It's Better with Butter

With the holiday season right around the corner one will want everything from their dinner napkins to their nails to be prim, proper, and polished. For ladies who enjoy manicuring their nails I suggest Butter LONDON. Butter LONDON is a cosmetics brand specializing in "nail lacquers" and cosmetics with the tagline, "colour not carcinogens". 


According to butter LONDON: 

"We believe in rock and roll, Great Britain, and fashion. We’re obsessed with color, unbridled creativity, and self-expression. Our shades are created for the catwalk alongside the world’s top fashion designers—putting you in the front row every day. Butter LONDON has always been dedicated to creating high-fashion color without compromise, so we never add formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, phthalates, or parabens to any of our products. Sophisticated enough for the most posh dressing table, butter LONDON is the go-to brand for high-fashion beauty." 

Butter nail polish sells for $15 a pop and while that is slightly more expensive than their competitors (OPI nail polish retails for $9.50 a bottle) it is worth the splurge. Butter is a "3-FREE" company meaning that their polish formula is free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP,  and phthalates & parabens. 

What is formaldehyde?

• Formaldehyde is highly toxic to all animals, regardless of method of intake
• In 2011, the US National Toxicology Program described formaldehyde as "known to be a human carcinogen"
• Used to make fabrics crease-resistant
• Used to make components for the transmission, electrical system, engine block, door panels, axles and brake shoes
• Embalming agent (Ever dissected a frog, pig, or cat in high school? Well that pungent, eye burning, throat scratching odor was formaldehyde!)

What is toluene?

• Typical smell of paint thinners
• Used as an inhalant drug for its intoxicating properties
• Has potential to cause severe neurological harm
• A common solvent, able to dissolve paints, paint thinners, silicone sealants, many chemical reactants, rubber, printing ink, adhesives (glues), lacquers, leather tanners, and disinfectants
• Can be used as an octane booster in gasoline fuels
• Inhalation of low to moderate levels can cause tiredness, confusion, weakness, drunken-type actions, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, and hearing and color vision loss.

What is DBP (Dibutyl phthalate)?

• Commonly used plasticizer
• Added to the California Proposition 65 (1986) list of suspected teratogens in November 2006.
• It is a suspected endocrine disruptor

What are phthalates?

• Endocrine disruptor
• May be link to breast cancer
• Mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity)
• Used in a large variety of products: coatings of pharmaceutical pills/nutritional supplements, gelling agents, lubricants, glues, agricultural adjuvants, building materials, personal-care products, medical devices, detergents and surfactants, packaging, children's toys, modelling clay, waxes, paints, printing inks and coatings, pharmaceuticals, food products, and textiles.
• Used in a variety of household applications such as shower curtains, vinyl upholstery, adhesives, floor tiles, food containers and wrappers, and cleaning materials. 
• Commonly found in personal-care items such as perfume, eye shadow, moisturizer, nail polish, liquid soap, and hair spray

What are parabens?

• Widely used as preservatives by cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries
• Can be found in lotions, shampoos, shaving gels, personal lubricants, topical pharmaceuticals, spray tanning solution, makeup, toothpaste, etc
• Used as food additives
• Found in breast cancer tumors

Also, when used with Butter's base coat (which can even be worn alone as a flawless, matte nude!) and top coat your manicure will last significantly longer than other polish combinations. Trust me, this past summer my Butter mani and pedi (base coat & 2 coats of color & top coat) stayed strong and chip-free for 2 weeks of sand, sunscreen, swimming pool water and the Caribbean Sea.

Butter has an array of dazzling shades that will surely appeal to everyone. Bright, dark, glitter, metallic, pastels... the list is endless and for the ladies who enjoy sporting multiple shades at once the color combinations are infinite. For anyone enjoys upscale beauty brands, check out butter LONDON and I assure you that you will feel like a kid in a candy shop while browsing the lacquers.

