Toxin Free Living: Where to Begin and What to Swap First
I first heard about toxins back in 2019, and the more I learned, the more I felt compelled to overhaul every corner of my life. Suddenly there was a whole list of ingredients I needed to memorise, and it felt like everything around me was unsafe.
If you’ve just discovered the world of toxins and feel like it’s “too much,” I want you to know you’re not alone. I’ve been exactly where you are, and I’m here to share what I wish I knew back at the beginning, the things that would have made my journey less overwhelming and far more sustainable.
Early Mistakes & Lessons Learned
In the beginning, I jumped in headfirst. I memorised a handful of ingredients to avoid, and I would spend far too long in the supermarket aisle, picking up product after product and scanning labels. It wasn’t long until I abandoned conventional stores completely and moved to shopping at expensive organic markets. At the time, it felt like the safest option. After all, if a store sold products double the price in glass jars and smelled like incense, it must have been healthier.
These stores are mostly great, and many of them truly care about wellbeing, but appearances don’t guarantee that every product is genuinely toxin-free. I quickly realised there wasn’t a single place I could shop that stocked strictly safe products, which eventually became the reason why I created Her Holistic Store.
And here’s the truth I wish someone had told me then that this journey doesn’t ever really “end.” We live in a toxic world, and there will always be something else we can clean up. Instead of trying to do it all at once, the best thing you can do is start small, focusing on the products you use every single day, and letting the rest follow as you’re ready.
Where to Begin
If I was starting all over again today, these are the swaps I’d make first. They’re simple, impactful, and they build the foundation for a lower-tox lifestyle without adding crazy stress.
1. Deodorant
This was a big one for me. I used to repurchase the cucumber Dove aerosol every month without fail, convinced I couldn’t live without it.
When I learned that aerosols were blocking my body’s natural detox pathways and actually making things worse, I decided to try a detox. After a short transition, I realised I didn’t really need deodorant at all. These days if I wear it, it’s because I love the ritual of putting on a natural scent and not because I smell.
Deodorant is one of the biggest scams in personal care. We’ve been sold a product to fix a problem that never really existed. Breaking free from that cycle is incredibly impactful.
2. Period Care
Another important place to start is period products. Conventional pads and tampons often contain bleaches, plastics, and fragrances, not things you want anywhere near the most sensitive part of your body. Switching to TOM Organic was one of the best decisions I made for my health. It’s a small swap with a huge impact, and one you’ll feel good about every single month.
3. Water Filters (Drinking + Shower)
Investing in a good drinking water filter helps reduce your toxic load from the inside out, but don’t forget about your shower. Our skin absorbs what it comes into contact with, and hot showers open up our pores even more. Adding a shower filter is one of the simplest, most effective changes you can make.
There are so many amazing brands on the market, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started. Our personal favourite is the Well Verti shower filter — it’s super affordable, easy to install, and makes a noticeable difference in how your skin and hair feel after showering.
4. Skincare Basics
At first, I thought I needed a complicated 10-step skincare routine filled with “actives” and treatments. But the truth is many conventional skincare products are designed to strip your skin, then sell you the solution to fix the irritation they caused. A good cleanser and moisturiser are often all you need. Start simple, and your skin will thank you.
5. Artificial Fragrance (Perfume, Candles & Air Fresheners)
For most people, fragrance is one of the hardest swaps. Perfume, candles, and air fresheners are tied to memories, comfort, and feeling “put together.” The tricky part is that “fragrance” on an ingredient list can be a blanket term hiding hundreds of undisclosed chemicals, many of which are known hormone disruptors.
Thankfully, there are so many beautiful, naturally scented alternatives made with essential oils.
Progress, Not Perfection
A gentle reminder I wish I was told at the beginning: It’s actually more harmful to stress about toxins than it is to reduce them imperfectly. Fear can be toxic too.
You don’t need to throw out your entire bathroom or kitchen cupboards overnight. Start small, swap one product a week, or even one a month. Do it at a pace that suits your lifestyle and your budget. Remember, this is about simplifying, not complicating. Choosing better products, not more products.
At Her Holistic Store, that’s the philosophy behind everything we stock. Every item is carefully chosen for safety, effectiveness, and quality. But it also has to be affordable. We will never stock something that’s priced out of reach for no reason.
Building a Healthy Foundation That Lasts
6 years later, and I’m still on this journey, but it feels lighter and calmer than it did at the beginning. My skin is clearer, my routine is simpler, and I’ve broken free from that endless cycle of buying products to fix problems that were being created by those very products.
The biggest win, though? Peace of mind. Knowing that I’m doing the best I can, lowering my toxic load bit by bit, and giving my body an environment to feel my best. And that’s what we want for you too.
If you’ve just discovered toxins and feel like it’s too much, I promise you it doesn’t have to be. Start with what you use every day such as your deodorant, period care, body wash, skincare basics and build from there.
At Her Holistic Store, we’ve done the label-checking for you. Every product we stock is toxin-free, effective, and fairly priced, so you can shop with confidence and feel supported on your journey.
At the end of the day, doing the best with what we have is all any of us can do. And just by being here, you’ve already taken the most important first step.