Beauty is not just Skin Deep

We all use them, some more than others. Cosmetics. Beauty products. Lotions and potions. I wish I had the money I have spent on all of them. I have bought cheap ones, I have bought better ones. And why is it that when you get them home, they never make you look as good as in the store? Now that my smoking days are over, I noticed a slight improvement in my skin. So, I launched into a new quest for a whole new face. I had a "makeover", bought a bunch of products and after a couple of weeks, looked in the mirror and found the same face as before. Sigh. 

Then I started reading. Do you know what they put in cosmetics? No, of course you don't - because they have no obligation to tell you! They can put anything in them and get by with it. There are no government standards for safety and for testing of cosmetics. Toxic ingredients used in many cosmetics, even ones that are labeled "natural". The argument is that they only have minute quantities in them. Think about how much women use over their lifetimes. It is a huge amount. And they are absorbed through the skin. They accumulate in our systems. They are passed on to our unborn or nursing children. At a time when untested chemicals are on the rise, so is breast cancer, reproductive disorders, endocrine disruption, and neurological disorders. 

The worst toxic ingredients found in personal care products are:

Mercury - often listed as thimerosal 

Placenta and placental extracts - can be from animal sources

Lead Acetate

Petrochemicals

Phthalates

Hydroquinone 

Nanoparticles

Acrylamide

Ethylene Oxide

These are used in everything from lipstick, mascara, lotions, shampoo, shaving cream, hair remover, hair dyes, relaxants, cosmetic sponges, nail polish and remover, children's bath products, fragrance, ointments, hair sprays, sunscreens, soaps, mineral makeups, mousse, gels, and foundations.

I recommend checking all of your beauty products and the products your family uses at:

http://www.safecosmetics.org

and for information on products linked to breast cancer:

http://www.breastcancerfund.org

I know it is really time-consuming, to research all of the choices, or to stand in the store and read every label, but BEFORE YOU BUY IT - READ WHAT IT IS!! Most of the products in the big box stores (Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's, etc.) should just be avoided. Unfortunately, the more well-known the brand, the more likely they use toxic ingredients in them. 

There are a few products to be found in health-food stores, and in the "Natural Food" section of the grocery store, but they are really hard to find. You really have to pick and choose. Some of them use tricky ingredient labeling. Just because it lists "Natural Soy" as an ingredient (sounds nice, right?)doesn't mean it doesn't also have some of the highest rated toxic chemicals in them. There are websites you can order from. I may be forced to do that, but I like to smell, touch and test before I buy. So, as I find good products, I will let you know. If you find something you like, please check it on the safe cosmetics website and let me know!

Feng Shui Connection:

As I have said before- Clear the Clutter. Use less, buy less. This goes for faces as well as homes. Gentler, purer and safer products are better for us and for our "energies". The safer products may be a little more expensive, but you don't have to buy 20 kinds of shampoos. One gets the job done.  Your kids don't need fancy bubbles to keep them entertained in a tub of water. A couple of toys or even safe containers will do. And No More Clutter in the bathroom! Very good Feng Shui!

Green Stuff:

Pay attention to the packaging your beauty products come in too. Less is definitely more here. Packaging from 100% post consumer recycled products is best, plastic is worst. And bring your reusable bag shopping too! On this topic, if you want a really cute and fashionable bag to take to the mall, try out the bags from: www.thegreenloop.com. They have adorable ones for $8.50 each, or in 5-packs too. Somehow, I just don't want to  take my reusable grocery bags when I'm shopping for clothes, CD's or shoes! 

Happy Shopping!

What is lurking in your home?

Cleaning your home is supposed to get rid of all kinds of germies, dirt, dust, bacteria and mold. But, how many cleaners do you have to do these tasks? There are literally hundreds of cleaning supplies out there, and most are toxic. They stay on the surfaces you clean, get on you and your kids, your pets, the air in your home and even combine with other cleaners to produce who knows what. Some products contain possible carcinogens, others can cause asthma, bronchial and eye irritations. Spray disenfectants (and any type of sprays) are very bad for your respiratory system. Even hospitals are starting to recognize this, and have found that when patients are not subjected to toxic cleaning products their recovery time is shorter. Young children and those with immune deficiencies are the most susceptible. Kids crawl on the floor and touch surfaces that have been "cleaned" and then put their hands in their mouths. Most cleaning products are poisonous, and should simply not be in the house if you have children or pets. I know no one wants to have to make a call to Poison Control. Kids can get into anything, even a cabinet with a child-proof latch. When those cleaning products are washed down the drain or flushed down the toilet in the cleaning process, you are contaminating our water supply. That's the bad news. The good news is that there are alternatives that have low or no toxicity and they will save you so much money! What you save in cleaning products you can then spend on organic foods. You and your family will be so much healthier.

