The skin is your body’s largest organ and does much more than keep everything inside. It regulates temperature, supports immune function, and acts as a two-way gateway—meaning what touches your skin doesn’t just stay on the surface. Much of it gets absorbed into your bloodstream, bypassing your liver and entering systemic circulation. That’s why what you apply daily—lotions, sunscreens, deodorants—deserves the same scrutiny you give your food. The truth is, most personal care products on store shelves are not designed with your long-term health in mind. Many are filled with hormone-disrupting chemicals, inflammatory ingredients, and petroleum byproducts that offer temporary surface benefits while compromising your body on a deeper level. Let’s walk through three ingredients I avoid at all costs—and what I use instead.

The Problem with Avobenzone and Chemical Sunscreens

Sunscreen is one of the few personal care products people use year-round and often apply generously. Whether heading to the beach, running, or just spending time outside, the average sunscreen gets reapplied several times a day. That makes it one of the highest-exposure products in your routine. For years, public health campaigns warned us to avoid oxybenzone, a chemical UV filter found to disrupt hormones, damage coral reefs, and increase the risk of cell damage. In response, many brands reformulated their products to remove oxybenzone, but replaced it with avobenzone, which isn’t much better.

Avobenzone is still a synthetic chemical with endocrine-disrupting potential. It breaks down quickly in sunlight, making it unstable and prone to generating free radicals that can damage skin cells. To stabilize it, companies often add more chemicals, some of which aren’t disclosed on the label due to trade secret laws. That means you’re not just applying a questionable ingredient; you’re exposing your skin to a cocktail of chemical interactions, some poorly studied. Ironically, a product designed to protect your skin from damage might accelerate it behind the scenes.

A better alternative is non-nano zinc oxide. It’s a physical sunblock that reflects UV rays rather than absorbing them, and because the particles are too large to penetrate the skin, it protects without entering your bloodstream. Look for sunscreens that combine zinc oxide with clean, nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, coconut oil, calendula, and shea butter. These formulas may take a few extra seconds to rub in, but they’re safer, more effective, and supportive of your skin’s long-term health.

Why I Don’t Use Petroleum Jelly or Anything Like It

Petroleum jelly and its cousins—mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin—are ubiquitous in moisturizers, baby products, and healing ointments. They’re praised for their ability to “seal in moisture” and create a barrier on the skin. But here’s the problem: that barrier doesn’t just trap moisture. It also traps dirt, bacteria, sweat, and any environmental toxins already sitting on your skin. Over time, that can clog pores, disrupt the skin’s natural detoxification processes, and trigger inflammation.

There’s also a contamination issue. Petroleum-based products are byproducts of the oil refining industry. Unless refined to medical grade (and not all commercial versions are), they can contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known carcinogens. PAHs can accumulate in the body over time, and chronic low-level exposure is worth avoiding, especially when safer, more nourishing options are available.

Natural fats like grass-fed tallow, cocoa butter, and coconut oil are far better choices. Grass-fed tallow is especially interesting—it closely resembles the composition of human skin. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K. It’s incredibly effective at repairing the skin barrier and delivering nutrients where they’re needed most. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is antimicrobial and antifungal and can help soothe conditions like eczema and dermatitis. These whole-ingredient moisturizers don’t just sit on your skin—they interact with it in meaningful, restorative ways.

Why Conventional Deodorants Are a Red Flag

Deodorant is another product most people use every day, often multiple times. It is applied to one of the most sensitive and absorbent areas of the body: the underarms. This area is home to sweat glands and lymph nodes—two essential systems for detoxification and immune defense. Blocking sweat may keep you dry, but also interferes with the body’s natural ability to eliminate waste.

The primary ingredient in most antiperspirants is aluminum, typically aluminum zirconium or aluminum chloride. These compounds work by clogging your sweat ducts. Unfortunately, aluminum is a known neurotoxin. Studies have linked it to neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and while the science isn’t conclusive, the precautionary principle applies here: if there’s a reasonable risk, it’s worth avoiding.

Beyond aluminum, many conventional deodorants are loaded with synthetic fragrances, parabens, and preservatives that can disrupt hormones and irritate the skin. Fragrance alone can include hundreds of unlisted chemical ingredients, many of which are linked to allergic reactions and hormone imbalance.

Instead, I use natural deodorants that skip the aluminum entirely and focus on clean, effective ingredients. Coconut oil, beeswax, arrowroot powder, magnesium hydroxide, and baking soda can all help neutralize odor without interfering with your body’s natural rhythms. Finding the correct formulation for your body might take some trial and error, but you’ll never return once you do.

Your Skin Is a Detox Organ, Not Just a Canvas

Too often, skincare is reduced to appearances—what looks good, what smells nice, what’s trending. But the more profound truth is that your skin is a functioning organ involved in hormone regulation, immunity, and detoxification. When you slather on products filled with synthetic chemicals, you’re not just choosing aesthetics—you’re making a decision that impacts your internal health. Every ingredient you apply to your skin is either helping your body function optimally or adding to its toxic burden.

Choosing products that support your body rather than challenge it creates space for healing and resilience. You also set a powerful example for your kids, friends, partner, and community. Health isn’t something that happens in a vacuum; it’s a ripple effect. And it often starts with small, consistent choices—like what you reach for in the bathroom cabinet.

So take a moment the next time you’re shopping for a moisturizer, deodorant, or sunscreen. Flip the bottle, read the label, and put it back on the shelf if it contains avobenzone, petroleum derivatives, or aluminum compounds. Better options—cleaner, safer, and more sustainable—exist for everyone around you.

References:

1. Siller, A., Blaszak, S. C., Lazar, M., & Olasz Harken, E. (2018). Update about the effects of the sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and octinoxate on humans and the environment. Plastic Surgical Nursing, 38(4), 158–161. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSN.0000000000000244
2. Khanna, S., & Gharpure, A. S. (2017). Petroleum carcinogenicity and aerodigestive tract: In context of developing nations. Cureus, 9(4), e1202. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.1202
3. Klotz, K., Weistenhöfer, W., Neff, F., Hartwig, A., van Thriel, C., & Drexler, H. (2017). The health effects of aluminum exposure. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 114(39), 653–659. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2017.0653