Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category
I’m admitting, right here and right now, that I do not make my own deodorant. Statia does, and her and her husband use it often. But I have not gone down that road personally. I have had success using several brands of natural deodorants and with some time and patience, I do not need to rely on a stick of Dove for security. In fact the last time I did, I smelled within a few hours. Not sure why, but that was the last time I used a traditional deodorant.
I will also admit that not every natural deodorant works for me, and that’s not because the product doesn’t work or is faulty. But sometimes, certain recipes don’t mesh with your body chemistry. You have to find what works best for YOU.
In order for me to consider a deodorant safe, it must be free of the following ingredients:
Aluminum: Research is suggesting that aluminum may be linked to Alzheimer’s Disease and some aluminum ingredients may be hormone disruptors to boot. Propylene Glycol, Parabens, Phthalates, Triclosan (believe it or not some “deodorants claiming they are natural contain Triclosan) and all the other usual suspects that I scan for in approved products. This list is in alphabetical order and is not comprehensive so if you know a brand you think belongs here, let me know and I’ll verify it and add it to the list.
Best In Show
- Aubrey Organics (Spray, Roll-on, & Men’s)
- Avalon Organic Botanicals Lavender Deodorant Spray
- Bubble & Bee Pit Putty & Deodorant Sprays
- Burt’s Bee’s Mens Deodorant
- Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Deodorant
- Erbaviva Deodorant Spray
- Miessence Deodorant Roll-on
- Real Purity Deodorant
- Soapwalla Deodorant Cream
- Terressentials Organic Super Protection Deodorant
- Weleda Deodorant (all scents)
- Yoreganics Natural Deodorizer
Runner Up’s (Better but not great)
- Jason Natural Cosmetics Deodorant – This works well as a deodorant but the first ingredient listed is Propylene Glycol. I have used this as my safety net deodorant when I needed extra protection but my armpits started peeling recently so I have since stopped using it.
- Tom’s of Maine Natural Deodorant – Same deal. Uses Propylene Glycol as their main ingredient. My parents both use this with great success but I had a not effective relationship with it myself and never went back.
- Kiss My Face Active Enzyme Deodorant - Not chemical free and contains Phenoxyethanol.
- Earth Science Natural Deodorant – Not chemical free and main ingredient is Propylene Glycol.
I’ve chosen not to list crystal deodorant stones and sprays because of the possible unintentional aluminum content. To read more about that please visit Stephanie Greenwood’s blog for more information. If you disagree, that’s fine. I’m sure I’ll get some crap about not including it but…tough noogies.
DIY: If you’re into making things yourself, please check out our recipe for natural deodorant!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Bubble and Bee, Deodorant, Dr. Hauschka, SoapWalla, Weleda
The creator of Soapwalla, Rachel Winard, has so graciously provided the following tips and DIY recipes for dealing with Rosacea – a common question around here. I have a mild case of it myself. Her product line, Soapwalla is one of my absolute favorites so I know you’ll appreciate her bountiful knowledge – Enjoy!
The single most common question people ask me is what are the most effective natural ways to treat rosacea, a chronic and sometimes disruptive disorder.
What is Rosacea? Rosacea is a skin disorder that causes redness and swelling, primarily on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Others experience increased sensitivity and redness on the scalp, neck, ears, chest, back and eyes. Some people mistakenly confuse rosacea for acne, sunburn, and excessive flushing. The National Rosacea Society estimates that well over 16 million Americans suffer from this skin condition.
I know firsthand how debilitating face rashes can be. When I have a particularly bad face rash, I dread and will do almost anything to avoid public outings.
Causes
What causes rosacea? Experts aren’t sure, although one recent study suggested a link between rosacea and the H Pylori bacteria that commonly causes ulcers.* However, there are certain universal rosacea triggers that we may avoid, including:
- Stress: goes without saying. Nearly impossible to implement, but try to incorporate stress reduction techniques in your daily schedule. I personally cannot function without my yoga practice.
