Anti-Aging Secret Weapon
By · Comments“Wanna Fanta? Don’t you wanna? Wanna Fanta?
Remember those colorful old Fanta soda commercials? You know the ones I am talking about….they had four girls who corresponded to each flavor of the soda: strawberry, orange, grape, and pineapple…back then they only had these four flavors, now they have many more! I remember seeing fun commercials like this when I was a kid and when I was thirsty, I usually reached for the soda pop. I drank way too much soda growing up! I hated drinking water as I thought it was boring and tasteless. Little did I know that water was a magical, healing elixir!
Water, Water, Everywhere…
We always hear so much about how important it is to drink water…maybe there’s a reason for that. It’s the most important beverage we can ever drink, yet so many of us walk around dehydrated. Why do we take water for granted? Water is always there, it’s cheap, and many people don’t like the taste. When we’re thirsty, we reach for juice, gatorade, or soda just like I used to so many year ago. But do you realize when you do this, you are literally drying yourself out (and your skin too!?)
Healthy Skin From the Inside Out
Sip for your health...sip for your skin!
There are many benefits to drinking water. Not only will you feel better internally, but your skin will glow on the outside. Water improves all bodily functions by flushing toxins out of our system. If toxins have no way of getting out, they collect in the body. Bad news! Water is like the messengers of the body, carrying nutrients to cells, circulating blood and fluids. By drinking enough water each day (keep reading, I will let you know how much water you should be drinking later) you are keeping your skin hydrated, preventing wrinkles, and maintaining the elasticity and suppleness of your skin. Water moisturizes skin from the inside out! And by the way, it also helps you lose weight! (Make sure to check out the video below.)
Don’t Get “Water Logged”
It’s sometimes confusing as to how much “agua” to drink each day. You can do this simple calculation to figure it out: Take your body weight, divide by two. That number equals the minimum ounces of water you should be gulping a day. And that is a minimum! I’ve heard people who drink at least a gallon of the stuff a day. Of course, don’t go overboard with this. There is such a thing as too much water (water toxicity.) When you start thinking, “Dang, how am I going to drink that much??” Don’t worry….you can accomplish this by eating plenty of water-rich, juicy fruits too. Watermelon, anyone?
I hope I’ve cleared up some misconceptions you’ve had about water and hope I’ve inspired you to drink, drink, drink. I, too, have the problem of not drinking enough and am striving to increase my water intake so my body can be more healthy and my skin can look even more fabulous! Here’s a tip: As soon as you wake up, pour a glass of water (I always squirt a little organic lemon in it for flavor) and drink up! We wake up dehydrated so it’s a great way to wake our bodies up. When you start drinking early in the day, it makes it a lot easier to make a habit throughout the day.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
It Takes Action-Support the Safe Chemicals Act
By · Comments
Have you asked for a stronger national chemicals policy? You should.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got more important things to do with my time than research product safety. And I bet you do, too!!
Of course I spend the time necessary to make sure I buy only the safest products for my family. I’m just not happy about it. I mean, products that are on the shelves should be safe, right? Yet, headlines tell me more often than I’d like that they’re not.
Take a few seconds to sign the petition… today.
We need a stronger law!
Which is precisely why I’m joining forces with Pure Natural Diva and Bottles to Britches to support the nationwide effort to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act in Congress. This law was passed back in 1976 (remember The BeeGees?!) and hasn’t adequately protected public health since. It’s high time to strengthen our country’s toxic chemicals law – and right now there’s an opportunity to do exactly that. See, this Spring Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ) introduced The Safe Chemicals Act.
I hope you’ll join me in asking our representatives in Congress to pass this bill. It’s incredibly important, and the time is now. The more of us who ask, the more likely they are to listen. So go ahead,
Tell Congress to put toxics on its “to do” list NOW
The plan is to make it crystal clear that we want an effective national chemicals policy that protects human health, especially our children who are most affected by toxic chemicals.
The way I see it, if we’re frustrated by the current system (check), we should work hard to change it!
QUICK & EASY – SIGN THIS PETITION TO CONGRESS
Numbers talk: 150,000 signatures is the goal. EWG will deliver this petition to key lawmakers on Capitol Hill to show them how BIG and PASSIONATE this Safe Chemicals movement has become. Can you help us reach our goal today? It’s easy to sign and share – and extremely important to our success.
The time is right now. There is a political window of opportunity to move the Safe Chemicals Act forward in 2010, but in the current political climate, windows close quickly and unpredictably. If we don’t give it our absolute all NOW, when the political momentum is there, we may lose this chance.
