Organic Beauty Source

Preservatives: Natural v Synthetic

2012-02-16T12:24:00.001-06:00

Ever wonder why some cosmetic products contain natural preservatives, others parabens, still others none at all?

If a product is water based (like cleansers, shampoos and some lotions) it has the potential for the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast. Preservatives are used to limit microbial and bacterial growth in a product, which is very important. A contaminated cosmetic product can cause skin irritation, acne and infection.

It is not safe or necessary to use synthetic preservatives, but avoiding them may be more difficult than you would think. Parabens are widely used as preservatives in cosmetic and food products. Although more research is needed to understand the full depth of the dangers of using parabens, there is enough data to justify great concern. Parabens are believed to mimic estrogen in our bodies, and they have been found in the tumors of breast cancer patients. While it is not believed that parabens are the cause of breast cancer, researchers now know that they can be absorbed by our skin and accumulate in breast tissue, and because of their estrogenic properties, could accelerate tumor growth.

While there are set limits on the concentration of parabens that can be used in a cosmetic product, manufacturers can still use more than one paraben in a product. If you are using several paraben-containing products each day this can add up to significant exposure to these toxic synthetics…daily.

Is paraben-free the answer? Cosmetic and personal care products labeled “paraben-free” seem to be everywhere these days, but this does not necessarily mean they are free from synthetic preservatives. There are other toxic preservatives that are not parabens but are just as bad for you, if not more so, like formaldehyde and Methylisothiazolinone (MIT). See the Ingredients to Avoid list for more information on these ingredients.

The bottom line is, if a product requires a preservative to be safe for use, the preservative cannot simply be removed. The product would either need to be reformulated to be made stable without the use of a preservative, or a different (nontoxic) preservative would need to be substituted for the synthetic. If a cosmetic product maker goes to the trouble of reformulating or starts using a natural preservative, you can be sure they will want consumers to be aware of this and say so on their packaging. If the product only says “paraben-free” check the label to see what they are using to preserve the product.

Certain plant and essential oils, herbal extracts and vitamins are natural preservatives. Packaging in tubes and pump bottles helps in the preservation of a product, as does the use of the purest ingredients. Many natural cosmetic manufacturers have developed their own unique and effective preservation systems.

It is important to remember that preservatives are needed to keep certain products safe for use. But there are safer, healthier alternatives to synthetic preservatives.

Image: Picture Wendy at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

2012-02-15T11:05:00.001-06:00

What's your take on calcium?...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2012/02/10/got-calcium/

Natural v Synthetic Fragrance

2012-02-09T09:58:00.000-06:00

With natural cosmetics, fragrance is an issue all its own. There is synthetic fragrance = bad for your health, gives you a headache... And there is natural fragrance = healthy, aromatherapy benefits… But finding out whether your products are made with synthetic or natural fragrance is not always as simple as reading the ingredient listing.

The article I wrote last week on Primavera Life products spurred some reader questions on fragrance -- their's is listed as "fragrance (parfum)". We have been conditioned to believe that fragrance or parfum are all and always synthetic. Not true. Manufacturers of nontoxic cosmetics can also label their fragrance (from essential oils) as fragrance or parfum.

Why would they do this rather than listing out the healthy essential oils they use in their products? To protect their signature scent.

A trade secret loophole allows cosmetics makers to work around disclosure laws and keep their fragrance blends a secret by using fragrance, parfum or perfume on their ingredient listings, synthetic or natural. Many nontoxic brands will add a footnote clarifying their use of essential oils for fragrance, but not all. And don’t be fooled by a product claiming to be unscented or fragrance-free. Many synthetic fragrances can mask other fragrance. The product may have no noticeable odor but can still be packed with a bunch of nasty chemicals.

