it’s only beauty.

What?  It’s only beauty– are you kidding me?  This is everything… or so I am told every waking hour of my life… through the images that I bombarded with from the magazines I pick up to the computer screen that shows the daily lives of the Hollywood starlets.  Beauty.   Image.   Fitting in, looking good.  Keeping  up is a challenge.  How do you do it? Here, in this blog I will reveal the life and times of having, creating and living with beauty from the inside out!

Is this cancerous? Why yes… well…

Here are top ten reasons you may want to avoid products containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and its even more evil twin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate from this point forward…

1. It is a known skin irritant. When cosmetic companies need to test the healing properties of a lotion, they need to irritate the skin first. What do they use to do this? SLS, of course. If you have dandruff, dermatitis, canker sores, or other irritated tissues or skin, it could be due to SLS.

2. It pollutes our groundwater.  It is toxic to fish and other aquatic animals and has the potential for bioaccumulation (meaning it accumulates in the bodies of the fish.)  It also is undetected in many municipal water filters, getting into the tap water that you drink.

3. It is actually a pesticide and herbicide.  It is commonly used to kill plants and insects. Makers of SLS recently petitioned to have SLS listed as an approved pesticide for organic farming.  The application was denied because of its polluting properties and environmental damage.

4. It emits toxic fumes when heated. Toxic Sodium Oxides and Sulfur Oxides are released when SLS is heated.  Makes a hot shower with an SLS shampoo seem not quite as nice…

5.  It has corrosive properties.  According to the American College of Toxicity,  this includes corrosion of the fats and proteins that make up skin and muscle.  SLS can be found in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers, and car wash soaps.

6.  Long-term permeation of the body’s tissues.  A study from the University of Georgia Medicine showed that SLS had the power to permeate the eyes, brain, heart, and liver.

7.  It’s an eye irritant.  It was shown to cause cataracts in adults, and is proven to inhibit the proper formation of eyes in small children.

8.  Nitrate and other solvent contamination.  Toxic solvents, including carcinogenic nitrates are used in the manufacturing of SLS, traces of which can remain in the product.

9.  Manufacturing process is highly polluting, emitting cancer-causing volatile organic compounds, sulfur compounds, and air particulates.

10.  It helps other chemicals get into your body.  SLS is a penetration enhancer, meaning that its molecules are so small they’re able to cross the membranes of your body’s cells.  Once cells are compromised, they become more vulnerable to other toxic chemicals that may be with the SLS.

Does it cause cancer?
SLS is not a recognized carcinogen itself, but there is some truth behind those Internet rumors.  When SLS is mixed with triethanolamine (or T.E.A) carcinogenic substances called nitrosames can form and be released.

Sources:
NewsTarget “Popular Shampoos Contain Toxic Chemicals Linked to Nerve Damage” Mike Adams, January 11, 2005
MSDS Data Sheet for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
MSDS Data Sheet for Sodium Laureth Sulfate
“OCA & Cancer Prevention Coalition Warn of Hidden Carcinogens in Baby Care” AScribe Newswire, Feb 28, 2007
“Technical Evaluation Report: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate” Compiled by ICF Consulting for the USDA National Organic Program, February 10, 2006
Environmental Working Group / Skin Deep www.ewg.org/skindeep

eco chic beauty- yes you can!

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Tell me Lane, what chemicals do I need to avoid in my beauty products?

There are a ton, I mean thousands of dangerous chemicals in cosmetics today, it’s overwhelming. I’m going to start small, so that you can make simple change in your life. I’ve chosen these top five based on their toxicity, and widespread usage. From here we will grow, but this is to get you started. If you see any of these on your products start tossing, slowly.

1. The ingredient termed, “Fragrance” is a total generic name which can be one or more of 200 chemicals, it’s a catch all. With our FDA regulations, companies here in the States don’t have to disclose the actual components of each fragrance, stating that their fragrances are trade secrets. Fragrance are known allergens causing many side effects, including headaches and skin reactions. Do you really want to put this unknown synthetic chemical on your skin? “Fragrance” receives one of the highest rankings of possible toxicity.

2. Methylparaben, actually anything ending in “paraben.” These are chemical preservatives that act like estrogen in the body, mimicking the function of estrogen, completely disrupting your hormonal balance. They also accumulate in cancerous breast tissue. Yuck!

