Dear Lip Gloss, I’m On To You…
Luscious Lip Glosses That Melt On Your Mouth, Not In Your Hand
Moi: Hello lips? How are you? Good, good. Oh, I’m well. Thank you for asking. Hey question, did you know I’ve been infusing you with dangerous chemicals because I didn’t know any better?!
Lips: NO, shut your mouth!
Seriously, put your Angelinas together ladies. Feel that? That’s the gooey delight we call gloss. Then take a gander at your caboodle (we all know you still have one) as it overflows with lip color you’ve blindly purchased over the years.
Take a closer peep and the word paraben pretty much shouts at you. For years, the FDA was on a bonafide manhunt for the negative effects of paraben. Their findings? It’s a chemical that interferes with your body’s endocrine system: your hypothalamus, your ovaries, your thyroid … virtually every system in your body. Coincidentally, it happens to be the most widely used preservative in cosmetic products.
Anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the concentration of an oral dose. Think nicotine patch – goes right into the bloodstream. Now, imagine putting it directly on your lips. Mention these findings to any of your environmentally conscious lady bug friends and commence operation “STOP, DROP and SWAP.”
Sincerely, The Whistle Blowers
So, in typical HBD style, we got a few pucker-uppers that will land you a gig at the local kissing booth in no time.
JOSIE MARAN – Finger Paints is a multi-use palette that has an assortment of colors for the whole face in one compact, and the shades blend flawlessly for easy application. Contains natural, organic ingredients, no fragrances or parabens and argan oil, which replenishes and repairs skin cells. www.JosieMaranCosmetics.com
KORRES – Cherry Full Color Gloss provides long-lasting color and moisture without a sticky finish. About 10 different shades to choose from. Yay! Now, if only I could get that convertible … www.Korres.com
BARE ESCENTUALS – This all-natural lip gloss is a preservative-free formula that contains a healthy infusion of 100-percent pure bare minerals that deliver sparkling color. Natural oils and Cupuacu Butter deliver lasting hydration, protective antioxidants and superior shine sans the stickiness. The trailing scent of natural vanilla will make you smell like a walking ice cream parlor. Yum. www.sephora.com
NVEY ECO – Dual purpose Nvey Eco Lip is enhanced by organic beeswax providing the skin with energy, protection and harmony, complemented by a glossy, shiny, slightly shimmery texture. Made sans parabens, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals and phithalates. Good grief that was exhausting. www.econveybeauty.com
Organic Chocolate Lip Balm – You’ll never believe this, but you can make your own! Here is the recipe to tonsil hockey:
Ingredients:
(1) teaspoon beeswax
(2) teaspoons organic prime-pressed cocoa butter
(2) tablespoons organic cocoa powder
(3) teaspoons organic oil of choice (i.e. organic coconut oil, olive oil, rice bran oil)
Jojoba
5 to 10 drops peppermint essential oil
Vitamin E capsule 400iu
Organic vanilla powder
JC’s note: *Beeswax can be found at health food stores*
Directions:
Slowly melt ingredients in a double boiler or in 30-second spurts in microwave. Cool slightly and add vitamin E capsule (oil only) and fill sterilized containers. You may want to adjust the ratio of ingredients to suit your liking. Keep in fridge. Makes approx. five lip gloss jars. For more lip gloss recipes, visit www.ecobites.com. The green Web site offers DIY for Apricot-Orange Lip Gloss, Mandarin and Cold Sore Lip Balm (Yikes!).
Time to pucker up, baby. You owe me a kiss.
- JC
Toxic Polish? Nail Thank You
Eco-friendly Colors Find Their Time To Shine
Oh, look at you. All dolled up. Just a pretty little button I’d like to sew on a shirt and throw in the dryer. You’ve heard the good, the bad and the ugly from nail salons across the world, yet you don’t care. You still opt for that pretty convenient ‘fire engine red’ to match your fab personality. Toxic, toxic, toxic! But I promise you ladies, there is a safer way to keep those fingertips on the safe tip (pun intended). You don’t need to go sans color. Cross my heart and hope to die.
