Sterling Minerals® Skin Care Guide

What Is A Carcinogen?

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Inquiring Minds Want To Know

When I continually read how this ingredient and that ingredient is a carcinogen or has carcinogenic properties, I have actually wondered, what exactly does that mean? It has always been a completely ambiguous statement and has never had relevance equated with it. Just a lovely statement regurgitated over and over by the many that hate all things chemical....of course not truly understanding the very definition of what a chemical is.

But the word "carcinogen" seems to have become synonymous with "chemical", when in fact to truly understand what a carcinogen is, would make more sense to me rather than the causal link to something proven or unproven. As I have explained in past articles, Doctors have shown and proven that fruits and vegetables are good for us, yet these same healthy foods, including coffee for coffee lovers, have carcinogenic properties, while they provide anti-mutagenic properties as well, such as the health benefits of anti-oxidants. Clearly these benefits far outweigh any slight chance of the same as ever causing cancer, if they weren't we wouldn't be being advised to eat 5-7 servings per day.....so put down that " twinkie".....which is far more harmful to good health than an apple or orange with trace amounts of Acetaldehyde.

This word (carcinogen), like "chemical" creates concern for many, so I decided to delve beyond the inflammatory articles trying to correlate this supposedly scary relation between the two and learn.......

What Exactly Is A Carcinogen? (Guest Article)

I know cancer has probably touched everyone’s life (as it has mine) and prevention is certainly easier than a cure. I spent many years of my life studying cancer and the process of carcinogenesis and even have a few scientific papers to show for it. The intense interest that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Environmental Working Group have in banning carcinogens brings up the question as to what exactly is a carcinogen and how dangerous are they? Even though we of course want to protect ourselves as much as possible from cancer, it is not correct to think that anything that is a carcinogen causes cancer. Many of the damaging effects of carcinogens are actually countered by anti-carcinogens that might occur side by side especially in fruits and vegetables. As a farmer and herbalist I need to speak up when someone says they want to ban all carcinogens.

Cancer is a little understood and complicated process that occurs in a multi-step progression taking 20 years or more, which explains why it is more common as we age. It is a disease of cell growth. The normal mechanisms that stimulate and inhibit cell growth are changed in a way as to allow the cell to grow uncontrollably.

There are four definable phases of carcinogenesis (cancer development); initiation, promotion, progression and malignant conversion; each stage lasting years. Testing for carcinogens are just as complicated because different cellular changes occur during each stage.

The first stage, initiation, involves a change in the genetic makeup of a cell. This change can and does occur randomly or when a given chemical interacts with DNA, causing a mutation in the genetic code. Chemicals that cause mutations are known as genotoxins. One important test done to determine if a chemical is a genotoxin is the Ames test. The Ames test, developed by Dr. Bruce Ames in the early 1970’s, is used because it is a rapid and fairly easy screen for DNA mutations. The test uses a single celled bacterium as the indicator organism; an already mutated strain of Salmonella typhimurium. Chemicals being tested are incubated with the bacteria in petri dishes. If the bacteria shows growth in a certain selected media, then this is evidence of DNA mutation or genotoxicity and the chemical can be classified as a carcinogen.

What are some problems with this? Well, lets name just a few:

Bacterial cells and human cells are quite different. If you remember back to high school biology; bacteria are prokaryotes and human cells are eukaryotes.

Human organisms have enzymes that work to detoxify and eliminate mutagens before they can cause damage to the DNA. These enzymes are particularly prevalent in the liver and skin.

The nuclei of human cells have in place mechanisms for repairing DNA that is mutated; proofreading mechanisms.

For cancer to occur there must be more than one mutation occurring in the DNA. Mutations must occur in specific classes of genes that regulate cell growth (or death) and multiple mutations must occur over a period of many years.

When and if cancer cells develop as a result of multiple mutations, they express an antigen that is recognizable by the immune system so they can be removed and destroyed.

The doses used in the Ames test are very high doses that might never occur in humans.

As explained above, cancer requires multiple mutations in specific classes of genes before a cell actually transforms into a cancer cell; not just one mutation in a random gene.

Everyone has mutated and transformed cells in our body at all times. When DNA becomes mutated, the cell first tries to correct that mutation. Because there are many genes that affect cell growth; including those that speed up growth and those that inhibit growth, there are many safeguards in place to prevent a cell from growing uncontrollably and becoming cancer. If those safety mechanisms do fail. there are mechanisms in place to force death in a transformed cell. In other words, that one cell is sacrificed for the good of the entire organism. This process is called apoptosis.

Dr. Ames himself sought to ban many synthetic substances in the 70's because they were mutagenic in the Ames test. However, he later reversed his position saying that there is no scientific evidence that small doses of these synthetic chemicals cause human cancers. Part of his reversed opinion was the finding that many plants (fruits, vegetables, and herbs) also contain chemicals that are mutagenic. He said "There are over 1,000 natural chemicals in a cup of coffee, and only 22 have been tested. Of these, 17 are carcinogens."

Ames realized that regardless of whether chemicals are synthetic or naturally occurring they cause cancer when fed to laboratory animals at extremely high doses. He also found that this was a very politically incorrect conclusion. The environmental activists Ames said, "have a religion" that says that corporations are behind an exploding epidemic of cancer. This religion was promoted by handful of doctors (Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois at Chicago), by a media looking for headlines, and by celebrity spokespeople such as Jane Fonda and Meryl Streep. "The idea that chemical companies are giving consumers cancer just isn’t true," he said. The main cause of cancer is old age. EPA allows for synthetic pesticides."

Dr. Ames also does not think that low levels of pesticide residues eaten by consumers are harmful. However, the amounts farmhands are exposed to are different and strict rules should be in place to reduce exposure for them and for chemical workers. With only 9% of Americans eating the amounts of fruits and vegetables they should, the cost of eliminating synthetic pesticides would further decrease the amount of fruits and vegetables ingested. Since fruits and vegetables are one proven way to decrease cancer risks this would increase the risk of cancer. Dr. Ames is a well known and well respected scientist and even at the age of 82 he is still Professor of Biochemistry at UC Berkley doing nutrition and aging research.

Information about Bruce Ames came from Michael Fumento's site:

http://fumento.com/cancer/ames.html

For more information on the Ames test see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxE9sYatPAs
http://www.hen riettesherbal.com/faqs/medi-5-4-ames.html

Our Guest Writer: At one time Dr. Cindy Jones, PhD, was a Cancer Biologist doing research on mechanisms of cell growth. She now enjoys her work as a cosmetic formulator and herb grower. Her company is Sagescript Institute, llc.

There Simply Are No Words

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:41:00 +0000

Found this cool display of physics at work while doing my typical research and wanted to share it with my readers....just something a bit different from same old, same old.

For those that can't see this in an RSS feed or email click here to view the video below.

Have a lovely weekend and hoped you too enjoyed the beauty and artistry that was achieved.

Raising Awareness About The Cosmetic Industry in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:17:00 +0000

It's All In The Facts

For several years now, I have been diligent in keeping those that choose to read my blog, in the know on many factors surrounding the cosmetic industry. Proposed legislation, scientific studies, whether to the negative or the positive, or just plain debunking of many myths propagated by watchdog groups (non governmental organizations; NGO's) such as Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics or even a false product or ingredient claim. These two entities, EWG being the parent group, would like nothing better than to control and dictate what is good or safe to use on our skin through over regulation based on nothing more than myth or fabrication of junk science or skewing of facts, and for the most part, it has been a deafening cry.....after all it is really the only way to justify their bloated salaries or to gain political power and it's prestige....by keeping us scared. They must have us believe they are the unchallenged purveyors of "truth."

It has been an ongoing battle of trying to keep the true science in the forefront of those that are and have been confused about who and what to believe. But at the same time, I have been concerned about also letting my blog become a "bully pulpit" so to speak, to get the information out.

In 2011, I made a concerted effort to keep my readers informed, but to not have it monopolize my time or my blog articles, as I had done in the past in 2010 and before. It is a conundrum to be sure to walk that fine line of offering information before a reader rolls their eyes back into their heads. I hope I accomplished my task.

However, at the risk of eyes rolling, this is a refresher for long time readers or for those new to my blog, "Say Enough To Fear Tactics" written in summer of 2010, which provides the relevance of what I have been keeping readers informed about, can all be found in this particular article, including additional links within it to delve even deeper. It also emphasizes that EWG stands for just that, Environmental, and why they ever decided to leap into the personal care products industry and needlessly attack it.....well, I take that back, it is painfully obvious, it is all about the mighty dollar, the very thing we as an industry are accused of. And please note, that though this is a dated piece, the battle still rages on and is still very much in our face. Complacency would not be prudent, especially in this economic era we all live in.

One thing that I have strove to do during the onslaught of disinformation, was present the science, including findings that show the likelihood of a causal effect when using certain ingredients. I have provided the data and research through links back to the actual studies in every article I have written. This is something that EWG and CFSC and their loyal following have failed to provide.

Their views are and always have been based on supposition or how they would like things to be (ideology), despite the sound science and the continuing discoveries of safety and efficacy in otherwise, maligned ingredients born strictly out of an agenda or bias against all things chemical. Basically trying to lump cosmetic ingredients in with potentially more toxic, harmful environmental ones based on actual harm they do and can cause. These harms however, do not extrapolate to ingredients used in the beauty industry.

Despite this belief, the fact remains, they are mutually exclusive, especially when most ingredients claimed to be banned by the EU by these NGO's, have never even been used in cosmetics in the history of cosmetics and skincare. But the numbers certainly sound scary. And unless one is a sound fact checker, the majority will take what they say at face value, unfortunately.

This of course, is why I have shown in past articles, everything is chemical, whether synthetically or naturally derived....but the word chemical in the context that EWG and CFSC uses it for emotive purposes, connotes "poison" in the minds eye. It confuses consumers, therefore creates suspicion and fear in those less informed on what and how to review the science. That is also why I have created many of my articles, in hopes to convey things in a way that breaks things down and helps the general public understand what it all means.

Has It Been Worth It?

Sometimes, after writing the many articles to help disseminate the science, I have often wondered if I am helping others to balance the science, weigh the information and then decide for themselves of what is true and real. I have questioned myself many times if I should report the latest or create an article more for entertainment value. In the long run, I do believe the balance has been just right and though some may still disagree with me with eternal nay-saying despite the scientific evidence to the contrary, since perception is reality, that is fine, but if I can change one persons mind on some of these issues after reviewing the science, then "YES" it has been worth to me.

I have had feedback from many that pose excellent questions, and concerns are very real about our environmental status, but the reality is, cosmetics and skincare cannot, nor should not be lumped in with things like diesel fuel, arsenic, warfarin, creosote, strychnine, etc. These are just a few of the ingredients that the EWG and CFSC claim have been banned by the European Union. We must keep things in perspective, which includes not creating a fallacy of sorts to create an ugly picture, when there is no relation to a cosmetic ingredient based on an environmental condition.

Now.....I don't know if it is just me, or I have been under a rock of late, but I am pretty sure these ingredients and the vast majority in the directive, will never be found in your cosmetics or skincare...I mean, only an insane person would utilize such things. But of course don't take my word for it. Check for yourself in the EU list of the 1100+ ingredients, that the EWG arbitrarily shouts from the rooftops, have been banned from use in cosmetics and personal care products without ever an identifier of this claim. Council Directive of the European Union

Funny thing though, through all of their bloviating of expounding these half truths, they have never provided the actual paper as I have above, so the consumer can see for themselves the list of supposed toxic cosmetic ingredients. Nor have they disclaimed that within this list, was extensively based on environmental issues and for time and safety sake, was simply carried over into the cosmetics directive. Certainly not that any of these were used in the actual formulation of personal care products....but again it sure sounds scary and paints us, industry leaders, and the FDA as incompetents or just plain greedy at the expense of our customers.....after all they aren't really telling a lie now are they? No....but what they are doing is actually far worse, by deliberately manipulating the public through half baked information to accomplish this self serving task.

One article I found interesting, was published by the American Council on Science and Health after the President's cancer panel filed their report back in 2010. If this article provides nothing else, it certainly resonates with me, a common sense approach that should not be ignored in the wake of all these scare tactics. Crying Wolf about Chemicals and Cancer .

Another article written last month by Center for Consumer Freedom, was prompted due to the EWG releasing their market shift report at year end. The article you can read by Clicking Here, also contains links to take you within the Science of Toxicology and FDA for further review.

Thanks To A Reader / Customer

One such scenario that I would like to share with you, is a reader took the time to write to me, not only about our products, but also wished to convey her heartfelt thoughts on what my newsletters had done for her in wading through the muck and to get at the core of actual science. It is with this testimonial that informs me that I am changing minds, albeit one at a time, and how vital it is to keep accurate and scientific information out in front going forward in 2012.

So I will continue to do this, but I will also continue to keep it balanced with more fun and lighthearted pieces that I also enjoy writing about, despite the fact, it seems as though there is something new in the news everyday that revolves around our industry. It is a mine field of information, one that I will tread through carefully. I will close with her letter to me and I wish everyone a safe, happy and prosperous new year.

Dear Katherine,

This is my fourth attempt to write you, although I have lost count. I have started an email many times before and at the last minute, I canceled it. But this time I decided to actually finish it and get my thoughts across to you.

I have been your customer for years now although not on a regular basis. I just don't go through that much make-up in a year. While I am a modest user, I truly love your products. I still believe that you are the only one who offers products which are good for the mind and skin. No 'clogged' feeling, no drying and no caking. Truly the best out there.

I also meant to thank you for your emails. I am not a big facebook or twitter user. I own my own small business and to me, facebook is all but social. Therefore, I appreciate when companies still take their time to send out emails to their clients. Yours is always relevant, interesting and educating. I have learned from you and have changed my mind about things after reading your lines.

I am grateful when small businesses with something great survive. I have had my struggles and I also run a business with my husband. Congratulations to your anniversary (late is better than never) and thank you for being out there for us who are looking for something extraordinary.

I wish you a happy and successful new year.

Sincerely,

Kinga K.
Bozeman, MT

In The Raw And Loving It

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:04:00 +0000

Always Looking For Better Health

In what seems to be my never-ending pursuit of good health and nutrition, I get particularly focused on what doctors, exercise gurus and dieticians are promoting during the holidays. A time of overindulgence of all things yummy.

There always are new fangled diets, exercise routines which profess to be the best and latest in lab science technology for proven weight loss. No matter how you scrunch the numbers, it will and still is about calories in and calories out.

However, after menopause it seems to be less about calories in and more about how your body becomes inefficient at burning off those calories, even if you think you are in starvation mode based on a severely reduced calorie diet....which of course this is counterproductive to weight loss.

Paying Attention To The Raw Food Diet and New "P.I.N.K Method Exercise Program

Now in checking out Dr. Phil last week, he had a guest promoting their new workout method and diet, something which now I am seeing on many other shows, but it looks like Dr. Phil got first crack at it.

It is called the P.I.N.K Method. It is based on a series of workouts designed specifically for women and many recipes utilizing wholesome foods, including raw foods rich in micro-nutrients, once they are made bio-available through the use of the VitaMix Blender. Not surprisingly, everyone in the audience got one for FREE and they are upwards of $500 or more. The average household either can't afford such a whipping genius of technology or don't want to spend the money thinking a blender is just a blender....ahhh but that is where we are mistaken.

After the show, I began to do some research on creating better nutrition through the use of this super blender and the science and nutritional value really made sense to me. Then I began researching blenders, wanting to clarify if the blender really makes the difference.

I finally did narrow it down to two master blenders that are utilized in Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Yogurt shops and Chef's restaurants across America....they are the VitaMix and BlendTec, both made in the good old US of A. One caveat: VitaMix was sued by BlendTec (formerly K-Tec) for violation of their patent on the food processing jar design and VitaMix lost, paying them millions in compensation. So this also helped me make my decision, but wasn't the main reason at all.

After much deliberation and comparison shopping of the two, I decided the BlendTec Total Blender would be added to my kitchen. It has a similar price range to the VitaMix, however if you are a member of Costco, you can get them on line for under $400.00, shipping included.

Or you can follow their road show schedule to your nearest Costco and pick one up for $349.00, which is what hubby and I did this past weekend. They are only available at this reduced price during the roadshow and this machine is not sold year round in stores.

Major Differences For My Choice

Overall, both machines perform well for what you want to do in order to release the nutrients in the blended foods, but these were the primary considerations of my choice, regardless of the suit by BlendTec. They both offer colors of Black, Red and White. But I also think the BlendTec is a better looking unit overall and easiest to use.

1. BlendTec has preprogrammed buttons on the face of the unit, making it simple to throw in your foods, set it and forget it, adjusting speeds accordingly automatically and then shuts off when finished...it even offers a blend mileage, logging every time you use a blend cycle so you can see how much use you are getting from your unit. No monitoring while blending......VitaMix is manual use only.

2. BlendTec has a design that draws the food into a vortex, making sure every bit of ice and food gets blended to perfection. VitaMix provides this weird plunger device to force food against the blade as pictured below the unit....what a pain that is.

3. BlendTec offers easy clean design of the jar, getting every last bit of your scrumptious soup, ice cream, smoothie or fruit juice out without waste and the blade is not sharp, so no cutting fingers when wiping it clean. VitaMix has a weird design with wings built into the jar, making it more difficult to get all your blend out so it can be a waste of certain blends. Both machines will self clean easily.

4. BlendTec is 15 inches high, fitting under cabinets so it can remain out at all times. VitaMix is over 20 inches high and will not fit under standard cabinets in a kitchen, so hauling it out to make a meal becomes a pain....personal belief, if it isn't readily available, one is less inclined to use it.

5. BlendTec, can be purchased for less money than VitaMix, especially through Costco, and they have now made their warranty 8 years, compared to VitaMix of 7 years. Anything goes wrong, they will replace it free of charge, no questions asked. It is an Unconditional Warranty...where do you find those these days?

