Whole Foods Video Series: Ingredients to Look For Part 1, John Masters

photo taken from www.johnmasters.com (uh...john? you know it's not really legal to have dogs in salons, right?)

The latest video podcast over at Whole Story the Whole Foods Market blog features a tour of John Masters' Manhattan salon, one of the first natural salons in the country.

I love the John Masters products, especially the elegant rose foaming face wash and the zinc sage shampoo which has a faint coconut aroma that is absolutely yummy.

This is the best video podcast so far, in my opinion. John is very, very knowledgeable about holistic haircare and ingredients. It was great to put a face to the name.

I'm really excited because he mentioned that seaweeds such as chondrus crispus are great ingredients that mimic silicone. I am a holistic junkie, however it's been hard for me to break my silicone habit. Dimethicone and cyclomethicone are ingredients that make the skin (it's great in foot cream) and hair feel slick and shiny. The problem, though is that it does nothing to actually nourish the body and starts to build up on the hair and scalp resulting in dullness and scalp issues. And since it has occlusive properties it can trap perspiration and bacteria leading to deep cystic acneic breakouts.

I am happy to have alternatives to my (admittedly unhealthy) silicone habit and excited to have watched this great video.

Check it out!

Heal Humanity, Heal the Earth!

Photo taken from the New York Times article


There are two great recent articles about Dr. Hauschka skincare and their manufacturer in Germany, Wala.

Here is an article from the New York Times that discusses Dr. Hauschka's 'cult following' and discusses their biodynamic garden and a little about the company's history and background.

This article focuses on Wala and talks about their program in Afghanistan to buy rose oil and other rose products from farmers who otherwise would be forced to earn a living growing opium poppies.

They are such an amazing company and I love reading articles that highlight some of the many great programs they are involved with worldwide.

Stay tuned for my upcoming entry on the FIFTEEN new exciting products from Dr. Hauschka that are launching for fall!

Sunscreen Application & Protection: 10 Tips!

It is probably no surprise that I do not use chemical sunscreen products. I don't want some of their more toxic ingredients making their way into my body, my children's bodies or the bodies of any unfortunate fish or other wildlife that may be swimming along with us.

That being said, I think that the way mineral sunscreen is applied can decrease the level of protection it can provide. I wanted to give a few sunscreen tips now that we are officially into the hot and sunny summer months to help you maximize the effectiveness of your chosen (mineral!) sunscreen!

1. The two mineral sunscreen ingredients are zinc and titanium dioxide. In my two favorite sunscreens, Juice Beauty SPF 30 mineral light moisturizer and Dr. Hauschka SPF 30 for Children and Sensitive Skin, the only sunscreen ingredient is titanium dioxide. It's easy to tell what the sunscreen ingredient is in any product by looking on the ingredient list under "active ingredients."

2. When using a moisturizer with sunscreen it is best to apply two thin layers: a moisturizing layer that will penetrate the skin and a protective layer that will sit on top of the skin's surface and physically filter out the sun's harmful rays.

3. When applying, it is best to "warm" the first layer in your palm and gently press into the skin including the neck and upper chest. The second sunscreen layer is best applied to the top of your non-dominant hand and dotted on your face, neck and chest. After letting it rest a minute, it will easily blend over the moisturized surface of your skin. Rubbing vigorously to blend or apply will break up the minerals. They should be as large as possible so they protect more fully.

4. You do not have to wait fifteen minutes before going out into the sun with mineral sunscreen. They will protect immediately.

5. The use of sunscreen does not fully block out all of the sun's rays. UVA and UVB rays are only two of the many kinds of UV rays there are. Even products labeled "broad spectrum" can't block them all, they only filter out UVA and UVB, which are the rays associated with burning and aging/skin cancer.

6. The SPF factor indicates how much of the active ingredient is present in the product. The number will be a guide as to how long you are protected. It takes me about ten minutes of unprotected sun exposure to begin to burn so ten times (spf) 30 is 300 minutes or five hours of total sun protection. After that I should cover up or move to the shade. Reapplying after five hours will not give me five more hours of protection. After that, burning will occur because the skin has already absorbed the maximum amount of UV rays it can tolerate.

7. Most sun damage occurs from incidental exposure: driving, walking from your house to your car or workplace, etc. Even if you won't be out in the sun all day or even if it's cloudy, sunscreen should still be applied daily to exposed areas. Remember the tops of your hands and feet and ear/earlobes too! (trust me, I have had a serious burn on my ear and it is not pretty!) Use a lot of product, do not skimp! Have someone help you with hard to reach areas.

8. Sun damage is especially present on the left side of the face along the temple area due to exposure while driving. I always apply an extra layer of mineral makeup on top of my mineral sunscreen along that area.

9. Mineral sunscreen should be reapplied if it has been washed off while swimming or perspiring or has been rubbed off with hands or a towel. It will then protect you for the remainder of minutes you have since you first applied sunscreen.

10. Clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat or loose-fitting button long sleeve shirt are very effective along with SPF to help protect from the sun. When I was younger I would have rather died than wear a long sleeve shirt during the summer but now I do so religiously. I was surprised to find that it feels much nicer against my hot summer skin than the scorching rays of the sun. It also absorbs excess perspiration and keeps me dry and fresh even on the hottest of days.

DIY Deodorant!

Photo from http://angrychicken.typepad.com/

My friend B directed me to this blog post about DIY deodorant. I already posted about my favorite store-bought natural deodorants and although I'm always looking for the homemade alternative, I've never seriously thought about making my own deodorant.

I've used cornstarch and powder sprinkled with essential oils in a pinch but I have never replaced my store-bought deodorants altogether.

This recipe is for a creamy deodorant that is stored in a jar. I have seen cream deodorant in health food stores before but never tried it. I was surprised at the price. (I know I use Dr. Hauschka which is close to $20 but I know and trust them and it comes in my favorite applicator--the roll-on bottle)

I have an empty roll-on deodorant bottle. I may research roll-on style recipes. If I find a good one I'll post it and I'll report back once I've tried this recipe.

Thanks, B!

My Summer Fragrance Pick

I had a gift certificate to Whole Foods and so the other day while I was there having lunch with a friend I scoured the Whole Body area in search of the perfect treat for myself.

I have been a big fan of the Pacifica brand for years, mostly using their candles but recently I have begun to use the perfumes as well.

I first tried the Vanilla Vera Cruz spray after receiving it in a Makeup Alley swap.

I love it, and have found myself reaching for it almost every day. It's a very soft almost powdery vanilla and is a great everyday perfume .

I was in the mood for something different than my standard vanilla, though, something fresh and juicy and summery. The Malibu Lemon Blossom fit the bill perfectly. I love the adorable tin and cardboard matchbox packaging and really enjoy gently dabbing it on in the morning.

What is YOUR summer fragrance?