Tag: nature

I’ve always been an avid believer in washing my face before bed every night. Even if I’m completely exhausted I try to make an effort to give my face a rinse. The same goes for brushing my teeth. I never really thought twice about washing my face with my favorite exfoliator or brushing my teeth with my go-to toothpaste, but that’s changed since I began hearing about microbeads.

Microbeads have been all over the news recently, and their claim to fame isn’t one to be proud of. These tiny synthetic plastic particles, generally made from polyethylene, are wreaking havoc on our environment.

If you’re like me and use an exfoliator on your skin chances are you’ve come in contact with microbeads. They’re tiny pieces of plastic used as an abrasive in many personal-care and beauty products, including facial scrubs and soaps. They’re also added to makeup and toothpaste.

Yes, there could be tiny plastic pieces in some of your personal care products.

These tiny particles of plastic, barely visible to the naked eye, are added to many personal care products for texture. The microbeads found in personal care products are almost always smaller than 1 mm. The “scrub beads”, as they’re sometimes called, are thought to help exfoliate our skin and keep our teeth sparkly clean, and companies are using them because they’re cheap to produce.

What’s scary is that every time you wash your face with a product containing those tiny plastic beads they wash right down the drain. Due to their small size they end up slipping through most water treatment facilities and make their way into our oceans, lakes and streams.

Microbeads then become part of the plastic pollution found in the ocean. They’re also turning up in the tens of millions in the Great Lakes, which contain about 21% of the world’s supply of surface fresh water.

When those tiny microbeads end up in our water ways they’re often mistaken by fish and other marine life as food. The plastic pieces can poison and kill the fish when they’re

consumed.

It gets even worse from there.

As the cycle continues and fish eat other fish microbeads continue to make their way up the food chain and ultimately into the bellies of humans.

According to the Environmental Working Group, these little plastic beads sit around for a long time waiting to decompose. They have plenty of time to act as tiny toxic sponges, soaking up chemical pollutants such as phthalates and PCBs. When they’re eaten by fish they end up in the food supply.

There is some good news on the microbead front though.

Due to consumer pressure, several companies are voluntarily committing to remove microbeads from their products. According to Beat the Microbead:

In December of 2012 Unilever announced that all of its products worldwide would be plastic free by 2015. Other companies including Colgate-Palmolive, and L’Oréal L’ have stopped using microbeads. Procter & Gamble says their products will be free from microbeads by 2017 at the earliest. Johnson & Johnson says it has already started phasing out microbeads and will no longer develop products containing microbeads. Target’s goal is to remove microbeads from all their own brand products by the end of 2015.

Given the extreme dangers that microplastic pollution poses to our waterways and the environment, there are at least 15 microbead bills pending at various stages across the country.

So read your labels!

Read your labels! The microbeads used in personal care products are mainly made of polyethylene (PE). Don’t use products with PE. Also be on the lookout for products containing these ingredients: polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET),  polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and nylon.

Head on over to Beat the Microbead for a list of brands and products to avoid and products that are microbead free.

I’ll confess: I’m a makeup addict. I wear a full face of makeup on almost a daily basis. It’s part of my morning ritual that I truly enjoy. While I embraced the idea that makeup isn’t necessary several years ago, I do think makeup is fun. It’s pretty. I like it and have no qualms about that.

What does concern me is what exactly I’m putting all over my face every day. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely become more health-conscious. Between cooking healthy meals for my three-year-old daughter and me, trying to fit in more exercise than normal (when normal used to be “none,” it’s a low bar), and being concerned about my carbon footprint, I had forgotten all about my beauty routine. Between my mix of creams, serums, and powders, I never thought to check the ingredients and see how these products might affect me or the world around me.

There are so many cosmetics companies that claim to be eco-friendly, animal-friendly, and/or organic. All of those may be true of a certain brand, but that doesn’t mean that the product they’re putting out is worth the money. Like I said, I like my makeup. Just because I want a product that is safe doesn’t mean I want to sacrifice color payoff, pigmentation, or wear time.

Keeping my standards high and my wallet open, I started to do some research and experimentation. Now the results are in. Here are my picks for the best all-around eco-friendly beauty brands.

1. Lush

Lush is a pampered girl’s heaven. If you haven’t been inside one of their stores, I suggest taking a break from this article and getting yourself to your nearest one immediately. The colors and scents are some of the only proof you need that these products are legit. Lush wholeheartedly believes in ethical sourcing of their ingredients. Their ingredients are often fresh and organic, and when a synthetic ingredient is needed, it’s sure to be the safest possible option. On top of that, they lead some major campaigns against animal testing in cosmetics and other charitable campaigns funded by proceeds from sales of various products.

