I like to honor their arrival with a New Year’s intention. Not a resolution – “save more money,” or “lose ten pounds.” An intention is something I can set: part timer, part incantation. I can use it to inform my behavior at every moment from January first to the seconds as the ball drops in December. These are the intentions of the editorial team at Modern Hippie Mag.

Steve

Steve: As I’ve previously written, for the next year I will be thriving in life without the use of Federal Reserve Notes. My intention for doing this is to find more value in the world around me than can be regulated, quantified, negotiated, or limited by an economic structure that often seems to do more harm than good. I heard in a TED talk recently that one smile produces a stimulation in the brain equivalent to what a person feels when receiving $25,000. Considering how much consternation is caused by people not having enough money, I think I’ll just smile more and appreciate true wealth.

Jerah

Jerah: My intentions for another evolving year are two-part: to slow things down and embrace a DIY lifestyle. I do have a little help in slowing things down, and that is from my very wise one year old. If there is anything in life that will slow a driven, motivated goalsetter of a woman, it will be the brilliance of a child.  For that, I am grateful. He has already started his magic, and, it has left some impressionable space in my mind – a clearing, if you will, that harkens back to the lifestyle I grew up in. Where R&D was R&DIY (research and DO IT YOURSELF); from food to clothing, crafting to storytelling, music making to planting. All came from a place of the heart and mind. I have cleared a living space to create, sew, craft and cook.

Shayna

 Shayna: During the roller-coaster that was 2011, activities that were once part of my routine fell by the wayside as I allowed financial responsibilities and the urgency of life to take over. A while back, a friend encouraged me to pick up a deck of Goddess Cards. Whenever I’m feeling particularly “ick,” beating myself up and generally feeling stuck and uncreative, this card comes up without fail: Maeve, goddess of cycles and rhythms. Her message is pretty simple. “Honor the cycles and rhythms of your body, energy levels and emotions. All of life is cyclical, it inhales and exhales again…there are times when you feel energized, awake and alive. There are other times when you feel isolated and shy…” For the new year, my intention is to get back in tune with my rhythm and once again make time to do the things that I know inspire my creativity, productivity, self-confidence, and health on a regular basis.

Jaszy

Jaszy: I think it’s safe to say that one of the best ways to form a new habit is to practice repetition. So it made sense to me when I heard it suggested to include a resolution or phrase as a password to something I use frequently. Each and every time I enter my password I am reminded and motivated to give thought to my resolution or theme; an idea or concept that I want to carry me through the year. For 2009, my theme was “believe in 09,” 2010 was “be grateful.” 2011 has been “manifest now” – and my intention and resolution for 2012 is “be fierce.” I got lots of sh*t to do in the coming months and there’s no time to be half-steppin’ about it. I am fiercely intent on implementing several projects I’ve been dreaming about for years and developing strong collaborative partnerships in the process. No, you don’t get to know what those projects are…just yet. But they are gonna be AWESOME! Here’s to 2012!

Nadya

Nadya: 2011 has been extremely busy. Dinners with friends were timed, sex was rushed, food was eaten in the cabs in between appointments, and breath felt incomplete. In 2012, my intention is to slow down a bit in everything I do, to enjoy the process instead of evaluating life by the number of checked points. It might mean blocking at least 30 minutes to have lunch instead of chowing it down in front of the computer which has 10 different windows open, thinking before saying “yes” to new projects and meetings, taking a few deep breaths in the middle of the day, and not booking back to back appointments. Instead of packing my day for the sake of being “busy,” I would like to realign my actions to my vision, and not feel guilty for taking a break or having an empty time slot in the calendar. Slower life does not mean less productive, it means a more joyful fuller life where daily actions are aligned with priorities.

Adwoa

Adwoa: In 2012, I am thrilled to be working on cultivating abundance. It dovetails nicely with my continued 2010 (“say yes”) and 2011 (“practice least resistance”) intentions. You may remember that earlier this year I expressed my gratitude for adversity, and that’s still true. I am an extremely stubborn and hard-driving person; I push myself and those around me, and am proud of what I achieve. But I wear myself out sometimes with the belief that I have to personally keep the entire world spinning. And I’ve found that when I step back and evaluate my life, sometimes the bounty that’s not a direct result of my own striving is the most satisfying. The richness in my life is in relationships and luck: I am surrounded by amazing people and circumstances, and one way or another I will always have enough. I want to work to embrace that, along with every particular of my wonderfully abundant life.

We wish you an amazing holiday season and a slow but driven, appreciative of true wealth, DIY, rhythmically in tune (and, yes – abundant!) 2012.

