My Favs. February 2, 2010

Here’s a few recipe ideas for you if you’d like to start making some small changes with your skin care. I’ve kept these pretty simple as the last thing we all need is more work to do! If you’d like to get more elaborate we have great skin care books available at the salon with great advice, recipes and instructions. Remember to always buy organic and follow the guidelines when using ingredients on your face and body!

For my hands and nails: Castor Oil! This is my new favorite thing. Take a few drops and rub into your nails, cuticle and back of hands. Castor Oil provides a protective barrier against cold, dry air and water (good news for hair stylists!) and it is excellent for softening your cuticle. As an added bonus it also is a gentle cleanser. I have done this every night before I go to bed and my nails look clean and bright, and my cuticle healthy and soft. I don’t have time to keep up on polishing my nails but I like them to look professional so this is a great way to keep that clean and polished look without the cost or time of a manicure. This is definitely a keeper. Follow up with Zoya Nail Growth Stimulator.

For my lips: Brown sugar and honey. No need to measure, just mix a little of each together to get a slightly thick slurry. Gently rub on your lips for 30 seconds and then let it sit for a minute. Rinse with warm water. Pat dry and rub a drop of castor oil on your newly exfoliated lips. Another keeper!

Eye makeup remover: Olive oil. Put a drop or two on your fingertips and gently rub your eyelashes. Remove with a tissue or cotton pad.

For my facial wash: Ground oatmeal, honey and plain yogurt. Mix together 2 tablespoons of each, keep in a closed container and refrigerate. Use as you would a gel based cleanser, rinsing well with lukewarm water. Be careful not to get in your eyes.

Toner: Brew a very strong cup of organic green tea and let cool. Keep in a closed container and refrigerate. After cleansing, dip a cotton ball in tea and apply to face. Do not rinse. Green tea is a natural astringent!

Serum: Jojoba oil: I’ve used this for some time now and love the way it balances my skin. You would think applying an oil to your face would make it more oily but jojoba is naturally sebum balancing and soaks in beautifully! I use this for day and night. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil for more benefit.

Spot treatment for blemishes: Honey. Honestly honey, it really works. Just apply a small amount to your troubled spot with a q-tip! I do this an hour or so before bed (after moisturizer) as it is a bit sticky and I remove it before sleeping with a little warm water. Honey draws bacteria out and heals simultaneously.

Quick enzyme treatment: Pineapple juice. Fresh only, not juice from the can! The next time you cut up a pineapple, reserve the juice or just mash a small piece. Dip a cotton ball into the juice and apply to your freshly cleaned face. Leave on for 20-30minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Apply moisturizer.

Simple, inexpensive and most importantly non-toxic! Have fun and if you create something wonderful you’d like to share, feel free to post it on the reply!

Enjoy

The rundown… January 29, 2010

Okay, so here’s the rundown on the costs, the benefits and my opinion.

• 10oz Organic olive oil  $9.99
• 7oz Cocoa butter  $6.79
• 8oz Almond oil  $3.79
• 6oz Bulk Organic Oats  $.67
• 6oz Bulk brown sugar  $.69
• 16oz Castor oil  $6.79
• 6oz Organic honey  $4.79
• 6oz goat milk yogurt  $2.19
• Fruits   $10.00                
• total cost = $45.70

Because I was not staying long, I did have to dispose of what was left of the fruits and yogurt. Otherwise these could have been used or eaten. I still have plenty left of the rest and some I was able to leave there for next time I visit, the rest I brought home and will use up. I would estimate that there are close to 20 applications with the amount of (non-perishable) ingredients that I bought, depending on the recipe. Lets see a show of hands from all of us that have spent at least that much on just one product! Okay, even if you haven’t you have to admit that this experiment proves that making your own skin is very cost-effective. And while saving money is great, the benefits and ease of use is more important.

• Oatmeal – soothing to all types of skin irritations and sensitivities. Excellent base for skin care. Moisturizing and softening.
• Honey – a humectant (holds moisture). Rehydrating for the skin. Antibacterial properties.
• Almond oil – penetrates well. Good for dry, inflamed or itchy skin.
• Olive oil – make up remover and skin softener. Great conditioning oil for nails, feet and hair.
• Castor oil – excellent for softening rough, dry areas and patches of psoriasis and eczema. Applied to nails it imparts a protective shield against exposure to drying detergents, hot water and winter dry air.
• Cocoa butter – super skin softener. Helps diminish scars and stretch marks.
• Yogurt plain (no additives) - acts as a mild, nonabrasive, bleaching exfoliant, it has lactic acid which helps dissolve surface dead-skin cells.
• Brown sugar – an abrasive exfoliant but not drying like salt. Cleansing. Contains natural glycolic acids so it exfoliates on a chemical level, not just by abrasion alone. Do not use on the face.
• Strawberries – contains a gentle, exfoliating acid that helps rid skin of dead-cell buildup.
• Pineapple – contains bromelain, a protein digesting enzyme which dissolves dead surface skin cells. Softening and smoothing.

I will be perfecting the recipes that I loved the most in the week ahead and will post them all for you. I want to make them as simple as possible with the highest benefit and lowest cost. I will say that my hands, face and body felt amazing over the weekend and I could feel and see a difference immediately. I know I will be incorporating these recipes into my daily/nightly routine!

