As I'm sitting here, sipping at my 'Sleepy Time' tea, I'm beginning to realize that this is going to be a long 5 nights without my dear husband! Even blogging isn't as much fun when he's not around, strangely enough, but I'm trying to enjoy my 'me-night-in' as much as I can. I did hours' worth of grocery shopping, organized our pantry for what feels like the 50th time, I made a simple dinner and had a glass of red wine...which hit me harder than expected - and let me repeat myself, not as much fun when Noel isn't around - but it's effects are wearing off now. Then I watched multiple 'home' shows, after catching just the tail end of a brand new episode of 'John and Kate + 8" (sniffle) which I hadn't recorded, and now I'm getting ready for bed at 9:00pm and can't wait to snuggle in with my book and have my 'electric sundown' early enough to get a wicked nights' sleep before hot yoga in the morning.
Hmm...I just burnt my tongue.
So earlier this afternoon, in between work and errands, I spent a lot of time on the Internet researching different ingredients in the body care products that I use (like shampoo, body wash, body lotion, etc.). Although this wasn't my first time researching, it was definitely the first time I went in depth and really alarmed myself, as the information I found today was incredibly frightening! Not only that, but very upsetting because I led myself to believe that when things say "organic", that it meant these products were safer and healthier than regular products to use on my scalp, and my skin.
Much to my chagrin, this is not so!!
These "organic" products, or products containing "certified organic botanicals", absolutely still contain deadly ingredients found in other more generic brands. And all this time I thought I was helping myself and the environment to become healthier by buying these products. I was speechless after reading some of these things...skin, eye and lung irritants, ingredients that affect estrogen and testosterone levels, ingredients that mess with your reproductive organs...ingredients that are linked to cancer. ALL of these ingredients...found in the 'organic' products that I use everyday. In the past year, I have made conscious efforts to avoid these chemicals and ingredients in hopes of a healthier lifestyle, so I went out and bought shampoos, etc. that made themselves sound safer, much safer than the average. Turns out that you actually need to put forth hours of research before hand, to ensure that what you're purchasing is actually healthy for you...
On a positive note, I realized all of this just as I was about to run out and stock up on things like shampoo and lotion - at least whatever I had was already used and I couldn't do anything about it, nor did I need to throw it out.
Here's the kicker!
I found NOTHING, in the 3 grocery stores I visited today, that even resembled something healthy to put on your skin...and I really tried. Like, really. I passed by a plethora of 'organic' and 'natural' products with the lethal ingredients. Even my beloved "Avalon Organics" hand lotion, that I divulged about earlier, is contaminated with toxic ingredients; of which I was completely unaware.
How anyone in their right mind could sell this to human beings and still sleep at night is completely beyond me.
Don't they know that they're creating unhealthy bodily changes, unbalanced hormone levels? And possibly causing cancer?? In a 'right' world, these products would be kept OFF the shelves, UNTIL they were proven to be 100% safe for use. So I bought what I thought was 'safest' just because I don't want to walk around with greasy hair and dry skin. But I'm on a mission to find the healthiest products, preferably Canadian made, that I can buy locally (purchasing online is a real downer...smell is very important to me).
The first thing on my list is "Burt's Bees" products...click here to check out Burt's Bees, and how I'm not the only one to have fallen into this trap...how it's a very likely thing to do if you don't know any better. I've been loyally using their lip balm since high school, but had never branched out to their other products because of the lack of selection in local grocery stores.
I have a feeling this is a never-ending journey, time consuming and money draining...luckily I only have so much money to spare. You can do some light reading yourself at the links below. Beware, once you start, you'll be so offended that you can't stop.
Bubble and Bee - Chemical Database
And on this page, you can do all the research you've dreamed of, and even sign a petition to get these products off of our shelves until they are proven safe for use.
Skin Deep - Cosmetic Safety Database
Hmm...I just burnt my tongue.
So earlier this afternoon, in between work and errands, I spent a lot of time on the Internet researching different ingredients in the body care products that I use (like shampoo, body wash, body lotion, etc.). Although this wasn't my first time researching, it was definitely the first time I went in depth and really alarmed myself, as the information I found today was incredibly frightening! Not only that, but very upsetting because I led myself to believe that when things say "organic", that it meant these products were safer and healthier than regular products to use on my scalp, and my skin.
Much to my chagrin, this is not so!!
These "organic" products, or products containing "certified organic botanicals", absolutely still contain deadly ingredients found in other more generic brands. And all this time I thought I was helping myself and the environment to become healthier by buying these products. I was speechless after reading some of these things...skin, eye and lung irritants, ingredients that affect estrogen and testosterone levels, ingredients that mess with your reproductive organs...ingredients that are linked to cancer. ALL of these ingredients...found in the 'organic' products that I use everyday. In the past year, I have made conscious efforts to avoid these chemicals and ingredients in hopes of a healthier lifestyle, so I went out and bought shampoos, etc. that made themselves sound safer, much safer than the average. Turns out that you actually need to put forth hours of research before hand, to ensure that what you're purchasing is actually healthy for you...
On a positive note, I realized all of this just as I was about to run out and stock up on things like shampoo and lotion - at least whatever I had was already used and I couldn't do anything about it, nor did I need to throw it out.
Here's the kicker!
I found NOTHING, in the 3 grocery stores I visited today, that even resembled something healthy to put on your skin...and I really tried. Like, really. I passed by a plethora of 'organic' and 'natural' products with the lethal ingredients. Even my beloved "Avalon Organics" hand lotion, that I divulged about earlier, is contaminated with toxic ingredients; of which I was completely unaware.
How anyone in their right mind could sell this to human beings and still sleep at night is completely beyond me.
Don't they know that they're creating unhealthy bodily changes, unbalanced hormone levels? And possibly causing cancer?? In a 'right' world, these products would be kept OFF the shelves, UNTIL they were proven to be 100% safe for use. So I bought what I thought was 'safest' just because I don't want to walk around with greasy hair and dry skin. But I'm on a mission to find the healthiest products, preferably Canadian made, that I can buy locally (purchasing online is a real downer...smell is very important to me).
The first thing on my list is "Burt's Bees" products...click here to check out Burt's Bees, and how I'm not the only one to have fallen into this trap...how it's a very likely thing to do if you don't know any better. I've been loyally using their lip balm since high school, but had never branched out to their other products because of the lack of selection in local grocery stores.
I have a feeling this is a never-ending journey, time consuming and money draining...luckily I only have so much money to spare. You can do some light reading yourself at the links below. Beware, once you start, you'll be so offended that you can't stop.
Bubble and Bee - Chemical Database
And on this page, you can do all the research you've dreamed of, and even sign a petition to get these products off of our shelves until they are proven safe for use.
Skin Deep - Cosmetic Safety Database
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