Is the price worth it? YES! Nails are porous and nail polish formulations may include ingredients that cause cancer in humans, or are toxic to the central nervous system. The "toxic-trio" (toluene, dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde) cannot be inhaled or absorbed because it is not found in butter LONDON nail lacquer. One can get brilliant results and beautiful consistent coverage without the carcinogens. Butter LONDON lacquer is truly color without compromise!

Sincerely,
JEN



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What is Triclosan and Why Should You Be Worried?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) triclosan is "an ingredient added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. It may be found in products such as clothing, kitchenware, furniture, and toys. It also may be added to antibacterial soaps and body washes, toothpastes, and some cosmetics". While the effects triclosan has on humans are unknown, tests have caused "pretty scary reactions in animals", said Lindsey Rupp of Bloomberg News.

Screenshot from video

Triclosan is used by companies around the world; however, in recent years many European companies have been phasing out the chemical. Alliance Boots, a company merging with Walgreens, committed to phasing out triclosan several years ago. Mike Schade of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families stated, "There is a growing body of scientific evidence that has shown that triclosan is a chemical that is hazardous at very low levels of exposure". Even low levels of triclosan can be absorbed by the skin and enter the bloodstream. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor which means it interferes with the hormones in your body. These hormones play an important part in regulating the body's systems and interference can lead to:

• infertility
• birth defects
• learning/developmental disabilities
• lower levels of thryoid & testerone
• weakened immune system
• breast cancer tumors

Screenshot from video

Recently, Colgate has been in the news for having triclosan in their "Colgate Total" toothpaste (after reading the ingredients I noticed that propylene glycol was also in the toothpaste, ew!). Colgate claims triclosan acts as a fluoride that helps to clean teeth and also differentiates their product from others on the market. However, I would rather find a natural alternative for a product used in my mouth. For example "Tom's of Maine: Clean & Gentle" toothpaste boasts naturally sourced ingredients, fluoride (without triclosan!), and glycyrrhizin (derived from licorice root) instead of sodium lauryl sulfate which foams and disperses ingredients. 

Screenshot from video

While the FDA has yet to rule on the safety of triclosan I'd rather be safe rather than sorry. Plus there are alternatives for pretty much every personal care product on the market. My advice is to learn about the ingredients commonly found in your bathroom cabinet and makeup bag and to be aware of which are helpful and which are harmful. 

Screenshot from video

For more information on this topic visit the link below for the video that prompted this post and from which I derived information and screenshots.

Click HERE to learn about Triclosan!


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Shocking Truth About Chewing Gum

Recently I came across the article, "The Dangers of Aspartame", written by Kristin Cavallari on her iPhone app  and derived from the article written by Marco Torres on the independent news blog the Waking Times and the information shocked me. A few years ago I switched from chewing gum to eating mints, mainly because chewing gum made me ingest too much air! Also, since I was a child my mother refused to indulge us with candy, sweets, or juices containing artificial sweeteners; therefore, I chose to avoid them. However, it wasn't until I came across Kristin's article that I literally and figuratively exhaled with delight in knowing that I made the wise decision about chewing gum and that my diet has been free of artificial sweeteners. If you are a gum chewer I strongly suggest that you consider other alternatives.

Sadly today the majority of common chewing gum brands use two extremely hazardous sweeteners- aspartame and sucralose.

When aspartame and sucralose are heated to 86 degrees Fahrenheit (human mouth = 98.6 F) they release free methanol that breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body. 

What is methanol?

• Modern methanol is produced in a catalytic industrial process directly from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.

• Highly toxic and unfit for consumption

• At room temperature, it is a polar liquid, and is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol. It is also used for producing biodiesel.

What is formic acid?

• Found in the venom of ants

• A major use of formic acid is as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed

• Used in the production of leather and rubber

• Used as limescale remover and toilet bowl cleaner

• Effective in the removal of warts

What is formaldehyde?

