2018 is here! (Even though for the next few weeks I will undoubtedly still be writing “2017” on checks and other memos. Do ya feel me or what?) Have you made a New Year’s resolution yet? Below are 10 simple healthy habits to adopt in the new year that you can actually see through all the way to 2019. 1….
Environmental Working Group Skin Deep mobile app: iPhone and Droid At long last, my absolute favorite website and beauty tool (yes a website is my favorite beauty tool!) has come out with a super-convenient, awesome app for both iPhone and Droid. You can search for personal care products by their name or by scanning their barcodes, which is great when…
Does this body lotion make me look fat? That’s not a question you hear very often! But if your lotion contains fragrance or parabens (a family of preservatives commonly found in body lotions, makeup, shampoos, and a ton of other personal care products) it may very well actually be making you fat. This is because these chemicals are obesogens. What…
A couple of years ago, I discovered that one of my favorite mineral facial powders was chock-full o’ nasties. Skin Deep gave it a “7” (how horrid!) rating, citing it as a moderate to high risk for cancer as well as developmental and reproductive toxicity. Needless to say, I felt utterly betrayed. We had worked so well together! And I…
I’m something of a girly-girl. I don’t like to admit this and I feel rather silly writing it, but I think you should know that this is not coming from some hippie chick with armpit hair down to her knees and Birkenstock sandals permanently attached to her feet (not that I have anything against this type of woman – power…
Toothpaste is obviously a hygienic necessity for all of us (at least I would hope so!), but that dose of toxic chemicals we get with each brushing? Definitely unnecessary. The two most common active ingredients in toothpastes – sodium fluoride and triclosan – have been associated with a number of health risks. What’s more, they aren’t necessary to maintain proper…
There’s a chill in the air… And this means a number of things for me: (1) Boots and sweaters! By far my favorite articles of clothing. (2) Faking my way through football season like the good girlfriend I am (at least I get a lot of thinking done while staring at the TV). (3) Trying my darndest to stay healthy…
Oh, there is nothing I hate more than a cold! Those obnoxious sniffles… That uncomfortable, unrelenting tickle at the back of your throat… A red, chapped nose! So I try my best to avoid catching them in the first place. I avoid sick people like a Hollywood thief dodges laser-beams in a bank vault (no, seriously – if you’re sick,…
Trying to find an all-natural deodorant that really works is a little like trying to find your soul-mate online: you spend quite a bit of time and money, have a number of nay-sayers who question the value, and after a few fails are left wondering if there really is one out there that’s right for you. But just like those…
The first perfume I ever bought was called Pure Poison. I was fifteen and had a gift certificate for a department store burning a hole in my pocket. I liked the bottle, and so I bought it. I look back on this and roll my eyes. First of all, the scent was not the best; I’ve always been a sucker…
This simple detox clay foot mask gently draws toxins from the feet. It may sound strange but it’s considered one of the safest ways to detox the body! Let’s take a closer look at how this natural remedy works and how to use it… Ah, there’s nothing like pampering yourself with a nice mask. … on your feet. Oh, you’ve…
There are few thing I love more than raw honey. OK OK so I’m dramatizing this a bit. I mean, there’s my family and friends, a warm cup of tea on a sunny Sunday morning, little fluffy puppies… but I think raw honey may very well come next! This is not a superficial relationship; I don’t love this sticky-sweet substance…
Now, let’s be clear upfront: I’m no yogi. Oh, how I wish I was. I’ve bought the gear, attended the classes, and even purchased a few instructional DVDs to practice at home. But going for a jog around the block or tossing around a kettle-bell has always been just a little more my speed. That being said, there is a…
Around 80% of the population is deficient in magnesium, a mineral required for 300+ enzymatic reactions in the body. Are you one of them? Let’s take a closer look at magnesium deficiency and the many health benefits of this essential mineral. Not so fun fact: I have a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis that can be extremely painful. Fun…
After learning more about how to appropriately formulate skincare and beauty products, I no longer recommend this DIY all-natural eye-emphasizing mascara and have removed the recipe. My concern is with proper preservation of the formula to prevent bacteria growth. As we live and learn, our thoughts, actions, and work evolve — I hope you understand! And I hope you will keep…
Alright, ladies, we’re getting real right here. No need to be bashful; we all get a little visit from Aunt Flo every month… So what’s one thing that is sure to make your period worse? Oh, just knowing that your trusty tampon may be toxic. The average woman uses approximately 11,000 tampons during her lifetime. Goodness, that’s a lot of…
Did you know that the average woman ingests 4 pounds of lip product in her lifetime? That is a lot of lipstick/gloss/butter/balm! So it better be nasty-free. This DIY lip balm is not only 100% natural, it is hands-down the most moisturizing lip balm I have ever tried. And I like to consider myself an aficionado of sorts. A balm…
Feeling dull? Skip work and do something adventurous! Looking dull (your skin, that is)? Scrub it up with this all-natural DIY clarifying face exfoliant! This is one of my favorite all-natural beauty DIYs, and I use it about twice a week. It helps to both brighten and clarify my complexion. Though I was saddled with troubled skin for years, this…
Bisphenol-A (BPA) has come under attack in recent years, and rightfully so. Chances are you’ve been part of this fight by choosing BPA-free products after learning about the dangers of this chemical. As more consumers opted for BPA-free items, companies started willingly eliminating the chemical from their plastic products. This is great, but does this mean that these BPA-free options are…
BPA is a known endocrine disrupter that interferes with the body’s normal hormone cycles. It should come as no surprise, then, that BPA detrimentally affects fertility. MEN: Studies have linked BPA to low sex drive in men, impotence, DNA damage in sperm, and reduced sperm count and motility. WOMEN: BPA may compromise the ability of women’s eggs to fertilize normally. A study found that…
Ladies, we’ve all been there… You’re running late, your boyfriend/husband is nagging you, and as much as you want to wash and style your hair, there is just no time. Or maybe you want to throw it up in a pony-tail to make an early-morning run to the grocery store without looking quite so slick. Or maybe you just pressed…
I have a confession to make: At one point in my life, I used clinical-strength antiperspirant deodorant. Oh, the horror. I look back on those days and cringe, asking “Why, why did you do this to yourself!?” But the answer is simple: I didn’t know any better. Antiperspirants work by blocking the pores that release sweat. Not only does this…
Lately, my coworkers, family and friends have all had a case of the sniffles. And whether it’s a cold or allergies, I tell them all the same thing: apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works for two reasons: 1) it helps neutralize the body which turns alkaline when sick and 2) it helps thin mucus. I have been using apple…
What images come to your mind when you first hear the word “toxin”? For most, it is likely to be along the lines of these images: It might be surprising, then, that the most typical and abundant sources of toxins in our lives most closely resemble the images below: The EPA states that “a toxic substance means any chemical or mixture that…