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Ladies, do we need to choose beauty over health? The obvious answer is NO, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “What ingredients are used to make lipstick?” What makes it look and taste so good? Could it be collagen, beeswax, strawberries, or lead perhaps?

The FDA tested for lead in 22 brands of lipstick and found lead in every single one of them. The FDA limits lead levels in candy to be less than 0.1 ppm, but does not regulate the level of lead in lipstick. (continue reading…)

Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Public Affairs

No matter where you are, you can help the efforts to clean up the Gulf oil spill, and recycle at the same time. Matter of Trust is collecting donations of hair, fur and pantyhose to help with spill containment and remediation. Oily hair on your head may be bad, but hair’s affinity for oil also makes it a great tool for getting oil out of water and away from where it can damage ecosystems. The hair gets stuffed into the nylons to create booms that, when attached end-to-end, contain the oil and stop the spread. Hair is also made into oil-absorbing hair mats that can be used to remove the oil from the water and to line the enclosures of oil-soaked wildlife while the animals wait to be scrubbed and cleaned.

To help the cause, sign up for Matter of Trust’s Excess Access database. Because of limited warehouse resources, the organization is directing individual donations to separate locations where they can be used most efficiently. Once you’ve signed up for Excess Access, you’ll receive instructions and a shipping address for your donations. Anyone can donate clean hair. To keep the processing times down, the group prefers larger donations of bulk hair and fur from barber shops and pet groomers; if you’re not a salon owner, consider talking to your stylist or groomer about arranging to donate clippings from all customers. (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - Studioxll

Nourishing your skin from the inside keeps it healthy, but to truly shine, your skin also needs topical care. Exfoliating and moisturizing keeps your skin surface as healthy as the layers underneath and prevents the dry skin that is not just unsightly, but opens you up to infection.

These recipes for homemade skin care products are so insanely easy, you’ll never shell out for the high prices of commercial lotions, scrubs and body butters again! (continue reading…)

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#6 Baking Soda Deodorant

As a deodorant, baking soda neutralizes body odor instead of just covering it up. Dust a bit of baking soda under your arms, on your feet, or wherever else you need odor protection. If you need a natural antiperspirant in addition to a deodorant, avoid the aluminum-containing commercial products and make an inexpensive, natural antiperspirant/deodorant by mixing equal parts baking soda and cornstarch. Apply with a powder puff.

#5 Baking Soda Toothpaste

Baking soda has a long history in oral care. As a mildly abrasive grit, baking soda scrubs tartar right off, and is particularly useful for those who, on advice of a physician or dentist, are reducing fluoride exposure. Dip a damp toothbrush in baking soda, then brush as you normally would. You can use baking soda with or without toothpaste. To use with paste, simply dip your brush in the baking soda then apply the toothpaste on top. (continue reading…)

ⓒ iStockPhoto - Zhenikeyev

A bit of blush, a few coats of mascara, a swipe of lipstick — if you wear makeup, you probably have a routine for applying it. But how exactly do you put it on? A bevy of specialized makeup brushes are available. Even if you usually opt for all-natural beauty products, don’t automatically rule out synthetic makeup brushes! Compare natural and synthetic versions, and learn the pros and cons of each.

Different Functions, Sizes and Shapes

When it comes to makeup brushes, one size definitely does not fit all. Specialized brushes are designed for different areas of the face and different types of makeup. So, how can you tell one kind of brush from another? It can be confusing, but here are some quick hints from Julyne Derrick, makeup expert for the Web site, About (1): (continue reading…)