Feng Shui Facts:

Part of the practice of Feng Shui is Bau Biologie, or the study of the holistic relationship between buildings and human beings. Creating healthy places for us to live and work is the goal of Feng Shui. Chemicals used within the home are in almost every cleaning product. And, if you can smell it, it is in the air of your home. Household chemicals that contain toxic chemicals are aerosol sprays, ammonia, anything with bleach, carpet shampoos, drain and oven cleaners, glue, spot removers, laundry detergents, and pesticides. 

Green Solutions:

Many of the cleaners you have in your cabinet can be replaced with simple, inexpensive and non-toxic ingredients. The following list may help in getting you started. Just quit buying all of those commercial cleaners. Excessive phobias about germs are just that- phobic. We DO NOT need a sterile environment to live. Anything that is labeled germ-killing probably has triclosan in it, which is a pesticide. It is a suspected endocrine disruptor and really does not do any better job at removing germs than plain old soap and water. If you habitually clean with bleach, stop. Use products containing essential oils such as tea tree, thyme, eucalyptus, or grapefruit seed. 

Furniture polish 2 parts Olive oil mixed with 1 part lemon juice; or walnut oil

Window Cleaner/ 2 tsp white vinegar in 1 quart warm water

Floor Cleaner

General Cleaner & 1/2 cup borax in gallon of water

Disinfectant

Mold remover Hydrogen peroxide ( Also works on many laundry stains)

Scouring Powder Borax, baking soda or table salt on a damp sponge

If stains are difficult, try Bon Ami

Toilet Bowl cleaner/ Sprinkle baking soda and drizzle with vinegar

Deodorizer

Drain opener Pour 1/2 cup salt down the drain, followed with boiling water, flush with

hot tap water

Silver polish Soak silver in salt water in an aluminum container, wipe clean

Stainless steel cleaner Baking soda with vinegar

Liquid Soap Castile soap (It's made from vegetable products)

Send me ideas for your favorite green cleaners! If you just HAVE to buy products, at least buy

less toxic ones like those from Seventh Generation, Ecover, etc. Begley's Best can be ordered online.

Indoor Air

It is that time of the year here in Central NY.  Apple and pumpkin time. Leaf raking. Getting the house and yard ready for hibernation. We finally had to turn the heat on. Most people are now closing up the house for the winter. Since allergies are a big problem, we pretty much keep the windows closed all year round. So, the air quality is less than optimum in our house. Stale air. Old air. I use to buy air fresheners, scented candles, potpourri and plug in air fresheners. Until I found out all of the chemicals they put into the air. They include flammable propellants such as butane and propane, terpenes, benzene, other volatile  organic compounds, petroleum distillates such as napthalene and chemicals like phenol, cresol, and paradichlorobenzene, and phthalates. The airborne fumes of air fresheners linger in the air where they are inhaled, for a long time. Manufacturers are not required to list exactly what is in them and most hide their ingredients behind generic terms like "fragrance" and "scent agent".  So many chemicals in the air within our homes are toxic. They can come from paint, carpet, dry cleaning, household cleaners and yes, air fresheners. So, before you buy another air freshener, think again.

Feng Shui Fact:

Air quality reflects the health of our home. Spraying or plugging in air fresheners usually just masks the source of the problem. Potpourri should never be used in the home. Dried flowers or plant material has had its moisture removed and is considered "dead". Dead things of any kind are not good feng shui. 

Green Thing:

Better choices of helping out our home's air quality include cleaning the offensive odor causer: trash cans, diaper pails, refrigerators, cat litter pans, dog bedding,etc. Using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning helps, or vinegar is a natural antifungal and antibacterial agent. Baking soda removes acid odors. Natural mineral borax is a great odor eliminator. Lemon juice is a good deodorizer. If you really want a freshening spray, combine a few drops of an essential oil in a spray bottle with a couple cups of water. Put a drop of the essential oil of your choice on a warm light bulb or in a pan of water on the stove. You can also use orange or lemon rinds,or cinnamon sticks in water on the stove.  Choose soy or beeswax candles instead of petroleum-based paraffin wax. Use them sparingly. Use an air purifier that has a activated charcoal filter. Don't use devices that generate ozone, a hazardous pollutant. 

What other natural scents can you create? Let me know what ones are your favorites!