Why Going Low Tox Matters to Me (and Why It Might Matter to You, Too)

A young child gently applies natural skin food tallow balm to her arm, focusing on skincare in a sunlit room.

There was a time I didn’t think twice about what I was putting on my skin, using in my home, or washing down the drain. If it smelled nice and did the job, I bought it. Simple.

But that changed. It didn’t happen overnight. It began with little things, reading the label on a bottle of shampoo and realising I didn’t know what half the ingredients were. Seeing my child react to a product that was supposed to be “gentle.” Learning how many everyday products we use contain hormone disruptors, skin irritants, and ingredients that simply don’t belong in or on a body, let alone in the ocean or the soil.

That’s when I started asking questions. And once you start asking, it’s hard to stop.

Why “Low Tox” and Not “Perfectly Toxin-Free”?

Because perfection is unrealistic and honestly, exhausting. The goal isn’t to live in a bubble. It’s about making better choices where we can. I aim for “low tox,” not “no tox,” because it allows room for grace, learning, and real life.

For me, low tox is about:

• Choosing ingredients that are gentle on our skin and bodies

•. Reducing the number of synthetic chemicals we’re exposed to every day

• Using natural alternatives that actually work

• Supporting our immune system instead of burdening it

• Being kind to the planet (because what we wash down the drain matters)

• And (just as strongly) ditching single-use plastic wherever I can.

My dislike of single-use plastic is deeply tied to my low-tox journey. It’s everywhere, and it sticks around long after we’ve tossed it. It clogs waterways, damages marine life, and contributes to a throwaway culture I want no part in. When I realised how many of my everyday personal care products came in plastic I couldn’t reuse or recycle properly, I knew something had to change.

It Became Personal

When my kids were little, I became hyper-aware of what was going on their skin. Their immune systems were still developing, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that the products I’d trusted might be doing more harm than good.

What began as a handful of homemade swaps turned into a deep passion… and eventually, a business. Now, I create low-tox, plastic-free bath and body products not just for my family, but for other families too.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

Going low-tox doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You don’t have to overhaul your whole life in one week. Start with what goes on your skin daily. Switch to a low-tox deodorant. Swap out your body wash for a solid bar made from real oils and clays. Use a balm that heals your skin without hidden nasties or single-use packaging.

It’s empowering to take control over what we use. It’s liberating not to rely on the big brands that are more interested in shelf life than our wellbeing. And it feels really good to know that every time I choose a product, I’m choosing something better for me, my family, and the planet.

The Bigger Picture

Low-tox living is more than a personal health choice. It’s about sustainability. It’s about reducing the plastic we bring into our homes. It’s about protecting our waterways, our reefs, and our future.

I live and work near the Great Barrier Reef, so this matters deeply to me. When I say “We do it for the reef,” I mean it. Every bottle avoided, every bar used to the end, every decision to go natural instead of synthetic, it all adds up.

Final Thoughts

Low tox is about intention, not perfection. It’s about slowing down and paying attention. It’s about reconnecting, with our bodies, our kids, and the natural world.

That’s why going low tox matters so much to me. It changed the way I live, the way I parent, and the way I do business.

And once you begin, it might just change everything for you, too.