Good Intentions is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

This week we’re kicking things off with a brief explanation of what being a modern hippie means to each of us, and how that ethos informs our daily lives. Each month, singly or in a collaborative piece, we’ll chat about something that’s inspired us, prompted us to think, or stirred our hearts. Think of this as your chance to sit down with us for coffee and a chat. So let’s get started: what does it mean to be a modern hippie?

Jaszy

Jaszy (Head Honcho): I am not a vegetarian. I’m not overly crunchy, and I don’t go around hugging trees. I am most days indifferent to the government… Uncle Sam and his Big Brother. What I am is aware, conscious of choices I make for myself whether purchasing cleaning supplies or clothes. And this does not mean that I choose “eco” every time, as much as I’d like to. What is happening to our environment and to our structure and sense of community is important to me, two of the main reasons why I started publishing Modern Hippie Mag.

It was never my intention to define what being a modern hippie should be for you. I was simply looking for a vehicle to make sense of what it meant to me and perhaps along the road we could compare notes, provided you chose to be on the same or similar path. For me, being a modern hippie means taking note of the essence of the original hippie ideal; love of neighbor and peaceful living, and find ways to make them personal. Why and how you chose to support the modern hippie lifestyle is as personal and unique as you are.

Adwoa

Adwoa (Managing Editor): My way of modern hippiedom is about celebrating curiosity, confluence and contradiction. I’m a highly cerebral massage therapist who sees that work as communication – in only a slightly different vein from my writing. I focus on quality and durability in an age of planned obsolescence, and I treasure vintage and pre-loved objects regardless of source (from gorgeous Goodwill flatware to pets from the animal shelter!)

This may or may not be specifically modern-hippie-related, but I have an insatiable desire to know more about my surroundings. Curiosity leads to compassion, and then to being careful, or just taking care. I think everything has usefulness and dignity, from possessions to people. A big goal of mine in life is to honor them, and ask as many questions as are needed to make that happen.

Steve

Steve (Lifestyle Guru):I think that being a modern hippie means drawing from the passion of the first generation, while reinforcing it with the knowledge that has been gained since. In the first generation, there was this overall understanding that we should break free from the status quo – but it was a very youthful sense of rebellion without a clear understanding of what was being rebelled against.

Now, in the wake of the Information Revolution, we have matured in our insight as to what we are rebelling against and what paradigms need to change. A modern hippie is simply the blossoming of peace, community, and conscious living that our forefathers (and foremothers) planted.

Jerah

Jerah (EcoFashion Huntress): It’s the DIY space in my life. When I get the chance to do it myself.I find a thrill in the times I teach myself something. That’s true whether it is making organic buckwheat chocolate chip cookies for my family, reconstructing a no longer worn long skirt into a short wearable piece, or geeking out in the online world building a blog.

I love the rewards I give myself, of knowing I can be a force for personal development in my own life daily. DIY brings me gratitude towards the process of making, mending and managing a lifestyle that is both conscious and living.

Shayna

Shayna (Beyond Beauty Editor): For me being a modern hippie is about love, for the planet and for each other. Our love of the earth drives us to want to preserve it, and our love for people and the human experience anchors the belief that ours is a symbiotic experience. Love drives us to take action and be supportive of initiatives and habits that maximize the positive impact (and minimize the negative) on the world and the people around us.

Supporting local business, buying and growing organic, seeking out home, health and beauty products and fashion that are created cleaner and greener, volunteering, random acts of kindness… it all comes from the same emotional place. It turns out being a hippie – modern or otherwise – may be simpler than you thought.

What does being a modern hippie mean to you? Let us know in the comments. If you have any questions you’d like us to explore in future columns, please leave those ideas too!

Editor’s Table: What’s Your Modern Hippie? is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

Ph.D and senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group David Andrews said “FDA’s action offers some noticeable improvements for consumer, such as limiting misleading claims, however, it is clear that the FDA caved to industry and weakened its safety standards. It’s earlier draft [first circulated back in 2007].”

According to Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research “FDA has evaluated the data and developed testing and labeling requirements for sunscreen products, so that manufacturers can modernize their product information and consumers can be well-informed on which products offer the greatest benefit. These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families.” Apparently, helping consumers be “well informed” doesn’t include providing information regarding the potential.

