Why I Hate Sunscreen

     You either love it or you hate it. Personally, I hate it. Maybe hate is too strong of a word, but I really, really don't like sunscreen. I like the concept behind it (the whole “prevention of skin cancer” thing), but I can't stand the greasy, sticky feeling of it on my skin. For me, it is especially irritating when the sunscreen is on my face. My regular blog readers will know that I have oily, blemish-prone skin. Most sunscreens are loaded with moisturizers, and moisture is the last thing I need to be adding to my face. When I use sunscreen, my face looks extremely shiny and oily, and usually breaks out in pimples. It's not fair that I have to choose between zits and skin cancer.

     Last summer, I finally found an oil-free sunscreen for my face. It felt wonderfully dry on my skin, and didn't give me a glossy sheen. Best of all, no blemishes! I was super duper excited. Until I found out that this sunscreen was loaded with chemicals. Sigh.

     Unfortunately, a lot of the sunscreen brands available in our local stores are formulated with a chemical ingredient called oxybenzone. Its main job is to absorb ultraviolet rays. For 30+ years, it has been used in sunscreen formulations with the approval of the FDA (USA) and Health Canada. However, the Environmental Working Group (a USA-based non-profit) and other toxicology experts believe oxybenzone is harmful. It can soak into the skin and lead to possible hormone disruption and skin cell damage. The EWG also suggests we watch out for retinyl palminate, a type of vitamin A, also found in a lot of sunscreens brands. Using products containing retinyl palminate could increase your risk of skin cancer.

     Each year, the EWG analyzes and rates sunscreens based on safety and effectiveness. Out of a total of 800 products tested, only 48% were free of oxybenzone, and 25% had no retinyl palminate. Not stellar numbers by any means, but it does mean we have options. I highly recommend that you check out the EWG's Sunscreen 2012 website. They have loads of information there to help you find the right sunscreen for you. They even have an app you can download to your iPhone! You should also check out the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website and Gillian Deacon's book There's Lead In Your Lipstick if you want to learn more.

     Searching for a sunscreen for myself is still a problem, even with all of this great info. It is something I have to do though, because my skin is already showing signs of sun damage from the many sunburns I've had over the years. For my face, I may have to resign myself to the notion that I will always have to choose between sun protection and zit avoidance. Usually, I like to have choices... red wine or white... chocolate or vanilla... but not in this case. I want both! I want a sunscreen that is (i) all-natural, (ii) oil-free, (iii) oxybenzone-free, (iv) retinyl palminate-free, (v) fragrance-free, (vi) vegan, (vii) not tested on animals and (viii) inexpensive. That's not asking too much, is it?

     P.S. If you know of a sunscreen brand that fits my short list of completely reasonable requirements, please FB me on our Savon Du Bois page or leave a comment here.

http://www.savondubois.com/

Backyard Chickens

     Here in the soap kitchen, we spend a great deal of time talking about new ingredients we'd like to try, cool new products we'd like to create and how to make Savon Du Bois bigger and more awesome than it already is. We also talk about animals a lot, as the welfare of our two- and four-legged friends is a passion all of us here share. Recently, our soap kitchen discussion was about chickens.

     It all started a few months ago when Anne read an article in the Toronto Star newspaper (http://bit.ly/ApObup) about a woman in that city who kept chickens in her backyard. The three little hens, Pippi, Mabel and Elli, lived quietly in Trish Tervit's yard in a custom-built chicken coop. In direct contrast to the lives of chickens on factory farms, these girls enjoyed full freedom to stretch their wings, wander the yard, eat grass and do whatever it is chickens like to do. It was a mutually beneficial relationship too. The chickens happily produced fresh eggs every day for Trish and her family, and gave her kids an opportunity to learn how to care for a pet. In other words, they were part of Trish's family.

     I tell this story in the past tense, because sadly, things have changed since the newspaper article was published. Pippi, Mabel and Elli don't live in Trish's backyard anymore. The chicken coop is empty. One of her neighbours anonymously (and cowardly) complained to the city, and Trish received notice that the chickens had to go. Backyard agriculture is a no-no in Toronto and if she didn't re-home the hens herself, the city would do it for her. The reasons were vague. Her chickens weren't noisy and there was no unpleasant smell from them. She couldn't understand the problem. Misinformation about disease and predators had the city counsellors running scared, and Trish was left with no choice but to get rid of her precious hens.