Sign it, share it . This issue is far too important to let Congress do nothing. We need your help – by signing and sharing the petition – to get the Safe Chemicals Act on the Congressional “to-do” list. Preferably at the top.
Bonus Points? This only takes a minute!
Use this link to send a letter to your Senator quickly and easily.
Thank you for taking time to be heard!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Book Review: The Natural Skin Care Handbook
By · CommentsDid you know there is a brand new (and fabulous) natural beauty handbook? I always wished I had one resource to tell me everything about natural skin care from nutrition to homemade beauty recipes for glowing skin. It’s finally here and I had an opportunity to review this great new ebook.
Learn easy natural skin care recipes.
The Natural Skin Care Handbook was written by Victoria Lewy of myhomemadebeauty.com…you know the site, the blog you visit to get the latest scoop on the best and most beneficial natural ingredients and super fabulous skin care recipes! Click here to visit Victoria Lewy.
Now Victoria has compiled all her best tips and even more in this easy to read ebook. I sat down to read it and finished it in under an hour. This is a great guide for anyone seeking to “naturalize” their skin care routine, from beginners to seasoned skin care specialists. I even learned a few things!
Change Your Skin Care, Change Your Life
For some, reading this book can make a huge difference in their skin care routines. Many people don’t realize the toxic ingredients they are putting onto their skin (and which absorb into their bodies, affecting organs and causing disease!) when they use commercial cosmetics. Victoria touches on this, but her emphasis lies more on sharing which natural ingredients you can use to promote healthy, beautiful skin. An integral section of the book section discusses foods which allow for beautiful skin from the inside out. She also points out which foods to avoid….you may be quite surprised!
Good Enough to Eat
Without a doubt, my favorite part of the book are the natural beauty recipes (24 pages of them!) I used to think making your own cosmetics was a time consuming, messy process. Boy, was I wrong! The recipes are so easy, using ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and you feel so good knowing that you are the creator. You know exactly what is in your special concoction and it ends up transforming your skin into glowing beauty. Victoria gives complete directions for preparing your own recipes, as well as the tools (not many) you need. There are recipes for all skin types, whether you have oily, dry, or combination (me!) skin. The recipes encompass all of your beauty needs from homemade cleanser, toner, and moisturizer to homemade mask, scrub, eye oil and lip balm (and more!) Here are a few of my favorite recipes: Ginger Cream for Aging Skin, Body Coffee Scrub, Body Cream with Honey (yum!) and Nourishing Natural Eye Oil. There’s also a Relaxing Massage Oil recipe…ooh la la!
The Natural Beauty Handbook was a fun, easy read. I definitely recommend it for those of you who want to change your beauty routine to something more natural. The best part is you are the creator of your own cosmetics and you know each and every ingredient in your mixture. Order your copy of The Natural Beauty Handbook today….you can buy it now without even having to get out of your pj’s and it will be delivered to your inbox immediately! Click on the link below. Enjoy! 
Click here to view more details
**** On a related note, today is the LAST day to enter the Babushka’s Beauty Secrets 3 book giveaway! There are low entries so you have a real chance of winning! Enter until tonight at 11:59 pm. Click below for the easy entry requirements.
Babushka’s Beauty Secrets Giveaway
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Have a Piece of Pai
By · CommentsWhat’s more American than apple pie? Nothing really, but I’ve recently found out England does quite well too with pie….well not exactly pie, but “Pai.” 
Pai is an organic skin care line designed especially for sensitive skin. You know the kind…the kind of skin which reacts to the slightest ingredient. I have this kind of skin sometimes…I know I am sensitive to a product or ingredient when I get red bumps! I was excited to try Pai skin care for a few reasons.
They May Be On to Something…
Europe has much stricter regulation for cosmetics than we do here. They have banned tons more toxic ingredients in cosmetics than the US. In fact, many of those ingredients are still used in America skin care lines. When are we going to catch up to the European high standard of cosmetic ingredients?
I recently reviewed a French skin and hair care line and when I had the opportunity to try Pai, an English based line, I gladly offered up my face as a guinea pig. What I really liked about Pai was that their products are specifically made for people with skin sensitivities…and I know a lot of you experience this. Their skin care products are 100% chemical free, with no irritants such as artificial fragrances, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol and parabens. Sometimes even when you read ingredient labels for natural or organic products, it may still be hard to understand what you’re reading. Pai was the first skin care company to list and explain all their contents on the label. This is even more important for those of us who have reactions to ingredients. Pai uses organic ingredients and is certified by the Soil Association so you know their products definitely stand up to scrutiny.