3. Tetrasodium EDTA is a preservative that’s made from the known carcinogens, formaldehyde and sodium cyanide. It is also a penetration enhancer, it seeps right into your bloodstream. Be aware of the companies who are attempting to be “O’Natural” they will use Tetrasodium EDTA instead of parabens to preserve their products.

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfite this tiny yet powerful ingredient is derived from coconut oil, sounds good right? Nope, it’s used in brake fluid, antifreeze, toothpaste, shampoo, anything that may be a bit bubbly. It’s a foaming agent. Actually, it has been used in laboratories to irritate skin on animals and humans so that they may then test healing agents to see how effectively they are on the irritated skin. Make no mistake here, this is not only an allergen but it is also affects the brain and nervous system at a moderate dose. (Moderate being washing your hands.)

5. Propelyne Glycol. When the Environmental Working Group does testing with this chemical ingredient they automatically wear heavy duty gloves when handling it. Dead give a way for me to stay away from it, let alone place it on my face. Among other things, is a penetration enhancer, again seeping directly into your skin, and bloodstream. It is a known skin irritant, it has also been shown to cause cancer in lab tests. You will find it in over 3000 products, including lotions, deodorants, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner and body washes. Check your products now.

I want to mention Phthalates as well, but that is worth an entire posting, so be on the look out for it.

When you start reviewing your products please don’t think that the end of the world is coming because you have all of these ingredients, knowledge is the first step towards being more aware. Slowly review, slowly try new, and slowly purchase products that you find that are clean. I reccommend quite a few here so be on the look out as the days pass. I also invite you to inquire for a list of my top ten beauty products!

Make Simple Change.

What is the fuss with Parabens?

The Problem with Parabens– do  you even know what they are… I mean do people, companies, Hollywood Starlets, or spokespeople tell  you what they are?  NO.  Here is a quick run down on the basics of parabens.

What are parabens?

Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in lotions, conditioners, shampoos, deodorants.  They are listed on the label as methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, benzylparaben, isobutylparaben, and propylparaben.  They are sold under different cosmetic names, including Germaben II and LiquiPar Oil.

Why you may want to pay attention…

Since 2000, thirteen studies have shown that parabens display estrogenic activity.  (they mimic estrogen)
Other studies have also shown that parabens have accumulated in breast cancer tissue.  Although paraben supporters claim that the body breaks the chemical down quickly, these studies show that complete parabens accumulated in the tumors, not being broken down at all.   It has been proven that excess estrogen does lead to reproductive cancers (like breast and uterine cancer), and it has been proven that parabens act like estrogen and accumulate in the body.  (extra cushion in your mid section, strange monthly cycles…)  The FDA has not quite figured this all out, but the case for parabens looks pretty grim.  The European Journal of Cancer Prevention reported that “Frequency and earlier onset of antiperspirant/deodorant usage with underarm shaving were associated with an earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis.”  It is possible that the parabens (and other chemicals) in the antiperspirant are to blame for this.  Make a quick change to a new deoderant NOW.

Does everyone agree about this?

Nope, not at all come on…  Chemical and cosmetic companies love parabens because they give products long shelf lives and they’re cheap, cheap, cheap.  This how they can make their big profits!

You may be asking, “Why hasn’t the FDA banned them?”

Because they claim that the evidence is not conclusive. The FDA doesn’t want to step on the cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies toes because of their close ties.  This is a long closed door relationship…  The FDA sits back and does a whole lot of nothing… I mean they do in other areas, food, medicine, but toiletries… it does not make financial sense for them to get involve.

Are parabens ever hidden under other names?

YES, YES, YES, companies may incorrectly list their ingredients, putting a brand name such as Germaben II instead of listing the actual ingredients.  They are sneaky.

Be aware, make smart decsions, be simple, be more beautiful!

Sources:
Parabens and Breast Cancer, www.breastcancerfund.org
McGrath KG (2003). An earlier age of breast cancer diagnosis related to more frequent use of antiperspirants/deodorants and underarm shaving. European Journal of Cancer Prevention 12:479-485.

snacks and the power of orange.

I was suddenly struck with the hmmms, the haaaaas, the I don’t want to get ready for the job… the Happy Mood had totally disappeared.