Janet Woodcock also demonstrated the FDA’s continuing refusal to admit that chemicals within our products and sunscreen could be a contributing factor to the rise in skin cancer, saying “Most skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. FDA encourages consumers to protect themselves. Not only should consumers regularly apply and reapply sunscreens with Broad Spectrum and SPF of 15 or higher, they should also limit sun exposure.” Of course! The solution is just don’t go outside- why didn’t I think of that. Not to mention this is the same tune they’ve been singing for years. What they seem to be too scared to admit (and I can understand why- the potential legal ramifications are paralyzing) is the possibility that chemical based sunscreens (and personal care products in general) have contributed to an increase in cancer.

IT’S ABOUT TIME

• They’re eliminating SPF’s above 50 as they have not been shown to be any more effective
• They’re banning the use of the words sunblock, waterproof and sweatproof because “these claims overstate their effectiveness.” Only the term “water resistant” will be allowed in designations of either 40 or 80 minutes
• Broad Spectrum designation. They’re making an active distinction for the term “broad spectrum” and products must now (supposedly) pass a “test” before being labeled as such, thus indicating that they actually protect from both UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays.

If you’re going to be exposed to the sun for an extended period of time and you don’t use some sort of protection, you’re probably going to get burned. If you’re going to prevent sunburn with a product containing an SPF, you might as well be sure you’re getting broad spectrum (UVB and UVA) protection.

Shayna

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.

FDA issues new sunscreen rules, but are they helpful? is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

A lovely customer of mine recently asked me when she should throw out makeup (I’m pretty sure she was in the midst of a “spring cleaning bug” as one has hit me recently as well.) So naturally I said “That’s a great question- I’m so glad you asked!”

As much as we hate to throw out cosmetics and skin care products we never got to use up, it’s even more important not to use something that’s “past its prime”. Open skincare and makeup can become contaminated with microbes, bacteria, etc over time and the result of using an old product can harm more than your wallet. Using expired or contaminated products can result in irritation, mild breakouts or even an infection.

Before I offer some good rules for keeping your makeup bag free of un-fresh products, keep in mind there are a lot of “guidelines” out there for how often to pitch things, but your main rule of thumb should be to always get rid of anything that now smells, looks or feels different from when it was new, no matter how old (or new) it is (rancid lipstick, for example, often smells a bit like crayons). There is an exception to this, however- some natural creams (Like Sanre Organic Skinfood) can separate a bit as they don’t use any chemical emulsifiers. In these cases, simply stir it back up with a clean utensil to reincorporate. I’ve listed the product types below in order from most frequently replaced to longest lasting.

Mascara: 3-6 months. If you’re using something with preservatives (like a department store brand) you can probably get away with closer to 6. For 100% natural ones (like Honeybee Gardens or Dr. Hauschka) better to play it safe and pitch after 3 months.

*TIP: You may already know this one, but it bears repeating- don’t pump your mascarawand, it simply incorporates air into the tube making it dry out faster and inviting bacteria in. To get more product on the wand, swipe it in a circular motion around  the inside of the tube.

Lip Gloss. 6-24 months. I’ve seen sources that say lip gloss is good for up to two years, which it probably is (if you use a clean applicator every time and never leave it in the sun or your car….). The germaphobe in me though, wants to replace my lip gloss every 2-3 months. If you use the same one or two colors every day, they probably won’t last you much longer than that anyway. So there you go, 3 months to two years (I know, not the written in stone answer you were looking for). This is one of those common sense things. If you’ve just battled a cold sore or the flu, probably best to get rid of whatever lip product you were using and get a new one. If you’ve been healthy and your lip gloss still smells, looks, tastes like new, gloss on!

Creams and Liquids: 3-12 months. These can be trickier, new types of packaging (like airless pumps) have greatly extended the shelf- life of some of these products to up to a year, but products in open jars/bottle still don’t usually hold up more than 3-6 months. Again, your everyday practices make a big difference as well. If you’re super strict about always using a clean, sanitized brush in your pot of gel eye liner, for example, it’s going to last a lot longer than if keeping you don’t. These include gel & liquid eye liner, cream concealer, liquid foundation, cream eye shadow, etc.

Pressed & Loose Powders: 1-2 years. Most powders keep for up to two years. Whether or not there are preservatives will make a difference here. If you see a paraben or phenoxyethanol in the ingredients and you keep your tools clean, it’ll probably be good through two years. Likewise, loose powders (like pure mineral foundation) that are free of all oils, waxes, additives and preservatives are also good for a few years. Keys to telling if they’re bad are if they have a change in consistency or color or don’t apply as smoothly as they once did or start to feel “chalky”. Pressed powders can also get what looks like a hard “film”-a sign that it’s time to throw it out. These include eye shadows, pressed foundation, face powder, pressed & loose blush, etc.

