Miessence Organics: Diva Review & Giveaway

Congratulations to the winner!

I was introduced to Miessence Organics by Erin Ely an Independent Representative who has been following PND and knew that I had to check out their line!

What I love about Miessence Skin Care products is that every ingredient in the skin care line is certified organic to food standards by the Australian Certified Organic (ACO).

They also ship all of their products fresh from the factory and suggest their product be used within 6 months to ensure you get the full benefit of the active ingredients.  Miessence also uses cold pressed formulations – this ensures that heat will not kill the active ingredients during processing.

They have a full line of body care products,  skincare and makeup that you can use with confidence – the entire product range scores from 0-2 in the Cosmetics Database.

I wish I could go to the store to try all these fantastic products, but they are only available through independent distribution.  The line prices out with  cleansers at $42, shampoo & conditioner that are $22 each, and at $40 their facial serums are a bargain.

Erin did send me their Rejuvenessence Facial Serum to try – it was  little too rich for daily use on my skin, but I adjusted to using it 2 or 3 times a week and that has been just right.  It has a rich botanical fragrance and absorbs quickly into the skin.

Lucky for us, Erin has agreed to give one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate to try Miessence for themselves!  Use it for toothpaste, sunscreen, shampoo, make up – it’s your call – but use it with confidence because this company prides themselves on being 100% organic and natural.

Win a $50 Gift Certificate for Miessence Organics

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. Leave a comment with a name I can print in our newsletter if you win. Winners are only announced in our newsletter – so don’t forget to check!

• 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 ElyOrganics and share what you will use your $50 to buy!
2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) and @erinely on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva and Miessence Organics 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 a $50 Gift Certificate for Miessence Organics, make-up, skin care… Diva Giveaway http://bit.ly/bhvrJ8 @purenaturaldiva #ElyOrganics”. Leave a comment and link in the 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 May 22, 2010 PDT, with winner being announced May 24, 2010 in the PND Newsletter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before the contest is re-opened until the following weekend.

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.

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Toxins – Small Amounts Matter

Why should the average person be worried about toxins in their home, additives, preservatives and contaminants in their foods.

Even if we are being exposed.  The exposures are so limited.

They can’t  be of any consequence.  Right?

Are you sure?

Toxins are measured in measured in parts per billion.

One part per billion has been illustrated recently by the chemical companies as the equivalent of a single pancake in a stack of pancake 4000 miles high.

Surely limited amount wouldn’t impact our bodies.  It’s “too low” to matter the to chemical companies argue.

The EWG studied to blood of an Sustainable Furniture Maker named Jesse who lives in New York.

He is arguably an average American.  This is what was found in his blood.  Measured in parts per billion (ppb):

The Blood Content of our “Average American”

• 97.5 ppb – Badge 40H (Liner in canned foods)
• 45    ppb – PFC’s
• 21     ppb – Lead
• 1.11  ppb – Mercury
• .29  ppb – PBDE’s

Common Drugs that impact our  body, as they measure in our blood as parts per billion (ppb):

• 30 ppb – Cialis (one dose)
• 30 ppb – Paxil (one dose)
• 2.1 ppb – Albuterol (one dose)
• 35 ppb – Nuvaring – birth control

At small doses – Cialis side effects include a sudden decrease in hearing or vision. Users are directed to call their doctor taking Cialis if they get an erection lasting more than 4 hours.
Drugs are effective at the very same parts per billion that the chemical companies claim are inconsequential in their product.  Drugs are designed to be effective at low doses.
Chemicals are not tested to ensure their safety or their absence of side effects at low doses.
Chemicals are consumed without unknowingly and we don’t know if we are putting ourselves, our families and our unborn children at risk.
The evidence is gathering that we are putting them at risk.

We are seeing an alarming increase in disease that can’t be explained by better diagnostics:

• Hypospadias has doubled  from 1968 – 1993 – 1 in 125 baby boys
• 62% increase in acute lymphocytic leukemia over short period of time
• 40% increase in Brain Cancer – this is not a matter of better diagnostics, we didn’t miss brain cancer in the 1960′s, 70′s, 80′s & 90′s.
• 1-150 Children – if this is due to better or more frequent diagnosis -  where are the  Autistic adults?
• Fertility difficulties are rising in women under the age of 25.
• We have the highest rate of cancer in the world and if someone moves here from another country their likelihood of cancer increases – according to the American Cancer Society.

