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I was surprised when I did some research awhile back on cosmetics, that nail polish is one of the worst offenders for nasty, toxic ingredients. I am not big on cosmetics or even nail polish but occasionally I did like to spruce up my toes with some candy apple red nail polish since my preferred footwear is the flip-flop. And my daughter, who is totally girly would love to wear it all times but I couldn’t in good conscious let her wear it too much if it were as nasty as some research has said. Also, some of the ingredients would be especially bad for little girls (see below).

Some of the ingredients of conventional nail polish are scary…Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde and toluene. Dibutyl Phthalate is a plasticizing ingredient known to affect hormone function. Studies have linked phthalates to early puberty in girls, uterine problems in women, low sperm counts in men, and birth defects. Toluene is said to cause liver damage, reproductive and developmental problems, skin irritation and respiratory tract irritation. Formaldehyde is a carcinogen and inhaling the fumes can result in watery eyes, headache, burning in the throat, and labored breathing.

Just think about it…these toxins are dangerous when breathed in and nail polish is one of the smelliest beauty items around. Just think about how strong smelling it is in a nail salon. That stuff is potent. And this doesn’t address the toxins making their way into your body through your nail bed. Almost all brands of commercial nail polish contain toluene and formaldehyde and many contain Dibutyl Phthalate…except in progessive countries like the European Union which has banned all pthalates.

So are we Dying to Look Good? I kept thinking about this as I found my 4 year old daughter getting her nails painted by daddy the other day. Obviously she knew she wouldn’t get anywhere with me if she asked for nail polish so daddy got her some and he was painting her fingernails and toenails for her. After the initial cringe I decided to see if I could find some safer nail polish online. I was happy to find that there are a few options.

Rescue Beauty Lounge - Free of toluene, formaldehyde, and pthalates and LOTS of hot colors including a lovely RED, my fave.

OPI Nail Polish - This is a big nail polish company that removed toluene, formaldehyde, and pthalates from their formulations last year. Lots of options and colors.

Nubar Nail Polish - A healthy alternative for beautiful nails. These are free of toluene, formaldehyde, and pthalates. They also come in TONS of gorgeous colors. I like the Get Hot Tech Kit. My daughter and I would have a blast with those colors.

See also:

Suncoat Natural Nail Polish Remover - Earth friendly product which is 100% Soya and Corn based. It is naturally derived from farm crops and does not contain any petroleum ingredients. Non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and is also readily biodegradable.

Sante Nail Polish Remover - Acetate-free Nail Polish Remover, based on organic ethanol and orange oil. Ingredients: Alcohol, citrus dulcis, ricinus communis, aqua (water), parfum (organic orange oil).

No more cringing when my daughter asks to paint her nails!

More Info on: Formaldehyde Toluene Phthalates

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To celebrate Earth Week I have decided to do 5 days of green giveaways.

First up…I am giving away a copy of the new book Gorgeously Green: 8 Steps to an Earth Friendly Life by Sophie Uliano. This is another book that targets women in regards in to green living and discusses green beauty, homes, fitness, food, travel, and gardening among other topics. It is written to be a handbook for women who want to live the good life while being kind to the Earth.

It is also a good intro for women who are not so knowledgeable about things like hybrid cars, green remodeling, and biofuels. It seeks to put some glamour in being green.

To win it: Just comment. A winner will be chosen via random.org on the 28th and be sure to check back all week for more giveaways….you can win more than one once!

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A blog reader pointed out to me recently that I never mention alternative and more eco friendly menstrual products. I think I may have mentioned them briefly in the past but I agree I do not mention them nearly enough.

Since the time I developed a need for them until my mid twenties I was using what is considered mainstream for menstrual products…disposable pads and tampons. I never really liked either of these options but I wasn’t really aware of alternatives. No, I take that back. I had heard of cloth pads but I didn’t think that was something women in “developed” countries used…sounds kinda snobbish huh? But I went through quite a few transformations when I had my second child. I started using cloth diapers when she came into my life and I quickly found that many cloth diapering mamas were also quite fond of mama cloth. I ordered some from a friend of mine that made them and the rest is history.

