Sun Safety - how safe are you?

Warm sunny days are now here. Thank goodness for that! I was getting tired of looking at snow, especially when we got a snow dump back in April. 

This is the time of year where everyone usually stocks up on Sun Block and Sunscreen. We take it for granted that we need an SPF 15 or higher. Some companies are making them as strong as they can. Now that seems like a great idea, but is it really? Have you ever wondered what's inside your sunscreen? Better yet, have you ever wondered how an SPF is determined?

Not all Sunscreens or Sunblocks are created equal. A lot of brands out there are masquerading as gentle or healthy. The sad part is that most of the worst offenders are the sunscreens marketed for babies & little children. This can be scary as a lot of the ingredients are found to potentially cause future skin tumors and cancers.

We are in a Catch-22 situation. We need Sunscreen as burning is bad. The products we purchase may stop us from burning, but since a lot of the ingredients are questionable, we are bringing on another slew of potential problems.

EWG's Skin Deep (Environmental Working Group) is a fabulous site to visit. They give the lowdown on every ingredient imaginable. They have just issued their 2011 Guide for Sunscreens, and they explain everything you need to know on the topic. They even have a 'Hall of Shame' for some of the worst sunscreens available on the market today. If you want to find out what sunscreen/sunblock is best for you, or to compare how your brand stacks up,  click here.

Marnie
What Red Said...

Sunblock & Sunscreens - Hazard or Protector?

The very ingredients in sunscreens that offer sun protection, may also have adverse side effects. Some of the chemicals used in sunscreens are feared because they are said to enter our bloodstream through ongoing topical use and may have hazardous effects once they accumulate, either in our bodies or the environment. In a disturbing investigation of 952 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group found that 4 out of 5 sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.

There is also a growing awareness that sunscreen ingredients like the paraben's and Benzophenone may function like human estrogen's and actually disrupt the normal hormonal functioning of the body.


To assist consumers in their decision making, the Environmental Working Group has created a database of sunscreen and sunblock products. Each product is scored according to its effectiveness at blocking UVA and UVB rays, as well as the amount of ingredients that have been linked to health concerns like cancers, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergens, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Each product ingredient is given a score between one and 10 (one being the best, 10 being the worst) in each category, as well as overall. I highly recommend this website as it's unbiased. Do yourself a favor and check it out. What I found most alarming was that a lot of the "baby" sunblocks were the worst offenders. Go figure!

All the best,
Marnie

http://whatsupwithred.blogspot.com/

Copper Tone

A few years ago my hair styling guru took a very long vacation which forced me against my will to find another stylist. Oh, it may be immaterial to some but who cuts the coiffure is an issue of matter to me. I went to the most popular man in the place and he was fabulous with a pair of shears even if each haircut dominated the entire morning because he was a frequent-pause-to-tell-a-story type of guy. I just made sure that I quickly accepted that my 45 minute slot would NEVER finish in under 90 minutes. Never.

Even though I missed my former stylist and pined for his return, the replacement soon created stylist-client pleasant bliss. Until the incident.

I have long locks. I have hair shorn above the ear (Dorothy Hamill phase but then again in graduate school when a smooth talking and uber-sexy Italian man in London talked me into it….I didn't love the haircut but oh how I loooooved the haircut provider). JohnnyMac is not obsessed with hair and while I am sure he prefers it long, he is a modern man and realizes its my hair and I shall do with it what I like. And since I already live in his cave, the long hair is merely for aesthetics and not something by which to drag me around.

I once dated a man, he of the worst gift giving ever, and once at a party a friend of mine from college was talking about my very short hair back in the day. His comment (which took me by surprise) was that his wife would never be allowed to cut her hair. I am sure (not a bit) he was joking but over one more sip of martini I said, “Well, let’s just break up NOW, Archie Bunker.”

So one day as I sit in my new stylist chair, I tell him I want highlights. Not chunky- monkey -Cindy Lauper style highlights but just-back-from-Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat-sunkissed-around-the-temple highlights. He concurred but added the highlights would look smashing if we also lightened the whole coif. Mmmmm. Lightening the brunette? I vacillated between yes and no. He indicated we would go just a shade or two lighter. OK. Lighten away my Doyenne.

Hair color is not a quick process as many of you know. And by "know" I mean, know from a friend telling you. I am sure those blond tresses are your goldeny blond birthrights. And since it is not a quick process, time slowly ticks by but I look forward to what lies under all that potion.

