5 Easy Tips for Clear, Glowing Skin

Anti-acne lotions and potions will only help to a certain extent. Below are some quick, easy tips that I have found help to keep my skin clear and glowing.

1. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE! I cannot stress this enough. If you implement any of these tips into your daily life please choose this one! Everyday I see men and women sitting with their faces propped up by their palms or running their fingers over their chin, cheeks, and forehead. Well one's fingers and hands are bacteria laden, oil oozing machines. Do you think that the computer keyboard in the library or at work is clean? What about the door handle you just touched? Maybe your iPhone screen is safe? No! Bacteria and grease are everywhere and running dirty digits over your precious face is like applying makeup with unsanitary makeup brushes. Fighting the urge to touch your face will benefit both your skin and your immune system.

2. Wash your pillowcase weekly. Trying to save today's blowout for tomorrow? Nice, but think about changing your pillowcase tomorrow morning. Sleeping on the same pillowcase night after night causes oil, bacteria, hair products, etc. to build up and get imprinted into your skin. Going to sleep with a deep conditioning hair mask is great for your hair but not for your face; thus, anyone who goes to sleep with hair products in their hair should consider putting a clean pillowcase on their pillow the next day. Even flipping your pillow upside down or turning it inside out is better than sleeping on yesterday's hairspray and dry-shampoo.

3. Try holding the phone to your ear but not to your face. Since phones sit on public tables, bathroom counter-tops, and other grimy surfaces it is better to keep the screen away from your cheek while calling your mother or your significant other. I have become accustomed to bumping the volume up a notch and holding my iPhone slightly away from my ear or holding it at an angle so that the speaker touches my ear but the screen stays away from my face. Call me a germaphobe but my cheeks are clean and clear!

4. Clorox wipe your phone regularly. We are constantly scrolling and tapping away on our phones and most of the time our hands are not clean. A simple and quick wipe down will eliminate bacteria and you will be surprised how much shinier your screen looks.

5. Drink plenty of water. Have you ever looked in the mirror and realized how dull and lackluster your skin looks? Chances are you are dehydrated. I aim for drinking at least 50 ounces of plain water everyday. One summer, my health conscious grandfather left an article about hydration on the kitchen counter and I read that one should aim to drink half of their body weight in ounces everyday. (For example: 150 lbs = 75 ounces). Granted exercising and other factors may cause that amount to fluctuate but it can be used as a benchmark. When I achieve my goal of at least 50 ounces my skin looks and feels softer, plumper, and more radiant.

Following these tips, eating healthy, getting a lot of sleep, and investing in a great moisturizer will lead to clear, glowing skin and a bounce in your step.

Sincerely,
JEN



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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