Pencils, Crayons and Sticks: 1-2 years. These guys can last a few years depending on the formulation and if you keep them clean and sharpen them frequently. But if the product seems drier, smells different or appears cracked or crumbly, it’s time to pitch it, no matter how old it is. This includes: lip pencils, eye liners, lip sticks, “crayons”,  blush sticks, etc.

Shayna

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.

Out with the old: When good makeup goes bad is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

Despite the knowledge that I’m lactose intolerant, that my skin looks a hundred times better when I avoid excess dairy, and that even one cold, creamy, delectable scoop leaves me, well, let’s just say “uncomfortable” for at least two days, if it’s around I can’t NOT have ice cream. It doesn’t help that my roommate (who is also not so good with the dairy products) is a HUGE Ben & Jerry’s fan. She’ll bring home a pint (or two) and we’ll indulge “just this time”, but then we’ll run out…so I have to buy more, since she bought it last time. Before we know it, we’ve each gained two pounds, are grouchy, breaking out, and not feeling so hot, at which point I resolve to go back to being ice cream-free (until the next craving hits).

Additionally, I’m a foodie. I love to cook and bake which, to its merit, has kept me in avoidance of processed foods. My rule has been that I pretty much eat what I want, as long as it’s made fresh, from scratch, with as many organic ingredients as possible. On the flip side, though, I love great cheese and great bread. For me, a spinach salad with seared organic skirt-steak, tomatoes, red onion, orange wedges and homemade balsamic-olive oil-vinaigrette is only truly complete and balanced with a dollop of fresh Chevrie goat cheese on top. And so I continue to compromise- especially on the dairy thing. More especially on the ice cream thing.

Then, I read an article in the May 2010 issue of Psychology Today (sorry the article’s not online-but it’s worth buying the issue which has a ton of great articles) about the Paleolithic diet- the concept that, from an evolutionary perspective, human beings were never really designed to consume dairy and grains (even though the ubiquitous food pyramid would have us think differently)- certainly not in the quantities that we do today. Before the advent of modern agriculture, humans ate lots of plant foods- fruits, nuts, berries, etc- and lots of lean proteins from wild game and fish. But cheese? Milk? bread? The modern staples (practically) of the human diet- these were not part of the our original diet. This food theory goes on to posture that many of our modern diseases and health problems are due, in large part, to our diet. While there are arguments for and against this Paleolithic diet, I think Dr. Andrew Weil has perhaps the best, most intelligently guided advice on this subject. Basically, let’s do our best to go back to eating more like our ancestors, but still incorporate lots of fresh fruits and veggies (which they couldn’t always) and some carbs-but the right ones.

So I resolved that, while I’m just not ready to give up my morning latte (made with lactose-free milk), I would cut back on as much unnecessary dairy as possible so I could enjoy the benefits of feeling and looking better. Wouldn’t you know it, just before the weekend, a fun, spunky, very sweet girl happened to come into the store and we started talking about exactly this. She shared with me the story of her recent nutritional revelation. She cut out her soft drinks and juices, started using only fresh ingredients, and not only did she lose weight (10 lbs in a month!) without even trying, she was feeling better. She found that after a couple of weeks, she couldn’t even eat the processed, high-fat, foods that she used to without feeling ill. Buh-bye Popeye’s.

And then, she blew my mind…

“You have to try this ice cream!” she insisted. “It’s called Purely Decadent- it’s got these chocolate praline things in it and caramel, like, real, caramel! And it’s totally dairy-free.” She could see the skepticism all over my face. After all, being health conscious, lactose-intolerant, and right around the corner from Whole Foods,  I had made a few forays into the world of non-dairy frozen treats before and was always disappointed. “Seriously,” she urged me “I was like- there no milk in this? You’ve gotta be kidding me.” The whole rest of the day, all I could think about was this supposedly delicious dairy-free ice cream.

So I went to Whole Foods after work, and bought a pint of the Turtle Tracks (she had been very clear that I was to get the one with the pralines in it). My first bite was cold, sweet and surprisingly creamy (far more than the coconut milk ice cream I had previously tried), with only a barely perceptible taste of the soy. By the time a got to my third bite (it was good enough to keep eating, for sure) the soy flavor was even less apparent.

Later that night when I dug into my second serving (I told you I was an ice cream-crackpot) I couldn’t even taste the soy. She was soooooo right- the pint was packed with tons of gooey caramel and dark chocolate covered pralines (which were my favorite part, too). The whole pint is gone now, and I’m going back to Whole Foods after work to try another flavor. Maybe one with less caramel this time. But seriously, when my only complaint (if you even can call it that) about this SOY ICE CREAM is that there might have been more caramel than was necessary, I think that’s pretty impressive.

