Many makeup and beauty products have toxins in them, such as parabens, which is why it is important to not only read the ingredient labels in your food, but also in your makeup and beauty products.

An excellent site that I recommend to all of my friends and family is Skin Deep.  It is a cosmetic safety database website that allows you to plug in the names of your products and evaluate what ingredients may be harmful to you.  Skin Deep also rates your products on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 being the most toxic, and 0 being the least toxic).  After you evaluate your makeup and beauty products, you will probably decide to switch to organic and natural products because they pose little or no harm to your body and overall health.

I switched to organic and natural products two years ago, and until recently, I was only able to locate organic and natural makeup and beauty products at health food stores, Wegmans, and online.  Products such as lotions, soaps, face cleansers, and lip gloss being the easiest to find.  While products such as mascara, eye liner, lip liner and eye shadow being the hardest to find.  I usually bought all of my organic bath and beauty products at the stores, and ordered all of my natural and organic makeup online.  As you know, ordering makeup online can be a bit of hassle and costly.  If your lip liner breaks and you have a big date, what do you do?  Well, you were kind of stuck, because you had to go online, place an order, pay for shipping, and then wait at least a week for your lip liner to arrive. 

So, I was delighted and surprised the other day when I went into my local CVS, and realized the makeup companies are finally starting to put out organic makeup lines!  Finally, after two years of having to order all of my makeup online and pay shipping charges, etc., I can now go down the block and pick-up healthy and natural makeup with ease.

So, after you go to Skin Deep’s website and realize that your current makeup and beauty products are filled with harmful toxins and parabens, you may want to stop at your local CVS, Target, Ulta, or Wegmans to find healthy and natural alternatives to your current products.

If you read my last article and visited the Skin Deep website, you now know that your makeup, beauty, household, and even baby products probably contain harmful toxins and parabens.  So, now that you had a panic attack, and threw out all of your items, it’s time to go shopping.  The first time you go shopping for natural and organic products, it may be overwhelming to you.  Don’t let it be, to make things easier, a lot of products that don’t contain toxins and parabens state this right on the label.  So, to simplify your shopping, look for products that say free of parabens, etc.

Foundations, Blush, Eye Shadow and Eye Liner.  Physicians Formula now makes a great line of organic makeup called Organic Wear that is free of parabens, and can be found at an affordable price at CVS, Target, Ulta and Wegmans.  I recently bought eyeliner for about $7.99.  Other items I bought from the Organic Wear line are blush and an eye shadow duo.   The eye shadow and eyeliner wear great and stay on all day long.  This is important to me, because I have found that a lot of organic eye shadows and eye liners that I ordered through the internet, smudged easily and didn’t stay on well.  The blush from Organic Wear is ok.  I have really pale skin, so like a darker cheek to put in color in my face.  Therefore, I have to put on about 3 layers for the blush to stand out.  However, if you like a lighter cheek, this is the perfect blush for you.

As for foundation and concealer, I am still using a natural and organic loose powder product that I ordered online.  However, because I was so impressed with Physician Formula’s Organic Wear line, I will probably experiment with their concealer and loose foundation powders, once my current products run out.

Mascara.   Ah mascara, perhaps my favorite beauty product, except for lip gloss.  I use to layer on mascara by the truck loads, and my favorite weapon of choice was L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara.  Only to find out years later, that it really was a weapon of choice, and was loaded with toxins.  For the past two years, I have been wearing an organic mascara that I order from the internet; however, because it is one of the only organic mascaras that stays on, and gives a thick and dark lash, it is usually out of stock.  That is why I was delighted to see that L’Oreal now makes a natural mascara called Bare Naturale, which is free of parabens.  I just bought this mascara in black last week and I love it.  It gives me the same coverage as the Voluminous mascara, except it is healthier for me.

