It’s Just a Little Make Up – Is it Safe?
December 5, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Why Bother?
The average woman who wears make up daily will absorb almost 5lbs of make up each and every year and men slather, smear and spray their own share of products.
Product containing an average 126 individual ingredients – but they’re safe and FDA approved right?
Not so fast…
In the US there are approximately 82,000 registered chemicals & 10,500 are used in cosmetics. Of these 10,500 chemicals less than 10% have been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA or any other publicly accountable institution.
Incidentally, the government approves on average 7 new chemicals every day – the evaluation of most chemicals taking less that 3 weeks.
But the make-up sits on our skin, right?
Not exactly…
Scientists have found many common cosmetic ingredients in human tissues….including phthalates, parabens and a fragrance ingredient musk xylene. Conclusively we don’t know these ingredients are harmful, the trouble is we don’t know that they’re safe either.
The good news is that there are products that we can choose that are safer.
Check back often for new products in Diva Reviews.
For more information check out the cosmetics database.
Urth Handbags: Product Review
By Tania Reuben
Looking for the ultimate eco accessory? Look no further than UrthBags.
This is a company that creates something from nothing (or most peoples trash). They actually have an entire line made out of recycled juice boxes and old magazines! Additionally they use biodegradable materials for some styles.
Urth also works with Fair Trade organizations to manufacture their bags. Their mission is to promote a hip, earth-friendly lifestyle and provide opportunities to those who are less fortunate. Their goal is to inspire more people to recycle, reuse & become more Eco-minded in our overly ‘disposable’ world.
They recently sent me one of their “juice box” handbags to try. So far not one toddler has asked for a drink from my purse.
They sent over the “Monica” which I knew I would love for evening wear because of the matte silver color. I was really surprised at how good the bag looked.
I left some lovely designer bags at home to take the “Monica” out to a fancy Hollywood fundraiser! I kept hoping someone would pay it a compliment so I could brag that it was made of juice boxes! I’m taking it out a few times this holiday season so cross your fingers!
Take a minute to look through all the great styles they offer and next time you want to add a handbag to your collection, consider helping the earth by selecting an Urth Handbag.
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Laurie – Check your inbox!
One lucky PND reader will win a $75 UrthBags Gift Certificate!
HOW TO ENTER:
There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.
Mandatory:
Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.
– The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.
Additional Entries
1. Go to www.UrthBags.com and share your favorite handbag here!
2. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) & @UrthBags on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & UrthBags on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “WIN AN ECO Handbag!!! Diva Giveaway: $75 Gift Certificate from UrthBags http://bit.ly/5zAl6x @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!
This giveaway will run through midnight on Dec 12, 2009 PDT, with winner being announced December 14, 2009. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.
Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.
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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….
BPA Effects On Infants
December 3, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Family & Parenting, Infant & Childcare
BPA Effects: Why We Need to Take Extra Care with Our Babies
The developing fetus and baby are the most vulnerable to BPA and their toxic effects. Sadly, babies are often exposed to more BPA than any age group, studies have even shown they are highly vulnerable during pregnancy.
“Prenatal exposure, even in very low doses, can cause irreversible damage in an unborn baby’s reproductive organs.” According to Marc Goldstein, M.D, director of the Cornell Institute for Reproductive Medicine. He also states “Fertility rates have been declining for quite some time now, and exposure to synthetic estrogen—especially from the chemicals found in plastic products—can have an adverse effect.”
Although completely eliminating exposure to BPA may not be possible, there is good reason to take every step you can to reduce your babies exposure. The FDA estimates that babies have 12.5 times more BPA exposure than adults, and EWG is concerned that FDA underestimates exposures for many babies.
BPA Effects: Where Are Babies Exposed and How to Reduce Exposure?
- Many parents have replaced their polycarbonate baby bottles, but they may be unaware that BPA contaminates liquid baby formula sold in metal cans. For babies not being breastfed formula may make up 100% of a baby’s diet over her first 6 months of life, choose your baby formula carfully in order to minimize potential exposure to BPA’s.
- Glass and Stainless steel are the safest and most durable option. Some metal water bottles are lined with an epoxy-based enamel coating and could leach BPA, as we’ve seen this with the Sigg scandal. Be extra vigilant.
