A snapshot of our daily exposure to chemicals

I used to never give it a second thought about what I was putting on my body in the name of "beauty".  Becoming a mom changed all that - the more I research the ingredients of products that we so readily put on our body on a daily basis - the more shocked I am - and saddened.  I guess I always assumed that companies that create these products would realize that these ingredients are not good for us to put in or on our bodies and that they would have their customer's best interests at heart.  (don't forget that your skin is one large organ that allows products to soak through and be absorbed straight into your bloodstream)

A friend sent me this picture - It sums up some of the chemicals that we are exposed to through our favorite beauty products.  I am familiar with many of these through some of my research, but it still shocks me to see just how much.

There are lots of alternative beauty products out there that don't have all of these chemicals in them....and they work just as good as the chemical ones.  I hope you are inspired to give some a try, and reduce you and your family's exposure to some of these chemicals.

Mascara Update

So, my last update on mascara was pretty hopeful. I was using the Coastal Classic Creations mascara - $25 a bottle. not too cost effective. Using the mascara brush from one of my favorite maybelline brands helped alot but the mascara just didn't perform very well long-term for me.

I happened across an "organic" mascara at my local HEB grocery store made by Physician's Formula. I figured I'd give it a shot, and at $8 a bottle that was much more reasonable and it was easily accessible and didn't have to be purchased and shipped over the internet.

so fast forward a month or so. I've been using the Organic Wear mascara and its pretty good.

it still is not as good as my old toxic mascaras, but its good enough that i can live with it. it plumps my lashes up pretty good. its not waterproof, but is easy to take off in the evenings with whatever soap i wash my face with - so i don't have to have a separate cleaning solution. I'm all about simplicity :)

and the price is right!

Mascara - Can't live without it!

On the list of things I use everyday, mascara is one I can't live without.  I rarely go a day without putting some on.....even if I put no other makeup on......I still put on mascara.

It has been a challenge to find a non-toxic version of my favorite mascara.  My original favorite was the 2000 Calorie Mascara by MaxFactor - but that was recently phased out.  They don't make it anymore .....

It took me a while to find a replacement.  I finally settled for The Colossal (CoverGirl or Maybelline, I think)  It comes in a yellow tube with fushia writing on it.  And sadly, yes this mascara is loaded with toxic gunk too.  :(  But its about the closest I have been able to find to the 2000 Calorie mascara.

So, I checked out the list of mascaras on the Cosmetics Database - the ones with the lowest toxic scores also have poor comments that basically say they SUCK!  Am I doomed to toxic eyelashes?!?

I ordered and tried one of these mascaras called Coastal Classic Creations Whispering Seas mascara in Black.  Its ok, but its too feathery looking - I want some OOMPH added to my lashes.  Otherwise, why bother?

This morning I had a revelation - I took the brush that came with my Colossal mascara (the toxic one) and used it with my Coastal Classics mascara (after I rinsed all the toxic mascara off of course).  You know, the brush made a pretty big difference!  I was really shocked!  So just had to share this with all of you.  Now I wish I had saved some of the brushes that came with my 2000 Calorie mascara but those have been long since thrown away.  *despair*  Oh well, live and learn, eh?

So there is still hope for great non-toxic lashes after all!  Yay!  :)