~Stay warm

Day 4 at the soon to be known as world famous Spalicious Resort & Getaway. January 24, 2010

Yesterday was my last day and I spent the morning cleaning everything out of the fridge and disposing of all the perishables. I’m always sad to leave as I love it so much there, but happy to get home. I will definitely use what I’ve learned in the last few days in my daily beauty routine and start experimenting with some more recipes. I will honestly say that I will choose differently when I am at the co-op and not just think about what I can buy for dinner but also how it could  benefit my skin! I think it will help me be very creative in my meal planning.  Oh my poor husband…..

As a woman it was very liberating to not bring my normal skin care products on this trip and to use only what nature provides. I felt very connected. No stress thinking if the security man will take my $50 face cream and toss it because he says it’s a liquid or time spent packing it all in little tiny travel containers. Just complete content with the results and a lot of fun. When you really think about it, most of the beauty products on the market copy nature. There’s green tea extract, mushrooms, papaya enzymes, coconut oil, olive oil…. I could go on and on about how enzymes in pineapple are great for anti-aging, coffee grounds for cellulite, olive oil for wrinkles, honey for blemishes or skin lightening, essential oils as antibacterials. But thats another blog. The point is it all started right outside our doors, not in some factory with great chemists. That’s just how it’s evolved over time.

When I return I will post my favorites from this weekend and how much it cost me. Until then……

Have an eco-beautiful day!

Day 3 at the Venice Eco-Luxury Resort and Spa January 23, 2010

Dinner last night was fresh caught gulf shrimp, red peppers, onions and pineapple in a yellow curry sauce served over a bed of organic brown rice. Accompanied by a nice glass of Organic Wine Works a’ Notre Terre and my BFF’s- Norah Jones and Corrine Bailey Rae. Dessert you ask? Avocado hair masque and pineapple/strawberry/yogurt  facial frappe’. Delish!

 Earlier in the day I applied a hot oil treatment  to my hair that consisted of honey, olive and castor oils. 2o minutes later I hopped in the shower and exfoliated my body using the inside portion of the pineapple skins I had removed the night before, adding a little brown sugar. It took a few extra shampoos to get out the treatment, but I’ve noticed issues with our water before and have never gotten a great lather here, regardless of the shampoo I’ve used. It felt like there was still a residue in my hair but I moved on to exfoliation and loved the way it cleansed! You would think between pineapple and brown sugar you’d be a sticky mess, but just the opposite. My skin felt awesome when I was finished and not as dry as it had been. I applied a mixture of castor oil, olive oil and lavender for a body lotion and I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never thought of castor oil as an alternative before but have learned to really like it. ( I think castor oil got a bad rap many years ago from an episode of Happy Days…..) It takes a bit longer to soak in but it seems to keep your skin nourished and protected all day and it smells lovely.  I washed my face, toned and moisturized as I did the night before, applied the nail treatment and went on with my day. Let me tell you some of my observations…

Using the facial moisturizer at night was incredible but I would skip it for daytime as it took far too long to soak into my skin. I wasn’t putting on make up so I didn’t mind. I will say though, when I woke up it was maybe 4 hours before I washed my face and it still felt clean and smooth, not oily at all.

At bedtime last night my hands STILL felt incredible! Im not sure if it was the enzyme peel or the overnight mask or a combination of both, but I will SO do that again.

After blow drying my hair it felt soft and silky and I would say there was a tiny bit of oil residue but it wasn’t a greasy or icky feeling. Although I didnt style it as normal, I felt I could have and it would have looked great. It still felt fantastic by evening and I couldn’t stop running my fingers through it!

I really feel fantastic! Im also drinking lots of filtered water and of course eating healthy because it’s important to nourish our skin from the inside. No amount of beauty products are going to help us if we continue to eat unhealthy foods!

To be continued!

Day 2 at The Hacienda of Health January 23, 2010

I am well on my way to opening up a Spalicious Diner. Even though my kitchen is a bit on the messy side, I’ll have to say it’s been alot easier than I thought. And all great restaurants have dishwashers, right? I did the prep work last night and after beginning my “Weekend at the Spa” nightly ritual, I realized this would be so easy to do at home. Just a little forethought and organizing to keep things simple.

I cut up the pineapple, reserving any juice and keeping the core and skin. Cleaned up the strawberries saving the hulls and leaves and ground up the dry oatmeal in the blender. That was really it for prep work! I wasn’t in the mood for dinner so I just noshed on the fruit while I was preparing my concoctions. I mixed up equal parts honey, ground oats and filtered water (usually I would use purified ), to use as my facial wash. I blended the strawberry parts, pineapple core, a squeeze of lemon, plain yogurt , a handful of oats and filtered water for an enzyme peel (which made a lot more than I figured, so I will use it for  my body too). Brown sugar, almond oil and honey for a lip exfoliator. Cocoa butter, olive oil and lavender for moisturizer. Castor oil, lemon and almond oil for a nail treatment. And last but not least, plain yogurt, castor oil and almond oil for an overnight hand treatment.

Whew! Sounds like a lot of work but it really wasn’t. Instead of throwing things in the garbage or compost, I just used them! It felt great to utilize the entire food source  and eating it while making it turned it into a kind of whole body experience. Very cool. To give you a heads up, my skin tends to be mostly oily and very sensitive. I get dry patches in the winter and I have some sun damage. I am also in menopause so when my hormones go on a rampage it usually shows up on my face. Especially my chin area. I have been very blessed to not have many wrinkles (especially since I’ll be 43 tomorrow!) but I do show some signs of aging and I’m actually totally fine with that as I like to think I am always improving with age.