Obviously, this makes it much more complicated to determine whether or not the products you plan to use are made with chemical fragrance or pure essential oils. If you can not find any information on a product label or brand website regarding their use of fragrance ingredients, do not be afraid to contact the company and ask what ingredients they use for fragrance. I did so with Primavera Life and was told that they use all natural fragrance ingredients in their products.

Let’s cover some of the facts on fragrance…

What are synthethetic fragrance ingredients? Synthetic fragrance is usually a combination of many different ingredients. These ingredient cocktails can cause allergic reactions; including headache, dizziness, and rash, and have also been linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and cancer. Children tend to be particularly sensitive to them.

What are natural fragrance ingredients? Pure essential oils, plant and flower extracts, and floral hydrosols are all used to lend scent to cosmetic products. These are much safer than synthetic fragrance ingredients and, depending on which oils and extracts are used, can even provide health benefits like soothing stressed skin and mind, invigorating mind and body, or working as a preservative.

INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) Labeling: This cosmetic ingredient labeling standard is used in Europe and Canada, and requires full ingredient disclosure. Cosmetic ingredients are listed by scientific names, ie Jojoba oil (Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil). INCI requires essential oils used as scent ingredients be listed as “fragrance” or “parfum”.

CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association) Labeling: The US cosmetic ingredient labeling standard is comprised of over 600 personal care companies, and is therefore self-policing. Ingredients are listed using common English names.

Image: Picture Wendy at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

2012-02-04T18:48:00.001-06:00

Read the helpful comments I got on this article on raw food...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2012/02/02/raw-food-diet-yes-or-no/#comments

Organic Cosmetic Review: Primavera Life

2012-02-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

Alrighty, today let's review some products!

These are from the lovely Primavera Life, one of the first companies on my radar when I started out in the organic cosmetics biz a long time ago. Primavera is the epitome of pure and natural. After 25 years of making organic skin care and personal care products, they have it down.

Here is my report on the company and their products, reposted from Feelgood Style ~

When it comes to nontoxic skin care, Primavera is the cream of the crop. High-quality, super-effective, pleasant-to-use products. You can practically feel the purity when you use them.

Well, Primavera does not stop with making fabulous organic skin care. No, this company is also fair trade and carbon-neutral.

For the past 25 years the German Primavera Life has been dedicated to creating pure, plant-based skin care and partnering with independent fair trade growers around the world. And last year they opened their new innovative, carbon-neutral headquarters.

Primavera Life is “Germany’s first administrative and production facility of its size to systematically use sustainable building practices, while also considering feng shui and energy flows to foster productivity. When all sustainability initiatives are in full swing, the entire facility is set-up to be carbon neutral.”

Cool, huh?

The entire Primavera range is certified as natural and organic by NaTrue, a stringent certifying body of organic and natural cosmetics. Primavera products use the highest percentage of certified organic ingredients available, are never tested on animals, and packed in enviro-friendly packaging.

Primavera skin care consists of three product lines; Moisturizing, Revitalizing and Balancing. I sampled the Sage Grape Seed Gel Cleanser from the Balancing line, and Neroli Cassis Protective Lotion from the Moisturizing line. The Gel Cleanser is very light and not at all irritating, even on my sensitive skin. The Protective Lotion is lightly hydrating and leaves skin soft and smooth as a baby’s bottom.

The range also includes Body Care (body wash, body lotion and body oils), Wellness mists made with essential oils, and Air Sprays and essential oil blends for Home.

Image: Primavera Life.com

Jammie Time

2012-01-30T08:51:00.002-06:00

This weekend I was quoted in our local paper. The story was not on organic beauty or cosmetic ingredients. Nope, this story was on another subject I know a lot about...working in your pjs.

You know how the growing trend amongst high school and college age girls is to wear their pajamas to school, class, the store with mom, the mall...? Well, the reporter was considering whether or not more non-teens were picking up the habit.