- Temperature: extreme temperature changes, strong winds, saunas and steam rooms, etc.
- Beverages: avoid alcohol, caffeine, and excessively hot drinks – in temperature as well as spiciness.
- Foods: this varies, but the most common culprits include chocolate, vinegar, nightshades (eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes), spicy foods, cheese, and citrus fruits. A specific food allergy can also manifest itself as skin redness.
- Skincare Products: avoid witch hazel, alcohol, acetone, and anything that causes burning or stinging upon application. Topical steroid creams can also aggravate red skin. When my skin is particularly inflamed, I cannot use aloe vera as it literally burns my skin (I learned the hard way, and I’ll spare you the gory details). In addition, overzealous skin cleansing and harsh exfoliation exacerbate redness and tenderness.
- Systems: hormone imbalances or synthetic hormones (think hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills) and poor digestion are linked to increased skin flares.
Treatments
I firmly believe that we can help our skin repair itself through diet, supplements and a holistic skincare regimen. Below is a list of highly potent ingredients that replenish our bodies and calm down redness and irritation:
- Wholesome Foods: I often talk about the link between healthful eating and happy skin, and it’s true – what we put in our bodies is as important as what we put on them. Support your body by eating fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains like brown rice and millet, and including nuts and seeds that are high in essential fatty acids, such as flax seeds and walnuts.
- Supplements: Make sure you are getting a daily dose of B-Complex vitamins. If you are vegan, you need to take a supplement. I personally like Floradix Iron & Herbs.
- Skincare: use skincare preparations that are designed specifically for sensitive skin. Seek out products with organic, whole ingredients and that avoid synthetics, chemicals, petrochemicals, and preservatives. Look for the following ingredients, shown to tone down redness and reduce inflammation:
- Evening Primrose, Borage and Black Currant Oils – rich sources of gamma linoleic acid, an Omega 6 fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. [Note: these oils should not be heated prior to use, as their potent health benefits will be reduced.]
- Blue Chamomile, Lavender and Carrot Seed Essential Oils – Blue Chamomile contains a concentration of Azulene, which has potent anti-inflammatory, skin healing properties. Lavender, regarded as the most versatile therapeutic oil, is an antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory must-have addition to your skin care products. Carrot Seed essential oil contains substantial amounts of Vitamins A, C, B1 and B2, and effectively removes toxins from the skin, giving it a fresher and firmer appearance.
- Calendula – Calendula oil is perhaps the most successful oil in diminishing dry and damaged skin, skin inflammations, rashes, and other skin ailments. An easy DIY calendula recipe is as follows:Place ¼ cup fully dried calendula flowers (make sure there is absolutely no moisture on the flowers; otherwise your oil will spoil) in the bottom of a clear glass jar that has an airtight seal. Pour 1 cup of your favorite oil (olive oil, sweet almond oil and jojoba oil are ideal) over the flowers, completely immersing them. Shake vigorously and place on a sunny windowsill. Shake once or twice a day for a month, until the oil turns a beautiful deep golden color. After a month, strain well and store in a dark glass container away from light and heat. This calendula oil can be used directly on the skin whenever you feel redness or irritation, and truly is a wonderful – and essential – addition to any sensitive skincare regimen!
- Cosmetics: While we ultimately want to eradicate redness and irritation, sometimes we just need to get out of the door looking - and feeling – confident. Luckily, these days we have a number of ethical, progressive cosmetics companies to choose from. Some of my favorites include RMS Beauty and Jane Iredale. Jessa Blades, founder of Blades Natural Beauty and an immensely talented make-up artist and eco-beauty consultant, is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to choosing and applying natural makeup and skincare products. Please stop by Jessa’s website for more information.
In addition, think about incorporating probiotics, milk thistle (a potent liver cleanser), bromelain (digestive enzyme found in pineapple) and turmeric (a spice with incredible anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties) into your daily routine.
NOTE: Please test all new ingredients or formulations on the inside of your wrist to ensure you don’t have a sensitivity or allergic reaction.
