Skin, our biggest organ (what goes on it)

Your skin is your largest organ, a living barrier between you and the world. Not everything you put on it gets absorbed, but some ingredients can pass through, which is exactly how medicated patches work. That makes what goes on your skin worth a look.

Most of us use several personal care products a day, from soap and lotion to deodorant and makeup. A simpler routine with fewer ingredients is an easy place to start:

• Read labels, and look up unfamiliar ingredients in a database like EWG's Skin Deep
• Choose fragrance-free when you can, since “fragrance” can stand in for dozens of ingredients
• Try simple moisturizers like coconut, jojoba or olive oil

Try this: pick the product you use most and read its label today. If it surprises you, make that your first swap.