The Dangers of Artificial Fragrance

Today I’d like to discuss something that is a major problem in today’s beauty and skincare industry–artificial fragrances. Everyone likes to smell nice…or to have fresh-smelling linens, or a home that always smells like an apple pie is baking in the oven.  Unfortunately, the very ingredients that create those smells may just be making you ill.

 

Did you know that the overwhelming majority of skincare products–from soaps to lotions to sunscreens–contain synthetic fragrance?  Even the typical department store LIPSTICKS contain this ingredient.  If you are looking at a product ingredients label, it may be listed as “parfum”, “fragrance”, or “fragrance oil.”  They are all synonymous.

Fragrance oils simply are unhealthy and may cause health issues down the road and also can contribute to health conditions you may have now, such as asthma and allergies.

•  95% of artificial fragrances are petroleum based chemicals. (According to a report from the National Academy of Sciences in 1986; report not refuted)
• Many artificial fragrances contain Phthalates, which disrupt the endocrine system and are known carcinogens. Phthalates are banned in the EU. They can damage the reproductive system and  are also harmful to the environment. (Source: Cosmetics Database)
•  Artificial fragrance is a leading cause of asthma and allergies. (Source: Toxic Beauty by Samuel Epstein) 

Did you know that your typical “fragrance oil” may contain over 100 different chemical compounds such as amines, ethers, ketones, lactones, terpenes and thiones. Many also contain phthalates, benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and other toxins shown to cause cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, neurological disorders, and allergic reactions. These compounds also get into the air and can have grave effects on the ecosystem. When you use a laundry detergent with artificial fragrance, it not only can affect your allergies, but harm the earth.

Did you know that waste eater facilities actually do not remove the chemicals found in artificial fragrance? They are left to linger in the environment.

Aren’t fragrance oils natural? If I am buying a rose perfume, doesn’t it always come right from rose petals? No. Fragrance oils are synthetic and have been created to mimic the aroma of scents found in nature, in foods, etc. Trade secret laws have made it so the companies do not have to disclose all of the chemical compounds found in the fragrance, so you will see “fragrance”, “parfum”, “fragrance oil”, etc. on the labels.

There is more and more evidence that fragrance is harmful, even toxic.  The Skin Deep Database now ranks Fragrance a very disturbing 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. As a mom, I am troubled by the fact that nearly all products marketed to my kids are not just full of chemicals, but contain large amounts of fragrance. Of course my kids want to smell like a strawberry milkshake or a banana split, but at what cost?

We have taken the dangers of artificial fragrance into consideration very seriously.  Quite simply, you will NOT find any synthetic fragrances in our products. We create NATURAL and effective skincare products that are safe for you and your family. You will notice our products are not completely unscented. Natural ingredients retain their natural aromas, so from time to time you will be able to detect the scents from organic essentials oils and other botanicals. 

 

Here is a really helpful infographic from Women’s Voices for the Earth about artificial fragrance:

 

 

Do you have a health or skincare topic you’d like to see covered in this blog? Drop me an email at prcontact@emeraldessentials.com and I will happily answer your questions.

 

 

The Many Benefits of Coconut Oil

There are so many benefits of natural oils when it comes to skincare and wellness. Most products use mineral oil (yuck–crude oil on your skin???) as the  main source of emollience. Natural oils are far healthier and are full of benefits.

Today, I’d like to talk about my most favorite oil– Coconut Oil.

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Skin Care Benefits of Coconut Oil:

There are many skin benefits of coconut oil. That is why we use it in our Relevé Organic Skincare products.

Coconut oil is rich in something called Lauric Acid. In fact between 40-50% of coconut oil is actually Lauric Acid. This is a very promising natural treatment for acne. Not just for acne, coconut oil works on dry skin because of its ability to provide deep moisture. Coconut oil also helped to treat skin conditions such as  eczema and psoriasis. Is your skin flaky?  Try using products with coconut oil!

