There was a time when I bought a lot of products simply because they were convenient, trendy, or what everyone else used. But over the years, I’ve become much more intentional about what I bring into my home, put on my body, and use daily.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s not about fear either. I’m not here to tell you that you must stop using these things or that every conventional product is “toxic.” I just think we all deserve to be informed consumers and make choices that align with our personal values, wellness goals, and lifestyles.
For me, that has meant slowly swapping out certain everyday products for alternatives I feel better about using. Some of these changes happened gradually over many years, while others were immediate “never again” moments.
And honestly? I don’t miss most of these products at all. Here are 12 things I no longer buy and what I use instead.
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1. Bottled Water
I used to buy bottled water all the time. Gallons for the house. Bottles for the car. Bottles for travel. Bottles for workouts. You get the idea.
But eventually I started thinking about two things:
- The amount of plastic waste
- The quality of the water sitting in plastic bottles, sometimes for long periods of time and sometimes in the heat.
Now I mostly use stainless steel water bottles when I’m on the go and filtered water at home.
One of my favorite purchases has been my Clearly Filtered water pitcher. I personally love having filtered water readily available without constantly buying plastic bottles or lugging giant cases home from the store.
Not only does it feel like a healthier choice for my lifestyle, but it also honestly saves money over time.
And once you get in the habit of carrying a reusable bottle, bottled water feels unnecessary most of the time.
2. Glade Plug-Ins & Artificially Scented Candles
I used to LOVE a good “clean house” smell. Plug-ins everywhere. Scented candles burning constantly.
But over time, strong artificial fragrances began to bother me more and more. Some scents would trigger headaches, others would cause sneezing and itchy eyes, and I began paying closer attention to the ingredients used in heavily fragranced products.
For years, I have mostly used essential oil diffusers instead.
I love being able to control how strong the scent is and switch oils depending on my mood or the season. Lavender for relaxing. Peppermint when I want the house to feel fresh and energizing. Citrus oils in the kitchen.
Do I still occasionally light a candle? Sure. But I’m much pickier now, and I avoid those super overpowering synthetic scents that used to fill my entire house.
I’ve found that my home still smells amazing without needing a plug-in in every outlet.
Check out this organic essential oil brand on Amazon.
Related Read: DITCHING CANDLES: MY JOURNEY TO DIFFUSING ESSENTIAL OILS AND FALL-INSPIRED BLENDS
3. Fluoride Toothpaste
This is one of those personal preference swaps that I know can be controversial, so I’ll just share what works for me.
I prefer hydroxyapatite toothpaste to traditional fluoride toothpaste.
Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral that’s actually found in teeth and bones, and I’ve really enjoyed using it. My teeth feel clean, my mouth feels fresh, and it aligns better with my personal wellness preferences.
I also appreciate that many hydroxyapatite toothpaste brands prioritize cleaner ingredient lists. I’ll share some of my favorite options below because I know this is one of those swaps people are often curious about once they hear about it.
At the end of the day, this is simply one of those changes that makes me feel better personally.
Here are my TOP three non-fluoride toothpaste brands: Dr. Plotka’s (My FAV), OregaFresh Toothpaste, & LivingWell Toothpaste
Related Read: FLUORIDE & ORAL HEALTH: WHAT I’VE LEARNED, WHAT I QUESTION, AND WHY INFORMED CHOICE MATTERS
4. Neosporin
For years, Neosporin was basically a medicine cabinet staple. A scrape? Neosporin. A cut? Neosporin. Anything skin-related? Neosporin.
But over time, I started reaching for colloidal silver instead.
Personally, I like having a simple spray (or gel) option on hand for minor cuts and skin irritation. It’s become one of those products I automatically repurchase because we actually use it regularly. Again, this is just what I personally choose to keep in my home now.
I still believe there’s’s absolutely a time and place for conventional medicine and medical care, but for everyday minor things, colloidal silver has become my preferred option.
Here’s the one I use most often: Sovereign Silver Colloidal Silver Gel
5. Conventional Tampons & Pads
Once I learned more about the materials commonly used in many conventional feminine hygiene products, switching to organic cotton options felt like an easy decision for me.
These days I buy organic cotton tampons and pads whenever possible.
It’s honestly one of those swaps that didn’t feel difficult at all once I made it. The products are much easier to find now than they used to be, and there are so many more clean-conscious brands available.
For something used so closely and so frequently on the body, I personally feel more comfortable choosing products with simpler materials and fewer unnecessary additives or fragrances.
And I’m not saying every conventional product is horrible. I just think this is an easy place to make a more mindful swap if you want to.
Tampons, Made with Organic Cotton
Marlow Brand Organic Cotton Tampons
Ultra-Thin Organic Cotton Pads
Related Read: THE UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS OF PERIMENOPAUSE (AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM!)
6. Aluminum-Based Deodorants
This is probably the category where I’m still experimenting the most.
I stopped buying traditional aluminum-based deodorants years ago and switched to aluminum-free alternatives. But if I’m being completely honest… natural deodorants can be hit-or-miss.
Some work great for a while and then suddenly stop working. Some smell amazing don’t hold up during workouts or hot Georgia summers. Some leave weird residue. Some irritate sensitive skin.
So I’m still very much on the hunt for my holy grail natural deodorant. That said, I still personally prefer aluminum-free options overall and continue testing different brands until I find favorites worth repurchasing.
If you’re making the switch yourself, my biggest piece of advice is: give your body time to adjust, don’t be afraid to try multiple brands before deciding that natural deodorant isn’t working. Because honestly, some really don’t. But some are surprisingly good.