Those are my top 5 reasons for my purchase of a major appliance for adding nutritionally to my health. Only really big "con" for something that gets up to speed at a whopping 300 miles per hour, is the noise factor......both machines can be very loud on delicate ears. Getting my 5 to 7 servings of veggies and fruits a day, has never been more easy. If there are certain veggies you can't really get past eating, the BlendTec recipes provide ways to utilize them without taste even being detected.

Spinach or Kale for instance can be added to fruit smoothies or ice cream...yep that's right veggies in your ice cream....unbelievable right? Who says ice cream can't be healthy? Makes a pretty green color, but you can't even taste it. Carrots create a beautiful carrot juice, sweetened with apples or Agave syrup, so easy going down. Make pumpkin ice cream or frappuccino using pumpkin puree. Pie fillings to create the perfect concoction or cream of "something" soup of any wild idea you may have. It is simply about getting the nutrition into our bodies using a machine that makes micro-nutrition easier than ever.

Throw in stems, peels, cores, like in pineapple and you get the fiber and the phytonutrients to boot. Again, can't detect any off flavor when incorporating the parts of the veggie or fruit, we would otherwise throw away.

I love mine so much, that I have already logged 23 blends since last Friday. I am never hungry and have already dropped 2 lbs, without even trying.

I feel better, have a ton of energy, and my cravings are completely gone. Finally, I believe my body is getting what it craves. Whole nutrition through the use of raw foods. I use cooked ingredients also when making my soups, but primarily everything is fresh in my blends.

Best Deals

The BlendTec comes with a recipe booklet, but once you learn the schematics of the machine and how the recipes work for consistency and texture, the recipe book is only necessary if you are trying something new. I already now make my soups and smoothies based on a desire, not a recipe and they are coming out perfect. Oh...did I mention the soup is made right in the blender? It comes out hot directly after the blend. No heating in microwave or on the stove....how cool is that?

Follow this link to watch their videos on how this fantastic machine works. BlendTec Costco Roadshow Website. They have demos for Smoothies, Soups and Ice Cream, and the blender will also make terrific coffee blends and cocktails, for those that enjoy a libation, or simply grind your whole beans or whole grains for making homemade flour for baking.

At Harvest Essentials website, they are offering the unit for the price of $434.95, which includes a Free Wildside Jar, just make sure you mark the dot for your Free Jar to be included.....FREE shipping too. Who doesn't like Free shipping?

Or if you are a Costco member, they are essentially offering the same deal year round, for $399.99 on their website only. However, be aware the one on Costco is the Total Blender with 6 pre-programmed buttons, and the one on Harvest Essentials is the HP3A blender with 25 pre-programmed settings....making it a bit more advanced depending on your ingenuity to being a blending maven. Otherwise these blenders are identical in every other way.

Now to be fair and of course make your own decision, if VitaMix is your choice, you can catch their roadshow demos and purchase also at Costco. Here is the VitaMix Schedule at Costco. And for Online Demonstrations of VitaMix you can see how their machine performs. No matter your selection, the recipes are totally interchangeable on either machine. In fact VitaMix is here right now at our Nampa Costco while BlendTec is at our Boise Costco and then VitaMix is moving over to that store in January. It seems to me that VitaMix may have the more aggressive marketing plan.

So if you are looking to improve your diet and health, either treat yourself this holiday, or give the gift of health to a loved one, and then borrow it at every opportunity.....share and share a like I say. ;~)

Wishing everyone a lovely holiday season and Happy Blending.

Nano Particles and Top Five List of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:44:00 +0000

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to spread the word on the latest study performed by scientists in Switzerland and Australia. Many still question the safety of certain nano particles, including those that involve our sunscreen ingredients such as Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

As some may remember, I reported on the EPA findings as they related to many versions of Titanium Dioxide and the information was quite telling, basically finding it quite safe for topical application. For those that missed these articles, they are provided in the links below:

Titanium Dioxide In Mineral Makeup, The EPA Final Report?
Does Titanium Dioxide Cause Free Radical Damage?

Well now it seems we can breathe easier when it comes to nano size Zinc Oxide as well. Even though we don't use nano particles in our mineral makeup products, the concern that so many have and those that wish to continue to spread fear about this, the science stares us squarely in the face. As I have tried to convey for several years based on past scientific studies, nano particles do not penetrate into the skin and are not absorbed by the body as many of the watchdog groups wish us to believe. This latest research only provides more concrete proof of the safety of these ingredients.

Clicking on the link below will provide the full article.

Scientists assess safety of nanoparticles in sunscreen using laser imaging

In Summary: Scientists in Switzerland and Australia have developed a way to optically test the concentration of zinc oxide at different skin depths using laser imaging in an attempt to answer safety questions over nanoparticles used in sunscreen.

Now For More Great News

Our mineral makeup foundation was listed in the Top Five list for 2011 for best foundation in Truth In Aging magazine. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised and honored by their recognition of our minerals. Furthermore, the samples of our products were not provided "Gratis", but were purchased by one of the authors unbeknownst to us, which of course makes the review all the more fantastic, clearly showing no bias toward our products, and that I LOVE!

The excerpt reads: Sterling Minerals Rose Petal Foundation ($25 from Sterling Minerals). Beloved by Julie Kay, Sterlings loose mineral foundation promises to never streak, fade, slide or maximize your wrinkles. Although I'm not a big fan of mineral powders, I tried this out and found that it does live up to its promises. Light deflecting boron nitride and rice starch trick the eye, while the ingredients are friendly to sensitive skins.

For the complete article you can view it at Five Best Foundations, plus clicking on links will take you to past articles written about our products and to tell you little bit about the author and tester extraordinaire.

Thanks Ladies and to Truth In Aging for still loving Sterling Minerals products, even two years later.

Minor correction on ingredients that they listed for accuracy and to clarify we have 3 formulas:

Dewy Rose Petal™ – Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Boron Nitride, Methicone, Mica, Kaolin Clay, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Iron Oxides [CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499], Ultramarines [CI 77007].

Delicate Rose Petal™ – Ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Boron Nitride, Methicone, Mica, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Iron Oxides[CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499], Ultramarines[CI 77007].

Velvet Rose Petal™ – Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Boron Nitride, Kaolin Clay, Methicone, Mica, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Allantoin, Iron Oxides [CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499] , Ultramarines [CI 77007].

Well that's it for our science update and exciting business news. Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season.

Cheers!

33 Years and Counting

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Time Flies By When You Aren't Looking

Who would have thought that a marriage starting out with two very young adults would have lasted as long as it did? A boy at 19 married a girl of 20.

Our families were certainly skeptical, and the odds of us making it were certainly not in our favor, but somehow we pulled it off. We survived so much over the years, including illness and death of family members. Two children with their many little issues growing up, and that definitely have minds of their own, something I wouldn't have any other way, and in some ways they were the fabric that held our family together. The love for our children transcended any problems we may have had. Always absolute in our resolve to keep it together and nurture one another.

A life with a man, that though we had some tumultuous times and even times we were convinced we would be better off apart due of course to our lack of maturity, has finally come full circle and is the best man I could ever imagine being with. There will never, nor could there ever be another. I am so glad we stuck it out only to rediscover each other as the mature people we have become. We are now in that stage of life of what we call, familiar and safe.....trust and love that is impenetrable. I used to think when I was younger, how different my life may have been if he and I had chosen different paths. Today, I have no thoughts of such things, because I believe until a marriage comes full circle which includes raising your children and then it is just you and him again, will the answers we seek be revealed to us.....it is a journey to share together with solace and commitment.

My Hubby

For many years as we grew in life together and for the most part have enjoyed a prosperous, comfortable lifestyle, though hard earned, including the ups and downs of venturing into uncharted territory of business start-ups which meant career changes and a belief we could make them prosperous. Despite those challenges however, nothing has been more difficult for us and we have never seen anything like it, than this recession.

Life savings being stretched, retirement postponed of what was once planned, to cultivating our marriage to keep this life's challenge from destroying what we had built up for many years. We can't quit now, that was for sure. While we saw friends around us withdraw into themselves, or split up due to blame of finances on the other, my hubby and I stayed shoulder to shoulder, keeping this recession from tearing us apart......oh there were some days of rampant emotions and fear of the future, but one of us on any given different day, seemed to be the grounding rod that kept things in perspective....thank goodness, since if we both were going off the deep end the same day, that would have been a disaster. Something I think unfortunately happened to many couples over these past several years.

A custom home builder by trade, my husband and best friend of 35 years from the day we met, became my right hand man within my business to assist me with running it and managing the marketing and public relations with reps and business owners as we began to spread our wings.

We are literally together just about 24 / 7 except when he is conducting business for us out of town of late. Working diligently to restore and build a productive and prosperous life again. Sometimes I think he is the energizer bunny.

A man that has lifted me up countless times when I wanted to give up or wallow in self pity as friendships and marriages dissolved all around us by those that have been hit so hard by this recession. Of course the majority being in construction. We fortunately, were able to reinvent ourselves through Sterling Minerals and build it to a wonderful company comprised of wonderful customers. Our friends have not been so lucky....I think many just switched over to survival mode....just hoping to make it through until things turn around in their field.....I think and pray for them daily and we help out when we can.

There Are No Words

As each day goes by and we are about to celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary this Friday, the gratitude I have for this man putting up with my little idiosyncrasies all these years, there are no words that can describe the love I feel for him. He has the patience of a saint, a smile that disarms, and a laugh that is contagious.

He is and has been my rock and though not without flaws, they are what only make me love him all the more. And in some relationships, they are lacking the finesse or maybe just the know how, since marriage doesn't come with a "how to" manual, to make the other feel significant or irreplaceable. My hubby after much soul searching and of course relationship experience with me, always makes me feel important and special. In fact, I read a quote somewhere long ago and I recall it on this day of our upcoming anniversary, "A boy makes a woman jealous of others, while a man makes other women jealous of his." And indeed he has and I feel loved and cherished by him, and he has never been without compromise.....we are the ying and yang for one another.

Thanks for allowing me to share this day with you, and I know what maybe a sappy moment for some, but I truly wish all of my readers a love like mine. Life is fleeting and if you can share it with someone special, that is what makes the bumps and turns of life easier. There will never be anything you cannot face when you stand together, shoulder to shoulder and take on the challenges most of us will face in our time spent on this planet. And for those that have loved and lost, then you too know and have shared similarly, that inner peace of being with the one and only that made us what we are today.....because I would like to believe that I am a better person because of the man I married 33 years ago.

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend. Stay warm, be well and love to you all!

Green Color Corrector - Just Say NO!

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Who Teaches This Stuff.....Still?

I am still amazed every time I receive a phone call from a customer telling me about using a color corrector, green no less. They opened up their wallet and shelled out a few bucks at the drug store or at another online store, thinking this will end the flaws on the face... They go to these other outlets, because you see, we don't sell them, and for good reason.... Again another reason I love hearing from them, it gives me such great ideas to write about, especially knowing, if one struggles with this problem, there are many among the silent, who don't call or write, but search the internet for the advice. So I hope this will clear things up.

The compliments followed by the questions or concerns, always seems to be the same, how much they love our mineral foundations, but don't understand why it changes color when they apply it over the green color corrector they used.

This practice of color correcting is still being taught on videos, at cosmetic counters and similar, that the way to control redness or orange skin or blue under eye circles, is to use these hideous color correctors which can be found in green, yellow, lavender, and sometimes peach.....This is so old school and maybe worked back in the day before high def television and digital photography, but it is an outdated tool that does not work well with the "au naturale" woman, who is trying to achieve similarly, this look today.

Some may also be wondering why others close to them haven't pointed out there is something amiss, but perhaps they are embarrassed for their friend or don't want to hurt their feelings, especially if they think they are doing the best makeup application ever, spending endless hours getting it just right. In other cases, if something appears off, their spouses have been more than happy to point out there is something wrong going on with the face, but can't quite put their finger on it....gotta love those hubby's.....speaking from experience myself.

The sales pitch always is, Green is for muting redness, Yellow is for blue under eye circles or bruising and Lavender is for toning down orange skin, supposedly....and this will give you flawless skin......uh, do ya think...really?

The Reality Of The Situation

It is as simple though, as reeducating ourselves and understanding that this is color, yes that's right.....color, plain and simple...and it doesn't matter what pretty package with a bow on top, the sales clerk tries to wrap up this gimmick in.... When we add color that is separate from a perfect blend of foundation shading, it will alter the shade....why hasn't the cosmetic guru learned this? I mean do they even look in the mirror or venture out into natural daylight to see the actual end result that occurs to their freshly made up face? Unless they are caking on the foundation to also cover up the color corrector, this never works by today's standards of makeup application. Pancake makeup is so passe.

Green is a perfect example: In it's excellent ability to mute redness, it will do exactly the same to the red tones in a foundation, essentially turning them gray, basically making the skin appear ashen or ghostly....a dead gray pall, which is exactly what happened to my latest customer who gave us a ring yesterday.

In fact, many Olive shades are created with green in order to beige or gray out the shade so to speak because Olive skinned women possess very little red in their skin tone. But green is a poor substitute for creating a true beautiful Olive shade. We use true skin tone pigments which create our perfect Olive shades without making Olive skin turn ashy. Basically, you will not find any Chromium Oxide Green in any of our mineral foundations, which is the colorant of choice in many commercial brands for achieving beige tones, and again works great if you like gray skin.

Lavender: works wonderfully on toning down orange skin or counteracts sallow or bruised skin as the bruise begins to yellow, and controls hyper-pigmentation of the skin. But again, if used with the incorrect shade such as an Olive or Pink overtone shade, this will also make the face appear ashen because it contains a blue and red combination. If you have strong yellow undertones, then using this as a color corrector will give the skin a green cast.

Yellow: works well at reducing blue bruising, and blue under eye circles, but if it is again overused, this will completely alter true undertones making the correct foundation, incorrect, such if you have strong pink overtones, which will then make the skin appear orange.

Peach (Pink): also added to the line at times for color correcting for sallow skin types or dark areas with hyper-pigmentation, but I am sorry, there is never a good reason to use this awful shade unless, quite plainly, you enjoy orange skin.

Can't win for losing...huh?.... this is why we don't offer color correctors.

Best Advice

If you need to color correct, we have lovely blush shades that can also work as a face color, but they are identified as being used to subtly change the skin tone, not lambaste the entire face and then think that when we apply our foundation over the top, our skin tone will be perfection. In fact, we recommend applying them over the top of the foundation so the change can be achieved slowly to suit our needs. Whatever the foundation doesn't correct (this rarely happens if ever), then the blush face color can be used to give a touch more of color correction without altering the entire face.

Using the shades like Fiorella (Ivory, Yellow and Pink) or Jennifer (Ivory, Yellow) will work 100% better at doing the job of color correcting because they are formulated with true skin pigmentation designed to blend and complement the foundation you use and your natural skin tone.

Color correctors will never create that natural appearance.....no matter what you see or hear on TV. Remember, much of the education is shown in well lit studios or on you tube or even in a salon, which hardly ever gives true pigment to the skin due to the type of lighting. Daylight and natural light will reveal much...step outside and then tell me what you see. Plus the ultimate goal is to sell you more gimmicky stuff to only clog up your makeup drawer further or create more problems for skin...and most times at a wasted expense.

As with many of our customers, this has been the complaint once they leave the warmly lit makeup table and venture outdoors or leave the office setting of fluorescent lights, or the dimly lit public restroom, that have used these atrocious color correctors. They somehow have come to resemble some horrifying version of Herman Munster or Casper the Ghost....and then are utterly confused at what just happened to that beautiful shade they brought home....or worse yet, they blame the foundation shade they picked because they didn't try it without the ritual of color correcting first. Frustration continues as they seek out that perfect foundation shade, when in reality, it is the seemingly benign color corrector lurking in the makeup drawer, dooming their search from the get go.

Our skin should reflect it's natural beauty, not make it look like death warmed over. This may work at Halloween, but if we really want to portray the natural look we all seek, then mineral makeup is perfect for that, but skip the color corrector and you'll look incredible.

Our last customer conveyed as such, that once she removed the color corrector, the foundation shade she chose was awesome and the best match she found as opposed to the many other brands she tried.

Just Say No!

So next time you feel like a makeover at your favorite department store, or to pamper yourself at a spa setting which may include freshening up your makeup, and they reach for the color corrector for that blemish or touch of rosacea or blue under eye circles.....put up the hand and just say, "NO.....thank you."

In fact, as much as I don't like these much either because of the heavy texture, melt out or creeping that can occur, you would be far better off using a standard concealer stick made to reflect natural skin pigment than using one of the green, yellow, lavender, or peach correctors....trust me on this.

~Your skin will be more beautiful for it and your foundation shade will remain true~

Cancer Treatment and Skincare and Makeup

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:05:00 +0000

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is the month to remind us to keep ourselves checked out and do our annual mammograms as determined by our age, medical history, and heritage.

But it is also about celebrating women who have fought the good fight and survived their disease. Breast Cancer Awareness is the best for keeping women, young and old, in the loop with the latest technologies and cure rates when breast cancer is found early.....and a mammogram will do that in the vast majority of cases.

My Poor Skin

Believe it or not, there are things we can do to keep our skin looking radiant and healthy. As many of us know, along with treatment of cancer, which in most cases does involve radiation or chemotherapy, and in some instances, both, comes with some of the less than desirable side effects. Typical issues are hair loss, dry, flaky skin, discolorations of the skin, brittle nails, and sometimes skin that becomes hyper-sensitive to touch or anything we apply to it or wear against it..... Yes, going through cancer treatment is never easy, yet some of us will and / or have reacted differently to various treatments. Our bodies can look and feel depleted, and how we feel on the inside can be reflected on the outside, which in turn can take a toll on us emotionally as well.

