October is National Breast Cancer Month - Sip for the Cure

It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month which means you'll be seeing a lot of "pink" products out there. One that I recently had a chance to test out was Republic of Tea Pomegranate Vanilla tea. The red tea (Rooibos) combines tangy pomegranate with luscious vanilla bean. It smells awesome and tastes great, too!

Pomegranate Vanilla is part of Republic of Tea Sip for the Cure collection which includes a Pink Grapefruit Green Tea, Pink Lady Apple Green Tea and Pink Lemonade Green Tea (see what I mean about the "pink"?). A portion of the sales get donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation--so you've got an anti-oxidant rich red tea that's good for you and for a good cause.

Y'all can commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness month by running for the cure or walking for the cure. Me, I'll just kick back with Republic of Tea Pomegranate Vanilla and sip for the cure...

Ahhhh!

LashFood

Forget silicone implants, Botox or Restylane. The latest cosmetic enhancement treatment is lash lengthening. No doubt you've seen the gorgeous Brooke Shields hawking the benefits of Latisse. This lash treatment was actually developed when doctors and patients noticed one of the side effects of the glaucoma drug bimatoprost was longer, thicker lashes. They quickly reformulated the drug and marketed it as a way to increase lash length and volume.

Unfortunately, while long lashes is a welcome side effect of a glaucoma treatment, the side effects of Latisse include darkening of iris pigment and conjunctivitis for starters.

Brooke's luscious lashes notwithstanding, the side effects of Latisse are enough to give one pause. And let's face it: Shields' dramatic lashes are mostly a matter of genetics, lash tint and film magic. So, if you don't want to take the risk of bimatoprost side effects, can you still have gorgeous lashes?

Absolutely!

LashFood is all-natural lash stimulant/conditioner that contains biotin, an essential vitamin, arginine, a natural amino acid--and root and herbal extracts. Developed to condition, repair, restore, and create longer healthier and more beautiful eyelashes and eyebrows, LashFood contains no harsh chemicals to irritate your eyes--or, more importantly--change the pigment in your iris!

I've been testing out the product for the last couple of months and here are my results:

Darker lashes? Hmm--not really. My lashes still require mascara for maximum "Oomph!"

Thicker lashes? Yes, a bit. Not falsies plush, but a bit more volume.

Longer lashes? Most definitely! The conditioning benefits of LashFood allow my lashes to grow to their maximum length. Add a bit of mascara and the tips nearly touch the bottom of my eyebrows.

LashFood carries a price tag similar to Latisse--but without the nasty side effects. So for a natural solution to skimpy lashes, look into LashFood.

Lauren Hutton Naturals Face Disc

No doubt most of you are aware of my current obsession with using more natural and organic products to replace the chemical-laden lotions and potions in my cosmetic and skincare arsenal. So I was really psyched to get the opportunity to test out the new Lauren Hutton Naturals Face Disc.

Lauren Hutton Good Stuff was developed to provide make-up options for older women--but the versatile and inclusive palettes are useful and usable for all ages. The line includes everything from skincare to mascara, but it is the face discs that are truly outstanding.

The face discs come in four different shades: pink for very fair skin tones, yellow for those with gold undertones, olive for medium skin tones and brown for darker skin. Each disc contains a sheer concealer, four spot concealers, a pooch and nose shade, a shadow color, blush/lip tint, lip balm, liner and brow powder--each of which are color coded to match up with matching brushes.

The color coding also matches up with a face map that guides the application of each element. Personally, I'm not much into shading and contouring so I ended up making up my own map. Yup, that's me--blazing my own trail...I also used my fingers (for concealer/lip balm application) or my own brushes (shadow/brows) for application.

I used the sheer concealer for under eye circles and two of the spot concealers for--well, spots; using my fingers to pat it on gently. The concealers did a nice job of evening out my skin without looking cake-y or mask-y.

The liner is a deeply pigmented chocolate color which went on smoothly with a bit of water and my liner brush. The brow powder looks like a pale taupe in the disc, but filled my naturally dark brows in perfectly. The shadow powder is meant for contouring, but instead I used in as an eyeshadow. It's a warm, neutral brown shade that reminded my of MAC Wedge.

I don't wear blush except for "special occasions," but the neutral peach shade looked very natural. Mixed with the lip balm, it made a lovely sheer lip tint as well. The entire palette comes in a gorgeous case, small enough to fit in most purses.

I loved just about everything about the Naturals Face Disc. If I was creating the perfect face palette, the only modifications I would make would be:

1. Develop a set of mini-brushes to go with the palette as well as a way to store them with the case in order to make the palette a more complete make-up solution.
2. I'd split the contour shadow in half and keep one side the shadow and the other side a highlighter. This would work for both the face and the eyes.
3. I'd also split the lip balm into a clear and colored shade. The blush mixed with the balm works well as a lip tint, but you risk messing up the blush.
4. I'd give up two of the concealers (three is enough) and replace with one sheer finishing powder.