Lip Liner, Chapstick, Lip Stick and Lip Gloss.  I currently order my lip liner from an organic makeup site online and unfortunately, I haven’t come across an organic and natural lip liner in my local stores yet.  I am hoping that either Burt’s Bees or Physicians Formula will add an organic lip liner to their product lines in the near future.  However, I am happy to report, that I am able to find Burt’s Bees chapstick, lip gloss and lip shimmer at all of my favorite local stores, i.e., CVS, Target, Ulta and Wegmans.  I really like the lip products that Burt’s Bees has, as well as the variety of colors.  I am an avid fan of Burt’s Bees products, and use a lot of their bath and beauty products, in addition to their lip products.

Bath and Beauty Products.  When it comes to my face creams, soaps, face washes, lotions, shampoo and conditioner, I typically use Burt’s Bees line of products that I can easily find at Wegmans.  However, sometimes this can be costly, which is why I like shopping at Wegmans because it has entire aisle dedicated to just organic bath and beauty products at a range of prices.  If you are on a budget, Kiss My Face makes a great line of olive soaps that are natural and healthy.  If I am in a hurry and don’t have time to stop at Wegmans, I will stop at my local CVS and pick-up Burt’s Bees, because CVS carries a variety of Burt’s Bees lotions, soaps and hair products.   When selecting a face product, such as face wash or lotion, I try to select an item that has Vitamin C in it because it is a natural antioxidant.  I also like Burt’s Bees Naturally Ageless Skin Firming Night Cream and Line Smoothing Eye Cream, because both products contain Pomegranate Extract, which is also a natural antioxidant. 

Deodorant and Tooth Paste.  There has always been a big debate over deodorant and how harmful it can be; however, if you don’t use deodorant, you will find that you are quickly losing friends, because they find it hard to be around you, especially after a work-out.  Unfortunately, there aren’t too many organic deodorants that work well.  I have tried several brands that had lavender, lemon or tea tree oil in them, only to find out by the end of the day, that the product didn’t work too well.  That is why I was delighted to find a clear and odorless natural deodorant that is healthier for your body, and free of parabens.  This deodorant is called Crystal and comes in the form of a rock, roll-on, and spray.  I have tried all three forms of Crystal, and prefer either the roll-on or spray.  All three work great and last all day long.  Crystal is even strong enough for a man.  For tooth paste, I prefer Tom’s of Maine Natural Care toothpaste line.  Both Crystal Deodorant and Tom’s of Main Natural Care toothpaste can be found at your local convenience store, such as CVS, or your local grocery store, such as ShopRite or Wegmans.

Baby Products.  I am sure everyone wants the best for their children, which is why a lot of people will be shocked and upset to know that common baby products, such as lotions, washes and wipes contain harmful toxins and parabens.  Burt’s Bees carries a lot of natural and organic baby products, and Wegmans also has an entire aisle dedicated to natural and organic baby products.  However, even if the product says natural or fragrance free, make sure you still read the label for parabens and other toxins.  I was very upset to find that the Huggies Natural Care and fragrance free baby wipes I purchased to remove my makeup, had parabens in it.  Sometimes, just because a product claims to be natural and/or organic, doesn’t mean it is paraben and toxin free.  Most paraben free products will advertise this on the label and of course, you can read the ingredients label as well.

Household Products.  A lot of common household products contain harmful toxins, especially bleach, and even your dishwashing liquid!  Once again, Wegmans is a great place to find a variety of household products. I usually use organic and natural cleaning products that contain Citrus, because it works well on most surfaces, such as countertops, wood, floors, and even carpet stains.  However, for tougher cleaning jobs, like the bathroom, I use a line of products called Green Works, which can be found at Wegmans and Target.

There was recently a study done to see if laundry detergents and soap were a big cause of people having allergic reactions affecting their skin.  The study turned up that less then 1% of the cases, people had allergic reactions from detergents and soap.  And some of the 1% of results was people that had skin irritations, but not an allergic rash to the skin. People are quick to blame these items when they get a rash they often try to switch products over and over to get the rash to disappear. Before rushing to conclusions that it is your products, visit a doctor and have your skin rash examined.

