What toxins are you washing your hair with?

Let's face it, people are into their hair! A 'bad hair day' usually means plopping on a hat, crying, complaining, or a rushed trip to the hair stylist or barber. A good hair day makes us feel beautiful - or handsome - and invincible. In the US alone, about 80,000 hair care salons generate combined annual sales of $16 billion dollars.

If you're thinking of getting into the hair care business, this could be good news. But for purists, that means billions and billions of toxic chemicals wafting into the air, pouring down the drain into our ground water, and infiltrating their way into human bodies through pores that suck them up like plants absorb sunshine and water.

It has been a slow erosion that has allowed people to replace lab-generated, synthetic chemicals for natural botanicals in their hair, skin and personal care products. Chemicals might make life easier and produce more drastic effects, but they also exact a huge negative toll on our health and planet. And just as destructive, they offer a false standard of beauty and aging that many people spend their entire lives striving for but never reach.

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Nature, on the other hand - flowers, herbs, fruits, nuts, and seeds - is simplistic, peaceful, beautiful, and accepting. There is a natural cycle in nature that synthetic chemicals try to eradicate - the seasons. Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter exemplify our lives - whether we want to accept it or not. In Spring we burst forth in life so fresh, smooth and delicate, and with such possibility, the whole world wants to embrace us. In Summer we bloom bright and beautiful and with such strong potential and possibility, it takes the breath away. In Autumn we start to change, but with such grace and loveliness, people want to bask in the sheer joy of our experience and calm. And in Winter, we get to rest, reflect, rejoice in the life we've built, taking it all in with the wisdom and sagacity of one who has been there and knows, and can now sit back and simply enjoy.

This is nature at its best. This is what nature offers human beings. This is what we at Miessence embrace when we choose, handcraft, and manufacture the purest products on the planet for your whole body health and wellbeing!

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Let's compare ingredients & side effects:

Theirs:

1. Cocoamide DEA (diethanolamine) can cause nitrosamine contamination, which is a potent carcinogen. Cocoamide DEA is a detergent that causes allergic reactions, including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and can be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

2. Propylene Glycol is a petroleum derivative and industrial antifreeze. It's so toxic that the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities.

3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate is used in car washes and engine degreasers - and in 90% of products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS and ALS experience eye damage, central nervous system depression, laboured breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Frequently disguised in semi-natural cosmetics with the explanation "comes from coconut".

4. Suttocide (sodium hydroxymethylglycinate) is a formaldehyde releasing preservative used in many 'natural' shampoos. Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen and is extremely toxic when inhaled or swallowed.

5. Fragrances can contain allergens and sensitisers, which can trigger asthma attacks. Fragrances also contain chemicals called phthalates, which are hormone disruptors that can affect foetal development and fertility and damage sperm in men.

6. Ext. D&C synthetic colours are made from coal tar and are certified safe for drugs and cosmetics, but not for food. Toxic coal tar has been shown to be carcinogenic in animal tests, and many people are allergic to it.

Ours:

1. Coco Glucoside an extremely gentle, yet effective, cleansing agent made from glucose and coconut fatty acids. Non-toxic, fully biodegradable and mild on the skin.

2. Certified Organic Aloe Vera has healing, soothing, antibacterial, and moisturising properties.

3. Yucca Juice contains natural saponins that gently cleanse and repair damage to cell membranes of the scalp and skin, helping to prevent nutrient loss.

4. Certified Organic Avocado Oil restores lustre to the hair and hydrates dry and damaged ends.

5. Certified Organic Horsetail Extract is an effective remedy for psoriasis, dandruff, eczema, and similar skin conditions.

6. Panthenol is the provitamin of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). It improves the moisture-retention capacity of the skin and stimulates skin regeneration. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-itching effects. It makes hair easier to comb, reduces hair splitting, improves the condition of damaged hair, thickens the hair, and provides sheen.

7. Bitter Orange Extract is a natural antibacterial agent that acts as a mild preservative in our hair care products.

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As you can see, the difference between caring for your 'Crowning Glory' naturally or synthetically is huge. The side effects of hair treated with synthetic chemicals can be devastating, especially as the toxins build up in your body over time.

The side effects of hair treated with the best of nature's offerings benefit your skin and body as the healthful ingredients are absorbed through your pores.

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Testimonial:

I recently had my hair cut for a shorter look and hadn't really used the Protect Hair Repair in the past, as my hair has been relatively healthy. I had some extra product [Hair Repair] that was going to expire, so I used it. What an absolutely great volumizer it is!! I just shampoo with the Desert Flower, a little Shine Herbal Hair Conditioner, spray some Protect Hair Repair on and a dab of Shape Styling Gel, rub them in well and blow dry. When I use a curling iron, it holds the curls all day long.

I really love your hair products. My hair is really soft with a nice shine and I get compliments on it all the time. Thank you!!

Kathleen Balaban, United States

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It's time to be kind to your hair and put your toxic hair care products where they belong: in the garbage. To help you change over to the purest, certified organic hair care products on the market - Miessence, of course! - in June we're offering you the opportunity to purchase our new Healthy Hair Care Pack at 20% off the retail price.


To order your beautiful Miessence products, go to Carol's website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net, go to Products & click on Miessence.

MiTime is published by Organic & Natural Enterprise Group 27 Expansion Street, Ashmore, Qld, Australia, 4214

Would the REAL Organic products please stand up?

Organic Consumers Assn. Identifies Fraudulent and Authentic Organic

Sun Apr 4, 2010 1:35 pm (PDT)

The Organic Consumers' Association (OCA) recently tested various personal
care products claiming to be organic and identified manufacturers and brands
that appear, to the OCA, to make fraudulent and genuine claims in this
regard.