Rich in antioxidants, coconut oil may help prevent the signs of aging and may actually prevent skin sagging.

Click here for Relevé™ Organic Skincare.

 

Did you know, though, that there are many other uses for coconut oil?

Coconut Oil for Weight Loss

I’d like to say that I used to be skeptical about some of the other uses.  First of all, I used to cringe when I heard people talking about using Coconut Oil for cooking.  It goes against so many things you’ve heard about from traditional practitioners because it being a saturated fat.  I used to think I’d get clogged arteries or that it’s make me gain more weight or make my blood pressure go up. And my doctor, who is very old-school, has advised against it saying that my health will suffer–that I will gain wait, get high cholesterol, etc.

From my own experience, when I use coconut oil in cooking, it is easier to lose weight. When I changed my eating habits a few months back, I  began to incorporate coconut oil into my diet. Dr. Oz recently has been talking about the benefits of coconut oil and one of the ones he mentioned is weight loss.  He mentioned also how it can treat everything from skin conditions (which we have known), ulcers, and more. In fact, just a couple years ago, Dr. Oz was also skeptical of this oil and then decided to do more research. Now he is on the coconut oil bandwagon.

Here are a couple of videos about coconut oil from Dr. Oz:

Coconut Oil Video Part 1

Coconut Oil Video Part 2

Our very own Action Whey contains the Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) from coconut oil. Action Whey is a KEY component of our 7 Day Transformation, which will help to kickstart your weight loss.

Coconut Oil Health Benefits:

*It is said that Coconut Oil can help prevent fatty deposits in the liver.

*Coconut Oil is used by many people now to help control diabetes.

*Coconut Oil is used by naturopaths to treat pancreatitis symptoms.

*Many believe Coconut Oil helps your bones absorb magnesium & calcium more effectively.

*Anecdotal evidence shows Coconut Oil can help prevent tooth decay.

I’ve recently been incorporating more & more Coconut Oil into our meals here at home.  Some of my tried &  tested favorite recipes using Coconut Oil:

Paleo Coconut Oil Mayonnaise

Delicious, Low Carb Truffles

Coconut Shrimp

Super Yummy Baked Apples

Author Esther Blum adores Coconut Oil as well.  Here is what she says:

“Saturated fat is where it’s at!

Today we get 20% or more of our calories from polyunsaturated fatty acids, which gum up the metabolism when they replace quality fats in the cell membranes. The problem with polyunsaturated fats is that they’re very fragile so when we remove them from the whole foods they occur in and use them as isolated oils, they break down and become full of free radicals. These free radicals accelerate aging, initiate buildup of plaque in arteries, suppress the immune system, cause digestive disorders, and damage the reproductive organs and lungs. Not good! And when they’re used in cooking, they break down further and become even more loaded with free radicals. 

Plasma saturated fat is the result of the amount and type of carbohydrates you are eating—not dietary saturated fats. We must remember that traditional cultures did not eat the isolated vegetable oils that have been taking up supermarket shelf space over the last 100 years, such as corn oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil.

Saturated fats—the safest oils for cooking—to the rescue! Saturated fats are stable at room temperature and when heated. And, coconut oil kept at room temperature for a year will show no signs of rancidity when tested.”

Esther Blum has a new book coming out in just a few short months called “Cave Women Don’t Get Fat.” In her newest release, she recommends Emerald Essentials Action Whey AND our Relevé Organic Skincare line! Visit her Facebook page, Living Gorgeous, for more.

Emerald Essentials/Relevé Organic Skincare Certified Cruelty Free by CCIC.

We are proud to announce that our own Relevé Organic Skincare has just been approved by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC) as an officially Cruelty Free company.

 

Click here to read the complete CCIC Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals.

The CCIC has the internationally recognized Leaping Bunny logo. Making up the CCIC are the American Anti-Vivisection Society, the Doris Day Animal League, the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society of Canada, Animal Alliance of Canada, Beauty Without Cruelty USA, MSPCA Center for Laboratory Animal Welfare, and the New England Anti-Vivisection Society. Also a partner is the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments.

