There was a season of my life that quietly changed everything, and it started with unanswered questions about my body.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or frustrated while searching for answers about your health or skin, this post will help you understand why questioning your products matters and how awareness, not fear, can become one of the most empowering tools you have.

This is the story of how infertility opened my eyes to toxins, greenwashing, and the small choices that eventually changed everything.

I was struggling to get pregnant and was eventually diagnosed with “unexplained infertility.” If you’ve ever received that diagnosis, you know how frustrating it feels. There was no clear reason, no obvious solution, just constant wondering what you could do differently.

During one appointment, my OB gently suggested something I hadn’t expected: she encouraged me to start looking at my personal care products.

At the time, I truly believed I was doing all the “right” things. I ate well. I exercised. I used highly recommended household and personal care products. It never crossed my mind that the very products I trusted could be working against my body.

When “Clean” Products Burned My Skin

I went home and started swapping my products for what I believed were clean options. I remember walking into Target, standing in front of the cleansers and moisturizers, scanning labels for clues that something was a better choice: green packaging, earthy fonts, buzzwords like “natural” and “non-toxic.”

It all looked reassuring.

But instead of my skin improving, it reacted immediately with burning, redness, and irritation I had never experienced before. That moment stopped me in my tracks. If these products were supposed to be safer, why was my skin reacting so strongly?

That’s when I started digging deeper, not just into product claims, but into ingredient lists.

Discovering the Truth About Greenwashing

What I uncovered was eye-opening.

So much of what we see on store shelves is driven by marketing, not safety. Green labeling, trendy language, and “clean beauty” claims are often designed to suggest wellness without truly delivering it.

I learned that many ingredients known to cause irritation or disruption are still widely allowed. I learned that vague terms like “fragrance” can hide dozens of undisclosed chemicals. And I learned that regulation does not automatically equal safety.

That realization shifted everything. Instead of trusting the front of the bottle, I started reading the back. Instead of following trends, I started learning how ingredients work.

This was over twenty years ago, long before quick Google searches made information easily accessible. I read books. I researched. I studied formulation. Eventually, I began making my own products with one goal in mind: keep them simple, intentional, and supportive of the body rather than overwhelming it.

From Awareness to Empowerment

This journey was never about fear. It was about awareness.

As my desire to become a mother grew, I began thinking about the products I would someday use on a baby, skin so thin and vulnerable, systems still developing. That awareness made me more intentional, not more anxious.

I didn’t throw everything away overnight, but I did let go of a lot. I embraced the mindset of less is more and started asking one simple question: what do I truly need to use every day?

My product swaps weren’t perfect, but they were informed. And with that came confidence:

Confidence to choose products that respected my skin barrier. Confidence to stop believing irritation was “normal.” Confidence to trust that our bodies are incredibly wise when we stop working against them.

Over time, this awareness expanded beyond skincare. It shaped how I approached wellness, my home, and what I modeled for my family. Eventually, it became Avapure.

Why I Share This Story

I share this not because everyone’s journey looks the same, but because so many women are quietly searching for answers just like I was.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed standing in a skincare aisle…
If you’ve ever wondered why your “clean” products aren’t helping…
If you’ve ever felt dismissed or confused about what your body needs…

You are not alone.

This space is about education, simplicity, and support, not perfection. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: even small, intentional changes can create meaningful shifts over time.

This season changed everything for me. And if you’re here reading this, it just might be the beginning of something new for you too.

I’ll continue sharing simple ways to make safer swaps without the overwhelm because this journey was never meant to feel heavy. If you are ready to go deeper, I’ve created a wellness space that brings together everything I’ve learned over the past twenty years. It’s where education, simplicity, and real life meet.

If you are curious but unsure where to begin, start with one intentional change. Those small choices truly do add up.

This season of questioning didn’t just change my skincare, it changed how I trust my body, how I approach wellness, and how I make choices for my family.

You don’t need all the answers to begin. You don’t need to do everything at once. You simply need awareness and a willingness to take the next small step.

That’s why I always encourage women to start with one intentional change, not a complete overhaul. Those small choices add up in ways you can’t always see right away, but your body feels them.

If you’d like help knowing where to start, I created FREE resources to help you take the guesswork out of those first steps. It’s simple, practical, and designed to support, not overwhelm, you.

✨ You don’t have to do this perfectly. You just have to begin.