Parabens - Toxic? - Why I don't use them.

Parabens are everywhere in our beauty products from toiletries to makeup, and despite the industry saying they are safe and exist in plants natural ( which they don't ), they actually could be dangerous.

So what are parabens?  Parabens are synthetic chemicals produced in a lab, very cheap to produce and used as a preservative in your products. The most common ones seen in cosmetics are methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, and often used together as a combination.

These parabens are fat-soluble so that they can be readily absorbed into your body, which means they are
likely to accumulate in fatty tissue, for instance in the breast. A research has been shown that a high percentage of breast cancer's tissue samples have contained high concentrations of parabens. It is also known that parabens can mimic the hormone Estrogen, playing a role in the development of breast cancer! For more info on this please read this article - Paraben and Breast Cancer

Studies have also shown they can also have an effect on hormonal imbalances and have been proved to interfere with the function of the endocrine system, and these endocrine disruptors are stored in our body's fatty tissues. - This is one reason why I don't use them. As a child and young adult I had numerous problems with my hormones - one being rather serious with my pituitary gland, which is a endocrine gland and secretes nine hormones that regulate homeostasis - it functions:

• Growth (Excess of HGH can lead to gigantism and acromegaly.)
• Blood pressure
• Some aspects of pregnancy and childbirth including stimulation of uterine contractions during childbirth
• Breast milk production
• Sex organ functions in both men and women
• Thyroid gland function
• The conversion of food into energy (metabolism)
• Water and osmolarity regulation in the body
• Water balance via the control of reabsorption of water by the kidneys
• Temperature regulation

 The numerous problems I suffered with my pituitary gland I was told I could have a tumor on my gland and was consistently having blood tests and told that I would never have kids. At the time I had no idea it could have been products I was using.
It wasn't till I I actually did feel pregnant, that I started to think about what I was using on me and what I was eating. When my daughter was born, I used nothing but pure natural and/or organic products on her ( and still do ).  Parabens are also know for causing allergic reactions,and since stop using products with them in it, I have noticed how my skin isn't as sensitive as I thought it was.

There is many of website regards to research and research still being done on how safe parabens are. In my opinion and experiences I'd rather stay away from them. However, I let you decide on whether you still would.
You can find more about the different types of parabens on Skin Deep website - What are parabens?
and also Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben

Hurray for the "Happy Mix"

Now this is not a usual posting but I just had to rate this! Being an ice cream fan and having a partner who prefers ice lolly's like Solario, Twister and myself preferring the chocolate or toffee sort of ice cream, than a young daughter who is into Mini Milks, or similar. Buying ice cream can be quite a chore when it comes sunny days like today.

As we walk down the shopping aisle this afternoon, picking up some items to enjoy in the garden, we finally get to the ice cream section. First picking up my daughter shop brand mini milks, and than my partner and I trying to sort out what ice cream we are going to settle on - I was thinking Cornettos at the time when...........................

A few fridges down my solution was found! Hurray to the  " HAPPY MIX" BY WALLS, and definitely well named! Containing 2 Mini Milks for my daughter, 2 Twisters for my partner, 2 Magnums for me and than 2 Cornetto's ( one for me and for him ). 
Thanks to Walls our summer will definitely be a happy one in our household for ice creams this year! :-)

Time to re-update my beauty bag?

I had a heart attack this morning when I went to open my makeup bag. All the contents were covered in a brown dusting - OMG my 3 y/o had been in it yet again and left one of my loose eyeshadow powder lid off and had emptied out onto everything inside my beauty bag.

As an ever curious, learning machine, my 3 y/o daughter just loves to go though my makeup in the morning when I am getting ready, trying to coping what I am doing. If it not blusher all over her face, lipbalm all over her top, it is makeup all over my bag. I wasn't mad, or angry, it just makes me laugh that even from this young age, little girls seem to have it built in them what is girly and what is boyish. Or is it just the fact she watches, learns and copies from me?

Anyway, as I pour the contents of my makeup bag in the sink to clean, I thought it was about time I actually got rid of items, 1) I no longer use, 2) have recently had a reaction too - ( how being pregnant can change your skin and sensitivity ), 3) is more than 2 years old and needs to be chucked out.
A part from my mascara's and some recent products, most of the contents ended up in the bin for reasons above - the fact that I have only just started wearing a full face of makeup again since returning back to full time work probably explains the reason why my makeup bag really did need sorting out despite the mishap.

So my hunt is on now to find some new colours for my eyes, as these were mostly what I had in my bag, and since I recently brought my BareMinerals kit containing my foundations, bronzer and concealer, there isn't really much else I need.

Oh probably need a new makeup bag as despite giving it wash, some of my bright colours have stained it.

Bare Minerals is the Escentual MakeUp for me!

Having recently started full time work again in the public eye in the beauty/retail industry after nearly 3 years at home bringing up my first child. I needed to find a makeup that didn't make me feel caked in it, yet gave me a coverage I wanted without feeling heavy. I used to wear liquid and power before having Izzy, yet after a few years of wearing nothing but my natural state, I found it really uncomfortable to wear.

I had heard of Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals before, but it wasn't till I was working for a beauty agency covering one of their counters that I actually got to try the makeup.

I knew they were known for giving a fantastic coverage yet still giving you that natural look as well fantastic camoflourge for people with skin imperfections like scars, blemishes, reddness etc.

The look is made up of four basic parts - the foundation, the concealer, the warmth and the veil. You can also add there blushers, eye and lip products too. To apply the powder you use the techique, SWIRL, TAP, BUFF! bascially after swirling the product in its lid, you tap of the excess and buff it onto the skin in circuliar montions going anti clockwise, than clockwise to produce a silky, luminating look.
Although it sounds and can look like a time consuming process, it is at all once you know what your doing - it takes me about 5 mins to do the whole look including eyeliner, e-shadow and mascara.

I was overwhelmed with how natural looking the mineral powders gave me yet gave that flawless coverage you expect from a liquid without it feeling like you actually got make up. I also found it didn't feel uncomfortable and melting like in different room temperatures that you can get with a liquid.

I brought the starter kit which gave me everything to get me started for an amazing price of just £48 ( the actual price of the contains is over £100 ) - 3 brushes ( your flawless foundation brush, blusher brush and concealer brush ), 2 shades of foundations ( your winter and summer colour ), the concealer, warmth and the veil. The kit also contains a handy DVD on showing how to do apply the products. 

As the powders are 100% pure containing no preservatives, talc, oil, fragrance and other harmful chemicals.

I have finally found my makeup and would definately recommend this to anyone - any age!

Contains:

• 2 X Foundation Shades
• Mineral Veil or Tinted Mineral Veil
• Warmth
• Full Flawless Face Brush
• Flawless Application Face Brush
• Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush or Light Stroke Brush
• Bisque Multi-Tasking Concealer
• Get Started DVD

Available in the following shades:

• Light
• Medium
• Tan
• Dark

For more info on Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals visit www.bareescentuals.co.uk

Fantastic News!

Firstly I have to apologise for my lack in blogging lately. I have just started back into full time work in retail just nearly two months now after having nearly 3 years off with bringing up my first child. I am also still running my three homebased business's and studying for my qualifications in Beauty and Aromatherapy. I therefore had little time to do anything else.

I have to also say for the moment I am able to carry on my review with the ab belt as have found out I will be expecting my 2nd child end of Nov. I will however, be starting a new review on it once baby number 2 is here.

In the meantime I will try and keep you update with beauty news from the industry, and reviews on products I am able to still review - including more mummy/baby related ones.

I am also very pleased that my studying is going very well at the moment and been getting excellent assignment marks of 90%.