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Blessings asked: Do you wear mascara and if so what brand? I remember a blog post about mineral makeup but use maybelline mascara, and since it’s gone, I thought I would ask if you have a better brand or alternative.

Yes, I do wear mascara, and have been in pursuit of finding a truly natural alternative, but have been quite stumped. Your question got me motivated to dig deep and find the best options.

I have been surprised to see how many mascara options are available that claim to be “natural” and yet still contain parabens of all varieties. Natural brands such as EccoBella, BareEssentuals mascara, and Palladio.

Parabens (such as methyl­paraben and propylparaben) are synthetic preservatives and studies link them with cancer, endocrine dis­rup­tion and hor­mone mim­icry, developmental and reproductive toxicity, aller­gies and skin tox­i­c­ity, tissue irri­ta­tion, and tox­i­c­ity to var­i­ous organs, to name a few.

As mascara is the easiest of skin products to quickly enter and be absorbed into the body through the eyes, it is definitely something worthwhile to consider finding a safe paraben free alternative. Check out your ingredient lists carefully and always refer to the Skin Deep Database.

I have been doing various research and have found the following options to be your best choices. Please note that these natural mascaras are not waterproof.  Companies use plastics and high alcohol content to achieve this effect. Prices range from $14-18 per tube, which is actually quite reasonable since the standard brand I have bought in the past was at least $9-10 and lasts for approximately 6 months for me. Remember, the least amount of ingredients listed on a label the better, and they should be readable!

Origins Lash Loving Mascara
Tarte Lash Hugger Natural Mascara – (read reviews on this product here)
RealPurity Mascara
Earth’s Beauty Mascara
Sun Coat Naturals

The majority of these mascaras can be found online through Natural Solutions, a great source for truly natural cosmetic products.

Further Reading

How Safe is Your Mascara? - most standard mascara brands are compared

I would love to hear if any of you have tried these safe alternatives? What do you recommend? Remember…double check your ingredient list before making a recommendation!

A few weeks back I shared how to make the best choice of safe cookware for your family, and today I would like to share on the options for safe bakeware. Why should you evaluate your bakeware options? Consider that most bakeware available on the market is attractive because of the “non-stick” claims! Could this harmful in some way? Non-stick coatings are being proven hazardous for both humans and the environment.

According to Renee Loux’s research in Easy Green Living, “Teflon is widely believed to be carcinogenic, bioaccumulate in tissues over time, and persist in perpetuity in the environment because there is no known mechanism to break them down. Nonstick chemicals have consistenly been linked with developmental disorders, birth defects, and cancer, and have been shown to be highly toxic to the liver, kidneys, and blood.”

What are the alternatives?

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One of my new year goals is off and running! Our composting bin is set up and ready to go. Composting is a great means of cutting back on garbage while making some wonderful soil for your garden! A simple way to being a good steward and not letting anything go to waste! My Grandma told me this is the key to her lucious tomato plants producing an abundant crop. I kept it simple and purchased the composting bin that Azure Standard now offers (just under $40 for the set) as we are very limited in our condo with no back yard beyond a deck. It had very simple instructions and came with everything including the container, worms, moss, and paper. It did not exactly fit under my kitchen sink  (it was so close, but the garbage disposal was in the way), so we are keeping a small plastic container under the sink to collect organic scraps throughout the day, and the composting bin in the garage. At the end of the day we dump the matter into the bin, and start again! All’s I have to do now is feed these little worms 1/2 lb of food scraps each day!

Further Reading

Worm Composting in a trash can - Tammy’s shares about her composting method. Great if you have the space!

Any tips on composting you want to send my way?

Does whiter whites mean cleaner clothes? Many of us have grown up with the idea that chlorine bleach is necessary to provide cleaner clothes, disinfected households and to solve every stain problem…but have we truly considered the impact that this product could have on our health? I hate how bleach leaves that horrible scent upon your fingers after use and makes me nauseous!

Chlorine is a respiratory irritant and when mixed with other common household products, it gives off a toxic gas. Chlorine exposure can cause irritation and nausea, and lead to long-term health effects such as tooth corrosion. Chlorine is also a highly corrosive substance, capable of damaging skin, eyes, and other membranes. Studies are beginning to show that it’s use can even double the risk of birth defects.

Products of special concern include: automatic dishwashing detergents, chlorine bleach, chlorinated disinfectant cleaners, mildew removers, and toilet bowl cleaners.

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