October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, the conversation feels especially personal to us at Oil Divine.
Someone in my family is currently struggling with breast cancer. Watching someone you love and their dear family go through this experience changes the way you think about health, everyday life and the things we often take for granted. You see how much a woman can go through physically and emotionally, and how much strength it takes to face something that changes so many parts of her life.
It also makes you think differently about the environment we live in every day. The products we used, the ingredients we bring into our homes and the information we have access to when making decisions about our health.
One thing that stood out to me was how many everyday products she felt she needed to remove from her home to reduce her exposure to unwanted chemicals and potential hormone disruptors. How many food options she had to let go and change in her diet. Things that most of us buy without thinking twice suddenly became something worth looking at more closely. It made me realize how little many of us know about the ingredients in our everyday products until a health concern brings those questions to the surface.
This isn't about living in fear of everything around us. And it certainly isn't about suggesting that household products caused her cancer. Breast cancer is complex, and no single lifestyle change can guarantee prevention. But since then I started doubting on every product. That supermarket chicken, those "free-range eggs", the pesticides on every single fruit and vegetables.. that body lotion, that sensitive deodorant. Everything around me looked suspicious but luckily I had lots of information and knowledge from working at Oil Divine, but what about others?
It's about awareness, asking questions and understanding that we deserve clear information about the things we use every day.
Why Breast Cancer Awareness Month matters
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is more than pink ribbons and annual campaigns. It's an opportunity to talk openly about a disease that affects millions of women and their families, support those going through treatment and remind ourselves to take our health seriously.
Breast cancer can affect women of different ages and backgrounds. Some of its risk factors are well established, including age and certain genetic factors, while others are still being researched. Having risk factors doesn't mean someone will develop the disease, and many people diagnosed with breast cancer have no obvious risk factors.
That's why awareness matters. It helps us have better conversations, understand the importance of recommended screening and seek medical advice when something doesn't feel right. It also gives us an opportunity to look at the bigger picture of women's wellness, including the environmental exposures scientists are continuing to investigate.
What are hormone disruptors, and why are people talking about them?
Our hormones help regulate many essential functions in the body, from reproduction and metabolism to growth and development. The endocrine system is the network responsible for producing and regulating these hormones.
Some chemicals, known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), can interfere with the way this system works. Depending on the chemical and the circumstances of exposure, they may mimic natural hormones, block their effects or alter how hormones are produced and regulated.
These substances are studied in different contexts, including reproductive health, development and certain cancers. Some chemicals with potential endocrine-disrupting properties can be found in everyday environments, including certain plastics, personal care products, cleaning products and other consumer goods. However, their presence in a product doesn't automatically mean that using it will harm your health.
The important questions include which chemical is involved, how much exposure occurs, how often it happens and what research shows about its effects in humans. Scientists are continuing to investigate whether and how particular environmental exposures might influence breast cancer risk. The evidence is complex, and clear links have not been established for many of the exposures people commonly worry about.
For us, this is exactly why ingredient transparency matters. We should be able to understand what we are using and make informed choices without being frightened by every ingredient name we don't recognize.
How to make more informed choices without becoming overwhelmed
When you first start learning about ingredients, it can feel as though every product has something to worry about. We don't believe that is a healthy or sustainable way to approach wellness.
Instead, start small.
1.Read the labels. Take a few minutes to understand the ingredients in products you use regularly. If something is unfamiliar, research it through reliable sources rather than relying on a social media post.
2.Choose transparency. Look for brands that disclose their ingredients, explain their formulations and avoid making dramatic claims they cannot support.
3.Replace products gradually. You don't need to clear out toxins from your entire bathroom or kitchen overnight. Start with products you use frequently, and make changes as your budget allows.
4.Understand the evidence. A chemical being investigated for potential endocrine-disrupting effects doesn't mean that every exposure is harmful. Consider the quality of the research, the level of exposure and what established health authorities say.
5.Look after your health beyond your products. Follow recommended breast screening guidance for your age and personal circumstances, learn about your family history and speak to a healthcare professional if you notice a change in your breasts or have concerns about your risk.
Most importantly, remember that you cannot control every exposure or prevent every illness. Women who develop breast cancer have not necessarily done anything wrong, and no one should be made to feel responsible for their diagnosis because of the products they used.
Why this to Oil Divine
Oil Divine began with a simple intention: to be more thoughtful about what we put on our skin and how we care for ourselves.
For us, clean beauty has never been about telling people to fear conventional products or suggesting that natural ingredients can solve every health concern. It's about offering an alternative for people who want to make more considered choices. We care about knowing where our ingredients come from, understanding our formulations and being clear about what our products are designed to do.
That philosophy extends beyond skincare. Holistic wellness means looking at the bigger picture: the routines we build, the products we choose, the environments we create and the time we give ourselves to rest and recharge.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take a moment to check in with yourself and the women you love. Learn about recommended screenings, speak with your healthcare provider about any concerns and make room for conversations that go beyond the pink ribbon.
With care,
The Oil Divine Team
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This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Research into environmental exposures and breast cancer is ongoing. Household product changes cannot guarantee prevention, and readers should consult qualified healthcare professionals for individual medical guidance.