The products you use on your face and body can have a big impact on your health ‘ and the health of the Earth. By simply considering the ingredient label of your beauty products, you can make a significant impact on the Earth. Conveniently, such scrutiny also protects you from the nasty chemicals included in many beauty products commonly found on bathroom counters across the country.

Your personal style may drive consumption of just a few cosmetics. But even if you consider yourself to be “low maintenance,” you likely use many everyday products to take care of yourself. Here are just a few:

* Toothpaste
* Shampoo
* Conditioner
* Hair styling product(s)
* Body soap
* Hand soap
* Sunscreen
* Body lotion
* Hand lotion
* Face lotion
* Deodorant

In short, most people use more than 10 beauty products per day. If you use makeup, you might add 5-10 more products, and, of course, the list expands when you include hair removal, nail care, and any age reduction products that you use.

These beauty products can impact the health of our environment by: utilizing toxic ingredients; using non-recycled and difficult-to-recycle packaging; using toxic pesticides and herbicides on ingredients; and testing products on animals, to name just a few of the drawbacks.

If you changed just a few of your beauty products to greener options, you could reduce the strain on the Earth while simultaneously decreasing your exposure to toxic ingredients.

Determining which products are truly “green” as opposed to those that just say they are is no easy task. Some of the labels that we naturally look for when searching for green options include:

* Eco-safe
* Environmentally preferable
* Green
* Organic
* Pure
* Natural

Unfortunately, according to the Consumers Union, these general claims are completely meaningless. First of all, the manufacturer or marketer creates the label based on what will sell best, but there isn’t any independent organization verifying that the label claim is accurate. Secondly, there is a broad range of factors involved in using terms like “organic” or “green,” making them, in fact, very loose terms of attribution. Finally, often a very tiny amount of “natural” ingredients is mixed with chemicals to produce many of the products that we believe are safer for our bodies and the environment.

Every day, toxic chemicals that are bad for the Earth as well as our personal health, are sold. This is because no independent or government entity is assigned to testing all the products that you can buy, whether at the drugstore or a high-end department store counter. In other words, the manufacturers can put whatever they want in their products and nobody tests them for safety. That’s right: while your medications are tested by the FDA, your cosmetics are not.

One of the words we look for most on “green” products is “organic,” but in fact the term is not regulated on personal care products as it is on food products. In other words, for food, suppliers must be certified by the USDA National Organic Program to label a product “organic,” but in personal care, that is not the case.

Here is the problem with what we have discovered so far:

1. You can’t trust the label on the product to tell you what it really contains

2. You can’t trust the government to protect you by restricting the claims made on labels

3. Most beauty products on the market contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to our bodies and the Earth.

What can you do about this? Be more careful about which products you buy. It can be difficult to determine exactly what impact a product will have on the Earth and your body, but you can take a few simple steps to be safer.

1. Read all of the ingredients on the label. If you have trouble pronouncing an ingredient, if ingredients are grouped together, or there is anything else suspicious, look the product up on the Internet to see if you can find out more. If the label says that not all ingredients are disclosed, it is a good idea to call the Company to determine what is not listed. The biggest dangers found in many cosmetics: antibacterials, coal-tar dyes, 1,4-dioxane (a contaminant of “PEG,” sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate and other -eth ingredients), formaldehyde, fragrance, mercury, nanoparticles, parabens and petroleum distillates.

2. Consider the packaging. The best option is glass, though it can be cost-prohibitive based on shipping costs. A good alternative are products packaged in Recyclable #1 or #2 plastics.

3. Look for logos: There are a few logos that you can be fairly certain mean that the product you are buying meets some green standards, including “USDA Certified Organic,” and “Leaping Bunny,” a logo designed by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics that indicates a commitment to not testing on animals.

