Dying To Look Good

Antibacterial Soaps: Why You Should Avoid Them Like the Plague

2010-11-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Antibacterial soaps DO NOT help your family stay healthy. They may even be making you sick!

Antibacterial soaps have been widely embraced as a way to “kill germs” and prevent illness. But not all bacteria are harmful. And not all “germs” are bacteria.

Some bacteria are beneficial and your body needs them. Antibacterial soap cannot distinguish between harmful and helpful bacteria. It kills all bacteria. When the healthy bacteria that your body needs have been “washed away,” it weakens your body’s defense system and makes it easier for you to get sick when you’re exposed to harmful bacteria.

Read the article here.

Find healthy soap here.

Take advantage of this month's Product of the Month Special offer and get a discount on bar or liquid soaps made from farm-fresh goat's milk.

Transitioning to Natural Shampoos

2010-11-11T12:45:00.000-08:00

I received an e-mail from my sister yesterday who is having a challenge transitioning from synthetic shampoo to natural. She asked "Is the gumminess because of the buildup of the old shampoo? If I double wash each time I wash my hair will it go away faster?"

Have you had a poor result when you switched from the conventional shampoos to the natural brands? If so, read on... If you haven't gotten the courage to switch yet, then read this before you do.

Even if you've successfully switched without any problems, read this so you can share it with those you love when they make the switch. Everyone is unique, so your experience may be different than that of someone else trying the same product.

The Problem With Commercial Shampoos
The major brands of shampoos that make your hair silky soft, shiny and bouncy come with a cost. I'm not talking about the price either! It's the chemicals that the manufacturers put in these products and what they do to your hair.

Read more.

Are You Cleaning Your House And Killing Yourself?

2010-11-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wondered what's in those powerful household cleaners that makes them clean so well? Most of those you buy in the grocery store contain numerous toxic chemicals that can make you sick, or just gradually eat away at your health.

Here are some warnings found on the label of common household cleaners...

"HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS. DANGER causes severe eye and skin damage. Do not get in eyes, skin or clothing. Harmful if swallowed. Avoid contamination of food. Wear goggles or face mask or rubber gloves ..."

"Hazardous to Humans and Domestic Animals. Warning: Causes substantial but temporary eye injury. Do not get in eyes or on clothing. Wear protective eyewear (safety glasses) Prolonged or frequent skin contact may cause ..."

"Warnings: Corrosive. Keep out of reach of children. Contains phosphoric acid. Causes eye and skin damage. Do not get into eyes, on skin or on clothing. Wear goggles or face shield and rubber gloves when handling. Use in well ventilated areas. Harmful or fatal if ..."

Here's a product you can use with confidence. It's not only safe for you and your house, it's also powerfully effective too! Watch the short video below ...

ToothSoap 2-for-1 Special Offer - Ends Nov. 4, 2010

2010-11-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Benefits of Goats Milk Soap

2010-11-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

"Goat milk contains lots of nutrients like fats, proteins and other hormones that naturally benefit the skin. The benefits of goat milk soap can be felt by people suffering from various skin conditions or those just wanting to maintain youthful, rejuvenated skin."

Some of the most important benefits include...

Goat milk soap has a pH level similar to that of human skin; so, it protects the skin from the onslaught of daily bacterial and chemical invasions.

It also has superior moisturizing benefits that surpass that of commercial soap because of the natural creams in goat's milk.

Take advantage of the truly healthy goats milk soaps offered this month at a 15% discount through the Product of the Month Special.

Your Deodorant and Breast Cancer

2010-10-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Numerous chemicals commonly found in antiperspirants and deodorants have been linked to breast cancer. Initially the research targeted the parabens, however, new research is also pointing to chemicals like aluminum compounds.

Read more here.

While this article was written a few years ago, it is as true today as it was then.

Selecting deodorant products with only safe and healthy ingredients is vitally important, not only for women, but for men as well. Find healthy deodorants from several companies here.

Celebrate Your Body!

2010-10-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Join the body image revolution

You Can Start a Body Image Revolution

2010-10-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

Are you bored with ‘managing’ your weight, sick of ‘watching’ every thing you put in your mouth, or tired of being embarrassed when you look at your body in the mirror?

What if there was another way to be a woman?

A way that honored all of you, just the way you are, rather than just what you’re not? A way that recognized everything you DO do, rather than just what you don’t? A way that helped us decide who and how we WANT to be, rather than trying to fit us in the picture of perfect in a magazine or movie?

There is a way, it’s called The Body Image Revolution, and it starts today, Thursday October 21, I’m part of it and you can be too. I am teaming up with eleven other international body image experts in one big Telesummit to bring you the real facts about your weight and your health, Practical 'How-To' Tips to help you see your body and your life, just how it is right now, in a new light that is more real, more powerful, and more YOU.

Click here to visit The Body Image Revolution.

Why I Never Use Toothpaste ...

2010-10-18T14:09:00.000-07:00

... and I never will.

Did you know that there's enough fluoride in a tube of toothpaste to kill a 3-year old child ... if the child ate the whole tube?

Do you want to use chemicals in your mouth, that can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream, that have the potential to cause serious injury or even death?

Here's a healthier and more effective alternative.

Take advantage of this special offer.

Give Yourself A Natural Facial

2010-10-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Pamper yourself a little. It feels soooo good!

Find healthy skin care products here.

2 Minute Skin Care

2010-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Taking good care of your skin will help you achieve a vibrant, healthy look. Watch this video and see how easy it can be.

It's amazing how good your skin feels and how much better it looks when you take just a couple minutes, a couple times a day to nourish it.

DANGER! Are Your Skin Care Products Killing You and Your Family?

2010-09-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

Click here to make sure you know how to protect yourself and your family.

The Dangers of Nail Polish and Fake Nails

2010-09-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Nail polish is one of my pet peeves, especially when I see it on the fingernails and toenails of little girls.

Your nails are not impenetrable barriers. They're porous. Chemicals painted on your nails and your little girl's nails can be absorbed into your bodies.

One of the main dangers of nail polish is the chemical class, phthalates. These chemicals are classified as possible carcinogens by the EPA. They're also mutagenic. In other words, they can cause genetic damage which may lead to cancer or other diseases. Phthalates can also cause liver, kidney and lung damage. They're suspected of being ...

Read More.

Bug Sprays - Are They Worth The Risk?

2010-07-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you use one of the conventional types of insect repellants, you may be damaging your nervous system.

New research confirms that DEET, the ingredient commonly used in most conventional bug sprays, is toxic to your nervous system. Earlier studies have implicated DEET in causing seizures in children.

The use of DEET is widespread because of its effectiveness. But, is it worth the risk to your health?

Read more here.

Here are some safer options:
Buzz Free Zone
Botanical Bug-Off (Not currently available in the U.S.)
Note: Use code:DYTLG when you check out for a 5% discount.

Home Remedies for Burns

2010-06-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

Skip the chemical creams. For first and second degree burns, some simple home remedies are very effective and healthier for you than their chemical counterparts.

For serious burns, be sure to see your doctor. These remedies are not for serious burns.

Read the article.

Learn more about healthy personal care here.

The American Cancer Society Position on Cancer-Causing Chemicals

2010-06-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard a million times, "actions speak louder than words!"

If you've believed what the American Cancer Society has been telling you about how to protect yourself from cancer and supporting cancer research, it's time to take another good hard look.

They are disputing "the findings of the President's Cancer Panel on the role of toxins in causing cancer."

Read the article:

The American Cancer Society Runs With the Money and Away from the Cure, Part I

Then get your ingredients reading glasses on and make sure you read every label of every product you buy and take responsibility for protecting yourself against the cancer-causing chemicals in your life. The cancer industry is not going to protect you. They have too much to lose! It's up to you!

Learn more about how you can protect yourself here.

Cancer-causing Chemicals in Your Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

2010-06-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

Do you know there are cancer-causing chemicals in your soap and toothpaste that are killing you? They're also in your shampoo, lotion, deodorant, shaving cream, makeup and all your other skin care and personal care products, including baby products.

If you're not reading labels and trying to avoid these dangerous ingredients, you are RISKING YOUR HEALTH!

Don't know how to read labels, what those Greek-looking chemical names mean, or where to get the information? Here's a free report that will help you:

"The 10 Worst Chemicals In Cosmetics And Personal Care Products You Absolutely Must Stay Away From"!

Click here to get your free report now!

Is There Lead In Your Lipstick?

2010-06-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

If you're not using organic lipstick, chances are pretty good that there is. A recent FDA study found lead in every single brand of non-organic lipstick it tested.

Read the article.

Need help choosing healthy products and knowing which ingredients are safe and healthy and which are not?

Here's a FREE resource to help you make your way through the jungle of Greek-sounding chemical names.

The threat of harmful chemicals in your cosmetics and personal care products is real. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise, without doing your own research to find out for yourself.

Everyone has a different risk level they're comfortable with. Make sure you're making your decisions based on the facts, not on hearsay.

This is a good place to start.

Stop! Read This Before You Put On That Sunscreen!

2010-05-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

Are you getting ready for the beach for the Memorial Day Weekend and for summer that's just around the corner? Before you head for the sand, read this first:

"Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer."

I personally use organic coconut oil on my skin when I go out in the sun. Coconut oil combined with a healthy diet is an effective sunscreen and suntan lotion according to Bruce Fife in his book, Coconut Cures.

Preserved vs. Preservative Free

2010-05-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

A recent survey was taken in the Cosmetics Trends Community regarding the issue of preserved vs. preservative free cosmetics and skin care products. Click here to read the article and see the results.

Study: Top Perfumes Have Hazardous Chemicals

2010-05-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

"A gaping loophole in a 37-year-old federal law allows makers of perfumes, colognes and body sprays to conceal the chemicals that comprise the fragrances -- and some of those unidentified odor creators may be harmful to public health, two advocacy groups say."

Read the article.

Learn more about safety of ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products.

Is Organic Really Organic?

2010-05-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

Will the real organic body care products please stand up!

A lot of products are marketed as organic these days because consumers want more organic products. But don't believe the label. There are a number of products on the market that say "organic" on the label, but that not only are not organic, but they also contain the cancer-causing contaminant 1,4-dioxane.

This cancer-causing chemical may be found in products with ingredients like "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," "oxynol," or those that end in "-eth," or contain "PEG" in the name.

