What are all those nasty chemicals in our cosmetics and skin care products? What if you were told that they contain cosmetic ingredients that have been shown to cause cancer, asthma, or learning disabilities?

Watch this new short film brought to you by Story Of Stuff Project and Campaign For Safe Cosmetics. Here it is folks. It can’t be any clearer.

Read the Natural News post about this video and the toxicity of popular body care products.

Download PDF: Personal Care Products Myth Or Fact

For Immediate Release: July 21st, 2010
Contact: Shannon Coughlin, 415-336-2246; scoughlin@breastcancerfund.org (Breast Cancer Fund); Stacy Malkan, 510 848-5701 stacy@safecosmetics.org (Author, Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry); Leeann Brown, 202-939-9146, leeann@ewg.org (Environmental Working Group)

New Bill in Congress Would Reform Law on Toxics in Personal Care Products

WASHINGTON, July 21 –For the first time in 70 years, Congress is poised to close the gaping holes in the outdated federal law that allows chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other illnesses in the products we use on our bodies every day.

Today, Reps. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, (HR 5786), which gives the Food and Drug Administration authority to ensure that personal care products are free of harmful ingredients. Existing law, passed in 1938, granted decision-making about ingredient safety to the cosmetics industry.

“Harmful chemicals have no place in the products we put on our bodies or on our children’s bodies,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “Our cosmetics laws are woefully out of date—manufacturers aren’t even required to disclose all their ingredients on labels, leaving Americans unknowingly exposed to harmful mystery ingredients. This bill will finally protect those consumers.” Read more at Campaign For Safe Cosmetics….

I wonder if it has anything to do with the new video….The Story Of Cosmetics.

Well, Is It Organic or Not?
By Douglas Quenqua
The New York Times, July 14, 2010

IT can be hard enough to decipher the term “organic” when it comes to food. Are there hormones in that skim milk? Did those chicken wings get enough exercise?

But when it comes to personal care items like toothpaste and body lotion, claims like “made with organic ingredients” or “authentically organic” can flummox even the greenest consumer. No federal agency polices organic claims for personal care items – at least not yet – so manufacturers have been able to use these customer-pleasing terms loosely and liberally.

But now Whole Foods Market is blowing the whistle. As of next June, the retailer will require all health and beauty products making organic claims to be certified by one of two sources: either the Agriculture Department’s National Organic Program, which sets standards for food; or NSF International, a nonprofit based in Ann Arbor, Mich., that issues its own certification mark.

As of June 1, 2011, any products that make organic claims and don’t get the certification will be removed from the shelves of Whole Foods stores. (The company will continue to carry nonorganic products as long as they don’t make organic claims.)

Read more here….

Related articles by Zemanta

• Whole Foods to Personal Care Product Suppliers: Prove Your Organic Claims (triplepundit.com)
• Whole Foods Setting Standards for Organic Skin Care (mindbodygreen.com)
• Whole Foods Cracks Down On Organic Claims (forbes.com)

The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics has done some excellent work not only educating the public about the dangerous cosmetic ingredients we use daily, but they have also been successful in getting over a thousand companies to sign the Compact For Safe Cosmetics.

What does this mean for you? More natural, organic and safe personal care products for you and your family.

Natural skin products are becoming increasingly popular as more and more of the public is educated on the benefits of using natural ingredients in cosmetics and skin care in addition to the dangers of using products with chemical laden products.

So, wouldn’t it be great if there were a short, hard-hitting video about toxic chemicals in cosmetics and what their impact on our health – a video that could reach a million people?

It’s coming! The Story of Cosmetics, a 7-minute film from the good people at The Story of Stuff Project, Free Range Studios and (of course) the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, launches July 21.

We are just beginning to learn how dangerous cosmetic chemicals in skin care affect our skin and bodies however there is one cosmetic ingredient that has long been known to be the cause of most skin irritations. Think you have sensitive skin? Think you have problem skin? Think again.

Itching, burning, flare ups, flakiness, blisters, break outs, are just some of the skin irritations or allergic reactions that may be caused by one cosmetic ingredient….fragrance. An article from “The Rose Sheet” reports that fragrance allergy is the most common cause of contact allergy.