Global Initiative Has Exploded In A Big Way In The Recent Years, Creating An Awareness Of The Impact Our Everyday Life Is Creating In The Environment. With An Attempt To Boost Their Sales, Various Sectors Are Enhancing Their Ecological Credentials Through The Development Of Business Strands, And Through The Manufacture Of Earth Friendly Products.

Once Considered As The Costume Of Hippies, Who Used To Wear Hemp Fabrics, Today Eco Fabrics Have Come Under The Global Spotlight Through Cat Walks And Celebrity Endorsements. Garments Made From Natural Fibres, And Dyed In Natural Dyes, Have Started Filtering Into The Streets. JWT, The World’s Best-Known Marketing Communications Brand In Its Recently Released List Has Quoted That Eco Fashion Will Play A Major Role In The Current Year. (JWT’s 100 Things To Watch In 2010)

Is Eco Fashion Hot?

Despite The Growing Concern About Eco Fashion, There Is Not A Major Change In The Purchase Behavior Of Many Consumers. Green Garments Might Be Generating A Big Buzz, But Still More Awareness Needs To Be Created Among The Consumers.

Raw Materials Used In Making Eco Clothing Are Generally Planted And Harvested In One Place. Then It Is Sent To A Factory For Processing It And Later Is Spun Into Yarn. This Yarn Is Transported To A Factory And Is Woven Into Fabric, Which Is Then Sent To A Dye Mill For Coloring. Later The Fabric Is Sent To A Manufacturer, Who With A Designer Drafts The Patterns For The Clothing, Cuts And Sews The Garments. The Final Product Is Then Packed And Is Available At The Shops For Consumers. At Every State, It Involves Workforce, Who Are Paid For Their Labor. Organic Cotton Is Also Available Only In Limited Quantities. Low Impact Dyes Are Used In Coloring These Fabrics Which Causes Less Or No Impact To The Environment As Well As To The Human Skin.

Apart From This, Consumers Are Quite Confused Regarding The Theme Ecological. They Are Not Completely Aware Of What Conditions If The Apparel Satisfies, Would Make It Eco Friendly Apparel. No Clear Instructions Are Seen On The Label Of The Garment Thats Informs The Shopper About The Eco Credentials. Many Retailers Sell Their Products Claiming It To Be Eco Friendly While In Reality Only A Small Part Of The Apparel Is Such, For Instance Only The Cotton Is Organic, And The Other Process Of Making The Garment Is Ruthlessly Damaging To The Environment.

Companies Implicated In Making Eco Friendly Clothing Should Be Provided Adequate Subsidies, And Support From The Government. Designers, Who Create Patterns For This Clothing, Should Put Their Focus Keeping In Mind To Make The Designs Timeless, So That The Eco Garment Remains A Wardrobe Staple, An Outfit That Remains In The Wardrobe Of The Consumer For Many Years.

For starters stay away from the food aisles you usually spend the majority of your time in since most of what you’ll find there is not very healthy for you, and is sure to have soy in it.  Most grocery stores have the entrance right next to the produce section, but most shoppers spend the least amount of time here.  When people see the produce section they tend to see a lot of meal preparation time, and can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of different foods they know very little about.  The truth is what’s quicker and easier than putting a salad together, or steaming some vegetables for a healthy side dish, and don’t worry about only being able to identify 1/3 of what you see.  There is usually at least one employee working the produce section who would be happy to tell you what that fruit or vegetable is you have in your hand, and the knowledgeable ones may even be able to tell you how to prepare it; and let’s not forget the internet.  With a few taps on the keyboard and clicks of the mouse you’ll be able to find dozens of recipes for whatever you find at the store, regardless of how exotic it may be.  The truth is I do about 85 percent of my shopping in the produce aisles and you should try to do the same.  You would be amazed at the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and with most grocery stores stocking organic produce these days you’re bound to find plenty of good tasting healthy “Soy-Free” foods. 