After I tried reusable cloth menstrual pads one time I knew I would not use paper and plastic disposables ever again. I won’t go into details here but it was like finding silk after a life filled with sandpaper. I never knew I had sandpaper until I found the silk. But even better than finding the ultimate comfort is finding an eco friendly and less wasteful alternative.

Environmentally-friendly menstrual products provide clean and healthy choices for women seeking alternatives to the synthetic products that can harm the body and harm the environment. 

Disposable pads and tampons are just like disposable diapers…they are loaded with chemicals and they end up in our landfills. They don’t allow our skin to breathe, they can harbor bacteria, and they are really NOT all that comfortable.

I am going to discuss some of the alternatives below.

Safer Disposables

In the safe disposable category are non-chlorine bleached all-cotton pads and tampons.  These products are not as environmentally friendly as reusable products but they are chemical free.  It is, however possible to find pesticides in 100% all natural cotton products.  To reduce this exposure it is suggested that you choose a brand made with organic cotton. I used some of these that I got at Whole Foods and I didn’t care for them but if the options below aren’t your thing these are safer than conventional. Her are some organic tampons and here are some organic pads…both disposable.

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Reusable and pads are just like disposable pads except that instead of throwing them out after use they can be washed out and reused.  Reusable pads usually consist of two parts: a liner and a liner holder. Although there are AIO or All-In-One options to. The liner fits into the holder which has wings that snap around the crotch portion of underwear to remain secure.

On those days where the flow is lighter, the liner holder can be used alone; on heavy days, two or more liners can be used with one holder. This product is more expensive than traditional disposal pads but will result in significant savings over the long run since they will last for many years. Here are my favorites:

Sckoon Organic Cotton Menstrual Pads- These are a favorite. They have quite a few great prints and they are made of 100% Organic Egyptian cotton; the rarest, softest, and the most luxurious cotton in the world. It has super absorbability, incredible breathability and silky softness. I love how comfortable and colorful they are.

GladRags- You can get these made from regular cotton or organic cotton and in several different earthy colors. They have a liner and holder as explained above and overall they make for a very sturdy cloth pad. I have had some of these on hand for several years now. They also have daytime and nighttime sizes.

LunaPads- These are very pretty pads a bit more on the luxurious side. They have some really fun colors and designs and even some panties with a pad built in. They have organic and non as well and some really nice panty liners too.

Sorella Luna Organic Pads - These are an All-in-One where the absorbent material is built into the pad with wings, so it is one piece. They are super soft and comfortable and one of my faves. You can get super and regular and a carrying bag too for your purse.

Caring for them is pretty easy. You can keep them in a container to soak until wash day or you can dry store and them give them a good soak in cold water and then wash. If stains bother you than soaking them right away might be best. I don’t particularly care about stains myself.

Natural Tampons

Sea sponges can be used as an alternative to tampons.  These are the same sponges that are found on the ocean floor.  The benefit of using sponges is that they are all natural.  As far durability goes, one sponge will last for about 6 months.

Are you trying to imagine how to use a sponge? It is very straight forward.  Upon being moistened with water and squeezed the sponge can then be fairly easily inserted just like a tampon. After about 3 hours the sponge will have to be removed and rinsed out before reuse.  At the end of the cycle the sponge must be cleaned and air dried. These were never my thing but if you to give them a try I recommend Jade and Pearl Sea Sponges.

Menstrual Cups

And we come to my all time favorites! Menstrual cups are popular with many all natural alternative users.  Menstrual cups are small, rubber or silicone cups that are inserted into the vagina where they are positioned to catch menstrual flow.