OCA's coming clean campaign:

The OCA has initiated a boycott against the following brands, which it
characterizes ad fake organics:

. Avalon "Organics"
. Desert Essence "Organics"
. Earth's Best "Organic"
. Eminence "Organic" (Except Few w/USDA Seal)
. Giovanni "Organic"
. Goodstuff "Organics"
. Head "Organics"
. Jason "Pure, Natural & Organic"
. Kiss My Face "Obsessively Organic"
. Nature's Gate "Organics"
. Physicians Formula "Organic" Wear
. Stella McCartney "100% Organic"

In contrast, here are some organic brands which the OCA has identified as
honest organics:

. Alteya Organics
. Baby Bear Shop
. Badger
. Brittanie's Thyme
. Bubble and Bee Organic
. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
. Earth Mama Angel Baby
. Indian Meadow Herbals
. Intelligent Nutrients
. Kimberly Parry Organics
. Little Angel
. Mercola
. Miessence Certified Organics
. Nature's Paradise
. OGmama and OGbaby
. Organicare
. Organic Essence
. Origins Organics
. Purely Shea
. Rose Tattoo Aftercare
. SoCal Cleanse
. Sensibility Soaps / Nourish
. Terressentials
. Trillium Organics
. Vermont Soap

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Hooray! Miessence is finally getting validation for being a truly safe, organic product line! You can learn more about Miessence at my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net. Look under Products.

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com

Carcinogens found in baby toiletries

These not added ingredients to be found on the label, rather they're coming from the processing & are hidden dangers. Of note--Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo/Wash is what most hospitals are bathing babies with, so if you are concerned, you can opt not to bathe your baby (it's not dirty!), just have your baby rinsed off or bring your own baby products.

I highly recommend Miessence Certified Organic products because they are certified organic to food grade levels by the USDA & because they are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, which means they don't need chemicals to get the ingredient out of the source. One way to make Miessence products more affordable is to buy foaming soap dispensers (ebay is a good source) & then use the Sunflower Body Wash or shampoos for your family...you'll save a lot of money that way. Go to my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net to learn more about Miessence products.

Probable Carcinogens Found in Baby Toiletries
By Lyndsey Layton
Washington Post
Staff Writer
Friday, March 13, 2009

More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer, the organization said yesterday. Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.

The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals. The organization tested 48 baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo. Of those, 32 contained trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 contained small amounts of formaldehyde. Seventeen tested positive for both chemicals.

"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup. Companies that manufacture and sell the products tested by the group stressed that they comply with government standards. "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold," Johnson & Johnson said in a statement. "We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."

The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane as an ingredient in personal care products, but the Food and Drug Administration has not established a safe limit for the chemical in shampoo, lotion and other toiletries. It maintains that the trace amounts found in those products are not harmful. A 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate human skin when used in lotion. Health advocates argue, however, that federal regulators have not considered the cumulative effect of chemicals in personal care products.

"The levels we've found are relatively low, and the industry often says there's just a little bit of carcinogen in my product," Malkan said. "The problem is, we're finding a little bit of carcinogen in many products. Many of these products are used every day, so we've got repeated and frequent exposure to these low levels of chemicals. They're not the safest and purest products, and parents ought to know that."

In addition, government studies have not examined the effect of chemical exposure on the particular vulnerabilities of infants and children, whose bodies are still developing, the advocates said. Several Democratic lawmakers said the report is evidence that the nation's chemical regulation system needs to be changed.

"The fact that we are bathing our kids in products contaminated with carcinogens shows how woefully out of date our cosmetics laws are and how urgently they need to be updated," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.). "The science has moved forward; now the FDA needs to catch up and be given the authority to protect the health of Americans." Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) called the findings "horrifying" and said she intends to introduce legislation that would require stronger oversight of the cosmetics industry.

The report can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org/toxictub.

Ten Americans Studied for Toxic Chemicals

This is SOOOOO worth watching! You'll be shocked...

http://www.ewg.org/kidsafe

Once you're done watching, if you're interested in certified organic (to food grade levels) bodycare products for you & your family, learn more about Miessence by going to my website. Find out why this product line is truly one of the safest products out on the market. The products cost a little more than mainstream ones, but they are worth having the piece of mind that comes with using the safest products out on the market. Compare your bodycare products with the ingredients in Miessence products to see what your skin is absorbing every day.

http://www.awelllivedlife.net/

http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/

A message about breast cancer

Breast Cancer is a topic that is close to my heart. My mother & several of my aunts have battled against it. All but one has won. I'm doing what I can to improve my chances of being cancer-free by taking Juice Plus whole food supplements to increase the phytonutrients in my body, eliminating toxins in my bodycare products by using Miessence certified organic products, getting rid of plastic containers in my home & drinking reverse osmosis water. I encourage you to do what you can to make your environment the safest it can be for you & your family...

A politically-charged message from Dr. Fuhrman (www.diseaseproof.com) about breast cancer

Christina Applegate's diagnosis of breast cancer at age 36, brings to our awareness the question, why now, after so many millions spent on cancer research, do so many women still get and die of breast cancer? This diagnosis in such a young celebrity will incite a new media frenzy for more donations for cancer research. Cancer research means more testing for new drugs. I doubt any significant reduction in cancer deaths will result as long as we ignore causation and still expect to discover new poisons to defeat cancer. Deaths from breast cancer have increased throughout the last century and modern medical care has done little to halt this trend.

Imagine if that money was instead spent on educating the public about the environmental and nutritional causes of cancer. We could slash breast cancer rates by 70 to 90 percent if the money that went to cancer research (almost exclusively drug research) instead went to fund a huge publicity campaign to beat cancer at its roots.

