Wow, what a hiatus that was! I could give you my excuses: lack of inspiration, I was planning a wedding, working lots... but that doesn't really help anyone! Point is, I'm back with another blog entry:)... and since by now you've all probably stopped following my blog, now I'm going to make you swoon with my awesome & original recipe.
I've raved about chia seeds in the past (taste-less little guys full of omega-3s, fibre, protein & to top it off they help regulate your blood sugar to avoid spikes & falls & keep you full longer), and recently I created a new breakfast meal with them that makes me excited to get up in the morning! (No, really, alongside my loose leaf Earl Grey tea, the thought of it is all it takes to get my butt out from under those cozy sheets!)
Here's what ya need:
2 tbsp chia seeds (I used the black ones)
1 cup boiling hawwttt water (careful!)
cinnamon to taste (1/2 tsp for me) (my spice of choice: full of fibre, manganese, and calcium, & boasts many body benefits!)
your fave yogurt (natural, organic is a pretty good way to go...)
fruit: you can never go wrong with fruit; usually with this meal I use blueberries, peach (both important to buy organic), or kiwi (not as important).
Here's what ya do:
Put on some awesome upbeat music to wake up yourself up (Matt&Kim... or Aqua anybody? Be happy!...)(this step is not optional)
Take your chia seeds & put 'em in a bowl, and add the cup of boiling water. Let sit for at least 5mins, or until it looks more like a pudding than a liquidy water with seeds in it - with a spoon you'll be able to tell that the chia seeds have absorbed the water and altered the consistency from what you originally had (another awesome part of being a chia seed - when eating them this way you are contributing toward your daily water quota ;)
Add some cinnamon on top
Cue that yogurt!
& top it off with your fruit of choice! Stir things together a bit if you wish, or keep it organized.... the contrast of hot/cold chia/yogurt is really yummy, + you get all the benefits of your chia seeds, cinnamon, yogurt, and fruit! Look at you in your bad-self, having a healthy breakfast that tastes awesome and will keep you full! ;)
Alterations: if you need a bigger breakfast, add 1/4c. oats & an extra 1/2 cup of water when you're mixing your chia & boiling water. Dice some almonds and throw that in for some extra protein. If you don't like cinnamon, try to find a spice you do like, or something else to add, because the cinnamon is responsible for a lot of the flavour in the breakfast (since chia seeds are tasteless and roll with the flow, blending in with the crowd of flavours they're hanging with.... sans cinnamon this would be a pretty bland and un-get-out-of-bed-worthy breakfast). Maybe some flavoured yogurt would do it for you? I've already been creative, so now it's your turn!
Have a lovely day guys!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Yucky Fillers In Your Foods
Manufacturers use preservatives/additives in their foods to improve shelf-life, decrease the growth of mold, and enhance the appearance & flavour of the food. Chemical additives are in frozen meats to keep them from going rancid, in the packaging of your breakfast cereal to keep it from going stale, and sprayed on your oranges to make them look more ripe & appealing. These chemicals have no nutritional benefit to the consumer, and in fact, have been linked to all kinds of damage in the body - most commonly cancer, but also brain-nerve disruption, diseases such as Alzheimers & Parkinsons, and the leaching of important minerals & vitamins from your bones.
Try to avoid:
- BHA & BHT
- Aspartame (it turns into formaldehyde once it gets in your body or is in temperatures above 30 degrees, and was turned down by the FDA 6x over 16 years before it finally got approval - after some shifty job swaps on the board)
- Acesulfame-K
- Sodium Nitrite / Nitrate
- Potassium Bromate
- MSG
- Fake colours (made up of petroleum, acetone, & coal tars) - blue 1 & 2, red 3 & 40, yellow 6, green 3.
Here's some info. about the colourants (which you can find all over on the web):
Blue 1 and Blue 2: Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.
Red 3 & 40: This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.
Yellow 6: As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including baked goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.
Green 3: Has been linked to bladder cancer.
Go here for a more detailed explanation of the direct effects of some of the above mentioned additives (or google "dangers of food additives").
In everyday life it can be difficult attempting to avoid all of the above mentioned additives (we all seem to want food that is convenient, but it's tricky to find convenient, quick meals that aren't loaded with nasty crap), but making small changes (like choosing naturally-coloured Smarties instead of artifically-coloured Skittles as your treat du jour), can really make a big difference to the health of your body over time, and especially your children's. Read your labels & drink lots of water - this can help flush out some of the toxins that are sneaking by. So can eating your fruits & veggies - foods & drinks that fight free-radical damage can trap some of the nasties that preservatives & additives release in your body, and help them pass out of your system.
PS. Processed sugars could very well be referenced in this entry as well, but I spent an entire entry on it last time around! & I'll have you know I have been successful in greatly reducing my chocolate consumption -- so there's hope for any other guy or gal out there; give it a try!
Try to avoid:
- BHA & BHT
- Aspartame (it turns into formaldehyde once it gets in your body or is in temperatures above 30 degrees, and was turned down by the FDA 6x over 16 years before it finally got approval - after some shifty job swaps on the board)
- Acesulfame-K
- Sodium Nitrite / Nitrate
- Potassium Bromate
- MSG
- Fake colours (made up of petroleum, acetone, & coal tars) - blue 1 & 2, red 3 & 40, yellow 6, green 3.
Here's some info. about the colourants (which you can find all over on the web):
Blue 1 and Blue 2: Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.
Red 3 & 40: This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.
Yellow 6: As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including baked goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.
Green 3: Has been linked to bladder cancer.
Go here for a more detailed explanation of the direct effects of some of the above mentioned additives (or google "dangers of food additives").
In everyday life it can be difficult attempting to avoid all of the above mentioned additives (we all seem to want food that is convenient, but it's tricky to find convenient, quick meals that aren't loaded with nasty crap), but making small changes (like choosing naturally-coloured Smarties instead of artifically-coloured Skittles as your treat du jour), can really make a big difference to the health of your body over time, and especially your children's. Read your labels & drink lots of water - this can help flush out some of the toxins that are sneaking by. So can eating your fruits & veggies - foods & drinks that fight free-radical damage can trap some of the nasties that preservatives & additives release in your body, and help them pass out of your system.
PS. Processed sugars could very well be referenced in this entry as well, but I spent an entire entry on it last time around! & I'll have you know I have been successful in greatly reducing my chocolate consumption -- so there's hope for any other guy or gal out there; give it a try!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
So Long *I mean Good Riddance, sweet tooth
As of late I have been attempting to be more conscientious of my sugar intake, that is, reducing it (not counting those that occur naturally in fruits & veggies). It's been really tough trying to consume less chocolate (I eat it every day, & Easter sure as heck did not help my case)(& I am unfortunately not talking about the good-for-you organic dark chocolate), but as I am becoming more educated as to the consequences of regular consumption of processed/refined sugars (which my chocolate is loaded with, not to mention the outrageous fat content), the war in my thought process which is prompted by sweet goodies is becoming an easier one to fight.
Food Sugar for thought: At the end of the 19th Century the average American consumed 5lbs of sugar per year. Today the average American consumes 2-3lbs of sugar per WEEK. (Sorry I don't have Canadian stats, boo.) Along with our sky-rocketing sugar intakes, so to have our statistics for occurrences of heart disease & many other ailments soared.
Did ya know that sugar is actually addictive? Fo realz, it causes changes in your brain similar to that of drug use. Dopamine (a "feel good" neurotransmitter in your brain) levels jump when you consume foods containing sugar, which makes your body jump for joy. And so your brain ends up in a cycle which points you back to sugar again & again because it enjoys being in that happy feel good zone. (Sidestory: in college my Psychology of Drugs & Behaviour professor regularly wrote letters to the author of our course textbook recommending sugar be included in the content, right alongside cocaine & heroin.) This sugar-induced dopamine cycle is not a good one to be stuck in considering all the negative effects sugar can have on your health.
Sugar decreases your body's ability to absorb many minerals & vitamins - nutrients key to your body performing optimally, along with good bone health. It also has a negative affect on your immune system (your body's ability to fight off bad guys like cold bugs or the flu, also your body's defense against occasional flaws in cell reproduction... abnormal cell growth can result in cancer). Sugar increases free radical damage, such as the aging of your skin. Sugar increases fats in the blood & decreases 'good' cholesterol. Sugar causes cavities (when combined with the acid in the mouth, chemicals are formed which dissolve enamel). Excessive sugar intake can result in Type 2 Diabetes. Considering how it affects the brain (not only does it alter the production of Dopamine, but of Serotonin & Norepinephrine, too), it could play a role in mood disorders such as depression (in fact decreasing sugar intake can increase emotional stability). Why expose yourself to all of these risks just for a brief analgesic sugar hit? There are tons of other ways to get those feel good neurotransmitters high, without the negative side effects - try walking or running, stretching, a heart-to-heart with a friend.
