Mom4Life

Moms: be aware! Is it "BEAUTY" or "CANCER" that is in our bathrooms? by Rosemary Anthony

In this post you will find:
-Shocking info on what is part your beauty routine.
-A fun challenge.
-The winners from our bathroom challenge

Hi everyone. . . I thought I would create a fun little scenario that will awaken your senses and make you all think twice BEFORE we make ourselves clean, fresh and beautiful for the day in our bathrooms:
As we awaken each morning from our children greeting us or our alarm clocks buzzing us. . . we slowly step out of bed, turn on our showers and stand under the warm, soothing pellets of water massaging our bodies...we start our morning routine with gentle scrubbing our bodies with Ammonia, Formaldehyde and Phenol. We next reach for our shampoo to suds into our scalps some  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate into our hair...and keep in  mind a great deal of us already have tinted hair.  While rinsing our Shampoo, we generously apply a nice dosage of Propylene Glycol and while that is permeating our heads we decide to massage and shave our legs with A-Pinene.  Once our relaxing  experience in the shower is completed we reach for our towels to dry our bodies and unknowingly start spreading around another layer of Contaminant Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PHAS) and then we ever so softly dust our bodies with a lovely dose of Asbestos Substances.  Let's not forget to spray scented Aluminum under our arms...(for what we think is a fresh, clean scent) and brush our teeth with FD&C Blue #1, SLS, Resorcinol, Saccharin and Fluoride: with a trace of triSodium Phosphate. Next we rinse and gargle to the splashes of Ethanol and Phenol Alcohol. We set and style our hair and finish it off with a great dose of Polyvinylpyrrolidine (PVP)...which slowly seeps into our lungs. Sitting in front of our well lit mirror, we gently apply a thin layer of Phenol Carbolic Acid, Dioxin, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben and Propylene Glycol all over our face...because goodness knows. . . we must get rid of those tell tale lines. .. Since we have an important meeting today, we must be sure to wear some foundation and a little FD&C Red #3. . . and let's not forget to add some eye-Iron Oxide. . . to look extra pretty.  Let's not forget to line our lids with a little toxic Ascorbyl Palmitate and a simple stroke of bacteria & Polyvinylpyrrolide (PVP) to extend our lashes--a dab of Benzo-A-Pyrene and some Benzo-B-Fluroanthene to color our lips--A spray of our favorite scent that is loaded with Toluene and Benzaldehyde accompanied with a little carcinogenic Nitrosamine, NMPABAO on our face, arms and legs to help block those dangerous rays from the sun!  Aaaaah, we are now ready for the day...!  We look and feel simply radiant. . . and as we look in our mirrors we really like what we see. . . a "breathtaking" kind of beauty . . . STOP!  THINK ABOUT THIS!  What is the price we are paying for beauty. . . To CREATE this "look" on a daily basis. . . we are slowly and consistently KILLING ourselves on a daily basis!

As you all know. . . I have been trying to enlighten you and educate everyone that WHAT we put ON our skins ABSOLUTELY absorbs INTO our bloodstreams!  All these chemicals mentioned above are slowly but surely seeping into our bodies on a cumulative basis day after day, year after year.

I want you all to try this simple experiment: Get a fresh clove of garlic and cut into it.  Now I want you to rub it all over the bottom of your foot.  Now I want you to TIME how long it takes for you to actually taste it in your mouth.  You know me and "Challenges". . . I am dying (not literally) to hear your comments on this Blog.

Please understand that our skin IS NOT a barrier that keeps all these chemicals and ingredients OUT!  Like I have been saying, in my previous Blog Articles, our skin absorbs EVERYTHING that we apply to it--(look at the hormone patch therapy or the nicotine and diet patches that are adhered to our skin's surface).  Do you know WHY these therapies work?  Because our skin is as porous as a sponge!

Here are some very interesting facts that I want everyone NOT to forget:
1. At least 3 personal care products are used on our infants and children on a daily basis!
2. Men use 10 personal care products daily!
3. Women use 6 cosmetics and 13 personal cosmetics daily. And during the day, they re-applied and used over and over again!
4. Assuming that "mainstream" products each contain at least 2 carcinogens, (which are cancer-causing agents). . . This results in daily exposure to 6 different AVOIDABLE carcinogens for infants and children, 20 for men and 38 for women ON A DAILY BASIS! This is scary!
5. Even though ingredients are listed on the labels of the products we buy, no one bothers to tell you WHICH of these ingredients are CANCER risks.  There are simply NO WARNINGS!
6. It is UNTHINKABLE to me that women would knowingly continue to expose their infants, children, husbands and even themselves to these dangers - resulting in possible health risks . . . if the products used on themselves and loved ones were visibly labeled with EXPLICIT warnings of the cancer risks involved!