Purely Decadent from Turtle Mountain is vegan and dairy-free and the Gluten-free flavors are clearly labeled as such. There’s also a coconut milk-based ice cream, but I haven’t tried it, so be sure you get the soy one. BONUS- click on the “Rewards” tab at the top of the website and you can print a coupon for $1 off- which, at $4 a pint is 25% off!

Epilogue: A Purely Decadent Evening

Naturally, I left my coupon in the car when I went to Whole Foods after work, but that didn’t stop me from getting another pint of Purely Decadent’s soy ice cream (you know, because I have to do my due diligence for you guys!). I finally decided on the Mint Chocolate Chip. Well, I didn’t wait until after dinner to try it- in fact, it didn’t even make it into the freezer! The Mint Chocolate Chip was even better than the Turtle Tracks- the rich, dark chocolate shavings were generously swirled throughout the entire pint (very Ben & Jerry’s style), and they were rich and very, very satisfying. The mint “ice cream” was dreamy, perfectly minty, and so creamy it could easily be mistaken for dairy. Purely Decadent now not only has my approval, but my deepest gratitude.

Shayna Teicher

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.

Ice Cream Insanity…There May Be a Cure is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

Mineralogie, the leader in mineral makeup, was launched in 2003.  Unlike many traditional cosmetics, Mineralogie uses minerals

Mineralogie

that are pure, free of talc, starch, perfumes, and other unhealthy substances.  They also use vitamins A & E in their foundation, because they work as natural antioxidants which help protect the skin from pollutants and keep the skin looking young and fresh.  Mineralogie is extremely light so it doesn’t clog pores, and at the same time nourishes and protects the skin.  Rated by the FDA as SPF 26 (the highest rating for a foundation in the industry), Mineralogie provides complete sun protection, using micronized Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, blocking all broad spectrum UVA and UVB rays.

Check out our video demo to learn more about Mineralogie and get tips to recreate my new look!

Live in Sarasota?  Be sure to visit Butterfly Effect for a free makeup consultation and mineral makeup custom blend with holistic beauty extraordinaire, Shayna Teicher.

Jaszy Glammed!

Jaszy McAllister is the woman behind the curtain of Modern Hippie Mag. She is also the host for ModernHippieMag.com video and podcast interview profiles. She is a self-taught jewelry designer featuring her eco-conscious jewelry designs at www.Jaszy.com. She is also a Green Guru for TheGreenGirls.com. Find her on Twitter, @msjaszy. Read more articles by Jaszy.

Please VOTE for Jaszy to win her very own talk show in the Oprah OWN contest!

Want to have your company, product or service featured in a video or podcast? Contact us! Watch our video profiles and listen to our podcast interviews.

Get Glam with Mineral Makeup Video Demo! is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

I’m so frustrated! I have these things, they seem like pimples or clogged pores, on my scalp and along my hairline. Sometimes, they even hurt and they make me feel really self-conscious. What’s worse is I’ve struggled with them for years! I’ve tried all sorts of products for dandruff and oily scalp, including acne products, but nothing ever seems to stick. I’m tired of dealing with this- please help.

Sincerely,

Viv

Dear Viv,

It sounds like you’re struggling with scalp folliculitis, basically, it’s an infection of the hair follicle, which causes inflammation and often pain and/or itching. Folliculitis is most often seen on the scalp but can manifest anywhere on the skin where hair grows. When a follicle or pore becomes plugged up with sebum (a delightful combo of dead skin cells, oils and dirt), those oils can simply become oxidized and form a hard, dark plug- a blackhead. Most of us probably have one or two of those going on at any given time, eventually as we go through our daily cleansing routines, cells blocking the follicle or pore are exfoliated and it becomes cleared of the blockage. In the case of folliculitis however, bacteria, yeast or fungus find their way into the mix so, when the follicle becomes blocked, our white blood cells kick into action to try to kill the infection. This is what leads to the whiteheads or worse. This immune response is also responsible for the redness, swelling that can occur.  If left untreated, complications of scalp folliculitis can include hair thinning, hair loss or, in extreme cases, scarring.

If left untreated, complications of scalp folliculitis can include hair thinning, hair loss or, in extreme cases, scarring.

Yikes! My guess is though, that you’re nowhere near that point, otherwise you’d have skipped right over me and straight to the dermatologist.

