Friday, April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Natural beauty products
I have been trying to adopt a more "natural" beauty routine. I guess I'm doing it because I try to think about what kind of food I put in my body, so I suppose I should also consider the fact that I slather myself with chemicals on a daily basis. The beauty industry is almost completley unregulated and it's pretty scary when you start to read ingredients and research them. Here are a few of the big offenders
1) Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben- Some combination of these synthetic ingredients are in almost EVERY skin and hair product made today. Widely known to be highly toxic and cause allergic/skin reactions. Companies use this dangerous ingredient, because it is extremely cheap and extends the shelf life of the product by inhibiting microbial growth.
2) Propylene Glycol -This Petroleum by-product is a synthetic ingredient used as a humectant. Also used as an INDUSTRIAL ANTI-FREEZE to de-ice airplanes. This toxic ingredient causes many allergic reactions. Research data states that through skin contact it can cause "liver abnormalities and kidney damage."
3) Synthetic Fragrances - Most Products will simply say "Fragrance" which means any combination of the cheapest 200 synthetic, toxic ingredients the company can find. Causes headaches, dizziness, rashes, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritations etc... 4) Triethanolamine (TEA)/Diethanolamine (DEA) - Used to adjust the pH balance, but toxic and causes eye problems, and dryness of skin and hair. DEA has been linked with kidney, liver and other organ damage according to several government-funded research. One study found that the topical application of DEA in rodents resulted in anemia, kidney degeneration, and nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. (Melnick et al., 1994) Even more disturbing was that several animals died before the study ended. Approximately 200 million pounds of DEA are produced annually in the U.S., most of which goes into personal care products. (USITC, 1990).
5) Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea - Used as a a preservative, but a primary cause of contact dermatitis. You might see these toxic chemicals under the names Germall II and Germall 115, which release formaldehyde at just over 10°.
6)Phthalates: Some studies have shown compelling evidence of the dangers of specific phthalates. Environment California, a California based environmental advocacy group, reports that one of the dangers of phthalates includes early puberty in girls. As reported by them, a Puerto Rico study concluded that young girls who experienced premature breast development had seven times higher concentrations of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in their bodies than the control group. DEHP is a common plasticizer used in the hospital setting in medical tubing and blood bags.
Other studies have linked DEHP to male reproductive problems such as genital defects and reduced testosterone production. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified DEHP as a possible carcinogen based on animal studies.
Sounds awesome.
One of my first transitions has been deodorant. This is a bold move because I sweat a lot and it's gross. Natural deodorants do not prevent perspiration so they do nothing for moisture and are mainly for blocking the smell of body odor. My first product trial was Tom's of maine unscented deodorant. NO. No no no no a thousand times no. 3 hours into it I am soaking wet and I stink. I'm glad I was working from home that day.
Next product has been successful so far. It smells fantastic and works! Love it. Do not love the price tag so I hope it lasts a while.
Lavanilla healthy deodorant.
I will continue to try different products as I swap out my old products. I have never really worn lipstick so I did try some of the burts bees tinted lip products and I love them
I think the biggest challenge will be hair products, concealer, and foundation.
1) Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben- Some combination of these synthetic ingredients are in almost EVERY skin and hair product made today. Widely known to be highly toxic and cause allergic/skin reactions. Companies use this dangerous ingredient, because it is extremely cheap and extends the shelf life of the product by inhibiting microbial growth.
2) Propylene Glycol -This Petroleum by-product is a synthetic ingredient used as a humectant. Also used as an INDUSTRIAL ANTI-FREEZE to de-ice airplanes. This toxic ingredient causes many allergic reactions. Research data states that through skin contact it can cause "liver abnormalities and kidney damage."
3) Synthetic Fragrances - Most Products will simply say "Fragrance" which means any combination of the cheapest 200 synthetic, toxic ingredients the company can find. Causes headaches, dizziness, rashes, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritations etc... 4) Triethanolamine (TEA)/Diethanolamine (DEA) - Used to adjust the pH balance, but toxic and causes eye problems, and dryness of skin and hair. DEA has been linked with kidney, liver and other organ damage according to several government-funded research. One study found that the topical application of DEA in rodents resulted in anemia, kidney degeneration, and nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. (Melnick et al., 1994) Even more disturbing was that several animals died before the study ended. Approximately 200 million pounds of DEA are produced annually in the U.S., most of which goes into personal care products. (USITC, 1990).
5) Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea - Used as a a preservative, but a primary cause of contact dermatitis. You might see these toxic chemicals under the names Germall II and Germall 115, which release formaldehyde at just over 10°.
6)Phthalates: Some studies have shown compelling evidence of the dangers of specific phthalates. Environment California, a California based environmental advocacy group, reports that one of the dangers of phthalates includes early puberty in girls. As reported by them, a Puerto Rico study concluded that young girls who experienced premature breast development had seven times higher concentrations of diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in their bodies than the control group. DEHP is a common plasticizer used in the hospital setting in medical tubing and blood bags.
Other studies have linked DEHP to male reproductive problems such as genital defects and reduced testosterone production. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified DEHP as a possible carcinogen based on animal studies.
Sounds awesome.
One of my first transitions has been deodorant. This is a bold move because I sweat a lot and it's gross. Natural deodorants do not prevent perspiration so they do nothing for moisture and are mainly for blocking the smell of body odor. My first product trial was Tom's of maine unscented deodorant. NO. No no no no a thousand times no. 3 hours into it I am soaking wet and I stink. I'm glad I was working from home that day.
Next product has been successful so far. It smells fantastic and works! Love it. Do not love the price tag so I hope it lasts a while.
Lavanilla healthy deodorant.