READ THOSE LABELS and NEVER take for granted what the beauty and cosmetic industry wants you to believe!  As parents, mothers, and even wives . . . we as a collective group need to PROTECT those closest to us, OUR LOVED ONES.  Make the choice today and make a healthier change for tomorrow!

An update to our Bathroom Challenge. . . here are our winners:
I had my children pick the winners.  I wrote down everyone's name, date and time of blog entry, put them on slips of paper and dropped them into a cookie jar.  My daughter, Beau Amber chose the first winner: RANDIE  15TH AUGUST @ 9:36PM.  My son, Brook Aidan chose the second winner: LISA 21ST AUGUST 4:40PM.  Funny enough--I thought I was all done--but my littlest one who is 21months old, Blake Ashton, was really upset that he didn't have a chance.  So, after a big scene I let him choose another name and now we have a third prize winner and her name is: JILL 17th AUGUST 5:11PM!  Congratulations to our three winners, please let us know what you thing of your new skin care!

Until next time….”Happy Parenting!!”
Rosemary Anthony
Owner of Love Me Baby Me

Food For Thought: skin sensitivities may be linked to the intake of gluten - a protein derived from wheat!

Hi Everyone !! First, before I begin to write this article, I would like to say that due to a packed schedule and unforgiving lack of extra time..I have missed a couple of weeks contributing my thoughts of skin care issues for MORE THAN SKIN DEEP... I apologize and have sincerely missed connecting with all of you! Hopefully, I am back on track ... You may expect to see new and thought provoking topics discussed every two weeks...OK...Let's get started !!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT : SKIN SENSITIVITIES MAY BE LINKED TO THE INTAKE OF GLUTEN - A PROTEIN DERIVED FROM WHEAT !!

Did you ever wonder why a lot of times...breast-fed babies who are colic and fussy are affected by WHAT the Mom is eating....Simply put...her diet affects the outcome of how her babies feels...???...Because what we put into our bodies by way of food truly does take its toll on all of us, not only our children. Or that skin allergies  become apparent and are started to be noticed...once we begin introducing solid food into our children's diet...??? There is a certain percentage % of us Moms, Dads and children that probably have an intolerance to ingesting any form of WHEAT...and we are totally unaware of it !!! These symptoms are rarely detected by most main stream pediatricians and by the time you have actually discovered what is wrong...your poor child has been suffering needlessly and all of this could have been AVOIDED by switching their diet !! I am a big "believer" of the following statement:  "What we put INTO our BODIES by way of food...and what we put ONTO our SKIN by way of skin products...truly affects our health !!" Let me explain further...

Just what is "gluten" ? GLUTEN is  a mixture of the proteins "gliadin" and "glutenin" . These exist, conjoined with starch in most of the grass-related grains...mainly wheat, rye and barley. These proteins make up about 80% of the protein contained in the wheat seed... it is however, insoluble in water and it can be purified by washing away this associated starch...( You see, it is all in the  beginning "process" of HOW we prepare these grains....) Gluten is an important source of nutritional protein for most of the world...However, the stored proteins of corn and rice are sometimes called glutens but their proteins DIFFER GREATLY from WHEAT GLUTEN because it lacks GLUTENIN...This GLUTENIN in wheat flour gives kneaded dough its elasticity allowing leavening to occur and contributes to the "chewiness" in baked products like bagels....Even though WHEAT supplies much of the world's dietary protein...there is a growing percentage% of  people that are gluten-intolerant and CANNOT consume it safely !! Every day these numbers are increasing and people are discovering that living a GLUTEN FREE lifestyle has changed their quality of life and vastly improved many ailments...Recent medical research linking people with the following conditions most definitely benefit considerably from a gluten - free diet:

~Eczema       
~Rheumatoid Arthritis
~Autism
~Multiple Sclerosis
~Parkinson's Disease
~Seizures
~Anemia
~Cognitive Problems ( "brain fog" )
~Osteoporosis
~Ataxia ( loss of balance )
~Down Syndrome
~Type 2 and Type 1 Diabetes

On a personal note....My husband was stricken with Rheumatoid Arthritis as a small boy...his case was so extreme  that he was unable to walk for almost three years and every professional told him that  if he was lucky enough to walk...it would NEVER be properly...he was basically going to be disabled for the rest of his life....He was not born in America...and I am sure that 50 years ago..the research was not what we have today...but, luckily, he defied all predictions and went through many painful years of rehabilitation...back then, it was his Aunt that happened to be a nurse ( and was far ahead of her time...) and had several holistic approaches to help him walk again...one of them was to REMOVE ALL WHEAT from his diet... Go figure... ???...!!!

