Posts Tagged ‘organic soap’

Posted on September 2, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Toxicity Fight Club: Boys & Girls Edition

If ingredients linked to allergies, cancer and other ailments deserve a one-two punch in grown-up products, they deserve an extra whammy when it comes to kids’ lotions and potions. After all, the wee ones count on us to make smart, grown-up decisions (even if they do scream over washing their hair or a smart slathering of sunscreen).

Here are some highlights of what to avoid when it comes to chemical-free kiddie care…

Shampoo & Conditioner:

Avoid these ingredients…

• DMDM Hydantoin: This allergen and irritant can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Fragrance:  As we’ve pointed out before, ‘fragrance’ is code for all kinds of funky allergens that may contain neurotoxic or hormone-disrupting chemicals
• Ceteareth & PEG Compounds: These harmful petrochemicals that may contain cancer-causing impurities are far from kid-friendly.

Body Wash & Liquid Soap

Avoid these ingredients…

• Triclosan: Like we said, try, try, try for no triclosan! It’s a potential hormone disruptor which can effect the endocrine system which regulates growth and development.
• DMDM Hydantoin: See above, and keep in mind that in Japan, DMDM Hydantoin is prohibited for use in some types of cosmetics!
• Fragrance: See above and always opt for ‘fragrance-free’

Play Make-up

Kids love to play dress-up. But when it comes to trying on mom’s make-up, keep in mind that…

• Your lipstick may contain harmful impurities that your child might swallow in trace amounts
• Most nail polish contains dibutyl phthalate and toluene, both of which are linked to hormone disruption and cancer
• Cosmetics in powder form might damage lungs when inhaled

Buy organic, keep toxins at bay for your tot, print the guide to learn more and don’t forget the ultimate in full-disclosure personal care for you and the kids – Do It Yourself (DIY!).

Posted on August 24, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Rough patch? The ‘Why’ Behind Dry

Your skin is more complicated than it looks. The average square inch of your skin holds:

• 650 sweat glands
• 20 blood vessels
• 60,000 melanocytes (pigment skin cells)
• 1,000+ nerve endings

All three main layers (epidermis, stratum corneum and dermis) work in harmony with one another. If any of the following are a part of your daily life, dry skin may disrupt your natural ability to moisturize:

• Exposure to excessive sun
• Excessive bathing
• Use of conventional, detergent-based soaps
• Low humidity
• Central air and heating

It’s time to get rid of pesky dry patches one and for all!

Moisturizing Madness to the Rescue!

Napa Valley Bath’s Moisturizing Madness gift set includes 3 steps to moister, smoother skin:

1. 8oz. Lavender Lotion – Certified organic herbal extracts, the highest-quality natural food-grade safflower vegetable oil, nourishing seaweed (algae) and healing aloe vera blend with four lavenders selected from around the world. Decadent, delightful…and mortal enemy of dry skin.
2. 4 oz. Body Butter - Combines the highest quality shea butter from Uganda, healing herbs, health-food-grade fresh vegetable oils, natural vegetable waxes, and soothing aromatic lavender water from the Aromatic Plant Project. A must-have for cracked, callused and parched skin.
3. Hoof Cream – This tin of rich balm revitalizes your hands and feet with a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, tocoperol, orange essential oil, lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil

…given the prices of typical department store brands (which are chock full of synthetic ingredients, toxic fragrance and may even be tested on animals) the Napa Valley Bath Moisturizing Madness package is a steal at $58 – order yours here!

Posted on August 5, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Michael Pollan Says Invest in Organic!

“Don’t eat anything your grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”

Simple, smart advice like this is why I’m a fan of Michael Pollan, a writer who covers the politics and pleasures of eating with a passion.  Several generations ago, no one would recognize the foods commonly found in today’s vending machines…or pretty much anything pre-packaged for that matter.

Pollan was interviewed recently in what looks like the Greenmarket Farmers Market in Union Square, NYC. At Napa Valley Bath, our focus is on personal care products, but I thought I’d do a ‘tip of the hat’ to our sister site, St. Helena’s Olive Oil Co. and share some of Pollan’s top sound bites (pun intended!):

• “Food is too important to economize on.”

• Organic is always a better choice for the environment:  buying organic helps contribute to keeping pesticides out of land and water supply.

• If economizing, buy organic when it comes to delicate skin foods – peaches, apples, grapes. They tend to have more residues than thicker skin fruits and veggies (oranges, bananas, pineapples).

• Organic food is harder to grow – hence why it’s more expensive.  More weeds means more work (vs. labor-saving chemicals/pesticides).

• One way to economize with organic meat is to buy in bulk and freeze what you don’t use.

• Organic junk food is still junk food – don’t fall for it.

• When it comes to organic milk, make sure it comes from grass-fed dairy cows. Ditto for buying beef.

