Nourish Your Skin Safely (TM)

Reducing Eczema Flare-ups

2012-02-01T11:57:00.000-08:00

Olive oil is an effective moisturizer for
skin with eczema.

Cold, dry winter weather always seems to cause eczema to flare-up more often. Also called atopic dermatitis, it seems to affect children and young adults more frequently and it is thought to be hereditary in families with a history of allergies. Although the exact reason why people develop allergies is unknown, there are many things that are known to contribute to triggering allergies. The hard part is figuring out what the allergy trigger is that may be causing the eczema. For children, it may be food related: beef products, dairy products, wheat, preservatives or dyes. It could also be caused by environmental factors: pollen, dust, pets, cold/dry winter weather, perfumes and physical and emotional stress.

Aside from avoiding the triggers here are some ideas to help prevent flare-ups:

Keep your skin hydrated- Using moisturizers (even when you’re not experiencing a flare-up) will help keep your skins barrier intact and healthy. It is especially important to moisturize immediately after a bath or shower. Dry skin is prone to cracking, allowing irritants to penetrate your skin. It’s important to use moisturizers that are as natural as possible. Most creams on the market contain a slew of harsh chemicals that may actually make your condition worse. Steer clear of creams with propylene glycol and PEG’s. These chemicals are used as penetration enhancers and humectants because they rupture the skin’s membrane. As a result, they are known to aggravate eczema (and acne). See below for ingredients I recommend you look for in natural moisturizers.

Clean your skin carefully- Use mild, natural soaps that are free of harsh detergents and fragrances. Don’t use loofahs, poufs, shower brushes or products with rough exfoliants. Bathe and shower in warm not hot water. For baths, try adding ¼ cup of ground up oatmeal (coffee grinder works great for this) or 1 tbsp of olive oil to the water.

Keep your diet in check- Drink plenty of water and eat lots of fruits and vegetables to keep your body hydrated. Try keeping a food journal to see if you can determine the cause of a flare-up. Avoid junk food and soda and keep alcohol and coffee to a minimum. (I know that one is hard!) Also make sure you get enough essential fatty acids in your diet and vitamins A and E to help keep your skin moisturized from within.

Reduce your stress levels- If you’re managing a job or 2, school, and/or kids this can be so difficult to accomplish. If you work in a high stress environment, try to take breaks and find an activity that will take your mind away from these cares. You might try reading, meditation or exercise. (Kickboxing is my favorite stress reliever!)

A request I get a lot from customers of Be Green Bath and Body (www.begreenbathandbody.com) is what do I recommend they use on their children as a moisturizer to relieve eczema. Since Be Green Bath and Body uses only natural and organic ingredients that are pure and simple, my customers already know to avoid these ingredients that may contribute to eczema flare-ups:

-          Synthetic dyes (FD&C)
-          Synthetic fragrances and perfume
-          Petroleum products (mineral oil, baby oil, petrolatum)
-          Propylene glycol and PEG’s
-          Preservatives with known health concerns (parabens, imidazolidinyl and diazolidinyl urea)

Eczema sufferers are best served with simple, highly moisturizing products that contain as few ingredients as possible. Even though the ingredients I recommend are natural, some people are also allergic to these. The fewer the ingredients, the easier it is to determine the allergy culprit. Look for these ingredients in your eczema treatments:

-          Olive oil- an emollient with excellent antioxidants that has wonderful skin softening properties.
-          Coconut oil- helps skin retain moisture. High in lauric acid.
-          Evening primrose oil- high in essential fatty acids like gamma linolenic acid.
-          Calendula- the common marigold that has calming, anti-inflammatory and skin healing  properties.
-          Chamomile- flower that is a softening agent known for calming and healing.
-          Colloidal oatmeal- oatmeal ground to a specific particle size that is a natural cleanser and soothing to skin irritations.
-          Vegetable glycerin- a natural humectant to help draw water to the skin.
-          Aloe- relieves irritation and helps to restore skin to its natural PH.
-          Essential oils of lavender, carrot, German chamomile, geranium
-          Neem oil- made from the leaves and bark of the neem tree that is native to India, this oil helps skin to retain moisture.