• Formaldehyde is highly toxic to all animals, regardless of method of intake

• In 2011, the US National Toxicology Program described formaldehyde as "known to be a human carcinogen"

• Used to make fabrics crease-resistant

• Used to make components for the transmission, electrical system, engine block, door panels, axles and brake shoes

• Embalming agent (Ever dissected a frog, pig, or cat in high school? Well that pungent, eye burning, throat scratching odor was formaldehyde!)

When aspartame is absorbed by the buccal mucosa of the mouth, tongue and gums it is a far worse poisoning than if injected intravenously because it goes directly to the brain by passing the spinal cord and the blood-brain barrier. Aspartame then begins to destroy neurons. Seventy-five percent or more of neural cells in a particular area of the brain are destroyed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness are noticed. Some illnesses that may be linked to long term exposure to excitatory amino acid damage include:

• MS
• ALS
• Memory Loss
• Hormonal Problems
• Hearing Loss
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Parkinson's Disease
• Hypoglycemia
• AIDS
• Dementia
• Brain Lesions
• Neuroendocrine Disorders

The saddest part about this is that Monsanto, the creator of Aspartame, is allegedly aware of its dangers. Monsanto funds the American Diabetics Association, the Conference of the American College of Physicians and Congress. According to Business Week, Monsanto recently spent $2 million dollars fighting the U.S. government to sweep their actions under the rug. Numerous bills that have attempted to educate people about aspartame's toxicity have been squashed by chemical lobbyists. 

If you're planning on avoiding aspartame keep in mind that is can be found in a host of other products besides chewing gum, since it is a common ingredient in packaged foods and beverages marketed as "sugar-free" or "low-calorie".

Next time you are in the check-out line at a grocery store count how many gum and candy products contain aspartame and sucralose.

*Information derived from Marco Torres of the Waking Times
*Information derived from "The Dangers of Aspartame" by Kristin Cavallari on KristinCav
*Information derived from methanol, formic acid, and formaldehyde



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Toxic Chemicals Commonly Found in Food

It's important to be aware of the ingredients in the beauty products you slather on your body and the ingredients in food products you happily ingest. While most people know that processed foods with added colors are a "no-no" for you health and your waistline there are a host of other ingredients hidden in common household foods.

• High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Increases triglycerides
• Leads to plaque buildup and narrowing of blood vessels
• Speeds up the aging process
• Boosts fat storing hormones
• Drives people to over eat and gain weight
• Artificial Sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, sucralose)
• KNOWN CARCINOGENS
• May lead to: brain tumors, diseases like lymphoma, diabetes, MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, emotional disorders, depression, anxiety attacks, dizziness, headaches, and seizures

• Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate
• Added to soda to prevent mold from growing
• Linked with thyroid damage
• KNOWN CARCINOGENS
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) and Butylated Hydrozyttoluene (BHT)
• Potentially cancer-causing preservative that prevents spoilage and keeps food from changing color and flavor
• "Toluene" is found in nail polish and I definitely would not want to ingest nail polish

• Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow Artificial Colors
• Linked to thyroid, adrenal, bladder, kidney, and brain cancers in lab animals

• Sodium Sulfite
• Preservative used in wine-making and other processed foods
• 1 in 100 people are sensitive to sulfites in foods and a majority of these individuals are asthmatic which may suggest a link between asthma and sulfites. 
• Sodium Nitrates and Sodium Nitrites
• Found in processed meats, bacon, lunch meat, and hot dogs
• Linked to colon cancer and metabolic syndrome
• Can lead to diabetes
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
• Flavor enhancer than has proven to disrupt brain chemistry

• Potassium Bromate
• Additive used to increase volume in some white flour, breads, and rolls
• Causes cancer in animals
• Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)
• Emulsifier in soda and sports drinks which prevents the flavoring from separating and floating to the surface
• Banned in more than 100 countries because it contains bromine which is a chemical whose vapors can be corrosive or toxic
• Used as an additive for gasoline

• Azodicarbonamide
• "yoga-mat" chemical which Subway restaurants removed from their bread
• Chemical can be found in yoga-mats, shoe rubber, etc
• Linked to respiratory issues, allergies, and asthma
• Creates a carcinogen called urethane during the baking process

Image from: The Portland Intelligencer

Although small amounts probably won't kill you they add up over time. Hopefully this information sparks an interest to read food labels and live a healthier lifestyle.