In addition, many so-called "cheater brands" claim to be organic when they may have only a token organic ingredient or none at all. I was in a department store with my daughter a couple weeks ago and there was a display of large bottles of a body care product with "Organic" in large letters on the front of the label. I looked at the list of ingredients in the product. There was not one single ingredient in that product that was organic. There wasn't even a single herb or ingredient that even sounded like it might be natural. It was totally, 100% synthetic chemicals!

If the front of the label is all you look at when you buy body care products, you will be fooled most of the time because there are not that many honest brands on the market. To get truly organic products, you must read the ingredients list, in the tiny print, on the back of the package.

Click here if you need help reading and understanding ingredients.

Click here if you want to buy healthy products without having to read ingredients.

Triclosan in the News

2010-04-26T17:37:00.000-07:00

Finally the FDA has admitted that triclosan in soap and body care products is a cause for concern. It's finally being addressed, not only for its contribution to antibiotic resistant bacteria, but also for its long-term health effects. In addition, the FDA admitted that antibacterial soaps are no better than plain soap.

Read about it here.

Shop for healthy soap and body care products on DyingToLookGood.com.

Get lots more healthy choices on Dying To Look Good "Best Brands."

Ingredients In Your Shampoo – Important! Read This Before You Buy!

2009-10-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Shampoo ingredients are most likely the last thing on your mind when choosing your shampoo. You're probably most interested in what the shampoo is going to do for your hair. How soft, silky and shiny will it make your hair look? Does it make it look healthy? What about repairing damaged ends? Will it make your hair look thicker? Will it give you great looking hair like those models you see in the TV commercials?

These are the kinds of questions that the manufacturers have conditioned you to think about. They spend millions of dollars on advertising campaigns telling you all the wonderful benefits their shampoos offer your hair. Reading the ingredients list on your shampoo bottle before you buy is the last thing they want you to do.

Why?

The majority of shampoos on the market contain ingredients that have harmful effects on your body. A number of these ingredients even cause cancer.

Why should you be concerned about cancer-causing ingredients in your shampoo? You only use it on your hair. What's the harm in that?

That's a good question. The ingredients in your shampoo, like in any product you use on the outside of your body, can be absorbed through your pores into your bloodstream. A number of the shampoos containing cancer-causing chemicals also contain ingredients, called penetration enhancers, that increase how much of the ingredients actually get absorbed into your body.

But, that's not all.

Read More ...

Challenge Yourself To Get Those Chemicals Out Of Your Cosmetics And Personal Care Products Now!

2009-09-12T00:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a program that will help you get get on track and eliminate all those chemicals in your cosmetics and personal care products that are destroying your health - in 100 days.

Combine this with Dying To Look Good "Best Brands" so you have easy access to products from more than 20 companies with the safest and healthiest ingredients on the market - Guaranteed! No checking ingredients or hunting for companies that produce top quality, safe products. The work's already been done for you. Just pick and choose!

This is a winning combination.

Are you willing to rise to the challenge - for your health and the health of your family?

Here's to your health and your success!

Christine H. Farlow, D.C.
The Ingredients Investigator
Protecting you from harmful ingredients
www.dyingtolookgood.com
www.dyingtolookgoodbestbrands.com

Don't Buy Any Skin Care Products Until You Read These Facts

2009-07-13T14:48:00.000-07:00

Did you know that cancer-causing chemicals have been found in the skin care products you use every day? In fact, they’ve even been found in those labeled as natural and organic! Cancer has been the second leading cause of death in the U.S. for many years … and it still is. Even children are getting cancer, and their rate is increasing. It’s time to find out how to protect yourself and your family.

Now, you may be wondering …

Are you kidding me? How is that possible? There are so many rules and regulations in this country, surely there are some laws to protect the consumer from cancer-causing ingredients in skin care products, especially those that claim to be natural and organic!

Well, the truth of the matter is there are NOT!

The cosmetics and skin care industry is unregulated. The FDA cannot tell them what chemicals they can use and which they cannot. The ingredients used, even in skin care products labeled as natural and organic aren’t even required to be tested for safety. In fact, a study on the safety of 7,500 personal care products, done by the Environmental Working Group in 2004 found that 99.6% of the products tested contained one or more ingredients that had never been tested for safety by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, the industry’s self proclaimed watchdog!

So, how do you find products that are safe and healthy?

Read more...

Are you concerned about cancer-causing chemicals in your cosmetics and skin care products ... but hate to read labels?

2009-06-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Announcing … the quickest, simplest, easiest way to choose safe and healthy, natural and organic cosmetics, skin care and personal care products NOW … without ever having to read a single ingredients list!

I know you want to use safe and healthy, natural and organic skin care and body care products because you’re reading this page.

Choosing the safest and healthiest products just got easier.

You may be among the many people who are frustrated with reading ingredients lists, or just choose not to. Or maybe you just want a little easier way to pick your products.

Now you don’t have to read ingredients lists when you want to buy natural or organic products for your skin care. You don’t have to wonder any more if the products contain cancer-causing contaminants. That work has already been done for you.

Dying To Look Good "Best Brands" lists the safest and healthiest natural and organic cosmetics, skin care, body care and personal care products on the market. They have been thoroughly researched to make sure their ingredients are truly pure, natural, safe and healthy.

It's a 3-month membership program. You'll receive weekly product lists, every week for 12 weeks. Each week, you'll also get information on one company whose entire product line is exceptional. In fact, there are more than 12 companies that have been identified as having superior healthy and safe products. So, there will be bonus "Company Spotlights" coming to you every once in a while, between your regular weekly product lists.

Many companies in this program are offering discounts to Dying To Look Good "Best Brands" members. And the best part, many of the discounts can be used more than once and some will even be in effect after your membership expires.

Learn more about how you can make choosing healthy, organic and natural skin care products for yourself and your family quicker and easier, and how you can save money in the process.

Yours in health,

Christine H. Farlow, D.C.
The Ingredients Investigator
Protecting you from harmful ingredients
www.dyingtolookgood.com
www.dyingtolookgoodbestbrands.com

Health Revolution Petition

2009-02-25T00:01:00.001-08:00

February 24 was the launch of the much-anticipated Health Revolution Petition.

This petition is a groundbreaking new petition that calls for real, revolutionary health freedom reforms in America! If its provisions are enacted, it would:

End FDA tyranny and oppression of natural product companies
End the persecution of alternative medicine and healing arts practitioners
Ban GMOs in the food supply and require honest labeling of irradiated foods
Protect America from CODEX "harmonization"
Allow full income tax deductions for ALL health-related expenditures (herbs, supplements, gym memberships, etc.)
Provide $350 a month in health care credits to each U.S. resident, allowing them to spend it on the health-enhancing products and services of their choice
End mandatory vaccination policies across America
Restore honest science to the FDA's review of drugs
Require the open publication of all drug trials
End Big Pharma's bribery of doctors
Hold drug company CEO's criminally liable for the harm caused by drugs they advertise to consumers
Restrict the advertising of junk foods and soda pop to children
Ban man-made, non-natural chemicals in personal care products
Invest in disease prevention and consumer education about nutrition
Protect the environment from dangerous drugs that pollute the water supply

... and more. If you believe in these things, and you are a resident or citizen of the USA, then please ...

Sign the Health Revolution Petition now!

DANGER! Are Your Skin Care Products Killing You and Your Family?

2009-01-07T22:42:00.000-08:00

Benzyl Benzoate Clarification

2008-10-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Some of the ingredients added to food, cosmetics and personal care products can be derived from either natural or synthetic soures. Often the natural version is safe, while the synthetic version is associated with numerous side effects.

Benzyl Benzoate is one of those.

Benzyl Benzoate is a natural component of cinnamon essential oil. It composes about 3% of the oil. Cinnamon essential oil has therapeutic benefit and when used in small amounts is safe.

Generally the amounts of essential oils used in cosmetics and personal care products is so small that you don't have to be concerned with any precautions associated with the essential oil. If you use individual essential oils, you need to be informed about precautions, contraindications and safe use of the oils.

The synthetic version, on the other hand is the chemical used to kill head lice and is associated with a variety of adverse effects, including burning and itching of the skin, formation of blisters, reddening, crusting or scaling of the skin, jerking movements, difficulty urinating or sudden loss of consciousness.

When you see benzyl benzoate listed as an ingredient in a product in which you're interested, if it does not specify that it is from cinnamon essential oil, you should either contact the manufacturer to find out the source of the benzyl benzoate or not buy the product.

Learn more about ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.

New Healthy Deodorant

2008-09-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Terra Naturals has just released their new line of Uniquely Natural™ Deodorants with immune support.

They contain novel plant based ingredients to control body odor and offer nourishing ingredients to the delicate underarm area. You can choose from a wide variety of fresh scents, all naturally derived from plants.

Terra Naturals Uniquely Natural™ Deodorants are free of parabens, aluminum, petroleum derived ingredients, propylene glycol, genetically engineered ingredients, alcohol and synthetic antibacterial agents.

This month only, you can get a 10% discount. Click here to find out more...

Yes to Carrots Review

2008-09-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Yes to Carrots is a paraben-free skin care product line containing organic fresh fruits and vegetables and Dead Sea Salt.

I had high hopes for these products. However, they fall short because of their use of a few key synthetic ingredients.

In spite of all their organic ingredients, they use fragrance in their products. Fragrances can contain all sorts of hazardous and cancer-causing chemicals and you'll never know because the manufacturer doesn't have to disclose the ingredients in the fragrances they produce.

Another disappointing ingredient is sodium coceth sulfate. It's a synthetic detergent derived from coconut oil, modified with ethylene oxide. This is one of those "eth" chemicals that can be contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical, 1,4-dioxane.

They use dehydroacetic acid as a preservative. It's hazardous in case of skin contact and can be toxic to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver. The possibility of causing cancer, mutagenic effects or birth defects are not known. In other words, it has not been adequately tested.

Cycloheptasiloxane is another ingredient I find objectionable in an organic product. It is a silicone, similar to cyclomethicone which has been classified as toxic for reproduction in Europe.

Learn more about the safety of the ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products.

Shop for healthy products.

Another Origins Product Evaluation

2008-08-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

Soothing Lip Balm has an almost okay list of ingredients. The ingredient I take issue with is canola oil. It doesn't matter that it's organic. Any canola oil is not a healthy oil to use. It's not healthy to eat and it's not healthy to put on your skin. Being in lip balm, you are both putting it on your skin and eating it too!

