The Beauty Post

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, with a total area of approximately 20 square feet.  So much of what we put on our body is absorbed directly into our skin and what it absorbs goes directly into the bloodstream which is why it is so important to be aware of the ingredients in beauty products you use!

So what products are safe and which should you stay away from?  So many commercial skin care & beauty products are chalk full of chemicals and harmful ingredients such as parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, formaldehyde, antifreeze and preservatives to name just a few.
According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website, "Major loopholes in U.S. federal law allow the $50 billion cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing, no monitoring of health effects and inadequate labeling requirements. In fact, cosmetics are among the least-regulated products on the market. "  Visit their website HERE for more information on Federal, FDA and State rules and regulations.

It can be difficult deciphering which commercial products are really safe and which are just Green Washing (when green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that an organization's aims and policies are environmentally friendly).  A really helpful website to check out is the EWG (Environmental Working Group) Skin Deep Cosmetic Database HERE.  Their database lets you "search more than 79,000 products and provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for a wide range of products and ingredients on the market".  All products are rated based on a 0-10 scale...10 being the worst.

Another option is to make your own beauty products at home.  I highly recommend Sophie Uliano's book "Do It Gorgeously" How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products.  When you make your own beauty products you have complete control over the ingredients you are using...and it is easier than you would think!
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Below I have compiled a list of the commercial beauty products and brands I use, but keep in mind there are so many safe beauty product options out there...what are you favorites?  I would love to try and review some of your favorite natural beauty products. 
**See REFERENCES below on where to find the products that I recommend in this post

Make-up:

• Physican's Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer and Blush
• Tarte Lights Camera Action mascara and Physicians Formula Organic Wear mascara
• Tarte Eyeshadow and Eyeliner
• For Nail Polish the natural nail polishes and nail polish removers that I have tried are definitely not up to par with the salon brands I am used to.  As an alternative I always make sure to purchase nail polishes that are DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde free.  I typically give myself manicure and pedicures at home, but when I do treat myself at a salon I usually bring my own polish or pick out a brand I recognize as being DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde free.
• EcoTools Make-up Brushes
• Yes to Cucumber Facial Towelettes Make-up Wipes
• Yes to Carrots Lip Balm - Pomegranate Flavor
   

Hair Care:

• Avalon Organics Tea Tree Scalp Treatment or Nourishing Lavender Shampoo & Conditioner
• Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid
• I don't use hair spray or any other styling products, but there are TONS of eco options out there for those of you that do.  There are some great companies like Aveda and Alba Botanica that offer a wide range of hair care products that are safe for you and the environment.
• I no longer color my hair due to the harmful chemicals that are in hair dye.  There are other options out there such as vegetable dye and henna.  I have tried vegetable dye before and it did work pretty well, the only problem I found is that it tends to smell pretty bad during the coloring process!
• I use pretty conventional hair styling tools.  I have had the same hair brush, comb, curling iron and hair straightener forever and haven't had a reason to purchase new ones.  When it does come a time to purchase new styling tools, I know that there are eco-friendly brands out there that I can look into.

Body Care:

• Avalon Organics Unscented Body Lotion
• Dr. Bronners Lavender Liquid Soap Body Wash or JĀSÖN^® Soothing Aloe Vera Body Wash
• Eco Tools Loofah Sponge 
    

Skin Care:

• Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil 
• Trader Joe's Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Wipes 
• I also REALLY like the entire Green Science line from Aveda, it just tends to be a little more pricey.  Aveda is also my go-to place for facials.  If you go to one of their schools, it is even more affordable and just as great!
• Boots Botanics Organic Hydrating Face Cream and Moisturizing Eye Cream
• Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen - SPF 30 or 45
• Alba Botanica Very Emollient Sunless Tanner 
   

Personal Hygiene:

• Nature's Gate Whitening Gel Toothpaste and Toms of Maine Toothpaste (in a pinch)
  **I always try to purchase fluoride-free toothpaste 
• Preserve Toothbrushes and Razors (I also love their cutting boards and tupperware :) 
• When it comes to deodorant I have tried Tom's of Maine, Nature's Gate, Traders Joe's and JĀSÖN^® brand natural deodorants and have yet to find one that truly works... I usually switch back and forth between natural / safer deodorants and conventional deodorants.  I know how conventional deodorants are terrible for you, but I just haven't been able to find a safe alternative that can hold up. 

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REFERENCES:


Tarte Cosmetics: http://tartecosmetics.com/ 
Always formulated without parabens • mineral oil • phthalates • triclosan • sodium lauryl sulfate • synthetic fragrance

Physicians Formula Organic Wear: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/product-line/organic-wear.html
100% Free of Harsh Chemicals, Synthetic Preservatives, Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances & Colors, GMO's (Genetically Modified Organisms) and 100% Cruelty Free

Avalon Organics: http://www.avalonorganics.com/
Contain at least 70% organic content  - Safe, Effective, Certified*, Natural Body CareWithout Synthetic Fragrances, Phthalates, Harsh Sulfates or Parabens

Yes To Products: http://www.yestocarrots.com/
An entire line free of Parabens, Petroleum, SLS and Phthalates.  All packaging is recyclable and they use organic fruits and vegetables in their products.