The Keeper is a menstrual cup that is made of natural gum rubber (from trees).  This cup is placed inside like a tampon and can be worn for 6 to 12 hours depending on the flow after which time it can then be simply emptied, rinsed with soap and water and reinserted.  It can also be worn overnight. There are two sizes. Size A is for those who have had a vaginal birth and size B is for those that have not. I LOVE my Keeper. I find that I forget that it is even THAT time of month when I use one and unlike when I used tampons I need no back-up pad protection. The Keeper has a 90 day money back guarantee and it lasts up to ten years, potentially saving over $800.

For women with latex allergies there is the DivaCup.  This product is made of silicone.  The DivaCup can be worn and managed just like The Keeper and has two sizes as well.

In comparison I like the sturdy nature and darker color of The Keeper better than the clear DivaCup which gets dingy after many uses. But The Keeper has a longer stem which some women find uncomfortable but you can cut the stem on either cup to a comfortable level. Both products cost between $25 to $35 dollars each.  But again, they will save money over time as they can last for years. I have had both of mine for over 3 years now. Most women need about 2-3 months to get used to menstrual cups.

Reusable menstrual products are healthier to use and infinitely more comfortable.  They may take some adjustment as some women/girls may be uncomfortable dealing with menstrual blood because of years of using disposable, traditional products. I will admit that I am not squeamish in that regard. Caring for them is pretty easy too.

So what do you think? Do you already use one or more of these products or were you thinking about it?

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One of my first light bulb “moments” about natural health was in regards to deodorant. My preferred deodorant since I started wearing it as a teenager was Secret solid. By the time I was 20ish my underarms started getting really sore on occassion and I would get marble size “lumps” under the skin. The I read an article online where a woman described the exact same thing happening to her…she ended up with breast cancer and her Doctor suggested that her deodorant may be to blame. I knew right then I had to change to something less toxic with no aluminum and no parabens, both of which have been linked to breast cancer. So I ditched the conventional products for more natural and safe ones.

I have tried MANY different brands and types of deodorant…gels, solids, roll-ons, crystals, etc. I found many to be ineffective (like Kiss My Face brand) and others to be better by comparison (Tom’s of Maine brand) but none that I really LOVED. Until know…

My new deodorant for life is Ancient Spice Deodorant by Miessence Organics. It is a roll-on deodorant and it is 100% safe, natural, and organic. It smells faintly of ancient oils and spices, it doesn’t feel sticky, and it actually keeps odors at bay. The ingredient listing doesn’t have a laundry list of chemical names that you can’t pronounce. Instead you find recognizable things like clove, frankincense, aloe vera, lime, and cinnamon.

It is made by Miessence, and Australian company that is frankly kicking American butt as far product safety goes. At $9 a pop it is rather pricey but I find it lasts a long time and not only do I love it, my hubby does too. He has been using it every day for a month and just last week he turned to me and asked “We ARE going to keep this stuff around right?” He is used to all the samples and tester products that come and go in our house but he made it clear…this one is a keeper. Okey-dokey!

My favorite Miessence store is Ely Organics run by my awesome natural momma friend Erin.

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I read How to Eat Like a Hot Chick by Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent a few weeks back. It isn’t something I would have picked up to read normally but through the grapevine I heard one of the authors supports a raw diet and when Harper Collins offered to send me the book gratis I decided to give it a read.

It was a pretty funny book actually. It reminded me of a “Girlfriend’s Guide” to eating right. It is basically two girlfriends dishing on all the ways they have found to eat healthfully without feeling deprived. And just like with girlfriends there are no secrets…they tell it like it is…from Build-A-Butt-Workshops to men with BMS (you have to read it). I really liked the cover too. It shows a svelte woman, reminiscent of the fifties, drinking a martini. She is beautiful for sure but no lightweight. It is awesome to see a woman who doesn’t resemble a stick-thin supermodel gracing the cover of a book about women and diet.

Jodi and Cerina were kind enough to allow me to interview them too. So here are a few insights into How to Eat Like a Hot Chick direct from the authors.

Tiffany: What was the purpose behind writing How to Eat Like A Hot Chick?

