10 Toxic Ingredients To Avoid

Most people don't realize there are very toxic, cancer causing ingredients in their favorite skincare and beauty products.  For those of us who are already aware, it's still hard to know exactly what to avoid because most of the ingredients added to skincare and beauty products these days, are hard to even pronouce or figure out what it means.

The FDA does not regulate personal care products ingredients and companies are not required to disclose all the ingredients used to make these products.  Therefore, cheap, toxic, cancer causing ingredients have made their way into our skin care and beauty products without us even knowing.

Your skin is your largest organ and absorbs anything applied to it, which then enters the bloodstream.  So take some time out of your routine to review the back of the ingredient's lists next time you shop for your favorite skincare and beauty products.  You may be shocked to find out that some of your favorite products include some of the following ingredients which are bad for your skin, your health and the environment.

1. Fragrance - (Perfum, Scent) Often found a wide range of items from skincare, cleaning, laundry products and air fresheners. Fragrance is a blanket term that can be made up of thousands of different chemicals. Many of them are toxic, cancer forming and come with a long list of side effects ranging from asthma, allergies, immunotoxicity, headaches, vomiting, dizziness to skin discoloration.  Phthalates, are another chemical commonly used with fragrances to make them last longer. They are linked to birth defects and are considered a reproductive toxin. They may not be listed in ingredients.

2. Propylene Glycol & Butylene Glycol - Found in cleansers, shampoos, baby wipes, deodorants, hair products, bubble baths to name a few.  Also found in windshield wiper fluid!  The EPA considers them so toxic they say that skin contact or inhalation can cause brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. In some personal care products these chemicals are used in very high, industrial strength concentrations.

3. DEA, MEA & TEA - Used in shampoos & bubble baths. They are hormone disrupting and form cancer causing nitrates. Restricted in Europe yet legal in the USA, they increase the risk for liver and kidney cancer.

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate - Otherwise known as (SLS).  This toxic ingredient found in almost all drugstore shampoos, conditioners, leave in creams, hair sprays, facial soaps, body soaps and body washes.  Strong detergents and degreasers that are found in over 90% of foaming personal care products. SLS is linked to skin irritation, eye irritation, rashes and hair loss. Animal studies show eye damage (especially to young), immune system damage and death. Can create nitrosamines which are carcinogenic.  Once absorbed into the skin, can also be retained in your organs for a lifetime.

5. DMDM & Urea - Found in a wide variety of personal care products. It is a preservative that releases formaldehyde which causes allergies, chest pain, fatigue, ear infections, immune dysfunction, asthma, heart palpitations, cancer and more.

6. Polyethylene Glycol - (PEG) - Often found in almost any skincare product. Petroleum ingredient that is carcinogenic and dehydrates your skin. Increases signs of skin aging and leaves your skin vulnerable to bacteria and disease.

7. Parabens - Often found in shampoos, creams & lotions. There are many different forms of parabens which are used as a preservative in many skincare products. Avoid them ALL.  They are strong hormone disruptors and have been directly linked to breast cancer and heart problems. Often listed as Methylparaben, Probylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben & Benezylparaben.

8. FD & C Color - Found in makeup, lipsticks, creams, hair products and more. Synthetic pigments from coal that deposit toxins into the skin. Some colors can even deplete oxygen in the body and cause death. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be cancer causing.

9. Mineral Oil (Petroleum by-product) - Often found in Baby Products (Baby Oil), Vaseline, Lip Products & Moisturizers. It coats the skin like a plastic wrap, clogging pores, causing acne and trapping in toxins.

10. Isopropyl alcohol (Petroleum by product) - Found commonly in cleansers, toners, creams and hair and nail products. It dries and irritates skin, stripping its moisture and immune barrier.

When in doubt, just shop for products that are clearly labeled, "Organic or All Natural" and take a moment to review the back of labels on the ingredients list and make sure they don't have any of the toxic 10 listed above.  You especially want to avoid Parabens, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, DEA, MEA, TEA, Dyes or Parfumes.  Below is a list of some of my favorite safter alternatives.

Shower GelA great natural body wash to try is 100% Pure Shower Gel.  All 100% Pure products are completely chemcial free and don't contain any harsh detergents (like sulfates) that can strip, irritate, or dehydrate your skin.  They also contain no artificial fragrances, synthetic chemicals, alcohol or any other toxins.  You can also find some good chemical free body washes and soaps at Walmart and Target, just make sure you read the ingredients list.