At Be Green Bath and Body, I have created a thick, rich calendula cream to help keep the skin of eczema sufferers moisturized. This and evening primrose oil infused with organic chamomile and calendula will be available soon. The oil is especially useful when applied immediately after a bath or shower. In the mean time, please try some of these other natural remedies:

1. A mixture of honey and cinnamon. Honey is like a miracle ingredient and I have heard that a past of cinnamon and honey works well.
2. A mixture of baking soda and water.
3. Oatmeal added to a bath.
4. A mixture of 50% apple cider vinegar and 50% water sponged on your body or put in a bath.
5. Lavender essential oil- calming and soothing to the skin and safe for use during pregnancy. This is one of only a few essential oils that can be used undiluted on the skin. I love to use this in the summer on mosquito bites as I find it very effective in taking away the itch.

You can read about these and other wonderful, natural skin ingredients in our ingredient dictionary here http://verscostores.com/begreenbathandbody/index.php?main_page=page_3. Questions or comments can be directly to Karen at begreenbathandbody@yahoo.com. Thank you for letting us help you "Nourish your skin safely." ™

3 Tips For Healthy Skin

2011-11-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

10/2010

If you're short on time, don't cut out out these important steps to keep your skin looking young.

The three golden rules I follow for healthy skin are:

1. Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse,

2. Always wear sunscreen

3. Drink plenty of water.

These three steps will go a long way in helping you achieve clear and younger looking skin.

Cleansing your skin at least once daily (preferably at night) will remove potentially pore clogging dirt that builds up during the day. While it's tempting to skip this at the end of the day after you've worked a gazillion hours, cooked dinner and run your kids to endless after school activities, don't do it. Take the 30 seconds to spend some time on yourself and take

care of your skin.

Experts say that the key to keeping your skin young looking is not to slather on the latest and greatest expensive anti-aging products from the mall department store but rather to slather on creams that contain sunscreen that block both UVA and UVB rays. Look for creams that contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are the 2 highest rated sunscreen ingredients according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Lastly, to promote both clear and younger looking skin, drink as much water as you can. Drinking water hydrates your skin making it appear plumper. It flushes toxins from your system that might otherwise be flushed out through your skin causing blemishes.

So you follow the golden rules and are ready to commit to a skin care program! Watch for my next blog post on cleansing your skin with Be Green Bath and Body products. I'll talk about the types of products we offer and how you should use them.

"Nourish your skin safely” ™Karen

Cleansing And Toning Your Skin

2011-11-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

1/2011

Cleansing your facial skin daily is the most important part of your basic skincare routine. Don't skip this,even if you're low on time. Cleansing your skin not only removes dirt and makeup, but it improves skin circulation, removes dead skin cells and prepares skin to receive moisturizer.

Here are the steps I recommend to my customers using Be Green Bath and Body products:

1. Remove eye makeup. Be Green Bath and Body's Facial Makeup Remover can help you do that. Our Facial Makeup Remover is oil-based (organic olive and castor oils and grapeseed oil) but it won't leave your skin oily. It contains organic mandarin and lavender essential oils known for their skin healing and calming qualities. Place a small amount on a cotton ball or pad, close your eye, and gently rub across your eye to remove the makeup. Our forumula will remove mineral makeup and waterproof mascara. Remember to keep your eye closed! If you get cloudiness in your eye you may have gotten a bit of oil in your eye. Not to worry, it will clear momentarily. Facial Makeup Remover can also be used to remove foundation on your face. This product is great for contact lens wearers (I am one!) and people of all ages: my mom uses it, I use it and my 15 year old daughter uses it.

2. Remove facial makeup. Splash warm water (hot water will dry out your skin and cold water won't' remove the grime as well) on your face to wet it. Shake the Daily Facial Cleanser and pour a quarter sized amount into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together to form a small amount of lather. Using your finger tips, apply the cleanser to your skin using a gentle circular motion for 30 seconds. Don't scrub too hard as this can irritate the skin. Rinse with plenty of warm water to remove the cleanser residue making sure to cover neck and hairline areas. Blot skin dry with a soft towel. Daily Facial Cleanser works for all skin types and is especially great for those with sensitive skin or rosacea due to the gentle but effective ingredients. Be Green Bath and Body's facial cleanser will clean your skin without drying it out and the gentle exfoliants will remove dead skin cells revealing the new skin underneath. Organic castile soap for lather is combined with apricot kernel oil, organic jojoba oil, vegetable glycerin and organic honey for moisture. The reason we use a base of apricot kernel oil is because it is a light weight oil that is rich in essential fatty acids like oleic and linoleic acids. It penetrates the skin easily and is known for it's revitalizing and soothing qualities. It is appropriate for all skin times, especially inflammed skin. Other ingredients in the Daily Facial Cleanser are colloidal oatmeal, both soothing and calming, and the mild exfoliators of milk powder, fine sea salt and apricot kernel meal. As a bonus, kaolin clay effectively rids excess oil, detoxifies and slightly exfoliates skin.

