There are so many inspiring people out there in the natural community, from incredible natural product makers to wellness advocates. In my interview series I’ve introduced you to people behind the brands and those advocating for change, and today I have someone who is truly awe inspiring. Laura from Laurasnaturallife.com is a blogger, YouTuber, health advocate, holistic wellness educator, nutritionist and more. Her story is one that struck me when I first read it and it has honestly helped to fuel my passion to make our home is as safe for our family as possible. She is living proof that what’s in our home can have a big impact on our health. Her home definitely affected her health in a bad way, but it also empowered her to take back her home and detox her life. In our interview below, she shares her story and some easy changes you can make in your own home!
Maison Pur: What was the catalyst that inspired you to pursue a more natural lifestyle?
Laura: When I got married at 24 years old, I moved into a brand new home and the toxic chemicals from the building materials made me so sick almost instantly. I experienced really scary neurological systems like burning of my skin and hands, dizziness and sudden swings in emotions. I couldn’t remember things and sometimes would mix up letters, numbers or have trouble finding words. At the same time, I began working at a holistic healthcare center and was working with air inspectors and building inspectors to help figure out how to combat these chemicals I was living in. It became a snowball effect where one positive change led to another, which hasn’t stopped to this day!
MP: I’ve gone to great lengths to try to make our home healthier, which has required lots of research and is sometimes met with skepticism from friends and family. Did you find it easy to incorporate healthier changes or was it a slow process?
LNL: It has been slower or faster at different stages of this process. When we moved into the house and I became so sick, it was emergency mode for me. I was like “what can I do RIGHT NOW that will stop this?!”. BUT, being a newlywed with a husband who didn’t grow up around chemically sensitive people stopped me from hiring everyone in town and spending thousands of dollars. We had an air and building inspector come in right away and he suggested a laundry list of ways to make our home healthier. We did the easiest (free) ones right away and then worked our way down the list by which options were most impactful, yet least expensive. There were some things that were very costly, but we were unsure how great the benefits would be, so we did not do them. In hindsight, I wish we had. Now that we live in a safe home for my health, I try to do one big improvement a year if necessary. For instance, a water purifier one year, an air purifier the next. Any home products, furniture or clean products are always non-toxic. Non-toxic furniture sounds really expensive and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Typically, if you are able to purchase a floor model, it will be sufficiently off gassed by the time it gets to your home. I can certainly relate to healthy home changes being met with resistance, but honestly what I learned over those terrible years was that the only people who need to believe in you are yourself and your spouse (or whoever is also footing the bill).
MP: What are a few easy changes someone could make right away to create a healthier home for their family?
LNL: Open windows frequently to get fresh air circulating. Use a Dehumidifier during summer or humid months to prevent mold growth. Use non-toxic cleaning products and hand soap that does not use chemical anti-bacterials. Ditch any product with fragrance! Fragrance is so bad for the environment and the body.
MP: You were so affected by your home environment, what are some things you recommend looking for or avoiding to people who are house hunting?
LNL: House hunting was exciting, but quite challenging. I believe we looked at about 50 homes before we found one that felt safe to me, was in our price range and also that we both liked aesthetically. Don’t give up, your perfect house is out there. We looked for a house that:
1. Was 5-7 years old so that the majority of the building materials had already off gassed
2. Had an unfinished basement if possible, or no dampness in a finished basement.
3. Mostly wood floors versus carpet.
4.No trace of air fresheners as these are incredibly hard to get out of a home – even with fresh NO-VOC paint and air purifiers.
5. Absolutely no history of water damage or signs / smells of must or mold.
MP: We both share a love for green beauty and I’m always inspired by your product picks! If you had to choose, what’s your top, must-have green beauty product?
LNL: Gressa Serum Minimalist Foundation. This stuff is liquid gold.
So crazy to think someone’s home could affect them so much! For more information on Laura, how to detox your life, and clean up your beauty routine, be sure to check out her blog and YouTube channel, as well as follow along on Instagram and Pinterest. She also has an Etsy shop with really cute prints, t-shirts, totes and more! Here’s to us all living a green, gorgeous life! xo