How many people know, childhood diets are the main cause of adult cancers? I have studied this subject for years, read thousands of studies and wrote a book about it (Disease-Proof Your Child). However, I learned not many people care about this subject. Knowledge about real cancer prevention is not politically correct and the spread of this message is unlikely to happen as the social, economic and political climate in the modern world revolves around promotion of processed foods and dairy products as the center of childhood nutritional practices.

It is blasphemy to produce scientific studies that expose our present day feeding practices as cancer-causing. This message is not what people want to hear, they want a magic pill. Information about cancer causation does not fly in the media. Flip around the dial, listen to the discussions about cancer in the media and read the articles. Do any of them bring up diet as the cause of cancer? Do the television personalities discuss that over 60 percent of food consumed in America is junk food? That's right, we have crossed over the 60 percent line, white flour, (pasta, bagels, crackers) sweeteners, oils, chips, processed cereals, soft drinks and other junk foods are the vast majority of what we eat. Add cheese and other dairy foods, full of hormones and saturated fat, and you have a simple formula to create the cancer explosion we have seen in the modern world over the last 75 years.

Put low micronutrient, high glycemic carbohydrates together with lots of cheese in your child's mouth and boom, watch the cancer-creating experiment unfold (it usually takes about 40 years). Now, while articles tussle with the argument of whether breast MRI's or mammograms are more appropriate as an early detection tool, those in the know realize that there is no such thing as early detection and all cancers diagnosed with radiographic techniques must be large enough to be visualized with the human eye, so they have been there more than 10 years already.

When Christina Applegate's publicist reports "it was not serious and caught in the early stage" we know that is not factual. Present medical science has no way of determining whether cells have spread outside the breast. A stage zero cancer means that it less than 2 centimeters, and no cancer were found in the lymph nodes. However that still does not tell us that it was caught before cancer cells have spread. Most invasive breast cancers have seeded the body with cells by the time a mammogram or MRI can detect it. Negative lymph nodes on a biopsy does not tell us the cancer is still localized to the breast because a small number of cells are for practical purposes invisible.

There are both aggressive and non-aggressive breast cancers. It was not announced which type Ms. Applegate has, but the more aggressive breast cancers are more common in young women. They spread out from the breast at an earlier stage. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer that spreads locally and there is no significant advantage to early detection because these cancers are not generally life threatening and can be detected later when they are larger with a good prognosis. Hopefully Christina has this type. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma is an example of breast cancer that is more aggressive.

Genetics plays a minor role, not the major role. Dietary practices have been identified by scientific studies as the primary cause of breast cancers. The countries with the highest incidence of cancers of the breast are in North America, Western Europe and Australia, while in contrast, the occurrence is lowest in Southeast Asia1. For example, when compared to the United States, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand have only one-twentieth the amount of breast cancer in the 50-75 age bracket. Breast and Prostate cancer are the most prevalent cancers in America.

Diets lower in animal products (especially cheese) and higher in unrefined plant foods account for these dramatic differences. When people from a low risk country migrate to the United States, their cancer rate increases considerably and the cancer rate in their offspring jumps up to match other Americans. This demonstrates that the lower incidence of these cancers is not due to a lower genetic susceptibility in Asians, but rather due to the exposure to Western dietary practices2.

Plant-derived micronutrients reduce toxic stress and arm the body's defenses against cancer. The growing body, with its dividing cells, is at greater risk when exposed to all types of negative and toxic influences. In adults, our valuable genetic material (DNA) is wound up in a tight ball, like the rubber bands on the inside of a golf ball. When we are young and cells are replicating and growing, the DNA unwinds, exposing more of its surface. This makes it more susceptible to damage from toxic exposure. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, infants and toddlers have a ten times greater cancer risk than adults when exposed to gene-damaging chemicals3.

In a similar manner, an unhealthy diet can do substantially more damage to a young body than an adult one. The fact is, the earlier in life, the greater the potential for damage. The idea that eating an anti-cancer diet in our childhood is more important in determining cancer risk than waiting to eat healthy as an adult, has been tested in animals by Dr. Jerald Silverman of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Ohio State with a grant from the American Institute for Cancer Research. He chose to study a strain of mice very susceptible to breast cancer. He put one group on a diet low in fat their entire lives and with the other group he switched them from a high fat diet to a healthier low fat one at different times; some before puberty, some at puberty and some after puberty. The study showed the same thing we see in human studies; those mice fed the high fat diet early in life had more cancer and more of the cancer spread to the lung, and the earlier the change to the healthier lower fat diet the better the mice fared.

The things we are exposed to earlier in life are crucial to our later health. If a nuclear power plant exploded nearby, dousing us all in heavy radiation, it would not cause a significant increase in cancer occurrence for at least 30 years. For example, the excess risk for breast, prostate and colon cancer among atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki continues to be observed today, and persists throughout the lifetime of the survivors. The largest grouping of the radiation-related cancer deaths for these common cancers occurred in the period from 1986 to 1990, forty to forty five years after exposure4.

Recent studies have also found fruit eating during childhood had powerful effects to protect against cancer in later life. A 60-year study of 4,999 participants found those who consumed more fruit in their childhood (highest quartile) were 38 percent less likely to develop cancer of all types as adults5.

There is much more here and the science is fascinating. I could go on and on with hundreds of more studies, telling this story, of food and other factors initiating cancer, but the point is--we already know enough about how to beat breast cancer. We can implement good science to win the war on cancer. We can do it now. We must eat right America.

For adults at risk or who already have cancer, nutritional excellence is a critical intervention one can use to reduce risk and significantly increase the chance of survival. Eat a high-nutrient, vegetable-based diet as described in my books, Eat To Live and Eat For Health. Green vegetables are the most powerful anti-breast cancer food. Take note that a vegetarian diet does not show protection against breast cancer as much as a diet rich in green vegetables, berries, and seeds. It is the phytochemical nutrient density and diversity of the diet that offers the most dramatic protection against cancer, not merely the avoidance of meat or fat.