Next, for all those prepackaged foods that are still on your list, always look into the organic brands first.  They’re usually a little more expensive, but with organic foods becoming more and more popular more stores are carrying their own brands of organic foods.  When you buy organic you can be sure you’re buying all natural foods with no artificial preservatives, no food colorings, and no dyes.  It is still very important to read the labels though, because signs of the “soy conspiracy” can still be found in the “all natural” foods, but it’s not as prevalent as in the heavily processed non-organic foods so you’re bound to find what your need.  In the case where an organic brand is not available then look for the brand with the least amount of ingredients on the package; stick with all natural ingredients and no artificial additives.  If you’re buying ketchup for instance, why is there anything in the bottle except for tomato related products and maybe some sea salt?  

At this point in your food store venture, there shouldn’t be anything else on your list except for the non-edibles; that wasn’t so bad, was it?  So let’s recap your food shopping experience; stock up heavily on fresh produce, go organic when possible, choose products with the least amount of ingredients listed, and always scrutinize food labels for soy related ingredients.  Using this method of shopping you might just find yourself eager to go to the food store and buy what you need; your next healthy meal is only a produce aisle away.

Low Carb Dieting Was a Start in the Dieting Revolution

Dr. Atkins made a great change in dieting by introducing the concept of low carb dieting.  He broke the myth that meat was bad for dieters, and proved that it actually helps in losing weight.  His diet of high protein and low carbs paved the way for further research into what actually causes weight loss.

This diet plan also broke the notion that vegetarianism was a key to weight loss.  The emphasis on animal protein in Atkins’ diet gave meat eaters hope that they could lose weight.  Now further research has refined his findings.

Pasteurized Milk Defeats Weight Loss

One development in dieting research is that pasteurized milk is counterproductive.  It makes sense, if you think about it.  Milk is made to put fat on cattle…how much more so would it put weight on you?  Besides that, dairy cows are injected with growth hormone to keep them producing milk.

This growth hormone is so extreme that the cows get sick from it.  So they get antibiotics to treat the illness.  Guess who also consumes these chemicals?  You!  You consume the growth hormone, and may find yourself wondering why you gain weight.

Organic Meat is an Important Part of Your Diet Plan

With all the problems of growth hormones, it only makes sense to eat organic meat instead of the supermarket standard.  There are more reasons to go organic than just growth hormones, though.

The typical meat that you’ll get at the supermarket is usually grain fed.  They’re fed the very same foods that you’re trying to avoid.  By eating the meat of grain fed animals, you’re eating what they’re eating.

With organic, free range meat, they are free to graze on the stuff they would normally eat—what they can easily process.  It can’t be forgotten that since they’re allowed to roam, there is a lower fat content.  With organic meat, the quality is vastly improved just by the cattle being able to roam and graze.

An important difference between organic meat and the typical fare is that organic comes without additives and preservatives.  Nitrites, nitrates and dyes are commonplace with the normal supermarket stuff.  Whether you’re losing weight or not, it’s simply healthier for you to eat organic.

Whatever your diet choices are, water is an essential part of weight loss.  As your metabolism increases, so does your body temperature.  As you start flushing out toxins, they need somewhere to go.  Water is what you need for these issues of weight loss.

People suffering from serious skin ailments such as the two mentioned above are always told to not use cleansers of any form but, ironically, they are almost unavoidable due to the fact that cleansers are necessary for basic cleanliness and hygiene in our daily lives. These people are also told not to use any kind of detergents or soaps. This is because the soaps and detergents have harmful chemicals and dye which aggravates it and worsens the condition. Soap nuts are the most natural chemical free detergent available on the market. For this reason, Ayurvedic treatment includes soap nuts as a key ingredient for shampoos and cleanser which are used for cleaning purpose when an individual suffers from skin allergies like eczema and psoriasis.

