Toxic Kisses

I am not a lipstick lover myself and neither is my husband if you know what I mean.  But being concerned about health and environment I really wanted to go further into the subject. 

The first question is, can these products be making women sick? can they be safely used by everyone? Better information would help consumers understand and limit their daily exposure.  So here is a bit of what I found:

Researchers asked a group of women to hand over their lipsticks and glosses and tested them for toxic metals, including lead and cadmium. It happens that metal content varies widely from brand to brand, but in general they found that women who apply lipstick two to three times daily can ingest up to 20 percent of the daily amount that's considered safe of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, and manganese. Hey, and what about those girls that keep all day a glossy smile and apply it 14 times a day or more, they are surpassing the daily recommended exposure to chromium, aluminum, and manganese.

Cadmium is a carcinogen that has been found in breast cancer biopsies and shown to cause cancer cells to multiply in lab experiments. Why are metals often used in mineral dyes? It is because they give lipstick its pigment. What's concerning is that we look pretty in color, but consumers don't really know what they're putting in their lips.

Several health problems will arise such as headaches, but they can go from miscarriages to seizures in adults.  In children, lead exposure to more important body changes and health issues.

For some reason (lobbying i.e.) here in America we have to be more alert. Over the years, the US has banned only 22 chemicals outright. For comparison, the European Union currently bans more than 1,300 chemicals.

So what's important is:

1. Read the labels and find lipsticks with low percentage of these metals.

2. Do not apply lipstick when is not "necessary".

3. Don't apply lipstick just before eating.

4. Try not to let your princess to play with your lipsticks

 

Want to know more about it?

http://safecosmetics.org/downloads/A%20Poison%20Kiss_report.pdf

To swap or not to swap

A clothing swap is a fun type of meeting where participants exchange their valued but no longer used clothing for clothing they will really be able to use. Clothing swaps are considered not only a good way to de-clutter and refill one's wardrobe, but also are considered an act of environmentalism. Love it!

The truth is that the notion of swapping is not a new concept. Many groups and organizations hold clothing swaps to raise money and clothes for charitable donations.  Although some people say clothes swapping originated in the United States in the late nineties, I believe that friends and sisters might have been doing it all around the world even earlier!

Clothes swapping is the latest fashion craze to hit the UK. But you can find it also in Australia, where The Clothing Exchange is now run as a social enterprise by Kate Luckins and Juliette Anic and in Canada where a non-profit organization called The S.W.A.P. Team organizes and facilitates large-scale clothing swaps partnered with charities that accept the leftover clothing at the end of the swap.

Private Swapping parties for women, how does this work? Well, all ladies must bring at least one item of clothing to swap, and in return can choose anything they want!

But this trend has gone viral too, for example, Swishing.co.uk is an online service where you get virtual money credits for the items you send and you can instantly order any item showing on the site.  This way you don’t have to limit yourself to your small circle of friends.

Online clothes swapping has become popular, with these websites offering an environmentally friendly and frugal alternative to shopping you can find swapping parties in your community, so that transport and/or shipping doesn’t become an issue.

Enjoy swapping and benefit your community!

 

Photo from: http://good.net.nz/blog/rebekah-white/donate-pre-loved-clothing

 

 

5 things you can reuse with no hassle

These five objects are easily reusable. Completely hassle-free reusable stuff!

As simple as that!

 

 

 

Of course if you want to embellish them you can do so by painting or wrapping or glueing.  But if you are not a crafty person and you are a green one, then go ahead and reuse!