Over and above the Human Cost there is a monitory Cost of  to Disorder

• $ 43.4 Billion – Lead poisoning
• $ 9.2 Billion – Neurobehavioral disorders, autism etc.
• $ 8.7 Billion – IQ loss from mercury
• $ 35 Billion – Asthma in Children

What can we do daily to lower our exposure?

Buy organic

Eat low mercury fish

Drink filtered tap water

Use Cast Iron and Stainless Steel Cookware instead of Non-stick

Avoid “fragrance”

Kid Safe Chemical Act:

Requires that chemical has to be safe from children and other who are sensitive before they are allowed in the market.

Assumes chemicals are harming people until proven otherwise. Place the burden on the chemical companies to prove the chemicals are safe.

Prioritizes safety reviews, bans and phase-outs based on the chemicals found in people’s blood/tissue and known to be hazardous.

Chemicals found in Cord Blood are presumed to be unsafe.

Help Get it passed!

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY!

GET INVOLVED.

Most of the figures for this article came from a presentation by EWG president Ken Cook ~ 10 Americans. It’s a great presentation, well worth the time it takes to watch.

The Diva Cup: Product Review

Gentlemen… this one is not for you. We’ll be discussing matters you’d rather know nothing about. I can’t even suggest you forward this to your spouse – she might take it the wrong way.

Ladies – for the duration of our “childbearing years” with varying degrees of regularity we all have to deal with our monthly cycle and all the joy it encompasses.

This monthly joy typically involves an arsenal of bleached feminine hygiene products. I’ve attempted to do some research on the health implications of using bleached tampons inside of our body and if there is information out there I’ve been unable to find it. Switching to unbleached and recycled tampons is no doubt an improvement.

I recently discovered a product called the Diva Cup and while this solution has it’s drawbacks, in my view it’s benefits are outstanding.  The Diva Cup is a small cylindrical silicon cup.  It reminds me a little bit of diaphragm’s I’ve seen (never tried one, so can’t speak to that).

Benefits

Safe, medical grade silicon is known to be non toxic to our bodies.

Correctly placed the Diva Cup is more comfortable than tampons.

No need to keep buying tampons or pads.

No need to carry extra supplies when you travel or are out and about.

Nothing gross to wrap or hide in the wastebasket.

Heavier flow just needs to be emptied more often, no additional products!

No “rip cord” dangling around. Nadda… Nothing… Fabulous! How gross is the rip cord. This reason alone will prevent me from ever going back to the old way!

With the caveat below – no bulky pad. Nadda… Nothing… Fabulous.

Less odor. Seriously! Smelled fresher, felt fresher.

Did I mention how comfortable it was.

What You Need To Know

The Diva Cup is not for the faint of heart. If you would not be comfortable inserting a applicator free tampon chances are you won’t be comfortable with this. It’s only a little bit more involved, but let’s just say there is only one way in.

It did take me a little time to learn how to tell if the Diva Cup was correctly situated. Users will quickly learn that if it doesn’t feel right, it’s not in correctly.  This is not a matter of leakage, rather it will feel a little uncomfortable if it’s not placed correctly.

You will need be rinsing out your cup, again not for the squeamish.

You MUST rotate the Cup one full circle – it says so in the instructions. When you do, it is leek free, comfortable and a delight. If you don’t – you might have a leek. It’s like screwing a lid on a jar… if you don’t turn it all the way the liquid won’t stay where you need it to stay.

You will want to wash the cup with a non toxic safe soap – The Diva Wash is a plant based, petroleum based option.

Environmentally Speaking

If you are looking for an environmental reason to make the switch consider the fact that in the US alone over 55.9 million women are using feminine hygiene products. These products need to be manufactured, disposed of and purchased over and over again. That’s 55.9 million women every month!

Conclusion
There is a learning curve to using this product. I’d suggest the first few times using a panty liner in the event that you have any leakage. Having said that my obligation to The Diva Cup will end when this giveaway is over and I won’t be going back to my old ways!  The Diva Cup is just so much better, so much more comfortable, and you can use it over and over again.

It’s not perfect, but if you took away the environmental benefits and ignored that it’s likely safer than tampons and only judged it as which method was superior – I would pick the Diva Cup.

Move past any squeamishness. Take the time to read the instructions and make the switch!

CLICK HERE to input your zip/postal code to find a retailer near you.

Congratulations to Heather S!  You’ve won the Diva Cup and full size Diva Wash!

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 The Diva Cup and tell PND what size you would be or share something you learned.

2. Stumble, Digg, Kirsty or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.

3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use link on the sidebar) & Diva Cup on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.

