What Rachel Avalons seminar taught me about the beauty industry…

Whether its dipping into latest Sephora finds or scanning through celebrity looks, my heart has always fluttered just that much more when it comes to beauty. And with being an eco writer, I figured I pretty much knew all there was to about eco beauty.

Thats why when I heard about holistic nutritionist and eco expert, Rachel Avalons Lecture on Eco Beauty, I was curious to see what the green “it” girl would be discussing. Knowing there is at least one natural makeup product that meets my approval, and often putting pestle and mortar to use in my kitchen for new facial concoctions, I wondered what the eco industrys freshest face would have to say about beauty that I didnt already know.

I walked into the lecture room, paper and pen in hand and ready to soak up what I thought would be new beauty tips. I also got a chance to have a quick meet and greet with Rachel, who was absolutely charming and a natural host. With people pouring in, we quickly took our seats and the presentation set sail to what was going to be a revealing look at the beauty industry.

Moments in, I was capsized by own limited perceptions of beauty. Rachel began with where our beauty products are coming from, whats in them, and how detrimental they are to our health. The virtually self-regulated cosmetic industry is saturated by politics and hazards, even though one could argue the two were never really mutually exclusive anyway. Though we all know about lobby groups, Rachels knowledge of what exactly comprises the beauty industry which policies so easily saunter past the red-tape (and why), and how they affect us, is absolutely horrifying. In short, I learned that just like the IRS, we should never really trust the so-called “safety” regulations.

But to learn what was actually in all those lovely pressed powders, tubes and jars left me thoroughly disgusted. So whats in it exactly?

Think Gemma Artertons scene in Quantum of Solace, where shes covered head to toe in oil, and then youve got a very small picture of what youre actually spackling on yourself everyday. The trauma of what Gemmas character goes through varies disfiguringly with our own experience – after all, with that much toxic waste on her she inevitably died. On the other hand, we go about our day with ten fold more and think were glamorous. Put on, rinse, and repeat.

Considering we toss ourselves into a daily beauty gauntlet with questionable (and sometimes cancer-causing agents), you can only imagine how much damage were doing to ourselves in the long run.

If you consider the basics, (like shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc), its easy to see how the average American uses about 10 products a day – which exposes them to about 125 chemicals!

If you factor in that our skin absorbs 60% of what we put on it, and with the average girl wearing makeup at 14, by the time youre 85 youve been exposing your body to harsh chemicals and toxins for over 70 years! Its no wonder that we have such a high rate of cancer in society, with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men now being diagnosed with it. The role of cancer in beauty was another interesting component of Rachels lecture, and got me questioning about how many chemicals I expose myself to daily without even thinking about it – all in the name of beauty.

And beauty isnt just for women. Conscious care is definitely something both men and women need to think about (because almost everyone uses shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc.). I brought my fiancÃ

Low-level radiation is a silent killer, because we cant see it, feel I, hear it, taste it, or smell it. I am not talking about just nuclear weapons, but rather the low levels of exposure we are continuously exposed to on an every day basis. This post is dedicated to a friend of mine, and was born out of my concern for her, as she flies often.

First off, what is radiation? In the broadest definition, it is the process in which the energy in the form of, for instance, light or heat, is sent out through space. The different types of radiation are classified according to the electromagnetic spectrum by their wavelength and frequency. One end of the spectrum is the “low energy” forms of radiation, which include radio and television waves. These forms have long wavelengths and low frequencies. As we go up the spectrum and the wavelengths become shorter and the frequencies higher, the spectrum expands to include microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultra-violet light, x-rays, and gamma rays. When me move towards this high end of the spectrum, the radiation energies have a special power known as ionization. X-rays and gamma rays, when they pass through a cell, can separate electrons from their atoms and endow these runaway electrons with higher amounts of energy. The result may be tissue damage in many different forms-from cancer to genetic and birth defects.

What are sources of radiation in our lives? Nuclear weapons and nuclear waste is one obvious source. Radon is another. But what I want to really talk about today is everyday, low-level forms of radiation, which emanate from such devices as microwaves, high-voltage power lines, radio transmitters, and cell phones. For years, our society has maintained that exposure to low levels of electromagnetic waves are harmless, but evidence is mounting that all this exposure to low-level radiation is indeed much more harmful that previously thought.