There are moisturizers for all types of skin.  Dry, oily, and normal skin types can be helped with different skin moisturizers. 

Water Based Moisturizers:
 
These are good because they don’t leave a greasy feeling, they are not heavy, and are easy to apply.   Water based moisturizers are good for normal skin as well as oily skin.  Water based moisturizers are less likley to clog your pores if you have oily skin.

Oil Based Moisturizers:

This type of moisturizer is good for dry skin.  They contain more ingridents that keep your skin moist and they last longer then water-based moisturizers.

Tips for Moisturizing:

For best results it is found that if you moisturize after getting out of the shower or bath and patting yourself dry, the more water you will retain. 

Be careful when buying moisturizers, they don’t always do what they claim they do.  Sometimes it will take you a few tries before you find one that works for you.

Suggestions:

Dry Skin – Cetaphil Cream

Oily Skin – Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer

Millions of people suffer from acne, both teenagers and adults. Yes, even adults. I always thought when I became an adult my acne would disappear, but instead it became worse. If you’re battling acne like so many other people, don’t worry because there is hope. With so many products available today, you may not be able to prevent acne entirely, but you can help keep it under control.

First, let’s talk about your options: dermatologist remedies, over-the-counter remedies, and home remedies. If you have health insurance or can afford a visit to a dermatologist, I would recommend you go this route. A dermatologist is a professional doctor that is trained to diagnose and treat your acne.

However, if you are on a budget or don’t have health insurance, which is common in today’s society, there are over-the-counter options which are also effective. Some of these include Oxy acne products, Clean and Clear, Clearasil, Neutrogena and Noxzema. I personally break out in an allergic reaction whenever I use Neutrogena products, but my sister and many other people really like the products that Neutrogena offers.

Additionally, if you have a little more in your budget to spare, many people like the Proactiv product line; which is endorsed by several celebrities, including Jessica Simpson. I have two friends that tried Proactiv. They both thought it dried out their skin too much and made it “flake.” However, my one friend said, if she just uses one of Proactiv’s products, like maybe the face-wash, but not the toner too, that her skin doesn’t dry out as much and it does help keep her acne under control.

Now, if you only use organic products like I do, there are several different products that contain natural and organic ingredients, like Burt’s Bees, which can be ordered online and can also be found at Wegmans, Target and CVS. Burt’s Bees makes an herbal blemish stick that contains Tea Tree Oil. While I have never used Burt’s Bees blemish stick, I have used pure Tea Tree Oil for acne, and I was disappointed in the results. I felt the Tea Tree Oil was too greasy and didn’t really help my acne at all. However, everyone is different, and many people use Tea Tree Oil for their acne and it works great for them because Tea Tree Oil helps fight bacteria and calms inflammation.

Also, I know from personal experience, that trying to find organic and natural health and beauty products in stores can challenging; which is why I frequently go to Wegmans for these products. The Wegmans that I shop at has an entire section dedicated to natural and organic beauty products, where you can purchase many different varieties of natural acne products, face-washes and lotions, etc…

Finally, if you are stuck at home and don’t have time to run to the store or visit a dermatologist, there is an old myth that applying toothpaste on your acne will help clear it up.

So, now that you’ve learned about products to help your treat your acne, I am going to share with you a few tips to help prevent acne. Some of these measures include:

1. Washing your face before going to bed, especially if you have makeup on;

2. Believe it or not, moisturize, even if you have oily skin. When skin is denied moisture, it over compensates by creating even more oil and clogging your pores;

3. As tempting as it is, don’t touch your face and acne. If you notice a blemish, place a warm compress on it, and then apply acne medicine. Hopefully within a few days, the blemish will clear up;

4. Wash your makeup brushes and pillow cases regularly. A lot of unhealthy dirt, oil and bacteria can build up on your makeup brushes and pillow cases;

5. Stay out of the sun. At first it will appear the sun is clearing up your skin, but the sun actually dries out and damages your skin; so your skin will once again over compensate for the loss of moisture and will create more oil causing acne flare-ups;

6. Don’t over cleanse and scrub your skin. While is it is important to cleanse your skin at night before bed and in the morning, don’t over-scrub your skin with harsh cleansers, this will only irritate your skin and possibly cause even more acne flare-ups.