Learn more about the best ways to prevent breast cancer and the debate over mammograms in Dr. Fuhrman's Healthy Times Newsletter #13, May 2004.
Dr. Fuhrman is a board certified family physician and specialist in nutritional medicine. Visit him at DrFuhrman.com
To comment on this article, check out Dr. Fuhrman's blog DiseaseProof.com.
1. Doll R, Muir C, Waterhouse J. International Union Against Cancer (UICC) Cancer Incidence in five continents. Vol VI, Lyon 1997.
2. Ziegler RG, Hoover RN, Pike MC et al. Migration patterns and breast cancer risk in Asian-American women. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993;85(22):1819-1827.
3. Dourson M, Charnley G, Scheuplein R. Differential sensitivity of children and adults to chemical toxicity. II. Risk and regulation. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2002;35(3):448-467. Miller MD, Marty MA, Arcus A, et al. Differences between children and adults: implications for risk assessment at California EPA. Int J Toxicol 2002;21(5):403-418.
4. McPherson K, Steel CM, Dixon JM. ABC of Breast Diseases, Breast cancer--epidemiology, risk factors, and genetics. BMJ 2000;321:624-628. Pierce DA, Shimizu Y, Preston DL, et al. Studies of the mortality of atomic bomb survivors. Report 12, Part I. Cancer: 1950-1990 RERF Report No. 11-95 Radiat Res 1996;146:1-27.
5. Maynard M, Gunnell D, Emmett P, et al. Fruit, vegetable and antioxidants in childhood and risk of adult cancer: the Boyd Orr cohort. J Epidemiol Community Health 2003;57:218-225.

DrFuhrman.com
4 Walter E. Foran Blvd
Suite 408
Flemington, NJ 08822
US

That said, I'd like to share that Juice Plus whole food supplements give you the phytonutrient equivalent of 15 fruits & vegetables per day. If you're interested in learning more, please visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net. You can also qualify for free supplements for your children if they are between the ages of 6-13.

Now to something more positive regarding the fight against breast cancer...

I just joined the Love/Avon Army of Women — and you should, too!

The amazing Dr. Susan Love has a call to action for women withOUT breast cancer, whether cured, never had and no risk factors. She has said she is striving for prevention, not just the cure. In order to become one in the Army of Women who would be willing to share their blood, saliva, breast tissue, etc. with scientists, go to ArmyofWomen.org and sign up. Signing up does not necessarily mean you will be chosen, just that you are willing to be. Dr. Love said they are piling the women into regions and will divy them/us out to the scientists in the area. It could be many months before we learn if we have been chosen.

Please, please consider becoming one of the volunteers if you do not have breast cancer! Our sisters (and brothers, because men get breast cancer, too!) need us to help. The Love/Avon Army of Women offers women the opportunity to partner with the scientists who are conducting research that will end this disease--once and for all. Breast cancer has been around for decades, but it does not have to be our future. We can be the generation that stops breast cancer once and for all by figuring out what causes this disease and how to prevent it!

Sign up for your sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, best friend, and the woman you met last week. This is YOUR chance to be part of the research that will end breast cancer. It takes a just a minute to join. But the impact we will have will last a lifetime.

Please Join Me in Being One in a Million!

http://www.awelllivedlife.net/

http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/

Moisturizers Linked to Skin Cancer?

Moisturizers Linked To Skin Cancer?



Studies: 4 Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams Promote Tumors In UV-Exposed Mice



http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/14/health/webmd/main4351459.shtml?source=search_story


(WebMD) Four commonly used moisturizers promoted skin cancers in mouse studies.


Mice are not men. But the unexpected finding suggests that these -- and perhaps other products -- may not be as safe as they're thought to be.


The moisturizers tested in the study were Dermabase, Dermovan (a wholesale only product discontinued in 2006), Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream, and Vanicream.


In a mouse model of sun-related skin cancer , frequent application of each product resulted in more skin tumors and faster tumor growth, says study leader Allan H. Conney, PhD, director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research and professor in the school of pharmacy at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. "This was unexpected. We really did not expect to see the tumor-promoting activity of these creams," Conney tells WebMD.


In fact, Conney and colleagues were getting ready to use one of these moisturizers -- Dermabase -- in human clinical trials of topical caffeine, which prevents skin cancer in animal studies.
"We thought it would be prudent to test Dermabase by itself to see if it had tumor-promoting activity," Conney says. "We did not think it would. But lo and behold, to our surprise we got an increased rate of skin cancer."


This led to new tests of Dermabase and the three other moisturizers, which the Conney team hoped to use in their human study. For these new animal studies, the researchers used hairless mice irradiated with ultraviolet light twice a week for 20 weeks. With no further irradiation, such mice eventually develop skin cancer -- very much like humans overexposed to sunlight early in life.


Five days a week, for 17 weeks, the researchers rubbed moisturizer into the animals' skin. The result:

Dermabase increased the total number of tumors by 69%.
Dermovan increased the total number of tumors by 95%.
Eucerin increased the total number of tumors by 24%.
Vanicream increased the total number of tumors by 58%.


"The multimillion-dollar question is, what about humans?" Conney asks. "The answer is, we don't know. Our study raises a red flag and points out the need for epidemiologists to take a look at people who use moisturizing creams. And the companies that market these products should take a look at animal models and see if their products promote tumors."


Testing Moisturizers for Safety


Dermatologist Keyvan Nouri, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of the best-selling book Skin Cancer, agrees that companies that make moisturizers should test their products.


