Stopped knowingly putting chemicals in/on my body

Though there are a lot of chemicals we are unavoidably exposed to everyday just by walking outside and breathing (in most places), there are innumerable chemicals we are responsible for exposing ourselves to everyday. After working on an EPA product in which researchers attempted to count the number and amount of toxins we are exposed to through food, household products, and personal care products, I learned how toxic our environment can be through our own doing. Though the exercise of quantifying those chemicals seems futile to me, it changed what foods, materials, and products I am willing to buy and keep in my home.
Here are a few biggies:
-remove plastic from the kitchen and all food-related processes-- polymers that make up plastic seep into our foods and cause cancer. learn how to read labels on plastic containers here
-remove teflon and non-stick surfaces from the kitchen- like plastic, these compounds seep into the foods we're cooking on them. The companies that use these coating chemicals spend millions to prevent the research showing how harmful it is from reaching the public.
-use natural cleaning products (vinegar, lemon juice, water, and elbow grease)
-use natural soaps-Dr. Bronner's vegetable based soap is my favorite. It is especially important to avoid anti-bacterial soap. Bacteria are our friends-- we depend upon them for all of our bodily functions. Yes, it's true that harmful bacteria exist but building a strong immune system and washing our hands with water frequently is the best way to prevent them from causing disease. The excessive use of anti-bacterial soaps actually strengthens bacterial populations because they mutate very quickly to become more powerful.
-avoid lotions & cosmetics- the cosmetic industry makes billions of dollars by convincing people that their products are needed to make people beautiful. You are beautiful, just as you are. Our skin is our second set of lungs and everything we put on it is absorbed into the body (that goes for sunscreen too, a carcinogen in itself that harms water habitats like bleaching coral reefs!). A particularly harmful compound called phthalates are found in many personal care and other products. Most babies are now born with phthalates in their bodies along with numerous other industrial chemicals. The product that scientists have identified as the strongest link with body levels of phthalates is nail polish. As far as dry skin- for the best lotion, mix mostly aloe and jojoba oil (the oil closest to the composition of our natural skin oil) and shake for an excellent skin moisturizer. To avoid dry skin in the first place, oil your skin before showers, avoid hot showers, and stay well hydrated.
-avoid sprays of any kind- they create fine particulates that get into our bodies.
-avoid fragrances, air fresheners, etc.- use incense or essential oils instead
-avoid pesticides and fertilizers used for pests and the lawn. For any number of pests, there are natural solutions to use you can find on the web. As far as lawns, get rid of them (Food not Lawns!).
-if building something or buying new furniture, seek out the most earth based materials. Building materials, carpets, paints, mattresses are full of toxins that leach into the air that we breath. Here is a much more comprehensive blog on this topic alone.

HAZARDOUS & UNLABELED NANOTECH PESTICIDES IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS
An important lawsuit was filed last week against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the International Center for Technology Assessment calling for 200 consumer products to be removed from the market, because they contain dangerous nanoparticle pesticides. The EPA is illegally allowing a wide variety of consumer products to be infused with nanoparticle-sized silver, supposedly for its enhanced "germ killing" abilities. Nano-silver is now laced into products including children's toys, personal care products, household appliances, cleaners, clothing, cutlery, and coated electronics. According to George Kimbrell, staff attorney for ICTA, "Nano-silver is leaching into the environment, where it will have toxic effects on fish, other aquatic species and beneficial microorganisms." Learn more about nanotechnology, take action, and see a comprehensive list of everyday products containing nanotech here:
-Organic Consumers Association