My recommendations: Everything. But seriously… Their bath bombs, body creams, handmade soaps, skincare, and fragrances are incredible. I highly suggest popping into your nearest shop for personalized recommendations from some of the best and most knowledgeable customer service in the industry.

2. Tarte

(A slight disclaimer is needed here before we dive in: In 2014, Tarte was acquired by KOSE, a Japanese cosmetics brand that is, unfortunately, not cruelty-free. However, Tarte has promised to remain cruelty-free by refusing animal testing, as well as environmentally friendly and free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.)

All of that being said, it’s nice to know that you can feel good about a beauty brand that puts out consistently great products. While their eyeshadows have never been a fave of mine, their skin products never fail to impress.

My recommendations: Cheek stains, Power Pigment lip tints, and their Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 mascara.

3. L’Occitane

While L’Occitane doesn’t focus on color cosmetics, you still can’t discount them as a major player in the beauty world. After all, good makeup starts with healthy skin. They are on a mission to use ethically sourced ingredients in well-researched formulas, all sold in eco-friendly packaging designed to reduce their environmental impact. Their wide range of skin, body, and hair care products for women and men are reliably high quality.

My recommendations: Shea Butter Hand Cream, of course. It’s their ultimate best seller. I’m also a big fan of their Almond Milk Concentrate and Almond Supple Skin Oil.

4. Korres

I first discovered Korres in a tiny pharmacy in Santorini, Greece. I was looking for some lip balm and picked up their lip butter in Jasmine. Since then, I’ve been hooked. Every lip butter I’ve tried has been moisturizing and perfectly pigmented. It’s buildable so you can have a light tint or a darker color depending on which one you choose. On top of that, their skincare products are also incredible. Korres is inspired by their Greek heritage to use natural and organic ingredients to target specific skin problems.

My recommendations: Lip butters, Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial, Wild Rose Face and Eye Serum.

5. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

Since OCC launched, they have pretty much revolutionized the way that people see lip products. Traditionally, lipstick or lipglosses need to be reapplied semi-regularly and the pigmentation can be hit or miss. OCC fixed that with their Lip Tars. They are like nothing you’ve ever seen and come in every single color in the rainbow and everything in between so you can create your perfect shade. They haven’t stopped there though. Their face and eye products are incredible and definitely a great value considering their middle-of-the-road prices. OCC is committed to being 100% vegan and animal cruelty-free.

My recommendations: Lip Tars. (All of them.) Also worth a shot are the Cosmetic Colour pencils and their large variety of brushes.

It was pretty great to find that the best eco-conscious beauty brands are things I’ve owned for years or have heard about from many friends. Any beauty fanatic knows the importance of high quality products that are worth the money. If we can keep the environment a little greener while we’re at it, it’s well worth the investment. I’m glad I’ve made the switch.

Most people have pictured this at one time or another — settling down in a comfortable house, with a playroom for the kids and a big yard for the family dog. You start out wanting comfort, but then you want more — the latest technology, the prettiest yard on the block. The American Dream, Keeping up with the Joneses — hardly anyone is immune to the pressure of having it all.

The late George Carlin once said, “It’s called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.”

All joking aside — Americans are sleeping in houses bigger than ever before. In the past 40 years, the average house size has grown by 1,000 square feet, yet the average size of a household is declining. Everyone has more space, so what’s the bad here?

No matter how modernly efficient these homes are, they are still energy gobblers. One major side effect of all the electricity used to heat, cool, and power a house this big is 28,000 pounds of CO2 every year, which only exacerbates the very real threat of global warming. On average, a typical homeowner uses over 15,000 gallons of water and produces 1,600 pounds of trash every year.  If you’re beginning to feel like recycling isn’t enough, you’re not alone.

Some people have decided in favor of downsizing in order to reduce their impact on the environment. The tiny house movement has gained attention over the years, but another equally green lifestyle has been happening for quite some time now…out on the water.

Live-aboards — the term for anyone who has given up the literal roof over their heads in favor of living on a boat. Tucked away inside every marina, live-aboards enjoy a full, adventurous life, just in a smaller space. In some ways, they are no different from the typical homeowner: they work 9 to 5s, keep pets, and even use wireless internet. Except that they’re surrounded by water as they do it.

Stop picturing a dirty, uneducated pirate – sailors come from all walks of life, but one thing they have in common? A sense of adventure, an aversion for anything that’s strictly normal.

They have completely lost sight of land for days on end, weathered the worst storms, and fish their dinner straight out of the water. They deal with far less living space than most and spend a great deal of time optimizing their resource and energy use.