In addition to being multi-functional, the Naturals Face Disc lives up to its name featuring:

• 95% + Natural Origin Ingredients recommended by The Natural Products Association
• High concentrations of plant-based ingredients
• An anti-aging cocktail of Grape Seed Oil, Green Tea, Vitamin A, E and C, Avocado Oil and Bamboo

It's really nice to find make-up that's made up of good stuff while making you look good.

Republic of Tea Stir Fry Spice

Anyone who knows me knows that cooking ain't my thing. My motto: "Why waste time cooking when you can eat it right out of the box?" Fewer dishes to wash that way as well.

That's one of the reasons I was so eager to try out the new Stir Fry Tea Spice from Republic of Tea. A mix of ginger, lemongrass, organic gunpowder tea, parsley, white pepper, garlic powder and a touch of sugar, the Stir Fry Tea Spice is a quick and easy way to add a bit of pizazz to a meal.

I sprinkled a bit in a chicken stir fry to zest things up a bit, but it works just as well sprinkled on a chicken breast or piece of salmon and then baked in the oven. A little more work than just opening up a box, but not much more. The spice mix is also good for you as green tea helps to lower cholesterol and is high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

A little tin of Stir Fry Spice equals instant gourmet. If it came in a box, it'd be perfect...

derma e Very Clear

My skin's been acting up lately, so I was excited to try derma e's latest offering--the Very Clear Skincare collection.

The line of products blends herbs like Tea Tree, Willow Bark, Rosewood, Lavender and Chamomile to soothe and heal breakouts. I tried the spot treatment to see if it could tame my blemishes.

I love tea tree oil as an acne treatment, but it's way too harsh to use undiluted. Even my go-to tea tree treatment, Desert Essence Blemish Touch stick, can be drying to sensitive skin. The derma e Very Clear Spot Blemish Treatment is formulated in a base of water and glycerin rather than alcohol so it doesn't dry out or irritate skin. The cream is non-greasy and absorbs quickly and did a great job of clearing up my breakouts.

The Very Clear line also includes a cleanser, scrub and moisturizer. I tried some samples of the cleanser as well and found its creamy formula an effective way to cleanse my skin without stripping or drying. It's also good to know that the Very Clear Blemish Spot Treatment scores as a low hazard on the EWG Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. And as always, derma e products are free of parabens, pthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial colors and are pH balanced, 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free.

Looks like I found a new favorite skincare treatment item!

Pharmacists are Hazardous to your Health

Am I the only one who has to deal with morons at the drugstore?

Last night I went to pick up some prescriptions that I had called in Saturday morning. As part of the automated refill process, I was asked to provide my phone number in case the pharmacy needed to contact me if there were any issues.

No call, so everything should be ready, right?

Nope.

I get there and two out of three prescriptions are ready. They tell me they're out of the Armour Thyroid. This is the third time I've had the prescription refilled and each time they're "out." I usually get sixty 60 mg tablets; one tablet taken twice a day equals 120 mgs daily total. The first time I got the prescription refilled after transferring over from CVS, they didn't have the 60 mg, so it was 120 of the 30 mg tablet. Four tablets each day. Irritating but no big deal.

Next month it was the same thing. Excuse me--you've had a month to get the 60 mg in, what have you been doing? So annoying...

This time it wasn't the 60 mg they were out of--it was the 30 mg! (No surprise since my prescription alone requires 120 tablets for a month...) They actually had the 60 mg in stock, but couldn't fill my 120 mg daily dosage because now the record in their system says my prescription is for 4 30 mg tablets each day, not two 60 mg tablets.

Despite the fact that 1. the prescription was originally written for 2 60 mg tablets daily, 2. 120 mg is 120 mg total whether it's one 120 mg pill, two 60 mg pills, four 30 mg pills or eight 15 mg pills and 3. they have no issues substituting 4 30 mgs for the original prescription, they wanted to call my doctor to get her to approve the change.

Correction: they wanted to call my doctor to get permission to dispense the prescription as it was ORIGINALLY WRITTEN!!!

Idiots.

I finally badgered them into filling the prescription but it took over half an hour.

Rite-Aid sucks.

Memos to Moron - part ten

Here I am, using the Abductor/Adductor machine. There you are waiting to use the same machine. I say waiting, but in fact you are HOVERING.

It's annoying.

When someone is using a machine that I want to use, I use another machine instead while I wait. It makes the time go faster and then neither I or my fellow gym rat have to deal with awkwardness.

If after using several machines said person is still using the machine I want to use, I may inquire as to when they might be finished. This is standard gym etiquette.

Unfortunately you are an inconsiderate moron. I say moron because your tactic of HOVERING is counterproductive. It does not encourage me to rush through my sets with expediency. In fact, it makes me go more SLOOOOOOOWLY.

Yeah, it's bitchy--but that's how I roll.

