BREAST CANCER MONTH 2012

Every year October rolls around, the final good bye to summer, and we need to take a good look at ourselves and our health.  In August, I got a head start and had my annual mammogram, and I am fine.  Early detection is crucial, and something that we CAN control.

photo credit by PinkRibbon.org

Was it actually so hard to get this test done?
Not really, you just have to schedule the appointment, get yourself there, and wait your turn. Realize that your body is a part of you and needs to be acknowledged as such.  We spend so much time developing our minds, which is necessary (!) but in the process addressing our bodies can lapse, and October is a good time to meet  our needs and health.  The kids are back to school, the holidays are in the distance, so go now and schedule this noninvasive, simple, safe test!

My site here is a combination of fitness and beauty, and blending the two in a unified whole is the goal.  Sounds easy, but it is not.  There is so much information and education to go into this quest, that the path is never ending and very circuitous, but we CAN be proactive and do some good for ourselves.

The cosmetics listed and featured on this site are for your physical and emotional well-being.  Admittedly, some are better than others and it is YOUR job to determine which are best for YOU. We are the same in that our minds and bodies follow the same basic creation process, but we are individuals also with particular needs.

So, let us begin.

Paraben is a huge red flag in our awareness of cancer, do look for paraben-free products, but beware there can be other toxins in their place.  Here are a few very good links to test for healthy and not so healthy levels of toxins, sensitivity and overall quality in your beauty products, Good Guide has had great press coverage for its accurate and current data, also the federal agency EWG, Environmental Working Group in Washington, DC, and Pink Ribbon is the official site for international breast cancer awareness.

I am not a doctor or chemist, but I think a lot of our good health can be attributed to increased awareness and living a simple, productive life in all we do.  Life certainly has its hard times, I have had them too, but by taking care of yourself in the good times and the tough will be a HUGE booster to get you through a rough spot. By training physically and mentally you can beat the temptation to weaken, because, simply, you are not weak!  You are strong, and love it!!

Some great cosmetic lines that have paraben free products are Bare Escentuals and bareMinerals, Murad, REN Skincare of London, ReVive, Philosophy, Dr. Perricone, Tarte, e.l.f., Lorac, Smashbox, Urban Decay and Clinique.  

Clarins has some paraben with but mostly without, same for Bobbi Brown, Crabtree & Evelyn, Kate Somerville. 

JM Argan Oil, Paula's Choice, Aubrey Organics, Swanson Health products are great. 

Some paraben but not all in Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden and Lancome, La Prairie, Laura Mercier and Shiseido; the list IS long and thank goodness getting longer for the better! 

Our favorite Touche Eclat by YSL is paraben free, thank goodness!  Dior has paraben listed for its hydrating eye cream, and I spoke with a Parisian representative who told me the amount is miniscule, .001%.  Dior's product and packaging is so lovely, the paraben level must be reported regardless of its minimal amount. 

See below regarding American Cancer Society findings.

If you have a favorite cosmetic or beauty product you simply cannot part with that has paraben, just use a little bit and parse out the days you use it, just not every day.

MANY companies here are on the bandwagon with paraben free skincare and cosmetic offerings, awareness is key and each little bit helps step by step for a better environment and world.

Here is a really up to date site to easily check your favorite cosmetics and skincare at Cosmetic Ingredients, have fun and see what is in your jars and bottles!

What YOU can do now:  before you buy, read the labels! Telephone the company and ask questions, be proactive!! Save your packaging and refer back to it if for later you have questions.

*Paraben is listed toward the bottom of the packaging list usually, also look for derivatives of  butylparaben, isobutylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben and isopropylparaben.  At one time these were considered harmless preservatives, but studies have shown otherwise although not conclusive.* 

ALSO, the further down the list of ingredients listed on a package, the less the amount used in the product. I learned this years ago as a consultant for Calvin Klein and Ultima II Revlon, and I doubt this formatting of the ingredient volume has changed.

If you minimize your exposure to parabens, toxins, sulfates and leads in general, you will be doing yourself a great favor. 

However, there is a HUGE caveat here from the American Cancer Society, which states on its site that many paraben studies remain inconclusive regarding the link with breast cancer. In fact, some studies suggest paraben use remains unproven as to the cause of tumors, regardless of traces found in the breast tissue and tumors.  

Hmm, what to think?  Moderation is key, we can be assured of that. Mix up your cosmetic use, take a break for a few days and skip, yes, skip the mascara, the makeup, go natural! Wear your hair in a ponytail instead, change up your clothes for a new look! Just try not to get too attached to a single regime, this way you optimize your chances of being free of any long-term exposures.

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus All- Smooth Makeup SPF 15 is recommended by Prevention Magazine "Color Yourself Healthy" article, September issue!

Clinique Repairwear Makeup at Macys

Also, Murad has a City of Hope Special for this month only, it is beautiful!

At Murad for $49.50

Happy shopping, and STAY HEALTHY!