*Ingredient info from "The Good, The Bad, The Edible" by Kristin Cavallari on the KristenCav app

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BITE Me

Courtesy of sephora.com

With summer knocking at the door I've gone searching for the perfect summer lip products that are bright & cheery, moisturizing, and of course made with clean ingredients. One line that caught my attention is Bite Beauty. Bite Beauty is a cosmetics line that offers solely lip products. From 'lush lip tint' to 'Agave lip mask' to 'matte creme lip crayons' Bite is the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow for your lips. Their tag line is "Lip Color That's Good Enough to Eat" and according to BITE "Bite Beauty is a natural lip care company operating out of downtown Toronto. Our mission is to create lipstick that is high performance and healthy enough to eat for women everywhere." Bite Beauty boxes read "99% Natural" and "Natural Food Grade". Who wouldn't want lip products that are good enough to eat? After all, we tend to eat off whatever is on our lips throughout the day by constantly licking our lips or applying lip balm before a meal. If you aren't already sold by "Lip Color That's Good Enough to Eat" then listen up. According to sephora.com, "Each Bite lipstick is infused with the age-fighting antioxidant resveratrol—the equivalent of five glasses of wine." Apparently you can have your wine and drink it too. 

Bite products are formulated WITHOUT:

 Parabens

 Sulfates

 Synthetic Fragrances

 Synthetic Dyes

 Petrochemicals

 Phthalates

 GMOs

 Triclosan 

Of the Bite Beauty line I have tried the 'High Pigment Pencil', 'Line & Define Lip Primer', 'Lush Lip Tint', and 'Luminous Creme Lipstick'. The 'Lush Lip Tint' is perfect for summer because it moisturizes, delivers luscious color, and contains ingredients such as pure argan oil, vitamin E, and fruit butters. The center B provides resveratrol, a double dose of antioxidants found in red wine and the more layers you apply on your lips- the more color you get. 

Courtesy of sephora.com  

The 'High Pigment Pencil' provides creamy, long-lasting matte lip color. The pencils are made with a double-dose of premium micronized pigments to deliver a modern matte look. Personally, I found this pencil to have a creamy lipstick-like finish. It wasn't glossy but it also wasn't matte. The 'High Pigment Pencil' is perfect for summer nights (and days) because the sultry, luscious formula will last through happy hour, dinner, and dancing.

Courtesy of sephora.com

To keep my lip color lasting well into the day or night I like to prime with the 'Line & Define Lip Primer'. This 100 percent natural, moisturizing formula instantly preps, plumps, and primes the lips. Upon application you can feel the tingly mint plumping while the resveratrol, jojoba oil, and argan oil condition and smooth. This primer applies matte (well what I consider matte) and adheres to clean lips. Sometimes I apply it over lip balm but I found that the primer works better on clean lips. I use this primer under my lipsticks and lip pencils for longer lasting color.

Courtesy of sephora.com

While there are numerous lipsticks on the market I like Bite Beauty's 'Luminous Creme Lipstick' because of the lush, long-lasting, moisture-rich lip color and the free radical fighting benefits of resveratrol. Like the rest of Bite's products the 'Luminous Creme Lipstick' is free of synthetics, polybutenes, and petroleum byproducts.

Courtesy of sephora.com

Once you try a Bite lip product you'll fall in love. Bite feels, smells, and tastes fresh and their colors will satisfy every mood, occasion, and age. So go ahead and indulge in Bite Beauty, just try not to eat your own lips off.