Here are some ways sugar can be disguised on a label: sucrose, fructose, maple syrup, molasses, dextrose, turbinade, amazake, sorbitol, carob powder, glucose, high fructose corn syrup.
Next time you're jonesin' for a sugar hit, reach for an apple or some other natural source of sugars (carrots, peppers, bananas, strawberries, grapes... most fruits & veggies!) instead of processed nasties (dress up your veggies with yummy tzatziki or hummus). Avoid fake sweeteners like aspartame which imitate sugar and leave your body craving more sweetness. If you're going to indulge in a treat, making homemade goodies instead of purchasing them prepackaged helps you to see & control how much sugar you & your family are consuming.
Love your body & take care of yourself by limiting your crappy sugar intake - even if it's just a little baby step (like eating a chocolate treat every other day instead of every day or limiting your indulgence in sour candies to girls movie nights in); this can have HUGE effects on your health as the years go by. You'll be absorbing & storing nutrients better and your body will be able to function more optimally, resulting in a happier healthier you, & contributing to keeping diseases & ailments at bay.
Did ya know that sugar is actually addictive? Fo realz, it causes changes in your brain similar to that of drug use. Dopamine (a "feel good" neurotransmitter in your brain) levels jump when you consume foods containing sugar, which makes your body jump for joy. And so your brain ends up in a cycle which points you back to sugar again & again because it enjoys being in that happy feel good zone. (Sidestory: in college my Psychology of Drugs & Behaviour professor regularly wrote letters to the author of our course textbook recommending sugar be included in the content, right alongside cocaine & heroin.) This sugar-induced dopamine cycle is not a good one to be stuck in considering all the negative effects sugar can have on your health.
Sugar decreases your body's ability to absorb many minerals & vitamins - nutrients key to your body performing optimally, along with good bone health. It also has a negative affect on your immune system (your body's ability to fight off bad guys like cold bugs or the flu, also your body's defense against occasional flaws in cell reproduction... abnormal cell growth can result in cancer). Sugar increases free radical damage, such as the aging of your skin. Sugar increases fats in the blood & decreases 'good' cholesterol. Sugar causes cavities (when combined with the acid in the mouth, chemicals are formed which dissolve enamel). Excessive sugar intake can result in Type 2 Diabetes. Considering how it affects the brain (not only does it alter the production of Dopamine, but of Serotonin & Norepinephrine, too), it could play a role in mood disorders such as depression (in fact decreasing sugar intake can increase emotional stability). Why expose yourself to all of these risks just for a brief analgesic sugar hit? There are tons of other ways to get those feel good neurotransmitters high, without the negative side effects - try walking or running, stretching, a heart-to-heart with a friend.
Here are some ways sugar can be disguised on a label: sucrose, fructose, maple syrup, molasses, dextrose, turbinade, amazake, sorbitol, carob powder, glucose, high fructose corn syrup.
Next time you're jonesin' for a sugar hit, reach for an apple or some other natural source of sugars (carrots, peppers, bananas, strawberries, grapes... most fruits & veggies!) instead of processed nasties (dress up your veggies with yummy tzatziki or hummus). Avoid fake sweeteners like aspartame which imitate sugar and leave your body craving more sweetness. If you're going to indulge in a treat, making homemade goodies instead of purchasing them prepackaged helps you to see & control how much sugar you & your family are consuming.
Love your body & take care of yourself by limiting your crappy sugar intake - even if it's just a little baby step (like eating a chocolate treat every other day instead of every day or limiting your indulgence in sour candies to girls movie nights in); this can have HUGE effects on your health as the years go by. You'll be absorbing & storing nutrients better and your body will be able to function more optimally, resulting in a happier healthier you, & contributing to keeping diseases & ailments at bay.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Don't eat your chia pet, but DO eat chia seeds ;)
Different from my regular entries (I'm having a difficult time coming up with topics! I've covered the most important things in my opinion - staying away from parabens, pthalates, dmdm hydantion & other weird ingredients); I wanted to share a bit of knowledge about the super-healthy antioxidant-packed chia seeds!
Chia seeds are infamous for the crazy grassy hair they create on the tops of dirt characters, but have recently become referred to as a Superfood for consuming. Not only are they packed with antioxidants (which battle free-radical damage in your body like aging skin & inflamed tissue)(and are responsible for the fact that chia seeds can stay fresh at room temperature for 2 whole years), but with calcium, iron, & other vitamins and minerals too, as well as fiber. Not to mention they are a plant-based complete protein, which is good news for all you vegetarians & vegans out there. Chia seeds are also the richest plant source of Omega-3 fatty acids ("that healthy stuff in fish") - omega-3 oil is important in heart & cholesterol health. AND chia seeds aren't grown with any pesticides - awesome. AND they are fantastic at regulating blood sugar levels, keeping our bodies in balance.
This morning I added 1tbsp of chia seeds to my oatmeal (along with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, and fresh strawberries). Really chia seeds can be added to anything (smoothies, baked goods...) since the seeds do not have a flavour of their own. A recipe I'm inclined to try out involves adding milk to chia seeds (when mixed with water/milk chia seeds take on a gelatinous consistency), for an incredibly healthy tapioca-pudding-like treat. Give it a whirl when you're fixing for chocolate or want to try a new dessert!
All you need is chocolate almond milk & some chia seeds! The chocolate almond milk will provide sweetness (mmm chocolate) & good-for-your-bones vitamins & minerals, and the chia seeds will provide tons of excellent benefits like what I mentioned above. Resulting in a vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, healthy omega-3 fatty acid, fiber-packed vegan-friendly delish dish for you.
Updated recipe*
In a bowl, mix1 2-4tbsp chia seeds with 1cup chocolate almond milk. Let sit 20 minutes (in the fridge will keep your treat nice & chilly), stir & adjust liquid-seed ratio to personal preference and let sit again if necessary, and enjoy! *For me the 1tbsp was not enough, I found 2-4tbsp was a better consistency (or 1/3c. / 2c. liquid), and added a bit of natural vanilla yogurt for sweetness (since I used unsweetend almond milk).
If you google Chia Seed Pudding there are tons of variations of this recipe involving mashed bananas, vanilla extract, and other yummy ingredients. You can also use coconut, rice, or regular milk, depending on your preference.
Chia seeds are infamous for the crazy grassy hair they create on the tops of dirt characters, but have recently become referred to as a Superfood for consuming. Not only are they packed with antioxidants (which battle free-radical damage in your body like aging skin & inflamed tissue)(and are responsible for the fact that chia seeds can stay fresh at room temperature for 2 whole years), but with calcium, iron, & other vitamins and minerals too, as well as fiber. Not to mention they are a plant-based complete protein, which is good news for all you vegetarians & vegans out there. Chia seeds are also the richest plant source of Omega-3 fatty acids ("that healthy stuff in fish") - omega-3 oil is important in heart & cholesterol health. AND chia seeds aren't grown with any pesticides - awesome. AND they are fantastic at regulating blood sugar levels, keeping our bodies in balance.
This morning I added 1tbsp of chia seeds to my oatmeal (along with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, and fresh strawberries). Really chia seeds can be added to anything (smoothies, baked goods...) since the seeds do not have a flavour of their own. A recipe I'm inclined to try out involves adding milk to chia seeds (when mixed with water/milk chia seeds take on a gelatinous consistency), for an incredibly healthy tapioca-pudding-like treat. Give it a whirl when you're fixing for chocolate or want to try a new dessert!
All you need is chocolate almond milk & some chia seeds! The chocolate almond milk will provide sweetness (mmm chocolate) & good-for-your-bones vitamins & minerals, and the chia seeds will provide tons of excellent benefits like what I mentioned above. Resulting in a vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, healthy omega-3 fatty acid, fiber-packed vegan-friendly delish dish for you.
Updated recipe*
In a bowl, mix
If you google Chia Seed Pudding there are tons of variations of this recipe involving mashed bananas, vanilla extract, and other yummy ingredients. You can also use coconut, rice, or regular milk, depending on your preference.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Why You Should Switch To Natural Lip Care
Lip balm rocks... but what is in it & what is it actually doing to our lips? & what about it supposedly being addicting?