You've been warned. If I'm using a machine you want to use, you'll get to use it more quickly if you back off and do something more productive than hovering in my sight line.

I suggest using the ab machine. You look like you could use it.

Kinesys Performance Sunscreen

While I am pretty religious about putting sunscreen on my face, I often am lax about making sure my body is adequately protected. Partly because it's such a drag to put it on. My face is a fairly small and finite area. The rest of my body requires more of a time investment.

But I know I should be making sure my hands, chest, neck and legs have good coverage. I've tried those spray-on sunscreens thinking they'd be more efficient than squeezing a bottle or tube and massaging it in but the results were messy and more time consuming than traditional application methods.

I jumped at the opportunity to test out Kinesys Performance Sunscreen not only for its spray on application but also for the fact that it provides photo-stable broad spectrum protection (Parsol 1789) and is oil, alcohol, PABA and preservative-free. The sunscreen diffuses in a thin film, rather than a gloppy mess. It feels a bit slick going on, but dries and absorbs quickly and easily.

And if that weren't enough, Kinesys uses 100% recyclable materials, is cruelty-free and carbon neutral.

Summer's coming and, as George Harrison would say, "Here Comes the Sun." Kinesys offers a great option for protecting your skin from sunburn and skin cancer.

derma e Skinbiotics

Antibiotic abuse and the rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureu (MRSA) has long been a concern of mine. Forget global warming or terrorism--we're more likely to be wiped out by a staph infection.

It's not just those unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions to treat a cold that are an issue. Every time you reach for the Neosporin, you risk decreasing your resistance to common infections.

This is why I was excited to learn that one of my favorite skin care lines, derma e, had come out with Skinbiotics--available in either cream or oil formulas. Skinbiotics was developed to treat bacterial and fungal skin conditions, insect bites, rashes and abrasions with a blend of Tea Tree Oil and Oregano Oil which naturally have antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties.

Whether you need a spot treatment to clear up an errant blemish or are taking proactive steps following a manicure or pedicure, Skinbiotics provides a natural alternative to over the counter antibiotic ointments. And like all derma e products, Skinbiotics is paraben-free, cruelty-free and 100% vegetarian.

Summer's coming and with it bug bites, sunburns, scrapes and abrasions. Skinbiotics is a great addition to your medicine cabinet to relieve all these problems and soothe skin to stimulate the healing process.

Little Citizens Herb Teas from Republic of Tea

Remember being little and having a "tea party"? Stuff animals and baby dolls served as guests and water, milk or juice stood in for tea.

Kids these days can serve actual tea at their tea parties courtesy of Republic of Tea's Little Citizens Herb Tea line.

Naturally caffeine-free, anti-oxidant rich Rooibos is anti-allergenic and supports the immune system. Much better for the little ones than sugary Tang, Kool-Aid or Ovaltine!

It comes in three yummy flavors: Strawberry Vanilla, Tangerine and Apple Cherry which can be served hot or iced.

And Little Citizens Herb Tea doesn't just provide nutritional support for children: for every tin of tea sold, $1 will be donated to Room to Read, a leader in providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children around the world. Established based on the belief that education is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty in the developing world, the organization has supported nearly two million children by catalyzing the construction of more than 700 schools and 7,000 bilingual libraries with 5 million books and supporting the education of over 7,000 girls.

Whether your tea party includes guests of the stuffed variety or just a solo cup of solace, Little Citizens Herb Tea will please both big and little sippers.

Hollie Goes Green

This post comes courtesy of the gorgeous and talented Hollie, who I sent to check out the latest happening at Vert.

Here is her report:

"Organic make-up and skin care is something Stella has been raving about. As an avid reader of her blog, I always thought it sounded good but maybe a bit new age-y for my needs.

I’m a drugstore kinda gal.

But after attending Vert’s Kiss and Make-up event, I’m a convert. Created by Renata Helfman, Vert is the place to go for all natural eco-friendly make-up and skin care products. As we sipped on champagne and snacked on tasty macrobiotic snacks, Renata, a former celebrity make-up artist, offered a step-by-step make-up lesson.

I’ve always found watching people apply make-up a bit like watching a chef prepare a great meal. It’s interesting but not something I could do. But Renata offered so many great tips as she went along I kept thinking, "I can do that!"

One thing I learned was how important it is to prep your skin before you put on any make-up. Before she even got started with the make-over, Renata moisturized her model’s face, using Ren, Vert’s latest offering for skincare. Ren is the latest in bioactive skincare and has no synthetic ingredients. It’s packaging is clean and simple and the products are scientifically tested.

As someone who’s starting to notice fine lines sneak in, finding the best anti-aging creams have become a hobby. While everything in the line looked good, my budget forced me to focus on what’s most important. I’ve been in the market for a new eye cream so I splurged for the lipovector peptide anti-wrinkle eye cream, which contains peptides and natural vitamin A.