This is the same issue with Burt's Bees. When they were taken over by Clorox, they changed the ingredients in their lip balm and added canola oil.

Here are some links for healthy lip balm:

Jaffa Lip Balm

Botanical Lip Protection. Use promotion code: DYTLG in your shopping cart before you complete your check out to get a 5% Discount on this product.

Lip Silk

Origins Product Evaluation

2008-08-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

Origins by Estee Lauder has recently launched a new certified organic deodorant, ORIGINS ORGANICS TOTALLY PURE DEODORANT Certified Organic.

I'm always suspicious when the mainstream companies who produce chemically laden products enter the natural market. I just had to check this product out.

Here's what I found...

It does contain a lot of herbs and essential oils. In fact, the majority of the ingredients look good. However, the ingredient that causes me to give it a thumbs down recommendation is benzyl benzoate.

Benzyl benzoate is a chemical used to kill head lice by destroying their nervous system. It is absorbed through the skin. It is hazardous in case of skin or eye contact. In case of skin contact, it is advised to immediately flush the skin with plenty of water.

Some side effects of benzyl benzoate are burning and itching of the skin, formation of blisters, reddening, crusting or scaling of the skin. It may also cause jerking movements, difficulty urinating or sudden loss of consciousness.

Now, since this product is a deodorant, it is going to be left on the skin to be absorbed into the body. And if you use it on a daily basis, it's going to be absorbed into your body every day.

I definitely DO NOT recommend this product.

Find out if there is danger lurking in your deodorant.

Check out these healthy natural deodorants that work.

Here's another effective healthy brand.

Organic and Natural

2008-08-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's a fact that the cosmetics industry is highly unregulated in the U. S. The use of the terms natural and organic have been abused by the industry. Deceptive advertising and packaging have led the unsuspecting and uninformed consumer to purchase products that are less healthy than they are claimed to be.

In Europe, cosmetics are more regulated. There are ingredients banned from use there that are being used in the U.S. on a regular basis. However, what I found interesting is that in France, the home of Ecocert, the European Organic Certifying organization, their definitions for organic and natural are very lax. To be certified organic, a product just needs 10% of its ingredients to be organic. For the natural label, it requires only 5% organic ingredients.

So, no matter where you are in the world, the bottom line is: Read the ingredients list on the label and know which ingredients are safe and which are not.

Learn how to determine the safety of the ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.

FDA Fails to Warn Consumers About Cancer-Causing Ingredients

2008-08-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

The death rate from ovarian cancer has risen dramatically since 1975.

Talc, a common ingredient in powders used by women in the genital area, poses a major risk of ovarian cancer. That includes baby powder used on infants.

The FDA has been petitioned twice to put a cancer warning on talc products. It denied the first request and failed to act on the second.

Read more...

Learn more about cancer-causing ingredients in your personal care products.

Click the link to shop for healthy products with healthy ingredients.

Skin Creams Found to Cause Cancer

2008-08-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

An accidental discovery by researchers at Rutgers University is questioning the ability of skin creams to cause cancer. The suspected ingredients are mineral oil and sodium lauryl sulfate. The testing was done on mice and has not yet be done on humans. Read the article here.

Find out how to determine if the ingredients in your skin creams are healthy or not.

Shop for products that are known to have only healthy ingredients.

Have You Checked the Ingredients in Your Skin Care Products Lately?

2008-08-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

I frequently get requests to give my opinion of the ingredients in certain product lines from people who think they have the greatest and healthiest products. This time it was from an Isagenix distributor.

I looked at one of their skin care products, Dermal Cleanse.

The ingredients are:

"Deionized Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbtian Laurate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Glycerin, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate, PEG-18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate, Polysorbate-20, Lavandula Angusitifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citric Acid, Isalyte™ (Trace Mineral Citrate), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone."

A recent study, commissioned by the Organic Consumer's Association, showed that products containing PEG ingredients and anything that ends in "-eth" may be contaminated with the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane. This product has several of these ingredients.

Then there are Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone. These are strong chemical preservatives that cause allergic reactions and are not adequately tested.

This product is questionable at best and certainly not a product I would recommend.

Do your skin care products contain ingredients like the ones in Dermal Cleanse?

Find out how to choose products with healthy ingredients.

Shop for healthy products that have been prescreened and are known to contain only the safest and healthiest ingredients.

DyingToLookGood.com Update

2008-08-13T12:41:00.000-07:00

The DyingToLookGood.com website has a new home page. It's easier to use and find what you're looking for. Browse articles, shop for healthy products or check out the Product of the Month.

Scroll about halfway down the page and explore the links.

Happy reading!

Interview with Dr. Farlow on Toxic Chemicals in Your Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

2008-06-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

Diane Brandon, host of Vibrant Living interviews
Dr. Farlow on the toxic chemicals in your
cosmetics and personal care products - with a
brief word on foods too.

Listen Now!

Please share this with everyone you know who can
benefit from this information.

Discover Your Ayurvedic Beauty

2008-04-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you missed the FREE teleconference yesterday with Dr. Helen Thomas and Lissa Coffey, going into great detail about how to determine your Ayurvedic Beauty-Type, you can still get the recorded version.

Click this link ...and enter your name and email address (don't worry, it's safe) into the box on the upper right. You'll receive a link to the recording, plus all the great material Dr. Helen is giving away for free on Ayurvedic beauty tips and natural homemade recipes for skin and hair care.

You can read more about the Discover Your Ayurvedic Beauty-Type multimedia course by clicking here...

Here's What They Revealed on The Discover Your Ayurvedic Beauty-Type Teleseminar

* Why You Might Be a Vata-Beauty, After all: Despite predominate pitta and kapha characteristics, you may need to treat yourself like a vata. Find out why on the live teleseminar recording.

* Live Case Studies: Three people were chosen to be interviewed live on the teleseminar... to determine their Beauty-Type.

* So What Does Your Beauty-Type Need? Once you know your Beauty-Type, the next logical question is: What special needs do I have? What should I avoid? What should I use? Dr. Helen will answer these questions too.

* Answers to Email Questions: They answered questions they received via email on the call. And much, much more! Just click here...

The Impossible Beauty of a Plastic Doll

2008-04-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

Barbie! We all know her. Men and women alike. She's been around far too long, giving young girls an unhealthy perspective on beauty. In fact, as you'll read below in a special guest article, the specs for Ms. Barbie are impossible to find in the human anatomy (without some serious reconstructive surgery).

The other day, I revealed how researches discovered the chemical 1,4-Dioxane in organic beauty products. I also explained how almost all skin and hair products must contain preservatives.

Further, I promised that I'd soon be sending you the link to a new website on 100% natural beauty treatments that you can make at home with inexpensive "food" ingredients. At this new website you'll be able to download (for FREE) a load of material to help avoid premature aging, caring for your skin and hair naturally.

Well, I just heard from the Ayurvedic specialist running the site... They've added a lot more material to the free course. It's two weeks long with online video and audio. Dr. "H" will also be holding two free teleseminars.

It all starts April 13th. The link to the sign up form is at the end of this e-mail. I can't share the doctor's name, you'll find out when you click the link. Let me just say she is NOT one of the regular Ayurvedic "superstars" that you see on TV or at big seminars. Instead, she's a Western chiropractor who's been practicing Ayurveda in her clinic for the last 20 years. She's made numerous trips to India where Ayurveda originated. It's the oldest form of health care on the planet, easily dating back to 1,000 B.C. (many historians believe it's over 6,000 years ancient).

Anyway, to help you prepare for the free course, Dr. H sent the following short article to introduce you to the Ayurveda concept of beauty. This will probably interest more women than men, but as long as you've got skin on your body and some hair left on your head... I recommend you give it your full attention.

First... Why's a DOCTOR So Concerned With Beauty?

In her busy clinic in California, Dr. H specializes in chronic and life-threatening diseases. So why's she's busy helping people improve their complexion?

Actually, in the East, many doctors run clinics that offer services similar to North American beauty salons (except without all the chemicals).

You see, you need to understand that Ayurveda Medicine considers "beauty" and "health" as one and the same. Makes sense, doesn't it? The healthiest people are usually the most beautiful. Think about it... dry or blemished skin, endless bad hair days and ragged nails... all are signs of ill health any alternative doctor would look out for.

Okay, enough from me, here's a bit from Dr. H on the Western versus Eastern approach to beauty. It takes what we've talked about so far to another level. As you'll see, even if you are using ALL NATURAL ingredients, and even if those ingredients worked great for your neighbor, they still might not be right for you.

Why?

Well, everybody is different. And as you'll read, Ayurveda's speciality is figuring out those differences...

A Message from Dr. H...

Right now TV, magazines, and other deciders of beauty standards have programmed most people into accepting such a limiting opinion of what beauty is.

On the other hand, Ayurvedic, some 3,000 years old, comes from a time when we acknowledged a much broader definition of beauty.

Take for instance, an image you have grown up with: That pink plastic confection known as "Barbie." She's been around since 1959. Over a billion have been manufactured. Every two seconds, it is estimated, another is sold to some little girl. Barbie, despite her emaciated figure, shows no signs of disappearing soon.

If you don't take into account her polyester hair, Barbie stands 11 inches tall. Now, if she was 5'9" (as suggested by her accessories) her bust would measure 34.5 inches, her hips 30.5.

That may be the body-type of a plastic doll, but it serves a useless goal for us humans. Certainly not a model we should be growing up with.

Ayurveda throws out Barbie and all other childish standards aside (e.g. air brushed models, anorexic movie stars, etc.) Instead, Ayurveda offers you a personal "standard." What you might call your body-type or more specifically, your Beauty-Type. Nature has already put it within your reach and Ayurveda will help you achieve.

When you bring your Beauty-Type into the natural state of balance you were born with, then your inner beauty is able to manifest.

It's about reflecting the inner beauty of the inner you—no mask.

Just an honest portrayal of your unique expression in physical form.

Everybody has a unique Beauty-Type. It's impossible to manifest someone else's Beauty-Type. Such efforts will not only result in failure but also ill health.

I'm not just talking figuratively when I say your unique Beauty-Type...