There are plenty of different brands of lip creations for you to choose from to soothe dry chapped lips, get some colour, protection from the sun, a glimmer. As a kid I was a sparkly smacker Bonnebell type of girl, as a teen I loved Carmex & DuWop's Lip Venom, and now... well I'm becoming a naturally-based product fanatic, so my old faves are out, and my new ones only need being borrowed by a friend once to make them a fanatic, too.
Lip moisturizers are centuries old - back in the day gals used to mix up concoctions including good-for-your-lips ingredients like beeswax, jojoba oil, shea butter, and the juice of aloe vera plants. However in more recent days commercially developed lip balms have flown the natural coop and delved deep into toxic make-a-company-tons-of-money-by-sabotaging-your-lips trench.
Natural ingredients work with your body promoting good lip health (taking care of the delicate & extremely thin skin on your lips) and protecting your lips from environmental factors such as wind & pollution. Toxic balms containing carcinogenic petrolatum and mineral oil -both derived from petroleum-, synthetic fragrances and flavours, propylene glycol, and human nervous system toxicant dyes (eg FD&C __), amongst other nasty ingredients can have the opposite effect: temporarily relieving your chapped lips & over the long haul in fact drying them out more - making you reach back for that balm again, and again, and again. Keep in mind that the pores on your lips are greater in size than those on your body and that you swallow & ingest pounds (that's right, pounds!) of lip stuff every year; it makes sense to be conscientious of what you are putting on (and therefor in) your mouth. + why would you expose yourself to those toxic concoctions when there are awesome alternatives?
Switching to a natural lip moisturizer is easy, and really won't cost you - there are tons of natural lip balms out there that are the same price as their non-natural counterpart. AND you get more effective, better-for-you care for your pout! Look for ones with ingredients like beeswax, almond oil, hempseed oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, sunflower seed oil. Beeswax seals in moisture as well as attracts it out of the air to your lips. Pure oils are excellent excellent moisturizers and can give your lips shine. Organic is best since the use of pesticides is obnoxious, and not good for you.
I've heard good things about Burt's Bees, however since they were bought out by Clorox and have started making less-than-natural switches to their ingredient lists, I've steered clear. Saltspring Soapworks has a great lip balm, as does Rocky Mountain Soap Company (in 5 yummy flavours). Cheeky Cosmetics has some nice tinted ones with a natural peppermint flavour. Pangea Organics has some that I've heard rave reviews about but have never tried myself. I'd love to hear if you have any reviews/favourites:).
There are plenty of different brands of lip creations for you to choose from to soothe dry chapped lips, get some colour, protection from the sun, a glimmer. As a kid I was a sparkly smacker Bonnebell type of girl, as a teen I loved Carmex & DuWop's Lip Venom, and now... well I'm becoming a naturally-based product fanatic, so my old faves are out, and my new ones only need being borrowed by a friend once to make them a fanatic, too.
Lip moisturizers are centuries old - back in the day gals used to mix up concoctions including good-for-your-lips ingredients like beeswax, jojoba oil, shea butter, and the juice of aloe vera plants. However in more recent days commercially developed lip balms have flown the natural coop and delved deep into toxic make-a-company-tons-of-money-by-sabotaging-your-lips trench.
Natural ingredients work with your body promoting good lip health (taking care of the delicate & extremely thin skin on your lips) and protecting your lips from environmental factors such as wind & pollution. Toxic balms containing carcinogenic petrolatum and mineral oil -both derived from petroleum-, synthetic fragrances and flavours, propylene glycol, and human nervous system toxicant dyes (eg FD&C __), amongst other nasty ingredients can have the opposite effect: temporarily relieving your chapped lips & over the long haul in fact drying them out more - making you reach back for that balm again, and again, and again. Keep in mind that the pores on your lips are greater in size than those on your body and that you swallow & ingest pounds (that's right, pounds!) of lip stuff every year; it makes sense to be conscientious of what you are putting on (and therefor in) your mouth. + why would you expose yourself to those toxic concoctions when there are awesome alternatives?
Switching to a natural lip moisturizer is easy, and really won't cost you - there are tons of natural lip balms out there that are the same price as their non-natural counterpart. AND you get more effective, better-for-you care for your pout! Look for ones with ingredients like beeswax, almond oil, hempseed oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, sunflower seed oil. Beeswax seals in moisture as well as attracts it out of the air to your lips. Pure oils are excellent excellent moisturizers and can give your lips shine. Organic is best since the use of pesticides is obnoxious, and not good for you.
I've heard good things about Burt's Bees, however since they were bought out by Clorox and have started making less-than-natural switches to their ingredient lists, I've steered clear. Saltspring Soapworks has a great lip balm, as does Rocky Mountain Soap Company (in 5 yummy flavours). Cheeky Cosmetics has some nice tinted ones with a natural peppermint flavour. Pangea Organics has some that I've heard rave reviews about but have never tried myself. I'd love to hear if you have any reviews/favourites:).
Monday, March 26, 2012
Small clean, green switches with Big benefits
Easy-peezy, cleaner, greener switches you can make to enjoy a cleaner, greener life:
{Self / Conserving Energy} -- washing your clothes
Swap out those perfumed, covered in beef fat (refer to previous entry), dryer sheets and soften&scent your clothes instead by adding 1c. of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your wash + an essential oil scented strip of fabric in the dryer. You'll decrease your exposure to hormone-disrupting pthalates, and if you throw in a full-size clean, dry towel to your dryer spin cycle you'll get a quicker more energy efficient dry! (Wash clothes in cold water for bonus points.)
{Self / Pollution} -- best produce to buy organic
Farmers use tons of weird chemicals to keep the bugs off your vitamin & mineral packed healthy choices, resulting in organic produce being the cleanest, greenest choice. But organic produce is pretty darn expensive, so here's a list of the top 12 to buy organic - these fruit&veg have the highest pesticide residue (aka the highest amount of chemicals coating & absorbed in 'em), so if you're going to buy anything organic, these should be on your list!
The Environmental Working Group's 'Dirty Dozen': apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, domestic blueberries, lettuce, kale. For more information (including 15 fruits & veg with the lowest pesticide residue, and therefor with the least organic-status priority) click here.
- Support local farms by buying their seasonal produce & decrease your contribution to around- & across-the-world shipments which emit toxic crap, damaging the environment.
{Natural Self} -- making up your face
If the task of switching out all of your fave chemical-laden makeup products is too daunting, consider aiming to switch out just the couple you use every single day, like foundation & mascara. Its the chemicals you are exposing yourself to on a regular basis that are accumulating in you, so feel good about a clean, natural foundation, and don't stress over that favourite MAC eyeshadow which you only smear on for occasional nights out. (My favourite mineral powder foundation is free of synthetic colours, parabens, nanoparticles, and other bad ingredients & my favourite mascara doesn't smear, flake off, or clump my lashes.)
It's probably a good idea to look at the moisturizer you are putting on your face every day, too (stay away from retinyl palmitate - vitamin A, when applied topically, has been linked to the growth & formation of tumors).
{Green World}
- Unplug electronics you are not currently using to save energy - like that blow-dryer that is still plugged in from this morning, or the cell-phone charger constantly attached to the wall.
- Take a walk instead of a drive! Your health, gas tank (read: pocketbook), and mother earth will thank you. It's raining?... Sweetie, you're not going to melt (some of my mother's wisdom for ya).
- To remind you of the obvious: Turn off lights when you leave the room! Same goes for heaters when you're not home, or when you've got a window open. & that barely-leaking tap in your bathroom? Fix it pronto.
- Cut 5 minutes off your shower-time: you'll save 15-25 litres of water per minute. Set a timer for yourself to make sure you keep within your limit (my bathroom light can be set to turn off after a certain amount of time, and if I don't wash fast I'm stuck shaving my legs in the dark). & turn off the tap while you are brushing your teeth.
- Be conscious of the products you are washing yourself with, which are then washed down the drain. Use shampoos, conditioners, soaps, & washes that are biodegradable.
"Don't think of it as inheriting the earth from your parents, but as borrowing it from your children."
What are your top tips for a cleaner, greener self & world?
PS if you have anything you'd like to see me write about, let me know! My creative juices have not been flowing lately! :p
{Self / Conserving Energy} -- washing your clothes
Swap out those perfumed, covered in beef fat (refer to previous entry), dryer sheets and soften&scent your clothes instead by adding 1c. of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your wash + an essential oil scented strip of fabric in the dryer. You'll decrease your exposure to hormone-disrupting pthalates, and if you throw in a full-size clean, dry towel to your dryer spin cycle you'll get a quicker more energy efficient dry! (Wash clothes in cold water for bonus points.)
