The Ultimate Guide to Non-Toxic Swaps: Approachable Steps + Brands You Can Trust

These days, every brand says they make non-toxic products. 

But… that’s not always the truth.

→ Which products are actually non-toxic swaps, and which are just good marketing?

Trying to decipher which brands are truly non-toxic can be a big roadblock in transitioning to a non-toxic lifestyle. And we get it! Navigating all the complexities can be extremely tricky (and exhausting). That’s why we’re excited to have Dr. Yvonne Burkart from our Expert Panel tag-team with us on this essential guide to non-toxic swaps. 

Dr. Burkart is a PhD Toxicologist who’s devoted her life’s work + decades of professional knowledge to helping others make non-toxic swaps and improve their health.

Along with her expert advice, we’ll help you navigate the murky waters of finding truly non-toxic swaps. We hope that this will provide an approachable and easy-to-follow roadmap for getting started.

But first, let’s explore why it’s so difficult to find truly non-toxic products. 

Why Is It So Challenging to Find Truly Non-Toxic Products?

It’s quickly becoming an age-old question. Many of us think we’re making healthier choices for ourselves and our loved ones – only to find later that the “non-toxic product” we’ve been using contains a long list of… toxic ingredients. (*Face to palm.*)

How’d we end up here? 

Well, what started as a good thing quickly spiraled. As consumer awareness grew, consumers demanded cleaner ingredients and safer products. Before long, companies realized they had to make changes to keep up. 

But in many cases, instead of creating truly foundational changes to their products, they took (and still take) shortcuts. There are lots of nuanced reasons why, but here are a few likely explanations: 

• Profit is the priority. When it comes down to it, many companies put their success (ahem, paycheck) over your health.

• Business models were built on cheap ingredients. Swapping for safer (and more expensive) ingredients could fundamentally tank these broken business models. 

• Not enough accountability. Did you know that the beauty and personal care industry is self-regulated?! The regulations don’t require products to be tested for safety before being put on the market.

• Formulating with natural ingredients can be challenging. This requires more time, creativity, and money. And it doesn’t always function or feel like what consumers are used to. It can also shorten shelf life, creating more risk for the business. 

• There are loopholes in every industry. For example, the term “fragrance/parfum” is considered proprietary information, so companies do not have to disclose the ingredients in their fragrance blend. This is especially evident in the personal care industry, which is known to contain ingredients of concern  like carcinogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

The way companies get away with all these shortcuts? A sketchy marketing practice called greenwashing.

The Greenwashing Epidemic

In our opinion, one of the biggest reasons it’s so hard to find truly non-toxic products is a clever tactic called greenwashing. It all boils down to good marketing. The label (and the accompanying advertisements) tell the consumer what they want to hear. 

→ Since consumers want cleaner products, brands use this to their advantage, targeting consumers who are either too busy or blindly trusting. 

Greenwashing makes a product seem more clean, non-toxic, or healthier than it actually is. Usually through direct claims and/or deceptive marketing. 

Here are a few of the most common greenwashing tactics to be aware of: 

• “Green” or “clean” imagery – like imagery of green leaves or earthy packaging design 

• “Symbols” that are treated as certifications but don’t mean much of anything

• “Clean sections” at your favorite stores – with loose standards 

• Highlighting one ingredient that IS clean/natural (i.e., “Made with organic olive oil”)

• “Natural” fragrance claims (i.e., “Made with essential oils”) – which can still include other chemicals

If you want to dive deeper, check out this greenwashing guide. Then, come back for our truly non-toxic swaps. ;)

We’ve discussed why finding trustworthy, non-toxic swaps can be challenging. Now, let’s get into the good stuff: a step-by-step list to help you prioritize non-toxic swaps. Let’s break it down into two phases to help you slowly build the non-toxic lifestyle of your dreams. 

Phase One: Foundational Non-Toxic Swaps

Since it can feel overwhelming to decide which non-toxic swap to make first, we intentionally divided this guide into two main phases. Dr. Burkart always suggests starting with three foundational categories to start building a non-toxic lifestyle. 

(Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day!)

These non-toxic swaps cover the main bases of what you inhale and/or directly consume daily – intentionally or not. Substances we inhale or consume can interact closely with your biology and affect your body’s functioning. So, it makes sense that these non-toxic swaps make the biggest impact as your first step. 

Water

While your water may not come out of the faucet muddy, it’s unfortunately not as clean as it might appear. Here’s why Dr. Burkart focuses on water quality as her first non-toxic swap:

“Drinking water is a source of toxic contaminants like nano- and microplastics, PFAS, heavy metals, disinfection by-products, fluoride, and flame retardants, to name a few. 

Several of these chemicals can disrupt hormones and accumulate in our bodies over time, posing a long-term health risk, especially to vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and their unborn babies.”^1,2 

→ How to Clean Up Your Water + Non-Toxic Swaps

Cleaning up your water is pretty simple. Invest in a quality filtration system for your drinking water and shower/bath water. Making these non-toxic swaps to drink and bathe in clean water will go a long way for your health. Here are Dr. Burkart’s suggestions for how to clean up your water.

1. Filter your drinking water.

• Epic Water Filters Pure Pitcher

• AquaTru Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier (or countertop)

• Tip: Instead of using plastic water bottles in public spaces, bring your own filtered water from home. It takes a bit more planning, but it’s worth it! Dr. Burkart told us that studies show bottled water is even more polluted than tap water in many cases. 

2. Filter your shower/bath water. 

• Aquasana Shower Filter

• Jolie Filtered Showerhead

The next step is focusing on the air you breathe daily. You might be shocked at how much it matters.

Air Quality 

Air quality is most often overlooked when thinking about a non-toxic lifestyle. But as Dr. Burkart points out, air quality has direct contact with your lungs. This has undeniable effects on how your body functions. 

“Indoor air is up to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA, and poor air quality in the home is responsible for about 100,000 deaths per year in the U.S. 

The airways are the quickest entry points for chemicals into our bloodstream and brain, so it’s no wonder that clean air is critical for optimal health. Plus, we would die within a few minutes of not having air, especially clean air.”³

→ How to Clean Up Your Air + Non-Toxic Swaps

Similar to water, it’s fairly simple to improve air quality with a few new habits and a quality filter. These are our top tips, Dr. Burkart approved. 

1. Open windows/doors more frequently to bring fresh air inside. 

2. Spend more time outdoors breathing in fresh air.

• Tip: Do it while grounding or forest bathing for extra benefits!

3. Vacuum your house more (with a HEPA filter vacuum preferably – Dr. Burkart recommends this one).

4. Invest in a quality air filter. 

• Air Doctor 

• Helpful Tips: 

• To be cost-effective, start with one room at a time. Prioritize where you spend the most time (usually a bedroom or home office if you work remotely).

• Dr. Burkart also recommends that the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) matches or exceeds the size of your room.

• Move the filter around the house with you until you can get one for each room or to cover the full square-footage of your house.  

5. Eliminate/swap airborne products. 

• Non-toxic candles 

• Primally Pure Candles

• Candles often use petroleum-based waxes and synthetic fragrances with carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting chemicals. You don't want to breathe those in!

• Non-toxic cleaning products

• Branch Basics Concentrate System 

• It’s easy to overlook, but cleaning products produce airborne molecules and emit VOCs, making this an especially important non-toxic swap.

• Non-toxic detergent + dryer balls

• Branch Basics (use the concentrate to save money)

• Molly Suds

• Wool dryer balls

• Room spray/fresheners

• Primally Pure Room Sprays

• Though they can create an inviting ambiance, ensure room sprays are only crafted with clean, non-toxic ingredients like essential oils.

6. Remove your shoes at the door. 

• Invest in a shoe rack or shoe holder by your front door to avoid tracking toxins into your house. 

