Let's Think Dirty

Have you every wondered how "green" your shampoo which claims to be "botanical" "natural" or "herbal" really is? Sadly, many brands that market themselves as "natural" still hide dangerous chemical ingredients in their product formulas. That is why it is important to educate oneself about commonly used chemicals and ways in which they can be easily spotted. For this post I would like to share the free mobile app "Think Dirty" which is a helpful and eye opening app that shows you how clean or dirty your cosmetics and personal care products are. 

You simply scan the bar code on a product and Think Dirty will find the product in its database and show you how healthy or risky the product is. Think Dirty rates products with a 1-10 number and a color. The lower the number the healthier the product and like a traffic light green means good, yellow means risky, and red means dangerous or dirty. For example a shampoo with a rating of 9 is a product that I would pass on. Think Dirty even shows you the ingredient list (which is color coded in green, yellow, and red as well) and the products' levels of "carcinogenicity", "developmental & reproductive toxicity", and "allergies & immunotoxicities".

When I first downloaded this app I went on a crazy scanning rampage and scanned every product that I could get my hands on! Now whenever I am shopping or have idle time in drugstore aisles I scan products for fun and to learn.

Below are scans of widely used products and my recommended clean, green replacement. I found all these products at Target.

Shampoo:

Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo received a 9 but one may wonder how suds that lather up their hair for a few minutes can be dangerous. It is the constant usage every day, 365 days a year that builds up. The skin is our largest organ and it absorbs everything it comes into contact with so the chemicals that are in personal care products can easily enter our bloodstream. My clean replacement is The Honest Company Honest Shampoo & Body Wash. What I love most about The Honest Company is that all of their products are safe, non-toxic, and honestly free of harsh and risky chemical ingredients. Although The Honest Company is known for their baby products I have found that their personal care products work for all ages. The Honest Company Shampoo & Body Wash is one of my favorites because of its versatility. While it does not lather as much as Pantene Shampoo I rest assured that the fresh, pleasant scent is naturally derived and the formula consists of clean ingredients like aloe and coconut oil. Fear not, this "baby" shampoo cleans adult strength grease & grime and is safe enough for babies and adults. The Honest Company line is found in the baby section at Target but remember if it is good enough for babies it is good enough for us.

Body Wash:

For years I used the Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash which is labeled "unscented" until I scanned it and found out that unscented actually meant fragrance and chemical filled. Did you know that unless a product specifically says "fragrance free" it likely contains a fragrance of parfum that could be a combination of nearly 3000 fragrant ingredients to mask odors or add a pleasant scent? I agree that it is pretty shady and scary how simple wording can mean entirely different things. My choice for a clean body wash replacement is Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap (peppermint) which can be found at your local Target, Sprout's, Walgreens or Dr. Bronner's website. What I like most about Dr. Bonner's is that half of a teaspoon is all you need for a good, clean shower. Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap comes in several "scents" but rest assured the fragrances are created by natural essential oils.

Deodorant:

I scanned Old Spice High Endurance Pure Sport Deodorant and was appalled to see the rating and ingredients such as synthetic fragrance and propylene glycol in the formula. For the clean switch I tested the bergamont sage spray deodorant from The Honest Company on an athlete. After a slow day at the office the bergamont sage still smelled pleasantly fresh; however, after a strenuous workout my test buddy missed the antiperspirant (pore clogging) chemicals. For everyday freshness I use the bergamont sage deodorant spray which is made for both men & women. The essential oils and botanical extracts neutralize bacteria and odor leaving one smelling and feeling clean and fresh. Furthermore, unlike antiperspirants, the Honest deodorant is aluminum free which means that it does not clog pores, allowing for natural breatheability.

Face Wash:

For face wash I have included the Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash which I used since high school and the Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser which my boyfriend uses. I used to think that the Purpose face wash by Johnson & Johnson had to be good for me because Johnson & Johnson is a company known for their baby products and the wash smelled like their famous golden baby shampoo. Little did I know I was completely wrong because the Purpose wash is filled with PEGs, sodium laureth sulfate, synthetic fragrance, and the chemical preservative quaternium-15 which is a formaldehyde releaser. The Cetaphil cleanser isn't much better as it contains parabens and propylene glycol. While parabens are common preservatives they have been found in tumors which is all the more reason to eliminate any products containing parabens from your life. My suggestions for a clean swap is Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap (also mentioned above under body wash) because it removes a day's worth of makeup in a pinch and is wallet-friendly. Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap can replace one's shampoo, body wash, and face wash making it an ideal clean replacement product.

Think Dirty has helped me to detox my bathroom shelf and my makeup bag. My family and friends have gotten used to me scanning their products and while they are often afraid of hearing what is dirty and dangerous it is important to be aware of the products that one is slathering on their body on a daily basis. I hope that you find Think Dirty to be as educational and fun as I have, so let's Think Dirty and start scanning in the aisles of our local stores!