"This study could definitely be a warning to alert these companies to consider testing moisturizing creams with some sort of assay," Nouri tells WebMD. "These creams need to be tested first before they come to market."


Moisturizers are classified as cosmetics by the FDA, which does not require that they undergo the same safety and efficacy tests required for drugs.


The moisturizers did not cause cancer in the mice. That came from their early-life radiation exposure. But the creams did make skin cancers grow faster and more readily.


Nouri notes that the radiation damaged the skin of the mice before the moisturizing creams were applied. That, he says, might account for the moisturizers' unusual tumor-promoting effect.
However, he notes that the skin cancers are becoming much more common in humans.
"There are over a million cases a year," he says. "It is by far the most common cancer we deal with. Skin cancers account for more than half of all cancers combined. But most skin cancers are totally curable."


What is it about the moisturizers that might promote cancer?


The Conney team asked Johnson & Johnson to make them a "custom blend" moisturizer without two ingredients previously linked to skin iritation (sodium lauryl sulfate) and tumor promotion (mineral oil). The custom blend (on which Rutgers University and Johnson & Johnson hold a patent) did not promote skin cancer.


But not all of the products tested use these ingredients, so exactly what -- if anything -- might be linked to cancer isn't known. And it's certainly clear that mouse and human skin are very different.


Moisturizers Still Necessary


Nouri warns consumers not to stop using moisturizers.


"As we get older, our skin gets drier," he says. "We need to moisturize, otherwise our skin gets dry and we get eczema , dermatitis , rashes , and so on. It is too soon to say from this study people should stop moisturizing."


Eucerin is made by Beiersdorf Inc.


"We have just learned about this study and are currently reviewing it to understand the findings," Beiersdorf says in a statement to WebMD. "Eucerin Original Creme has been on the market for more than 100 years and is a highly respected, dermatologist-recommended brand. It has been widely used by both individuals with normal skin and those with diseased skin under the care of physicians, and no incidents of this nature have ever been reported."


Vanicream is made by Pharmaceutical Specialties Inc. In a statement to WebMD, PSI President Conrad O. Thompson, RPh, says there is nothing in the Conney study to indicate any need for change in current recommendations for use of Vanicream.


"Treatment with Vanicream Skin Cream clearly did not increase the proportion of animals that developed tumors," Thompson notes.


Dermovan, a wholesale-only product used as a base to which other ingredients are added by compounding pharmacists, was made by Healthpoint Ltd. until the product was discontinued in 2006.


"The product has been around for 50 years, and has no safety issues related to it," Healthpoint spokesman Mark Mitchell tells WebMD.


Dermabase maker Paddock Laboratories Inc. did not respond to WebMD's request for comment.
The Conney study appears in the Aug. 14 advance online issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.



**If you want a moisturizer made from Certified Organic (to food grade levels) ingredients that are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, choose Miessence products. Go to my website at http://www.awelllivedlife.net/ & click on the Miessence tab to learn more.



http://www.awelllivedlife.net/

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Got GMO?

Everything you ever wanted to know (& even what you didn't want to know) about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO):

http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=21766

The links section alone is super handy!

If you want non-GMO health & beauty products, use Certified Organic Miessence products. Go to my website (www.AWellLivedLife.Net) & compare the list of ingredients to the ones in your cabinet to see what toxins & GMOs you're exposing yourself & your family to.

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

Babies Absorb Chemicals

Babies absorb chemicals from personal care products

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/home/about_childrens/press_releases/2008/02/003170.asp

Use of Baby Personal Care Products Associated With Higher Levels of Phthalates in Children
February 4, 2008

Babies recently treated with infant personal care products such as lotion, shampoo and powder were more likely to have man-made chemicals called phthalates in their urine than other babies, according to a Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and University of Washington study appearing in the February 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Phthalates (pronounced "THAH-lates") are added to many personal care and cosmetic products, as well many common household plastic and vinyl products. Some studies suggest phthalates may affect reproductive development in humans. Animal-based studies of phthalates have found that these synthetic chemicals can harm reproductive system development, and studies in humans have found that prenatal exposure or exposure through breast milk can alter hormone concentrations. Early-childhood exposure has not been extensively studied, so additional research is needed to determine if phthalate exposure can indeed cause reproductive development problems or other adverse effects in infants.

Phthalates are commonly found in many plastic products like children's toys, lubricants, infant care products, cosmetics, and personal care products. Since phthalates are not chemically bound to these products, they can be released into the air or into liquids, possibly leading to exposure through breathing, ingestion, and skin contact. Product labels in the United States are not currently required to list phthalate content.
In this study, researchers set out to see if using baby personal care products was associated with urine phthalate concentrations. To accomplish this, they collected urine samples from 163 infants aged 2 months to 28 months, and measured the levels of nine different phthalates in those urine samples. They also had the babies' mothers fill out questionnaires on their use of infant personal care products in the past 24 hours. When they cross-referenced the data, they found that the use of baby powder, lotion, and shampoo were each strongly associated with higher phthalate levels in the urine. The scientists also found that every baby had detectable levels of at least one phthalate in their urine, and about 81% of the infants had detectable levels of seven or more phthalates. Younger babies from birth up through 8 months of age showed the strongest associations between product use and phthalate concentrations, as did babies whose mothers used more infant personal care products.

"We found that infant exposure to phthalates is widespread, and that exposure to personal care products applied onto the skin may be an important source," said the study's lead author, Sheela Sathyanarayana, MD, MPH, a researcher with Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. "This is troubling, because phthalate exposure in early childhood has been associated with altered hormone concentrations as well as increased allergies, runny nose and eczema. Babies may be more at risk than children or adults because their reproductive, endocrine and immune systems are still developing."

