Really? 

That seemed like a lot to me, until I gave it some thought as I went though my morning ritual. In the shower comes my (1) shampoo (2) conditioner (3) face cleanser (4) body soap..and some days maybe even (5) a scrub (for face or body). Then after the shower, I move onto (6) a toner (7) a moisturizer... and possibly even (8) a sun block. Wow! I am not even done. Afterwards, I (9) brush my teeth, (10) put on deodorant, (11) apply lip balm and a (12) hand and/or body lotion..all this, before I was 15 minutes into my morning! Amazing!

Now, I do not wear a lot of make-up, but for many women we would need to factor in: liquid foundation, face powder, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, eye shadow, blush, nail polish..and now I can definitely see this number going far above 15 products daily (probably closer to 20+) for many women!

Why does this matter? According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health "of the chemicals used in cosmetics, nearly 900 have been reported as toxic." 

According to the website www.safecosmetics.org "The chemicals in any one consumer product alone are unlikely to cause harm. But unfortunately, we are repeatedly exposed to industrial chemicals from many different sources on a daily basis, including cosmetics and personal care products.

Many of these chemicals have gotten into our bodies, our breast milk and our children. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems that are on the rise in the human population. Some chemicals found in a variety of cosmetics - including phthalates, acrylamide, formaldehyde and ethylene oxide - are listed by EPA and the state of California as carcinogens or reproductive toxins."

Many of you who read this newsletter are already thinking about what you put INTO your body (food!), but it may be time to start thinking about what you put ONTO your body, because that will likely effect your long-term health as well.  How? Because 60% of what touches your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream. 

What can you do?

To begin, you can visit this terrific website: http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/index.php

With nearly 15,000 products in their database, you can search for the products you currently use (skincare, shampoo, makeup, etc) and see how your current products measure up. More importantly, it will alert you to the ingredients that may be harmful in your current products, educating you on how to become a more informed buyer.

You can also check out the book:  "Drop-Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics" by Kim Erickson for a very in-depth look at this topic.

Here's a recipe to make your own homemade body scrub......

If your skin is as dry as mine, try this natural recipe in your shower. It is exfoliating and moisturizing:

Combine the following in a glass jar or tupperware:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup jojoba oil
15-20 drops grapefruit essential oil
5-10 drops lavender essential oil
1/4 cup almond or hazelnut meal