But what do you mean, almighty healthy bitch? How could fingernail polish hurt me or even more, the environment? Well, thanks for asking my imaginary question asker. Conventional nail polish contains large amounts, typically around 70-percent, of chemical solvents such as toluene, acetates and alcohol. Once applied, they seep into the air. And that, my friend, is what you breathe, air.
But don’t fret you pretty little ball of beauty, I got my hands on some luscious palettes that are bound to turn heads even when your flippin’ that jerk off in traffic.
Feast your fingers on these safe alternatives. Air dry. Apply second coat.
Acquarella – This safe, non-toxic, water-based alternative to conventional products is the talk of the town! Over 20 colors to choose from. Not tested on animals, no animal products … meow. www.acquarellapolish.com
Sun Coat – Organic colour cosmetics. Long lasting and quick-drying water-based nail polish. Over 30 colors to choose from. My personal favorite is “Chic Black.” It’s hot, vampy and screams How You Like Me Now, Linds Lohan?! www.suncoatproducts.com
OPI – Yep, the once master of the environmental slap to the face recently removed all toxic chemicals from its products. They have a new Fall/Winter color called “Cajun Shrimp,” which is spicy and safe (even if you’re allergic to shellfish). My personal favorite “I’m Not Really A Waitress.” Soooo Hollywood. www.opi.com
Kiss Pink Sticker Nails – If you want something easy to apply that doesn’t chip, brace yourself. It’s not a polish. It’s not a plane. It’s stick-on. Place colored sticker over clean, natural nail and press down. You’ll feel like a kid again. The kind of kid that has a job and pays taxes, of course. www.walgreens.com
High Five!
-JC
Waiting to Exhale
Essential Oils That Flirt With All Six Senses
Remember choking in Mr. Whalen’s class? Your nose wedged in a Guess sweatshirt waiting for Bobby’s Drakkar Noir to evaporate into the chalky air. You thought about the letter you would write, once you could breathe again, demanding Drakkar to stop polluting our schools. You were green before your time, missy. Z. Cavaricci’s were all you could bear….
Before there was Debbie Gibson and her Electric Youth, ancient healers used essential oils to improve physical and emotional well-being. Essential oils, like Neroli, Sandalwood, Rose, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang are highly concentrated natural plant products that can help relieve stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, tension, frustration, and can also boost the immune system, fend off colds, the flu and bronchitis, fight off headaches and migraines, and help with asthma. Get this! They also aid in creativity, memory, confidence, concentration and imagination. Do you remember what I just said?
Bitchworthy: When we breathe in an essential oil, particles that make up that particular aroma are transported to your olfactory mucous membrane (sounds like a lot’s going on up there) sending electrical impulses to a part of the brain that controls our sense of smell and emotions, having an almost immediate effect on our moods.
It’s important to buy pure and natural essential oils that don’t contain synthetic fragrances or substitutes. Preferably, choose organic or ethically wildcrafted essential oils. Just don’t ingest the oils, regardless of how yummy they smell! There are many oils that shouldn’t be used if you’re pregnant or if you have epilepsy like Basil, Bergamot, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Melissa or Sweet Orange. If you have any major health issues, you should speak with a qualified aromatherapist or medical practitioner.
Now before you start pumping oil into your shower pipes like Bobby did, the quickest and most effective way to experience aromatherapy is through inhalation. Here’s a list of ways to get the most out of your aromatherapy:
Make Scents. Use a diffuser, plug-in nebulizer or mix the oils with water in an aroma lamp diffuser.
Happy Ending. Massage those moody blues away using essential oils (now, we’re talking boys). When using oils for massage, mix the oil with good quality “carrier” oils like almond, Jojoba and apricot kernel oil. The mixture is usually about 5 to 10 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.
Rub a dub dub. You can also put the same mixture in your bath. Add candles, a little Enya and say hello to nirvana!
Smell Good. Instead of using your skin as a chemical sponge for all your old school scents, opt for an essential oil to smell heavenly.
Prices range from $6 to $45 depending on the type of oil and quality. Essential oils and equipment are available at most health food stores and Whole Foods. Also available online at:
Smells like clean spirit.