I guess some people feel slouchy or unproductive or fat (really?!) when they are in their comfy clothes, but I consider it a perk of working from home. I admit to switching from pajama pants to workout clothes before taking my kids to school, but love being able to avoid the morning shower rush, work out at a reasonable time of morning and shower whenever I want.

Which means that yes, I spend slot of time working in my comfy clothes but try to spend as little time out in public in them as possible. I break out my well-worn-in jeans for that. Again, a perk of doing pretty much all of my business correspondence by email or phone. I love to look cute but am glad I don't have to get all "ready" every day, especially in the morning, and it never makes me feel fat or unproductive.

I realize that some have to go in to work, no choice. And that others would go crazy spending most days on their own, pjs or not.

How about you? Do you feel like a schlep unless you get up and get ready? Or do you work in the equivalent of jammies?

PS -- I took my son with me to grab a paper so I could see how that article turned out. He had to go into the store and buy it for me because I was wearing (ahem) my pajamas...

Image: Liz Thompson

Green Smoothies Contd...

2012-01-27T10:56:00.000-06:00

First, thank you to everyone who commented on my green smoothie post the other day. You guys are the bomb! I tried your suggestions and my smoothies are soooooo much yummier now.

Apples help big time, as does vanilla-unsweetened almond milk. I also cut down on the amount of kale I was using (I was putting in ALOT) and that made it less grassy and less chewy. Both good things.

Here is my Green Smoothie Recipe now:

1/2 cup (or so) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 small organic apple
1 banana
1 large kale leaf
A few berries

A surprise bonus with these green smoothies is that they are not only filling but really stick with you. I have had one 3 mornings this week and they got me through my morning run each time. Amazing!

To anyone out there who is reading, or has read, or is thinking about reading The Beauty Detox Solution: I would love to share notes with you along the way. Leave a comment below or email me at liz(at)organicbeautysource(dot)com so we can compare notes and I will write about it as we go. Promise not to share any personal info, okay? We can do this together.

I will say that yesterday, even though my smoothie got me through most of the morning (run and all), I really felt unsatisfied in the afternoon on only fruits and veg. Craved bread or a cookie badly! We will see how today goes...

Image: The Truth About at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

New Natural Anti Aging Product -- True Natural Advanced Lift & Firm Serum

2012-01-24T11:47:00.000-06:00

Let's start this week off right -- with a new organic anti aging product (that really works!) and a giveaway. Woo hoo!

True Natural has come up with a couple of new products to add to their ever-growing organic beauty line. These two are anti aging products and they are seriously fabulous. This is not something I say lightly. I have tried many, many anti aging products (nontoxic and not) and these work the best of any. No kidding!

While there are some truly great anti agers out there, my experience is that they mostly offer really deep moisturization. This is good because dry skin looks older. It's the truth. But, I have never noticed as big a difference in the way my skin looks as with the True Natural Advanced Lift & Firm Serum.

The timing was perfect as I have begun to notice more sagginess in my skin, especially around my mouth and neck area. The serum really seems to plump, smooth and brighten the skin. Like, immediately. I use it every day and this is how: First I apply my regular daily moisturizer, Lavera Calendula Balancing Cream. Next, I pat on Advanced Lift & Firm Serum. I have found that patting product on is not only gentler on skin, but kind of keeps the product in place. In my case, around my mouth and neck. After the serum has had a few minutes to soak in, I pat on (yes, more patting) the thick and rich Skincando Luxe Miracle Cream. If your skin is not as dry you can skip the last step, mine just needs the extra moisture boost.

My skin is also on the sensitive side and Advanced Lift & Firm does not irritate. You could definitely apply this serum on clean skin prior to using any moisturizer if you would rather.

True Natural has also come out with a new product for eyes, Eye Bright Peptide Serum. This product is very light, moisturizes without being greasy. Smooths the eye area and adds a slight brightness to the skin. I really like it and I am usually a thick eye cream kinda gal.