Results? The facial wash was really smooth and creamy and it felt really luxurious while I was massaging it into my skin, it removed all of my make up (do not use for eye make-up remover, use olive oil first) and left my skin feeling soft and full of moisture. Something I usually don’t feel. The green tea toner was refreshing and cleansing. I applied the enzyme peel expecting a sloppy mess but it went on quite perfectly and I could feel it working immediately so I massaged some into my hands for 2 minutes. After 20 minutes and a glass of Radical Red I was ready for sleep. I rinsed my face and exfoliated my lips and thought about the final application.I was nervous about the moisturizer as I am not familiar with castor oil nor have I ever used cocoa butter on my face, but having used jojoba and olive oil (which are naturally sebum balancing) I trusted it would work fine. The last to do was the overnight hand treatment. I scooped up a handful, which looked just like lotion from a drugstore, and after 2 attempts I was able to put some socks on my hands and went to sleep. My husband use to do this when he was a tile setter,  using Vaseline of all things. He called this ritual “putting on his “paws”. I think Vaseline belongs out in the garage with the lawnmower.

It was a gentle rain falling this morning and I was eager to get up and see how fabulous I looked! After removing my paws and looking in the mirror I analyzed things closely. My hands felt AMAZING and super smooth. My face was non-oily and radiant and I even noticing a few blemishes drying up! I’d say the recipes we’re successful.

More fun today!

Day 1 at Weisen’s Retreat January 22, 2010

I arrived in town too late last night to pick up any groceries, so I came home and poured a glass of wine and made a list of recipes for my body and my belly. YUM! I tried to keep it simple and only buy what I would eat for dinner or use for skin care, keeping the waste minimal and the cost low. My goal was a facial wash, toner, moisturizer, scrub and mask. A hand and foot moisturizer, a body scrub and some deep conditioners for my hair. I had my plan. I was ready. I felt like Julie in the movie Julie & Julia …

When I awoke this morning the only things edible I had in the house were a jar of olive oil, some Tazo green tea and a bag of tater tots my husband left in the freezer. Hhhmmmm. I decided to skip the tots and have a cup of tea. I brewed one for me and one for my skin.  I washed my face and body with my Greenbody shampoo (its multi-purposeful), used the green tea as a toner and applied some olive oil with a few drops of lavender essential oil  as a moisturizer. I’ve actually been using both the Greenbody and olive oil on my face for a year or more  and I always pack the lavender when I travel, so nothing out of the ordinary yet. I ran to the farmers market and the co-op and with a few exceptions, got just about everything on my list including pineapple, strawberries, oatmeal and yogurt. (Sounds like a fabulous dessert!) I’ll improvise on the rest and see how it goes with some substitutions. If all goes well I’ll come home a glowing goddess of health and wellness or…. last years fruitcake.

Stay tuned…

A weekend at the Spa! January 20, 2010

Well, it’s not really the weekend and technically….it’s not really a spa. But it is a quiet retreat in a beautiful, warm location just minutes from the rejuvinating beach! I am off to our home in Florida to set it up for seasonal renters ( I know, it’s a tough job) and I’ve decided to make it into a mini retreat for some well deserved “me” time. As you’ve all been reading in my posts you know I like to make and use homeade natural skin care recipes for my face, body and hair, so I decided to give myself a little challenge and have some fun while Im away!

I’ve decided that the only personal care items Im bringing south will be my Greenbody shampoo & conditioner. Everything else I think I’ll need I will purchase at the natural foods store along with my meals! For the next 3 days I will only make what I need for washing my face and body, deep conditioning my hair, exfoliation and masking. And, I will prepare them only from fruits, oats, oils and whatever else is in season at the farmers market. I will combine my skin care needs with my grocery list and what I don’t eat I’ll use! I’ll keep a log of what I bought, used, liked and disliked and I’ll report back in a few days to let you know how it all went!

Talk soon! Lj

This just in! January 16, 2010

I just received this email from The Organic Consumers Organization and wanted to pass it on to you. The OCA has a division called The Coming Clean Campaign which campaigns for organic integrity in personal care products and they are asking for a boycott! This information and lawsuit is a LONG time coming and something I whole-heartedly support. When you get done reading and are looking for new hair care- click here to get to Greenbody Greenplanet! Our products are made with certified organic, biodynamic and wild crafted ingredients and most imporantly- 100% toxin free.

 This is the original email below and has not been edited.

Toxins in Your So-Called “Organic” Health & Beauty Products

Do you use Jason Pure, Natural & Organic, Avalon Organics, Kiss My Face ObsessivelyOrganic, Nature’s Gate Organics, Stella McCartney 100% Organic, Giovanni Organic, Head Organics, Eminence Organic, Physicians Formula Organic Wear, Good Stuff Organics, Desert Essence Organics, or any “organic cosmetic” certified by Ecocert?

Hate to break it to you, but these so-called “organic” personal care products aren’t really organic and actually contain hazardous ingredients that would never be allowed in products certified to USDA organic standards.

Yesterday, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), along with certified organic personal care brands Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Intelligent Nutrients, and Organic Essence, filed a complaint with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), requesting an investigation into the widespread and blatantly deceptive labeling practices of leading so-called “Organic” personal care brands, in violation of USDA NOP regulations.

The complaint, filed on behalf of the estimated 50 million regular consumers of organic products, argues that products such as liquid soaps, body washes, facial cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, moisturizing lotions, lip balms, make-up and other cosmetic products produced by 12 different corporations have been advertised, labeled and marketed as “Organic” or “Organics” when, in fact, the products are not “Organic” as understood by the average health and environmental-minded organic consumer.