3. Exfoliate using Be Green Bath and Body Cleansing Grains as often as you would like. Cleansing Grains are a mixture of organic herbs, clay, oatmeal and apricot kernel meal. They are mild and nourishing and can be used for any skin type. What's more they gently cleanse, remove dead skin cells and improve circulation. I use them about 3 times per week. I mix about 1/2 tsp of grains with 1/8 tsp of water (you can also use honey) in a tiny bowl to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto your skin for 10 seconds or so and rinse off thoroughly with warm water then pat dry. When using cleansing grains, I usually let the grains dry on my face for about 5 minutes. You will feel the clay drying and your face feel a little tight. The clay is working to draw the toxins out of your skin. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry. Your skin will feel remarkably smooth! Dry skin may also feel tight. I recommend using the grains as a mask only 1 time per week if you have dry skin.

4. Apply Toner to your skin using the formula that most closely matches your skin type. Be Green Bath and Body's Toners are alcohol-free tonics made with a good amount of organic ingredients that will remove any remaining cleanser residue and oils. They leave your skin fresh and vibrant unlike most toners on the market that are loaded with alcohol that is drying and contain synthetic petrochemicals, fragrances and dyes. These are definitely not healthy for your skin! The real question, though, is do you need a toner? This question is the subject of much debate and one that you really have to answer for yourself. Honestly, if you have to skip one step this would be the one. Toners will not "close your pores" or "reduce the size of your pores". Personally, I love to use Toner. It assures me that I have removed all the dirt and grime and I haven't missed any spots during rinsing. I love the way my skin feels refreshed and smooth after I put it on and I love that the natural essential oils are doing their job balancing and soothing my skin. The smell of the essential oils is so calming so I never want to skip this step. Bottom line: try Toner for yourself and see how it makes your skin and mind feel then decide if you want to continue.

If you do decide to use Toner (and I hope you do!), apply it after your skin is dry from cleansing. Shake the toner bottle to disperse the essential oils throughout the mixture. Squeeze a small amount onto a cotton ball and massage into your skin with a gentle motion. Follow with Facial Serum or Regenerative Night Cream.

All of Be Green Bath and Body's Toners contain alcohol free wild harvested witch hazel hydrosol and organic rose hydrosol.

Witch hazel hydrosol is a soothing and refreshing distilled water that comes from a blend of bark and leaves of the witch hazel shrub. It is antiseptic and possesses strong anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Rose hydrosol stimulates the skin, restores PH and controls and balances sebum production so it's helpful for all skin types.

Calming Carrot Seed Toner also contains glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and carrot seed essential oil, containing carotene and vitamin A and known to treat dry and damaged skin by softening and rejuvenating it.

Healthy Skin Balancing Toner also contains glycerin, a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and essentials oils of palma rosa, lavender and benzoin. Palma rosa oil balances skin hydration levels and encourages cell regeneration. Lavender oil is anti inflammatory, anti viral and anti bacterial. It also helps balance the skin and encourage cell regeneration. Benzoin aids in healing chapped skin and, like lavender, is very calming.

Refreshing Rose Toner also contains cider vinegar to remove dull, dry skin and organic rose hip seed oil that is high in essential fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E. It has been shown to help prevent premature skin aging. Carrot seed essential oil contains carotene and vitamin A and is known to treat dry and damaged skin by softening and rejuvenating it. Geranium essential oil balances the skin and improves elasticity and myrrh oil balances skin hydration and tones the skin.

Ylang Ylang Soothing Toner also contains glycerin,a humectant that draws moisture to the skin and cider vinegar, a natural astringent that will kill bacteria and balance oil. Ylang ylang oil regulates sebum production, frankincense oil accelerates healing of inflammed skin and palma rosa oil balances skin hydration levels and encourages cell regeneration.