Courtesy of sephora.com

*All photos are from sephora.com

Face Friendly Oil

During the summer I like to use face oil instead of moisturizer because face oil is moisturizing, non-greasy, and it is a fresh take on thick winter lotion. Tarte Cosmetics' 'Pure Maracuja Oil' is my #1 face oil.

This 100 percent pure organic maracuja oil is harvested only once a year by Amazonian women and piece by piece they pick and extract nutrient-rich seeded pulp from each individual maracuja fruit by hand. The "soul" of the maracuja fruit is then hand pressed without the use of heat to guarantee the maximum amount of nutritious essential fatty acids and vitamins. The undiluted, organic oil absorbs quickly and after about a month I noticed that my skin was firmer, brighter, and smoother. Maracuja oil is rich in vitamin C so with continued use your skin will appear brighter and more radiant. Although this is an "oil" it did not clog my pores or cause me to break-out (thank goodness!). 

Maracuja oil is a source of essential fatty acids (EFAs) required for healthy skin cells that the body cannot produce on its own. Maracuja oil will supplement skin to infuse life back into dull skin and replenish EFAs to rapidly rebuild and repair. This oil delivers maximum hydration without any greasy or filmy feel. However, because I have naturally oily skin I only apply 'Pure Maracuja Oil' at night. Those with skin on the dry side may be able to wear this under makeup but I suggest nightly use to reap maximum benefits (your skin repairs itself at night and absorbs the most moisture then!).

'Pure Maracuja Oil' comes in a glass bottle with a medicine dropper like applicator tip. Simply dispense 1-2 drops onto your palm and warm the product up in your hands then apply it to your face. This oil has a slight smell but it doesn't affect me and my nose is usually very, very sensitive. 'Pure Maracuja Oil' is gentle, light, and healing. After using it all last summer my skin tone was visibly evened and brightened.

This summer why not try a new take on face moisturization? After all women tend to "switch up" their hair and makeup products and routines during the summer. I promise you that you and your skin will be happy with Tarte Cosmetics' 'Pure Maracuja Oil'

Info from Sephora: Pure Maracuja Oil

Lib Balm or Harm

Courtesy of The Honest Company

Regardless of the time, place, or season lip balm is my go-to product. I carry lip balm with me everywhere and you're more likely to find me out and about with lip balm than with my wallet. With an extensive selection of lip products on the market you can buy and try different brands, flavors, and formulas. Over many years I have tried several lip balm brands including: Eos, ChapStick, Blistex, Nivea, Burt's Bees, SoftLips, etc. I jumped around between brands for personal reasons and because I constantly wanted to try out new products. *Updated 7/15* Before I learned about the Think Dirty app I was hooked on Nivea's lip balm. "A Kiss of Smoothness", "A Kiss of Mint and Minerals", and "A Kiss of Milk and Honey" which were constantly rotating between my purse, pocket, and dresser. Since learning about the harmful effects of synthetic fragrances I have since switched to the Honest Company's Organic Lip Balm Trio. Sold together, the lavender mint, sweet orange vanilla, and plain & simple are healthy must haves! Free of synthetic ingredients and flavors the Honest Company's lip balm glides on smoothly and has a silky finish that is never heavy or sticky. Organic jojoba, olive, sunflower, and coconut oils deeply hydrate and protect lips from moisture loss while rejuvenating shea butter and aloe leaf extract moisturize and condition skin, helping to soothe dry, chapped lips. The unique blend of organic oils sink into the skin to moisturize from within, rather than sealing it off from moisture like traditional petrolatum-based lip balms and chock full of essential fatty acids from Tahitian Tamanu oil everyone will heave healthy, happy lips!