I had eaten my breakfast, gotten myself ready and NO, as if I were a 5 year old, “No I don’t want to GO!”

I looked around to find my amazing bowl of Clementines… yummy, brightly colored, candy-like, small tangerines… the color instantly changed my glumness.  Bright orange is  far from GLUM… I decided to grab one for the road.  I peeled it.  I ate it.  I drove on to my appointment.  Before I arrived I was feeling like the happy go lucky gal I am use to being… Hurray!

Next time you are in the dumps reach for the orange… in addition to the improvement in your mood you benefit from these findings as well.

1. Studies have shown that the pectin present in oranges can help to suppress appetite for up to four hours after eating.
2. Oranges help to activate the body’s own detoxification process and even the skin and zest of this fruit contain anti-oxidants which help to transport oxygen around the body and protect the skin from free radicals which cause signs of aging. NO saggy skin.
3. Recent research also suggests that oranges contain a natural skin cancer fighting chemical. This isn’t an alternative to using sunscreens, but it does help.

toss out the lips

When MAC hit the stores back in the 90s’s I was ALL about it, the beautiful colors lasted, especially on my lips.  I would never leave the house without them being painted that deep luscious shade of aubergine or candy apple red.  I was intimated by those who could walk around in pale sheer or pink gloss or even those who were totally bare.  No not me, never.  I was a painted girl, that is until last year… AND now the time has finally come, all the MAC is going back… back to be recycled.

Every single minute, 1,484 tubes of lipstick are sold in the United States.  I was certainly a part of that habit for a long time.

Ingredients that harm

Here are the facts:  on average, women who use cosmetics will consume 2 pounds of lipstick in their lifetimes, it’s on your lips, you will lick, and ingest the harmful ingredients that are in the luscious tube. A lot of lipsticks contain mineral oil, a petrochemical that pollutes the environment during production by releasing hazardous chemicals into the air and water.

Some lipsticks also contain palm oil, and the cultivation of this product produces a significant danger to the rain forest wildlife in Borneo and Sumatra, particularly orangutans. Companies could start choosing, castor oil.  You could too.   Lipstick with this ingredient is renewable and biodegradable.

In addition to petroleum-based oils, many conventional lipsticks also harbor preservatives, including BHA, a fragrance ingredient that has a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems and bio-accumulates in the tissues of organisms. BHA is one of the chemicals banned by the EU as a carcinogen and organ system toxin, but here in the good old USA we still permit it.  Lipsticks also sometimes contain parabens, known endocrine disruptors that are not only detrimental to human health, but are also destructive to animal hormones and development.

Finally, most lipsticks contain pigments used for coloring, especially lead acetates or coal-tar dyes, frequently labeled as FD&C and D&C colors. These two ingredients contain carcinogenic impurities, as well as toxins that can affect the brain and nervous system.

This is just some of the well known facts about what we are placing on our lips… there is so much more.  But for now, I am committing to the simple recycle plan that MAC has established…  Just take it back.

There are other choices…

Clean products with color for those models who, like me won’t leave the house without their lips being brightly painted.

Jane Iredale lippy

Aubrey Organics Natural Lips

CARGO PlantLove Botanical Lipstick

beauty and the beast: nail care!

clean nails.

About six months ago I wandered into my local mani/pedi spa and received a wonderful treatment with the extra massage (I love the extra massage).  I walked out an hour and half later feeling pampered, relaxed and painted all pretty.  Six months later I look down to my little feet that I love, only to find my toes discolored!!!  Terribly disappointed and now waiting for my toenails to grow, grow, grow.  Now I’m not necessarliy saying that this happened as a result from the spa, but what I will say is that when I do my own pedicure at home with my products, and my tub of water I have never had this problem.  This so called “Fungal” infection is a common thing that happens when our beautiful feet are placed near thriving fungi… pools, gyms, shower rooms and spas….  we often walk around bare foot picking up any germ that lingers.  Beware.

Let’s take a look at the process of the manicure and pedicure a  bit more closely.   We walk in wanting to be pampered, we aren’t necessarily thinking of the toxic, chemical soltuion that was just used to clean the tools and basin that we are now soaking in as we relax, NO.  Nail care products—a market worth $951.2 million in 2004—can contain substances like toluene, ethyl acetate, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and formaldehyde, which are harmful to the earth during production and disposal, and can harm us as we use them!