Rachel Winard is the Brooklyn-based creator of Soapwalla, a line of luxury organic face and body products made with the highest quality organic and food-grade ingredients, never questionable additives such as sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens or harsh and synthetic additives.
*http://www.rosacea.org/rr/2001/winter/article_4.php
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Eco Beauty News & Tips, Skin Care, SoapWalla
Let’s face it, even though we all know that too much sun is bad for us, most of us love the healthy glow of sun kissed skin. Now, we’ve said it before, you need some sun. Studies show that in this day and age, we don’t get nearly enough vitamin D, especially in the winter (and sure, supplements help, but one of the main sources is the sun), so when summer rolls around, we like to spend a lot of time outside. It helps even out my family’s moods, and we all sleep better at night.
I’ll say this, unless you have a history of skin cancer, or you’re one of those people that burns even if it’s a cloudy day and you’re in your house with long sleeves on, ditch the sunscreen if you’re going to be out for a short while (say an hour). Opt for a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes, but let the sun do its magic. I’m not a habitual sunscreen user. I feel it does more harm than good. However, if you’re going to be out at the local pool, or a day trip to the beach, make sure you use a sunscreen of at least a 30SPF, and keep reapplying, per the directions on the bottle.
Now, with that said, I’m guessing a lot of you probably have a nice summer glow going on right about now, don’t you? And it makes you feel pretty good. It makes your skin look more even, and toned. Not to mention, it helps with some other skin disorders, like keratosis pilaris (of which everyone in my family suffers from, sadly), eczema, and psoriasis (my father suffers from it and his dermatologist went against everything he stood for and told him to high tail it to a tanning bed) and others. But, with being at the beach or the pool on a regular basis, your skin is probably dry. Especially if you’re a woman and have to shave every day in the summer.
So how do you keep your skin looking smooth like a lotion commercial, without having to dip yourself into a vat of phthalates and petroleum based products? Here’s my regimen so far this summer:
Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe has great healing properties. It keeps your skin from drying out and also prolongs your tan. Not to mention it’s really cool and soothing if you happen to get burned.
A good baby/body oil: You can probably easily make your own, but my favorite, that I recommend to everyone, is the Tippy Toes Baby Oil by Mambino Organics. I love this because it’s very light, and absorbs perfectly. It’s a simple list of ingredients, and it nourishes my skin. I added a mixture of a few drops of my favorite essential oils to my bottle and it’s like having my own personalized scent.
I put both of these on immediately after my shower, while my skin is still damp. It takes me an extra two minutes and my skin has never felt better. And I actually feel good about showing it off this summer.
(Kathy chiming in here): I love Statia’s tips and totally agree. I am using a body oil as well as a scrub in the shower to keep the bumps and dryness away all year long. My faves right now are Rocky Mountain Soap Company Bamboo Body Scrub and LuSa Organics Organic Sugar Scrub
You can pick up Aloe Vera Gel (look for preservative free or organic) on Amazon.com or at a local health food store. Check out Lily Of The Desert Aloe Vera Gel or their Lily of The Desert Aloe 80 Soothing Gel on Amazon.
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: Articles, Exfoliation, Sunscreen
My husband reluctantly switched his body products to greener products. It was a slow process, but over the last two years, we’ve made progress. If you have a boyfriend, or husband, you know how stubborn men can be. My husband would sneak poisonous toothpaste on business trips, because he hated the “hippie stuff” I was using.
One of the last things to give up, on his list of products, was antiperspirant. It took me forever to get him to stop using the toxic, aluminum laden axe or whatever he could find on sale. “But I don’t want to pit ouuuuuuuuuuuuuut,” he would whine. But I bought him a stick of Tom’s anyway, and he wasn’t impressed. When my husband isn’t impressed, he takes to the internet. He came up with an awesome recipe for making your own deodorant, and it’s really easy:
What you’ll need:
- A deodorant container (save your old one, and re-purpose it)
- coconut oil (the solid kind)
- baking soda
- essential oil (whatever your favorite is, which is nice, you don’t have to smell like “fake baby butt”)
- vitamin e oil
- corn starch
To Mix:
- Add the dry ingredients in a bowl first. Mix equal parts corn starch and baking soda.
