The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances (39 page)

Pangea Organics shower gels
are some of the few body cleansers out there that are true to their organic claims. Formulated with saponified organic oils, aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, and a dozen plant extracts, including lavender, calendula, gotu cola, linden flower, and red clover, these thick, rich shower gels last a really long time, helping you save money by buying less.

If you want to start your green beauty routine with just one natural product, make it a generously sized bottle of
Dr. Bronner’s 18- in-1 Pure-Castile Hemp BabyMild Soap
.Very concentrated, very natural (nothing but water, coconut soap, olive oil, hemp, and vitamin E with some citric acid as a preservative), this cleanser can be used in tons of different ways: when diluted, it makes a good gentle shampoo, body wash, mouth rinse, diaper soak, baby laundry detergent, and even a baby bath.

Green and White:
Basics of Natural Tooth Care

If you decided to go organic because you care about your health, you may decide to put natural tooth care products close to the top of your list. Some parts of the body, including the gums, are more absorbent than others, making it easier for chemicals to pass into the bloodstream, which is another reason your tooth care should be as healthy, natural, and chemical-free as the food you eat.

While claiming to create healthier, brighter smiles, many types of toothpaste are a long way from pure and natural. Here are some chemicals you should avoid in your tooth care products.

Fluoride
.
Many experts claim fluoride helps fight decay, yet this chemical has also been linked to many adverse effects, including cancer. Fluoride was found to actually increase teeth and bone decay by causing a condition called dental fluorosis, says a study done by the School of Public Health of the University of Michigan (Heller et al. 1997). A 2008 study by French researchers confirms the findings and explains that elevated fluoride intake causes fluorosis by triggering DNA changes (Wurtz et al. 2008). Scientists of Harvard School of Dental Medicine found “an association between fluoride exposure in drinking water during childhood and the incidence of osteosarcoma among males” (Bassin et al. 2006). Polish scientists in February 2008 found that fluoride greatly diminished the protective abilities of kidneys in animals (Blaszczyk et al. 2008). It seems that fluoride also has an adverse impact on our hormonal system. Scientists at the National Center for Toxicological Research reported a close correlation between decreasing fertility rates in women and increasing fluoride levels (Freni 1994). Last but not least, fluoride appears to increase the lead content in our bodies. In 2007, U.S. researchers found that children living in communities with fluoridated water have elevated blood lead, which may be explained by corrosion of lead-containing plumbing by fluoride chemicals in water (Coplan et al. 2007). I think that just one of the above reasons is enough to reconsider the use of a fluoride-loaded toothpaste and adopting a less sugary diet to avoid tooth decay.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate
.
Many so-called natural types of toothpaste still use this harsh detergent to make the product foam lavishly. However, we already know that sulfate-based detergents are strong irritants and should never be ingested, even in small amounts.

Hydrogen Peroxide
.
This potent bleach in the form of carbamide peroxide is frequently used in whitening gels and strips in concentrations of up to 6 percent. This popular whitening agent is not currently thought to cause mouth cancer in humans, but toxicologists from São Paulo State University in Brazil concluded in 2006 that “dental bleaching agents may be a factor that increases the level of DNA damage” in vitro (Ribeiro et al. 2006). To date, science knows that while carbamide peroxide removes surface stains, it attacks both organic and mineral components of dentin, causing irreversible changes in the mineral components of teeth. Besides, it can be toxic when eaten or accidentally swallowed. The National Poisons Information Service in the United Kingdom says that swallowing of hydrogen peroxide in concentrations similar to those during professional tooth whitening “may cause irritation of the gastrointestinal tract with nausea, vomiting. . . . Painful gastric distension and belching may be caused by the liberation of large volumes of oxygen in the stomach” (Watt et al. 2004). Stomach troubles were also recorded in a study when animals swallowed a commercially available 6 percent hydrogen peroxide whitener (Redmond et al. 1997). So if you choose to brighten up your smile a bit, do it under a doctor’s supervision and make sure not to swallow any of the bleach.

Saccharin (sodium saccharin)
.
This artificial sweetener is used in toothpastes to make them more palatable. Wet studies dating back to the 1970s have linked saccharin to cancer in animals (Bryan et al. 1970). Results of these studies were labeled as irrelevant to humans. Debates about the safety of saccharin are still ongoing, and science has not yet provided clear enough evidence of a lack of association between saccharin and cancer in people. One of the recent human studies on saccharin involved the whole state of Lucknow, India, where children have such a sweet tooth they ate up to three times the recommended amounts of saccharin in candies, ice cream, and desserts. After observation of children between six and ten years of age, scientists found that they “may be susceptible to the toxic effects of saccharin, including bladder distention, elevated urine osmolality and bladder cancer” (Tripathi et al. 2006). That same year, a study done by oncologists of University of Leicester in the United Kingdom showed that saccharin, along with acesulfame K in carbonated drinks, triggers overactive bladder symptoms (Dasgupta et al. 2006). Yes, that doesn’t scare quite the same as bladder cancer, but if there are other options available, why risk it? Who knows what will studies show in five years?

My advice remains simple: don’t be fooled by the word “natural” on the toothpaste’s label. Many popular “natural” types of toothpaste contain FD&C dyes, propylene glycol, aluminum, and other potential contaminants that we discussed in Chapter 2, “Beauty and the Toxic Beast.”