Even eyebrows and eyelashes can be lost for the duration of the treatment. Just remember though, it is only temporary and they will all grow back. Our skin of course, needs tender loving care also.

Getting Into A Routine

Now is not the time to begin changing your regimen if what you have been using has worked thus far. However, you may wish to search for more gentle products if you have, let's say, been using liquid makeups or a skincare that utilized AHA's, Retinols, or BHA's. These can all be potentially irritating with the many synthetic chemicals involved. Maybe now is the time to go simple and even research the possibility of finally trying out mineral makeup. The last thing skin needs, is any harsh products being used. What may have once been just fine in the past, may now be like throwing gasoline on your skin as it reacts and changes with the treatments.

Stick with simple skincare that offers gentle cleansers, primarily cream cleansers and avoid those that lather, no matter how gentle they may be. A creamy cleanser will keep the skin soft without stripping or drying it out....and then of course a very good facial cream for moisture enhancement.

Get rid of old makeup, dirty hairbrushes, used sponges, and skin care products past their shelf date. During cancer treatment, the skin is especially fragile at this time because it cannot regenerate itself in a normal way.

Other good ideas are to go fragrance free, such as anything heavily scented that touches you now has the potential to irritate your skin, including your favorite perfume, toilet paper, facial tissue, scented laundry soap, dryer sheets and fabric softener. Cutting these out of your life for a time is not a big sacrifice.

Use a humidifier, particularly in the bedroom while you sleep. It's an excellent idea because it adds moisture to the skin and the hair. But then, I have always touted the use of a humidifier regardless, especially in winter for those that live in cold, dry climates.

Wear gloves.... hands are one of the most vulnerable parts of the body to experience dryness, cracking and fissures because they're constantly placed under adverse conditions. Wear clean, dry, long, waterproof gloves for all wet household chores and thin white cotton gloves for dry household chores.

So by maintaining a regular daily skin care regimen, you will possess a sense of well-being while maintaining excellent skin health. By caring for you skin in preparation of a cancer treatment and the followup for the weeks to come, your skin will be stronger and better able to withstand the assaults of your cancer treatment. The goal is to keep your skin as healthy as possible so that you can continue with your treatment.

Quick Fixes For The Cosmetic Corrections

During the trying time of a cancer treatment, we may look at ourselves in the mirror and wonder how we can right what is going terribly wrong with our skin and face.

As I mentioned above, hair loss can be inevitable for some, and for others they will not drop a strand of hair from their heads. But for those of us that may suffer the painful pangs of eyebrows and eyelashes disappearing, along with our manes of hair from our heads, there are of course great tricks to mask this dilemma, so we can return to some semblance of a normal routine.

Even being bald as a bean, each and every one of us are still beautiful and all the more for what we can teach others through the celebration of living our lives to the fullest. Of course, a touch of makeup helps make the process a little bit easier, giving a brightness to our complexion, hence being a mood elevator.... when we look good we are able to feel good....or better at the very least.

Several Tips: For missing eyebrows and eyelashes, you can use a makeup pencil to fill in the brows, but remember to never go darker than the original color they were. If you are also wearing a wig, then by all means keep the color only a tad darker than the wig color.

For redness of the skin that can occur, then mineral makeup would be a good choice. Our mineral makeup for instance, is not only very gentle, but will cover well, soothe irritation and reduce redness with beautiful undertones that do an excellent job of color correcting. Plus you don't need to utilize a dozen products to accomplish what a single jar of mineral makeup foundation will do for the complexion.

For those wanting to restore the look of eyelashes until they grow back, a brownish black eye liner or pencil works great for this. Simply apply tiny dots, on the natural lash line and it will give the illusion of eyelashes, yet will still appear quite natural to the eye.

A Great Resource For Women With Cancer

The American Cancer Society offers free seminars to women afflicted with cancer and it is defined by wishing to help women Look Good and Feel Better program. It is a national service, so a quick phone call to their toll free number will direct you to the closest workshop near you.

Many volunteer beauty professionals offer their services to women needing help to reorganize their routine and keep themselves looking good, so they will feel better about themselves and be able to persevere through their cancer treatment. Maintaining one's self esteem can do wonders for keeping a positive mindset during the fight for life.

You may also get involved in one of the workshops offered by ACS, along with self help materials being offered to help women soldier on and be the best they can be during this challenging time.

Breast cancer can be cured when detected early and the stats are showing new technology is also preserving breast tissue while eradicating the cancer. Radical mastectomies are no longer the norm when caught early. At least not like they were in my younger days. This was also what generated so much fear of discovering a lump. Women feared the worst, and identified the diagnosis as losing part of their sexuality, feeling somehow they would then become less of a woman with the loss of a breast(s) This no longer need be the case. In fact, the option of lumpectomies are becoming far more popular with many oncologists today with excellent success for the cure.

Take care and make sure you get your annual mammogram, and always do breast self exams each month in the shower. As the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

I personally have found this method the easiest to do and the best way to find tiny bumps or bulges that may seem odd at the time, but in 9 times out of 10, are normal changes to our bodies. Not all bumps mean cancer....please remember that. Because nothing can allow a cancer to spread faster, than a fear of finding something, that may absolutely turn out to be nothing at all.

Now to follow my own advice and set my appointment today!

Cheers Ladies and God Bless, and remember to share stories of our weaknesses, strengths, challenges some of us may face and the transformation of a desire to set new goals. Our futures are what we make of them.....don't waste a moment of it because life is fleeting.....love much.....love well.....be loved!

Keratosis Pilaris -Red Patchy Skin and Bumps On Arms

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:09:00 +0000

Wouldn't You Know It!

Every time I mull over what to write about, all I have to look to it seems, is things I have faced in my own life. The longer I am on this planet, the more things I have dealt with.

My doctor used to say to me, "Katie, you are certainly not a hypochondriac, but when you get something, you really get it." I have had a few health scares over the years, suffering a blood clot in the lung, bouts of vertigo for no apparent reason, and even contracted the Parvo virus, if you can believe it....what human gets a disease prevalent in canines? But then again, it is me.....sometimes I boggle the minds of the medical community.....but that is another story.

Ever wonder what a reddish, bumpy area on your arms has been all this time?

I have also for many years had this odd discoloration on my upper arms, which included reddish bumps with tiny whiteheads, and I thought it was a form of acne. I would also get a few of these on my back. They never seemed to itch and they never hurt like acne, but the red bumps would get crusty and were particularly worse in the winter time. Well, I decided to find out what I had.....

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Well this is a chronic condition all right, but it is only a problem for people that dislike the patchy redness and little bumps. Their increasing in frequency, singled winter time for me. I rarely suffered from the discoloration or bumps during summer months. But as we transitioned into colder weather, the bumps became more prevalent.

Keratosis Pilaris which causes acne-like bumps (resembling goose bumps) is caused from a build up of keratin, a natural protein in the skin.

Although this painless condition may remain for years, it gradually improves before age 30 in most cases....but of course not for me. Treatment of keratosis pilaris is not medically necessary; but, individuals with this condition may want to seek treatment for cosmetic reasons. Personally, I just didn't care that much about something that was confined to my arms. However, it can also be found on the face, chest, back and buttocks, and for some this could be quite disconcerting.

The initial treatment of keratosis pilaris should be intensive moisturizing. An excellent skin cream can be applied after bathing, and then re-applied several times a day. Other treatments may include good Alpha-hydroxy acids, such as Glycolic or Salicylic and they could be applied twice daily if so inclined.

Efforts to unplug pores by taking long, hot soaking tub baths and then rubbing and exfoliating the areas with a coarse washcloth, microfiber towel, or loofah sponge will work wonders. For the hard to reach spots, like on the back, loofahs are also attached to handles for getting the back scrubbed in the shower.

The Good And The Bad News

The good news is, it isn't contagious....but the bad news is, it can be spread through to your offspring....yep, that's right, it is hereditary. My mother had it, I had it, and now my daughter also has it.

More good news than bad. It is easily controlled through a major skincare regimen and tends to only be a real problem in the winter.....so basically, we are all covered up anyway, so no one is the wiser to the condition. When warmer weather prevails, short sleeves are back in, and higher humidity and sunshine are all great remedies for keratosis pilaris improving.

Now for even better news....it seems as I travel through menopause, this condition is all but gone. I would normally have the bumps showing up by now as we change into the cooler weather and forced air is running full time. So chalk up another benefit of going through the change....so far so good.

So if you have been wondering what those tiny pimple like bumps and patchy red skin are on the areas of the body described, don't worry about them. As long as they are not painful and don't itch, then you are more than likely dealing with keratosis pilaris, and not some other condition such as rosacea, psoriasis or eczema....all completely different and more invasive than a simple problem of over growth of keratin in the skin.

Get to scrubbin' and moisturizing and you can avoid the pimply bumps altogether, having smoother, softer skin. However, the red patchiness may remain until you are outside during warmer weather once again....regardless, it is a malady easily controlled with a bit of effort on your part.

Cheers.

Faux Fur Mania 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Feeling The Chill

As Fall begins to creep in, the mornings are a bit cooler and days are shorter, signaling the coming of the changing season. I love this time of year....colors of vivid rust, orange, yellows and burgundy are everywhere.

Fall fashion also is my favorite clothing choice. The colors are warmer, richer and so diverse.

Blending shades of fall is also enjoyable for me and goes perfectly with my warm tea by the fire. They just make me feel comfy, safe, and the fall shades definitely improve my complexion color. What it also signals, is it will be time to bundle up and change our wardrobe. I am always on the lookout for something new and different to add as an accessory to my already bursting Fall wardrobe.

Fur fashion has been the rage for as long as I can remember and still continues today in all its glory. So many beautiful colors and textures to choose from, and a touch of fur gives that outfit that ultimate panache. But the fur fashion landscape has truly changed for the better in recent years....especially as recently as December 2010.....explained below.

Go Faux Fur

Although real fur fashion has been going strong in some countries and still is in the United States to a degree, real fur is no longer necessary unless it is to show the affluence of the person wearing it.

Faux fur has made huge strides in perfecting the realism of natural fur. Styling and beauty along with the technology of creating fabulous fibers simulating real fur, is truly remarkable.

When I find a fur coat or something or other in faux, I stop and check it out, and if the style is right, I buy it. I could sit and stroke my faux fur jacket or collar for hours. This is also why I love our mineral makeup brushes so much, the faux fur in them is incredibly soft and feels fabulous on the skin.

Trendy Styles Of Faux Fur Fashion Of 2011

The different styles of fashion you can play around with for 2011 have grown beyond boring to fun and flirty. I am actually giddy with anticipation of owning more of these garments flocked in faux fur.

You can spice up an outfit with a fuzzy hat, or you can take a simple low cut shirt and glam it up with a furry scarf, which also gives warmth and can hide some of that imperfect skin we seem to always get as we age. We don't always have to drape our necks in turtleneck sweaters.

Aside from Faux Fur Jackets, the fur vests are really hot this year. I saw some beauties just the other night on HSN. She offered a wide variety of colors and textures and they were sure to fool even the most savvy fur connoisseur. Layering an outfit with a gorgeous fur vest can be truly beautiful and trendy. Plus, some of them are so wickedly cool, I may have to stock up.

And of course, where would we be without our beloved accessories. You can get faux fur slippers, purses, mittens or gloves, including but never limited to faux fur flocked boots. I own a pair of these myself...so cushy warm they are.

If you aren't into all that fur stuff, then you can buy jackets or coats with just a touch of fur around the collar and / or on the cuffs.

Even faux Suede is the rage as well, and if you check the garment label, some of these are even washable. How cool is that?

Donna Salyer's Fabulous Furs has every faux fur imaginable which includes beautiful vests, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, purses, you name it, they seem to have it. You can even shop by Faux Fur type of animal you choose....coyote, sable, mink, lynx, etc. They have truly captured the essence of the real fur but without the expense or the cruelty. Check them out!

Real Fur Is Not Cool Anymore!

Many, many moons ago, I even owned a real full length fur coat in Mink and since then I have come to understand what the fur industry really stood for and it was about cruelty, greed, and ambivalence or indifference to the animals they destroyed to make these fur fashions.

With today's technology, the faux fur industry has really provided some products that could pass as the real thing in feel, looks and color. Some say the drawback with fake fur, they are not near as warm as the real thing, but hey, layer with other clothing items, I say. Also, some manufacturers are lining them in fabric that will enhance the warmth instead of using a satin liner. Personally I have been quite happy with my faux fur jackets, hats and coats. I keep plenty warm, and they are lined with material that is cozy and comfy.

Caution: Telling The Difference Between Fake Fur and Real Fur

Now for the caveat; fake fur, especially coming out of China and parts of the Ukraine, have a declaration of faux fur on the label, yet this does not clarify what or how it is produced. Unfortunately, the definition of fake fur for these countries are to farm and kill the fantastically beautiful raccoon dog, or worse yet, the household cat or dog.

Since technology has made faux furs almost impossible to tell the difference anymore, unless you are a trained furrier, simply looking at them or touching them will reveal very little to knowing for sure. They can be dyed and sewed similar to the real thing.

BURN TEST: There is a test you can conduct to make sure you are not buying or supporting the destruction of animals under a false labeling claim. Of course you won't be able to do this in the store, but if you take the garment home, you can conduct a burn test.

In general, natural fibers burn and synthetic fibers melt. Cut or pluck a few hairs off of the garment. Using a lighter or a match, try to burn the ends of the hair. If the tip of the hair burns, crumbles away when you touch it and smells like human hair burning, it is real fur. If the tip of the hair melts, curls up into a hard ball and smells like an unnatural chemical, the fur is synthetic.

If you discover it is still real animal hair, return it to the store and make your disdain known to the store manager, not the sales staff. If we educate the store of where we purchased the garment, this could exert pressure on them to be more careful and no longer buy from these sources that are providing mislabeled items or practicing deceit by simply calling dog hair, faux fur.

Last time I checked, I am pretty sure a cat or dog considers what they wear as fur for keeping them warm. So let's keep the fur on the animals where it belongs.

Truth In Labeling Law

Fortunately, the problem may have been solved to a large degree. A new law was signed by President Obama on December 18th 2010, requiring all products containing real fur to be labeled as such. Previously, the fur labeling law contained a loophole that exempted products if the value of the fur was under $150, leaving consumers in the dark about the real fur in their gloves, hats and fur-trimmed coats.

So instead of seeing "faux fur" on the label, it will now be described as "acrylic" or other synthetic fiber (type of polymer) utilized in the creation of the garment and it will be ascribed to the location on the jacket.

This new law also helps protect vegans who cherish a lifestyle, and want to be sure they are not contributing to the destruction of animals. I am so thrilled with this new law. But then again, I have always been about truth in labeling as in the case of cosmetics and skincare products.

SHARE THE LOVE: Also if you currently own a fur coat and you really don't enjoy wearing it anymore, but also don't want to pass it along for another to wear due to how you may feel about the fur industry, the Humane Society of the United States offers an outlet for donation of discarded furs. They use them in their "Coats For Cubs" program. The donated coat becomes a furry surrogate for orphaned wildlife that has been rescued. It is a cause I support(ed) with my own mink coat 6 years ago. Clicking on the program link above, will tell you how you can also donate your coat in full detail. I think it is a fantastic way to give back to the animals we once regarded as fur for fashion.

Faux Fur Fun

Even if wearing fur is not your thing, then beautiful faux fur blankets are also available, keeping you warm and fuzzy during those cold fall and winter nights on the couch, sipping hot cocoa or enjoying a libation of sorts. Or put a splash of designer faux fur in your favorite room with a fashionable throw pillow.

So, next time your out shopping, check out the latest faux fur trends and see if adding a furry piece to your wardrobe or to your decor, doesn't give you that extra pizzazz you were looking for.

Caution: watch out for faux fur overload!

Happy Shopping!

Balloons Make Me Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:34:00 +0000

Smiling Bright And Early!

Over our Labor Day weekend the Boise Balloon Classic was having an enjoyable 3 days of nice weather and beautiful air currents for hovering over our Ann Morrison Park and downtown Boise.

Hubby and I decided to grab our fully leaded cups of Joe and head down to the park bright and early to catch the balloons being inflated, to getting up into the air at sunrise.....approximately 7 am in the morning.

The morning was crisp with dew on the grass, making for wet feet and the need for a light jacket. But once that glorious sun broke over the horizon, the air began to warm and the balloons were off to a lofty sail about the Treasure Valley. It is quite the spectacle every year.

Boise of the Treasure Valley is also one of very few places in the United States that provides an air stream for the balloons to be able to take off and nearly land again in the same spot.....I thought that tidbit of info was kinda cool.

Our Camera caught the first balloon at liftoff with the sun just peeking out over the mountains. Later, the balloons could be seen kissing the tops of our tallest buildings, while some dared to navigate lower over the main streets of downtown before rising again on warm currents.

So I hope everyone else had a lovely Labor Day and spent it doing something that makes you smile and relax.

Here's to another wonderful weekend of beautiful weather just in time for our Art In The Park, where many artisans travel to, to share and sell their lovely handmade craft they enjoy!

Have a nice weekend and grab those beautiful days while you can. Fall is just around the corner.

Cheers!

The Dangers Of Permanent Makeup, AKA Cosmetic Tatooing

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:07:00 +0000

Tattoo As Art

The art of tattooing seems to be at an all time high. Everywhere I turn someone is sporting the latest tattoo. On women, these don't tend to be the ordinary tattoo we see on men, but are full of color and artistic design. Some gals have the smallest of marks placed in an indiscreet area to having a full sleeve done on their arms and beyond....sometimes covering more than 75% of their body.

Why?....I don't know! I really don't grasp the concept of that type of self expression.