     When Anne read this story, her heart went out to Trish and her dilemma. She sent an email of support and offered to take the chickens herself as a last resort, if no other solution could be found. A few anxious days later, Trish called and asked Anne if she would take them. She had been unable to find a new home for the girls and time was running out. Not able to have backyard chickens either, Anne had to think fast to come up with a solution and she set to work making phone calls to see what she could do. She placed a call to our wonderful friends Eric and Jenny at Gallery on the Farm, and they agreed to provide a long-term home for the hens at their organic beef farm. They moved in March 2012 and have been there ever since.

     On a recent visit to the farm, Anne was pleased to see that Pippi, Mabel and Elli are loving their new home. They have new chicken friends, but the three of them still stay together most of the time. They wander the barnyard, visit with the cows and fly up to the roof occasionally for a view of the countryside. Anne keeps Trish up-to-date on a regular basis and sends her a photo of her girls every now and then. Trish misses them, but is happy they have found such a wonderful home.

     In a city where snakes come out of toilets and raccoons break into houses, why are a few little chickens considered such a big deal? They aren't destructive or messy. They aren't noisy, and they mind their own business. I don't get it. I bet the narrow-minded bureaucrats that voted on this issue did so blindly, without getting the information they needed to make an informed decision. Most major U.S. cities have made allowances for backyard chickens, noting that legitimate reasons for prohibiting them are as hard to find as a needle in a haystack.

     Pippi, Mabel and Elli are thankful for Eric and Jenny's generosity and reward them with fresh eggs every day. Trish, like any pet parent, misses them and thinks of them often. Anne, and the rest of the crew here at Savon Du Bois, are thrilled to have contributed to this happy ending.

http://www.savondubois.com/

Warning: Talc Body Powder is Toxic

     I was watching one of those lifestyle talk shows last week and saw a segment with a beauty expert giving out tips on multiple use beauty products. One of her tips was to have baby powder on hand because it can be used for many things, not just diapering our infants. Since it is also easy to find and economical, this seemed like a good suggestion. What this “expert” failed to point out, however, was that most baby and body powders contain talc, which is an ingredient that should set off alarm bells in your head. Talc is hazardous and toxic.

     Talc is a mineral called Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide that is produced by mining talc rocks and crushing, drying and milling them into a fine powder. Talc is used industrially in home and garden pesticides, insulating materials, paints, asphalt and paper. It is sometimes found in pharmaceuticals and could be used in food processing. These areas of use are fine, according to toxic substance professionals. What is of concern is their use in the cosmetic and body care industry. When talc is used in baby or body powders, eye shadow, face powder or loose-mineral cosmetics, it becomes dangerous. Its asbestos-like fibres are a serious hazard.

     There are many high brow organizations out there that consider talc to be a toxic ingredient and have placed it on their hot lists with warnings against using it. Health Canada, Environment Canada, the Environment Working Group (USA) and the Cancer Prevention Coalition (USA) all advise against using body products that contain talc. When we use them, the talc can become airborne and if inhaled, it puts us at risk of respiratory cancers. When powder is used in our girlie areas (sorry guys), our risk of ovarian cancer is increased. It would stand to reason that using it on a baby during a diaper change can be doubly dangerous, and should be avoided also.

     Not every powder product out there contains talc, but you need to be on the lookout and do your research. There is no warning label for talc, no explosion or skeletal hand to alert you. Read the ingredient list. It will be listed as either talc or talcum and if you see it, don't buy the product. This bums me out severely and I will have to break my secret addiction to baby and body powders. I love having a shower at bedtime, sprinkling on some powder and heading off to bed for a cozy, comfy sleep. As nice as this is though, I can't justify the risk. I will have to tough it out and stop using it.

     In the coming weeks, Anne and I will be experimenting with some talc-free body powder recipes. Keep reading this blog for an update on how our finished product turns out!

http://www.savondubois.com/

The Latest from Our Kitchen!