To be accepted into the program, strict guidelines must be followed to ensure ALL stages of product development are cruelty free. For example, all suppliers sent information that the ingredients supplied to us are not tested on animals.

From the CCIC’s site regarding the Leaping Bunny standard:

“The Standard is short for the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals, a voluntary pledge that cosmetic, personal care, and/or household product companies make to clear animal testing from all stages of product development. The company’s ingredient suppliers make the same pledge and the result is a product guaranteed to be 100 percent free of new animal testing. All Leaping Bunny companies must be open to independent audits, and commitments are renewed on an annual basis.”

In her own words: Chanie’s success story

Chanie Peres spent years of her life fighting a battle with obesity. She tried diet after diet without lasting success and almost went in for bariatric surgery as her final resort.  She thought she had exhausted every last weight loss option until she was introduced to Emerald Essentials. Now she is down more than 100 pounds and is feeling fabulous.

I wanted to know all of the details of her success and am sharing my interview with Chanie with all of you. If you’ve ever thought there was no hope for you to lose weight — or that it will be expensive or painful — read this. Read Chanie’s story. It just may change your life!

Karley:  What prompted you to try Emerald Essentials for weight loss?

Chanie: I was about to go for the band surgery since I was so desperate, frustrated and upset about my severe obesity, my aunt and nutritionist Wendy Krasner told me that this product was definitely going to help me. I told myself, “This is the last shake I am going to try. If I don’t see results soon, I’ll go for the surgery.”

Karley: How many “diets” did you try before trying Emerald Essentials?

Chanie: I tried many diets, some of them I lost a few pounds on, however it was very difficult. I felt hungry and unsatisfied. I definitely didn’t have the amount of energy as I have now. On previous diets I felt tired, sluggish and not so good. Since I was in 8th grade I have been trying many different diets. There are so many, I can’t count. I don’t call myself on a diet, emerald essential products have changed the way I live and eat. This is a life transition.

Karley: You started off with the Emerald Essentials 7 Day Transformation. Was that difficult?

Chanie: The 7 day transition was not difficult at all. I noticed major results right away! On day 2, my severe knee pain was gone! And I haven’t felt the pain since. The pain was so bad I couldn’t kneel on the floor. I also felt lighter, the scale didn’t show such a drastic change, but I felt skinnier. I didn’t want to continue eating unhealthy–I started to want to eat good foods. My energy level started to spike up and I didn’t feel so tired. This was so quick, I knew this product was real!

Karley: When did you start noticing results?

Chanie: Like I said before right away, on day 2 I noticed that I didn’t have cravings, pain was gone, felt lighter, happier, I realized that if this is only day 2, then how am I going to feel at day 7 or 14, every day got easier and better, I knew I was going to stick with this until the end.

Karley: Most importantly, how do you FEEL?

Chanie: I feel AMAZING!!!! I feel like I can conquer the world. I’ve never felt so good about myself. I am confident, happier. I physically feel like a new person. I have so much more energy to work out and exercise. I can see body parts that I was never able to see before. This may sound funny, but I can sit with my knees crossed without them falling asleep and getting pins and needles. It’s small things like this that make me feel so grateful for losing the weight. I feel like I am a regular person. My stomach isn’t the first thing that people see when I walk into the room, it’s the shining new me.

Karley: What does a typical daily “menu” look like for you?

Chanie:  My menu does change every so often, but this is an average menu:

I first started off on the 7 Day Transformation from Emerald Essentials. Then I went to having an Action Whey shake for breakfast, sometimes with a banana. It tastes so delicious. Every now and then I throw some chia seeds in the shake to keep me full for even longer.

 I originally had a shake for lunch with a small salad and fish or eggs, but now my stomach has shrunk so much so I have either one. I have a regular dinner containing a protein and veggies. I don’t have a desire for gluten any more.

