Triclosan in the news...again...

Interesting article in the news today about the (in)effectiveness of Triclosan. For a while now, many (e.g. the EWG) have been warning against using products with Triclosan. Triclosan is commonly used in handsoap, bodywash, toothpaste, and other products as an antibacterial. In my opinion it causes more harm than good. All you need to stay clean is a nice bar of good ol' fashioned soap!

Spring clean more than just dust bunnies...

This Spring when you get the urge to clear out Winter's clutter and dust don't forget to take a look through your cabinets at your cosmetics. You might be surprised to see what yuckies are lurking there...

Here's an article from EWG's blog listing the 6 most yucky ingredients that you should try to avoid: "Spring Clean Your Cosmetics" It only takes a few minutes to read it, but you have much to gain from this info.

Here's a list of some of my favorite personal care products:

Baby Balm (Rash/Irritation Cream) by Anointment (anointment also makes wonderful handcrafted soaps, body butters, lip balms and more and can be bought through Nurtured and other retailers).

Body Butter by Rocky Mountain Soap Company (great for eczema and really dry skin).

Deodorant by Rocky Mountain Soap Co. (Finding a deodorant has been tricky! My friend Taryn and I have tried and tested so many kinds! But so far this is my favorite, and I think it's hers too. Soon I will try the one from Green Beaver and see how it works).

Face Cream by Green Beaver

Hair styling products by Giovanni (Atlantic Superstore carries this line).

Hand and Body Soap by Rocky Mountain Soap Co. (their baby soap is fabulously gentle yet effective!)

Hand & Body Lotions by Green Beaver

Shampoo and Conditioner by Green Beaver (cranberry is my favorite!)

Toothpaste by Green Beaver (Wowie! This toothpaste is intensely good! A little goes a long way).

Green Beaver also makes lip balms, lip shimmers and they have a new men's line. Their products can be found at the Healthy Bug (if they don't have something you want in stock, they are more than happy to bring it in for you).

When it comes to make-up it's been harder to find stuff that works but that's also safe. So far Jane Iredale's make-up line is the most effective and safest my friend and I have found (thanks again to Taryn for introducing me to it!). I've also heard of the make-up line by Lavera, which I will give a try someday soon to see how I like it. You can buy Jane Iredale products at any Summit Spa location. The Lavera line is on sale at The Healthy Bug.

For those living in the USA there are many, many options for cleaner cosmetics. Aubrey Organics (widely available, you can even buy online) makes a full line of facial creams, hair care products and even make-up. Avalon Organics is also another company that offers many care products and they also have a wonderful baby care products line. Here in Canada some stores also carry products from both of these companies.

If you'd like to do your own search check out EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. You can look up safe cosmetics and care products and also look up your current products to see how they rank.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

The No Can Challenge

Considering the fact that most linings in canned food contain BPA, a few of the people that work at EWG have started a week long challenge of not using cans when cooking. I wondered if we could do it too? We don't really use canned food all that much, but sometimes we do out of convenience or because it's the only way to get that certain ingredient (pineapple is one of those!). I really would like to see if we can avoid them all together, not just for a week but for good. It's going to take some careful planning and searching in the grocery stores to find those hard to get items, but it will definitely be worth it in the long run. My plan is to go through my pantry and see what I have there and what I use the most. I am sure I can replace almost all canned stuff with fresh ingredients. If it can't be found fresh I will have to find a frozen or different packaging alternative.

Check out the post on EWG for more info.

March 24/10
P.S. I wanted to add this link to an article which contains a nice summary of info on BPA

Tidbit on Cosmectic Safety

Lead in lipsticks. Hormone disruptors in baby creams. Carcinogens in shampoo. Sounds gross right? Well sadly, it is true. Just wanted to share the latest post on EWG's blog for those that want to check it out.

Say no to BPA and other yucky stuff...

I am trying to keep myself busy and distracted as the minutes tick by and I hear no news about my grandpa. I am thinking no news is good news though...

Anyways, I am reading up a lot on BPA. Here is a very interesting post on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) blog about the malicious planning of the big kahunas in the plastic industry to keep BPA in use, mostly in the lining of canned foods. In spite of all the research that shows BPA is very harmful and can cause many health issues, they are planning to use fear tactics and target women and minorities to ensure they can keep using BPA in products. It's pretty sad and pathetic and I hope people read up on this and become more informed so we can, one by one, make a difference. While you are on their blog, spare a few minutes to read up on the other important issues they discuss, it's definitely worth it! You can also sign up for regular email updates here. I get these and always find them helpful. Sometimes it's overwhelming to learn about all the yucky, harmful stuff out there. It feels impossible to get rid of everything harmful. But I think that it's better to know and start making a difference little by little, than to not know and risk exposing yourself and your kiddos to toxins.