Tell us more about your Natural Beauty concerns, so we can address them in future videos?

PND Talks Natural Beauty & Sunscreen on MommyToMommyTV

Natural Beauty & Sunscreen on MommyToMommyTV

Check out the fun! Kimberley Blaine – from MommyToMommyTV – sat down with me for a chat – and we talked a little bit about make up… in particular safer make up choices! Enjoy!

Looking for help with Sunscreen this summer…? Be sure to check out the PND 2011 list of safer sunscreen picks. We are also working feverishly to bring you the PND product guide – in the meantime, if you have any products you need guidance with… I’m on twitter – all – the – time – and I’m always happy to do what I can to help you find the right product – find us @purenaturaldiva.

A few of the shots from the day with Kimberley!

Talking Natural Beauty & Sunscreen On Location at the Montage Beverly Hills

 

Share your favorite Natural Beauty & Sunscreen Tips!

Naturally Beautiful: Safer Sunscreen

Naturally Beautiful Sunscreen Should Protect Your Skin Without Adding To Your Toxin Load

If you want naturally beautiful skin, you need to take care of it… and one of the most important steps in protection against skin cancer and aging… is sunscreen.  Because sunscreen is such a key step… it is very important to take care to select a product that is safe on your skin.

Our skin is our largest organ and everything that goes on our skin, is absorbed to some degree into our bodies.  This summer consider committing to using safe sunscreens.

Safer Sunscreen Options

PND Naturally Beautiful Safer Sunscreen Options

• All Terrain: Aquasport Performance Sunscreen SPF 30
• Badger: Sunscreen, Unscented SPF 30 +
• Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas: Mineral Based Physical Sunblock SPF 30+
• Earth’s Best Sunblock, Mineral Based SPF 30 +
• All California Baby Sunscreens
• Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35
• If you find yourself with no safe natural labels – Coppertone WaterBabies Pure & Simple – SPF 50 – oil, fragrance & dye free – is a safer formulation. Note – a simple change in SPF could result in the product being moved into PND unsafe territory.

PND Naturally Beautiful Safer Sunscreen -  Spray Options

Know you’ll be at the beach with no one to get your back… ?   A spray might be your only option.  Our safest Sunscreen Spray picks:

• Kinesys Alcohol-Free Performance Sunscreen Spray with Parsol 1789, Fragrance Free, SPF 30
• All Terrain Aquasport Spray SPF 15

Naturally Beautiful Sunscreen Shopping Pointers

Look for at least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.  This will ensure  UVA & UVB protection.

Naturally Beautiful Shoppers Avoid:

• Spray and Powder Sunscreen
• Vitamin A additive, retinyl palmitate – according to the FDA this additive has been deemed a likely photocarcinogen.
• Sunscreen insect repellent combo – pesticides absorbing into your body
• Ingredients; Oxybenzone or benzophenone-3, skin absorption, allergies, hormone problems
• Proceed with caution or avoid these brands; Coppertone, Banana Boat and Most Neutrogena

Naturally Beautiful Note – be prepared when switching to safer sunscreens you are going to move into products that are going to be thicker, whiter and slower to absorb that other sunscreen choices. This is because they rely on a high concentration of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to block the suns rays.

Which Naturally Beautiful Safer Sunscreen Will Be in Your Beach Bag This Summer?

Homemade Acne Recipe Options

Homemade Acne Recipe Treatment Options

Searching for an acne recipe solution, Katie (not her real name) was frustrated.  Despite numerous visits to doctors and dermatologists, she was still experiencing breakouts.  So she decided to enhance her skin care routines with a trip to the kitchen instead of a clinic.

She realized there are a number of common household items that are beneficial for your skin, and a homemade acne recipe just might be the solution she’d been looking for all along. Remember, however, that everyone’s skin is different so a patch test is always a good idea when you try a new product or routine.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple Cider Vinegar, which made a splash a couple years ago as a possible weight loss aid, is also a popular homemade acne recipe skin treatment ingredient. Applied to the face with a cotton ball, carefully avoiding the eyes, it can be used straight {or diluted with water for those with sensitive skin}. Keep in mind, it is drying and while some believe it reduces redness and scarring you will need to moisturize following application.