Right off the bat, if you are taking any prescription medications that are hormone related or if you suffer from any medical conditions that effect your hormones or immune system, go ahead and make an appointment with your dermatologist first, and then finish reading. Additionally, if at any point you have a fever over 101 degrees or the affected area becomes red, enflamed or painful, you should see a physician immediately. Now that we’re past all the ‘just in cases’…

You say you have been struggling with this for years, so it’s possible that if there is a bacterial component to your folliculitis, you’ll need to see a physician for a round of antibiotics to completely eliminate it. Before we simply slap a scipt on it, though, I do have some recommendations for you to implement. Ideally, we want to fight the microbial component, eliminate any possibilities for re-infection, and help rebalance your skin so that it’s ready to protect itself again.

Something that is often overlooked in Western medicine when it comes to treatment of skin-related ailments is pH. The acidity or alkalinity of a substance is measured on the pH scale, which goes from 1-14. From 1-7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and from 7 up to 14 is alkaline (basic). Although our bodies tend to be slightly alkaline, with a pH of around 7.5, our skin has what’s called an acid mantle, which is a protective, oily layer on the surface. The acid mantle is (you guessed it) acidic, with a pH of between 4 and 5.5. This acidity creates an environment that discourages the proliferation of bacteria, fungi and yeasts on the skin. If this naturally occurring barrier is supposed to serve the purpose of preventing microbial growth on the skin, then it stands to reason that a presence of microbial growth might indicate a problem with the acid mantle, namely a shift in pH. The higher (less acidic) the pH of the skin becomes, the more susceptible it is to infection and a slew of other skin problems including eczema and psoriasis. Restore your skin’s natural acidity, however, and you’re restoring an imbalance that the folliculitis is thriving on. Soaps, which can have a pH as high as 11 (very alkaline), can strip away our acid mantle leaving our skin vulnerable. Also, Chlorine in our water (a known carcinogen) is not only vaporized in the hot water allowing us to breath in very small quantities of it, but it dries out our skin, hair and nails as well, leaving them vulnerable while your skin rebuilds its acid mantle (which can take hours!).

So here are my recommendations, along with my reasons:

1. Invest in a shower water filter.  It doesn’t have to be the top of the line, it just has to filter out chlorine and basic minerals like calcium and iron, which contribute to water hardness and also make soap harder to rinse away. The one I’ve been using for a few years is JONATHAN Beauty Water (www.jonathanproduct.com), shower purification system.  Read here for a full list of benefits. The unit costs $95 and contains our first filter and a pretty nice shower head.  I’ve found mproved water pressure, but the flow rate is only 2.5 gallons per minute!  Replacement filters are $55 and they last about 6 months for one person.
2. Clean, Clean, Clean!  Although many of us have heard a zillion time not to wash your hair too often, in your case, you really do want to wash it every day to keep the microbial component at bay. Only shampoo your roots and then rinse it through. Additionally, if you put your hair in a towel when it’s wet, use a clean towel each time and don’t use that towel for anything else. Also, especially if you wash your hair in the morning rather than at night, change your pillowcase out at least 1-2 times a week. You’ll also want to sanitize your brushes, combs and hair accessories. Avoid hats, headbands and scarves as well.
3. Don’t Fear Oil! Oil is your friend. I know we hear all over the place to avoid oils, but natural oils are some of the best healers and have properties from antioxidant, to anti-inflammatory to anti-microbial. Unlike mineral oil and petroleum derived ingredients, natural oils are synergistic with your skin and can actually help prevent breakouts. Some great oils are jojoba, hazelnut and coconut.
4. Check Your Products. Make sure your shampoo is free of sulfates or soaps, and avoid any hair products that have silicones. I’m not always opposed to them in small amounts in certain products, however in your case, steer clear. Because you’ll be washing every day, you’ll want to condition your ends so they don’t get dried out. I recommend Rare Elements Essential Conditioner, it’s super concentrated so you only need a little bit and it’s packed with healing and nourishing essential oils.
5. Treat. Unless you have an allergy (always do a patch test on your arm first to check), incorporating organic tea tree essential oil into your products can be hugely beneficial. Just a few drops (maybe 5), added to your shampoo, and tea tree’s natural anti-microbial properties will help combat bacteria, yeast or fungus without introducing antibiotics or sensitizing your scalp.

Between, eliminating excess chlorine and minerals, using a mild shampoo and conditioner everyday, sanitizing the items your scalp comes into contact with regularly and treating the infection, you should be well on your way to a healthy scalp within four to five days. If you don’t see improvements in this time frame, it’s time to see a physician who may take a sample from an affected follicle to determine what kind of infection it is and determine a more intensive course of treatment which can include antibiotics, anti-fungal meds or topical steroids.