Parents who want to decrease their baby's exposure to phthalates should limit the amount of baby care products used on infants and young children, and apply lotions or powders only if medically indicated. Since phthalates are also found in many household plastic products including plastic food containers, parents can also stop heating plastics in the microwave oven and use glass alternatives for food storage whenever possible. Phthalate-free cosmetics and personal care products are also available.

This research project was supported by grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. With Sathyanarayana, the research team included Catherine J. Karr, MD, PhD, Paula Lozano, MD, MPH, and Elizabeth Brown, PhD, from the University of Washington; Antonia M. Calafat, PhD, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Fan Liu, MS, and Shanna H. Swan, PhD, from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

For phthalate-free health & beauty products, choose Miessence certified organic products for your family. Go to www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab at the top to learn more about the difference between certified organic, organic & natural according to the cosmetic industry. You'll be surprised!

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

It's Mosquito season...Go DEET-free

So, why should you go DEET-Free???



The answer will startle you...

Duke University Medical Center has sponsored numerous studies on the harmful effects of DEET. Below is an excerpt from their most recent study on the long-term exposure of DEET-based products. Every year, approximately one-third of the U.S. population uses insect repellants containing DEET to ward off mosquitoes and other pests. At present, DEET is used in more than 230 products with concentrations up to100 percent. However, DEET should be used with caution due to its possible damaging effects on brain cells. Studies have shown that DEET causes brain cell death and behavioral changes in rats after frequent and prolonged use. This exposure causes neurons to die in regions of the brain that control muscle movement, learning, memory, and concentration. Rats treated with an average human dose of DEET (40 mg/kg body weight) performed far worse when challenged with physical tasks requiring muscle control, strength and coordination. These findings are consistent with reported human symptoms following DEET's use by the military in the Persian Gulf War. With heavy exposure to DEET and other insecticides, humans may experience memory loss, headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, tremors and shortness of breath. These symptoms may not be evident until months or even years after exposure. The most severe damage occurs when DEET is used concurrently with other insecticides, such as permethrin, for prolonged and frequent periods of time. Duke University Medical Center Pharmacologist Dr. Mohamed Abou-Donia has spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides such as DEET. He has found that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair functioning in parts of the brain."Damage to these areas could result in problems with muscle coordination,muscle weakness, walking or even memory and cognition."Abou-Donia says rats given even small doses of DEET for 60 days had a harder time accomplishing even the easiest tasks. Abou-Donia says short-term exposure to DEET does not appear to be harmful, but warns against using any product with more than a 30 percent concentration. Use as little of the product as you can, and don't use a product containing DEET if you're taking any medication. "We found that the combined exposure to DEET and other chemicals is more dangerous than just DEET alone."Abou-Donia also warns to never put a product containing DEET on an infant's or child's skin.



So what is a concerned holistic mama supposed to do to keep her family mosquito bite-free?



Here's my recommendation:



Miessence's Buzz Free Zone Personal Spray
Size : 125 ml/4.2 fl.oz
Price ex-tax : $14.50

Description:
Make your outdoor experience more pleasant with Mother Nature’s help. We use a potent combination of pure essential oils and organic herbal extracts, with absolutely no chemical nasties!
How: Spray freely over exposed skin.
Ingredients:
Organic Aloe Vera leaf juice,
Purified Water,
Proprietry Blend of Essential Oils,
Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil,
Organic Blue Mallee Eucalyptus Essential Oil,
Organic Citronella Essential Oil,
Organic Catnip Essential Oil,
Pennyroyal Essential Oil ,
Organic lemon-scented tea tree essential oil,
Natural Gum,
Neem Extract,
Thyme Essential Oil,
Pine Essential Oil,
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil,
Organic Lemon Myrtle Essential Oil,
Organic Lavender Essential Oil



Go to this link to learn more or place an order: https://garneryeh.mionegroup.com/product/16101



http://www.awelllivedlife.net/

http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/

Here's some great information...thanks to the Green Mama Team from Holistic Mom Network's national group.

Tip of The Week: 8 Chemicals to Avoid in Personal Care Products

Weekly Tip From The Green Mama Team
8 Chemicals to Avoid in Personal Care Products
1. Sodium Laurel Sulphate (sls) - Acts as a penetration enhancer. This chemical alters the structure of the skin and allows chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of chemicals reaching the blood stream.
2. Parabens - Used as a preservative. This chemical may impair fertility; alter hormone levels; increase risks for certain types of cancers; alter reproductive development, cause skin irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions; and some studies have found parabens in breast tumors.
3. Propylene Glycol - This chemical acts as a penetration enhancer and keeps products from melting in high heat or freezing when it is cold. This chemical alters the structure of the skin by allowing chemicals to penetrate deep beneath it while increasing their ability to reach the blood stream. It can also be a skin irritant and cause allergic reactions.
4. Phthalates - Industrial chemicals used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics. Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs and acts as a reproductive toxin in males.
5. Oxybenzone - most often found in sunscreen. Linked to allergies, hormone disruption and cell damage.
6. Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA - An emulsifying agent in cosmetics and as a foaming and cleansing agent to improve how one's mouth feels. May contain impurities connected with certain types of cancers. After absorption through the skin, it can create carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines. Insufficient toxicity data is available to determine the safety of the product when inhaled.
7. Petrolatum - This is a petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin, making lipstick shine and creams smoother and skin softer. This chemical may contain harmful impurities that may break down into chemicals linked to cancer. It also may cause allergic reactions and other significant health problems. It is banned by the European Union.
8. Coal Tar Colors - So-called coal-tar chemicals are found in many "FD&C" or "D&C" colorsused in makeup and hair dye. FD&C Blue 1 and FD &C Green 3 are carcinogenic, and impurities in other colors -- D&C Red 33, FD&C Yellow 5 and FD&C Yellow 6 -- have been shown to cause cancer when applied to the skin.