7. Additionally, it hasn’t been proven, but I think eating a lot of unhealthy and fast foods contribute to acne. These types of food are filled with grease and fat, and it is hard for your body to process all of those unhealthy ingredients. I personally notice that when I don’t eat well, my acne flares up.

8. Also, taking Vitamin C has positive effects on your overall health, so I am sure it can help minimize the effects of acne as well.

By following all of these steps, I am not able to prevent my acne by 100%, but I am able to keep it under control a little bit; which is a lot better than doing nothing at all. I just keeping hoping that one day, someone will come up with a magic cream that prevents acne and wrinkles in one small and simple step.

Tanning is a double-edge sword, it makes your skin look nice at the present moment, but it is slowly and surely killing your skin and its appearance for the future. Growing up as a redhead in a family of redheads, I was shunned from the sun by mother throughout my childhood and most of my teenage years. I remember the one time she forgot to slather on sun-block for a Father’s Day BBQ at the lake and I took home the lucky prize of sun poison on my forehead and shoulders. I was 10yrs old and still remember the teasing from other kids, the pain and the blisters. However, that didn’t stop my irresponsible tanning as a teenager and into my early 20s, which I now regret.

I still remember the first time I tanned at a tanning salon, without my mother’s knowledge of course. I was 16yrs old and it was right before my Junior Prom, all of my friends were tanning, including one of my redheaded friends, who was the darkest out of all of us (she was also 100% Italian). I convinced myself that if she could tan as a redhead, so could I; silly me. So, I snuck off to a local tanning salon for several quick sessions and to my surprise, I didn’t burn too much; but the key word and unhealthy word being, I burned. Then by next summer, I had my license and a car, so I began tanning every single day, Monday through Friday after work. Never mind the fact that I was a day camp counselor and was already out in the sun every day. Before I knew it, I was in my 20s and was not only tanning during the summer, but was also tanning every single day all year round. I didn’t want to tan every day, but being half Irish, if I missed a few days, my tan would start to disappear. I noticed that I lost my tan, even quicker then I burned.

Then came my “wake-up call.” I had just turned 25yrs old and was tanner than ever, due to the high pressure tanning beds that I discovered at my local tanning salon. During this time I was on a tanning mission, I had 3 weddings that were 3 months apart, and a Miami vacation to attend to. I attended all of the weddings and then went to Miami with my mother (who is a fair skinned, blue-eyed, redhead). I remember laying on the beach for about 20 minutes with not a single ounce of sun-block on, and then I looked over at my poor mother who was slathered head to toe in sun-block and about to break out in tears because her feet were burning; yes her feet. She quickly covered herself up in a blanket, but I couldn’t let her sit out in the sun and burn, so I suggested we go back to our hotel.

It was shortly after our Miami vacation that I realized I was getting premature wrinkles. I was shocked and mortified because my mother who is in her 50s doesn’t have any wrinkles and even my grandmother, who passed away in her late 70s, barely had any wrinkles. So, why was I getting wrinkles? Easy, unlike me and so many other women of my generation, my mother and grandmother stayed out of the sun. It was at that very moment that I realized being tan wasn’t worth the sacrifice of having unhealthy and wrinkled skin.

So now that I am in my late 20s, almost approaching 30, I find that I am paying for my tanning mistakes of the past. I use wrinkle creams daily and I am starting to look into chemical peels and other facials to help fight wrinkles and sun damage (which I wouldn’t need at the moment if I stayed out of the sun when I was younger). Now when summer comes each year and I am as pale as Casper the Ghost, I just laugh off the comments from my friends and family suggesting I should “get some sun.” Instead, I lay in the shade and wear sun-block.