Personal care
Kate's favourite things 2012: Personal care
02/Feb/12 04:18 PM
by Kate Whimster, BCom, MIFHI, ND
For several years I’ve considered writing a “favourite things” blog (a la Oprah’s favourite things). These are all things I use myself (as evidenced by the photos of this stuff in my house!) and LOVE (not just like). This is NOT an endorsement or advertisement and I’m not getting paid by anyone to put a product in this blog.
Dr. Hauschka lip care stick
This is the “favourite thing” that inspired this whole blog! Dr. Hauschka’s Lip Care Stick is by far the most expensive lip balm I’ve ever bought but it is well worth it! From the first time a co-worker at Peaches and Green recommended it, I have not looked back. It is so superior to every other lip balm I’ve tried that I have (at time of writing) 6 tubes of it in my home. These tubes are in various stages of use, from brand new to “digging out the last little bit” stage:
Meditation as Medicine book
Meditation as Medicine by Dharma Singh Khalsa is a book I recommend to anyone interested in starting a meditation practice as well as anyone who wants to learn more about specific meditations for different healthy concerns. The author is an anesthesiologist who shares many different meditations for beginners and lists meditation treatments for a lot of medical concerns complete with diagrams and great step-by-step instruction.
David’s Tea
Last fall I did a brief stint working part-time at David’s Tea and while I am too busy to continue there, I do LOVE their products! Tea can be so fun and healthy, so why not enjoy this treat rather than high-calorie coffee drinks or junk food? My top 3 favourite teas are Vanilla Oolong, Secret Weapon (a white tea), and Jessie’s Tea (caffeine-free rooibos tea). I also highly recommend the perfect mug (I have a glass one at work and a ceramic one at home) - it truly is perfect for making a wonderful cup of tea!
Urban Spa silk eye pillow
I like to sleep in complete darkness, and by complete I mean no light through the window or from electronics (which is why my phone is in another room and I cover my clock). To help achieve this total darkness, I NEED my Urban Spa Silk Eye Pillow! I have tried many eye masks over the years, but I always come back to this one because it is so wonderful. It blocks light really well, it is soft on my face, it is adjustable (which is important as the elastic stretches out over time), and it smells of soothing lavender!
Derma E microdermabrasion scrub
I have very fair, delicate skin and I find that any breakout leaves pigment and too much sun exposure leaves sun spots. One of the products I find really helpful is Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub. This scrub is fine and gentle and I find it helps get rid of rough skin and dark spots. I use it about once per week followed by either my Green tea face mask or Egg yolk face mask.
Pure and Natural shampoo and conditioner
We used to carry some Pure and Natural products at Peaches and Green and when I started using the Daily Moisturizing Shampoo and Daily Light Conditioner, I got several comments (sometimes for complete strangers, such as in the gym!) that my hair was looking really shiny and healthy! I really love these two products and now order them from Carina Organics in the large bottles!
For several years I’ve considered writing a “favourite things” blog (a la Oprah’s favourite things). These are all things I use myself (as evidenced by the photos of this stuff in my house!) and LOVE (not just like). This is NOT an endorsement or advertisement and I’m not getting paid by anyone to put a product in this blog.
This is the “favourite thing” that inspired this whole blog! Dr. Hauschka’s Lip Care Stick is by far the most expensive lip balm I’ve ever bought but it is well worth it! From the first time a co-worker at Peaches and Green recommended it, I have not looked back. It is so superior to every other lip balm I’ve tried that I have (at time of writing) 6 tubes of it in my home. These tubes are in various stages of use, from brand new to “digging out the last little bit” stage:
Meditation as Medicine book
Meditation as Medicine by Dharma Singh Khalsa is a book I recommend to anyone interested in starting a meditation practice as well as anyone who wants to learn more about specific meditations for different healthy concerns. The author is an anesthesiologist who shares many different meditations for beginners and lists meditation treatments for a lot of medical concerns complete with diagrams and great step-by-step instruction.
