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Sunscreen Tips ? Organic Sunscreen

There are a lot of sunscreens in the marketplace today, but what is the best type of sunscreen, a chemical sunscreen or an organic sunscreen? What is the best sunscreen? With so many choices, how do you decide?  Here a few tips to ask about organic sunscreen.

What Makes a Sunscreen Organic?

An organic sunscreen (also known as a physical sunscreen) should not contain any chemical ingredients in it. Instead, a truly all-natural and organic sunscreen uses the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients are known as physical blockers because the ingredients reflect the sun’s rays, and the minerals are not absorbed into the skin. This is key because the ingredients in chemical sunscreens absorb the harmful rays of the sun, which can actually induce skin cancer!

Read the Ingredients

Be aware of purchasing sunscreens that say they are organic but contain chemicals in them.  Many manufacturers of “organic” or “all-natural” sunscreens will make these claims on their labels, but then include the chemicals in them.  This is because they are trying to help block the UV rays of the sun, but in fact zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sufficiently do this (you can read my other articles for more information).  Also, there are no regulations on what can be put on labels, so it pays to read the ingredients carefully.  If you see ingredients like avobenzone, octinoxate, and others, the sunscreen is not truly organic.

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What About the Whitish Tint?

Major complaints about organic sunscreens are that they don’t work, that they are oily or greasy, that the sunscreen is too thick, and that it leaves a whitish tint on the skin.  All of this has to do with how the sunscreen is manufactured, and how much zinc oxide and titanium dioxide is used, and what the nanoparticle rate is (measured in nanometers).  The nanoparticle rate in organic sunscreens is typically very small, compared to half the size of a DNA strand.  However, there are a few organic sunscreens that have the right mixture of ingredients so that the sunscreen does not apply oily and does not typically leave a whitish tint (one tip if you feel your sunscreen does: this can help you know where you’ve applied sunscreen and where you missed spots – especially important with moms with kids). And if the sunscreen is manufactured correctly, it should sufficiently protect against the sun’s harmful rays.

Final Thoughts

Given how much harm the chemicals in most sunscreens can do to the body, choosing an organic sunscreen is the best choice.  Organic sunscreens pose little, if any, threat to our bodies, they are biodegradable so they will not harm the environment, and they allow us to get the most out of the sun (primarily Vitamin D absorption).  And there are organic sunscreens that do not have the pesky complaints related to them.

The Benefits of Using Natural Face Masks As Opposed To Using Many of the Commercial Brands

Natural face masks have a long and somewhat interesting history. For example, it is said that Cleopatra used to make her own masks using clay from the Dead Sea. Other historical literature suggests she also frequently used egg whites which she would blend with various herbs. Yang Gui Fei, who was a member of the royal family during China’s Tang dynasty, was renowned for her youthful looks and picture perfect complexion, and if records and legend are anything to go by, her secret lay in using finely crushed white jade, pearl, and ginseng, all of which were mixed together with starch from Lotus root in order to form a paste. It is said these masks eliminated blemishes, reduced lines and wrinkles, and even lightened the skin, and before long, women all across the country were following Yang’s example.

While the facial masks of Yang Gui Fei and Cleopatra may have done wonders for their skin, not all masks during history have been equally as beneficial. For example, during the Renaissance period many women used white lead for their facial masks. In some instances, all traces of the white lead were washed away after a short while, but nine times out of ten, women would leave these masks on since the masks not only concealed blemishes, but also gave women a much sought after milky white appearance. Unfortunately for many, white lead is highly toxic, so rather than ending up with flawlessly beautiful skin, countless women perished.

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Other natural masks, while not life threatening, have been somewhat strange, and perhaps even a touch bizarre. For instance, the well heeled and affluent of ancient Greece and Rome believed masks made from crocodile manure could rid one of wrinkles. Even these days, some people routinely use masks many people would consider absurd. Victoria Beckham for example is a great fan of traditional Japanese Geisha masks, which in case you didn’t know, consists primarily of the droppings collected from Nightingale birds. While some may think this is taking things too far, we cannot deny the fact that Victoria Beckham’s complexion has improved significantly.

Looking back in history, and at some of the beauty treatments people used, one cannot help questioning their sanity, but how can we be sure future generations won’t think the same of us? After all, many of the skin care products we see in supermarkets are loaded with dangerous chemicals, and facial masks are no exception to the rule. The big brand names are especially guilty when it comes to using chemicals in creams, lotions, and masks.

