Photo by Mandi George

Our next step toward Getting Ready for Spring is to take a closer look at our personal care products.  Skin is a porous organ.  Much of what goes on it, also goes through it.  This is especially true of smaller molecules and chemicals in our personal care products. 

Our challenge this week is to shift, step by step, toward using healthier personal care products in order to lighten the toxic load on our bodies.

Here is a simple way to take inventory of your products, understand the ingredients you may want to consider red flags, and transition to healthier options.

I.  Know the bad guys

Let’s take a look at four top offenders that are added to personal care products which could cause harm to our bodies in the long run.  Many (read thousand) of chemicals that are used in products we use on our body have not been tested for human safety.  This is one area where we must be informed conscientous consumers, using our spending power to communicate that we want safe products.

1.  Fragrance 

Fragrance is often the main ingredient in personal care products.  The industry can use this one ambiguous word for any one of 5,000 different chemcials, the majority of which have never been tested for safety– and many of which are highly suspected to cause disruption on a hormonal or cellular level.  These chemicals have been increasingly cited as a trigger for asthma, allergies, and migraine headaches. 

Try to choose products that are fragrance free or that list natural botanical sources as their fragrance.  *Be careful though with pure lavendar essential oil on baby boys.  Though not confirmed there is some concern that too much product with lavendar oil could disrupt hormone levels in young boys.  Better to be safe than sorry. 

2.  Pthalates

Pthalates are added to hundreds of personal care products including some hairsprays, nail polishes and toothpastes.  There is a growing body of research that links pthalates with many reproductive problems, especially in young children. 

Look for the word pthalate in the ingredient list of products and consider avoiding those.     

3.  Parabens

Parabens are used as a preservative in thousands of cosmetic, food and pharmacuetical products.  Studies have shown that this class of chemicals accumulate in human tissue (never a good thing).  Parabens have been shown to mimic the effect of estrogen in our body, and so there is concern about its possible connection to breast cancer (especially considering parabens can be detected in human breast tumors). 

Reducing our exposure to parabens is a good idea, look for these chemicals (often with names like ethyl paraben, methyl paraben) in the products you are considering using and avoid them as much as possible.

4.  Triclosan

Triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobal that has been added to hundreds of products all as part of a growing marketing craze against germs.  The chemical itself has been linked in animal studies to negatively impact the thyroid gland and what’s more concerning is that triclosan in water exposed to UV light (sunlight) can synthesize into a very dangerous, carcinogenic dioxin molecule.  The need for antibacterial personal care products or even antibacterial soap is unfounded, and studies have suggested that people who live in too sterile environments actually depress their immune systems and have a higher rate of allergies, asthma and eczema. 

Avoid the antibacterials or products that use triclosan.  Keep a clean and sanitary home with natural soaps and cleansers.

II.  What do you use? Your Personal Inventory

Now that you have a starting guideline of what to look for, begin by taking stock of what you use and what you have stored in your home. While you are going through all your product, throw away old or expired products and consider ways you can reduce the number of products you use overall. 

Write all the products you use on the left side of a piece of paper.  Then, one by one, check the ingredients.  If they are less than desirable, indicate that on the sheet by putting a box next to it.  Here are some ideas of personal care products you may use to help you get started:

soap, body scrub, face wash, face cream, eye cream, toner,  body lotion, perfume, lipstick, lip gloss, nail polish, nail polish remover, eye liner, eye shadow, mascara, eyebrow pencil, blush, powder, foundation, concealer, makeup remover, hair straightener, shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, hair gel, mousse, hair spray, toothpaste, whitening strips, suntan lotion, sunless tanning lotion, antiaging cream, vaginal deodorant or douche, body wash, deodorant, shaving cream, acne treatment, insect repellent

III.  Make a game plan

Now work through the products that you want to be greener, cleaner and safer for your body by taking one at a time and finding a suitable alternative.  Review the list of boxes and put a number next to each box in the order that you would like to replace them.  Keep in mind you may want to consider finding healthy alternatives for things that stay on your skin first, and then things that get put on and washed off quickly after.  Once you find, use and enjoy a healthy alternative, check off the box and continue with the next product.   

Here are some companies that have a track record for greener and cleaner products than many mainline brands and that I have personal experience with.  

Burt’s Bees www.burtsbees.com

Tom’s of Maine www.tomsofmaine.com

Ecco Bella www.eccobella.com

Aubrey Organics www.aubrey-organics.com

Dr. Bronner www.drbronner.com

Jason www.jason-natural.com

Pangea Organics www.pangeaorganics.com

Physician’s Formula (organic wear) www.physiciansformula.com

Like all change, take this step by step AND most importantly, choose to make changes because you feel ready and excited about the benefits that you’ll receive.   

If you have healthy personal care product or company suggestion, please leave it in the comment section to help others along!

Photo by Daylight

Valentine’s day is (literally) right around the corner. Homemade gifts that pamper and nuture are great ideas because they show how much you care…while going easy on your pocketbook and the earth. Going a step further, gifts that you do let the receiver know they are getting not only a thing, but truly the gift of you as well. 

