Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Why Choose Natural and Organic Body Care Products

As the world is becoming more “green” and health conscience, many of us are beginning to understand the dangers of some of our habits. People are starting to realize that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put into it. Our skin is a living, breathing tissue that covers and protects the body, but it also absorbs substances that come into contact with it.
 
Just as prescription drugs can be delivered through our skin via a patch – lotions, soaps, shampoos, and other body care products are also absorbed by our skin. If you use products made with chemical preservatives, these chemicals may be absorbed into your body. On the other hand, your body will absorb all natural ingredients when you use organic and natural products. It is important to consider what products we are using, and what is really in those products, as we shop for our makeup, hair care, and skin care products.

Commercial skin care products are often produced with animal byproducts such as lanolin, and also include other chemical detergents and petrochemicals. In many cases these animal byproduct units and petrochemicals are too large to be absorbed by the skin, but they will attract dirt and clog the pores. This can cause problems such as skin irritation and allergies.

Commercially produced skin care products usually include chemical preservatives to extend the shelf life of the products. In contrast, organic and natural products rely on natural ingredients that have self-preservation qualities. Although the shelf life may not be as long, the natural products offer many benefits for the skin and do not contain the harmful preservatives. Some natural preservation ingredients commonly used in natural products are vitamin E, honey, grapefruit seed extract, and Sandalwood essential oil.

Natural skin care products use ingredients formed by nature, not from synthetic chemicals. Ingredients such as flowers, essential oils, herbs, and roots are combined with naturally occurring surfactants, humectants and emulsifiers in organic products. These natural products are carefully manufactured to preserve the quality of the ingredients.

Consumers often assume that organic and natural products are too expensive in comparison to other commercial brands. On the contrary, natural and organic products actually offer a better value than synthetic based skin products. These ingredients are highly penetrative to the skin, and smaller amounts of the natural ingredients are needed to produce the final product.

The following list highlights many of the potentially harmful ingredients often used in commercially produced skin and body care products. It is best to avoid products with these ingredients, as they have potential side effects that include skin irritation, allergic reactions, rashes, and may even be toxic or carcinogenic.

- Artificial fragrances
- Chemical preservatives – formaldehyde, methylisothiazolinones, and DMDM hydantonin
- Ethoxylates – sodium laureth sulfates (SLES) and polysorbates
- Irritant sulfates – sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate
- Nitrosamines – formed from ingredient DEA (diethanoloamine)
- Parabens
- Petrochemicals – propylene glycol, SD alcohol, and benzene
- Phthalates
- Propylene glycol
- Triclosan

Our skin is permeable, and it will absorb the ingredients of the products we apply to it. Using natural and organic skin products is important for our skin. It is a small thing that will have a big impact on your body. Treat your body to natural and organic skin care products today, and your body will thank you tomorrow.  


Source:
Amanda Stone
Mother Earth Body Care


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Benefits of Natural Organic Bath Products

I recently have changed from buying bath products from a local retail store, and order it from a small business that sells natural bath products. With science continually proving consequential effects of how we care for ourselves, it makes sense to be concerned about our skin and how to take care of it. Many substances are absorbed through our skin, so it is very important to care for the very thing that shields us, our skin.

Natural organic bath products include soap, shampoo, conditioner, bath salts, scrubs, moisturizers, and deodorant bars. The cost can be a little more than what is offered at a retail chain store; however, it was well worth it. Not only could I order a variety of scents that are pleasing, but the feel and texture of the products were far more beneficial to me. Some of these scents are delicious! From chocolate, or licorice, lemon, orange, lavender, cinnamon, its almost endless. They smell so good, you can almost eat them!

The wholesome effects of using natural bath products are convincing. The natural ingredients improve your skin, and make it feel smooth and soft. Pure natural soaps, shampoos, and conditioners have natural oils that help with keeping your skin from drying out. They can even help with acne, or can be used as a substitute for other soaps that you may cause allergic reactions.

