Photo Courtesy of Muffet

I’m just gonna go ahead and warn everyone: this post is about to be a link fest.

The pretty glass bottle that my Burt’s Bees Vitamin E Body & Bath Oil came in has inspired me to buy more glass bottles for storing homemade health and beauty products. My friend Chuck told me about two really neat websites where I can find glass bottles for next to nothing (SKS Bottle & Packaging, Inc. & Sunburst Bottle Company), and I’m pretty pumped about it. The first two projects that I plan to fill some bottles with are this homemade toner and some homemade perfume that I’ll throw together from several recipes that I’ve found. I am going to make the sweetest little labels for the bottles too. So many good posts are on the way. I hope you’re as excited as I am!!

I mentioned linalool in my recent post about perfume, but I didn’t really expound upon why it should be avoided because I hadn’t done much research at that point (aside from the articles that I linked to in the post).  My curiosity was stirred once again while reading the ingredients to Danielle’s seemingly harmless body oil.  Upon seeing the ingredient “linalool” listed, I immediately did some research.

Linalool earns a hazard score of 5 from the Cosmetic Safety Database and is even linked to cancer according to that source. A few articles that I read pointed out that many people are allergic to linalool and also linked it to eczema. Some sites insisted that whether or not linalool is harmful depends on whether or not it is manufactured synthetically, which makes sense since linalool occurs naturally in lavender essential oil (which has a very low hazard score of one). Some articles stated that  naturally-occurring linalool may have anti-cancer effects. After reading all of these contradictory things about linalool, I honestly don’t know what to think anymore. The most reasonable conclusion to draw, I guess, is that I should always make sure that the linalool in my products is naturally-occurring rather than synthetic.  Synthetic is never really the way to go in my book anyway.

My lips were feeling kinda crusty (probably from me being in the sun and putting tea tree oil on them when I had that spot of poison ivy), so I used the same local honey that I’ve been using to sweeten my Perfectly Pear Tea to scrub my lips.  The honey was/is beginning to crystallize, so I figured that it would exfoliate well..and it did! I coated my lips in the honey and scrubbed it off with a warm, wet bath cloth.  Afterwards, I dabbed a little coconut oil on my lips. They feel almost unbelievably soft, and I’m into it.

I enjoy an occasional glass or three of red wine.  I recently stopped hating the taste of it, and I’d choose a glass of Merlot over a glass of Chardonnay any day.  I’m not a wine connoisseur, by any means, but I know that I prefer the taste of red to white. I’ve been able to justify my consumption of wine thus far because of the antioxidants that it provides and the effect that it has on both good and bad cholesterols.  Apparently, though, dark grape juice is a fine substitute for boosting flavonoids (antioxidants) and lowering low-density lipoproteins (bad cholesterol). The only area where grape juice seems to fall short is in the high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) department.  Wine seems to be better at increasing good cholesterol.  Still, grape juice seems like a better choice when you take into account the free radicals that alcohol tends to create.

It just so happens that I love grape juice more than most things, so I was pretty delighted to read the articles below. I know that one of these articles is ten years old and the other is five, but this is the first I’ve heard about grape juice providing almost all of the same benefits as wine.  I’m not swearing off wine or anything, but I’ll probably drink grape juice more often than I’ve been drinking it.

There ya go:

Wine or Welch’s? Grape Juice Provides Benefits without Alcohol.

Wine vs. Juice

If anyone else has come across an article or two (perhaps a newer one?) about the benefits of wine compared with those of grape juice, then I’d be interested in reading them.

I drink a lot of juice, and I’ve made it a personal goal of mine to only drink juices that add something other than sugar and water to my diet. Because of this, I’ve obviously been doing some research.  I’ve learned some pretty interesting facts about all sorts of juices, but apple juice is what I’d like to discuss right now.

Other than buying organic, I’ve never been too picky when buying apple juice.  Apparently, whether or not the apple juice I’m buying is organic is is only one thing to consider.  Cloudy (or unclarified) apple juice is the way to go, for a few reasons, and I should have been buying it all along. Not only do cloudy apple juices contain more antioxidants (including polyphenols, which may combat cancer and heart disease), but they’re also said to have a better, richer taste than clear apple juices.  They’re also less processed than clear apple juices.  It’s obvious why clear apple juice has always been the popular choice: people assume that clear apple juice is somehow cleaner or more pure. Still, It’s not a logical conclusion to draw. The cloudiness is simply the presence of the pulpy, more nutritious parts of the apple. The shelf life of clear apple juice is suspiciously longer, which makes the unclarified, cloudy variety much more appealing to me.

Still, as a few of these articles point out, eating an apple rather than drinking it is your best bet for maximum nutrition, benefits, and antioxidants.

The Articles:

‘Cloudy’ Apple Juice Packs More Antioxidants

Cloudy Apple Juice Four Times Healthier Than Clear

Cloudy Apple Juice Has Clear Benefits

Clear or Cloudy-Choosing Which Apple Juice Is Best for Good Health

photo credit: tanakawho

Until a few days ago, perfume had always been a guilty pleasure of mine.  I successfully traded in most of my old health and beauty products for safer (and consequently, more expensive) alternatives…but perfume was kind of a hard habit to break. I’d spray just a little on top of my clothes instead of directly on my skin and hope for the best. I kept telling myself that I would make a change as soon as I finished my bottles of  Heavenly (from Victoria’s Secret) and Hot (by Ralph Lauren).  After reading the articles below, however, I can’t put it off any longer. I’ll be taking both bottles to the thrift store the next time I make a donation. In case you’re tired of me talking about articles and don’t feel like reading these, I’ll give you a short list of the high points:

• The basic formula for all perfumes is this: water+alcohol+fragrance oils+chemical compounds
• Fragrances are protected as trade secrets. For this reason, it’s nearly impossible to know how few or how many chemicals make up our favorite scents.
• Some of the most common chemicals found in perfumes are: benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, linalool ,acetaldehyde,a-pinene, acetone, a-terpinene, methylene chloride, styrene oxide, dimenthyl sulphate, a-terpineol, limonene
• Side-effects from these chemicals can range from something as simple as eye irritation to much more serious things like cancer.
• “Fragrance Oils” or “Fragrant Oils” are not the same things as “Essential Oils”.
• The absence of an ingredient list should cause suspicion.