Fragrance serves no purpose for the skin other than to disguise the smell of ingredients that may not be so appealing. The cosmetic industry knows that women psychologically prefer skin care products that smell nice, however fragrance is a health risk for your skin. You can and should stay away from skin care products and cosmetics that contain fragrance.

Many companies now advertise essential oils and plant extracts in place of “fragrance” however essential oils are nothing more than fragrance. They sound appealing and smell nice but they still may cause a skin reaction. Not all skin will respond positively to essential oils as each of us has a unique chemical makeup.

And hey, let’s face it, most natural skin products have some type of fragrance in the form of essential oils to mask their nasty smelling ingredients…all I am asking is that you watch out for skin irritations and know which great smelling natural ingredients cause a reaction in your individual skin.

The next time you are standing in the store, opening all those jars and bottles of skin care products ooohing and aahhing over the heavenly scents of coconut (my favorite),  remember that fragrance can only cause problems for the health of your skin.

As a natural skin care advocate, I would  love to tell you that facial exercises and facial toning works.

Advertisements claim it’s like getting a non-surgical face lift. It’s bull. Facial tightening exercises don’t work. The science just doesn’t support it. There is a reason botox injections prevent the muscles in your face from moving. The more those muscles move, as in forehead, upper lip, between the brow, the more your wrinkles are defined.

Come on, we all learned this when our first laugh lines came out. I laugh…a lot. I also sip lots of wine and those upper lip wrinkles are not going away with facial exercises! Let’s get this straight. Loss of muscle tone is not the major cause of sagging and wrinkled skin.

So what are the major causes of wrinkles and a sagging face?

Collagen loss, genetic aging of the fat layer, muscle sagging due to facial bone loss underneath the skin, and repetitive facial movement. I repeat, repetitive facial movement. It makes sense that moving the facial skin will create more wrinkling and increase the loss of elasticity in the skin. Facial exercises do not increase collagen, nor do they replace the skin’s fat layer, a factor of genetic aging.

Learn about a secret weapon that turns back the aging of your skin cells without making funny faces in the mirror that will only make you laugh more. More laughing=more laugh lines. LOL.

photo credit: www.flickr.com/photos/gregpc/

Dry skin is one of the most common problems people have whether related to daily skincare or to dermatological problems diagnosed by doctors. Everyone knows that the best treatment for dry skin is a good moisturizer, yet, a body lotion and a cream often provide a multiple protection. Weather and temperature changes, the use of chemicals and detergents, the wrong type of soap or cleanser, an imbalanced diet poor in nutrients and even health problems like thyroid dysfunctions and diabetes are behind such a common symptom as dry skin. The treatment for dry skin is established depending on the elements that cause the skin dryness.

If you pay enough attention to your daily routines and eating habits you may learn something about the right treatment for dry skin. Is your diet rich in veggies? Do you stay properly hydrated? Do you prefer long baths or quick showers? What makeup brand do you use? Do you have enough sleep at night? You may even have a look on the Internet and find out which are the causes and the factors that aggravate skin dryness for a more efficient intervention against them. If we were to answer just one of the above questions: the skin condition mirrors how well you hydrate.

If you drink enough liquids the toxins are more easily flushed from the system and the tissues are kept moist and fresh: too little water will give your skin a drier dull look. Therefore, hydrating on the inside and moisturizing on the outside: this should be the number one rule for a treatment for dry skin. Avoid alcohol as it accelerates dehydration. The body relies on water to metabolize and eliminate alcohol. Yet, the treatment for dry skin should not stop here, as there are lots of homemade masks and cures to be used on a constant or periodical basis.

Yogurt, honey, cold-pressed oils, herbs, fruits and vegetables can easily turn into the right ingredients for such a treatment for dry skin. However, remember that daily skincare represents the real treatment for dry skin and therefore try to give it time. Make sure to wake up early enough in the morning to have time to pamper your skin a little: cleaning, moisturizing and only then make-up application. The same tasks have to be performed in the evening before going to bed but in reversed order: you start with makeup removal and end with moisturizing.

