Always Already Beautiful

Natural DIY Deodorant

2010-05-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

I think I'm going to abandon this blog for good this time, and for my final post- a product that I consider a personal Holy Grail that I am truly grateful for: a natural deodorant that really works. I haven't bought deodorant from a store in at least a year now that I have this. Follow this easy recipe that was inspired by one by Dana Petersen Murphy:

2 T Coconut Oil
1 tsp Shea Butter

Melt these to liquid in a double boiler. Remove from heat.

Add

2 T Cornstarch
2 1/2 T Baking Soda

Mix into a paste. Add essential oils or leave unscented. This will firm up but it may need to be refrigerated in hot weather, especially if you're pouring it into an old deodorant stick. But I actually prefer to keep it in a jar and use it as a paste. I take about a large pea-sized amount and distribute it between the fingertips of both hands, then apply directly! A little goes a long way, use less if it is visible under arms.

This stuff truly keeps you smelling fresh and unlike other natural deodorants, it keeps you dry too. It is not invisible on fabric, so if it gets on your shirt while dressing, just rub the fabric with another section of fabric until it disappears (same old trick that you use for conventional deodorant).

Try it this summer and adjust amounts of ingredients as necessary to fit your preferences.

The Diva Cup

2010-02-01T18:09:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to express my true love. If you get periods, get a Diva Cup, or tell your period-getting friends to get one. You'll probably hate the Diva Cup at first and think it's impossible to use and then you'll want to marry it.

Go to their website to learn more.

Also, if you have major PMS symptoms or very painful cramps, try the following:

-Follow the Anti-Inflammatory Diet from the post below, at least for the week prior to your period. Avoid salty and processed foods.

-Make sure you're getting enough calcium and magnesium. Calcium can help with mood issues like depression as well as cramps.

-Try these yoga postures to relieve cramps

Eat for Beauty: The Anti-Inflammatory Diet

2010-01-25T15:54:00.000-08:00

(This was written for another website I'm working on but it pertains to holistic beauty practices so I thought I'd post it here too. To all the vegan readers, you may need to put on the earmuffs here and there because I do mention animal consumption without being totally disparaging. Don't freak out on me, I haven't become a Lierre Kieth follower, haha).

For a toned physique, a clear healthy complexion, bright eyes, shiny hair, and skin that ages chronologically rather than prematurely, you've got to feed your body well. And the foods to focus on might surprise you a bit if you grew up with the USDA Food Pyramid like most of us did. The Anti-Inflammatory Diet is not a calorie-counting, low-fat, bland, boring eating plan. It is a nutritious and rejuvenating way of nourishing your body with delicious foods that keep you satisfied, energized, and looking completely radiant. Based on the research and writings of Dr. Floyd H. Chilton, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, and to some extent, Dr. Mary Enig, the simplified information below may be the best health and beauty tool you will ever find and has forever changed the way I eat.*

It should be made clear that the Anti-Inflammatory diet is based on some revolutionary ideas and a truly holistic understanding of the body. The basis of this diet is that it is not high cholesterol or fats or merely eating too much that makes our bodies unhealthy and causes disease. The real culprit is chronic inflammation on the cellular level in our bodies. You may not be able to see this inflammation from the outside, but if you're eating inflammatory foods, it is almost certainly present in your cells.

While the body's inflammatory response is perfectly natural and necessary when it needs to protect and repair itself, too much or too often is harmful. Chronic cellular inflammation is thought to be the underlying cause disease, obesity to some extent, and premature aging and wrinkles (among other skin problems). Inflammation can be caused by stress, chemicals, and most commonly by eating the wrong foods. Western cultures like ours have simply been doing it all wrong since the advent of industrial agriculture that brought us grains and refined foods. Read on to learn about all the amazing foods you should be eating as well as the ones you should avoid for gorgeous skin and a healthy body.

Vegetables: Low starch veggies like dark leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach, dark lettuce, etc), broccoli, asparagus, and cabbage pack some of the highest nutrient content of all foods and are very anti-inflammatory. Your day should be brimming with these and ideally they should be present at every meal! A great way to work veggies into your morning is to add them to a scramble or throw some spinach into a fruit smoothie.

You should limit or avoid starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, and corn as these contribute to inflammation by breaking down as simple carbs in the body.

Nuts and Seeds: Raw and organic (and ideally soaked for several hours) nuts and seeds are an incredible source of vitamins, minerals, good fats, and protein. Particularly if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, nuts and seeds should be an essential part of your daily food plan. My personal favorites are almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax.

Fruits: Nature's candy! Is there anything more wonderful than fruit? Enjoy a couple of fresh servings each day. When it comes to preventing inflammation - berries are especially helpful.

Fish: For those that eat meat, high quality fish is an excellent choice. It is high in essential fatty acids and is a good source of protein and other nutrients that plump up the skin and help it to resist aging and blemishing. Any fish you eat should always be labeled "Wild" and salmon is highly recommended.

Legumes: All beans and lentils are so ultra-nutritious and fiber-rich that they offset their carbohydrate factor. They are such complex carbohydrates that they provide your body with energy and fuel without having a negative impact on blood sugar or causing inflammation. A great source of iron for vegans!

Meat and Poultry/Eggs: Another good source of protein and fats for those who do not follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Any meat you eat should be labeled as certified organic and grass fed (not vegetarian/grain fed).

Dairy: Yogurt, kefir, and some cheeses like cottage cheese can play a helpful role in your diet, but ensure that these are also organic and free of sugar. Yogurt and kefir are especially beneficial due to their natural probiotic content. If you choose vegan yogurt, remember to check that it is unsweetened.

