Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is used my millions, every day, as a way to wash their hands when soap and water isn't readily available. Hand sanitizers are believed to kill bacteria but they also have a very dark side. 

The active ingredient in most hand sanitizers is alcohol, either ethol alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, or a mixture of both. This is what kills the germs. The problem is that alcohol in the sanitzers are mixed with lots of harmful chemicals. Alcohol enhances the absorption of other ingredients. This means anything mixed with it will move through the skin and into the bloodstream more easily. Let's look at some of the hand sanitizers on the market.

Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea Hand Sanitizer
Active Ingredient: Alcohol 68%
Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Isopropal Alcohol, Fragrance (Parfum), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Honey Extract (Mel, Extract de meil), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Dimethicone, Hydroxyproplcellulose, Dimethiconol, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alumnia, Isopropal Myristate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 33 (CI 17200), Yellow 5 (CI 19140).

Purel Advanced Naturals Hand Sanitizer (this is marketed as a more natural hand sanitizer!!) 
Active ingredient: Ethol alcohol 70%
Inactive ingredients: Alcohol Denatured, Hydrofluorocarbon 152a, Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, Panthenol, Glycerin, Cyclomethicone, Tocopherol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octylacrylamide/Acrylates/Butylaminoethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, PEG-75 Lanolin, Water (Aqua/Eau), Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Amino-Methyl Propanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Linoleamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Hydroxycitronellal, Dimethyl Lauramine, Isostearate, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Sodium PCA, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Amyl Cinnamal, Geraniol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal.

Dr. Bronners Organic Fair Trade Hand Sanitizing Spray
Ingredients: Organic ethanol 68%, water, organic glycerin, organic lavender oil

Which one would you choose? Definitely the Dr. Bronners right? That's what I use. Or I make my own (recipe below). Bottom line is to always wash your hands with soap and water when you can. When you can't, find a chemical free hand sanitizer. The chemical ones raise real concerns, especially in children, when used frequently. 

DIY Hand Sanitizer
2oz of 120 proof vodka (any brand will work. I use vodka over rubbing alcohol because it has natural antiseptic properties from natural resources)
10 drops of lavender essential oil (I use Young Living)
10 drops of vegetable glycerin
Mix ingredients and transfer to a 2oz spray bottle. I keep these bottles in my car, purse, and in my desk at the office. 

Tips for Reading Labels

Ignore the Front

Don't waste your time reading whatever is on the front of the product. The front of a bottle is nothing more than a marketing tactic. Since manufacturers know people like natural ingredients, some are throwing a bit of aloe into the formula, then posting "aloe" all over the front of the product so you think it's all natual. Always turn the product over and read the label on the back.

The Order

The first 4-5 ingredients make up the majority of your formula. Labeling laws require manufacturers to list first the ingredients that constitute the highest percentage of the product. If water is the first ingredient in an expensive skin cream, think twice about buying it. If the most effective ingredient is hanging out at the bottom of the list, that means there is hardly any of it in the product, and you might want to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the product. Focus most of your attention on the first five ingredients and that will give you the basic story on what's in it. 

Natural Oils

Look for ingredients like natural essential oils or natural plant oils. Some great moisturizers include jojoba, coconut, sesame, almond, apricot, soybean, olive, and macadamia seed. Other oils like chamomile and aloe are soothing and healing.

Free

Look for this word on your products. Manufacturers may say “fragrance-free”, “sulfate-free", or "paraben-free." While this is a good start, there may still be a lot of other potentially harmful ingredients. Make sure you read the ingredient label on the back.

Organic

This means the product contains ingredients derived from living matter. A label stating "organic" is a legitimate claim monitored by the USDA. If it says "USDA organic" that means it was made with 95 percent or more organic materials. 

Can you Pronounce it? 

A chemical ingredient list contains mostly things you can’t pronounce. Not all chemicals are potentially harmful, but try to find formulas that contain more natural ingredients, such as aloes, plant oils, honey, shea butter, etc.

Expiration Dates

Ever see the symbol for the floating lid jar with a number and an 'M' on it? It refers to how long the product is good after opening (6 months, 12 months, etc).

Hypoallergenic 
Manufacturers claim that products that bear this claim produce fewer allergic reactions than other products. There are, though, no federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term or ensure that these products are less irritating to sensitive skin than others.

