HERBAL FIRST AID KIT

GREAT KIT / GREAT GIFT
Great for home, work and locker from P'lovers of Hallifax

ANTIBACTERIAL HAND SANITIZERS

Upon seeing my friend use an antibacterial gel on her 2 year old daughter (Princess Gabriella), I was compelled to add non toxic antibacterial gels, spray's and wipes tout d' suite.

IT'S SCARY!

Here is an easy to find brand in the U.S. for those of you in the U.K. there's Bentley's Organic Antibacterial hand sanitizer.

My personal favorite in a really petite bottle (ideal for travel and handbag is) a nice 1 oz bottle by Joppa Minerals

BADGER,BURT'S BEES & SKEDATTLE NATURAL MOSQUITO REPELLENT

WITH ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS:
DEIONIZED WATER, VANILLIN, CITRONELLA OIL, LEMONGRASS OIL, PEPPERMINT OIL, POTASSIUM SORBATE,SODIUM BENZOATE

Ingredients: glycine soja (soybean) oil, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) oil, thuja occidentalis (cedar) leaf oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, cymbopogon nardus (citronella) oil, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower oil, geranium maculatum (geranium) oil, tocopherol

AND

FOR QUICK TOUCH UPS AND EASY TO KEEP IN THE POCKET OR HANDBAG (SMELLS GREAT TOO) GOT COMPLIMENTS THIS WEEKEND.

THE TOXICITY OF SUNSCREEN

Dr Mercola's comments about sunscreen................
"Toss your sunscreen in the trash if it contains any of these chemicals I consider to be potentially harmful."

* Para amino benzoic acid…
* Octyl salicyclate…
* Avobenzone…
* Oxybenzone…
* Cinoxate…
* Padimate O…
* Dioxybenzone…
* Phenylbenzimidazole…
* Homosalate…
* Sulisobenzone…
* Menthyl anthranilate…
* Trolamine salicyclate…
* Octocrylene
Then add the Octyl Methoxycinnamate aka PABA and lanolin. (Glycerin too, if you're allergic or have sensitive skin)


"Harmful chemicals such as dioxybenzone and oxybenzone are some of the most powerful free radicals.

So if your sunscreen contains dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or any of the other chemicals I just revealed, I highly recommend you switch to a formula that is safe and healthy for your skin.

And a note to moms … You are undoubtedly very conscientious about caring for your children. But when you lather up your son or daughter with sunscreen thinking you’re doing the right thing, you could in fact be doing more harm than good.

So check the labels on your sunscreen, and throw them out if they contain any of the potentially dangerous chemicals named above. After all, your skin is your largest organ, as your child’s skin is theirs".


THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS
EVERYTHING ELSE HAS LANOLIN OR GLYCERIN OR BOTH (GLYCERIN IS AN ALLERGEN) IT'S A FILLER BY-PRODUCT FROM SOAP MAKING(SAPONIFICATION) ADDED TO PRODUCTS. IT'S NOT NEEDED.GLYCERIN CAN FLARE UP ECZEMA SYMPTOMS IN THOSE WHO HAVE IT ALREADY.

BADGER SUN LOTION
IT'S SAFEST FOR YOUR CHILDREN
AUBREY ORGANICS' TEA TREE SUN SCREEN LOTION

Soléo Organics Sunscreen
( For those of you in the U.K. and west Europe )
Ingredients:grapeseed oil, macadamia oil, green tea extract, roman chamomile extract, sunflower oil, capric/caprylic triglycerides (plant oil derived), beeswax, theobroma butter, candelilla wax, lecithin, vegetable oils, cucumber extract, tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E) ACTIVE INGREDIENT: zinc oxide 22.3%
AND TRU KID SUNNY DAYS STICK

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BADGER SPF 15, 30 PLUS LIP BALM AND BABY BALM AVAILABLE NOW
AT CHICAGO'S "A COOLER PLANET"AND Merz Apothecary
To find these products just Google the item in Google "Shopping" search bar.

Quick Picks June 2008

For anyone overwhelmed with the large amount of product links. Here are my quick picks.

MIESSENCE products
100% Pure
TERRESSENTIALS products
PHYTS products
AND
SOAP NUTS for absolute purity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For deodorant
Lafe's, Terressentials deodorant , Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Spray Mist, Miessence or Bees Herbal Deodorant
(Burt's & Naturally Fresh are findable at Whole Foods)

Note: Lafe's has deodorants with and without glycerin. If you're not allergic/or don't mind glycerin in your deodorant then use their stick deodorant. If you want glycerin free then their spray and roll on have none.

