Non-toxic Halloween
Halloween is an exciting holiday for children and adults everywhere! From trick or treating to dressing up in unique costumes, Halloween is a holiday unlike any other. Unfortunately, many of the treat bags, and materials used in store-bought costumes also expose you or your child to toxins. This includes face paint, masks, treat bags, and more.
Not celebrating Halloween is simply not an option! This holiday creates exciting memories and adorable photos for both children and parents to enjoy. Parents looking to promote a healthier environment for their children have many options to create a non-toxic Halloween.
With a few basic replacements and alternatives, your children can experience a great Halloween, free of harmful toxins. To make this guide easy for parents to navigate, we’ve broken down the categories of items that contain toxins and offered alternatives for every item.
Face Paint and Halloween Makeup
Painting your face is an exciting way to make your Halloween costume come full circle, giving it a complete and realistic look. However, many Halloween face paint products often include heavy metals, such as lead or cadmium. If you or your child have overly sensitive skin, this may also cause you to break out.
Instead of supporting chemical-filled store-bought face paint, you can make your own nm-toxic face paint instead. Using natural food-based dyes, mixed with body lotion or toothpaste, you can still enjoy a complete Halloween costume with natural paint. Want to make your own natural ingredient face paint this Halloween? This easy DIY face paint offers the perfect solution.
Don’t want to expose you and your children to chemicals in store-bought paint but running short on time? Check out this natural face paint, with certified organic ingredients! The six vibrant colors give you plenty of options to work from, and you can feel great about putting chemical-free paint on your skin.
Halloween Costumes
Costumes are perhaps the most important part of Halloween! While store-bought costumes may be attractive and save you time, they often contain PVC. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, may even have a strong plastic smell that indicates it’s probably best to avoid. PVC has been tied to various health concerns, including disruption of hormone signaling in the body. PVC has often been nicknamed “poison plastic” as it can cause toxic responses from prolonged exposure.
If time and creativity allow, homemade costumes offer a unique twist on your child’s costume. Making your own costume means you’ll know exactly what went into it and ensure it is toxin-free. Creating a DIY costume may sound difficult, but it can actually be easy with clothing you may already have at home.
If you’re not able to create your own costume or your child has their heart set on a specific costume, don’t worry. Search online for non-toxic Halloween costumes for your children. Used or borrowed costumes may also be an option. They will save you money and are less likely to have a high concentration of chemicals.
Always wear an extra layer so your Halloween costume does not directly touch your skin. This can help limit your exposure to chemicals or flame retardants.
Halloween Treat Bags
For the same reasons mentioned above, Halloween treat bags should be avoided, if possible. They may contain chemicals or flame retardants, which may be toxic to the health of you or your children. The great news is that non-toxic Halloween treat bags are easy to come by! Instead of plastic, use a reusable cloth bag or felt, free of chemicals. Whether store-bought or DIY, you’ll benefit from a more durable bag for trick-or-treating, while staying healthy!
A Healthier Halloween
Many parents opting to create healthier homes worry that their children will miss out on exciting holidays such as Halloween. Of course, with resources and patience, Halloween can still be an exciting holiday for you and your family. Making small changes in the face paint, costumes, face masks, and treat bags you use can make a huge difference in the health of your family.
While limited exposure to these toxins is not a huge deal, making these changes every year for Halloween has a huge impact.