Grains: Although the USDA recommends many servings of grains each day, most grains cause blood sugar spikes and a huge inflammatory response. Compared to other foods, they have a low nutrient content with a more negative impact on the body. It can be very helpful for your skin and health to avoid wheat and wheat flours, rice, and corn. Opt instead for two very complex ancient grains: buckwheat groats and plain oats (no sugar added).

Oils: Coconut Oil and Olive Oil are great sources of healthy fats that give your skin a beautiful glow. I prefer to use coconut oil when cooking because it is more stable when heated and resists free radical production. Coconut Oil is an incredible food. It is heart-healthy despite its saturated fat content and has even been found to contribute to weight loss!

Herbs and Spices: These are the key to flavoring all the foods mentioned above to create delicious dishes. Most herbs and spices are not only anti-inflammatory, but are also germ-fighters and detoxifiers. Rely first on flavoring foods properly with these before you add more salt or sweetness. Use freely.

Sugar: Speaking of sweetness, sugar is your worst enemy when it comes to a healthy body and youthful skin. Sugar and anything containing sugar, corn syrup, cane juice, maple syrup, etc., wreak havoc on our bodies and comprise one of the biggest contributors to aging skin. Furthermore, the more we eat these sweet things, the more we want them because our bodies develop almost insatiable cravings for sugar and simple carbs when they are present in our diets. Eliminating sugar from your diet could be the single best thing you ever do for your body, and once you've done it for awhile, the cravings completely subside. Indulge in fresh fruit instead! When you really need a sweetener that behaves like sugar, opt for the natural alternatives: stevia or erithrytol.

Other Things to Avoid to Prevent Inflammation: Alcohol, caffeine (except in green/white tea), coffee, processed and fast foods, fried foods, packaged foods, preservatives and stabilizers, vegetable oils (like corn, soybean, and canola), food coloring, and artificial sweeteners.

Additional Tips: Drink at least 64 oz of pure water each day, get your beauty sleep, emphasize raw foods in your diet, invest in high quality supplements like those from New Chapter and Vitamin Code, and treat yourself to regular exercise. All of these reduce inflammation to keep your skin and body in optimal shape.

To learn more about the anti-inflammatory diet, read Dr. Chilton's Inflammation Nation or any of Dr. Perricone's books.*

*Consult a doctor or nutritionist before making any changes to your diet, especially if you have been diagnosed with any health conditions or take any prescriptions.

Amazing Aloe

2009-12-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

In 2009, I have discovered the joys of two amazing ingredients that I now use every single day. Aloe Vera Juice and Unrefined Coconut Oil. This post is about aloe. I'll save coconut oil for next time.

Aloe Vera is a desert succulent plant with a tough green exterior and a translucent fleshy interior. While we usually see aloe sold in bottles looking like bright green gel, this is not actually its natural state. Color, gelling agents, stabilizers, preservatives, and even fragrance may be added to aloe juice to create that emerald concoction we see on store shelves. True aloe vera is a clear gelatinous fillet cut straight from the plant or is also available as pure juice. You can find gallon jugs of aloe vera juice (99% organic aloe vera juice with citric acid/potassium sorbate or some other food grade preservative) at Trader Joe's or health food stores like Whole Foods.

Most of us know that aloe is an excellent remedy for sunburns and rashes. But it does sooo much more than that! Here are some of aloe's wonderful benefits:

- Anti-inflammatory topically and internally
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-viral!
- Anti-fungal
- Detoxifying topically and internally
- Amino Acid, Vitamin and Mineral-rich
- Immune Boosting
- Scar Healing/Tissue Repairing
- Promotes Healthy Digestion

About a year ago, my facialist and I were talking about my very difficult skin that has for years been prone to inflammation and cystic breakouts due to hormones, stress, etc. She said "Hey, do you ever drink aloe juice? It just occurred to me that this might be helpful to you." This thought was based on the fact, I think, that she perceived my skin concerns to be emotionally-seated and the result of a fire/liver imbalance (ayurvedically speaking). The day of her recommendation, I went out and bought a jug of organic aloe vera juice and began drinking the recommended serving of 2 to 8 ounces each day. Let me tell you, it's got a strong tart taste that strikes you as fairly unpleasant. I recommend mixing it with a 100% juice at first. I promise it gets easier.

I now drink 6 oz each morning mixed with 6 oz of water. Not only have I gotten used to the taste, but I now crave it if I have to go without. On a trip to New York, I had to run into a Whole Foods in Manhattan for a small bottle of pure aloe vera juice and could hardly wait to crack it open outside! I also mist it onto my face twice a day in place of a toner.

As, for the benefits I experienced? Aloe has been the number one factor in helping to clear up my skin, minimize pores and scarring, and reduce hyperpigmentation and redness. In fact, I went went without it for a month and my skin began to backslide, but quickly cleared up as I started drinking it again a couple of weeks ago. This effect inspired me to blog about this amazing plant! I also recently learned that my great aunt, who has now outlived all her siblings, drinks aloe vera juice every single day. I will follow her example and keep it a part of my morning for the rest of my life as I can't say enough good things about aloe and I encourage others to try it if they feel it may help them too.

Just like with any supplement, check with your doctor before taking it internally.

Natural Exfoliator Recipe and Exfoliation Advice

2009-12-21T11:04:00.000-08:00

I have been experimenting over the past several weeks with a simple blend to help skin with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun spots, acne and pore congestion and have had great success.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Aloe are both excellent for clearing blemishes and fading pigmentation associated with blemishes, sun exposure, age, and hormonal changes.