     Savon Du Bois has recently undergone a lot of significant changes recently, our name change being the biggest! We had to create new packaging, redesign our website and sign many official government documents. It took up a lot of our time, but the feedback we are receiving about our new look is so positive, that the work was well worth it. We are happy to have most of this behind us now, enabling us to concentrate on some great new products!

     Last week, we completed our fourth and final test batch of liquid soap. Although two of them were not great (one was too stringy, one was too runny), we have two batches that are top-notch! We are busily washing our hands to test them both out and determine which one we like best. We are particularly excited about this project because it opens the door for many new items in our product line. Obviously, we will be able to offer you liquid soap in several fragrances, but we will also be developing shampoo - for us, and for dogs and horses! We have had a lot of requests for these items, so we are thrilled that they are so close to completion.

     Speaking of dogs, we revamped our dog shampoo bar so it is also brand new! We took one of our great goat's milk soap recipes and added a new combo of essential oils that not only clean, soften and condition your dog's coat, but give him protection from biting insects like mosquitoes, black flies and ticks. This bar will be extra special, because a percentage of each purchase will be donated to our local animal shelter (www.uxbridgescugog.petfinder.com). This donation will help cover the costs of the animal's daily care, as well as spay and neuter clinics. One of our staff dogs, Rosie, was rescued from an abusive home, so this is a cause very dear to our hearts.

     You may have already heard about our new Seaweed soap in a previous blog. We recently made a second batch of this and left it unscented. We think it will be a great bar for those of you with sensitize skin. Not only is seaweed great for that, but no added scent will give you a second option when soap shopping. Will it be our Honey Bee Fragrance-Free or the new Seaweed bar? It's your choice!

     Our new body powder is finished going through the testing stage. All we have left to do is package and label it. We plan to offer you several different scents including one for babies, and an unscented version for those who prefer to use their own fragrance. We've sourced some beautiful, reusable packaging for this powder, and we plan to sell convenient refill packs for it that reduce cost and waste. The sweaty days of summer make this product a must-have right now!

     Finally, we recently welcomed a new person to our team. Fran Ameri dropped by the soap shop recently to get a few lessons in soap making before she hits the road as our U.S. Sales Representative. She will be knocking on the doors of our American neighbours to find great retailers with whom we can partner. She is fun, enthusiastic and smart, and we think she is a great addition to Savon Du Bois. Contact her by email at fran.savondubois@gmail.com to welcome her and discuss your U.S. purchases.

     Our to-do list still includes many new things, like lip balms, more mineral make-up and a line of men's products. Our e-newsletter leaks the news first, so sign-up on our web site today. You'll be the first to know when these products are ready to go!

If Our Exposure To Toxins Is Small, Does That Make It Okay?

     The other day, I saw a commercial on television for a well-known brand of fresh pasta. One of the selling features of this pasta was the claim “now made with natural ingredients”. What?!? What the heck was it made with before?!? I think there is an unspoken expectation that the majority of the food we eat is natural. Maybe not in the processed food aisle mind you, but anything labeled “fresh” should be real food, don't you think? Obviously not.

     The idea of an unspoken expectation carries into other things we buy too. In particular, our body care products. Without saying it out loud, we expect that there is someone out there (scientists? the government?) with our health and well-being in mind, making sure that our shampoo and toothpaste are not going to hurt us. They wouldn't let us colour our hair or gargle with something that was harmful, would they? We live in a civilized country for goodness sakes. Certainly, the manufacturers of our eyeshadow and body lotion must abide by laws and regulations designed to protect us, right? All of this is true, but sadly, toxic ingredients are still used. It is not against the law.

     Our body products are all tested and each one of them is deemed safe to use. Although chemical and toxic ingredients are present, the highly paid scientists at these million dollar companies claim that the amount of exposure we get when using these products is not high enough to be dangerous. They admit there could be exposure and they admit it could be dangerous; it's just not dangerous enough to make a fuss over. Seriously?!? Are these the same scientists that said secondhand smoke wasn't harmful? Do they work in the same lab as the ones who decided asbestos was nothing to be concerned about? Please! Our exposure to the toxins in body products is continuous. It builds on itself day after day. With each application of moisturizing cream or cleanser, we up the exposure level. When toxins enter our bodies, they are there for good. We can't get rid of them. And they say this is not dangerous?