When an individual uses this soap nut cleanser to clean the affected area, the anti-microbial property of the soap nuts help in killing the germs that cause the disease, thus giving allergy relief. The absence of any kind of dye or toxins and even enzymes (which are known to cause skin irritation) in the soap nut makes it an ideal medicine for the treatment of skin ailments. Irrespective of the sex and age of an individual, soap nuts counter attack the disease causing germs and wipe them out. Absence of the non-allergic substances makes it suitable for children as well!

So, if you are suffering from skin diseases, try the soap nut husk before you switch over to prescribed medicines. Try soap nuts and gather some experience by yourself trusting that if soap nuts are unable to cure your disease then they will at least not worsen the situation. Global studies on eczema and psoriasis have come up with results that can actually help you in switching to soap nuts as a medicine. Studies reveal that people using conventional detergents and soaps as cleansers have encountered an increase in the situation of the skin disease instead of curing it! However, the people who have switched to the Ayurvedic treatment based on soap nuts found that their problems have diminished.

This revolutionary non-chemical and hundred percent natural laundry detergents have steadily grown to popularity and have made their presence felt in the world of medical science. Eco friendly by nature, environmentally friendly soap nuts help in maintaining a cleaner environment and keeping you away from the harmful effects of toxic chemicals.  Allergy relief is within your reach!

The key to dying interior materials is to properly prepare the materials before actually applying the dyes. The materials must be very clean. Leather and vinyl treatments must be stripped away to promote proper adhesion of the new dye. It also helps to strip away as much of the old dye as possible.

Once the materials surfaces have been prepared, the dye can be sprayed on with a low pressure / low volume spray gun. It is important to spray several light coats of dye so it can properly soak into the material and properly adhere. Some folks make the mistake of spraying the dye on in thick coats, thinking it will result in a better job. This is not the case at all. A thick coat can cause “blinding” in the material. Blinding means that the dye covers over the vinyl or leather texture instead of letting the dye flow into each tiny crevice of the material.

Most dyes can be sprayed on. Brushing the dye is not a good idea as you will be able to see the brush marks. This will result in a poor finish and will not look new or natural. Depending on the size of the job, a compressor and spray gun may or may not be required. For smaller jobs there are inexpensive self-contained spray guns. These work well for the do-it-yourselfer who probably has only a couple of small dying jobs to do.

It is possible to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by changing or enhancing a vehicle’s interior with dyes instead of purchasing new interiors. And, it is very easy to do.

We know that Parabens are in almost everything we eat and use on our skin and hair daily!

Parabens prevent mold, bacterial and fungal contamination. Widespread types of parabens include: Methylparaben, which is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract or through the skin. More importantly  p-hydroxybenzoic acid is rapidly excreted without accumulation in the body, which is good news as it is the one paraben found in most products use daily. Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben and Benzylparaben. Are used as well. I am not writing an article on parabens, the only reason I bring them up is if you have skin issues that are caused by parabens, then read the label of your cosmetics to see if they are listed.

I would like to put my 2 cents in on the use of parabens. Although their function to prevent mold, bacterial and fungal contamination; think what might happen to the products that don’t have any parabens in them? Take mascara, my studies found that paraben free mascara was useless. As without parabens, it makes mascara flaky, and worse the overall texture were clumpy! Do you remember the 1% or less rules I told you in part one? Well, my research showed that mascara’s that had even the smallest amount of parabens like 1/10th of 1 percent and as low as 0.15 of 1 percent of parabens. Was amazingly great mascara in that they didn’t flake or clump and the ones that had a cream base stayed all day! Creating beautiful eyelashes, and they were as low as 0.15 of one percent containing parabens!!!

There are some cosmetics that don’t ever need parabens. Take eyeliners and lip liners. If they contain natural plant parts and custom mineral blends. With the base formula of oils and natural waxes with ingredients like vitamin E (made from the soy plant) as well as Mica, Iron Oxides and Titanium Dioxide.

