How to Avoid Endocrine Disruptors: A Clean Guide

Parabens. Phthalates. PFAS. BPA. Triclosan. Fragrance. You may recognize some of these names listed on the labels of products you encounter daily, from personal care to home and cleaning goods. In other common items, like food or drink packaging, household dust, or even tap water, they might be lurking unbeknownst to you. 

Also known as endocrine disruptors, these chemicals can interfere with hormonal signaling in the body. For that reason, it's a good idea to reduce your exposure, especially if you're trying to conceive, experiencing fertility challenges, dealing with a hormonal disorder like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or generally concerned with your hormonal balance. 

While 100 percent avoidance of common endocrine disruptors is impossible, and likely not needed, there are actionable ways to cut down on your exposure on a daily basis, from reading labels so you know which products to avoid, to adding a  filter system to your water. We'll show you how to easily swap out the products you use regularly for cleaner options, adding peace of mind and making the biggest positive health impact.

What Are Endocrine Disruptors? 

No one wants chemicals in products they use everyday, particularly ones you're putting in or on your body.  But learning where they're commonly found, and what risk they pose, is the first step to limiting exposure. So first off, what exactly are endocrine disruptors?

“Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with normal hormone signaling in the body by mimicking, blocking, or altering natural hormonal pathways," explains Dr. Franziska Haydank, DO, OB-GYN. These can come into play in areas like fertility, thyroid problems, or hormonal disorders like PCOS, to name a few. 

So, where might you encounter them? "In personal care products, they're most commonly discussed in relation to ingredients like certain phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrance compounds," explains Haydank. 

That might include products like deodorant, body wash, and lotion. Common endocrine disruptors can also be found in food and drink packaging like plastics, can linings, and nonstick cookware; home and cleaning products such as dust, flame retardants, and air fresheners; and some unfiltered tap water and store receipts (made of thermal paper that may have the industrial chemical bisphenol A, known as BPA).

Where Endocrine Disruptors Hide in Everyday Products 

Knowing where endocrine disruptors might be found can show you where to look for them—and how to check the labels for key ingredients like parabens and phthalates. 

But, as Haydanek points out, one challenge for consumers is that endocrine-disrupting chemicals are not always obvious on a label, particularly when listed under broad terms like "fragrance." 

If you see "fragrance" on a label, know that that vague, umbrella term could contain a mix of endocrine disruptors, such as PFAS or phthalates, within it.

In general, you don't need to panic about endocrine disruptors in everything you touch. It's more effective to identify the common culprits, and find ways to limit your interaction with them. 

"I encourage patients to think about exposure cumulatively rather than focusing on a single product," advises Haydanek. "Small changes across frequently used items, including lotions, cleansers, menstrual products, cosmetics, and hair products, may help reduce overall exposure.”

Here are the most common categories, and types of products, that might contain endocrine disruptors, so you know what to look out for:

Personal Care and Body Products -Deodorant, body wash, lotion, and fragrance These are the daily leave-on and full-body-surface products that matter most.

• Food and Drink Packaging - Plastics, can linings, nonstick cookware
  
• Home and Cleaning Products - Dust, flame retardants, air fresheners
  
• Water and Receipts - Tap water and thermal-paper BPA/BPS

How to Avoid Endocrine Disruptors: 8 Practical Swaps

Right off the bat, you can limit how often you come into contact with endocrine disruptors by swapping out troublesome products for clean, non-toxic alternatives. Below, we've included eight easy and practical swaps you can make across personal care, food and drink, home and cleaning products, and water and receipts. While many ingredients can be absorbed quickly (within roughly ten minutes), repetition of the product, and its placement on the body has a bigger, cumulative impact, so cutting down on use is key.

Find a deodorant that’s non-toxic and effective

Many deodorants contain EDCs like synthetic fragrance, phthalates, triclosan, and siloxanes D4/D5/D6. Because deodorant is applied daily to the armpit area and worn all day, if you're using a deodorant with EDCs, that means you're exposing yourself regularly, for several hours at a time. But, all you have to do is look for a non-toxic deodorant that doesn't contain those harmful ingredients, and swap it into your routine. If you also have sensitive skin, look for deodorants that are "baking-soda-free".

Switch to a clean body wash

Another product that you use daily, body wash covers your whole-body surface area. Even though you rinse it off, the frequency of use can amount to significant exposure. Look out products listing synthetic fragrance, phthalates, and paraben preservatives on the labels, and swap them out  for a clean alternative.

 Shop Clean Body Wash → A barrier-supporting cleanse with no synthetic fragrance, harsh sulfates, or hormone-disrupting ingredients.

Cut synthetic fragrance in leave-on products

Leave-on products like lotion, body spray, and perfume often contain "fragrance", (sometimes written as "parfum") in their formulations. While fragrance may sound innocent enough, phthalates often hide in this vague ingredient. Instead, opt for a leave-on product that omits it.

Stop heating and storing food in plastic

Here's an easy one: Remove your plastic food storage containers, replacing them with glass or stainless versions. Ingestion is a high-absorption route for EDCs, so make a cheap and simple swap and reap dividends.

Replace scratched nonstick cookware

When nonstick cookware gets scratched with long-term use, endocrine disruptors like PFAS can leak through and end up in your food. Make the switch to stainless or cast iron, and you'll remove the PFA exposure. 

Reduce household dust and fragranced cleaners

EDCs can be lurking in your household dust, as well as fragranced cleaners. But if you frequently wet-dust and vacuum your home, and ventilate it well with fans and open windows, you can meaningfully cut down on the quantity of EDCS.  Be sure to discontinue air fresheners and candles, which often contain flame retardants and phthalates. (If you're tidying up regularly, you won't need them anyway.)