ChapStick brand lip balm is probably the most popular lip care product because it is wallet-friendly and one of the original lip balms. My grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts are all ChapStick users. I'll admit that I've finished one or two ChapStick tubes as well but once I became aware of the ingredients I promptly switched out all the ChapStick tubes I could find in my house and moved my family and I to a cleaner brand. Although Chapstick is a reliable, helpful product I simply cannot stomach the thought of applying all those chemicals to my lips. (Hello people you eat whatever sits on your lips!) The main ingredient of ChapStick is petrolatum (a whopping 45%). ChapStick also contains: mineral oil, methylparaben, propylparaben, and camphor. I had never come across a product containing camphor and was shocked to find it in ChapStick. According to the world wide web camphor comes from the camphor laurel trees in Asia and can be used for cooking (mostly in India), medicinal purposes, and as an embalming fluid (ew!). Camphor in large doses is poisonous and in small doses raises potential health concerns. Also, camphor is commonly found in "moth balls". Moth Balls have an intensely pungent order; therefore, if you've ever smelled moth balls, like I have, then you surely will NOT want camphor to touch your lips. 

I first heard of Eos lip balm in high school when girls started carrying colorful, tiny orbs around and gradually everyone began showing up with the newest colors and flavors. Eos products are creatively marketed (who else makes an egg shaped lip balm?!) with their unique shape, compact size, fun colors, wide range of flavors, and recently celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian have used social media and other endeavors to promote Eos lip balm. Also Eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, paraben & petrolatum free, gluten-free, and made in the USA (which you have to love because almost everything else is imported these days). Having tried the mint flavor I can honestly say that Eos is a great, fun product. Although the egg shape was kind of hard to fit in my pocket I admire Eos' creativity. Sadly, after a few weeks of using Eos I had an allergic reaction to the formula thus I had to discontinue my usage. I have contemplated giving Eos a second try but I'm still in love with Nivea.

The next time you go to the store to buy lip balm take a moment to read the ingredient label or even search the product on Good Guide ahead of time. It's not my intention to turn anyone away from certain brands, I am simply trying to share with you what I've learned.

Sincerely,
JEN



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What Lurks in Lotion?

We've all had that moment when we walk down the lotion aisle in the local pharmacy and think, "Oh my there are too many choices!" Which bottle of lotion do we choose when we need something to soothe dry, winter skin? Maybe we choose the brand whose commercial has that catchy tune that we've been humming all day/ or maybe we choose the bottle with the most colorful packaging. Well has anyone ever stopped to read the ingredients on the back of the bottle? Sure all of the lotions on the shelves seem similar with their promises of 24-hour hydration and renewed elasticity, but with a little research you can find and decide which lotion is right for you.

I have stood in the lotion aisles at drugstores several times and read each and every brand's bottle of lotion for several key ingredients and to my disbelief every brand of lotion (including products marketed towards babies!), except for one, contained one or more of the ingredients that I avoid. (If you missed my last post, "You Are What You Wear", pointed out common, harmful ingredients that I avoid). While I mainly keep an eye out for mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, and propylene glycol there are a host of other chemicals in our everyday products that should be avoided. By educating yourself on these you'll be able to choose healthier and safer alternatives. The dirty dozen does a great job at compiling a dozen, red-flagged ingredients and informing readers on their "Function", "Present In", and "Health Concerns".

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion passed my quick test because the ingredient list is free of mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, and propylene glycol. Due to this I started using Cetaphil a few years ago and have never looked back. Cetaphil applies smoothly, dries quickly, and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. However, if you search for Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion on Good Guide the health rating is medium which equates to slow down and proceed with caution; similar to the green, yellow, and red lights on a stoplight. This shocked me because I've slathered half a dozen bottles of Cetaphil onto my dry skin. With further reading I discovered: 2/5 of the ingredients were flagged due to the fragrance because it could potentially cause a contact-allergy reaction, 2/5 were flagged due to the possibility of causing developmental & respiratory toxicity (gasp!), and 1/5 was "below threshold" because the amount in the product is too little to create any effect. This soothed me because I truly think that Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion does its job as a moisturizer, and it's most likely the cleanest drugstore lotion when compared to other brands like Jergens for instance.

