Is your mineral make-up really mineral?

updated March 7, 2011 - Apologies for the links to the original source being dead

Here is an interesting article about testing mineral make-up. The Beauty Bunny tested 5 different kinds of mineral make-up to see if they are truly mineral. The results are interesting.

update 3/27/14

Facial Mask

I love this facial mask! I try to use it at least a couple of times a month. It leaves my skin feeling so soft. This was emailed to me a few years ago as a forward of a forward, so I don't know who it originated with.

2 Tbsp honey
1/2 cup oats
1 large whole egg, beaten
2 tsp. sugar, granulated
1/2 cup milk
1 chamomile tea bag, broken open into mixture
1 Tbsp olive oil or light sesame oil
1 tsp. lemon juice

First cleanse face with a gentle cleanser; then rinse face with warm water to open up pores. Pat dry. Mix all of the ingredients above in a glass bowl, for two mins., to ensure even mixing and to allow tea to moisten. Apply your mask evenly, avoiding eye area. Rub the mask in circular motion in order to allow the sugar to slough off any dead cells,gently! Rinse after 15-20 minutes with warm water.

Deodorant

Photo by Lusi via freeimages.com

I decided to try to live a healthier lifestyle and use less chemicals. After making the decision to be more natural in my skin and hair care regimens, I considered anti-perspirants and deodorants.

Back in September of last year, I decided to go a week without anti-perspirant. I decided to try this after reading about how antiperspirants clog your pores, preventing your body ridding itself of toxins. Then I read some other articles saying they cause cancer. Then there is the debate about the aluminum in antiperspirant being absorbed into the brain, which is linked to Alzheimer's. Well I don't know if the cancer causing element is true or not. It seems there may not be enough evidence to support either argument. You can read this article for more info: Aluminum in Deodorant

I can tell you that I need antiperspirant. I can't stand being moist. I don't want my shirts getting sweat stains, and most importantly I don't want to stink. I've tried some natural deodorants, some left me less than impressed. The crystal deodorant I tried was okay. It was better than going without, but I wouldn't wear it with a fitted shirt at work and raise my arm, if you know what I mean.

The one that I did use and was happy with was Arm & Hammer's Essentials natural deodorant. It is aluminum free and Paraben free. It has baking soda and natural plant extracts. It does contain Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, and something called Tetrasodium EDTA. Which I didn't know what they were, only that it didn't sound natural. So I looked them up. I encourage everyone to look things up if they don't know what they are. Look at a few, reputable, sources to help you get a good idea. In my next blog I will talk about these items and what I learned.
If you're feeling adventurous here is a website with a recipe for homemade deodorant: http://wellnessmama.com/1523/natural-deodorant/

About Me

I've been blogging for several years on various topics, mostly beauty and health related topics. I'm a mother of two young boys, a writer, and I've been a 911 operator/public safety dispatcher.  I'm now trying to age gracefully and coming to terms with the fact I'm not 25 anymore.

As a teen I wanted to be "beautiful" and glamorous like the women in the magazines. I read every book on beauty, make-up, and hair that the local library had. It took me a few years, but I finally realized that real beauty starts on the inside. Being well groomed is important, but even more so is what is on the inside of a person.

I like make-up and girlie stuff. I've tried to live a "green" lifestyle and avoid artificial ingredients as much as possible. However, I must admit that my bank account rules most of the time, and sometimes the less expensive products win.  but I've made the move to try to be as free of artificial ingredients as possible.  Affordability is really important to me.

Lately I've been turning to less glamorous household duties like trying to figure out how to get rid of fruit flies and how to unclog a drain without harsh chemicals. I'm trying to give up chemicals in my daily routine in both cosmetics and for household cleaning. I love baking soda, vinegar, and borax. They are so versatile!

I'm learning how to feed a family nutritious and wholesome meals on a budget. For years I was hooked on pre-prepared frozen meals, the grocery store deli, and fast food. I also was tired, suffered depression, and generally felt bad. Last year I visited a naturopathic doctor and decided to change my eating habits. What a person eats really does affect how a person feels. The experience was difficult for me because I've never liked cooking.



Questions or comments? feel free to e-mail me at lamongelolane@comcast.net