- It's a great time to refresh your daily routines. Start with making informed personal care choices.
- Step one is to take stock of current products and declutter. Then focus on more intentional and transparent options.
- Empower smart shopping aligned with your health and values by understanding terms like B Corp and "free from" claims.
A changing season is the perfect opportunity to refresh. As you clear out closets and swap heavy layers for lighter ones, don't forget to freshen up the bathroom shelf. Personal care options can feel endless but knowing what to look for can help you feel more confident about what you're choosing.
1. How to organize your bathroom shelf
Before diving in, do a quick check of what you already have. Check expiration dates. Toothpaste, deodorant and other daily staples may lose effectiveness over time.
In many cases, the most intentional choice is simply using up what you already own before reaching for something new.
2. Is your daily routine working?
Once you've checked expiration dates and confirmed everything is still good to use, take a closer look at what you have.
- Which products are part of your daily routine?
- Which ones have been sitting untouched and taking up space?
- What ingredients are used in them?
- And are they free from the ingredients that are important for you to avoid?
This quick look can help you identify what's working, what's not and where it might be time to make a change, without overhauling everything at once.
3. How to choose the best products and brands
Once you know what you need, the next step is reviewing your options. As you evaluate a new product, consider not just what's in it, but the brand behind it — whether they are transparent about how they operate and the impact they have.
One of the clearest indicators of a brand's accountability is B Corp Certification, overseen by the nonprofit B Lab, which evaluates a company across governance, workers, customers, community and environment — and audits it every three years. This shows that a brand holds itself to a social and environmental standard, not just a product one.
Tom's of Maine is a certified B Corp and it's a distinction the brand takes seriously.
"Tom's of Maine's B Corp certification is a reflection of 50 years of deliberate choices," said Michelle Waring, Steward for Sustainability and Everyday Good at Tom's of Maine. "From sourcing naturally derived ingredients to dedicating 10% of our annual profits to protecting nature, we hold ourselves to the high standards B Lab sets because we believe business should be a genuine force for good."
4. Tips to navigate the meaning of "free from" claims
From there, labels can help you refine your decision even further. "Free from" claims communicate that a product has been intentionally formulated without specific ingredients. Think of them as cues to understand what a brand prioritizes and how a product was made.
Brands like Tom's of Maine take a consistent approach, putting their ingredient philosophy into practice across everything they make — every product is free from artificial flavors, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
Ultimately, the goal is to know your own needs and preferences and choose based on what matters to you.