I’m planning to replace my current eye cream Clinique Repairwear which, according to Cosmetic Database (another discovery that I can’t believe I didn’t know about), ranks at a 7. Ren was kind enough include a sample of there products including the Multi-mineral Detoxifying Facial Mask, the Rosa Centifola Facial Wash and the Active 7 Radiant Eye Maintenance Gel.

My skin is already thanking me.

Besides praising Ren skincare, Renata stressed that Vert provides a variety of products so that the eco-conscious consumer can mix and match. One item that really stood out and I’ve already added to my wish list is Josie Maran’s Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 30. It’s the perfect substitute for someone like me (lazy) who doesn’t wear foundation every day but wants to look like I do.

Helping out with make over tips was Layla, a make-up artist from Jane Iredale cosmetics. I don’t know how I’ve never heard of this cosmetic line but the products are incredible. I haven’t tried it yet but in my goody bag, is their lengthening mascara and one of their 24-karat bronzer. (Is there anything better than a bronzer with gold flecks in it?)

What stands out about Jane Iredale is that this was one of the first companies to make mineral make-up and it continues to be recommended by dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Those are people I can trust. The other must have item from Jane Iredale is the In Touch Cream blush. It contains real cocoa extract and smells incredible. Normally, I’m not a big fan of scented cosmetics but this was just the right blend.

New cosmetics and skin care is exciting but the best part about the evening was the education I received. The tips from both Renata and Layla were invaluable. I had no idea that the mascara I was using from the drugstore contained such toxic chemicals as well as the damage that my “long lasting” lip color may cause. I had posted on my own blog that I hoped to be more eco-friendly by recycling and driving less, but I realized that I’ve been putting potentially harmful products on my face and body.

Definitely not the place where one should scrimp!

Of course, mineral make-up and “green” skincare is slightly more expensive than drugstore brands but paying that extra bit is worth it if I’m not only looking better but I’m not poisoning using toxic products.

You can check out Vert online to discover all the products I mentioned and so many more.

Thanks again to Stella for letting me discover the wonderful world of Vert. My make-up and skincare routine will never be the same!"

Hollie is a screenwriter, actress, blogger and twin whose pristine porcelain skin is in no need of cosmetics. But if one more person is converted to avoiding toxic chemicals and using healthier and more eco-friendly products, then I have done my job!

Not Quite So Flexible

As we speed headlong into 2009, I find myself in a tizzy over unfinished business from 2008.

Namely, my flexible spending account.

I've never had one of these before, but I figured with my monthly prescription co-pays and regular lab tests and check-ups it would be a great way to put aside some tax-free funds for medical expenses.

The FSA can also cover OTC meds like pain reliever or cough drops as well as my contact lens cleaner and solution. What's not to like?

I did a pretty conservative estimate of my monthly expenses, but come end of December I found I was over $150 short of spending my funding.

Not good.

One problem was that I estimated my monthly prescriptions (which could cost about $100/month), but I didn't realize I had a $150 brand name prescription deductible. When I found that out in mid-November, I figured I could wait out the calendar year and just meet the deductible in 2009. No sense in paying the $150 in November then again in January, right?

Unfortunately, I also didn't figure on the lab work I got done in November STILL not being billed or my dental appointment that I squeaked in days before the end of the year being covered 100% with no co-pay.

Drats!

So, with a week or so left in the year I had two options: get my prescriptions refilled or lose my money.

To do that, I had to overcome two obstacles. One, getting one of my prescriptions credited toward my deductible and two, getting two other prescriptions pre-authorized by my insurance.

I called the pharmacy division of my insurance about both issues. They said my doctor had never submitted a pre-authorization request and they offered to fax the form to her office. This was over a week ago. Then they checked my prescription that hadn't been credited to my deductible and said that I needed to get the pharmacy to re-process it.

I went to the pharmacy to pick up another prescription and asked them to re-submit the claim for the uncredited prescription.

They had no idea how to do that.

Meanwhile, my doctor's office STILL hadn't put through the pre-authorization. I called yesterday and asked them to call the 800 number where they would complete the process while the doctor was on the phone.

Meanwhile, I had given the number of the pharmacy division to my pharmacist and he managed to get my other prescription credited to my deductible. So that makes over $40 applied with less than $110 to go.

No problem.

Unfortunately, there was still no pre-authorization from my doctor's office. I called AGAIN and BEGGED them to call the 800 number. The confused front desk person said they'd already faxed the prescriptions to my pharmacy.

Yes, I said. But they can't FILL the prescriptions without the pre-authorization and for that you need to call the pharmacy division of my insurance!

Now I have the someone from my doctor's office calling me to ask me why I need the Humalog pens and pen needles, how often I use it, etc. I explain it's more portable and easier to use and when you have to inject yourself with insulin 3-5 times a day, anything that makes the process EASIER is a good thing. The doctor's office called back to say they should get a fax as to whether or not the pre-authorization was approved within a half an hour and they'd call to let me know.

They didn't so I called the pharmacy division at 2 pm to see if the pre-authorization had gone through. It had.