Tattoos are not my cup of tea and I don't have a single one on my body, but for those that enjoy them, I say, "hey, whatever blows your skirt up." To each his or her own, so to speak.

The art of tattooing, however, has gone beyond artistic expression and into the territory of permanent makeup for women. There are many reasons for doing it, but the risks involved weigh a bit heavy when dealing with certain delicate areas of the face.

A Time Saver

The type of tattooing I am concerned about is permanent makeup, aka cosmetic tattooing. This method of applying a makeup tattoo, is mainly popular for being done on eyebrows, lips, eyelids, even going to the extent of adding a beauty mark.

All in all, in our busy lives, applying makeup each day can get monotonous for some and for others, they continue to enjoy the artistry of making up their face and eyes every day. Trying a new shade or look is the challenge some like to take on.

I'm pretty conservative when it comes to my makeup looks, but I do like changing a blush shade or lip color, even trying a new eye shading technique with all the beautiful mineral makeup eye shadows at my fingertips. With permanent makeup, "how boring," I think this would be, to look at the same shade each and every day.

Plus don't forget, the key word is "permanent," so here is something to think about: as we age and our skin begins to crease and sag, what happens then to that perfectly straight line? Or, what if you do decide to change your mind and want to go with a different shade or look? Well forget about it, it is there forever!

I have also seen tattoos on those that have aged, and I can tell you it isn't pretty! What were once perfectly drawn lines such as around the lips, are now crooked and creased. Also less flattering is the fact, the look can become dated, distorted and can even look completely wrong for your face at some point, since our skin tone will also alter over time or with the change of the seasons. So again, "no thanks" for this gal just on these few simple problems alone.

Is It Safe?

In the right hands, yes permanent makeup is quite safe, but in the wrong hands it is a disaster and quite dangerous. Ads for the services of permanent makeup are being promoted to consumers at some doctors’ offices, beauty parlors, day spas, nails salons, tattoo studios and massage parlors.

Due to the popularity of the latest cosmetic tattooing phase, we have become desensitized to the possible risks, making it appear as being as easy as getting our ears pierced. It has been reported however, that some technicians are numbing the areas before applying the tattoo ink and this is basically practicing medicine without a license, and it is illegal. So be on your toes when choosing your practitioner.

In fact in many makeup forums, women were remorseful they have had it done, and wanted to know about removal through laser surgery, which in and of itself, carries its own set of risks.

Some reported infections, permanent brow and eyelash loss, lack of quality in the job, including crooked lines and wrong color. Basically, losing the natural appearance of the face. Plus, some dyes also will fade, leaving a lackluster impression of the once intense original application.

The FDA put out multiple articles and "warning statements" about permanent makeup, letting us know the dangers of the cosmetic tattooing being used in inexperienced hands and also the use of inks and needles being imported from overseas, of course the main sources are Taiwan and China. Some of what they state is important in regard to pigments and colorants:

"In addition to the reported adverse reactions, areas of concern include tattoo removal, infections that result from tattooing, and the increasing variety of pigments and diluents being used in tattooing. More than fifty different pigments and shades are in use, and the list continues to grow. Although a number of color additives are approved for use in cosmetics, none is approved for injection into the skin. Using an unapproved color additive in a tattoo ink makes the ink adulterated. Many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all. Some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint."

That statement alone should be enough to rethink the procedure. Then of course other scenarios are: infections, dissatisfaction, allergic reaction, granulomas, keloid formation, and MRI complications. In the problem area of the cosmetic tattooing practice within the beauty industry, where this information presents the dangers of permanent makeup, FDA reform is something I fully support in order to protect the public from the unknown, especially when it comes to dealing with imports from overseas.....and to do that, we must give them more authority to act....which of course includes more funding.

Inside Edition also did a report with video, on the risks and dangers involved with getting permanent makeup done. Including the contamination of the colorants, which some included heavy metals. Warning: the visuals are quite graphic.

What About A Temporary Cosmetic Tattoo?

You may be thinking, well maybe I could just give it a try to see if I will like it by going with a temporary tattoo.

The FDA warns about his as well. Henna dyes are actually only approved for application to the hair, not the skin, yet people have henna tattoos done all the time. I can tell you I have seen countless henna tattoos being performed on tourists whenever I am on vacation in Mexico, where there isn't really any regulation, and at local street fairs, even offering them to children. Also the dyes are questionable since they can have a multitude of shades and are more than likely adulterated with contaminants. The FDA also states that similar tattoo reactions occur with "henna" products. Plus on imports, the product is devoid of an ingredient declaration.

The Upside To Permanent Makeup

Again, in the right hands this can be a godsend for some women. Preferably, having a cosmetic surgeon that has been well trained in cosmetic tattooing and offers it to his patients for correcting otherwise less than a natural appearance after a surgical procedure. For instance, restoring natural pigmentation after facial and breast reconstruction, or to help mask skin pigmentation problems, such as Vitiligo.

And on the lighter side, when women age we also lose pigment in our lips and to this, maybe an infusion of pigment would do wonders for putting life back into the face, bringing about a more youthful appearance. However, again, always at the hands of a professional, preferably medical, and using a pigment that is close to the look of natural lips so it doesn't interfere with wearing your favorite shade of lipstick.

Final Thoughts

When dealing with areas of the face, especially delicate areas such as lips and eyes, this is where I really get concerned. I personally, wouldn't allow anyone short of a medical professional, get anywhere near my eyes.......at what......the cost of my eyesight in the event of a mishap?

Or like it was shown in the Inside Edition video, the swelling and granulomas of these areas can cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, and to this fact alone, it should only be done at the hands of a board certified plastic surgeon. And with anyone you may be doing this type of procedure with, ask for references.....always! Otherwise, you will need a plastic surgeon whether you wanted one or not, to repair the costly damage. So it is money and time saved to choose one to begin with.

Also, visit some message boards and forums to see if what you learn from other women, won't help you to render a decision that could quite possibly have life altering consequences.

All in all, tattoos are in the taste of those that enjoy them, but as with doing anything that pierces the skin, risky business is the price we may pay for that choice to permanently alter our bodies with color. And what once was pure beauty on youthful skin, may now be a blurred distorted image on aged skin...so another thing to think about, since none of us stay young forever, but the tattoo is everlasting.

The Bath Salt Scare!

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:06:00 +0000

Clearing Confusion

Over the past year there was a big ruckus on the use of bath salts, and splashed across every news channel in America, how they will be banned from the shelves in order to prevent them from being used in an illicit manner, and to provide safety to the public. When I heard this on my national news and after my initial panic of disbelief, I cringed thinking, this will only now fuel the fire of all those that are working so tirelessly to claim that bath and beauty products are killing us. The fervor went on for several months following the initial announcement and I watched closely to see how this would play out.

Of course, with patience and further research as the information unfolded, it was clear to see this was not the same thing as the bath salts you buy for personal care. Yet some of the packaging appeared to be that of a bath salt, lending only to further confusion. I also allowed some time to pass, and recently I looked to see how the EWG and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics had dealt with this latest scare. I googled this report with the connection to these two entities and not to my surprise;

Crickets.....nada.....zilch. Where were they in all of the hyper hysteria?

They continually jump on the bandwagon to promulgate about cancer causing agents, which instills fear, supposedly found in bath products, but when something so dire comes about that really draws concern and confusion into a "bath salt", they are content to leave it so. What a perfect opportunity for these entities to come forward to alleviate any fears or concerns that this particular "pseudonym" of bath salt was not the same as ones' beauty product. Trust me, this was not our "Calgon, Take Me Away" from our troubles, bath salt. Failure to clarify, simply shows apathy of displaying true concern to the public, especially at this crucial moment.

It is better it seems, to keep the public confused and scared since this solicits funding for their campaign to continue to spread unnecessary fear, so it is left to the rest of us who dare to get at the truth of the matter, in order to spread accurate information to consumers. It is sad when too much faith is placed in EWG and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics as being the truth tellers of our industry, yet on this critical issue they totally dropped the ball and squandered the opportunity to be in the forefront of really separating truth from fallacy. Especially when dealing with our youth!

Personal Care Products Council didn't hesitate and released their statement to inform the public of the lack of accuracy being spread throughout the media. Yet they are accused constantly by the EWG and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics as those with vested interest and they don't really care about the public concern.....looks like care and concern for the public to me.

PCT (Personal Care Truth) also created a statement for clarification. Lisa M Rodgers, co founder of PCT, was quick to get the word out on their website so that consumers who may be truly nervous about this, would have a source to learn the facts about "Bath Salts." So in order to educate and to let everyone know, including those with teens in the home, this article below will explain exactly the difference, yet also to be wary of what it is, in order to protect your teens from experimenting with this dangerous drug.

The Bath Salt Scare

Are people really snorting bath salts?

I know, it sounds crazy, right?

While I was making my rounds in the world of Facebook, I came across a status update that included a link to an article that said, "Several states may ban bath salts that contain the chemicals mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone because people are now snorting, injecting, and smoking them to get high". What? Ban bath salts? I had to read it twice to make sure it wasn't a joke.

So, in my quest for additional information, I found that the two chemicals mentioned are not approved for use in the United States and is not found in your typical bath salt. From the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration website, they report the following:

4-Methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) is a designer drug of the phenethylamine class and shares substantial structural similarities with methcathinone (Schedule I). Evidence of mephedrone use and associated toxicity has been increasing, in 2009 and 2010, particularly in the United Kingdom and other European countries. To date, one confirmed and several suspected deaths related to mephedrone have been reported by Europol-EMCDDA Joint report on mephedrone 2010. In recent years, law enforcement agencies have documented seizures (Oregon, Illinois and Alabama) associated with mephedrone in the United States.

Mephedrone is not approved for medical use in the United States. Mephedrone is sold over the internet and is promoted as a “research chemical”, “bath salts” or “plant food.”

Via the Europol-EMCDDA Joint Report,:

More local names for mephedrone marketed products are: ‘Rush’ (Belgium); ‘Miaou Miaou’ (France); ‘MMC Hammer’ and ‘Magic’ (Germany); ‘kapszula’, ‘kata’, ‘kati’, ‘mefi’, ‘mefó’, ‘mephisto’, ‘moonshine’, ‘piercing’, ‘zsuzsi’ (Hungary); ‘ronzio’ (Italy); ‘aka’(Malta); ‘Mef’, ‘Mefko’ (Slovenia); and ‘Mef’, ‘Meffe’, ‘Räka’, ‘Krabba’, ‘Kräfta’, ‘Fisk’, ‘Torsk’, ‘Lax’ and ‘Fiskrens’ (Sweden).

Irish head shop products sold as ‘legal highs’ that appear to contain mephedrone are ‘Blow’, ‘Snow blow xxx’; ‘bath salts’, ‘Hurricane Charlie’, ‘White Gold’, ‘White Aroma Crystals’, ‘Recharge’, ‘Volt’, ‘Star Dust’, ‘Flake’, ‘Wild Cat Oceanic Charge +’, etc; and ‘Ketones’, ‘Am Hi Co Doves’, ‘Doves’, ‘Rocket fuel’, ‘Xtacy’, ‘Speed Freak’, ‘Dynamite’and ‘Diablos XXX’.

In Romania, samples containing powder and crystals were identified in products sold as ‘bath salts’ under different names: ‘Flower Magic Powder’, ‘Flower Magic Powder+’, ‘Charge+’ (27), ‘Flower Power’, ‘Crush’, ‘Cristal bath’, ‘Dark+’, ‘Special Diamond’, ‘Special Gold’, and ‘Special Original’.

There are no indications that mephedrone may be used for other purposes. Furthermore, there is no evidence of mephedrone use as ‘plant growth regulator’, ‘plant feeder’, ‘herbal bath salt’ or ‘hoover freshener’, as widely advertised on the Internet.

So, as you can see from the above, 'bath salts or herbal bath salt' is a name given to this product and is in no way associated with bath salts that are marketed by personal care product manufacturers. K2 or "fake pot" is another form of this illegal substance that is marketed as "herbal incense" or "potpourri". Again, it is no way associated with incense or potpourri you typically use in your home.

The reason I wrote this post is because I've already come across a search result that asked the question, "How do I know if my bath salt contains mephedrone?" The cosmetic industry has enough fear mongering and misinformation to deal with without adding a "bath salt" scare to the mix. The products marketed under the above names weigh 3 grams and can be found in convenience stores, head shops or party shops and are NOT like the typical bath salt that is poured into your tub.

Lisa M. Rodgers, is co-founder of Personal Care Truth and the creator of Cactus & Ivy. Lisa has strong convictions, isn't afraid to defend them and has zero tolerance for an individual or corporate bullies. Lisa's parents raised her that you're only as good as your word, to stand up for what you believe and life is black and white, never gray.

Endorsement Of Animal Testing In H.R. 2359, Safe Cosmetics Act 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:00:00 +0000

More Insanity At The Hands Of EWG and Campaign For Safe Cosmetics

Just when I thought I couldn't get more sickened by the fear mongering tactics of the EWG and CFSC, I come to learn that a magazine which emphasizes the benefits and the desires of one to become vegan, has succumbed to the political demagoguery of these shameless entities. Apparently buying into the fervor of non science rhetoric, and without skipping a beat, regurgitated the myths that these entities are spreading.

With Current legislation being proposed with H.R. 2359, the amount of horrific animal torture required to meet the ingredient standards required in this legislation, returns us to the dark ages. For the most part, I have been working behind the scenes with many who still stand against this type of onerous and unworkable legislation, keeping in the loop per se, ready to present facts as they develop.

Since much of H.R. 2359, Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 is just about exact as the 2010 version, I chose up to this point, to not get overwrought as in past articles, since the only real change is removal of fees for small businesses and a few other insignificant things. This however, did nothing to replace all the other misguided efforts to supposedly make already safe cosmetics, safer. But when I see those that are supposed to support a lifestyle which is supposedly in support of stopping animal cruelty, I was floored when the guest of my blog today, exposed this article written by a vegan magazine author. The following excerpt is provided by a Northeastern Graduate, who clearly loves animals, plus knows much about true science. He also has taken the time to create a thorough list of many scientific agencies debunking most of what EWG and CFSC try to pawn off as science.

My sincere thanks to Nathan Rivas for assisting us in our fight against this horrific type of legislation, and exposing articles like those in VegNews, that cavalierly support astroturfing by the EWG and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which in this case, creates more cruelty (torture) against animals.....How Ironic.

VegNews Magazine Endorses Animal Testing Legislation

Many of us are concerned with the animal testing status of our cosmetics and skin care products. Websites like Leaping Bunny have devoted their entire existence to ensuring the public has easy access to cosmetic companies that no longer test their products at any stage of development. How would you feel if this were no longer an option? There is currently legislation that could eliminate your choice for cruelty-free cosmetics, H.R. 2359 (AKA the “Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011,”) now in the House of Representatives, which would require every natural and synthetic ingredient used in personal care to undergo testing (redundant, in many instances) for safety, much of which would be animal-based. H.R. 2359 has inadvertently gained endorsement from a surprising source—VegNews Magazine.

In VegNews’ current issue, July/August 2011, VN Associate Editor Jennifer Chen’s article,”Skin Deep,” promotes the work and methods of the EWG (Environmental Working Group,) and voices support for their legislation efforts (one failed in 2010, the other introduced in 2011, is H.R. 2359.) H.R. 2359 mandates a myriad of testing for ingredients, and the ingredients of ingredients (e.g. extracts of fruit are comprised of dozens of chemical compounds, and all of these chemicals must be tested,) and there are few non-animal FDA approved options (none for tests like Lethal-Dose 50.) Chen uses H.R. 2359 and the EWG as her sole reference to her article (rife with serious lapses in research,) entirely unaware that the bill would cost hundreds of thousands of animal lives should it pass.

This is VegNews—supposed voice for the vegan/vegetarian community, proponent of the animal rights movement, blithely endorsing animal testing legislation because of poor journalistic standards.

Using animal testing in cosmetics cannot be justified, given the extensive safety data already collected (and easily available with a little research,) combined with decades of safe use by humans—there is yet to be a single person harmed from modern cosmetics or skin care. Worse yet, the animal-based studies that the EWG cherry-picks doesn’t even apply to how natural or synthetic chemicals react with the human body—force feeding animals massive quantities of ingredients used in your moisturizer isn’t going to improve your personal care choices. Yet, the EWG and their H.R. 2359 bill are desperate to convince you that animal testing is a necessity, and that all skin care companies, both small and large, are determined to poison you. Jessica Chen naively regurgitates these scare tactics—sunscreens are poison and preservatives will give you cancer, and H.R. 2359 is the answer!

In case you’re wondering how easily Jessica Chen could have debunked the claims of the EWG and H.R. 2359, here are studies conducted on a global scale, from independent medical and scientific committees, refuting their most common fear campaigns used (and perpetuated by VegNews):

American Academy of Dermatology

Me morial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York

European Commission for Public Health

EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) Opinion on Parabens

Oxford Journal of Toxicological Sciences

Opinion On Benzophenone-3 (another EU panel regarding oxybenzone)

The American Cancer Society

The Food & Drug Administration

Health Canada, Consumer Safety Branch

Institute for Environmental Toxicology, MSU

Skin Cancer Foundation

OR, she could have given a nod to journalistic integrity and read H.R. 2359 herself. Chen would have realized what a bad idea it would have been to endorse the need for the bill, given its horrific consequences of animal research. The EWG has included a short section encouraging animal testing alternatives; this is meaningless PR given that the bill would only allow the majority of cosmetic companies a year to submit their test results to the FDA. With many categories of toxicity testing without animal testing alternatives, certainly none would draft into law within a year’s time.