Having recently researched a number of brand name masks, I was astonished to see that even many of the so-called natural face masks also contain chemicals. In my mind, this is absurd, since a natural mask should contain only natural ingredients. The one mask I looked at, made by one of the leading manufacturers, actually contains several questionable ingredients, one of which is Titanium Dioxide. Some may argue that this chemical is acceptable, given that it is found in virtually all brand name cosmetics, as well as in 99% of sunscreen lotions.

The big concern here is the fact that manufacturers use the nanoparticle version of this chemical. This is done in order to make it possible for the chemical to be absorbed by the skin, even though, according to various health organizations, the effects on health are not yet known. On the other hand, if you happen to inhale Titanium Dioxide dust, the health risks are known. According to the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer, it’s a class 2B carcinogen. Studies involving mice also found that Titanium Dioxide nanoparticles cause genetic damage.

Ideally, natural face masks should be just that – NATURAL. In other words, they should be made from 100% natural ingredients, and each of those ingredients should be 100% safe. When a substance is absorbed by the skin, it eventually reaches the bloodstream. When you eat something, it also reaches the bloodstream; so in essence, there’s not much of a difference. If it’s unsafe to introduce a substance to your bloodstream via your mouth, it’s just as unsafe to introduce it to the bloodstream via the skin.

What Are Natural Colloidal Micelle Cleaners?

What Are Natural Colloidal Micelles Cleaners?

Natural colloidal micelles cleaners are environmentally safe and revolutionary in concept and work on a molecular level. They break the attraction of molecules to each other and to a surface. Once this attraction is broken, residue is easily and safely rinsed away. Natural colloidal micelles cleaners are especially effective against organic dirt and soil such as blood and fruit stains. Thomas Graham (1805-1869) was a physical chemist credited as the founder of colloidal chemistry.

WHAT ARE THEY MADE OF?

First we’ll define the individual terms found in the phrase natural “colloidal micelles cleaner”.

Natural means anything found existing in nature and not created by man.
A colloid is a type of mixture (solution) in which one substance is dispersed (suspended) evenly throughout another.
A micelle is a spherical mass (aggregate) of molecules created during the process of making a colloid. Its full name is a “colloidal micelle”. Micelles are also known as “associated colloids”.
A cleaner is anything that removes dirt, including dust, grease, stains, bad smells, garbage and more.

Colloidal science is the study of systems involving small particles of one substance suspended in another. These can be in the form of suspensions in solids, suspensions in gases, and suspensions in liquids. Suspensions in liquids form the basis of a wide variety of products, including paints, ceramics, cosmetics, agricultural sprays, soaps and even food preparations.

Natural liquid cleaners are suspensions in liquids and can be considered as soaps (not detergents) that are made from completely natural ingredients and contain no chemical additives or manmade products. A truly natural soap does not even contain fragrance. Every formula has specific ingredients but the more common ingredients are animal or vegetable oils (fatty acids), vegetable and plant-based enzymes and minerals (surfactants), organic alcohol, coconut oil, and purified water.

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HOW DO THEY WORK?

The nanotechnology of colloidal micelles cleaners causes electrical charges to be instilled in the solution. The electromagnetic strength of the colloidal cleaner is greater than the electromagnetic forces holding the dirt and grime to the dirty surface. This results in the dirt being magnetically attracted to the cleaner solution and pulled away from the dirty surface. The surface is not affected, only the dirt. The dirt breaks up into tiny molecular droplets and each droplet is surrounded by the cleaner. This keeps it from being redeposited on the clean surface and the solution can be rinsed down any drain.

The following are important factors to be considered in order to get the most from a colloidal cleaner:
Water: All colloidal cleaners must have water added in order to activate the cleaning action.
Solution Strength: While some cleaning operations require that the colloidal cleaner be applied undiluted prior to adding water, in order for the solution to break the surface tension of the dirt being removed most solutions work well at dilution ratios of 120:1 to 10:1 when diluted with water.
Time: A colloidal cleaner needs time to fragment and take into solution the dirt to be removed. This can range from a few seconds for mild cleaning to 2-3 hours for heavy duty degreasing.
Temperature: An increase or decrease in temperature dramatically affects a colloidal cleaner’s effectiveness. Standard room temperature is normal but higher temperatures (to 105 degrees F) will allow faster action.
Mechanics: Agitation (scrubbing) of a colloidal cleaning solution while in contact with the dirt to be removed will increase its effectiveness and speed of action.

WHAT ARE THEIR BENEFITS?