Read the complaint

In addition to the complaint, Organic Consumers Association’s Coming Clean campaign has launched a boycott of cosmetics that claim to be organic, but aren’t certified to organic standards as required by law.

Read more

We’re encouraging our members to switch to USDA certified organic body care and cosmetics products, as part of a New Year’s Resolution to “be more organic” in 2010.

Switching to organic health and beauty products is easy and affordable. The simplest personal care regime involves shaving with an organic shikakai shaving gel, washing your body and hair with organic soap, following that with an organic hair rinse, and then using a baking-soda-based organic deodorant and finally moisturizing with an organic lotion or balm make of vegetable oils.

On our body care page, we’ve listed 26 different health and beauty brands where every single item under the brand name is certified to USDA organic standards.

Learn more

We need your help to get the USDA to take enforcement action based upon our legal complaint. Please write to the USDA today.

We’re also collecting the stories of consumers who have been defrauded by fake organic health and beauty care companies. Do you feel shammed? Please share your story with us.

Read more and take action

 

I encourage you to click through the links and read the full story.

To your health, Lorri

Working together. January 14, 2010

Several weeks back I was invited to take part in a focus group for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The MPCA is exploring the development of a Green Chemistry & Design initiative to help manufacturers develop products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. The luncheon was held this afternoon and our group was made up of retailers and business owners including myself, Best Buy, Target, The Wedge Coop  and Pea Pods  (natural toys and baby care). We were asked several questions such as- How have we applied Green Chemistry/Design in the past few years? Why did we do it? What benefits are we seeing? Are we seeing cost savings? What barriers or challenges have we faced and do we forsee any more challenges in the future?

We discussed designing safer chemicals and products, what the MPCA can do to support retailers and businesses, how to prevent waste, creating partnerships between government and business, empowering industries to articulate and meet environmental goals, “green” washing and “local” washing, more cost effective rebate programs and so much more. It was a great discussion and I was honored to be a part of it!

This is a 2 year project for the MPCA and our input, along with other focus groups and interviews will allow their staff to develop a survey. Their goal is to extend the project into a second year and make recommendations to the MPCA about how to develop a Green Chemistry and Green Design Policy.

It was a great experience for me as I learned that regardless if you are a large corporation, a small independant business or a cooperative, we all have a common goal- to make positive changes that support our environment, ourselves and our planet.

Would you be interested? January 10, 2010

I am thinking of having an “Organic Girls Night Out” at the salon sometime in the spring. I haven’t all the details organized yet but the basic premise would be this.

6-8 women, a short presentation on healthy skin/body/hair care and information on how to become a savvy shopper, non-toxic/organic skin care recipes made at the salon and for you to take home. Maybe a little organic wine and cheese?

Let me know if anyone is interested and I’ll start putting this together!

WE’RE GOING GREEN! November 7, 2008

Well…kind of.

I think the term “GREEN” is being hijacked, just like “ORGANIC” or “NATURAL” has been. Although I think it’s wonderful that all this “GREEN-ness” has made people much more conscious of how their choices impact the world around us, I often wonder how many of us consider the choices we make that affect our bodies? Or, more specifically, do we consider what we put ON our bodies?

To me “Going GREEN” means making small changes that can turn into big changes for our future. GREEN means making different choices, focusing on preventative maintenance to become naturally healthy. We should ask ourselves, “What exactly is in that body lotion I apply everyday? What’s in my shampoo, my deodorant, or my toothpaste? What products are really good for me? What should I be looking for? What products are safe for me and my family?”

Well, cancer in my household motivated me to ask those questions and ultimately sent me on a journey that I am truly grateful for. I want to share with you just what I’ve learned and continue to learn.

So, truthfully, the salon isn’t going completely GREEN, we’re just turning over a new leaf. Stay tuned as I continue to grow, learn and share with you how, together, we can make choices that are not only good for our bodies, but also the future of our earth!

To your beautiful and natural health,
~Lorri

USDA Certified Pureganic Fragrance November 16, 2008

Huh?

Sexy Hair Organics is a new offering from the company called Sexy Hair. I’ve refused to bring the main line into my salon, specifically because of the name, but I thought Id check this out. With companies jumping on the bandwagon these days in a hurry to be GREEN, I’ve learned to be very skeptical. When the label reads “Paraben free” or ”Sulphate free”, it’s become a warning sign to me. I would prefer the labels to read “preservative free” or “surfactant free” because more often than not, the parabens and sulphates are only being replaced with other potentially harmful ingredients. A bit deceiving, yes? Well read on my friends, it gets better.

In checking out Sexy Hair Organics (which, by the way, states to be Sulphate free, Paraben free, Petrochemical free and Dye free) there’s a small symbol on the front that shows what percentage of organic ingredients are in it. Im intrigued. Taking a closer look at the label on the back, it reads ” Infused with USDA Certified Pureganic fragrance and made of 77% organic ingredients including a combination of organic aloe vera juice…”.

USDA Certified Pureganic Fragrance???  Seems like I’m not the only confused consumer out there, the United States Department of Agriculture who is responsible for certification  hasn’t heard of it either! I couldn’t begin to explain to you what it’s made up of because there is no way of knowing. Fragrance rates 8 (on a scale of 1-10) on the Skin Deep report and is a known human immune toxicant and neurotoxin. I remove the cap and take a whiff. I cannot smell anything even resembling “pure” and with my experience with essential oils, I cannot detect anything masquerading as natural either. I do however, feel like I just walked into a perfume shop and need to go breathe some fresh air.

