When Do Cosmetics Really Expire?

Now that the holidays are over, it's the perfect time to do a reset to refresh your home after having guests over for the holidays. If you're like me, you probably already did a deep clean before you had family and friends over, but that only ever lasts about 20 minutes once the party begins!   So now that things are probably settling down, let's go over some simple ways to make deep cleaning your home (again) a breeze. I'll go over which rooms to start with, which areas of those rooms to tackle first, how to stop distractions while you clean, and a few other things that will have you done in no time.    You can even listen to this episode in about the time it'll take you to reorganize your kitchen counters, so feel free to bring me along on your post-holiday deep-cleaning journey!   As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/episode31 Key Topics: The room you start with matters How to stay on task and avoid distractions while cleaning Work top to bottom, side to side The 10-minute tidy Clean out your fridge leftovers each week For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here   Green Your Clean Course   Free guide: 5 Simple Steps to Detox Your Home Without Spending a Dime     Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener

This week's episode is coming out right before the new year. So I thought, what better time than to give you some simple steps to help detox your home? But these are tips that are completely free!   There are a lot of little ways that toxins and contaminants can sneak into our homes, and the solutions to keeping them out, or at least reducing your exposure, are relatively simple — and free! With a few simple tweaks to your lifestyle and cleaning methods, you can significantly reduce the amount of toxins, contaminants, and health hazards that are in your home.    So tune in to learn a few of the ways I keep my home a little safer for my family, and how you can, too!   As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/episode30 Key Topics: Taking shoes off before entering your home Cleaning floors frequently if you have pets or small kids Removing scented plug-ins or air fresheners Getting to the root of odors rather than masking them Tackling dust to remove toxins Washing hands more frequently For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener   Free guide: 5 Simple Steps to Detox Your Home Without Spending a Dime

Welcome to another episode revisit! With the holidays around the corner, I wanted to reshare an episode to help you refresh your home to a healthy start to the new year.    In today's episode, we're going to dig into four simple steps you can take that will make a big impact when it comes to reducing harmful chemicals in your home without the overwhelm. It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to reducing toxic chemicals, but just know that whatever step you take is an important step for your health and for your family's health.   We don't have to be perfect about it. And honestly, we can't be. We can't avoid every single harmful chemical, but we can take steps to reduce our exposure whenever possible.  Key Topics: Replacing plastic bottles and containers with safer options Eating organic whenever possible Avoiding artificial fragrances with harmful chemicals Dust is a huge carrier of toxins, and how to reduce its presence in the home  Find a summary, cheat sheet, and more tips from this episode at https://slightlygreener.com/episode12   For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://tonyaharris.lpages.co/slightly-greener-living/ Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener

This time of year, many of us are preparing to have guests for the holidays, which means a lot of cooking and cleaning to get ready for everyone. If you're thinking of cleaning your oven either before or after you make all of your holiday treats, this episode will teach you why a self-cleaning oven isn't the best tool for the job.   It might seem like the easiest and most hands-off approach to getting your oven cleaned out, but it comes with many more risks than rewards. Aside from the obvious fire hazards, using the self-clean feature can create toxic fumes that are dangerous for humans and animals, and cause damage to the inside of your oven.   So instead of taking the risk, tune in to this episode to learn the easiest and most non-toxic cleaning solution for your oven this holiday season.   As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://slightlygreener.com/episode29 Key Topics: The fire hazard and internal damage dangers of self-cleaning ovens How to handle an oven fire correctly The toxicity of the self-clean cycle Why oven cleaners aren't a safer option Making your own non-toxic, cheaper oven cleaner For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener  

If you're like me, you may have started decorating the house for the holidays as soon as Thanksgiving ended. But if you're still catching up, or looking for safer ways to decorate, this is the episode for you.    This week, I'm diving into some of the most common decorations we use over the holidays that can have toxic chemicals and substances in them. From glitter, trees, wreaths, candles, and even holiday candies, there are many ways we might unknowingly expose ourselves to toxins more than any other time of year.    But don't fear, there are also many ways to decorate safer and reduce our exposure, which I'll be sharing with you in this episode. So tune in to discover how your holiday season can be a little brighter knowing you made some safer choices this year.    As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://slightlygreener.com/episode28 Key Topics: How to put up your decorations safely The importance of cleaning up after decorating Reducing your kids' exposure to decorations What to replace holiday decorations with Safely scenting indoor air Choosing better holiday sweets For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener  