A foot massage can be a beautiful shared experience between you and a loved one.  

You can embellish the massage in many ways to bring in a special and deeply loving touch.  The feet are often sorely in need of attention and care, and the benefits of foot massage are many, including lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation, reducing stress and relieving blood stagnation from tight fitting shoes.  If you choose to use essential oils, applying them to the feet allows them to be distributed throughout the whole body to support your health.  (If you want to test this out, rub some garlic on your feet…in a few minutes you will taste it in your mouth!)

1.  Start off with a homemade foot scrub, soaking bath salts and massage oil.

• Cleansing Foot Scrub Fill a glass jar 2/3 of the way with granulated sugar.  Pour olive oil on top until the sugar is completely covered.  Add a few drops of essential oils.  Good ones to consider are sandalwood, lemon or grapefruit.   
• Unwind and Soak Bath Salt  Use dried chamomile leaves (either loose or in tea bags) to make a cup of chamomile tea, steeped in hot water for 20 minutes.  Add the tea and enough warm water to fill a small foot tub to ankle level.  Add 1/4 cup Epsom salts, 1/4 baking soda and 1 Tablespoon borax.  Add a few drops of essential oils.  Good ones to consider are geranium, lavendar, ylang ylang or orange. 
• Relaxing Foot Massage Oil  Use 2-3 Tablespoons of oil (Good oils to use are either coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil or apricot seed oil).  Add a few drops of essential oils.  Good ones to consider are frankincense, lavender, peppermint (for a cool and refreshing sensation), or rosemary. 

2.  Set up the scene 

• It is best to receive a foot massage when the rest of your body is at ease.  Find a comfortable chair or couch and use pillows to help the receiver recline and feel calm.  Lay out towels under the foot tub.  (It is ideal to have two foot tubs if possible- one for the scrubbing and one for the soaking– but you can simply rinse one out in between if you need to).  Have a wash cloth and hand towel near by.  
• Dim lights, soft music and candle light can really transform this experience. 

3.  Give the gift in love

•  Soak the feet in the warm water and one by one, scrub them gently with the foot scrub.  After the scrub, use the towel to pat dry.  The massage really begin here, with gently but firm circular motions as you scrub and cleanse.
• Next allow the feet to soak in the bath salts for as long as you would like.  You can even begin massaging one foot while the other is still soaking.  Be sure to pat dry before you apply the oil in the next step, though. You may also want to have some hot water ready to pour into the tub as you go along to be sure the water stays warm.  Of course, anytime you are using hot water, be very careful not to burn the skin.
• Apply the oil while giving the feet and toes a lovely massage.  Take your time, be sure to work over all the parts of the calves, feet and toes.  Ask about what feels good. 
• Finally, cover the feet with a pair of big comfy socks or slippers.

The soothing and calming gift of massage is a blessing to the giver and receiver- it is a way to bring the healing power of touch into a relationship and communicate love in a very personal and special way.   If you need a bit more time to make the materials, consider giving a gift certificate and set up a specific time in the near future that you can do it.  You may be surprised at how deeply it touches the one you love. 

How will you be showing your love this Valentine’s day?

A few months ago, when my youngest was around 4 months old, I was given some time to do something just ”for myself”.  My mom took both kids out for lunch and I had an hour to renew or recharge or just enjoy.   And I was completely lost as to what to do…I didn’t have a clue any longer how to spend “me” time.

I literally walked around my house in circles a bit before I defaulted into cleaning up and getting toys organized.  I hadn’t realized how disconnected from myself and what I enjoyed I had become.  Life with little ones so easily can become task and other-oriented. Preserving and incorporating things that bring YOU fulfillment, creativity and enjoyment can easily get lost.

After this particular afternoon, I decided I needed to be more prepared with ideas when I could steal away 15 minutes here or an hour there, to indulge in some personal time.  It would have seemed ridiculous if you told this to me when I was single, but my mind most days doesn’t switch over from hyper-focused on my kids and the needs of the house to self-care ideas very easily…and all too often when I do have some free time, it whittles away without me taking advantage of it.

When I began working again from home, I started keeping a mini-task list.  Things that I could get done in 5 -15 min…so when they both (halleluja) would overlap their naps for a short time, I was prepared with things I could get done and be productive.  I decided to apply this to my me-time.  I started a list of things that I could do if I even had 15 minutes in a day to make me feel good.

Here is a sampling of my *growing* self care menu:

• Brew some tea with honey and sit in a rocking chair near a window, quietly sip and stare away
• Hot towel scrub
• Take a walk outside and get some fresh air
• Get into comfy clothes and do some stretching
• Write a friend a snail mail letter on pretty paper
• Paint
• Pop some popcorn and pop in a favorite movie
• Take a warm bath with epsom salts and calming essential oils

I keep adding to this list when something inspires me.  I encourage you to think through the things that you truly enjoy, things that bolster your quotient of self care- Make a list of ways to bring more calm and renewal into your everyday life and post it up- (maybe on the refrigerator?) as a reminder to take advantage of the moments you have to fill your cup.

What are some of the things you would include on your Me-Time Menu?