Quality Mineral lipsticks also don’t need any parabens in them. My own lipstick research taught me that if a formulator uses quality ingredients. One can delete all dyes, fillers and lakes and only uses pure pigment for coloring. Ingredients like Castor Oil, Sesame Oil, Coconut Oil, Fractionated, Cocoa Oil, Candelilla Wax, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Cocoa butter, Mango butter, Shea butter and Vitamin E. The results are: lipstick that will never bleed and moistens your lips all-day. Then you add mica, Iron Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, and you have the perfect formula. Of course this lipstick is not cheap, however quality should never suffer ingredients and women should get what they pay for and rightfully so!!!

Natural preservatives: such as rosemary extract, vitamin C and E, citric acid, green and white tea extract (antioxidant), grape, apricot or pomegranate seed extract (Antioxidants) Vitamin B17 in apricot seeds has been said to be Anticarcinogenic. Tea tree extract as an antibacterial to also prevent spoiling. If one uses natural preservatives (in especially liquids), there will be no need for parabens.

Organic Cosmetics:  Found in some high-end mineral cosmetics, however I would like to let you know the true amount found sometimes is questionable in that do they really do anything? Here is where the rule of one percent or less may come in to play! While it’s stated that if a product has one percent or less it doesn’t have to be listed as an ingredient!

Some cosmetic companies may list organic names like the list above of natural plant parts, when in fact they could be as little as one 10th of a percent or much lower. Remember even with this small amount of organic additives one can claim their cosmetics have natural or organic ingredients. The reason then for using the word organic drives the price up about 30% more than the standard pure minerals.

Here is some food for thought: during my research on organic extraction of plants I found out there could be as many as 200 chemicals in one plant. Now try to imagine processing only 3 or 4 chemicals that are pure enough to use as an additive. This means the overall process is time-consuming and time is money right? This is what lead me to believe that it would only stand to reason for one adding a specific additive that has a value may cost $35.00 for only a few grams or a mere 1/8 of an oz. How much product would a formulator add to a so called organic cosmetic. Of course then one might consider some additives may even cost more and after all profit is the results needed to stay in business.

Please realize that a plant has different parts, such as the steam that feeds the leaf and then there are the feeding veins to nourish the plant. During this natural process, insect’s fungus, mold and all of earth’s free radicals attack the plant life and often destroy or alter the plants (Anti-oxidants). Further some plants can only be grown and harvest at certain times of the year, for full benefits.

It’s in my option that organic research needs more investigation. However not by the FDA rather a private sector that is not basis and short handed. Perhaps organic matter that is pure belongs in our system through diet! Ingredient labels are important to read, as you now well know. 3 to 7 % of women can have an allergic reaction to certain organic plants and bi-products there of is why the FDA requires ingredient labels in the first place. The FDA has little control of ingredients with over 5000 listed in cosmetics! You can well bet some are rated at the 10 scales as being harmful as a rule these are laden chemical cosmetics.

Micronized and Nanoparticles: This falls in to common sense the smaller a particle is the deeper it can penetrate your skin. This defeats mineral cosmetics, because your pores will clog. Mineral cosmetics should’t clog your pores thus leaving you with a light protective covering that has a light feeling on your face.

This is one more reason I only use loose mineral cosmetics on my models, clients as well as students!  Micronized and Nanoparticles are the result of minerals that our crushed or put in a blender. Most often used in preesed powders, because a chemical has to be added to press the powder. Yet most women like pressed powders because they are less missie than loose minerals. Perhap those of you who lean towards pressed powders should give them a second thought especaily knowing you most likely are’t getting what you pay for?

I give loose mineral cosmetics five stars for the simple reasons above and it appears fewer ingredients are needed and the best part is loose minerals will never require parabens or filers. While pressed minerals only get three stars because of additives most commonly used and micro as well as Nano particle size are not good for your pores.

– Hip hugging bellbottom jeans with wide belts with fringed vests, jackets etc.
– Halter tops with patchwork.
– Minis and micro skirts with chains and boots.
– Ankle bells.
– Leather sandals.
– Tie and dye garments.
– Colorful headbands worn with a flower.
– A peace symbol locket. (Peace symbols were prominently used in the hippy clothing.)