The argument that VegNews is using the EWG as a reference (and that Chen is not *really* endorsing EWGs H.R. 2359 legislation) does not hold up. Chen makes it clear that we need H.R. 2359 and groups like the EWG to protect us with statements like, “Beauty companies are not required to release ingredient data.” Except that they are, and do per the General Regulations for the Enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, which even includes sunscreen ingredient regulations (which Chen insists doesn’t exist.) The FDA even offers an easy-to-read breakdown, which specifically applies to cosmetics: Cosmetic Labeling Regulations as Published in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 701, 740.

At no point in Chen’s article, not even as she builds to her official plug for the Safe Cosmetic Act efforts from 2010 and 2011, does she inform the readers of VegNews of the magnitude of animal testing required by every cosmetic company in the US should this bill pass into law. How would the reader of VegNews know, after reading Chen’s paraphrasing article of EWG scare tactics that they would be supporting one of the biggest animal testing measures in history by supporting this bill? What is arguably worse is that these same readers will likely attempt to convince the cosmetic companies they shop with to support H.R. 2359!

As H.R. 2359: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 would leave companies no choice but to play a role in animal testing, this would obliterate websites like Leaping Bunny.org, or require them to drastically alter their membership requirements. What can you do? Talk to your favorite skin care company about this measure and make sure they understand the reality of H.R. 2359. Talk to VegNews (good luck, they haven’t been very willing to respond to questions about this measure, or VN Associate Editor Jennifer Chen’s decision to endorse legislative efforts of which she knows nothing,) at letters@vegnews.com and ask them why animal testing is suddenly not such a big deal anymore. If you are feeling particularly incensed, send a quick message to the advertisers of VegNews and ask them if they are aware of these shenanigans. Or go to the source, the EWG and their spawn, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics group, and let them know you don’t support their approach, and that animal testing in cosmetics is unacceptable.

If you are wondering about the appropriateness of an organization like the EWG developing legislation of this sort, surprisingly, the founders of H.R. 2359 are social workers and media strategists. Yes, social workers and media strategists are playing “I can has science”** on a national level with your personal care products. This is akin to looking to creationists to re-write science curriculum’s in the United States. Don’t fall for the work of media strategists—keep your right to choose cruelty-free skin care and cosmetics and fight for legislation that makes sense.

Do we need greater oversight of cosmetics and skin care? Absolutely—I agree with the idea of greater transparency for consumers. If a shopper wants to ensure they are buying cruelty free, they should have confidence in these choices. If a consumer wants to ensure their products that bear the “organic” label are truly organic, then this should be a choice made free from a nagging doubt. Whatever your personal care product preferences, you won’t find an argument from me as long as it doesn’t involve needless animal research and impossibly incompetents legislation like H.R. 2359. However, what lobbyist groups like the EWG (don’t believe their Oliver Twist-like pleas for money—the top 8 of that organization are pulling in a cool $1,000,000+ annually, (takes about 30 seconds to load) not exactly non-profit salaries,) propose is not the answer. That VegNews Magazine failed to do their research before endorsing such ethically antonymous legislation is nothing short of an utter failure of their existence as a voice for the animal-rights/vegan & vegetarian community.

** This reference is my attempt at humor, like the website name ‘I Can Has Cheezburger’

Nathan graduated with a Bachelors of Science (summa cum laude) from Northeastern University. In his experience, writing about science is sometimes much more enjoyable than working in a laboratory, giving a closer look to how science issues are addressed in the media. He is preparing for his Masters of Science program in the fall, and likes to make jokes that involve the arsole compound.

Please share this article with whomever you can and help us fight against H.R. 2359 and the endorsement it contains by way of legislation, to test on animals to provide redundant ingredient safety analysis. You can make your voice known at the petition site opposing H.R. 2359.

Technical Difficulties: Don't Change The Channel

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:44:00 +0000

Huh?

During the past couple of days I have been working with my techie department on adding another feature to "Sterling Minerals Skin Care Guide" and "Beauty News, Specials and Events", along with it eventually getting added to our website.

In the course of doing this, some test blogs were published with just a title and a one liner silly sentence. Even though these were deleted, they still published in RSS feeds, but did not go into mail inboxes.

I have placed a feature for Sharing on my blogs and eventually on my mineral makeup and skincare website, making it easier to share with others or save articles or products you enjoy. At the bottom of each article there are buttons for "Favorites", "Twitter", "Facebook", "Email", plus a box for additional share features that you may enjoy. These do not translate over to all RSS feeds, it depends on what reader you are using. In Email, these same buttons also don't translate over, however we have always offered at the bottom of the article some sharing features, including Facebook and Email.

If you wish to use them at anytime, simply click on the title of the blog post, and it will take you directly to the original blog.

She's Gone Loopy!

Despite me going through the change, I can assure you I haven't gone loopy, bonkers maybe.....but never loopy. I find at times when I write my blogs, that some grammar seems strange, or a paragraph makes absolutely no sense at all....in fact sometimes I don't even know what side of the brain was awake that day to create something so garbled.

Of course I set out to change it and correct it as soon as I see past the brain fog, but sometimes it doesn't get fixed until after the article has been delivered to everyone's RSS feed and inboxes.

Sometimes, I think in my brain I have explained it quite well, until I receive an email from a reader, asking me, "what did you just say here?"

It makes perfect sense to me, but to some, it is a confusing mess. You know how it is when your brain goes faster than you can type? The same thing happens when I proof read over and over.....I see the words in my mind, but then all of a sudden it pops out at me, grammatical error doesn't even begin to describe it.....(scratches head)

Never Hesitate

If when reading my articles, you see something that confuses you or strikes you as odd, never hesitate to drop me a line and let me know something is amiss with the article. Trust me, I will very much appreciate it.....after all I don't wish to let the entire universe think I've busted a gasket or something....just know it is probably a "hot flash" or lack of sleep, or one of my 7 dwarfs has reared it's ugly head for a split second.

However, I will continue to strive to be "loopy" free!

Cheers

K-Y Jelly Brand Warming Gel: WARNING

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Warning- Mature Content

I debated for awhile now about whether or not to write about K-Y Jelly Warming Gel and its' counterparts such as "Intense" "Yours and Mine" and "Tingling" since it relates to women and men on a very personal level and the intimacy they share.

However, bottom line it is also a personal care product and I decided it was important to let other women know my experience, along with others that have shared through scattered reviews and complaints over the internet on their own issues after using these products.

Although the article will touch on a level of a mature intimate subject matter, I have done my best to provide the information in a manner that is sensitive to those reading it and for any young ladies who may stumble upon the article.

Re-Igniting That Spark

As we become comfortable with our partners and have been with them for many moons now, sometimes we think of ways to spice things up between the sheets. No matter our sexual persuasion and the things we look for to create and play around with behind closed doors, sometimes new ideas can bring about a whole set of problems we could never have imagined.

K-Y Jelly has been a trusted brand for decades and has been used by doctors for years in the exam rooms, especially during those lovely pelvic exams we all enjoy doing annually.

Recently however, basically in the last 10 years or so, K-Y Brand decided to create some innovative jellies that are designed to improve intimacy, create better stimulation, allowing the main event of climax to go to incredible new heights.

First one on the market was the K-Y Warming Gel and the one that this article is mainly about, since this was my first experience with being intrigued by a gel that claims to warm things up, so no more freezing touch. I am all for that, especially on those chilly winter days.

It was quite a few years back that I introduced the Warming Gel into our shared intimacy, and for the most part, the sensation was benign except for the warmth it did generate upon contact. My initial reaction was satisfaction since I no longer had to endure that first chilly response which typically follows when first applied.

The Aftermath

Within a couple of days following, I thought I had contracted honeymoon cystitis which I had suffered from in the past. Not having a bout of it though for many years and always taking care to prevent it, I was surprised that I now was having another symptomatic occurrence. The burning and stinging and a constant urge to relieve myself was overwhelming.

I immediately went to my urologist to start my next bout with antibiotics, only to learn I did not have cystitis. No bacteria, so now what?

I suffered with this for a few more days trying to flush my system, since the urologist felt I may have a bladder stone, again another thing I suffered from before. I even had a CT scan done, but nope, no bladder stone. The urge to "go" continued for another week, even though the burning and stinging had subsided. I would have to describe the feeling at this point as what some women complaints are in relation to "over active bladder syndrome." It was endless!

I asked the doctor to calm down my bladder with the medication that controls the spasms the bladder goes through causing the urgent need to go. He refused to do that without performing a Cystoscopy to insure I wasn't dealing with bladder cancer or something else. This is essentially inserting a small camera into the urethra up into the bladder to take a looksie.

Sounds simple enough doesn't it?...... but let me tell you, it was the most painful, horrendous procedure I have ever endured in my life.....a whole new meaning to pain and suffering. I practically launched from the table. The procedure was over in less than a minute but the aftermath following for several days was akin to a severe cystitis due to trauma to the urethra, a burning pain bringing tears to my eyes, and something I had never experienced before. Pain medication was prescribed until the discomfort subsided.

So I got the all clear there, and since he could not explain why my bladder was having spasms or feeling of urgency, he chocked it up to "all in my head" so to speak, since there was nothing physical he could see. Never once inquiring about anything new being added to my diet or other. Even when it is a known fact that citric juices can have a similar reaction on the bladder, causing irritation for some people, and is a reason why they cannot consume them. But since I have drank these juices for years, I felt this wasn't my problem either.

Second Opinion Time And Much Needed Help

After enduring frustration and discomfort and the tests and spasms for close to a month, and after some research on the internet, I finally went and saw my GP. Once she saw all test results showed clear, she agreed with my request for meds and felt comfortable that the drug for bladder spasms was the next course of action, knowing it would not mask some underlying problem. True to form, she took the time to ask questions and be very involved in my life at the initial onset of my symptoms.....women doctors are just better I think!

In researching changes to my routine, it was only when she jogged my memory about what had been different, we came up with the answer to the problem.....K-Y Jelly Warming Gel was the new ingredient that had been added to my non-boring, never a dull moment it seems, life. Other women she had seen had similar experiences with this warming gel. Too bad my urologist didn't know about it. I could have saved tons of time and money if I had only just gone to my GP in the first place.

She prescribed Detrol LA and within 30 minutes the spasms subsided. She gave me enough to last a week and told me that if the bladder was reacting to the ingredients in the warming gel, then the medicine would allow the bladder to calm down and the spasms will subside as the bladder goes about the process of healing......oh how right she was.....I had regained my sanity and all was right with the world again. Incredible stuff....only side effect, was dry mouth and I had to make sure I consumed large amounts of water to not become dehydrated or constipated, as these are also a side effect to the drug because women who suffer from the spasms, worry about drinking water in order to avoid the urgency to go.

After all was well again, my doctor advised I stick with Astroglide since she found it to be the safest lubricant on the market. They now offer a version made up all natural ingredients and removed other ingredients one may not be keen on. Plus, they also now provide a warming lotion, but again the list does not indicate the chemistry, so I would keep it simple and steer clear of this one.

Did My Research

On message boards and review boards I soon discovered other women complaining about the lasting pain they experienced after using this version of K-Y Jelly or any other of the formulas designed to increase stimulation. "Tingling" for instance actually includes "mint" in their ingredient profile, along with "Menthyl Lactate" a derivative of menthol. Are you kidding me?....this would be akin to smearing Vicks vapo rub on beforehand, and in my opinion belongs nowhere near our most delicate area.

After a couple thousand dollars later in medical bills, I contacted K-Y Jelly brand to find out what ingredients were used in the product and to inform them of the reaction I sustained, since the list they show on the package consists of benign ingredients of: Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Maltodextrin, Honey, Methylparaben, Sucralose. These ingredients provide no chemistry to create the warming sensation.

Yet they have a Warning of: If irritation or discomfort occurs, discontinue use and consult a doctor. This product is not a contraceptive and does not contain a spermicide. Keep out of reach of children and away from eyes and ears. Do not use if quality seal on the opening of the bottles are broken or missing.

They advised me that the blend to create the warming sensation is proprietary, so they would not divulge it even though I had a medical reaction to the product.

Needless to say I was outraged, yet they noted my complaint and would pass it along. This was clearly a sidestep due to legal issues and their insurance I am sure.

Private Parts Are Our Most Vulnerable Parts

For many of us, we have experienced cystitis after intimacy with our partner because the friction moves bacteria up the urethra and if not flushed it will travel up to the bladder causing a full blown infection. So now based on this same premise, it is only reasonable to assume that a product we apply externally, would travel the same way....and of course any potentially irritating ingredient.

Who could have imagined, a trusted brand like K-Y, would be so secretive when it came to my health and the injury I suffered in the interim of trying to discover what was wrong with me.

In an area that contains a high level of sensitivity to begin with and is a mucous membrane, irritating ingredients don't have to work very hard at permeating this delicate barrier to go on to cause excruciating pain or discomfort. Plus, why introduce chemicals into an area that has a direct upward connection to our bladder and blood supply?

Sticking To My Guns

Despite all the hoopla that the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 is causing and many of the revisions are indeed onerous and without science based criteria, this is my sticking point as a victim myself to the proprietary blend of a product. Full disclosure on an ingredient list should be mandated by the FDA in order to protect the consumer from making the same mistake I did.

Without a list of ingredients how are we to make an educated decision as to what we are placing on our bodies if we don't know what is in it?

Am I asking for their ingredients to be banned?.....NO, because there are also many of the population that had no problem with these lubricants and quite frankly enjoyed them. But if I had known there was an ingredient like menthol or something similar that created the warming sensation, I wouldn't have touched this with a ten foot pole, especially in my private area that is already delicate. Essentially my choice was removed through omission.

I am also an extreme case, but nonetheless, my pain and suffering was real and it cost me dearly in monetary damages. Did I plan on suing KYBRAND?....certainly not since I am not a litigious person, but to be helpful more than they actually were, would have gone far to smoothing my ruffled feathers over my reaction.

Personal Care products and Cosmetic companies owe it to the public to be more informative in proprietary blends in order to assist them with any medical issue that may be a result of contact with the product. Poison Control is a good example for instance.....but since it wasn't ingested and I wasn't dying or anything, they remained closed mouth to protect their bottom line and any liability they may have thought was forthcoming.

My Entrepreneurial Belief

I am always about protecting formulas in terms of construction of the product, but all ingredients should be divulged except for the case of Fragrances in Perfumes. These are the namesake of the company, and are used for a pleasurable experience. They are not something we need in our arsenal of everyday personal care.....basically an olfactory choice.

We are free to choose to not use a product if we have a known allergen or reaction to a certain ingredient and the only way we know this is by having it disclosed on the ingredient list. If we commonly react to fragrances, let's say, then we don't buy perfumey products.

There is no reason to remove or ban a certain ingredient if I am that 1 in a million that reacts when all others do well.....nope.....I just learn to avoid that ingredient by not purchasing products that contain it....but knowing what they are would certainly help me in my decision making.

Furthermore, let's get real.....in today's technology, most anything can be reversed engineered if another company wants to steal another's thunder, so to claim "proprietary" these days, especially when receiving a call from an upset, injured customer, is disingenuous to be sure.

So needless to say, I was injured by a hidden ingredient that caused severe distress and because of the current laws for proprietary blends, I could not know what caused harm or if I should have avoided it until the damage was already done.....but now I know!

So if you are wondering about these fun looking, stimulating, intimacy enhancing products, just realize they have a propensity to causing injury and one should be seriously cautioned about using any sort of personal care product in the genital area, since it is so delicate and is an open pathway to the internal workings of our bodies.

Anti-Aging Ingredients In Mineral Makeup And Skincare

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:27:00 +0000

Are Anti-Aging Ingredients Really Able To Perform?

There are many purported anti-aging ingredients on the market today, too many to count actually, but there are none better than the ones that help retain or enhance moisture, keep surface skin clear, improve elasticity, provide tone and firmness and fight the aging effects of free radical damage. But the real question to ask is how they perform and is it based on how they are implemented into mineral makeup and skincare.

There are some that will work better than others and this is a trial and error scenario. Purported benefits are also only as good as the ingredients used and in what ratios they are offered. Plus a combination of ingredients is also best instead of just a single primary ingredient as the end all to keeping skin looking young.

In many independent studies, including some peer reviewed by the scientific community, certain ingredients have shown to perform with direct improvement to the appearance of skin and texture.

What Are The Best To Look For

The Anti-Aging Ingredients Noted for best performance and my personal favorites:

Alpha-Hydroxy Acids(AHA's)
These are commonly found in the form of glycolic acid from sugar cane, lactic acid from dairy products, tartaric acid from grapes, malic acid from fruit, citric acid from citrus fruits and antioxidant ellagic acid from raspberries, cranberries pomegranates, etc. AHA's are commonly used for their exfoliating properties. They also provide a skin tightening effect that diminishes fine lines.

Butters of Shea, Mango or Cocoa
Loaded with essential fatty acids and contains antioxidants of vitamin A and E for fighting free radicals our skin is exposed to. Great for soothing dry, irritated skin and is rich in emollients. These butters also help improve tone and elasticity. They are soothing to rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, acne and certain rashes. And of course what well moisturized skin doesn't look younger.

Co-Enzyme Q-10 or CoQ10 (Ubiquinone)
This is an antioxidant and it has been purported to repair skin damaged by years of exposure to sun and pollutants. It is also known to improve collagen. The levels of CoQ10 in our bodies lessen with age causing our skin to be more easily damaged by free radicals and more prone to less elasticity. CoQ10 found in skincare may repair some of this damage as it has the ability to easily penetrate skin cells. Concentration is crucial when looking for this ingredient on the list.

DMAE (dimethylethanolamine)
This has become a popular choice for natural anti aging products. Dr. Perricone swears by this and is included in his very expensive line of skincare serums. Johnson and Johnson performed a study in 2005 showing it has anti-inflammatory effects and increased tone and firmness to sagging skin.

It is a naturally occuring substance in our bodies and is also present in fish. It has been used to treat aging conditions but is now being used in skin care.

