When people find out that I try to buy only natural beauty and hygiene products, I often see eyes rolling - after taking over my kitchen, has the green frenzy reached my bathroom too? Well yes. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that our skin absorbs about 60% of the ingredients from cosmetics; also, in 2007, antifreeze was found in Colgate toothpaste manufactured in China and sold around the US - it wasn't clear whether the toothpaste was counterfeit or not, but either way it was sold at your local drugstore as a trusted brand. That's why I use Tom's of Maine toothpaste and, after what I can only describe as a life-long quest, I have found a body moisturizer that leaves my skin smooth and is free of such harmful ingredients such as parebens - Kiss My Face's Olive Oil & Aloe lotion, recommended to me by my dear friend Adrienne.
There have also been some made-in-China pet food recalls in the past few years, including for such reputable brands as Hills, and pets have died, so I feed Benjy all-American organic dog food. Its name? Party animal.
I am aware that all this is a luxury, a costly one. Filling my kitchen with local farmers' market produce and organic yogurt would be too expensive if I had to feed a family. What a shame.
Emily Dickinson
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33 comments:
Thanks for the informative post. It's a shame that the good stuff is expensive.
You might be interested in this site that I discovered that will show you how "toxic" your products are:
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1
Tom's comes out pretty well actually and it depends what Kiss My Face products you use - many of them do too.
When I discovered this site, it was a real eye opener and I, too am of the opinion that it's worth it to pay the extra to get more natural products. It is a shame that it IS so much more costly because not everyone can afford this (what should not be, but unfortunately is a) luxury...
I use an organic-food-grade-quality coconut oil as a body moisturizer, before drying off, and still standing in the shower...and then squeeze out the rest of what remains in my hands, on my split ends..also while still wet. It is a little too heavy for the face, however unless it is steamed off with a hot cloth. Be well.
EATLIVETRAVELWRITE - thank you SO MUCH for the link! It's really great.
I agree, it should not be a luxury to use the safe, good stuff.
TERI - thanks for the tip. I always heard that coconut oil was great for the hair. And that amazing smell, yum...
I usually only care whether they've tested on animals but it makes me crazy to think we really have no idea what is in the products we rely on.
DONNA - yes, that's VERY important for me too.
The European Union has now banned tests on animals for cosmetics, by the way.
I am completely clueless after visiting the Cosmetic Database site ... I have checked every item in my bathroom ... Caudalie is safe, no data for Kenzoki, Garnier (puff eyes stick) is safe too, Anthelios of La Roche Posay is safe, no data for the AHA lotions peew ..
I also only use natural health and beauty products. I also have cut down the number of different products I use. It is more expensive but its worth it.
I found out years ago that your skin absorbs much of what you put on it, and ever since then, I have tried to use as many natural products as possible. Certain things, such as organic food, are definitely more expensive, but I find that natural products for skin and hair care are actually much cheaper! I use almond oil on my face and hair, and shea butter as a deep moisturizing treatment for my hair. Both of these products are inexpensive and go a *long* way, and also work much better than any bottled product I have ever tried!
I love Tom's products-from right here in Maine. Of course we all need to be thinking this way. There is so much good information out there about the products we use regularly- definately worth looking into. I've not tried the Kiss My Face products but will look into it. Hope your weekend is lovely.
LAURA - well that one more reason why you MUST start using Anthelios every day.
LEIA - I too love almond oil. Its fragrance is one of my very favorites.
oh dear, I should check my labels.... I am forever trying different brands, famous brands but also pharmacy and eco friendly but it's hard to only buy eco and natural products. I will have a better at the shelves now...
thanks for the idea and tips!
have a good weekend :-)
Thank you for your reccomendation of Party Animal pet food. My dobbie died suddenly last July and I'm convinced that her Science Diet pet food was tainted. I asked the vet at Brentwood Pet Clinic to send a sample of the food to a lab for testing, but the vet told me that she didn't know any labs that could test dog food.
My next dog will have organic food and a new vet.
While I sometimes use organic face products I always use Avalon Organic Hair products.
Unfortunately I'm allergic to allow makes my face dry up and crack like an old witch.