• Most of us walk inside without much thought about our shoes, but this simple free habit can greatly improve air quality. Dr. Burkart explains this well:

“Contaminants like fecal material, pathogens, heavy metals, microplastics, and industrial chemicals from outdoors are tracked in on our shoe soles. Removing your outside shoes at the door helps to improve air quality and overall health.” 

Next, let’s move on to a daunting – but critical – non-toxic swap: what you eat. 

Food 

Food is the foundation of life and our energy source. Understandably, it’s a huge topic (We could write a whole post on this!). 

So, let’s take a high-level approach to give you a roadmap and a few specific tips to keep in mind. Here’s Dr. Burkart’s take on why it’s one of the most foundational non-toxic swaps: 

“Minimizing our exposure to toxins while also supporting our natural detoxification pathways are cornerstones for extending our healthy years and improving the quality of our lives.”

→ How to Clean Up Your Food + Non-Toxic Swaps

Food swaps can be overwhelming but don’t lose heart. These are our top suggested changes you can make gradually over time – Dr. Burkart approved.

1. Buy organic – and even regenerative foods as much as possible 

• These are more nutrient-dense and fewer chances of toxic exposure⁴ 

• Follow the Dirty Dozen + Clean Fifteen rules to prioritize organic

• Buy from farmers markets/local farm shares

• Grow your own food if possible

• Always wash produce – even organic/regenerative

• Tip: Non-GMO whole foods are the next best option if organic isn't in your budget. We loved Dr. Burkart’s take on this: 

“Don’t fear real food, even if it’s conventionally grown or produced. Whole foods like fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, fiber, and micronutrients that help our bodies detoxify environmental chemicals.”

2. Generally, try to eat more whole foods and make non-toxic swaps with homemade options.

• When choosing packaged foods, the fewer ingredients, the better.

3. Swap conventional coffee for third-party tested mold-free coffee.

• Purity Coffee 

• Biodynamic Coffee by Holistic Roasters

• 96% of coffees are contaminated with mold, making this the best non-toxic swap to ensure you aren’t consuming mold (and the mycotoxins they produce).⁵ 

4. Swap tea bags for loose-leaf teas. 

• This is another important non-toxic swap with foods. Many popular tea bags release microplastics and glues that melt into your drink… no thanks.

5. Swap refined foods with non-toxic swaps with natural, unrefined foods.

• Use an unrefined salt with mineral content, like:  

• Redmond Real 

• Baja Gold 

• Jacobson Salt Co.

• Standard table salts are often bleached and stripped of nutritional value.

• Consume raw dairy

• Conventionally processed milk is stripped of nutrients, and the healthy fats and proteins are damaged. Raw dairy products contain incredible bioactive nutrients, fats, and proteins your body needs. 

• Choose pasture-raised, wild-caught, regenerative, and organic animal-proteins

• Primal Pastures 

• Pasturebird

6. Avoid unnecessary additives, industrial oils, and inflammatory food/drink, including: 

• Ultra-processed foods 

• Refined sugar

• Alcohol

• Artificially flavored food

• Dyes and colorings

• Seed oils

These three categories are some of the most foundational non-toxic swaps and habits. With these essential steps, you can start minimizing toxic exposures and optimize your health. 

Up next: intermediate non-toxic swaps.

Phase Two: Intermediate Non-Toxic Swaps

Now you’re ready to move into more intermediate swaps. These non-toxic swaps include things that go on and around your body. 

These are the next logical steps in building a healthier life. Remember, these non-toxic swaps are even more impactful after establishing healthy foundations with water, air, and food. 

Beauty/Personal Care Products 

As a non-toxic skincare company, you won’t be surprised that this is first on our list. It’s easy to do, and the right products provide even better results. ;) 

Here’s what Dr. Burkart said about this non-toxic swap:^6,7 

“Beauty and personal care products are sources of toxins like endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and allergens that impact our health from every route of exposure. 

These chemicals can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, and ingested orally. Avoiding toxins in these products has been shown to reduce risk factors for cancer.”