Other great information on skin lotions, skin moisturizers, and organic lotion can be found at www.skinlotionnews.com.

Author: guest post

Learning how to get rid of stretch marks fast is not something that is out of your reach. This is very much possible given the right kind of treatment options to choose from. Stretch marks are understandably very discouraging to people who are fond of wearing clothes that show lots of skin on a regular basis, and knowing how to treat these marks quickly can be a relief for all of them.

How does a stretch mark occur? It basically involves the tearing of the middle layer of the skin brought about by sudden changes that disturb the skin’s structure such as when one gets pregnant or gains lots of weight. These can tear the collagen and elastin, causing a gash to appear in the affected area. This gash can be seen from the outside and is actually what we call the stretch mark.

The first thing that stays in the heads of people who want to know how to get rid of stretch marks fast is the best product that can be used to treat stretch marks. There are actually lots of brands that are effective and you can get them at the local pharmacy. But if you have trouble picking out the right one on your own then you will want to ask some expert advice from a trusted doctor who can probably even prescribe the right product for your stretch marks. Just don’t forget to follow the instructions given by the doctor carefully.

Stuff like cocoa butter and castor oil along with other vitamin E rich substances that can be found in your home are also know to be popular household remedies for stretch marks. These substances can be conveniently found right in your own home which you can just apply on your skin immediately.

Lastly, you can consider getting laser treatment. This might be the last thing that most who want to know how to get rid of stretch marks will want to hear, but the procedure nonetheless actually works. It may be expensive for some but if you really want to go out of the way and you can afford this sort of thing then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see this as an option.

Written by: Guest Blogger

Is Victoria’s Secret jumping on the green bandwagon? Victoria’s secret “organic” pink products have been mentioned all over the net lately as this is exciting news….Victoria’s Secret going green! Not. You won’t find any mention of any new organic skin care products on their website and certainly the pink line of beauty products are anything but natural.

The Naturally Victoria’s Secret line claims natural ingredients and I am sure they are in there however in small quantities along with a myriad of chemicals. They don’t claim all natural and that is what matters most. So what are all these beauty blogs talking about it? And what’s up with not listing all of the ingredients on the website?

In my opinion, products with added natural ingredients are definately a step in the right direction but if you are looking for organic and natural skin products, look not to Victoria’s Secret.

More info…

I am not only a natural skin care advocate; I am also an advocate of good nutrition and nobody can deny the connection between nutrition and health. It may have started with my quest for natural skin products or more likely when I started watching The Biggest Loser. There is no greater proof than seeing these amazing transformations and the fact that most of them no longer need medication to keep them alive.

There are no health and nutrition secrets. The “big secret” is a proper diet.

Did anyone notice that with every generation, disease has continued to grow? Heart disease, cancer, ADHD, autism, diabetes? Why?

Why is our population so diseased? Why is unemployment so high? Why can’t our kids learn well in school? Why is America losing its leadership position in the world? Why are so many jobs being offshored to other countries?

What if there were a single underlying reason that answered all these questions? There is:

Nutrition.

Poor nutrition destroys any nation. Good nutrition saves it. And in this Natural News special report, you’ll learn why nutrition plays such a powerful role in society and the impact it has on health, happiness, productivity and even freedom.

Learn what a bad diet is, learn about junk food and consequences, a good diet benefits, and the problem with medications. A must read for your health, for your skin, for the future health of your children.

I will never forget this young woman that I worked with for many years who refused to remove her facial hair. This was not soft, light, barely visible hair that most of us have and hate.  We’re talking hairs coming out of her chin and cheeks, at least a half inch long. Help me out here….why would anyone insist on carrying around this female facial hair when there are so many inexpensive female facial hair removal options? I don’t get it.

So many facial hair removal options….

Tweezing: Ouch. If this were the only way to remove it, I would do it, wouldn’t you?

Depilatory creams: they work however they often burn your skin and leave it raw for days.

Bleaching : can lighten the hair but contain harsh chemicals.

Waxing: always my choice hair remover however I eventually tired of the messy residue. When I introduced waxing to my sister, she was in so much pain, she started to cry. Waxing is not for the weak.