The effects of using a store bought bar of soap for instance, there is a difference. In your average bar of soap there is a substantial percentage of alkali. It can also contain the additive sodium laureth sulfate. This can actually harm the skin by taking away the useful nutrients designed to smooth the skin. It can also create a film on the skin and not allow it to breathe. It should never be used on sensitive skin such as your face, body or hair. However, most typically use soap as a full body cleanser.

Another benefit can be the positive effect using natural bath products as a way of helping the environment. Using natural organic or recyclable products have a measurable effect on our planet. Natural soap is a great way to bring your body to its natural state. The natural oils and scents make it a great way to clean, pleasing the senses and your skin.

Source:
HubPages.com
By Lanetodd

The Good Hype About Organic Living

A lot of people out there do not understand what all of the hype is about going green and eating organic. Well, there are actually a lot of reasons why this new lifestyle change going on in the world is actually beneficial, not only to the environment but also to humankind. 

For centuries, people have developed new ways to harvest foods and get food to grow faster and bigger. The problem is, however, that those new technologies have had a pretty harsh toll on the environment and the people around us. The environment is no longer as stable as it once was, and the people are certainly gaining weight because of the chemicals and the processed foods. How can these older lifestyles actually help the world and its people? Well, they can’t, and that’s why people are so interested in going green and eating organic foods.

Going green has a lot to it. There are the extreme and avid greenies who basically work so hard to make sure that they have very little impact on the environment. Many of them grow their own food, make compost, use very little of the waste services, and practically just learn how to live very simple lifestyles. They use very little electronics, because electronic require that harmful fumes go into the atmosphere, causing global warming. They typically ride bikes everywhere and drive their vehicles very seldom. These types of people leave very small carbon footprints on the earth, and really care about the impact they have on the environment. If you are interested in that type of living, there are websites out there that can help you learn how to reduce your carbon footprints.
Eating organic foods is also a new trend that comes up among people these days. This basically means that they only eat foods that are made naturally and without chemicals. The way people make foods these days is basically by using a lot of chemicals that enhance the growth and size of the foods. These types of chemicals put into the foods are very harmful to the earth and the people who eat them. Organic foods, like natural beef and organic beef, are all made without harmful chemicals and hormones added into the foods and into the meat. This means that you are eating natural foods that don’t’ have anything but the actual food you are eating. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but it’s a small price to pay for a great deed.


Source:

Monday, May 2, 2011

Green Lifestyle Tips! Learn How to Be a Conscientious Consumer

Protecting the environment begins at the market stall or supermarket. Everything we buy has a direct or indirect effect on the environment. If you learn how to be a conscientious consumer, you can help make our world better.

Before you buy any consumer good or specialty product item, ask yourself several questions.  How was it made?  Did manufacturing produce pollution?  Does it use too much energy?  Can the packaging be recycled?  Does it deplete resources elsewhere? If the answers to these questions are YES, then you might want to reconsider what you choose to do with your buying power by putting the item back on that shelf or display rack and instead opt to buy a local product or more eco friendly item.

Think about items you can buy from local tradespeople (candles, honey, greeting cards) because the closer to the source of the product, the easier to estimate its ecological footprint.

Here’s some more tips from the book 365 Ways To Save The Earth by Philippe Bourseiller:
  1. Vote with your dollar; if you don’t want awful products sold in supermarkets, grocery stores, at local shopping malls, and discount stores nationwide, don’t buy them… and do not endorse political candidates that support large corporations they pollute the environment with reckless abandon.
  2. Buy only what you need; don’t buy so much that you have to throw things out that will overburden landfills.
  3. If you can’t use up or wear out something you bought, give it to someone who can (food, clothes, toys, holiday items, household decorating items you are tired of seeing, or garden products).
  4. Buy the best, most eco-friendly items from local vendors or cottage industry professionals like those on ETSY or re-selling on eBay; shop for food whenever you can at your local farmers market.
  5. Don’t let TRENDY items fill up your home; just say no to fad items and one use only or useless purchases.

GO GREEN! STAY GREEN!

HELP PROMOTE SUSTAINABLITY!



SOURCE:
Green Celebrity Tips
http://greencelebrity.net/
First Posted on Jan. 02