Jergens Daily Moisture Dry Skin Moisturizer used to be my go-to lotion because it succeeded at doing everything from moisturizing my skin, to leaving it feeling soft but not sticky, and the barely there fragrance never made my sensitive sinuses sneeze. While Jergens does a great job at hydrating your skin (and ~$6 for a 21 oz. bottle is a deal!) I discontinued using it after I became aware of ingredients because Jergens contains methylparaben, propylparaben, and mineral oil. Jergens is a great product (I have friends who refuse to use anything else) and I would switch back if the ingredients changed but due to my fear of potentially poisonous ingredients it's just not for me.

You may be wondering if a clean lotion even exists? I'm happy to tell you that one does. Origins Make A Difference rejuvenating hand treatment is free of all things bad because it's ORIGINS. Origins is a skincare company that prides itself on being free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, PABA, petrolatum, paraffin, DEA, and animal ingredients. Origins' products are formulated with organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils. With ingredients such as rose of jericho, trehalose, sea haricots, and oceanic flora you can almost sense the purity of the formula, and with one sniff of any of Origins' creams, serums, or toners your senses will be put to ease and you'll feel like you're relaxing on an exotic, tropical island (for a tad of the price!). Even though Make A Difference is a rejuvenating hand treatment I use this as a body lotion. Make A Difference lives up to its name as it applies smoothly and though it feels like rich butter the formula dries to a silky, non-gooey finish. I could go on and on about Origins products, and trust me I will soon. Please tune in next week to learn about Heaven in a jar.

Sincerely,
JEN



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You Are What You Wear

Nowadays people are into organic foods, going vegan, choosing non-GMO foods, juicing, spinning, and doing aerial dancing. While all of these activities and lifestyle choices are fun and healthy they can only do so much to strengthen and protect one's body. The easiest step to purifying yourself is often overlooked. We all read food labels to watch our sodium and caloric intake but has anyone stopped to evaluate what ingredients they wear on their skin? Without knowing what potentially harmful chemicals sit on your skin you could be counteracting the parsley, kale, & lemon juice you plugged your nose and swallowed this morning. What I am saying is that it's just as important to know what you're slathering on your skin as it is to know which ingredients are going into your mouth. While I'm not a professional and the possibility of your face moisturizer giving you cancer is low, this is worth your consideration.

I've always been an avid buyer of new skincare and makeup products and over the past few years I've tried and tested numerous brands. I used to buy whichever products had the most popular spokespeople or the most eye-catching ads and until I randomly came across Good Guide I fell prey to all of the flashy marketing tricks. Good Guide is a comprehensive site, it covers everything from household products to appliances to food, that rates products based on their impact on your Health, Environment, and Society and informs you of the potential health concerns which may arise. When I found this site I began typing in a few of my everyday toiletries for fun and was surprised upon finding these items on the site. I was even more shocked when I saw the ratings for some of my favorite products. (The green, yellow, and red colored rating system is super easy to understand.) With further research I realized that my face wash, body moisturizer, and foundation were all potentially poisoning my body! Thus I began my product revamp. I educated myself on several key "no-no" ingredients commonly found in products I use everyday and I began telling everyone who would sit and listen about what I had learned. The ingredients which I meticulously scan labels for and zero in on include the following: parabens, petrolatum, propylene glycol, and mineral oil. Yes, there are a plethora of other harmful chemicals but those are the ones I commonly find in my searches. I keep my eyes open for these ingredients because they all have a seat on the dirty dozen, chemicals in our daily-use products that are potentially toxic. 

I hope that this post informs you about potentially harmful ingredients hiding in products. Check back next week for even more insight on ingredients as my next post will cover what's lurking in lotion!

Sincerely,
JEN



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