Mix 1 tsp Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar with

5 tsp Organic pure aloe vera juice (not gel)- you can buy this in $8 gallons from Trader Joe's)

For Sensitive or over-processed skin:

Use 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar and 8 tsp Aloe Vera Juice

Mix the two ingredients and apply to clean skin patting gently with a cotton ball (don't scrub or drag the cotton ball over the skin) or just with your fingers taking care not to get any in your eyes. If you experience noticeable itching or burning, then you should rinse immediately. Leave this on for two minutes- no longer! Rinse with tepid water. Mist the skin with pure aloe juice and follow with your moisturizer. Store the rest in the fridge. Use no more than 3 times per week with at least two full days between applications. Do not use any other scrubs or exfoliators if you add this treatment to your skin care routine. Protect your skin with a Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide sunscreen during the day.

Your skin may look rosy in the areas you treated with this mix for a couple of hours after application, so I recommend doing this at night. If redness is severe, persists for a long time, or if your skin feels uncomfortable, you should use less apple cider vinegar in your mix and leave it on for less than two minutes.

The key to successful exfoliation is restraint! Just because your skin looks great the day after this 2 minute treatment, this does not mean it will look even better if you use a stronger mix or use it more often. ACV and aloe may be natural ingredients, but they are very active- especially the apple cider vinegar. ACV should never be applied undiluted. This is serious business! So if you stray from this recipe, only do so by reducing the ACV, not increasing it.

UPDATE!! After using this recipe for many weeks, I find best results using it only twice a month, so this is the frequency of use I recommend for the greatest benefit.

Whether using this mix or another exfoliator, watch for signs of excessive exfoliation.

Symptoms of Over-Processed or Over-Exfoliated Skin:

- Skin that is oily yet dry at the same time.

- Feeling the need to exfoliate very frequently

- Flakiness, itchiness, and redness or red patches

- Excessive dryness or excessive oiliness

- Peeling and irritation

- Chronic acne breakouts

- Pore congestion accompanied by general inflammation

- Heightened sensitivity to the sun

- A feeling of thinned skin over time

Giving your skin a break from excessive exfoliation can yield a clear, plump, smooth complexion that maintains its natural balance and defies premature signs of aging.

Tips for Breaking the Cycle:

- Try backing off gradually. If you exfoliate everyday, cut down to every other day, and then ease off to less and less frequent treatments.

- Massage instead. Facial massage actually helps lift away build up, enhances circulation, stimulates the skin for increased collagen production, and improves pore function. If you are using a creamy cleanser, you can massage for a full minute or more while cleansing. You can also massage with a light oil or an organic and very emollient cream or lotion.

- Drink enough water. That feeling of needing to exfoliate to work through congested or rough skin is often a result of insufficient hydration. 64 oz per day of pure water can do wonders for the skin.

- Resist the urge! If your skin has become addicted to exfoliation, you may find yourself just dying to exfoliate. During the process of allowing your skin to find its equilibrium, it may be very hard to abstain from your scrubs and peels at first. But your skin will gradually come back into balance and feel healthy and calm.

Mild, very occasional exfoliation can have a very positive impact on your skin. But you have to commit to the "less is more" principle in order to see long term benefits. Properly cared for skin should be calm, comfortable, supple, and look radiant. If you feel anything less than this result, contact me by leaving a comment to this post or via email so that I can help you make adjustments to this recipe for your skin's special needs.

DermaBrushes!

2009-12-10T21:16:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity recently to try out DermaBrush Makeup Brushes from DermaMinerals (Dermaquest, Inc.) and I have to say I was very impressed! DermaMinerals states that these brushes are 100% vegan, hypoallergenic, and non-shedding. The first thing I noticed was their texture - they certainly are as soft as can be. Then I began pulling on the bristles to put that non-shedding claim to the test, and the brushes showed no sign of loose hairs then or over the course of days of use.

But the most exciting part was that they really are better than others I’ve used in the past (I’ve used both expensive natural hair brushes and budget synthetic brushes). The Dual Define Brush is a cool double-ended brush with a soft rounded head for applying eye shadow and a stiffer blunt head for applying liners or blending penciled liner. I was surprised how much I liked this brush and was able to use it for shadow, liner, and brow color. These brushes allow for buildable color and are very easy on the skin.

The kabuki brush actually improved the function of my mineral foundation. This super soft brush deposits just the right amount of makeup to give you good coverage while still making it hard to tell that you are wearing anything at all. This is the only powder brush I will use from now on.

While DermaMinerals makeup and DermaQuest skin care is not at all natural, the brushes are a great find. They make all my natural makeup work even better. There are few if any high-quality, soft, vegan makeup brushes out there like DermaBrushes. Good brushes should last for decades and I think these are a worthwhile investment.

Find them at www.dermaminerals.com

A Chemical Confession

2009-12-01T10:38:00.000-08:00

I'm officially a sellout and a hypocrite. Yesterday I walked right into an Aveda store with my credit card practically leaping out of my wallet. After endlessly searching the inventory on Aveda's website and cross-referencing it to www.cosmeticsdatabase.com, I still weirded out the sales girls by reading the ingredient list of every item in the store at least once (and it turns out some of the products have been made cleaner since they were put in the datatbase) before making my choices.