Julie C.
Row Row Row Your Bloat
Tips to Fix the Jiggle, Tires and Pooch Flap
You own a closet of low-hanging jeans and while you love how they make your ass look, your belly is jiggling freestyle. Now, we all have a pooch but when your tummy folds over like a Calzone, we need to talk. So instead of donning a corset that prohibits breathing, try out some of these for size:
Fiber Filler-Up: Sometimes your bloated belly is a result of constipation. Eating fiber will not only keep your blood sugar even and your hand out of the cookie jar (keeps you feeling full) but it will keep your digestive system flowing so you can eliminate waste faster. Don’t forget to keep drinking water. It’s an engine folks, work it. Fiber Foods: Apples, Beans, Edamame, Berries, Almonds, Ground Flaxseeds, Whole Grain Bread and Pasta, Oat Bran
Clockwork Orange: Start adding Vitamin C and Beta Carotene to your daily feed. They can ward off belly fat. Foods: Carrots, cantaloupes, squash, peaches and oranges
Zinc the Bloat: Our bodies need to digest protein because if the process is slowed down then our small intestine can be exposed to bacteria and thus creating gas and bloating. The worst, right? Zinc can aid in protein digestion. Zinc-rich Foods: Spinach, peas, brown rice and lentils 
Friendly Fats: Healthy monounsaturated fats can help prevent abdominal fat from accumulating. Foods high in potassium can help flush out excess sodium and reduce water retention. Fats: Peanut butter (remember to go organic), olive oil and avocados
– Kim
What Lies Beneath
Eight Simple Rules to Getting Rid of the Dreadful Yeast Infection
We’ve all been there, whether we like it or not. It’s something you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy or the stylist that “accidentally” gave you skunk highlights last year. You know what we’re talking about, that boisterous time when your hoo-ha itches, burns and screams, and you would give your first born to trade it in for a new one.
In technical terms, a yeast infection is the result of an imbalance or overgrowth of the Candida yeast fungi, and typically starts in the digestive system and spreads to other parts of the body. The culprits that cause this outrage down under: excessive stress, long term use of antibiotics or steroids, a weakened immune system, use of feminine deodorants, tight clothing and the Pill.
But, the real question at hand is, how do you return to normalcy? Here are a few simple rules to regaining a healthy vajajay :
# 1: Control Blood Sugar Levels- Ease back on the sugar intake if you get yeast infections often, or even better, omit sugar from your diet altogether when you’re an itchy and oozy mess. Also avoid breads, alcohol, cheese, refined carbs, dried fruits, coffee, soda and sugary cereals.
#2: Take Probiotics - Probiotics help to reintroduce the good bacteria back into the intestinal tract (Lactobacillus acidophilus). You can also deposit acidophilus tablets in your vagina.
#3: Chow Down on Garlic - Go to your local health store and pick up some garlic tablets or start incorporating fresh garlic into your meals. Garlic is an anti-fungal and helps reduce yeast overgrowth.
#4: Get Wet – Soak in the tub with a little bit of warm water and about 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar. You may smell a little funny (or delicious depending on how you look at it), but the combo works to shake your problem away. 
#5: Find the Silver Lining- Colloidal silver is a solution of microscopic silver particles that are held in suspension in distilled water. It is used as an antibiotic, destroys harmful bacteria and boosts the immune system, which is vital for fighting fungal infections. Make sure to get true Colloidal silver, not ionic silver solution.
#6: Tea Up – From the tea you sip on to tea tree oil, the tea family is your best friend. Like it, love it and want some more of it, missy. Tea tree oil isn’t only good for killing zits but if you rub a small amount down under, it helps to rid the body of infection. Also, head to Whole Foods or your local health store and pick up Pau d’Arco tea. It helps fight the fungus Candida, and has even shown beneficial effects for those suffering from cancer.
#7: Take a Dip – Call us crazy, but dip a tampon (organic, silly) in plain yogurt and insert normally. Leave in for one hour tops and remove. You may never look at yogurt the same way again, but hey, when in Rome …
#8: Lay Off The Humping- Try and avoid sexual intercourse for a few days. Let it heal, nympho.
