It's a toxic world-let's educate each other

Lowrider54

Bare Minerals for cosmetics; dug out all my grandma's glass Pyrex (and lots of her other stuff); got a water filter for the faucet so no more bottles; soy is ok in moderation - it is in so much, the capsules are a minimal exposure but I do try to avoid as much as possible.  I do the hot water bath too if anyone has been sick in the house.  Odd, I use many of my grandman's remedies.  They worked!

sanbar8771

Kira,

There is a brand at CVS or walgreens called, "alba" and most of their products are paraben free. I just found some paraben free sunscreen that does not leave your body white. This is a good thread.

kira1234

Thanks for the info on alba at CVS. I will check them out. So many of the products that are paraben free are way more than I can justify spending.

Merilee

Kira- Maybe you can think of it as prevention money, then it seems more than worth a few extra bucks. Coconut oil is very inexpensive and works great. I buy it at the health food store and just keep a jar in the bathroom. If it is just you using it a jar will last about 6 months. I just bought a new one an paid $9.00 for 14 ounces. A little goes a long way and my skin looks better than it ever has. Lots of skin products also have alcohol in them which is a drying agent.

If ever there was a time to invest in ourselves ladies, the time is now. Also there are so many of us that we could actually influence market trends. If we all leave the toxic stuff setting on the store shelves.

kira1234

I have been using the cocunut oil just love the stuff. I am more looking for makeup for daily use. I agree my health is important, which is why we are eating way more organic foods. Unfortunatly I need to keep mind the costs, wish I didn't, but I do.

althea

There's a lot of good articles about skin care product hazards at mercola.com.  Can't seem to find the one I wanted to link to.  Parabens have a lot of cousins and in-laws that are also undesirable.  Sodium laurel sulfates, for example, commonly found in shampoo. 

I went shopping with my mom last week.  While she was searching the cosmetics aisle, I occupied myself by trying to find a shampoo that didn't contain sodium laurel sulfate.  It's a detergent and is drying to the skin.  I looked at labels for probably 5 minutes.  Every single one had sodium laurel sulfate.  It's also in hand lotions, which boggles my mind because lotion doesn't need to suds.  ....although I guess since it dries out the skin, people buy more lotion???  Go figure. 

Coconut oil is lovely.  Vitamin Shoppe has a good one, and they frequently have a 'buy one, get the next one half price' discount.  We're heading toward winter when it'll get below 76 degrees inside and turn the oil solid.  I like to get the wide mouth jars so I can reach my hand to the bottom when it runs low.  

FLwarrior

I am constantly surprised at how many products contain Sodium laurel sulfates.  Check your toothpaste for Sodium laurel sulfates.  I am still getting used to using coconut oil.  I think with the weather changing it will be much easier, but it seems so heavy for hot summer time.

Merilee

I just used almond oil for the first time yesterday after my shower and liked that too. I put a little of my favorite essential oil  on my hand and then I rub it all I together. Just lovely. The Almond oil has very little fragrance which surprised me. My skin absorbed it rather quickly too

I bought a mascara last year that is coconut oil based. I will look at the brand and post it later. I still have some so it has lasted along time. But I was without eyelashes for a bit.

Kira-I have to watch money to as I am only on SSD right now, so I am always looking for ways to save money. Maybe we should start a thread on that, so that we can all find ways to afford the healthy products we need and want.

Merilee

I just used almond oil for the first time yesterday after my shower and liked that too. I put a little of my favorite essential oil on my hand and then I rub it all I together. Just lovely. The Almond oil has very little fragrance which surprised me. My skin absorbed it rather quickly too

I bought a mascara last year that is coconut oil based. I will look at the brand and post it later. I still have some so it has lasted along time. But I was without eyelashes for a bit.

Kira-I have to watch money to as I am only on SSD right now, so I am always looking for ways to save money. Maybe we should start a thread on that, so that we can all find ways to afford the healthy products we need and want.

kira1234

Marilee, What a great idea. I'm sure there are many of us who are in the same boat.

Merilee

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topic/776748?page=1#post_2671394

Ok here is a link to the money saving idea thread just created

Merilee

http://www.lavera.com/products/Volume_Mascara_No_1_black-627-1000105.html

Here is where I bought my organic Mascara. It is on sale right now also. It is from Lavera, they have all organic and healthy stuff.

Ceeztheday

Ladies, a question for you, does anyone take vitamin D3. I bought some today, 5000 IU, but don't know if that is too high a dose, too low??? Any info will be appreciated.

Makratz

I take 5000 IU's a day every day and my levels have gone from 18 to 48.  I have done this for 2 years and it really doesn;t go up any more. I also walk outside everyday for 6-8 miles with no sun block.

Just found this thread, will catch up with you all tomorrow.  Great thread!

Ceeztheday

Thanks Makraz! Welcome to the thread!

MamaV

robo47 - don't feel lazy - we are in Chicago - can't walk 6-8 miles without a drastic weather change around here!

GramE

If you are out tonight, there is a meteor shower predicted from Haley's Comet:

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Conditions-Right-to-See-Orionid-Meteors-Tonight-132325533.html 

Makratz

I am in Boston and we have drastic weather changes too.  I walk all year and love walking in the winter in the snow.  It's great for hot flashes and that horrible feeling of always being hot.