 For snacks I have raw nuts, fruits and the Raw Burst drink from Emerald Essentials every once in a while. Sometimes I throw a scoop of the Raw Burst into the whey shake. The Raw Burst gives me a lot of energy!

 I have the Emerald Sea capsules that I feel are extremely important and notice a difference when I don’t  have them. I also drink a lot of water.

Karley: Has it been hard to stick to this program?

Chanie: It’s not at all hard, the first day was the hardest, but I wouldn’t even consider it hard. I didn’t feel deprived of my old favorite foods, I was feeling satisfied. I guess the hard part was letting go and making the transition. After taking the first leap, eating healthy and finding the new Chanie came to me naturally. I started loving this new way of living. When my family saw my drastic results, they started following me. So changing our lives together became fun and easier.

Karley: Do you exercise?

Chanie: Now that I have more energy, I can exercise 4-6 times a week for approximately 45 minutes to an hour and a half, without getting out of breath and tired as I did previously.

Karley: What do you like most about Emerald Essentials products?

Chanie: My favorite part about this product is that it actually works and it’s completely safe and healthy!  It’s very easy to incorporate in my busy everyday life schedule.

Karley: Any other comments you’d like to add?

Chanie: I want to tell everyone that I promise they can do it just like I did. It’s possible, you don’t have to suffer any more like I did. There is a healthy, not invasive and inexpensive, way to lose weight. YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To learn more:

Emerald Essentials

Emerald Essentials 7 Day Transformation

Emerald Essentials CEO interviews Chanie (audio)

Chanie Peres Inspires Us All (Emerald Essentials blog)

For press inquiries, please contact Karley Ziegler Mott, Public & Media Relations Manager, at prcontact@emeraldessentials.com.

Rosacea Skincare Tips

I’d like to talk about what Rosacea is and what ingredients you’ll want to look for — and avoid — if you have this popular skin condition.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition.  Sufferers may experience spider-like blood vessels, redness, inflammation, swelling, and acne-like skin eruptions.  This can appear on the cheeks, eyelids, nose, or any other area of the face. Women between the ages of 30 and 60 are more likely to suffer from Rosacea. Those with fair skin and the tendency to blush easily are more prone to suffer from Rosacea.

People with Rosacea will often have a flushed appearance to their skin, bloodshot or watery eyes, a red nose, and overall red appearance to the face.

Rosacea will not just impact ones appearance.  The condition can be painful, resulting in a stinging or burning feeling on the skin. Additionally, it can affect self esteem.

There is not a cure as of yet for this condition, but there are known triggers. Many of these triggers are related to diet. Other triggers can come from popular skincare ingredients. Unfortunately, instead of trying to take a more natural approach to alleviate the symptoms of Rosacea, many patients find that their doctors are quick to prescribe harsh (and possibly) harmful prescriptions such as Accutane.

 Rosacea Triggers:

Extreme hot or cold temperatures

Emotional Stress

Exposure to the sun

Sweating/Heat from Exercise

Common Food/Ingredient Rosacea Triggers:

Alcohol

Hot drinks such as coffee and tea

Spicy foods

Eucalyptus

Menthol

Witch Hazel

Clove

Peppermint

Rosacea Skincare Advice

Our very own Relevé™ Organic Skincare line is ideal for Rosacea sufferers. Traditional skincare lines are full of irritating chemicals which only trigger these flare ups.  Our products are different. We use only the most natural, wholesome ingredients to feed and nourish your skin.

New to our products? Try our newly released Facial Starter Kit! Click here to purchase.

Ingredients in our products that may help Rosacea:

Did you know that Grapeseed oil contains natural anti-histamine properties to soothe skin inflammation? Coconut oil shows great promise when treating Psoriasis and Keratosis Pilaris, and may also help to alleviate Rosacea symptoms.

Our Hand-Filleted Aloe Vera, is also of benefit to those with hypersensitive skin conditions. It is cooling and soothing. We also use Raw Honey and Beeswax, which are known for treating inflamed skin.