This is a perfect example of how deceiving our labels can be and how concerned and aware we need to be. I do apologize for picking on Sexy Hair Organics and while I applaud their efforts, they still have a long way to go as there are several other questionable chemicals involved. Adding organic ingredients to a product only creates another set of problems, and I will write about that in a future blog. Only 1 of the 5 products looked promising and would be worthy of trying, but the rest will find their way back to the beauty supply shelf.

And I no longer need to struggle with a name.

Lj

Pureology at Target November 21, 2008

In the past we’ve had clients tell us they’ve seen professional salon brands at big box retailers such as Target, CVS and even Cub Foods. It’s not uncommon to see Pureology, Redken, Biolage, Crew, Paul Mitchel and more lining the shelves. It’s called Diversion and it’s hurting the salon industry. Please take a moment to see why purchasing a product at a place other than a licensed hair salon could be harmful to your health and pocketbook!

 

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

Stay warm, Lj

Holiday Blues? November 25, 2008

Is Christmas being cancelled?

We’re being bombarded these days.The economy, wall street, crime, unemployment, housing, the closing of businesses, bankruptcy, bail outs and bombings.  It seems no matter where we are or what we’re doing, someone is reminding us how bad things are. It’s typically the media, but often it can be our neighbor or co-worker, our spouse, or the waitress that brings your morning cup of java. Being an optimistic business owner I try to block out the negativity but it surrounds me constantly and there are days that I struggle. It’s during those moments that I remember to keep my mind focused on better feeling thoughts and good things always prevail.

It wasn’t long ago I sat in a hospital room while my husband received one of his many chemo treatments. Those were dark days and while I sat watching his I.V. drip for 24 hours in a dreary, dark, disgustingly smelly room at 2 West, I found peace and comfort in reading. At the time I was reading Dr. Wayne Dyer “Inspiration, Your Ultimate Calling” and I came across a passage about Joy.

It reads:

 

‘ When the calender becomes frenzied, full of unnecessary turbulence because we’ve failed to simplify, we won’t be able to hear those long distance calls from our Source…and we’ll slip into stress, anguish, and even depression. So whatever it takes to feel joy, we must simply act upon it. Whatever our current station in life, we have a spiritual contract to make joy our constant companion- so we must learn to make a concious choice to say no to anything that takes us away from an inspired life. This can be done gently, while clearly showing others that this is how we choose to live’.

 

After months of searching deep within myself to find and keep the strength for this journey we were on, it suddenly clicked within me. (It was my “AHA”! moment, just like Oprah says). And it has stayed with me since. I reach for it daily, hundreds of times each day as it was (and still is) life changing. It wasn’t an overwhelming feeling, just a soft voice within that whispered to my soul. I knew at that moment that everything would be okay. No matter how things ended up. It was all okay and always would be from that point on. I found Joy in the darkest of moments and everything changed. 

Find the Joy for you! In this moment, in this space, at this time. Right here, right now! FIND THE JOY! There is ALWAYS a better feeling thought even if it’s only a small thought. Even if the thought is simple. Be an observer of your thoughts when your standing in a long check out line waiting to purchase Aunt Roxanne’s cat slippers, or when the item you ordered online with a guaranteed delivery date doesn’t arrive on time. How can you make the best of the situation? When you find yourself caught up in the negative chatter during holday social events, refrain from judgement and just listen for a moment. Listen to your own words and then choose a better thought about the subject at hand. We need Joy now more than ever and it can only start with ourselves. You get to choose the way you experience the Holidays so choose wisely!

I remember my better feeling thought that day. A small, simple thought that changed the moment. And every moment since. Wanna know what it was?

This room doesn’t smell today. And it instantly became a better day.

Joy to you!

Lj

To call my own… December 2, 2008

For the last 8 months I have been searching feverishly for hair and beauty products I feel are worthy of being on my shelves. This has not been an easy task as it seems the moment I discover, what I think is an authentic product, it has a questionable chemical in it and I am discouraged once again. This has been a vicious cycle of excitement and disappointment and it has tested my commitment to my mission. Yes, there are some great healthy products available but none have fit my selective criteria, as there are many shades of “GREEN”. In my searching I have also found many companies (see my previous post titled USDA Certified Pureganic) that make false claims, so I am cautious. Optimistic, but cautious. I know it has to be out there somewhere……

Look no farther.

Arriving January 2009……

Stay tuned!

Lj

Honey & Oatmeal skin cleanser January 5, 2009

This is fabulous for all skin types and extra fabulous for dry, flaky skin due to long Minnesota winters. I use this twice daily and it makes my skin soft and smooth. It is a gentle cleansing scrub and can also be modified to use as a nourishing mask. Make sure you follow the guidelines!

• Honey benefits: Skin beautifier & cleanser.
• Oatmeal benefits: Full of vitamin E, anti-oxidants & is a non-soap cleanser. Oatmeal promotes healing & is wonderfully moisturizing.
• Ingredients: 1-2 teaspoons oatmeal, finely ground. (Oat flour may be used). 1-2 teaspoons honey. 1 teaspoon purified water.
• Recipe: Mix all ingredients together and let rest for 1-2 minutes. You will want a paste-like consistency. Moisten face with lukewarm water and gently massage cleanser into skin for 60 seconds using circular movements, adding more cleanser as needed. Enjoy the gentle scrubbing affect of the oatmeal, concentrating on your dry areas. Rinse with lukewarm or cool water and pat dry with towel. Follow with toner or moisturizer.
•  To use as a mask, reduce water in recipe to make a thicker paste. Drape a towel over your shoulders. Massage into skin and relax for 15-20 minutes. Rinse well with cool water and pat dry.

