The WELLalarm Blog

Victoria's Secret: Formaldehyde?

Ladies, we already know we pay a high price for beauty. But this ABC News story about formaldehyde in Victoria's Secret bras is giving me sympathetic hives! A woman in Ohio is suing VS for creating bras that have caused a painful, disfiguring allergic reaction--you know where.

(See the clip on Eyeblast)

Turns out formaldehyde has been used as a wrinkle proofing agent for years, according to this article. (Thanks to a commenter from Salon.com for that link.) But while it is used on cotton fabrics it is not typically used on synthetics. Betsy Natz, Executive Director of the Formaldehyde Council, Inc., is disputing the claim that formaldehyde was applied to the bra (scroll down for her statement).

Here's what I think: if you have a severe allergic reaction from your clothing you have the right to ask some questions! Personally, I'm not crazy about VS products and am not a customer. But if I were, I'd like a little more substantive reassurance before I bought another bra.

Lipstick: Get the Lead Out!

Did you know that some lipsticks contain lead? Several brands add small amounts of lead to colorants in lipstick. Many health experts, like Mayo Clinic dermatologist Lawrence Gibson, MD and the California Attorney General, seem to think the tiny amounts are nothing to worry about.

Here's what I think: if the lead in your lipstick were your only exposure to lead then sure, no big deal. But lipstick is just one of countless sources of lead (not to mention other toxins) that we come in contact with every day. It just makes sense to minimize your exposure whenever you can, don't you think? It's especially important for people like me with a chronic illness.

Not to mention -- lipstick goes on your mouth! Think about how much lipstick you inadvertently ingest every day.

If you're interested in getting the lead out of your lipstick, check out this report from SafeCosmetics.org. The list includes lead-free lipsticks.

(Image via SafeCosmetics.org)

Women's Health: 25 Best Things You Can Do For Your Skin

I loved these skin tips from Women's Health. The article is divided by products, nutrition, and regimen; I found the "regimen" section the most helpful. These are my two favorite tips.

Don't complicate things. I know how easy it is to get carried away with the products! One dermatologist suggests waiting five minutes between applications. Another dermatologist recommends limiting your products to those with no more than 10 ingredients. That one had me examining bottles... 

Double your cover. This is why so many foundations have SPF. Supposedly we should be slathering on a full tablespoon of sunscreen for full coverage. That's a lot of gunk on your face. Instead, you could apply a layer of sunscreen and then apply a layer of makeup with SPF over that.

This is one of the better skin care articles I've read in a while. I highly recommend it.

Websites we adore: Organic Diva

In my never-ending quest to find fabulous, non-toxic beauty products I was thrilled to find Organic Diva. The website is both an online store selling toxin-free beauty products and a resource center with helpful information like the Dirty Dozen list, some of the most potentially dangerous ingredients found in cosmetics. (It's a handy list to take shopping with you!)

Ann Garrity founded Organic Diva after a health issue had her doctor recommending she scrap all of her beauty products; apparently she had too much estrogen in her body, and with breast cancer in her family tree she took this advice seriously. Garrity soon became an obsessive label-reader and started sharing her research with family and friends. The rest is Organic Diva history.

The selection of cosmetics available on Organic Diva is rather small. Of course, Garrity's standards are high. She sells products only from companies who have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, that rate well with the EWG Skin Deep report, and that she has personally found effective. Right now that means three brands: Suki, Afterglow, and Jane Iredale. They all look great, but I'm hoping Organic Diva expands its wares a little more!

Still, Organic Diva strikes me as the trusted girlfriend who is looking out for your health and your looks.

Bigelow lemon sugar body scrub

Just recently the chain Bath & Body Works introduced its specialty line, C.O. Bigelow®. But to those of us who grew up in New York City, C.O. Bigelow Apothacaries is a legendary drugstore in the West Village dating back to 1838. I've been going there for years for their exceptional beauty products.

My current favorite (ok, yeah so maybe I am a little obsessed) is their lemon sugar body scrub. It does exactly what I need it to: exfoliates and moisturizes. It smells fabulously fresh from the lemon oil -- Bigelow does not add artificial fragrances. The exfoliation action comes from the sugar as well as finely crushed lotus and cranberry seeds. I have super-sensitive skin, but I've never had an adverse reaction to the scrub. I even love the packaging, so simple and clean.