Now you've got clean skin! It's exfoliated and toned and ready for moisturizer!

"Nourish your skin safely” ™
Karen

Moisturizing Your Skin

2011-11-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

9/2011

Morning Moisturizing

You wake up in the morning and the day is already crazy. Either your rushing to get ready for work, rushing to get the kids out the door for school or (YIKES) both! Who has the time to properly take care of their skin amid the chaos? Good news! With Be Green Bath and Body moisturizers you can "Nourish Your Skin Safely" (TM) and be on your way quickly.

There is no need to cleanse your skin in the morning. You did this last night and unless your skin is oily, it's still clean. In fact, you want your skin to have some oils and over washing it will wash away the acid mantle that protects your skin from the environment and bacteria which can lead to breakouts.

My first beauty step after showering and roughly towel drying is to apply a small amount of Healthy Skin Body Oil on my arms and legs while my skin is still damp. This keeps in the moisture that you already have on your skin. In the winter months I follow this up with Body Lotion (Coriander & Citrus is my favorite) to lock in the moisture. I find that the Body Oil and Body Lotion combination takes about 1 minute to penetrate my skin. During this time, I move on to my face.

If you use toner, I recommend a quick swipe of a cotton ball with Toner all over your face. This will remove any remaining impurities from the night before and prepare your skin for moisturizer. Remember Be Green Bath and Body toners are alcohol free so they won't strip your skin of any natural oils. Next, follow up with the moisturizer that best suits your skin.

Those with dry, mature or environmentally damaged skin should use Day Face & Hand Cream. Normal skin can use this cream or the Light Weight Moisturizer (see below). The Day Face & Hand Cream is thick and rich and provides some protection from the suns harmful rays as it contains zinc oxide. Grapeseed oil, a quick absorbing oil that is excellent for all skin types, is the base of the cream. Moisturizing coconut oil and cocoa butter act as emollients and will soften your skin. These ingredients also lend a thick consistency to the cream, especially in colder temperatures. When temperatures are hot, the cream will be less firm. This is because coconut oil is solid at temperatures below 76 degrees but melts at temperatures above 76 degrees. At Be Green Bath and Body, we don't agree with adding any synthetic ingredients to maintain the consistency of the cream. The cream is just as effective whatever the consistency. When using the cream on your face, using clean hands, scoop out a pea-sized amount and dab on each check, forehead, nose and neck. Massage the cream in with a gentle circular motion and let penetrate for 1 minute before applying makeup. Don't forget to use it to protect your hands too.

For those with oily, combination, sensitive or normal skin, the Light Weight Moisturizer is recommended. This cream is a blend of nut free, low or non-comedogenic oils that are deeply moisturizing and nourishing for the skin. While still firm, it has a lighter consistency, goes on lighter and absorbs more quickly than the Day Face & Hand Cream. Using clean hands, scoop out a pea-sized amount and gently massage into your skin. Allow to penetrate 1 minute before applying makeup.

Night Moisturizing

After cleansing and toning your skin at night, I recommend using one of our hydrating Serums in the formula appropriate for your skin type. Our facial serums contain a special combination of high quality carrier oils and essential oils designed to pentrate deep into your skin. Made from cold-pressed vegetables, seeds and nuts, the oils are selected for their nourishing and protecting capabilities. They contain natural vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that will help you nourish your skin safely. Serums are useful for all skin types, even oily skin. It is a myth that oily or combination skin should not use oils. Stripping the skin of oils, as many harsh astringents do, actually causes the skin to overproduce, thus causing the skin to be more oily. The Serums are bottles with glass droppers for easy application, just place a few drops of oil on your finger and massage into skin on face and neck. Allow the serum to penetrate for 2-3 minutes then follow up with Night Cream. Those with oily skin may choose to use either the serum or the Night Cream with the serum being the less heavy of the 2 options. I recommend that those with oily skin rotate between the serum and the Night Cream for Combination Skin, using one one night and the other the next night.

Using Regenerative Night Cream is the next step for all skin types except oily, combination and sensitive. This cream is thick and hydrating and will replenish your skin's moisture as you sleep. It's made with olive, sweet almond, evening primrose and macadamia nut oils that are high in fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Apply a small amount to your face and neck with a gentle circular motion. This cream will take 2 minutes to penetrate your skin.