Aloe Vera:

Do you have a green thumb?  The juice from a snip of your aloe vera houseplant is a popular acne recipe remedy if dabbed on trouble spots.  For non-gardeners, aloe vera is readily available in gel form at your local store.

If you would really like to have some fun, consider a homemade acne recipe facial.  Made with all natural ingredients, it is simple and inexpensive.

Homemade Clay Mask Ingredients

Homemade Acne Recipe: Clay Mask

Ingredients:

• • 1/2 tablespoon cosmetic grade French green clay
  • 1 – 2 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 teaspoon honey

Variations:  for dry skin, add 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil and consider Moroccan red clay, which can be less drying.

Directions:

1. 1. Blend clay and 1 T water and mix into a smooth paste, adding additional water as needed.  Let stand for a few minutes.
   2. Add honey and combine well.
   3. Apply a thin layer of mask to face and let sit for 10-15 minutes
   4. Rinse off with a steaming washcloth (make sure washcloth is not too hot).

Artisan Bodycare Products

No Time for Homemade?

If a homemade acne recipe option doesn’t align with your schedule or tastes, consider artisan products—soaps, scrubs and lotions that are handmade by small manufacturers.  These are less likely to contain irritants like sodium lauryl sulfate, preservatives and other synthetic chemicals that are common in commercial products (but check natural ingredients anyway since they are unregulated).  Artisan products can be found on the internet, in etsy shops, and at many farmer’s markets.

Additional Thoughts:

A few other tips to keep in mind as you care for blemish prone skin:

• Wash towels and pillowcases regularly.
• Other body care products, from shampoos to makeup, will also get on your face, so also consider natural versions of these.
• Replace makeup regularly to reduce contamination concerns.

Disclaimer:

This information is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

What other homemade acne recipe options work for you?

Safe Cosmetics

Ensure your using Safe Cosmetics starting with Powder, Lipstick & Lotion

When I think about what I’m using on my face, and whether the products have safe ingredients, I immediately think of the make-up bag I carry with me for touch-ups during the day. Powder, lipstick, lotion, and essential oil for a quick pick me up, and so on.

My make-up bag is full of safe cosmetics I simply cannot live without!

In my life, my on-the-go safe cosmetics are more than what I have at home.  Since I often will walk out of the house with nothing but a moisturizer on my face, the rest comes later.  Based on this, I am going to start our detox process with those necessities because it is a small place to start, and we should start somewhere.

First: Powder, the base for safe cosmetics

When shopping for Powder look for:   Talc.

If a mineral foundation has talc in it, its almost guaranteed to be an irritant, especially for acne prone skin as talc and cornstarch clogs pores. When I first used a mineral foundation I broke out in red, oozy welts and my face never felt clean.  That’s when I looked at the ingredients of the product, the first was talc.

Another important feature to look for is if the product has micronized minerals, which means the minerals are ground really super fine.

These can get into your eyes, your lungs and can fill up your pores.  I have heard many stories of friends coughing while putting on their makeup!

Also, be mindful of  ease of use.

Personally, I do not walk out of the house without it because my oily nose will break through whatever is on my face eventually.  Mineral powders are all the rage, yet can be messy and I do not even want to think of the carnage if a lid comes off in my purse.  There is a new generation of lids out there, which click shut, which will alleviate said carnage, but I am not one to carry my foundation around where ever I go.  Once I put it on in the morning, that container and the kabuki brush stays at home.  That is just way too much to carry, and some of those jars can be bulky.  When I started using vegan mineral powder foundation I was still using a brand name pressed powder for touch-ups, which was also considered a “mineral” powder, yet had talc listed as its first ingredient.  I hated using it but I needed something.  Then I found a Pressed Powder, in the same colors as the foundations!  Even better, there are refills for the compact so you are only buying the compact once.  That solved the pressed powder problem.