Still interested? Here are the sources:

The Toxic Effects of Perfume

Perfume Ingredients- What’s in a Scent?

Ingredients- (provided at drbronner.com)- “Organic Lemon Juice, Organic Shikakai Powder, Organic Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Lemon Oil, Organic Orange Oil”

This product gets a satisfyingly low hazard score of 1 from the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database.

Product Description (also provided at drbronner.com)- “Our organic conditioning rinse is nourishing and effective without synthetic ingredients, and is certified by the same National Organic Program that certifies organic food. The USDA logo is your guarantee of organic integrity.  Organic Shikakai [“Shee-kah-kye”] powder comes from the seed pods of the small South Asian tree Acacia Concinna, and is widely used in India for soft shiny hair. Organic lemon juice, used traditionally in the west, rinses and tightens hair shafts for excellent manageability. Organic coconut, olive and hemp fatty acids moisturize for luxuriant hair.”

Price- $9.99 for eight ounces, which seems to be pretty standard for an all-natural conditioner.

Performance- The directions on the bottle suggest pouring two caps full of the product into a cup of water, pouring it over your head, and then running your fingers through your hair. I’d suggest combing your hair with a comb before you do any of this, especially if you tend to have a nappy head like me.  As long as I comb beforehand, I have no problems with these instructions.  Otherwise, it’s a pretty painful process. This rinse makes my hair feel super soft, which I obviously love. It also makes it smell delightful, which I’ll talk more about in a second.

Scent- The scent of this product is my favorite part!! It smells exactly like a big bowl of fruity pebbles sitting beside a sliced orange.  I might continue using this product even if I didn’t like the way it made my hair look, and I’m aware how ridiculous that sounds. What can I say? I’m a big fan of fruity pebbles (but I don’t allow myself to eat them, since I’d basically be eating a bowl of sugar).

Rating- 7.5 out of 10. I subtracted two points because I miss the seventy hairs that I ripped out of my scalp while combing in the conditioner with my fingers the first time I used it. I subtracted a .5 because it makes me want a bowl of fruity pebbles, and that’s an unhealthy habit to develop (regardless of how much I love fruity pebbles and the scent of this conditioner).

As promised, here’s a sick picture of my hand that is covered in poison ivy:

The scabby area just below my fingers was covered in blisters yesterday. I think the steroids are doing their job.

Also, pay close attention to all the sweet ingredients you’re about to encounter.

The Answer’s PMS Clear Facial Mask- I’ve yet to find anything that completely gets rid of pre-period breakouts. I guess this stuff could be the ticket.

Ingredients- French green clay, Fullers Earth clay, green tea, and papaya extract.

Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Hair Creme- I actually just ordered this hair creme, and I can’t wait to try it. Needless to say, a review is on the way.

Ingredients-Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Ethanol, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Lavender Oil, Organic Quillaja Saponaria Extract, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol.

Ennecence Clean Escape Shower Gel- This stuff looks fancier than bar soap. I’m intrigued.

Ingredients- Saponified oils of virgin coconut*, olive*, and jojoba*, glycerin, vegetable gum extract, aloe vera*, argan oil*, sweet orange*, grapefruit*, and patchouli* essential oils, and rosemary extract*. *Certified Organic

John Masters Organics Herbal Cider Hair Rinse and Clarifier- I’ve had thoroughly positive experiences with John Masters Organics shampoo and conditioner, so I’m eager to try something else of  from these guys.

Ingredients- Vinegar (apple cider),* aqua (water), chamomilla recutica (chamomile) flower extract,* calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract,* camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract,* rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf/stem extract,* urtica dioica (nettle) root extract,* potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, citrus medica limonium (lemon) peel oil,* citrus aurantifolia (lime) peel oil*. *Certified Organic

Skin’s Cranberry Orange Salt Scrub- I use Skin’s Apricot Mango Eye Cream at night, and I like it.

Ingredients- Sea salt, cranberry powder*, jojoba oil*, olive oil*, mandarin essential oil*. *Certified Organic

I just read an article about foods that may slow the aging process, and I found it to be both interesting and helpful.  I tend to become so focused on health and beauty products that I forget how big a role the food we eat actually plays in our overall quality of life. I plan to buy kiwis, dark chocolate, and white tea tomorrow  when I go grocery shopping since those three have been completely absent from my diet  for a while now. At the risk of sounding braggy, however, I felt pretty satisfied with myself after seeing berries, spinach, and avocados on the list. It just so happens that I’ve been eating spinach salads topped with strawberries, raspberries, dried cranberries, and avocados for the past few days. I was pretty excited to see tomatoes on the list as well.  I regularly crave tomato and mustard sandwiches, and I’ve been known to drink salsa on more than one occasion.

Check it out:

9 Foods for Youthful Skin