→ How to Clean Up Your Beauty and Personal Care Products + Non-Toxic Swaps

Unfortunately, with greenwashing rampant in the personal care industry, knowing which brands you can trust can be challenging. Here are our top picks for each category, backed by Dr. Burkart. 

1. Swap conventional personal care products for non-toxic alternatives. 

• Facial skincare:

• Primally Pure Facial Skincare

• Primally Pure Lip Polish

• Primally Pure Holistic Wellness Tools 

• Body skincare: 

• Primally Pure Body Butter + Body Oil 

• Primally Pure Body Wash

• Hygiene care:

• RiseWell Toothpaste + Floss

• Primally Pure Deodorant 

• Zuma Nutrition Shampoo + Conditioner

• Menstrual care:

• Salt Menstrual Disc or Flex Period Cup 

• Natracare Organic Tampons

• Sanitary paper products:

• Plant paper

• Amazon Aware

• Bamboo is safest because many paper products are processed with or contain harmful chemicals (especially recycled papers which are often sourced from BPA-laden papers like receipts)

2. Choose cosmetics from a brand with 100% transparent and safe ingredients.

• Araza Beauty makeup line

• Saie Foundation

• Plume Mascara and Eyeliner

• Primally Pure Lip Oil

• Primally Pure Tinted Lip Balm 

• Primally Pure Lip Balm

• Huella Nail Polish

3. Make non-toxic swaps with your sunscreen and outdoor products.

• Little Hands Hawaii 

• Beauty by Earth

• Primally Pure Nature Spray

Swapping personal care products can take time – don’t stress. Find grace for yourself along the way. Use what you have and replace items one at a time. You can do this!

Cookware + Dishware 

Many materials used for cooking, baking, and consuming/storing food can potentially leach harmful chemicals into your food or drink. High heat and wear and tear can also cause items to leach even more over time – even if they claim to be non-toxic. 

Dr. Burkart specifically recommends avoiding plastic and non-stick cookware:

“Cooking, preparing, and consuming food and drinks from plastic containers, utensils, and nonstick cookware is a risk for exposure to microplastics, heavy metals, and PFAS. 

These chemicals accumulate in our bodies over time and are linked with serious health issues like inflammation, free radical damage to our DNA, and cancer. Avoid introducing these toxins into your food by sticking to the basics like uncoated stainless steel, cast iron, glass, or pure ceramic cookware.”

→ How to Clean Up Your Cooking and Dishware Products + Non-Toxic Swaps

Thankfully, more and more options are available with dishware. These are our top recommendations and swaps, approved by Dr. Burkart. 

1. Toss toxic non-stick and coated cookware and invest in non-toxic swaps.

• Xtrema Ceramic Cookware 

• Lodge Cast Iron Pans 

• Stainless Steel Pots

• Glass Baking Dishes

• Wooden Cooking Utensils (*avoid silicone too)

• Our Place Air Fryer 

• Buy your own stainless steel pan instead of using the ceramic-coated baing sheet that comes with this air fryer! Dr. Burkart only uses the stainless steel racks that come with it. 

2. Prioritize plastic-free brewing + drinkware.

• Plastic-Free Hario French Press for coffee 

• Loose-Leaf Hario Teapot (instead of tea bags)

• BKR Glass Water Bottle (instead of plastic or aluminum)

3. Avoid plastic and prioritize these food storage/prep non-toxic swaps.

• Glass Storage Containers 

• Stasher Bag 

• Wooden Cutting Board 

• Bamboo paper towels (instead of bleached or recycled papers)

4. Swap to non-toxic alternatives for dishwashing.  

• Blueland Dishwasher Tabs

• Branch Basics Foaming Dish Soap 

• Bamboo Dish Brush

• Coconut Scouring Pads 

While what you eat directly matters most, this is a non-toxic swap that can significantly reduce your toxic exposure. Remove those chemicals and leaching products from your kitchen, and you’ll automatically lessen your body's toxic load. 

Clothing, Apparel, and Home Products

Sure, clothing isn’t the most critical swap to make initially. But it’s definitely worthwhile to consider once you’ve made good progress with your non-toxic swaps. These things are making contact with your body and even affect air quality. 