Green Tea
Studies have shown that green tea is a wonderful antioxidant inside and out and has some ability to provide sun protection. It is being used in more products all the time, including those that are deemed anti-aging. It shows promise as a natural way to slow the effects of aging and is quickly becoming one of the most popular of the anti-aging ingredients. Ingesting green tea is also a great way to fight free radicals in our bodies.

Hyaluronic Acid
This natural ingredient is a well known humectant and is used in skincare as a very important part for helping our skin attract moisture and retain it within our skin. Some studies show it may help to stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells. Hydrated skin is smoother, softer and plumper looking of course.

Niacinimide
This ingredient is not subject to oxidation making it perfect for fighting free radical damage. It helps to improve the appearance of hyper-pigmentation, combats sun damage and is perfect for those with oily skin by reducing the production of sebaceous lipids. Niacinimide helps with increased skin barrier function to diminish skin irritant reactions which causes aging effects on the skin.

Oils and Essential Oils
Certain oils with a high percentage of essential fatty acids have been found to work very well on mature, dry or damaged skin. Avocado, Olive, Borage, Rosehip Seed, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Evening Primrose and Almond oil have all been found to be effective anti-aging ingredients.

Essential oils are popular anti-aging ingredients added to skin care products. Quite a few different essential oils have been used for years for their rejuvenating and restorative properties on aging skin.

Vitamin A (Retinol, Tretinoin and Retinyl Palmitate)
When this is added to a product in the right concentration it has been found to be very effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin tone and exfoliating the skin.

The best results however, come from higher concentrations of Tretinoin form of Vitamin A available only by prescription. It is this prescription form however which causes the dryness and flakiness of the skin, so be aware that this may give less than favorable results when trying to cover the sloughing skin with makeup. All forms of Vitamin A may be irritating especially to sensitive individuals. Retinyl Palmitate, however has been shown to provide better results without the irritation which occurs in the stronger forms, like Tretinoin, and does not need prescription.

Just Fluffy Marketing

When looking for anti-aging ingredients, it is important to note their location on the ingredient list. Also a combination of anti-aging ingredients will give better results and will be dispersed throughout the label in different levels of concentration.

But when it comes to the hype of any product claiming anti-aging, then the thing to watch for is when you see the supposed beneficial ingredient at the bottom of the list and mainly when it follows the preservatives or fragrance since these are at the lowest ratios. Anything past these are simply fluff and will do nothing to help the skin. But again, just because they use a drop, they can make the claim to fame.

So it is up to us to research our ingredients in our skincare to make sure we are getting a decent amount for doing the job they are promoted for.

Stretching The Truth

When it comes to makeup including mineral makeup, those that make the claim to fame of any anti-aging ingredient being part of the formulation are really reaching for the sky. This actually goes beyond stretching the truth. Though the ingredient is noted for being an excellent one with anti-aging properties, it will not have the same effect as those infused into skincare.

Mineral makeup for instance, is designed to sit atop skin, not penetrate it. It is also dry in nature so again the anti-aging ingredient sits on top with no chemical delivery to support the skin cell structure. Without synergistic reaction with combined moisturizing chemicals, whether synthetic or naturally derived, the anti-aging ingredient is just for fluffy marketing hype and can add a pretty penny to the price. A good mineral makeup in and of itself, will provide a youthful appearance, but all the fancy anti-oxidants and others, supposedly infused, will only empty the wallet with little to no real change to the long term effects of the skins surface.

Some liquid makeup will also declare anti-aging benefits, and though this is liquid and has the propensity to be absorbed, it is found in most cases, as to the purported ingredients, are far below all the synthetics, colorants, film formers, binders and preservatives, essentially making the benefits worthless.

The exception is, certain oils which are added to mineral makeup, for instance, like our jojoba oil added to our minerals, will meld with skin and provide alone, along with the constituents it contains, the benefits it offers to create healthier skin, but it is not a delivery system for other ingredients. Using an age defying skincare regimen such as our ONATI Skin Care providing the delivery system of skin cell support, combined with our mineral makeup is what will yield the best results. And mineral makeup making the claim of anti-aging should never be considered a replacement for a superior skincare regimen or a diet rich in anti-aging fruits and vegetables and the consumption of fish rich in Omega Oils. This will go much farther to having lasting anti-aging results for the body has a whole, staving off free radicals and fighting cancer.

Bottom Line

No matter how we try and fight the aging process, we also must realize that genetics, sun exposure, smoking, diet, pollutants and many other factors play a key role in how we age. We can certainly improve our appearance, but we cannot stop ourselves from aging. Facelifts, Restylane and Botox are really about the only thing to permanently restore the look of youth, while skincare and mineral makeup are cosmetic and only work for the duration we continue to use them.

DANGER: Contact Lenses For Cosmetic Purposes

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:57:00 +0000

Protecting Our Young Girls

This past July 1st, 2011, a young girl of only 14 years of age, may now need to have a corneal transplant due to scarring brought about by infection from wearing colored circle lenses for only a single day.

Apparently, this is the latest "eye candy" trend and they are being offered for sale by disreputable websites and in many beauty stores and dollar stores, which is ILLEGAL without prescription. However, our young girls apparently don't know this or have found this to be a way to avoid having to see a doctor to get the prescription, due to costs.

In the beauty stores and online, they are selling for $20 bucks. This makes them easily accessible to any girl that simply walks in off the street, or hits the "buy now" button on her computer.

The Doe Eyed Look

Apparently Lady Gaga (pictured left) wore a pair in her music video "Bad Romance" and the craze began. What most girls don't realize, is even though the circle lenses which make the eye appear slightly larger since the color goes past the cornea and covers the white of the eyes, Lady Gaga's doe eyes were enhanced further with computer generation.

Michelle Phan (pictured right) who is a makeup guru on YouTube also demonstrated how to use them showing her new doe eyed look which included full tutorial of eye makeup as well, to help others to emulate Lady Gaga, but she openly shows whomever watches, how she computer generates them to be larger than you actually can achieve.

Unfortunately, Michelle Phan makes this about having fun which again is geared toward our young girls. She at no time explains how to care for them or that a prescription is needed by law.....as a popular commercialized guru, shouldn't she bear some responsibility to our young girls by advising they can cause harm without the proper care, and that they should be properly fitted by your eye doctor when showing these tutorials, especially since this video received over 22 million hits? All our youth see are the super attractive large doe eyes and want it also, so they head out to their nearest beauty or dollar store to purchase these illegal contacts.

I think her videos are great, but as an advice guru, some caution should be considered about what she is advising to those susceptible during the most formative years of their life. As I looked further, she has actually done quite a few other tutorials for changing the look of the eyes through the use of circle, color or anime (ever popular Japanese cartoon look) contact lenses.

Shame On Them

This young girl, who's story is all over the internet was not advised on how to use them, store them, or clean them. These contact lenses are currently being imported to the U.S. from Asia, so they are not made here in the U.S. due to the laws surrounding the sale and purchase of contact lenses.

The FTC also warns about the lenses being tainted and not manufactured under the sterile conditions required under U.S. strict guidelines. They also have issued Warning Notices to 15 Marketers in 2007 to have valid prescriptions or face severe penalties.

The FDA has Warned In 2002 and will attempt seizure of imported contact lenses coming into the U.S. illegally that are for the purposes of cosmetic purposes. The FDA Updated the information in 2009, which includes a video on those that use these for Halloween effects making the dangers all too real. Furthermore, recent legislation has made it illegal to market decorative contact lenses as over-the-counter products. But again, as I have stated in the past, with FDA resources so scarce, it is difficult to enforce the laws surrounding contact lenses.

So though this latest story is new and recent, apparently the laws are not, nor has this problem just begun. But it seems with the release of the Lady Gaga video, this set off the firestorm of sales we are now seeing today, which has warranted more media attention and FDA and FTC warnings.

This lack of concern for our health by these overseas contact manufacturers, is a prime example of exploiting our youth with their desires to emulate movie and music stars which use these lenses to enhance their appearance, all for a buck. If you operate a business in this country, the laws are clear and should be followed, which as a beauty store owner, they know, or should know what they are doing, is illegal. As many of us have heard the quote at some point, depending on our years on this earth, "ignorance of the law is no excuse."

All contact lenses must be issued with a prescription since they must be fitted for the shape of the cornea, instructions for proper care are issued, along with instructions for safe application and how long they should be kept in before removal to keep the delicate eye safe.

The Aftermath

Now Erica Barnes is paying the price from just wearing her lenses overnight, where bacteria was able to flourish causing a serious infection. Doctors say it was from improper fit and from being advised by the sales girl at this "nameless" beauty store, she could simply use (unsanitary) tap water for cleaning them.

Due to the infection, she now has corneal scarring, and without a transplant will have ongoing excruciating pain and blindness in the eye most affected. Ulcerations of the eye are also a probability if these lenses are used.

Take Action

Hopefully, this store will be held accountable by legal means for offering these for sale without prescription. Media attention is definitely making the information widely available, however, not everyone, especially our youth, pay attention to the news. And in the spirit of an impressionable teenage girl, they want what they want when they want it, especially if it is the latest fad. I only wish they had named the beauty chain that did this in order to give them a wake up call, you cannot do this without serious ramifications. Our health is at risk and they are practicing illegal behavior which caused harm, without sanctions.

Please spread the word to our young daughters or grand daughters. Educate them about the likelihood of infection or worse, if they purchase these cosmetic contact lenses without a doctors care. Also, the way these are promoted is definitely toward our young girls. They are sold in storage cases resembling cartoons such as Hello Kitty.

What young girl doesn't know all about this favorite cartoon cat?
Looks fun doesn't it, like dress up?
What young girl doesn't enjoy dress up with makeup and the whole deal just to emulate either her mom or her favorite movie star?

This kind of beauty comes at too high a price by sacrificing our eyes and possibly losing our eyesight. Treat the eyes with gentle care, but if you must have this look or your daughter wants this look, guide her and make sure your eye doctor is involved, and be fitted properly, along with receiving proper care instructions of the lenses and your eyes.

To see and read the stories behind this latest fashion trend phenomenon causing a hazard for the eyes, click on the links below. Video is included with the stories for further details on the stories.

ABC News Good Morning America on $20.00 Contact Lenses Cause Corneal Scarring Video at the top of the article should begin playing automatically or you will need to wait for complete loading before clicking on the arrow for playing it. The video is dated, but the latest article is the most recent casualty of what can go seriously wrong.

Shops Selling Contact Lenses Like Eye Candy To view video you can click on it at the bottom of the article. Includes interview with eye doctor.

Be Safe, EDUCATE!

Thin Gloss Weight Loss Claims And Shark Tank

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:53:00 +0000

Into The Shark Tank

How many of you have ever watched "Shark Tank"?

People are introduced to a group of investors to pitch their story and to showoff their latest idea for something they have a belief and passion for. They are given approximately 5 minutes to sell them on the idea and for a specific dollar amount needed by the business owner, one or more of the sharks gain an equity percentage into the company. They will either love your company and may even fight with other sharks to gain a percentage by upping the offer or they will chew you up and spit you out.

This is one of my favorite shows on Friday nights. The amount of information one can learn and take away from the show is incredible. I personally have learned a great deal when it comes to investors and what they can and will do for you, but also to tread very carefully on how and when an investor should be approached. Do it in the wrong time and you can be toast. Or it can help you decide if an investor is necessary or the right course of action.

This past Friday night in particular, would prove to be a very relevant show for me. Shark Tank featured a gal in my industry that was looking for investment capital to stay afloat. Now I was truly intrigued!

Thin Gloss And Weight Loss

The product was called "Thin Gloss" for weight loss. This is a cosmetic to be sure, so naturally I watched with intent to see how the sharks would respond to not only something within the cosmetic industry, but a cosmetic with a claim of helping the user to lose weight.

"Oh no" I instantly thought, this was not going to be good. Knowing what I know in my industry as it relates to cosmetics, this weight loss claim was over the top even for the weight loss industry.

April Morris, the cute as a button creator, made her pitch to them, presenting "before and after" photos of women who have lost weight and explained how the product works. Unfortunately, she spent considerable time sharing her personal goal to earn more than a million dollars in the coming year, which is great for staying motivated, but at the same time, it may not be the right reason or practical to invent a product with claims, such as it will suppress the appetite. Facts and studies should have been her primary focus.

Thin Gloss which contains Hoodia, is the herb she has chosen for weight loss due to it's purported benefit of fooling the brain into thinking the stomach is full. She also claims she lost weight herself using her Thin Gloss product. Her earnings in the previous year were $26,000.00, but wants to leap to her whopping million dollar dream with only $18,000.00 so far in sales in the current year. She was needing $80,000.00 for a 20% stake in her company. I wondered would the team of sharks be duped by this intriguing product?

Shark Attack

Well the sharks were true to form, and they didn't create their wealth because they were ignorant. Kevin Harrington, the infomercial king, immediately addressed the weight loss claims, stating the FDA is clear on this and inquired if she has performed the clinical studies to prove her claims. She stated she had not, but an FDA attorney advised her she was okay and how she can present it. In looking at her presentation, it is clear she was ill advised or did not take heed as to his advice....I am betting on the latter. When pressed further she continued to defer to her FDA attorney, which meant she did not have or know the answers and tried without success, to spin away from the actual science or facts. Blood was in the water and the sharks were circling now....it appeared there was no hope.

They also inquired about her future sales and how she thought she would attain the million dollar sales she was shooting for. She told tales of India distributors wanting her products, and was ambiguous on others that were willing to promote her products. Despite her efforts to make her claims and the direction she was going with overseas distributors, the sharks were skeptical and viewed it as a way for her to get around the weight loss claims since they are not as stringent in some overseas nations. But with that, they actually were very accommodating to try and educate her on how this industry actually works and what she would be facing. They even went as far as to warn her about doing business with overseas distributors and of those that will gladly take her money and pretend to call themselves distributors, all at her expense with really no promise of actual contractual sales. I have learned over the years, choose incorrectly, and this would be the true dream killer and the demise of a business, ending deep in debt.

One of the sharks also addressed her in practical terms of earnings, and stated to go from the sales she currently held to a million dollars in a year, was not feasible, and for that he was "out". The others of course, after much challenge to her weight loss claims and pointing out repeatedly the problems with her far out claims of weight loss, all stated they were "out". The legality of the claims and how ugly the FDA can be if claims are not proven with the proper clinical trials, would put them in some serious hot water once the company became large enough for them to notice. And April Morris did nothing to alleviate their concerns through providing the direction she was going to take the company.

I was so happy to see the savvy behavior of the sharks that I have come to admire and enjoy learning from. I shouldn't have doubted for a minute they would be fully aware as I watched each one of them come up with the smart questions, even though I waited and watched with bated breath.

You can watch the episode of Shark Tank with her featured products by Clicking Here.

UPDATE 01/23/12: Video has since been removed. No new link provided at this time.

Instructions for watching her clip: Once the page opens, you'll have to sit through the first set of commercials, then once the status bar comes up for the opening of the show you will see white segment dots on the status bar. Click on the 3rd one from the left start spot of the video. You'll then have to endure another set of commercials, but then her entire segment will play out without further commercial interruptions. Unfortunately you cannot bypass these ads.

What's Next For April Morris

I was so excited for April initially, to see a fellow entrepreneur have her few moments in the limelight, especially an entrepreneur in the cosmetic industry....and of course I was ready to take notes. Although, her excitement was apparent, it was a disappointment to see she was clearly ill prepared, and it appeared she believes whatever anyone who is out to make a buck off of her, will feed her, and this will be to her detriment. She also is not well versed on FDA regulations or FTC regulations. Along with the FDA, the FTC would actually be the entity that would be the harshest on her company, imposing significant penalties and fines, even to the point of banning her products or shutting her down. As the sharks stated at the end of the segment, "she is currently flying under the radar, but once she comes up above it, BOOM, foot comes down and big trouble."

I was so hoping she would heed their advice, because I really liked her, and in my opinion, the time, money, and mistakes they just saved her, was worth more than a million dollars. I am also about pursuing one's dream, but it must be done with a smart outlook and a savvy consciousness of what you are really offering to customers, including promises made.

On The Path Of Success Or Failure

Time will tell on this one.....She has definitely created a curiosity of something different and perhaps innovative in the minds eye of the media, but the science does not back the claims being made. In doing further research of Thin Gloss, I located the website, and sadly April did not heed their advice because though the show just recently aired, it apparently was taped 2 years before. She is still purporting weight loss with her lip gloss showing before and after images and a video where she continues to imply the lip gloss will suppress the appetite by inhaling the aroma and offer healing vibrational energy by applying to the lips, including testimonials from customers. The only thing I did see change is her purchase price.

She also goes on to state in her Frequently Asked Questions, that her products are being manufactured in an FDA certified facility which in theory is why her products are safe.

I don't wish to be callous here, but I wished April had done her research and focused her attention on how our industry operates rather than simply focusing on her personal goal of making a million dollars in a year, otherwise she would not be making such statements in violation of FDA Law or she would not be being duped by those that wish to only take her money. I admire her vision, but not at the expense of touting falsehoods and preying on women's need and desires to lose weight....this type of marketing can be at the expense of her credibility. In fact, the website promotes more like the infomercial brands.

To be clear, FDA does NOT certify cosmetic manufacturers for any product they create. Also by making this statement, it implies the FDA endorses the company and the products they make. This is a huge no-no with the FDA and they can send a cease and desist letter on this statement alone. The manufacturer of her lip gloss maybe FDA registered as we are, but certainly not certified. FDA only certifies medical devices and facilities performing state of the art operations in medical care such as an FDA certified mammogram facility.

Thin Gloss has the typical FDA disclaimer at the bottom, however, the FTC cares little for these and does not remove the liability from the company if they decide to make an example of them.

