Lipstick with Quality Ingredients

Speaking of non-toxic make-up, we've heard about several lipstick recalls containing lead for color. We've come across this natural version, and the colors are great. All paraben-free, no mineral oil and no FD&C colors. Only natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, sesame seed oil, vitamin E as an anti-oxidant, and pure botanical extracts which act as a natural preservative. 

By Honeybee Gardens

Non-Toxic Nail Polish

A great alternative to solvent-based nail enamel A water-based polish that is totally odor-free! No nasty fumes, and no need for toxic smelly nail polish remover. This product removes with rubbing alcohol or vodka/grain alcohol. It's eco-friendly and non-toxic. Contains no FD&C colors, toluene, dibutyl phthalate, xylene, or formaldehyde. Especially interesting for breastfeeding moms, pregnant ladies, and teenage girls. Comes in 21 great colors.

By Honeybee Gardens

Is It Really Non-Toxic?

Check out this interesting report from Discovery News about "Non-Toxic" scented products that emit toxic chemicals.
"In an analysis of 25 of the most commonly used scented products -- including ones labeled "organic," "natural" or "non-toxic" -- scientists identified at least 133 chemicals wafting off of them. A quarter of those chemicals were classified as hazardous or toxic. Virtually none were listed on product labels.
Along with prior evidence that nearly a third of Americans develop headaches, breathing problems and other symptoms when exposed to scented products, the new findings suggest that efforts to smell nice threaten both your health and the health of people around you.
In sealed glass containers, the researchers meticulously measured all of the gaseous chemicals, called volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), that came out of each product. They recorded only emissions that appeared in significant amounts.
In total, the products emitted 133 different chemicals, the team reported in the journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review, with an average of 17 chemicals off-gassing from each one.
Twenty-four of the VOCs were classified as toxic or hazardous under at least one federal law. Eleven of the products emitted chemicals that are known carcinogens. Some of the chemicals are not safe at any level of exposure.
Results were exactly the same for both traditional and green products. In fact, all of the natural products emitted at least two VOCs that were hazardous or toxic. A third of them emitted at least one carcinogen.
Only one of the 133 identified chemicals appeared on any label anywhere. Just two chemicals appeared on safety data sheets. Some labels offered vague references to "cleaning agents," "softeners," "fragrances" or "essential oils." But many listed none at all, which by law, is OK.


Babies and children are especially vulnerable. And repeated low-level exposures appear able to trigger problems in people who were previously not bothered by smells."

Source: Discovery News

Safe Tips for Halloween Face Paint, If You Must....

We are not advocates of face paint for kids. If you really must, for Halloween purposes, try organic versions. The FDA recommends these simple steps to keep safe:

1. Follow all Halloween face paint directions carefully, including warnings against using around the eyes.
2. Don't decorate your face with products, paints and colorings that aren't intended for your skin.
3. If your Halloween face paint has a very bad smell, this could be a sign that it is contaminated. Throw it away and use another one.
4. Before using new Halloween costume makeup, perform a simple patch test, particularly if you or your child is prone to allergic reactions, a few days before Halloween.
5. Read ingredient lists and don't buy any product that has non-approved colors. The FDA lists coloring agents approved for use in cosmetics.
6. Don't use products with fluorescent colors (D&C Orange No. 5, No. 10, and No. 11; D&C Red No. 21, No. 22, No. 27 and No. 28; and D&C Yellow No. 7) near the eyes.
7. Don't use luminescent (glow-in-the-dark) colors (zinc sulfide) near your eyes.
8. Wash thoroughly (and follow label instructions) once trick-or-treating or the party is over; don't go to sleep with Halloween costume makeup on your skin.
9. Before using older products, check it against these two May 2009 recall notices for Fun Express children's face paints.
10. If you have a bad reaction to Halloween face paint, report the incident to the FDA, so that other consumers can be protected.

Source: FDA and Daily Green

Spring is Time for Sunscreen

Spring is around the corner, it is time to get outside! Kids should be protected with good quality sunscreen, with both UVA and UVB protection.

The Environmental Working Group released a great guide for safe sunscreen products. According to the guide, the following are the ingredients to avoid:

• Oxybenzone - In sunlight, can produce allergy- and cancer-causing chemicals
• DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
• Triethanolamine - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants

Click here to access EWG's Brand Buying Guide.

Safer Cosmetics for Kids

According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, children are exposed to an average of 61 different chemical ingredients every day, and 27 of these ingredients have not been found safe for children by the government or the cosmetic industry's expert safety panel.

Gaps in health protections leave children exposed to potentially harmful ingredients when their developing tissues and organs are sensitive to chemical damage. Children's skin is 30% thinner than an adults', on average, and can absorb greater amounts of chemicals from the skin surface. They breathe in more air (and air contaminants) relative to their weight than adults, and the blood-brain barrier that helps block chemicals from penetrating brain tissue is not fully formed until a baby reaches 6 months of age.

Top Four Tips:

1.Use fewer products and use them less frequently.
2. Don’t trust the claims. Check ingredients.
3. Buy fragrance-free products.
4. Visit cosmeticsdatabase.com.

Check the Parent's Buying Guide released by EWG. It provides recommendations on choosing safer products for your children.