A Healthy Tan
I often welcome spring with a sinking feeling in my stomach…sure the blooms and blossoms and leaves and rainy days are cheery, but what about my not-ready-to-bare-n-share pasty skin? Porcelain complexions are alluring and exotic…think Geisha’s and Ms. Kidman, but really, what about the rest of us? For a little bronzing action, self tanners are the only way to go. Since solar worship is verboten, let’s quickly assess what IS safe out there for us.
There are dozens of self tanners to choose from - all of them stating that the use of their product is safe because it allows one to tan without skin damage from dangerous UV rays. Hmmmm. On further glean, what I’ve noticed, is once again, bottles of lotions packed and preserved with toxic parabens, and pertroleum by-products. In fact, according to the Skin Deep database, most of these self tanners contain ingredients that contain toxins, irritants and carcinogens.
Voila! My choice for bronzing sans soleil or toxic goo is Lavera’s Self-Tanning or Auto-Bronzant for those of you who ‘plan to not-tan at Cannes!’
Perfect 100% plant derived active ingredients - recommended for the most sensitive of skins. Organic plant essences and pure organic aloe vera gel makes this tanner a multi-tasker moisturizer. For the best tanned skin out there, indulge in an organic sugar scrub body treatment first - you’ll be stellar this summer.
Your Hair Deserves Better Sprays and Gels
Ok, liabilities up front: I am not a chemist. Chemistry class remains a vague, distant and confused high-school memory and something I avoided at all costs in college. However, I do know, as we all do, that plastics, polymers, copolymers, epoxy, polystyrene, to name a few… and most important to your hair style - polyvinylpyrrolidone or PVPs are usually synthetically formulated with non-renewable and hazardous petroleum-derived chemicals. Inhaled particles can cause serious problems in our lungs. Plastics, in all their glorious forms - goopy, sticky, stretchy, durable, and bouncy, are found in every conceivable product and/or its packaging - it’s hard to escape them. We all know that recycling these plastics and cutting back on their use is imperative.
Oh, a day without plastic….what would that look like?
Let’s start that day with you - getting yourself ready. PVPs are used in hairsprays, styling gels, nail polishes, mascaras - all the “must-haves” for many of us. And, what about those plastics in your hairspray….how are they going to be recycled? In what recycling bin does one dispose of PVP particles? No need to fret. Read your labels, of course! Rule of thumb: if your scalp or skin feels itchy and flaky, chances are there’s probably some suspicious ingredients in your body products.
Some good suggestions and great products follow: Zoya Nail Polishes! Toulene, phthalate, formaldehyde and acetone free….great long-lasting colors…love them! Miessence’s styling gel…
…conditions and nourishes the hair while providing terrific hold without flakes or build-up. And my personal can’t-live-without, Morrocco Method’s Blood of the Dragon Gel -full of restorative and rare conditioning herbs - provides hold and encourages healthy hair growth -it’s full of hair restorative goodies from the sea including kelp, nori, kombu and fucus! See previous post on hair loss!
Remember the inter-connectiveness of everything - let your grooming rituals be plastic-free!