One out of every 133 healthy people in the United States... (and this includes children, too) experience digestive problems if they eat ANYTHING containing GLUTEN, according to the University of Chicago  Celiac Disease Program. Maybe you do not even know you or your children have this sensitivity...the following symptoms are commonly associated with gluten consumption: iron-deficiency anemia, diarrhea, no energy, failure to thrive and abdominal distention. There is a growing  gluten-sensitivity epidemic occurring and evidence of this ALLERGY to GLUTEN (which we now know is the protein derived from wheat) may be further studied by reading a self-care book called "Elimination Diet - A New Health Care Tool" by Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo, PhD . In this book, the author discusses ways to slowly eliminate certain gluten filled foods from your diet...the results are remarkable. If you try this diet on yourself or your children for 3 short weeks...if you have any of the above mentioned symptoms...You will see them disappear!! An interesting fact that I discovered while researching this topic was that gluten sensitivities affect people with a diverse genetic make up...quite differently. For example, in 2005 , a study from a Swedish Dr. Ivarsson...noted that Sweden has experienced an epidemic of gluten sensitivities, particularly in their children, that has no likeness anywhere else in the world. This article was published in a journal that was primarily read by Doctors and Gastroenterologists..."half of the epidemic was explained by an increase in the proportion of  infants introduced to large amounts of gluten after breast-feeding had been ended !! Children born during the summer had an increased risk for these sensitivities and celiac disease, as they were mostly introduced to gluten through their diets during the winter months ." Now, of that isn't a real eye opener !!

Now you may ask ..."What does this all have to with skincare  for me and my family?"...EVERYTHING!!!.. You see, I first wanted to educate you  a bit about the diet aspect of gluten sensitivity....But Gluten Sensitivity IS NOT just a digestive/food problem...it is also a  SKIN RELATED PROBLEM !!  When you are looking for natural hair and skin care products....I suggest to use the same values as you would use when you are shopping for gluten-free foods.  As I always remind my Moms and Dads ....The skin is the largest organ that we have and most definitely, "YES" it DOES MATTER what we put on it !! Especially, when we know that our children's skin is 5X THINNER than that of an adult !!

All of us are unique and have skin that reacts uniquely. It has been proven and goes without saying that NO individual ingredients and/or combination of ingredients are universally ALLERGY- FREE . This also applies to certain natural, organic and synthetic ingredients...I have compiled a list below that has been known to irritate the skin...if you have a GLUTEN ALLERGY:

WHEAT DERIVED INGREDIENTS:                
~ Amp-Isostearoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
~ Hydrolysed Wheat Gluten
~ Hydrolysed Wheat Protein
~ Hydrolysed Wheat Starch
~ Wheat Amino Acids
~ Wheat Bran Extract
~ Wheat Germ Extract
~ Wheat Germ Glycerides
~ Wheat Germ Oil

WHEAT PROTEIN INGREDIENTS:
~ Wheat (Triticum Vulgare) Bran Extract
~ Triticum Vilgare (Wheat) Flour Lipids
~ Triticum  Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract
~ Triricum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
~ Barley Derived 
~ Amino Peptide Complex
~ Barley Extract   
~ Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract

OAT DERIVED INGREDIENTS:
~ Avena Sativa (Oat) Flour
~ Avena Sativa (Oat) Flour Kemel                           
~ Oat (Avena Sativa) Extract
~ Oat Beta Glucan
~ Oat Extract
~ Oat Flour
~ Sodium Lauryl Oat Amino Acids

You see...If you eliminate Wheat/Gluten from your diet , but are still using skin care products that have the same ingredients and are applying it to your skin...it is being absorbed INTO your bloodstream and if your child is prone to these wheat/gluten sensitivities....You are TOTALLY defeating the purpose !!
A couple of skin care products ( that I know of...) that are currently on the market are EARTH'S BEST (who merged with JASON'S) and created a whole  skin care line for children ...they are sold in WHOLE FOODS..(the packaging is  yellow bottles with bright green caps...) they are loaded with OAT BETA GLUTEN...not good and AVEENO ( owned by J & J ) have certain OAT based ingredients that are supposed to calm irritated skin...in their washes, lotions and diaper creams...but, also not good...Bottom line..." AWARE PARENTS ARE EDUCATED PARENTS...READ THOSE LABELS...AND KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING ON YOUR CHILD'S SKIN !!"

