Decoding Meat, Seafood, and Dairy Product Labels

Ever wondered what those labels on meat, seafood, and dairy really mean?  Check out EWG's 2011 Product Label Guide!

If you'd like to learn more, you can read over Sustainable Table's Sustainable Dictionary.

Eat Smart - 2011 Meat Eater's Guide to Climate Change

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released their 2011 Meat Eaters Guide - check it out!

Eat Smart - 2011 Meat Eaters Guide | Meat Eater's Guide to Climate Change + Health | Environmental Working Group

I Love Vapour! Stratus Instant Skin Perfector Review

I have a new makeup obsession - Vapour Organic Beauty.

All of their products are designed and manufactured in the USA with a minimum of 70% certified organic ingredients, and 30% natural vitamins and mineral pigments.

I love their Stratus Instant Skin Perfector, a new staple in my beauty bag.  It's a 3-in-1 moisturizer, primer, and no color foundation. It comes in a cute stick applicator (very travel friendly) and has a light fruity smell.

Here is a description of Stratus taken from Vapour's website:

Made with 70% Certified Organic ingredients and 30% natural mineral pigments & vitamins. Stratus nourishes skin with Organic Pumpkin and Papaya complex, essential fatty acid rich Organic Evening Primrose, essential amino acid Lysine and skin supportive silica. Stratus is infused with Vapour’s face specific infusion of anti-inflammatory Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi and moisturizing Lotus flowers. 

I have VERY dry skin, especially my cheeks which tend to get flaky.The directions say to apply Stratus to a clean face (since it can be used as a moisturizer), but I find that it works best for me when I apply a little bit of moisturizer first, and then Stratus once the moisturizer has had a chance to sink in.  For the average person, I think Stratus would be fine alone.

One of the reasons I really love this product is its ability to minimize the look of my pores and even out my skin tone.  It also creates a smooth SILICONE-FREE base for makeup application.  Here is a list of their ingredients:

Organic/Bio Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Organic/Bio Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Silica, Organic/Bio Cera Alba (Beeswax), Lysine, Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Fruit Extract, Organic/Bio Lecithin, Organic/Bio Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil & Organic/Bio Lecithin & Organic/Bio Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil & Organic/Bio Papain (Papaya), Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Essential Oils & Natural Fruit Essences, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Boswellia Carteri (Frankincense)*, Organic/Bio Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi/Holy Basil), Organic/Bio Nelumbo Nucifera (Lotus) Flower Petals
*Wildcrafted

Overall, it's a pretty pricey ($44!), but I think it's well worth the price and look forward to trying their other products!

"Cancerous Beauty"

Check out this post on "Cancerous Beauty" from 100% Pure.  It lists the different chemicals you should avoid in your beauty products and why they're bad for you.

5 Wrong Turns That Can Lead to Cancer

Check out the article "5 Wrong Turns That Can Lead to Cancer" from Dr. Oz, very interesting....

The Vegetable-Industrial Complex

There was an interesting article I read  today written by Michael Pollan, author of the "Omnivore's Dilemma."  It was posted back in 2006, but it provides reasons I didn't even think of to buy your groceries local.  

Check it out:  http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/magazine/15wwln_lede.html

Sustainable and Healthy Seafood

I love the Montery Bay Aquarium!

I've been there a couple of times, and always enjoy all the cute little critters that live there.  Even though it rains EVERY time I go to Monterey with my boyfriend, we always have a blast! 

One thing I really like about the aquarium is their commitment to informing people of the dangers of overfishing and certain farmed seafood.  They created a pocket guide that lists the best seafood choices you can make for your area, so that when you go out to a restaurant or the market you won't be stumped on what to buy. You can download the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Pocket Guide directly from their website.  They also have apps for the Android and iPhone.

Sea Horse from the Monterey Bay Aquarium - SO CUTE!

Jelly Fish from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Keep your Pet Cool on a Hot Summer Day!

