Amazing Skin Care

You know that feeling when you wash your face and it feels perfect? I’ve found a wonderful skin care line, my favorite to date, and it all started with ilike’s Nettle Exfoliating Wash. The wash leaves my face feeling great, not dry and tight, not filmy or like it needs another washing.

The ilike (pronounced ehleeky) skin care line, from Szep Elet, is made with certified organic ingredients and it shows. The natural scents in the products I’ve tried so far are mild and pleasant (and I tend to be sensitive to fragrances) and the texture of the products feel, well, smooth and natural. Even the exfoliating wash is so gentle it feels smooth on the skin.

The line originated in Hungary with Ilike Molnar whose grandmother, the village herbalist, taught her to use the natural fruits and herbs around her to create products to support the skin.

They have an extensive line of products for different kinds of skin. They also have tempting treats like a Yogurt Power Peel, Yarrow Oil and a Firming Grapeseed Body Lotion.

Their brochure says “you will instantly notice the difference between ilike and other skin care lines”, and that’s no line. I could tell the difference right away, and as you know I’ve tried quite a few brands of natural cosmetics.

If you’re looking for a line of truly organic products I highly suggest looking into ilike. While the cost is moderately high, the things I’ve tried so far go a long way. For example, when added to water in the palm as recommended, the Nettle Exfoliating Wash only requires a few drops to wash the whole face. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re using completely natural products that are effective on your skin. 

To find ilike products near you call 1-888-290-6238 to find the nearest location offering them, or you can get them from several on-line skin care companies by googling ilike skin products.

Finding BPA Free Products

The contamination of food with Bisphenol A (BPA) continues to makes headlines. While the European Union (EU) has gone as far as to ban BPA in the plastic used to make baby bottles, the US FDA has only been able to push for voluntary removal of BPA.

BPA is of particular concern when it comes in contact with food and drink.  It’s regularly used in plastics, including plastic cups, baby bottles, food storage containers and the plastic film that lines many cans used for canned goods. If you see a white or yellowish lining in your can you should be suspect that it contains BPA. It's also used in dental sealants and cash register receipts. Cashiers have been found to have high levels of BPA in their systems.

A recent study done at the Harvard School of Public Health and reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirmed that individual’s drinking soup from cans with BPA in their lining showed a significant increase in BPA in their urine. Results of other studies have implicated BPA in heart disease and children's behavioral problems and results of a BPA study in the journal Human Reproduction showed BPA negatively affects the reproductive systems of men.

The US FDA has acknowledged BPA is a concern but because they don’t have regulatory authority they can’t require manufacturer’s remove the chemical, they can only strongly urge companies to stop using BPA.

Fortunately there are more and more companies changing their canning processes to eliminate BPA from the cans they use for their canned foods. Most seem to be in the process, but a few have taken the leap, and some haven’t used it for years.

Here’s a link to an article on 7 Companies who  don’t use BPA in some of their cans, depending on the product. A site where you can see and order products the site claims are BPA free can be found at bpafreestuff.com.

Although the increased availability of BPA free containers is encouraging I have to leave you with a “buyers beware” note of caution. As with many situations where society is pushing for safer alternatives unscrupulous companies may claim their cans are BPA free when they may not be safe. Because there is currently no regulatory oversight, or even definitive lists of what products contain BPA, there is no guarantee a product is BPA free unless you see it has been tested to be clean.

Addendum - My good friend Glennis has shared her pleasure at finding BPA free cans of pet food. There are several brands that say BPA free on the label so your pets can be protected too.

Additional BPA information:

Well referenced outline of BPA studies on trainer Charles Poliquin's site

The Environmental Working Group has numerous research papers and a nice overview of the BPA issues

Recycling your Holiday Cards

                                               

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has un-decorating on her list this weekend. As we move into another new year,  I thought this was worth re-posting.

Holiday cards are great for cutting up for decoupage or putting aside for children or adult projects later in the year.  One of my post holidays traditions is to cut the cards into gift tags. You won't ever have to buy tags again, as there's always a wide array of colors and patterns for next years gifts!

Green Burials

More people are opting for green funeral services and burials to end their life on earth as they lived it, striving to live in harmony with nature. Green burial information is available at the Green Burial Council's website as well as on the pages of cemeteries offering green services & burial options.

Resources for green burials in New Jersey have been added to NaturalJersey.com.