Don't get me wrong, I love the one truly natural hair care line that I believe in: Morrocco Method. It's incredible! And I will still recommend it first and foremost. But as my hair grew longer, I literally couldn't afford to have enough of it shipped to me. So I ventured into the land of health food store shampoo with little success. After trying a few different brands, my hair still felt dry and was so prone to tangling that I felt like a little girl again having to sit still and not squeal while my mom ran a comb through my knotty locks.

So I gave up on the "low hazard" options and returned to the realm of "moderate hazard" green-washed hair products that occupy the shelves of serene "concept stores" rather than the fluorescent lit aisles between the canned goods and the vitamins, reminding myself that hair care will be the one and only place I break the rules a little bit. The result? Few to no tangles, smoother, shinier hair, and just a little pang of guilt.

I still chose options that did not contain parabens or phenoxyethanol in their long lists of other crappy ingredients. But I can't help but think of what my Dad used to say- "Do as I say, not as I do."

Despite this transgression, I still feel qualified to continue this blog about natural beauty choices for women; though apparently I value silky hair over my health? Vanity wins this round.

Pumpkin Pie Face Mask Recipe

2009-11-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

Fall is here and pumpkin stuff is popping up everywhere! Pumpkin is full of vitamins that your skin needs including zinc, which is one of the most skin-healing minerals in nature. No matter your skin type, you can use pumpkin to keep your skin in good shape through fall and winter. Here are a few recipe options:

For sensitive skin:

1tbsp canned organic pumpkin
a dash of nutmeg

For normal skin:
1 tbsp canned organic pumpkin
a dash of nutmeg
a small dash of cinnamon
a small dash of clove

For oily skin:
add a 1/4 tsp organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar to the "normal skin" recipe

For dry skin:
add a 1/4 tsp organic pumpkin seed oil or other oil (almond, avocado, or olive) to the "normal skin" recipe

Choose the best option for your skin. Whip the listed ingredients together into a paste and smooth it onto clean skin. While very stimulating and circulation-enhancing, cinnamon can be a bit sensitizing so adjust the amounts as you see fit for your particular skin type. And of course, rinse off with tepid water if anything feels uncomfortable.

You can leave this mask on for 20 minutes or so and rinse with warm water. Follow with your usual topical regimen.

This mask leaves your skin smooth and well fed for a healthy glow without the use of chemicals or harsh exfoliators. So you can use it as often as you want!

Ralph Lauren Model gets fired for not being thin enough

2009-10-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

Ralph Lauren fires model for being too large to fit into clothes. She's a size 4! Yet another reason to not support that company.

read full article here

skinny with the chance of cupcakes > A Custom Jean from the indiDenim Design Vault

2009-10-15T13:32:00.001-07:00

I just found the most amazing new website! If you're like me, the perfect pair of jeans is like the Holy Grail. I have trouble finding jeans that are my favorite color and style, not to mention the right fit for my particular shape. Everyone's different right? indiDenim has an online system that allows you to create the perfect pair of jeans for your preferences and measurements! Check out mine and then make yours!

skinny with the chance of cupcakes > A Custom Jean from the indiDenim Design Vault

Shared via AddThis

Cargo PlantLove Lipsticks

2009-10-11T16:32:00.000-07:00

While I try to keep makeup to a minimum during the week, I like to wear some on the weekends or for events, and I'm very choosy.

I only go into Sephora for two things: Bare Minerals Foundation (which is getting better safety ratings on www.cosmeticsdatabase.com now so I consider it a cheaper and accessible alternative to Zosimos and Coastal Classic Creations) and... Cargo PlantLove Lipsticks. These lipsticks are my new favorite! I've never used another natural lip product like them! They can be worn lightly for a very sheer stain-like look or applied to opaque coverage. There are super natural-looking colors as well as some bolder shades. My faves are Yellowstone, Majella, Lindsay, and CeCe. I wish I could wear more of them including Ageless, Eve Pinky, Maria, and Evangeline, all of which are amazing colors that just aren't gonna work with my particular coloring, which finds the orange in even the bluest of shades.

Cargo PlantLove Lipsticks have recently been reformulated with MUCH cleaner ingredients and they are cruelty-free and vegan as far as I can tell (I frequently pour over the ingredient list to find anything that might be the pinch to wake me up from my vegan natural lipstick dream).

I attribute the excellence of these lipcolors to the fact that they were made by a cosmetics company who knows how makeup should perform, rather than by a natural makeup company that set out to make products that emphasize ingredients while sacrificing function. I want both! And I think these lipsticks are a great option.

So love your natural lips, but if you must dress them up, do it with healthier cosmetic choices.

Plus Size Beauty in Glamour Magazine

2009-10-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

The November issue of Glamour has a pretty cool article about recognizing the beauty of bigger bodies. It opens with an amazing photo of several plus sized models wearing nothing but strategically placed body parts. Their bodies are undeniably beautiful despite the fact that they don't measure up to current standards of beauty.

Apparently, there was an overwhelmingly positive response to a photo of a plus sized model bearing some belly rollage in their September issue. I remember this photo (I've been reading these damn magazines lately- I get them for free at work- it's a phase I hope). The picture was not part of a plus-size feature, it was simply used in an article without any mention of body types as I recall. Lots of people wrote in praising this inclusion.

As someone who is slender yet still has trouble being totally comfortable with her curvy areas, I was truly grateful for this article. After seeing this photo and being struck by how lovely these ladies looked to me, I instantly felt more accepting of my own shape.

The article also mentions that they received many negative comments about the September photo. Several people reprimanded Glamour for promoting an "unhealthy" body type and felt it supported poor choices in an already obese country.