The SCIENCE of Beautification

You see, in Ayurveda, there are three main Beauty-Types: Vata Beauties, Pitta Beauties and Kapha Beauties. Now, you're not merely one of the three. Everybody has a unique balance of the three. But when your natural balance becomes unbalanced, then you lose your natural state of attractiveness.

And we all want to be attractive. Don't kid yourself.

Yes, "inner" beauty is most important... but why turn down outer beauty? The more attractive you become, the better you feel about yourself. You can spend 50 years overcoming this mental disposition or you can spend five to ten minutes a day pampering yourself with a natural beauty care regimen.

When the Ayurvedic Beauty site goes live, I'll be walking you through an ecourse dedicated to helping you determine exactly what type of Ayurvedic Beauty you are... What your needs are... What kind of ingredients your skin, hair and nails needs to become radiant.

In short, you are a unique combination of the elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. These are reflected in the classifications vata, pitta, kapha. Don't worry about it now, in a few days I'll be able to start walking you through it.

Why is knowing your Ayurvedic Beauty Type so important? Well, let me give you a classic example...

The Coconut Hype: Is It Really Good For YOUR Skin?

Lately, coconut oil has become a popular form of skin moisturizer in alternative health circles. Yes, fresh coconut oil is far, far better than 95% of what you'll find being sold off the shelf (even from health food stores). Just make sure when you open the jar that the coconut oil actually smells like coconut. That's how you know the oil is fresh.

That said... coconut oil isn't right for everyone or for every season.

That's right, your health and beauty needs change whether it's winter, spring, fall or summer.

If you have vata skin — meaning your skin is very dry and you tend to feel cold — coconut oil is not recommended Ayurvedically. Even if you have moist, warm skin, coconut oil is often not a good idea during the winter months. The winter is a very dry and cold time. Here's why...

Coconuts grow close to equator where the weather is hot year round. The oil it produces has a cooling effect on the body.

It is also a saturated fat, which means that it will decrease the amount of Vitamin D your skin can absorb. This is a protection mechanism to prevent people from getting too much sun.

Now, a warming oil, like sesame, is ideal for winter months or if you tend towards feeling cool. It will help heat your body. Also, being a polyunsaturated fat, it will help your skin absorb more vitamin D during the winter, when there isn't as much sun.

You Won't Feel Like a Tossed Salad Covered With Too Much Dressing

In case you fear you're going to smell like a coconut cream pie or an Asian stir fry, don't worry. There are specific essential oils that you need to add to these base oils. A few drops of aromatic essences, specific to your Beauty-Type, will hasten the positive effects you are seeking.

It's really not rocket science. Ayurveda is based on textures. If you are hot and dry, you need herbs, foods and other beauty applications that are cooling and moist. If you are too oily, you may not need an oil-based application at all — instead dry vegetable flour rubbed against the skin may be the solution.

I can't wait to start sharing all this with you. Until then, simply pay attention to how you feel when you apply different beauty products to your skin and hair. Just because it's healthy, natural and full of all these wonderful nutrients — doesn't mean it's right for YOUR body.

That's what our journey together will do: Help you discover what your unique beauty potentials are and the best way to go after them.

------------

There you go folks! That's just a sample of what Dr. H will be giving you when her site goes live in the next few days.

Keep in mind Ayurveda isn't like the modern blood-type or metabolic typing systems. Those systems consider only a limited number of variables, using but a few classifications. Ayurveda has 12 different Body- or Beauty-Type combinations you can fall into based on numerous variables ranging from eye colour to what type of dreams you have. Furthermore, it recognizes that life is dynamic and adjusts its beauty prescriptions to the season, your environment and your location on the planet.

It truly may be the most scientific approach to personal beauty care on the planet. Click on the link below to sign up for Dr. H's Discover Your Ayurvedic Beauty-Type ecourse. And it won't cost you a penny!

Stay tuned!

Here's the link for you to click so you can sign up.

"Organic" Beauty Products Found to Contain a Petro By-Product

2008-04-15T10:46:00.000-07:00

Gasoline being used to make "all natural" face cream?

I have some breaking news to share with you, today. It may sound a little grim, at first. Don't worry, I offer a solution at the end of this email that you don't want to miss. So make sure you read the whole thing.

On March 14th, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) released a study showing that many "organic" and "natural" beauty care products contain 1,4-Dioxane. The manufacturers don't even list this carcinogenic contaminant on the labels. Independent researchers only discovered it when a reputable third-party lab performed its own tests on behalf of the OCA.

I'll share with you some of the brand names to watch out for in just a minute. First, I'd like to say...

The Word "Organic" is Becoming A Very Loose Term These Days

Why would "natural" beauty care products use these cancer-causing ingredients?

Simple answer: Most beauty-care products include harsh ingredients that damage your skin. By using Ethylene Oxide (a petro-chemical) they can remove the abrasiveness -- leaving behind the deadly 1,4-Dioxane as a by-product.

1,4-Dioxane doesn't just cause cancer. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency it can seriously damage your kidneys, lungs and nervous system.

It's hardly what you'd expect to find in organic and natural beauty products. Some of the brand names you may recognize, including: JASON Pure Natural & Organic, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Kiss My Face, Nature's Gate Organics. I'll give you a link to the full report at the end of this email.

Just Imagine What NON-Organic Cosmetics Contain...

We are seeing the same situation in the beauty "care" industry as we've seen with food products. If you're at all health-conscious, you realize that the only way to ensure a good meal these days is to make it from scratch.

So why aren't people using the same approach for beauty care products?

Are we Brainwashed to Think Beauty Only Comes From a Bottle?

Why have cleansers, shampoos and moisturizers been made so complicated, that the only way we think we can get our daily dose is out of a bottle?

Most beauty care products -- even the ones using 100% organic ingredients — are not necessarily natural for your skin.

Alcohol, for example, is often used — this is a drying agent, plain and simple. Why is it there? It's used to preserve the ingredients from spoilage. Otherwise, how could you have these "natural" ingredients sitting in moisture?

Refined oils, emulsifiers and harsh cleansing agents are other common ingredients. They all damage your skin and hair in the name of "beauty."

Sure, they provide some short-term results. Yet who hasn't experienced those dry winter months where you are constantly whipping out the moisturizer to keep the skin on your hands from cracking?

Vice versa, if you're the oily type, you know what it's like to be constantly fighting blemishes and acne. Ironically, the same cream you use to get rid of it is actually congesting your pores and making it worse. Your skin is also meant to detoxify. But it can't do so if you are plastering yourself with grease.

In order to stop natural ingredients from spoiling, they must be refined, made into artificial counterparts or mixed with preservatives. That's just how it is.

That's how you get ketchup to last for months, without going bad.

You see, it's already bad.

As With Food So With Beauty Care

Same goes for beauty care products. Anything natural wouldn't do well being left in a warm bathroom for a month.

Which brings up the question... if you're not into feeding your mouth processed food, why are you feeding your skin processed food? Your skin absorbs whatever you apply. All that goop people put on their skin gets fed directly into their bloodstream, nervous system, joint tissue, vital organs... their brains.

That's why it's so important to learn how to make your own beauty care formulas. It's not that hard. You don't need all those ingredients you can't pronounce from the fine print on the labels.

You can actually make all your own beauty care products, in minutes, mixing together fresh base oils, essential oils, spices, herbs and other food products. Fresh, is the key word here.

How to Experience Beauty Naturally and Effortlessly

In a few days I'm going to send you the link to a new website by a natural health doctor in California. She specializes in homemade natural care products. She has Ayurvedic recipes dating back 3,000 years, from ancient India’s storehouse of Ayurvedic wisdom.

The site's not quite ready, so I can't give you the link right now. When it does go up, however, I'll let you know. You'll immediately be able to go over and read an article by this Ayurvedic expert explaining the little known link between health and beauty. Then, you can opt-in, for free, to receive an Anti-Aging Report that reveals Ayurvedic methods to naturally avoid premature aging.

What's more...

You'll be instantly "enrolled" (again at no charge) in a TWO-week ecourse on how to discover your own natural state of beauty from an Ayurvedic standpoint. It'll include audiovisual presentations and two live teleseminars with the doctor.

All coming to you very soon. So stay tuned for future emails about Ayurvedic beauty secrets.

All the best,

P.S. You can read the full report from the OCA on toxic chemicals being used in natural beauty products by clicking the link below. It includes a list of brands found to be using 1,4-Dioxane...

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneAlert080314.pdf

Tamanu Nut Oil

2008-02-18T14:48:00.000-08:00

"Tamanu nut oil has been used by the indigenous people of the Philippines and Southeast Asia for at least a few hundred years."

This exotic oil has a multitude of healing properties.

"Tamanu nut oil possesses the ability to promote the growth of new tissue, thereby accelerating wound healing and growth of new skin.... In Pacific Island folk medicine this oil is applied liberally to every kind of skin malady imaginable such as cuts, scrapes, burns, insect bites, acne, psoriasis, diabetic ulcers, sunburn, dry and/or scaly skin, blisters, eczema, and herpes sores such as cold sores and genital sores. It can eliminate or greatly reduce scarring from acne, burns and other skin trauma..."

Read the entire article on this Exotic Healing Nut Oil.

Tanamu nut oil can be found in Ambrosia Essence by Miessence. When used daily it will revive and restore your complexion. It can be used on its own as a treatment or as a serum, over Skin Conditioner and Moisturiser for a super-intense nourishing booster. Day and/or night.

Lead in Your Lipstick

2007-10-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

A new independent study has found lead in lipstick at unsafe amounts and it isn't listed on the label. The worst part of this is that there is no way of knowing whether a brand will contain lead without having it tested in a laboratory.

Some of the sources of lead in lipstick can be from ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, sunscreen ingredients used in commercial brands as well as some of the more natural brands. Other sources of lead include ozokerite (mineral wax or paraffin) and petroleum-based ingredients (petrolatum, mineral oil).

Although the study listed name brands with varying amounts of lead, only one natural brand was tested, Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer.

See the list of brands tested.

Just because a brand of lipstick rated low for lead in this study, it doesn't mean that that product is a healthy lipstick to use. There are other harmful ingredients that may be in these lipstick cosmetics. To determine if a lipstick is really healthy to use, you need to look at the complete list of ingredients.

Check out healthy cosmetics here.

Are Your Personal Care Products Releasing Toxic Gases?