Permanent hair removal through electrolysis: becoming very popular. It electrically shocks the hair follicles and destroys them for good. It will cost you.

Laser hair removal: destroys the hair follicles and must be performed by a licensed practitioner. Also not a cheap hair removal option and not everyone responds to the treatment.

My interest in natural skin products got me thinking about these nasty smelling depilatory creams and bleaching creams that make you gag and laser removal or electrolysis is far too expensive. At my age, I would rather purchase a few new outfits and resort to tweezing. An unexpected email and my daughter’s complaints about burning her skin, led me to some other natural options.

Natural facial hair removal for women:

Facial Sugaring: Sugar hair removal or sugaring has just come to the forefront over the last several years as many women are searching for chemical free options in skin care products. You can purchase ready made sugar hair removal products such as Moom Organic Hair Removal, now 100% certified organic or if you have the time, you can whip up your own home made sugaring product.

Most hair removal products have concentrated on removing unwanted hair without regard to the damage it causes to the skin underneath. After using MOOM, however, the skin feels and looks smoother, younger and moisturized. It is pure and contains nothing but chamomile, sugar, lemon, essential oils and water. Moom removes hair from the root and will not remove your skin thankfully.

To whip up your own sugar hair remover at home:

Mix ¼ cup of water, 2 cups sugar and ¼ cup lemon juice in a pan and heat (or Microwave) on a medium heat until it bubbles up into a smooth consistency. Let the solution cool down so that it is warm to the touch.

Dust hair with cornstarch. Spread a thin layer of the sugaring solution on your skin in the direction of the hair growth. Then press 1 to 1¼ inch wide cotton cloth strips, rub your hand on the strip and wait. When the solution cools down and hardens, pull the cloth away quickly in the opposite direction of your hair growth. Repeat it 2-3 times.

Just as painful as waxing? Facial sugaring for sure, but the fact that it is all natural and leaves your skin soft, smooth and moisturized is well worth it. If you’re already waxing, then what the hey?

Threading: Threading is an ancient form of hair removal that continues to be practiced by many in the Eastern part of the world. Unwanted hair is removed from the roots with the use of a cotton thread by trained practitioners. Today, threading hair removal is the hottest method of facial hair removal and continues to grow in popularity in the U.S. and worldwide.

With R.E.M. Spring, however based on threading, threading hair removal expertise is not required, since no thread is involved and no risk of cuts and nicks. How does it work? Basically you bend the bar downward, place against your upper lip, roll the handles inward and outward in a continuous motion and voila! The hair is removed by the root.

So with the above chemical free facial hair removal options, you will never again rip a layer of skin off of your face and you will never have a rough red patch over your lip for days on end.

There is absolutely nothing that will make you feel better than having soft, silky, sexy skin. Nothing. Except maybe losing ten pounds and fitting into that tight skirt that you wore five years ago.

There is an extremely cheap way to get silky, smooth skin…really, really smooth. It’s called exfoliating gloves. I discovered these from a friend. Yes, I have become a stalker of other people’s natural skin products and secrets. Do I open drawers and closets? No, but if I happen to see something interesting lying around, I will certainly start asking questions. “What the heck do you use these gloves for?”

These exfoliation gloves, I was told at the time are used to gently exfoliate the dead layers of skin and impurities from the body’s surface. They unclog pores and stimulate blood circulation. Of course, I had to try them. That was 6 months ago and I don’t know how I lived without them.

I have very dry skin in the winter and these exfoliating gloves are an easy way to slough off the nasty dry skin prior to applying my lotion. The dead skin that was removed the first time was shocking. These gloves truly rejuvenate your skin and you will see results immediately.

Exfoliating gloves are cheap and effective. I use them on my legs, arms and butt. They are a little abrasive so I wouldn’t recommend using them on your face. They are especially effective if used with a body wash in the shower.

Use these gloves for natural exfoliation only once or twice a week and of course on special nights out. Throw on a natural skin care oil after your shower and your skin will be shiny, silky, soft and oh so smooth. Believe me he will notice.