Those prone to breakouts and with oily, combination or sensitive skin will prefer the Regenerative Night Cream for Combination Skin. This cream is made with non-comedogenic oils that will not irritate skin or cause breakouts in sensitive skin. It contains sunflower and jojoba oils in place of olive and sweet almond oils. Sunflower oil is high in vitamins A, C, D and especially E. It can provide the skin with a natural barrier of protection against bacteria and others irritants which are the cause of many blemish issues.

One of my favorite uses of either Regenerative Night Cream is as an under eye cream. Eye creams sold in department stores tend to come in tiny jars at a hefty price and if you check the ingredients, they are probably the same as the face cream! We have been marketed to death and we believe we should pay twice the price for half the cream! It's outrageous really. It is true that the skin around the eyes is a little different than the skin on the face. The pores are smaller and the skin is definitely thinner around the eyes. This however, doesn't mean you need a special cream. A cream like Regenerative Night Cream that contains no mineral oil, parabens, synthetic fragrances or petroleum based silicones is fine. Do be careful when applying a cream near your eyes, however. The cream should be applied at least 1/4 inch away from your eye lashes.

Even though the Day Face & Hand Cream and the Regenerative Night Creams make great hand creams, we also make a luxurious cream specfically formulated as a hand cream. Shea Butter Hand Cream is a thick, rich cream made with moisturizing shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil and beeswax. The ingredients not only moisturize but provide a water resistant barrier that locks in the moisture and softens dry hands. A small amount goes a long way so a 4 oz jar should last a whole season. This cream is unscented but does have a pleasant chocolate nut smell from the organic shea and cocoa butters.

You will find that using Be Green Bath and Body toxin-free moisturizers will leave your skin feeling hydrated, protected and softer than ever. I hope you enjoy using them as much as I enjoy creating them!

"Nourish your skin safely” ™

Karen

NOT Your BFF: BHT And BHA

2011-11-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

9/2010

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT) in cosmetics?

Most people are familiar with the acronyms BHA and BHT ("added to preserve freshness" is how you see them on cereal boxes). But do you know what they are and what they do? Do we really need these chemicals in our skincare products?

BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) is a white or slightly yellow waxy solid and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is a white powder. Both are chemical compounds that are used as antioxidants or preservatives in cosmetics. The purpose of these ingredients is to extend the shelf life of products that contain oils. When oils are exposed to oxygen, they become rancid over time. BHA and BHT are added to combat this.

BHT and BHA are found in thousands of products including eyeliners, eye shadows, lipsticks, lip gloss, blushes, foundations, perfumes, moisturizers, skin cleansers, Preparation H and even Desitin Diaper Cream. BHT and BHA are also used as food preservatives and are found in processed foods (chips, baked goods, sweets) butter, meats, sausage, poultry, cereals, chewing gum, active dry yeast, dry mixes for beverages, vegetable oils and beer. Actually BHT and BHA are so prevalent in packaged foods. It really drives me crazy. My kids favorite cereals are by General Mills: Honey Nut Cheerios and Coco Puffs (I know, I know, not the healthiest but at least it's not a fatty muffin or trans fat laden donut!) Anyway, Honey Nut Cheerios has vitamin E as a preservative but Coco Puffs has BHT and BHA. Who knows why? All I know is I've stopped buying Coco Puffs and all the other cereals with these chemicals. There are alternatives that are safer.

Okay, back to skin care. BHA is rated a 10 (highest hazard) on

www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and BHT is rated a 6 (moderate hazard). BHT and BHA are classified as possible human carcinogens. Studies with animals have shown that BHT causes liver, kidney and thyroid problems and can act as a tumor promoter. In California, products that contain BHA must carry a warning label notifying consumers that it may cause cancer. Limited studies have shown evidence that BHA interferes with hormone function. BHA is banned in the EU as a fragrance ingredient. What's more, BHT and BHA have also been shown to be toxic to marine species and bioaccumulate.

So what's a consumer to do? Look for natural vitamin E (tocopherol) and rosemary oil extract in your products in place of BHT and BHA. Avoid tocopheryl acetate which has been shown to cause cancer and synthetic vitamin E also called d-alpha-tocopherol. Buy only the natural products that you can use up in 3-6 months for lotions and creams and 12 months for products containing just oils like makeup remover, body oils, and facial serums.