ABC Eye Witness News did a story on her products, click here for the article and video, giving an overview of Thin Gloss and other lip gloss products making weight loss claims. So it would seem, though the media is giving these products some attention, it is more about finding out the science behind the claim. Furthermore, Thin Gloss apparently is not so new or innovative since others are also out there making same claims.....color me surprised.

Damage Control

Since the airing of the show, April has made a YouTube video about the show, further reinforcing her products are made in a facility that is FDA certified for safety, and has also gone on FaceBook and in her video, trying to explain, the reason for the need of the investors money was so she could do the clinical studies to prove her claims. Unfortunately, again this is not what she stated. She made it clear, she needed the money to stay afloat, stating at her opener "I have invested everything I have and I am running out of money." However for the sake of argument, if it were for the studies, she again, did not make this clear, nor did she do her homework. Clinical studies can reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars range.....but based on her expression when this was pointed out to her on the need for clinical studies, she seemed genuinely surprised by this tidbit of info.

She describes independent studies of her own with family, friends and others and their successes, but these are not controlled studies and only serve at best to make sure of any reactions to the products, or to see if they like the product. Their results to weight loss claims cannot be scientifically supported and bias can be a factor. Any scientific study, if done, would then carry her lip gloss into the drug category, hence why it costs a small fortune to prove such claims.

It would be prudent for her to cease her claims until such time as she performs the clinical trials, but I don't believe for a single second this is her main objective....it is more about sales as it is clearly defined in her representation of her products and her motivational story.

Why The Interest On My Part

What and how she presents her products to date, can affect me and my company as a whole, as well as other Indie manufacturers. The reality of what Thin Gloss offers to women goes beyond the scope of practicality. It also creates a huge liability for her as a company if the FTC should take notice, especially if the growth of sales is due to weight loss promises.

Not only that, but with new legislation on the books for the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 being reintroduced, and the EWG and Campaign for Safe Cosmetics honing in on cosmetic companies making certain claims or not doing the proper pre market testing or transparency of ingredients, it is her actions with her lip gloss that brings only further ammunition and scrutinizing to the forefront of these entities complaints.

Most companies large and small go out of their way to safety test and challenge test the products they sell. But unfortunately, there are a small number that want to make a fast buck and will purchase their products from commercialized mass production outfits offering cheap products based on volume buying. Whereby, slapping their label on it without any of the investment of sweat and tears that goes into making a superior product. Apparently Thin Gloss is just another one of those. This is not the rule generally within Indie companies, but it is hurtful to our motivation and endeavors for keeping our industry safe and to protect consumers with plain and simple science and facts within the beauty industry.

I personally have invested much money, sweat and many tears into formulating my mineral cosmetics...I have done extensive research and development, been involved at a legislative level with other industry leaders and have provided through ongoing education the clarity and updates when made available, how and why our industry is ever changing.....including updated science and information on cosmetic and skincare ingredients as a whole. And when I see those that step into my market with little facts or knowledge, and they make claims that will shed doubt on the industry as a whole, it really frustrates me since my company's future is at stake depending on legislation. Money can be the means to an end, but it should never be the motivating factor, only the reward that comes from placing customers in high regard, not treating them like mindless lemmings which will fall for the next gimmick to hit the shelves.

These people only make our lives tougher and our fight that much harder to keep legislation from crossing the line of over regulation and suppression of the entrepreneurial expression, regulation that will not bring about safer products, but will quash the endeavors of those that believe in safe, natural industry products, including April Morris' Thin Gloss.

The saving grace for Thin Gloss, is because it is being commercially mass produced they are certainly using historically safe cosmetic ingredients, based on what I could attain on the ingredients. But with April Morris as the face for the company, the misinformation she is spreading is a detriment to the industry as a whole. Her media attention is also not keeping her under the radar, making her fair game for media and other scientific bodies to challenge and criticize her unproven weight loss claims, and I am sure she, along with others, are being watched by the NGO watchdog groups.

The FTC Is Clear

Making weight loss claims is a huge legal liability for companies and requires big bucks to prove such claims. Independent studies or historical facts mean nothing to the FTC, even with ingredients, as I have stated in past articles, ingredients, though purported for healing and curative benefits, unless the product containing "said" ingredients is tested clinically, cannot bear these claims due to efficacy and changed chemistry of the formulated ingredients.

They will fine, penalize, even remove products from market and shut you down if they receive complaints in large numbers. This is part of the problem though, since FTC admits, it does not have the resources to actively enforce all of those that step over the line unless they do reach a sales volume that can make penalties substantial. They do provide education for consumers and hope they will take the information to heart to keep from being duped by those that want nothing more than to empty your wallet.

Provided below are links to information to help understand and protect yourself from bogus claims that suck many of us into trying:

FTC Weight Loss Marketing Claims And How They Do That

Bogus Weight Loss Detection Guide

FTC Takes Legal Action On Those That Make Weight Loss Claims

Hoodia Manufacturer Comes Under FTC Charge

These examples are why Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank tried so emphatically to get his point across to April Morris of what she was facing with her claims. And as it goes to the money issue, the FTC, not the FDA, is now requiring for those that make weight loss claims to be supported with not one, but two studies performed by different researchers to see if the study will duplicate with another peer review.

Hoodia for one, must be ingested, not smeared on the lips or inhaled to provide the suppressant effect Thin Gloss purports. So unless you are eating the lip gloss in large amounts, this pitch of weight loss is bogus and will not do anything since it also cannot be absorbed through the skin, similar to those purporting bogus weight loss patches. The only exception to possibly curbing the appetite may be due to you not wanting your lip color to come off, but that's about it for this lip gloss.

Final Thoughts

I admire April Morris and her stoic behavior while maintaining a smile as the sharks shut her down. Personally, I probably would have become a pile of goo under the same onslaught. Also, it is not my intention to be hurtful, and if she reads this at some point, I hope she will view this as an attempt to pass along information so as to clarify much of what she thinks to be true and valid, is in fact, completely false and just plain wrong. She must see the legal side of the situation, and I certainly realize the challenges in her life she has faced contribute to her story.

Many of us share similar stories....but reality must play a larger role here and I believe she is choosing to ignore it, or it is for lack of funds, lacks the know-how, or she simply doesn't want to spend the time and energy. My only wish for her, is that she goes beyond being a motivational speaker and enthusiast and really hunkers down and researches our industry, and becomes involved in the real issues our industry faces in the future. Finding a mentor for her and her business would be money well spent and to also get involved with others that are closely involved with the legislative process the beauty industry faces today.

But perhaps it is not her purpose to change her tactics since to remove the weight loss claims.....well essentially it then becomes just another nice lip gloss doesn't it? .....and isn't this purported benefit what makes Thin Gloss unique?...... with some great skin softening ingredients I might add. The addition of cinnamon for the lip plumping action could prove to be an irritant for some, so make sure you identify what is in the product for allergen possibilities since she also does not disclose her essential oil and fragrance blends .....and mystery is never a good thing, especially under the argument for new legislation in this area, of which I do concur.

I am a proponent to ingredient transparency because I believe it is crucial and imperative for customer trust, and something I personally strive for, always.

Cheers and have a Happy 4th Of July.....celebrating our Independence Day.

Hydrating Mineral Makeup - It's Simply Fun Chemistry

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:13:00 +0000

Is That Water In My Mineral Makeup?

There are several mineral makeup brands that have decided to become innovative with mineral makeup by providing hydration to the skin. Now one would think this is impossible since minerals need to be kept dry, let alone the fact that when any liquid is added, the need for preservatives becomes necessary.

"Hydrating" and "cooling" are the catch words to intrigue the customer, and I myself was also very interested in how this is done. And as many of my readers know, I dig and probe way beyond the typical review and investigate how this is possible.

Are we dealing with another marketing gimmick here, I ask myself?
Absolutely, and it is ingenious to be sure.

The three mineral makeup blends I located touting this new and surprising twist on the mineral makeup market are listed below:

Revlon Colorstay Aqua Mineral Makeup

Ingredients: Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (3.7%); Inactive Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Mica, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Boron Nitrate, Lauroyl Lysine, Sodium Chloride, TrimethylsiIoxysilicate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Cocos Nucifera Water (Coconut), Viola Tricolor (Pansy) Extract, Methicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolindinyl Urea, May Contain (+/-):, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499)

Almay Wake Up Hydrating Mineral Makeup

Ingredients: Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide (3.7%). Non-Medicinal/Other Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Mica, Silica Dimethicone Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Boron Nitride, Sodium Chloride, Lauroyl Lysine, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Viola Tricolor Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf (Green Tea) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Methicone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Potassium Sorbate, Diazolidinyl Urea. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499).

Bare Minerals Hydrating Veil

Ingredients: Water (Aqua); Corn Starch Modified; Zea Mays (Corn) Starch; Oryza Sativa (Rice) Lipids; Silica Silylate; Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract; Lonicera Caprifolium (Honysuckle) Flower Extract; Lonicera Japonica (Honysuckle) Flower Extract. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891); Mica (CI 77019); Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163); Iron Oxides (CI 77491); Iron Oxides (CI 77492).

The Claim To Fame

Now the first two products are all but identical until you remove the few irrelevant botanical ingredients from Almay brand and then they are exact in their ingredient profile. Well is it any wonder, since Revlon is the parent company of Almay. The location of the botanicals on the list are hardly going to do much for the skin, but make for a nice marketing concept.

They also have provided some questionable preservatives for maintaining a bacteria free zone based on their efficacy. Potassium Sorbate, will do nothing to stop the growth of bacteria, but will help fight mold and fungi. Diazolidinyl Urea has shown some microbial protection along with being a fungal and mold inhibitor, but some are concerned about it also being a formaldehyde releasing agent.

My only curiosity with much skepticism, is the ingredient profile of Bare Minerals Hydrating Veil. It absolutely does not make sense in the chemistry context of how they achieve the addition of water as the main ingredient without making the minerals muddy, pasty or gloppy. Plus the lack of preservatives is also a red flag since adding water to stored rice powder or corn starch in a jar is an absolute haven for growth of bacteria at a rapid rate, including yeast and mold....so I have to wonder if their ingredient deck is true and accurate, if not, I would be more concerned about contamination of this product.

How Do They Do That?

Water is the highlighted ingredient in all three products for delivering hydration and cooling effect to the face. However, the minerals may feel cooling, but they are not hydrating at all, well maybe for a few minutes, since water evaporates relatively quickly and the magic ingredient will dehydrate once again, since the delivery of the water is actually cool technology provided through chemistry.

The magical ingredient is Sodium Polyacrylate. This ingredient is also known as waterlock, it is a polymer with the chemical formula [-CH2-CH(COONa)-] and is widely used in consumer products. It has the ability to absorb as much as 400 to 500 times its mass in water. There are some scientists that believe it can also absorb up to 1000 times its weight in water depending on its polymer blend or derivative status.

For the most part, this ingredient is a derivative of what they use in disposable diapers to help absorb quickly and to keep the baby bum nice and dry and free from diaper rash. The original polymer used in the diaper world cannot be used in mineral makeup since this is a gel like substance, while the light and fluffy version they use in minerals would make the diaper explode.....now there's a visual! The derivative ingredient Sodium Polyacrylate can be used to gather liquid chemical spills on roadways, yet is is also used to create fake snow and has the similar fluffy, dry feel that is found in mineral powders, yet cool to the touch, which is how this chemical can be milled into the powders.....

Chemistry Is Fun Stuff

Now below is a super fun video discussing the science and showing the before and after of this remarkable ingredient and it will provide the answer to how two of these mineral makeup brands achieve the application of water as the main ingredient while keeping the minerals dry. He also explains the ability to it feeling quite cool when handled. Now if you can't see the video below due to RSS Feed and Email you can see it by clicking on the link to the article: Hydrating Mineral Makeup - It's Simply Fun Chemistry.

As to the Bare Minerals version, stating again, I find the ingredient list a bit dubious based on achieving these results in the minerals as shown in the video. Without this type of chemistry, I have to wonder if the ingredient deck is purposely less than accurate since doing something like this would not fall in line with bare minerals mantra of not using synthetic chemicals. Yet Silica Silylate, is included in the mineral makeup as it is in the other two with their version being Silica Dimethicone Silylate, both used as anti-caking agents. I find this marketing on behalf of bare minerals to be deceptive and disingenuous. In order to be innovative instead of remaining true to the Leslie Blodgett philosophy, the ingredients used in this mineral makeup formula fall outside of her ideals today.....not necessarily a bad thing since certain synthetically derived ingredients can improve performance and increase benefits of skincare and makeup, but she has always been about avoiding certain ingredients.

However, to be fair, it may have absolutely nothing to do with her since Shiseido purchased her company back in January 2010 for 1.7 billion dollars and all reviews and purchases seem to be after this date. Shiseido is definitely an industry leader and may have decided they wanted to compete with more commercialized brands by using comparative technology.....but without the magical ingredient used in the other brands, I would like to know how the addition of water is accomplished, or why it is not on the ingredient deck?

Do These Mineral Makeup Powders Perform?

Well the majority of women who have tried Almay and Revlon remarked positively on the cooling feel and thought their brush was wet for the most part, but also noted they felt it to be chalky, gritty, silken, shiny, glittery, weird odor, had terrible coverage and no staying power. In fact many who reviewed these products including YouTube gurus, if they liked it, stated it was better as a setting powder rather than as a foundation since the consensus seems to be universal as to, the coverage was poor.

This maybe why bare minerals (Shiseido) chose to utilize this technology in a mineral veil since it proved to not have the capability to provide coverage based on the composition of the products. It may actually cause a symptomatic problem of adhesion if you listen to the video about it not being able to compress. But yet again, many who reviewed this mineral veil also found it to be chalky, gritty, or gave a weird glitter ball or greasy look to the skin. Some even reported it to be excessively pink and shiny.

Gimmicks Are Always Just That....

As I wrote about Almay Smart Shade last week, it is clear to see that marketing gimmicks in the beauty industry are alive and well. For the consumer they provide a fun and unique experience, yet in most instances they fall short of what they claim....fun and unique will only go so far without performance.

Sometimes when things become too gimicky they lose the benefits of what we as manufacturers, really want to achieve and provide to the end user.

I love gimmicks, I love how they work in most cases, especially when dealing with a truly fun harmless synthetic chemical which does cool stuff when it is applied to water, such as fake snow or in mineral makeup. But if cooling effect is all it can provide, yet falls short of what women are really wanting and needing, such as excellent coverage without looking aged or like they just stepped out of a "Dance Fever" movie, then the gimmick will not sustain the product purchases.

Only time will tell if these too will eventually hit the discontinued graveyard of the products that went before them.

But you certainly don't need a gimmick with our mineral makeup since we use cooling ingredients anyway, which can be activated with the use of the Moist Method application. This provides a similar effect to the products listed above, yet will be clean and safe every time you use it without the risk of bacteria and mold growth. Water is water, (only used distilled or a moisture mist spray such as Perfect Balance Facial Toner on the brush), and water doesn't need to be a part of the ingredient profile but can be used when your heart desires, except with improved results of providing excellent coverage without the cakey, aged look, and achieving a velvety soft, flawless complexion.

Myth Buster: Makeup Magically Changes To Match Your Skin Tone

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:16:00 +0000

Magic In A Makeup Bottle

Okay, I have been seeing the commercial for Almay Smart Shade, and they clearly do a great marketing job at drawing in the consumer by giving the illusion, when you apply this liquid foundation to the face, it will magically change to match your skin tone.

Marketing techniques have always fascinated me, and some have done an excellent job at sucking me in as well, but when it comes to my industry of beauty, it is the marketing play on words or processes that I hone in on.

Is It Really Magical?

Well it certainly appears magical since during the Almay commercial it can intrigue the viewer as they watch the white emulsion begin to turn color as the makeup is applied.

What is actually happening: Tiny encapsulated color beads (polymers) are suspended in what amounts to a liquid sunscreen, which in its initial form is white in color. As the makeup is applied, friction from your fingers pressed against the skin, opens up the capsules, releasing color onto the face, and then is dispersed throughout the emulsion as you continue to apply it to spread the color uniformly until it appears to match your skin......nothing magical about that, just chemistry.

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (4%), Zinc Oxide (2.1%)

Inactive Ingredients: Aqua/Water (water, eau), Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Talc, PEG/PPG 18/18 Dimethicone, HDI/Trimethol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Nylon 12, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Alumina, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Trisiloxane, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract (grape), Centaurea Cyanus (Cornflower) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Root Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Galactoarabinan, Acrylonitrile/Methacrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Boron Nitrate, Alcohol Denatured, Methicone, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Silica, Ammonium Polyacrylatedimethyl Tauramide, Tetrasodium EDTA, PVP, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, May Contain (+/-): (CI77891), Iron Oxides (CI77491, CI77492, CI77499), Zinc Oxide (CI77947)

Description Of Product from Almays Website:

Finally, a foundation so smart it knows your perfect shade. Breakthrough shade sensing technology starts out white, adjusts to right, perfectly matching your skin tone.

New! Magically transforms into your ideal shade!
SPF 15

Takes the guesswork out of finding the right shade

colorless makeup transforms into a shade that complements your skintone
infused with soothing aloe
works best if you wear neutral, beige, sand or warm foundation
hypoallergenic
won't clog pores
takes the guesswork out of finding the right shade

Similar concept is available in a blush and bronzer with similar ingredients to the foundation above, only they do include dyes and lakes as colorants and no sunscreen ingredients.

They also offer the anti aging version pictured above with a higher level of sunscreen, some additional peptides, rice protein, and excluded the parabens and aloe in this formula.

Product Reviews

For the most part, the reviews have been mixed on the liquid foundation in all three shades. However most lean toward complaining about not matching even closely, or turning their skin orange, melting off the face, causing acne, skin itched, or no coverage at all.