I bought snapple and kept the empy bottles because they are glass.  I use them for water bottles.  They go in the dishwasher and are easy to keep clean.  I have boys, who have gotten used to drinking out of them too.  So do their friends.  Plastic scares me.

Makratz

Is it the electromagnetic field?  I haven't heard anything bad about heating pads.  Now I'm curious!

Kay_G

Can they start fires?

Merilee

Any one find organic nail polish?

SAOIsenberg

Hey Merilee - there are "less toxic" nail polishes (you can get them at Whole Foods or other stores that have "natural" beauty products, but if you're truly trying to stay away from extra chemicals, this is an easy way to do it . . . especially on fingernails - think of how much contact fingers have w/the mouth. All this said, I just got a pedicure yesterday w/conventional polish (although at least OPI and several other biggies have phased out toluene, formaldehyde and the other one, slipping my mind) and I do occasionally get my fingernails done too . . . for me, it's always been about balance. If you love regular mani's, I'd bother to go more natural, for sure.

For me, I pay extra for organic green tea (gunpowder - the most highly caffeinated I can find - stopped drinking coffee 10 years ago but can't seem to do w/o some caffeine) b/c I drink multiple cups of it a day . . . . whatever we use the most should be a place we start, IMHO.

Take care,

Sarah 

lmk

Just noticed this thread - awesome idea.  If you can read the book titled "There's Lead in my Lipstick" by Gillian Deacon you will find a wealth of information on products to avoid for shampoos, soaps, lotions and other so called "beauty" products.  She also provides information on good products to buy along with recipes to make your own. She also had BC. Someone on this thread mentioned alba products I think they are not recommended because, although paraben free, they contain other toxins.  www.greenbeaver.com provides a listing of ingredients to avoid with an explanation as to why. I switched to their cranberry hand cream(certified organic one) - very good.  I also use coconut oil on my face, arms and hair(for oil treatment) - works very well.  For shampoos I am currently using "Live Clean" - its paraben, phthalate & more free(sorry cant remember the rest). I have found a noticeable difference in my hair.  There are two other books I have read which give good advice on environmental toxins and what products to buy/not to buy. She actually provides ratings and has tested them. The author also gives recipes to make your own cleaning products- very simple & inexpensive. Author is Adria Vasil - one book is titled Ecoholic home; the other is ecoholic.

walley

imk

Where do buy the Live clean shampoo?

lmk

I live in Ontario Canada so I bought it from Shoppers Drug Mart - but I have recently found it at Walmart.

mdg

This is a great thread.  I too have made lots of changes.  I got rid of all water bottles and now we have a large collection of stainless one's we all use.  We are moving into a new home in a week and I am looking into a water filtration system as the water seems to be loaded with junk too.  As far as body care products...I threw away EVERYTHING in our bathroom several months ago.  We started all over with nothing.  I found many products that appear safer than our previous products.  I use Organix shampoo/conditioner, Trader Joe's brand pump hand soap, Neutrogena Naturals face wash, Neutrogena Naturals bar soap for the shower, Nature's Gate deodorant, Alba body lotion, Tarte Mascara, Giovanni hair gel.  I have found some make up options but after reading this site (link below) I found that the make up I had selected does contain some of the bad things other than parabens and sulfates....

 www.cincovidas.com

Now I am back to the drawing board...I found a local oranic make up shop and I plan to head there for a makeover.  I am going to print out the list of the 24 chemicals to avoid from that website to bring with me too!

I have also changed my cooking utensils to wood and BPA free silicone.  They are hard to find!  Still haven't found good spoons.  I am looking into new cookware.  Does anyone know anything about Chantel enamel cookware?  I have a set of that in addition to a lot of non stick stuff that I guess I should get rid of.  As far as glass storage, I opted for the Anchor Hocking glass storage containers with BPA free lids.  These can go in the dishwasher, freezer, microwave and the oven up to 425 degrees I believe.  They are the most flexible and the lids secure well and make them easy to stack in the fridge or freezer.  I have also changed to all glass drinking glasses and some BPA free plastic one's I got at Bed Bath and Beyond for my son.

If anyone is in the Chicago area, this is the store I am going to for make up:

http://www.shopodalisque.com/

It's in Geneva in the west suburbs.  I will let you know how it goes!

LtotheK

I'm sure it's been mentioned, but cosmeticsdatabase.org is wonderful.  A lot of "natural" things by my favorite companies like Weleda and Lush are apparently a mess--just because they are sold at the health food store doesn't mean they are non-toxic.

I try to follow Michael Pollan's advice for what I put ON, not just IN my body.  The fewer ingredients, the better.  You can't be perfect, but I don't use things with parabens, and I use brow powder and sunscreen by Badger (when I remember) usually. On my "I'm going out" days, I sometimes use foundation by Korres, and eyeliner by Chanel (I paid so much for it on a trip one time, darn it I'm using it up no matter what's in it ; )

walley

  Imk              Thanks ,for the reply .I will check out Walmart.:)I love this website everyone is so helpful and knowledgeable.I am trying to replace alot of my soaps and shampoo etc.Also my cookware.

Merilee

Robo

I have found that the price of the healthy things is coming down compared to a few years ago. Ladies are demanding more pure products! Thus there are also more choices.

Merilee

Anyone else see the piece on kids face paint?