Let’s Skip Right to the Pai
I used two products from the Pai line, the Chamomile and Rosehip Sensitive Skin Cream and the Camelia and Rose Organic Cleanser. I also received the Organic Muslin Face Cloth..more about that later! I can honestly say that I adored the Chamomile and Rosehip Skin Cream. Very rarely do I ever use a cream to the last drop and this is exactly what I did with this. It was so light and moisturizing, with a really lovely delicate scent. I used it after the shower and when I applied it to my skin, it felt as though my skin instantly drank it up, saying, “Gulp, gulp!” My skin felt so nourished with these pure ingredients. Here are a few and their benefits:
Chamomile: A member of the daisy family which contains azulene, a soothing anti-inflammatory substance
Rose Hip: skin healing fruit of the rose plant, rich in omega 3 and 6, vitamin C, works together to regenerate skin
Here are the rest of the easy to understand ingredients:
purified water, chamomile water*, apricot kernel oil*, corn-based emulsifier, jojoba oil*, rosehip oil*, thistle oil*, shea butter*, vegetable glycerine*, natural vitamin e, chamomile extract*, rosehip seed extract, corn extract, manuka oil*, rosemary antioxidant*, lavender oil*, rose geranium oil*, basil extract, natural lactic acid (from sugar beet)
I also liked the Camelia and Rose Organic Cleanser. The directions on the bottle said to wet face, massage the cleanser into skin, and remove with a warm wool face cloth, so I used the Pai Organic Muslin Face Cloth…the cloth was a bit rough for me and I ended up getting eye makeup on it. So I washed it in the washing machine. Big mistake. It shrank and was about as small as a slice of cheese. So thereafter, I just used a wet, warm washcloth to remove the cleanser. My face was left so moist and smooth unlike many cleansers which can dry out your skin after washing. It’s good for everyday cleansing and is a great makeup remover too. The ingredients rock! Here’s what the main two ingredients can do for your skin: 
camelia: oil with omega 3, vitamins A, B, C, and E, used in Japan for centuries (have you ever seen a Japanese woman’s skin? Gorgeous!)
rose: retains moisture, tones, and hydrates
rose water*, water, camellia oil*, castor oil*, sweet almond oil*, coconut and corn-derived emulsifier, shea butter*, vegetable glycerine*, natural vitamin e, corn extract, basil extract, lavender oil*, geranium oil*, may chang oil*, rose oil*, natural lactic acid (from sugar beet)
Overall, my piece of Pai was extremely enjoyable. I loved what these products did for my skin and the fact that their ingredients are in plain English and safe for my body both inside and outside. They are ok for vegans and somewhat affordable too. The 4.2 oz cleanser is $35 (also available as a sample size for $8, love that option!) and the 1oz. cream is $38 (you can also get a trial of this too.) I used the entire bottle of cream (using it twice a day) and it lasted me 3 months! So you can see a little goes a long way….don’t overdo it when applying moisturizer!.So have you decided to indulge in a little Pai yourself? Head on over to usa.paiskincare.com to have yourself a piece.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
Disclaimer: This review consists of my honest reflections and experience while using Pai Skincare. I was not paid for this review, however I did receive products free for review.
The Story of Cosmetics
By · CommentsIf you have not already seen this eye-opening video, now is the time! It was created by The Story of Stuff in affiliation with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics as a way to help people open their eyes about how cosmetics are made in this country. It proves that most cosmetic companies are not in it for the good of the consumer. They are in it for profit. When companies value profits over people, health suffers.
It’s Time for Accountability
Another event is ongoing right now in our nation’s capital. The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 is the first bill proposed in years to revise our nation’s cosmetic’s laws. Reform regarding cosmetics is greatly needed as cosmetics companies have shown us that they are unable to regulate themselves. Many unsafe toxins and chemicals are allowed to be put into products. Some of these are even linked to serious diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and hormone disruption. Just what would this new legislation do? From the Huffington Post: “Among other things, the bill would require full disclosure of cosmetic ingredients and bar or restrict chemicals linked to cancer or birth defects or toxic to the reproductive system or other systems during development.” It’s going to be a long hard journey to get this bill passed. To read more from the article written by the EWG’s Ken Cook, click here: Let’s Move the Safe Cosmetics Bill and be sure to watch The Story of Cosmetics below.
What are your feelings on this bill? I’ve heard from some small companies that it would hurt their business due to stricter ingredient reporting and many are against the passage of this legislation. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
