paraben free*
schmoopy, canon digital rebel xti
This weekend I cleansed my home of all products that contain parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben & ethylparaben) and it felt so fricken good.
For those of you that are a bit unsure exactly why parabens are not healthy for us, here is the most simple explanation I have recently discovered:
In a study entitled "Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumors", published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology 24, 5 - 13 (2004), parabens were linked with breast cancer. In this study, researchers looked at breast tumors and found parabens in eighteen of the twenty samples. It is the first time parabens were detected within tumors, suggesting that chemicals accumulate in the breast tissue and are being absorbed through the skin.
I'm all about prevention, especially when it comes to breast cancer since we have had it in our family. I was shocked at how many products have parabens: shampoos, conditioners, shaving creams & lotions, skin care, etc. Once I disposed of these products I felt such a peace come over me. That's when you know you've made the right decision for you and your family.
I had to let go of some of my most favorite product lines and felt disappointed that these companies professing to be organic and natural haven't found a substitute knowing that this information has been released since 2004. I have known about parabens for a while now and was using some products from my favorite line that doesn't have this ingredient but I didn't feel right about supporting them regardless.
So, last week I went on a quest to find companies that do not carry this ingredient in ANY of their products. I found this list online. Then I took a trip to Whole Foods and had a long conversation with a wise woman in the cosmetic section (with fabulous skin, mind you). She's been aware of this issue for a few years and was so very informed. She guided me to a few new skin care lines that I am so in love with: evanhealy (love the Rose line) & MyChelle. Each of their delicious products are made with all natural ingredients, plant extracts, essential oils and no harmful chemicals. Not to mention, my skin feels so very supple, happy and FREE.
Schmoopy (photo above) and I are on this new paraben free journey together. I wanted to share this information with you not at all to get on a soap box but because I care about health and about you. I share this gently and without judgment.
posted by boho girl at 13.1.08
31 Comments:
Oh Wow, I didn't even know about this at all. Tank so much for letting us all know. I've been on quest myself lately in using products that are not only good for us, but are not animal tested. Thanks again boho, for sharing this,
Big hugs,
Love Toni
great information -- and good for you! its one thing to think about making changes like this, but you are a woman of action! so inspirational*
Good move, Boho girl! We all have to pull together and let the cosmetic world know! If they are still using Paraben after the cancer causing research was published in 2003 it is a bloody shame, that they are still selling their products. Women, vote with your feet and walk away from these products!
i am SO so happy you wrote about this, sweets. am also happy you had a paraben product purging weekend.
having just done this i know what you mean, it was hard getting rid of some of those full bottles of product, but very freeing!
love you
love your yummy skin
love evanhealy
love MyChelle
love derma e
love collective well being
smooches
xoxo
Tq for sharing this greate story..
may god bless you....
Thank-you for this list. I use Suki Naturals and love their product. I use a face mask by the same company whose skincare line you used to use. I like the product but I think that I will stop using it. I was disappointed to learn that Burts Bees has been sold to Clorox recently. Again, thank-you.
Best,
Chalaundrai
thank you for this information. it is so frustrating and sad that companies cannot be more responsible and take it upon themselves to produce products that do not poison their loyal, faithful customers. the world we live in is a funny place...
bless,
ruby
Doesn't that feel great? I did that last year after reading the book "Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainablity" by Greg Horn (a great easy read). That book changed my life. It made me realize that we really have to look out for ourselves and not assume that because something is sold in stores that it's safe and healthy for us. Thanks for sharing the information. Hopefully you'll inspire others to look into it.
This is very informative! I posted this research on a parenting board I belong to.
Thank you!~
your such a Sweetie...thank you for caring firstly about your own health...as well as ours..hehehe...an angel! xx
A good site to check for info on the safety of the cosmetics we use is the Skin Deep database http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php
Good help in choosing which products to ditch and which ones to keep using
Thanks so much for sharing this! I've been looking into a new skin care line for some time now. I was happy to find weleda in the list of skin care lines, as this is for sale in stores in the netherlands, and i was directed to this brand a couple of days ago by article about sensitive skin issues. i never heard about pareben before though, but i looked on two bottles of 'stuff' in my bathroom and they're full of it. so from now on, when i need to buy new products i will go pareben free too!!
