It's been a while since I did a post that wasn't a rant. I figured it's time for a DIY!
As you may have read previously, I have rosacea. It's not a fun condition. It makes me look like I'm a perpetual teenager. I would use makeup to cover it, and sometimes I do, but I'm finding it makes it much worse for days after.
I've been on a small quest to figure out how to help my skin, especially on my face, to be happy and less red.
I've noticed I have quite a few food triggers, and I'm working on eliminating them. A few of mine are MSG, coffee, and large amounts of sugar (I think). I've also noticed that when I actually get in all the water I want to drink in a day my face is much better.
Something else I've found that helps at least a little bit is facial massage. It's calming and helps get the blood flowing well. Besides that, it feels good!
BUT! On to the DIY. In my search on the internet for calming facials, I came across two ideas. One is that honey is a wonderful foodstuff to put on your face. It draws out impurities and moisturizes. The other is that parsley helps with inflammation and redness. Put the two together and voila, you have a redness fighting mask!
Here's what I do:
-grab two handfuls of washed and dried parsley
- put it in a blender or food processor or whatever else that will puree it
- puree it
- take it out of the blender/whatever and put it in a clean container
- add 1/4 cup of raw honey (or the closest to raw/organic you can find)
-mix well
That's it! Now, store it in the fridge. The coldness will also help with the redness. To use it, scoop some out of your container and spread it evenly on your face. Leave it for at least 10 minutes, but the longer you leave it on the better. I aim for at least half an hour.
Enjoy your sweet new mask
xo,
Bliss
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Tempered Excitement
Over the last few weeks I've been catching up on some of the television shows I enjoy. Scattered throughout the shows are pesky commercials. Since they seem to be unavoidable, I watch them.
Two have caught my eye. Two of them are for natural skin care lines from major brands. I was thrilled to see that at least one of them is sulfate, paraben, petrochemicals, or phalates. Hurrah. A huge step in the right direction. It still ranks as a 3 on the EWG skin deep site. Mainly because it does have fragrance because it can be a neurotoxin. It also contains Cocamidopropyl Betaine which, yes, is derived from coconuts, but is an immune system as well as environmental toxin. Grand.
(If you just have saponified coconut oil that's fine, but the process the oil goes through to become Cocamidopropyl Betaine makes it toxic.)
Doesn't sound all that natural to me, how about you? I am glad, mind you, that this company has taken this huge step in the right direction. I really am. I am not super happy with the company though for labeling their product as natural. It is greenwashing. Sure it is *more* natural than their conventional products, but it is nowhere near getting to the point of natural that you hope the word natural on their packaging denotes. Moral of this story: continue to read LABELS not slogans or packaging.
The other product that was touted as natural hails (apparently) from Europe and is safe and natural. I actually looked for this one on my last grocery trip. I even had a coupon for it! I was excited. Then, I looked at the label. Reading through the list I was unimpressed. Second ingredient : Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Last ingredient: Methlyparaben. Sigh. Again, not natural at all.
Lest you think I am raging and upset, let me say this. I am quite encouraged by the first company. They must be hearing something from people who use their stuff, or want to use their products but choose healthier options. They have changed and are trying to fill the need and want for natural products. Yes they've missed the boat in a few areas, but that just means we push a little harder.
SO! Would I use the new products from company A? Personally? No. I have a great set of cleansers and moisturizers that ARE natural and (bonus) handmade. I would, however, FOR SURE tell people to use the more natural version of the companies products and to shun their unnatural counterparts. Get the company to realize they have taken a good step...but! Also let them know it is just a step not the destination!
I am excited. This excitement is tempered, but it is still there.
Have you noticed any companies stepping out?
XO,
Bliss
Two have caught my eye. Two of them are for natural skin care lines from major brands. I was thrilled to see that at least one of them is sulfate, paraben, petrochemicals, or phalates. Hurrah. A huge step in the right direction. It still ranks as a 3 on the EWG skin deep site. Mainly because it does have fragrance because it can be a neurotoxin. It also contains Cocamidopropyl Betaine which, yes, is derived from coconuts, but is an immune system as well as environmental toxin. Grand.
(If you just have saponified coconut oil that's fine, but the process the oil goes through to become Cocamidopropyl Betaine makes it toxic.)