- Add equal parts coconut oil, mix thoroughly.
- Add a few drops of vitamin e and your essential oil. You can add as much as you like, but I wouldn’t go overboard. The mixture will be a bit more flaky if you use more oil.
- Knead the mixture with your fingers until it forms a ball like consistency, it should be hard enough to put into the deodorant container, but still malleable and not crumbly. Put the cap on and let set overnight, and voilà!
Keep in mind that this is obviously a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. You will still sweat using this stuff, but you won’t stink. I’ve used this recipe on some pretty hot days, as well as during workouts and I haven’t smelled at all. Needless to say, since making this deodorant, my husband has been a convert.
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: DIY Recipes, Deodorant
There’s been many times where I’ve tried different products here and there and although they are natural and organic, they just don’t measure up to my girlie need for something indulgent. I’m a reformed bath product junkie so the stuff I choose now has to be safe and also work well. But to really impress me it needs to make me feel like I’ve invested in something special. I know that I found a line of products that meet all my standards when I look forward to getting out of the shower to use them. That is definitely the case with the products I have tried from Soapwalla.
Rachel, the “chef” behind the Soapwalla kitchen, created a line of truly natural products that not only work, they smell and feel unbelievably awesome. Rachel, kind soul that she is, sent me 4 samples and while I loved all of them – I immediately went to her store and ordered 2 things: Her Deodorant Cream and the Luxurious Body Oil. I’ll tell you why.
After using her Deodorant Cream I was totally hooked. At first I thought “I have to slap this on like spackle into my pits?” But in
reality, you simply smooth a little bit on after a shower and that’s it. You never feel sticky or wet. After a week or so using it in warm (read: hot sweaty) Florida it has been effective enough to keep me odor free. With some other natural deodorants I have had to reapply during the day and on one occasion I reeked after a few hours. (I don’t use that one anymore…. do you see what I do for you ladies? I SUFFER WITH B.O. just to find out what works best. You can thank me later. With products. Or love and admiration. Whichever.) There are some I’m still trying and some I still use depending on the day but Soapwalla’s Deodorant Cream is definitely an awesome and effective product. It gets the LovelyMama seal of approval.
I also want to talk about her Luxurious Moisturizing Body Oil. To start, I really love body oils over lotions. Lotions usually need some kind of emulsifying ingredient which is typically a chemical or chemically processed wax or stearate. So I use a lot of lotion bars and oils to compensate. I’ll admit that I love the idea of lotion more due to the ease of use and tend to choose them over oils when I’m in a hurry since oils can leave you feeling greasy for a bit while they soak in. However there are certain cases when body oils don’t feel like you’re bathing in olive oil. This is one of them. Soapwalla’s Luxurious Moisturizing Body Oil goes on really light and absorbs in a reasonable time, so I don’t ever wish I chose lotion. And the scent? Ooooohhhh my. If I was a scent, I would be this one. It’s light and citrusy, but with a delicate floral component so it has a certain feminine appeal to it. After using it I feel girlie and pretty. No need for phthalate ridden perfumes. I just sniffed my arm and I still smell it – clean and girlie – even after running around all day. In a word: LOVE.
Soapwalla only uses organic ingredients and oils and never uses icky preservatives or chemicals. I will definitely be shopping there again. My next splurge? Organic Citrus Grove Soap Bar and some Almond Joy Body Polish.
GET IT: You can pick up all of Soapwalla’s great products on her Etsy Shop.
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Bath Goodies, Deodorant, SoapWalla
I bumped into the new skincare line Potent & Pure from Kiss My Face during my morning errands and of course had to check it out. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Kiss My Face since I was young. First it was because it’s all my parents bought. I was shaving my legs with one of those funny round pink razors you give teenagers in 7th grade when they realize they have the fuzziest legs in gym class. But now, mostly due to ingredient discrepancies. I have in the past run into a few of their products that do contain parabens or “fragrance” and not known what to make of it.