Dermatologist Recommended
This is the most common marketing claim on cosmetics. It lets the buyer know that the product has received an MD's stamp of approval AND their recommendation. The reality? This means they got someone who calls themselves a dermotologist (they don't even have to be board certified) to recommend their product. What's even worse is usually the "dermotologist" receives some sort of reimbursement for this.

Shave Gel

The most dangerous part of your shaving routine doesn't involve the razor, it's the shave gels and creams you lather on. Like most products, shave gels and creams contain harmful ingredients. These ingredients, glycol, sodium lauryl sulfates, TEA, and mineral oil are toxic. You use hot water when you shave which opens up your pores. This allows the shave gel/cream to penetrate deeper into the skin. You also exfoliate the dead skin while shaving. This leaves you with a fresh new layer of skin that is highly porous and soaks up the gel/cream. Since you shave every day, or every other day, these chemicals can leave your skin irritated, dry, and with red itchy bumps. Yuck!

So what can you do? Make your own. I use the below recipe and I love it. 

Shave Gel
1/2 cup Dr Bronner's liquid Castile soap
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 tsp salt (this acts as a preservative)
2 Tbsp vegetable glycerin
2 Tbsp pure aloe vera gel (make sure you buy one that's 100% pure, like this )
8 drops of essential oil (optional, I left this out because I used a scented Dr Bronner's)
Dissolve the salt in the hot water then add remaining ingredients. Transfer to a pump bottle.

If you don't want to make your own, here are a few good chemical free ones
Shea Moisture Shave Creme - coconut hibiscus shave butter creme
Dr Bronner's Shaving Soaps - shaving soap

New Year.....New Products

Let's start out the new year by swapping out some of your chemical ridden products for some chemical free products. I know change isn't easy. I would still be using my St. Ives Apricot Scrub I used in middle school if I could. Below are some easy products to swap out. I know some of you might not have the time, patience, or interest in making your own products and that's totally okay. There are a lot of things you can swap out with products found at your local grocery store or even from your own kitchen. Every little bit helps. Now let's get swapping...

A.M. Facial Moisturizer - swap it out for jojoba oil

Face wash/cleanser/gel - swap it out for Beautycounter's charcoal cleansing bar

Toner - swap it out for witch hazel

Face Mask - swap it out for baking soda. Make a paste with baking soda and water. Apply to clean skin and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

P.M. Facial Moisturizer - swap it out for apricot oil, grapeseed oil, or almond oil

Bar Soap - swap it out for Dr Bronner bar soap

Body Wash - swap it out for Dr Bronner liquid soap

Body Scrub - swap it out for Epsom salt. Mix 1/2 cup Epsom salt with 1/4 cup olive oil and scrub skin in the shower

Body Lotion - swap it out with coconut oil

Shampoo and Conditioner - swap it out for some chemical free options like Acure Organics, Shea Moisture, Juice Organics

So cheers to the new year, new products, and less chemicals!

Pop Some Bubbly for the Skin

Champagne contains several ingredients that are amazing for the skin. Resveratrol is potent antioxidant that can act as a shield against skin damage and provides serious anti-aging benefits. Polyphenol helps reduce skin inflammation and skin redness. Tartaric acid helps balance out discoloration and can brighten your skin. 

So what do you do with all that leftover champagne from New Years? You put it on your skin!

Champagne can be used as a toner to help promote clear skin. Put any leftover champagne back in the fridge so the liquid is slightly chilled. Wash your face while it's chilling. Apply the champagne with a cotton ball to your face and neck as you would with your normal toner. Follow with a generous amount of moisturizer.

Champagne contains carbon dioxide which acts as a gentle exfoliator to sooth dry skin. Add a cup of champagne to your hot bath for an exfoliating and fizzy treatment for your skin.

Champagne makes an excellent hair treatment. Mix 1/2 cup champagne with 1/2 cup water and distribute evenly through your hair. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, rinse out, and follow with conditioner. Your hair will feel silky and smooth.

Remember to keep champagne stocked throughout the year. A glass of bubbly contains antioxidants that are 20 to 50 times more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E. As a result, every sip protects the skin's vital collagen and elastin from environmental free radicals and oxidative stress. Oh and a glass of champagne is only 95 calories...