So, what makes these products work so well? True Natural uses powerful natural anti aging ingredients (like Bio-hyaluronic acid, Ferulic acid and fruit extracts) in a concentrated formula that delivers the good stuff without a lot of unnecessary ingredients. I really think this is what makes these products so effective. The anti aging ingredients do their thing without a lot of moisturizing ingredients washing them away. Simply let the serum dry and you can add more moisture if you need it.

As with all True Natural products, this one is free from nasty ingredients.

I wish I could send all of you a bottle of this awesome stuff. The good news is that one OBS reader will win a True Natural Advanced Lift & Firm Serum. All you have to do is "like" the Love True Natural Facebook page and subscribe to their newsletter (you get a 15% off first purchase coupon for subscribing :) ). Then come back here and leave a comment telling us your favorite youthful beauty trick. I will announce a winner in 30 days.

We will also be giving away the Eye Bright down the road, so check back!

Image: True Nature Group

Green Smoothies

2012-01-20T12:59:00.001-06:00

In my last post I mentioned that I am reading Kimberly Snyder's The Beauty Detox Solution. One main component of the plan is a green smoothie. I mixed one up today for lunch, not following Kimberly's recipe. A banana or pear definitely would have helped.

Mine was made from kale, spinach, two clementines and a little cranberry juice for liquid. It is not bad, but I don't know if I look forward to drinking it every day. It tastes kind of grassy and is a little chewy. But definitely green.

Do you make green smoothies? If so, tell us what you put in them that yummiest it up.

2012-01-20T10:14:00.001-06:00

A new study on parabens & breast cancer...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2012/01/20/parabens-breast-cancer-a-new-study/

My Baby is Nine

2012-01-17T14:45:00.000-06:00

8 years ago

My daughter turns 9 years old today! It is hard to believe that that little auburn-haired, tiny-tiny baby girl came into our lives 9 years ago. How time flies when you are having fun!

Today

Our long and busy weekend was filled with fun times spent with good friends and family. We will be tired tomorrow, but it will be worth it;)

One thing I have changed in the name of health and energy this year is my diet. Have you read The Beauty Detox Solution by celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder? I am working on it and have been implementing some of her ideas over the past two weeks. Namely, no meat. While I was not a huge meat eater before, I have been avoiding it altogether, with the exception of my 2-3 glasses of milk per day (I prefer milk over calcium supplements).

The main thing I noticed right away is that the weight I thought I'd gained over the holidays was actually just bloating. Gross, I know. Kimberly's philosophy is that animal protein is difficult for our bodies to digest and the energy that it takes to do so is detracting from other areas, like beauty and a healthy body.

Kimberly's plan is much more in-depth than just skipping the meat. She advocates a mostly vegan, mostly raw food diet with food pairings. Haven't heard of food pairings? I hadn't. This means eating certain food types together is ok, others not so much. Like; fruits and veg together are ok, as are veg and starch. But protein with protein is a no-no.

I am still reading so will fill you in as I go. If any of you are reading The Beauty Detox Solution I would love to know your thoughts...

2012-01-12T09:09:00.001-06:00

Butter Up!...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2012/01/12/butter-up-your-bod/

Getting Back to Business

2012-01-11T15:15:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe the holidays have already come and gone! We had a nice long break from school here (2 whole weeks)and the weather was amazing. Those are my children up there sitting in the sun. Yes, my son has on shorts and a tshirt!

This is the first week back to "reality". I missed the kids before they even left!

We had wonderful holidays this season and I hope all of you did too. My kids are old enough now to not only enjoy the fun of Christmas but a to really appreciate it too, which makes it even more fun for me. We spent New Year's Eve our favorite way, a private party with just our family. We have some traditions that we love and the kids really enjoy it.

One of them is to eat a grape for each month of the year, if it is sweet the month will be a good one and sour means it will be more challenging. I think this tradition is Greek, but can't remember for sure.