P.S. If you’re preggers, talk with your doc first.
-Kim
September 8, 2009
Makes Scents
Stinky Truth on Perfumes
Mornings are hard. Finding heels that match or the right shade of lipstick for “daywear” (you work in an office, not on a street corner, honey) can make you a late, hurried hag.
But now, you have to worry about which celebrity you want to represent a la scent. Is it a morning to Inspire with Christina Aguilera? Are you feeling Lovely like Sarah Jessica Parker? Well, actually, maybe today’s a day to Believe in Britney (Lord knows she makes it tough, sometimes). Hell, even Enrique and Avril Lavigne jumped on the perfume bandwagon. The stars are aligned.
Turns out the decision isn’t such a tough one, after all.
Perfume’s Jekyll does have a Hyde. About 95-percent of the chemicals in popular perfumes are synthetic, petroleum-based compounds that include neurotoxins; some of which the EPA has declared to be toxic waste. Spray me down, Scotty!
The Material Safety Data Sheets warn us that we should avoid touching or inhaling these specific chemicals, which are prone to birth defects, liver and kidney damage, immune and reproductive system disorders and even cancer.
But why would an A-lister make perfume out of such heinously harmful chemicals? Few thoughts here a) They probably don’t know or b) Fragrance manufacturers aren’t required to list all the specific chemicals in their products (It’s the old, What you don’t know, won’t kill you deal).
There are solutions.
LAVANILA makes a whole slew of delicious vanilla mixed scents made from 100% natural, non-toxic ingredients (not vegan, however). Douse yourself in Vanilla Coconut, Vanilla Grapefruit or straight up Pure Vanilla. Totally yummy, affordable and easy to find at Sephora, Nordstrom and Beauty.com.
For a healthy alternative to your high-end Diva Scent, give it up for one of our favorites, Strange Invisible Perfumes. The company has created amazing scents that are made from natural ingredients and are toxin-free. They have oodles of super smellicious scents to choose from, including Epic Gardenia, Urban Lily and Lyric Rain. Available in full strength Parfum, Eau de Parfum and nifty $5 trial sizes, you can experiment to see which divine fragrance works best with your body chemistry.
Strange Invisible Perfumes online at www.siperfumes.com/sip or for Angelenos, pick up at Strange Invisible Perfume located at 1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291. Call 800-919-7472 or 310-314-1505 for more details.
- Julie H.
Later Wax, Hello Eco Brow
LA’s Own Edward Scissorhands Opens Up Our Eyes To A New Art Form (And It Doesn’t Involve Tweezers)
Beauty is in the eye of the threader. And to celebrity eyebrow evangelist, Marco Ochoa, we’re all beautiful … just looking for the right person to whip us into shape. Well, our eyebrows into shape.
Founder and party-of-one behind Eco Brow, a manifesto of modern-day brow shaping, Ochoa is no new kid to the sandbox. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ochoa has had a fascination with the face since he was a young Turk, stealing mom’s lipsticks, eye shadows and pencils to doodle on notepads and using his friends as guinea pigs. When he tagged along with his sister to watch her get her eyebrows “threaded” at the mere age of 15, he suddenly realized his true calling.
But, it wouldn’t be long until Hollywood was calling on him …
Fast forward to age 24, and Ochoa not only runs his own brow shaping biz, but he plays house at one of the hippest eco-chic boutiques in LaLa Land, VERT Boutique in Venice, Calif. With his own beauty pad at the shop, Ochoa’s art, as he likes to refer to it, has lent him the credibility to save face for such celebutantes as Kate Beckinsale and Matthew McConaughey’s baby mama, Camila Alves.
So you’re probably thinking, how is it eco? Simple. Consider the heating and messy puddy likened with waxing, then throw in the waxy strips and paper towels for the inevitable clean-up and you’ve got yourself a recipe for the landfills. The only tool Ochoa uses to perfect your arch is a single thread (hence, the “eco” element).