Whew!

Then I went to my pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions. I had the pharmacy assistant run each through in order that the deductible be met with the minimum amount possible. The syringes were $26. The Lantus $86.

That totals $112 and I only need $110. Bingo! This means the pen needles, Humalog pens and One Touch test strips each get filled at the $25 co-pay.

The only problem: the Lantus isn't in stock. Which means my grand total comes to $101. I'm $88 short and there are only 7 hours left in 2008.

I file my claims online to make sure my math is right. I find another $22 spent at drugstore.com that's eligible. And I have a little over $20 in receipts yet to come. (I have until March to complete the claims submission--but the costs need to be incurred by 12/31!)

With the $20, I'm still $46 short. That's $46 of my money that I lose out on. No way that's happening!

I get an idea. I could use a new glucose meter (mine's looking a little battered). They run about $60-80--but they usually come with rebates that make them FREE. Buy a new meter, submit the receipt for reimbursement, meet my FSA requirements and then get the rebate check!

I know--GENIUS!

Although if I could bill the FSA for the time it took to deal with my doctor's office, the pharmacy and my insurance, I'd have had no problem at all reaching that goal!

When Hotties turn into Fatties

I got pinged by someone regarding my comment about Val Kilmer's weight gain. Apparently a reader took issue with the snarky remark which wasn't meant to belittle his acting talents. I loved him in Willow and more recently he was intriguing in the underrated Spartan (no, he's not wearing a loincloth...). But Val seems to have taken the Nora Desmond line, "I am big. It's the pictures that got small!" a little too literally.













But Val isn't the only hottie turned fatty: there are a number of former Hollywood Sex Symbols that instead of being Speedo models look more like Cheetos models. In the interest of critical equity, I thought I'd spread the snark around.

Sometimes the addition of a few pounds adds gravitas to an actor's performance (think Marlon Brando). Sometimes the addition of weight does nothing to mar the star quality (think Elvis), but more often those few (or forty) extra pounds make one long wistfully for the slimmer, hotter version of the celebrity in question.

For what it's worth, I'm a size four and weigh within ten pounds or less of what I weighed in high school. And I'm not the only one who's avoided the addition of pounds with the addition of years: Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Clint Eastwood, the late great Paul Newman, Kiefer Sutherland and many others have remained fit.

So this is not a situation of the pot calling the kettle black--just the blogger calling the actor fat:













Travolta was all the rage in a three-piece white suit for Saturday Night Fever, but judging by the picture on the right it doesn't look like he needed a fat suit to play Edna Turnblad in Hairspray.













William Shatner has spent his whole career trying to escape from the shadow of Captain Kirk. Now that his bloated body no longer resembles the lithe, lean James T. Kirk, he's definitely succeeded.













Once upon a time--and not so long ago--James Spader WAS Sex, Lies and Videotape. Now, while he's not taking acting lessons from his Boston Legal co-star, it certainly looks like he's taken EATING lessons from him.













Alec Baldwin's never been better--or funnier--as Jack Donaghy on 30 Rock. He's also never been bigger. And I don't mean that in the good way...













Russell Crowe may not be ready to play an overweight drag queen--yet! But if he doesn't lay off the donuts, he'll be taking up residence in Brando-ville soon.













John Cusack couldn't stay Lloyd Dobler forever, but Lloyd Double-chin is not an improvement.

We've watched Kirstie Alley and Valerie Bertinelli take off the pounds. Maybe it's time for a Jenny Craig-style intervention for our former male hotties...

Friends of the World Food Program

As I sit here with distended belly--having eating more today than I usually do in a WEEK--I am reminded of one of my favorite Christmas songs, "Do they know it's Christmas?" The refrain of the song urges to "Feed the World," and that's exactly what the Friends of the World Food Program are trying to do.


The Menu for Hope campaign raised over $90k for the U.N. World Food Program last year, but they're not even halfway to that goal for this year.

I know--times are tough, everyone's struggling to get by. My friend John was laid off, my brother was laid off and the economy's in the tank. But as hard as things are, I doubt anyone reading this has ever (unwillingly) gone to bed hungry--which is a common occurrence for far too many people on this planet.

And if the glow of doing something charitable weren't incentive enough, each $10 you donate goes towards a raffle of some foodie related prizes, including a Cuisinart Ice Cream maker, a Scharffen Berger Chocolate Gift package and Gourmet Book Club membership--to name but a few.

So while you recover from feasting on turkey or roast beef or honey-glazed ham or a vegetarian lasagna, maybe give a thought to those not quite so fortunate.

Join the Revolution!

Organics are all the rage in the beauty industry these days. It can get a bit overwhelming with all the products one can choose from.

So how about we narrow it down to just one?

Revolution Organics has an all-over body balm that claims to be "the ultimate moisturizing multi-tasker."