What are some of the healthy food choices you live by? Share them with other readers here!

Check out Michael Pollan’s interview in its entirety at NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.

Posted on August 3, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

The Cold Coal Truth

Coal tar, a thick liquid or semisolid obtained from bituminous coal, is an oft-used ingredient in:

• Anti-dandruff shampoos
• Hair dyes
• Topical treatments for psoriasis and skin rashes
• Moisturizers
• Most of the synthetic colors and dyes found in our cosmetics

Why the Goal Should Be No Coal

Coal tar is a…

• known human carcinogen
• contributor to lung and urinary tract cancer
• potent skin irritant

The European Union banned coal tar in 2004. But yep, it’s still in play here in the U.S., even though it scores a 10 (highest hazard rating) in the super helpful Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. And the Centers for Disease Control recommends that coal tar simply should not come in contact with your skin.

Coal tar can also be listed on ingredient lists as:

• Tar
• Coal
• Coal tar solution

What to do? Invest in organic personal care products. The Organic Trade Association says it best with their campaign Organic: It’s Worth It. I love this title since it frankly admits that yes, organic is more expensive…but it is a worthy investment in order to protect your health and the health of your loved ones.

Posted on July 13, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Explore the New Safe Chemicals Act

“Chemical safety reform is not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is a common-sense issue and I look forward to building bipartisan support for this measure.”

–Senator Frank Lautenberg, one of the initiators of the Safe Chemicals Act, April 15, 2010

It’s been over 30 years of same old, same old when it comes to the safety of chemicals used in consumer products.

While red tape and over-regulation in D.C. can seem a bit much at times, chemical regulation is something that we do need – for the sake of our health and the health of our loved ones.

Enough to Throw a Toxic Tantrum!

Consider the facts about the current and outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):

• The main federal law designed to ensure the safety of chemicals used in consumer products in the United States hasn’t changed in 34 years.

• The original Toxic Substances Control Act requires testing on only about 200 out of 82,000 chemicals entering the market since 1976

• Under this outdated law, the EPA has only partially restricted five out of 80,000 chemicals on the market

• The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) – which considers the toxic topic “high risk area of government,” says that the original TSCA ‘places significant burdens on those most likely to be affected by these chemicals, requiring them to research products for themselves to determine risks, identify, and test the safety of alternatives.’

Those who manufacture safe, natural products — like Napa Valley Bath and others — are already keeping toxins out of personal care products like soap, lotions, bath products and more. But sadly, they don’t make up the broader product stream indulged in by the majority of the public.

Out with the Old, In with the New!

The new law would correct existing flaws in consumer regulation and would require safety testing of all industrial chemicals.

This testing would rightly put the burden on industry to prove that chemicals are safe in order to stay on the market. Highlights include:

• Provides EPA with sufficient information to judge a chemical’s safety.
• Requires manufacturers to develop and submit a minimum data set for each chemical they produce, while also preventing duplicative or unnecessary testing.
• Gives EPA full authority to request additional information needed to determine the safety of a chemical.
• Prioritizes chemicals based on risk.
• Calls on the EPA to categorize chemicals based on risk
• Focuses resources on evaluating those most likely to cause harm.
• Ensures safety threshold is met for all chemicals on the market.
• Places the burden of proof on chemical manufacturers to prove the safety of their chemicals.
• Ensures all uses are identified and determined as safe for the chemical to enter the market or continue to be used.
• Requires EPA to take fast action to reduce risk from chemicals that have already been proven dangerous.
• Empowers EPA Administrators to act quickly if any chemical poses an imminent hazard.
• Creates open access to reliable chemical information.
• Establishes a public database to catalog the information submitted by chemical manufacturers and the EPA’s safety determinations.
• Empowers the EPA to impose requirements to ensure the information collected is reliable.
• Promotes innovation and development of green chemistry.
• Establishes grant programs and research centers to foster the development of safe chemical alternatives, and brings some new chemicals onto the market using an expedited review process.

2 Things You Can Do Now

• Vote with your dollars – First and foremost, you can opt out of buying products made with harmful chemicals. Chose organic products that include natural ingredients like lavender, honey, aloe and check ingredient lists for bad chemical components.

• Write to Congress – Those who really know their stuff (like the folks at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families) say that while the legislation is one huge step in the right direction, it could be improved upon. Check out their letter to congress and if you agree, send it to your senator. Tell other concerned friends and family too.

We’ll be keeping an eye on this legislation and report back as we know more. Until then, keep reading your ingredient lists and be an informed, intelligent, and chemical-free consumer!

Posted on July 6, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

5 Ways to Repower Your Soul

Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.

-Anne Sexton

Our days are crazed; rarely do we think of the toll it takes on our soul…

It’s time to give your inner-strength the TLC it deserves. Try to incorporate these healthy habits into your day, and watch as your week gets more wonderful, and your spirit soars.