Boots Botanics Organic: http://us.boots.com//webstore/store/shopbootsusa/home.do
A wide range of beauty and health products made using organic plant extracts.

Aveda:  http://www.aveda.com/index.tmpl
Connecting beauty, environment and well-being.  More than 90% of our essential oils and 89% of our raw herbal ingredients* are certified organic

Nature's Gate: http://natures-gate.com/
All of our products reflect ongoing efforts to preserve the earth's natural resources and develop sustainable sources of clean water.

Preserve: http://www.preserveproducts.com/
Preserve® makes stylish, high performance, eco-friendly products for your home.  All Preserve products are made from 100% recycled plastics and 100% post-consumer paper.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps: http://www.drbronner.com/ 
We offer a range of high-quality organic and fair trade personal care products all certified under the same USDA program that certifies organic foods. 

JĀSÖN^®:  http://www.jason-personalcare.com/ 
Use natural ingredients proven safer and proven to work together in naturally effective ways.  They select safe, wholesome, natural ingredients and are committed to discovering even more ways to offer personal care solutions safer for us, our families and our planet.

EcoTools: http://www.ecotools.com/shop-collection/ecotools
Our cosmetic brushes are beautiful and show respect for the earth. They are 100% cruelty-free, have incredibly soft bristles made of synthetic taklon and have handles made of bamboo and recycled aluminum ferrules.  Our bath accessories feature innovative, earth-friendly materials such as: sleek bamboo, 100% recycled plastic netting, cruelty-free bristles and also may have soft, natural loofah, cotton, and ramie.

Alba Botanica:  http://www.albabotanica.com
We offer natural, 100% vegetarian personal care products that do beautiful for you, your friends and the animals and Earth you love.  Alba Botanica® products are formulated without: parabens, phthalates, artificial colors, propylene glycol, aluminum, mineral oil, petrolatum, oxybenzone, PABA, nano-particles, DEA, MEA or TEA, PEGs and PEG derivatives, ethoxylated ingredients associated with 1,4 dioxane, formaldehyde donors, or GMOs.

The Popcorn Weekly - Goose Fat

If you know me, then you know that I love popcorn...actually that may be an understatement...I would probably more likely be described as obsessed with popcorn...lol!
I used to purchase and eat pre-made popcorn by the bag fulls, costing me way too much money!

A few weeks back, we were eating at my brother and sister-in-laws house and my brother decided to experiment with making some popcorn using some goose fat they had leftover from the organic goose they cooked for Christmas.  I have to admit I was skeptical and intrigued all at the same time; on one end I LOVE popcorn, but on the other end who makes their own popcorn anymore...especially using goose fat?!?
He melted some goose fat (2-3 TBSP) with a little butter in the bottom of a pot on the stove, covered the bottom of the pot with the popcorn kernels, covered the pot and shook back and forth over the heat before and while it began popping.  Popcorn is done when the popping becomes less and less, just like when you cook microwave popcorn.  He took the pot off the heat and seasoned with salt.  Needless to say it was outrageously good and unbelievably easy to make!  I couldn't believe how few kernels it took to make so much popcorn and the entire 28oz. bag of organic popcorn kernels only cost $5.99!

After that night, I was hooked...I couldn't believe how cheap, easy and delicious it was!  The next day I immediately went to the store and bought a bag of organic popcorn kernels and tried it out for myself.  I cooked the popcorn the same way using only butter and seasoned it to taste with salt, cracked pepper and garlic powder.  It was also fantastic and incredibly easy.

Since then, I have been thought of so many different popcorn recipes, seasonings and toppings.  My sister-in-law suggested I try out a new popcorn recipe every week and blog about it.  I loved the idea, especially since it means I get to eat more popcorn :-)

So I will be posting new homemade popcorn recipes and reviews here weekly for you to try.  If you have any popcorn recipes you like or any suggestions, I would love to try them!

Enjoy!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Hi All!

I hear the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" used all the time and I think it's great that it is on the forefront of peoples minds.  Below I have some information, tips and products that can help all of us easily incorporate this phrase into our daily lives!  I would also love to hear and share some of the ways that you Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in your household and community. 

Reduce
I love finding new ways to reduce waste in my life...I find myself constantly thinking of new ways to do this.
Specifically, the last few years I have been really conscious about reducing the food waste in my home.  It has become a personal challenge to find new recipes and ways to use every bit of food leftovers that has lent itself to some amazing go-to meals now!  Just today I came across THIS  article on Twitter "7 Tips on How to Reduce Food Waste in Your Kitchen".  Reducing food waste not only helps the environment, but it also helps your wallet; the NRDC reports that the average American family of four ends up throwing away an equivalent of up to $2,275 annually in food...that's crazy!!  HERE is another great article that also deals with reducing food waste, posted by Money Talks News, titled "13 Tips to Make Your Groceries Last Longer".  I would add a 14th tip: store mushrooms in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator to make them last longer and avoid from getting slimy.

