Episode Overview

Podcast: The Dr. Josh Axe Show
Episode: 3 EASY Skincare Swaps That Lower Toxins FAST (in 3 days!)
Date: January 22, 2026
Guests: Bethany McDaniel (founder, Primally Pure)

In this episode, Dr. Josh Axe and Bethany McDaniel discuss the alarming number of toxins found in modern skincare products, how these chemicals impact hormone health (especially in women and girls), and simple, powerful swaps that can radically improve skin and overall health in as little as three days. Bethany shares her personal story of transformation, expert insights into key toxins to avoid, and practical natural skincare strategies. The episode also covers ancestral nutrition and lifestyle wisdom for radiant skin and longevity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Toxic Load of Modern Skincare

• Average Woman Applies 100+ Chemicals Before Breakfast

  • “The average woman today applies 114 chemicals to their skin before they even eat breakfast.” – Dr. Axe [02:27]
  • These chemicals can disrupt hormones such as estrogen, cortisol, and thyroid, with potential links to weight gain, PCOS, painful periods, and more.

• Girls and Early Skincare Adoption

  • Young girls, even preteens, are following elaborate skincare routines, often marketed by celebrities, exposing themselves to hundreds of chemicals.
  • “We were never meant to apply 100 chemicals to our skin before even eating breakfast… teenage and preteen girls are going to Sephora and they're spending all of their money on skincare products.” – Bethany [01:13, 08:06]

• Hormonal Impacts and Early Aging

  • Early exposure to endocrine disruptors is pushing girls into puberty earlier, essentially “aging [them] five years faster hormonally.” – Dr. Axe [06:57]
  • Correlation drawn between personal-care toxins and rising rates of infertility, autoimmune conditions, and hormone-driven cancers.
  • “So many millennial women are struggling with infertility and autoimmune issues and thyroid issues…I really think that the toxins in our personal care products are a big one.” – Bethany [04:19]

2. Personal Stories: From Standard American Diet to Ancestral Nutrition

• Bethany's Journey

  • Struggled with acne and hormonal imbalance as a teen; “I went 100% the conventional route to treat my acne. I did everything my dermatologist told me…all of the creams and ointments…everything from Bath and Body Works lotion to Victoria's Secret perfume. I really think that all of that had such a negative impact on my hormones.” [04:19]
  • Transitioned to an ancestral diet and non-toxic products, now with three healthy children and symptom-free.

• Old vs. New Diets

  • Bethany: From Eggo waffles and mint chocolate chip ice cream to animal-based protein, ground beef, organ meats, raw dairy, fruit, and vegetables (inspired by the “Biblio Diet”).
  • “If I stick to that, I feel really good. The other thing I do is organ meats…I'll make liver smoothies.” [17:32]
  • Dr. Axe and Bethany reminisce about “carb parties” and the '90s obsession with milk, highlighting the change in dietary understanding and its link to skin health.

3. Ancestral Skincare Wisdom: The Power of Tallow

• Resurgence of Tallow-Based Skincare

  • Bethany explains her company’s use of beef tallow: “Nothing hydrates and nourishes the skin like Tallow does…It's really an incredible ingredient…our customers…say your tallow products are the only thing that has helped my child's eczema.” [22:57]
  • Tallow is biocompatible with human skin, rich in beneficial fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, conjugated linoleic acid).

• Formulation Tips

  • Best results when tallow is blended with oils like olive and jojoba, and infusions of calendula and marshmallow root (as in their favorite product, “Baby Balm”).
  • “Anytime I'm using any of our serums or creams on my face, I'm trying to apply it to damp skin…that water is going to help the oil absorb deeper.” [29:24]

• Notable Testimonial

  • Bethany shares how “Baby Balm” resolved a stubborn infected scratch on her face after antibiotics failed. [28:19]

4. The Major Toxins to Avoid in Skincare

• Sunscreen Chemical Filters

  • Oxybenzone, avobenzone, octocrylene (plus 16 more), many banned in Europe.
  • “The FDA … came out with a statement saying, we no longer know whether or not they're safe. And the only ones that we are still calling safe are the physical barriers—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide…chemical sunscreen filters are so problematic.” – Bethany [35:10]

• Spray Sunscreens and Benzene

  • Propellants contain benzene, a carcinogen, plus risk of inhalation.

• Other Red-Flag Ingredients

  • Parabens: “One study found parabens in 98% of breast cancer tumors that were sampled.” [48:45]
  • Petroleum derivatives (paraffin, PEG, petrolatum): often untested for purity in the US.
  • Aluminum (antiperspirants): “It essentially blocks our pores and stops us from sweating…we can’t outsmart God.” – Bethany [37:38, 38:09]
  • Sweat is a key detoxification pathway and should not be blocked.