Hippie style has been popular for varied reasons, when you are going for costume party or planning to change your style, looking like a hippie isn’t very hard, one of the tenets of looking like a hippie is to be natural, cool and comfortable and express yourself.  The hippie culture has been a part of our lifestyle in some way or the other.  IT was an independent kind of movement, they tried to free themselves from social restriction and wanted to choose their own way and find the meaning of life. Being part of hippie culture is ‘cool’ in its own way. The 1960s featured a come to of diverse trends. It was a decade that busts many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements throughout the time. In the center of the decade, box-shaped PVC and culottes dresses were in latest trends. The most commonly trendy bikini came into fashion in 1963 after being featured in the musical Beach Party.

Mary Quant invented the mini-skirt, and Jackie Kennedy produced the French manicure, pillbox hat, which became very well-liked throughout the 1960s. Blues, greens, and shimmery eye shadows were popular; and hairstyles were a multiplicity of lengths and fashion. While concentrating on colors and accessories, tones were taking away of significance during the 1960s. Community was dressing in highlighter colors, psychedelic prints, and mismatched patterns. The hippie movement delayed in the decade also exerted a strong persuade on ladies’ fashion styles, including bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye, and batik fabrics, as well as paisley prints.

Avoid the Sun

The sun is the biggest danger to your skin. Tan may be beautiful, but unless your skin is naturally dark, it is also dangerous. Ultraviolet light in the sun, which you cannot see, damages your skin on the cellular level. This leads to wrinkles, dry skin, age spots, and even skin cancer or non-cancerous tumors.

Of course, you cannot always avoid the sun. When you need to be outdoors, wear protective clothing. Avoid the most damaging hours, which are from 10 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, as this is when the sun is the most intense. Use an organic sun protection product when you must be outdoors. It should be applied 20 minutes before you head outside. Remember to reapply it every two hours.

Use Gentle Cleansers

Cleaning your skin is an essential part of good skin care, especially the skin on your face. However, many of the skin care products on the market today actually have abrasive chemicals and dangerous products in them that could harm your skin more than they help. Always look for organic cleansers as you build your skin care routine.

Avoid any strong soaps or cleansers. These will strip the oil from your skin. This may seem like a good idea, because too much oil can cause problems like acne or other blemishes, but your skin needs some oil to be healthy. Strong cleansers can lead to dry skin problems.

You may also want to avoid products that have artificial perfumes or dyes in them. These can irritate sensitive skin and do not add any benefit to your skin. An all-natural organic cleanser will have a pleasant, natural scent, rather than an artificial one.

When you are done cleansing your skin, pat it dry. This keeps some of the moisture on the skin. Rubbing your skin can strip some of the oil away that it needs to be healthy.

Don’t Forget the Moisturizer

Moisturizer is an important part of healthy skin. Once you are done cleansing, follow up with an organic moisturizer. This will lock in the healthy moisture and keep your skin soft and supple.

Keep in mind that there are many different organic moisturizers out there. Choose one that best matches your skin type. If you have particularly oily skin, for instance, a moisturizer with a lot of healthy oils will not help. On the other hand, very dry skin may need a more intense moisturizer.

Always moisturize as soon as possible after cleansing. This locks in the water that is on your skin. You should moisturize your face daily, but sometimes you can skip this step with your other skin. Wait 20 minutes after your shower or bath, and if your skin feels tight or dry, you need to moisturize that day. Otherwise, you can pass.

Taking care of your skin is not difficult, if you have the right products to use. Using organic skin care products will ensure your skin is only exposed to natural oils and cleaners that will help it stay young and healthy. If you are looking to buy a new skin care product, read the label first. If it is full of chemicals and names you cannot pronounce, think twice about putting it on your skin. Choose an organic product instead.