Packaged in compact tube, it's perfectly portable. Whether you're slipping it into your purse or tucking it into your luggage or tossing it into your gym bag, it's a handy little product for keeping your skin soft and smooth.

I like keeping it on my nightstand and rubbing a bit into my dry, flaky elbows and rough, ragged cuticles. The balm is full of luscious ingredients:

• Organic Cocoa Butter - Fortifies skins moisture barrier, high in vitamin A, B, C, & E. Penetrates deeply to push antioxidants & nutrients, calcium, potassium & iron into skin layers. Softens and lubricates skin.

• Organic Shea Butter - Superb moisturizer. Extremely high in Vitamin A which may improve many skin conditions: wrinkles, eczema, dermatitis, insect bites, sunburns etc. High in Vitamin E benefiting anti-aging, increasing micro-circulation.

• Organic Beeswax - Forms protective skin barrier without pore clogging. Hydrating properties, increases skins essential moisture retention. Thickens cosmetics naturally.

• Organic Olive Oil - Softens, stimulates & moisturizes skin. Scars are reduced, inflammation is calmed. Has regenerating power on skin tissue and is able to regulate natural moisturizing system of skin. Anti-aging properties, vitamin A & E, powerful antioxidant.

• Organic Coconut Oil - Prevents destructive free-radical formation. Deters age and sun related spots. Assists in prevention of sagging & wrinkling by strengthening skin connective tissue. Healthy glow to skin, Healing & deep moisturizing properties.

• Organic Apricot Oil - High in vitamin E C & A. Skin softening, penetrates without an oily finish. Rich in fatty acids to retain moisture and elasticity in skin.

...and it smells heavenly! Kind of fresh and citrus-y.

So I've come up with two uses for it, but you could also use it on calloused feet, as a lip balm, to smooth flyaways or even tame unruly eyebrows!

Revolution Organics products are: free of chemicals, parabens, synthetics and artificial ingredients, formulated with the highest level of organic certification, free of fillers--including water--so each product is highly concentrated, and not tested on animals .

They are also available exclusively at Beauty.com.

Memos to Morons - part seven

TO: Disney

RE: Hannah Montana

I read recently read how you pulled an episode of Hannah Montana over a controversial storyline about a teen coping with a disease. The storyline was deemed "inappropriate" for the rabid tweeners who fanatically watch this schlock.

Was the disease in question something taboo like necrophilia?

No.

Nymphomania?

No.

Dipsomania?

No.

HIV or AIDS, maybe?

Nope.

It was diabetes.

As someone who lives with type one diabetes, I must say I take issue with this.

According to one of your spokespeople:

"Notwithstanding the measures we took, and based on the episode's preview and early feedback from parents, we removed the episode from Sunday's schedule and are now reevaluating it," the Disney rep said."

That sounds very responsible of you, except it appears that the "early feedback" from parents were complaints about the topic being covered at all on the show.

Way to have balls, Disney!

And speaking of balls, is it not a bit odd that those same concerns about appropriateness weren't anywhere to be found while marketing and distributing some rather disturbing Hannah Montana merchandise?

Think Pink! October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

You can run or walk for the cause, wear a pink ribbon--or you can go shopping!

Working up a sweat is a great way to support raising money and awareness to fight and find a cure for breast cancer, but you can also contribute to the cause while kicking back and surfing the 'net. Here's a few ways to turn an online shopping spree into funds for cancer research and support:

Julia Bristow Jewelry has a page of her hand-crafted creations (like the rose quartz heart pendant shown to the left) dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. 50% of each sale from that page is donated directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which funds awareness and educational initiatives such as the National Mammography Program (NMP), Beyond the Shock educational video, MyNBCF online community and the Early Detection Plan.


Ten percent of sales of the short sleeve lucy(R) "Kick It Tee" and the long sleeve "Pink Race Tee" will be donated to Network of Strength up to $15,000.

On October 4th, lucy stores nationwide and lucy.com will host a one-day shopping event that will raise additional funds for Network of Strength. lucy will donate 10% of sales on October 4, 2008, up to an additional $10,000 to Network of Strength.

Breast Cancer Network of Strength™, formerly known as Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization(R), is a Chicago-based national nonprofit organization with the mission to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.

The Pink Power Eye & Lip Kit from Smashbox is a smashing way to support the fight against breast cancer.

This limited-edition set includes two portable mirrored palettes, each with three gorgeous eye shadow and lip color shades, plus a mini double-ended brush.

These are adorable (and portable) little palettes! They easily slip into your purse or make-up bag and the soft, neutral shades are universally flattering.

For every sale of the Pink Power Kit, Smashbox will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Young Survival Coalition--a premier international, nonprofit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer.

Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to educate the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative communities and to persuade them to address breast cancer in women 40 and under. The YSC also serves as a point of contact for young women living with breast cancer.

We all know by now that tanning can cause skin cancer. So what could be cooler than getting a bronze-y glow with a product that not only helps you avoid the cancer-inducing rays of the sun, but provides a contribution to the cause as well?