Tips compiled by Holistic Moms Network Green Mama Team, April 2008.

Sources: Chemicals to Avoid in Everyday Personal Care Products - Healthy U, Northwestern Health Sciences University, www.nwhealth.edu
The Green Guide, Dirty Dozen SSC, Jan.04, www.thegreenguide.com
For further information:“An Organic Guide to Healthy Skin: It's All in the Ingredients”: http://www.nwhealth.edu/healthyU/stayHealthy/cos3.html
(Provides examples of chemicals and organic alternatives to look for)http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1 (Searchable database of millions of cosmetic products, gives detailed information about the content and any ingredients that are potentially harmful)
“Organic Body Care Recipes: 175 Homemade Herbal Formulas for Glowing Skin & a Vibrant Self” by Stephanie Tourles
“A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Complete Information About the Harmful and Desirable Ingredients Found in Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals” by Ruth Winter

To join Holistic Moms Network, go to www.holisticmoms.org

www.AWellLivedLife.net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

To learn more about completely natural, safe products for your family that are certified organic to food grade levels, please go to my website & click on Miessence.

Organic labeling doesn't mean it's safe

Here is a link to a great blog article about organic products not being as safe as people think. Basically it says those products that are not USDA approved as organic often contain 1,4-dioxane which is thought to be carcinogenic. The USDA National Organic Program prohibits the use of Dioxane in organic products seeking certification by the USDA. It lists some of the company/name brands that have dioxane in their so-called "organic" & "natural" products.http://www.vegetarianorganicblog.com/2008/03/ocas_study_finds_carcenogenics.html

Here is another article about this issue:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.cfm

Here is a link to a site where you can sign a petition to ensure the quality of organic products: http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/action.cfm

This article brings up some important points that people should know about Dioxane in "organic" products. It also brings up the topic of what the cosmetic industry's definitions of "organic" & "natural" are.

Did you know that the cosmetic industry's definition of "natural" is any ingredient "derived from " a natural source? You'll still see ingredients in natural products with long chemical names followed by the phrase "derived from coconut oil". For example, to create cocamide DEA from coconut oil requires the use of the carcinogenic synthetic chemical diathanolamine (DEA). It is therefore no longer natural.

Did you know that the cosmetic industry's definition of "organic" is any compound containing carbon?Carbon is found in anything that ever lived. So, by using this definition of organic, they can say that the toxic petrochemical preservative methyl paraben is organic because it was formed by leaves that rotted over thousands of years to become the crude oil used to make this toxic preservative.

The ONLY health & beauty products that are truly safe are Certified Organic. Certified organic is an independent 3rd party guarantee of an "organic" claim. They must comply with stringent international standards that cover all aspects of the processing chain to ensure that the organic integrity is maintained from seed, growing, harvesting, storage, transporting & processing through to the finished product.

If anyone is interested in a product line that is certified organic to food grade levels by the USDA, IFOAM & ACO, check out my website at http://www.awelllivedlife.net/ & click on the Miessence tab.

There are several new product lines that are certified organic. Compare the ingredient lists. Miessence has the highest percentage of certified organic ingredients & has the shortest list of ingredients. They use cold-pressed & cold-extracted ingredients & are a carbon neutral company.

http://www.awelllivedlife.net/
http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/

Miessence Testimonials

Miessence Certified Organic Product Testimonials--Pregnancy & Babies
From Issue Two of the MiNews Newsletter

May 11 2007
I recently had my 1st baby named Oliver! Throughout the whole pregnancy I used Rejuvenessence on my belly twice a day. It felt great & kept my skin in excellent condition. I did not get one stretch mark (my body was prone to getting them in the past)--I was so thrilled! It's such a wonderful product!
Another must-have product during pregnancy was In-Liven. I took it 3 times a day & felt absolutely fantastic. On the odd few days that I forgot to take it, I found my hips would ache at night. This was just another indicator of how much this probiotic does for your body. Needless to say, my baby is bright-eyed, has perfect health & is bounding with energy. I know he getting all the nourishment he needs from my organic diet & lots of In-Liven. There is no way I would go through a pregnancy without it!
Thank you Czerral & ONE Group!
Regi S., Australia

Feb 12 2007
I have been using the In-Liven probiotic regularly for 4 months now, since my daughter was a month old & began having colic. I am breastfeeding & found that her colic symptoms improved greatly after about a week of my taking In-Liven. I have also lost around 15 kilos (from a size 16 down to a size 10), & no longer retain too much fluid since I started taking it. I have been overweight since my son was born 14 years ago & am feeling so much healthier & fitter now. Thanks for such a safe, healthy & effective product.
Karyn B., Australia

August 7 2007
I just wanted to let you know of another fantastic reason to use In-Liven. My daughter who is teething has been getting dreadful nappy/diaper rash (4 teeth through & horrid nappy rash). Due to gastro going around town, I increased the amount of In-Liven the girls were having. Next thing I realize that 5 more teeth have through (over 2 month period) & not a sign of ANY nappy rash. I only realized that when I increased the In-Liven that the rash disappeared also, & we never got gastro in our house at all, even though most of the town I live got it. Has to be the In-Liven. Thank you very much.
Lisa D. Australia

February 27 2007
When I was pregnant, the pigmentation in my skin around my face & under my arms began to go dark. I was so embarrassed to raise my arms. The worse thing, I was pregnant during the summer, so wearing singlets was a no-no. Pregnancy brings out the beauty in some women, but, not under my arms. I became depressed until my best friend told me to go organic & to try Miessence. Wow, what a godsend! I was able to clean off the dark pigmentation & I have never gone back to any other deodorants. I highly recommend this product to all women who love to have beautiful skin.
Marjorie M., Australia

If you're interested in finding out more about the products mentioned in these testimonials, please visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab. Miessence products are certified organic to food grade levels & contain the highest levels of certified organic ingredients compared to other product lines. The ingredients have been cold-pressed & cold-extracted.

