Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate

I'm just going to cut right to the chase: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is a detergant. A cheap detergent that strips the natural oils from the largest organ of the body, skin. It can be found in our cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, toothpastes, soap, etc. Besides humans use of this SLS and SLES to "cleanse" ourselves, it is used to degrease car engines.

Could you imagine, the same exact surfactant that is used in car garages is found in your shower. SLS and SLES are surfactants which means that it works to penetrate solids and in this case, it breaks apart the oils on your skin so that you feel clean but at the same time this toxin penetrates and is absorbed through the skin. It has been said that SLS and SLES works in combination with other cosmetic products that you may use in your shower or on your skin and those combined effects creates the infamous cancer causing agents, carcinogens. Also, it is especially important to make sure that SLS and SLES are not in products that children are using because it can cause damage to the eyes and disrupt the proteins essential for suc cessful formation and function of the eye which is the same for adults. It is advised that products with SLS and SLES avoid contact with the eye area - didn't you wonder why you always had to shut your eyes while face washing and shampooing?

So, what to do about this detergent that's seems to be on every product label I have in my bathroom? CONVERT MY BATHROOM! I mean, I don't have children yet but I should take care of myself and the people in my household. SLS and SLES are irritants which makes me realize why some of the bath washes and shampoos I use are so drying for my scalp and my skin. The drying and irritation of the skin can lead to infection which is a major concern for me. Also, dry skin is absolutely irritating in itself. Even if I can live with SLS and SLES in my products, it's important to ensure that my body retains it's natural oils and if not, I shall moisturize - moisturize - moisturize. Good and safe products is always key.

Note: There are SLES and SLS free products out there. This involves spending time searching for them since so many products contain SLS and SLES. The search requires time and money however, you can decide whether or not it's worth it for you.






Burt's bees is readily available at Walgreens, Meijer, and Target. If you would like to try a SLS/SLES free shampoo (they probably of the SLES/SLS free conditioner to go with it too) - this is an alternative. I anticipate trying and reviewing this product.

The TRUTH about LUSH

When you go to the website the first words you see: LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. The site is quite flashy with words such as vegan, natural, organic, mineral, grapefruit, essential oils etc. To be honest, I used to wish for Lush products.

I would browse and browse over their products but never really got myself to purchase because I couldn't stand the cost of shipping. The closest Lush shop around where I live is almost three hours away. I was really sold by the idea of naturally handmade cosmetics and the boatloads of hype and raves on how great Lush products are for all different skin types. I have friends who swear by Lush products.

Now onto the bad news:



This picture above shows you the first and the only product I've ever personally bought for myself from Lush. While trying the item in the store, I was amazed at how a gel could lather up and even more in awe with the amazing citrusy smell of this product. The fact that a gel could act as a soap was beyond me. I had to get it! So, I got it.

According to the website, here is what the product claims:

The invigorating citrus shower jelly.
Anti-jetlag jelly for keeping you calm, cool and focused. If deadlines pass you by and you're left spinning at the end of each day, you need a pot of WHOOSH! It's an ultra-refreshing essential oil blend of lemon, lime and grapefruit juices with revitalizing rosemary and balancing geranium, which we put in there to wake you up a bit.
Fresh, organic lemon juice
Lemon juice is antiseptic and astringent and contains high levels of Vitamin C. It cleans away dirt with natural fruit acids.
Keeps your mind alert and your body refreshed.
When you wash with Whoosh, you're transformed into a single-minded, driven person that can take on the world.

Sounds great doesn't it? Oh yeah, don't worry because I was fooled too. Fooled into thinking that a product could do all these amazing things for me. First, it does not do what it claims, I do not feel ready to take on the world after my shower and was of Whoosh!, Actually, I feel terrible for even being so decieved by this product because when I got home and looked at the ingredient list (which I failed to do before and after purchasing it because I assumed it was natural, fresh, organic etc.) guess what it has in it!?

PARABENS! Oh my goodness, can you believe it?! All those awesome claims, the fantastic smell, the extraordinary idea of turning a soap into a gel... wow! And to make it even worst, it wasn't just one kind of paraben. It was two! Both methylparaben and propylparaben. What a disappointment, I tell ya. See for me - yeah, I justified my use of the product by telling myself I couldn't let it go to waste because I purchased it with my hard earned cash however, what about those poor workers who are making these freshly with their own bare hands! PUTTING PARABENS in all these products.

So, take home message for this post. READ THE LABEL! Don't be fooled by all these false claims. Try not to purchase online, especially for Lush products because their website does not contain a full list of ingredients.

EDTA???

So, I've been trying to be a more concious shopper especially when it comes to personal care products since I am now more aware of the toxic chemicals that can be found in them. I was in need of a new body wash. I love trying new products so I always choose a different one then the previous.

As I was in the body wash aisle of Target in search for a wash that was either natural or one with limited chemicals. Of course, I wanted something that was paraben free. I narrowed it down to two products (pictured above). The Method brand claimed to be EDTA free and when I checked St Ives, it had EDTA in its ingredients list but I still didn't know what EDTA was.

Do you know when EDTA is?

Well, if not, I shall enlighten you. EDTA is an acronym for ethylenediaminetetraacetic. Before I go on, can you just try saying that name outloud to yourself? I can't even pronounce it and I'm going into health sciences! Okay, now what is the significance of this ingredient being found in our personal care products. The answer is: sustainability. There is no research that I've found that signifies EDTA and a toxic chemical however, it is a pollutant which obviously harmful to the environment.

To Polish or Not to Polish

In four words, Nail Polish is BAD! By bad, I mean that it is bad for your health. You may ask, what is so toxic about nail polish? Well, nail polish contains very many baneful active ingredients. Just to name a few there is toluene, dibutyl phthalate (which has been banned in Europe for some time), and formaldehyde.

Toluene is what promotes the intoxication feeling when it is inhaled. It has been linked to neurological disturbances. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is what makes your nail polish dry, look smooth and leaves that shiny finish. The reason for concern is that DBP has been seen to cause birth defects in newborns babies, specifically reproductive defects. Formaldehyde is believed to be extremely carcinogenic and most particularly connected with brain cancer. People who are in occupational settings with high exposures to this chemical is what made its connection to brain cancer. So, with these short little facts - should we or should be not be polishing our nails?

Personally, I love having my nails painted. You would rarely see me without painted fingernails and on those rare occasions, it will only be because I decided to give my nails some oxygen that day/week. I'm an avid user of polish and I don't think that I would ever stop painting my nails; however, I am conscious of the ingredients that are harmful to my health so, before purchasing polish I read the labels on it.

As a consumer, you should always be aware of the ingredients in the products that you buy. Currently, some positive action has been taken and many big nail polish manufactures are reformulating their products so that they will not contain the witch's brew of chemicals. Many companies are looking to remove toluene, formaldehyde and DBP.

Back to the question: Does this mean you should stop polishing your nails? The answer is, not necessarily.



If you find that your favorite nail polish brand contains these harmful ingredients there are much safer alternatives such as a nail polish known as Polished Mama. You can find more information about this brand at http://amominredhighheels.com/polished-mama-an-eco-friendly-nail-polish-option/. Basically, it is a polish that is water-based and has no significant odor or harmful fumes. It claims to be safe enough to use during pregnancy and contains NO toxic chemicals.

Paraben Free: What's the Deal with Parabens

The reason for this post is to shed light on the health risks of paraben use. You may ask, why parabens? I chose to discuss parabens because it is an active ingredient that is widely used and can be found in shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels, topical pharmaceuticals, makeup and even toothpaste. The list can go on and on and it may seem that using products with parabens is inevitable; however, not only can you limit the amount of products you use that contain parabens but, you can also find safer alternatives.

On a sidenote: it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) and there has been great discussion of parabens and it's carcinogenic effects especially with breast cancer - so, I was inspired and felt the need to discuss the issue of this parabens.

Onto the good stuff.

What are Parabens?

In the most simple terms, parabens are preservatives meaning that they are used in personal care products to enable its shelf life. Parabens aid in preventing and reducing microbial growth in these products and are deemed to be safe to use.

Why you should avoid using Parabens?

Parabens are seen to mimic the hormone estrogen. Its estrogenic activity is what leads people to think that it is linked to cancer emphasizing it's specific relation to breast cancer. These hormone disruptions seen to be caused by parabens can lead to long lasting health effects and should be taken seriously. Since increased levels of estrogen is linked to breast cancer then, who is to say that little paraben exposure isn't altering hormone function enough to cause many other health related issues other than cancer such as skin sensitivities and hormonal imbalances.

My thoughts:

The skin is the largest organ in the body. If we know that putting something on our skin will cause something to change and function differently internally and that there is a chance that it will have hidden side effects, why would we want to use it? If it goes on your skin, it can get in your blood. If we are putting toxic things on our skin, we are also feeding our bodies with these toxins.

About Me: Random

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged and give them a shoutout at the end of the note.

1. I have touched Kobe's poop twice (on accident) while trying to be a good citizen and pick up after my pet.

2. I am blessed with a very beautiful, emotionally-sensitive & unconditional loving family.

3. My brothers mean the world to me and I am so proud of them.

4. Deciding to join Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. has been one of the best decisions I've made in my life thus far.

5. Kobe (my puppy) is the best birthday present I've ever received thanks to my boyfriend and my best friend.

6. I have a best friend who I've only known for a little over two years but, I felt like I've known her all my life. Her name is Saysamone "Paris" Lo.

7. I'm one of those people that would rather have a few close friends than a bunch of meaningless relationships.

8. I put my entire heart into the things I care about.

9. I cry way more than the average person and if tears were toxic - I would have lost my eyeballs a long time ago.

10. I don't get along with my mom but, I see a lot of myself in her. I am who I am because of her and she is my hero.

11. I overanaylze and tend to obsess over those thoughts.

12. I have major text anxiety and do not feel that my grades reflect what I've learned.

13. I really enjoy getting to know people on a personal level.

14. I'm opinionated and passionate.

15. I feel rewarded when I help others - I want to be a nurse so badly.

16. Following my heart lead me to GVSU.

17. I waste a lot of time window shopping, facebooking & youtubing online but my sisters have helped me be more productive.

19. I am random therefore, my sense of humor is random and I laugh at my own jokes.

20. Tears mend the heart, music soothes the soul and laughing heals it.

21. I used to be a tomboy and now, I'm a girly girl who loves makeup and nailpolish.

22. I get a haircut when I'm stressed.

23. I have never in my life dyed my hair and don't think I ever will.

24. I am judgmental but I give people chances to prove me wrong.

25. I look up wedding dresses, cakes, bridesmaid dresses etc. etc. for fun.

I don't tag anyone but, since this is a new blog since xanga - I will use this as an opportunity for whoever reads this to get a little sense of who I am.