Be Green Bath and Body products that contain oils have natural vitamin E or rosemary oil extract as antioxidants.

"Nourish your skin safely” ™
Karen

Red And Orange, Green And Blue, Shiny Yellow, Toxins Too

2011-11-17T14:38:00.000-08:00

9/2010
Synthetic dyes are seemingly everywhere in our lives: Our cosmetics, our food, our clothing. Who doesn’t love to put on their favorite pair of blue jeans and a cute, bright colored top? Ever wonder how your jeans got to be that perfect shade of deep, dark blue? How about a tasty treat like an Oreo ice cream cone with strawberry ice cream? Chocolate is brown, right? Well, in our world it’s also red 40, yellow 5 and blue 1. Think about this: what is more appealing to you, strawberry lotion that’s a perfect shade of pale pink or strawberry lotion that’s a pretty shade of, well, um, beige? Of course, since strawberries are red, the pink appeals to us. We think that anything strawberry flavored (and this is not a natural flavor for lotions- refer to the note on synthetic fragrances) should be red or pink. We are conditioned to think that this is natural.

This is what sells. I admit that pretty colors make me smile too. They appeal to my senses and affect my moods. This is all good when added colors are natural but how about when they’re not?

Artificial colors became popular after World War II because they were cheaper and had a longer shelf life than plant based dyes. The FDA regulates dyes and it says they are tested for safety. Dyes that are approved bear the titles that you’re probably familiar with: FD&C (food, drug and cosmetics) and D&C (drug and cosmetics). So what’s actually in these dyes that are tested for safety? I knew that some contain coal tar which is a known carcinogen. I didn’t know that lead, mercury and arsenic were some of the ingredients. Are you kidding me? Aren’t these bad? YES! But, according to the FDA, the parts per million (ppm) that are acceptable are:

Arsenic 3 ppm

Mercury 1 ppm
Lead 10-20 ppm

These may be small numbers, but how do they add up in everything we eat, drink and put on our bodies on a daily, monthly and yearly basis? How do they affect babies and small children? Baby lotions, washes and shampoos contain synthetic colors. Check out this table from http://www.bluedominoes.com/:

Bathtime Colorblast Tablets- FD&C Yellow #5, FD&C Blue #!, D&C Red #33

Johnson Baby Shampoo- D&C Yellow #10, D&C Orange #4

Johnson Baby Lotion- D&C Red 33

Pampers hand soap- Yellow 5, Green 5, Orange 4

Dora Foam Soap- May contain FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5

Sesame Street Foam Soap - FD&C # 33

Disney Chapstick- D&C Red No. , FD&C Blue 1 alum lk

Crest Kids Sparkle Paste- FD&C Blue #1

The synthetic colors that we put on our skin are absorbed through our skin. Many are known to cause multiple issues:

- Coal tar dyes are tied to bladder cancer: D&C violet 2, FD&C blue 1

- Skin and eye irritant: FD&C yellow 6

- Nervous system toxicant: D&C red 30 lake

- Causes cancer in animals (prohibited in EU): FD&C green 3

You’re probably thinking, well, I could eliminate many of the dyes in personal care products by switching to natural or organic one’s that either don’t contain synthetic dyes or contain natural colors. What about hair color? No way can I go gray!! My 40-something hair makes my 20-something mind and body feel old (yes, I actually do feel like a 20-something not the 40-something that I am!) Unfortunately, hair dyes are among the worst offenders and contain the strongest most toxic ingredients. They smell bad and they are bad. Dark colored dyes routinely contain coal tar. They also frequently contain cancer causing chemicals such as: phenylenediamine, aminophenol, ethanolamine, hydroquinone and 2,4

diaminophenoxyethanol. A safer alternative is to use henna dyes for going darker. If you go lighter, know that lighter colors often use bleach which, although not great, is a less unsafe alternative. Also consider hair foils which lighten the hair without the dye coming in contact with the scalp. There are also less toxic dye options now available:

Herbatint, Light Mountain, Organic Color Systems, Surya Henna, Naturcolor, Rainbow henna, Color me naturally by Aubrey, and Ecocolors.