Doesn't sound all that natural to me, how about you? I am glad, mind you, that this company has taken this huge step in the right direction. I really am. I am not super happy with the company though for labeling their product as natural. It is greenwashing. Sure it is *more* natural than their conventional products, but it is nowhere near getting to the point of natural that you hope the word natural on their packaging denotes. Moral of this story: continue to read LABELS not slogans or packaging.
The other product that was touted as natural hails (apparently) from Europe and is safe and natural. I actually looked for this one on my last grocery trip. I even had a coupon for it! I was excited. Then, I looked at the label. Reading through the list I was unimpressed. Second ingredient : Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Last ingredient: Methlyparaben. Sigh. Again, not natural at all.
Lest you think I am raging and upset, let me say this. I am quite encouraged by the first company. They must be hearing something from people who use their stuff, or want to use their products but choose healthier options. They have changed and are trying to fill the need and want for natural products. Yes they've missed the boat in a few areas, but that just means we push a little harder.
SO! Would I use the new products from company A? Personally? No. I have a great set of cleansers and moisturizers that ARE natural and (bonus) handmade. I would, however, FOR SURE tell people to use the more natural version of the companies products and to shun their unnatural counterparts. Get the company to realize they have taken a good step...but! Also let them know it is just a step not the destination!
I am excited. This excitement is tempered, but it is still there.
Have you noticed any companies stepping out?
XO,
Bliss
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
A Reason to Care
Why do I care about natural living? It is because of the effects on myself, my family, and those around me.
Perhaps one huge reason is that I would like to meet my great-grandchildren some day. I was reading about GMOs again today. Apparently, the test subjects who were eating many of the different GMOs available to us today, were sterile by the third generation. That is a little shocking, is it not?
We are essentially eating ourselves to death. This is just eating. Imagine the layers of damage we could do through cosmetics and environmental factors. Scary.
I am not saying we put ourselves in to a bubble and shun the world. Piggy-backing on my last post, though, I want you to overcome ignorance.
Talk about what you are eating, or not eating, and why. Spread the word! A friend of mine started a blog called the Social Eater. In one of her last posts she talks about how we vote every time we go shopping. We vote with our dollars. Every cent you spend on GMOs or conventional products fuels the supply and demand and the industry will never change. It's sounds too easy and far too hard at the same time, doesn't it? What can one person do? As far as I am concerned, a whole stinkin' lot.
Personally, I can feed my family better. That's 4 people who are now healthier. I can also educate my kids as they grow, so they, in turn, can make healthy choices. That could trickle down to their friends wanting to know why my kids have fresh fruit for a snack instead of gummy "fruit" snacks. ....Which could then lead to talking to their parents....and so on.
Honestly, it isn't really about keeping myself from getting cancer or prolonging my life, though I'm not opposed to that. One of my biggest reason for changing our lifestyle is my kids, their kids, and my great-grandkids. I would love to meet them, pray with them, and love them.
What's your reason?
XO,
Bliss
the article I was reading http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html ....and it has it's sources at the bottom :)
Perhaps one huge reason is that I would like to meet my great-grandchildren some day. I was reading about GMOs again today. Apparently, the test subjects who were eating many of the different GMOs available to us today, were sterile by the third generation. That is a little shocking, is it not?
We are essentially eating ourselves to death. This is just eating. Imagine the layers of damage we could do through cosmetics and environmental factors. Scary.
I am not saying we put ourselves in to a bubble and shun the world. Piggy-backing on my last post, though, I want you to overcome ignorance.
Talk about what you are eating, or not eating, and why. Spread the word! A friend of mine started a blog called the Social Eater. In one of her last posts she talks about how we vote every time we go shopping. We vote with our dollars. Every cent you spend on GMOs or conventional products fuels the supply and demand and the industry will never change. It's sounds too easy and far too hard at the same time, doesn't it? What can one person do? As far as I am concerned, a whole stinkin' lot.
Personally, I can feed my family better. That's 4 people who are now healthier. I can also educate my kids as they grow, so they, in turn, can make healthy choices. That could trickle down to their friends wanting to know why my kids have fresh fruit for a snack instead of gummy "fruit" snacks. ....Which could then lead to talking to their parents....and so on.
Honestly, it isn't really about keeping myself from getting cancer or prolonging my life, though I'm not opposed to that. One of my biggest reason for changing our lifestyle is my kids, their kids, and my great-grandkids. I would love to meet them, pray with them, and love them.
What's your reason?
XO,
Bliss
the article I was reading http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html ....and it has it's sources at the bottom :)
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