This year we had a taco bar, hot fudge sundaes and (as usual) our special fizzy juice in pretty glasses. The kids love to stay up and watch the ball drop.

Now that they are back to school, and the house is quiet, I plan to get back to the business of writing. With OBS, plus the other sites I do some writing for, I barely have time to get to the biggest project on my plate...my book. But that is why one of my resolutions this year is to try to make some progress each and every day. See my plan on that here.

What are your New Year's resolutions? Any you'd like to share?

2012-01-05T09:03:00.001-06:00

Need help keeping those resolutions?...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2012/01/05/daily-resolutions/

2012-01-02T11:21:00.001-06:00

Fancy nails -- fun, fast and fume free...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/12/29/want-fancy-nails-stick-it-to-them/

2012-01-02T11:19:00.001-06:00

Do you know why you are breaking out? http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/12/30/diagnosing-your-breakouts/

Supplements...Yes or No?

2011-12-28T15:08:00.000-06:00

Do you take supplements?

This is one subject that I have always been torn on. On the one hand I feel it is best to get the vitamins, antioxidants and other good stuff we need for good healthy from the foods we eat. I mean, do we really know enough about supplements to trust that they are doing us good?

I was taking a calcium supplement until I read that it can build up in the arteries. Then I read that it is safe to take calcium as long as you take it with Vitamin D. Hmmmm.....that all seems a little suspicious to me.

But whenever I tell someone that I don't supplement the response is "You don't even take a multi-vitamin?". What to do? What I always do...experiment!

So, today I went out and bought some vitamins. An article on Beautylish recommended certain vitamins for beauty and health: Vitamins A, C and D, plus Biotin which is a B Vitamin. I threw in some zinc because I have heard that it is easy to become deficient in this and it boosts your immune system, something I can use right now.

While I continue to research the safety and effectiveness of supplements, I am interested to see how taking these will improve the health of my skin, hair and nails. Will let you know.

How do you feel about taking supplements? Do you? Don't you? Leave a comment below and let us know.

Image: Andrei Z at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license

2011-12-24T08:51:00.005-06:00

A Merry & Joyous weekend to all! Enjoy!!

2011-12-24T08:51:00.003-06:00

A fast & fresh makeup look for the holidays...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/12/23/holiday-makeup-merry-bright/

2011-12-24T08:51:00.001-06:00

A fast & fresh makeup look for the holidays...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/12/23/holiday-makeup-merry-bright/

2011-12-22T07:54:00.001-06:00

Peace of Mind, Fast!...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/12/22/want-peace-of-mind-do-this-today/

New Winner MyAge Serum

2011-12-21T09:18:00.001-06:00

Well, it has been a couple of weeks and my winner of the Lavera MyAge Contest has not come forward. So, had to move forward and pick another winner, hate to do it but someone needs to get this fabulous product.

Congratulations Mommyof3! (randomly selected at random.org) You will receive a complimentary facial serum from the Lavera MyAge line. Please email me at liz(at)organicbeautysource(dot)com with your details and I will see that the folks at Lavera get your gift right out to you. Thanks so much to all who participated. I look forward to answering those questions!

Image: ADoseofShipBoy at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license

Affordable Organic Cosmetics? YES!

2011-12-19T13:10:00.004-06:00

With the holidays fast approaching, and spending on the rise, I have had lots of reader interest in cost-effective organic cosmetics. While there are lots of luxury cosmetics (organic or not) on the market, you certainly do not have to spend a fortune on skincare and makeup to get safe and effective products. Luxury does have its place, but daily use items should be affordable.

I posted a similar version of this article over on Feelgood Style too. That is how much interest I’ve had on the subject lately. Following are my tips and favorites to keep you healthy, gorgeous and in the green. There are even a couple of deals thrown in to help you along the way…

Organic Skin Care & Body Care

Lavera (one of my long-standing favorites) makes both skincare and makeup that are not only fabulous, but safe and budget-friendly. FACES Organic Skincare Systems offer products for each skin type. My top picks – Wild Rose Cleansing Milk ($19) and Calendula Balancing Cream ($23.50).