2007-08-28T14:34:00.000-07:00

I opened the cabinet door and there was a strong odor of ammonia gas. I couldn't figure out what could be causing it. I'd been looking in there over and over again for weeks trying to figure out what was causing this toxic smell.

I had some old containers from vitamin samples which had been thrown out long ago. I was saving the containers. Some day I'd wash them and reuse them. Were they the problem? I threw them all out.

It didn't change a thing.

I had some really neat-looking empty plastic bottles from healthy, natural soap and lotion I was saving to reuse later. Were they the problem? I threw them all out.

Nothing changed.

I had an old homeopathic kit that I bought 15 or 20 years ago and never used. I couldn't imagine that this could be the problem, but I was running out of things that might cause this terrible toxic odor. So I threw it out.

I was right. It was not the problem.

I had some soap, lotion and shampoo that I used when I explained about the toxic ingredients on product labels. I didn't have them that long, maybe a year or so. They did have a perfumy scent that was common in most of the personal care products on the market with synthetic chemical ingredients. But I never figured that the ammonia odor would be coming from them. But they were the last things in that cabinet that could be possibly giving off an odor. So I threw them out.

The next day I opened the cabinet door, and by George, the odor was gone!

Now, I'm sure that the only reason I detected the odor is because the products were stored in a closed cabinet and the odors were trapped in a small space and were allowed to mix. Only one of the products contained ingredients from ammonia compunds, one of which was ammonium lauryl sulfate.

Ammonia is toxic if inhaled. It's classified as hazardous by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It can cause permanent damage.

How many products are you using with harmful chemicals that are giving off toxic odors and you're breathing in these vapors day in and day out - including perfumes? Worse yet, you're using these chemicals directly on your skin. They're getting absorbed into your bloodstream and they ARE adversely affecting your health.

Find out how to protect yourself from the harmful chemicals in your cosmetics and personal care products.

Choose some healthy products here.

Healthy Sunscreen and Bug Sprays

2007-08-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

This may be nearing the end of summer, but if you use sunscreen, there is a new product on the market from a company that is committed to producing only healthy products. With Reflect Outdoor Balm from Miessence, you can feel confident that this product does not contain any harmful chemicals that are abundant in most of the commercial sunscreens.

Most bug sprays contain harmful chemicals. If you need something to keep the bugs away, why not get a chemical-free and safe product. Buzz Free Zone will protect you without any nasty chemical ingredients.

Find more healthy skin care and personal care products here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #59

2007-06-18T15:09:00.001-07:00

Cosmetic and Personal Care Product Ingredients

S       Abies alba – see fir oil.
S       Abies sibirica – see fir oil.
X       4-ABP – synthetic; carcinogenic contaminant in some hair dyes; IARC Group 1.
C       Acetic ether – synthetic solvent; see ethyl acetate.
XA       Acetone – synthetic solvent; petroleum derivative; eye, nose, throat and skin irritant; may cause light headedness, nausea, coma, nail splitting, peeling and brittleness; lung irritant if inhaled; narcotic in large amounts; neurotoxin; has caused liver, kidney, and nerve damage in lab animals; extremely toxic.

Note 1: The codes to the left of each additives indicate the safety of the additive when used for intended purposed in cosmetics and toiletries.

*       GRAS - Generally Recognized As Safe by the FDA.

o       FDA approved colorant

†       CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) Expert Panel considers this ingredient safe

S       There is no known toxicity. The additive appears to be safe.

A       The additive may cause allergic reactions.

C       Caution is advised. The additive may be unsafe, poorly tested, or used in too many products we use on a regular basis.

C1       Caution is advised for certain groups in the population, such as pregnant women, infants, persons with high blood pressure, kidney problems, etc.

X       The additive is unsafe or very poorly tested.

Note 2: IARC Groups are the International Agency for Research on Cancer ratings for the cancer-causing ability of different chemicals. Group 1 chemicals are known to cause cancer in humans. IARC Groups 1-4 are defined on page 44 in Dying To Look Good.

Make sure you choose safe cosmetics and personal care products for yourself and your family. You can have the safety ratings of all 1300 ingredients listed in Dying To Look Good right at your fingetips, while you shop, when you get your personal copy of Dying To Look Good. Don't risk your health for one more day. Get your copy now, print edition or e-book.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #58

2007-05-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Natural vs. Synthetic
There are no standard definitions within the cosmetic and personal care product industry for natural or synthetic. However, the National Organic Program (NOP) does have definitions that are accepted within the organic food industry.

Since many people are interested in knowing if the ingredients in their products are natural or synthetic, the NOP definitions were used to define the ingredients in the Cosmetic Ingredient List as natural or synthetic:

Nonsynthetic (natural)
"A substance that is derived from mineral, plant, or animal matter and does not undergo a synthetic process as defined in section 6502(21) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 6502(21)). For the purposes of this part, nonsynthetic is used as a synonym for natural as the term is used in the Act."

Synthetic
"A substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources, except that such term shall not apply to substances created by naturally occurring biological processes."

You can find out if the ingredients in your skin care products contain natural or synthetic ingredients in the book Dying To Look Good.

Find cosmetics and personal care products with natural ingredients in Dying To Look Good and on DyingToLookGood.com

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #57

2007-05-10T12:59:00.000-07:00

Cosmetic complaints
The FDA maintains the Cosmetic Adverse Reaction Monitoring Database to keep track of adverse reactions to cosmetics. The FDA estimates, however, that it receives only a small percentage of complaints about cosmetics filed by consumers. Poison control centers, manufacturers and distributors, and state and local agencies are more likely to receive complaints of adverse reactions to cosmetics.

The most common complaints reported to the FDA in 1999 were related to dermatitis, fragrance sensitivity, nervous system reactions, pain, respiratory system reactions, and tissue damage.

If you experience adverse reactions to cosmetics, you can contact the FDA:

• by phone: 301-436-2405
• by e-mail: CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov
• call the nearest FDA district office found in the blue pages of your phone book

Note: It is very unlikely that you'll need to file a complaint if you use the information in Dying To Look Good to choose healthy products.

Healthy Skin Care

2007-05-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

Your skin is like a sponge. It absorbs a great deal of what you put on it, directly into your bloodstream.

When you eat, the food you put into your body is filtered through your liver and some of the toxic effect is reduced.

That's not the case with skin care products. There is no filter to reduce the toxic effects as there is when you eat. Many skin care products contain harmful chemicals that go directly into your bloodstream. Some cause cancer.

How do you determine which skin care products are healthy to use and which are not?

You have several choices.

You could learn to read and interpret labels so you know exactly what each ingredient is that's listed on the label.

You could shop for products that have been screened by an expert and determined to be healthy.

Or you can learn how to make your own.

Finding healthy skin care products isn't hard if you have the right resources. It just takes a little conscious effort and a commitment to your good health.

Check out our healthy Product of the Month. Come back every month to discover a new healthy product.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #56

2007-02-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

Most companies using parabens, maintain that they are nontoxic and safe. But while they may be relatively nontoxic, according to Peter Eckhart, M.D., "The new theory that has been espoused since 1991 is that these xenoestrogens are causing many female problems such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast disease, premenstrual syndrome, and most recently menstrual cramps."

While it's true that xenoestrogens build up in the fatty tissues of the body and may remain there for decades, the first step in eliminating them from your body is through avoidance of the chemicals, not only in personal care products, but also in food and in your environment. The chemicals listed above are only a partial list of endocrine disrupters. The complete list and additional information can be obtained from www.womhoo.com.

Find out about all the other harmful chemicals that you may be putting on your skin every day that are being absorbed into your bloodstream and affecting your health.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #55

2007-02-14T11:52:00.000-08:00

Xenoestrogens in Your Personal Care Products Continued...

The xenoestrogens most commonly found in personal care products are the parabens:

butylparaben
ethylparaben
methylparaben
proplyparaben

Other xenoestrogens, used mostly in sunscreens, facial cosmetics and lipsticks include:

octyl-methoxycinnamate
octyl-dimethyl-PABA
benzophenone-3
homosalate
4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC)

These five chemicals not only demonstrated strong estrogenic effects, but also caused increased growth of cancer cells in a Swiss study.

More next time...

Xenoestrogens are not the only harmful ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products. Make sure your personal care products are safe.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #54

2007-02-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

Xenoestrogens in Your Personal Care Products

Xenoestrogens are endocrine disrupters. They are chemicals that mimic estrogen in your body and interfere with the normal functioning of your hormones.

Endocrine disrupters are found in a great many personal care products on the market, including shampoos, conditioners, lotions, sunscreens, and cosmetics as well as baby products.

Estrogen mimicking chemicals have been implicated in early puberty in girls, development of breast cancer, some association with vaginal and cervical cancer, and endometriosis. In males, they have been associated with reproductive disorders, including decreased sperm count, increase in testicular cancer, hypospadias and cryptorchidism, and possibly benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer.

Women exposed to xenoestrogens during pregnancy may have children with reproductive disorders, sometimes not apparent till puberty. This exposure may also adversely affect the children’s intelligence and behavior, as well as their immune system.

More next time...

Get your own copy of this extrememly valuable reference. Your health depends upon it!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #53

2007-02-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Safety

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are typically used in sunscreen products and cosmetics and have been generally considered safe.

However, studies show that cellular damage from titanium dioxide, occurs with exposure to sunlight, and depends upon the type of titanium dioxide and the size of the particles. Cellular damage has been shown to occur when the particle size is smaller than the size of the cell. The smallest particles, the micronized or nanoparticles, are the most injurious. Some say that the large particles are less harmful, yet others say they’re safe.

According to Lori Stryker of the Organic Makeup Company, who has done considerable research into the safety of titanium dioxide in its various forms, “if the particle size is too large for the cell membrane to allow it passage internally, then the danger of intracellular mutation is not there.” Still, there are those who say that even the larger particles can pass through the skin to some degree, and are just less absorbable than the small particles. They suggest that even the larger particles may contribute some harm.

Obviously, the safety of the larger particles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide is not well established and agreed upon within the scientific community. There is clearly a need for more research into the mechanism of how the larger sized particles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide affect the skin and the cells beneath the skin when exposed to the sun.

Cautions regarding micronized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are discussed on page 31.

Next time... Xenoestrogens in Your Personal Care Products

Get your own copy of this handy reference and make sure you protect yourself from harmful chemicals in the skin care products you use.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #52

2007-01-31T11:33:00.000-08:00

Sunscreens Continued...