My favorite exfoliating glove

Because of the new growing  interest in everything natural, including skin care, many of us are duped by pseudonatural products. You know, nice smelling, beautifully packaged products you must have, sometimes marketed by “echo-conscious” companies. These products may look and smell pretty, however they are made with synthetic ingredients that appeal to our senses and often make us look the other way when it comes to the ingredients list.

Many women would be shocked to learn how much they have been duped into believing that cheaply made, irritating skin products were actually a cutting edge product. Some companies are offering great new breakthrough ingredients however most only use a very small amount of these active ingredients in a mixture of chemical irritants. They can still go on and on and advertise the effectiveness of this ingredient.

Bottom line is that you must not let your senses rule. You will never be able to tell the difference between a pure essential oil and scented solvents unless you read the ingredient list. You will never know how much of an effective active ingredient is added to the newest skin care miracle unless you read the ingredient list. Don’t let the advertising get the best of you.

Dirt cheap synthetic ingredients=higher profits=more money for beautiful ads and beautiful packaging=useless to the consumer.

Ahhhh…pure skin. All of the baby boomers covet it. Most of the twenty somethings abuse it. I wish I had known back then what I know now and that is “to make sure your outer layer remains healthy and pure.”

Why is pure natural skin so important?

I don’t care how many of you will argue this point, when your skin looks good, it changes everything about your life. People look twice when you walk by, they open doors for you, they let you go ahead of them in the grocery line, people smile at you and most importantly you are noticed. It makes us feel good.

We are now a society obsessed with looking younger. Bombarded with messages and on radio, television, magazines and the internet, we spend fortunes on products to eliminate acne, wrinkles, dry skin and eczema. One report states that we spend more on skin care products than education.

The way your skin looks can directly affect your mood and your self confidence. If you don’t agree, than you would not be on this site right now. So how can you get your pure skin back? I believe that using nontoxic, effective, natural skin products will give you the vibrant, healthy, younger looking skin that everyone wants and needs to feel good about themselves.

What is pure skin?

Skin that has been or will be exposed to only the purest skin care ingredients from mother nature. Skin that is exposed only to pure skin products that work with your skin and not against it. Skin that is not absorbing the chemicals from products making skin conditions worse and even instigating skin conditions that never existed before.

And in order to keep your skin pure, you must protect and support it.

• Identify unsafe chemical ingredients in your skin care products and learn how those chemicals can harm you.
• Learn which nontoxic ingredients truly work.
• Learn how to support your pure skin with supplements for skin and exercising.
• Learn how to manage or eliminate those annoying skin problems with natural skin products.

Unfortunately, we have saturated our lives with toxic chemicals. Damaging to our bodies and damaging to our skin. Many of these chemicals are used to make skin care and makeup look and smell more appealing. That’s great, we all want nice smelling products, except that the nonprofit organization, Environmental Working Group (EWG), has reported that one of every 13 women are exposed to ingredients that are known or probable human carcinogens (cancer causing agents) daily.

Why, when there are thousands of companies producing pure skin products? Why would anyone continue to use ineffective, toxic skin care products? The only answer I have is that most of the population doesn’t know they exist.

I have a list of at least 100 natural skin care products that I would love to review if I only had the time. All of these companies have eliminated chemicals and preservatives from their products. Most are no more expensive than the products you buy at your local pharmacy. Don’t let the television and magazine ads convince you that you must have their next “miracle” product. Most are full of chemicals and just don’t work. Just take a look at the products in your cabinets.

The only way to achieve pure natural skin is through proper diet, exercise and the use of natural skin products.

• Should Manufacturers Disclose Secret Chemical Ingredients? (treehugger.com)
• Women put 515 chemicals on their face and body every day in beauty regime (telegraph.co.uk)

Do you have very sensitive skin? Does it seem like your face is sensitive to all skin care products? Does it seem like the products that you use on your skin are causing more problems for you? Buying expensive treatments for sensitive skin doesn’t seem to help.

Skin care products purchased at your local pharmacy store are most likely the culprit. The truth is that if you turn to all natural skin products, you may find most of your skin sensitivities will disappear.