Green Tea skin toner January 5, 2009

Naturally anti-aging, Green tea is loaded with the anti-oxidants vitamin C & vitamin E which help strengthen your skin’s natural defenses. This is a wonderful tonic to sooth irritated, windburned or sunburned skin. Make a little extra for yourself and enjoy a cup of natural energy! ALWAYS buy organic when purchasing green tea (all teas if possible) as it has a high pesticide rate. Don’t forget to follow the guidelines!

• Benefit: naturally anti-aging & soothing.
• Ingredients: 1/2 cup purified water or pure spring water. 2 green tea bags.
• Recipe: Boil water in saucepan. Place tea bags in ceramic mug or bowl and pour boiling water over bags. Cover and allow to steep for 2-3 minutes. Allow tea to cool completely. Apply to face with cotton or gauze. Do not rinse off.

A picture really IS worth a thousand words. February 1, 2009

Todays post is going to be a little out of the ordinary. It has nothing to do with organics, wellness, ingredients, questionable chemicals or the like. It does, however, have to do with hair and the power of intention!

My husband and I own  a booth at the Minnesota State Fair called Fair Do’s! . We’ve had this business for 7 years and last year a professional photographer named Joel Sartore, from a pretty famous magazine shot some pictures of our creations. It seems this magazine was doing a spread on our nations greatest state fairs and the final picks would be in the August 2009 issue. There was a 1 in 40,000 chance a photo of his would be picked, but after learning his work has been on hundreds of covers, I was optimistic. I’m a firm believer in visualization and imagined how awesome it would be to be picked to represent our state fair.

I received a call 2 weeks ago and was informed that Fair Do’s will be in the August issue of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine! HOW COOL IS THAT?

Anything’s possible boys and girls if you believe in the power of your dreams. Absolutely anything.

Carcinogens in bubble bath. March 14, 2009

I had read a report this afternoon from the Organic Consumers Association about toxins in childrens bath care products when later on, my girlfriend mentioned she had read this article in USA Today. She is the mother of a 3 year old and was really disturbed by what she had learned.

Group finds carcinogens in kids bath products:

Twenty-three of 28 products tested contained formaldehyde, the report says. Formaldehyde — considered a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, — is released as preservatives break down over time in a container.  

Many children’s bath products contain chemicals that may cause cancer and skin allergies, according to a report released Thursday by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Thirty-two of 48 products contained 1,4-dioxane, also considered a probable human carcinogen by the EPA, is a byproduct of a chemical processing techniques used to make petroleum-based ingredients gentler to the skin. Nearly two-thirds of products tested, including Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, contained both chemicals, according to the campaign, a coalition of environmental and health groups that includes the Breast Cancer Fund and the Environmental Working Group.

Formaldehyde can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people, the report says, and Japan and Sweden have banned formaldehyde from personal care products.

As disturbing as this information is, it is applaudable that USA Today picked up the story. I don’t know about you, but after months of  being bombarded with Bernie Madoff, business layoffs and the stock market tanking, it’s refreshing to hear some news that gives us an option on how the story ends. With this information we can start making healthier choices about what we apply to our bodies and our children’s bodies, and begin to write our own story.

Contrary to popular belief – knowledge is not power, applied knowledge is power. Be the change.

Read the OCA full press release  here  to find out which companies have changed their ways and print out the “shoppers safety guide” to help you be an informed consumer.

Keeping your kids carcinogen free,

Lorri

What should you use for your children? March 19, 2009

Here’s a link for a follow up to my last blog about carcinogens in childrens personal care products.

Parents buying guide

Print out the list and bring it with you when you go shopping!

More recipes! April 21, 2009

From bath bombs to lip balm….

Here’s a link to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website and some great “make at home” skin care recipes.

http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=233

Enjoy!

Sunscreen Safety May 28, 2009

Now that summer is here and we’re all spending a fair amount of time outdoors, we need to make informed choices about the sunscreen choices we’re making and not base them on fear. Not all sunscreens are created equal and many on the shelves have the ingredient Oxybenzone which is on the EWG’s list of ingredients to avoid. It ranks a 9 on a scale of 1-10 and is prominent in many childrens’ brands such as Coppertone Continuous Kid’s Sunblock Spray SPF 50.

We’ve been trained to believe that the sun is dangerous for us, but it is also life giving and provides much needed vitamin D. Doctors are starting to find people are becoming deficient in D and are prescribing supplements to help. It’s helpful to get 10-15 minutes of sun, without sunscreen, daily and then apply a healthy coating with non-toxic ingredients. The active ingredients in sunscreen typically expire after 1 year so it’s wise to toss out the old and start fresh each season.

In the last few years I have questioned the idea of applying so much sunscreen on us, and our fear for the effects of the sun on our children and wonder if the rise in skin cancer is related more to the cancer causing chemicals we are applying than to the amount of sunshine we are getting.  Call me crazy, but worth pondering.

Take a few minutes before purchasing your next bottle and check out the Sunscreen Guide  from the Environmental Working Group, it’s a fabulous resource when searching out sunscreens, and what you find may surprise you.

And  just remember to make the best choices at the time. If your at the beach and Coppertone is all you have, by all means use it, as the alternative is worse. And painful!

Enjoy safely!

Food Inc. June 24, 2009

Last Friday night I went with some friends to see the movie Food Inc. Have you heard of it? Well, let me tell you something. Grab your spouse, your kids, your parents and neighbors and get to the Lagoon Theatre and watch it.

