Would you eat shampoo?

It might smell edible but you can be sure if you tested a bit on your palate you'd probably throw up. Anyone who ever got shampoo in their mouth by mistake is fully aware that shampoo doesn't taste anything like its smell. So the answer is a resounding, no, you would not eat shampoo.

So why do you use it on your body then?

Well duh, you might say, putting something on your body isn't the same as eating it.

Actually it is. You might not throw up. You might not get sick - well, at least not in the short term. You see, shampoo and other body care products contain an overwhelming amount of harsh chemicals that are being absorbed by your skin straight into your bloodstream.

If you're not convinced, then think about a nicotine patch for example. By placing a nicotine patch on our skin it allows the nicotine to get absorbed straight into our bloodstream. In the same way, anything we apply to our skin gets absorbed too.  

If you take a second to read the ingredients on the back of your shampoo bottle you'll find a large list of chemicals whose names you can't even pronounce. Some of these are toxic and, despite this, are still approved for use. For more information on how this is legal, read here.

Does this look familiar?

You might want to think twice before applying these products again. And the good news is, you don't have to stay dirty. There are plenty of shampoos and body washes that contain only natural and safe ingredients. And guess what, if you don't buy an unscented shampoo the smell is completely natural too, not made from some fake chemical. Be aware though, because there are many products on the market claiming to be natural when they are not completely chemical-free at all. Check the ingredients list, do your research. Just because a shampoo says natural it doesn't mean it is so.

The most important thing is to find a shampoo that is free of sulfates and parabens and enriched with natural oils and ingredients. Like the following:

Ingredients
Maple Holistics Signature Sulfate-Free Gentle Shampoo: Argan (argania spinosa) Oil, Jojoba (simmondsia chinensis) Oil, Almond (prunus dulcis) Oil, Peach Kernel (prunus persica) Oil, Avocado (persia americana) Oil, Camellia Seed (camellia sinensis) Oil, Botanical Keratin, Natural Vanilla and Honey

This sure looks better.