However I think more of their newer lines, while not 100% chemical free, are a safer choice than some of the mainstream chemical cocktails available. Potent & Pure is a new skincare line they’ve released boasts its free of parabens, phthalates, SLS, artificial colors and fragrances. You could probably look up one or two ofhte synthetic ingredients and find something incriminating but I chose to share this for one simple reason.
Based on the volume of email we got asking about a daily moisturizer with sunscreen, as well as my own quest for something more natural in that area, I felt it warranted a mention. They have a Facial Creme & Sunscreen with SPF 10 using titanium dioxide as the sunscreening element.
It’s not greasy, does have a sliiightly whiteish tint if not rubbed in totally and is a little more fragrant that I usually like but it’s not too overpowering. Living in Florida I could use some better sun protection on a day to day basis so this might be something I can use for now without looking like an oil slick.
Find It: I found mine at Target but you can also order it and their other products online on KissMyFace.com
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Kiss My Face, Moisturizer, Sunscreen
We’re always on the hunt for new brands and products. Anything to expand on the products we already have and love. And of course, being women, we love pampering. So when Joy of Natural Joy Beauty contacted us and asked us to review some of Lauren Brooke Cosmetics, I was all too happy to volunteer. Especially these days, when I’m feeling particularly unattractive. I’ve been wanting to go in for a facial or spa day, but being pregnant, I’m leary of using products in which I don’t know the ingredients to. Luckily for me, this is the next best thing!
I got to review both the Deep Sea Masque and the Blemish Control Toner.
I loved the deep sea masque. It was tingly and made my face look more even toned. I would recommend to turn off any fans blowing your way when you use it because I was a little too tingly at one point. But the mix of different types of clays made my face feel smooth and soothed. Some masks have a tendency to irritate my face, this one was gentle.
The toner was a little bit harder for me to tell how it worked, but this was mainly because I’m a raging case of hormonal skin right now, and my face has been breaking out like crazy. Overall, it was nice and refreshing and felt great on my skin, but my chin blemishes refused to budge. It worked like a charm on my other blemishes though.
Get it: You can order Lauren Brooke Cosmetics over at Natural Joy Beauty has a really great variety of products, including natural body glitter! I was really excited when I saw this because who doesn’t love sparkly things?
Win It!
We have a set of the Blemish Control Toner and Deep Sea Masque to giveaway to one lucky reader.
To Enter:
Simply leave a comment on this entry telling us which product you fancy most on Natural Joy Beauty’s website. Contest is open to US residents only. Deadline to enter is Midnight EST on Monday, May 4th. One winner will be chosen at random.
To Get Extra Entries:
- Put our Lovely SafeMama™ button (sidebar sidebar!) on your blog or website and leave a comment letting us know where it is!
- Twitter this giveaway and get another entry (leave a comment so your entry gets counted!)
Good luck!
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: Blemish Control, Masks
We realize that some people are in the fluoride camp and some are against it. Either way, finding a safe natural toothpaste can be a challenge especially if you’re trying to avoid sodium laureth sulfates and fluoride. The lovely woman who owns and operates Nayla Natural Care, based in Canada, sent us a couple toothpastes to try out.
The Green Beaver Company has a line of natural toothpastes that are flouride free and completely natural. They have a bevy of interesting flavors, which is key for me because natural toothpaste reminds me of dirt (Yes, I’m talking about YOU Tom’s of Maine) but this is definitely not the case with The Green Beaver Company.
