Drop Dead Gorgeous

Straight, obedient hair even on a rainy day is the stuff of many women's dream. That was my dream for many years, too. I was a devoted patron of Japanese thermal straightening until I realized how much crappy chemicals the treatment involved. So when Brazilian blowout was available, I thought I had found my new hair savior that is friendly to both my health and the planet....

Body Care that Cares

During my last hair styling appointment, my stylist expressed her confusion with people who use organic shampoos and conditioners. She could understand eating organic food, but what good does organic body care do?

I couldn't help but be baffled by her comment since she works for a salon that exclusively uses a certain line of supposedly natural products . Skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is just as alive and important as the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain.

In most stores,  shelves are filled with petroleum byproducts and estrogen-mimickers. While most research about these chemicals are non-conclusive, I would rather err on the side of safety. Besides, we might be exposed to much higher dose of them than we think since these substances can be found in almost every item in our bathrooms.

Perhaps the one who is taking the most beating from these harmful body care products is the Earth. Millions of gallons of polluted water are flushed into the environment everyday from our sinks and drains. As a result, our streams and lakes are becoming increasingly filthy and aquatic animals are exhibiting hermaphroditic activity. A vomit-inducing fact is that we're eating the mutated fish and shellfish that have lived in these polluted waters. Eww.

Here are some of my top eco- and body-friendly picks.

1. Trade Joe's Oatmeal & Honey Soap
   Little bits and pieces of oats work as a gentle exfoliator. Cleanses without stripping which is a plus especially during winter months. And at the price of $1.49 for 2 bars, they're definitely a bargain!
2. Whole Foods 365 Shower Gel in Herbal Mint
   Doesn't fair so well as an actual body wash but makes a darn good hand soap! At $3.49 for a 16-ounce bottle, it'll give you many refills for your bathroom and kitchen sinks. Family size also available. 
3. Avalon Organics Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub
   Already earned a mention here on Healing Foodie, this exfoliator deserves a repeat mention because it's effective without being abrasive. Works well for the bumps on back of arms, too!
4. Avalon Organics Extra Moisturizing Fragrance-Free Olive & Grape Seed Shampoo
   This fragrance-free shampoo contains lots of essential oils that can tame my head of tumbleweed while giving it volume. How it does that, I'm not sure. But this shampoo doesn't contain the usual"suspects" sodium laureth and lauryl sulfates that can over-cleanse hair. 
5. Trader Joe's Spa Gentle Facial Cleanser
   A newly-launched item at my beloved Trader Joe's, it's one of the best makeup remover + cleanser I've come across. It took off my eye makeup with ease and didn't irritate my skin at all. 
6. Everyday Minerals
   A family friend turned me on to this line of mineral makeup last Thanksgiving. The base, much like powder foundation, gives great coverage. Also, free samples when you make a purchase regardless of how much you spend! Mineral makeup shouldn't cost an arm and a leg and should be as skin-friendly as they claim. Everyday Minerals cares about my budget AND the health of my skin. 

Finding a more natural product that you like will require some experimentation because their formulas are so different from the mainstream rubbish. But it'll be all worth the trouble when you make the commitment to care for your body as well as our planet!

For more info on the harmful chemicals that may be lurking in your bathroom, check out Skin Deep.

Product Props: Avalon Organics Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub

To achieve clear, glowing skin, many of us layer on lotions and powders every day. Skin is the largest organ in the human body but is often abused by us unknowingly. Many of those lotions and powders are actually full of harmful chemicals and preservatives. Through false advertisements, we're led to believe those products are beneficial for our face and will help us erase years of damage and abuse.

My mother instilled a sense of fear for prematurely aged skin in me very early on. That fear drove me to believe that putting on expensive creams and lotions religiously will help me ward of wrinkles and sunspots. Well, it worked but came at a high cost as I became a slave to expensive department store lotions and eye creams. Finally, I got fed up with the crazy prices and the insane ingredients that are in those products. Just as I wouldn't pay $10 to buy a bag of potato chips, I realized I shouldn't spend $35 on a bottle of purely man-made chemicals that is suppose to go on my face.

After countless strolls through the body care sections at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Henry's Farmers Market, I finally found my face savior. Avalon Organics does have many top-notch products, but I'm most fond of the face scrub. It felt like WEEKS of dead skin cells were scrubbed away the first time I used it. The texture is a bit coarse but not abrasive. Natural ingredients like walnut powder and papaya enzymes loosen impurities with ease while lavender extract helps calm irritated skin. Plus the ingredients list on the tube contains a lot of "pronounce-able" words- a good sign for both edible and non-edible products.

Skin Deep is a great online resource of looking up harmful ingredients in facial products. If you haven't read the ingredients label on your favorite facial lotion, check it out. It might amaze you or make you run to the nearest dumpster to throw it away. 

Special thanks to my friend and colleague Mandy T. for introducing me to the Skin Deep!

Photo from avalonorganics.com