{Self / Pollution} -- best produce to buy organic
Farmers use tons of weird chemicals to keep the bugs off your vitamin & mineral packed healthy choices, resulting in organic produce being the cleanest, greenest choice. But organic produce is pretty darn expensive, so here's a list of the top 12 to buy organic - these fruit&veg have the highest pesticide residue (aka the highest amount of chemicals coating & absorbed in 'em), so if you're going to buy anything organic, these should be on your list!
The Environmental Working Group's 'Dirty Dozen': apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, domestic blueberries, lettuce, kale. For more information (including 15 fruits & veg with the lowest pesticide residue, and therefor with the least organic-status priority) click here.
- Support local farms by buying their seasonal produce & decrease your contribution to around- & across-the-world shipments which emit toxic crap, damaging the environment.
{Natural Self} -- making up your face
If the task of switching out all of your fave chemical-laden makeup products is too daunting, consider aiming to switch out just the couple you use every single day, like foundation & mascara. Its the chemicals you are exposing yourself to on a regular basis that are accumulating in you, so feel good about a clean, natural foundation, and don't stress over that favourite MAC eyeshadow which you only smear on for occasional nights out. (My favourite mineral powder foundation is free of synthetic colours, parabens, nanoparticles, and other bad ingredients & my favourite mascara doesn't smear, flake off, or clump my lashes.)
It's probably a good idea to look at the moisturizer you are putting on your face every day, too (stay away from retinyl palmitate - vitamin A, when applied topically, has been linked to the growth & formation of tumors).
{Green World}
- Unplug electronics you are not currently using to save energy - like that blow-dryer that is still plugged in from this morning, or the cell-phone charger constantly attached to the wall.
- Take a walk instead of a drive! Your health, gas tank (read: pocketbook), and mother earth will thank you. It's raining?... Sweetie, you're not going to melt (some of my mother's wisdom for ya).
- To remind you of the obvious: Turn off lights when you leave the room! Same goes for heaters when you're not home, or when you've got a window open. & that barely-leaking tap in your bathroom? Fix it pronto.
- Cut 5 minutes off your shower-time: you'll save 15-25 litres of water per minute. Set a timer for yourself to make sure you keep within your limit (my bathroom light can be set to turn off after a certain amount of time, and if I don't wash fast I'm stuck shaving my legs in the dark). & turn off the tap while you are brushing your teeth.
- Be conscious of the products you are washing yourself with, which are then washed down the drain. Use shampoos, conditioners, soaps, & washes that are biodegradable.
"Don't think of it as inheriting the earth from your parents, but as borrowing it from your children."
What are your top tips for a cleaner, greener self & world?
PS if you have anything you'd like to see me write about, let me know! My creative juices have not been flowing lately! :p
Monday, March 19, 2012
the Beautiful Skin Regime... for spotty skin & spot-pickers
Although I'm ashamed to admit it, I'm a picker (& I'm not talking about my nose). If I get a spot (or even a non-spot that is the same colour as my complexion and looks like it could maybe possibly become a spot), I can't ever seem to keep my hands away from my face - always, always, making my visage's situation worse. However, after years of: pimples & blackheads, trying to make them go away, and then having to follow-up with damage control when I make the situation worse, I have come up with a near full-proof procedure which I follow when one of those unsightly bumps strikes (& I proceed to pick)... *this is also a great preventative treatment:).
Night-time treatment for a blotchy face (aka the Beautiful Skin Regime)
1) Wash your face good & clean - I like using Rocky Mountain's natural soap with grapefruit because it is mildly astringent and makes my face feel squeaky clean.
2) Follow up with a moisturizing oil that doesn't clog your pores (if you're looking to buy one, Rocky Mountain has one with rosehip oil which is ah-mazing. Alternatively you can use pure sweet almond oil, apricot oil, or grapeseed oil, among others... do some research for what sounds best to you!) In my experience even if I feel like I've put on too much & that my face is 'oily', by the time I wake my face is happy as a clam (and soft as a... not-clam?)
3) Spot treat with pure tea tree or lavender essential oil - dab it on & it will moisturize as it kills bad pimple causing bacteria. Pure steam-distilled essential oils are the greenest & cleanest - don't waste your money on ones diluted in alcohol or other weird ingredients that don't need to be on your face.
Stay away from drying facial cleansers with sulphates (synthetic de-greasers) & other yucky ingredients which strip your skin of its natural oils (throwing off your face's natural oil balance) and can result in spottier skin. Fact: your face produces oil to moisturize itself, so when you strip those natural oils you cause it to go into overdrive to reproduce the oils your washing off = opportunity for newly produced oils to get trapped & give you a spotty complexion! Alternatively, using a cleansing oil (there are certain types of oils which will not clog your pores) to wash your face, and/or a facial oil to moisturize brings your skins natural moisturization system into harmony. It does this by mimicking your face's natural moisturizer (sebum), while dissolving the grime that has accumulated on your face over the course of the day. This means your skin can focus on healing and looking great instead of occupying itself attempting to meet its moisturization-happiness quota... and because your skin will have time to do things other than hyper-moisturize a natural-oils-stripped-by-facewash face (since your new oil-based regime will keep your skin's moisturizers in place), those spots disappear a whole heck of a lot faster!
A couple mornings / week, scrub off the dull, dead, surface skin cells of your face with a gentle facial exfoliator to promote healthy turnover of skin cells, + a healthy glow :).
DIY cleansing oil/moisturizer: last week I made my own moisturizing facial oil, and to my delight I seem to be preventing spots from appearing at all! Result: instead of treating them, they aren't there to begin with, so I don't even have the opportunity to pick & make my situation worse! Hallelujah!
Here's what I mixed in a small glass jar: 50mL sweet almond oil, the vitamin E from 3 Vitamin E capsules (natural preservative, good for your skin, & will help minimize appearance of scars over time), ~10 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil (I add both!). Try to find a jar which has a pour-top so you don't have to dunk your fingers in (which can contaminate it).
I also use this moisturizer on my neck & decolletage, and if I pour out too much I'll use it on hands, arms, legs, wherever. It's great, inexpensive, and gives ya beautiful skin all over.
Yahoo for naturally beautiful skin :).
PS please tell me you are not following up your natural Beautiful Skin Regime by slathering on chemical-laden makeup products... What chemicals in my makeup? you say... maybe I will lecture you on that later! In the meantime check out my fave website, The Cosmetic Database (& search the ingredients in your current moisturizer or foundation).
Night-time treatment for a blotchy face (aka the Beautiful Skin Regime)
1) Wash your face good & clean - I like using Rocky Mountain's natural soap with grapefruit because it is mildly astringent and makes my face feel squeaky clean.
2) Follow up with a moisturizing oil that doesn't clog your pores (if you're looking to buy one, Rocky Mountain has one with rosehip oil which is ah-mazing. Alternatively you can use pure sweet almond oil, apricot oil, or grapeseed oil, among others... do some research for what sounds best to you!) In my experience even if I feel like I've put on too much & that my face is 'oily', by the time I wake my face is happy as a clam (and soft as a... not-clam?)
3) Spot treat with pure tea tree or lavender essential oil - dab it on & it will moisturize as it kills bad pimple causing bacteria. Pure steam-distilled essential oils are the greenest & cleanest - don't waste your money on ones diluted in alcohol or other weird ingredients that don't need to be on your face.
Stay away from drying facial cleansers with sulphates (synthetic de-greasers) & other yucky ingredients which strip your skin of its natural oils (throwing off your face's natural oil balance) and can result in spottier skin. Fact: your face produces oil to moisturize itself, so when you strip those natural oils you cause it to go into overdrive to reproduce the oils your washing off = opportunity for newly produced oils to get trapped & give you a spotty complexion! Alternatively, using a cleansing oil (there are certain types of oils which will not clog your pores) to wash your face, and/or a facial oil to moisturize brings your skins natural moisturization system into harmony. It does this by mimicking your face's natural moisturizer (sebum), while dissolving the grime that has accumulated on your face over the course of the day. This means your skin can focus on healing and looking great instead of occupying itself attempting to meet its moisturization-happiness quota... and because your skin will have time to do things other than hyper-moisturize a natural-oils-stripped-by-facewash face (since your new oil-based regime will keep your skin's moisturizers in place), those spots disappear a whole heck of a lot faster!
A couple mornings / week, scrub off the dull, dead, surface skin cells of your face with a gentle facial exfoliator to promote healthy turnover of skin cells, + a healthy glow :).
DIY cleansing oil/moisturizer: last week I made my own moisturizing facial oil, and to my delight I seem to be preventing spots from appearing at all! Result: instead of treating them, they aren't there to begin with, so I don't even have the opportunity to pick & make my situation worse! Hallelujah!