5. Three Easy Skincare Swaps for Fast Results (48:24 – 50:53)

Dr. Axe and Bethany emphasize that “switching just a few products can cut chemical loads by half in three days” ([48:07]).

Bethany’s Top 3 Swaps:

1. Deodorant

   • Ditch antiperspirants with aluminum and parabens.
   • Go for baking soda-based deodorant (commercial or homemade).
   • “Such an important one and such a simple one.” [48:45]

2. Sunscreen

   • Replace chemical sunscreens with zinc oxide/titanium dioxide-based versions.
   • “The sun isn't poison, but your sunscreen is.” [49:22]

3. Moisturizer/Body Products

   • Switch lotions, washes, and creams (which cover most skin area) to natural tallow or plant-oil-based, free of harsh surfactants and stabilizers.
   • “Our skin serves a purpose… when we're messing with that barrier, it just opens the door for skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, mysterious rashes…” [50:07]

6. Practical Skincare and Lifestyle Tips

• Apply Moisturizers to Damp Skin: For better absorption. [29:24]
• Use Tallow and Essential Oils: For dryness and barrier support.
• Personalization Is Key: Both Dr. Axe and Bethany stress that the ideal diet and skin routine depend on individual needs.

7. The Whole-Body Approach to Skin Health

• Remove toxins in products, food, air, and water.
• Eat a whole foods, anti-inflammatory diet (high in protein, fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants).
• Manage sleep and stress: Lack of sleep and chronic stress directly age skin.
  • “If you don't listen, anybody that doesn't sleep well at night, you can look at their face and think, that person didn't sleep well.” – Dr. Axe [44:03]
• Respect sun exposure for circadian rhythm and vitamin D.
• “Our bedtime routine starts the minute we wake up… when we expose ourselves to sunlight in the morning, it's gonna stimulate those hormones that help us wake up.” – Bethany [46:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• John Oliver Clip (on Liver Smoothies):
  “Like, how are we at a point, a society when a liver smoothie makes national headlines, but, like, it's totally normal to eat Froot Loops for breakfast?” – Bethany [18:34]
  “It is hospital food for a terminally ill hyena.” – John Oliver (played during episode) [19:21]

• On Hormone Disruptors:
  “High estrogen, that's going to block thyroid hormones, that's going to cause the cystic acne, that's going to cause the painful periods, that's going to cause… PCOS.” – Dr. Axe [06:57]

• On Tallow:
  “We didn't invent tallow, we just remembered it.” – Bethany [22:57]

• On Antiperspirants:
  “We're never going to be smarter than the physiology, the design of our body. Sweating is so important.” – Bethany [38:09]

Rapid-Fire Segment: Trending Skincare Routines ([50:53 – 54:11])

• Facial cupping: “Obsessed…brings so much circulation to the surface.” – Bethany [51:11]
• Infrared/red light masks: “I love red light.” [52:18]
• Lymphatic drainage massage: At-home: 5/10; professional: 10/10 [52:22]
• Natural sunscreen: 9/10 (“not the end all, be all, but important”)
• Ice rolling: 7/10
• Microneedling: Without growth factors: 4-5/10; with (e.g., PRP): 9/10
• Frownies: No personal experience, but friends love it
• Drinking bone broth: 10/10: “Anything that we do that's good for the gut is going to be amazing for the skin also.” [54:02]

Resources & Timestamps

• Skincare chemicals and hormones: [00:26–09:09]
• Bethany’s personal diet/skin journey: [10:14–17:32]
• Liver smoothies/organ meats/john Oliver: [17:32–21:19]
• Tallow & natural skincare wisdom: [22:30–29:24]
• Top toxins to avoid: [35:04–39:12]
• Three easy swaps: [48:24–50:53]
• Lifestyle & holistic skin health: [41:53–47:17]
• Practical skincare routines (rapid-fire): [50:53–54:11]

Takeaways

• You can slash your toxic burden with just a few targeted product swaps—results can show in as little as three days.
• Focus first on deodorant, sunscreen, and body moisturizer/wash.
• Opt for ancestral, simple ingredients—what’s been used for generations, not what’s new and synthetic.
• Diet, sleep, sun, and stress are all inextricably linked to your skin health.
• Listen to your body; there is no one-size-fits-all for nutrition or skincare.
• “We don't have a say in all of the toxic exposures we are met with throughout the day. But this is something that we can change.” – Bethany [04:19]

For more:

• Visit Bethany’s company Primally Pure: primallypure.com
• Use code AXE15 for 15% off first order.
• Follow Dr. Axe for weekly deep dives into health, nutrition, and natural living.