Yes, the US has an obesity epidemic, it's true. But as one of the models points out in the article, seeing photos of very thin models and airbrushed celebrities never motivated her to make healthier choices long term. In fact, this tends to result in worsened self image and therefore more destructive choices like drastic dieting, emotional eating, and unsustainable exercise habits. According to the model, it wasn't until she came to embrace her figure that she began to reach a healthy and stable weight.

I don't think Glamour is trying to promote the fastfood approach to beauty, but rather they seem to be taking steps to be more inclusive in their definition of beauty in the first place.

Our healthiest and most beautiful shape is whatever shape we achieve when we exercise regularly and feed our bodies a diet of healthy, fresh foods on a daily basis. For some people that will look like a breastless, buttless, rail thin bean pole. For others it will look like a super curvy plus sized figure. If I can remind myself of this everyday, I'll be set.

Back from the East Coast

2009-10-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

I've just come back from a trip to the East Coast (the Carolinas and New York City) and thought I'd better post something.

New York was AWESOME. It's definitely on my list of places to live someday. Everyone there is so well-dressed and beautiful that I found myself wearing full makeup everyday and caring more about my appearance, which is kind of lame of me, but practically irresistible in the fashion capital of the country. So I'm partly glad to be back in the East Bay where the maximum level of effort is combed hair (or not) and yoga clothes for most people.

product reviews and recipes to come shortly...

Obesity and Prescription Drugs

2009-08-31T22:52:00.000-07:00

Today I saw an article about America's Top 10 most medicated states and I decided to research what the top 10 fattest states might be. According to the most recent info I could find, the findings were very similar:

10 Most Medicated States:
1. West Virginia
2. Alabama
3. South Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Arkansas
6. Missouri
7. Kentucky
8. Louisiana
9. Mississippi
10. Iowa

10 Fattest States
1. Mississippi
2. Alabama
3. West Virginia
4. Tennessee
5. South Carolina
6. Oklahoma
7. Kentucky
8. Louisiana
9. Michigan
10. Arkansas/Ohio

The top 3 drugs sold last year were:

Lipitor- a cholesterol control drug
Nexium- an acid reflux drug
Plavix- an anti-platelet drug to prevent strokes and heart attacks

The obvious thing that this comparison shows is that obesity and lifestyle-related health problems are the motivation for most of this prescription use. But more importantly, it seems to indicate that these things are not working!

With the rampant prescription use in this country, we should be in better health over the years if these pills do what they say they are going to do. Certainly, that is how doctors prescribe them. As someone who is watching so many of my family members take part in the use of these dangerous drugs (I feel that I can pretty freely call them dangerous considering an anti-platelet drug was listed as one of the causes of death on my dad's death certificate), I can say with confidence that they are not helping.

The problem is, the average American has NO CLUE how to eat a healthy well-rounded, disease-preventative diet. And it's not entirely our fault. Just like the beauty industry, we have companies and organizations telling us the wrong things. We are being told that refined grain products, conventional meat, and dairy are all acceptable foods to eat freely. And the greatest lie we're being told is that processed, packaged, and convenience foods are foods at all.

So just as consumers need to be ruthlessly savvy about lipstick ingredients, so too do we need to be about our food. And the same rules apply. If it isn't 100% whole food that readily grows or exists in nature and is free of all synthetics, additives, isolates, fortifiers, etc., then it is not serving our health. Real food is true medicine.

Does Beauty Sell?

2009-08-21T22:32:00.000-07:00

How interesting! Check out this little article on a study that was done about how a salesperson's looks can affect the female customer's desire to shop.

I have certainly experienced days when I feel kinda gross and don't feel confident enough to interact with salespeople comfortably. I'm sure MANY women have such healthy self images that they never experience this phenomenon. But I know that many women do.

But we shouldn't! Ever! Biological or not, we need to appreciate ourselves enough to not feel that we're in competition with other women. Rather, we should feel a sense of comradeship, especially in such sacred places as fitting rooms for f***sake!

It's possible that the postulation that this is a biological response is correct. But I'm inclined to think that we are so competitive with other women because we've been brought up in a culture that demands that women strive for a specific brand of physical perfection in order to be desirable to men. The pressure placed on the average women to engage in this is overwhelming and totally destructive to our feelings of self worth.

The question at the end of the article is: What should companies choose to do?

The real question is: What should we do? How can we change this dynamic? How can we change (or immunize ourselves from) the culture that promotes this dynamic?

DIY Organic Facial Mask

2009-08-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Here's an easy recipe for a calming pore-cleansing facial mask. This is a good recipe for inflamed skin and skin that is oily or prone to blemishes and pore congestion.

2 tsp Organic Oat Flower
Water as needed
lavender essential oil
chamomile essential oil
tea tree essential oil
(or essential oils of your choice)

mix the oat flour with some water, starting with a very small amount at first, to make a paste. The paste should be very spreadable, not goopy. Add water until you reach this consistency.

Next, add just a couple drops of each essential oil and mix into the flour/water paste.

Apply to damp skin and massage it over your face gently to cleanse and get a little exfoliation out of the process.

Then leave the mask on until it dries (or if you have dry skin, leave it on until it's almost dry and then rinse).

Rinse with warm water. Follow with your usual products.

I use this mask when my skin is hormonal or congested and it quickly reduces redness and calms inflammation.