During the month of October, MODEL ^co will donate $1 of every purchase of the 220 gram size of Tan Airbrush in a Can to the American Breast Cancer Foundation.

The mission of the American Breast Cancer Foundation is to provide individuals in financial need, their families and their loved ones with education, support, and access to early detection screenings.

(Speaking of which, October 17th is National Mammography Day--schedule your appointment today!)


Therapy Systems gets into the act by donating 10% of the gross profits during the month of October from their Amazingly Gentle Scrub to the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

In addition customers will receive a free 2 oz. size with their purchase. Formulated with aloe vera, peppermint and grapefruit oils, ginseng and green tea extracts and jojoba beads, this extremely mild exfoliant is ideal for all skin types and can be use to gently cleanse and moisturize the face, body, feet, elbows, knees and other rough areas.

Since 1991, the National Breast Cancer Coalition's trained advocates have lobbied at the national, state and local levels for public policies that impact breast cancer research, diagnosis and treatment.

In the spirit of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, TotalBeauty.com, in partnership with its network of beauty blogs, is hosting a month-long initiative that integrates breast cancer awareness, breast cancer research fund raising and beauty giveaways to engage women in the quest for a cure.


TINte Cosmetics is donating 40% of the proceeds of each sale of their new Matchbook in Blushed Beauty. The Match Book includes: Two eye shadow colors (a base and contour shade), a cream eyeliner, blush, two lip glosses and two brushes.

The money will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation which works to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

Last, but not certainly not least, are the products from Pristine Recovery. The line was created by breast cancer survivor Blaire Kessler, who developed all-natural, carcinogenic-free products while she was undergoing treatments.

Brallywood Butta is a luscious massage butter made with ingredients known to help scarring, stimulate the lymphatic glands, calm soothe and moisturize fragile skin.

Scary Hairy is a 100% natural serum to remedy dry fragile hair and revitalize the scalp. (I love this stuff! It makes my coarse, dry hair soft and manageable. And it smell soooo good! It's a multi-purpose product that can be massaged into your scalp or skin or nails--with no worries about nasty toxic ingredients.)

Take a Whiff! is an aluminum-free alternative to conventional deodorants. It contains organic sage which is a natural way to fight perspiration.

Kessler donates a total of 15% of her net proceeds of each sale (Year round, not just in October!) to the Young Survival Coalition (10%) and the Cancer Prevention Coalition (5%). Say Kessler of her venture:

"My goal with my company is to really make a difference in my charitable contribution, to create effective fun and inspiring solutions for anyone looking in a healthy direction and to add a little glamorous spin on what would be a depressing situation."

With products that are paraben-free, phthalates-free, cruelty-free and vegan plus contain no mineral oil or propylene glycol, Pristine Recovery fights for the cause on all fronts!

With so many options to choose from, we can help beat breast cancer--and indulge ourselves a bit at the same time.

Run for the cure, walk for the cure, shop for the cure!

Stem Cell Alchemy

Some people's most fervent wish is everlasting happiness.

Good luck with that!

Others altruistically yearn for world peace.

Again, mazel tov...

My fondest desire? A functioning pancreas.

Well, I have as much chance of achieving everlasting happiness and world peace as I do with that, but according to an article in today's Washington Post, Harvard biologists have discovered the next best thing: functioning beta cells.

Through a series of painstaking experiments involving mice, the Harvard biologists pinpointed three crucial molecular switches that, when flipped, completely convert a common cell in the pancreas into the more precious insulin-producing ones that diabetics need to survive.

The feat, published online today by the journal Nature, raises the tantalizing prospect that patients suffering from not only diabetes but also heart disease, strokes and many other ailments could eventually have some of their cells reprogrammed to cure their afflictions without the need for drugs, transplants or other therapies.

Yay!

Maybe in five years or so, I'll be able to scratch "functioning pancreas" off my list and replace it with "world peace."

Nude Skincare: Offering the Best of Both Worlds

It's all well and good to be eco-conscious and into organics, but when it comes to skincare it's usually been a choice between natural products that are wholesome and healthy, or cutting-edge chemical concoctions that actually WORK. Peace, love and granola is an admirable sentiment, but when you're fighting the signs of the times (fine line, wrinkles, age spots) you need something with a bit more oomph than jojoba oil. At least that's what the clientele of Bryan Meehan, former owner of Fresh & Wild (the U.K. equivalent of WholeFoods), was telling him. His health-conscious customers were stocking up on organic produce, but going elsewhere to buy skincare laden with the types of chemicals they assiduously avoided in their diet.

Which inspired Meehan to come up with nude, a line of skincare that is effective, eco-friendly and comprised of supremely luxurious ingredients.

