Sun and Sunscreen

Here is an interesting article on the down side to completely avoiding the sun and using sunscreens that are full of chemicals.  We do need to get vitamin D3, which we get from the sun, for many different health benefits that this article discusses. Not only are we absorbing the chemicals from the sunscreens, but they also end up in lakes and oceans, which of course is not good for marine life. A good read.

Parabens and Phthalates

Parabens and phthalates are toxins commonly added to beauty products that I have not yet discussed, but they are certainly something I try to avoid when purchasing lotions, polish, etc. If you have sensitive skin as well, you may also want to avoid them.

Parabens are a group of chemicals used as a preservative in body lotions and creams to prevent bacteria growth. While this seems good, many people have allergic reactions or sensitivities to the parabens. When checking the ingredients list, if you see: methylparaben, propylparaben, ilsoparaben, or butylparaben, then you will want to avoid this product. Suntan lotions often have parabens.

Phthalates, or dibutyl phthalates, (aka DBP or DEP) is a chemical used to make lotions spread and absorb easier, stabilize fragrances, and prevent brittleness in nail polish. It can also be harmful and irritating to sensitive skin sufferers. Fragrances are still able to get away with not listing ingredients; therefore, making researching it very difficult. I have stopped wearing perfumes and now only use a light amount of rosewater. For nail polish, there are many brands that now advertise as being '3 free' or '5 free'. This means they are suppose to be free of phthalates, toulene, and formaldehyde. 5 free is also free of camphor and formaldehyde resins.

 It takes a little more time, reading, and research, but there are still good products out there, and there are a growing number of small companies in the natural beauty industry. There is also a growing customer demand for products that are free of 'junk'. I hope the growing competition will help keep the prices down.

Clean the Air

Living in small spaces and having asthma can make breathing difficult at times; like in the dry cold winter, or in the spring when the snow melts and the dust and molds come out and the trees begin to pollinate. Of course, opening the windows and starting up a few fans to air out the rooms is a good idea, but having house plants can help clean the air naturally. The family of Palm plants are good for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air. Also good for helping to remove these toxins are the family of Anthuriums, Schefflera, and Orchids (Peace Lily and Spathiphyllum are good indoor orchids).

I am not sure if any of these plants are poisonous to pets, so please research first, and it is probably best to keep the plants in areas where the pets can't get at them.

Himalayan Salt Lamps are also great for cleaning the air. They are much less expensive then an air cleaner and they don't give off that awful smell either. Himalayan Salt Lamps ionize the air by sending out negative ions to neutralize the positive ions in the air. These lamps are quite widely available and can be purchased in various types, shapes, and sizes. They are also very pretty to look at. I keep a small one near my computer that gives off a pleasant, reddish glow.

Burning essential oils is a great way to make your home smell great, but be careful to not over do it. Too much and it can actually make it hard to breath. I find many of the droppers of the essential oils are unpredictable, so be careful when you are pouring the drops. It is almost impossible to count the drops, so I just careful watch and 'guesstimate'. I like to mix lemon, peppermint, and lavender. Surprisingly, the combination gives off a great smell, and it also helps to open up my sinuses.

I will continue to hunt and research other natural ways to breath easy and clean the air in the home without using harsh chemicals.

Baby Wipes and Cleansing Cloths

I have been reading many articles lately about baby wipes and cleansing cloths (or make-up remover cloths) and people having allergic reactions to them. The ingredient is the same preservative I was recently diagnosed as being allergic to, methylisothiazolinone or MI. Look for methylisothiazolinone in the ingredients list. If there are no ingredients listed, then I would not bother purchasing the wipes/cloths. There are some products out there now that are chemical free, but hey are not as easy to find, and they will likely cost more than regular brands.

I quit using cleansing cloths and now use unscented, alcohol free witch hazel and a cotton ball to clean my face; although, I don't wear much for make-up anymore. For make-up wearers, search for cloths that are not using harsh chemicals, check the ingredients, or use a wash off cleansing lotion/cream/foam/ that is for sensitive skin. Always be sure to check the ingredients first before you buy.

For baby wipes, it can be either the parent or the child who could have the allergic reaction. Look for sensitive skin brands and again check the ingredients for MI.

I honestly feel it is best to quit using these types of wipes altogether or significantly reduce how much you use them. I can't speak for baby wipes. I know it is difficult for parents and baby wipes are needed when traveling or when it is hectic and crazy. I would definitely recommend searching for brands that are flushable or you could end up with a plumbing problem.

For a recipe to make your own wipes, click here.

Tips for Dry Skin

Here are a few tips of what I do to help combat dry skin:

Dry Brush Exfoliate - at least once a week, I do a dry brush exfoliation. The dry brush can be purchased from the spa section of a drugstore. The bristles are a bit rough, but it feels like a good scratch. You'll want to brush in the direction of your heart. This will help with blood circulation.When you are doing the stomach area, you'll want to brush a little lighter and brush in a circular direction. Dry brush exfoliation will help get rid of dry, flaky, dead skin. I do this before I get in the shower and then I moisturize all over after the shower. I find if I don't exfoliate, my skin gets very itchy.

Wear Cotton Gloves - Before bed, I put heavy cream on my hands, then some jojoba oil, then I put on 100% cotton gloves. The gloves can later be washed and re-used. I also wear cotton gloves inside vinyl gloves when I do any kind of cleaning.

Balm - Use a basic balm, like a beeswax and olive oil combination, to cover dry cracked skin. The balm acts as a barrier since it doesn't absorb too quickly. It is also good for dry, chapped lips. Balms can be found in most health food stores or organic markets. It usually comes in a tin.