Here are some tips on how to enjoy the sun safely without the hazards of sunscreen:

Start out with 10 minutes of exposure a day and gradually increase your sun time.
Limit time in the sun to morning before 10 a.m. or afternoon after 2 p.m. when the sun is not at its hottest.
Cover up when outdoors during the sun’s hottest times and when you’ve already had your quota of sun for the day.
Avoid getting sunburned.

Eat a healthy balance of omega 3 and omega 6 fats. Most people eat far too much omega 6’s and not enough omega 3’s. Research has shown omega 3's to be preventive against melanoma if eaten in the proper one-to-one balance with omega 6's. Omega 3 fats can be found in fish oils and flaxseed. You also need healthy saturated fats, like real butter or coconut oil, to utilize omega 3's.

"The Truth About Sunscreens," on the Terressentials web site, states that "sunscreens give users a false sense of security in that while they effectively prevent sunburn, they do little or nothing to prevent skin cancer or the accelerated aging of the skin caused by sunlight."

It further states that "There is a substantial body of evidence that shows that there is an increase in cancer when sunscreen products are used. We've done a lot of research into sunscreens. The bottom line is this: we have found no sunscreen ingredients which we consider to be safe."

Next time, Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Safety

Have all this information and more at your fingertips, when you need it.

MSG in Your Personal Care Products

2007-01-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

Important! Read this before you buy any cosmetics or personal care products that contain protein or amino acids!

MSG may be hidden in your cosmetics and personal care products. If you know you’re sensitive to MSG, you may be avoiding it in your food but still noticing MSG-type reactions and not know where they’re coming from.

Read more...

Sunscreens will be continued next time.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #51

2007-01-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

Sunscreens Continued...

Both chemical suncreens and physical sunblocks have been shown to cause the formation of free radicals with exposure to sunlight. Excess free radicals are known to cause cancer.
A Swiss study showed that five commonly used chemicals in sunscreens were xenoestrogens, endocrine disrupters, and they actually increased the growth of cancer cells. See “Xenoestrogens in Your Personal Care Products,” page 39.
Most, if not all, sunscreens include a hydrolyzed protein. All hydrolyzed proteins contain processed free glutamic acid (MSG).
Research has shown that excess omega-6 fats in the diet actually contribute to the occurrence of cancer, including melanoma.

More next time...

Get the rest of the information on Sunscreens RIGHT NOW... and even more information on how to protect yourself from harmful ingredients in all your cosmetics and personal care products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #50

2007-01-19T16:18:00.000-08:00

Sunscreens

In our society, most people don’t question the need for sunscreens. It’s just accepted as the standard healthy practice when you plan to be out in the sun.

But beware! What’s generally accepted as true is not necessarily true!

Here are some facts to consider before lathering that sunscreen all over yourself and your children the next time you go out into the sun:

Sunscreens will not safeguard you from melanoma, a potentially deadly type of skin cancer. They don’t filter or block the harmful melanoma-causing UVA rays; they only reduce sunburn risk.
Sunscreens offer some protection against easily treatable basal cell carcinoma.
Your body needs the UVB rays from the sun to produce vitamin D. Sunscreens, as low as SPF 8, block the UVB rays responsible for vitamin D synthesis.
Sunscreens are regulated by the FDA as over-the-counter drugs because they contain active ingredients, many of which are toxic.

More next time...

Learn how to protect yourself from harmful ingredients.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #49

2007-01-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

Risks Associated with Permanent Makeup Continued...

Adverse effects associated with permanent makeup include:

Peeling
Cracking
Blistering
Swelling
Granulomas
Scarring
Disfigurement

And, what are the long-term effects on your body of the pigments injected under your skin?

According to chemist John Bailey, Ph.D., Director of FDA's Colors and Cosmetics Program, "we can’t vouch for the safety of permanent eyelining because the procedure hasn't undergone any formal safety testing."

You can report adverse reactions to permanent makeup and tattoos by contacting:

Cosmetics Adverse Reaction Monitoring (CARM) System
Office of Cosmetics and Colors
HFS-106
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Food and Drug Administration
5100 Paint Branch Parkway
College Park, MD 20740-3835
(202) 401-9725.

Permanent makeup presents just one of many risks associated with using the cosmetics and personal care products on the market today. Learn more about what you need to know to protect your health when using the cosmetics and personal care products you buy.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #48

2007-01-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

Risks Associated with Permanent Makeup

Infections
Allergic reactions
Keloids
Granulomas
Dissatisfaction
Removal problems

Allergic reactions may show up years later in the form of a rash or immune system reaction.

Dissatisfaction is a major problem with permanent makeup. If you don’t like the result, removing it can be difficult. If the person applying your permanent makeup makes a mistake, you can’t wash it off; you’re either stuck with it, or you have to go through a removal process. Removal often isn’t perfect and can leave scars. Over time, permanent makeup can fade or bleed. As your body changes, the appearance of your permanent makeup may change as well.

Continued next time...

Avoid the risks of permenent makeup. Shop for healthy cosmetics.

Learn more about ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #47

2006-12-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

Permanent Makeup

Permanent makeup is the process of infusing natural, mineral pigments under the skin’s surface. This micropigmentation, a kind of tattooing, is designed to last many years.

But the convenience has its risks. The pigments used can be toxic and cause adverse reactions. According to the FDA, there have been numerous reports of adverse reactions, associated with a considerable number of Premier ink shades.

The inks and pigments used in permanent makeup are classified as cosmetics and color additives, which are subject to FDA regulation. However, the FDA has not regulated their use and has left it up to local jurisdictions. The FDA is just starting to look into the safety issues.

The FDA has two lists of approved colors for cosmetic use,

those subject to batch certification, which are the FD&C, D&C and Ext. D&C colors
those exempt from batch certification

None of the approved colors are approved to be injected into the skin, as is done with permanent makeup.

Next time, "Risks Associated With Permanent Makeup"

Get the benefits of ALL Dying To Look Good has to offer now!

Healthy Baby Care Products

2006-12-20T15:42:00.000-08:00

Most people think baby products on the market are gentle and safe, because after all, they're made for babies. Right?

Well, not exactly.

They're made for babies. That part is correct.

But safe...

Did you know that when the Environmental Working Group did their survey of 7500 personal care products in 2004, they found ingredients in baby products that

may be linked to cancer
are known to disrupt the endocrine system
are skin sensitizers
may be toxic to the immune system
may cause reproductive harm
are classified as penetration enhancers (they cause the body to absorb more of the product into the bloodstream)
are highly toxic

So, just because a product label says it's safe and gentle doesn't meant that it's so.

So how do you find out for sure?

You read the list of ingredients, in the tiny print on the back of the label, that's so small that you frequently need a magnifying glass to see it.

If you're a chemist, you'll have no problem understanding what all that "Greek" means. If you're not, you can get Dying To Look Good to help you interpret what each ingredient is and whether it's safe or not.

You can also shop on DyingToLookGood.com. We make sure that the companies we list on that page offer safe and healthy products. If they don't you won't find them there.

You can also check out the DyingToLookGood.com Product of the Month. This month we feature healthy baby products.

You can be sure you're getting healthy products when you shop on DyingToLookGood.com or when you follow the advice in Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #46

2006-12-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

MSG In Your Personal Care Products Continued...

MSG is hidden in many products, besides food, that you use every day, including:

cosmetics and personal care products
soaps
shampoos
conditioners
cosmetics
nutritional supplements
medications
vaccines

You can identify MSG in your personal care products by reading the label and looking for specific ingredients that are always or often sources of hidden MSG.

MSG is always in ingredients like

hydrolyzed proteins
amino acids
yeast extract
nayad (potent yeast extract)
glutamic acid
glutamates.

MSG may also be in or be the result of

processed proteins
enzymes
carrageenan.

These are the most likely sources of MSG in your personal care products. For a complete list of ingredients containing MSG, see truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html.

For more information on hidden sources of MSG, see truthinlabeling.org/II.WhereIsMSG.html.

Next time Permanent Makeup...

Discover how Dying To Look Good can help you make sure the products you choose are free of MSG.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #45

2006-12-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

MSG In Your Personal Care Products

MSG is short for monosodium glutamate, but it also applies to processed free glutamic acid (glutamic acid that has been freed from protein through a manufacturing process or fermentation). I’m sure you’re aware of MSG in food, the effects it can cause and the controversy surrounding its safety. But did you know that MSG could also be hidden in your cosmetics and personal care products?

When you use products on your skin that contain MSG, it’s absorbed directly into your bloodstream.

MSG is a neurotoxin, which means it crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placental barrier and excites nerve cells to death. Because it affects the brain directly, it can cause a wide variety of symptoms from asthma attacks, skin rashes, behavioral problems, depression and migraine headaches to epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Even more frightening is that MSG is much more harmful to infants and children because, in some, their blood-brain barrier does not fully develop until as late as puberty. As a result, it’s a lot easier for neurotoxins to cross the blood-brain barrier in infants and children and cause more serious reactions than in adults. Even a fully developed blood-brain barrier is considered by neuroscientists to be leaky at best.

More next time...

Benefit now from all the health saving information packed into Dying To Look Good.

Learn more about Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #44

2006-12-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

Micronized Minerals Continued...

Studies have shown that ultrafine particles can penetrate the skin, enter the cell and cause DNA damage. There is concern that this could possibly result in skin cancer. These studies have been done on titanium dioxide.

As of 2005, "The National Toxicology Program is developing a broad-based research program to address potential human health hazards associated with the manufacture and use of nanoscale materials," using existing testing methods and developing new methods to "adequately assess potential adverse human health effects."

Currently, the FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research and the National Toxicology Program’s Center for Phototoxicology are conducting research "to examine the potential dermal toxicity of nanoscale materials." In this study they are investigating titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Based upon the studies being done and in development, it appears that not only are micronized minerals not well defined and not adequately tested, but also, the technology necessary to adequately test them for safety has not yet been completely developed.

Discover more health-saving information in Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #43

2006-12-05T19:19:00.000-08:00

Micronized Minerals

Micronized minerals are emerging on the marketplace in natural cosmetics and sunscreens. Many companies promoting natural cosmetics are extolling the benefits of micronized minerals in their "all natural" make-up. Some cosmetic products are promoted as 100% pure micronized minerals.