Face and Body Soap
If your looking a general chemical free natural body and facial soap, a great one to try is Kiss My Face.  They have several soaps to choose from.  Their chemical free, fragrance free and will leave your skin feeling clean, smooth and soft.  I use the olive oil soap with green tea and find it's great for oily/acne prone skin.

Natural Haircare 
A great all natural hair product line to try is WEN Healthy Haircare System.What sets WEN apart is its cleansing conditioner, a single-step process that cleanses and conditions the hair simultaneously leaving hair feeling super shiny, soft and smooth!  WEN is my top favorite hair product and is a must have product for the beauty and fashion industries as well as many A-list celebrities.  All the cleansers include natural ingredients and contain no parabens, sodium laurel sulfate or other damaging detergents found in shampoos that strip and dry your hair out.  WEN also offers all natural Styling Creme , Re-Moist Hydrating Masks andBath, Body & Hair Oils.

Natural Moisturizer
You can get beautiful, younger, glowing skin by using organic, unrefined shea butter as a daily facial moistuizer.  This type of Shea butter in it's purest form, won't cause breakouts, is great for all skin types and will leave your skin feeling ultra silky, smooth and soft.  It's key to buy organic, unrefined shea butter because once it's processed, it loses all the beneficial nurtients and will have little or no effect on the skin.  Shea butter is also known as the best natural moisturizer on the planet!  A great one to try is L'Occitane Organic Shea Butter.

Mineral Make-up
When purchasing make-up, you should avoid most department store brands and opt for mineral make-up brands instead.  A great mineral make-up brand to start with is Pur Minerals, http://www.purminerals.com/.  They are famous for their award winning 4-1 Pressed Mineral powder which has won all kinds of beauty awards and been branded the #1 Pressed Mineral powder by beauty editors and mineral make-up fans alike.  They have an excellent line of mineral make-up and skincare. 

Another great natural, organic based skincare and make-up line is Origins. They offer both award winning, organic, natural skincare and chemical free make-up.  Recently they came out with a new healthy powder called Origins Multi-grain Make-up.  It's fortified with organic ingredients, vitamins and minerals and has an SPF of 14 and is great for your skin.  You can also find them at Dillards or Macy's.

Baby / Kid Friendly Products
There are some great baby and kid friendly body and hair wash products that are good for your baby and / or child that are completely chemical free.  A great one for babies is Avalon Organics.  They are a trusted organic skincare brand and have the best reviews. A great one to try is Avalon Organics Gentle Tear-Free Shampoo and Body Wash and  Nourishing Baby Lotion. 

A great one for the kids is  100% Pure Organic Kids 2 in 1 Body Wash and Shampoo.  Their 2-1 body washes are 100% Natural, very gentle formula and don't contain any synthetic chemicals, harsh detergents, artificial fragrances, chemical preservatives or any other toxins that can harm your young.  They are truely chemical free and is 100% natural and vegan.  They offer duo hair and body washes in Yummy Ice Cream Vanilla  and Mint Chocolate Chip.  Or if the kids prefer to use plain bar soap, you can use all natural Kiss My Face.


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Cold and Flu Treatments Found In Common Foods

It's a fact that flu shots don't always work and there is no known cure for the common cold, but you can eat and drink foods that can help relieve symptoms and speed your recovery time.  So next time you start to feel a cold coming on, do yourself a favor and head to the grocery store or cupboards for help.

LEMONADE: 
This is wonderful to soothe sore throats, cleanse the blood, and loosen mucous. Add the juice of half a lemon and one teaspoon of maple syrup to a cup of warm water.

CHICKEN SOUP: 
Use of chicken soup goes back to the twelfth century, to a Jewish physician and philosopher, Maimonides, who recommended chicken soup to treat colds and flu.

MUSTARD: 
Mustard packs reduce fever, eliminate toxins and help heal the mucus membranes in the lungs.

GINGER: 
Ginger tea can help kill germs, as an antiviral and is also very good for an upset stomach. 
Boil two tablespoons of grated fresh ginger in two cups of water for fifteen minutes, remove from the heat and steep for ten minutes. 
Drink as needed. Adding ginger to a bath stimulates the lymph system and speeds lymph drainage. Pulverize a quarter cup of fresh ginger and place in cheesecloth and soak in the tub as water fills.

