How to Use Shaving Soap Bars by Batty's Bath

Share

Vacation Notice

I'll need to catch up on my sleep by Christmas!

As you know, we are right in the middle of the busiest time of year for BB! At the end of every year I take a couple weeks off, and keep product availability limited in Jan so I can relax and recharge before jumping head first into another busy year. That being said, here's what you need to know about the upcoming shop closings:

All online shops will be closed starting on Dec 20th and will reopen Jan 11th.

Product availability may be more limited than usual while I prepare the new (more eco-friendly) packaging.

It's best to plan to have enough of your fav products to see you through to February

Share

Keep Your Containers! Plus a Look at the New Year!

Keep Your Containers! Plus a Look at the New Year!

Just a reminder to keep your 2oz containers! In the new year, all plastic 2oz, 4oz, and 8oz jars will be replaced by 4oz biodegradable jars. This means that all the facial creams, scrubs, and body butters will come in jars that are the same size as the current body butter jars. So why keep your plastic containers? If you prefer to continue to use plastic containers, or don't think you'll go through 4oz of facial cream in 6 months, then you'll love that I'll be offering refill packs in biodegradable bags - these will be a bit cheaper as the packaging cost will be reduced and I'm hoping that they will be flat enough to qualify for a shipping discount with Canada Post! Also, please note that the current recycling program will be discontinued and replaced with a program that will still offer discounts for packaging that is returned that we can reuse. I'll announce all the details in the new year :)

Share

2 Ingredients to Watch for Under Your Christmas Tree!

Today I was reminded of why I started making skin care products - even the "natural" companies, aren't living up to their promises! In my mailbox today I found a newsletter (more like a newsPAPER!) from one of the biggest commercial companies toting the natural vibe. Now although this big company (that starts with an "L" and ends in an "H"), makes products that are better than a lot of what's available out there, they are still using two ingredients (in the majority their products) that are on most "dirty dozen" lists of ingredients to avoid.

I previously talked in length about one of those ingredients, parabens, in a previous blog post. A summery of their danger is that they mimic hormones and are readily absorbed into our skin. You'll find these at the end of the "Big L's" ingredients lists for many of their products.

The second shameful ingredient that the big L adds to pretty much anything that bubbles, suds, or fizzes, is SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate). I'm sure I've mentioned this problem ingredient on many occasions but since I don't have a blog post summarizing what it is and why you'll want to avoid it, now is the time! The last thing we all want is to start a new year bathing and soaking in chemicals! Without further a do, here's what makes SLS so shameful!

What Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are:

They are forming agents in the most basic terms. They create bubbles, form, and clean. They are some of the most widely used sulfates because they cheap. The almighty dollar strikes again. You'll find these sulfates in all kinds of bath and body products including bath bombs (the big L is notorious for SLS in their bath bombs), shampoo, body wash, bubble bars (I've never seen one made without SLS or SLES), tooth paste, dish soap, bubble bath, shaving cream, etc. SLES is said to be the milder of the two, but its effects seem to be much more long lasting.

Why they should be avoided:

• Concentrations as low as 0.5% can cause irritation.
• Concentrations of 10-30% can cause skin corrosion!
• Rashes, scalp scabs, canker sores, dry skin patches
• Color stripping
• Stripes shine from hair
• Penetrates skin easily and can't be metabolized by our liver
• Possible endocrine disruptors
• Not just skin and scalp irritants, they are also eye irritants
• Contamination with 1,4 dioxane (cancer causing)

How to spot them on labels:

They will be listed exactly how I've listed them in this post (minus the abbreviation):

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Today's take away:

Read labels! It's the only way to see through marketing hype to know if you're getting a natural, safe, skin loving product, or you're getting something that seems wondering but actually contains cancer causing ingredients! Again, watch out for any ingredient ending in -paraben, and watch out for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Share

Soap Drive Soaps! Raising Money for Animals in Need

The first every Batty's Bath Soap Drive is under way! Thank you to all who have shown their support so far! If you haven't bought your soap drive soaps yet, don't worry! You have until the end of December to place your order! (Or until Dec 18th to pick up one of the soap drive soaps at the Met)

What is the Batty's Bath Soap Drive?
Batty creates a special soap dedicated to a local charity and all the proceeds from the sales of that soap go to that charity!

