My Story
In May of 2017 I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. I had just turned 48 and was in total shock. Hearing the words spoken to me didn't feel real. The following month was a whirlwind of appointments, surgery and planning for further treatment. I had a lumpectomy with one lymph node removed (thankfully it did not spread), radiation and I continue to take medication. To say that I am thankful for all of the doctors and nurses who saved me and were kind to me is an understatement. Cancer did change me. I am calmer and more focused on self care. I look at everything around me and everything I do and ask, "Is this healthy or is this toxic - physically and emotionally". I am more mindful of my reactions to everything and everyone around me. I truly am thankful for every single day.
-Celeste
Cleaner Living
After exhausting so many questions of why I got breast cancer and researching possible causes, I realized that there were a few things that I could change and have total control over. I needed to manage stress better and get more sleep for starters. I could continue to eat a healthy diet (even healthier), limit alcohol and continue my exercise. But a huge thing that I could change was ALL the products I use...hair, makeup, body products, household cleaners - pretty much everything including dental floss! The more I researched the more I was appalled.
There are so many chemicals that we have just accepted as being safe enough because they must be if they are on the store shelves, right? But, no. Our skin absorbs almost everything that we put on it. I had been using "eco-friendly" products and made some small steps towards using safer skincare products but there are still so many toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that are being used - especially in our skin, hair and makeup products. According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group), the United States trails the rest of the world in banning toxic chemicals from being used in cosmetics: https://www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2019/03/cosmetics-safety-us-trails-more-40-nations
After researching extensively (to the best of my knowledge) there are in fact much healthier/safer products out there - lots of them. I am grateful to each company who has brought forth beautiful, thoughtful products that work and make you feel so good. I didn't realize there were so many companies out there who care about product safety in addition to caring about the therapeutic effects also. Not surprisingly, many of these companies were started by women who are cancer survivors.
I started this site so I could share with my family and friends what I have learned and all of the healthier and safer products that I have discovered. I'll never know for sure what caused my breast cancer. More and more studies link these toxic chemicals to certain cancers and specifically breast cancer. I am so happy to share the healthier products I have found and what I use. Again, this is a work in progress and by no means an extensive list. This is to share awareness about the safety of what we put on our skin. Spread the word!