What you are smelling as your nail tech covers her face with that mask:

Conventional nail polish and removers are made of about 70 percent chemical solvents, which, when applied, evaporate into the air and give off chemical fumes which the you then inhale. Many of these solvents, used to aid in the drying and hardening of nail polish, are petroleum-derived. Petroleum is a non-sustainable resource, the extraction and production of which has caused major environmental damage to soil, surface and ground waters, and local ecosystems, and contributes to global warming!  Petroleum-based products support the hazards of the petroleum industry, which include about 2.6 million gallons of oil spilled every month during transportation and about 71 million pounds of toxins released into the air and water during refinement.  Is all of this worth it?  I have to ask myself this over and over, I’ve now come to this conculsion, “NO.”

If you are planning to make the switch (I have) to indulge in the luxury of your own home giving yourself a pedicure please be aware of the following earth threatening chemicals:  (Try an alternative, please.)

• Acetone: A solvent used in nail polish, nail polish removers, and astringents that can cause nausea, ear, nose, and throat irritation, and dermatitis. Can contaminate waterways in production and pollutes indoor air: its presence tends to be higher inside homes than outside due to the use of chemical products.
• Benzophenone-1: Can lead to hormone disruption.
• Benzoyl peroxide: Inhalation of this plastics additive can irritate mucous membranes and has been shown to promote cancer in animal studies.
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP): A specific phthalate, common in nail polish to prevent chipping and add shine, that studies have shown can interfere with normal hormone balance, can cause severe birth defects, and is a suspected carcinogen. Phthalates have also been shown to cause liver, kidney, lung, and reproductive system damage, and the production of phthalates pollutes the air, water, and soil.
• Ethyl lactate or Ethyl alcohol: Can lead to neurological damage and irritate the eyes and mucous membranes.
• Formaldehyde: Used as a preservative in some nail polishes, formaldehyde is one of the world’s most hazardous compounds to both ecosystems and health, according to the Environmental Defense Scorecard, and is a known carcinogen.
• Toluene: Used to give nail polish its fluid quality and improve drying time, this solvent is absorbed easily by the body through the skin or inhalation, affecting the nervous system and causing depression, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Toluene has also been found to be toxic to the kidneys and liver and possibly a reproductive disruptor. Toluene is petroleum-based, so its production supports the pollution and greenhouse gases associated with petroleum production.
• Xylene: Like toluene, this chemical solvent is petroleum-derived, toxic, and may be linked to cancer.

So now that you know what to watch out for at home use, I also suggest asking your nail tech/salon/spa  to switch to the alternatives.   There are Eco-friendly nail polishes and removers that have replaced some or all of these chemical solvents with natural ingredients. Polishes and removers that are labeled as water-, plant-, or mineral-based contain fewer petrochemicals.

The post started with the question: Are manis and pedis inherently un-green?  If I have to answer concisely I would have to raise the red flag, not green!  There is a transition, a movement of spas that are catching on, but it takes time.  Maybe if we all start practicing our eco habits and suggesting to our spas, our girlfriends, moms and salons that we want green, we want safety, we want our spa treatment to be divinely clean we will get there.

Here are a few eco savvy nail products you may want to rave about:

Acquarella’s line of water-based polishes are vegan and free of stinky solvents.

Sante’s line of natural polishes are perfect for those with chemical sensitivities, like me. The color pallet is beautiful and the polish is free of formaldehyde, phthalates, toluene, and other synthetics.

Honeybee Gardens is a nails triple-threat: horsetail root strengthens nails, vitamin E and aloe soothe cuticles, and acetone-free ingredients are better for you and the environment and it doesn’t stink!

SpaRitual’s vegan, Leaping Bunny-certified polish remover uses essential oils and sugar in place of acetone to remove nail color while moisturizing nails and cuticles, can’t beat that.

The Truth about Splenda/Sucralose!

http://www.undergroundwelln…Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness discusses sucralose toxicity.Splenda is a chemical compound being sold to YOU as a “natural” sweetener. It’s chemical composit…

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Should I be using this?