Shake bottle first before using any roll ons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For cosmetics
Honey Bee Gardens, THE REJUVA BAKED LINE, ENNVOY MINERAL FOUNDATIONS & WET/DRY LINER EYE SHADOWS and 100% Pure (100% Pure can be found @ Skin1 in Chicago or ordered online)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cleansers & Exfoliants
Terressentials cleanser
Miessence Cleansers and Exfoliants
and 100% Pure's
Organic Seafoam Facial Cleansers
100% Natural & 100% Vegan and no glycerin!
and Lush's Sweet Japanese Girl,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anti aging serums
Miessence
POMEGA5 ESSENTIAL MOISTURE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aubrey Organics Mens Shave Cream (For purchase or product info)
Aubrey Organics can be found at Whole Food Stores
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shampoo and hair wash
Terressentials Hair Wash
Miessence shampoo
and
Aubrey Organics'
GBP & Camomile shampoo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Facial Cream by
PHYTS products
MIESSENCE products and

Pomega 5
and for something close to home
Aubrey Organics'
Sea Buckthorn & Cucumber with Ester-C Moisturizing Cream
with NO GLYCERIN and great for persons who break out.
(Purchase at Whole Foods)

SPOTLIGHT PRODUCT

POMEGA 5 POMEGRANATE MOISTURIZER

This is an organic product!
If you're in Chicago you can purchase 100% Pure's equivalent at Skin One on Lake Shore Drive. Or order online along with your other 100% Pure products.

LEARNING THE GREEN RULE OF THUMB IS JUST PLAIN HARD

Lot of these products are mostly vegan, vegetarian and 100% organic. Some of these makers do make non vegan or vegetarian items, as well as items that are NOT 100% organic either. Make sure when purchasing a product, you read the ingredients carefully. When something says "Organic" it doesn't mean that it is necessarily 100% organic. It just means that the botanicals within are organic. More times than not, there are dodgy ingredients added to organic botanical products. Most often they are toxic. Origins, Aveda and Natures Gate are 3 for example. Some of the product links on this blog, sell products that have mostly all vegan or vegetarian products that are 100% organic, but not exclusively. Be careful when ordering things online. Learn to recognize the logos. Keep in mind that homemade products like the ones at Lush Cosmetics are not necessarily good for you just because they were made from scratch. Never take for granted that something, for instance, kaolin (a clay) is good for you because clay comes from the Earth. Or an herb/root like comfrey is good for you. Taken orally it has caused liver damage to pets and humans. Do you want that in your body wash, toner, after shave splash or balm? Bentonite and kaolin aren't toxic but they clog and suffocate the skin, which causes old looking skin. (Trust me, I've consulted with the experts) Cornstarch and rice powder (cosmetic grade) are an oil humectant (draws oil out of the pores), but they can make acne worse as it is a source of food for bacteria. Bismuth found in many brands of mineral makeup, is a cheap filler and clogs pores also. Now bare in mind when shopping, 100% organic botanicals are what you want, and if you know the ingredients are pure and vegan, don't worry about seeing something like 99% or 99.9% organic. That just usually means there's a 1% or less fragrance in it. The product will always have that info listed on its label. Now go look at your personal care products ingredients. See if you have to worry.

It took no hesitation for me to throw them out and change. I had one reaction too many, and I have Cancer patients near and dear to me going through a lot this year. So I'm saying "no" to fake stuff.

I've told people to stop using artificial sweetener for 1 month and see if their headaches would stop. Two people I know addicted to the fake product, stopped having headaches. I think it's worth a shot to buy more pure products if you are a headache sufferer. You never know. Many ingredients in personal care products are also linked to headaches, brain tumors or worse.

SAFER DEODORANTS AND DEODORANT POWDER

The magnitude of women getting breast Cancer each year, is higher than your odds of winning a pick three winning lottery ticket once a year. It's scary.
And the one main reason why I decided that aluminum based anti-perspirants are not for me. I decided to quit, of course with much hesitation due to the
potential "stink factor". It took a few bucks worth of trial and errors, but I've found some that are better. Terressentials deodorant. And another by Lafe's. See LAFE'S.COM
I'll be going to A COOLER PLANET
at 2211 West Roscoe St for some Terressentials on Saturday the 21st.
And will hope to report within weeks.
I've been using two at the moment. A few squirts of the Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Spray Mist and when it dries, I then spray on one burst of the Burt's Bees outdoors herbal deodorant (for some scent). Their herbal deodorant has very few ingredients. This combo really works for me.

INGREDIENTS: for Lafe's Deodorant: purified water, natural mineral salts, aloe vera, potassium alum. (Add lavender)

INGREDIENTS: for NutriBiotic's Body & Foot Powder:
* Treated Corn Starch - Heat treated corn starch to absorb a greater volume of moisture. You can actually eat this.
* Silicone Dioxide - A food-grade flowing agent added to prevent clumping of the powder.
* Grapefruit Seed Extract - Added for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Helps to curb yeast growth and support generation of healthy skin.
* Tea Tree Oil - Another all natural antibacterial, antifungal herbal oil.