GARLIC: 
Common household garlic is great as a preventative and as a treatment for colds and flu. 
Raw
garlic has anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. 
Researchers in England found that garlic can speed up recovery from the flu and increase resistance.Garlic can cause increased bleeding, so those taking medications for bleeding should take care when adding extra garlic to the diet.

PEPPERMINT: 
Mint tea helps to break a sweat. Make a tea and go quickly to bed where you will sweat out the fever.

CASTOR OIL: 
A Castor oil pack placed on the chest can open the airwaves and bring circulation to the lungs. Massage Castor oil on the chest, cover with muslin or flannel, and place a warm hot water bottle over the chest.

ORANGES/VITAMIN C: 
Research has shown that Vitamin C found in orange juice, taken daily, can shorten the duration of the flu. 
A recent study showed that 1,000 mg of Vit C every six hours can effectively relieve, or even prevent, flu symptoms.

ELDERBERRIES: 
Elderberries have been used in medicine since the Stone Age. Recent research University of Jerusalem confirmed that taking elderberries speeds recovery time from a cold or flu.

HOREHOUND: 
Long used an ingredient of cough syrups, horehound tea can be used to soothe a cough.
HONEY: 
Honey has tremendous healing properties. 
It can be used to relieve coughs and to increase immunity. A simple cough syrup can be made with a spoon of honey and a bit of fresh lemon juice.

CUMIN AND GINGER TEA: 
Add a teaspoon of cumin seeds and a small amount of dry or fresh ginger to one glass of boiling water. Drink as needed.

SALT: Salt is an excellent gargle and can soothe a sore throat. Use warm water and perhaps add a bit of tumeric for extra anti-inflammatory effect. Another use of salt is in nasal irrigation, which uses warm salt water inhaled through sinues to help decongest the nose. Recent research suggest that nasal irrigation speds recovery from sinus infections.

KIWI: Kiwi can be beneficial in treating upper respiratory tract infections. It’s high in Vitamin C and seems to have a protetice effect on long conditions especially in children.

WATER/HYDROTHERAPY: Bathing increases circulation. A hot bath can help lower a fever. Or try a ginger bath. (See GINGER, above.)

SAGE: Sage mouthwash can used for sore thoats and has been approved in Germany for this use by their medical commission.

CHAMOMILE: Used medicinally for thousands of years, chamomile can be taken as tea or inhalant. Inhaling the steam from chamomile extract was been reported to help relieve cold symptoms.


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Get The Glow with Acai Berry

Celebrities are getting their natural beautiful glowing skin and hair from a new, hot antioxidant called Acai berry!  Grown in Brazil, it's one of the most potent antioxidants in the world and has 10 times the antioxidants of grapes, and twice the antioxidants of blueberries, three times the skin-protective and strengthening powers of other antioxidants and and is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth! 

Now that the word is out, it's showing up in everything from facial serums to body scrubs.  Hundreds of celebrities are putting the secret benefits of Acai to use and getting amazing results. Stars like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Denise Richards, Kelly Slater, Nicole Richie, Jennifer Husdson, Whitney Port and Kim Cattrall are all getting their glow thanks to acai berry.  Give these antioxidant rich products a try and see if your skin doens't look radient and glowing!

100% Pure Acai Antioxidant Facial Cream

This moisturizing eye cream made is made with antioxidant rich acai berries and concentrated with 15% Vitamin C and 15% Vitamin E while soothing cucumber, rose, calendula and white tea nourish. Antioxidants fight free radicals and helps to un-do previous skin damage. 100% Natural, 100% Vegetarian.

100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Facial Cream

This nourishing, all natural facial cream immediately moisturizes and feeds your skin with vitamins and antioxidants. Acai is an antioxidant-rich fruit that is highly beneficial to the skin. Truly 100% Pure, there are no synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, chemical preservatives, or any other toxins in this formula. 100% Natural and 100% Vegetarian

100% Pure NEW! Fruit Pigmented Pure Acai Berry Lipglosses

These pure acai berry fruit pigmented sorbet lipglosses look delicious!  They are infused with 100% natural lip gloss made with 90% vitamin E and gorgeous color from antioxidant rich fruit pigments and acai berry. 100% Natural , 100% Vegan, Gluten free.