Many mineral powders come loose, which means you have to carry the container and a kabuki brush.   A quick Google search will find you purse sized, or even retractable kabuki brushes.  Shake out well after use.  I personally use a non retractable brush, when I am through touching up I shake it out good and put it in a small cloth pouch.  That way I don’t have to worry about contamination.  When it comes to your foundation to carry in your purse, I recommend one of two things:  order a smaller jar to keep in your purse only, or order a small empty jar and tap in the powder from your jar you keep at home. (Those new locking  jars are great for purses).  A small makeup bag to keep your foundation and your brush (and maybe a mirror) can keep your tools together and make touch ups quick, easy and non messy.

Second: lipstick

When shopping for Lipstick look for:  absence of carmine, which is ground up beetles, used mostly in red lipstick colors.

I have found plenty of organic balms and lip gloss but I was not having any luck with organic lipstick.  I have used plenty of brands, some that were spendy!  I started out with a tinted lip balm that worked even better than my standard drug store lipstick: great color, long lasting, not greasy and full of skin loving things and the prices were fabulous.  I carry two lip balms, a lip-gloss and a lipstick in my purse and if I could hug my lip products, I would. Etsy[dot]com is a great place to start, simply put organic lip balm, organic lipstick or whatever lip product you are looking for in the search and you’ll have a wealth of items on your computer screen.  Some shops have samples you can order for around one dollar!  If you do not have an Etsy account, I strongly suggest signing up for one.

Also, look for lip products that have as much natural goodness in them as possible.  Women consume somewhere around 4-5 pounds of lipstick in their lifetime, its been said, so if we have a tendency to eat or lick off our lipstick, then reapply countless times during the day, the more close to nature the product is the better.  Thankfully, organic lip products are very easy to find.   What sounds better, a lip product with beeswax, jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, hemp oil, and maybe an essential oil or two, or a lip product with lead, alcohol and other ingredients you cannot pronounce?  There are organic lip products out there with very few ingredients.  One of my favorite lipbalms (has no color) contains fruit and nut oils, beeswax, essential oils, olive oils, flavorings or essential oils.

Third: lotion

When shopping for Lotion look for:  the smaller the brand the purer the products, I have discovered.

I cannot stand  dry hands and soap in the ladies bathroom is super drying.  Also, I work in an office environment with a no fragrance rule, a rule I agree with given the toxic chemicals lurking in commonly in fragrances.  Two months ago a co-worker who was sitting a good 50 feet away from me put on some foul smelling vanilla lotion.  It was not a “real” vanilla smell, it was sickly sweet, made my eyes water and I got a horrible headache.  Another co-worker became ill from the smell and had to go home for the rest of the day.  The acceptable lotion product at work is unscented and available at any drugstore, but is not what I want to use on my hands as it contains benzyl alcohol, dimethicone and other nasties.  Also, I cannot tell you how many tubes leaked in my co-workers purses.  My solution was a solid, all natural, organic lotion bar with natural scents, like lavender or lemon.  So rich and thick, I could use them sparingly without fuming up the office and making my co-worker sick.  Interestingly enough, one day my hands were itching, and without thinking about it, I grabbed my lavender lotion bar and put it on my hands, not realizing the entire section I worked in smelled like lavender.  I apologized for using it, but all I got were compliments as to how the “air seemed to get fresh all of a sudden”.  My co-worker with the sensitivity was not bothered by the lavender at all, because she said it was not perfumy, it was actually refreshing!  Even better, no toxic chemicals.

Some of the best lotions I have found come from small home based businesses and are made by hand.  I have one homemade lotion that only has a small handful of ingredients in it, all of which I can pronounce!  I have a handmade lotion bar that contains Avocado and Apricot Oil, Aloe  Butter, Mango Butter, Shea Butter, Olive Oil, Beeswax, Pure Lavender Essential Oil and that is all.  Its crafted in small batches and is lovely.  Hop onto your internet search engine and pop in “Handmade Lotion in (add your state)” and see what lovely cottage based industries pop up.

Solid Leak Free Lotion!