So, do green toothpastes exist? And if they do, do they taste awful, foam even worse, and feel like chalk in the mouth? Not really. To gently polish away stains, green toothpastes use silica, baking soda, and mineral calcium carbonate. To leave the mouth fresh, nothing beats good old peppermint. To soothe gums, green toothpastes use sea salt, aloe vera, and chamomile.

To make green toothpastes even sweeter, xylitol, a “tooth friendly” sugar replacement, is added. Unlike most artificial sweeteners, xylitol can be extracted from corn, birch, raspberries, and plums, and studies show that it not only strengthens teeth enamel, but also wards off yeast and bacteria (Edgar 1998). To ease symptoms of canker sores, many toothpastes are now sodium laureth sulfate-free, with added licorice and aloe. Other excellent green soothers for canker sores include cloves and myrrh, available in toothpastes by Green People and Tom’s of Maine.

Finding pure, nontoxic toothpaste is easier than you think. JASON Natural Cosmetics PowerSmile is a brilliant whitening
toothpaste without any synthetic junk in it, and Dr. Hauschka Lemon & Salt Toothpaste is suitable for sensitive teeth or bleeding gums—there’s no menthol or peppermint in it. Would you like to whiten those choppers but hate to swallow bleach? Try rubbing your teeth with strawberries (rinse off quickly to avoid enamel decay!) or brush them with a baking soda and salt mixture. Some people believe that gargling with diluted hydrogen peroxide helps to bleach teeth, but be extra careful not to overdo it. As we learned earlier, swallowing even weak solution of hydrogen peroxide can seriously irritate your stomach.

Green Bath Time

Taking a bath is probably the most indulgent beauty treatment. A tranquil, carefully prepared bath can do wonders for your mood and your skin’s health. I denied myself long bath soaks during my whole pregnancy, and what a torture it was! I loved being pregnant, but the bath ban was very hard to tolerate.

Physiologically, the relaxing effects of soaking in water are easy to understand: warm water suspends your weight, making you feel lighter, and thus helping to relax the muscles. As your blood vessels dilate from the warmth, your blood pressure drops. Warm water can relax sore and tired joints and release tension. The warm cocoon feels like a womb, making you feel safe and secure. While showers can be called the skin’s fast food, a warm bath is definitely on top of the skin’s comfort foods.

The less expensive your bath product is, the better. One-half cup of olive, sweet almond, or grape seed oil is much better for your skin than a glittering, bubbling bath bomb made of skin-drying chemicals and synthetic fragrances. Rose and orange water, Epsom salt, apple cider vinegar, whole-fat milk, lemon and orange juices, green tea bags—all these kitchen staples can be put to use.

Green Bath Aromatherapy

It couldn’t be easier to go green when you bathe. Instead of detergent-based bath foams, switch to plain milk, salts, and fragrant oils. Oils will protect skin from dehydration, because long, hot soaks in the bath or showers can strip natural moisturizing oils from your skin. Wou can buy premixed bath oil blends based on pure vegetable oils and essential oils. Make sure to check the label for preservatives and avoid mineral oil, which will wrap your skin in a waterproof film and obstruct your skin’s perspiration.

By carefully blending gentle essential oils, you can supercharge your bathing ritual. You can create wonderfully inexpensive and 100 percent green bath salts by adding blends of essential oils to Epsom or Dead Sea salts, which are especially good if you have psoriasis or seborrhea.

Sometimes essential oils in your bath can do more harm than good to your skin. The strong fragrance components can easily irritate your skin, especially in the vaginal area, so your carefully planned bath experience may end with itching and soreness. Among the safer essential oils used in bath oils and milks are lavender, sandalwood, chamomile, spruce, and rose, while citrus oils, as well as jasmine, bergamot, and sage have more irritation potential. Plant extracts and infusions can be used instead of oils.

Here are some classic recipes for delightful bath treatments with a green twist. Enjoy them, treat your family to them, and pack them in pretty jars to give to friends. I recommend storing bath salts in clay spice jars or clear glass jars with spring lids. Plastic is more practical, but many types of plastic can release chemicals, especially when in contact with the volatile compounds in essential oils.

Cleopatra
Milk Bath

1 cup organic reconstituted or condensed milk

2 tablespoons honey

2 drops vanilla extract

1 drop chamomile essential oil

1 drop lavender essential oil

Please note:
Whenever you use essential oils, keep them out of the reach of children. Most essential oils are poisonous if ingested, even in small quantities.

Yield:
4 ounces

You can use whole milk straight from the carton in this recipe, and any baby formula works as well.

Blend the ingredients well and use immediately to create a soothing, deeply moisturizing balmy bath.

Green Tibet
Bath Salt

1 cup grape seed oil

1 cup green tea

1 tablespoon baking soda

1/2 cup Epsom salt

1 drop lavender essential oil

1 drop frankincense essential oil

Yield:
5 ounces

This bath salt recipe reminds me of a famous Tibetan green tea traditionally prepared with salt, butter, and baking soda. It will invigorate your senses and stimulate blood circulation. This bath salt will also soften the water.