No More Tears (From Toxic Chemicals): Johnson & Johnson Cleans Up ProductsAugust 18th, 2012 - Jill Ettinger
Announcing that it would remove chemicals of concern from its baby products by 2013, the personal care giant Johnson & Johnson is following through on a commitment it made after relentless pressure from health and environmental groups. Read More:No More Tears (From Toxic Chemicals): Johnson & Johnson Cleans Up ProductsNaturally Treat Summer Corns and CallusesJuly 4th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
About 10% of American women (and 5% of the general population) have unsightly, often painful corns and calluses. Extreme weather—hot summers and cold winters—exacerbate the problem, as skin tends to become drier during these seasons. “Corns and calluses are caused by friction and pressure on the feet, either from wearing shoes that don’t fit properly or from conditions such as arthritis, trauma, bunions or various deformities,” explains New York dermatologist Joshua Fox, MD. Be proactive, and you can look forward to wearing sandals and exposing your bare feet. Start by exfoliating dead skin: Soak your feet in water laced with organic essential oils, and treat rough spots with a pumice stone or foot file. Next, apply your favorite organic moisturizer to soften skin. “If you are in good health, you don’t have to see a professional for corns and calluses, unless they hurt or bother your walking” Dr. Fox says. “But if you don’t like the way your feet look, are having pain or have certain medical conditions—including diabetes, poor circulation or numbness in the feet—it’s important that you see a doctor or podiatrist who can evaluate the problem and help you remove the corns and calluses.” Read More:Naturally Treat Summer Corns and CallusesChemicals in Toilet-Seat Cleaners Linked to Skin ProblemsJanuary 27th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Skin irritations caused by chemicals found in toilet-seat cleaners appear to be making a comeback in pediatricians’ offices, according to a prominent Baltimore researcher. “Toilet-seat dermatitis is one of those legendary conditions described in medical textbooks and seen in underdeveloped countries, but one that younger pediatricians have not come across in their daily practice,” says Bernard A. Cohen, MD, director of pediatric dermatology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. “If our small analysis is any indication of what’s happening, we need to make sure the condition is on every pediatrician’s radar,” he says. The causative culprits are harsh chemicals like phenol and formaldehyde, as well as exotic wooden toilet seats. Phenol has been associated with dermatitis and both second- and third-degree burns, while formaldehyde is a known health hazard and carcinogen. Wooden seats—especially those covered with varnishes and paints—are a returning trend in bathroom décor, note Dr. Cohen and his colleagues in the February issue of Pediatrics. Children can develop irritation after repeated use of a wooden seat or ongoing exposure to chemical residues. Dr. Cohen urges pediatricians to ask parents about home and school toilet seats and cleaners when treating a toddler or young child with irritated buttocks or upper thighs. While dermatitis is relatively benign, many pediatricians may treat it incorrectly if they fail to pinpoint the source. This, in turn, can lead to persistent or worsening inflammation, with painful, itchy skin eruptions. Chronic skin irritation is also vulnerable to bacteria and may lead to more serious infections that require oral antibiotics. “Some of the children in our study suffered for years before the correct diagnosis was made,” says lead investigator Ivan V. Litvinov, PhD, of McGill University in Montreal. To prevent toilet-seat dermatitis, Dr. Cohen and his colleagues recommend:
Fight Dry Skin with Organic Olive OilSeptember 24th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
For me, autumn-proofing my skin focuses on the driest parts of my body: feet, elbows and knees. There’s no need to buy fancy and expensive products to treat these areas, according to Sarah Callard, author of The Little Green Book of Beauty: 250 Tips for an Eco Lifestyle. “For dry skin, use olive oil, organic if possible,” she writes. “It has excellent moisturizing properties and has been traditionally used as an intensive conditioning and moisturizing treatment for areas prone to dry skin.” Callard recommends applying it at bedtime so you can wake up with smoother skin. Also by Sarah Callard
Autumn-Proof Your SkinSeptember 23rd, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
As summer yields to fall, temperature changes will require you to alter your organic skin-care regimen. “While the autumn weather may encourage outdoor activities, your skin will retain less moisture because of the cooler, drier air,” says Joshua Fox, MD, founder of Advanced Dermatology in New York and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. “The same happens indoors as the heat goes on and up,” he continues. “Key symptoms of ‘autumn skin’ include dryness, fine lines, dull and sallow skin tone, sun and age spots, flaking and irritation, as well as the flare-up of some chronic conditions.” There’s no need to completely overhaul your daily routine. Simply make some minor adjustments. “Three things that everyone should do to protect their skin in the autumn include drinking lots of water to remain hydrated, applying moisturizer before going outside to give it time to be absorbed and, importantly, continuing to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.” Stores like Whole Foods Market have a wide array of natural and organic skin-care