INGREDIENTS: for Burt's Bees Herbal Deodorant:
SD Alcohol 40-2 (from yellow corn), water, sage oil, lavandin oil, lemon oil

6 SAFE INGREDIENTS

These following ingredients are ingredients you may find in a body wash, or shampoo or conditioner. They're safe. You may not have seen them before on ingredient labels because you're used to seeing the "usual suspects" on the label, e.g. P.E.G., lauryl sulfate, laureth, dimethicone, etc. So the next time you see all these ingredients below, a shampoo or personal care product. IT'S O.K. Buy it. But look at all the other ingredients first.
Tocopherol - Vitamin E
Decyl glucoside - is a mild non-ionic surfactant used in cosmetic formularies including baby shampoo and in products for individuals with a sensitive skin. Many natural personal care companies use this cleanser because it is plant-derived, biodegradable and gentle for all hair types.
Sodium Coco Sulfate - is a naturally derived alternative to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in flake form. SodiumCocSulfate is derived from pure coconut oil. It can be used in a wide variety of personal care applications in which viscosity building and foam characteristics are of importance. The product formulates similar to synthetic alkyl sulfates, but is less defatting to the hair and skin. SCS being less soluble than synthetic alkyl sulfates leaves the skin and hair with a conditioned feel. It can be incorporated into shampoos, hand soaps, bath products, shaving creams and medicated ointments. It is especially useful for opaque, pearlescent, or cream products.
Polyquaternium-7 -Is a clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid. In cosmetics and personal care products, it is used in a wide variety of products including shampoos, hair conditioners and other hair products, bath soaps and cleansing products. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Polyquaternium-7 was safe as used in cosmetics and personal care products.Belongs to the phytoalexin class of phytochemicals.
Resveratrol - is found in grapevines (Vitis vinifera L). It occurs in the vines, roots, seeds and stalks, but its highest concentration is in grape skins. Wine also contains resveratrol. Preliminary research results demonstrate that resveratrol may have anti-infective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers believe that resveratrol is partially responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects of red wine. Epidemiologic and clinical studies suggest that high consumption of resveratrol-rich foods may result in reduced cardiovascular disease risk, lowered total cholesterol, and lowered LDL cholesterol. Resveratrol's antioxidant properties may again be the mechanism at work in reducing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
Monopotassium glutamate - is a potassium acid salt of glutamic acid. This compound is a non-salty MSG preservative alternative.

OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

YES, I threw out all my Aveda, Origins, Darphin, La Prairie, Lancome, Urban Decay, and The Balm make up, skin care and hair care products out.

There was so much fake/toxic and dodgey stuff in these products I really could have screamed.

I told myself that they were nearly empty anyway, to make myself feel better about the big toss out. They were full of parabens, talc, lanolin, mineral oil and glycerin. They had toxic things in them like lauryth sulfate, laurel sulfate, P.E.G., DEA, propylene, aluminum and artificial colors as well.

So I went shopping to see what they had at Sephora. Not much. Very little so I left. I then walked to the Bare Escentuals store and after hearing the guys rave about how there were only 5 ingredients in their Bare Minerals make up, and saw bismuth in the minerals. I also saw carmine in all the blush and some of the eye colors I looked at. I walked out. Bismuth is as bad as aluminum and is toxic and a cheap filler. Carmine is something that we'd probably all had adverse reaction to and didn't even suspect.

You will not see the vegan logos on mineral products, or the organic logo because these are minerals only, and the logos do not apply here. There are no botanicals in this mix. A little mica is o.k. Earth minerals usually don't give people allergic reactions, when used in conjunction with a green regime.

So I went home and shopped online. Got samples of mineral makeup from Joppa. The Simple Radiance and Morning Dew lines have no kaolin. These minerals have a natural SPF and I loved the samples. So far Miessence looks like they have the best liquid foundation, according to their ingredients list. There is no Cyclomethicone in their foundation. Yet they have beetle juice in some of their highly priced eye powders. Haven't tested it yet. For a great blush my personal favorites are Eternal Beautyé and 100% Pure's Sugar Plum sheer. (I don't like 100% Pure's shimmers. It's like a light tinted almost clear lip gloss which doesn't show any color after a half hour.) But the blushers without the shimmers are awesome. (Caution: 100% pure uses carmine in their lip color. If ordering online, ask them if there's carmine in their other blush colors.) There are no artificial colors or fillers or clays in Eternal Beautyé. My sugar plum sheer does not have carmine in it but you always want to still check the ingredients list before purchasing. I finally got a chance to go to Skin1 in downtown Chicago at 680 N Lake shore Drive, while on vacation a few days ago. Their hours are 9 to 5 - 6 days a week. Skin1 sells the 100% Pure line and they're getting more brands for the summer/fall season.

You're ahead in the game if you avoid carmine aka beetle juice, kaolin, talc, rice powder, and bismuth in your make up. Carmine also is known to color shampoos and nail polish.

For those of you who are sceptical about my disgust of things like talc, lanolin, and carmine just Google "toxic ingredients" or what ever else you want, and the Internet will give you all the sites you need as proof. Maybe carmine isn't toxic per se. But it can be harsh and cause reaction. (See ingredients list) Then there are unnecessary cheap fillers in cosmetics like bismuth. And unnecessary glycerin in most everything else. Usually you don't know what kind of glycerin it is and that's not good. There are different kinds and if you don't know which is in your product of choice, better to avoid it altogether. It's an un-necessary by-product and a cheap filler that's not needed in a face cream, body cream, serum, shave cream or shampoo.