Fun little extras: For a great explanation on how soap works, see this link to the SDA’s (Soap and Detergent Association-yeah, there really is one) website http://www.sdahq.org/sdalatest/html/soapchemistry1.htm.

Photo courtesy stock.xchng.

Photo courtesy www.zeolitesupport.com.

Shayna Teicher

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.

Dear Beauty Chick…I need help with my scalp! is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

The goal of this comprehensive collection of information is to give you the tools to make your own decision about whether or not you want to use products that contain parabens. That’s right, I’m not going to tell you ‘how it is’ on this one. There is an abundance of information out there and it’s not black and white.

Part I: It’s Your Call

In the interest of cutting straight to the quick, I’m going to start with my conclusion which is: it’s your call. If I were going to create my own line of cosmetics or any other personal care product, I would find a way to do it without the use of parabens.  There are also other preservatives (I’m talking about you phenoxyethanol) that are now being used to replace parabens, and I wouldn’t use those either. I do however currently use one or two products which I love dearly which do utilize a very small amount (less than .5%) of a paraben as part of their formulation, the rest of which is natural and chemical-free. Since the rest of my beauty products are generally free of chemicals, including preservatives, dyes and phthalates, and the products I use containing parabens are ones that are rinsed off right away- think, shaving cream as opposed to face cream- I feel comfortable using these products and do not feel that the negligible amount of parabens that I come into contact with as a result of their inclusion puts my health at undue risk. On the other hand, I always make an effort to avoid them whenever possible, and if I happen to come across a product that is completely amazing and a small amount of paraben is it’s only drawback, I always have a conversation with the company and ask why they have chosen to use them and in what percentage they are used before making a decision.

The debate over the safety of the use of parabens in personal care products has waged on for a while now (concern was first expressed in the mid 1990’s). It has also been frustrating for consumers who don’t want to have to worry about the safety of their products and just want the facts. Add to the mix an overwhelming amount of conflicting information with both sides swearing that they are right, and it becomes hard to know what to believe. Obviously, the chemical companies who produce these preservatives have something at stake, as do the companies who have been utilizing parabens in their formulations for over 20 years. But let us not forget, with “greenwashing” becoming more and more rampant, that there are cosmetic companies aiming for the “green” market who love to use “paraben-free” as a marketing ploy, even when the rest of their ingredients are questionable, at best.

So, what are parabens? Scientifically speaking, parabens are esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. In non-chemistry speak, they are a type of (chemical) preservative, usually derived from petroleum, whose primary function is to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. They don’t keep a product from going rancid, they simply keep icky stuff from growing in it. They are used in everything from make-up and body lotion to processed foods to pharmaceutical products. There are a number of different types of parabens, with ethyl-, propyl-, methyl- and butyl- being the most common. Less common are isobutyl-, isopropyl-, and benzyl- parabens. The type of paraben is determined by the alkyl group (methyl, ethyl, etc). Although they are fundamentally the same, it is possible for different types of parabens to produce slightly different effects in the human body. Although the vast majority of parabens are produced by chemical companies, they are also found in nature. Blueberries, for example, contain a small amount of naturally occurring methylparaben, which acts as an antimicrobial agent.

Aside from their use as preservatives, parabens are also xenoestrogens, which means they produce an effect in the body that mimics that of estrogen. There are actually different classifications of estrogens, some of which occur in plants (phytoestrogens) and even fungi (mycoestrogens). Xenoestrogens are chemically different from the estrogen that occurs naturally in our bodies, and estrogens that pharmacologically have an intended estrogenic effect, like birth control, are a whole different category.

Next Week: The Reasons We’re Worried About Parabens. I’ll address how parabens effect the human body and what the scientific studies have to say about it.

Resources:

http://www.health-report.co.uk/parabens.htm

http://www.newscientist.com

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4555-cosmetic-chemicals-found-in-breast-tumours.html

http://www.ammas.com/ar/home.cfm?r=va&bid=1519&topicid=5&tid=93532

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_1X_How_many_people_get_breast_cancer_5.asp

http://thebeautybrains.com/2006/05/02/the-perils-of-parabens/

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4555-cosmetic-chemicals-found-in-breast-tumours.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=phthalates&rlz=1R2PCTC_enUS350&aq=0&oq=phth&aqi=g10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenoestrogen

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408440490920104

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben

http://www.terressentials.com/truthaboutparabens.htmlb

http://www.alive.com/6951a17a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=59

http://www.naturalnews.com/022207_parabens_personal_care_products_health.html

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/83/8346specialtychem3.html

After nearly three years managing a bath and beauty boutique, Shayna decided to go out on her own and open Butterfly Effect, a holistic, eco-conscious beauty boutique located in Sarasota, Florida. Our very own “Beauty Chick”, read Shayna’s other intriguing articles and product reviews here.

