The Wonders of Shea Butter

With all of the snow and freezing cold weather here in Massachusetts this winter, my go to ingredient has been shea butter.  I've come to love it so much that I always carry a tin of raw shea butter in my bag so I can moisture my hands, lips and cuticles anytime they need it.  I love how it instantly moisturizes and leaves my skin feeling soft for a good while, even after hand washing.

Shea butter actually comes from the karate tree which grows in the wild in west and central Africa.  The tree takes 50 years to mature and can live to 300 years!  To extract the butter, the tree nuts are cracked open and roasted.  The butter is then scooped out and kneaded.  Pure unrefined shea butter has a distinct nutty smell and is either cream or yellow in color.  I don't find the smell unpleasant and it dissipates quickly after putting it on your skin.

Shea butter is great because it's such a multi-tasker.  For one it improves wrinkles due to it's natural vitamin A content when used regularly over 4 to 6 weeks.  It treats and protects as it promotes cell regeneration and circulation with vitamin F and it moisturizes due to the high fatty acid content (oleic, stearic and linoleic).  It also has a decent vitamin E content and contains cinnamic acid which helps protect skin from UV rays in conjunction with other ingredients.  Shea butter shouldn't be used on its own as a sunscreen, however.

I find that shea butter is useful for so many skin conditions!  Here are some of the many:

- dry skin anywhere on your body (I especially love it on my hands.)
- rough skin (especially of feet and elbows but also on the face)
- itchy skin (from rashes, insect bites and even poison ivy)
- sunburned skin
- cracked skin and peeling skin
- eczema and dermatitis
- scars and stretch marks
- scalp conditioner
- dry, brittle hair
- cuticles and nails
- lips

One of the great things about shea butter is that not only is it non-toxic (it's rated a "0" on the EWG skin deep cosmetics database, meaning it's thought to be very safe) but it's also non-comedogenic.   This means that it won't clog your pores.  It's rated a 0 on a scale of 0 to 5 on the comedogenic index.  Shea butter is solid but pliable in cold weather but melts at skin temperature and is absorbed quickly as it penetrates the skin.  Shea butter is not recommended for those with nut and latex allergies.

If you're suffering from crazy dry skin like me, please check out Be Green Bath and Body's products that contain pure, unrefined organic shea butter.  It can be found in these products:  Shea Butter Tin, Shea Butter Hand Cream, Herbal Miracle Balm, Baby Balm and Organic Beautiful Skin Butter.

Thanks for reading and "Nourish your skin safely"!
Karen
begreenbathandbody.com

3 Tips For Healthy Skin

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

Moisturizing Your Skin

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

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

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

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....

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