Homemade baby wipes

I recently had one of my HypnoBirthing moms ask me what kind of baby wipe I use.I buy Seventh Generation & get a case of them from Amazon.com. That's the cheapest that I've found. They are chlorine free & don't have as many chemicals in them. There is also the option of making your own wipes. Here is what you can do...note that the paper towels you use need to be thicker so they don't fall apart...it's hard to find unbleached paper towels that are made thicker. Also, the 1st few weeks, you don't really even need to use anything with a cleaning/soap agent in it...warm water & cotton balls or squares works really well to get breastmilk poops off your little one's bottom. Oh...& I swear by Triple Paste Cream for diaper rash. It does have petroleum based substances in it, but it also has the highest amount of zinc oxide out there, which helps heal up the rash really quickly. You can get Triple Paste Cream at any pharmacy, but you have to order it...tube form or tub form.

Homemade Baby Wipes
You can store these solutions in a spray bottle and spray it onto the wipe at the time of the diaper changing or you can store the wipes and the solution in the same leak proof container.

Ingredients:
1/2 roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls--use a really thick type of paper towel like Bounty)
1/8-1/4 c. baby shampoo (I recommend Miessence's Sunflower Body Wash..certified organic, cold-pressed, all natural & non-toxic...go to my website to learn more)
1/8-1/4 c. baby oil
2 cups lukewarm water
1 plastic container that the rolls fit in
Cut roll in half and remove center cardboard. In Baby Wipe Container, mix liquid ingred. and place half of roll in container. Place on lid and tip upside down. To use, pull out from center.

Herbal Solutions
The basic recipe for wipe solution will do good job of cleaning your baby's bottom, but you may want to use a herbal solution to add some extra soothing and diaper rash treatment properties.The herbal ingredients that may be added to the solution have different properties that help protect your baby's sensitive skin and / or promote healing of diaper rashes.

Calendula -This herb commonly used to soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. The herb is helpful for people who suffer from skin rashes and sunburn. Calendula helps to soothe inflamed tissues, reduce pain and aids in quick healing of cuts and abrasions.
Aloe Vera - The gel from the Aloe Vera leaf is great for healing and relieving burns and rashes.
Tea Tree Oil - This oil readily penetrates the skin and is useful for treating burns, scrapes, bites, stings, and various skin irritations. It may also help to prevent or treat yeast infections. Very effective fungicide, antibacterial and antiseptic.
Lavender - Lavender added to salves and creams promotes healing and as an aroma additive eases tension, tiredness and feelings of depression
St. John's Wort - Helps promote healing and has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Comfrey - Helps relieve inflammation and promotes healing.

Baby Wipes Recipe
1 1/2 - 2 cups distilled water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera gel
1 TBS Calendula oil
2 tsp. Baby Shampoo
2-3 drops tea tree oil
2-3 drops lavender oil
Mix solution together, use to wet wipes.

Anti-fungal Baby Wipes
1/2 c. distilled water
1 tbs. vinegar (helps discourage yeast)
1/4 c. aloe vera gel
1 TBS. calendula oil
1 drop lavender essential
1 drop tea tree essential oil
To prepare, use a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour all your ingredients in, cover the jar and shake to blend the ingredients.Place your wipes in a container and pour on enough solution to moisten them. Store any extra solution in the fridge. It should stay fresh for a long time especially if you used distilled water.

Rash Treatment and Prevention
Natural Rash Treatment
Extra virgin olive oil that has been steeped with fresh calendula. You can apply this oil at diaper changing time to help soothe and heal the rash.To infuse calendula: Pour the desired amount of Olive Oil or whatever oil you choose into a glass jar and put calendula into jar and shake. Place in dark place for 3-4 weeks shaking the jar every day or so. You can also place the jar in a water bath (pan with water in stove) and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to a very gentle simmer and cook for 1-2 hours. After infusion is complete, strain calendula out of oil. A simple way of straining the calendula out of the oil is touse a strainer lined with cheese cloth. When all the oil has strained through, be sure to squeeze the cheese cloth to get all the oil out of the calendula.

Baby Salve © Millie Fodor
1 part St. John's Wort
2 part Calendula
1 part Comfrey leaf
1 part Comfrey root
1 part Plantain Olive Oil
Beeswax .
Vitamin E
For full instructions on how to create this salve visit:http://www.wildroots.com/salves.htm

Hope you find this helpful!

Carol
awelllivedlife.blogspot.com

The Story of Stuff

This is a really cool informative video about what happens to our "stuff".

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. Go to www.storyofstuff.com to watch the video. Please forward this info to your friends & family...it's definitely worth watching!

I thought I was pretty educated about things & did my part to recycle & buy organic, but this really showed me that there are so many other things that affect our stuff. I'm going to think again the next time I find that "great deal". I'm also really glad that I've become a Representative for Miessence Certified Organic products. The company has created the world's 1st extensive range of certified organic (to food grade levels) health & beauty products. Don't be fooled into thinking you're buying safe, non-toxic products when the label says "natural" or even "organic" because the cosmetic industry has found a way around label descriptions & there are still carcinogenic chemicals even in "organic" & "derived from coconut oil" ingredients. Miessence limits the amount of packaging, thus decreasing its footprint on the earth. It is also carbon neutral! Visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab to learn more about this great line of products.