Facebook Fans voted for their charities of choice!
The two charities we are raising money for this year are: A.R.F Ontario and Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary.

Read descriptions of the specialized soaps below:

A.R.F. Ontario Soap:
Glycerin Heart Soap with a Paw Print inside. Scented with "Sugar Plum".

Cedar Row Farm Sanctuary Soap:
Glycerin Pink Piggy Soap. Scented with Pomegranate Mango.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE SOAP DRIVE

Share

My Wedding Skin Care Routine

I have had SO many requests wanting to know what "Batty did to get ready for her big day"! One of the questions I've been getting the most is my skin care routine. Although I didn't change it up TOO much from my normal routine, I did increase the amount of clay masks and quick stick applications I did. Below is a breakdown of my routine 10 days before the wedding! I want to stress that the routine I decided to do was with MY skin in mind. I wouldn't suggest it for everyone as we all have skin that is at different stages, has different "problem areas", etc. I'm open to putting together a personalized routine for any brides (or anyone else!) out there who would like one! Contact me for more details (jamiesabot AT gmail DOT com). Now on with the "Batty as a Bride" routine! ;)

Here's the products I used:

Black Charcoal Cold Press Soap

Facial Primer/Day Moisturizer

Tea Tree Facial Scrub

Patchouli Facial Moisturizer

Dry Clay Mask

Kabuki Brush

Unscented Facial Scrub

Exfoliating Bath Glove

Quick Stick Acne Fix

Mild Unscented Jojoba Facial Scrub

Here's the routine I followed:

Thursday October 6 - TIME TO GET SERIOUS!

When I got up:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with tea tree facials scrub.
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.
• Waited 30 minutes, then applied dry clay mask with kabuki brush (went to bed with clay mask ON!)

Friday October 7, Saturday October 8, & Sunday October 9 - CLAY DAYS {DETOX}

When I got up:

• Washed face thoroughly with unscented facial scrub (read: washed off clay mask).
• Followed up with a light washing of black charcoal cold press soap, and exfoliating bath glove in any areas that needed it (usually around my nose)
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.
• Waited 30 minutes, then applied dry clay mask with kabuki brush (went to bed with clay mask ON!)

Monday October 10 - DEALING AFTER DETOX

When I got up:

• Washed face thoroughly with unscented facial scrub (read: washed off clay mask).
• Followed up with a light washing of black charcoal cold press soap, and exfoliating bath glove in any areas that needed it (usually around my nose)
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.

Tuesday October 11 - DEALING WITH DETOX PART 2

When I got up:

• Washed with tea tree facial scrub
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Wash with tea tree facial scrub and followed up with a light washing of black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.
• Applied quick stick acne fix ALL OVER.

Wednesday October 12 - ROUND 2 OF CLAY DAYS

When I got up:

• Washed face thoroughly with tea tree facial scrub
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.
• Waited 30 minutes, then applied dry clay mask with kabuki brush (went to bed with clay mask ON!)

Thursday October 13 - DEALING WITH DETOX

When I got up:

• Washed face thoroughly with unscented facial scrub (read: washed off clay mask).
• Followed up with a light washing of black charcoal cold press soap, and exfoliating bath glove in any areas that needed it (usually around my nose)
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.
• Waited 30 minutes, then applied dry clay mask with kabuki brush (went to bed with clay mask ON!)

Friday October 14 - STARTING TO FOCUS ON CALMING

When I got up:

• Washed face thoroughly with unscented facial scrub (read: washed off clay mask).
• Followed up with a light washing of black charcoal cold press soap
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Patchouli Moisturizer.

Saturday October 15 - CALMING IS A MUST

When I got up:

• Washed face with mild unscented jojoba facial scrub
• Followed up with exfoliating bath glove in any areas that needed it (the last few days, I haven't needed this much)
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moistuizer.