And then the big reveal. He, smiling like a kitty on a brand-new satchel of catnip day, turns me in the chair to the mirror.

WOW, I say.

And there are several kinds of WOW.
WOW like I just found a smashing pair of Christian Louboutin’s in my size on sale for 100.00.
And WOW like I just heard someone talk about their jock itch.
And my WOW from the chair was NOT the shoe on sale kind of WOW.

Him: What do you think?
Me: It’s lighter (said with poker face which is rare for me.)
Him: It’s gorgeous
Me: Ummmm, it’s copper
Him: It’s multi-tonal
Me: It’s multi-tonal copper
Him: Its auburn. –ish.
Me: Copper. In fact, excellent camouflage for PENNIES.
Him: Darken it up a bit?
Me: How quickly can that occur?

Luckily for me, I learned my hair lightening lesson and the yummy icing on the cake was my stylist eventually returned.

And once, just for fun, I asked him about highlights.
“In your hair,” he asked. “NO.”
Perfect. I will keep him forever.

JennyMac

Visit my blog: www.letshaveacocktail.com

Making bubbles - Shaving Soap

Last weekend I attended a soap making workshop. It was a lot of fun. We used melt and pour soap for the craft. I will eventually learn the art of making soap from scratch, but for a beginner, this was a great starting point.

At the seminar, we learned a lot of creative ways to make soap. The possibilities are endless. You can make your soap as pretty or plain as you like. I liked the fact our melt and pour soap was vegetable based. It's glycerin based too so it's also very hydrating, not to mention it's not loaded with the amount of preservatives that traditional store bought soaps have. As I am on a quest to decrease the amount of preservatives I use in my life this is a good thing. Another nice thing is that you have control over what colorants and scents are added.




We often think of soaps for general cleaning or as a feminine item...at least I'm guilty of that notion. However the instructor gave out a great idea for men. Shaving Soap. Nice!

There would be fewer preservatives and ingredients compared to shaving foam. It would also be a great gift idea for someone who is difficult to buy for. It's a simple item so regardless if you make it yourself or buy some, it would be a well thought out gift. It might also make the shaving ritual for men a little bit more fun. To get into the spirit of things, click here for a great video on how to use shaving soap. I like the idea so much, I'm even thinking about making one for my legs. Cheers!



All the best,

Marnie

Shelf Life of Makeup

So I posted this on my blog and I had no idea that some make-up things do not have that long of a shelf life!
Who knew! Why did no one tell me???
I am so new to all the make-up stuff that this pretty much shocked me!
Did you know mascara needs to be thrown away after only 3 months??
Me? Nope. Didn't know that!
So if you are like me, a newbie at the whole make-up thing, keep yourself informed!
This is a good little article online about it.
Although you would think I would link expiration dates with what happened to me about a year ago. I got pink eye and I am pretty sure it was because of my eyeliner I was using.
Didn't know that to "clean it" you were supposed to roll it over some tissue from time to time then use it. Know where I got that little tidbit of info? The doctor I went to see to treat the pink eye! (Which sucks soo bad! Hope to never get pink eye again! *knock on wood*)
Also, did you know that make-up companies aren't required by the FDA to include expiration dates? Hmmm... should we be worried about this? I mean, everyone goes crazy about food and their expiration dates because it is what we put in our mouths and stomachs. But, should we be a bit more worried with make-up?

Image by dreamglow via Flickr

I mean, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara is going onto our eyes which are sooo susceptible to
many infections and putting stuff day in and day out that might not have an expiration date on it, how are we supposed to know it is safe?
What if we go to the store, buy the "on sale" beauty product, but it's on sale because it's been there for so long? Would you feel "safer" and better about buying it if it were dated and had an expiration date on it?
I think I would!

And speaking of make-up: can anyone recommend a good primer that doesn't go over $15??? I hate the creases I get when I wear eyeshadow and need to get a primer ASAP. If you can recommend one you really like, that won't break my wallet, I would gladly appreciate it.

Thanks for reading!

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The Results: Homemade Toothpaste & Mouthwash

About a month ago, I decided to test out two recipes for homemade toothpaste and mouthwash. The recipes were very simple and could be made within minutes for just pennies. So I put them to the test. I have to be honest with you, I had my doubts on how effective these remedies would be. Let's face it, these are items that are instinctively purchased regardless if it's at the grocery or health food store.

