Hand soap is something we all use everyday… hopefully multiple times a day.

Unfortunately, many hand soaps nowadays are chock-full-o’-nasties.

As an endocrine disruptor (also referred to as an E.D.C., endocrine disrupting chemical), triclosan can disrupt hormone regulation at even low-level exposure. The World Health Organization and United Nations this year concluded:

Exposure to E.D.C.s during fetal development and puberty plays a role in the increased incidences of reproductive diseases, endocrine-related cancers, behavioral and learning problems, including A.D.H.D., infections, asthma, and perhaps obesity and diabetes in humans.

And some reports have suggested that triclosan can combine with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform, a known carcinogen. Lovely. Plus, there is no concrete evidence that triclosan’s use in liquid hand soap and other products gives consumers the germ-killing benefits they are promised (liars!). The American Medical Association, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee, and dozens of academic researchers have determined that antimicrobial soap with triclosan as the active ingredient does not work any better than plain soap and water at preventing the spread of infections or reducing bacteria on the skin.

DMDM hydantoin is also an ingredient of major concern. It is a derivative of the formaldehyde… ya know, that stuff scientists and morticians use to preserve corpses and body parts. It has been shown to cause allergies, chest pain, chronic fatigue, depression, dizziness, ear infections, headaches, joint pain, loss of sleep, asthma, and (last but not least) cancer.

So ditch these nasties with a simple swap!

I love Branch basics concentrated soap because it so simple yet incredible effective.

Branch Basics is “human safe” which as we can see is not the case for most hand soaps (or other personal care products, for that matter). This means that it is based on standards that prioritize health above all else. Now you wouldn’t want to take a swig of it for any reason, but if it were accidentally ingested, there would be no harm. There is no warning or precautionary label of any kind, simply because it does not need one. It is not irritating to the skin or eyes, and is not harmful if absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or accidentally ingested. (For this reason, it makes the ideal baby soap/shampoo). It is 100% natural and non-toxic.