M-L:
Last night when I went to bed, I grabbed the tube of cream & it was the same Kiss My Face as you picture. To all those who think everything is too expensive...I'm really in a financial bind (no, really, really). But Kiss My Face has always been a go-to for me since I happened upon it in a Greek island pharmacy about 20 years ago. (Forgot my soap...turns out, happily.) KMF is usually a reasonably priced brand. Look around for sales, too, because I just saw it at my local Rite Aid & CVS on sale. (Due to financial crisis, many many many two-for-one sales in all sorts of places. Sorry about the reason why, but all the more reason to go get some.)
And to The Clever Pup... you can't possibly look like witch. (Now we'll see if she subscribed to comments:)
Good weekend to all!
Susan
BELLE DE VILLE - I feel so sorry you lost your dear pet... It's devastating to have a precious companion go. I hope he didn't suffer too much and that the happy memories you have of him keep you going.
CLEVER PUP - I never heard of Avalon, I'll look it up.
And I'm sure you don't look like a witch!
GIULIA - I agree that Kiss My Face is very reasonably priced. It's funny we've been using the same lotion!
A Greek island...? I'd love to hear more about that trip.
I love Kiss My Face Lotion and Tom's too. Buying cruelty free, responsibly made products of all types... From food, to cleaners, to personal grooming items is just the right thing to do...
Now if only I could stop buying fabric that isn't organic. I'm trying... I like to buy vintage and re-use stuff, but those pretty bolts
still tempt me to sin.
I've certainly seen Kiss My Face, and wondered about its quality. I may give it a try after reading this!
BITTE BETTY - yes, I heard that fabrics are a problem. But more and more safe, organic dyes are being created from what I hear, in addition to organic cotton, so that's good news.
MISS CAVENDISH - if you try it, do let me know what your impressions are.
A while back, dogs all over America went down, sick with what was a CHina abuse of dog food.... they were using a plastic derivative of what when tested looked like a protein. A lot of liver damage happened, and my dog who is kidney failing was considered as one of the results of that toxic paste ...
Vitamins are also, highly based out of China, a travesty for the health of us, even if you belive we can see enough to make a vitamin chemical link---
toothpaste... there are few that say made in USA >>>wouldn't it be great if we could reclaim our own health tools like toothpaste, vitamins, even dogfood or anything...
love this post.
And the thing that bugs me most is we're told that eat more healthily and live more healthily is cheaper- absolute bull. It is expensive!
Thanks for the information :o)
I haven't seen Kiss My Face for ages. Thanks for remin ding me of that product. It's sad to read the ingredients in products on our market shelves.
SAMMI - yes, it's really not. When you see the price of junk food, it's so cheap it defies understanding.
PIERCE - Kiss My Face is widely available in all natural foods stores and even some regular drugstores.
Kiss my face sounds great. I feed my dog "Lilys Kitchen" food at the moment. She LOVES it.
PS - There's an award over at www.everybodysaysdont.blogspot.com for you xx
The natural route is the best way to go whenever we can - and with my skin, it's turning out to be the only way. Have noted the products. Thanks.
EVERYBODY - oh thank you for the award, it's so sweet of you! Many, many thanks!
I love the good stuff, always to ge more info
I used to use Tom's of Maine toothpaste until my dentist recently told me that I might as well brush my teeth with just water and nothing else. Ouch. I've since moved on to Sensodyne pronamel because of my sensitive teeth. Yes, all of a sudden I'm 80 years old.
JOANNA - wow, did your dentist really say that?
Actually, I used Sensodyne when I was living in France and found it really excellent - I mean I could actually feel a difference in terms of my teeth's sensitivity to acids like lemon juice.
Verbatim what the dentist said. I was slightly taken aback by his words, let me tell you.
He also said that it would take about 6 months of using the Sensodyine before I would feel any difference. 5 more to go.....
Moi again. My dentist re: Tom's too. (And he's an organic, green guy.) Wanted to let Sensodyne people that I started on it last October & I've been virtually pain-free since early spring. It does work. So whatever's in it, I have to use it, too.
Many people in China choose to purchase organic pet food because it is more natural for their pets and has fewer by-products than commercial pet foods.
I'd be curious if your toothpaste of choice has sodium lauryl sulphate (sls) as an ingredient. I know I've searched high and low for a "sls free" toothpate. I finally found one in a product by Jason natural products called "Power Smile". It is a pity that products sold as "healthy" in health food stores are often anything but.
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