Their flavors include Cilantro Mint, Green Apple, Star Anise and the two I tried Frosty Mint and Zesty Orange. If you aren’t used to natural toothpastes it’s an adjustment no matter what. No natural toothpastes behave the same way Crest does but they do still have the same desired effect. This is no different and the suds factor is lower than traditional pastes, but the clean factor is not lacking. And they don’t taste like dirt! The Frosty Mint is a nice minty flavor and cleans along with natural mineral whiteners such as Silica and calcium carbonate. They also add calcium ascorbate, which contributes to the normal development and maintenance of teeth and gums. The Zesty Orange is a nice departure from usual mint flavors and is totally invigorating.
With the lack of flouride and all that other icky junk, these are safe for toddlers and children since they can safely swallow it without harm. (They should be supervised but still.)
Find these and other great safe products here: Nayla Natural Care! Her store is adorable and has great products. This is the perfect place for our Canadian readers to stock up on the products we review on SafeMama.com! She ships to the U.S. too!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Deodorant, Green Beaver
It’s no secret I get hooked on certain products. Just ask me how many lip balms I have at any given time in my purse. (Currently 6). See? Addict. My other secret addiction is bar soap. I don’t know if it’s the traditional nature of bar soap or the rush I get when I open a brand new bar. Either way, I prefer it over body washes… especially for my face. I have sensitive skin and am prone to rosacea. So I am on a constant hunt for an alternative to Cetaphil’s bar soap that my dermatologist recommended. I just can’t bring myself to continue using it.
During my search I found Tilvee Eco Ethical Skin Care. I haven’t had the opportunity to try their products out but I was giddy over the simple facts. Their products are free of all chemicals including Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Preservatives, Petrochemicals, Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates and not to mention they don’t test on animals, are committed to green business practices and are signers of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Can you say “love”?
As a suitable replacement for that old Cetaphil Cleansing bar I think their Shea Butter Facial Cleansing Bar might be a good contender. People who suffer from rosacea tend to be sensitive as well as have dry patches so the gentle shea butter would be an ingredient to combat that. Stuff is on sale right now so I might have to pick up a lip balm too. See? Can’t ever resist.
Follow Up Review: I started using this on my face (remember…I’m sensitive with rosacea flare ups) and my skin has actually improved in the last few days of using it. My skin isn’t as dry and dare I say my rosacea is clearing as well. I think this is a great product. Bye bye Cetaphil.
Get It: Pick one up on their website Tilvee.com – go now because their having an Earth Month sale… 25% Off!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Bar Soap, Face Wash, Tilvee Eco Ethical Skin Care
I actually received a few samples of Sophyto from Saffron Rouge. I always love getting my samples in the mail and look forward to trying them out. Last months (as you can see, I am pretty much right on top of everything these days) samples were kind of a disappointment to me.
The cleanser is the “Ultra Mild Silken Cleanser” which I was initially excited about. After trying it out however, along with the other samples, I’m not really a fan.
The cleanser’s benefits, according to the site are:
- Ideal for all skin types and skin colours.
- Effectively removes surface debris and non-waterproof make-up whilst retaining natural moisture.
- Beneficial for inflamed, or sensitive skin following; laser resurfacing, micro-dermabrasion, chemical peels, chemotherapy, radiation and sun burn.
- Has soft, delicate aroma of cucumber and aloe.
- Does not contain essential oils, or essential oil components.
- pH 5 for normal skin range.
- 97% of this product contains agricultural ingredients that have been produced organically.
One thing is true, my skin definitely wasn’t dried out after using it, as it is a cleanser, and not so much a soap. It doesn’t foam, but it did clean adequately. However, the line that states it’s beneficial for inflamed or sensitive skin? It really stung my skin, so there is no way I would use this on my skin after any sort of dermatological treatment, especially a chemical peel (not that I’d be getting a chemical peel, mind you). I have pretty sensitive skin to begin with and this product pretty much did nothing but piss my skin off.
As for the “agricultural ingredients.” Sure that may be true, but included in the ingredients list is grain alcohol and benzyl alcohol. It could be what irritated my face so much, but either way, I don’t really want to use something that is going to burn my face.
You may have very different results, but I’m definitely not springing for the full size bottle of this product.
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: Face Wash, Sophyto