Here's what I mixed in a small glass jar: 50mL sweet almond oil, the vitamin E from 3 Vitamin E capsules (natural preservative, good for your skin, & will help minimize appearance of scars over time), ~10 drops of tea tree or lavender essential oil (I add both!). Try to find a jar which has a pour-top so you don't have to dunk your fingers in (which can contaminate it).
I also use this moisturizer on my neck & decolletage, and if I pour out too much I'll use it on hands, arms, legs, wherever. It's great, inexpensive, and gives ya beautiful skin all over.
Yahoo for naturally beautiful skin :).
PS please tell me you are not following up your natural Beautiful Skin Regime by slathering on chemical-laden makeup products... What chemicals in my makeup? you say... maybe I will lecture you on that later! In the meantime check out my fave website, The Cosmetic Database (& search the ingredients in your current moisturizer or foundation).
Monday, March 12, 2012
Beef fat in your dryer sheets?
"Excuse me?" "What!" "No way!" "Gross!" you might be thinking. Me, too. This is information I came across in my daily email from Healthy Bitch (pardon the language), an awesome website that has tons of green & vegan tips. The silver lining to today's learning? I gained a new DIY to try...
Dryer sheets are commonly coated in animal fat (tallow - stearic acid derived from beef fat, yuck!) which is used to soften your clothes. And if that's not reason enough to steer you clear of them, consider the synthetic fragrances (read: gross chemicals!) they contain, which get on your clothes, and on your skin, and in your body.
Here's an idea! Grab a piece of fabric (maybe a strip off that old cotton t-shirt you no longer wear), give it a nice, safe scent with your fave essential oil, and then throw it in the dryer with your clothes! Who doesn't want laundry that smells like lavender fields, or fresh peppermint, in place of weird factory produced fragrance? The real deal is also the best deal - save yourself the couple dollars on store-bought dryer sheets, and treat yourself to a new natural soap instead ;).
While the scent won't be as strong as you are used to, it's a lot better for you, and after a couple of weeks following your switch you'll find off-the-shelf perfum-y dryer sheets to smell strangely chemical.
Throw in a dryer ball for extra softness:). OH & throw a (clean) dry towel in the dryer with your load of wet laundry to save on energy & get a quicker dry!
Dryer sheets are commonly coated in animal fat (tallow - stearic acid derived from beef fat, yuck!) which is used to soften your clothes. And if that's not reason enough to steer you clear of them, consider the synthetic fragrances (read: gross chemicals!) they contain, which get on your clothes, and on your skin, and in your body.
Here's an idea! Grab a piece of fabric (maybe a strip off that old cotton t-shirt you no longer wear), give it a nice, safe scent with your fave essential oil, and then throw it in the dryer with your clothes! Who doesn't want laundry that smells like lavender fields, or fresh peppermint, in place of weird factory produced fragrance? The real deal is also the best deal - save yourself the couple dollars on store-bought dryer sheets, and treat yourself to a new natural soap instead ;).
While the scent won't be as strong as you are used to, it's a lot better for you, and after a couple of weeks following your switch you'll find off-the-shelf perfum-y dryer sheets to smell strangely chemical.
Throw in a dryer ball for extra softness:). OH & throw a (clean) dry towel in the dryer with your load of wet laundry to save on energy & get a quicker dry!
Friday, March 9, 2012
How To: use avocado as a conditioning hair treatment
Today was a day of old fruit. I used up old apples & strawberries in a yummy crisp (+ oats, cinnamon, sugar, minced almonds, flour, & margarine), and proceeded to use up an old avocado by mashing it up and smearing it into my hair.
The first part is a pretty normal occurrence for me (love my crisp), the second part was a first! I read about it in No More Dirty Looks, an 'Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics" written by Siohan O'Conoor & Alexandra Spunt. In the section on conditioners they give a number of suggestions; I opted for the avocado conditioner, being as, well, that's what I had. Also, since avocados are awesome for you, I figured it'd be awesome in my hair, too.
Here's what I did:
~ took 1/3 of a soft avocado (less the humongous seed, people!) and mashed it up in a bowl
~ put a towel over my shoulders and wet my hair with warm water (warmth = open hair shaft = easier for the good stuff in avocados to get in!)
~ got my hands super mucky & smeared my avocado mush into my hair, massaging it into my scalp and making sure I got it all over my roots through to my tips
~ left said mixture in for ~30min
~ hopped in the shower to rinse...
I found my hair felt pretty oily in the shower, so I shampoo'd x2 (with my fave all-natural shampoo), then conditioned (roots to tips), and did a cold-water rinse (make it a habit! it seals the hair shaft & you'll find you have smoother, shinier hair as a result!)
I'm glad I did this conditioner treatment -my hair looks nice & shiny and is reaping the benefits of all the vitamins & healthy fats found in avocados- however next time I would add an egg for protein (good for colour damaged locks, like my own) & to help with the consistency of the mashed avocado, as it was a bit thick to smear throughout my hair. Also I'd add a couple drops of essential oil, so that my hair isn't left smelling like avocado! (I swear I can still smell it, however slight :P.) So, an awesome avocado treatment for YOU, would be:
~ 1/3-1/2 avocado, depending on length & thickness of hair
~ an egg, or a tbsp or 2 of extra virgin olive oil
~ a couple drops of your fave essential oil (peppermint and rosemary are both great for your scalp, tea tree helps with dandruff)
all mashed together in a bowl & applied to your hair (I left mine in for 30min), then shampoo'd & rinsed out SUPER well (or you'll look greasy) + conditioned. Voila! Don't forget to eat your leftovers to reap even more benefits from your friendly neighbourhood avocado ;).
The first part is a pretty normal occurrence for me (love my crisp), the second part was a first! I read about it in No More Dirty Looks, an 'Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics" written by Siohan O'Conoor & Alexandra Spunt. In the section on conditioners they give a number of suggestions; I opted for the avocado conditioner, being as, well, that's what I had. Also, since avocados are awesome for you, I figured it'd be awesome in my hair, too.
Here's what I did:
~ took 1/3 of a soft avocado (less the humongous seed, people!) and mashed it up in a bowl
~ put a towel over my shoulders and wet my hair with warm water (warmth = open hair shaft = easier for the good stuff in avocados to get in!)
~ got my hands super mucky & smeared my avocado mush into my hair, massaging it into my scalp and making sure I got it all over my roots through to my tips
~ left said mixture in for ~30min
~ hopped in the shower to rinse...
I found my hair felt pretty oily in the shower, so I shampoo'd x2 (with my fave all-natural shampoo), then conditioned (roots to tips), and did a cold-water rinse (make it a habit! it seals the hair shaft & you'll find you have smoother, shinier hair as a result!)
I'm glad I did this conditioner treatment -my hair looks nice & shiny and is reaping the benefits of all the vitamins & healthy fats found in avocados- however next time I would add an egg for protein (good for colour damaged locks, like my own) & to help with the consistency of the mashed avocado, as it was a bit thick to smear throughout my hair. Also I'd add a couple drops of essential oil, so that my hair isn't left smelling like avocado! (I swear I can still smell it, however slight :P.) So, an awesome avocado treatment for YOU, would be:
~ 1/3-1/2 avocado, depending on length & thickness of hair
~ an egg, or a tbsp or 2 of extra virgin olive oil
~ a couple drops of your fave essential oil (peppermint and rosemary are both great for your scalp, tea tree helps with dandruff)
all mashed together in a bowl & applied to your hair (I left mine in for 30min), then shampoo'd & rinsed out SUPER well (or you'll look greasy) + conditioned. Voila! Don't forget to eat your leftovers to reap even more benefits from your friendly neighbourhood avocado ;).
Thursday, March 1, 2012
How To: use baking soda as a shampoo
Baking soda... most use it in baking, I use it on my hair!
If you've ever tried natural shampoos before, you might have experienced a lack of that squeaky clean feeling (since there are no stripping sulphates!), oiliness, or 'dull' hair. Stick with it, this should pass after about a week (its just your scalp adjusting to not having to over-produce oil to compensate for the stripping action of chemical-laden shampoos) and you'll be happier once you reach the 'other' non-sulphate-shampoo side! Once you are established with your natural regime though, an awesome trick I recently came across, is to clarify with baking soda once/week! My hair has never been happier!
Here's what ya do:
1. grab a cup, and put 1tbsp of baking soda into it
2. jump in the shower, add some nice warm shower water to your cup, & douse your scalp
3. massage the baking soda into your scalp, scrub scrub scrub rub a dub dub
4. rinse, super well! the baking soda will travel down the length of your hair as you rinse out, and it will take any residue or guck (including chlorine!) or oils, etc. off your hair, leaving it super squeaky clean!