Until next time….”Happy Parenting!!”
Rosemary Anthony
Owner of Love Me Baby Me 

P.S. For more information...just post a comment and I will supply  you with many references...including books to educate yourself further . Looking forward to hearing from you !!

Baby Shampoo & Baby Wash--Not as gentle as you think! (AND a $104.95 product giveaway)!!!

BABY SHAMPOO & BABY WASH...HAVE TO BE GENTLE...BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE FOR BABIES...RIGHT??

WRONG !! Think again ..There is cause for GREAT concern...due to a cancer causing chemical : 1,4-dioxane that has been found in many of today's Children's Bath Products. Keep in mind, that a baby's skin (the largest organ on their body) is five times thinner than that of an adult. With that being said, we are all familiar with "The Patch" - that is placed on our skin for either hormone therapy or to assist you in quitting smoking. The reason why "The Patch" works so well is due to  the level of absorption of the hormone/drug through the skin into the bloodstream. Remember, whatever you put on your skin...absorbs directly into your skin and then into your bloodstream. This same rule applies for babies and children, but, "STOP" and think for a moment, if their skin is five times thinner...the damage that is being done to our children is five times worse !!

A public health advocacy organization called EWG (Environmental Working Group) recently published a report on kid's shampoos and body washes. Their report was a real eye opener. This Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that several of these washes and shampoos that we assumed to be safe for our children contain 1,4-dioxane which they refer to as a "probable human carcinogen." Dr.Philip Landrigan, professor of pediatrics and founder of the Center for Children's Health and the Environment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, stated that "Infants and children, whose brains are still developing, are more vulnerable to chemicals than adults are - so why take the risk?"  My feeling is why should ANYONE in our family be exposed to this risk?? It is up to us, as informed parents, to avoid chemicals like 1,4-dioxane because the FDA doesn't regulate  chemicals in bath products.

Just what is 1,4-dioxane ? It is a petroleum-derived contaminant considered to be a "human carcinogen" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The National Toxicology Program clearly states that it is an animal carcinogen and you will LOVE this one...1,4-dioxane is on California's Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects!

What is even worse and is cause for total outrage is the fact that these companies, who I so lovingly refer as "The Big Guys", will spend significant amounts of money on "entertainment" licensing agreements that entice parents and hook children into buying these bath products, yet won't spend a single penny to REMOVE these contaminants like 1,4-dioxane !!

Did you know that the FDA has been measuring 1,4-dioxane levels since 1979 and it hasn't been until the year 2000 that they recommended that cosmetic products should not contain  concentrations of this chemical that are greater than 10ppm (parts per million). An independent testing laboratory that specializes in trace chemical analysis called West Coat Analytical Service produced this enlightening report. Please notice the levels of concentration of 1,4-dioxane:

Disney Clean as Can Bee Hair & Body Wash (Water Jel Technologies) 8.8ppm
Disney Pixar Cars Piston Cup Bubble Bath ( MZB Personal Care) 2.2ppm
Gerber Grins & Giggles Gentle & Mild Aloe Vera Baby Shampoo 8.4ppm
Hello Kitty Bubble Bath (Kid Care) 12ppm
Huggies Baby Wash Shea Butter 4.0ppm
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wash Extra Gentle and Tear Free 4.2ppm
Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson) 5.3ppm to 6.1 ppm
Johnson's Kids Tigger Bath Bubbles (Johnson & Johnson) 5.6 ppm to 7.9ppm
Johnson's Kids Shampoo Watermelon Explosion (Johnson & Johnson) 10ppm
Lil' Bratz Mild Bubble Bath ( Kid Care) 3.7ppm
L'Oreal Kids Orange Mango Smoothie Shampoo 2.0ppm
Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath Gentle Formula with Aloe 1.5ppm
Rite-Aid Tearless Baby Shampoo 4.3ppm
Scooby-Doo Mild Bubble Bath (kid Care) 3.0ppm
Sesame Street Wet Wild Watermelon Bubble Bath ( The Village Company) 7.4ppm