If you're feeling a little scaly around the elbows, calves, or feet, this will definitely help!

Bigelow offers free UPS shipping for all orders over $75 (applies to orders placed on the internet only).

You can get the lemon sugar scrub from Bath & Body Works, too.

Fall Room Fresheners

Now that fall is here I'm looking for new room fresheners.

For small spaces like the bathroom I find I can keep a potent candle around and I don't even have to light it for the scent to fill the room. Sandalwood says fall to me. It can be a bit overpowering, but keeping it unlit sends out just the right amount of scent. I'd love to stock a Diptyqe Sandalwood candle, but they're a bit pricey.

Paddywax makes a great sandalwood candle for less. (For that matter, the sandalwood beeswax candles at my local health food store smell fantastic as well.) I also love the Florence Fennel candle from their new Heirloom Garden series.

I just read about Shoyeido incense on Eco Salon.  By the way, I found their post on avoiding toxins in fragrance helpful.

I love all the new oil diffusers because they smell and look wonderful. I may try the Archipelago Botanicals Excursion Collection Fragrance Diffuser.

Of course, you can make your own air fresheners. Here is Apartment Therapy's guide to DIY air fresheners for fall.

Bare Escentuals by bareMinerals

A few months ago when I was looking into mineral makeup brands I decided to pass on Bare Escentuals by bareMinerals because their products contain bismuth oxychloride, a potential skin irritant. (Other ingredients include titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, mica, and iron oxide.)

Since then, however, I have received a starter kit as a gift and have tried the products despite my misgivings. No breakouts yet from the SPF15 foundation. This seems like an ideal foundation for the hot, sticky months of summer. I remain skeptical of how my skin may react after a few months. Truthfully, I think you can skip the mineral veil, which is supposed to create a flawless finish. I could not detect much of a difference before and after using it.

What I absolutely adore, though, is their Well-Rested for the Eyes. It really did wipe out the dark circles around my eyes and completely transformed my look. I was able to control the application easily with a brush. I love it!

Many makeup companies try to convince you that their products work best together as a complete system. They want you to buy the entire line, not just cherry pick specific items. I think in most cases it's baloney. Buy only what works for you! I suspect Well-Rested will work just fine with other mineral-based cosmetics.

Soothing blemish concealers

Every once in a while I wake up to zit, a lone rebel from nowhere, come to throw off my day. Since this is a rare occasion I am usually unprepared, so I think it's about time I start looking for a concealer.

Here's what I'm looking for in a concealer:

1. Natural, gentle ingredients

2. Covers just the blemish, not the surrounding area

3. Does no harm -- doesn't exacerbate the acne or dry out my skin

4. Even better if it actually soothes my skin

As far as actually fighting blemishes with natural products goes, tea tree oil is supposed to help but it is not as effective as the harsher chemicals like salicylic acid. However, I just need something to get me through a few days, not to deal with a serious skin condition.

I'm thinking about trying some of these products. Has anyone else tried them?

Judith August the Everything Pencil has tea tree oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E. But what I especially like is the control you get with a pencil.

I use (and absolutely love) other Dr. Hauschka products, so these two seem promising:

Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Concealer comes as a liquid wand that looks easy to use...

...while the Dr. Haushcka Pure Care Coverstick with tea tree oil and other soothers comes in a thicker formula. This is a German company, so the color options are on the fair side. I hope they expand the line for darker complexions. Try the Pure Care Coverstick free when you purchase $50 or more of Dr. Hauschka products from Saffron Rouge (enter the code "coverstick").

Tarte The Eraser has anti-inflammatory arnica and is also recommended for under-eye circles.

L'Oreal Bare Naturele Concealer has mineral SPF of 25.

Jurlique Blemish Cream is another concealer with tea tree oil. The idea of applying oil to acne sounds counterintuitive, I know, but there is a school of thought that you can balance your skin with the right kind of oils. Get 25% off any Saffron Rouge purchase using coupon code luckybreaks10.

Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Blemish Therapy has a mild exfoliant as well as sulfur to combat acne. Is this formula trying to do too much? I wonder. However, I like the small brush applicator.

Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Redness Concealer is tinted green to offset redness. I've tried "green" concealers like this before, and they really do neutralize the red. I still think this option is most effective under foundation, though.

Mineral sunscreen coupons and discounts

Don't you love it when the summer goods go on sale? And don't you love that the sales start when we still have two more months of hot weather?

Even though we should all be wearing sunscreen year-round, sunscreen has a funny habit of disappearing from shelves once September rolls around. Maybe you should stock up now! I've done a search with one eye on discounts and the other eye on Skin Deep ratings.

Here's the biggie: Amazon is offering $25 off select sunscreen orders of $50 or more via coupon code JUL08SUN. (Includes free shipping.) Fallene sunscreen looks like the safest and most effective choice of the selections.

Barnacle Kove sells EWG-approved Mexitan sunscreen lotions. Receive $5.00 off the total purchase price of $25.00 or more using coupon code L8RG8R.

Coolibar is having an end-of-summer sale now. They carry Blue Lizard and Vanicream, along with protective hats and clothing. Shipping is free on orders of $50 or more.

Click here to get 10% off KINeSYS sunscreen using coupon code 10p55dc99. Free shipping on orders over $45

Drugstore.com has many sunscreens on sale, including my picks, California Baby and Vanicream.

It costs $47 for the Environmental Working Group to analyze each sunscreen. You can help them keep up the good work and make a donation here.

Keep in mind, sunscreen is becomes less effective as it ages, so you may not want to buy an entire years' supply!

(Image via Discovery Education.)

Yoga is Not About The Clothes... But A Cute Outfit Helps

I know that when you're practicing yoga you're supposed to be focused on your breath, and on meditation, and all things Zen. But don't you, occasionally, happen to see an absolutely smashing outfit on the yogi three mats down and wonder where she got her gear?

I've been looking around for some fun yoga separates, pieces that are pretty and original but absolutely functional. There's some funky clothes out there that look fabulous but also seem so tricky they might get in the way of my practice -- I'm thinking of you, Thai fisherman pants! So here are some lovely and simple options.

I simply adore the clothes at Marika. Don't these Sedona pants look comfy? I like the colors and the contrast stitching, too.

I also love J Crew's yoga line, which has a lot of yoga classics, like these fold-over pants.

Doesn't this yellow jacket just give you a warm, sunny feeling? But the color is actually called "sour lemon." Perfect...

I like the embellishments on these mobility pants from Be Present.

These white shorts with a floral design up the side in organic cotton from Gaiam are perfect for outdoor summer yoga.

Not that you need pockets in yoga, but these Lucy spa capri pants are an alternative to the usual super-sleek yoga pants.

There are fabulous yoga t-shirts galore on the market, perhaps too many! My favorites have feminine graphics that are striking but not too distracting. I also like a close-fitting shirt, so my shirt doesn't fall over my head during downward-dog pose.

Marika has a fabulous eoc-friendly line. I like this pretty notch tank.

Lucy has a lot of groovy "art" tees, like this crystalina tee.

The extra long kyota tank is perfect for keeping your muffin top to yourself. (It's a beautiful muffin top, you just don't want to share it.) This long layering tank from Marika will do the same trick for you.

I love the wash and the ruching on this ombre sleeveless top.  (Get it? Ommmm-bre? Oh never mind.)

 

Here's another ombre wash shirt from Barefoot Yoga.

A lot of yoga tanks are made with a built-in bra, which is always welcome. This Eva top is also made with "moisture management" fabric in case you sweat a lot. I don't know that I need a sweat-catching tank, but I love the graphic look.

This burst tank from PrAna looks like pure joy.

Prana has a few collections pages where you can see a full range of color-coordinated separates. They also a small maternity line, though for a maternity tee I'd just go with the long kyota tank above.

Of course, you don't have to get your yoga shirt from a yoga shop. The world is filled with fun, close-fitting shirts, like this bicycle rider from Nonchalant Mom.

Last but not least, here's one for fall -- this cute yoga girl long-sleeved tee I found on Etsy.

By the way, if you're in New York City OM Yoga will be holding free yoga classes at Union Square Park this Thursday, July 24 from 2-3:30.

Not in New York? You can still get a free yoga class every day online at Yoga Today. (Thanks to Jane Maynard via Design Mom for the tip!)