Skin Care Pantry

2009-08-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Despite working for one of the purest skin care lines in the US, I still find myself making my own stuff out of simple ingredients just for fun and to curtail them to my own skin's needs. Making DIY bodycare can be easy and very economical, even when using really high quality organic ingredients. Below are items that I always keep in my skin care "pantry":

Aloe Juice (you can get 99% organic aloe vera juice from health food stores and Trader Joe's)- I drink a cup of this every morning and mist it on as a toner twice a day so I buy it in gallon jugs. It's super detoxifying and refreshing

Organic Brown Rice Flour- In the palm of your hand, mix some into your face cleanser to make a very gentle yet effective exfoliator

Organic Oat Flour- Mix with water to create a paste. This makes a great, slightly exfoliating, wash for oily skin. It's very absorbent and anti-inflammatory

Epsom Salts and Sea Salts- I always have this on hand for bath salts and to mix with oils and essential oils for body scrubs

Bentonite Clay- cheap and very therapeutic. It is purifying and toxin-flushing so it's great as a mask.

Oils- I keep a variety of good organic unrefined plant oils on hand to make hydrating elixirs for face and body. Some of my faves are jojoba, pumpkin seed, safflower, and apricot seed oils. Pure plant oils feed and heal the skin unlike any lotion on the market.

Essential Oils- I keep a variety of organic steam-distilled essential oils to make scented products and to create treatments for just about anything. Good basics to have are Tea Tree, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Mandarin, etc. Some of my favorites are vetiver, basil, cedar, and sandalwood.

Tea- Teabags make convenient steam facials and tea internally and topically is amazing for the skin.

Bodycare is like cooking- you always save money and make good quality stuff when you "cook" at home rather than buying pre-made things. And you have complete control over what you put on your body!

Next will be some easy DIY recipes...

Blah, Blah, Blog

2009-08-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

I have decided to recommit myself to this blog after a year away from it.

There are two main reasons that I neglect this poor blog- the first is that I've been blogging for the company I work for and I often lack the energy at the end of the day to blog here. So I will do my best to avoid letting Work prevent me from sharing here from now on.

The second is that now and then I feel like a total hack. My very motivation for starting this blog is what occasionally keeps me from feeling qualified to post on it: I am one of many women that has an ongoing struggle against the effects of growing up in a culture that is obsessed with beauty, youth, and bodily perfection at any cost to our health and happiness. I sometimes think "How can I possibly share advice with women like myself while I frequently fail to practice what I preach when it comes to self-acceptance?" But my goal is to write the kind of blog that I need to read as I can only assume that there are countless girls and women (and guys too!) who feel the same way I do.

Soooo...

Regular posts are on their way. Any requests for content related to products, recipes, wellness, herbs, etc? Send them to me in an email or comment.

It's About Time!

2008-06-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

At last, a couple of companies are being exposed (a little). California Attorney General files a lawsuit against a few "natural" brands:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_12797.cfm

Books!

2008-04-21T21:13:00.000-07:00

I just finished Stacy Malkan's new book called Not Just a Pretty Face. It was quick and easy and remained an enjoyable read somehow considering all the facts and figures and quotes that would make your stomach turn. This book cemented and made more urgent the stuff I already knew about the cosmetics industry, the chemical industry, and our personal and environmental health. I strongly recommend that everyone read it. You can find it in bookstores, health food stores, and online retailers like Amazon.

I just received my next read today and it looks like a good one! It's called Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. It's all about greening various aspects of your life with a huge emphasis on beauty and personal care. If you're into eco fashion and beauty, you need this book! Also, the author will be appearing with Julia Roberts on OPRAH tomorrow (Tuesday April 22, 2008) to promote her book. Check it out if you get a chance, it's an Earth Day show devoted to going green!

It's been far too long...

2008-04-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

I have been neglecting this blog! A lot has happened in the past five months i guess. But after a stern talking to from a new friend in London, I am resuming activity on this blog. There's certainly plenty to blog about. I've got a bunch of products to write about, but first is the latest about ingredient safety.

In March a study was conducted on many products (check out the list as you may be using some) to test for 1,4 Dioxane. This is not an added or listed ingredient in products. Rather, it is a nasty by-product in the making of certain ingredients that are frequently used in products (even in many "natural" products). Check out the link below for all the details:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.cfm

If you use products that don't include synthetics and stick to whole botanical and food-grade products, you won't need to worry about 1,4 Dioxane.

To make the switch, check out GratefulBody, Allaffia, Dr. Bronners, and Greenridge Herbals.

2007-12-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm totally lagging on the DIY skincare posts, but in the meantime, I found another super clean skincare line! It's called Greenridge Herbals. Of the lines I've mentioned, this makes the top two or three in my opinion. I've tried a few interesting products that I really like. But be warned- the cleanser for oily skin types is waaaaay too strong somehow. I have very oily skin and I can't use it, which is unfortunate because it's got some great ingredients in it. The cleanser for normal to dry skin is probably really nice, and I can't wait to try the eye products. If anyone reads this, and also decides to try Greenridge Herbal products, let me know which products you try and what you think! These are clean and well formulated products and they definitely deserve support as a company.

www.greenridgeherbals.com

Body Burden

2007-11-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone knows at least someone who has a condition, illness, or disease of some sort. I have recently become completely frustrated with the overwhelming numbers of friends and family members who have been diagnosed with something or are reporting that someone close to them has been diagnosed with something. It isn't acceptable for an entire species to just be riddled with illness.

