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This issue really makes me cross! Lead in lipsticks was highlighted as a significant issue in 2009. Surprisingly a recent review found that lead levels in lipstick hasn’t decreased, rather it has more than doubled from 2009 to 2011. Concerns about the impact of this toxic metal have arisen…again! The FDA states that “although we do not believe that the lead content found in our recent lipstick analyses poses a safety concern, we are evaluating whether there may be a need to recommend an upper limit for lead in lipstick in order to further protect the health and welfare of consumers.”

The issue with lead however is not that exposure to small amounts will cause an immediate issue, but rather that lead builds up in our body tissues over time. It is the the accumulated level of lead may be detrimental to our health and to the health of children or in the case of pregnant women, unborn babies.

While lipsticks may only contain small amounts of lead, in my opinion ANY lead in cosmetics is too much. So I have decided to Name & Shame the cosmetic companies that contain lead in their lipsticks. The FDA found the highest levels in lipsticks made by Procter & Gamble (Cover Girl brand), L’Oreal (L’Oreal and Maybelline brands), and Revlon. The lipsticks containing the most lead (measured in parts per million) are:

1. Maybelline Color Sensational, Pink Petal (7.9 ppm)

2. L’Oreal Colour Riche, Volcanic, (7.0 ppm)

3. NARS Semi-Matte, Red Lizard (4.93 ppm)

4. Cover Girl Queen Collection, Ruby Remix, (4.92 ppm)

5. Nars Semi-Matte, Funny Face (4.89 ppm)

6. L’Oreal Colour Riche, Tickled Pink (4.45 ppm)

7. L’Oreal Intensely Moisturizing Lipcolor, Heroic (4.41 ppm)

8. Cover Girl Continuous Color, Warm Brick (4.28 ppm)

9. Maybelline Color Sensational, Mauve Me (4.23 ppm)

10. Stargazer Lipstick, #103 (4.12 ppm)

Time for change and lead-free lipstick.

I haven’t yet filmed the 3rd in the series on Dehydrated Skin…but will get there! However, I found an interesting article from Jenny of Coconut Magic with relation to dry & dehydrated skin. She writes “free radicals are toxic byproducts that can have the most harmful affect on your health, beauty and longevity. Especially found in heated, rancid and unsaturated oils, free radicals can damage proteins, fats, cell membranes, and vital DNA. They can also help accelerate the ageing process.”

It is so true that the type of fats we consume have an impact on our skin. I have discussed this many times with relation to the fatty membrane of skin skin cells. If the fats in the membrane are comprised predominantly of pro-inflammatory fats, then the skin cell is likely to experience greater damage from free radical production and cellular nutrition and hydration will be compromised. However, if you supply the skin with good fat sources, the fatty membrane will incorporate these and both inflammation and free radical damage will reduce. Cellular nutrition and hydration will also improve significantly.

Topically there are many beneficial oils that can help improve cellular health (for specifics read this article) however, the fats we eat will also have a huge impact. More from Jenny: Coconut oil is a saturated fat (it’s true – not all saturated fats are bad but that is a topic for another blog) that is made up of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA’s). The MCFA’s in coconut oil possess incredible health giving properties. They provide natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, ant-viral and detox benefits. Coconut oil is cleansing, nourishing and helps with the body’s absorption of vitamin E and omega 3’s, which further enhances its beautifying effects.

Coconut oil reverses the free radical tissue-damaging process by displacing the rancid, pro-inflammatory oils from the tissues and providing fat-soluble vitamins, minerals and super nutrition factors directly to the damaged tissue.

In his book The Coconut Oil Miracle, Bruce Fife, ND, details: “Studies show that dry skin contains a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids (60%) compared to normal skin (49%). The best oil to use is one that doesn’t create free radicals. Saturated fat fits that requirement.”

For those with dry and dehydrated skin, the protection that good fat affords is critical for skin recovery. Taking up to 4 teaspoons of coconut oil per day it wont take very long to start seeing the major benefits that coconut oil will have on your health and the way that you look and feel.

