Green Your Nail Polish

Toxic Chemicals in Nail Polish:
Did you ever wonder why your manicurist wears a respirator? Commercial nail polishes contain dangerous chemicals that have been linked to cancer as well as birth defects.  Three of the most hazardous chemicals are Dibutylphtalate (DBP), Formaldehyde and Toluene.   Nearly every commercial nail polish contains these chemicals.  Many people are also allergic to Formaldehyde and suffer adverse reactions from nail polish containing Formaldehyde.  Here is what the EPA says about Formaldehyde: "Formaldehyde can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing. High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions."

Green Nail Salons:
Many consumers are becoming aware of these hazards and are seeking healthier alternatives.  Although they are still something of a rarity Green Nail Salons are beginning to emerge.  Green Nail Salons benefit both the employees and the customers.  Traditional nail salons have very poor indoor air quality due to the high levels of chemicals used in nail polishes, removers and the application of acrylic nails.  These chemicals can lead to skin irritations, respiratory problems and even birth defects for the employees who work daily under these conditions.  If you frequent nail salons your exposure to these chemicals is also cause for concern, espeically if you are pregnant.  Green Nail Salons use non toxic nail polishes, removers and products and most refuse to do acrylic nails so the indoor air quality is much healthier.

How to Green Your Nail Care:

1. Choose a Green Nail Salon for your next nail appointment.
   
2. If you don't have a green nail salon in your area start bringing your own green nail polish to your mani-pedi appointments.  Zoya is a Green 4 Your Soul favorite and comes in all of the seasons hottest shades.
3. If you do your own nails always choose a green nail polish that is free from harmful chemicals and only use Acetone free nail polish removers. 

A Natural Way to Freshen Funky Carpet

Does your carpet have a funky smell?  I've got two dogs who love to roll around and lay on the carpet, often leaving it smelling a little less than fresh.  I'm also something of a clean freak so this drives me crazy, especially when I'm doing Yoga and my face is buried in the funk.  Since going green I haven't used any carpet fresheners for fear of exposing my pups to the toxic chemicals contained in them.  Since I've never seen a natural alternative at the store I decided to do a little digging.  Making your own natural carpet powder is easy, inexpensive and best of all it works!

Natural Carpet Freshening Powder Recipe:
1 cup of Baking Soda
10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (Adjust the amount depending on the strength of the scent you choose) 
Mix well to blend oils into powder

Essential Oils can easily be found at your local health food store or purchased on one of my favorite websites:
Mountain Rose Herbs

Directions for Use:
Sprinkle powder on carpet and keep dogs and children away for at least 15 minutes
Vacuum up and enjoy your fresh carpet


Since Baking Soda is a natural deodorizer this powder will absorb the smell instead of just masking it.  I also like to make my own linen spray by filling a spray bottle with water and mixing essential oils.  You can have fun mixing up different scent combinations. One of my favorite combinations is Vanilla, Peppermint & Lavender.  The linen spray can be used to freshen drapes, bedding and throw pillows. 

Are your candles sucking the life out of you?

Did you know that according to the American Lung Association candles are becoming the most common cause of poor indoor air quality? Many candles are made with paraffin wax and lead wicks. Burning several paraffin candles in your home could create poor indoor air quality in your home that rivals large cities like Los Angeles! The EPA has discovered that paraffin candles and the smoke and soot they give off contain several hazardous chemicals that are probable carcinogens, neurotoxins and reproductive toxins. Acetone, Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, Trichloroethane, Toluene, Mercury and Lead have all been found in paraffin candles. Worst of all the candle industry is not required to inform consumers of the ingredients they use in their candles, even if their candles contain lead wicks!  