Before I went to bed:

• Washed with black charcoal cold press soap.
• Applied quick stick acne fix on any blemishes
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moisturizer

Sunday October 16 - THE BIG DAY

When I got up:

• Washed with mild unscented jojoba facial scrub (and used exfoliating glove for any extra spots - I didn't really need it, but I wanted to make sure I had the smoothest possible skin to work with!)
• Applied Facial Primer/Day Moisturizer
• In the afternoon I gave my face just a quick wash with black charcoal soap and reapplied the facial primer before diving into my makeup routine! I might share that on the blog in the future ;)

Share

Video: Happy Canada Day Plus What You Need to Know About Sunscreen

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!

Original Blog Post:
What You Need to Know About Sunscreen

Share

Parabens - How to spot them on labels

In the past I've talked about what parabens are and explained why all of my products are paraben free but I feel it's worth repeating. The point of this post isn't to just repeat a post I've written previously, but instead, I'm going elaborate on my previous post by including how you can spot parabens by reading the labels on your favorite beauty products.

First, let's do a quick review....

Parabens are preservatives used in over 70% of all beauty products. This is why you NEED to know how to spot them because you can bet that if you've bought something from the drug store, mall or department store lately, there's a good chance it has parabens in it.

Why you should avoid them

• one study showed that they can age the skin with exposed to UV light
• another study showed that they mimic estrogen
• they have been found in breast tumor tissue
• contrary to what was previously thought, they can penetrate the skin and migrate into body tissue

Now let's learn how to spot them!

If you have never read an ingredients label on a beauty product before, now is the time to start. When you do - don't freak out! If it's a commercially made product, the ingredients list is going to be HUGE with super long unpronounceable words, but I'm here to help you out! There's lots of things to look for on ingredients list, but we're going to start with baby steps and ease into things. If there's anything I've learned from my university years, it's don't try to learn EVERYTHING all at once. Instead, start with something that's manageable and build your knowledge bank from there. Today we're going to start with parabens.

The great thing about starting with parabens is that they are pretty easy to spot on a label because the name of the ingredient generally ends with "paraben"! Parabens aren't awesome but it's awesome that some of the most common ones include the word "paraben"! There are a few that are a bit tricker to spot but thankfully the list of incognito parabens is short

Here's the most common parabens you'll find on ingredient lists:

• methylparaben
• ethylparaben
• isobutylparaben
• propylparaben
• ... (other variations ending in paraben can be spotted as well)
• hydroxybenzoic acid
• hydroxybenzoate

There you have it! Go grab the products you use everyday and check out those labels! You'll be glad you used your new label reading skill to protect you and your family!

Stay tuned to the blog or join the mailing list for more "ingredient spotting baby steps" you can take!

Share

What You Need to Know About Sunscreen

The signs of summer have certainly shown themselves lately. Over the past few weeks I've been asked more times than I can count about natural sunscreen; mainly, "Do you make natural sunscreen or know where I can get a good natural sunscreen that isn't gross?"

After a lot of consideration, a discussion the fan page, and mulling it over with a close friend, I've decided NOT to make natural sunscreen, at least not for sale. I'll be making it for myself and my fiance, but I decided not to offer it for sale mostly because of the regulations AND my fear that with a natural sunscreen in hand some people will throw everything they know about being "sun safe" out the window. That scares me more than anything!

So if you can't get a natural sunscreen from Batty's Bath, what should you look for? Well, I'm going to answer that question by informing you on what to look for in a natural sunscreen and what to watch for (i.e. run away from)! There's a few ingredients in "chemical" sunscreen, and sunscreens claiming to be "pure" or "natural" that you need to learn so you can steer clear of them! Let's get started...

First up, the good guys...

When looking for a natural sunscreen look for ingredients that protect you from the sun by physically blocking & deflecting the sun's UVA and UBA rays. These include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. One thing to note though when looking for sunscreen with either of these two natural ingredients is making sure that they are not used in nano form. What does nano form mean? Well Nanoparticles are very controversial right now. It refers to the size of the actual minerals and at the smallest size, they can penetrate the skin easily. Because of this, some experts are concerned about particles entering the body and accumulating in body tissue or getting into place they shouldn't be (for example, your cells). So what do you need to now to avoid purchasing a product that could have nanoparticles? First you need to know that you want the particles to be larger than 100 nanoparticles. If the packaging or description doesn't say, ask!