What is also a major source of radiation exposure? Flying in an airplane. The higher up the plane goes in the atmosphere the more radiation we are exposed to. In a flight from (only!) Los Angeles to San Fancisco there is said to be a tenfold increase in radiation (as measured by a mini-Geiger counter) that jumps from 12 to 125 radiations per minute when the plan is leveled off at the maximum flight pattern.

What does this really mean? An airplane flying coast to coast will expose the flyer to several hundred milliards (1/1000 of a rad). The average dose for medical X-rays is 300-500 millirads for pelvic X-rays, 100-1000 millirads for a full facial dental X-ray, and 10-500 millirads for chest X-rays. That means that one single flight may expose us to the same or possibly more radiation than a full chest X-ray(!).

This is a big problem because as we know, continual exposure to low-level radiation produces free radicals, a major cause of premature aging and health problems. Free radicals can cause cross-linking among tissue proteins (wrinkles!), inflammation, disrupt and/or deplete the immune system, and can produce mutations. Many researchers in the field of aging agree that free-radical destruction is the basis of aging, or at least always goes along with the aging process.

Dr. Abram Petkau stated (reported from the Radiological Physics Dept. at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine) that the free-radical effect from chronic low radiation exposure to be 1,000 times greater than a single large exposure (!). John Gofman, Ph.D., M.D writes in Radiation and Human Health, “Harm in the form of excess human cancer occurs at all doses of ionizing radiation, down to the lowest conceivable dose and dose rate.” Perhaps the most succinct summary is given by Dr. Karl Z. Morgan, who was the director of the Health Physics Division a the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for 30 years:

“There is no safe level of exposure and there is no dose of radiation so low that the risk of malignancy is zero… the genetic risks, and especially those associated with recessive mutations, may be as harmful and debilitating to the human race as the increases of cancer.”

THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO

Okay, sorry for all the doom and gloom! But I say these things as we should at least be aware of radiation exposure.

And I am happy to say that there are things we can do in our diet to help minimize the effect of radiation. How can food help? Firstly, if we have enough minerals in our system, the cells become saturated with minerals and there may be less opportunity for the radioactive minerals to be absorbed into our systems. Second, there are certain specific foods which can actively help draw the radioactive materials to them and pull them out of the body (chelation). Thirdly, if we eat foods very high in antioxidant nutrients and enzymes, it will help squash out the free radicals created by radiation exposure.

Anti-Radiation Foods that Fit into Our Above Criteria

Swiss chard
Turnip greens
Watercress
Mustard greens
Kale
Spinach (no surprise here, all greens!)
Kelp
Dulse
Chlorella
Nori
Beets
Bee pollen
Garlic
Apples
Chaparral
Siberian ginseng

What else can we do besides loading up on these foods? Dont smoke! Dont live near nuclear plants, avoid unnecessary diagnostic X-rays, and use infrared saunas whenever possible. Check out my post on cell phones, and wear that wired (not Bluetooth) headset.

It is critical if you fly often that you eat only the best food while flying on the day. You want to give your body the best to help combat the radiation as much as possible.

Be aware, and take care.

Flying to Paradise a Big Beauty Hazard by Kimberley Snyder.

Kimberly Snyders work as a clinical nutritionist is rooted in a holistic approach that works to heal the body from the cellular level up, increase energy, and achieve overall balance naturally. Her main protocols include increasing the bodys alkalinity, consuming an individualized diet largely consisting of natural foods, increasing efficient digestion, and intelligent, guided and ongoing cleansing. Snyders philosophy is that Outer Beauty is a Reflection of Inner Health.

Snyder is a go-to nutritionist for many top celebrities in Hollywood, spending about one week a month in LA. She is a reoccurring guest and nutrition correspondent on Good Morning America, E! That Morning Show, regional morning shows like Good Day LA, and for US Weekly.

Main image courtesy nathanmac87
Diagram courtesy www.ux1.eiu.edu

Traditional Beauty Tips that Pass the Test of Time…

Everyone may not like being told “I told you so”, and most women may also not like thinking their mother was right. However, on stepping upon the threshold of 30, and with my mother now in her early sixties, I cant help but notice that on a good day, she looks not more than maybe only five or ten years older.

And with each wrinkle, thinned out skin or spot I notice, I hear her quite literally echoing voice telling me “I told you so”. So what was it exactly that she used to always harp on about while growing up?

Quite simply, endless beauty tips that at that time seemed to have been written on stone tablets alongside Moses 10 Commandments. But these then thought of as primitive beauty routines now seem charming and simple in an age where we’re constantly fed a barrage of beauty adverts and overly photo-shopped images of perfection.