Those that seem to enjoy it are open about the fact, they like a minimalist look or have perfect skin with no flaws. While others point out, they seem to also have the perfect skin tone to use one of the three shades offered.

If you don't fall into this shade category then I guess the makeup falls short of their shade sensing technology. They sort of make this point in one of their bullet comments about what shades you need to fall under for best results.....sounds kind of non-magical to me.

The blush version of this product, including the bronzer shade...... well the majority absolutely hated this product, with comments of, made them look unnatural, clown like, gloppy, cakey, and it required an accumulative amount to achieve any real color on the cheeks at all.

The Gimmick Truly Lives On In This Product

At best, the foundation is a chemical sunscreen product using the best sunblockers available on the market, to be sure. But I cannot know whether they are nano scale or not, but it is more than likely they are, due to the sheer nature of this foundation. Otherwise women would observe good coverage with better opacity which are the attributes of these two sunscreen minerals, and again why they are used in mineral makeup.

The pigment polymer beads come in a limited color range for achieving the magic on the face. If this product could really color sense your skin tone then why would they have 3 distinctive actual shades in a very limited color palette for you to choose from?.....hmmm.

Also, this product is loaded with silicone oil derivatives which is why some women complained of now having acne when they never had acne before until using this product. This much dimethicone can be a pore clogger, and in all likelihood they are using nano scale sunscreen ingredients which can further contribute to acne.....making their claim of "won't clog pores", contradictory to the ingredients used.

Plus the claim to fame of infusing Aloe Juice into the product.....well I can assure you, based on its' location on the label it is at a ratio behind the "water", "talc", "polymers" and "silicones", which will have little result for any actual skin soothing benefit. In fact, there are many potential skin irritants and allergens in this formula based on the extensive list of film formers and preservatives, including parabens.

If we stop and really examine most of the marketing jargon pragmatically, and not purchase on impulse based on these claims, we would certainly save ourselves a lot of time and money.

However, for those that are initially intrigued by the commercial, before the novelty wears off and the reality sets in of "just another liquid foundation", it certainly could be fun to try just to check out the concept. But it is hardly magical.......to be redundant!

Cheers!

Cooling Facial Masks For Sunburn

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:16:00 +0000

Oops I Did It Again

Summer sun and fun are here again and no matter how responsible we are to make sure we apply our sunscreen each and every day, sometimes we get to having too much fun in the sun and we get that first sunburn of the year. Or we are convinced, it isn't hot today or we want to beat the days' heat, so we don't wear our sunhat or apply any makeup or sunscreen, just so we can get outside and take that walk or have an early game of tennis or golf, or a nice long bike ride in the fresh air. Unfortunately, temperatures don't go hand in hand with Suns' powerful UV rays. It is based on how high our sun sits in the sky. The longer the days, the more intense UV rays become.

Remember the hours to avoid full sun exposure unless you are doing your Vitamin D synthesis for 15 minutes that day, are between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.

Besides wanting to kick ourselves in the hiney and curse ourselves for not being more careful as we see the lovely cherry red begin to blossom by days end, we have one thing on our mind, to get cooling relief and to speed healing as quick as we can.

Sunburns are painful and are no laughing matter when they are severe. I personally have to constantly protect my nose since it always seems to be the one area of my face that catches all the rays. So wide brim hats are the order of the day for me, over and above using my mineral makeup, because some days I don't put on my minerals if having a lazy day around the house....and of course it seems to be those days that I spend the most time outside....good one!

Two Cooling Facial Masks

Today I wanted to share with everyone these wonderful face masks which you can also use on other areas of the body if need be. First and foremost, during the blossoming of your sunburn, keep cleansing simple, gentle and easy and use cool rather than warm water on your face and body.

Cooling and Moisturizing Mask

Combine 1 tablespooon of FULL FAT PLAIN yogurt with 1 teaspoon runny honey. If the honey is too thick, simply warm in the microwave for a few seconds.

Optional, if you have it available, add 3-4 drops of lavender or chamomile essential oil to the mask for their soothing and calming properties.

Apply to clean face and allow to sit on the face for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse with cool water, followed by your favorite moisturizer.

Question: Why Use Full Fat Yogurt? Because it is loaded with lipids, so it will provide the essential moisture the skin needs after a sunburn since a sunburn is very drying and damaging to skin.

You can use this everyday until the face feels and looks better.

Cooling and Pain Remedy Mask

In a blender or food processer, mix 200 mg aspirin, 1 small PEELED Cucumber and a 1/4 cup of Aloe, making sure it is alcohol free. Once it is transformed into a paste like consistency, refrigerate for 15 minutes and then apply to clean skin and leave on for 30 minutes, followed by a cool water rinse.

The aspirin will give a mild analgesic effect to the skin for pain, while the cucumber and aloe provide the healing and cooling effects to the sunburn.

You should apply this mask 2 x per day until the sunburn improves. Store the remainder mask in an airtight container in the fridge for up to several days, after that discard and make fresh. But after a couple of days your skin should feel greatly improved.

For Cooling Skincare

ONATI Skin Care products are excellent for keeping skin cool, hydrated, well moisturized, while using gentle, natural exfoliating ingredients to keep skin clean and clear.

So no matter your skin type, we have the solution for all women who suffer from varying skin maladies to having perfect skin.

My Medical Disclaimer:

Of course I am in no way a doctor and I am not giving medical advice, nor has the FDA validated any claim as to the benefits or efficacy of these recipes.....blah, blah, blah. I am just a gal who has on more than one occasion, burned my skin going out and enjoying a bit of yard work, only to regret my decision to not wear my sunhat or apply my mineral makeup foundation first.

However, this year, I have been very savvy ever since my skin cancer removal. These recipes are based on past experiences before I got my wake-up call.

As always, determine an allergy by testing a small patch on the skin first. If you have an allergy to aspirin do not add to the cucumber and aloe mask. They will still work well with exception of not having the pain reliever added. And of course in the event of a very bad sunburn, such as blistering, seek medical attention.

Also despite the once practice of sun lamps, acne is not cured by exposing our faces to sunshine, so keep covered up. It is and always will be about occlusion and bacteria in pores.

Have a lovely weekend and don't forget your sunscreen, otherwise you'll pay for it later in more ways than one.....speaking from experience.

Cheers

Is Your SPF Protecting Your Face Or Body?

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 26 May 2011 11:32:00 +0000

Sunny Days Are Here Again

As we turn the corner toward summer and the many outdoor activities which are a big part of enjoying our sunny hot weather, now is the time to refresh our SPF in our sunscreens, to which this includes mineral makeup and liquid foundations.

Many of us think that our sunscreens and mineral makeup powders, and the SPF that is provided will sustain for as long as we own the product, especially if the product is preserved. But then, after a long day spent out in the sun, we end up with a sunburn even though we slathered on the stuff. Unfortunately, preservatives have little to do with keeping a sunscreen from degrading due to oxidizing and deterioration of the sunscreen ingredients. Preservatives are for the benefit of keeping mold, fungi and bacteria from contaminating the product only.

You can still experience sunburn if a product that has been kept for more than a year, is used. It is always best to purchase fresh sunscreen every year, including any mineral makeup foundations you have had for the same time frame. Over time, light, air and humidity all play a key role in deterioration of the ingredients necessary for keeping the sun at bay. Especially with liquid sunscreens since they will actually breakdown faster than dry powders. The perfect reminder can be marked by the onset of summer, such as Memorial Day Weekend.

Mineral Makeup Is Not Fool Proof

Many mineral makeup companies tout the ability to protect the skin from the suns' rays due to the sunblocking ingredients Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide within the formulations. Both of which are highly photo stable and have now been shown by the EPA to not be photocatalytic. And some companies have possibly spent the hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to receive their SPF rating through the FDA approved testing, but one thing that seems to never be mentioned in those infomercials or other websites, is how much must be applied to sustain the level of sunscreen being claimed.

In the case of liquid foundations, the SPF rating can be achieved similarly as any application of a straight sunscreen product due to how the coverage is achieved, especially since most are using synthetically derived ingredients. With mineral makeup, coverage is subjective to what the user wishes and when using mineral makeup, in most cases, it takes far less to achieve nice coverage than say, a typical liquid formula. The reason?......minerals have more opacity which in turn gives better coverage with far less of the makeup being necessary.

Sunscreen coverage, in the case of mineral cosmetics, can be as low as a 4 to as high as 20 SPF. The average being claimed is around 15. This range is based on literally how much is applied and would not generally exceed this number. It also depends on whether the sunscreen main ingredient is Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide or a mixture of both, the latter providing the best protection.

Then of course if a liquid makeup or liquid sunscreen is being used which contains synthetically derived sunscreens, the user will find these are far more unstable and less photo stable than the ingredients found in mineral powders. This is why it is recommended to reapply every 2 to 4 hours depending on the level of activity.

Finding The Best Protection

Mineral makeup will provide some protection, but remember that it will only go as far as how much is applied. To achieve the higher SPF claims made by many other companies, the minerals would literally need to be applied with a heavy hand, which means you will also look made up and in many cases the basic mineral makeup formulations can get mask like and cakey on the face.

Women enjoy nice coverage with the use of very little and achieve a nice flawless complexion using a light hand. However, this also offers far less SPF protection which may be on average, in the low range of sun protection factor.

With the two ingredients being used as main ingredients identified as sun blocking ingredients, there is no doubt an SPF will be achieved on the skin, but it would take experimentation to see to what degree the face is protected from getting sunburned. One thing to remember also, is darker foundation shades have a lower SPF available due to the reduced levels of the minerals which not only create sun protection but are how color is lightened, whereby darker color, less zinc or titanium is being used.

Dermatologists Recommend

The actual recommendation put out by dermatologists is to supplement all makeup, whether it is in the form of mineral makeup or liquid foundation with an actual FDA approved sunscreen.

Why?.......because sunscreens are not designed to add color or camouflage our skins' imperfections the way makeup does, but at the same time we can't glop on our makeup, minerals or otherwise, since this would make us look completely unnatural.

Sunscreens are designed to disappear into our skin through the use of nano scale particles so we do not get that white cast to our skin, whereby we are achieving the full level of SPF determined during lab testing with a single application. Also, this is achieved only, as long as we follow the recommendation of dermatologists, which is a shot glass worth for our entire body to achieve the recommended SPF claimed by the manufacturer.

The only confusion for many women is the reapplying of their liquid sunscreens when they are wearing makeup, since this is not practical. Again another reason why the preferred choice to supplement a facial sunscreen is with the use of mineral makeup. The staying power and the photo stability of minerals far exceeds any other form of sunscreens and is always the perfect compliment for additional protection outlasting your liquid sunscreen. So the sustainability is further improved. Personally, I have never sustained a sunburn on my skin using just my minerals over my ONATI Skin Care, however I do like to use medium coverage to conceal past sun damage more so than going sheer.

Best part in using our mineral cosmetics, is you can touch up if necessary with so little, especially for keeping skin looking perfect if you are out in the sun for extended periods. And you'll rest in the knowledge they will not cake, melt or fade, and will always remain natural looking despite the level of application you may or may not do throughout your day of outdoor activity.

The Best Choice

For the ultimate in protection and for keeping your face as natural looking as possible, continue to use a combination of your favorite sunscreen and our mineral makeup, which will be the best for lasting throughout your day. But if you can't stand the feel of a liquid sunscreen on your face, then simply experiment with your application of our minerals to see what level of sun protection you achieve.....and don't forget our mineral powders are exceptional for absorbing excess perspiration during those outdoor sport activities, keeping you looking fresh and beautiful even in our hottest days ahead.

One more added protection, buy yourself a stylish sun hat and physically block the sun from your face. Just remember to be aware of bounce off reflection of the sun since you can still burn from this type of sun exposure. (pools, patios, sand, windows and any other reflective surface)

I have only learned all too well the damage the sun inflicts as I recall the removal of my basal cell carcinoma from my left temple, last fall.....followed up tomorrow with my Dermo to see how things are going. You can barely see the scar anymore.....he did a great job. So please protect your delicate face since it is also the most susceptible to sunburn and damage.

Beauty Tip: If you are wondering at what point to apply a liquid sunscreen....wash, tone and moisturize with your favorite skincare regimen first, followed by your sunscreen and then apply the mineral powders.....basically doing what your skin loves first, followed by the protection necessary for keeping your skin from further sun damage.

Have a Safe Memorial Day Weekend and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and their loved ones overseas.

Cheers

Does Skin Really Breathe?

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:56:00 +0000

Do We Breathe Through Our Skin?

Many of us have seen the phrases associated with cosmetic and skincare products, "allows skin to breathe" or "won't allow skin to breathe" or "will oxygenate the skin." The last phrase is used to sell some skincare products by insinuating that the skin takes up oxygen or is somehow oxygenated giving a plumper, fuller look to the face.

I did an article many moons ago about this very thing on a product that claimed to do just that, but the reality is, it certainly falls short of being proven or actually accomplishing this miraculous feat. For those of you that may have missed this article Oxygenating Skin Creams - Do They Really Work?, take a peek and find out what is really nothing but marketing hype, which also includes an article in response to such claims provided by Dr. Benabio, Dermatologist. It is actually quite humorous. Plus you will learn what ingredient can and will create an oxygenation process on the skin which in turn helps to fight acne.

The other phrases are really more about conveying the function of ingredients and are more or less a metaphor for products that are not occlusive (pore clogging). I have even used these terms as a way to inform that many of our mineral makeup and skincare ingredients perform well without causing problems to skin, basically allowing skin to breathe....but this is not to be taken literally, only to metaphorically assure our customers that they shouldn't cause problems or pose health issues related to acneic conditions.

The term breathable has also been used based on many applications of skincare or pancake type makeup as being so heavy and thick that it makes women feel uncomfortable, as though they are weighing skin down, essentially a feeling as if they are suffocating their faces. That is why so many skincare applications are now being created with a lighter consistency, removing mineral oil and waxes by providing formulations which are feather light with herbal extracts and botanical ingredients, and why mineral makeup is also becoming so popular, due to how light it feels on the skin.....not as though you just applied a heavy layer of grease or oil to the face.

True Oxygenation Of Skin

The fact is, our skin receives its oxygen through our circulatory system which is provided by veins and capillaries under the skin, not through any product applied to our skin or by taking a walk out in the fresh air. The skins main function is to act as a protective barrier to our bodies, which also makes skin rather impermeable, and is why most OTC skincare and makeup products will not pass further than the epidermis. Nanotechnology on the other hand is another subject and is being created for delivery of medications through patches applied to the skin, but makeup and skincare products do not fall into this category due to the particle size of most ingredients.

This is similar to those that claim that applying something topically that doesn't allow our skin to breathe is also preventing our skin from releasing toxins from our bodies. Well the good news is, this is not the skins function to perform this task, but is the job for the liver and kidneys. The only toxins that your skin may release are those that are produced in the form of a bacterial function, such as those that suffer from acne or cystic acne. Clear the pore of dirt and debris, pore clogging sebum, and the bacterial toxin that is produced by propionibacterium acnes, and this will allow the pimple to heal.

If your skin can perspire, then your skin will breathe, metaphorically speaking. Makeup or skincare products will not prevent our skin from perspiring so this action helps to flush out dirt and debris which plugs pores, but only if we make sure to wash it all away. Allowing perspiration to sit on the face for prolonged periods can contribute further by blocking air flow, whereby experiencing a plugged pore. Headbands, hats and certain types of clothing contribute to acne issues by again blocking airflow to that part of the body.

That is really the gist of it.....nothing more, nothing less. Since the bacteria in acne is anaerobic, then oxygen is what kills it since oxygen is aerobic and is why the phrases are used to describe skincare and makeup products as "allows skin to breathe" with the emphasis that it won't cause acne.

So in short, our skin does not literally breathe and our skin is not a sponge of all things that come in contact with it, but a barrier that resists most things applied to it including being able to swim and stroll in the rain. I think that is also why many of us enjoy warm weather since we are able to wear as little clothing as possible, which literally feels good on our skin.....I don't know how many times I have said to myself, how great if feels to let my skin finally breathe after a long winter and have the sun warm my bones or a summer shower bathe me with cooling rain.

Have a lovely weekend!

Over The Rainbow For Moms Everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Katherine@SterlingMinerals) — Thu, 05 May 2011 12:35:00 +0000

For Your Special Day

There aren't too many of us that don't know the song "Over The Rainbow" by Judy Garland. A song that was made famous in the movie the "Wizard of Oz".....my favorite movie when I was little, and it lives on today in the memories of my own children, while continuing to create future one's for generations to come.

My memories of a more innocent time are still vivid, and I cherish the time I spent into adulthood with my mom and grandma. They both molded me to be the person I am today. Unfortunately, my mom passed away in May of '83 and my Gran passed in March of '86, so my children never enjoyed the richness these two wonderful women could have brought into their lives. So the task fell to me to not only be a mother and to share the many things these ladies taught me, but to also be a grandmother to both of my kids as they grew up. It was a balancing act of an abundance of love, discipline, education, tempered with a guided touch and spoiling them whenever possible.

And of course there is nothing more amazing than the relationship between mothers and daughters, and I am so grateful and blessed to have received such a gift since my family was full of men after my two mentors passed. She and I share so much, including our love of the Wizard of Oz....and she has grown into a beautiful and independent woman....thanks Mom and Gran, your prayers are everlasting.

I hope you all have a lovely Mothers Day....and have many memories to cherish with your children, mom, or grandma. For this mothers day, I simply wish to offer all of you a piece of that rainbow through the voice of an angel who created his own rendition of such a beautiful song, taking us back to a simpler time. He too, also passing well before his time, but he has left us a piece of his legacy of beauty and calm in these tumultuous times. Peace and Love!

If you are unable to view this due to Email or RSS Feed you can see it on YouTube by clicking HERE.