Next up, the bad guys.....

This is not one of those times when going after the "bad boy" isn't as exciting as it was when you were teenager! In fact, playing around with these "bad boys" can have much more serious effects than a good cry over a tub of ice cream! This group of ingredients are found in chemical sunscreens and protect you from the sun by absorbing UV rays before they have a chance to damage your skin. When looking for this list of bad boys, check out any products with "SPF" on the label, especially if they don't mention that it is a mineral or physical blocker that's protecting you. So who are the bad boys? Without further ado, here's how you'll find them on an ingredients list: padimate-O (PABA), benzophenone (oxybenzone), homosalate, and octylmethoxycinnamate (octinoxate).

So what makes these ingredients so bad?

First, padimate-O (PABA) is a physical blocker (not a bad thing) but it is also a suspected carcinogen. Second, Oxybenzone (benzophenone) has shown endocrine disruption in animals, although the relevancy of this finding is debated as some experts claim that it doesn't enter the human bloodstream in any meaningful way. Third, the remaining ingredients are suspected of messing with hormones. Yikes!

So why care about the effects of the sun in the first place?
According the Canadian Cancer Society, "Natural sunlight is important for good health. But too much exposure to the sun’s rays can cause skin cancer and eye problems. Being safe in the sun can go a long way in protecting yourself and your family. There is no safe way to get a tan. Tanning beds and sun lamps are not a safe alternative. The more you use tanning beds and sun lamps, the greater your risk of getting skin cancer." - Canadian Cancer Society Website.

So we're not talking about the difference between being pretty in pale, and being tremendously tanned, ... we're talking about keeping you safe from too much sun exposure that causes skin cancer! If you haven't taken this seriously in the past, this is the year to start!

Hoping to see all you lovelies the same shade this summer as you were this winter ;)

Share

3 Things You Can Do This Weekend to Spring Clean Your Skin Care Routine

1. Clear out any "cleansing products" that aren't REAL soap. If it's not a natural body wash, natural castile soap (liquid or solid), or handmade soap, get rid of it. "Beauty Bars" aren't real soap (that's why they can't put soap on the label) - same goes for "Facial Cleansers". These products use harsh detergents in place of skin loving glycerin soap so they gotta go!

2. Say goodbye to industrial made toners because they are usually one of the worst things you can do to your skin! They strip your skin's natural moisturizer barrier which results in breakouts, dryness, redness, and irritation. No, they aren't going to magically get rid of blackheads (sorry!), so you're wasting your money and hurting your skin! If you're trying to control oil and switching to a handmade soap and mineral makeup isn't doing the trick, try Batty's Quick Stick that includes nature's toner: witch hazel.

3. Break up with your shampoo & conditioner if your hair is still frizzy, dry, unruly, and your scalp is itchy! I could write an essay on this but for this post I'll just stick to the very basics! Industrial made shampoos & conditioners don't wash clean - you know the promise of "smooth, straight hair"? They try to live up to that promise by leaving residue in your hair that weighs it down. What's wrong with that you say? The problem is that residue damages your hair and makes the problem worse. The slippery part of this slop is that your hair gets more frizzy and dry so you continue to use these "speciality" shampoos for frizzy hair not realizing that they are making your hair more and more frizz every time you use them! Not cool!!! Instead, switch to a handmade, natural shampoo or shampoo bar, and conditioner that wash clean and prevent damage to your hair in the first place (for example by detangle your hair to avoid breakage). It's also important to note that it usually takes 2-3 weeks for a natural shampoo & conditioner routine to completely wash out all the previous residue left behind by those "other" shampoos & conditioner & for your hair to adjust to "natural life".

Share

What Olive Green Clay Really Does for Your Skin

Our primer has it, our facial masks has it, and even our cucumber facial soap has it... what is it? It's Olive Green Clay!