I learned about the "Body Burden" a couple of years ago. This is the build up of chemicals in the body from constant short term exposure and/or exposure to chemicals that are not excreted easily from the body. This appears to have clear effects on our health and is not to be ignored. I can't help but think of this phenomenon that effects us all when I think of all the people who are getting sick with, or inheriting, serious illnesses. There is a really informative website that I recommend checking out: www.chemicalbodyburden.org

Skincare

2007-09-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies that has the function of expelling waste and toxins. An important factor in healthy skin is minimizing internal toxins and promoting proper flushing and expulsion. This can be done by eating correctly and drinking plenty of water. But as the skin has the ability to expel from the inside out, it also easily absorbs from the outside in. We should only allow our skin to absorb stuff we'd actually want in our bodies- nutritious stuff. We are already stuck dealing with pollution and treated water and we just have to try to combat those with the healthiest lifestyle possible, but we don’t want to add to this problem by using impure things on our skin.

We would never intentionally eat plastic, chemicals, synthetics, or anything else composed of man-made materials. Ideally, we only want to eat totally natural and healthy organic foods free of chemicals and pesticides. Anything else is at best non-nourishing and at worst, totally poisonous. So why would we hold our skin to different standards and absorb these things from topical application of skincare?

The key to great skin is totally healthy skin and you can’t achieve skin health by feeding it the chemical cocktail that characterizes most skincare products. And price is no indicator of quality. Super expensive products can be full of just as much crap as the drugstore stuff. It still costs only pennies to make such synthetic products, they are just priced higher to appeal to those who still hold the belief that price is always an indicator of quality. But what you are usually paying for is marketing, advertising, celebrity spokespersons, and a brand name.

It is very important to note that in cosmetics and skincare, the words natural and organic and “plant extracts” can be used on labels with no standards to uphold. These terms are not regulated and do not mean that a product really qualifies as natural or organic. So it’s necessary to educate yourself about ingredients. My advice is always to ignore what the front of the bottle says and only read the back. What percentage of the product is actually organic or wild-crafted? Are there ingredients in the product that you can’t eat or make a tea from, or even PRONOUNCE?

I am not even going to go into all the ingredients that are void of nutritional value or the companies that should be avoided because it’s the majority. It will be more efficient to name the products we should be using.

Here are some companies whose prices are what they are because of the cost of the quality ingredients used. Totally and truly natural and organic products cost much more to make, and yet you’ll notice that many of them are still less costly than many “luxury” skincare products on the market that are totally synthetic.

-Alaffia

-GratefulBody

-Benedetta

-Eminence Organics

-Dr. Hauschka

-Jurlique

-Pangea Organics

-Erbaviva

-and maybe John Masters Organics

These are the only companies I’m aware of that can actually be considered skin CARE. They all have a very large range of vegan options as well. Just keep an eye out for beeswax, honey, and occasionally, milk if you are looking for vegan products.

These are often sold among other brands at healthfood stores that are not the same quality. If there are any other brands that you discover, please let me know about them!

And if you don’t want to buy this kind of skincare due to cost concerns, then make your own in your kitchen using organic ingredients. The next several posts will be devoted to DIY skincare…

Cleaner Cosmetic Companies

2007-08-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

I have yet to find a line of cosmetics that is totally pure. But there are a few options that drastically minimize the use of impure ingredients. They can’t be found in drug stores or in department stores. In fact, there are few if any products that are truly clean carried in those types of stores. Your best bet is to visit a health food store, green co-op, or little mom and pop natural place if you have one in your area (these places need our support!). But if not, you can find and order what you need online. Here are some companies that are trying to do things right:

Gabriel Cosmetics- The textures and colors are pretty good and these cosmetics are vegan and cruelty-free. These are mostly natural shades without any really vibrant color options. www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com

ZuZu Luxe- This is a line made by Gabriel Cosmetics that includes some vibrant shades and they make one of the best mascaras I’ve ever used. The line is vegan and cruelty-free. Both Gabriel and ZuZu are best suited for light to medium complexions as they don’t really offer a wide variety of shades for deeper complexions unfortunately.

Jane Iredale- She makes a very popular mineral makeup and a full color line. Look closely at the ingredients because not all of them are 100% vegan. Her line is fairly large and has something for nearly all skin tones and the colors are nice. www.janeiredale.com

Bare Escentuals- This is probably the most popular line that touts healthier ingredients. I use their mineral foundation myself as well as the Rare Minerals. It’s more affordable than Jane Iredale and has a wide variety of shades for skin, eyes, cheeks, and lips. Not all the products are vegan so check out each one before buying. Also, there are still a few ingredients in some of the products that warrant caution. My suggestion is to check the ingredients or the product name on www.cosmeticsdatabase.com first.

Mi Essence- This line has the cleanest ingredient lists I’ve ever seen in a cosmetic line. However they are in Australia so shipping may be costly and not all their products are vegan. But if you order from them, let me know what you think! www.miessence.com

Cosmetic Ingredients

2007-08-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

If there is no other motivation to stop using conventional cosmetics, the health risks posed by their ingredients should be. Cosmetic ingredients are not required to be tested for safety and many if not most are not assessed at all for risks to our health. Cosmetic companies will tell you that even if there is some evidence of potentially harmful effects of ingredients used in their products, they are used in such low concentrations that they aren’t a problem. But the average woman uses between 9-17 beauty products on her face, body, hair, etc. each day! So you are getting several applications of these ingredients every single day. Our bodies absorb these chemicals and since our systems have trouble flushing these synthetics out, we store them in our bodies and they wreak havoc on us over time. Below I have listed just a few common ingredients that show up in many cosmetic items like foundations, powders, eyeshadows, liners, mascara, cheek color and lip color. But of course there are countless others that are equally scary. If you want to look up ingredients or specific products to see their safety ratings and details, go to http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php . This website is amazing and so informative. It is the source for the info below and a crucial resource to public health and safety education at this point because the companies making the products aren’t going to tell you this stuff.