The first priority for nude was that the products be EFFECTIVE. Meehan's intent is to compete with the cosmeceutical doctor brands--but while many clinical skincare lines are loaded with retinols and acids, nude's anti-aging philosophy is about AVOIDING irritation. The line uses a combination of pro-biotic ingredients and a neutral pH to protect the skin's natural microflora balance (good bacteria!) and acid mantle, in addition to pre-biotics to keep skin hydrated naturally. nude works on the principle that the breakdown of the acid mantle and irritation is a primary cause of aging, so the ingredients work to feed and nourish the skin.

Philosophy is one thing--but nude has clinical studies to back up their claims. Try getting THAT from a bottle of jojoba oil!

Exquisite ingredients are also an important part of the line. The facial scrub contains fine beads of rose quartz, the replenishing night oil boasts a blend of omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 and antioxidants raspberry, cranberry, avellana and kukui and the age defense moisturizer blends bioactive milk peptides, antioxidant buriti oil and argan extract along with hyaluronic acid. The products are filled with bioactives, peptides, phytoactives, potent botanicals and organic ingredients. What you won't find in any of Nude's products: parabens, sulphates, PEGs, propylene glycol, TEA, DEA, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones, GM and potential carcinogens.

The last piece of the puzzle is the line's overwhelming commitment to being as eco-friendly as possible. From sourcing beautiful organic, fair trade and community traded ingredients whenever possible or when organic alternatives are not available choosing the safest, healthiest options possible to working to make all nude packaging from post consumer recycled or biodegradable materials. Currently nude uses Type 5 polypropylene packaging which is completely recyclable (and if you can't find a local PP5 recycler, nude provides contact information online) and 40% of the collection is made of 50% post industrial recycled plastic. In addition, the company itself is carbon neutral as it takes steps to reduce and offset its carbon emissions annually.

nude doesn't claim to be perfect, but they have put an amazing amount of effort into making responsible decisions to reduce materials, pollution and waste. Not content to rest on some already considerable laurels, Meehan is continuing to work towards perfection with plans to add a sunscreen to his thoroughbred stable of products (next May) as well as working towards 100% recycled materials (within a year) and 100% organic ingredients (within five years). And as of this month, nude launched its formidable line in 60 Sephoras across the U.S.

So watch out Dr. Brandt, Dr. Perricone and Dr. Wexler! You may think you've found the fountain of youth in your testtubes, but high-performance skincare has stripped off the labcoat and gotten nude.

Laying off Latex

If you're some kind of PVC pervert who stumbled on to this post seeking to indulge your prurient fantasies--move along. This ain't no fetish post. Today's topic is latex. Or more specifically latex allergy. Which, apparently, I have.

It's not really surprising. I'm allergic to cats and dogs (but mostly cats...), trees and grass (Sneezing and wheezing during pollen season!) and dust. Try being allergic to dust--it's EVERYWHERE! And then some random things like cigarette smoke, mint (Lifesavers make me sneeze!), nickel (can't wear cheap jewelry), but I never really thought I was allergic to latex.

It all started with this weird rash that started on the right side of my face. Sometimes it would flare up. Sometimes it would spread across my neck. It would get flaky, it would blister and ooze. Attractive, huh? I went to a dermatologist. He said it was contact dermatitis and prescribe topical cortisone. What am I coming into contact with? He mentioned nickel as a possibility. Aha! I stopped wearing cheap jewelry and earrings. The rash subsided.

Then it returned and would flare and ebb for years. Nothing I tried could soothe it. Another dermatologist said it was rosacea. Hmm--I don't think so. Rosacea usually shows up on one's cheeks and nose--not their jawline! Still suffering, I went to see a dermatologist at UCLA. Again a diagnosis of dermatitis. Okay, but what am I putting on my skin to make it break out in a rash?

Turns out it wasn't what I was putting on my skin, but into my ears. Namely, earbuds.

I've been walking around with music pumping into my ears pretty much since the Walkman was invented. I'd go through headphones one after another. Until I couldn't find a cheap and decent replacement pair and had to settle for (horrors!) earbuds. I'd avoided earbuds because, even though they're not nearly as dorky looking as headphones, they look uncomfortable. And in fact they ARE uncomfortable. But I soon got used to them. What I didn't get used to was those little round foam thingies (that is the precise technical term for them--"foam thingies") which would always fall off and get lost or even stick inside my ear.

I stopped using them. That was the mistake.

Because what I didn't realize it that those foam thingies not only add a layer of comfort (a very, very thin layer to be sure) but were protecting me from direct contact with latex. Oh, yeah--those earbuds are made from latex. I did not know that. I suspected maybe a sensitivity to latex when I'd pull on a pair of rubber gloves to wash dishes and my nose would itch and I'd sneeze, but I had not realized that my earbuds might be the cause of my chronic dermatititis. I thought maybe the vinyl covering over the wires rubbing against my cheeks might have caused it, but actually it was the earbud itself. I found this article about latex allergies and it confirmed my suspicions.

So I bought a cheap pair of latex-free earbuds off the internet and, after FIVE years, it seems like the rash is finally clearing up!

Beware of latex!