Cost competitive with toxic products
Replace most hazardous cleaners
Biodegradable – No expensive disposal required.
No protective clothing required.
Can safely be poured on the ground or down sewers.
Non-Corrosive – Non- flammable
Non-carcinogenic – Non-mutagenic
Safe for all skin conditions including MIS and allergenic
No known hazardous fumes
No known EPA or OSHA regulatory requirements.

Because natural colloidal micelle cleaners are organic and made to be oil emulsifiers, they are very effective in killing and repelling bugs by quickly dissolving the outer skin layers of most insects.

Natural soaps can also be utilized to soften skin, eliminate warts, heal cold sores, and even get rid of acne due to the naturally medicinal ingredients used in their manufacture.

Many university tests have shown that natural soaps meet or even exceed the cleaning power of their chemical cousins that contain toxic ingredients such as solvents, abrasives, corrosives, caustics, combustibles, and a host of other pollutants that degrade our water and air. In the years to come these natural soaps will gradually replace a large variety of other cleaners as their technology and environmental improvement becomes better known and understood by the general population.

(For additional information please contact the author at the website shown below)

Dr. Douglas Bryce
Material Sciences Manager
GreenWyre Products

http://www.greenwyre.com

Steam Shower Enclosures ? The Right Answer to Luxury Steam Baths

Shower enclosures have become ‘must haves’ in all modern bathrooms. Not only do they enhance the aesthetic appeal of the place, but also come equipped with numerous functionalities. You can indeed keep your bathroom clean and organized with the installation of these shower enclosures.

Of all the enclosures for showers, the steam shower enclosures are in style today. This is the result of the growing popularity of steam baths due to their luxury and comfort quotients. Steam baths are also known to cure various skin and pain related ailments. Hence, you would find them in every modern building today. You can even convert your present bathing shower to a steam one with the installation of a new steam shower generator.

Coming back to steam shower enclosures, if you wish to install one in your personal space, it is recommended that you look out for a certain factors. The first thing you should consider is size of the enclosure as per your available space. Interior designers suggest an extra five square feet of floor area per person. Secondly, see that ceiling of shower enclosures for steam baths are sloped or curved so that the condensed water does not drip down directly but move slowly towards the walls. Nowadays, shower enclosures come with inbuilt ceilings, but you can also get them extra and get them installed for the purpose. Again, they should have well-sealed doors in order to ensure that the steam generated does not escape through any openings.

Most of the steam shower enclosures today come in ceramic material. However, you can also get them made in glass. The glass enclosures add beauty to your bathrooms. On the other hand, ceramic ones exude an earthy appearance that is hard to ignore. You can get these enclosures in customized make and size as per your individual preference. One of the most important things an interior designer or an architect would recommend is that you should always install Shower enclosures that gel well with the total home décor.

Now, comes the maintenance part for these steam shower enclosures. If you have one in your house it is recommended that you use Protective coatings to prevent them from unwarranted scratches, oil, debris and others. Nanotechnology has greatly improved the way these enclosures are cleaned today. So, use them and follow all the above tips while getting your steam shower enclosures and enjoy the difference.

How Safe Are Your Cosmetics?

Recently, awareness is being created that most cosmetics we use contain toxic substances such as lead, phthalates and nanoparticles.

Although the FDA has set regulations and safety standards, the cosmetics arena still has a number of loopholes that need to be plugged. For example, manufacturers of cosmetics are not required to mention the ingredients on labels. Due to the same, many manufacturers of perfumes and moisturizers, including some globally popular brands, have been making use of these poisonous substances.

Recent studies revealed that fifty percent of popular lipstick brands contained lead. Imagine the magnitude of poisoning that result from applying such cosmetics on your lips daily. Lead is highly toxic, and can lead to neurological, renal, cardiovascular and reproductive disorders.

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Many popular brands of cosmetics such as deodorants and perfumes were found to contain a high concentration of phthalates which include diethyl phthalate (DEP) that gives these cosmetics some enhanced properties. Phthalates are known to cause reproductive deformities in male babies and early onset of puberty in girls.

Popular brands of moisturizes and sunscreens use nanoparticles. Nanotechnology alters certain materials in cosmetics giving them artificial properties that make these cosmetics aesthetically appealing and beneficial. However, these nanoparticles penetrate the skin, and are highly toxic.

The good news is that many manufacturers of cosmetics have phased out or eliminated the use of phthalates and other toxic substances, showing that cosmetics can be manufactured without these substances.

There are certain websites that allow you to enter the names of products and provide accurate information regarding the toxic ingredients that these products may contain.

If you are looking for safe skin care solutions, follow the link to the only health and beauty search engine- www.hbconnection.com