The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) uncovered many of these cheater brands. Read this blog post for more on which brands to be wary of. I used to use some of them until I became more “label savvy.” You really have to be very careful when choosing a cosmetic and research the ingredients if you see one you are not familiar with.

Recently, the OCA protested these “forganic” brands at the Expo West Natural Products Expo in Anaheim, California. Some of the very brands they were protesting were present at the expo. In fact, the media company who sponsors the event had people standing in front of the protest signs to block them! How’s about that for shielding us from the truth? Don’t we have a right to protest? Shouldn’t all people have a chance to know that the product you trust may cause disease later on? I invite you to read the full article at the Natural News website. Also check out the video below for Mike Adams a.k.a. the Health Ranger’s footage of the protest and to hear some of the presenters thoughts. It’s extremely thought provoking. What do you think about this issue? Your comments are welcome.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

It was recently found that many companies with the “ecocert” organic certification contained many ingredients that have no business being in a product labeled “organic.” Ingredients such as sulfates, preservatives, and phenoxyethanol. These are all substances that are harmful to the body, causing irritation, organ problems and cancer. Many of the ingredients in such products are tainted with pesticides and can produce 1,4 dioxane, a carcinogen. And they are labeled “organic?” You have got to be kidding me. I don’t know about you, but this pisses me off! We put our trust into these companies and they are pulling the wool over our eyes! Now you see just how important it is to become knowledgeable about ingredients and be a vigilant label reader. Look for my Toxic Beauty ebook soon- Saving Face: Exposing Toxic Beauty Products. It will be your must-have guide so you know what is in your products and what diseases these chemicals can cause.

I urge you to take a look at the ingredient labels of your most trusted products. Is it labeled organic? Does it have ingredients that are far from organic? For a list of the offending companies and how to take action so green washing of cosmetic products can be stopped click here: Organic Consumers Association. You may be surprised at the companies you see on the list! Any thoughts? Please leave a comment below.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

I just finished up a workout and sat down to watch one of my favorite shows, Clean House. I love how they help people clear out not only the clutter in their homes but in their lives as well. As I was watching, I saw a commercial for a well known skin care company. They claimed to cure dry winter skin with their special moisturizer. This ad is very strategically placed during Clean House, as much of the viewers are women. After watching this commercial, the average woman might go out to the local discount store to purchase this item. But does she ever think to read the ingredient label and research exactly what she is putting on her skin? Does she realize that what she rubs into her skin absorbs into the blood stream, affecting her organs and hormones? And that after years and years of repeated use, the toxins collect in the body and can cause cancer?

When you see an ad like that, what do you think? Do you look for the product in the store? Do you research the ingredients? I used to buy these products blindly, believing that if it was on the shelf, it’s safe… I was brainwashed by beauty! Now I know the truth….many companies put profit before people and make you think their products are safe. Well, now that you know this, you can be proactive and always always always check your labels! If you have any questions about the ingredients or find one you think may be questionable, send me an e-mail or check the ingredient on Skin Deep, an incredible cosmetics safety database.

COMING SOON: The Toxic Beauty ebook is where you can read about the most common ingredients to avoid, what they can do, and amazing alternatives.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog to enter the My Lip Stuff Giveaway!

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

-Robin

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
-Robin

Out of those three ingredients, the one you might have already heard of is formaldehyde. Yes, that is the same substance used in the preservation of dead bodies. Formaldehyde is not something you should be using while alive, as it is a carcinogen. And this is the same ingredient in your nail products. Toxins, anyone? It is mainly used to make the polish resilient. Toulene is another chemical used in polishes to make it easy to apply and fast drying. It is a toxin that is easily absorbed through the skin, found in paints and explosives. It can cause a myriad of problems. DBP is dibutyl phthalate, has been found to interfere with birth development and is sometimes not even on the ingredient list!

So when I go to the nail shop or go to purchase nail polish (because let’s face it, most of us do not want to give up our pedi’s and mani’s) I look for this on the label: formaldehye/toulene/DBP free. It’s not too difficult to find, in fact, I recently caught up with one of my favorite blogs, The Organic Beauty Expert and I was delighted to read about a new nail polish (NP2 Nail Perfection) which does not contain any of these chemicals. I went on to read more and went to the site to check out the new polish. Guess how much? $22.50 a bottle. Now, this is a pretty cool product in that it is a two-sided bottle that comes with a supposedly chip resistant express dry top coat. But for some of us on a budget this might not be the best option. To check out this post, click here: The Organic Beauty Expert.

Enter… Walgreens. Yes, Walgreens! I was shopping one day and found they carried Sinful Colors Professional Nail Color, a very affordable (under $5 a bottle) and safe brand of nail polish. And the colors are truly sinful! If you’re like me, you’’ll probably want one of every color. And the best part is, their formulas are formaldehyde, toulene, and DBP-free. You can also find them at sinfulcolors.com. So when you’re at the salon or the store, check out the ingredient list before you buy and make a safe choice when it comes to your nail products. Until next time, stay natural, stay beautiful…Robin.