Before I go any further...here are the recipes:

Toothpaste


The ingredients are Baking Soda, Coconut oil, Stevia and Peppermint oil.

1. Coconut oil: 3 Tablespoons
2. Baking Soda: 4 Tablespoons
3. Peppermint Oil: 20-25 drops
4. Stevia: 3 to 6 packets (I used 6)

Mix until blended and store in a container with a closed lid. You could also substitute the peppermint oil with Cinnamon oil, but I recommend adding a few drops at a time until you get the right flavor - it's strong.

Mouthwash


1. 500 ml Distilled water
2. 15 drops Tea Tree Oil
3. 15 drops Peppermint Oil

Shake in a glass bottle before each use.
Results
I used both the toothpaste and mouthwash twice a day along with dental floss (sorry, not going to cheap out on that item). The toothpaste took a little getting used to, as it doesn't foam. It also doesn't taste like traditional toothpaste. Once I got over that, I have to say that I really liked how it performed. My teeth are really clean. Now that it's been over a month, I have also noticed that my tooth sensitivity has almost completely gone away. My teeth are so sensitive, that I have had treatments at the Dentist for this problem along with religiously using a toothpaste designed for sensitivity...so it does make you wonder how this simple remedy can work so well.
The mouthwash is surprisingly strong and it works amazingly well. Only a little is needed. For pennies, it does the job just as well as the store brands.
Overall, I really like the results of both the toothpaste and mouthwash. As stated earlier, my tooth sensitivity has almost gone away so that is an added bonus. For now, I will continue to use these remedies.

For anyone interested in trying these remedies out, I encourage you to do so. It's not expensive to make, so it's worth a try. My experience was a positive one, so for that I'm happy.

All the best,

Marnie
http://www.whatsupwithred.blogspot.com/

My Ode to Bellies, Boobies and Butts

I just want to say thank you to Dove, Glamour Magazine , Drop Dead Diva and pop media (collectively) for making it ok to eat again. The average American woman is a size 14. We have bellies, boobies and butts. Size 0 is not average and may not even be healthy.



Originally Jamie Lee Curtis tried to give real women a dose of self esteem by allowing herself to be photographed without make-up or touch-ups. She's amazing. The idea just kind of died off for a few years though.

Dove recently jump-started it all again with its Real Beauty campaign. Pop media hosts like Tyra, Oprah and many others are great at the self empowerment issues and really understand the plight of us who used to be thin but just can't go there anymore.

Drop Dead Diva is awesome. The main character carries herself with grace and dresses herself with style while maintaining an amazing intellect and beautiful outlook on life. She makes me feel that its ok to eat a donut now and again.

I especially love the recent spread in Glamour Magazine. If only I could find some decent clothes to put over the underwear I would be happy. I had to do the happy-feet dance when I spotted a real belly.

Its ok to be average. Well I guess technically average is plus size. But really....its ok now. All the media is telling us so but.....

All the really good clothing is only made for size 12 and under. When I shop at most department stores I sift through clothes that even my Grandmother would not have worn. The few clothes I find in my size are made for high-school girls going through the supposed *fat* stage. Not for a grown-up to wear to the office, or a single but respectable mother to wear on a date. I pretty much live in separates. I have over 20 different styles of black slacks/jeans/skirts.


This picture of me is about a year old....maybe a year and a half. I am 5' 4 1/2" tall and I wear a size 14. I am 47 years old. I now represent the REAL American woman.

I'm not going to lie. I'd love to be a size 8 again . But I am not willing to be. I would have to work out 4 hours a day and starve myself. I would wake up from hunger pangs in the middle of the night. I would feel guilt every time I ate a donut. That magical size 8 supposedly reflects the best BMI for me, but its not going to happen. I enjoy those donuts too much now, its a quality of life issue.

All I'm working on now is toning it up. Accepting what is left. Trying to feel good about myself. I am average, a word I hate. I am not an average kind of person, I'm just thick around the middle. I have a belly, boobies and a butt.

Can't we just call this normal instead?

A couple of weeks ago, I made a fantastic purchase. This book its full of wonderful home beauty treatments that leave you feeling fabulous and wont break the bank!

