Looking good never cost so much

Many cosmetics contain toxic chemicals that aren't listed on the labels. They're simply accounted for as "fragrances" or "trade secrets."

It’s a Friday night and you’re in front of the mirror with your girlfriends coating your cheeks with blush, layering your lashes with mascara and plumping up your kisser with lipstick. Your reflection shows a woman dolled up and ready for a night on the town. But what the mirror doesn’t show is what’s happening beneath the products you just slabbed all over your beautiful face. While you’re in the cab headed to your favorite bar, chemicals are settling into your bloodstream. As you drink your first cocktail, paraben preservatives begin laying the foundation for potential breast cancer, skin rashes and hormone disruptions. By the time your favorite song comes on and you make your way to the dance floor, the chemical banned in Europe known as formaldehyde is having its own dance party in your body: creating immune dysfunction, fatigue and dizziness along with causing allergic reactions and depression. As the night winds down and you find yourself barefoot and missing an earring, little do you know you actually have bigger problems to worry about. Members of the amine chemicals family (DEA, TEA and MEA) are wreaking havoc on your body as a carcinogen linked to liver and kidney cancer. By the time you get home and wash your face of your now smudged makeup, the damage is already done.

Many women coat their faces each day with makeup not knowing the (dangerous) contents of each bottle, case or tube. But what’s worse is that companies are not even required to list all ingredients in their personal care products sold in the U.S.! The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that many of them contain chemicals that have never been assessed for safety. So therein lies the responsibility for safety and health in the consumer. And if we, as consumers, are uneducated about these chemicals, the makeup and cosmetics companies will continue to reel in profits at our expense.

The U.S. needs regulation on ingredients that go into our cosmetics and beauty products that can potentially lead to cancer, asthma and hormone disruptions.

Reading and understanding the ingredients labels on products can help you determine whether or not you’re risking your health, but to get the full picture requires some deeper digging. The EWG website has a fabulous free resource called the Skin Deep Database, which lets consumers know what chemicals are in their beauty products, lotions, shampoos, toothpaste and other products. You can search by label names and product types to see a ranking from zero to 10 determining its toxicity. For example, the popular cosmetic brand, Clinique, may surprise you with its overall rating of 3 – 8 (3 – 6 is considered moderate hazard and 7 – 10 is considered high hazard). Their Clinique Happy Perfume Spray is rated 8 because of ingredients that are linked to cancer, developmental/reproductive toxicity and allergies.

Like some Clinique products, you may find the ones you use on a daily basis are more toxic than you think. While we can use tools such as this Skin Deep Database to educate ourselves about what we’re putting in our bodies, there needs to be more regulation to ensure these product ingredients don’t make it to store shelves. It’s crucial that the federal government set comprehensive safety standards for cosmetics and other personal care products. European governments have already required the removal of many toxic chemicals, and the cosmetics companies have made necessary adjustments to their ingredients. Once we have some form of regulation here in the U.S. and our products are labeled honestly, we can (hopefully) feel better about the choices we have on the shelves. In the meantime, it’s recommended that consumers look for fragrance-free products and those with a short list of ingredients. Do the best you can to familiarize yourself with toxic ingredient terminology too, so you know what to look for when avoiding certain products.

Check out the SafeCosmetics.org website for a great video explanation of what’s happening with our cosmetics. The truth is shocking.

Skin shows you are what you eat

If you eat a lot of pizza it will likely show up on your face, quite literally. It’s been proven that the effects of what you ingest are typically displayed on your mug, so if you want to put your best face forward a good way to start is healthy eating. Of course genetics play a role in determining your skin complex, as does your fitness and stress levels and the types of facial products you use, but many doctors and dermatologists believe food is a major factor in the condition of your skin. Eating certain types of foods rich in vitamins and minerals your body craves will get you on the path to younger, smoother-looking skin. Here are some nutritional do’s and don’ts to keep in mind the next time you open your chomper:

Do:

Yogurt, eggs and flaxseed are key elements to a balanced diet rich in vitamins and Omega 3 fatty acids

 

Drink plenty of water. We’ve been told from a young age to drink the recommended eight glasses of water each day but other liquid temptations such as coffee, soda and alcoholic beverages sometimes leave us little room for prioritizing water intake each day. Water is the most natural source of hydrating your skin, and hard water especially, is high in minerals. This wonderful resource also helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, leaving your skin radiant and clear.

Get plenty of Vitamin C. This powerful vitamin keeps collagen healthy, boosting your skin’s elasticity and promoting that smooth, youthful look. It can be found in fresh fruits, tomatoes, green veggies, onions and radishes.

Get plenty of Vitamin E. This antioxidant blocks free radicals from damaging the skin and causing premature aging. It also improves circulation and prolongs the life of red blood cells. You can get servings of this age-zapping vitamin in vegetable oils, raw nuts, wheat germ, leafy vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, legumes and whole wheat.

