Archive for April, 2010

More Great Inexpensive Make-Up Finds

Friday, April 16th, 2010

By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

These days, I just love it when I find beautiful and affordable make-up.   I cannot even wrap my brain around the thought of spending $50.00 on a powder compact foundation or an eye shadow quad which I use to do on a regular basis.   

Here is another great inexpensive find I would love to share with you by the cosmetic company, Jane.  Their newest entry is called, Jane BE PURE  Aqua Ceuticals and is made with certified organic ingredients (how many will vary from product to product).  The eye shadow quads are fabulous and come in both matte and shimmer.  The color choices are beautiful and they do not seem to fade or crease.   And they cost a whopping $6.50 each.  How much better does it get than that?  

The shades are Dusk, Sandstorm, Reef, and Bamboo.  An equivalent product in a department store would cost $32.00 and up.  The compact comes with a handy built in mirror and is made from 100% recyclable packaging.

Sometimes we really need to pick and choose when it comes to spending our hard earned money.  Other items such as high quality skincare is often difficult to find at bargain basement prices simply because the ingredients used are often costly to produce.    So, it is nice to know that we can skimp in other areas and still look beautiful!

Enjoy!

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Tricoslan: US Committee Chairman Calls For Ban On This Widely Used Chemical

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

Representative Edward J. Markey of Washington D.C., has called for a ban on Tricoslan, a widely used chemical which can be found in many consumer products.   Tricoslan is a synthetic broad spectrum antimicrobial agent commonly used in anti-bacterial soaps.  However,  it can also be found in cosmetics, deodorants, toothpaste, dish washing liquid, and even children’s toys.

According to some experts, Tricoslan belongs to a class of chemicals which is suspected of causing cancer in humans.  It is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a pesticide.  Some potential dangers include abnormalities to the endocrine system (most notably the thyroid), as well as contributing to antibiotic resistance.   Other health concerns include allergies, contact dermatitis and skin irritation.  There are also environmental concerns since waste water plants do not remove Tricoslan from the water (it is very stable over time).

Representative Markey stated, “Despite the fact that this chemical is found in everything from soaps to socks, there are many troubling questions about tricoslan’s effectiveness and potentially harmful effects, especially for children” (Source: Cosmetics design.com.  4/2010).

While the FDA has been investigating the safety of Tricoslan, Markey’s statement will likely add more  pressure to their review.  The FDA issued the following statement in response to Markey’s warning, “In 1997, the FDA reviewed extensive effectiveness data on tricoslan in Colgate Total toothpaste.  The evidence showed that tricoslan in this product was effective in preventing gingivitis.”  However, they also stated that while they do not have sufficient safety data to change their recommendations regarding consumer use of tricoslan, they also do not have evidence that it is any more effective than using soap and water.

Tricoslan has come under recent fire on both sides of the Atlantic.  In 2008, the company, International NGO ChemSec,  listed Tricoslan among 267 chemicals which were categorized as “high concern,” urging manufacturing companies to find safer alternatives in the cosmetics industry.   At least one European company has found a safer alternative for use in anti-bacterial deodorant.

Tricoslan can be found in the following products (note: this is only a sampling of products and not a complete list)

Dial Liquid Soap, Dawn Dish Washing Detergent, Soft Soap Antibacterial Hand Soap, Tea Tree Therapy Liquid Soap, CVS Antibacterial Soap, Phisoderm Antibacterial Cleanser, Reach Antibacterial Toothbrush, Colgate Total Breeze Tricoslan Mouthwash, Jason Natural Cosmetics, Garden Botanica Powder Foundation, Mavala Lip Base, Revlon Color Stay Lip Shine Lip Color Plus Gloss, Right Guard Sport Deodorant, Old Spice High Endurance Deodorant Stick.

What do you think?

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Sensitive Skin: Great Tips For Calming And Treating Your Delicate Skin

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

By Dr. Teri Dourmashkin

Many people report having sensitive skin.   Sensitive skin can encompass many things and may mean different things to different people.   Sensitive skin types can experience irritation, redness and or burning sensations, particularly when trying a new product (s).

Rosacea is a very common skin condition and is often experienced by those with sensitive skin.  Rosacea is characterized by inflammation and often looks like red splotches or broken bloods vessels, and can also be characterized by small pimples or breakouts.  Some experts theorize that rosacea may be the result of bacterial of fungal infection. 

Those with rosacea must make sure they use super gentle products that will not exacerbate this condition.  There are medications that physicians can prescribe for rosacea.  Additionally, there are all natural substances which can also help.  Look for ingredients such as R-Lipoic Acid, Green Tea and Chamomile.  These contain anti-inflammatory properties and are also very gentle and provide great anti-aging benefits.

The La Vie Celeste skin care collection offers several products which may help those with rosacea.  Both our Day and Night Restorative Face Cream and our Rose Hydrosol Eye Cream contains both R-Lipoic acid and Green Tea.   We also use Chamomile  in several of our products, including our Illuminating Restorative Toner.

GO AS NATURAL AS POSSIBLE

When shopping, always look for brands that contain all natural skin care ingredients.   While it is true that any number of natural ingredients can cause irritation or allergic reactions in some, most natural skin care products steer clear of potentially toxic ingredients which may be detrimental to your health.  Also, many toxic ingredients can be harsh, irritating and drying.   For example, many synthetic detergent cleansers undergo a process known as “ethoxylation,” in order to make harsh ingredients milder.  This in turn produces 1, 4-Dioxane, which may cause cancer.

Our La Vie Celeste Mother of Pearl Exfoliating Cleanser is a super gentle, truly unique cleanser which is completely free of detergent, fragrance, oils and toxic preservatives.   It works wonderfully for all skin types, particularly sensitive.  It does not foam or create suds, which is actually desirable, since many ingredients used to produce foam are potentially toxic.

ALWAYS GO FRAGRANCE FREE

Without question, sensitive skin should always opt for fragrance free products.   My recommendation is to also avoid essential oils (provides a natural fragrance) which are used in many, if not most all natural skin care lines.  This is not to say that essential oils are bad; in addition to aromatherapy benefits, many also have proven benefits for the skin.  Some essential oils which may irritate sensitive skin include, but are not limited to, peppermint, menthol, and eucalyptus.  

USE A LIMITED NUMBER OF INGREDIENTS AND PRODUCTS

Please remember, that the more ingredients a product contains, the more you increase your risk for an allergic reaction, irritation and or breakouts.  This will make it almost impossible to determine what the offending substance (s) might be.  So, make sure that you purchase products which do not contain an excessive amount of ingredients.  Our philosophy at La Vie Celeste is always, “less is more.”  We only use the necessary ingredients which enhance the overall health and beauty of your skin.

NO DYES OR COLORS

These are usually listed as FD&C colors, followed by a number on the ingredient panel.  These often contain coal tars which are derived from petroleum and may be toxic.

INCLUDE SOOTHING INGREDIENTS

Use soothing natural oils (preferably unrefined) such as apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil, sesame seed oil, and avocado oil.   Those with allergies may want to avoid using nut oils.  High quality, unrefined Shea butter is also beneficial for most skin types, particularly sensitive.  It may help to control conditions such as dry skin, eczema and rashes.  It also penetrates almost instantly.  The highest quality Shea butter can be found in our La Vie Celeste face and eye creams.   Always seek the advice of your physician for any condition which becomes very painful or uncomfortable.

Treating sensitive skin can be tricky, but if you follow a “less is more strategy,” with fragrance free natural ingredients, you may see your skin reacting a lot less.

 

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