The most important thing you can do for your pet on a hot summer day is give them a constant supply of cool water and a shady spot to rest.  For those really hot days, there are a few more things you can do to protect your pet from  the heat and ensure that they are as comfortable as possible.

Along with adding ice cubes to your pets water dish, you may want to add some frozen fruits and vegetables to their food bowl for them to munch on. My pet rats really enjoy frozen peas and mango slices.

You could also place a fan in the room that your pet stays in.  Just make sure they can't knock it down or have access to the cord for chewing.

I also like to wipe my pets down with a cool, paper towel or washcloth.  You can also "mist" your pet every once in a while with cool water from a spray bottle - just make sure you don't spray them in the eyes though!

For small pets, terracotta pots provide a cool place for them to rest in.  I also like to put frozen water bottles around the pot and other parts of the cage that my rats and hamster like to rest.

Review: 100% Pure Satin Shadow

 100% Pure Satin Shadow

 Maui and Barbados

It is hard to find a natural cream eye shadow, so I was very excited to try the two 100% Pure Satin Shadows I received as a gift for Christmas.  Both shadows are beautiful colors - Maui is a shimmery rich plum  and Barbados is a shimmery chocolate color. The shadows are very creamy and easy to apply.  I found that the best results were achieved when I used my finger to apply the shadow versus a brush.  You can have a light wash of color when lightly applied or you can increase the intensity of the color by adding more.  Even though I loved the colors and texture of the shadows, I have one major issue, which to me is a deal breaker.  Within the first couple minutes of application, both colors creased and created a dark ring of color. I then tried using a  primer before applying the shadows, which did help a little bit but the shadows still creased.  I really wanted to like these shadows since they are both such beautiful colors, but unfortunately they just don't stay put.  Let me know what you think - has anyone else tried the satin shadows with any luck?

The Story of Cosmetics

This is a great video that describes how the cosmetics industry works and the chemicals that are being put into everyday beauty products - pretty scary.

Review: 100% Pure Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

100% Pure is one of my favorite brands and I own a lot of their products.  Since they can pretty much only be bought online (unless you live in the San Francisco Bay Area where they have two stores), it can be hard to decide which products to buy. I will start posting reviews of 100% Pure to make it easier for you to decide which products will work for you.

The first item I will review is my hands down favorite product sold by 100% Pure - their Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20.

Let me tell you, it took a LONG time to find a natural tinted moisturizer!  I was excited when I found that 100% Pure's Tinted Moisturizer is colored with natural fruit pigments, and even more excited when I read their full ingredient list:

Pigments of Peach, Apricot, Carrot, Pomegranate, Cocoa Bean, Goji Berry and Tomato, White Tea, Cucumber Juice, Aloe Juice, Acai and Pomegranate Oil, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Rice Starch, Candelilla Wax, Extracts of Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Grapefruit Seed, Japanese Honeysuckle, Goldenseal & Cinnamon

SUNSCREEN ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: 15% Titanium Dioxide and 10% Zinc Oxide

I was actually at their store in Berkeley, so I was able to try different colors and match them to my skin tone.  After finding out that I am a "White Peach", I was super bummed when the store employee told me they were out of that color in the Tinted Moisturizer (they were having a "Black Friday Sale" where the first 20 or so customers would get 50% off of everything!).  I ended up ordering the  "Fruit Pigmented 3 Piece Try Me Kit" online that comes with the Tinted Moisturizer, Black Tea Mascara and Coffee Bean Eye Cream for $50 versus buying the Tinted Moisturizer alone for $32.

The packaging for the tinted moisturizer is really nice, it comes in a glass jar with an easy to use pump system and lasts for 12 months once it's opened.  The product is very light and easy to apply.  It helps to even out some of the redness in my cheeks but is sheer enough for my freckles to show through.  It's buildable, but if you're looking for a lot of coverage you should probably skip the tinted moisturizer and get the full coverage foundation.  I personally haven't tried this one yet, but my Mom purchased it and swears by this product.  She tried Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation but didn't really like it that much.  She thinks the 100% Pure Healthy Skin Foundation with Super Fruits SPF 20  has better coverage,  more staying power on her skin, and has a light feel.