But beware! There are research studies that suggest caution when considering the use of micronized mineral cosmetics.

Micronized minerals, also known as ultrafine or nanoparticles, are mineral pigments where the size of the particles has been reduced. In general, particles are classified according to size as coarse, fine or ultrafine. Micronized particles, the ultrafine or nanoparticles, are 100 times smaller than coarse particles and 25 times smaller than fine particles, according to etcgroup.org.

According to the FDA, there is no official definition of "micronized," but they refer to these particles being less than 250 nanometers, and they also regard nanoscale titanium dioxide as "micronized titanium dioxide."

More next time...

Shop for mineral makeup from safe and healthy crushed minerals, not micronized.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #42

2006-11-29T15:18:00.000-08:00

Hair Dyes Continued...

Here's the EWG's list of Top 10 Ingredients of Concern in Hair Dye based upon their research:

P-phenylenediamine
P-animophenol
M-aminophenol
Phenyl Methyl Pyrazolone
4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene
1-naphthol
N-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine
O-aminophe+nol
Lead acetate
HC Red No. 3

*Excerpted and modified from "Shades of Risk" by Shelley Page, published in the Ottawa Citizen, April 18, 2005. Used with permission.

Next time Micronized Minerals...

Dying To Look Good contains a wealth of information to help you protect yourself from harmful ingredients. Learn more here...

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #41

2006-11-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

Hair Dyes Continued...

In the summer of 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed 117 hair dyes. It found:

62 per cent of products contained ingredients that are known or probable carcinogens, including dyes derived from coal tar
One product contained lead acetate, a known reproductive toxin
79 per cent of products contained ingredients that contained impurities linked to breast cancer
96 per cent of products contained penetration enhancers that increase exposures to carcinogens and other ingredients of concern
73 per cent of products contained ingredients that are known allergens.

More next time...

Have this and more vital information at your fingertips. Get your copy of Dying To Look Good.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #40

2006-11-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

Hair Dyes Continued...

"Researchers from the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Medicine found in 2001 that women using permanent hair dye at least once a month more than double their risk of bladder cancer. If they used it monthly for more than 15 years, they tripled their risk. The risk of bladder cancer was highest among smokers who regularly used hair dyes."

In 2003 the FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research reported that it found a known carcinogen, 4-ABP, in eight of 11 hair dye products bought off the shelf at supermarkets and hair salons. It was not listed as a regular ingredient, but was likely a contaminant formed as a byproduct of the dye-making process according to the researchers.

More next time...

Take advantage of the DyingToLookGood.com November 2006 Product of the Month Special Offer. Get Dying To Look Good for 25% off!

Or check out other Dying To Look Good Special Offers.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #39

2006-11-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hair Dyes Continued...
In 2004, a "study by Yale researcher Tongzhang Zheng found that long-term use of permanent hair dye, in dark colors, doubles a person's risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma"

"The EU watchdog, known as the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers (SCCNFP), is worried about fatal allergies caused by hair dyes, as well as "new and improved" studies linking dyes to cancer. SCCNFP has strongly criticized hair-dye manufacturers for failing to prove hair dyes are safe and has ordered urgent research to be conducted on the health implications of permanent hair dyes or the product could face a ban. In the meantime, it has warned consumers not to use hair dyes, particularly dark dyes."

More next time...

Don't wait, you can have it all right now. Get the Dying To Look Good e-book!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #38

2006-11-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

Hair Dyes

The industry maintains that "hair dyes are one of the most thoroughly studied consumer products on the market today" and they're safe. However, there is a growing body of scientific evidence pointing to an increased risk of bladder cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with the use of permanent hair dyes, especially the darker colors.

Here are some facts about hair dyes reported in "Shades of Risk," by Shelley Page:

"A study published in the January/February 2005 issue of Public Health Reports, the official journal of the U.S. Public Health Service, found that the use of permanent hair dyes among men and women increases the risk of developing bladder cancer by up to 50 per cent compared to those who don't use hair dye."

More next time...

Or, get all right now... Dying To Look Good e-book.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #37

2006-11-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

Grapefruit Seed Extract

The safety of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is controversial. On the one hand, some companies are removing grapefruit seed extract from their products. On the other, some say it’s non-toxic and has no harmful side-effects.

Grapefruit seed extract has been used for many years as a safe alternative to chemical preservatives. However, a study done in 1999 in Germany on six samples of grapefruit seed extract showed contamination with benzethonium chloride in five of the six samples tested. Three of these five samples were also found to contain triclosan and methyl paraben. Each of these samples showed antimicrobial activity. The one sample that contained no preservatives showed no antimicrobial activity. This study concluded that the antimicrobial activity of grapefruit seed extract was due to the chemical preservatives detected, not to the grapefruit seed extract.

Conversely, Nutribiotics, one of the major suppliers of grapefruit seed extract, states that their grapefruit seed extract products have been “proven clean” and effective by independent laboratory tests. They assert that grapefruit seed extract has been used safely for many years. It is “non-toxic, biodegradable, economical, with no harmful side-effects.”

So, when choosing products containing grapefruit seed extract, make sure the grapefruit seed extract in the products you choose comes from a reputable source with independent lab tests to verify safety and effectiveness. Quality, safety and effectiveness of grapefruit seed extract may vary among different brands.

Discover why you should avoid products with benzethonium chloride, triclosan and methylparaben.

Shop for healthy products.

What You Need to Know About Codex Alimentarius

2006-11-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

This video is the best explanation I've seen and heard about Codex Alimentarius. It's a little long, but I recommend you take the time and watch it to the end.

View Video

Please take action. Sign the petition. YOUR HEALTH IS AT STAKE!

Contaminant in OTC Skin Remedies Linked to 34 Deaths

2006-10-31T12:05:00.000-08:00

Diethylene glycol "which is used to keep glue and cosmetics moist" is being blamed for 34 deaths in Panama. It has contaminated skin remedies, like calamine lotion and rash ointments, and over-the-counter medications like cough syrup and antihistamine tablets.

Diethylene glycol is one of many harmful ingredients that are commonly used in products we consume or put on our skin. The industry typically has downplayed the adverse effects of these types of ingredients, saying there is no cause for concern, or that they're used in such small quantities that they're safe.

The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of ingredients that are being used in our foods and personal care products that should not be used. There IS cause for concern. The industry's not going to take them out, because they deny that they're harmful. That is, unless, consumers stop buying products containing the unsafe ingredients.

If you don't know what's harmful and what's safe, you can find out in Dying To Look Good. With that information, you'll be armed to read labels and know which ingredients should and should not be in the cosmetics and skin care products you use.

You vote with your dollars. When enough people stop using the products with the harmful ingredients, the industry will have to change and start producing products with safe and healthy ingredients. But as long as you continue to buy the products with the questionable and harmful ingredients, they'll continue to make them.

If you haven't started reading labels and checking to see if the ingredients are safe or not, now is the time to do so! Your health and your family's health is at stake.

If you're not a chemist and you don't know what to look for, all the information you need to decipher the chemical gobbledy-gook on the ingredients label is the the book, Dying To Look Good. Dying To Look Good also has a sibling for deciphering food labels, Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide...

Now is the time to take charge of your health. These two books make it really easy to get started.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #36

2006-10-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

Cosmetics That Require a Warning on the Label Continued...

According to the Environmmental Working Group, of the 7500 products they tested, nearly one in 20 contained one or more ingredients that the CIR found did not have sufficient test data to support the ingredients' safe use in cosmetics. Under federal law, passed in 1995, if a cosmetic product's safety has not been established, the product’s label must read: "WARNING: The safety of this product has not been determined."

The EWG did not find any warnings on the labels of the products whose ingredients contained insufficient data to support safety, based on a partial evaluation. Unless studies were done to provide the information needed for these ingredients to be classified as safe, "the manufacturers of these products may be in violation of federal law."

In their evaluations, the EWG also noted that the industry routinely ignores the recommendations of the CIR on the safe use of ingredients as determined by the panel.

Shop for products that have been determined to have only safe and healthy ingredients.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #35

2006-10-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

Cosmetics That Require a Warning on the Label

The FDA requires warnings on the labels of products that are potentially hazardous, including:

Aerosol products
- Hairsprays
- Deodorant
Products in pressurized containers
- Shaving cream
- Foaming soaps
Detergent bubble bath products
Hair dyes containing coal tar colors
Feminine deodorant sprays
Shampoos, rinses and conditioners
Hair straighteners and depilitories
Nail builders (elongators, extenders, hardeners, and enamels)
Any product that contains one or more ingredients that the CIR found had insufficient testing data to support the ingredients' safe use in cosmetics

Find out next time if the industry is meeting this requirement...

Or you can get the Dying To Look Good e-book and find out right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #34

2006-10-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

Cosmetics Classified as Drugs

Cosmetic or personal care products that claim to have a therapeutic benefit affecting body function or structure are also classified as drugs.

These products often can be identified by an "active ingredient" listed in the label. But not all products in this category always list an active ingredient. They are only required to list the active ingredient first, then the remaining inactive ingredients.

The typical type of cosmetic products also considered drugs include:

Fluoride toothpaste
Dandruff shampoo
Sunscreens
Cosmetics containing sunscreen

Next time... Cosmetics that Require a Warning on the Label.

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OR

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #33

2006-10-04T16:02:00.000-07:00

Antibacterial Soaps Continued...

It has been suggested that antibacterial soaps should not be used on children because the chemicals are too harsh and drying for their skin. Using antibacterial soaps on your children does not protect them and help them to stay healthy. In fact, children need to come in contact with "germs" to help them to develop their immune system. Overuse of antibacterial agents has been linked to allergies and asthma.

And antibacterial agents do not kill viruses, the microorganisms responsible for colds and flu.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that the use of antibacterial soaps is not necessary on a daily basis. Washing with warm water and ordinary soap is sufficient.

More on antibacterial soaps here.

Experience the clean refreshing feeling from natural, handmade soaps.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #32

2006-09-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Antibacterial Soaps

Antibacterial soaps have been widely embraced as a way to "kill germs" and prevent illness. But not all bacteria are harmful. And not all "germs" are bacteria.

Some bacteria are beneficial and your body needs them. Antibacterial soaps cannot distinguish between harmful and helpful bacteria. It kills all bacteria. When the healthy bacteria that your body needs have been "washed away," it leaves you more susceptible to illness from harmful bacteria.

