Check Your Cleaning Products

While we're checking out our cosmetics and personal care products, read those labels on the following things in your home:

Air fresheners (spray or plug-in): These are really bad news - usually contain naphthalene and/or formaldehyde (both known carcinogens). Instead of masking a bad smell in your house, find out what is causing it and take care of it! You can try baking soda and natural essential oils for a fresher smell.

Art and craft supplies: Watch out for lead in paint, glazes, enamels. Also avoid rubber cement, solvent-based markers and paint thinners. Use water-based paints, glues and markers.

Antifreeze, brake fluid and windshield wiper fluid: These are all very toxic and so is used motor oil. Keep all of these things out of the reach of children (lock them up - not the children, the chemicals) and avoid contact with skin. Dispose of properly according to hazardous waste facility recommendations.

Dry cleaning: There's a reason for that nasty smell that sticks around for days after you pick up your dry cleaning -- numerous carcinogenic chemicals are used in the dry cleaning process including formaldehyde. When you are looking for a dry cleaning establishment, ask if they can use a wet cleaning method, use liquid CO2 or citrus juice cleaners.

Wall paints and varnishes: According to the EPA, some VOCs used in paints are known human carcinogens. They are released in the air and can continue to emit harmful gas for years after being applied. Always use low or no VOC paints and varnishes.

Mothballs: Come on now, you must have guessed why those things smell so bad. You are inhaling insecticide! Don't use mothballs - ever! Just buy a new sweater!

Cleaning products: OK - here are the very worst offenders - mold and mildew products. They very often contain formaldehyde. Try getting rid of that mold/mildew with straight vinegar or 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil mixed in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Hope you like the smell of tea tree oil -- it may linger for a couple of days.

Most carpet and upholstery cleaners use very noxious chemicals. Try using a steam cleaner with a water-based product.

Furniture polish = bad! You can make your own using 1/8 cup olive oil mixed with one tablespoon vinegar and one tablespoon vodka (I knew that stuff had to be good for something - just not ingestion)!

I've got some recipes for simple cleaning products you can make at home with items you may already have on hand. They are safe and natural. After I make some myself, I will let you know how they clean!

Vapour Cosmetics

On Chelsea's recommendation, I tried some of the vapour product line. I totally love the Stratus II Instant Skin Perfector! I've been using it as a moisturizer and primer. It has light reflecting pigment and makes your skin look so yummy! I really love the Trick Stick too. I use it in the corners of my eyes, under my brow bones and in the bow of my lips. I didnt love the blush as much. It was really sheer and not a very consistent coverage. They're all a little pricey, but I think I'll always use the skin perfector.

More skincare and makeup

Here is another great site/shop for makeup. If you live near Sandy, this is a great little shop and the owner, Joy, is VERY helpful. She will make you small samples of any of her products so you can try them at home first and see how they work for you...Also, you can order anything online. www.naturaljoybeauty.com.

Things I really like so far: Real Purity Mascara, Wild Willow lip balm, mineral eye shadows, Lauren Brooke concealer.

Things I have tried and wasn't crazy about: Lip-liners and eye-liners (these are tricky to find healthy replacements that stay on long and go on smooth), foundation with enough coverage (I tried both of the ones they offer and if you just need light coverage, they are great).

What I LOVE is that Joy is SUPER helpful, knowledgable and willing to make you samples so you don't buy a whole bottle of something, hate it and end up stuck with it.

Check it out!

Online shop for skincare stuff

Hey peeps-
Here is a link to an online shop I'm checking out of a girl named Jen who makes all of her own skincare/body products.....she is sending me some stuff to try out, but check out her site and she has products for kids/babies too, which is so important, seeing that there are terrible chemicals in a lot of the baby wash and lotions. http://www.shopsimplyjen.com/ I'll let you know when I try out some of her stuff what I like so far.