Olive Green Clay is our "go to clay" around here because it's strengthening for all skin types! This clay has got it going on ;) It's the strongest of all clays for detoxification - something that is essential to keeping skin clear and health which makes it vital in the care of acne-prone and oily skin.

So what else is so great about this clay? The detoxification properties already make Olive Green Clay absolutely amazing but it does more than just that! The minerals in the clay help to rebalance oil flow (another essential element of controlling breakouts), strengthens the skin, and aids in the repair of scars (an added bonus for those of us who have scars left over from previous or long-term breakouts!). The repairing properties for scars also makes Olive Green Clay ideal before, during, and after pregnancy where stretch marks are of concern.

So the next time you're applying our primer, facial masks, or soaping up with our cucumber facial soap, you know exactly what that wonderful clay is actually doing for your skin! It's a good feeling isn't it? :)

Share

5 Reasons to Buy Handmade Soap

5 Reasons to Pamper Yourself with Handmade Soap!

1. You value the largest organ in your body - your skin - and know that without the 3000 square inches of skin on your body, you wouldn't survive. It's definitely worth taking care of!

2. You don't want to have your skin rough, red, and dry after a shower or bath! You know that industrial manufactured soaps have harsh chemicals & detergents that cause just that! How? These harsh ingredients strip your skin of its natural moisturizers, irritate may people's skin, and even CAUSE may common skin problems!

3. You love that handmade soap is free of harsh ingredients and instead is made with natural oils, butters, and clays in particular combinations for various skin types! It's designed with specialized skin care in mind - not profits or bottom lines!

4. You LOVE Glycerin and each and every bar of handmade soap contains loads glycerin. Why do you love glycerin so much? Because glycerin draws moisture from the air into your skin! Is your skin craving moisture? If you're using industrial manufactured soaps you can bet it is because the glycerin is removed from these soaps and sold off for profit! Since the glycerin is removed from these industrial manufactured soaps, they replace that skin loving glycerin with poor quality fillers and detergents

5. You value affordable luxury and know that the simple things in like bring the most joy! Using handmade soap is like treating your skin to some serious pampering everyday! If you ever wanted to feel totally pampered on a small budget, handmade bath & body products are the way to go!

Share

What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade in Skin Care Products

Batty's Bath only purchases ingredients from Fair Trade Compliant companies and I often get ask what exactly this means. The fair trade program has come out of the human rights & ethics movement. It's in place because many people (such as myself) are sickened that already impoverished countries are continuing to be exploited for their resources.

The basics of Fair Trade are...

...that the profits go back to the communities that produce the goods, that environmentally friendly production methods are used, and that forced labor is never used. I couldn't sleep at night if I wasn't doing what I could to ensure that each aspect of my business is only helping and not hindering anyone, anything, or any place. It's a high ethical calling but I can't imagine running a business any other way.

For more information about fair trade, check out what About.com says about it:

--------------------------------------------

What is Fair Trade? Do you ever wonder what the term "Fair Trade" means when you are shopping for skin care and beauty products? Here are the fair trade basics when it comes to skin care and beauty products.

When you're shopping for skin care and beauty products, you likely will notice when a product label reads "Fair Trade", but you might be wondering, "What is fair trade"?

When you look at the list of ingredients your product has, you may notice ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea butter, aloe and seaweed, just to name a few, that make the skin care products what they are. These natural ingredients come from farmers who provide to the skin care companies.

What typically happens is that the farmer sells to a middle man, who may sell to another middle man, who then sells to the company who makes the products. This leaves the farmers who produced the ingredients with only a small piece of the profits they worked so hard for. Many times the farmers and communities are taken advantage of, and are left to take what they can, instead of what they deserve.

When a company chooses to get these ingredients in a way that treats the producers fairly, they work directly with them and pay them a fair wage for their work, and their product.

Many times these working relationships coincide with marginalized communities who make their entire living producing and harvesting. Having a fair trade contract gives them the money they deserve, getting out of poverty, creating an opportunity for children to go to school, giving the community the funds to provide what is needed, such as water wells and hospitals for example.

