Ida's Soap Box

When you need soap, body wash or household cleaners, do you reach for products labeled “antibacterial?” Consumers often believe that antibacterial products are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but there is no scientific evidence that they are more effective than plain soap and water. In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.

Why use a natural deodorant? The simple answer--why not! Making sense of the myriad of ingredients in skin care products is challenging and confusing. There are many ingredients that are "considered safe in the small doses used in skin care products." But when I think of the various products I use on my skin each and every day, I can’t help but wonder how much is "a safe small dose" after 65 years.

I received an email from one of our customers with a great question, “Thank you for reminding me to be more cautious about what I believe that I see on the internet. But how am I or anyone who doesn't have a science background supposed to know what to look for in all of those studies we read about?”

The claim that using antiperspirant causes breast cancer is listed under “common cancer myths and misconceptions” on the National Cancer Institute website. Part 3 continues debunking the major misconceptions concerning breast cancer and antiperspirants.