1. Stay in the Moment

Nothing is more frustrating than having a conversation with an obsessive mobile phone checker. When you are actively engaged with someone, turn it off or put it away. Ditto for when you are doing work. Multi-tasking is over-rated…do one thing at a time and be present. You’ll actually get more done – and you’ll feel more fulfilled.

2. Meditate

Without sounding to hippy dippy, it’s wise to connect with your inner spirit at least once a day.  Meditation allows your brain to ‘recharge’ and sparks creative flow.  Start with just five minutes and work up to at least 10-15 minutes a day – ideally, two times a day. It may sound decadent, but you deserve this ‘you’ time!

3. Be More Sexual
Reconnecting with your sexuality can be as simple as how you carry yourself and the type of energy you exude.  It’s a subtle stepping up of your sensual side. A soft, silky shirt. A langorous bath. An appreciation for your body as-is…not as ‘what if.’ A sensuous stretch. Take the time to tap into your sexuality in even the smallest way, and enjoy!

4. Giggle

Read a book by your favorite comedian. Watch a funny movie. By a joke book and try some new material out on your friends and family. Laughter soothes the soul.

5. Eat Organic

We talk alot about feeding your skin with truly all-natural, organic skin care products. But feeding your body nutritionally-rich food keeps energy levels high and health optimized. Eating organic food not only helps you build and support a healthy immune system, it contributes to a hale and hearty Mother Earth in support of sustainable agriculture. It’s truly win-win!

Posted on June 29, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Personal Care Products: Taking Stock

Here’s an interesting exercise: count up each and every product you put on your face, body, hair, feet…the whole corporal gamut. Most likely it includes shampoo, conditioner, body soap, face soap, body lotion, face lotion, perfume/cologne, and deodorant.

Ladies (or some guys for that matter!): don’t forget the make-up: concealer, blush, eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow, lip gloss, powder…

Seriously. Count ‘em up. Each and every product.

What’s your total?

If it’s pretty darn high, you’re not alone. An Environmental Working Group survey indicates that the average adult woman uses 12 products a day.  And teens use more like 17.

With that personal care product number goes a super scary chemical count:

• 12 products a day = 168 unique chemicals
• 17 products a day = 174 unique chemicals

Kristoff Weighs In: “New Alarm Bells About Chemicals and Cancer”

We’ve reported on the danger of chemicals in your personal care products and encouraged you to choose organic and truly natural, plant-based products like Napa Valley Bath’s line.

We’re doing this because the shocking lack of regulation when it comes to chemicals in our products is truly egregious.

So much so that Nicholas D. Kristoff, a Pulitzer prize winning journalist known for hunting down human traffickers and reporting on the atrocities in Darfur, recently devoted some of his high-value, written real estate to the topic of dangerous chemicals in everything from home products to personal care to food. Highlights of Kristoff’s piece include:

• 41% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives
• The President’s Cancer Panel, typically the heart of the medical mainstream, has recently admitted the danger that chemicals pose to the general public in what Kristoff calls a “landmark 200-page report on the topic.”
• Kristoff says that the Cancer Panel’s report “blames weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority, as well as the existing regulatory presumption that chemicals are safe unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary.”
• “One reason for concern is that some cancers are becoming more common, particularly in children. We don’t know why that is, but the proliferation of chemicals in water, foods, air and household products is widely suspected as a factor.”

All this from a Cancer Panel known for its conservative thinking: no wonder Kristoff took it on! Read the piece in its entirety, here.

When it comes to consumer products and the toll they may take on your health, you’re simply on your own (although that will hopefully change in the near future!).

Find out exactly what is in the products you use on your skin - and around your house.  Limit the personal care product you use and try to keep that count down…and choose the ones you do use wisely.

Posted on June 12, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Create Your Green Personal Care Library

Whether you’re rocking a Kindle or committed to published paper and ink, there’s plenty of reading resources when it comes to greening your bath and beauty routine.

Style, Naturally

Summer Rayne Oakes

Green style guru and eco advocate Summer Rayne Oakes gives you a luxury-kissed directory with lots of product photos (think eco chic catalog). It includes the best and brightest in green and organic personal care. Other categories beyond beauty include clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry.  Ms. Oakes is everywhere these days – from Planet Green correspondent to eco shoe designer (her label is Zoe & Zac for Payless); thanks to her deeply-felt commitment sustainability and her spirited, honest persona, you can never get enough!

Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Business

Stacy Malkan

Winner of Treehugger’s Best of Green Awards 2010 in the Fashion & Beauty category, this book is brought to you by one of the founders behind the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The book covers the science and politics of chemicals in personal care products, and offers an inside look at the five-year campaign by environmental and health groups to pressure the U.S. cosmetics industry to use safer ingredients. Malkan is particularly committed to the vulnerability of teens, a topic we’ve covered on NapaValleyBath.com.