While fair trade is growing in popularity, it is definitely not the norm. If you would like to support marginalized communities with your everyday purchases, read labels, ask employees and do your research. If you're going to make a purchase anyway, it's always nice to know that your purchase made a direct impact for the good.


{Source}

Share

Online Shop at BattysBath.com is Now Open!

Some of you have already noticed and taken the opportunity to order from BattysBath.com which is very exciting for me!

To bring everyone else up to speed, you can now shop on Etsy or at BattysBath.com. There's advantages and differences in each shop which give my customers more choice and control over their online shopping experience! For example, if you want to shop in US funds, you can use Etsy. But if you want to shop in Canadian funds, you can shop at BattysBath.com.

With the new choice to shop on Etsy or BattysBath.com you may be wondering which option is best for you! No problem! Click here to find out which shopping option is best for you or read the copy & pasted version below!

------------------ The info below is from this page at Battysbath.com -----------

Shopping at BattysBath.com

This option is recommended for local London customers. Why? The shopping cart here BattysBath.com does NOT automatically add shipping costs on to your order. Since we deliver orders within London, ON for free, this means you don't need to worry about a revised invoice or be refunded for shipping costs. Simply add your items to your shopping cart and check out with paypal as usual (with no shipping charges!). There's also no login required and all prices are in Canadian dollars.

The online shop here at BattysBath.com is also a great option for non-local customers! Non-local customers simply need to add flat-rate shipping to their cart ($10 for Canada, $12 for the USA, and $25 for other countries) and don't need to ever worry about paying more than these shipping costs. Although flat rate shipping still applies in the Etsy shop, Etsy adds up shipping costs on each individual item so many times, refunds for overages in shipping need to be issued via Paypal. However, if you're only ordering a lip balm, Etsy is the way to go!

IN STOCK ITEMS: Etsy is also the way to go if you're looking to order items that are currently in stock - we try our best to keep every product we offer (except limited seasonal releases) in stock at all times but occasionally we do sell out and there's a delay in the availability of products while we order supplies and restock. This delay is usually no longer than 2 weeks although we have found that it can take much longer to get ingredients during holiday times. The shop here at BattysBath.com generally lists every product we offer rather than listing only what's in stock. From time to time when ordering from the online shop here at BattysBath.com you could experience a "back ordered item".

---

Shopping on Etsy

All listings on Etsy are in US dollars and if already have an Etsy account, you maybe more comfortable shopping on Etsy. That's no problem! We love Etsy and the flat rate shipping caps apply there too! However, Etsy adds up shipping costs on each individual items so many times, refunds for overages are needed to be refunded. All overages in shipping charges are refunded via Paypal when we ship your order. One major bonus to the Etsy shop is we generally try to ensure that we only list items there that are currently in stock (see more about in stock items above).

Share

Beware of Anti-Bacterial Soaps

Why are so many commercial products bought and produced by adding bacteriocide Triclosan? bacter-what you say? ... Think anti-bacterial soaps or personal care items that proclaim the equivalent of ‘Kills Bacteria On Contact,’ or, ‘Kills the Germs That Cause Bad Breath.’

The claims sound great but the triclosan in antibacterial soaps and cleaners are a gender bender that is disrupting the natural growth of frogs and was found in 55% of the rivers and streams in America is 2002.

As far as I'm concerned the age old quote that states "soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants" says it all. We don't need to be washing with triclosan. But don't just take my word for it. Molecular biologist John Gustafson of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces says:

"What is this stuff doing in households when we have soaps? These substances really belong in hospitals and clinics, not in the homes of healthy people." - Scientific American

Moreover, Scientific American teaches us that triclosan does more harm than good. It appears that after, say, spraying a counter with an antibiotic cleaner, some chemicals linger and continue to kill bacteria but don't get all of them. The ones that survive develop a tolerance: "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" Soon we have populations of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Thankfully everyone can find a handmade soap maker (usually in their own community!) that still makes soap from scratch with the purest ingredients. If you haven't switched to handmade soap yet, now is a great time! Your skin (and the tadpoles) with thank you :)

Share

H2O: Dangerous Chemical - How Gullible Are We?