If you have had adverse reactions to your skin care products, it might be time to investigate just which ingredients in your skin care line are causing you problems. Most skin care products, even those treatments for sensitive skin are made with synthetic ingredients and chemicals. You may think that you have sensitive skin however these synthetic ingredients and chemicals can cause many terrible reactions even in people that have normal skin.

So instead of looking for treatments for sensitive skin exclusively, look for all natural skin products and avoid products that contain petroleum, methylparabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and fragrances.

Petroleum products are often found in everyday cosmetics and makeup removers. If you use a makeup remover on a daily basis, chances are it contains petroleum and it can wreak havoc on your skin not to mention burning in your eyes. Petroleum is known to cause acne and dry skin. It usually blocks pores and may contain some very dangerous carcinogens.

People may suddenly get a rash from a new skin product containing methyl even for those who do not have very sensitive skin and have never had a reaction to any other product. Methyl is something you want to avoid not only in your skin care products, but all of your personal care items including body lotions, shampoos, and soaps.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a supposed carcinogen that is found in many products that you use everyday. Many soaps, shampoos and even toothpastes contain this as an ingredient. Not only is it being possibly linked to cancer, it is positively known to cause damage to the outer layer of your skin.

Oftentimes, skin sensitivities are caused by lab created fragrances…many people don’t realize that they are allergic to them. Avoid all synthetic fragrances found in skin care products and instead choose products containing natural botanical oils.

Chemicals in skin care products could possibly be the root cause of many skin sensitivities and purchasing treatments for sensitive skin that contain them are not the answer.

Looking for a great gift basket for the all natural, organic addict? The best natural gift basket is one that pampers the skin and the soul. Don’t give anyone a $70 organic fruit basket! I don’t know anyone who has organic fruit on their wish list! Unique, natural gifts are the way to go.

You won’t find these natural gift baskets at your local department store….

Urban Soul Indulgence natural spa and natural body care gift baskets contain 100% natural-source ingredients.  Products do not contain artificial preservatives, colors or fragrances; no petroleum-derivatives such as propylene glycol, PEG or mineral oil. Choose from Re:juvenate, Re:lax, or Re:new.

Bella Floria offers the Woodsprite Organic Spa Sampler Gift Box Lavender. Woodsprite organic body products are made with ingredients such as organic sunflower, organic sweet almond, kukui, apricot kernel and grape seed oils. Nourishing butters like organic Shea, mango, cocoa and kokum are also blended into Woodsprite organic body products in order to add vital moisturizing properties and add creamy, luxurious lather. A natural gift anyone would love.

Woodsprite Red Recovery Kit Features amenity sizes of thier best-selling 100% natural products, a kit containing everything someone needs to help them rest, restore and recover from a big night out on the town.

Nurture My Body Organic Skin Care Gift Baskets for normal, oily and mature skin are absolutely chemical free. And they’re made with certified organic ingredients, are not tested on animals, are phthalate-free, bottled in glass not plastic, and packaged with eco-friendly materials.

For the chocoholic The Organic Chocolate Fantasy Gift Set from Kates’s Caring Gifts promotes biodiversity, protects the environment, and tastes better than conventionally grown chocolate! All these chocolates contain organically grown, non GMO ingredients and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

For the expectant mom, Mambino Organics offers the Mommy Care Pack specially designed to take care of her from head to toe, not only preventing dry skin and stretch marks but also nourishing and calming the skin.

Looking for natural babt gifts? This “Natural Baby” Gift Basket will show that you care about their baby’s skin. Give non-toxic, safe and natural skin care products that will soothe and caress delicate newborn skin.

Build your own natural gift basket at It’s Only Natural Gifts. Choose your eco friendly gift bag or box, add organic sweets, coffee, body care products and even fresh herbs. Choose from hundreds of  natural items you can gear toward the recipients tastes. Add a gift note and your done!

With the increased interest in all natural skin products over the last several years, natural skin care oils have become quite popular. 100% natural, a skin care oil can bring back vibrant, glowing skin in a short period of time. High in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, these oils are believed to help all sorts of skin conditions including dry skin, acne, psoriasis, eczema, and wrinkles. All of the following oils absorb quickly however only a few drops are necessary.