 

Filter your drinking water

Some tap water may contain pesticide and PFAS residues. But there's an easy fix: add a water filter. You can install one directly on your faucet, underneath the sink, or purchase a Brita water pitcher. Make sure you select a filter model that's specifically designed to filter out common EDCs.

Decline or limit paper receipts

The next time the store clerk asks if you'd like your receipt, you might want to decline or ask for an emailed version. Thermal paper carries BPA/BPS which you can absorb through skin contact. 

Start With What You Use Every Day

Ready to reduce endocrine disruptors in your life? Start with your daily culprits, like deodorant and body wash. 

Hear us out. You likely apply deodorant and body wash to your skin every day, either covering your whole body, or targeting the follicle-dense armpit skin. So, if you're using products that contain EDCs, that means the chemicals are making direct skin contact—with fast absorption— day after day, and that exposure can compound over time.  

Deodorant and body wash made with clean formulations will solve your problem. 

According to Dr. Hadley King, board-certified dermatologist, you'll want to look for deodorants with mild surfactants instead of SLS/SLES; no synthetic fragrance; no baking soda, (which isn't an EDC, but can cause irritation); barrier-supporting ingredients like glycerin and ceramides; and no ingredients linked to hormone disruption (like PFAS, parabens, fragrance, or phthalates). 

King notes that LOLA's deodorant avoids baking soda, a major irritant in many natural formulas, and instead uses zinc ricinoleate and triethyl citrate for gentle, effective odor control, with no ingredients linked to hormone disruption. “This [deodorant] is a thoughtfully formulated deodorant that avoids common irritants while using effective, skin-friendly ingredients to control odor.”

When it comes to body wash, King recommends swapping for products that use mild surfactants, like isethionates and taurates,  rather than SLS/SLES, because they will cause less barrier disruption, i.e., are easier on the skin. Look for humectants like glycerin, and emollients like ceramides, which support the skin barrier, and no ingredients linked to hormone disruption. According to King, LOLA's body wash “is a well-formulated, non-stripping cleanser that supports the skin barrier while effectively cleansing."

Shop Clean Deodorant →Odor control that stays gentle, with no baking soda, no fragrance, and no ingredients linked to hormone disruption.

Shop Clean Body Wash →A barrier-supporting cleanse with no synthetic fragrance, harsh sulfates, or hormone-disrupting ingredients.

What to Look For (and Avoid) on a Label 

When you're at the pharmacy, you might not remember every EDC off the top of your head. Here's an easy checklist you can reference while you're vetting labels, both to make sure you avoid EDCs, while also selecting formulations that best benefit sensitive skin and avoid irritation:

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals to avoid:  Synthetic fragrance/phthalates, triclosan, siloxanes (D4/D5/D6), and pesticide residues on non-organic botanicals, parabens,

Other formulation benefits: Baking-soda-free, sulfate-free, dye-free

As a rule of thumb: a short, transparent ingredient list usually indicates cleaner formulations, made with fewer red flag ingredients.

What Europe Restricts That the US Doesn't

While the US's Food and Drug Administration may evaluate some EDCs to restrict them from products, the European Union (EU) takes a more active regulatory approach to protecting consumers from harmful chemicals. The EU's Cosmetics Regulation regularly assesses the risk of certain common additives and restricts or bans them in products. For example, the EU recently restricted siloxanes d4, d5, and d6 to .1 percent maximum concentration in cosmetics. 

What the Research Says About Reducing Exposure 

You don't have to panic about EDCs. But, you can take informed steps to limit how many (and how often) you come into contact with. Small swaps across frequently used items add up. 

The Endocrine Society, a global professional organization for scientists and physicians who study hormones and care for patients with hormone-related conditions, suggests taking a reasonable, actionable approach to limiting your exposure. In an article on their website, "What you can do about EDCs," they write, "You can’t control every chemical that you come into contact with each day. But you can make more informed choices about what you eat, drink, bring into your home, and decide to keep or throw away."

Haydanek encourages patients to  think about exposure "cumulatively," rather than focusing on a single product. If you swap out the products you use on your skin everyday, like deodorant and body wash, for cleaner, non-toxic options, you can quickly achieve a meaningful, lasting impact. 

So now you know what endocrine disruptors are, what risks they pose, and where they're commonly found. Ready to limit your exposure? All you have to do is swap out the daily products you use the most frequently for clean, non-toxic products. Start with your daily body wash and deodorant. A healthier body and (peace of) mind awaits! You got this.

Shop Clean Deodorant →Odor control that stays gentle, with no baking soda, no fragrance, and no ingredients linked to hormone disruption.

Shop Clean Body Wash →A barrier-supporting cleanse with no synthetic fragrance, harsh sulfates, or hormone-disrupting ingredients.

FAQs

4. Can you avoid endocrine disruptors?: You can't fully avoid EDCs because they are omnipresent in our environment, but you can  meaningfully reduce your exposure by avoiding products that commonly contain them.
   

5. What are the worst endocrine disruptors?: BPA, phthalates, parabens, PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" are among the worst culprits.

6. How do I detox my body from endocrine disruptors?: You can't literally detox your body, but if you reduce your exposure to EDCs going forward, you will see a cumulative reduction in your body's interaction with endocrine disruptors.
   

7. Where are endocrine disruptors found?:  Endocrine disruptors are commonly found in personal care products, food and drink packaging, tap water, receipts, and home and cleaning goods. 

8. Why are endocrine disruptors so dangerous?: Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with normal hormone signaling in the body by mimicking, blocking, or altering natural hormonal pathways, and they can lead to problems with fertility, thyroid disorders, metabolism, and can even cause cancer.

9. Do endocrine disruptors affect fertility?: Yes, endocrine disruptors can affect fertility by mimicking, blocking or altering normal hormonal pathways in the body.