Shocking Sunscreen Secret

With summer around the corner, the season of sunblock and sunscreen is upon us. What's the difference? A sunscreen is a lotion with an SPF of 2 and higher, while sunblock works to effectively block harmful rays from absorption into the skin and are categorized as lotions with an SPF 15 and higher. When choosing a lotion for you and your family, make sure to read the ingredient list carefully. A particularly harmful ingredient that is found in many sunblocks is benzophenone. This organic compound is used frequently, yet has extensive research has shown that it may not be safe.  While this is not the only ingredient that you need to keep an eye out for (i.e. parabens) it has been the subject of discussion in the scientific community. Your best bet is to stay out of the sun as much as possible. Of course, while this may not be all that practical, consider using a sunhat, or umbrella if you have sensitive skin. Here are two nice organic lip balms that protect the lips from sunburn without clogging pores with SPF.

Fad Free Personal Care

The natural skin-care market has exploded. More companies than ever have appeared on the marketplace promising better skin quality, fewer blemishes, and to reduce the effects of aging. But is this just a fad? When looking for a new product, perhaps you should consider a product line that has been around longer than the fad. I found a great company that has been around for over 20 years, and they offer everything from laundry treatments, to anti-aging cremes. Perhaps longevity in the industry is indicative of a superior product line. Check out their website and post a comment with your thoughts...

Blueberries Bring Benefits to Skin-Care!

In the past few years the public profile of the common blueberry has been steadily rising. High levels of antioxidants contained within the skin of the blueberry is the focus of most of the discussion. It seems that not only are they incredibly good for you to eat, but when included in your favorite skin-care product,  they have a wonderful effect on the skin! This so-called 'superfood', contains the highest levels of antioxidants of ANY food. I suppose it should be less surprising that items such as blueberry juice, blueberry infused beauty products have flooded the market. 

Aluminum Alert!

Aluminum is an element that has been proven to harm the body. Internal consumption has been linked to breast cancer, Alzheimer's, and kidney problems. The most common place where we intake aluminum is in our drinking water. Cooking in Aluminum pots and pans is also not recommended because the aluminum is transfered from the cooking vessel to the food. Aluminum toxicity is also well known in the food preparation business. In particular, breweries take care not to brew their beverages in aluminum containers. It doesn't just influence our food preparation, it also appears in anti-perspirants and deodorants. The aluminum in deodorants lodges itself in the pores and absorbs the sweat naturally produced by our body. While it does not permeate the skin, it clogs the pores in an area that is dangerously close to important underarm lymph nodes. I recommend using a natural deodorant crystal made from either ammonium allum, or potassium allum. 

Almond Oil: A Great Winter Solution to Dry Skin!

Almonds are delicious, particularly toasted and on some type of pastry. Besides their lovely flavor, the oil derived from almonds is an effective emollient. Emollients are substances that soften the skin and are used to treat dryness and scaling. Not only does almond oil sooth the skin, but it also smells delightful. Many massage therapists use this oil as the base oil for their formulations because it is such a pleasant, easy to spread substance. Here is my favorite line of almond products, they smell good enough to eat!

Wonderful Willow

The internal use of White Willow bark for pain relief has been documented to reach back to the era of Hippocrates in the 5th century B.C. White willow is also very useful in maintaining healthy skin. It contains an active ingredient called salicin, which is an anti-inflammatory. Salicylic acid, which is found in many skin-care products intending to treat problem skin, can also be derived from the bark of the White Willow tree. This naturally occurring acid is known as a beta hydroxy acid, a popular type of anti-aging ingredient. Salicylic acid is also useful in the treatment of acne, psoriasis, calluses, keratosis, and dandruff. There are many products available with this naturally occurring ingredient, here are some of my favorites!

Surfactant Confusion: Soap vs. Detergent

Detergent is common in our everyday lives, from the laundry room where we wash our clothes, to the shower where we wash ourselves. Believe it or not, most soap is actually a detergent. While  laboratories manufacture detergents from petrochemicals derived from plants and animals, many small soap companies hand make their soap with fine, natural ingredients, often the actual plants or oils, not chemically created synthetics. With the onset of a global market, the line between soap and detergent is being blurred by the major chemical companies that produce the majority of these products. Because detergents are cheaper to produce, these companies will typically use the same detergent base when producing their "soap". Because these detergents are being marketed as soap for human skin, and because they are reaching a global audience, there is an increase in the percentage of people experiencing allergic reactions to the artificially derived chemical compounds, and or fragrances, contained in "soap". The solution? Handmade, natural soap. A quick Google search lists so many companies to choose from, and so many luxurious natural soaps on the market, all you have to do is find the product that suits you!