     There are many organizations out there that believe this industry needs higher standards. They believe that toxic exposure of any kind is still way too much. Organizations like the Environmental Working Group, the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are dedicated to educating consumers about the products on our store shelves. They know what ingredients are harmful and they know which products contain them. They know which manufacturers are changing their formulations to reduce toxic ingredients, and which ones maintain that their products are safe in spite of evidence to the contrary. They've compiled lists of companies that offer natural, chemical-free products that are safe for us to use. They have all the tools we need to make better choices.

     It is eternally frustrating to me that experts in cosmetics and body care continue to recommend products with toxic ingredients. I can not understand how a brand with harmful ingredients can receive an industry award for Product-of-the-Year when there are potential dangers to using it. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. There is such a huge disconnect here.

     When it comes to food, there is a well-worn expression that suggests “everything in moderation”. As long as we eat well most of the time, an occasional piece of cake or bowl of potato chips is fine. After all, even the most disciplined of us can't exist on leafy greens and tofu forever. Our body care can be approached the same way. Reduce your toxic exposure. Replace what you can with all-natural products. Make smart choices.

     Not all of you will agree with my opinion and that's fine. We are all entitled to our opinions and to make whatever choices we want based on those opinions. Just make sure your opinion is an educated one.

www.savondubois.com

Blackout Speak Out

http://www.savondubois.com/

Biting Bugs Beware

     I love animals. If it didn't violate my local by-laws, I would probably have a pack of dogs, a clowder of cats, a flock of chickens, a pot-bellied pig and most definitely an elephant. It is quite possible that I would also have a giraffe and a sloth. Until my town council revamps its rules, I will unfortunately have to put this plan on hold. Thank goodness, most of my friends and family members have animal companions (dogs and cats, but no elephants), and they don't mind if I come over and smother them with love and affection. I usually return home covered in slobber, hair and fur, and that's just fine with me!

     In spring and summer, our doggy family members need special care. Not only do we need to make sure they are hydrated and kept cool, but we have to protect them from bug bites. Even long haired dogs need this protection because mosquitoes, ticks, black flies and fleas are tenacious and still find ways to burrow their way down to the skin. Bug bites can be super irritating, but for dogs there is the additional risk of parasites and illness.

Heartworm is contracted when an infected mosquito bites your dog. Tick bites often transmit lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever and typhus. Black fly bites have been known to spread parasitic worms and viruses. Fleas are not just a huge nuisance, but can be carriers of tapeworms and anemia causing diseases. Luckily, there are a lot of effective treatment plans offered by your veterinarian. For some pet parents though, these treatments can be cost prohibitive, so the dog doesn't always get the protection they need. Even with treatment however, a bit of extra protection is never a bad thing.

     Store shelves are filled with bug bite prevention sprays and lotions, but the chemicals in them make it very dangerous to use them on our dogs. Heck, I wouldn't spray those toxins on myself and I don't (often) lick my legs like dogs do! Our Bug-A-Boo insect repellent is safe for dogs. The ingredients in it aren't particularly tasty, but they won't cause him any harm if he accidentally ingests some of it. Our formula includes neem oil and a blend of essential oils that biting insects don't like. Rose-geranium, lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint not only keep the bugs off, but they make your pooch smell great. Citronella, catnip, cedarwood and pine are also part of the blend and are sure to send the pesky critters packing. A few spritzes around the face (not in the eyes though), mouth, neck and ears will protect your dog's most vulnerable areas. A spray or two on the rest of the body will make sure the bugs can't find any good spots to burrow into. After spraying your dog, don't forget to spritz yourself too. Bug-A-Boo is a full service repellent that works equally well on us.

     My family of animal companions won't include an elephant or sloth any time soon, but that's okay. That just means I have more love to give to Annie, Cassie, Benny, Whisky, Coco, Louis, Molly, Roger, Poppy and Rosie. As a good doggy aunt, I will make sure they always have a never-ending supply of hugs, kisses and of course, Bug-A-Boo.

* Warning – Bug-A-Boo is not recommended for cats.

http://www.savondubois.com/