In summary, read the labels! Avoid synthetic dyes in your personal care products and food as much as possible. At www.begreenbathandbody.com, the color of the product is the color of the ingredients. The brown sugar scrub is, well, brown. The lotions and creams are cream colored. Sometimes the shade of cream may change if my beeswax or cocoa butter vendor changes their source. The salt scrub? You got it- white! Facial cleanser? A shade of muddy brown! The apricot kernel meal that gently exfoliates your skin turns it that color. What about those blue jeans? Not to rain on your parade but it’s a combination of caustic soda, sodium phenylglycinate and sodamide to form a chemical called indoxyl. Ultimately this is from chlorobenzene. that can come from either petroleum or coal. Maybe organic jeans will become more widely available.(sigh).

“Nourish your skin safely” ™ Karen

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) And Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

2011-11-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

5/2010

If you're reading this blog, chances are you've starting reading the ingredient labels of you personal care products.

A couple of years ago when I started reading the labels, I was amazed at all the names I didn't recognize. Seems like you need a chemistry degree in the US if you want to understand labels! It's pretty overwhelming to learn about the chemicals. Where do you start? How do you know which one's are worst? Why are they bad? What are safer alternatives to these ingredients? And the important question- will products work without these harmful ingredients?

If you take a walk down the hair care aisle at your local discount store or pharmacy, you'll probably find (and I'm guessing here) that at least 98% of shampoos contain the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (also known as SLS) or it's partner in crime Sodium Laureth Sulfate (also known as SLES). If nearly 100% of products contain this ingredient it must be necessary, right? WRONG! It must be safe, right? WRONG! Well, there must be at least a good reason why it's being used, right? WRONG! Well, actually, companies use it since it's an incredibly CHEAP ingredient. Cheap, not safe. Well, the government must regulate it? WRONG again! So what are SLS and SLES you ask?

SLS and SLES are chemical ingredients that make your products lather and foam nicely. (Also called surfactants- in case you’ve seen that term and wonder what it means!) They also work to break your skin down so other ingredients in the product (good and bad) can penetrate and be absorbed. They effectively remove oils (which is why garages use them to degrease car

engines and clean floors). SLS and SLES are really cheap ingredients for companies to buy. Over the years, people have become accustomed to their products foaming and making nice little bubbles. Yes, marketers have convinced us that for a product to work, it must foam a lot.

You'll find SLS and SLES in shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, body wash, liquid hand soap, bar soap and sometimes moisturizers. (You'll also find it in laundry soap, dish soap and other household cleaning products.) Sometimes labels will say "derived from coconuts" or "comes from coconuts". Don't be fooled by greenwashing from so-called natural cosmetic companies.

The health impacts of these ingredients are numerous. SLS is incredibly irritating to your skin and causes dryness (remember how well it removes oil?). It is very irritating to the eyes- so much so that manufacturers add other chemicals (like cocamide MEA and DEA, and lauramide MEA and DEA) to anesthetize the eyeballs so you don’t feel the SLS sting. SLES, cocamide and lauramide are also commonly contaminated with 1,4 dioxane (considered a probable carcinogen by the EPA) and nitrosamines. The FDA “encourages” companies to remove these contaminants but doesn’t require it.

Luckily, there are safer alternatives- Coconut oil or corn oil soap, Castile soap (sometimes listed as saponified olive or coconut oil) Sodium Coco Sulfate (a coconut derivative), anything with Glucoside (unless the ingredient has PEG or –eth in the name) or Sodium Cocoamphoacetate. You can find these ingredients in products in the natural section made by Burt’s Bees, Aubrey Organics and many others . You can also search for safer alternatives at http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/. As far as toothpaste, I like Trader Joe's Peppermint Toothpaste. Watch out for some "natural" brands. Tom's of Maine toothpaste contains SLS. For mouthwash, I don't know about you, but I don't WANT to be foaming at the mouth so who needs SLS. I like my homemade recipe of water, vodka, baking soda and peppermint essential oil better.

At Be Green Bath and Body products we don't use SLS or SLES. Only organic castile soap is used in foaming products.