These three things are the foundations of my safe make-up bag that I take with me to work, and these items were the beginning of my change to non-toxic products.  I finally got used to reading labels on food products, to check for sodium levels and for artificial sugars, I had no idea I would be pouring over ingredients in my cosmetics, but what I learned has changed the way I see myself and how I choose to take care of myself.

The change is not stressful; in fact, the transition from toxic to safe cosmetics is not difficult at all.  I find it is interesting and fun because of all the natural ingredients that can benefit our health, not damage it.  I never thought lipstick could be so cancerous, or that lotion could damage cells.  Using organic, natural ingredients will make a difference in how you feel about your body, and how your body feels.  We are bombarded with pretty ads and fancy marketing regarding products that are supposed to make us look and feel younger, yet the chemical composition of said products are taking our health away from us.  We need to take our health and well being back, and it is easy!

Tune in next time when I help you make over one product that leads to using your safe cosmetics, and gives instant gratification:  soap.

Cheryl David is a writer who is detoxing her entire life, not just make-up,  one flaxseed at a time.  Her mission is to show everyone the benefits of being more aware of what we put in and on our bodies. Follow the journey at The Holistic Chick Blog or check her out on Facebook.

What steps are you taking to ensure you’re using Safe Cosmetics?

Sephora Natural & Organic: How do they Rate?

Sephora is offering it’s customers over 1400 Natural & Organic products. A clear indication of their response to consumers demand for more Natural Cosmetics. But how are they really doing?

PND spent some time researching their choices, learning how these products rank in the EWG’s Cosmetics Database (CD).  The CD gives products hazard scores from 0-10. To learn more about why PND uses this database click here.

The CD Ranking:
0-2 Low Hazard
3-6 Moderate Hazard
7-10 High Hazard

Top marks went to Juice Beauty, although all the information in the CD was derived from their old formulation – one can only hope their new formulations are even better.  Many of the lines had too few items listed in the CD to give an overall assessment of their line.  This seem like a basic step to overlook for a company in the natural beauty market.

Many other lines had a number of offerings that scored well, only to have others do poorly – very confusing for consumers. My personal preference is to find brands that can be trusted overall to take the guess work out of shopping and keep things simpler.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OFFERINGS:

Bare Escentuals – Mineral Make Up
They have 188 products list in the CD score from 1-6. Most of their ranges scores in the 3-5 range. Not to bad, but keep in mind there are many mineral lines with products scores in the 1-3 range. Their safest offering – bareVitamins Prime Time (1). Their highest scoring product – Faux Tan Body Moisturizer (6).

Bieux Skin – Skin Care
Only one product is listed in the CD. Sephora is selling two of their products. Bionaturals Power Lift & Repair Serum – 3

Boscia – Skin Care
They have 8 products listed in the CD with score from 1-4 and Sephora is selling 14. Their safest offerings are their Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment and Soothing Cleansing Cream – both products scored a 1.

Carol’s Daughter – Body & Hair Care
Carol’s Daughter has 22 products listed in the CD scoring from 0-5. Take your pick of 2 lip balms and a lip gloss with a 0.

Caudalie – Skin Care
Caudalie has 21 products list in the CD scoring from 3-8. Their best offerings are Energizing Concentrate & Anti-Ageing Serum Eyes & Lips, both coming in at 3. Will their worst scoring product is the Radiance Day Fluid, SPF 8 scoring 8.

Coloron – Press on Mineral Make Up
Did not show up in the CD. I don’t think I want press on make-up, but perhaps I should try it before I make wide sweeping comments.

Evian – Water
Are they really listing water as a natural beauty product? I’m pretty sure we can all be youthful and radiant without a can of evian water to mist on our faces!

Jack’s Black – Men’s Skin Care
Jack’s Black has 35 products listed in the CD scoring from 3-9. With 9 of their products in the red zone (7-10) I would look for an alternative. Their are many safer men’s line’s in the market.

Josie Maran – Make Up
Jose Maran has only 2 products listed in the CD a lipstick and tinted moisturizer – scoring 3-5.