Here’s what Dr. Burkart had to say about clothing, apparel, and home goods:

“Synthetic clothing & textiles like polyester, nylon, and acrylic are sources of microplastic pollution. Microplastics are quickly emerging as major concerns for human and environmental health since they’re capable of increasing inflammation and free radical damage to our tissues. 

Plus, synthetic clothing & textiles are also sources of endocrine disruptors, which pose health risks to anyone who wears them, especially children.”

→ How to Clean Up Your Clothing, Apparel, and Home Products + Non-Toxic Swaps

This category can feel like a lot to tackle, but perfection isn’t the goal. Remember to do things in phases and make approachable choices a little at a time. Do what you can – progress is progress! Here’s how to start, with Dr. Burkart’s seal of approval.

1. Start with your clothing.

• Look for the Oeko-Tex safe certification on tags.

• Replace undergarments first.

• Since undergarments have direct contact with sensitive parts of your body, and don’t cost as much to replace, this is an easy place to start.

• Avoid polyester, polyester blends, nylon, and acrylic.

• These also affect your air quality as they degrade.

• Opt for organic or natural fabrics like tencel, cotton, linen, silk, hemp, or wool.

• Shop brands that use safe materials and production practices.

• Colored Organics

• Mightly Kids

• Burt’s Bees Organic Clothing

• Pact

• Christy Dawn

• Mate the Label

• Quince Organic + Sustainable Clothing

• Say no to clothing with fire retardants.

• This is especially important for kids – look for the big yellow tag! 

• Prioritize natural, water-based dyes.

• Tip: Used/secondhand pieces for clothing and home items have off-gassed some and carry less toxic fumes. However, Dr. Burkart still recommends prioritizing natural fibers to avoid microplastics. 

2. Start transitioning to non-toxic swaps for apparel and home items. 

• Look for items with Oeko-Tex safe certification or Greenguard Gold certification.

• Choose natural materials – think wool rugs, cotton blankets, linen sheets.

• Nuna Baby Products or Chicco Cleartex are safer options for car seats and strollers.

• Natural Mattresses + Pillows

• You spend a lot of time sleeping – make your bedding as toxin-free as possible.

Replacing items like clothing and home apparel is a huge step in the right direction to continue to support your long-term health and that of your family. 

If you’ve made it to this point in your journey with non-toxic swaps, you’re well on your way to living a clean and non-toxic life. Congrats! 

A Proactive Approach to Non-Toxic Living 

While it’s always a work in progress, control what you can with toxic exposures. We all have to be extra diligent and on guard against greenwashing tactics – with grace for ourselves along the way!

Hopefully, better practices and ingredients will become the norm in the future. But in the meantime, it's up to us to take responsibility for what we put in, on, and around our bodies.

We’re so thankful for Dr. Burkart’s no-nonsense approach and the reminder that living a non-toxic lifestyle is about being proactive, not reactive. Doing so helps you live in more abundant health. 

We hope you enjoyed this guide to non-toxic swaps. Let us know what else you’d like us to cover! 

XO

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Sources: 

1. Springer Nature | Us Drinking Water Quality: Exposure Risk Profiles for Seven Legacy and Emerging Contaminants

2. CDC | Chemicals That Can Contaminate Tap Water

3. EPA | Indoor Air Quality 

4. National Library of Medicine | Soil Health and Nutrient Density: Preliminary Comparison of Regenerative and Conventional Farming 

5. National Library of Medicine | Fungal Contamination in Green Coffee Beans Samples: A Public Health Concern

6. National Library of Medicine | Reduction of Daily-Use Parabens and Phthalates Reverses Accumulation of Cancer-Associated Phenotypes Within Disease-Free Breast Tissue of Study Subjects 

7. National Library of Medicine | Reducing Phthalate, Paraben, and Phenol Exposure From Personal Care Products in Adolescent Girls: Findings From the Hermosa Intervention Study

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