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Parabens and other nasty stuff

Posted by Colleen McKie Categories: Advice, Health

Mortar

We quite often read food labels to be aware of what we are putting in our bodies.  But how about what we’re putting on them?  You might not think too much about what’s in your make-up, shampoo or body lotions, but maybe you should.  Some of the most popular ingredients in beauty products can also be harmful.

Parabens

There has recently been much controversy over the use of parabens in products with both sides of the debate being very clear on their position.  Some health officials swear there is nothing harmful about using parabens, while others swear they are extremely harmful.  My main concern with parabens is the potential for harm.  It’s a chemical and has proven to be absorbable through our skin.  The studies against using parabens have found that in cancerous breast tissue cells there is an elevated amount of the chemical.  Has it been proven to cause or increase the risk of breast cancer?  Nope.  But remember, at one time it was thought safe to powder your face with lead.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

This cleaning agent can be found in soap, shampoos and body washes.  Oh, yeah and as car engine degreaser.  Sodium Lauryl sulfate and any of the other sufactants can cause skin and scalp irritation, irritates your eyes, cause hand, face and arm swelling and dries out skin and hair.  The reason it’s used?  Because it’s cheap. 

Herbs

If you have sensitive skin and use a product with sodium lauryl sulfate, you can irritate the underlying problem making your skin even drier and itchier.  And what do we generally do when our skin is dry?  Put on more lotion, probably full of parabens.

I have decided to become a beauty product label reader and will only use products that do not contain either of these chemicals.  Because I think they are 100% toxic and will kill me?  No.  Because I want to live healthy and that includes what I put on my skin as much as what I put in my mouth.


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Turning over a green leaf

Posted by Colleen McKie Categories: Advice, Health

Herbs

I am, in some cases, a true girly girl. I love beauty products. Lotions, lip glosses, body washes, perfumes, I love them all.  I had totes of them stored in my closet because I ran out of room. And I probably had enough to open up my own drugstore.

You’ll notice I said “I had”. I have recently started thinking long and hard about all of my beauty products, what was in them, and really what they meant to me. I knew I had way more than I needed, but I really liked having the option of scent and color on a daily basis. But after doing some research I soon discovered that maybe my beauty products weren’t all that healthy for me.

So I purged. And I purged big time. I got rid off a lot of stuff, some that I had forgotten that I even had! And if I didn’t know I had it, I obviously didn’t need it.

So now I’ve gone organic. Lotions, shampoo, make up. The whole nine yards. It wasn’t easy. For me, gone are the days when I would just pick up whatever was on sale. I have now become an avid label reader and on line shopper. I get excited when I discover a new company or product that is all organic.

I’ll be sharing tips and secrets to going organic and why you should. But don’t worry, I won’t be climbing up onto any soapboxes and preaching from the gospel of organic. I just want to let you in on some information and you can decide for yourself.


5 Multitasking Products To Make Over Your Entire Beauty Routine

Posted by Katie Gutierrez Painter Categories: Advice, Editorials, Entertainment, Fashion, Health, How To

Two-Faced Makeup Kit

In a tight economy, we’re all struggling to make our dollars stretch. So, while multi-tasking beauty products are nothing new, I’ve scoured the Internet (and, yes, my own deliciously cluttered bathroom shelves) to give you a shortlist of the best. Bonus? After-Christmas sales!

* bare-Minerals Multi-Tasking Bisque: For $18, you get a soft, shimmery eye shadow base and an ingenious concealer for pretty much any facial imperfection, from blemishes to veins to scars. The product also carries SPF 20.

* Two-Faced World Domination All Access Backstage Beauty Collection: At $42 (down from $150), this little set comes with eight shadows, a duo bronzer, a blush, a face illuminator, six lip glosses (!), a brow powder, and an eyeliner cake. If it’s time to clean out your makeup bag, this’d be a smart way to replace all those crusty old compacts.

* Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Ultra Rich 3-in-1 Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Bubble Bath: You don’t want to smell like a hot, gooey dessert, you say? This $16 product could—and probably will—change your mind. Did I mention it’s 3-in-1?

*Smooth Glow Stubble Reducing Daily Moisturizer: Get your glow on in preparation for spring—and shave half as often—with this lotion. Get it for $5.69 at AmericaRx.

* Nu Bra: My personal favorite, these light, self-adhesive cups will save you from wardrobe malfunctions. Wear under halters, strapless tops or dresses, racer-backs, keyhole fronts, looooow v-necks, and even your ordinary, everyday t-shirt. I could rave about this brilliant bra (and have) until somebody shuts me up, but I’ll end with one last, whispered note: You choose your cleavage. Want va-voom, even if you’re an A-cup? You got it. And you D-cups—want to tone it down (as if that’s possible)? No problem. At In the Mood Intimates you’ll find the Nu Bra Ultralite for $24.99—need I say more?

There you have it—five products that will take you from the shower to your front door and beyond (after you put clothes on, of course). The best part? All five combined are less than $100. That’s about as guiltless as a skinny cappuccino…Happy shopping!


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