H2O: Dangerous Chemical!

A student at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide".

And for plenty of good reasons, since:

1. it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
2. it is a major component in acid rain
3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
4. accidental inhalation can kill you
5. it contributes to erosion
6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.

* Forty-three (43) said yes,
* six (6) were undecided,
* and only one (1) knew that the chemical was water.

The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"

He feels the conclusion is obvious.

(This was found on the newsgroup: rec.humor.funny)

A note from Batty:

I thought this fit in extremely well into some of the junk science that is out there pertaining to beauty products! See the "be informed" section of this blog for more insight.

Share

Your Skin's Natural First Aid Kit

Keep these natural solutions on hand to treat minor injuries.

Cuts and scrapes

Tea-tree oil, lavender essential oil

Natural antiseptics, tea-tree oil and lavender essential oil can be directly applied to minor wounds to help prevent infection

Splinters

Banana peel

The enzymes in a banana peel help draw the splinter to the skin's surface, making removal with tweezers easy. Apply a small piece of peel pulp-side down and affix with a bandage; wear overnight.

Bruises

Arnica cream or tincture

Arnica is believed to increase circulation, helping the body clear blood from bruised skin. Apply topically to the affected area.

Minor burns

Aloe vera gel, chamomile tea, lavender essential oil

Aloe will cool burns and speed healing. A clean dressing soaked in cool chamomile tea will also ease inflammation. Lavender essential oil has been known to help minor burns; blend a few drops with an ounce of a neutral oil (like almond or olive), and apply topically.

Insect bites and stings

Mashed papaya and oatmeal

Papaya contains the enzyme papain; applied topically, it breaks down the proteins that cause itching. Spreading cooked oatmeal on the affected area will also ease the itch.

Share

6 Things You May Not Know About Shea

1. The shea fruit consists of a thin, tart, nutritious pulp that surrounds a relatively large, oil-rich seed from which is extracted shea butter.

2. it is believed that some of the early users of shea butter were such noted women as Cleopatra and the Queen of Sheba.

3. The Karite tree(shea tree) grows without assistance from man. In fact, most attempts by the Europeans to cultivate it have proven to be unsuccessful.

4. Shea butter is a particularly effective moisturizer because contains so many fatty acids, which are needed to retain skin moisture and elasticity.

5. Shea butter protects the skin from both environmental and free-radical damage. It contains vitamins A and E, and has demonstrated both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

6. Shea butter has been used to help heal burns, sores, scars, dermatitis, psoriasis, dandruff, and stretch marks.

Click here for more blog posts about shea.

Share

Skin Care Facts: Does Your Diet Cause Acne?

Myth: Acne is caused by eating the wrong foods.

Fact: This is both true and false. The traditional foods thought to cause acne, such as chocolate and greasy foods, have no effect on acne, and there is no research indicating otherwise. However, there is the potential that individual dietary allergic reactions can trigger acne, such as eating foods that contain iodine, like shellfish, although there is an ongoing controversy about that. A bit more conclusive is new research showing that milk, especially skim milk, can increase the risk of acne. The same may be true for a diet high in carbohydrates; a high glycemic load can increase breakouts, while a low glycemic load can reduce their occurrence. (Glycemic load is a ranking system for the amount of carbohydrates in a food portion; too many carbs in your diet could trigger breakouts.) Experimenting for a few months to see which of these food groups either hurt or help your skin is worth the effort

(Sources: Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, June 2008, pages 718-726; Dermatologic Therapy, March-April 2008, pages 86-95; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2008, pages 787-793; and Dermatology Online Journal, May 30, 2006).

Share

Skin Care Facts: Does Your Skin Adapt to Skin Care Products?

Myth: Your skin adapts to the skin-care products you are using and you need to change to new products every now and then.

Fact: Skin doesn't adapt to skin-care products any more than your body adapts to a healthy diet. If spinach and grapes are healthy for you they are always healthy, and they continue to be healthy, even if you eat them every day. The same is true for your skin, as long as you are applying what is healthy for skin (and avoiding negative external sources such as unprotected sun exposure) it remains healthy.

Share