I have been living  what some would call an “organic”  lifestyle for some time now. I shop at co-ops, buy organic, cook only organic at home and am very careful what I order when we go out for dinner. We only eat meat and poultry (at home) that is sourced responsibly and I have an organic garden in my back yard. I thought I understood  how the food industry processes and manufactures food, but after watching this movie I now understand that I had no clue.

This movie will amaze you. It will open your eyes to what the ‘really big picture’  is all about. Who controls (literally “owns”) our food and seed supply, how our food is made, why and how E Coli is getting to be such a deadly problem, immigration, farming and so, so much more.

Warning here: This is not for the faint of heart and a few scenes are graphic and hard to watch (close your eyes) and you probably wont want to see this if you are not willing to change your shopping and eating habits. I promise you, you will not look at food in the same way ever again, and that is a VERY good thing.

Bon Appetite!

Check out the trailer here.

(Movie theatres are always air conditioned so this would be a perfect week to go)!

Toilet Cleaner and Vino connection? July 23, 2009

This is a great article! I saw this on AOL this morning and wanted to share it with you. It’s nice to see this information going more mainstream.

Read article here

After seeing Food, Inc. for the second time,  I agree more wholeheartedly than ever with Micheal Pollan – “We have a right to know whats in our food and where it’s coming from”. Forward this article on to friends and family and lets get the word out.

Eat healthy and stay healthy!

Support local food! August 5, 2009

This sounds like great food, fun and fresh air. This sunday at the Nicollet Island Pavillion is the Fresh Taste Festival! It’s all about supporting organic, local and sustainable food & wine. Think of it as the Food & Wine Experience on a much smaller, more intimate scale.

Eating organic foods is so important for us and for the health of our planet.  If you’ve been thinking of going organic, but didn’t know where to start, this a great place to get your feet wet!

Here’s the link.

See you there!

They’re listening!! August 11, 2009

I received this from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) last week and wanted to share it with you. We always hear about the efforts being made for keeping us and our world healthy but we typically don’t hear if there are any results being made. Read the following email and you will feel confident that all of our efforts do not go unnoticed. They are listening!!

Dear lorri,Over the last several months EWG has made some waves and drawn a lot of attention to the issues you and I care about. I want to make sure you know what EWG has achieved in just the last few months.

We all agree that influencing public policy has a lot to do with being heard by the right people at the right time. At EWG, we’ve got a knack for just that. Our unique investigations, skilled team of researchers and effective advocacy work well together to catch the attention of decision makers – right when it matters.

We’ve told decision makers what you want. . . and they’re listening.

• We caught food industry giants plotting to mislead mothers and minority parents about the hazards of bisphenol-A (BPA) and spurred grassroots pressure to find a safe alternative.
• Some 14,000 members of EWG’s burgeoning online community joined us to ask U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to oppose uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. And he did. Nearly a million acres of public land has been set aside, preventing the mining industry from staking any claims for at least two years, and possibly as many as 20 years.
• Congressional insiders picked EWG and myself as top grassroots advocates on biofuels for our ability to combine lobbying and research with grassroots power effectively.
• The California State Senate passed the Toxics-Free Babies & Toddlers Act, which we sponsored, to ban BPA in children’s food products. If the State Assembly approves the bill, the largest market in the country will join Connecticut and Minnesota whose state legislatures enacted partial BPA Bans earlier this year.
• We asked the EPA to consider the full impact of over-subsidized biofuels on greenhouse gas emissions and penned an Op-Ed published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
• Five environmental justice leaders joined us for an extensive two-year study that tested them for 75 chemical contaminants. They took their results directly to Congress as a compelling argument for reform of the failed federal toxics law.

We researched, reported and testified for better public policies.

• We released our third annual sunscreen report to help consumers identify safe, effective products and better understand the ingredients in sunscreen. We found that sunscreen companies are reformulating many products to be safer and more effective as a result of our three-year campaign.
• We expanded our ground-breaking work on bottled water safety by reviewing labels, provided by our fabulous fans, and released a report rating manufacturers on their (lack of) transparency. We took this research to Congress where Jane Houlihan, our head of research, testified in front of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

We created and shared important, useful information.

• Our Editor-in-Chief, Elaine Shannon, began writing for the Huffington Post so that we can take our message to millions of readers. Here’s an exciting post discussing a ground-breaking study about infertility and bisphenol-A.
• We launched a new blog on Kid-Safe Chemicals where EWG staff and outside experts are discussing emerging science and the need for toxics policy reform.
• I presented our 10 Americans talk to hundreds in California, Georgia, Canada, Wisconsin and Washington D.C. You can watch a short version on our site.
• We launched a monthly informational email series based on our popular Healthy Home Tips guide.
• We won two Treehugger awards for best health and beauty information and best natural health news web sites.

As you can see, we’ve been busy. All of the staff at EWG is grateful for your support, which we know makes our work possible. With your help, we’re doing the hard work it takes to achieve our shared goal: healthy people and a healthy planet.

Sincerely,

Ken Cook
President, Environmental Working Group

I can only add this…. WELL DONE KEN! May the EWG keep up the good work!

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: New Safe Cosmetics Video September 17, 2009

What does the public think? What do you think?

What’s happening now? Part 1 of 2. November 5, 2009

The last several months I’ve been “out of the loop” so to speak and apologize for not updating my post. I have a seasonal business at the Minnesota state fair (www.statefairdos.com) which demands most of my attention, and then Im right back to work which leaves little time for writing or researching. Now that life has settled down a bit I have been noticing some things that have really piqued my interest. It’s amazing what you notice when you step away from something for awhile.