I am having a bit of a love affair with the concept of “food as medicine” at the moment. It may have started with the onset of slightly cooler weather and a return to porridge in the mornings. Porridge is one of those breakfast meals that as a child I forced down but as an adult I have learned to love. Having said that, these days I make porridge a tasty dish…see my version below:

Rolled oats (the real kind, not instant or microwave oats) and filtered water with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon cooked on a low heat. While cooking grate an apple or slice up a pear and add to your bowl. Serve warm cinnamon porridge over the grated fruit and top with LSA (Linseed, Almond & Sunflower meal), Pure Magic Coconut Oil and a dash of honey. Add rice milk as desired.

This is the recipe I love at the moment but to stave off the boredom of having the same thing everyday throughout winter I add gogi berries while cooking, some natural yoghurt on top or sprinkle with frozen blueberries. Sometimes I even substitute the apple with banana for something different. You can also include Quinoa when cooking the porridge as it brings more texture to the dish is also a rich protein source. For those who are gluten intolerant try a millet based porridge.

For me this meal not only tastes good, but is it also a nutritious way to start the day. I feel good about what I am eating and I think that has an impact on how our bodies respond to food. Conscious food consumption is an often underrated aspect of eating. What I mean is that by taking a moment to enjoy and appreciate the food we not only feel better emotionally about what we are eating but also allow the digestive processes to occur in a relaxed environment which ensures better digestion and assimilation of the nutrients. Jenny from Coconut Magic writes that “Radiant health embodies right thinking, conscious eating and energetic flow. There is no separation and therefore radiant health is a state of being and living with optimal energy, health and beauty.” Sounds good to me!

I love hearing alternative breakfast ideas so please post yours.

We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is healthy…and that most of us should probably consume more than we do. Interestingly a new study takes this even further finding that eating more from this food group can actually change your appearance in as little as 6 weeks. The key to this change is the phytochemicals (plant chemicals) that give the fruit and vegetables colour can also help give us colour as well.

The study revealed that fewer than four portions a day (1 piece of fruit or half a cup of vegetables equals one serve) increased skin redness and yellowness both of which are associated with the perception of increased attractiveness and improved health. In particular it is the carotenoids which are the yellow, orange and red pigments in plant foods that actually cause these perceptible changes in our skin colour and tone.

In addition to changing skin tone carotenoids are powerful antioxidants that improve many aspects of skin health by reducing oxidative stress. These benefits include the reduction in UV light sensitivity and therefore long term sun damage. Eaten in high enough quantities, carotenoids can promote a healthy glow that rivals a tan!

Plant foods that are rich in carotenoids include carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens and red capsicum. Dark green vegetables are included as they contain carotenoids (yellow) and chlorophyll (green) so overall appear green. As always the message is Eat Your Greens…and Yellows and Oranges and Reds!

References:

1. Whitehead RD, Re D, Xiao D, Ozakinci G, Perrett DI. You are what you eat: within-subject increases in fruit and vegetable consumption confer beneficial skin-color changes. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e32988.

Great new for lovers of all things natural and particularly those with acne – it would seem that benzoyl peroxide has been bested by a natural substance, Thyme. A recent study study by researchers at Leeds Metropolitan University tested three tinctures, thyme, marigold, and myrrh against the bacteria that causes acne. All were effective to some degree but interestingly the study found that thyme was more powerful against the acne-causing bacteria than benzoyl peroxide.

The researcher, Dr Gomez-Escalada had this to say “The problem with treatments containing benzoyl peroxide is the side-effects they are associated with. A burning sensation and skin irritation are not uncommon. Herbal preparations are less harsh on the skin due to their anti-inflammatory properties while our results suggest they can be just as, if not more, effective than chemical treatments.”

Well that is definitely good news! I would love to hear your stories. What have you tried on acne that has or hasn’t worked. And have you tried benzoyl peroxide? Another secret skin saver is dilute Tea Tree oil.