The ingredient I most want to discuss today , though, is our PX3™.

PX3™ is our proprietary bio-extracted pine bark extract blended from three specific species of pine trees. PX3™ binds with collagen and elastin to help rebulld elasticity and helps reduce hyperpigmentation (brown spots) for a smoother, younger looking complexion. PX3™ also supports the natural synthesis of hyaluronic acid in skin, known for its promotion of better skin elasticity and water retention.

For those with skin conditions such as Rosacea, though, there are other benefits to pine bark. Pcynogenol, or pine bark extract, is anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. It can help to reduce redness and blotchiness in the skin as well, which is why I am so happy that this is in our skincare products!

Thanks a Latte!

We would like to thank you all for your continued support as we keep growing here at Emerald Essentials! It has been such a busy time with our site changes–keep your comments coming–and we just want to say,”Thanks!”

 

 

I want to share another recipe with you today! I hope you enjoy this one as much as you have enjoyed our others, such as the frozen chocolate almond treat and our smoothies.

 

As we head into summer, I have a thing for iced coffee drinks. Unfortunately, unless you have a traditional iced coffee without add ins, you are basically just drinking away your calories.

Today, I am making over a cafe favorite: a very popular coffee chain’s iced vanilla blended coffee drink. This super delicious iced drink isn’t for those who are trying to lose or maintain weight though.

A grande (AKA medium) version contains 430 calories and 72 grams of carbs (I stick to under 50 for my whole day) — a whopping 69 grams of carbs in this drink are sugar carbs. Oy! Not good!

Today I have recreated this treat and have made it MUCH healthier! It doesn’t taste exactly the same, but it is still absolutely delicious.

*8 ounces of chilled brewed coffee (I like a bold, stronger blend in this)
*1 cup of unsweetened vanilla coconut milk (you can substitute with milk or non-dairy milk substitutes)
*1 t. pure vanilla extract 
*1 scoop Emerald Essentials Vanilla Action Whey 
*Ice cubes

Just blend it all together and ENJOY it!

I actually topped mine with a bit of real whipped cream. I use a bit of heavy cream and a dash of Action Whey in vanilla for flavor and a bit of natural sweetness. You can add unsweetened cocoa powder or cinnamon to the whipped cream if you like as well. My version WITH the whipped cream is 185 calories and 4 grams of carbs. Of course, you can absolutely skip the whipped cream if you are counting your calories. Keep in mind mine also makes you a BIG glass–or two small ones–so you can share with someone special.

 

Click here to buy Action Whey.

Chocolate Almond “Ice Cream” Recipe

I love experimenting in the kitchen. I also LOOOOOVE ice cream, especially chocolate almond ice cream! I am extremely careful with what I eat, but that doesn’t mean I cannot enjoy a creamy, frozen treat this time of year!

Do you have an ice cream maker? Any type will do. Mine is a little one that was less than $30. It works well and makes a yummy treat in less than 30 minutes. My husband and my boys went to the local frozen yogurt place where you add a bunch of toppings and pay per pound. While they were gone, I whipped this up for myself.

This recipe yields 1 serving–you can certainly alter it to make more.

*1 ripe banana

*1 scoop Action Whey (your choice of flavor–I used vanilla)

*1 tablespoon of cocoa powder

*3/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk

*Optional: almonds to garnish

 

*Warm the almond milk and cocoa powder either in the microwave for 40 seconds or on the stove over low heat. Stir. Put sliced banana and Action Whey in a blender and pour the almond milk/cocoa mix. Blend. Pour into your ice cream maker and churn until ready. My ice cream was done in less than 20 minutes! I topped with almonds.

I felt no need to add sugar. The banana and Action Whey provided plenty of natural sweetness. If you feel you need more, go ahead and add a bit of raw honey or natural sweetener of your choice, but I do not think it is needed.