Recent studies show that triclosan, one of the most common antibacterial agents used in soaps, acts like an antibiotic in the way it kills bacteria and may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

To be continued...

Get the rest of this important information right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #31

2006-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

Acrylic Nails Continued...

Acrylic nails have been found to harbor bacteria, fungi and viruses. Significantly higher levels of these microorganisms have been detected on the hands of people with acrylic nails compared with those without.

Allergic reactions may occur when the chemicals come in contact with the skin surrounding the nails causing redness, swelling and itching to occur around the nail and even causing the nail to separate from the nail bed.

In addition, your nails are porous. Chemicals that come in contact with them can be absorbed through the nail bed into your bloodstream.

Next time ... Antibacterial Soaps

You can get your own copy of Dying To Look Good here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #30

2006-09-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

Acrylic Nails

Artificial nails, even though they may look great, are in fact harmful to your health and the health of your nails.

The chemicals used to attach and remove acrylic nails are toxic. Ethyl methacrylate most commonly used to glue on acrylic nails, is an eye and skin irritant. Inhaling it can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea. It can also cause asthma and allergic reactions.

Methyl methacrylate was banned in 1974 after it was proven harmful. It is still being used in some establishments "because it's cheap, effective and easy to get despite the ban," according to Evelyn Burgett, Cosmetology Inspector for the state of Tennessee.

More on acrylic nails next time...

Get your own personal copy of Dying To Look Good for handy reference.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #29

2006-09-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Special Topics Continued...

As of this writing, there is a proposed bill in California, which if passed, would require manufacturers to notify the state of any products they manufacture that contain ingredients linked to cancer or birth defects. EWG identified 155 products that would be affected if the bill passes. It passed the California Assembly's Health Committee on June 28, 2005 and was placed on the Suspense Calendar until after August 15.

According to EWG, “California’s bill also opens the door for national reform of loose standards for personal care products that essentially have industry lobbyists in control of determining if the ingredients their companies use are safe.” If this bill passes, it could be the first step in seeing safer cosmetics available to consumers.

You can follow the developments in this and other environmental safety issues at www.ewg.org.

Here’s a brief look at some topics, that you should be aware of, that are important to your health, including both products and ingredients.

Next time ... Acrylic Nails

Have all this information at your fingertips for your ready reference just when you need it.

Note: The California cosmetics bill became law in October 2005.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #28

2006-09-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

Special Topics
There are some products on the market that people use, … just because everyone does, or because they make your face, skin, hands, hair or teeth look beautiful, or because the manufacturer, through their million dollar advertising campaigns has convinced you that you just can’t live without it. That it will make you more beautiful, sexier and will lure your perfect partner to you.

Until recently, most people didn’t even think about what’s in the product or if it’s even safe to put on their skin. They just thought about what it’s going to do for them, how it’s going to make them look or feel and how attractive it will make them to the opposite sex.

But that’s changing now. There’s a growing consciousness toward using safer and healthier products. And it’s turning out that a number of the products that people just took for granted because of what it “did for them,” are actually causing harm.

To be continued...

Get the rest of the story right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #27

2006-09-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

Safety Tips Continued...

Throw away products in which there has been a change in color or odor.
Do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection. Discard all products you were using when you discovered the infection.
Keep makeup out of sunlight.
Close makeup containers tightly when not in use.
Many aerosol products are flammable. Do not use near heat or while smoking. Do not inhale hairsprays and powders. They may cause lung damage.

Next time ... Special Topics

Find out more about Dying To Look Good here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #26

2006-08-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Safety Tips Continued...

Be wary of testers at cosmetic counters. The product may be contaminated. If you must test before purchasing, insist on a new disposable applicator and that the salesperson clean the container opening with alcohol before applying to your skin.
Never add liquid to a cosmetic product to restore its original consistency. This may cause bacterial contamination.
Stop using a product if you’ve had an allergic reaction to it.

More next time...

Have Dying To Look Good at your fingertips so you can be sure you're using safe and healthy products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #25

2006-08-15T13:47:00.000-07:00

Safety Tips

Here are a few tips to help you use your cosmetics and personal care products safely and protect yourself from harm associated with their misuse.

Never apply makeup while driving. An accidental scratch to your eyeball can cause bacterial infection and result in serious injury, including blindness.
Never share makeup, and certain personal care products, like toothpaste and deodorant.

More next time...

Get a copy of Dying To Look Good right now!

Triclosan Alert!

2006-08-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Triclosan, the antibacterial agent commonly found in antibacterial soaps, lotions, acne products, cosmetics and other personal care products is dangerous!

It is classified as a pesticide by the EPA and as a drug by the FDA.

The EPA considers it a major risk to human health and to the environment.

"Chemically triclosan is almost the same as some of the most toxic chemicals on earth: dioxins, PCB’s, and Agent Orange. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects in the parts per trillion (one drop in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools!)."

If you use any products containing triclosan, my advice to you is to stop using them immediately and throw them away. It's that dangerous.

Learn more about the safety of ingredients in your personal care products.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #24

2006-08-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware Continued...

And other ingredients – means that there are one or more ingredients that the manufacturer considers a trade secret and does not want to list on the label. According to the FDA, "the manufacturer must prove that the ingredient imparts some unique property to the product and that the ingredient is not well-known in the industry."

Next time ... safety tips for cosmetic use.

Get your personal copy of Dying To Look Good here.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #23

2006-08-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware Continued...

Shelf Life (Expiration Date) – gives the length of time a cosmetic product is good if handled and stored properly. Expiration dates are approximate, and in reality, a product may expire long before the expiration date.

More next time...

Find out how you can get your own personal copy today.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #22

2006-08-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware Continued...

Noncomedogenic – implies that there are no pore-clogging ingredients that may cause acne in the product.
Cruelty Free – suggests that there has been no animal testing of the product. In reality, the majority of cosmetic ingredients have been tested on animals at some point. A more accurate statement would be “no new animal testing,” if indeed this were the case.

More next time...

You can have this resource at your fingertips when you need to look up the information. It will even fit in a woman's purse so you can take it shopping with you.

Dying To Look Good Review

2006-08-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dying To Look Good has been reviewed in Wise Traditions, the quarterly journal for the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Read the Review.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #21

2006-07-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware Continued...

Fragrance Free – means that the product has no detectable odor. Fragrance ingredients may still be added to mask offensive odors from the materials used to make the product.

More next time...
Or, get the e-book and get it all right now!

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #20

2006-07-24T22:58:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware Continued...

Alcohol Free – generally means the product does not contain ethyl alcohol (or grain alcohol). The product may contain fatty alcohols like cetyl, cetearyl, stearyl, or lanolin.

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #19

2006-07-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware Continued...

Hypoallergenic – means that the manufacturer believes the product is less likely to cause allergic reactions. But there are no standards for classifying a product hypoallergenic. The manufacturer may actually test the product before classifying it hypoallergenic, or simply remove fragrances and call it hypoallergenic. The manufacturer is not required to prove this claim. Also, the terms "dermatologist-tested," "sensitivity tested," "allergy tested," or "nonirritating" do not guarantee they won't cause allergic reactions.

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #18

2006-07-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

Buyer Beware
The FDA's attempt at establishing official definitions for specific terms like "natural" and "hypoallergenic" were overturned in court. Consequently, companies can use these terms on cosmetic labels to mean anything they want. Mostly, the value of these terms lies in promoting cosmetic products to the consumer rather than any real medical meaning, according to dermatologists.

Beware of products claiming to be:

Natural – suggests that the ingredients are derived from natural sources rather than being produced synthetically. However, there are no industry standards for what natural means. The product may contain all natural ingredients, just a few natural ingredients added to a synthetic product or even no natural ingredients at all.

More on this list tomorrow. But, you don't have to wait until tomorrow to get more of this list. You can have it all right now in the Dying To Look Good e-book.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #17

2006-07-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Continued from Excerpt #16 ...

The EWG further states that "for many of the ingredients the CIR has chosen to review, the cosmetic industry has failed to conduct even the most basic toxicity tests."... For more than half of the ingredients approved by the CIR, "the panel fails in whole to discuss any available data with respect to cancer and mutagenicity, birth defects, and other reproductive risks." ... The "CIR has chosen sensitization and the related effect of irritation as the basis for approximately 80% of its safety decisions, to the near total exclusion of other health impacts... It is clear from the review summaries published by the panel in the open scientific literature that basic safety data are often lacking."

The CIR is funded by CTFA.

Don't play Russian roulette with your health. Make sure you know how to tell if your personal care products are safe or not.

Dying To Look Good Excerpt #16

2006-07-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Continued from Excerpt #15 ...

The CIR website states that they determine which ingredients to review based upon how widespread the use of the ingredient is and reports of adverse effects, toxicity predictions, potential for skin penetration, if banned in Japan or the European Union, etc. However, according to the Environmental Working Group, based upon their review of the ingredients in 7,500 products in 2004, "the CIR has failed to review one-third of the top 50 ingredients used in cosmetics," some of which pose "potential cancer risks." In addition, "of the 1175 ingredients that had been reviewed by the CIR at the time of EWG’s analysis, half of the ingredients are not used in cosmetics."

To be continued...

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Dying To Look Good Excerpt #15

2006-07-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), established in 1976 by CTFA, was the industry’s effort to provide an unbiased evaluation of the safety of cosmetic ingredients. Between 1976 and June 14, 2005, they completed safety assessments, for 1269 ingredients. This represents only 10% of the more than 12,000 ingredients listed in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary.

New cosmetic ingredients are coming onto the market faster than they can be reviewed. The 2004 edition of the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary listed over 1400 more ingredients than were listed in the 2002 edition. In just two years more ingredients were added to the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary than the CIR has reviewed in 29 years.

More next time...

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Bar Soap at its Best

2006-07-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Most people don't give a second thought to what's in a bar of soap, let alone that it might just have ingredients that could harm them or their loved ones. Like all other personal care products, a bar of soap can have toxic chemicals that can do harm when absorbed through your skin into your bloodstream. Yes this does happen!

Now, you can have your soap and lather in it too - the healthy way, and it doesn't have to be boring because it's healthy and safe for you.

If you don't believe me, you can check the ingredients in your bar of soap in Dying To Look Good to see how safe the ingredients really are.