My Low-Tox Life Audit: What I Changed, What I Swapped, and What I'll Never Go Back To

My Low-Tox Life Audit: What I Changed, What I Swapped, and What I'll Never Go Back To

I used to think "low-tox living" was an all-or-nothing thing. Like you either had a completely chemical-free home with matching glass jars and a thriving herb garden, or it didn't count. It took me a while to realize that the audit approach, looking at what's actually in your life room by room, product by product, is so much more sustainable than trying to overhaul everything overnight.

So that's what I did. I went category by category through my home and asked one simple question: Is this serving my body and my home, or is it just what I've always used?

Here's what I found, and what I changed.

Personal Care & Beauty: The Category That Started It All

This is where most people begin their low-tox journey, and for good reason. We put personal care products on our skin every single day, often multiple times a day. The skin is our largest organ and absorbs what we put on it, so it makes sense to pay attention here first.

I started by doing an EWG Skin Deep audit of everything in my bathroom. I lined it all up and looked up every product. Some things surprised me (my "natural" lotion was not as clean as I thought). Others I already suspected.

What I swapped:

  • Body wash and bar soap: Switched to handmade botanical soap. The difference in my skin was noticeable within weeks. No more dry patches, no more that tight, stripped feeling. Real oils, real botanicals, no synthetic fragrance.
  • Moisturizer: Moved to simple, plant-based options. Fewer ingredients, more intentional ones for healthier skin.
  • Fragrance: This was the hardest one. Synthetic fragrance is one of the most common sources of hidden chemicals in personal care, and it hides under just the word "fragrance" on an ingredient label. I stopped wearing conventional perfume and started leaning into essential oil blends and herbal products with natural scent.

The rule I now live by: If I can't pronounce it and can't find it in a plant, I look it up before I use it.

Home & Cleaning Products: The Category Most People Overlook

We talk a lot about what we put on our bodies, but less about what we're breathing and touching all day at home. Conventional cleaning products can be some of the most chemically complex things in our spaces, and they're rarely regulated.

What I audited:

I went through every cleaning product under my sink and in my laundry room. The test I used: would I want to breathe this for 20 minutes in an enclosed space? Because in a small bathroom or laundry room, that's essentially what you're doing.

What I swapped:

  • All-purpose cleaner: White vinegar, water, and a few drops of essential oil handles about 80% of what I need. For tougher jobs, castile soap is my workhorse.
  • Laundry: I made my own. Switched to a fragrance-free, plant-based powder. The synthetic fragrance in conventional laundry products sits against your skin all day in your clothes and sheets.
  • Air fresheners: Gone. Replaced with opening windows, simmering herbs on the stove (rosemary and citrus peel is a favorite), and non-toxic candles made with soy or beeswax and essential oils.

On that last point: if you burn candles in your home, the wax and fragrance type genuinely matter. Paraffin candles are petroleum-derived and release combustion byproducts when burned. Synthetic fragrance oils add another layer of concern. Look for candles made with coconut wax, beeswax, or soy, scented with oils that are phthalate free, mutagen free, paraben free, and non-toxic. 

(Yes, this is exactly why I make MoonFarma candles the way I do.)

Food & Kitchen: Where Low-Tox Gets Nuanced

The food and kitchen category is where I learned to hold things a little more loosely. Perfection isn't the goal here, and food access looks different for everyone. But there are some practical, affordable changes that make a real difference.

What I changed:

  • Cookware: Cast iron and stainless steel became my primary pans. I phased out non-stick coated cookware, especially pieces that were scratched (which is when the coating starts to break down and potentially leach).
  • Food storage: I moved away from plastic containers for anything hot or acidic, and stopped microwaving in plastic. Glass and stainless steel are my go-tos now. Fun Fact: Did you know those black plastic takeout containers are made from recyled electronics? Gross! 
  • Produce: I use the EWG Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists to decide where to prioritize organic. I can't always buy everything organic, and that's okay. But, there are some produce and fruits that I will buy organic. 
  • Supplements and wellness products: I started paying more attention to what's actually in my supplements, including fillers, binders, and synthetic additives. I look for whole-food-based or minimally processed options, and I've incorporated more herbal tinctures and teas as a daily wellness foundation.

What I Swapped to MoonFarma Products

I'll be honest: building MoonFarma came directly out of my own low-tox audit. I kept looking for products that met my standards and coming up short, so I started making them myself.

Here's what I use daily from my own line:

Every MoonFarma product is formulated with the same criteria I use for my own body: plant-derived, mineral-derived where applicable, biodegradable, and as close to the earth as we can get it. I cross-reference EWG ratings. I flag when something is manufactured versus naturally occurring. I don't use synthetic fragrance. I use food apps like Olive.

It's the same audit I'd do for my own home, bottled up for yours.

How to Start Your Own Audit

You don't have to do this all at once. In fact, please don't. Here's how I'd approach it:

  1. Pick one room or one category. Bathroom, kitchen, or cleaning products are all great starting points.
  2. Swap as things run out. You don't need to throw everything away. When your current shampoo runs out, replace it with something better. This is sustainable, financially and emotionally.
  3. Focus on frequency of use and skin contact. The things you use every day that sit on your skin matter most. Start there.
  4. Give yourself grace. Low-tox living is a direction, not a destination. Every intentional swap counts.

The Big Takeaway

The audit isn't about fear. It's about information. Once you know what's in the products you use, you can make choices that actually align with the life you want to live.

For me, that life includes a home that smells like herbs and beeswax instead of synthetic fragrance, a body care routine that works with my skin instead of stripping it, and a wellness practice rooted in plants.

That's what MoonFarma is built on. And it's available to you, wherever you are in your low-tox journey.

Ready to start swapping? Browse our full line of handmade botanical products at MoonFarma. Every product is made in small batches, formulated with intention, and built for the life you're building.

Take our FREE Low-Tox Life Audit here. If you want to go deeper, we offer a Low-Tox Life Audit consult and product bundle, check it out here. 

Questions about ingredients or formulations? Send us a message. We love to talk about this stuff.

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