Because body lotions are applied in large quantity, all-over the body and is left on (not washed off like soap), The best way to reduce your family’s exposure to artificial preservatives, colour and fragrance in body care products is to switch out your body lotion for a healthy, skin-loving cold-pressed oil.

Lotion is formulated like an emulsified salad dressing-think runny ranch or caesar dressing made with water instead of vinegar. You need to preserve that microbial buffet! Preservatives are used at a rate of 0.1-2% of the total weight of the formula. Lotions contain about 75% water and preservatives are needed just to inhibit microbial growth not in the oil component, but in all of that water as well.

Take advantage of the water left on your body after a shower and apply just a little bit of the oil to slightly wet skin (the same principle applies to your body as it does to your face, use M1+M2). You’ll also be nourishing your skin with fatty acids and vitamins that are present in minute amounts, if any at all, in drugstore body lotions.