Figure out what you’re able to do and do it! Going organic is a big change and it can be an expensive one. That is why you need to prioritize. Most of us are struggling with the economy right now and you’re probably thinking, “What is she talking about? How can I possibly do this?” The task might seem daunting. But if you truly want to make a change for yourself and your family and you are committed to this, go for it. If the only thing you can do right now is buy one thing, that is a great start. But what to start with?

A shower filter is essential. I first learned of this through Kevin Trudeau’s book. Although a small, step, it can make a huge difference. You may notice your skin is dry or irritated after showers. This could actually be from a combination of reasons. First, the soap you use probably contains sodium laurel sulfate (mixed with other toxins and synthetic preservatives.) Second, most municipal waters are highly treated with chemicals to make it “safe” (ha!) With a shower filter, you will see softer more healthy looking skin. When I first had a shower with my filter, I was amazed at my skin (didn‘t even need lotion!)

Shower filters are reasonably priced and are available at hardware stores or check out More Than Alive for great info and options. Why is a shower filter so important? When you shower, your pores are open, absorbing the chemicals in the water. It’s a bit like a gas chamber. The filter takes the chlorine, fluoride and other toxins out, making the shower what it should be, a truly pure cleansing experience. To maintain the filter, you simply need to replace the filter (about $10) every 6 months to a year, depending on how toxic your water is. You will see how black and icky the filter is when you replace it! So if you take one little step at a time, eventually, you will be living a 100% pure organic lifestyle. If you need any more tips on transitioning into the organic way, send me your questions and stay tuned to the blog. Subscribe for automatic e-mail updates so you don’t miss a post! Until next time, stay natural, stay beautiful…Robin

Some people categorize their skin as “sensitive”  or think they have skin allergies. They use special formulas because otherwise their skin will break out or become irritated. Did you ever think that maybe your skin isn’t really sensitive? It might be that man-made chemical ingredient in your product that made you break out. I’ve heard many instances of this. You don’t necessarily have sensitive skin or allergies, it’s the toxic ingredient or combination of ingredients that cause problems for anyone who uses them. Such ingredients shouldn’t be in beauty products. Not only can they disrupt the surface of the skin, but they are absorbed into the bloodstream disrupting bodily functions and organs.

I recently heard from Jenna and she had this to say:

“Love your Toxic Beauty blog. I used to think I had allergies because my eyes were puffy and itchy more often then not- I recently switched to all natural and organic beauty products and my skin has never looked or felt better- I was polluting myself without even knowing it! Go Green!”

So if you experience similar problems, be it puffy eyes, bumps, or itchy skin, give your regular beauty products a break and give natural products a try. You may be very surprised (and pleased!) at the results. If you’ve experienced any of these side effects from using commercial beauty products, drop me a line. Stay natural…stay beautiful. -Robin

When you buy a bottle of shampoo, bubble bath, or soap you think that the product you bought is safe and you believe that this product does what it claims to do without any risks. You trust this product so much that you use it on your children and family. But much of this is blind trust, as companies put many chemicals into bath products which we have no idea about….until now. Recently the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released a report on children’s bath products and stated some very alarming facts. Parents, listen up! 
  They studied numerous children’s bath products and found that some companies were adding formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane to their formulas. Lab tests have shown that these are carcinogens and can lead to dangerous chronic diseases and disabilities, especially with repeated use. Why are companies adding these posions in children’s products?? Check for these chemicals on the products you have in your bathroom right now and if you find them, toss it out! Thanks to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, now you can be on the lookout for them when you shop as well.

  As you all may have noticed, my blog got a bit of a make-over recently. I wanted to add some things to make it more user-friendly as well as a little more attractive. I am still in the process of changing a few more things, so bear with me! In the meantime, stay a while, take a look around, and let me know what you think!

   My mother used body powder for years and years. Usually after each shower, she would sprinkle on some powder. In 1999, she passed away of ovarian cancer. I believe talc might have played a role in her death, among other factors. Over the years she didn’t really ever lead a healthy lifestyle either and she exercised in spurts. But I still believe talc played a huge role. Talc is the main ingredient in most body powders, including medicated, baby, and perfumed powders as well as make-up and eye shadows. Many women use powder in the genital area because it absorbs moisture. Through this, the talc particles can enter the body and become embeded in the ovaries. Numerous studies have found talc particles in ovarian tumors and women who use talc are more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Talc can also get into the lungs.

   So what is talc? It’s a mineral derived from talc rocks and is closely related to asbestos. Further studies show just how similar these two carcinogens are. What a scary thought that even after all these studies, talc is still not regulated. One thing we can do as consumers is quit buying products containing talc and buy safer alternatives. This is the kind of information that I wished I knew before, but now I hope to help other people avoid this incredibly toxic substance.