This is the latest question, (well) actually I have been asked this before and when it comes to make up, in my tiny opinion, less is MORE.

While beauty may only be skin deep, the cosmetics you apply to your face aren’t. They’re absorbed into your body, and they don’t stop there: when you wash your face, chemicals in your makeup—including plasticizers, coal tar, and formaldehyde—go down the drain, affecting soil, water, and wildlife. With eco-conscious women everywhere waking up to the fact that what you put on your body is as important as what you put in it, sales of natural and organic cosmetics are skyrocketing, with projected revenues of $7 billion in the US in 2008—up from $1 billion in 2007—making it the fastest-growing segment of the cosmetics industry.  This is good news!

Often I found that a little lippy or a stroke of eye shadow really makes the world of difference when it comes to needing a bit more self esteem.  Now I’m not saying that beauty comes from a product, rather some days it just merely HELPS!

Lets talk about makeup.  Some of us start with a concealer and then we add a foundation, then possibly another layer of concealer.  Sometimes we even go for a bronzer, then a stroke of blush, swish.  Our eyes are then lined, and blended. Eyeshadow brushed on and layered, then move onto lengthening and darkening our lashes with a rich blend of mascara.  We finish it all off, by lining and painting our kissable lips then spritzing it all with a finishing spray.

WHOA.  Let’s just think about this entire process for a minute.  First there is our time to consider, if you are a person who has logged in your hours in front of the mirror or in the car you may actually have this whole process down to fifteen minutes, but for some it’s a 30 minute deal.  That is valuable.  This is your time.

Now let’s think about clean skin, raw divine skin with nothing on it.  You just stepped out of the shower, where you washed your face, in order to save time and water, you are on the green wagon!  Now you are standing in front of the mirror and inspecting.  Hmm, looks good, clean! You reach for your toner, your moisturizer, maybe even eye cream and sunblock… Then you start layering your makeup on top of all of that…

I only do this so you, (we) can honestly start to think about all of the components that you, play with, that you adore, that you might possibly use on your beautiful-one of a kind face!  The average woman uses at least 15 products a day each containing about 10 different chemicals. Only a small percent of the 10,500 chemicals used in beauty products have ever been tested for safety, however one-third of these are known to cause cancer. Research shows that skin can absorb as much as 60 percent of whatever is applied to it.  (I use 9, sometimes 10 and this includes my toothpaste and I am a true minimalist, coming from the modeling world and having my face painted everyday was just too much!)  As you begin to paint your face, stroke by stroke with rich and vivid colors it may be wise to consider what is actually in the products that create the LOOK that you are trying to achieve.

Here are a list of products that I once adored, that you may love as well… and some of the ingredients that you may want to look out for:

Ultima II  by Revlon  (there are about 50 products that are potential hazards to our health.)  I have completely eliminated this name from my beauty bag.

Clarins:  CLARINS ONE-STEP FACIAL CLEANSER (ALL SKIN TYPES) loaded with methylparabens (Hazards: Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Biochemical or cellular level changes).

KIMORA LEE SIMMONS CHOCOLATE SHIMMER POWDER:  has the methylparabens and titanium dioxide (Hazards: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes).

MAX FACTOR 3 COLOR MAXEYESHADOW, BAJA BRONZE 160:  has the methylparabens and silica (Hazards: Cancer, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Biochemical or cellular level changes).

ESTéE LAUDER COLOR INTENSITY QUAD MICROFINE POWDER EYESHADOW: has the methylparabens, silica, titanium dioxide and BHT (Hazards: Neurotoxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs).

Enough with the bad.  As you read and learn more you will begin to see what to buy and what to avoid.  Here are a list of Eco, clean makeup lines that are shooting close to perfect, but I think progress is better a statement.

Jane Iredale

Josie Maran

Afterglow Cosmetics

Belle’s Botanicals

Nude Skincare (My all time favorite!)

You are beautiful and deserve clean fresh skin.  Don’t settle, or buy something compulsively as the sales girl persuades you with a slogan.  Clean skin is worth it, your health is worth it.  Start slowly, ask for a sample and then move onto throwing out one product at a time, and then purchase as  you go, invest.  Again I will say, start slow, make simple change.  Once you begin not only will you notice but those around you will as well!  Just wait and watch.

simply beautiful you.