Don’t forget Vitamin A. Some experts say that the health of our skin cells are dependent on Vitamin A intake. This can be found in low-fat dairy products such as yogurt, which also contains acidophilus – a “live” bacteria that’s good for intestinal health. Anything that aids with digestion translates to healthy-looking skin.

Fruits and veggies offer nutrients and minerals that promote healthy skin

Load up on fish. Our underwater friends are a fantastic source of Omega 3 fatty acids that do wonders for not only your skin, but your hair and nails as well. Omega 3s can reduce your risk of heart disease by 30 percent and they reduce inflammation, regulate cholesterol, ease symptoms of depression and make your skin glow. Salmon, rainbow trout and tuna are great sources of Omega 3, as are walnuts and flax seeds.

Sip on green tea. This power-beverage is one of the best things you can ingest every day to improve not only your skin, but your overall health and wellbeing. It has tremendous anti-inflammatory properties and can even help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer. Studies have also shown green tea has potential to lower cholesterol, burn fat, prevent diabetes and stroke and even stave off dementia.

 

Don’t:

Consuming excessive alcohol has damaging effects on your skin

Indulge in processed foods. Our time-cruched lifestyles make it tempting to stop at the drive-thru for lunch or zap some Ramen Noodles in the microwave to silence our growling tummies. But understanding the toll these quick fixes can take on your body and skin may motivate you to pack a healthy salad or sandwich for lunch instead. Processed foods are loaded with sodium and are often high in fat, sugar and salt, causing high blood pressure and making it easy for weight gain. Some processed foods even contain carcinogenic properties, known to lead to some cancers.

Abuse alcohol. After a night of heavy drinking, aside from the awful hangover you’re likely suffering through, you’ll notice the effects on your face when you look in the mirror: dry, swollen and irritated (sometimes red and blotchy) skin. Not attractive.

Get carried away with sweets. Many dermatologists believe too much sugar can cause a breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers, making the skin cells more vulnerable to damage from sun and pollution. Sugary foods also cause insulin spikes, which triggers an inflammatory reaction in the skin’s cells that lead to increased sebum levels that clog the glands. This typically leads to acne and oily skin.

Load up on salt. If you must, use this ingredient sparingly. It causes skin tissues to swell, stretching our your skin and giving you a puffy look if you’ve consumed too much.

Breathe, Stretch, Shake…Hit the Gym

Want to increase your productivity at work and improve and stabilize your mood throughout the day? Better yet, want to skyrocket yourself to a promotion? OK, well I can’t promise that will happen to you, But! I can promise some other things if you heed my oh-so-wise advice.

All you have to do is step away from your computer, throw on your favorite pair of kicks, and head out the door to get those limbs moving.  Your phone calls, emails and cube visitors can wait an hour while you use your lunch break to squeeze in a workout.

Research shows that employees who exercise during the work day show increased productivity and a more positive outlook. A study by Jim McKenna from the University of Bristol showed that after exercising, participants returned to their offices more tolerant of themselves and more understanding towards their coworkers. Maybe it’s a good thing you made them wait while you went to work out!

While it’s easy to make up excuses not to hit the gym (I am working on deadline, I have a meeting, I’m tired…), it’s worth it to investigate the positive aspects of taking a T.O. from your work load.  When you work out your body releases endorphins – that “feel good” chemical for the brain that us women often find in chocolate. So why not get those feel good chemicals in a form that won’t go straight to your thighs?

Exercise increases employee happiness. When people are happy about their jobs they want to come to work and give 100%.

This afternoon I made a lunch time appointment on my Outlook calendar for a group exercise class that said: “Kettlebell. You Better Go!!” At 11:45 am I got a calendar reminder to pack my gym bag and huff it to the gym. I had a zillion things to do at my desk, but I knew I needed a mental break and physical challenge. Thirty some odd minutes later I was drenched in sweat swinging around weighted balls thinking, why?! why?! why?! why?! But the feeling was also exhilarating. My adrenaline was pulsing and for a moment I had that feeling I used to have when I played college soccer when I felt invincible. At 12:45 pm I felt like a completely different person. I wasn’t tired any more. I felt energized and ready to conquer the rest of my day. Ok, and maybe I was sore.

As an added bonus, we as employees aren’t the only ones who benefit from this (caffeine free) mid-day pick-me-up. Companies that employ healthy workers actually save money. Health insurance premiums are lower and healthy employees typically don’t use health insurance as often as unhealthy people, offsetting health care costs. Perhaps the biggest incentive for employers to encourage their workers to exercise and be healthy is their increased happiness. A happy worker equals a hard worker, which equals increased productivity, which equals more revenue for the company. It’s all about the Benjamins. And perhaps for you, this means an upcoming raise! But don’t hold your breath; we’re still in a recession.

disclaimer: So far, exercising has not gotten me promoted. I’m working on it.

Added Bonus: Here’s a fun 15 minute YouTube ab workout video you can do when you get home from work if you can’t work out at lunch.

Photo (cc) by adria.richards and republished under creative commons license. Some rights reserved.