David’s Tea
Last fall I did a brief stint working part-time at David’s Tea and while I am too busy to continue there, I do LOVE their products! Tea can be so fun and healthy, so why not enjoy this treat rather than high-calorie coffee drinks or junk food? My top 3 favourite teas are Vanilla Oolong, Secret Weapon (a white tea), and Jessie’s Tea (caffeine-free rooibos tea). I also highly recommend the perfect mug (I have a glass one at work and a ceramic one at home) - it truly is perfect for making a wonderful cup of tea!
Urban Spa silk eye pillow
I like to sleep in complete darkness, and by complete I mean no light through the window or from electronics (which is why my phone is in another room and I cover my clock). To help achieve this total darkness, I NEED my Urban Spa Silk Eye Pillow! I have tried many eye masks over the years, but I always come back to this one because it is so wonderful. It blocks light really well, it is soft on my face, it is adjustable (which is important as the elastic stretches out over time), and it smells of soothing lavender!
Derma E microdermabrasion scrub
I have very fair, delicate skin and I find that any breakout leaves pigment and too much sun exposure leaves sun spots. One of the products I find really helpful is Derma E Microdermabrasion Scrub. This scrub is fine and gentle and I find it helps get rid of rough skin and dark spots. I use it about once per week followed by either my Green tea face mask or Egg yolk face mask.
Pure and Natural shampoo and conditioner
We used to carry some Pure and Natural products at Peaches and Green and when I started using the Daily Moisturizing Shampoo and Daily Light Conditioner, I got several comments (sometimes for complete strangers, such as in the gym!) that my hair was looking really shiny and healthy! I really love these two products and now order them from Carina Organics in the large bottles!
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Guest post: Here comes the sun
11/Jun/11 06:24 PM
Guest post by Annie Salsberg, ND
Even before I became a Naturopath, I was concerned about chemicals in our environment. I remember borrowing some skin cream from a friend while in university and seeing the ingredient list full of words that I had never heard and with names that I could not pronounce. It did not seem right that we should smear gobs of chemical-laden product onto our skin. People seem to get very uptight and concerned when we talk about ingesting (eating) or inhaling (breathing) toxic compounds, but many don’t even seem to bat an eye when we mention the risks associated with trans-dermal (through the skin) absorption of toxins.
With the weather on an up swing, most are (hopefully) reaching for their sunscreen. I thought it might be a great time to review the good, bad and ugly sides of sunscreens!
There are currently two major ‘types’ of sunscreens on the market: 1) chemical sunscreens and 2) mineral sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens penetrate the skin while the latter act as a block to UV rays; mineral sunscreens most commonly contain zinc and/or titanium.
Over the last few years, there has been increasing concern over some of the ingredients included in some chemical sunscreens. Oxybenzone and vitamin A derivatives are two ingredients generating the greatest amount of buzz. Oxybenzone (not to be confused with the safer avobenzone) is an ingredient found in almost half of the chemical sunscreens on the market. It is a synthetic estrogen and is absorbed through the skin; as such, it may disrupt hormones. Some scientists have even called for parents to stop using products containing oxybenzone on children due to concerns around toxicity. Vitamin A derivatives, such as retinyl palmitate or retinol, are also quite common in chemical sunscreens. While vitamin A may have some beneficial anti-oxidant properties when used internally or in some night creams/lotions, recent data seems to suggest that it may be photocarcinogenic. That is, it may actually increase the risk of skin cancer on skin when exposed to sunlight!
While the jury may still be out as to an absolute and final verdict on the safety profile of chemical sunscreens, many are already shying away from creams that penetrate. Furthermore, many international agencies have been recommending clothing, hats and shade as primary protection against sunburns and skin cancer, NOT sunscreen.
Currently, it appears as thought mineral sunscreens offer the best safety profile of products on the market. Mineral sunscreens are stable in sunlight and do not appear to penetrate the skin. The Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), is a great resource to learn more about the safety profile of many sunscreens. They have recently released their 2011 guide. They also offer a comprehensive database with valuable information on many body care products, including those intended for babies and young children. All of their information is free and easily accessible online.
Stay cool and keep shaded but be sure to enjoy the summer and the sun!