I have been a label reader for some time now and I always find it amusing ( okay, amusing maybe isn’t the right term. How about interesting.) So I find it interesting… when a new distributor brings in their “natural” or “made with organic ingredients” product into my salon with hopes of establishing an account with me. I understand that they believe in their product, they should. They have this incredible new eco-friendly trendy line to show me because they know that’s the only type of product I’ll even consider anymore, but I often wonder if they truly understand what it is they are trying to sell. Like I said above, I am a label reader and I don’t just look for the natural or organic  ingredients in a product, I look for all of the other things that most people overlook. Sure, it’s cool to “Go Green” these days, but you just can’t trust that the product you are using or buying is healthy. You really need to become a label reader because nobody knows whats best for you, except you. What’s happening is, chemicals are being replaced with chemicals, and so the familiar name that you know to look for on a label as being toxic or potentially harmful such as Parabens, is being replaced with Phenoxyethenols and other carcinogens. Just the other day I read on a label “organic propylene glycol”. Really? Is that possible? I think Id like to research that one a little further before I lather up- thank you very much.

So here’s what’s happening in the beauty industry. And of course this is just my opinion, but I encourage you to take a look  for yourself  the next time your at the beauty counter. Most people dont realize that the combination of certain chemicals in lotions, face creams and the like, can create an unwelcomed “smell”, and so companies are adding more fragrance  to mask the unpleasant odors. Fragrance, which is highly toxic, an allergen and an endocrine disruptor, used to be near the bottom of the ingredient list and typically the last ingredient, just to give a nice little scent and make you feel good. Not so  much any more. I am noticing fragrance being listed in the top third of the list and sometimes even the 2nd or 3rd ingredient! I tried a new gel the other day and by the end of the day I had to wash my hair as the scent followed me around like an unwanted friend. My headache went away by morning and I threw the product in the garbage. Glad it was just a sample. Fragrance was the 5th ingredient in this product. 5th out of 34. This really raises cause for concern as Phthalates, which are in fragrances and many other skin and body care products, are dangerous for our reproductive systems  and especially for young girls and teenagers who slather it on like butter. Read more about Phthlates here or do a google search and start looking at your labels when your considering a product. Make sure you turn the product around and read the back label, not the front as clever marketing can have you fooled. If it looks unhealthy put it back on the shelf or simply say “no thank you”, making sure to tell the salesperson why you’re refusing it.

Knowledge is power, but applied knowledge can change the world.

What’s happening now? Part 2 of 2. December 2, 2009

Paraben Free.

Along with “Sulfate Free”, it’s the new buzz word in the beauty industry. Next time your at the beauty counter  or drug store check out a few of the popular skin lotions or hair products that are available. Due to pressure from the EWG (Environmental Working Group), Safe Cosmetics and savvy consumers like you, it seems that parabens are being phased out of our beauty products. This is a site for sore eyes as parabens are known to be a significant hormone disruptor and in 90% of our skin care products. Don’t take my word for it, grab a lotion out of your cabinet and check for yourself.

The part that concerns me about the massive hype “Now Paraben Free!” is that in order for products to remain on the shelves for an extended period of time there has to be a globally approved preservative present. Introducing…Phenoxyethanol folks. You’re globally approved preservative. Phenoxyethanol has been approved by the CIR  Expert Panel ( Cosmetic Ingredient Review) as a safe ingredient when concentrations are less than 1 %. But, this panel is also funded by the CTFA (Cosmetics, Toiletry and Fragrance  Association) and not to forget that Parabens up until recently were also deemed safe by the CTFA. We know that there is no regulation in the beauty industry and any company can claim their products or ingredients are safe, until of course, they change their minds due to public pressure.

Phenoxyethanol ranks lower on the database than Parabens and is not a known endocrine disruptor, but is a carcinogen. So check your labels for “Paraben Free”  and see what the substitute is. Another thing to really watch out for is where the preservatives are listed on the ingredient labels. The higher up on the list the higher the concentration. I mentioned in my last post how fragrance has moved its way up the list and I am seeing the same with Parabens and Phenoxyethanol, and this really concerns me.

We all want to use more natural or organic products if possible and beauty companies have picked up on this. They are not dummies. We demand quality ingredients- they market, they label and they deliver. And we buy because we are being told of all the wonderful new natural, organic ingredients put into their formulas. Well, buyer beware. Natural ingredients expire faster than their chemical partners and when they get all mixed up together in a nice little jar, natural and chemical, the preservative concentration has to be higher to keep it from spoiling. Just as with fragrance, higher up the list the Parabens go.

So the rule of thumb is, as I always say, read your labels. Get to know your ingredients. You dont have to be a rocket scientist just memorize 1 or 2 names. You’ll remember next time your shopping and at the very least question the product you’re looking at. Natural and organic is the “green” thing to do right now and there are plenty of good companies out there bringing us excellent products, but there are also many, many more with clever marketing strategies looking for your money.

Buy local, look for minimal processing, minimal packaging and minimal ingredients. Explore essential oils and natural skin care remedies. Olive and jojoba oil to nourish your skin, sugar and salt for a gentle scrub, baking soda to exfoliate….the kitchen is full of healthy ingredients!

Take the test. January 10, 2010

Another great series from the EWG. (Envorinmental Working Group).Take the quiz and find out how much you know about toxins in cosmetics.

Read first article here.

The second part of the series explains why the data gap is important when researching an ingredient or product.

Read second article here.