A word of advice- truly natural products may feel different, but different in a good way. We've all grown up with chemical ridden products and have become accustomed to the way toxins feel. We're only beginning to understand how natural feels. Will your SLS-free shampoo foam the way you're accustomed? No, I haven't found that to be the case. Your hair may feel different- not that squeaky clean you may be used to. This is OKAY. It's still clean. This is the way your hair is supposed to feel. I like to rinse my hair with a homemade cider vinegar rinse after using a natural shampoo. (Mix 1/4 cider vinegar with 3/4 water in a recycled squeeze bottle and leave it in the shower.) The rinse leaves my hair soft and detangled and no, it doesn't leave my hair smelling like vinegar!

“Nourish your skin safely” ™ Karen

I've been meaning to blog for quite some time....

2011-11-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

4/2010

It was a little over 2 years ago that I began my journey towards healthy and green living. Like many people, I had been recycling my newspapers and plastic containers but that was about it. With a neighbor and friend, I went to a seminar at a local museum called "Non Toxic Living for Families". That changed EVERYTHING! I started to define my life in 2 segments. There was the "before" the awakening and the "after" the awakening. Before, I ate what ever I wanted without thinking about it. Seriously, I had really no idea where my food came from. I didn't know much about organics and I had no idea what CSA stood for.

Before, I didn't think about what I was putting on my body. I didn't know that the products I was using everyday were filled with dozens of synthetic chemicals, some of which are known to be dangerous. I just went to the discount store and loaded up on whatever was cheapest, came in the biggest container or I had a coupon for. I thought (wrongly) that in the US, whatever was on the store shelves was safe, tested and regulated by the FDA.

Before, I didn't think about what household products I used. I thought that I needed a cleaner for everything. I had all purpose cleaner, window cleaner, floor cleaner, carpet cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, sink cleaner, stainless steel cleaner... My cupboards were full of cleaners. I thought that all my cleaning products were necessary. It was like a mystery in a bottle. There were no ingredients on the label but they worked so they must be some kind of miracle substance. Again, I thought they were safe, tested and regulated. Who knew I was so wrong?

At the Seminar I went to, I learned a few things. Well, actually a lot of things but the gist of it was that there are a lot of scary chemicals everywhere and in everything. I learned that children were more vulnerable. They I went home and freaked out. I went through my cupboards the next day on a mission to see if I had any of those dreaded chemicals lurking in my products. Well, what do you know? Every product had the nasty names that I had learned about. There wasn't one thing that was considered non-toxic, save my Bon Ami cleaner for the sink!

I spent a couple of, no DOZENS of hours on www.cosmeticsdatabase.com looking up my personal care products for a safety rating. Yikes! That was an eye opener. I ended up throwing out the one's that were rated the most dangerous. The one's that were moderate hazards, I kept using until they were finished. I mean, I'm not exactly made out of money and replacing EVERYTHING all at once was going to make me max my credit card. Slowly, I began buying safer personal care products from companies I had learned about on the cosmetics database. I tried to buy mostly from companies who had signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics because this way I knew that none of the 1100 chemicals banned in the EU countries would be in my products (that's a topic for another day!)

After a few months, I began to experiment on my own. These new and safer products were really expensive. I spent a lot of time reading and researching and buying some basic ingredients. Then I spent even more time mixing the ingredients and testing the outcome. My neighbor and family members tested too. Some things were a flop, some were hopeful, some were down right great! I was on to something. I kept mixing and testing away in my kitchen until I was finally happy.

Success was nice but I realized the the journey was greater calling. I had "discovered" something I was really passionate about and that I loved doing! I mean, here I am in my 40's, three kids in school, hadn't been working for 5 years and wondering what I was going to do with my life. Then "POW", I realized I needed to share what I had learned and created with others. This is how Be Green Bath and Body was born. I'm so happy to be able to share my products,

that are safe AND affordable with others. I really enjoy experimenting with different ingredients. I love learning what the different ingredients do and about the healing properties of carrier oils, herbs and essential oils.

Since my journey began, I've learned a lot about what's in the products that you find on the shelves at the store. The average woman uses over 10 personal care products each day. Shouldn't we understand what's in them? YES, YES, YES! In the coming weeks and months, I'll be blogging about different chemicals you should watch out for in the products you are using. I'll tell you what some of the worst one's are, why they're bad, what types of products they're in and I'll offersafer alternative ingredients for you to look for.

So welcome and I hope you are ready to start or continue on your own journey.

“Nourish your skin safely” ™ Karen