lines. Read More:Autumn-Proof Your SkinTake a Recess!August 6th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Suffering from dry, chapped and/or scaly summer feet and hands? How about a “Southern Secret”: a pink lemonade aromatherapy soak, exfoliating key lime scrub, hydrating lavender paraffin wrap and berry fusion moisturizer massage? That’s just one of the pampering treatments available at Recess, a completely green nail spa in Los Angeles. Nail technicians use products featuring hand-blended organic ingredients that are free of formaldehyde, parabens and dyes. Only metal instruments are used (and promptly autoclaved), and foot files, buffers and orangewood sticks are never reused. Nail polish is toluene-free. New customers can enjoy a $50 Basic Manicure/Pedicure Special. The salon will eventually launch an online store for product purchases. Location: 8408-B Beverly Blvd. (east of La Cienega) Phone: (323) 782-9919 DIY Beauty TreatmentsIf you’re outside the L.A. area, try some of our soothing DIY treatments, including Bedtime Piña Colada Callus Treatment and Don’t Sweat It! Foot Spa. Read More:Take a Recess!Farmaesthetics Helps Get Macy’s Green Gift-Giving On!July 13th, 2009 - Leslie Billera
Typically, the iconic department store’s off-the-rack offerings bore me to tears when it comes to gift shopping. But when I found out that Farmaesthetics is sold at some of the larger Macy’s locales in their ‘Beautiful Planet’ green boutiques, I was thrilled! Farm Fresh Lauded in Treehugger’s coveted 2009 BEST of GREEN as their Best Skincare Brand pick, Farmaesthetics use only organic herbal and floral ingredients and no preservatives grown on small American farms. Products include Fine Herbal Cleanser, Eyebright Eye Makeup Remover & Treatment Oil, Nourishing Lavender Milk, Cool Aloe Mist and many more. So next time you need a gift for someone else – or yourself! – check out Farmaesthetics either online or at Macy’s and support organics, small American farmers and a feel good American Dream! Via The Herald News Read More:Farmaesthetics Helps Get Macy’s Green Gift-Giving On!Acne/Diet UpdateJuly 8th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
When I wrote about acne in February 2008, some readers were confused about the study I cited, and comments continue to be posted. As you’ll note in the original article, most dermatologists agree that the foods we eat do not cause acne. Acne develops when our hormones run amok. Consider puberty, when 85% of teenagers contend with their first zits. Women also notice hormonal shifts as they enter their 30s, 40s and menopause, which can lead to frustrating cases of adult acne—even if they never experienced breakouts during adolescence. That said, the study did indicate that certain foods can cause flare-ups in patients already suffering from acne. This distinction is extremely important, and it accounts for some of our readers’ confusion. Foods with a low-glycemic load—fruits, vegetables, fiber, fish and unsaturated fats—are the healthiest choices for acne sufferers (not to mention the rest of us). Foods with a high-glycemic load—white bread, corn chips, pretzels, doughnuts, waffles and other refined carbohydrates—can exacerbate acne. Excess consumption of high-glycemic foods can also contribute to diabetes. For a comprehensive list of foods and their glycemic-index scores, click here. For Your Organic Bookshelf: The G.I. Handbook: How the Glycemic Index Works Read More:Acne/Diet Update3 Tips for Choosing Healthier CosmeticsFebruary 16th, 2009 - Leslie Billera
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It’s an astonishing fact: Europe has banned 1,100 chemicals for beauty care products that the U.S. has not, including coal tar in shampoo, lead in lipstick and petroleum distillates in mascara. So if you’re a beauty buff, it’s buyer beware. Here’s some top tips for getting smart when it comes looking pretty. 1. Keep It Simple 2. Good Enough to Eat 3. Signed Up? Learn more about links between breast cancer and cosmetics and be your own advocate! Via: Vail Daily Suggested ReadingDo-It-Yourself Organic Spa Treatments Read More:3 Tips for Choosing Healthier CosmeticsCreate Cost-Efficient Neutraceutical Skincare!February 10th, 2009 - Leslie Billera [/caption]
In a nutshell, ‘neutraceuticals’ use natural substances with medicinal properties that promote health benefits. These natural ingredients are selected for attributes and properties that are used to treat or prevent a range of diseases, afflictions, or conditions. Just as the growing neutraceutical industry looks to Mother Nature for these rejuvenating ingredients, so can you! Your skin needs nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to heal it and protect against further damage…here’s just one all-natural DIY remedy towards that end: Laura Klein’s Minty Green Goodness Toner This is an excellent post-facial mint toner. It’s ideal for normal to oily skin, removing left-over residue, closing pores and restoring balance to the skin. Healing Ingredients:
Additional Tools: 1 spray bottle, 10 oz or bigger; or 10 oz screw top for application with a cotton ball How To: Place tea bags in a medium size bowl. Bring water to a boil. Pour hot water over tea leaves and steep for 15 minutes until cool. Strain tea into your glass jar. Add witch hazel and lemon juice. Shake to combine. Apply after cleansing with an organic cotton ball or if using a spray bottle, mist face and décolleté. Say goodbye to pricey, over the counter ‘neutraceuticals’ – start making your own — at home — today! Read More:Create Cost-Efficient Neutraceutical Skincare! |
I don’t know about you – but here in San Diego, there seems to be a Macy’s on every corner.
