Post by Prabhjit Banga

Just 2 weeks after my Love your Lips post about the lead content in lipsticks, Annie Leonard (authour of Story of Stuff) released a new short film about the toxins in our cosmetics. The Story of Cosmetics is an 8 minute video where Annie talks about our “toxics in, toxics out” cosmetics system and how we got to where we are.

From the lipsticks you smooth across your lips to the shampoos you lather up with the morning, the $50 billion cosmetic industry is a chemical giant that is pumping potential cancer and birth defects into the millions of users that purchasing its products.

To learn more I encourage all of you to take a look at Annie’s enlightening video:

Post by Prabhjit Banga

The weather is warm and summer’s marquee fruits and vegetables are well on their way to your kitchen. And the best place to get your share of this local bounty is at your local farmers’ markets, most of which are now open for the season.

Farmers’ markets are a great way to eat local, high quality, super fresh food. It also means supporting local artisans and farmers to positively impact your environment by buying products that are produced within the shortest distance to where you live. That cuts down on the use of fossil fuels, which leads to significantly reduced levels of pollution and resource depletion over your produce bought at the local supermarket.

Talk to local farmers who grow and care for our food, and learn about different varieties and other flavourful varieties you won’t find at groceries stores. And remember, farmers’ markets are not just for your fruits and vegetables, although those items alone are enough reason to pay a visit. Expect to find meats and fish, herbs, honey, mushrooms, garlic, eggs, cheese, bread and other baked treats, preserves, jams and even plants and flowers.

 As a fellow market-goer , I have learned a few helpful strategies:

Get there Early
Showing up in the late morning means big crowds and picked over produce. Beat the rush by going early and getting the best of the season.

BYOB
Remember to bring your own reusable bags.  

Be adventurous
One of the advantages of shopping at a farmers’ market is that you get the best of the season from local farmers, which is likely to be different from your normal grocery store purchases. There’s nothing wrong with buying foods you know you like, but try to be adventurous with new produce.

Ask questions
You may not know everything there is to know about seasonal vegetables, but the farmers who grow them certainly do. Walk up to each vendor and ask them what their favorites are this week. If you’ve never cooked with them before, ask for a sample recipe or serving suggestions.

Cash only
Most farmers do not accept credit cards and the line at the local ATM machine is a wait you could live without. Pick up some cash on your way to avoid the headache.

Shop around
Samples are commonplace at farmers’ markets and allow you to find the best produce to match your taste. Nothing is worse than buying a basket of strawberries, then finding better ones two stands away. Shop around a bit before deciding on the best purchases.

Post by Prabhjit Banga

Lipstick….my first flirt with makeup at the age of 5…20 years later that flirtation never ceased. But now I realize that the product that gives me those glamorous, flirty lips can be endangering my health at the same time.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, many lipsticks on the market today contain a surprising amount of lead. Lead is a toxic substance that can affect the nervous system and brain and stunt the growth of children. Makeup worn on the mouth is not only ingested but also absorbed through the skin. In addition to lead, there are an estimated 10,000 chemicals that the cosmetic industry uses to produce lipstick.

Ready to trade your tube of red for something a little greener?
Today, there is an amazing array of natural ingredient and certified organic makeup lines featuring eco friendly lipstick. When looking for natural lipstick, check for ingredients such as – jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, hemp seed oil, flowers, natural butters, and botanical extracts. I personally use Aveda’s Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color, which not only comes in a refillable lipstick case, it is also made with 96% post-consumer recycled resin. The lipstick also contains natural lip plumping ingredients such as coconut protein, pomegranate seed oil and bilberry boost.

Checking for Toxins
If you’d like to see how your lip color fares, check out Skin Deep, a very comprehensive cosmetic safety database from the Environmental Working Group. They provide safety ratings and list ingredients that could be toxic and potentially irritating for more than 40,000 products.

Are you concerned about the ingredients in lip products? Are you switching to more natural alternatives? What are your favorites?