ReuseReusing items is another fantastic way to help REDUCE waste.  I am a huge fan of using reusable bags for shopping, reusable water jugs, cloth napkins, reusable lunch, sandwich and snack bags, and reusing grocery produce bags.  http://www.reuseit.com is a great website to visit for all things reusable! 
I have to admit that one of the hardest things for me to completely stop using is paper towels.  I have cut down significantly on the amount of paper towels we purchase by trying to use mostly cloth napkins and hand towels in their place.  I was able to purchase a bunch of funky and unique cloth napkins on sale awhile back that have made it a lot easier to cut back on using paper towels.  I would definitely recommend when you find reusable items on sale like cloth napkins, water bottles, coffee mugs, etc to buy a bunch of them...sometimes these things can be a little pricey, so take advantage when you can; the more options you have the easier it is to stick to using reusable items!

Recycling
Recycling is so much more than dragging the bins to the curbside (which is still very important); recycling can take many forms.   In fact, a lot of times I think recycling and reusing fall into the same category.  For example, you can recycle containers by reusing them for other purposes.  When I empty glass containers with air tight seals such as pickle, salsa and jam jars, I wash them out and will reuse them to hold loose change, organize rubber bands, jewelry and other trinkets, store dry goods in my pantry and use as "Tupperware" containers. 
Another form of recycling that I do often is donating and selling; we all know the saying "One mans trash is another mans treasure"... I found this to be so true during our most recent move to New York.  We tried to donate or sell as much as possible and found great financial as well as personal reward by doing so.
Below I have included some links for more info to consider when recycling: 

• Here is a link to the "Ten Most Common Landfill Items that are Recyclable". 
• "What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean"?  Find out Here
• "Find Environmentally Friendly Electronics Recycling Centers Locally" Here
• Here is a comprehensive and informative guide on "How to Recycle Anything"  

The above is only a small portion of ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  According to the EPA Website 54% of the stuff we trow away ends up in landfills.  By just changing just a few things in your everyday life will not only help keep stuff out of the landfill but can also help put more money in your wallet...sounds like a win - win to me!

Convenience Food

Hello!

I apologize for being MIA lately.  I will start by catching you up on what has been going on in my life and why I have been absent for so long....My husband and I recently made a huge move to New York City and our life has been in quite a whirl wind since we made that decision.  After the holidays everything happened so fast with the move and we had to pack-up quickly and get everything in order to make the transition 3,000 miles away to a brand new city.  Although stressful and sometimes daunting, the move was also exciting and new.  We have settled in and are absolutely in love with New York and where we are living in Brooklyn! 

I will admit it has been an adjustment trying to keep up with the chic organic lifestyle I became accustomed to living in Las Vegas for 20+ years.  In Las Vegas I became so comfortable with my environment and I have had to adapt to my new NY surroundings.  That being said I also see all the potential in New York that Las Vegas didn't even come close to having.  There is so much culture and attitude in NYC that is incredibly contagious! NY also has so many great restaurants and so much amazing food it is unbelievable!  I am so psyched for Spring and all the open air farmers markets and new fresh produce that will be available.  I have been thinking a lot about learning how to can and pickle and are open to any suggestions and recipes that you may have.  We are on a pretty tight budget right now which has its obstacles when trying to shop and eat organic, but there are also so many options in New York and we are making it work as much as possible.
I am so excited to be back and can't wait to share all the exciting chic and organic experiences I encounter during my adventures in New York!

In the mean time, I wanted to share a really interesting article I read on twitter yesterday titled "Serving Convenience Food for Dinner Doesn't Save Time"  here
Lately, I have really taken notice of all the ridiculous products that are being advertised and marketed as "Homemade".  Hamburger Helper is considered homemade...really?!?  Well, according to this article there is "no significant difference in the total cooking time for dinners made primarily from convenience foods and those made primarily from fresh ingredients or a combination of fresh and some or limited convenience foods...the difference was only 10 to 12 minutes."  I found that really interesting considering that most people purchase the pre-packaged / convenience food well for the convenience and time saving aspect of them.  I personally love cooking and creating homemade meals from scratch for a number of reasons. 

Homemade, from scratch meals are typically healthier because you can control the ingredients and the portions and don't have to worry about unwanted additives and preservatives.  They also tend to be cheaper especially when using items that are local and in season and the groceries can go a lot further towards other meals.  I personally find cooking relaxing and calming and I love providing healthy, nutritious meal for my family to enjoy.  I have also discovered that I love the challenge and find satisfaction in coming up with new and unique recipes.  I usually take an hour or so on one of my days off and chop up a bunch of vegetables for the week, soak beans, marinate protiens and prep anything else I may need...I find that helps with meal inspiration, convenience and when I may be short on time. 

What do you love most about home cooking?
Do you have any tips for how to make homemade meals more convenient?

Enjoy and Happy Home Cooking!