Fresh Sugar Acai Body Scrub

This Acai infused body scrub refines and renews the skin with the natural power of sugar fruit acids and an enriching blend of cupuacu seed butter, jojoba seed oil, and meadowfoam seed oil. Antioxidant-rich Acai oil, derived from the brazilian super-berry, protects and rejuvenates skin while gentle sugar crystals sweep away dead skin cells. Your skin will feel super silky with restored radiance and moisture. Doesn't contain any parabens.




Treat Pomegranate Acai Berry Organic Sweet Cream Body Cream
Pomegranate Acai Berry Organic Sweet Cream is double churn age delay body cream made using a unique process of mixing the cream twice with nature's most powerful superfruit pomegranate and acai berry to make the richest and creamiest recipe yet. Its so good for you your skin will eat it up

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Go Green with Josie Maran Cosmetics

Now you can go green and organic and be beautiful at the same time!  Former supermodel, Josie Maran came out with an all natural, organic, green line of high end cosmetics.  The collection includes more than 70 products and colors, with prices ranging from $16 to $42. All of the great basics of any other complete cosmetics line are present such as concealer, eye shadow, blush, foundation, lipsticks and glosses.

The line is made of everything you want and nothing you don't.  Josie Maran products don't contain any Parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals or phthalates.  Here are some of my favorite products from the line. 

Josie Maran Mini Argan Stick $6

It's a wonderful organic and natural multi-purpose balm-infused with Josie Maran's signature ingredient, Organic Argan Oil-now offered in a stick form. This multi-purpose balm offers all the benefits of the nourishing oil-including anti-aging ingredients rich in fatty acids and vitamin E. A head-to-toe spot treatment for dry areas in need of moisture, it conditions and repairs the skin as it hydrates.

I love this slick because it's a mini argan oil slick so you can throw in your purse or bag and go!  Use it to moisturize chapped lips, soothe dry skin, tame fly aways, alleviate itching and stinging from insect bites, moisturize dry cuticles, relieve chafing skin, soothe stretch marks, calm sunburn, soothe waxed skin, and much more!  The balm is made with a recyclable stick.

Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil $52

Get your bronze glow on with this bronzing argan oil!  Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil creates glowing skin without the negative effects of the sun or chemicals.  It's infused with Josie's signature ingredient, 100% Organic Argan Oil, and the formula imparts a bronze shimmer and light-citrus essential-oil scent and can be applied to the body, face, and hair!  So ladies get your glow on with this sheer, no fuss bronzing oil.




Josie Maran Concealer $22

This is a full-coverage concealer that heals the skin while providing a healthy, natural finish.  This concealer can be used on all skin types, and contains organic ingredients including pomegranate oil (a protective antioxidant for the skin) and papaya extract (rejuvenates the skin).  The packaging is also recyclable.  It camouflage imperfections, with an easy-to-blend makeup staple. It also contains Josie's signature ingredient, 100% pure organic Argan oil to replenish and repair skin cells. 




Josie Maran Finger Paints $36.00

This is a multi-use palette containing four feather-light shimmers that bring soft-glowing color to eyes, cheeks, and lips.  Ingredients include organic jojoba seed oil (to soften the skin) and organic shea butter (to protect the skin). The beauty extends to the packaging, it's so chic and feminine, you would never know it's made from biodegradable corn plastic. 

This is a gorgeous multi-use palette in shades specifically chosen to flatter every skin tone. It has just the right assortment of colors for the whole face in one compact, and the shades blend flawlessly for easy application. It contains Josie's signature ingredient, 100% pure organic Argan oil, which replenishes and repairs skin cells.

Josie Maran Lip Gloss $18

Josie Maran Lip Gloss comes in sheer, easy-to-wear shades that highlight your natural lip color with a sophisticated touch of shimmer.  Best of all, this non-sticky, long-wearing formula is full of natural, organic, and paraben-free!  Natural ingredients include Argan oil, nourishing coconut cream (to moisturize the lips) and jojoba oil (to soften the lips).  It comes in 5 juicy shades and can be worn alone or on top of your favorite lipstick to achieve that perfect shine!




Josie Maran Mascara $22

This mascara conditions and lengthens lashes for a voluminous effect with no clumps, smears or flakes.  This mascara is an everyday must-have that contains organic Argan oil (to replenish and repair lashes) and organic jojoba oil (reconditions hair follicles) to strengthen and condition as it lengthens and defines. Colors come in brown and black.





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