Here are some of my faves:


CARROT SKIN RENEWAL FACE PACK

• Take 2 large carrots and 2 tablespoons of honey. Cook carrots slowly, then mash or blend in mixer.
• Mix honey with carrots.
• Apply gently to the skin when lukewarm and wait for 15 minutes.
• Rinse off with cool water.

This secret is jam packed with Vitamin A to remove dead skin cells and hydrating elements which condition and smooth the skin.




CRANBERRY LIP GLOSS

• Take 10 to 12 freas cranberries, 1 tablespoon of alomond oil and 1 teaspoon of honey.
• Place almond oil and honey in a bowl and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Crush the cranberries in a tea strainer over the honey and almond mixture. Pour into an airtight container.

This secret delivers a potent combination of antioxidants , Omega 3, Omega 6, Vitamin E and essential minerals to condition and protect your lips.



AVOCADO HAIR CONDITIONER

• Take one cup of avocado paste and the yolk of 2 eggs. Beat the egg and mix in the avocado, adding 1-6 table spoons of olive oil.
• Apply for half an hour then rinse with lukewarm water.

This secret will enrich the hair with proteins, nurturing oils and vitamins A, B5, C, D, E ,and K

Flax Seed Hair Gel

I'm always in search for natural alternatives for items that I use everyday. I have naturally curly hair, and anyone who has it can attest to the fact that weather can be our friend or foe. I recently came across a recipe for flax seed hair gel. I became curious and decided to google it. I got a lot of hits, along with a lot of rave reviews.
I have had a lot of success using natural oils and hair gel. My curls look defined and have bounce. I decided to substitute my regular hair gel with the flax seed gel for a week to see for myself. This gel is preservative free. You should keep it in the fridge for only a week.





Flax seed Hair Gel:

1. 500 ml distilled water
   
2. 1/4 cup flax seeds
   
3. Aloe Vera gel 3 oz. (optional)
   
4. Strainer

Boil the water on medium heat. Add the flax seeds and let simmer for 10 minutes. You will see a gelatinous mixture form. It will look like egg whites. Remove from heat and put the mixture through a strainer. Once cooled, add your aloe vera gel. Store in fridge.

My results were great. We have been experiencing a lot of humidity this past week, and my hair held up very well. My hair was also soft to touch. I like the fact that you can be generous with this gel and not get a heavy buildup. The flax seed gel texture is identical to egg whites...just keep that in mind.
All the best, Marnie http://www.whatsupwithred.blogspot.com/

Make your own Whipped Beauty Butter.

I have a great recipe for whipped beauty butter. I am not calling it body butter because this recipe can safely be used from head to toe. The ingredients are the purest you will ever use and it costs a fraction of what you would pay in the stores...without the preservatives, colorants or chemical based fragrances. This would be a great item to have on hand during the winter months.

I have naturally curly hair, and it's dry by nature. I find that this beauty butter sinks right into my hair, giving my curls definition. Also use it as a moisturizer under my make-up. I normally couldn't do this with store bought butters, but I can with this recipe as the ingredients are all raw and have never been touched by heat.

Now with that being said, every ones skin/hair is different so your needs will dictate how long your beauty butter will last.

The Recipe:

1. 1/2 cup Raw Shea Butter
2. 1/4 cup Raw Coconut Oil
3. 10-15 drops Ylang Ylang Essential oil (optional)
4. Hand Mixer
   

Since the oils are raw, they are in it's purest form. There are many ways you can melt the ingredients. I personally prefer melting them in a hot water bath. I place my ingredients into a glass bowl and immerse it in a hot water bath. I take it out when it's almost fully melted.
Then mix the ingredients with a hand mixer for 5 minutes and let it rest for 5 minutes. Mix it again for 5 minutes and let it rest for another 5 minutes. If you like essential oil add it to your mixture at this stage and mix it again for 5 more minutes. Done.

This recipe yields 8 oz (or 1 cup) beauty butter. Have fun with it!
All the best,
Marnie
http://www.whatsupwithred.blogspot.com/

Skin Care

Right now I am wearing Paw Paw fruit on my face! Thats right.... PAW PAW and it feels fabulous!A girl at work told me about it and I thought id give it a go its feels refreshing and gives my skin a little exfoliation! For 60c which has given me at least three facials I would say its the cheapest and best skin care I have ever had! I just thought I would share with you all! Its also meant to help with ageing and acne. Give it a go ladies you wont regret it oh and dont forget to keep it in the fridge so its nice and fresh!