Drink up ladies and cheers to 2017! 

Bite Beauty Lip Products

Bite Beauty lip products are free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrance, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMO, and triclosan. Because you eat what you put on your lips, Bite Beauty uses real ingredients. All products are handmade in house and never outsourced. Their lipsticks, called Amuse Bouche, come in 34 shades. 

I was first introduced to Bite products at Sephora. I got a free sample of the lipstick in Radish. I immediately fell in love. The color was gorgeous, it stayed on for a good portion of the day, and it's chemical free. What's not to love? I purchased another color, Gazpacho, and I love that one too!

Bite products are made in Toronto but they also have a Bite Beauty Lab in NYC. The lab, located in Soho, allows you to make your own lipstick. What?!?! This is so up my alley! Thank god my sister is a flight attendant because I hopped on a plane and flew to NYC, thanks Allison! My friend Katie and I got to make two lipsticks each. We got to pick the color, the scent, and the finish. I attached pictures of the whole process below. I would highly recommend this if you live in NY, or if you are there visiting. I can't wait to do it again!

    Bite Beauty Lab NYC              Bite Beauty Website               Bite Beauty at Sephora

          

 

 

Primally Pure Deoderant

My fabulous friend Kari bought me a bottle of Primally Pure deodorant. Thanks Kari! Of course, the first thing I did was look at the ingredients. Safe. Since I haven't heard of the company, I immediately went on their website. 

Primally Pure makes safe, organic, 100% natural skincare products with the best and most nourishing products on the planet. All their products are made without harmful chemicals, parabens, artificial dyes, talc, fillers, and fragrances. The ingredients are created in a lab and never tested on animals. 

This deodorant will keep you smelling fresh all day long while also pampering your pits with good-for-you ingredients (like tallow from grass-fed cows and organic fair trade coconut oil) that are pure and natural enough to eat!

Primally Pure deodorant is not an antiperspirant since sweat is a healthy and normal part of being human. And since this product doesn't contain any of the toxic chemicals found in conventional deodorants, it won’t interfere with your body’s natural and necessary detoxification process (also known as sweating). 

Let me be honest with you, I have tried a TON of chemical free deodorants. This one is definitely at the top of my list. I don't smell at all when I use this. She bought me the lemongrass scent, which smells amazing, but it also comes in lavender, tea tree, and unscented. It's $12 a bottle but so worth it!

Primally Pure Website

Charcoal Tooth & Gum Powder

I found the most amazing product at TJ Maxx the other day, charcoal tooth & gum powder. We all know my obsession with anything charcoal so of course I had to buy it! Although I have never heard of the company, InVitamin, the ingredients looked safe and it was a whopping $5.99. I figured I would research it when I got home to make sure it was legit.

InVitamin was founded in 2011. It's a small company and all of their products are handmade in small batches. I love companies is like this. They are committed to natural, quality ingredients. Their goal is to craft uniquely natural household and personal care products for the entire family. You can read more about the company here, inVitamin

So let's talk about the powder. It comes in a little 2.75 oz jar that looks like sand and smells like mint. The instructions say to wet my toothbrush, apply the powder, and brush normally. I wasn't sure if this was suppose to replace my normal toothpaste or if I was supposed to use this in addition to it? After reading the reviews, it says you can do either, so now I sprinkle the powder on top of my normal toothpaste. The verdict? I love it! It has a great minty taste, leaves my teeth feeling super clean, and I already notice my teeth a shade whiter. Let's not get carried away, my teeth don't look like I bleached them, but they do look whiter. I'm sure with continued use, you will see great results. It doesn't leave my mouth black and it doesn't make half the mess that the charcoal capsules make. It even comes with a little spoon in the jar so you can neatly sprinkle it right on your toothbrush!

Essential Oils 101

Lets talk about essential oils...

I use essential oils all the time. I put them in products I make, I use them when I am sick, I clean with them, and I diffuse them. The funny thing about essential oil is that it's not even oil! They got stuck with the name simply because they don't mix with water. Essential oil is a liquid that is distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, or roots of plants. Not all essential oils are created equal, some contain fillers and some are synthetic. You should only use pure, organic, therapeutic grade essential oils. I use Young Living oils but there are lots of oils on the market. Do your research before you buy. Below are signs to tell if the oil is fake.