Brands I’ve tried and threw out… Lume, Salt & Stone, Little Seeds Farm, Native, Tom’s, Schmidt’s… You name it, I’ve probably tried it.
Here’s my current fav: Primally Pure Blue Tansy (non-affiliate). And I just purchased a new one from Bee-Och to try soon.
Also, Old Spice Original Deodorant for men makes a decent aluminum-free version.
7. Chemical Sunscreen
I’ll admit I’m not the best at wearing sunscreen daily. Recently I’ve had some pre-cancerous cells burned off my face by the dermatologist, so that has encouraged me to be better about applying it.
I personally choose mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreen whenever possible — specifically, non-nano zinc oxide formulas.
I tend to prefer mineral sunscreens because I like the ingredient profile better for my personal use, and many people also find them gentler on sensitive skin. The tricky part is finding one that doesn’t leave you looking ghostly white.
Thankfully, mineral sunscreen formulas have improved SO much over the years. There are now tinted options, lightweight lotions, and face-specific formulas that feel way more wearable than older versions. And yes, I still care about how sunscreen looks under makeup because if it feels awful, I’m realistically not going to wear it consistently.
I’ll share a few favorites because finding a good mineral sunscreen can definitely take some trial and error.
Tallow Sunscreen: I haven’t tried this one yet, but it gets great reviews on Amazon.
Related Read: MICRONEEDLING AT 52: MY 2-YEAR JOURNEY TO HEALTHIER, GLOWING SKIN
8. Plastic Tupperware
At some point, I realized most of my plastic food containers were stained, warped, scratched, or had missing lids. So, over time, I gradually replaced them with glass containers. I personally prefer glass for food storage because:
- It feels cleaner
- It lasts longer
- It doesn’t stain easily.
- It handles reheating much better.
- I don’t worry as much about hot food sitting in plastic.
Do I still have some plastic containers floating around? Probably. But the majority of our kitchen storage is glass now, and I genuinely prefer it. Bonus: glass containers just make leftovers look prettier somehow.
9. Chips and Soda
Here’s the thing: I actually LOVE chips. Which is exactly why I try not to keep them in the house. Because if they’re there? I will absolutely eat them.
The same goes for soda. Although I personally don’t drink much soda, my husband will definitely have it if it’s around. So I don’t buy it regularly. I’ve learned that sometimes the easiest form of self-control is simply not bringing certain things home in the first place.
Now, do I still eat chips ocassionally? Of course. I’m human. I just don’t keep giant family-size bags in the pantry calling my name every night. I also notice I naturally make healthier snack choices when ultra-processed snacks aren’t the easiest option available. Sometimes creating healthier habits really is about setting up your environment for success.
10. Dry Kibble Dog Food
Our dog is family, so we’ve become much more intentional about what we feed her too. Instead of traditional dry kibble, we make homemade turkey meatloaf for our pup, which our veterinarian approved.
And before anyone panics: yes, we made sure it was balanced appropriately and vet-approved before switching her food. We wanted something with recognizable ingredients and more moisture than standard dry food.
Honestly, she LOVES it. Her excitement at mealtime alone makes it worth the extra effort.
Of course, homemade pet food isn’t realistic or necessary for everyone, and there are definitely high-quality commercial dog foods available. This is simply what works best for our family and our dog.
Related Read: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HEALTHY HOMEMADE DONINLEY’SFINLEY’S FAVORITE MEAL
11. Apple Watch
This one may surprise some people.
I stopped wearing an Apple Watch because I personally wanted to reduce how connected I felt to technology all the time, and yes, concerns about EMF exposure also played a role in that decision for me.
I realized I didn’t love constantly checking notifications, closing rings, tracking every movement, or always being reachable.
At first, it felt weird not having a smartwatch on my wrist 24/7. But eventually it started feeling… freeing. Now I’m much more intentional about when I’m plugged in versus when I’m fully present.
I know wearable technology can be incredibly useful for many people, especially for fitness tracking or health monitoring. This is just one of those personal decisions that ultimately improved my own peace of mind.
And honestly? I don’t miss the constant buzzing on my wrist. Here’s a non-EMF watch that will track steps if you’re interested.
12. Aerosol Dry Shampoo
I used to rely heavily on dry shampoo, especially during busy weeks when I didn’t want to wash my hair as often. But eventually I became more conscious of the ingredients and aerosols in many conventional dry shampoos, and I started looking for alternatives.
These days, I either use cleaner, non-aerosol options or make my own.
Honestly, homemade dry shampoo is surprisingly simple, customizable for different hair colors, and much more budget-friendly than constantly buying expensive cans from the store.
I’ll link my full DIY dry shampoo recipe and tutorial below because it’s become one of my favorite easy wellness swaps.
And as someone who still loves stretching out wash days when possible… trust me, I get the appeal of dry shampoo.
Related Read: DIY DRY SHAMPOO RECIPE: A HEALTHIER, NATURAL ALTERNATIVE FOR FREKelly’s
Kelly’s Thoughts
I think wellness culture can sometimes feel overwhelming because it can sound like you need to replace everything in your house overnight.
That’s not realistic for most people, and honestly, it’s not necessary either. For me, these swaps happened gradually over time. One product here. One habit there. One small improvement at a time.
And that’s really the point. You don’t have to do everything perfectly to make more intentional choices.
Maybe you can switch to a reusable water bottle. Or you try a mineral sunscreen. Maybe you start reading ingredient labels a little more closely. Or maybe you simply stop buying the snacks you know you can’t resist.
Small changes add up.
And at the end of the day, I think the goal is simply to create a home and lifestyle that feel healthier, calmer, and more aligned with your values.
Comment down below: what’s one product you stopped buying and will never go back to?
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