their ingredient lists and identify which ingredients you want to avoid before looking for alternatives.

What should I look for in fragrance-free personal care products?

Check the ingredient list rather than relying only on front-label claims. Fragrance-free products can be useful if you want to avoid added fragrance, but the rest of the formula matters, too.

What is the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?

Antiperspirants use ingredients such as aluminum compounds to reduce sweating. Deodorants help manage body odor but don’t necessarily reduce perspiration. If you switch to an aluminum-free deodorant, remember that it may work differently from your previous antiperspirant.

What is nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste?

Nano-hydroxyapatite is a form of calcium phosphate used in some oral care products to support enamel remineralization. It’s an ingredient to look for if you’re exploring fluoride-free toothpaste options.

Why choose mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide?

Mineral sunscreens use active ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to protect against UV radiation. If you prefer to avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate, a mineral formula containing non-nano zinc oxide may fit your preferences. Look for broad-spectrum protection and an appropriate SPF.

References:

1. Witorsch, R. J., & Thomas, J. A. Personal care products and endocrine disruption: A critical review of the literature. Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 2010;40(Suppl 3):1–30.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20932229/
2. Zhou, Y., Lin, X., Xing, Y., Zhang, Z., Lee, H. K., & Huang, Z. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Personal Hygiene Products: The Implications for Human Exposure and Emission to the Environment. Environmental Science & Technology. 2023.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37262408/
3. Shearston, J. A., Upson, K., Gordon, M., Do, V., Balac, O., Nguyen, K., Yan, B., Kioumourtzoglou, M.-A., & Schilling, K. Tampons as a source of exposure to metal(loid)s. Environment International. 2024;190:108849.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38963987/
4. Side effects of sodium lauryl sulfate applied in toothpastes: A scoping review.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35506963/
5. Göllner, M., et al. Efficacy of nano-hydroxyapatite on caries prevention—a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Oral Investigations. 2022.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35103837/
6. Narla, S., et al. Sunscreen: FDA regulation, and environmental and health impact. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. 2020.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31845952/
   
7. Review of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other sunscreen active ingredients.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29981751/