Talc- potential carcinogen and a known respiratory toxicant, not tested by industry panel for safety in cosmetic use, some lab tests resulted in skin irritation, possibility of contamination with asbestiform fibers (extremely carcinogenic)

Mineral oil- possible human immune toxicant and potentially cancerous, low to moderate doses in some lab tests resulted in sense organ effects and skin irritation, not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel

Parabens (methylparaben is most common)- Human skin toxicant, one or more lab tests showed organ system effects, positive mutation in mammalian cells in vitro, weak endocrine disruption, brain and nervous system effects, skin irritation, and gene expression interference

Ferric ferrocyanide-Known human respiratory toxicant, one or more lab tests resulted in brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses

BHT-human immune system and skin toxicant, one or more lab studies using low doses show endocrine system disruption, brain and nervous system effects, and skin irritation, reproductive system effects at high doses, and one or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results

Silica- (finely ground as in loose or pressed powdered products that could be inhaled)- Strong evidence of dust being an immune system toxicant, cancer risk, respiratory toxicant, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and renal toxicant, and bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans

“Lake” colors (various pigments used for color)- Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity and nervous system toxicity, and one or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results.

It is possible to wear makeup (if you want to) without using dangerous ingredients. There are a few companies that are making truly safe cosmetics. That’s the next post.

Cosmetics

2007-07-27T00:08:00.001-07:00

Feeling like we need to wear makeup, like we don't look good without it, is a horrible feeling. And it's a feeling that is instilled in us so that we will spend our money trying to feel better. I commend and envy all the women out there who feel great without wearing makeup and choose not to. I wish I could say I was one of these women, but I'm not...yet. It's definitely a goal of mine and I'm getting there. When I was in my teens I felt uncomfortable leaving the house without using what added up to be 8 or 9 cosmetic products. I have since learned to appreciate the way I look with a minimal amount (a little powder and bronzer and a sweep of mascara) and that's a big achievement for me! And it literally took just scaling it down over time and learning to accept what my face actually looks like, and disregarding the fact that I seemed out of place in some beauty companies that valued fully made up faces walking around the office. Both of those things were really unpleasant at first. I hope to get to the point where I feel great with a totally bare face, but I'm still self-conscious enough that it needs to be a gradual process. I know that a lot of women feel the same way and wish they felt better about what their faces look like without all the paints and powders and all the time and money these entail.

So the next several posts will be devoted to 1) why most cosmetics are actually bad for our health, 2) some companies that are trying to make healthier makeup (while we still wear it), and 3) things we can do to look and feel amazing without makeup.

The next post will be full of scary info about why cosmetics are physically bad for our health. But almost more important are the effects that they have on us mentally and emotionally. We should never feel inadequate or unattractive or embarrassed by our real faces, but many of us do. And this is not our fault. Our society has raised woman to believe that our job is to be beautiful and attractive to men at all costs starting from very young. This is ultimately so that a bit later on we can be sure to fulfill our true role in life: to get married and have children and keep husbands happy. And if our looks are lacking compared to made-up, airbrushed, photoshopped, surgically altered, perfectly lit models, actresses, and pornstars, then we could lose all that, and that is supposed to terrify us. On top of that, it forces us to constantly compare ourselves to the competition, other women. So we have been taught to obsess over our looks rather than focus on living the lives we really want for ourselves; and this all helps jeopardize our ability to have a totally healthy perspective of and relationships with other women-our true allies.

And if the psychological issues resulting from the motivations of the cosmetic industry aren’t bad enough, the dangers of the ingredients to our health are…

Introduction

2007-07-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

Despite my involvement in the beauty industry, I have what can only be described (cliche as it may be) as a love/hate feeling for it. I still find myself getting caught up in what feels like the fun of cosmetics and beauty tips, etc. But I also realize now (as I wish I had in my teen years and early twenties) that the effects of western attitudes toward women, how we are portrayed, what we are expected to look and act like, and what we are constantly being sold on is unbelievably unhealthy and destructive to our self-worth and to our relationships with other women.

Learning more about feminism shed a lot of light on why I was constantly feeling insecure about my appearance and my role in the world. I learned that several industries thrive off of making women feel concerned about how we look starting from when we are very young. I still ocassionally struggle with this feeling (as a 25 year old woman) and have to look it square in the face sometimes, which is scary.

A book called The Truth About Beauty by Kat James addresses the motivations of the beauty, medical, and food industries and their effects on us. In addition, James shows us a better approach to beauty that is actually good for us and respects that we are not simply walking collections of flaws that need fixing and covering up. There is so much information in her book and yet it is a joy to read. I frequently return to it when I need extra inspiration or reminders about great advice. I urge all women, especially those who have ever felt insecure or uncomfortable in their own skin, to read this book asap.

Here's a little excerpt that I always feel empowered by (and it is applicable to the beauty industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the food industry, and our government):

"Do your body and your beauty a serious favor: Don't put your unquestioning trust in professions and industries, brand names, number-one recommended products or treatments, industry stamps of approval, or guidelines, no matter how respectable they seem. The only people you ever needed to trust entirely were your parents, and just as every parent has very human weaknesses and personal agendas, so does every regulatory agency and authority figure that influences your living choices. The sooner you let go of any blind faith you have in the government's ability or incentive to protect you, the sooner you can put that faith and the role of the protector where it belongs: with you."