What are the best natural skin care oils?

Coconut Oil

A great way to rejuvinate skin is to use virgin coconut oil as a skin lotion. This natural skin care oil helps prevent liver spots and other skin problems caused by aging by protecting your skin against damaging free radicals. According to research, it prevents sagging, wrinkles, and may help to repair skin and give your skin a youthful appearance. You can find more information in the book “The Coconut Miracle” by Bruce Fife.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba Oil moisturizes dry skin, minimizes wrinkles, gives your skin a soft glow, and many claim it heals acne. You can use it to remove makeup and add it to your hair products for more managable hair. Look for 100% Jojoba Oil as most skin care products that claim it as an ingredient have a very low concentration..not enough to make a difference in your skin.

Sweet Almond Oil

High in Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E, this natural skin care oil nourishes, revives and promotes healthy skin. It can rejuvinate your skin in a very short time and leave your skin satiny smooth.

And my favorite…

Organic Argan Oil

Organic Argan Oil is known to diminish wrinkles and crow’s feet, (it really and truly works), rejuvenates skin and gives it a healthy glow. You can also use it on dry damaged hair, for a healthy shine and condition and moisturize your nails. If you have had annoying skin problems that won’t go away, or your skin has lost its luster, this is the natural skin care oil you must try. Learn More…

Organic Argan Oil Based Natural Skin Care

Misbranding of “organic” personal care products was a problem in 2005. It is now 2009 and misbranding still continues. Why?

Press Release:

Misbranding “Organics” on Personal Care Products

Target of 2005 Consumer Education Campaign
3/9/2005 – U.S. Newswire

ANAHEIM, CA – The Organic Consumers Association (OCA), the nation’s largest network of organic consumers, is giving notice to natural product retail buyers attending Expo West (March 17-20 in Anaheim, CA) that OCA is ramping up consumer education efforts regarding the misbranding of “ORGANIC/ORGANICS” on non-organic personal care. OCA’s concerns are shared by other groups such as the Consumers Union over an expanding natural product marketplace that is being corrupted by companies that use “ORGANIC/ORGANICS” branding on non-organic products based on conventional synthetic cleansers, conditioners and preservatives.

“For three years OCA’s Coming Clean Campaign has attempted to pressure leading personal care companies to stop abusing the word ‘Organic’ and to only use ‘Organic’ if the product’s main functional and fragrance oil ingredients are made from certified organic material,” said Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director of the OCA. “Unfortunately, despite some positive changes in how companies use and describe their organic ingredients, the ever more widespread practice of companies using ‘ORGANIC’ or ‘ORGANICS’ to brand non-organic products is spiraling out of control, to the point we have no choice but to wage a massive public education campaign focused on organic misbranding. We urge natural product retailers to exercise their influence to also demand truthful labeling and branding.”
Read more…

Every day, a new product comes to market with the claim of reducing wrinkles, restoring collagen and rejuvenating skin. While there are some great products on the market that will make your skin look better, nothing comes close to getting to the root of skin problems like a natural wrinkle treatment. You can apply some natural skin care ingredients directly or add some to your favorite cleansers and moisturizers.

Horse chestnut, witch hazel, rosemary (make a tea with one or two teaspoons of the dried leaves) and sage were shown by Japanese scientists to have enough antioxidant activity to assist in the war against wrinkles. You can purchase salves containing these natural herbs at health food stores. Read the rest of this entry…

Have you ever been intrigued about cosmetic product labels that say “dermatologist recommended”? After doing a little investigating, I found that there is no governing body that monitors this statement. In fact, it really has no significance at all.

A manufacturer can have as many as 1 million dermatologists or as little as a solitary one who advocate their skin care product. Can you believe it? Just one recommendation and companies can make the “dermatologist recommended” claim. There are even websites dedicated to this term.

At this time, there are no guidelines that dictate whether the dermatologist who recommends the product is paid or even how the dermatologist tested the product. So don’t purchase a product merely because it is “dermatologist recommended”. Get all of the information you need from the ingredients list first instead of buying a skin care product based on a potentially misleading statement.