*You can find Lavera products at LoveTrueNatural.com. Get 20% off your first time order with code FIRSTORDER. (First time order offer excludes kits and clearance items.)*

SKIN brand offers a wide range of products for face and body at very reasonable prices. And they come in bigger sizes too. My faves from this brand – Apricot Mango eye cream (($24.95), Lemon Lips lip balm ($6.95) and Naked Skin unscented face & body lotion (14.95).

*Get 15% off all SKIN brand products at Caren Online through Jan 15th 2012 with code SKIN15*

For body, it is hard to beat Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Shea Butter Wash($9.99). Thick and rich (so it lasts a good, long time) and smells delicious. Love it! Added bonus: you can pick it up at Target, Wal-Mart or Walgreen’s.

Makeup

Lavera is also one of my staple makeup brands, with prices ranging from $11-$24. My all-time favorite mascara is Volume Mascara in black ($20) and Mattifying Mineral Finish Loose Powder ($20), both of which last a long time.

SANTE is another terrific organic makeup brand, and offer lots of products and colors. I totally love the Eyeshadow Sticks ($12) and Eyeliner Pencils ($11). Both go on really smooth but stay put.

Another all natural makeup line that is also easy on the pocketbook is Benecos. The range begins at just $9 and even includes nail polish free from the most harmful polish ingredients. While I have not yet tried any Benecos products personally, they do come highly recommended. Look for my review on this line coming up soon.

*You can find Lavera, Sante and Benecos products at LoveTrueNatural.com. Get 20% off your first time order with code FIRSTORDER. OR score this awesome Benecos Holiday Glamour Set for eyes, only $30! (First time order offer excludes kits and clearance items.)*

100% Pure makes great skincare and body care, but it is hard to beat their cream blushers, Pot Rouge ($15). Come in lots of sweet colors, too. Same goes for their Shimmery Lip & Cheek Tints ($15), a multi-use product.

Don’t worry, we won’t forget the lips. Crazy Rumors Lip Colors are pretty, tasty, and keep lips super soft. And at just $4.99 you can have a couple.

Tips

There are a few tricks you can use to extend the life of your organic cosmetics. While there are certain products you will probably use up more quickly (facial cleansers, moisturizers, foundation), others are a good long term investment.

A good facial oil not only offers your skin added hydration and glow-i-ness, but can stretch your moisturizer and double as a treatment. I like to add a few drops at night to my regular moisturizer. No need to purchase a nighttime moisturizer, and a facial oil lasts and lasts because you only use 2-3 drops at a time. You can spend a mini-fortune on facial oils, but two I like that are not bank-breakers: MuBeauty ($45) and Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil ($24.95).

Purchasing samples and try-me sizes are a good way to see if you like a product before laying down the cash for the full-size. Spirit Beauty Lounge has a great deal on samples – purchase 9 samples for $25. Caren Online also sells Try-Me sized products at very reasonable rates.

Have some favorite budget-friendly products of your own? We'd love to know about them! And if you have any questions on these (or any other) organic cosmetics, please leave me a comment below.

Image: elycefeliz at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license

2011-12-13T08:27:00.001-06:00

Wintertime beauty solutions...http://feelgoodstyle.com/2011/12/09/makeup-solutions-for-dry-skin/

Lavera My Age Contest Winner Announced

2011-12-01T19:06:00.001-06:00

mh is the winner of the Lavera My Age Organic Skincare Contest (randomly selected at random.org) and wins a My Age Serum! mh, please shoot me an email at liz(at)organicbeautysource(dot)com and give me your details. The good folks at Lavera will get your gift straight out to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered and for the wonderful questions on your biggest skincare/anti-aging issues. I will begin answering them in the next couple of days...

image from ADoseofShipBoy at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license