I personally prefer the natural look of  tinted moisturizer and liquid foundation over powder, but when exercising or doing anything where I know I will be sweating a lot, I use my Bare Escentuals Mineral Foundation.  I noticed that when I perspire the BE foundation ends up actually looking more natural and doesn't run.  I have worn my 100% Pure Tinted Moisturizer to my Tahitian Dance practice, but I noticed that while it doesn't run, it definitely doesn't look that great.  So, for typical everyday use I use the Tinted Moisturizer and for the two days out of the week I go to dance practice, I use my BE foundation.

Overall, the tinted moisturizer is awesome for someone who wants a more sheer, "natural" look and would like to even out their complexion, but should probably not used when heading out to the gym.

Natural Products for Summer

Since the weather is starting to heat up, I thought it would be appropriate for my first post to be on natural products for summer.

We have all heard it a million times, it's vital that we protect our skin from the sun.  Too much sun exposure can cause cancer and premature aging – not a good thing.  Below are a few products that don't contain any nasty chemicals and will have you ready for your trip to the beach!

Protect yourself from the sun’s rays with Badger SPF 30+ Sunscreen.  This sunscreen is the top recommended sunscreen by the Environmental Working Group.  It is scented with lavender essential oil, contains certified organic ingredients, and comes in packaging that is BPA free. They also make an SPF 30 Insect & Bug Repellent Sunscreen that contains NO DEET – only healthy ingredients!

Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
 Inactive Sunscreen Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Essential Oil of *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), and CO2 Extracts of *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn).
* = Certified Organic

 

Active Anti-Bug Ingredients (15.5%): 10%*Castor Oil & Essential Oils of 2.5%*Citronella, 1.25%*Lemongrass, 1% *Cedar,  0.5% *Rosemary, and 0.25% *Geranium.
Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 20%
Other Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax)

Don’t forget your lip balm with SPF 15 or higher – Burt’s Bees and Badger make great ones with healthy ingredients.

Active ingredient: Titanium Dioxide (2.94%)
Inactive ingredients: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax, Cire d’Abeille), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Lavandin Hybrida (Lavandin) Oil, Candelilla Cera (Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Cire de Candelilla), Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Canola Oil (Huilde de Colza), Limonene  

Active Sunscreen Ingredient: Non-Nano, Uncoated Zinc Oxide 11%
Other Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil,* Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), and CO2 Extracts of *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn)

If you forget to pack your sunscreen and end up getting burned, there are a couple of great balms to help soothe your skin.  I like Badger's Bali Balm  and Island Soapworks Surfer's Salve.

Ingredients: *Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, *Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, *Vitellaria Paradoxa Sp. Nilotica (Shea) Butter, Essential Oils of *Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Tanacetum Annum (Moroccan Blue Tansy), *Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime), *Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sweet Orange), *Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang), *Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Sicilian Orange) and CO2 Extract of *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn)

Ingredients: Olive Oil, Plantain Leaf, Comfrey Leaf, Beeswax, Aloe, Rosemary, Lavender Leaf, Vitamin E, Lavender, Essential Oil, Tea Tree Oil

 

Nourish chlorine and dye damaged hair with 100% Pure Honey Coconut Milk Conditioner – this is an EXTREMELY rich conditioner that will hydrate your hair.  Make sure to focus on the roots and stay away from the scalp as this is a very rich conditioner.  You can also make your own hair mask with coconut oil.

 Ingredients: Infusion of Green Tea, Burdock, Nettle, Rosemary, Peppermint, Rose Petals, Calendula and Hibiscus, Aloe Juice, Honey, Rapeseed Oil, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Avocado Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Cetyl Babassuate Oil, Rice Protein, Wheat Protein, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Colloidal Oatmeal, Neem Oil, Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Coconut Milk Powder, Citric Acid, Extracts of Japanese Honeysuckle, Grapefruit Seed, Oregano, Thyme, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Lavender and Goldenseal, Coconut Flavor