You are what you wear??

Last week I intended to write about organic cosmetics and skin care products, but instead went on a rant about the FDA. This week, I'm trying to get back on track, but every time I read the news, I find out something else irritating (see below). As many of you may know, I've recently become an independent consultant for a company called alex+von. A+V has partnerships with small businesses who create and sell healthy, chemical-free products--everything from makeup to skin care to body wash to shampoo and conditioner. Many of these products are completely organic, vegan, and gluten-free. Since the products contain only ingredients found in nature, your skin isn't absorbing anything harsh or toxic. The best part to me (in addition to the obvious health benefits) is that you can order items at any time and have them delivered directly to your home, which means you can order from anywhere in the U.S. and don't have to wait on my crazy schedule to receive your items. :)

My original plan was to promote the 100% Pure Hand Buttercream today, which has been a lifesaver this year. Every winter my hands get so dry, the skin ends up cracking and sometimes bleeding. I've tried dozens of lotions, as well as homemade remedies, but this is the first time anything has worked. It's a small tube (2 oz.) but only costs $8 and is fairly concentrated, so it lasts a good while. I use it once in the morning, and then again at night if needed...most days I only need one dose. And it comes in four yummy "flavors": lavender, vanilla bean, coconut, and honey almond.



However, yesterday I came across an article in the Washington Post about lead in lipsticks, which has since been picked up by other news outlets. Apparently, the FDA doesn't have any restrictions on how much lead can be included in cosmetics--even something you're putting on your lips and possibly ingesting small amounts of! (This is the same FDA who doesn't want anyone drinking raw milk. Their decision to implement harsh regulations of small companies while being lenient to huge corporations is interesting, to say the least.) It took me a while, but I found the full list of 400 lipstick shades that contain trace amounts of lead (most likely from mineral additives), which you can read here. I was pretty shocked, because the brands include not only top cosmetics companies such as L'Oreal and Maybelline, but companies that I always thought were more natural, including Burt's Bees and The Body Shop. :(

Thanks to reading that article, I feel compelled to also promote healthier alternatives to common lipsticks, such as the 100% Pure Sorbet Lip Gloss (which my mother loves) or the Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze. There are several other options as well, if those don't sound appealing, so be sure to check out the full line of products offered at alex+von. If you order anything, please make sure I'm listed as your consultant. I'm working hard to become independent of the typical job situation, and every sale gets me to closer to being a work-at-home mom! As always, don't forget to feed the fish. :)