This week, I'm resharing an episode of a highly requested topic — endocrine disruptors. Enjoy!   In this episode, we take a closer look at endocrine disruptors, also known as hormone disruptors. These are chemicals that can interfere with the function of the endocrine system, causing health problems ranging from weight gain and insulin resistance to fertility issues and lower IQ.  I give a high-level overview of what these chemicals are and what they do in our bodies. Endocrine disruptors can be found in a wide range of products, including food, personal care products, and household items, so it's important to take note of where they show up in everyday items.  This episode will provide you with tips on how to avoid these chemicals, whether it be by choosing organic foods, changing up some of our personal care products, or cooking and storing our foods differently. It might be shocking to hear this information at first, but the goal is to empower you to make better decisions for yourself and your family. Key Topics: What are endocrine disruptors? The endocrine system and what it does The health effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors. Where they're found and what they're called Tips to avoid hormone disruptors in the future Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlightlyGreener  

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, and the holiday season gearing up, I wanted to take the opportunity to share how to clean out your fridge to prep for the holidays. These steps will make cleaning your fridge a snap, so don't worry if you don't have a lot of time to dedicate to this!   This time of year, many of us are gathering with our families, cooking together, and have tons of leftovers that can be easily forgotten, or we just can't get through all of them in time to eat them before they go bad.    In this episode, I'm sharing some tips for making a fridge clean-out less overwhelming and time-consuming. These simple and easy steps will help you see exactly what you have, what you need to restock, and what it's time to let go of so you have some more room in your fridge for those delicious Thanksgiving leftovers. Just don't forget to clean those out later, too!      As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://slightlygreener.com/episode27 Key Topics: How to start a fridge cleanup Sorting your fridge into three categories Starting one shelf at a time Tackling stuck-on messes Reorganizing the contents of your fridge How long can you keep certain food items like leftovers in the fridge? How often you should repeat a cleanout For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener

Last week, we talked a little about knowing when cosmetics and personal care products expire, and how to begin cleaning out your bathroom cupboards.    Today, I'm getting a little deeper into the products that we should be considering swapping out for better options because they often have ingredients in them that are prematurely aging our skin. In this episode, I'm focusing on 3 common ingredients that you'll find in soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, moisturizers, and so much more.    The last thing we want when keeping up with our skincare routine is to be using products that are hurting us more than helping. So tune in to learn what ingredients to look out for and what you can use instead.    As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://slightlygreener.com/episode26 Key Topics: What is mineral oil, and what products is it used in? How mineral oil can contribute to premature skin aging Fragrance and its skin-irritating nature Sodium laurel sulfate's inflammatory properties How sneaky marketing can make us feel like we need a ton of products What to swap for products that have any of these 3 ingredients For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener

If you wear makeup or have a skincare routine, you've probably had at least one experience where you find an old lipstick at the bottom of your purse after months or found a moisturizer in the back of your drawer and wondered if it's still good to use.   Makeup and personal care products are a bit of a gray area when it comes to expiration dates, but there is a sweet spot for when you should toss out a product and exchange it for a new one.    In this episode, I'm debunking some makeup myths and getting to the bottom of how long your products actually last. I'll also share how you can keep track of "best by" dates and teach you a few tips for extending the life of your makeup products to avoid mold and bacterial growth.    If you've been thinking that your beauty bag is due for a clean out soon, this is the perfect opportunity to get started! As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://slightlygreener.com/episode25 Key Topics: The difference between an expiration date and shelf life Why a product's shelf life matters Where to find the PAO date and what it means How long common personal care and beauty products are good for after opening Why the cleanliness of your makeup tools matters Getting started cleaning out your beauty bag For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener

Using a reusable water bottle is a good step toward reducing excessive plastic waste in your home. But, unfortunately, there are still downsides to using them, especially as your main source of water every day.    I know I like to use my reusable water bottle, especially if I know I'll be out without easy access to water for a long time. But after learning about all the dangers hiding in plain sight, I've changed my approach to using them, and have definitely have upped my cleaning routine with this item, specifically.   This week, I'm uncovering the dirty truth behind reusable water bottles, and what we can do to make them safer to use. This episode isn't meant to demonize reusable water bottles altogether but rather to inform everyone about the importance of choosing the right reusable bottle and using the proper cleaning methods on them. As always, you can find the episode summary and cheat sheet for more information here: https://slightlygreener.com/episode24 Key Topics: How often to clean your water bottle The health problems associated with dirty water bottle use Which types of reusable bottles pose the greatest risks The safest bottle to use to avoid hidden mold and bacteria For even more information and to jump-start your home detox in as little as 7 days, join our membership here: https://www.slightlygreener.com/membership Buy The Slightly Greener Method book here Connect with Tonya: Website: https://slightlygreener.com/ Instagram: @slightlygreener Join my free Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/slightlygreener