To keep your indoor air quality pure and protect your family's health always look for Soy or Vegetable wax Candles with Lead Free Wicks.  If the candle doesn't state that the wick is lead free it probably isn't.  Also try and buy candles that are scented with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.  Synthetic fragrances can often aggravate respiratory problems.  Read the labels before you bring anything new in to your home to ensure that you are not contaminating your environment with toxic chemicals.  Luckily there are many companies out there that are producing safe and natural candles so it's not a matter of avoiding candles all together but rather making a healthier choice. 

Waterless Car Washing Products

Did you know that washing your car at home uses more than 100 gallons of water? It's estimated that 800 million gallons of water are used per day in the US to wash cars. Only 1% of the world's freshwater is safe for drinking and nearly 1 Billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. In addition 1.4 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water.  We need to protect this precious resource and look for ways to conserve it rather than waste it.

At home car washing contributes to pollution as well. When you wash your car at home the oil, grease, metals and soap run off of your car and into the storm drains polluting our rivers, lakes, streams and oceans. Ecolo Green Car Wash is an amazing California based company dedicated to educating consumers on the importance of protecting and conserving water. As the population grows and our climate heats up we need water more than ever. In the next 20 years it's estimated that humans will need 40% more water than they do now.  If we continue to waste water at the current rates where will this water come from?

Ecolo Green Car Wash products allow you to keep your car sparkling clean while conserving water and protecting the planet.  Ecolo Green Car Wash products give you all the performance of a traditional car wash product without the wasted water or polluting chemicals. Did we mention that they’re 100% Biodegradable too? Ditch the hose, buckets and toxic car washing products and reach for a bottle of Ecolo Car Wash instead. You'll feel good in knowing that you're doing your part to conserve water and protect the planet. Ecolo makes a great gift for green guys too!

Teen Girls Exposure to Cosmetic Chemicals

A recent study by the Environmental Working Group has revealed that teen girls bodies are more contaminated with chemicals from cosmetics than adult women. On average an adult woman uses 12 beauty products per day, however teen girls use an average of 17 beauty products per day. The study included 20 teen girls ages 14-19 and revealed that every teen had parabens in her blood and urine samples. 16 other hazardous chemicals were also detected in the girls. Adolescence is a time of critical development and many of these chemicals such as parabens are disrupting our teens natural hormone levels. Parabens and Phthalates are both hormone mimicking chemicals that disrupt our natural hormone levels and pollute our bodies with synthetic "mimicking" hormones. Phthalates have been linked to endocrine and reproductive system problems. Babies who are cared for with phthalate-laced products have shown developmental problems, especially in the reproductive development of male children. If you don't read the ingredients labels on your cosmetics you are unknowingly exposing yourself to these chemicals on a daily basis. Parabens and Phthalates are in everything from shampoo, foundation, deodorant and perfume.

I hear stories daily about women in their early 20s being diagnosed with breast cancer, I even saw a news story about a 13 year old who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Is this a coincidence? I don't think so. The cosmetic industry has no regulation and companies are free to put whatever chemicals they want into products. There's some government group that regulates the cosmetic industry right? Wrong! Our bodies, our children, our waterways and our aquatic life are all being affected by the hormone disrupting chemicals in our cosmetics products.

I encourage everyone to start reading labels. Resist the temptation to buy your teen the latest beauty products from the fashion mags. Get on board with green products and show her that you can still stay on trend while using products that are safe for your health. Green is hot and many commercial companies are jumping on the band wagon. A great drug store brand eco line is Physcians Formula Organic Wear. Buyer beware, even if a product is being marketed as green make sure you still read the labels. Many companies are taking advantage of the fact that consumers want green products and are marketing their products as "safe and natural" when they are anything but. Surprise, Surprise there isn't anyone regulating what is "natural" either so "Green Washing" is becoming a challenge for consumers. A good rule of thumb is if the ingredients aren't listed, don't buy the product. Not to fear there are some amazing companies out there that are producing fabulous green products free from all of the harmful chemicals we've discussed. Check out my website for recommendations, to read product reviews, get educated and read the ingredient listings on every product.