- If you are a nursing mom be aware of potential exposure in your pumping system, be sure the storage you are using is BPA-free.
- Never microwave baby food or drinks in any plastic containers, heating increases BPA leaching.
- Canned foods are one of the biggest sources of BPA exposure – with so much of the exposure on this topic focusing on plastic containers this fact can get overlooked. BPA’s is used in the epoxy liner of most canned foods, be sure to limit the use of canned goods as much a possible. EWG tested 97 canned foods and found detectable levels of BPA in more than half of the foods. Canned meats, pasta & soups fared the worst in testing. Pregnant women and children should limit their consumption of canned foods to avoid BPA.
More About Plastic:
- With BPA in the headline now for some time, most manufacturers now make BPA-free baby plastic bottles. If you are using plastic, be sure the bottles you are using are BPA free.
- Polycarbonate plastics are rigid, transparent and used for food storage containers and water bottles, among other things. Trace amounts of BPA can migrate from these containers, particularly if used for hot food or liquids.
- Avoid polycarbonate for babies food and drinks. This plastic might be marked with the recycling code #7 or the letters “PC”.
- Wash plastics on the top shelf of your dishwasher or by hand. Avoid using old and scratched plastic bottles.
If you must use plastic:
- Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are better choices because they do not contain BPA
- Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
A note about sourcing: A good deal of the information in this piece came from the EWG, I went back and just couldn’t find the exact pages. My sincere apologies for not having direct links and let me know if you stumble on it – I’d love to add it/them.
BPA Effects: What Can You Do To Protect Your Family?
Sub Urban Riot T-Shirts: Review
By Tania Reuben
Sub Urban Riot has created a line of hip and approachable organic clothing. The foundation of their line is T-Shirts. Shirts that have been seen on Entourage’s Adrien Grenier and Sunny in Philadelphia.
The clothes at RIOT have cool screened graphics that carry hip, retro and eco messages. They are ultra soft organic cotton and made in the USA.
Riot recently sent me the Windstorm T-Shirt to check out. The fit was very slim, too slim for Dude, it is marked as their slim fit and slim it is. The good folks at RIOT warned me! If you’ve been working out and want to show it off, this is the t-shirt to do it in
I loved how soft the cotton was and how cool the design was in person. It was the graphic design on this tee that first attracted me to Riot.
Prefer an “American Fit” t-shirt? Don’t fret, they have you covered. Check out; Charlie’s Famous Horse Tee, RIOT, Sunny Tee: Hell Yeah, Majestic Panther
RIOT has t-shirts, hoodies, and henleys for men and women. They offer 4 t-shirts for children and a few really cool t-shirt dresses for ladies.
Cross the Eco Hip off you holiday list this year with some cool duds from Sub Urban Riot.
To help with your holiday shopping use this code 10925 to take 25% off your order.
CONGRATULATIONS TO: Michelle P – Check your inbox!
Good News: RIOT has is giving one lucky PND Reader a Tee of their choice!
HOW TO ENTER:
There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.
Mandatory:
Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.
– The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.
Additional Entries
1. Go to Sub Urban Riot – Share your favorite Style!
2. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) & @suburbanriot on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Sub Urban Riot on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “Diva Givaway – Win a T-Shirt from Sub Urban Riot http://bit.ly/7q3FNP @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!
This giveaway will run through midnight on Dec 12, 2009 PDT, with winner being announced December 14, 2009. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.
Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S & Canada!
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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….
PND November Top EC Droppers
By Tania Reuben
Thank you so much to everyone who dropped by during the month of November!
The following folks worked some overtime to make it happen, each of them visiting every day! Thank you for your loyalty!
Note: Scrolling through PND content will “highlight” hyperlinks.
Art By Paul Baines
EzGreatLife
Top Jokes
Business Sphere
Shaine’s Scraps Of Life
Art Shout
Traders’ Hub
One World Realty
Picture to People
Buy-Tees.net T-Shirts
When you get a chance check them out!
Thanks to each one of you! Hope to see you again in December!
Using Random.org Top Jokes will also receive 500 EC as extra thanks!
Question: If you know how I can see more than my top 10 droppers, can you please leave me a comment with instructions! I have other visitors that I’d love to give some link love to as well and I don’t know where to find the information… so if I can figure it out next month, this list can grow a little bit!