5. important: baking soda is basic in pH, while your hair is slightly acidic. If you were to stop at the end of the steps above, you're going to end up with dry, brittle hair - boo, so not the point of this exercise. To avoid this, follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse (try 1tbsp ACV : 1-2 cups water; you may have to play around with this ratio depending on your hair type). Alternatively I coat my hair (root to tips!) with my natural conditioner, which contains ACV, and leave it in while I wash the rest of my body, then rinse.
6. grin & bare it as you do a final rinse of cold water on your hair - this seals the hair shaft which will help it look, and be, great!
You'll have lovely, shiny, bouncy, flouncy, naturally squeaky-clean healthy locks that turn heads ;).
If you've ever tried natural shampoos before, you might have experienced a lack of that squeaky clean feeling (since there are no stripping sulphates!), oiliness, or 'dull' hair. Stick with it, this should pass after about a week (its just your scalp adjusting to not having to over-produce oil to compensate for the stripping action of chemical-laden shampoos) and you'll be happier once you reach the 'other' non-sulphate-shampoo side! Once you are established with your natural regime though, an awesome trick I recently came across, is to clarify with baking soda once/week! My hair has never been happier!
Here's what ya do:
1. grab a cup, and put 1tbsp of baking soda into it
2. jump in the shower, add some nice warm shower water to your cup, & douse your scalp
3. massage the baking soda into your scalp, scrub scrub scrub rub a dub dub
4. rinse, super well! the baking soda will travel down the length of your hair as you rinse out, and it will take any residue or guck (including chlorine!) or oils, etc. off your hair, leaving it super squeaky clean!
5. important: baking soda is basic in pH, while your hair is slightly acidic. If you were to stop at the end of the steps above, you're going to end up with dry, brittle hair - boo, so not the point of this exercise. To avoid this, follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse (try 1tbsp ACV : 1-2 cups water; you may have to play around with this ratio depending on your hair type). Alternatively I coat my hair (root to tips!) with my natural conditioner, which contains ACV, and leave it in while I wash the rest of my body, then rinse.
6. grin & bare it as you do a final rinse of cold water on your hair - this seals the hair shaft which will help it look, and be, great!
You'll have lovely, shiny, bouncy, flouncy, naturally squeaky-clean healthy locks that turn heads ;).
Thursday, February 23, 2012
My favourite natural products
I didn't know what to write about today, & felt like I should, and then I had a thought Hey, why don't I take a backseat to badgering friends & family for blog entry ideas, and just share something straight from my very own brain???... & thus, an incredible list of my fave lips/body/face products. You're in for a treat because 1) I'm a body product junkie & try all sorts of stuff, so this is the best of the best IMHO & 2) everything on this list is absolutely paraben, pthalate, perfume, -eth, dmdm hydantoin, (insert yucky ingredient here) free! Yay!
Saltspring Soapworks lip balm (Wildflower) - As a kid I owned 50+ of the Lip Smackers variety (I was clearly very careful with how I spent my pocket-money). 15 years later, my enthusiasm for all things lip-worthy has not faded (though my taste for fake chemical-laden flavours has) & I consider myself a bit of a chapstick connoisseur. And might I say that Saltspring Soapworks' %100 organic & natural lip balm is the very best with its supreme moisturizing capabilities and easy-glide on texture. $6.95
Rocky Mountain Sugar Scrub in french lavender - a super sweet (calorie-free!) treat, I dare you to find another product which leaves your skin as soft and nice smelling as this one does. You can say Aurevoir to chapped, parched, scaly skin, & Hello! to soft & smooth. Heck I don't even have dry skin (anymore! heh) and I use this luxurious organic sugar scrub at least once a week because it is simply gosh-dang wonderful. You can choose between French Lavender <3, Blood Orange, & Juicy Cherry sugar scrubs or a Bamboo citrusy-mint scented salt scrub. $21-23.
Rocky Mountain Rosehip Cleansing Oil - the best way to keep your visage looking its finest; this cleansing oil dissolves dirt, oil, & makeup, moisturizes, reduces redness & inflammation, brings oil production into harmony, loosens blackheads, and fights aging. $40 - a splurge, but believe me, your face will love you, and the 100mL bottle will last you months upon months.
Gabriel mascara in black - More often than not, the only eye makeup that I apply is mascara, so it's super important to me that I'm wearing one that will a)stay on well & b)make my lashes look thick and long & lovely. I was nervous to jump on the natural cosmetic bandwagon after reading online reviews of smudgy & flaky lashes, but Gabriel mascara is honestly better than any mascara I have tried ever, ever. All I need is this stuff & an eyelash curler & my lashes are perfect! It doesn't make my lashes clump together, nor does if flake off half-way through the day, I just love it. $15-19 depending on retailer (I get it at Lifestyles).
Cheeky Cosmetics Mineral Foundation in fair - an awesome, natural, non-micronized powder foundation. Swipe on 1 coat for discreet coverage or up to 3 for max. Balances out my skin tone perfectly, and isn't 'heavy' on my face. Also, Cheeky Cosmetics offers the wonderful option of ordering sample sizes of products (whether that be eye shadow or foundation) for $1, so you can try a shade out before committing to the full-size! Also, it's made by a chica here in BC - yahoo! $25
Rocky Mountain Lip Gloss in blush - this yummy berry-scented NON-STICKY(!!!) lip gloss gives your pout a healthy glow while it moisturizes with ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, & pomegranate. The Lip Plump is awesome, too, with a cinnamon-y tingle & super plumping action. $8 & $10 respectively. Cheeky Cosmetics has really nice glosses (click) if you like more colour - my favourite is Siren ($14) which gives me an awesome rouge pout that I plan to sport on my wedding day.
This by no means exhausts the beauty supplies in my bathroom cupboard and makeup bag, but they are products that will grace my powder room forevermore (along with tea tree essential oil, baking soda, and a dry brush, but more about that later). What are your fave bod products?
Saltspring Soapworks lip balm (Wildflower) - As a kid I owned 50+ of the Lip Smackers variety (I was clearly very careful with how I spent my pocket-money). 15 years later, my enthusiasm for all things lip-worthy has not faded (though my taste for fake chemical-laden flavours has) & I consider myself a bit of a chapstick connoisseur. And might I say that Saltspring Soapworks' %100 organic & natural lip balm is the very best with its supreme moisturizing capabilities and easy-glide on texture. $6.95
Rocky Mountain Sugar Scrub in french lavender - a super sweet (calorie-free!) treat, I dare you to find another product which leaves your skin as soft and nice smelling as this one does. You can say Aurevoir to chapped, parched, scaly skin, & Hello! to soft & smooth. Heck I don't even have dry skin (anymore! heh) and I use this luxurious organic sugar scrub at least once a week because it is simply gosh-dang wonderful. You can choose between French Lavender <3, Blood Orange, & Juicy Cherry sugar scrubs or a Bamboo citrusy-mint scented salt scrub. $21-23.
Rocky Mountain Rosehip Cleansing Oil - the best way to keep your visage looking its finest; this cleansing oil dissolves dirt, oil, & makeup, moisturizes, reduces redness & inflammation, brings oil production into harmony, loosens blackheads, and fights aging. $40 - a splurge, but believe me, your face will love you, and the 100mL bottle will last you months upon months.
Gabriel mascara in black - More often than not, the only eye makeup that I apply is mascara, so it's super important to me that I'm wearing one that will a)stay on well & b)make my lashes look thick and long & lovely. I was nervous to jump on the natural cosmetic bandwagon after reading online reviews of smudgy & flaky lashes, but Gabriel mascara is honestly better than any mascara I have tried ever, ever. All I need is this stuff & an eyelash curler & my lashes are perfect! It doesn't make my lashes clump together, nor does if flake off half-way through the day, I just love it. $15-19 depending on retailer (I get it at Lifestyles).
Cheeky Cosmetics Mineral Foundation in fair - an awesome, natural, non-micronized powder foundation. Swipe on 1 coat for discreet coverage or up to 3 for max. Balances out my skin tone perfectly, and isn't 'heavy' on my face. Also, Cheeky Cosmetics offers the wonderful option of ordering sample sizes of products (whether that be eye shadow or foundation) for $1, so you can try a shade out before committing to the full-size! Also, it's made by a chica here in BC - yahoo! $25
Rocky Mountain Lip Gloss in blush - this yummy berry-scented NON-STICKY(!!!) lip gloss gives your pout a healthy glow while it moisturizes with ingredients like jojoba oil, shea butter, & pomegranate. The Lip Plump is awesome, too, with a cinnamon-y tingle & super plumping action. $8 & $10 respectively. Cheeky Cosmetics has really nice glosses (click) if you like more colour - my favourite is Siren ($14) which gives me an awesome rouge pout that I plan to sport on my wedding day.