Are your pets living the green life?

A recent study has shown that dogs and cats bodies are contaminated with higher levels of hazardous chemicals than their human owners. Pets are exposed to toxic chemicals in their environment on a daily basis through pesticide-laden lawns, toxic flea medications and hazardous indoor air contaminants. Since their bodies age at an accelerated rate the chemicals burden their bodies sooner than they do humans. Scientists are seeing rates of cancer in dog’s skyrocket as well as hyperthyroidism in cats, leading them to the conclusion that hazardous chemical exposure is to blame.

Did you know that most popular flea medications work by entering toxic chemicals directly into your pets bloodstream? Vitamin B has been shown effective in keeping fleas at bay and is a safe and natural alternative. Keep your pets breathing easy by eliminating toxic household cleaners and air fresheners in the home. This will ensure that your indoor air quality is safe for your pets. Also be sure and use eco friendly products to keep outdoor pests away. Pesticides are extremely toxic to pets.

Good health starts from the inside out so check out your pets food and make sure that you're feeding them a high quality food that is free from artificial ingredients, preservatives and fillers. Many skin conditions can be cleared up by eliminating corn and wheat products from your pets food as well as choosing a green SLS free dog shampoo. For more recommendations on green pets products check out www.green4yoursoul.com

What is Fair Trade Anyway? Case Study: Shea Terra Organics

Fair Trade protects native workers from exploitation by ensuring that they receive fair wages and fair working conditions.  Many impoverished nations have great natural resources that are purchased by big businesses for use in cosmetic and food products.  Often times these businesses undercut the native farmers and destroy wildlife habitats.  Once company that's making a difference with Fair Trade is Shea Terra Organics.  Shea Terra Organics has been concerned about the exploitation of Africa’s precious resources and native people. Currently millions of tons of African resources are exported each year without consideration for the native people or the wildlife habitats.  Shea Terra Organics goal is to abolish this injustice. 

Shea Terra Organics works closely with self-empowerment programs and environmental groups throughout Africa.  Rather than looking for ways to undercut suppliers Shea Terra allows native farmers to set their own prices and determine what they believe the value of their goods are.  Shea Terra’s goal is to help native people become self-sufficient.  Their Marula Oil is cultivated by a group of over four thousand Namibian women.  Many of these women have escaped the war torn north and this opportunity provides them with their only source of income. By providing natives with money for their wild harvested crops they are given an incentive to protect the environment and it’s wildlife.  By purchasing Shea Terra products you are helping support wildlife preservation, Fair Trade, self-empowerment and education programs in Africa.  Always choose Fair Trade products and you can feel good in knowing that your hard earned money is making a difference in the lives of others. 

Green Washing

This past weekend I went to the Los Angeles County Fair.  As all regular Fair goers know the Fair is filled with Pavilion after Pavilion of the "latest and greatest products".  One such product marketed themselves as "All Natural"; they had huge banners in their multiple booths stating this and even a story about how their product was developed by the founders Grandmother in her kitchen.  This "natural" family recipe was a cure all for everything from bug bites to sore muscles.  My Mom had purchased the product the previous year and was excited to show it to me.  "Since it's natural you might be able to carry it on your website" she said.  We made our way over the booth and I picked up the box to read the ingredients.  There were only a few natural ingredients listed on the box including "Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Aloe Vera”.  Since my Mom loved the product and I could see how natural it was I was sold.  

Thirty-five dollars and several hours later I was in the shower as my husband was going through the items we had purchased.  We were both tired and sore from walking around all day and couldn't wait to try out our new natural pain reliever.  My husband came bursting into the bathroom to tell me that the company was lying about their products.  When he removed the bottle from the box he discovered that the box only listed the natural ingredients in the product, however the bottle revealed ingredients that made us both cringe.  "Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and a host of other ingredients we couldn't pronounce and didn't recognize.  Once again we'd been the victims of "green washing".  There are no laws governing the definition of what is "natural".  Companies are free to market their chemically laden products as natural with no consequences for their deception.  I'm always on alert to this and usually catch it before I've wasted my money on the product.  I wasn't expecting this level of deception and hadn't thought to pull the bottle from the package.  