Cerina:  We wrote this book after realizing that we were wasting too much of our time dieting, worrying about what we ate, feeling insecure and trying to be perfect. 

Jodi: About three years ago, we had a giant light bulb moment where we thought, “This is our heyday, and we should be enjoying it!”  Since then, we have learned to let go of most of our craziness about food and (most importantly) to laugh about it. 

Cerina:  We wrote HOW TO EAT LIKE A HOT CHICK to help women realize that they are already hot and to stop wasting their time obsessing about food.  

Jodi:It is our way of trying to make food fun again for women, by talking to them as their girlfriends and sharing our newfound, liberating attitude about food. 

Tiffany: That is a great perspective for women to have…you are already beautiful…no need to obsess about food choices. I think many women would like to feel some liberation in regards to food and diet. What are some of your best hot chick tips?

Jodi: Some of our best tips are the ones that let women know about the sneaky hidden calories in many common foods. 

Cerina: For example, most smart women don’t know that tonic actually has the same amount of calories as Coke!  So you should always use soda water in your cocktails instead of tonic.

Jodi: Also, most people don’t realize that many Japanese restaurants make their spicy tuna rolls with lots of mayonnaise! 

Cerina: We’re not saying that you can’t eat these things, just be aware of what you’re eating and pretty soon you’ll understand why some “healthy” foods actually end up making you feel terrible.

Tiffany: Yeah…that sucks about the spicy tuna rolls. :( What are some Hot Chick Non-nos?

Jodi: People might be surprised by our “no-no’s,” which actually include a lot of typical diet foods, like granola, rice cakes and yogurt.  Most regular yogurts have about the same amount of calories per ounce as Haagen Dazs!  Those tiny cartons of pink sugary cream are unsatisfying and are not going to make anyone feel hot.

Cerina: Another big Hot Chick don’t is protein bars, which usually have crazy ingredients like dried egg protein, tomato powder, rice polishing, corn syrup and freaking EGG SHELL.  We want women to eat real food, not weird condensed food bars.

Tiffany: It is sad that we actually do have to look for “real” food in this day and age of processed, fake foods. It seems we have the deck stacked against us. So, what overall do you hope women will get from this book?

Jodi: We want women to gain the confidence to eat the foods they love and the knowledge to balance it out by cutting corners elsewhere so that they will always feel (and look) their hottest.

Cerina: We also want women to gain confidence in themselves as Hot Chicks.  We believe that Hot Chicks come in all shapes and sizes and that every woman who picks up this book is already hot – they may have just forgotten! 

Jodi: So we want to remind women that they are hot and that it is time to start treating themselves accordingly.

Cerina: And, of course, we hope that the book makes women laugh and that it will make the idea of food fun again for women.

Tiffany: Thanks Jodi and Cerina for sharing your book with us and for answering a few questions. The book is fun and revealing.

About the authors:

Jodi Lipper is a writer and editor in the publishing and film industries. She graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and she lives and works in Manhattan.

Cerina Vincent is an actress and writer. She played Maya, the yellow Power Ranger and she has starred in other movies like Not Another Teen Movie. She has also co-written several screenplays and TV pilots.

Technorati Tags: how to eat like a hot chick, book review, interview, jodi lipper, cerina vincent

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When I asked moms recently what kind of natural mom they were�green, instinctive, frugal, or health nutty�I found that 27% of moms were living natural lives for monetary reasons. A natural way of life is often a more frugal way of life� so if you happen to be pinching your pennies then this is good news. So what natural practices can save you some dough? I will be discussing a few of the ways over the next few days. Today I will talk about frugal beauty practices.

Bath and Body Tips: In ancient civilizations, they used milk in their bath water to soften their skin. The lactic acid in milk serves as a gentle skin exfoliant and the fat acts as a moisturizer. You can try this trick, too. Use powdered milk in your bath and see if your skin feels any different. To further exfoliate your skin, apple cider vinegar keeps skin supple. It’s heavy concentration of enzymes helps peel off dead skin cells.