And this we swear: your brows will never look better. Not only will they look like they got some extra TLC and hands-on attention, but the little tugs from the thread are painless and actually a bit desirable. Sure, call us sick now, but don’t knock it til’ you’ve tried it, sister.
So, you want a piece of Ochoa? Make sure you leave a few days free in your calendar, because this man dons a WANTED sign on his chest and is quite the catch to pin down. But, rest assured, he’s ready to make you pretty.
Just remain silent and put the tweezers down.
Schedule your appointment with Marco “The Threader” Ochoa by calling Vert at 310-581-6126. Vert is located at 1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90201.
-Carly
Stick a Plug In It!
Organic Tampons are the New Black
The symptoms begin subtly. First, you snap. The salad you ordered came pre-dressed when you clearly asked for dressing on the side, and you suddenly have the itch to pull every strand of blonde hair out of your waitress’s pretty little head.
Then comes the groan. It’s that inopportune time of the month when you’re a cranky, ravenous, hormonal wreck. All you can think about is popping some Midol, throwing on your ex-boyfriend’s old frat shirt and concentrating on getting through your week without quitting your job or slapping your boyfriend for saying your best friend has nice eyes.
But before you jam just any applicator up your vajajay, consider this.
To our utter dismay, there are no federal regulations concerning listing ingredients in tampons. So for those approximately 11,000 tampons you’ll use in your lifetime, you are actually slipping chlorine-bleached rayon or rayon-cotton blends into your body. And rayon, sweetheart, produces dioxins. Yep, that stuff is a toxic carcinogen. In fact, the USDA reports that U.S. cotton farmers dump approximately 55 million pounds of pesticides into the cotton fields. Insert cancer, endometriosis, nerve system damage and immune system suppression here.
This doesn’t mean you have to revert to cloth diapers, honey. But you should be careful next time you go to snag the first box of tampons at the grocery store.
Go for organic cotton tampons instead. Rayon-free tampons reduce the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), and the organic versions will decrease the risk of direct exposure from chemical pesticides and fertilizers used on traditional cotton.
Oh, and we have recommendations, too …
- Seventh Generation: Chlorine-Free Organic Tampons, $5.99-$6.99
- Natracare: Certified Organic All-Cotton Tampons, $3.99-$7.49
- Organic Essentials: Organic All-Cotton Tampons, $4.00-$7.50
No, these aren’t available at the 7/11 around the block. You will have to trek to a nearby specialty drugstore, natural food store or upscale supermarket, but your flower will thank you later.
Available at Whole Foods, Wild Oats Market and select CVS Pharmacies
-Alyssa
Pass the Salt, Already!
Ahhh, summer. Only a month or so left of lazy days at the beach, SPF 98 and hobnobbing at resort pools that you so slyly snuck into, like you can afford an $800-a-night suite. What a life you have, pretty lady?!
Unfortunately, all this fun ‘n the sun can lead to nasty sandpapery feet snagging on your 300 thread count satin sheets and leather elbows that leave marks on walls. Not exactly the romantic pic you had in mind for your 500 Days of Summer.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body (really, we never get tired of pointing this fact out). But with so many harmful chemicals and additives harking over millions of beauty products nowadays, what’s a Healthy Bitch to do in hopes of bringing her rhino-derm back to something someone would actually want to touch?
Welcome to the genius of OSEA Salts of The Earth. This totally yummy, other-worldly body scrub is spiked with certified organic botanical oils and aromatic mineral salts from the Himalayan Mountains, the Bolivian Coast and the Dead Sea. Treat yourself to smoother, healthier summer skin using this deliciously decadent treatment, choc full of organic Gigartina seaweed, passion fruit seed, acai and bamboo extracts. All combined to exfoliate, hydrate and heal dry, itchy, sun-damaged skin.
Salts of the Earth, www.oseamalibu.com
12 oz./ $38
— Julie H.
Sun of a Bitch
Despite the number of times you slept through Health 101 or passed the time concocting love letters-slash-origami, you should have taken one important fact away — the skin is the body’s biggest organ (though your boyfriend will plead he’s the exception to the rule). The sun is not your BFF. Neither are a bunch of chemical-filled sunscreens (rest assured, read on).