Jojoba Oil - Jojoba oil is a great moisturizer and I sometimes use it on my legs after I have shaved. The oil takes a bit of time to absorb in, but I usually put on a long pair of socks to avoid any mess. 

Winter Gloves - Winter brings us cold, dry air and it's very harsh on our skin. Our hands get roughed up a lot in the winter time, with shoveling snow, carrying groceries, getting snow off of the car, etc. Many winter issues that cannot be avoided and it's our hands that often take the brunt of it.

Avoid excessive hand washing - this is a tough one, especially when you hear of flu outbreaks; but excessive hand washing is very hard on your skin. If you are washing your hands a lot, definitely put moisturizer on after, and do this every time. 

Formaldehyde - Skin Allergy

Formaldehyde is a common skin allergy, an allergy that I have, and there are formaldehyde releasing preservatives that you should avoid if you have this type of allergy.

Formaldehyde Releasing Preservatives (FRP)

Avoid products that list ingredients like: (obviously) formaldehyde, quaternium-15 or Quat-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol).

I found DMDM Hydantoin in the hair gel I was using. I tossed it out since it was almost empty anyway. I found sodium hydroxymethylglycinate in a body scrub I was using; into the give away box it goes.

Nail Polishes are a common product that contain formaldehyde or formaldehyde resin. I just tossed out or gave away a bunch of polishes that had formaldehyde resin in the ingredients. I now look for nail polishes that are formaldehyde-free or 3-free (formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP). To remove my nail polish, lately I have simply been using the edge my nail file to gently scrape it off. A bit time consuming, but much better than the strong smelling polish remover I had  been using. Comes off easiest after a bath or shower.

Fair Skin usually means Sensitive Skin

It is very common  for people with fair skin to also have sensitive skin. Myself, I have fair skin and reddish blonde (or strawberry blonde) hair, and I have had eczema my whole life. In the past year, it has gotten progressively worse, especially on my hands and now my feet and calves as well. I have now managed to keep it under control. When it first started getting worse, it got really bad on my hands; so much so, that I had to go on Prednisone for a period of time. I now know that I do have some skin allergies. This led to having to throw out or give away many items, like shampoo and lotions. 

Skin Allergens I tested positive for:

Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone
 - Methylisothiazolinone or MIT or MI, sometimes erroneously called methylisothiazoline, is a powerful biocide and preservative within the group of isothiazolinones, used in personal care products. Wikipedia
- Methylchloroisothiazolinone, also referred to as MCI, is a preservative with antibacterial and antifungal effects within the group of isothiazolinones. It is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Wikipedia

Formaldehyde - Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O or HCHO. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal. The common name of the substance comes from its similarity and relation to formic acid. Wikipedia

Balsam of Peru or Myroxylon - Myroxylon is a genus of two species of Central American and South American trees in the Fabaceae. The tree is well known in the western world as the source for Peru balsam and Tolu balsam. The tree is often called Quina or Balsamo. Wikipedia
- My dermatologist informed me that myroxylon can be found on orange peel or many other types of citrus peel. He also said that to avoid it, it is best to buy products that are fragrance free.

 After going through all of my lotions, shampoos, hand creams, etc., I had a small box full of stuff that I gave away to my mom. There were many other items I simply threw away because I thought they were likely old or were nearly empty. The shampoo I had to give away was a little frustrating because it was an expensive shampoo and it called itself 'pure'. But, I was allergic to it, so it had to go.

I now find that I am a perpetual ingredient reader of all skin products. It takes a little more time and I can't find everything at the local big box store, but with online shopping and Google, I have been  able to find many great new natural products. I am always on the lookout for new products as well. I try to go for products that are natural, organic, and Canadian or North American. I like the idea of buying products that are local. 

I have also made some changes in my diet. I have been making an effort to eat a low carb diet, and if I am going to eat carbs, I try to go for gluten free items. I don't have a gluten allergy, but I do find I am sensitive to it. Mostly, I notice that I feel really full and bloated if I eat too many carbs. I am still finding this a challenge, but I have noticed that I don't feel as puffy.

Cod liver oil has become a staple in my diet. I resisted it for a long time, but I finally started taking it. I was taking it in supplement form, but the liquid form is far superior due to its absorbancy. My dad has been taking cod liver oil for years, and always recommended it to me, but I didn't want to try it because it tastes gross! It smells gross too. But, I needed my skin to improve and I was ready to try things I was unwilling to try before. Now that I have been taking it for a few months, I notice that my nails have really improved. They used to be very brittle and would break before they ever got the chance to grow. Now, I actually have to trim them because they are getting too long! Cod liver oil is definitely something you should continue taking for life, especially if you live in cold winter climates like I do. I take a teaspoon a day and I make sure to immediately drink water to get rid of the taste. 

I have always made an effort to look after my skin, but after using all of those trendy lotions, body washes, and scrubs, I was probably doing more harm than good. All the products I use now come from some type of health food store, organic market, or an online health website. Price wise, I haven't noticed a huge difference, although the heavy hand cream I use is quite pricey. I've been trying to find a replacement for that.

Some things are better simple and easy. When I'm not wearing make up, which is often, I use unscented, alcohol free, witch hazel toner to cleanse my face. For the winter months, I have been using simply rosehip oil as a moisturizer. Next will be to look for a sunscreen that I'm not allergic to, is natural, but hopefully not incredibly expensive.

I will continue to research and educate myself on this topic...