365 Days of Makeup

I came across this video a while back and though I don't know how the creators intended it to be interpreted I feel that it has a really good message.

Some observations as I watch it...

1. Ok, some foundation, lipgloss, eyeshadow, blush... doesn't seem like too much.
2. Starting to look a bit cakey.
3. Yuck, the foundation is dripping, how can we cover ourselves in so much of this stuff each day? 
4. How is the model breathing? She looks like an iced cake. 
5. Wow, talk about repeated exposure to this stuff every day, and this is excluding the other products many women use each day- like fragrances, primers, concealers, mascara, hairspray, and powder. 

Challenge:

When you get ready tomorrow, take a moment to write down the products you use on a daily basis. On one half or a small area of your face (to minimize product waste) apply a full 7 days of makeup. Now imagine a full year of makeup... 

Some final thoughts:

Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Even though it may not seem like much when we get ready each morning, our exposure to the chemicals in cosmetics adds up over a month, a year, several years, a lifetime. Personally, this video makes me want to make my beauty routine as natural as I can, for both my health and the environment. 

Skin Deep Cosmetics Database

Today I decided to share an online resource that I have been using for some time. The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. In addition the many informative articles published on the site, it is a searchable database that allows you to look up the products you commonly use and assess the potential risk factor associated with them. I highly recommend searching some of your everyday products to see how they measure up. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

If you don't have a lot of time, I consider the following mandatory reading for every cosmetics consumer. Below is an excerpt from the article 'Myths on Cosmetic Safety'. The full article can be found at http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/myths-on-cosmetics-safety/ 

• "Myth – The government prohibits dangerous chemicals in personal care products, and companies wouldn’t risk using them.
  Fact – Cosmetics companies may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives and a few prohibited substances, without government review or approval (FDA 2005, FDA 2000).
• 
  
• More than 500 products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients banned in cosmetics in Japan, Canada or the European Union (EWG 2007b).
• Nearly 100 products contain ingredients considered unsafe by the International Fragrance Association (EWG 2007c).
• A wide range of nanomaterials whose safety is in question may be common in personal care products (EWG 2006).
• 22% of all personal care products may be contaminated with the cancer-causing impurity 1,4-dioxane, including many children’s products (EWG 2007d, CDC 2009).
• 60% of sunscreens contain the potential hormone disruptor oxybenzone that readily penetrates the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans (EWG 2010, Calafat et al 2008).
• 61% of tested lipstick brands contain residues of lead (CSC 2007)."

Do It Yourself: Pumpkin Face Mask

As the change of seasons approaches, our skin begins to change, and oftentimes we need to rejig our skincare routine. This pumpkin face mask is a great choice to smooth dry or irritated skin, reduce redness and inflammation, and promote the healing of acne scars.

Variation:
Add 1/2 tbsp rolled oats to the mixture. Apply as if it was a scrub and gently massage it into your skin for a few moments before letting it sit for 5-10 min.