And let's not forget us Moms...!!!...Take a look at these few Adult Bath Products that were tested:

Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo 23ppm !!
Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (normal skin) 23ppm !!
Suave Naturals Passion Flower 2.0ppm

I truly believe that KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and that AWARE PARENTS make all the difference when it comes to making healthy skincare choices for our families.For more information on pure,safe and effective skincare for your family, feel free to visit: www.lovemebabyme.com or find the 100% SAFE Love Me Baby Me product line on Mom 4 Life.

I want to propose a CHALLENGE to each and every reader of this blog:
go to your bathrooms...make that decision....check and see what is in the products that you are currently using. EMPOWER yourselves by choosing products that are free of chemicals like: parabens, propylene glycol, mineral oil, sodium laurel sulphate and 1,4-dioxane...I want to hear from you...and for each and every person that responds to my Blog and shares what they found when they examined the products in their BATHROOM CHALLENGE with me they will be automatically entered into my Love Me Baby Me ''giveaway".  I will take all entries until September 14th at midnight PST.  On the 15th of September I will randomly pull a name and the the winner will receive my Gift Set Collection of my entire product line (A $104.95 value)!  Go ahead... I CHALLENGE you...and I look forward to hearing from you all !!!

Until next time..."Happy Parenting!!"
Rosemary Anthony

Love Me Baby Me: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt Your Kids…Staying Informed About Children’s Skincare!

As a parent, you only want the best for your children. You feed them the right foods, make sure they get exercise, read books to them and spend most of your time and energy helping them become the best people they can be. But what you may not know is that you may also be putting them at risk for rashes or allergic reactions as a result of the simple use of lotions, shampoos, and diaper creams used on a daily basis.

We all know that babies have delicate skin, but did you know that a baby’s skin is five times thinner than that of an adult? As a result, their skin (the largest organ in the entire body) is at much higher a risk for irritation by harsh chemicals found in many skincare products, even by those targeted to children. While irritation can occur from synthetic fragrances, humectants, and surfactants in the products (used to create lather in soaps and shampoos), the real danger may lurk in the preservatives.

Preservatives are a necessary part of any product and play an important role in limiting the growth of bacteria that could harm delicate skin. Some such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are relatively safe since they are mostly salt, but can irritate a baby’s skin. However, many baby products contain a class of preservatives called parabens (methyl, ethyl, propel and butylparaben), which act like hormones and disrupt the body’s immune system.

This hormonal link may be the most cause for concern. Parabens, used as food preservatives, are flushed out of the body during the digestive process, making them less harmful. However, when parabens are applied to the skin in a cream or lotion, they are absorbed directly into the body. I have had the pleasure of interviewing, British researcher, Dr. Phillipa Darbre, on one of my radio shows…(you may visit: www.lovemebabyme.com/previousshows.php to hear this “enlightening” interview…on January 28, 2007)! Dr. Darbre conducted a study on samples of 20 breast tumors and found traces of parabens in eighteen of them, suggesting that parabens applied to the skin were absorbed and remained in breast tissue. This danger is not limited to girls and women. Recent studies in China and Japan have linked parabens to low sperm count and decreased testosterone levels.

Although it is not yet proven that parabens are the sole culprits in this health crisis, A NEW GENERATION OF AWARE PARENTS™ is opting not to take the risk with their children. These parents are looking for a safer, gentler alternative to the synthetic preservatives found in most baby products (both name brand products and those found in the local health food stores). Remember, not all ‘natural’ products are created equal. I invite you to join this quest, by committing to read each and every label of skincare products BEFORE you apply it to your child’s skin.

Parents owe it to themselves and their children to know all about the products they use. Whatever you choose for your children’s skincare, make sure you understand the benefits and any potential risks. Knowledge is Power, and Aware Parents make all the difference in happy, healthy children!!

Until next time….”Happy Parenting!!”
Rosemary Anthony
Owner of Love Me Baby Me
(All Love Me Baby Me products are also available on Mom 4 Life and are Paraben Free, Propylene Glycol Free, Tear Free, Pure and Natural, Pediatrician Tested, Hypoallergenic and Vegan Friendly)