We know most of you are making desperate attempts to lock and load the sun’s glow before summer’s end, but before your face resembles a salty, sandbagging fisherman’s, it’s important to protect your skin everyday rain or shine. Sorry to burst your baby oil, but the sun reflects off of water, sand, snow and concrete, so sunscreen (apply it before your make-up) is an everyday must.
Most of the sunscreens you’re buying at the drugstore contain a shit load of chemicals. The FDA cannot impose any mandatory requirements on label claims or what sunscreen manufacturers put into their products, so pay attention, ladies!
Many sunscreens tout PABA free but can use a derivative of it called Padimate O, which is one of several chemicals added to sunscreens to avoid, including Oxybenzone, Methyl and Propylparabens. The American Cancer Society recommends using SPF 15 to SPF 30, so aim high and stop pretending your SPF 8 is like body armor. Also know that two types of UV radiation are known to contribute to skin aging, skin cancer and wrinkling: UVB and UVA. When buying a sunscreen, make sure it contains both UVB and UVA protection or that it is labeled “broad spectrum.”
Some chemical-free recommendations:
- California Baby/ $13.99-$17.99, www.target.com
- Badger Sunscreen/ $16, www.badgerbalm.com
- Lavera Sunscreen Neutral/ $15-$26, www.lavera.com
- Mexitan Sunscreen Lotion/ $12.95-$19.95, www.mexitan.com
- Soleo Organics/ $13.99-$27.99, www.soleousa.com
Some of these are also available at Whole Foods or other health food stores, as well as online at drugstore.com, or amazon.com.
Now, off to the ball Skinderella …
- Kim
Quit Buggin Me
Safe and Effective Insect Sprays That Won’t Bug You Down
Now, we know that all of the earth’s creatures have a purpose. This includes insects. Bees pollinate, ants eliminate, flies … well, they do something, we just don’t know exactly what. Nevertheless, we are Healthy Bitches and we respect nature’s magical world. But if you are like us, we prefer to limit this magical world to outside of our homes and off of our person. Keeping things clean and free of old food, dirty plates and martini shakers makes a big difference.
But, when all else fails, and that pesty line gets crossed…
It’s time to pull out the big guns. But not big guns full of harmful toxic chemicals! No way, Jose! Look for effective, safe alternatives to that scary stuff found at the supermarket:
EcoSmart-Natural Insect Repellant
Free of DEET and other synthetic chemicals, this all-natural formula is made from organic plant oils, rosemary, cinnamon leaf and lemongrass, and repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats and other super annoying pests for hours. Safe around pets, people and the environment. Please do not spray your children with this. That is what Time-Out is for.
Personal Insect Repellent Spray
This pleasant-smelling, chemical and DEET-free repellent stops mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, chiggers, no-see-ums, gnats and numerous other pesky insects. Made from organic garlic and cedar oil, it’s non-staining and also works to fight off vampires. Unless, it’s Robert Pattinson, and then we recommend Stella In Two Peony by Stella McCartney.
NeemAura Naturals Bug Disenchanter
This herbal outdoor spray calls itself a Bug Disenchanter (love that) and while it repels bugs, it is also good for sunburn, minor cuts and first aid. DEET-free, it works through organically grown aloe vera and neem and contains no animal products. We’re enchanted.
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Pump Insect Repellent
This all-natural, DEET-free, plant-based repellent works for up to 6 hours using lemon eucalyptus oil. It is made from natural and renewable resources and is gentle to the touch. Proven effective against mosquitoes, deer ticks and no-see-ums, it has no known adverse effects and will not attract kangaroos or koalas.
Available at REI, Target and Wal-Mart
Now, bug off …
- Julie H.
PMS, What a Bitch!
Your boyfriend’s a douchebag, your boss is getting on your last nerve and your skinny jeans make your stomach fold over like a Calzone. What gives? Oh right, PMS. But before you inhale your Midol bottle and trap yourself in a room with cheap Chard and a DVD of Marley & Me, rest assured there are natural ways to kick Mother Nature’s ass.