This by no means exhausts the beauty supplies in my bathroom cupboard and makeup bag, but they are products that will grace my powder room forevermore (along with tea tree essential oil, baking soda, and a dry brush, but more about that later). What are your fave bod products?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
DIY & the safely-scented way
If you read my last entry, you probably aren't too stoked on forgoing fragrance in the name of natural, because lets face it, unscented can be pretty boring. But forgoing fragrance doesn't mean you have to forgo scent! Here are
some easy & safe ways to smell nice without exposing yourself to
weird chemicals (the key is essential oils!)
Your luscious locks- add a couple drops of your favourite essential oil (I like peppermint -great for scalp circulation- or lavender in my hair) to an empty spray bottle with water. Following your scent-free shampoo/condition, simply spray on your hair. If you're looking for a natural hairspray or volumizer, just add 1tbsp finely ground sea salt (per 1 cup of water) to the mix, & spray away, lifting at the roots. Since hair absorbs scent super well, your result will be lovely, safely, (potentially volumized) naturally scented hair.
Your super soft bod- seriously, essential oils are your best friend! Add a couple drops to a bottle of almond oil & you have a fantastic, amazingly scented, natural moisturizer. Don't let the initially greasy feel scare ya - it absorbs super quick and will leave you with super soft skin:).
Sudsin' it up- unless you want to take on the task of making your own soap, stick with all-natural brands that scent their products the natural way, such as Dr. Bronners (your local health food store should carry his products). Don't be fooled by 'all-natural glycerin soaps' that are clear; they are clear because they have had alcohol added and so will most likely be drying to your skin. Real glycerin soaps will generally be solid in colour, have an ingredient list reading of primarily vegetable oils (canola, cottonseed), coconut oil, olive oil, & essential oil(s). My personal favourite, Rocky Mountain Soap Company soaps lather amazingly (solid bars or liquid-form) because the company adds additional (vegetable) glycerin to their soaps (on top of the already occurring natural glycerin!)
When you are using natural essential oils as a source for scent, it is not going to give you an over-powering perfumy smell, and it is not uncommon for those who are typically allergic to fragrance to be OK with essential oil scented products! Plus you get the added bonus of essential-oil-specific therapeutic benefits (eg maybe you are prone to spots on your back - both lavender essential oil & tea tree essential oil are naturally antiseptic and can help get rid of the pimple-causing bacteria!)(rosemary is great for your scalp, as is peppermint!)
Your luscious locks- add a couple drops of your favourite essential oil (I like peppermint -great for scalp circulation- or lavender in my hair) to an empty spray bottle with water. Following your scent-free shampoo/condition, simply spray on your hair. If you're looking for a natural hairspray or volumizer, just add 1tbsp finely ground sea salt (per 1 cup of water) to the mix, & spray away, lifting at the roots. Since hair absorbs scent super well, your result will be lovely, safely, (potentially volumized) naturally scented hair.
Your super soft bod- seriously, essential oils are your best friend! Add a couple drops to a bottle of almond oil & you have a fantastic, amazingly scented, natural moisturizer. Don't let the initially greasy feel scare ya - it absorbs super quick and will leave you with super soft skin:).
Sudsin' it up- unless you want to take on the task of making your own soap, stick with all-natural brands that scent their products the natural way, such as Dr. Bronners (your local health food store should carry his products). Don't be fooled by 'all-natural glycerin soaps' that are clear; they are clear because they have had alcohol added and so will most likely be drying to your skin. Real glycerin soaps will generally be solid in colour, have an ingredient list reading of primarily vegetable oils (canola, cottonseed), coconut oil, olive oil, & essential oil(s). My personal favourite, Rocky Mountain Soap Company soaps lather amazingly (solid bars or liquid-form) because the company adds additional (vegetable) glycerin to their soaps (on top of the already occurring natural glycerin!)
When you are using natural essential oils as a source for scent, it is not going to give you an over-powering perfumy smell, and it is not uncommon for those who are typically allergic to fragrance to be OK with essential oil scented products! Plus you get the added bonus of essential-oil-specific therapeutic benefits (eg maybe you are prone to spots on your back - both lavender essential oil & tea tree essential oil are naturally antiseptic and can help get rid of the pimple-causing bacteria!)(rosemary is great for your scalp, as is peppermint!)
Un-natural natural products & what to avoid
For anyone who is trying to switch to more natural products (whether that be soap, shampoo, moisturizer, etc.), it can be a daunting task. First off, there is little to no regulation for use of the word "natural," so any company can claim their products are such, even if only 1 of all the ingredients is natural (or none! - it may have taken natural ingredients like plant derivatives, and swapped molecules and changed the chemical structure of the ingredient into something completely different than what was started with!) So where the heck do you start, if products clearly labelled as natural, aren't even necessarily natural? How do you avoid spending your money on a 'natural' product, that is in fact on chemical par with all the other products the un-natural beauty industry throws at us, and truly invest in good quality truly natural products? You've got to read the label! & to make it a bit easier, here are a few tips & hints of ingredients to watch out for (though this is far from a conclusive list).
1) First and foremost, one of the most awesome changes you can make is by avoiding 'fragrance' or 'parfum' (unless it is solely essential oil derived). Perfume is in EVERYTHING, but if you're willing to be conscientious of what you are putting on (and therefor in) your body, this change can significantly lower the amount of chemicals you are exposed to on a daily basis. Since the perfume industry does not have to reveal any of what they put in their products (it is considered 'trade secret'), there is a whole array of strange chemicals (like nasty pthalates, which have been linked to scary things such as infertility and abnormal reproductive development in males) which you won't see on the ingredient list, but will be included under the title 'fragrance'. Companies that produce moisturizers, shampoos, etc. use fragrances in their products to, yes, make it smell appealing and pleasant to you, the consumer, but also to mask all the weird scents the chemical ingredients in their products have created! Avoid all of the above by choosing fragrance-free, or products scented only with natural essential oils.
2) Another thing you can look to avoid on labels: anything ending with '-eth,' this means it has gone through the ethoxylation process (eg. sodium lauryl sulphate becomes sodium laureth sulphate), meaning it has most likely been exposed to, and containing (but you won't see it on the label!), the nasty carcinogenic ingredient 1,4 dioxane.
3) Now that you're avoiding perfumes and -eths, a third to add to the chemical party which you will not be attending is dmdm hydantoin! This little baby is a yucky formaldehyde releaser; on contact with your skin it becomes a carcinogenic substance. Not so nice!
Take time to research 'natural' products before you buy them! My philosophy is that if I'm going to shell out more money to have a better-for-me, natural product, then it better be just that - all natural! I'm a pretty frugal gal, and the last thing you'll find me doing is buying a product just because it says 'natural' on the front - read the ingredient list (nutritional info for your body!) & use the Cosmetic Database! If there's perfume in it, it's not all natural! If it has an ingredient that ends with -eth in it, or contains dmdm hydantoin, it's not all natural! If it has weird ingredients you can't pronounce, or you don't know what they are, you guessed it, it's probably not all natural! Take the time to do a bit of research and your skin, and your pocketbook, will thank you.
1) First and foremost, one of the most awesome changes you can make is by avoiding 'fragrance' or 'parfum' (unless it is solely essential oil derived). Perfume is in EVERYTHING, but if you're willing to be conscientious of what you are putting on (and therefor in) your body, this change can significantly lower the amount of chemicals you are exposed to on a daily basis. Since the perfume industry does not have to reveal any of what they put in their products (it is considered 'trade secret'), there is a whole array of strange chemicals (like nasty pthalates, which have been linked to scary things such as infertility and abnormal reproductive development in males) which you won't see on the ingredient list, but will be included under the title 'fragrance'. Companies that produce moisturizers, shampoos, etc. use fragrances in their products to, yes, make it smell appealing and pleasant to you, the consumer, but also to mask all the weird scents the chemical ingredients in their products have created! Avoid all of the above by choosing fragrance-free, or products scented only with natural essential oils.
2) Another thing you can look to avoid on labels: anything ending with '-eth,' this means it has gone through the ethoxylation process (eg. sodium lauryl sulphate becomes sodium laureth sulphate), meaning it has most likely been exposed to, and containing (but you won't see it on the label!), the nasty carcinogenic ingredient 1,4 dioxane.