Although this didn’t surprise me I was angry wondering how many other people had been taken.  I deal with customers on a daily basis that have extreme allergies, are recovering from illnesses such as cancer or simply want to ensure that they're using safe green products.  This is the reason behind Green 4 Your Soul’s full disclosure policy on ingredients.  If there is an ingredient you wish to avoid you can clearly see that ingredient on the website before you buy the product.  Marketing a product as green and withholding the synthetic and chemical ingredients from the packaging is shameful.  Many people wouldn't look beyond the ingredient listing on the box and would unknowingly use a product containing harmful chemicals.  I urge everyone to read labels and use your purchasing power to make a statement against green washing.  Don't spend your hard earned money on so-called "Natural Products", the less support these companies receive the harder it will be for them to continue this charade.

Green Your Baby Products

When selecting products for babies and children less is more. Commercial baby powders, oils, lotions, shampoos and other products often contain phthalates. Phthalates have been linked to endocrine and reproductive system problems. Babies who are cared for with phthalate-laced products have shown developmental problems, especially in the reproductive development of male children. Phthalates are hormone mimickers and disrupt natural hormones in the bodies of babies and children. Parents should also beware of overly fragranced baby products. The term “Fragrance” can mean a combination of over 400 chemicals, many of which have never been tested for safety.

A friend of mine was told by her pediatrician that she sees more allergic reactions in children caused by Johnson and Johnson baby products than any other baby product on the market. I often hear from people who are resistant to greening their children's products. Their excuses are often "My Mom used those products on me and I'm fine". These chemicals often take years to accumulate in the body and cause health issues. We didn't have the knowledge of the effects of these chemicals then, but we do now. If their Mom's knew the harm that those products were doing to their children you can bet that they wouldn't have used them.

The Price You Pay For Cheap Cosmetics

Once again I visited the Target Dollar Bin to see what dangers lurked within. To my surprise the lip gloss that I notified them about had been recalled. I was happy to know that children wouldn't be ingesting lead laden lip gloss, however I discovered that the same company was pedaling other toxic products.

I picked up two of their $1 products, a Roll on Fragrance and a Body Lotion. I immediately flipped them over to see if they contained lead. Thankfully they did not contain lead but they had a plethera of other toxic chemicals in them. Once again the packaging was full of bright colors and boasted fun fruity fragrances targeted towards children. The ingredient listing read like a bottle of pesticide. "Mineral Oil, Methylparaben, Triethanolamine..." to name a few. Both products also had a warning not to ingest them.

Out of curiosity I googled the company that makes these products. I found that the products are made in China and that the company is no longer in business. As many of you know China has been responsible for shipping all sorts of toxic products to the US, from toxic toothpaste to deadly pet food to children's toys laced with lead.

I know that with the economy many people are looking for a bargain but I would urge you to investigate what you're buying before getting sucked into the deal. You get what you pay for and when you're paying a dollar for something chances are you are also paying a steep price with your health. Read the labels on all cosmetic products just as you would food labels. The products you put on your skin soak into your blood stream and can lead to many health issues over time. Check out this handy list of some of the worst cosmetic companies on the market and what harmful ingredients their products contain before your next shopping trip.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/whatnottobuy/

Personal Care Product Ingredients are Hazardous to Wildlife

Most people never stop to think about the environmental impact that their personal care products make. Consider for a moment how many millions of people each day rinse commercial shampoos, conditioners, body washes and shaving creams down the drain. It's estimated that the average woman exposes herself to over 100 hazardous chemicals a day through her personal care products. All of these chemicals are washed down the drain into our rivers, streams and oceans.