I LOVE this! Thank you so much for the kick in the pants this morning. This is something I have wanted to do for a while, just haven't gotten there!
I had no idea bout parabens. But thank you so much for sharing this info.
I wanted you to know, also, that I adore your photography and find your blog inspiring. This picture of schmoopy is gorgeous!
I'm in the market for a good digital camera, do you recommend the Canon Digital rebel? Have you used others?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sarah
www.spiralcreek.wordpress.com
oh this picture of schoompy is so gorgeous...and the ones below of andrea...oh girl you make my heart water...heehee...i meant to say 'mouth' water and went back to correct it but decided to leave it as 'heart' water because your photography DOES make my heart water...
Thank you for posting about this, I was not aware. Now i want to go research the use of parabens and see what products I use that have it.
The photo of schmoopy is beautiful!
you know, i have read your blog for so long, and i don't think it is ever possible someone could take what you say as harsh or judgemental :)
(hi, by the way! lurker, delurking for the day ;)
oh my goodness...I just went through my cabinets and all my lotions, even my shampoo and conditioner, even my MARIO contain parabens...this is so crazy. Thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for passing on the info. I've rid myself of most paraben products at this point, but haven't yet managed to find a facial moisturizer that doesn't make me break out or have this weird, rash-like reaction. I hadn't heard of these lines, though, so I'm excited to give them a try! ;o)
xo
K
The environmental working group (independantly run group) has a website that catalogues hundreds of thousands of products and rates the toxicity of them beyond just parabens + other ickies. i use the database before i buy anything that i put on my skin. Buying paraben free is a really great start!
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
I used to wonder what the heck parabens are, and then yesterday I found an article in Plenty magazine about them. Now they pop up here. I'm taking this little piece of synchronicity as a sign to read the labels and start purging. Thanks for sharing!
this photo is breathtaking!
Thank you so much for sharing the dangers of parabens with your readers! It's sad that consumers cannot trust that products on the shelf of their local stores are automatically safe to use on their family.
I hope this is not too tacky, but I have a small soap company, and our products are all paraben free. Check us out sometime if you get a chance.
we're paraben free, too. except for one or two things that i haven't found substitutes for. have you found a body lotion that you're loving? i'm looking for one. and it's hard, isn't it!? there are so many supposed-to-be-natural products out there that aren't.
Emily, try straight shea butter instead of lotion. It will not be the nice, light lotion you are used to, but it moisturizes wonderfully and a little goes a long way. Look for fair trade shea butter. If the texture is too thick for you, add a little olive or sweet almond oil and mix it up with your kitchen mixer to make it creamier and lighter. You can also add essential oils if you want a fragranced moisturizer.
Our rule of thumb in our house is, if you can't put it in your mouth, it should not go on your skin.
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A wonderful post and the photograph is one of the most beautiful I have seen - ever.
for any of your regular readers who live in the UK, i just found Puresha.
They do loads of yummy brands of products, all natural and delicious.
I'm so glad to read about your paraben free journey. I switched to natural products about two years ago after discovering how bad parabens are and my face & body both love me for it. Even better, the products I normally use at home in NZ are available in London as well.
:)
Hi there, i am also on this paraben free journey!! i have been doing some research as well and you might find other helpful insightful information in some of the links on my Concsciously Green blog here http://consciouslygreen.blogspot.com/
It's definitely the best way to go!!! Yaaay! Stacie looks so beautiful! great pix!
Wow, thank you for this information. I had no idea. Incredible photos as always!
I've been paraben free for a while now, and it's nice to hear that others are making a conscious effort at it too. SUKI is also another great organic, plant based skin care product - you can get at Whole Foods or online. :o)
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