In my own desperate attempt to look great, I have ventured down every possible winding road that ultimately lead me nowhere, and pick-pocketing

Watching your pennies? Are you allergic to some of the cosmetic products on the market? Here are some concoctions made with simple ingredients right from your kitchen, courtesy of nature.

Brighten up your dark hair color with the addition of one tablespoon of strong coffee to your conditioner; apply and leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse well. Redheads try this recipe of 1 cup of steeped cranberry tea, let it cool and pour over your hair. Let it stay on for about 15 minutes, then rinse. Blondes can follow the same directions but with chamomile tea to give a bright luster. Fresh lemon juice diluted in distilled water (half and half) will also produce a sunny shine.

For all hair colors that need some shine, mash half a banana, and a half of an avocado together with a few drops of jojoba oil. Apply this mask on all strands of your hair, paying close attention to the ends and let it stay on for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and towel dry, applying a bit more of the oil to the ends. The salons charge a big buck for this treatment, of course under a different name.

Allergic to lip colors? Take a small piece of a beet and apply it not only on your lips, but also on your cheeks for an excellent blusher To remove dark spots from face and body rub the inside rind, (the pulp and juice) of a lemon over the area, let it dry, do not rinse off. For a refreshing mask to tighten and clean the pores mix an oatmeal paste in the palm of your hand and smooth it over the face and neck. When dry, rinse with tepid water and follow with splashes of cool distilled water.

White and brighten your teeth with the inside of orange rinds (the white inner skin). Just rub over the teeth after brushing. It not only whitens but also leaves a pleasant taste. The same with strawberries: rub the pulp over the teeth and gums and leave on for a few seconds then rinse out. This also leaves a fresh taste on the palate. For alluring eye-shadow blueberries and grapes are excellent.

The tomato pulp mask is great for blackheads and whiteheads as well as blocking oily skin and shrinking large pores. Just apply the inside pulp and let dry, then rinse off with tepid water, pat dry with a terry cloth towel and apply witch hazel as an after toner.

You can look good without the commercial products just try a few things yourself and experiment with fruits, vegetables and natural grains, found right in your kitchen. Or write me for more natural make-up and skin-care ideas. Pantry pretty skin care and cosmetics may take a bit longer to take effect, but the money (and environment) saved is certainly worth the time.

Be Pantry Pretty for Pennies by Betty Guy-Willis. Betty is a columnist/author, motivational speaker and beauty consultant, specializing in anti-aging and age subtracting. You may write her at P.O. Box 10713 Beverly Hills, CA 90213 Please include a stamped/self-addressed envelope.

Photo: Style O Sight

Beauty buff and holistic entrepreneur Sam Sample follows a simple philosophy when it comes to beauty and believes you can ‘be’ it, rather than ‘achieve’ it.

“Beauty comes from within,” she says. “Being happy and healthy on the physical, emotional and spiritual level is what I believe makes a woman truly beautiful.”

With her natural approach and holistic know-how, Sydney-based Sam developed her beauty range, Be Genki. The collection brings together her deep interest in aromatherapy, well-being, meditation, and beauty care into a holistic synthesis to “promote optimum inner health and harmony amidst the fast pace of contemporary life”.

Each element of Be Genki, she says, has been carefully and thoughtfully selected for its excellence in design, quality, healing benefits, and ability to capture the senses.

“Be Genki is the only bath and body care brand to offer a complete 360 degree approach to holistic well-being, identifying four key areas that contribute to an individuals well-being and providing products that help create balance with a lifestyle approach,” Sam says.

The product line includes bath and shower oils, body oils, body creams, hand creams, face mists, oil blends, herbal teas and candles.

Sam studied make-up artistry and image training, nutrition, physical education, access energy transformation, aromatherapy, and skin care, and is also an avid proponent of Vipassana meditation. She says the peace and tranquility she found in meditation greatly influenced her products and their simplicity of use in daily life.

The Green Dove caught up with Sam to get an overview of the ranges – Vitality, Tranquility, Serenity and Sensuality – each attracting a huge following in Australia and abroad.

THE GREEN DOVE: What’s the Be Genki story?

SAM SAMPLE: For the past 10 years I have been studying various disciplines of health and wellbeing – make-up artistry and image training, nutrition, fitness, meditation, access energy transformation, skin care, and aromatherapy.