3) Now that you're avoiding perfumes and -eths, a third to add to the chemical party which you will not be attending is dmdm hydantoin! This little baby is a yucky formaldehyde releaser; on contact with your skin it becomes a carcinogenic substance. Not so nice!
Take time to research 'natural' products before you buy them! My philosophy is that if I'm going to shell out more money to have a better-for-me, natural product, then it better be just that - all natural! I'm a pretty frugal gal, and the last thing you'll find me doing is buying a product just because it says 'natural' on the front - read the ingredient list (nutritional info for your body!) & use the Cosmetic Database! If there's perfume in it, it's not all natural! If it has an ingredient that ends with -eth in it, or contains dmdm hydantoin, it's not all natural! If it has weird ingredients you can't pronounce, or you don't know what they are, you guessed it, it's probably not all natural! Take the time to do a bit of research and your skin, and your pocketbook, will thank you.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Paraben who-be whattie?
Take a stroll through the beauty section of your local drugstore and it's not difficult to happen upon new "paraben free" formulations of lotions, shampoos and conditioners, sunscreens, shaving creams, and makeup. But what are they, why are they in products, and is it even necessary to avoid them?
Parabens are in cosmetics and moisturizers, and have been for decades, because they have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. That is, they keep your pots of face cream from becoming host to the various organisms off your fingers as you double-dip, as well as other environmental bacteria or fungi it may come in to contact with.
Companies are starting to remove them from their products as public awareness grows of a 2004 study that revealed the presence of parabens in 18 out of 20 breast cancer tumours in women. While the study does not prove that parabens cause breast cancer (parabens, absorbed mostly from body products, in fact exist and are stored in tissue throughout the whole body, not cancer tissue alone), other studies have shown that parabens mimic our body's natural hormone, estrogen - and disruptions in estrogen activity have been related to upwards of 80% of breast cancers. Messing around with your body's hormones -the endocrine system- is really just not a good idea. It may also raise your 'brow to learn that Europe has restricted the amount of parabens that are allowed to be used in European beauty products; North America as yet does not have any such regulation.
Since our skin absorbs much of what we put on it, and because products which contain parabens commonly contain other ingredients which enhance the penetration of the product (so now these questionable ingredients will not just absorb regular-style, but with super powers!) you gotta get reading those beauty labels! Picking apart the ingredient list on your deodorant or antiperspirant might be an exceptionally good place to start, considering the proximity to your breasts. The most common types/names of parabens are: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben.
For the greatest benefits, search out not only paraben-free, but weird-chemical-in-general -free products, at whichever health food store is convenient for you. Online shopping is always good too:). My favourite moisturizers, face care, and deodorant are from Rocky Mountain Soap Company, and my favourite makeup is from Cheeky Cosmetics (& both are Canadian companies - bonus!:)
Parabens are in cosmetics and moisturizers, and have been for decades, because they have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. That is, they keep your pots of face cream from becoming host to the various organisms off your fingers as you double-dip, as well as other environmental bacteria or fungi it may come in to contact with.
Companies are starting to remove them from their products as public awareness grows of a 2004 study that revealed the presence of parabens in 18 out of 20 breast cancer tumours in women. While the study does not prove that parabens cause breast cancer (parabens, absorbed mostly from body products, in fact exist and are stored in tissue throughout the whole body, not cancer tissue alone), other studies have shown that parabens mimic our body's natural hormone, estrogen - and disruptions in estrogen activity have been related to upwards of 80% of breast cancers. Messing around with your body's hormones -the endocrine system- is really just not a good idea. It may also raise your 'brow to learn that Europe has restricted the amount of parabens that are allowed to be used in European beauty products; North America as yet does not have any such regulation.
Since our skin absorbs much of what we put on it, and because products which contain parabens commonly contain other ingredients which enhance the penetration of the product (so now these questionable ingredients will not just absorb regular-style, but with super powers!) you gotta get reading those beauty labels! Picking apart the ingredient list on your deodorant or antiperspirant might be an exceptionally good place to start, considering the proximity to your breasts. The most common types/names of parabens are: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and isobutylparaben.
For the greatest benefits, search out not only paraben-free, but weird-chemical-in-general -free products, at whichever health food store is convenient for you. Online shopping is always good too:). My favourite moisturizers, face care, and deodorant are from Rocky Mountain Soap Company, and my favourite makeup is from Cheeky Cosmetics (& both are Canadian companies - bonus!:)
Friday, February 10, 2012
nutritional information for your shampoo?
For some people the world "natural" stimulates thoughts of lakes and forests and the ocean and mountains, while for others it stimulates thoughts of hippies and underarm hair and body odor and far-fetched claims that your shampoo is going to give you cancer.
I myself used to be in the second category of people; those claims are far-fetched, right? Since we've been using shampoo for decades, and we aren't sprouting cancerous tumors on our scalps, the very place the shampoo goes, it's gotta be a-ok. Not to mention, as if those stand-up body product companies, who campaign for healthy body image and equality, would put toxic chemicals in the very products we douse ourselves in every day. You are cracky as a cracker to claim there are dangerous chemicals in my shampoo!, I would think.
It may not be as simple as that. I'm going to challenge you to grab your favourite bottle of shampoo or conditioner. Now pick out one of those words you don't know the meaning of -let alone how to pronounce it!- (cocamidopropyl betaine? dmdm hydantoin? methylchloroisothiazolinone?) & type this ingredient in to the cosmetic database search engine HERE.
This website rates products on a scale of 0-10 for safety, notes how much research has been done to support the number rating, as well as why the rating is such. (You can even search the product as a whole, as opposed to it's individual ingredients.) You'll find references to studies that show that many of these ingredient are immunotoxic, they "bioaccumulate" - your body absorbs them (for instance through the large pores on your scalp) and stores them, in your fatty tissue, in your organs, wherever it so pleases. & the toxins sit. In you, in your body, the toxins sit. Toxins, that can potentially cause a wide array of bodily disorders, diseases, hormone disruptions, and aggravations - as dangerous as cancer or as 'simple' as eczema.
Skin absorbs 21-94% of what we put on it; what if we start looking at our shampoos' & lotions' & hair-sprays' & cosmetics' ingredient lists the same way we analyze the nutritional box on the side of our cereal?
For the keen, HERE is a link to check out common myths about the safety of cosmetics.
I myself used to be in the second category of people; those claims are far-fetched, right? Since we've been using shampoo for decades, and we aren't sprouting cancerous tumors on our scalps, the very place the shampoo goes, it's gotta be a-ok. Not to mention, as if those stand-up body product companies, who campaign for healthy body image and equality, would put toxic chemicals in the very products we douse ourselves in every day. You are cracky as a cracker to claim there are dangerous chemicals in my shampoo!, I would think.
It may not be as simple as that. I'm going to challenge you to grab your favourite bottle of shampoo or conditioner. Now pick out one of those words you don't know the meaning of -let alone how to pronounce it!- (cocamidopropyl betaine? dmdm hydantoin? methylchloroisothiazolinone?) & type this ingredient in to the cosmetic database search engine HERE.
This website rates products on a scale of 0-10 for safety, notes how much research has been done to support the number rating, as well as why the rating is such. (You can even search the product as a whole, as opposed to it's individual ingredients.) You'll find references to studies that show that many of these ingredient are immunotoxic, they "bioaccumulate" - your body absorbs them (for instance through the large pores on your scalp) and stores them, in your fatty tissue, in your organs, wherever it so pleases. & the toxins sit. In you, in your body, the toxins sit. Toxins, that can potentially cause a wide array of bodily disorders, diseases, hormone disruptions, and aggravations - as dangerous as cancer or as 'simple' as eczema.
Skin absorbs 21-94% of what we put on it; what if we start looking at our shampoos' & lotions' & hair-sprays' & cosmetics' ingredient lists the same way we analyze the nutritional box on the side of our cereal?
For the keen, HERE is a link to check out common myths about the safety of cosmetics.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Bonjour ;)
So I have decided to entertain my spare time & challenge myself by starting a blog dedicated to all things natural... I'll chronicle natural beauty/health products I use & love, day-to-day excitement in the world of a natural soap store worker girl, books I read, & information I learn - so that you can get those icky chemicals off your skin & out of the drain! + maybe find some great books to read along the way.
Would love to discover like-minded blogs so that I can learn from you, too, and we can all focus on healthy choices for ourselves & the environment, as well as educating others.
Would love to discover like-minded blogs so that I can learn from you, too, and we can all focus on healthy choices for ourselves & the environment, as well as educating others.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)