Sincerely,

JEN

You can keep up with Sincere and JENunie while on the go! Simply subscribe to me through Google+ or by email to receive an email for every new post.

All products mentioned in this post were purchased by me. All opinions are my own. This is not a sponsored post and I am not affiliated with any of the brands on this post. These are products that I use and ones that I am simply sharing my opinions about.

Unplug & Recharge: Are You Getting Enough Zzz?

It's no secret that sleep makes you feel better, but its benefits go beyond banishing pesky under-eye circles and mid-day yawns. Some people can function on 5 hours of sleep. Some on 6 hours and others on 7. Personally I need at least 9 hours of sleep each night in order to feel refreshed and recharged the next morning. On the weekends 10 is a treat and occasionally 11 is pure bliss. Unfortunately most week nights I average about 8; however for me, anything less will result in a horrible headache by 3 pm the next afternoon. My family and friends who can thrive on much less sleep think that I am crazy to sleep for so long. The truth is some people just need more sleep than others. How much sleep does your body really need? How can you squeeze in those extra hours? Read on to find out.

There are a handful of reasons why one may have trouble sleeping, a few may include the following: 

• Stress which can be triggered by school or job related pressures, relationship issues, etc. Usually the sleep problem disappears when the stressful situation passes, but if short term sleep issues like insomnia are not dealt with from the beginning they can persist even after the stressful situation passes.
• Drinking alcoholic or caffeinated beverages in the afternoon, evening, or right before bed can result in sleep difficulties. However, some people are unaffected by caffeine and can enjoy those late night cups of joe. If you are unsure about whether or not caffeine will affect your sleep schedule, save the testing for the weekends or the next time you can sleep in.
• Trying to sleep in a room that is too loud, cold, hot, or bright can prevent you from falling asleep. Since living in college dorms is often noisy and roommates' schedules vary, I have grown accustomed to sleeping with earplugs, and an eye mask, and keeping extra blankets on hand. Thus environmental factors won't disrupt my sleep and my sleeping pattern won't disrupt my roommates!
• Exercising your body and/or your brain right before getting into bed can disrupt your ability to fall asleep. I have a routine before bedtime where I wind things down before going to sleep.
• Traveling also disrupts one's sleep, especially jet lag and traveling across several time zones. This can upset one's biological or “circadian” rhythms.

How much sleep do I need every night?

• Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours per night
• Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours per night
• Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours per night
• Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours per night
• School Age (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per night
• Teens (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per night
• Young Adults (18-25 years): 7-9 hours per night
• Adults (26-64 years):7-9 hours per night
• Older Adults (65+ years): 7-8 hours per night

According to the National Sleep Foundations these statistics present the "recommended" hours of sleep per night based on age. However, more or less sleep may be appropriate depending on the individual. For the detailed chart click here.

How can I get enough sleep every night?

• Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule
• Avoid caffeine four to six hours before bed and minimize daytime consumption
• Don’t smoke, especially near bedtime or in the middle of the night
• Avoid alcohol and heavy meals before sleeping
• Get regular exercise (but not right before bedtime)
• Minimize noise, light and excessive hot and cold temperatures in the bedroom
• Develop a regular bedtime and go to bed at the same time each night
• Try and wake up without an alarm clock 
• Attempt to go to bed earlier at night to ensure that you’re getting enough sleep

What are the benefits of getting enough sleep every night?

• You'll be happier!
• Improved memory
• Your mind works hard while you are asleep to process your waking memories. 
• Bye, bye inflammation
• Inflammation is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging and research has shown that people who sleep for six or fewer hours a night have higher blood levels of inflammatory proteins 
• Building muscles will be easier
• The body heals its cells & tissues while you are asleep
• Improved learning
• Adults who get enough sleep have better short-term memory
• You'll be a better & a safer driver!
• People who sleep more and less likely to be obese
• Researchers have found that not getting enough sleep will stimulate one's appetite
• Sleep = HEALTHY SKIN!
• Bye, bye under-eye dark circles & sallow skin...HELLO GORGEOUS!
• Treating your body to the rest it deserves helps to prevent migraines & other headaches
• Stronger immune system
• Lack of sleep = weakened immune system which can lead to a host of diseases and an increased chance of cancer

Instead of tweeting and surfing the net until the wee hours of the morning, consider unplugging and recharging your body to give it the full night of sleep that it deserves because adequate sleep is essential to one's health and it benefits one's heart, mind, weight, mood, and more. 

Sincerely,

JEN

You can keep up with Sincere and JENunie while on the go! Simply subscribe to me through Google+ or by email to receive an email for every new post.

For more information:

Business Insider: 23 Incredible Benefits of Getting More Sleep

American Psychological Association: Why Sleep is Important and What Happens When You Don't Get Enough