Whilst I was finishing up my Diploma of Nutrition and experimenting with aromatherapy one of my girlfriends was suffering from anxiety and depression and was taking anti-depressants. It upset me that a young woman in her mid-20s could be prescribed pharmaceutical drugs without her lifestyle being taken in to consideration first. No-one sat down with her to address what she was doing on a daily basis.

So I made her a blend of essential oils (the Serenity blend) and we chatted about taking time out at the end of each day to have a bath with the essential oil blend, shutting the bathroom door, turning the mobile phone off and creating a spa like experience in the comfort of her own home. We also spoke about nutrition, exercise and lifestyle choices.

Two months passed and she came to me one day to tell me how much better she was feeling within herself and that she was thinking of going off her medication. Whether it was the act of running a bath and watching the water flow, having that half-hour by herself to relax and inhale the oil blend, or exercising, or eliminating processed foods from her diet it didnt matter to me. What mattered was that she was feeling more confident and happy. I believe it was a combination of all the new wellbeing rituals that she had started to implement in to her daily life. You can only imagine how happy this made me feel. Whatever it was that gave her the confidence to take control of her anxiety and depression and ultimately her life, was enough to inspire me to think of other areas of our lives that we need help with improving in todays fast paced world.

Whether its reaching for that 3rd cup of coffee during the day to get a burst of energy, tossing and turning in bed at night or relying on sleeping tablets to get to sleep, suffering from anxiety and depression, freaking out at the “little things” or losing your temper at those that you love most because you havent dealt with the issue appropriately, or simply “beating yourself up” and criticising yourself over something that really isnt that big a deal in the scheme of things; that is not what life is all about! So, I developed Be Genki – to help inspire and bring about holistic happiness by focusing on four key areas of wellbeing:

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Why its great: Rather than harping on about how our toxic household cleaning and beauty products are slowly killing us, Michael DeJong offers solutions that are right there in your kitchen. Using just five pure, natural ingredients-baking soda, lemon, olive oil, salt and white vinegar-he shows you how to wash, scrub and rinse with complete peace of mind, all while saving dollars and the environment. Not a bad deal, eh?

Whos reading it: Those who are discovering their allergies are directly caused by harsh chemicals that lurk in most mainstream cleaning and beauty products. It’s also a favorite of parents who want to give their littlies the most pure start to life, and of those who understand that what goes onto the skin gets absorbed into the body.

What youll learn: How to mix baking soda in varying amounts to use as a shampoo, facial scrub and foot scrub; why olive oil is a superb make-up remover and moisturizer; how lemon will get you salon-perfect streaks and why salt is great for scrubbing away dead skin on elbows and knees.

Want to know more? Head to www.zencleansing.com but not before disposing thoughtfully of all those hazardous products in your cupboards.

Did you know that companies can put just about any ingredient they like into beauty and personal care products? Alarmingly, in the US, the government doesn’t require safety tests before these items hit the department store shelves.

Considering your skin is your body’s biggest organ, there’s something very wrong with this careless (and deadly) practice carried out by many manufacturers that make up the multi-billion dollar beauty industry. Just as the skin absorbs nutrients, it is also a sponge for toxins-including chemical-laden beauty creams, serums, scrubs sprays, body washes and the like.

With glamorous packaging and promises of younger looking skin in five minutes, it’s little wonder many of us have these toxic chemicals lurking in designer bottles in our bathrooms. But how do you know what ingredients are harmful?

The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website pairs ingredients in more than 42,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. You can literally enter an ingredient and the Skin Deep database will return a hazard score, specifically relating to how likely it is to cause cancer and other serious dis-eases.

If it all gets too confusing, considering the sheer amount of ingredients in any one product, a good rule of thumb is, if you can’t eat it, don’t use it.

There’s one way to find out exactly what’s in your beauty products-make them yourself. Learning holidays website GoLearnTo.com has an exclusive weekend course where natural beauty buffs can learn to make their own organic products, while also catering to their travel bug.

Spend a weekend in a tranquil retreat in the High Languedoc National Park, near Montpellier, France learning to create your own personalized beauty products using all natural, organic, locally-grown ingredients. The aim of the hands-on course is to completely personalize each product to each skin type.

The retreats English owner became interested in the healing power of plants following an illness. She now organically grows and dries (in a specially built sÃ

Easy health, living food and detoxifying tips can be incorporated into any lifestyle, says Envision Beauty founder and yoga instructor Kimberly Snyder. Here, she shares her top tips for staying young and healthy

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