Juice Beauty – Face & Body Care
Juicy has 25 products listed in the EWG all products scoring 1-4.  They are also certified organic.  All of the products have been noted as being rated based on the “old formulation”.
Products like their Revitalizing Eye Treatment and Daily Nourishing Moisturizer score at 3.

Jurlique – Skin Care
Jurlique has no products listed in the CD, Sephora is offering 15 of their products. They look lovely, I’d love to be able to say more.

Klorane – Hair Care
Klorane has 11 products listed in the CD scoring from 4-8. With scores starting out so high, this is a line that I would just avoid all together.

Korres Natural Products – Make Up and Skin & Body Care
Korres has 81 products listed in the CD scoring from 0-9. With 16 of these products scoring above 7. This is another line I would move past. Some of their products are good, but when the score range this broad it is much less confusing to just cross it off the list of products to try. How does a line with this many high scoring products get to use the word natural in their name?

Lavanila – Fragrance & Body Care
Lavanila has 3 products listed in the CD – they score from 3-5. I’d like to see more of their products listed in the database. I’m a bit familiar with this company and I’m relatively confident their ingredients are safer than many others in the marketplace.

Nude Skin Care – Skin Care
No products listed in the CD.

Nuts Cream Perfume
No products listed in the CD.

Nvey Eco – Make Up
Nvey Eco’s Certified Organic only has 3 products listed in the CD, but they score 2-3, so it appears they are on the right track. Sephora is carrying 10 products. I’d feel much better if they had more products in the database to enable a more extensive review.

Ole Henriksen – Skin Care
Ole Henriksen has 17 products listed in the CD, most of the listings score from 0-4. Products to avoid are the Blue/Black Berry Enzyme Mask (6) and the Grease Relief Face Tonic (8).

Pacifica – Perfume and Body Care
Pacifica has 3 products listed in the CD and they all score 3. With this limited information it’s difficult to assess.

Phyto – Hair Care
Phyto has 99 products listed in the CD scoring from 1-9. With 27 (over 25%) of their products scoring above 7. Consider looking for a safer line.

Plantlove By Cargo- Make Up
Plantlove by Cargo has 24 products listed in the CD. They score from 4- 6 and are primarily lip products. While the score isn’t horrible, there are many lip products that score lower and I also think that if it’s going on your lips, the standard need to be a little higher, not only is our skin absorbing it, but we’re likely to ingest some too.

Skyn Iceland – Skin Care
Skyn Iceland has 12 products listed in the CD. Their products scored from 2-10 in the database. With 50% of the line score a 10 – this is a line I would skip.

Tarte – Make-up
Tarte has 133 products listed in the CD scoring from 3-8. Products like tarte Lash Hugger Mascara, Smooth Operator Foundation and Double Dose Berry Boost & Lip Gloss that score 4 and under, however they also have a number of lip glosses, sheers, and spf lip balm that score above 7 and would likely be better on the store shelf than on your skin. Product lines with such varied scores make it tricky – you really need to cherry pick the line to make safer choices.

Yu-Be – Skin Care
Yu-Be has 3 products listed out of 5 that Sephora carries, they score 4-5 in the CD. They list a skin polish, and 2 Skin Creams. You could likely do better, but you could do worse too.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While a couple of lines being offered by Sephora are excellent. Many of these “Natural Lines” contained products scoring in the 8′s & 9′s.

Hopefully this overview gives you an idea of how careful we need to be in choosing our personal care products. The lines that we studied here were selected by Sephora buyers for being Natural & Organic. It would be nice if we could add safe to that description. Until we have better regulation in the industry we are going to need to be very careful in the choices we make for personal care if we want to be assured that they are really safe to use on our bodies.

Blowdrying: 6 Minutes to Great Hair

I’ve had long hair for years and have love nothing more than a professional blowout!  With two little ones running around – I don’t have time to spend a lot of time getting beautified.

Quick and Easy Hair Styling

When a friend recommended this hairdryer she may have saved me from perpetual frumpiness.  This video demonstrates how you can get a great look in literally minutes – it takes me 6-8 minutes!  Also – did you know that the typical dryer releases 75 lbs of  Carbon Dioxide annually, as if good hair wasn’t enough!