Belly Bloat and Your Inner Demon
Water and fruits actually help alleviate bloating and water retention so people can stop asking you when you’re due. B Vitamins reduce water retention and stress, as well as bring estrogen levels back to normal (is this possible?) and increase oxygen flow to your female organs. Snack on nuts, bananas, sunflower seeds, whole grains, sweet potatoes, beans, cantaloupe, wheat germ, oatmeal, and brown rice to help you consume the necessary B vitamins. Chamomile Tea is thought to manage mood swings and acts as a natural diuretic as well. Irritability, depression and tension can also be quelled by foods containing Vitamin E.
Stop Seagull-ing for Food
Before you take Fluffy’s last chewy treat, opt for complex carbs like whole grain products to fill up and reduce cravings and sugar spikes. Up your Calcium and Magnesium intake by eating leafy greens, broccoli, nuts, seeds, lentils, brown rice, soybeans, and figs. Deficiency in Magnesium can lead to cramping, nervousness, and backache. Cut back or eliminate dairy products and refined sugar from your diet because these foods can increase magnesium excretion.
Vitamin E relieves breast tenderness, especially when a slight breeze causes an ouchy…so stock up on healthy oils such as olive and wheat germ oils, avocados, nuts and seeds (without the added salt), asparagus, and brown rice.
Who’s laughing now, Momma?
- Kim
Spit Please
Clenching your fists, you glance over at Mommy with crossed fingers hoping both of you walk out with lollipops. “Please Lord, I swear I will brush more. I pinkie swear!” Just when your dentist is breathing way too hard on top of you (which will later be cause for yet another therapy session), you hear him muddle something about fluoride. You think “Whatever it is, I will inhale it, love it, bath in it — just please, no cavities.”
Like most, you likely grew up in a household of traditional toothpaste. We won’t name names, but any package boasting the red, white and blue is not going to send us any free product after reading this. Most suggest we have to use Fluoride in our pasty to prevent cavities. But get this shit: right on some tubes there’s a warning not to swallow more toothpaste than is used for brushing, and if you do, seek professional help or contact a poison control center. As if it might not get swallowed at some point. Yeah, that’s what he said.
Another ingredient in most toothpaste is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — a foaming agent found in pretty much every beauty, body and cosmetic product. But recent research suggests that it may induce canker sores and can be a skin irritant.
Toothpaste can also cause tooth sensitivity, which happens over time when the tooth enamel is worn away. Many toothpastes are also too abrasive and can actually strip away the tooth enamel — one striptease too many for your busy life — and are typically full of sugar promoting the growth of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Ouch.
So spit that crap out and listen to the good news. There are plenty of great, natural toothpastes on the market that are good for your teeth and gums. These natural products use Zinc Citrate, a natural occurring mineral that helps control the calcification of plaque into tartar. Natural Silica, derived from sand, improves cleaning and gently whitens without harsh abrasives or bleaching ingredients. And some contain Xylitol, which helps to remove plaque.
Here are some of our favorite recommendations that are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Fluoride free, and contain all-natural ingredients:
Tom’s of Maine
Kiss My Face
Jason Natural Cosmetics
The Natural Dentist
You can buy them online at www.drugstore.com or purchase at any Whole Foods, and most health food and traditional grocery stores. Prices range from $3.50-$6.50.
Here’s to swallowing … You can thank us later.
-Kim
Saving Mother Earth By Day, Screaming Her Name By Night
Picture this scenario: it’s Friday night, you’ve cleared your schedule and planned a romantic evening for your man. A bottle of Veuve is uncorked, you’re wearing something that leaves nada to the imagination and the number of candles you’ve lit would give Smokey the Bear a brain aneurysm. Things start to heat up and before you know it, you’re both in your birthday suits and he’s headed where many have dared to go before (at least that’s what you tell him). Bow-Chicka-Bow-Wow.
But, there’s a problem …Gasp. Ack. Frustration squiggle. You’re as dry as Paula Poundstone during an HBO special.