I will continue to try different products as I swap out my old products. I have never really worn lipstick so I did try some of the burts bees tinted lip products and I love them
I think the biggest challenge will be hair products, concealer, and foundation.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
No vacation in 2011
Got my teeth cleaned today. The worst part of my day was not the cleaning itself, it was learning that my dentist had retired. He was my favorite. It's hard to explain to people the relationship we shared, but I will miss him more than I can express. Good Dentists are hard to find.
I will wait to pass judgment on the young man that is now my Dentist. Judgment will be coming soon since we will be spending a lot of time together starting next week.
I am aware of my dental issues and was prepared for the worst. I got the worst, and more! But I was prepared so it's not a big shock.
I scanned my treatment plan to share with the world. Check it out. I am going to laminate it and show it to people that complain about having one cavity that needs a filling.
No vacation in 2011, indeed.
The item "Bruxism Brace" is a fancy word for what I am now calling a "sexy mouth guard"
I will be sleeping with a mouth piece soon. Hot. Apparently I grind my teeth and this is partially contributing to the 3 teeth I have that are cracked--one is clean down the middle. Thanks well water+genetics+unconscious jaw grinding habit!
I will wait to pass judgment on the young man that is now my Dentist. Judgment will be coming soon since we will be spending a lot of time together starting next week.
I am aware of my dental issues and was prepared for the worst. I got the worst, and more! But I was prepared so it's not a big shock.
I scanned my treatment plan to share with the world. Check it out. I am going to laminate it and show it to people that complain about having one cavity that needs a filling.
No vacation in 2011, indeed.
The item "Bruxism Brace" is a fancy word for what I am now calling a "sexy mouth guard"
I will be sleeping with a mouth piece soon. Hot. Apparently I grind my teeth and this is partially contributing to the 3 teeth I have that are cracked--one is clean down the middle. Thanks well water+genetics+unconscious jaw grinding habit!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Textile art
The house has a massive stairwell that I have been struggling to decorate since we moved in. The wall on the landing goes up 12-15 feet? So I have been on the hunt for a very large piece of art or something to decorate this huge white space. It has been exhausting but I think I finally found a solution. For a while I was considering buying a museum banner from this website.
www.betterwall.com
At 7 feet tall a banner would fit the space well but the price was not right.
So here is my solution and project. The main wall will become an accent wall and I will make "art" by stretching several yards of printed fabric over a diy wood frame. Ikea had some decent fabrics but none that I wanted to see on a large scale. I looked around and decided on a pattern that is available from Marimekko. I have seen their stuff at crate and barrel in the form of bedding, table linens, and shower curtains, and I like their patterns. They are visually interesting without being too busy.
This is what I bought:
Upholstery fabric is not cheap but I only needed 2 yards to make a covering 4 feet wide x 6 feet tall. Total so far=$80
Now I am trying to find a paint color that is appropriate for the wall. I wanted to get a muted blue since ALL of the rooms in our house are gray or beige. I am sick of the neutral colors in our house. However, I can't find a blue that I like or a blue that is suitable for an area with no natural light whatsoever. I'm going to buy a sample of one more blue (I have bought about 6 blues already) and a quart of a silver metallic paint. I think the metallic could brighten the wall--but it's not a large leap from neutrals. I don't want the space to feel like a cave. Brian says I should leave the side walls and the connecting bedroom hallway white. I see his point--it will be a huge pain in the ass because most of it has to be done on a 10 foot ladder. I am undecided on that point.
This is the best picture I have of the space. It is from when we moved in.
The landings were floored in the summer of 09', Brian installed a spotlight and I picked up an Ernst Haeckel jellyfish print from zgallerie before they closed all of their east coast stores. Eventually the carpeting on the steps will be changed but not anytime soon.
If I can find a good color for that back wall the project should be done within 2 weeks!
www.betterwall.com
At 7 feet tall a banner would fit the space well but the price was not right.
So here is my solution and project. The main wall will become an accent wall and I will make "art" by stretching several yards of printed fabric over a diy wood frame. Ikea had some decent fabrics but none that I wanted to see on a large scale. I looked around and decided on a pattern that is available from Marimekko. I have seen their stuff at crate and barrel in the form of bedding, table linens, and shower curtains, and I like their patterns. They are visually interesting without being too busy.
This is what I bought:
Upholstery fabric is not cheap but I only needed 2 yards to make a covering 4 feet wide x 6 feet tall. Total so far=$80
Now I am trying to find a paint color that is appropriate for the wall. I wanted to get a muted blue since ALL of the rooms in our house are gray or beige. I am sick of the neutral colors in our house. However, I can't find a blue that I like or a blue that is suitable for an area with no natural light whatsoever. I'm going to buy a sample of one more blue (I have bought about 6 blues already) and a quart of a silver metallic paint. I think the metallic could brighten the wall--but it's not a large leap from neutrals. I don't want the space to feel like a cave. Brian says I should leave the side walls and the connecting bedroom hallway white. I see his point--it will be a huge pain in the ass because most of it has to be done on a 10 foot ladder. I am undecided on that point.
This is the best picture I have of the space. It is from when we moved in.
The landings were floored in the summer of 09', Brian installed a spotlight and I picked up an Ernst Haeckel jellyfish print from zgallerie before they closed all of their east coast stores. Eventually the carpeting on the steps will be changed but not anytime soon.
If I can find a good color for that back wall the project should be done within 2 weeks!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
These are a few of my favorite things
PINTEREST
What it is:
http://pinterest.com/octopoda/
<3 !
What it is:
"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste.
People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things -- wedding inspiration, favorite T-shirts, DJ equipment. You name it, people are pinning it.
We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."
http://pinterest.com/octopoda/
<3 !
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