This hair dryer was not supplied by conair, nor do I have any relationship with them… but if you know their rep… send them my way!

A Guide to Safe Suncreen

Summer is coming – which sunscreen will you slather on your skin?

Sunscreen is a product that we are encouraged to use to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays while enjoying the outdoors. If you’re a parent, it’s likely you are even more concerned about protecting your children’s sensitive skin and making the safest choice possible.

But what to do we really know about the safety of the products we are choosing – in my research – it seems clear that we don’t know enough.

Note – be prepared when switching to safer sunscreens you are going to move into products that are going to be thicker, whiter and slower to absorb that other sunscreen choices.  This is because they rely on a high concentration of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to block the suns rays.

Look for:
At least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for UVA & UVB protection.

What to Avoid:
Spray and Powder Sunscreen
Sunscreen insect repellent combo – pesticides absorbing into your body
Ingredients; Oxybenzone or benzophenone-3, skin absorption, allergies, hormone problems
Brands; Coppertone, Banana Boat and Most Neutrogena

From the EWG:
No one understands the health implications of our exposures to complex mixtures of industrial compounds and pollutants: remarkably, federal health standards do not require companies to test most products for safety before they are sold, including nearly all chemicals in sunscreen and other personal care products. Little is known about the safety of most industrial chemicals. In the absence of data the federal government approves new chemicals for the market using computer models to predict if they are toxic to humans.

After 30 years of debate,the government has failed to set mandatory sunscreen safety standards. Companies are free to make their own decisions on everything from advertising claims to product quality. FDA now stands in direct violation of a Congressional mandate requiring the agency to finalize sunscreen safety standards by May 2006, flouting not only Congress but also consumers, who are reliant on sunscreen to protect their health.

EWG’s Top Ten List:

Blue Lizard
California Baby (SPF 30 or Higher)
CVS (with zinc oxide
Jason Natural Cosmetics – Sunbrellas Mineral Based Sunblock
Kiss My Face – Paraben Free series
Neutrogena – Sensative Skin Sunblock
Olay Defense Daily UV Moisturizer with zinc
SkinCeuticals Physical UV Defense
Solar Sense Clear Zinc for Face
Walgreens Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose, & Ears

My Picks:

After studying the EWG’s extensive list the following products have an EWG score of 0-3 for toxicity. My selections are for individual products, not the brands in general, as brand scores can vary widely.

Natural:
Jason Natural Cosmetics Sunbrellas: Mineral Based Physical Sunblock SPF 30+
Kiss My Face Sunscreen Spf#30 + With Oat Protein 100% Paraben Free
Nature’s Gate Organics Be Solective Sunscreen for Face, SPF 30
All California Baby Sunscreens

Luxury
Dermalogica Super Sensitive Face Block, SPF 30
Mustela Sun Cream for Sensitive Areas, SPF 50
Kiehl’s All-Sport ‘non-Freeze’ Face Protector, SPF 30
DDF Organic Sunblock, SPF 30

Value:
CVS Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 45+
Walgreens Sunblock with Zinc Oxide for Face, Nose & Ears, SPF 45+
Olay Complete Defense Daily UV Moisturizer, SPF 30 – Available at my Target
No-Ad Ultra Sunblock Lotion, SPF 60

If you must use a spray – these are your best bets:
Almay Sun Protector for Body Spray, SPF 30
Dermalogica Waterblock Solar Spray, SPF 30
Banana Boat Ultra Mist Kid’s Tear Free Continuous Spray Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30 – Only SPF 30 the SPF 50 is rated 9!

Shopping at Target:
I was recently at target, they had walls of sunscreen. I could only find one of the above products – After an hour of research using my telephone I was able to find 2 sunscreens that were an EWG 3 and the lowest score for a spray was a 5.
Coppertone WaterBabies Pure & Simple – SPF 50 – oil, fragrance & dye free
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock Lotion – SPF 60+
Banana Boat Kids Continuous Spray Sunscreen – SPF 50

To learn more:
www.ewg.org/cosmetics/report/sunscreen09

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