Face Care: Beauty products today, even those that say they are all-natural, contain preservatives and chemicals. Who cares if you look a bit younger if you will eventually get skin cancer because the beauty products you were using contained carcinogenic chemicals? Who cares if you smell good when the aluminum or the parabens in your beauty products are making you sick? Instead, wet your face with warm water and apply honey. As a facial exfoliant, try raw sugar. Gently rub it in until it dissolves and then rinse.

See more natural AND frugal bath and body recipes.

Keep a bottle of witch hazel under your bathroom sink. It is a natural toner for the skin and costs less than the name brands you find in stores. A sliced cucumber from the fridge will reduce the swelling of puffy eyes in the morning and if you drink cucumber infused water you will be refreshed and hydrated.

Instead of expensive makeup removers, use olive oil and an organic cotton ball.

Hair Care: Chemicals can build up in the hair from thermal styling, hair sprays, and everyday activity. Well, did you kow that you can never use shampoo again and your hair will thank you for it? See our No Shampoo Alternative.

The Best Things in Life are Free! The best beauty tip is drinking plenty of water. It is like an internal shower for your body so drink your eight to ten glasses a day. Water removes impurities and gives a natural glow to your skin.

Taking care of your body naturally reduces the need for more expensive beauty treatments. The billion dollar beauty industry doesn�t need your money and you don�t need their flawed products. Beginning a simple daily regimen using everyday items will keep you looking beautiful for pennies on the dollar.

So tell me about your frugal and natural beauty practices…

�

Technorati Tags: natural beauty, beauty recipes, frugal

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Aloe Vera has been used to heal both internally and externally. Derived from the Aloe Vera plant, it has long, spiked leaves, which are thick-skinned and contain a clear gel-like substance. It is used today in many products, including cosmetics, skin lotions and moisturizers, burn gels and even sun screen creams.

It speeds the healing of many skin injuries, including burns, hives and poison ivy; and also acts as a laxative. For minor burns, the stabilized aloe gel is applied topically to the affected area of the skin three to five times per day. Treatment of more serious burns should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. In addition, apart from providing relief from itching, it helps to heal blisters and sores. For people suffering from Psoriasis, Aloe Vera has provided relief by reducing the pain and itching. It has been proved that the gel causes considerable improvement in the nature of lesions as well.

The laxative element of the plant works by preventing the absorption of water from the bowel. For constipation, a single 50-200 mg capsule of aloe latex can be taken each day for a maximum of ten days. This component of Aloe also kills some bacteria, and is believed to act against a variety of viruses including herpes, chickenpox, and flu. It is recommended not to combine Aloe with other medications that are used to flush water and potassium from the body.

For internal use of aloe gel, two tablespoons, three times per day, is used by some people for inflammatory bowel conditions, such as Crohn’s disease and colitis. However, while commercial gels and juices, which are processed under strict controls, can be found at most health food stores as well as many supermarkets, it is always recommended that one consult a physician before self-treating a medical condition.

Technorati Tags: Aloe Vera, disease, Health

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There has been a lot of talk lately about the problems associated with processed food. We’re now being told that eating whole, unprocessed and even raw foods can help us be healthier, happier, and live longer, but can unprocessed foods make us look better? Well it all stems back to that old saying…you are what you eat. If you eat processed garbage what does that mean for your skin? Scary thought!

While there are many steps to take if you want to look younger, the most important is to work on having healthy beautiful skin. Processed foods can have harmful effects on the skin, so if you want to look younger and healthier, eliminate them from your diet.

When food is cooked and processed, it loses vital nutrients. When you eat processed food, you don’t get the nutrients your body needs to function efficiently. This leaves you less healthy, and it shows in your skin. If your skin cells aren’t properly nourished, they don’t look as good. You’re also more prone to acne and other embarrassing infections.

