Beauty is not just skin deep, it is cell deep. “Health IS beauty.”
Everything we put on and ultimately in our bodies either ages us or sustains us. Why? Because our bodies absorb everything - whether we eat it, lather it, stick it or stamp it on.
Common sense says that if something is toxic to the environment and a known potential endocrine disrupter or carcinogen then we should not consume that product. Right?
So why have the majority of skincare and cosmetic companies on the market, who claim to be selling beauty, only gone skin deep and allowed for the cell part of our existence to consume as much nonsense as they care to substitute. It appears they are willing to cut costs and make more money off of us aging rather than sustaining. The answer as to why appears to be: Because they can. The laws on cosmetics and chemicals allowed in those cosmetics haven’t been updated since the 1970s in the US (Europe has recently made some important changes) and in truth still have standards carried over from the 1930s. This is the kind of stuff that has kept me up late at night researching to better understand why and how we got to a place where beauty had nothing to do with keeping us youthful and everything to do with keeping up appearances, and making us sick along the way.
Ok so what are some of these toxins that companies have gotten away with loading our lotion, moisturizer, foundations, blush, eyeshadow and more with?
Mineral Oil – made from petroleum, comedogenic (clogs pores), may cause breakouts, premature aging, negative hormone effects, negative immunity effect. Most commonly used in lotions, creams, ointments and cosmetics.
Talc – skin irritant, carcinogen, organ system toxicity (lungs, ovaries), may contain asbestos. A mineral commonly found in eye shadow, blush, foundation, face powder, and baby powder.
Bismuth – skin irritant. A synthetic filler commonly found in eye shadow, blush, bronzer, and nail polish.
Phthalates- endocrine disruptor, hormone disruptor, carcinogen, developmental toxin, reproductive toxin. A plasticizer commonly used as a fixative in color cosmetics, skin care, lip balm, and nail polish. Sometimes listed as DEP, DBP, DEHP and fragrance.
Parabens- carcinogen, linked to skin cancer, developmental issues, reproductive issues, endocrine disruptor. A preservative commonly found in facial cleanser, lotions, moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup.
Young Living skincare is always on the cutting edge - formulating all new products without gluten, and often reformulating legacy products as new science and ingredients emerge. This is one of the reasons I just love using their skincare products!
In today’s environment many people are suffering with different digestive issues. Bloating, feeling sluggish, brain fog, skin issues, constipation, these are just some of the side effects of poor digestion.
Growing up I had great digestion then I hit menopause and had some medical procedures and the weight piled on. I have spent over a decade learning about digestion, how it works and some of the causes that disrupt the process. My intention is that you are able to implement some of these tips to improve your digestive process. Our bodies are designed to heal themselves, and we need to give them the right support so that can happen.
Your gut health will affect your mood and your mood will affect your digestive health. The digestive process includes organs and many steps and while the digestive process is similar for each of us; the same organs and the same steps, but our microbiome is unique to each of us. The gut microbiome is a collection of microorganisms that helps to digest food and build your immune system. Your microbiome comes from your DNA, from your thoughts, from your emotions, from everything you consume, including what you put on your skin.
Let's start with thoughts because that’s where digestion starts, with our thoughts, our salivary glands can kick in when we just think about eating. We want to be in a calm, relaxed state when we eat. If we are upset or nervous while we eat, the energy that would be used for digestion is diverted, and the digestive system is short changed and is unable to do its best work. So one of the tricks that we can do is deep breathing, just before you start to eat, take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds and then just let it out slower than what you inhaled. Repeat that a few times until you are calm and relaxed, then enjoy your meal, with the full power of your energy focused on your digestive organs and process.