The hazardous chemicals contained in personal care products are not only putting humans health at risk but also wildlife. Hormone disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and parabens are washed down the drain when we use personal care products containing these ingredients. These chemicals are polluting our rivers and streams and have been linked to the feminization of fish and other aquatic life. By choosing green personal care products you can protect your health and also the health and welfare of our wildlife

Green Your Sunscreen

Did you know that the FDA still hasn’t finalized its sunscreen standards? This means that companies are free to promise that their sunscreens are safe and effective when no safety guidelines have actually been set. According to a recent study by the Environmental Work Group nearly 600 of the top selling American sunscreen brands contain a chemical called Oxybenzone, which can actually mutate your cells!

The last safety review for Oxybenzone was done in the 1970s, and does not reflect a wealth of information developed since that time indicating increased toxicity concerns and widespread human exposure. Oxybenzone is a penetration enhancer, which means that it allows enhanced penetration of chemicals into your skin. This is of great concern considering that Oxybenzone can allow hazardous ingredients to be penetrated directly into your blood stream. Oxybenzone has also been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, cell damage and low birth weights in baby girls whose mothers were exposed to the chemical during pregnancy. In addition the EWG research found that 84% of 910 name-brand sunscreens offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain hazardous ingredients, like Oxybenzone.

It’s recommended that you purchase a sunscreen with at least 7% zinc oxide or titanium dioxide content in order to receive the maximum amount of sun protection. Broad Spectrum protection is the highest level of sun protection and means that a sunscreen protects you from both UVA (ultra violet, skin aging) rays and UVB (ultra violet, burning) rays.

Be sure and reach for a green sunscreen this summer. Choosing a chemical free alternative will protect the environment and your family's health.

Lead in Children's Lip Gloss

I just returned from my local Target where I had quite a shock. A friend had recently told me about a well know environmental activist she saw on PBS explaining that cheaper products contain less harmful ingredients. This claim didn't seem at all plausible to me given what I know about the toxic ingredients contained in commercial health and beauty products. I picked up a flavored lip gloss in the dollar bin to test this theory. This lip gloss had brightly colored packaging with a picture of a delicious looking ice cream sundae on it and the words "Mango Flavored". As I flipped over the back of the package to read the ingredient listing I was astonished to find the following warning "This product contains lead which is known to cause birth defects and cancer. This product is not meant to be eaten or ingested." I began to feel sick to my stomach. This lip gloss was obviously being marketed to children and obviously meant to be ingested or it wouldn't have been given a fruity mango flavor.

Horrified I paced around the store imagining how many little girls were going to beg their Moms for this toxic lip gloss and how many Mom's would willingly buy it for them. I would have done the same thing when I was a little girl. What busy mom has time to screen her child's lip gloss for Lead? Most people operate under the misconception that some government agency is ensuring that the products we use are safe and free from hazardous chemicals. Why would a children's lip gloss contain lead? This is America right? We have people watching out for our safety and our children's safety right? When it comes to the health and beauty industry this couldn't be further from the truth. There is no agency testing ingredient safety before they're marketed in beauty products. Often companies can legally get around listing cancer causing ingredients on their label by hiding them under the term Fragrance.

Now I know I can't change the world, but I still believe in standing up for what's right. I wouldn't have been able to sleep if I didn't do something about this. I spoke to the manager and made her aware of the product. She thanked me and seemed shocked that they were selling this product as well. When I returned home I called Target's corporate office only to be transferred to India where a customer service representative acted shocked at my concern. I'm sure that Target won't pull these items off of their shelves as legally they can sell products containing lead if they have a warning on them. My hope is that more consumers will start reading labels and making educated decisions about the products they purchase for their families. There are many companies that are dedicated to providing their customers with healthy organic products so we always have the option to use our purchasing power to send a message to the health and beauty industry.

So I guess the moral of the story is cheaper isn't safer or better. Keep it green!