Mom Goes Green

Now that the countdown to the final days of school has reached “10 days and counting” all my kids can talk about is all the fun we’ll have this summer and our annual beach vacation!

But any parent knows that fun in the sun also means extra caution to make sure our precious little ones (ourselves included!) don’t get fried during “sun fun”, so if you haven’t bought it already, sunscreen is sure to be a purchase in the very near future.

The concern with sunscreen is the presence of some nasty chemicals that we really don’t want to apply to our bodies daily, or even “frequently” for that matter, since they absorb into our skin and accumulate. Many are believed to cause hormone disruption, cell damage and allergies, amongst other things. They include vitamin A (retinyl palmitate), Oxybenzone, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mexoryl, Avobenzone… augh!… just a bunch of things that we could really do without!

So instead of laboring over labels and trying (sometimes in vane) to decipher the ingredients… (drumroll, please….)  Environmental Working Group has released its 2010 list and ratings of over 500 sunscreen products.  Believe me, it is much easier to find one on the “best” list and just know you have a good product to keep you safe from the sun AND the nasty chemicals.

You can also look-up the products you have been using to see how they rate.  Sadly, all of ours were in the “caution” category so Mom Goes Green will be doing her research too.  Fortunately, EWG has done most of the work for us, so the answers are just a few clicks away.

Now check it out, slather on the good stuff and GO PLAY… summer is almost here!

In name and theory, the term “antibacterial” seems like a smart choice to prevent illness and inhibit bacterial growth, but these products contain a chemical antimicrobial called Triclosan.  So what’s the big deal?  Well…

Triclosan was originally created for medical uses and sterilization but, now that it has become outrageously common and “household”, consumers need to know that it is actually linked to health issues, including antibiotic resistance, allergy susceptibility and severe skin irritations (not to mention the destruction of fragile aquatic ecosystems!).  Seems rather contradictory, doesn’t it?  While you are trying to keep germs and illnesses at bay, you are actually building a resistance to antibiotics and decreasing their effectiveness should you ever truly need them.

Triclosan is commonly found in soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, cosmetics, shampoos, disinfectants and even fabrics (also marketed as “Microban” or “Biofresh”).  What I also find disturbing is that Triclosan actually “reacts” with chlorinated water and produces a high level of chloroform… yes, I said chloroform…. classified, by the EPA, as a probable human carcinogen.

Another scary fact?  It literally accumulates in our bodies, and this is the reason we build the resistance to antibiotics.

The reality is simply that the harm far outweighs the benefit.  In fact, there is little evidence to support the use of antibacterials for home or personal use in the prevention of viruses or illnesses.

So why buy antibacterial products? Simply put, I cannot think of a single reason…

(This giveaway is now closed for entries.  Winner posted in comments.)

Lately, I’ve been on some serious topics… BPA in my Sigg, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the psychology of organic food… well I’m bringing it down a notch.  How about some nice girlie goodies?

First of all, I love Kiss My Face products.  They’re packed full of healthy, natural, organic ingredients that even consider the environment in their manufacture and packaging.  Pure botanicals and minerals are so important when you consider that the skin absorbs 60% of what we put on ourselves directly into the bloodstream.

And the founders are two great guys with a great story.  It’s one of vision, dreams and ultimate success.

Here is what I have for you… their new line of lip “Shimmers & Shines”! These fabulous lips tints contain natural mineral color, vitamins A&E to repair and protect lips and have a luscious organic flavor – mint with a hint of vanilla. All are earth friendly products containing no parabens, SLS, phthalates, synthetic colors or flavors, nor do they use animal ingredients or testing.

So, how would you like the ENTIRE LINE… every color, and all 12 products?!? Yes, yes, yes, you say? Well then leave a comment here saying you’d like to win and who you’d like to win these for (go ahead… say “yourself!”), or send a Twitter message that includes a reply to @momgoesgreen and a link to this blog. The winner will be selected one week from today’s post. (US entries only… sorry!)

This giveaway is valued at over $75, so “pucker up”, post a comment and soon you, too, can “Shimmer & Shine”, girl!

… the big winner is (drum roll, please!) … Jeannette C!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You just won over $100 worth of Kiss My Face products!

The winner was selected by assigning random numbers to all comment entries, as well as tweets on Twitter, and again, my kids picked the number… also randomly, of course!

Thanks to everyone who entered!  I wish I had more to give away, because yes, they are that great, but that was the last of the fab Kiss My Face products!  BUT check back soon for more giveaways!

So “pucker-up, Jeannette C”!  Your kissable face is getting even more kissable!

(NOTE:  This giveaway is now closed for entries.)

They’re too good to hold onto. Kiss My Face products are making my face so kissable, I need to give away the rest of the booty (you know that word means “treasure” too, right?  Sheesh.  What are you thinking?!?)

So just like my last giveaway, I’m giving away a booty (“treasure”, dammit!) of Kiss My Face products. They’re packed full of healthy, natural, organic ingredients that even consider the environment in their manufacture.  And those pure botanicals and minerals are so important when considering that our skin absorbs 60% of what we slather on ourselves!  They don’t contain unnecessary chemicals or artificial colors and are never tested on animals….they’re just packed with “goodness”!

This package of Kiss My Face products is from their “Pure & Potent” line and includes a variety of cleansers, moisturizers and toners, valued at over $100!

To win, leave a comment here saying you’d like to win, or send a Twitter message that includes a reply to @momgoesgreen and a link to this blog. (For example, “@momgoesgreen is giving away a free skin care package at http://www.momgoesgreen.com and you can win!”)

The winner will be selected one week from today’s post. (US entries only… sorry!)

So pucker up, people… and Kiss My Face… again!

And that someone is “mootrain!”  CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You just won over $100 worth of Kiss My Face products!

The winner was selected by assigning random numbers to all comment entries, as well as tweets on Twitter, and my kids picked the number… also randomly, of course!

If you didn’t win, don’t worry… a second chance is coming soon… be sure to check back!  And thanks to everyone who entered!

Now “pucker-up, mootrain”! (Boy, that’s a strange thing to say!)

(NOTE:  This giveaway is now closed for entries.)

Okay… so I’m not actually going to force you to come to Cleveland and plant one on me, but I AM going to tell you about some great skin care products from Kiss My Face, and give you the chance to try them out too… interested?

I’ll start by saying that winters around here take their toll on our skin and I am always looking for great products to keep me from looking like leatherface (or as my dear friend, Kev, says… old lunchmeat!… eew.  I hope he’s not talking specifically about ME!).

The fab folks at Kiss My Face shared a great package of their skin care products with me and they’re quite a discovery.  They’re packed full of healthy, natural, organic ingredients that even consider the environment in their manufacture and packaging.  Pure botanicals and minerals are so important when you consider that the skin absorbs 60% of what we put on ourselves directly into the bloodstream.  And when you take away the unnecessary chemicals, artificial colors and animal-testing, a great product is born.

So, yes… I want to share!  Their line of products is huge… from face and body, hair and suncare, and even kids’ products, but I have a bunch of “Potent & Pure” products that I’m offering, to help take care of your precious face, so your beloved will continue wanting to kiss that face!… The package contains a variety of cleansers, toners and moisturizers valued at over $100!

To enter, leave a comment here saying you’d like to win, or send a Twitter message that includes a reply to @momgoesgreen and a link to this blog. (For example, “@momgoesgreen is giving away a skin care package at http://www.momgoesgreen.com and you can win!”)

The winner will be selected one week from today’s post. (US entries only… sorry!)  If you don’t win, don’t worry – just check back, because I have another package to give away soon!

Good luck… now Kiss My Face!