Color - Place a single drop on white printer paper and let dry. If there’s an oily ring left behind, it’s not a pure essential oil. It means it has hidden nut, seed, or vegetable oil in it and its not a true pure essential oil. 

Price - While high cost doesn’t signify high quality, it’s smart to be wary of an essential oil with a super-low price tag. Essential oils are almost inevitably pricey: It can take a roomful of plant material to fill just one bottle of essential oil, and if the botanical is scarce, it further drives up cost.

Sign - Make sure the plant’s Latin name is listed on the label or, if you’re shopping online, the webpage. If only the common name is listed (for example, "lavender essential oil") you might be shelling out for a lower-cost hybrid. And if it doesn’t specify that it’s an essential oil, it isn’t. 

Container - All essentials must be stored in glass containers, because the oil’s strong chemical compounds break down and react with plastic. What’s more, glass should be dark blue or amber to protect the oil from degrading ultraviolet radiation. 

Feel - Place a drop of vegetable, nut, or seed oil on the pad of one index finger, and place a drop of essential oil on the other. Rub the oils with your thumbs, noting the differences (or similarities) between the feel of each. True essential oils have a little slip. But for the most part, they shouldn't feel thick or greasy. 

How its cultivated - Since essential oils are plant-derived, avoiding pesticide contamination by buying organic only makes sense. Many companies carry the official USDA seal, but here’s an insider secret: Oils labeled "wild-crafted" are also a safe bet. It means the plant was harvested in the wild, rather than farmed. You can pretty much assume they’ve been unsprayed. The organic label means a price bump, but you can be strategic about when to save or splurge. If nothing else, make sure you buy organic citrus oils as it’s been shown that they tend to contain pesticides. 

How it pours - When you unscrew an essential oil’s cap, ideally it will be sealed with an orifice reducer, a plug that controls how many drops come out at once. This is helpful for dosage, yes, but it also prolongs the shelf life of oxidation-prone oils by limiting their exposure to air at all times. It’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t have one, but do watch out for any essential oils with built-in dropper pipettes. The little tubes are typically made of plastic or rubber, which can both break down and release synthetic impurities into the oil

I found this information in an article 7 Signs Your Essential Oils Are Fake. You can read more here.

The Power of Lavender

Lavender is the swiss army knife of essential oils. It has antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, anti-fungal, calming, moisturizing, and antimicrobial properties. It is the oldest and most popular known oil in essential oil history. If there’s a number one essential oil for all skin problems, it’s got to be lavender essential oil. Below are some amazing things you can do with it. 

*Add a drop of lavender oil to your mascara to make it last longer and help your eyelashes grow.

*Take 1 drop of lavender oil and apply it directly to acne or pimples. It should heal in 2-3 days.

*Mix a few drops of lavender oil with coconut oil (or any carrier oil) and use as a moisturizer. Lavender restores skin complexion and slows aging with its powerful antioxidants. 

*Gently rub stretch marks with a few drops of lavender oil to tighten skin and reduce the size and coloring of scars. 

*Create a spa-like retreat by adding 1 cup Epsom salt and 4 drops of lavender oil to a hot bath. 

*Lavender oil can be applied to prevent new scar tissue from forming and also reduce the evidence of existing scars 

*Add a drop of lavender oil to your shampoo each time you wash your hair. When massaged into the scalp, it can improve blood circulation, promote hair growth, and prevent hair loss.

*Add 5 drops of lavender oil, 1 tsp witch hazel, and 1 cup distilled water to a spray bottle. Use this facial mist to combat oil and heal breakouts.

*Add a drop of lavender oil to aloe vera to sooth sunburns.

*Lavender oil induces sleep. Rub a drop of oil on your palms then spread on your pillow before you go to sleep. 

*Make your own lavender body wash
1/2 cup Dr. Bronner lavender Castile soap
4 Tbsp vegetable glycerin
3 Tbsp grapeseed oil
Mix all ingredients together. Transfer to a bottle you can keep in the shower. Shake before each use.

When it comes to essential oil, please make sure you are using pure, organic, therapeutic grade essential oils. I use Young Living essential oils. As with many other essential oils, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid using lavender oil. It is also recommended that patients with diabetes stay away from lavender oil.