You no doubt know that many of the cosmetics we use are not safe for human use, and have even made an attempt to find one that is by reading the label… only to find yourself standing there in confusion, wondering if every ingredient beginning with prefix “methyl-” is harmful, and what the difference is between stearyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.

Rather than going through a list of ingredients that reads like a medical dictionary, let’s just look at the Top 4 most harmful:

• Toluene
• Paraben
• Triclosan
• Dioxane

It doesn’t matter if something has “ethyl”, “methyl”, “propyl” or “buyl” slapped in front of it – if you see any of these words on a cosmetics label, put it back on the shelf.

Why are the Toxic “Big 4″ so Bad?

Here’s what they do:

Toluene – Common ingredient of many fragrances, taken from coconut oil. Contrary to what many believe, coconut oil is as harmful as mineral oil, in that it does not allow skin to breathe. While it feels wonderful initially, continued use will soon result in hard-to-heal skin rashes.

But there’s a far more sinister reason why cosmetics containing Toluene are harmful… It can not only cause actual damage to your kidneys and your liver, but it can also harm babies developing in the womb!  Sure, perhaps the amount in your cosmetics is minuscule… but do you really want to take that chance?

Paraben – Almost everyone knows that Parabens=bad. What many don’t realize is that it is actually a known carcinogen, affecting not only your estrogen levels, but your endocrine glands too.

Triclosan – This is supposedly a “good” ingredient, being antibacterial: However, it has been implicated in making the body more resistant to antibiotics… and do you really want to put an ingredient on your face that has been used in weed killers?

Dioxane – This toxin is another documented carcinogen. What you may not realize is that it is put in cosmetic preparations to keep them fresh and well-preserved – not your face!

When Are Natural Products not Safe?

But even the most “natural” product can be harmful, if you are sensitive to an ingredient, so it’s good not to assume that because a product is “natural”, it’s automatically safe.  Get into the habit of checking the ingredients, to make sure there is nothing that can irritate your skin.  (I have a friend who is extremely allergic to cornstarch – generally considered one of the most pure, inert ingredients on the planet!)

And if you are really addicted to a favorite commercial cosmetic brand, hike over to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website, and check your brand and product against their impressive database. You’ll be able to see which companies have signed up, pledging that their products are toxin-free.

Well, I’m off my soapbox now. Everyone have a wonderful day!

Are you tired of life always being so difficult and dreary? Well, occasionally I find life difficult too – but I never find it dreary! I’ve spent my life learning how to stay in touch with my inner child and my spiritual side, and I’m here to tell you, it can be done – no matter what your circumstances!

As a dedicated R.N., I worked for many years in the health care field, usually in positions where I could help special needs children, severely disturbed mental health patients and palliative cases. You see life stripped down to its essentials, when you see the hand some people are dealt in life. Sometimes you can change your cards, but even when you can’t, it’s important to be thankful for the life you do have – and that’s no empty platitude! It takes courage, love and above all, trust in the process of life.

Your Instant Way to Reconnect

If things have gotten dark for you lately, don’t underestimate the power of laughter. This is no airy-fairy statement. Let me scientifically prove to you what I mean…

One of the ways I’ve enjoyed connecting with people and helping them tap into the simple goodness that we can all claim is by running laughter workshops. Many people are skeptical that simple laughter can benefit one’s over all health.

To help them overcome this pessimistic attitude, I find one of my handiest aids to be my Kirlian camera, which takes photos of the energy, or “Chi” surrounding a subject’s hand. It takes a bit of practice to “read” the rings, but if you look carefully in the photo on the left, you will see my subject’s life-force (chi) increased after only one good chuckle – you can tell by the thickness of the white “rings” (particularly in the index and pinky fingers)… with a nice, even consistency and no thin “weak” spots.

I did this for the participants in every workshop, and I’ll tell you another thing…

A Simple Way to Recharge your Batteries

…A few years ago, I decided to conduct a Kirlian experiment on food. One of the things I discovered, when my subject got playful and decided to say “Grace” over our dish of fresh carrots, was that the energy round the carrots increased instantly and dramatically after she said grace. Since she is a devout Roman Catholic, whereas I embrace Cosmic energy in a more general way, we reversed the experiment, with me performing Reiki over the carrots, and feeling thankful while I did it.

Same results! The bottom line seems to be, when you intentionally “bless” your food and focus on being thankful, it strengthens the food’s chi – which in turn strengthens yours, of course.

But laughter isn’t my only way of helping the world be a better place. More next post, when I share some other powerful techniques for living a happier life.