Boats can have modern conveniences, just not an inexhaustible supply of them. Water comes from a tank that periodically needs refilled, so boat users are much more aware of their water usage, and the end result is truly impressive: 15,000 gallons a year plummets to less than 2,000. Renewable energy sources are viable options as well — two 50 watt solar panels (about $100 each) can provide 100% of a boater’s power needs for an entire summer. A solar-powered house, by comparison, costs thousands of dollars to achieve, and you won’t see a return on your investment for at least 20 years.

This green way of living comes with a price — not monetary, but a sacrifice of convenience. Depending on the boat, typical amenities are not always accessible. Refrigeration is more of a luxury than a necessity, so eating anything that didn’t come from a can, even sprouts of all things, tastes like a gourmet meal.  

And just how does someone fit all of their possessions into a 30 foot sailboat? A change of mindset regarding “stuff” is vital: in order to occupy a place in your home, something has to be absolutely crucial. That, or be very special. There is always room for a family photo or your 2 year old niece’s latest illustration. Boat life is all about economizing, and while sacrifices must be made, you gain a lifestyle that is not only kinder to the environment, but is free from the rat race of constantly remodeling and upgrading your life.

You spend less time worrying about replacing a perfectly functional TV or getting new window treatments. You learn to savor that cold beer as the sun shines down on the deck. And you’ll know that your life respects the world around you, giving it a chance to still be beautiful for future generations.

Admit it: we’ve all used outdoor conditions that are out of our control as an excuse for skipping a workout. “It’s too cold, it’s too hot, it’s raining, it’s snowing, it’s humid”…the possibilities for Mother Nature’s sabotage are endless. After all, if you can blame weather for canceling your run, it somehow seems to make excuses for skipping that workout more valid. But one “this might make my run difficult” outdoor factor that so many of us might not even stop to consider?
Air pollution.
Air quality is something that so many runners and outdoor exercise enthusiasts take for granted. But for those who live in big cities and highly populated areas, pollution, smog, and other air quality issues can become a serious health concern. As it should be: many runners pride themselves on taking a proactive approach to their health. After all, it seems kind of counterproductive to train in an atmosphere that may cause more harm than good.
Air pollution, by definition, is the presence in or introduction into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. As exercise increases our breathing rate, and thus increases the volume of air passed in and out of our lungs, it’s safe to assume that when we exercise in polluted air that we are greatly increasing the risk of inhaling possible toxins and pollutants in the air. Imagining thick smog taking hold and embedding pollutants in the lining of your healthy, pink, lungs is enough to scare anyone into running for the indoor treadmills…or make excuses to not exercise at all.
Which begs the question, which is worse for our health? Exercising in polluted air, or not exercising at all? Let’s take a look:
The list of the positive benefits of exercise is long and well known, from decreased risk of premature death, heart disease, type two diabetes, cancer, and more. If you are already an avid runner or exerciser, I don’t need to repeat these benefits to you, chances are you are already experiencing them yourself. On the other hand, inactivity can not only increase the possibility of these risks, but can contribute to obesity and an overall poor quality of life.
So let’s look at the negative effects of exercising in polluted air: damage to airways of the lungs, increased risk of asthma development (or worsening of existing asthma or other lung conditions), increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and increased risk of death from lung cancer and cardiovascular disease
All of these negatives sound terrifying, right?
Don’t fret your healthy lungs just yet, the good news is this: research has found that the positive effects of exercise not only outweigh the negatives, but might actually aid in fighting the negative effects of pollution. In one research study, mice that regularly performed aerobic activity while exposed to diesel fuel fumes had less inflammation in their lungs than mice that were also exposed to diesel fuel fumes but did not exercise.
In other words, while exercising in pollution does indeed have negative effects, regular exercise has protective counter effects, which in the end makes exercise, even in poor conditions, more beneficial than not exercising at all. So in most cases, air pollution shouldn’t be an excuse to skip your workout (sorry!).
Still, there are a number of precautions you can take to avoid over exposure to air pollutants while exercising.
> Pollution levels tend to be highest during the warmest parts of the day, so time your run or other outdoor activity for early morning or later in the evening.
> Check the air quality index for your location. Experts recommend not exercising outdoors when the air quality is ranked at “Code Orange” or higher.
> Avoid running or exercising near roads, if at all possible. Air quality levels tend to be worse near heavy traffic areas.
> Have a backup plan. On days when the air quality is exceptionally poor, head indoors to a local gym. Use the opportunity to do some cross training.
Sure, exercising in polluted air environments is certainly not ideal, but the benefits of exercise as a whole seem to outweigh the potential risks. As always, let your body be the determining voice. If you experience any negative symptoms from exercising in polluted air, seek treatment and advice from your doctor, and look for cleaner air alternatives.