Part 1: What’s the Deal with Parabens? is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

Butterfly Effect – A Modern Hippie Mag Profile from Modern Hippie on Vimeo.

Butterfly Effect, 451 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236 (map it), (941) 552-6728, www.livebutterflyeffect.com

Butterfly Effect – a Modern Hippie Mag Video Profile is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

My senior year of college I dated a guy named…let’s call him Pete.  Pete was hot. Seriously, couldn’t believe my luck, made me weak in the knees to even hear his voice; H.O.T.  He was even occasionally considerate and romantic. Never mind that he still lived at home with his parents, had trouble keeping plans, and was constantly disappointing me, thus causing me to wonder if he actually cared about me or if I was just a convenience to him.  We broke up more than a few times, but every time he would call me with some version of “I know you deserve better than me, but it’s just too hard not to be with you.” And so it went, with hardly a flutter of hesitation on my part, we would fall back together. Did I know that it would never work? Deep down, I did.  Did I, on a daily basis, attempt to convince myself that he could be “the one” if only he could see what I saw? Yep.

Why did I let this go on for so long? Aside from his being hot, some part of me doubted that “the one” could really be out there. He also had just enough redeeming qualities that I felt justified in putting up with his behavior, despite how often it was completely unacceptable.  If we don’t believe that there is someone or something better for us out there, something that is attainable, we tend to tell ourselves “well, it’s better than nothing.” Of course, we would be wrong.

I tell you this in order to illustrate how, if I was able to put up with a person like that, how much easier it is for me to put up with particular products. Specifically, I’ve had a very similar relationship with sunless tanners. I want to love them, I really, truly do, but they always seem to disappoint. They make grand promises: an easy, perfect, natural looking glow. Sometimes they even come close to making good on them. At least, they come close enough to keep me coming back for a while. They possess their own, beauty product equivalent of “hotness.”

Recently, as I did years ago with Pete, I was finally able to take a stand. No more sunless tanners. No more chemicals and promises broken. No more slathering myself in products that have negligible benefits aside from a moderately aesthetic one. No more feeling like a little streaking here and there is simply part of the trade-off for a golden, summer glow. No more stickiness, weird smells, parabens, petroleum-derived ingredients, fragrances, plasticizers, or dyes.  I deserve better. We all do.  Sure, I was sad to imagine that I would now live a life where I would slowly become paler and paler, where my cutest cocktail dresses would pack a little less punch competing with my visible spider veins. I would never again feel quite as comfortable wearing shorts or a bathing suit. Or would I?

Chocolate Sun

Enter: Chocolate Sun: Cocoa Glow Sunless Tanning Cream For The Body. It was love at first sight, so much so that upon its arrival I did the equivalent of hopping a plane to Vegas to elope. I made a commitment that could not easily be undone and applied it the morning of the grand opening of my store.  Just short of applying itself, it is perfect. It is the sunless tanner I always imagined might be out there. It is 100% natural, 92% organic and first and foremost good for the skin. With DHA (dihydroxyacetone-the tanning ingredient) derived naturally from sugar beets, it develops in about 5 hours into a completely natural-looking tan. Its base of sunflower, sweet almond and coconut oils plus shea butter, aloe, camellia, green tea and jojoba left my skin moisturized, but not sticky, and also made it a breeze to apply. It dried quickly, and the icing on the cake was that I smelled just faintly of cocoa all day.

Getting rid of what didn’t work opened up my life. Only a few months after leaving Pete and moving home from college, I started dating a wonderful guy. I also found a sunless tanner that exceeded all of my expectations. What I learned is when we are able to let go of what isn’t right for us, we make room in our lives for what we are really looking for. Pete would always tell me that he knew one day I was going to take off and be great and that he didn’t want to hold me back. Only now do I finally understand he was right.

Do you have a beauty question or your own personal “The One” story?  I wanna hear from you!  Comment below or send questions to The Beauty Chick, email Shayna@ModernHippieMag.com.

More cool stuff and a surprise ending coming up in Part II of our Last Blast of  Summer posting later today, so check back!

Finding "The One" is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag