Skin creams

After reading an article about the two things that dermatologists suggest you use on a daily basis (sunscreen and a product with retinoid), I decided to get real about my skin care. I'm 35 and I looked in the mirror about a week ago and saw crows feet. Not just one line, but a number of lines. Yikes. And here I thought I had been good about putting eye cream on for the last couple of years.

Earlier this year the Environmental Working Group sent an email out that if you gave $55 to the group you would receive a sample pack of low-chemical sunscreens/moisturizers with sunscreen. I jumped on the chance to try out some new products as I was looking for a moisturizer with sunscreen for daily use anyway. I HATE buying tubes of products- whether they are shampoos, moisturizers, etc. and then not liking the product because it is a waste of money. I have pretty sensitive skin so I have to be careful what I put on it. But the sampler pack was great- I could try out a number of products and it wouldn't be too much of a waste if I didn't like them. Plus, I can give a donation to a group that I look to all the time- whether it is information on the Dirty Dozen (fruits/veggies with the highest pesticide use) or the Skin Deep database (to look up the chemical makeup of products).

The first product I tried was Badger sunscreen for Izzy. It's a little hard to rub on her but I have kept it in the stroller and use it every time we go for a walk so I would say that it's a keeper. Meanwhile I tried out a moisturizer plus sunscreen product which my sensitive skin didn't love (Juice Beauty), so I picked another one out of the box. Maybe I needed to use a pure sunscreen product after my moisturizer? Luckily I already use MyChelle moisturizer so applying the sunscreen right afterwards was simple.

All summer long I used my new sunscreen and was happy that I was protecting my face. But now I figured I should use a retinoid cream as well. I wasn't sure where to start. I googled different creams that I had heard of and every website has a article on how such-and-such cream doesn't work but X cream (which they happen to sell) does work! Waste of time. Instead I went into Walgreens and picked up one of the first tubes that I saw- Neutrogena. Sure I could look up the serum in the Skin Deep database, but frankly, I want something that is going to work and I could imagine that retinoid creams are not highly rated on the EWG website (holding hands over eyes- la la la la la).

I have been using the serum for about a week now and it has been easy to incorporate into my daily routine. I do think that I should start using it at night but I tend to not wash my face at night (I generally don't wear any makeup) so we'll see. Also, it looks like if I get pregnant again, I will have to discontinue use of the product (according to the article). For now, we will see if it works!

Do you use a retinoid cream? If so, which one do you use?

Striving to reduce plastic

My first bike ride in a few years went well yesterday with CP.  8.1 miles in about an hour- and I didn't fall!  Looking forward to our next ride together.  :-)

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Recently I was listening to NPR and an interview they had with a woman that wrote a book on her experience breaking up with plastic. (Plastic Free- How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too)  The author talked about how she heard about how much plastic goes in our landfills, but she didn't start worrying about the problem until she read about the Great Pacific garbage patch.  

After that, she decided that she was going to make some changes in her life to try to drastically reduce or completely cut out all plastic out of her life.  The interview was fascinating.  I knew about some of the things that she talked about- one being that once most plastics are recycled, they often can't be recycled again because the compounds break down too much.  I knew that toxic chemicals are often found in Tupperware and that every time I heat up a lunch that I have brought to work, I am eating those chemicals as well. (But have been too lazy to buy glass containers.) I also knew that BPA (Bisphenol A) has been found on paper receipts that we get every day at the store.  What I didn't know is that when you throw your receipts in the recycling, the BPA then gets recycled into paper products.  

Hearing this has made me start throwing out receipts instead of recycling them, but feeling sort of guilty because then the BPA is going into a landfill, to take however long to decompose.  The main thing that it has reinforced is that I don't want to touch paper receipts.  I think that I am getting paranoid about it.    If I have to touch a receipt, I make to sure to get rid of it as soon as possible and to wash my hands as soon as possible, the whole time thinking about the BPA that is leeching into my skin.  Every time I see a cashier I feel sorry for them because they are getting BPA on their hands all day long.  And obviously if I have the choice of a paper or emailed receipt, I go for the email receipt.

Based on the interview, I have ordered the book and I'm excited to start reading it.  I look forward to figuring out ways to reduce the plastic in my life and making my home and body a little healthier.  If these are things that I can do prior to the baby getting here then I am all for it.  I'll let you know what I think of the book after I finish it!  (She also has a blog if you are interested in checking it out.)

*I have not been asked to review nor given a copy of this book.*

No more soda

I have known for a very long time that soda is no good for my body.  I used to drink about three cans of Diet Pepsi (after college), then cut it down to one for the past couple of years.  I figured that it was Diet so at least it didn’t add any calories to my day.  When Coke Zero came out I switched to it because the Diet Pepsi became too sugary-tasting (image that).  In law school Coke Zero and caffeine pills were the only way for me to make sure I got everything done because I don’t drink coffee.

For a while though, there has been a nagging voice in my head that kept telling me that one Coke Zero a day was still doing bad things to my body.  I mean, something that can clean chrome, clean your toilet, and get grease stains out of clothes isn’t really something that a person should be ingesting, right?  I also kept seeing studies that linked drinking diet soda with obesity.  But it was my only source of caffeine and it was 0 calories, so I continued to drink it.

As soon as I tasted the Very Berry Starbucks Refresher, I knew that it was time to stop drinking soda.  I told CP and my family about my decision so that they could help keep me accountable, and have only slipped up a few times in the almost two months of no soda (they were bad days).  I have to admit that going to lunch and not having a soda was odd for a while, but in addition to being healthier by drinking tap water instead we are saving money!  It’s also really nice to not have to lug the 12 packs of soda out of the grocery store.

Last week my sister posted an article on Facebook of the 7 side effects of drinking soda and I knew that I made the right choice.  If you don’t feel like clicking over, here are the side effects:

1.       Kidney Problems

2.       Messed-up Metabolism

3.       Obesity

4.       Terrible Hangovers

5.       Cell Damage

6.       Rotting Teeth

7.       Reproductive issues

The last reason is (as you know) especially important to me.  Sometimes I do miss the taste of Coke Zero, but I know that it’s simply not worth it.  I think that the longer I go without drinking it the more I won’t miss it.  Now if I could just get CP to stop drinking the stuff too….

Do you drink soda?

How to organically revive your lawn

Our front lawn was apparently neglected before we bought the house. I don’t know if the previous owners dumped too many chemicals on the lawn which stressed it, or simply neglected it but towards the end of last summer the grass was yellow from GRUBS.

In case you don’t know, if these disgusting creatures make an appearance on your lawn, your lawn is unhealthy. The grubs will eat the lawn roots, which results in patches of dead grass. We had grubs and dead patches everywhere.

In order to fix the problem without resorting to harsh chemicals or ripping up our front lawn entirely, this spring we have formulated a 6-part plan to fix our lawn.

1. Rake the thatch. When the days start getting a little warmer in the spring, rake your lawn. If you have an unhealthy lawn like we do, there will be clumps of dead grass stuck together that you can easily rake out of the ground (aka thatch). Rake all of that up and get it off your lawn.

2. Aerate the lawn. You know when you see 4-inch long circular pieces of dirt that look like poo on athletic or school fields? Well that lawn has just been aerated. You can use a manual aerator that you step on to make the holes (if you have a small lawn) or rent a machine (like we did). According to what we read, the shoes that you see in Sky Mall that have the spikes on them don’t really work because they don’t go far enough into the ground.

3. Buy compost to spread over the lawn.

We waited a week between aerating the lawn and having the compost delivered. The dirt that you see in the picture is 9 cubic yards of compost. We called a local landscaping company and ordered the compost to be delivered on Friday afternoon. We tried to get ½ in of compost on top of the grass and added more in some parts (for instance on top of where we had two dead trees taken out last year). Compost will add nutrients back into the soil and fill in the holes from the aerator machine. Surprisingly, it didn’t take us very long to spread the compost- only half a day.

4. Buy grass seed. We went with an organic brand called Jonathan Green. Make sure to grab a bag of a seed that suits YOUR lawn. For instance, in our back yard we used a high traffic seed (because of the dogs) whereas in our front yard we used a full sun seed. Spread the seed over your lawn- you can either use a seed spreader or do it by hand.

5. Buy mulch. We bought six bags of a brand called Mainely Mulch which is like a straw that has no seed in it. We then spread that over the compost and seed to hold the seeds in place and to retain moisture.

6. Water water water. In order to get the seeds to germinate you need to water a lot in the beginning.

Cost:
Aerator rental $ 65
9 cubic yards of compost $ 265
Grass seed (1 25lb bag) $ 50
Mulch (6 bags) $ 120

Total $ 500

Crossing my fingers we have a better looking lawn this year!

How do you take care of your lawn?

Gasland

Last week I watched the documentary Gasland. I finished the movie completely sick to my stomach and wanting to cry.

About the film: The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudia Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown.

Trailer can be found here.

My thoughts:
* Where is an Erin Brockovich when you need her to help out everyone with health problems from the drilling? The filmmaker received a letter offering $4k/ acre for his land in rural PA. He had 19 acres so he stood to make $100,000. I can only imagine how people in rural areas jumped on the chance to make that kind of money before thinking of the environmental and health consequences.

*The fact that the various state Department of Environmental Protection agencies are turning a blind eye to the problem is both horrifying and terrifying. Most agencies received tons of cuts because of the recession. Who is going to protect us from greedy companies that are all too ready to ruin land, animals and people all for a quick buck?

*In one scene the filmmaker talks to an organic beef farmer. He has drills all around him and won't drink his water because of all of the chemicals in it. However, he still allows his cattle to drink the water- he even says that he can't believe that they want to drink it because it smells so bad. How is this even allowed as an organic beef farmer? The cattle may not be getting antibiotics, feed corn, etc. but all of the chemicals in the water will be present in the meat once the cattle is slaughtered. Disgusting.

*Even though CT doesn't have any natural gas drilling, I still went on the website and emailed my senators and representatives about this subject. I really worry for my friends in the shale states.

Have you seen this documentary yet? I would highly recommend a viewing of it as you might be in one of the 34 states affected by the natural gas drilling. Even if you don't live in one of the states, the entire water system will eventually be affected by this drilling.

A cautionary tale

As you guys know, I have been trying to decrease the number of chemicals both in our food (shopping for organic fruits/veggies and trying not eat processed foods) and in the products in our house. CP is completely on board with the food choices we make after reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma. (Haven’t read it yet? PLEASE DO.)

He is a bit more skeptical of green products. After reading some of the ingredients in toothpastes, I decided a while back that we were going to switch to Burt’s Bees toothpaste. Why not go a bit more natural with something that is in your mouth and that you ingest even without meaning to?

Well, after my dentist’s visit this week, I will be switching back to a chemical-laden toothpaste. I went in for my regular visit and the dentist found that I was starting to get a cavity in between two teeth. I had never even heard about that happening and it is not my regular m.o. for cavities! I asked the dentist if Burt’s Bees could potentially be the problem, and he thought that the toothpaste most likely didn’t have enough fluoride in it. While I hate to switch to his recommended Colgate Total, I hate cavities even more.

The moral of the story? I will continue to purchase green products and make good choices based on the ingredients of the products, but maybe not in my toothpaste.

Have you guys had a similar problem with a green/more organic product?

More natural

Yesterday, my post focused on chemicals in beauty products. Chemicals that I have now entered into my phone so that when I am at the store and looking for a product, I can easily check to make sure that the ingredients are not on the list of harmful chemicals (I did the same thing with the fruits and vegetables that are high in pesticides).

The point is, this is yet another instance where consumers can vote with their money and buy products that are safer for their bodies. I remember being at a Mary Kay event and the woman next to me asked about the chemicals in the various face and skin products (her father had cancer and she tried to stay away from chemicals). The women assured us that Mary Kay only uses “natural” and “safe” ingredients and I took their word. Except I probably should have paid attention to the fact that they didn’t know quite how to answer that question without looking uncomfortable. Recently, I tried to look at the ingredient list on the various MK bottles I have at home, but the list is on the packaging, not on the actual products (long since thrown away). I even tried looking it up online, but to no avail. Maybe I should have questioned the woman sitting next to me about what she knew and what to avoid?

It’s clearly too late to ask her now. But as I run out of beauty products, I will be searching out products that are more natural. With less chemicals. Because even if the products are completely safe (something that I don’t believe to be true anymore), why do we need to use products with lots of chemicals? The processing alone could harm the environment. Just because we can stick a bunch of chemicals into a product doesn’t make it better.

What kind of products do you use? Do you read labels on the back of your beauty products?

If you are interested, go here to get involved with the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families campaign.

Toxic chemicals

Along with moving towards eating organic foods and staying away from processed foods, I have been doing some research on chemicals in products that we use daily. Once again, I have been shocked with what I have found. You would think that most products you would use such as hand soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, etc. are safe enough and although they are full of chemicals that you can’t pronounce, they have been tested and they are safe, right?

Well considering the information that I have found, not only do you have to worry about what you ingest, but you have to worry about what you put on your skin.

Makeup Unmasked: Five Chemicals to Avoid in Cosmetic Products (from the Women's Health Resource)

• Phthatale Family: Also known as di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ehtylexyl) phthatale (DEHP). Use: these chemicals are used to make plastics supple and pliable and are found in nail polish, body lotions, hair-straighteners and sprays. Risks: phthatales are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as well as carcinogens which have been linked to a variety of problems such as damage to the reproductive organs, premature breast development, lung, liver and kidney cancer. They have also been linked to lowered sperm counts and testicular injury.
• Lauryl Sulfate: Also known as SLS and Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Use:a foaming agent and emulsifier, this chemical is derived from petroleum and is usually deceptively described as being extracted from coconuts. These chemicals are found in shampoo, body and shower gels, bath salts and toothpaste. Risks: lauryl sulfate is believed to be a carcinogen which has been linked to kidney and liver damage. Other health risks associated with this chemical include nervous-system disruption, eczema, dermatitis as well as skin inflammation. It can also cause eye damage, notably cataracts. [NOTE: Check out a couple of your beauty products at home. This chemical is in EVERYTHING.]
• Amine Family: This chemical family includes Diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA) and monoethanolamine (MEA).Use: these ammonia compounds (amines) function as a preservative, emulsifier, pH adjuster and foaming agent added to coconut oils. They are used in face powders, shaving creams, hair-coloring products for both men and women as well as hair sprays. Amines are also used in soaps, sunscreens, foundations, concealers, eyeliners, talcs and face powders. Risks: amines can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come upon contact with nitrates and are toxic when absorbed on a long-term basis. These chemicals found in common cosmetics have been linked to kidney and liver cancer. They are also irritants to the hair and skin and damaging to the eyes. They also cause contact dermatitis.
• Formaldehyde: Also known as Diazolidinyl urea, 3-diol Imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Quaternium-15, Nitroopropane-1, Formalin, Methanal, Methyl aldehyde, Methylene oxide, Morbicic acid, Oxymethlylene. Use: functions as a preservative, defoamer, germicide, fungicide, disinfectant due to its inexpensive nature and the fact that it mixes easily with water. Chemicals found in this family are used in a variety of makeup products and other personal care products, including shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, nail polish, mascara, mouthwash, makeup remover, bubble bath, hair-care products, anti-perspirants and talcs. Risks: chemicals of the formaldehyde family are carcinogens which can cause depression, headaches, fatigue, dizziness and immune dysfunction. They also cause allergic reactions, contact dermatitis and irritate mucous membranes. Formaldehyde can also lead to joint and chest pain.
• Paraben Preservatives: Also known as alkyl-p-hydroxybenzoates (methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl. Use: parabens are found in nail creams, foundations, concealers, mascara, facial masks, deodorants, sunscreen, hair-coloring products and conditioners. They function as a germicide and preservative. Risks: parabens can disrupt hormones, namely estrogen, which can lead to cancer. They have also been linked to breast cancer. Parabens also cause skin rashes.

Green living online has a list of companies that don't use these chemicals if you are feeling lazy and don't want to read labels....

In addition, that sunscreen that you think is protecting you from skin cancer? Almost half of the sunscreens on the market contain retinyl palmitate, a form of Vitamin A that may ACCELERATE skin damage and elevate your skin cancer risk. Not to mention that more than half of the 500 sunscreens tested have a chemical called oxybenzone in it- a hormone disruptor that enters the bloodstream. The full report from the Environmental Working Group can be found here.

As someone that will be trying to get pregnant in the near future (once I figure out if I have a JOB), articles like this one from CNN that talks about chemicals found in cord blood scare the heck out of me!

Crunchy Domestic Goddess also did a great post on this….check it out here. More tomorrow…..