People who advocate the raw food diet believe that cooking your food is too much processing. Raw foods contain live, active enzymes that help you digest your food more efficiently and improve your body’s functioning and your overall health. And remember, the healthier you are, the healthier your skin will be. Many people who increase their intake of raw food as opposed to cook notice a positive change in their skin. Raw food can help to reduce wrinkles, age spots, eye bags, and even acne, leaving your skin beautiful and radiant.

We all know that when we’re tired, we look worn down, our skin is dull, and we just get a haggard appearance. Having proper digestive enzymes from eating raw, live fruits and vegetables helps speed digestion giving use more energy from our food. When we have more energy, we feel and look less tired.

While I’ve already discussed what food loses through processing, what might be more important to this topic is what is added to food during processing. Most companies aren’t concerned about keeping you healthy; they’re concerned about selling their product. They add chemicals to keep food fresh longer, change its color, change its texture, or even to make you more hungry or thirsty after you eat or drink it. These chemicals can be toxic do your body. They build up in your cells, making them function improperly and be less healthy. Also, if you have acne or other skin ailments, your breakouts may be due to an allergic reaction to these chemicals.

In order to look good, your skin needs to be healthy. This means proper nourishment and fewer toxins. This can be achieved with a healthy diet including fresh, unprocessed foods. So shop around the outer edges of the grocery store where the fresh natural foods are and stay away from the processed stuff…your skin will thank you.

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There are thousands of commercial products and treatments available to help improve the quality of your skin, but only a very small percentage of these are natural. Most skin products contain harsh, damaging chemicals. Just take a look at the Dying to Look Good book. Many prodcuts that are supposed to improve your skin are anything but good or healthy for you. Remember the article on MSG in your personal care products? We really have no idea what most of these treatments and chemicals will do to our skin 20 years down the road. Do you want to take that chance with your skin? I sure don’t. If you want to have great looking skin without dangerous chemicals or procedures, there is a way.

Here are some great tips to keep your skin looking fabulous the natural way:

* Drink more water. All cells need water to function properly. If your skin cells aren�t properly hydrated, waste products build up in your cells and keep them from working right and looking their best. Also, if you don�t drink enough water, your cells will retain as much as they can and you�ll end up looking puffy and bloated. Your whole body feels better when properly hydrated in fact.

* Change your diet. You�ve probably heard the phrase �you are what you eat� a lot. If you think about it, this old saying is 100 percent true. Your body is made up of what you put into it. If you want it to work properly and look its best, you need to feed yourself the nutrients it needs and avoid foods that may damage it. For beautiful skin, you should try to get more fiber and �good fats� in your diet and avoid foods with a lot of sugar. I see many people that have grey complexions, and eyes that are sunken with dark circles and I KNOW that their diet is poor. You can just tell.

* Improve your circulation. To function properly, our cells need to get plenty of oxygen. If you spend your days sitting at a desk or remaining mostly immobile, your circulation probably isn�t as good as it could be. Increase your circulation by getting more exercise, stretching, or getting regular massages (they don�t need to be professional). My skin is rosy and pink all day after a good exercise session.

* Avoid the sun. A little sun is good for you. It provides vitamin D and can help give you a sunny disposition, but too much sun can do terrible damage. Try to use hats, clothes, or sun block to protect yourself from damaging UV rays. Don’t end up looking like a saddle bag with brown leathery looking skin.

* Use certified organic skin products. Traditional beauty products contain all sorts of unnatural chemicals. Most are there as preservatives, or to give the product a certain scent, color or texture. These chemicals not only have no value to your skin, some may cause cancer and other dangerous problems. That�s why it�s beneficial to use natural products if you want to look your best and stay healthy. Just be sure to check labels, many products will claim they�re natural or organic and only contain one natural or organic ingredient. Be wary of ingredients you can�t pronounce and look for certification seals to be sure you�re getting what you pay for.

With a little time, patience, work and an eye for 100% natural products you can have fabulous looking skin in no time.

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