Don’t fret, my pet. Our brilliant friends at Sliquid Organics know a thing or two about what goes on behind closed doors. Their new natural organic lubricant is designed to heal, stimulate and rejuvenate your hoohah. Sliquid Organics Natural’s glycerin and paraben free water-based formula is blended with organic botanicals, soothing Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Green Tea and Hibiscus for a safe, eco-friendly experience. Added bonus, this lube helps you feel the natural sensation of skin-to-skin Mambo and is compatible with latex condoms and most sex toys (for you freaky bitches).
Sliquid Organics Natural is available at adult retailers like Hustler Hollywood or Good Vibrations (www.goodvibes.com), but easiest to pick it up on the website. The tasteful packaging is medicine-cabinet friendly, but could easily be mistaken for shampoo, so be cautious. Hold the phone … I think I have an idea for the next Herbal Essence commercial.
Sliquid Organics, $12.99 for 4.2-ounce bottle or $19.99 for 8.5-ounce bottle
-Carly
Jack-Your-Lantern
In a sex slump? Go grocery shopping and get it on. If slimy oysters don’t do it for you, try pumpkin seeds. One of the key nutrients involved in increasing your libido is zinc. Low levels of zinc have been linked with low sperm count in men and with low sex drive in women. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of zinc and full of Omega 3 fatty acids, which plays a key role in sexual health.
Sweat that Shit Out
Let’s set the record straight. Your sweat doesn’t smell, it’s the bacteria on your skin that makes people quiver. We’re not going to tell you to grow your armpit hair in the shape of Elvis, but you need to pay attention to the crap you’re stroking onto those bad boys. Are you using an anti-perspirant? Deodorants are not anti-perspirants. They just take your smelly sweat and turn it into a bed of roses. Anti-perspirants actually stop the body’s natural process of sweating and prevent your pit pores from releasing toxins.
Your underarms are the gateway to your lymphatic system and their job is to fight infections so taking small steps such as using natural deodorants and not anti-perspirants can protect you from any potential health risks.
Looking for suggestions? Oh, we’re full of them here at Healthy Bitch Daily. Buck up and use a natural deodorant. We like LaVanila Healthy Deodorant. It’s 100-percent natural and fights odor with powerful antioxidants, antibacterial agents, active botanicals and essential oils. It’s a bit on the pricier end, but honey, well worth the extra pocket change.
After all, your pits are the gateway to your soul (Okay, it’s your eyes, but is anybody really keeping score?)
Face Your Moisturizer
You are one beautiful bitch. Everyday you should tell yourself that in the mirror, no joke we take your beauty seriously. But after you talk to yourself, please look at your current moisturizer and read the label. Labels weren’t created just so you could monitor your carb load. You need to know what’s lurking in your lotion. Lots of chemicals you can’t pronounce? Toss it please! We don’t care if it promises to lift your face behind your head by tomorrow.
Your skin is the largest organ and what you put on it gets absorbed in your bloodstream, especially the chemicals. There are hundreds of new chemicals entering the market every year and most of them are not even tested for safety. Feel safe? Because of the lack of regulation from the FDA, cosmetic companies can put toxic chemicals into their products and put them on the market with no safety approval. Don’t be satisfied with “organic.” Know your labels.
So it’s up to you to pay attention. First, keep your moisturizers simple and natural. The only type of fragrance you should be getting from your moisturizer are essential oils because fragrance-free products are much gentler on your skin and will reduce the risk of irritation, redness, and allergic reactions.
Ingredients to avoid if you choose to be al-naturale:
- PETROLEUM (mineral oil jelly)
- METHYL PROPYL BUTYL and ETHYLPARABEN (one word)
- SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES
- PROPYLENE GLYCOL
- SODIUM LAURYL (LAURETH) SULFATE (SLS or SLES)
- PEG (Polyethylene Glycol)
- TALC (Magnesium Silicate)
- DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine)
- FORMALDEHYDE
- ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
- ARTIFICIAL COLORS
Try Origins’ (one of Kim’s favorites) Antioxidant Moisturizer with White Tea. It’s paraben free and uses natural and certified organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils. If you are at the drugstore or health food store, try Avalon or Kiss My Face. They are both natural and will keep that beautiful face of yours glowing.
