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Mom's Day Off

Organic beauty Products that protect Mom and Mother Earth By Janae RaphaelPublished: April, 2009

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Earth Day is April 22, so we will be celebrating our environment in April, when consumers are encouraged to live a green lifestyle.     Every day, we’re exposed to potentially dangerous items. These products are detrimental to our environment our own bodies. Making eco-friendly choices can benefit our health and the health of our world. Let Mother Nature be your inspiration, and make green choices with these eco-chic beauty products and tips.     Green Goddesses use sulfate and Paraben-free hair care products. Sulfates are derived from coconut oil and are bad for your hair health and the environment. In fact, the Environmental Working Group considers Sodium Lauryl Sulfate to be a carcinogen.     Parabens are chemical preservatives that have been found to be estrogenic, meaning they may be disruptive of normal hormone function. Try the sulfate and Paraben-free products from Number 4 High Performance Hair Care; the line is 100 percent vegan and oh so chic! (number4hair.com)        Skin is the body’s largest organ, and it absorbs everything that is applied to it. Animal byproducts, Parabens, artificial fragrances and other ingredients are found in many cosmetics. Look for products that contain all-natural ingredients.     For healthy, luminous skin, try mineral makeup. BareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation from Bare Essentials is made with pure, crushed minerals and is free of preservatives, talc, oil, waxes, fragrances, and other chemicals that can irritate skin and cause breakouts ($25, planetbeauty.com).       Save energy by letting your hair air dry or opting for an ultra-fast dryer containing all-natural tourmaline. The T3 Tourmaline hair dryer, made of 100 percent crushed Tourmaline jewels, utilizes negative ions and infrared heat technology to dry hair more than two times faster than ordinary dryers. ($150, planetbeauty.com).      Visit green spas and salons such as Spa Gregories in Newport Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita. With an ongoing dedication to environmental issues, Spa Gregories offers green tips on its Web site and uses eco-friendly, phosphate-free cleaning supplies, carries organic skin care products and uses nail products free of formaldehyde, toluene and phthalates. The spa is a member of the Green Spa Network and uses “pipeless” pedicure chairs that use one-third less water than traditional ones (spagregories.com).     If you start by making a few green adjustments to your lifestyle, this small effort can have a big environmental impact. MOM'S GIVEAWAY Cherish a Child We’re giving away a Child to Cherish gift package worth $200! Designed by Patrice Lowe, Child to Cherish offers unique children’s keepsakes and gifts.     Each item captures moments to preserve the innocence of a child. It features a suitcase with a layette, Buttermilk Farm Vegetable Seeds and Plant a Tree for Me, a porcelain elephant bank, a Tower of Time handprint kit and a “Lammie Pie” lamb toy.      To enter, go to ocfamily.com and click on Mom’s Giveaway. (childtocherish.com; OC Family readers can use code oc10 to receive a 10 percent discount on any order.) March’s contest winner: Pamela Romero, of Westminster Energy boosters Use nutrition to combat fatigue. By Layla Sade, PH.D., ADA, AANC I hear from my clients that they are exhausted. We turn to sugary foods and caffeine, which exacerbates the problem.     If this sounds familiar, take heart. Energy zappers are all around us – some obvious, some hidden – but there is a way around almost all of them. Here are five ways to maximize and retain energy: 1. Don’t skip meals Studies show that people who eat breakfast report being in a better mood and have more energy throughout the day. 2. Sleep! Eight hours of sleep per night is optimal. But the time you fall asleep is important. Sleeping from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. is not considered to be as restorative as sleeping from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. 3. Eliminate energy-zappers > Fast-releasing carbohydrates: Excess sugar causes fluctuations in blood sugar. Opt for fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. > Not enough alkaline-forming foods: Foods such as figs, molasses, green leafy vegetables, almonds, beets, dates, celery, cantaloupe and parsley are great alkaline-forming options. > Insufficient protein: Pack some almonds and nuts for a snack. > Too much coffee: Try giving up all stimulants (coffee, tea, sugar, and chocolate) for one month. > Not enough water: Dehydration commonly leads to low energy. 4. Exercise Spend 20 minutes a day exercising to develop strength, suppleness and stamina. 5. Take supplements Energy-rich nutrients include vitamin B6 and zinc; B3 and chromium are available as a complex called chromium polynicotinate. Nutrients required to turn glucose in cells into energy include B1, B2, B3, and B5, as well as coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, iron, copper and magnesium. Layla Sade, Ph.D, is the founder and owner of Total NutriCare. Helpful fashions T-shirts benefit breast cancer research Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Orange County Affiliate, is offering women the chance to make their fashion statement with the promotion of its Pink Tie Ball T-shirts, available online now through the beginning of June.         The Pink Tie Ball committee created the T-shirt idea this past December. The shirt fundraiser is focused on raising awareness for the nonprofit’s Pink Tie Ball, to be held on June 6, according to committee members.        This year’s banquet venue is the Pacific Arts Plaza in Costa Mesa, and the event will raise funds for breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment.           This is the first year Komen Orange County has held this commemorative T-shirt fundraiser. The long-sleeved white shirt is adorned with elegant pink butterflies that represent renewal, transformation and resilience, according to Lisa Wolter, executive director of Komen Orange County Affiliate.      “The butterflies symbolize a survivor’s journey,” she says. “Butterflies represent beauty and metamorphosis, making them an ideal image to benefit women and families in Orange County.”      The shirts sell for $40; all of the proceeds will benefit the Komen Orange County affiliate. Seventy-five percent of funds raised will be invested in local breast cancer-awareness and -education programs, while the remaining 25 percent will be dedicated to the Komen Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research.     The foundation hopes to reach its T-shirt sales goal of $15,000.     The butterfly shirt isn’t the only way to merge fashion and philanthropy. Susan G. Komen has a whole line of everyday wear to help you make your fashion statement loud and clear. Whether going on a jog, hanging out with friends or staying at home with the kids, Komen gear gives you a way to show your support on a daily basis.            Merchandise ranges from baseball caps and camisoles to scarves and even jewelry. Prices are reasonable, varying from $1 to $34.95. Like the Pink Tie Ball shirts, all proceeds will go directly to benefit breast cancer research and prevention.          The Pink Tie Ball design will be offered until the time of the ball. To purchase a Pink Tie Ball shirt or other Komen merchandise, visit ockomenmerchandise.com.

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