The Green Beauty Guide

Judy Gabriel

One of my favorite resources, this book offers a fantastic combination of solid, well-researched facts about the toxins in personal care products and tons of DIY recipes, many of which have been reposted on Napa Valley Bath. With her smart green beauty style, Gabriel wants green beauty to ‘save the world, one face at a time.’ Julie will help you to say good riddance to phthalates and parabens and hello to a toxin-free beauty routine. And she makes it both fun and interesting.

The Beauty Myth

Naomi Wolf

It may have been penned in 1991, but the premise holds up: images of beauty are too often used to make women feel bad. Although not green in nature, this book reminds us to consider the source of the beauty message – and reject its negative impact. Millions of women dare to compare themselves to unrealistic ideals of beauty; on this topic alone, The Beauty Myth still has a lot to offer.

What books inspire you to up your organic ante and toss toxins out of your life? Let us know here!

Posted on June 1, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Try Try Try for No Triclosan!

The chemical triclosan is found in the urine of 75 percent of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Yuck.

With ever-present germ paranoia – spurred on by the disease du jour (H1N1, for example) – triclosan, an antibacterial chemical, is incredibly common.

But while it boasts antibacterial power, it’s also suspected to alter hormone regulation (particularly your endocrine system, which regulates growth and development). Triclosan is also blamed for making bacteria resistant to antibiotics, a dangerous side effect.

Triclosan can be found in a host of personal care products and more. Here’s just a few places you can find it:

• liquid soaps
• toothpaste
• face wash
• hand sanitizers (although most contain alcohol, not triclosan)
• dishwashing liquids
• shaving gels
• and even socks, toothbrushes, workout clothes and toys!

Meanwhile, FDA studies have proven that good old-fashioned soap and water work equally well to keep bacteria at bay when it comes to soaps and body washes…or as they put it:

“the agency does not have evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps and body washes provides any benefit over washing with regular soap and water.”

Fed Up: Triclosan is a Pet Peeve for One Government Official

U.S. House of Representatives Edward J. Markey has been leading the charge against federal regulators to restrict triclosan and other chemicals.

The Washington Post reports Markey as saying in early April, 2010…

“The proliferation of triclosan in everyday consumer products is so enormous, it is literally in almost every type of product — most soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics, clothes and toys,” Markey said. “It’s in our drinking water, it’s in our rivers and as a result, it’s in our bodies. . . . I don’t think a lot of additional data has to be collected in order to make the simple decisions about children’s toys and soaps that people use. It clearly is something that creates a danger.”

While Markey is urging manufacturers like Colgate-Palmolive, Procter and Gamble, Unilever (the manufacturer of Lever, Suave and Vaseline brands) to leave the triclosan out of their products, here’s what you can do to avoid it:

• Skip the anti-bacterial soap
• Read labels and avoid any product with triclosan or its relative, triclocarban
• Avoid antibacterial products: If the packaging touts ‘keeps food fresher, longer,’ or ‘odor-fighting,’ there’s a good chance triclosan is fueling the claim.
• Opt for organic soaps and other personal care products that include organic and all-natural ingredients

Read more on the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Triclosan.  And remember: triclosan-free is the way to be!

Posted on May 8, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Don’t Sweat the Sweat Stuff

Aluminum, the key ingredient in most commercial antiperspirants, prevents moisture by blocking your sweat glands.

From an environmental perspective, aluminum mining is destructive, resource-intensive and polluting. Opting out of using aluminum-based chemical compounds is an earth-friendly decision.

Health-wise, aluminum could use some P.R. love. It’s commonly believed that antiperspirant neurotoxins, including aluminum, are linked to breast cancer; The National Cancer Institute finds the link to be inconclusive. Additionally, aluminum has also been tied to kidney disease, backed up by the Food and Drug Administration’s demand that antiperspirants carry a warning label recommending that consumers with existing kidney disease consult with a doctor before using the product. Now that makes me sweat.

Common Scents

On the other hand, smelling bad is simply – if you’ll excuse the pun – the pits. Try these solutions for healthier, less-toxic perspiration care:

• Use deodorant only: deodorant, when not combined with antiperspirant, is always aluminum free.
• Vet any deodorant you choose: “Natural” brands are your best bet, but turn to the expert advice found in the Cosmetics Safety Database for health hazard levels of many brand names.
• Drink lots of water and eat a healthy diet: This is always good advice, but particularly important if you find your sweat is excessively funky.
• DIY! Mix one part baking soda with six parts cornstarch and apply with a cotton ball or pad (via DYI Life)
• Don’t sweat it: If you find that natural deodorants aren’t enough, the aluminum-tinged type isn’t going to do any immediate damage. Counter it by buying toxin-free soap, shampoo, toothpaste, lotions and other commonly used bath and body products.

Let us know what works for you, here!