4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Diva Cup 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 Giveaway: Win The Diva Cup http://bit.ly/8kJga, Ladies this is for you! @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 Feb 13, 2010 PDT.  The  winner will be announced in the PND newsletter  Feb 15, 2010. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries.  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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Body Conscience Launches at Fred Segal

By Tania Reuben

My fabulous friend Barbara has been working diligently developing a fantastic line of body care products. Last night her labors bore fruit as Body Conscience launched at Fred Segal.

This line is Ultra Luxe and pure enough that you can eat it.

The turnout was fantastic and we can’t wait to share more about this great line.  CLICK HERE for a preview.

Hopefully we’ll have some Body Conscience to share with our readers soon!

John Masters Organics Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor: Review

By Tania Reuben

John Masters Organics began creating this upscale line of salon quality organic beauty products in 1991. John believes that harsh chemicals were only created as cheap substitutes for organic compounds that do a better job.

All of their final products must be 75-100 % organic. All essential oils are steam released to maintain the effectiveness of the oils, and plant oils are cold pressed for the same reason. They use no artificial, colors, fragrances or fillers.

They recently sent me the Honey Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor to try on my lovely locks.

With a Diva Total of 14.5 out of 15 points this product is: Divaliscious

Click here for review criteria:

8 Points for Skin Deep Low Hazard Rating ~ 3
2 Points for being Organic – Eco-Cert, Organic Crop Improvement, Quality Assurance International.

2 Points for effectiveness – This conditioner left my hair feeling soft, shiny and smelling good.
.8 Point for Texture – This conditioner has a nice thick texture, so it doesn’t end up on the shower floor during application. It doesn’t have a slick feeling on application, yet my hair was easy to comb through after rinsing (and I have a lot of hair at the moment!)

.9 Point for Fragrance – This product really smells great. It’s a slightly spicy floral fragrance. It’s delicate and not overpowering. It leaves your hair smelling delicately yummy.

.5 Points for Packaging Appearance – The entire line of John Master’s Organics looks understated and chic. The Reconstructor is packaged in Dark Brown with white writing.

.3 Points for Packaging Sustainability – The packaging is made of MDPE (2) Plastic, which is recyclable.  All closures are made of HDPE and is accepted at many recycling stations. None of the plastics are made using recycled content, which would be a great next step.

Overall:

This is an excellent conditioner that can be after each shampoo or as a weekly treatment. With ingredients like Capuacu Seed Butter to help moisturize and Kelp Extract to soften smooth and add shine it will leave your hair feeling great.

This is a perfect conditioner for the diva or dude looking for a high end salon product with an eye for taking care of the planet or the performance.

Skip the Bumble & Bumble ~ Choose John Masters Organics.

The Honey Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor Retails for $28

How Safe Are Cosmetics and Body Care Products?

This article does a good job of explaining so many of the concerns I have about cosmetics and Body Care Products. If you are interested in digging a little deeper read the following article.

The government knows just about as much as you do about what you’re putting on your skin—that is to say, not much

Scientific American

Katherine Harmon

Published May 6, 2009

Cosmetics—makeup, creams, fragrances—have been around for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian and Roman women famously caked on lead-based foundation. (Lead, a metal, can cause nerve, muscle and organ damage.) But surely lead-laden cosmetics have been phased out along with lead-lined water pipes, right? Not necessarily.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the multi-billion-dollar-a-year cosmetics industry but it lacks the power to approve products or ingredients before they hit store shelves, even though their contents have been shown to enter the body.

According to the FDA, a cosmetic is anything used for “cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance.” An average U.S. consumer uses about 10 cosmetic products every day, including makeup, soap, shampoo, lotion, hair gel and cologne, says Lisa Archer, the national coordinator for The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC), a nonprofit advocacy group based in San Francisco and financed in part by the Breast Cancer Fund, a nonprofit organization. As a result, she says, people are exposed to roughly 126 different chemicals daily, many of which haven’t been thoroughly tested.
“We’re operating in a vacuum in terms of safety,” Archer says. “The FDA doesn’t even define what ’safe’ is, so it’s totally up to the discretion of cosmetic companies.”

Soaking it in, Slathering, powdering, spritzing. The skin is the body’s largest organ and its shield against the surrounding environment. But it is a porous protector, allowing some substances in and others—most notably moisture—out. Some compounds that are applied to the skin’s surface can be absorbed into the body, including the estimated four pounds (1.8 kilograms) of lipstick an average lipstick-wearer consumes in a lifetime, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit public interest organization based in Washington, D.C.

To read the full article:
http://www.ewg.org/newsclip/Saving-Face-How-Safe-Are-Cosmetics-and-Body-Care-Products