This “ice cream” is creamy and chocolate-y and just plain delicious! Look for new summer treats using Action Whey and Raw Burst each week on the blog!

EWG announces best sunscreens –Relevé Sun-Lite tops again!

Relevé Organic Skincare Sun-Lite SPF 20 has been chosen as one of the safest, most effective sunscreens on the market for the second year in a row by the Environmental Working Group in Washington, DC!

View the ANNUAL GUIDE TO SUNSCREEN from the EWG.

Over the past several years, there has been a very active–and necessary–campaign convincing the public to wear sunscreen daily in order to prevent damage from the sun’s UVA (skin aging) and UVB (skin burning) rays.

Wearing an effective sunscreen on a daily basis is something that can not only prevent burning, but it can help prevent skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there are anticipated to be more than 76,000 new cases of melanoma this year, a number that continues to rise each year at an alarming rate.

According to Allan C. Halpern, MD, Chief of the Dermatology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a Vice President of The Skin Cancer Foundation, more people are getting checked for skin cancer and he says that he believes “that part of the increase in incidence is due to greater awareness of melanoma.” In addition to skin cancer, a majority of skin’s premature aging and damage can be linked to sun exposure.

If you get an up close look at the skin of those who do not wear sunscreen or who go to tanning beds (please don’t!), you most likely will notice brown spots, uneven texture and tone, more noticeable fine lines, and wrinkles. I know so many people equate a tan with good health. People will argue that having a tan will make you look thinner, younger, healthier, etc. A tan, though, is evidence of skin damage rather than good health. I am super fair. I burn very easily. Any natural “tan” I get comes a couple weeks after a painful sunburn.

I am all for having a bronze glow. I don’t want to put on shorts or my bathing suit and see porcelain legs anymore than most of you do. I wear sunscreen and any tan I have comes from a bronzer or self tanner.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SAFE TAN unless it comes from a bottle and is applied to skin that has been protected with sunscreen. “Base tans” are dangerous. Period.

I really believe in my heart of hearts that wearing  a natural sunscreen is one of the single most important things we can do for our skin. There is so much credible evidence out there that advocates the importance of wearing sunscreen. I live in Upstate New York where it is cloudy for much of fall through spring.

I do not avoid the sun altogether, though, because there ARE benefits– a more uplifted mood in many cases as well as the benefits you get from Vitamin D.  We NEED the sun to help our bodies with Vitamin D synthesis! SUN is not the enemy–but we do need to be very careful about UVA and UVB rays.

We need to wear sunscreen. From my point of view as an esthetician, SO many of the signs of aging on people’s skin would have most likely been prevented if sunscreen had been worn. And many of the common skin woes are CAUSED by sun damage.

Avoiding harmful ingredients when it comes to sunscreen, though, can be very difficult. There are some toxic ingredients used in sunscreens and it is up to the consumers to read the ingredients list and know what it good and what is not. I want to provide you with a simple guide to choosing the best sunscreen for your family.

Here are some tips that I recommend:

*Making sure that a sunscreen’s UVA protection is sufficient is very important. Both UVA and UVB rays are harmful, but UVA rays are generally more harmful because they penetrate deeper into the skin and can cause the cell changes that are linked to cancer.

*Do not choose powders or sprays. While I realize that a spray can be quick and convenient, you end up inhaling what is in the product and this can be harmful to your health. Most sprays also contain artificial fragrance, another health hazard linked to asthma and other health issues.  Yes, it may take a bit longer to apply and thoroughly blend in, but you do not want to sacrifice good health and adequate sun protection by choosing the wrong formula.

*Avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone. This is a synthetic estrogen and some believe it can be carcinogenic.


*Also avoid using sunscreens with Vitamin A. If the label doesn’t say “Vitamin A”, look for its derivative Retinyl Palmitate. Why? Retinyl palmitate may speed tumor growth.  This makes sense because we know that Vitamin A makes your skin more sensitive to the sunlight.

*If you see a product with a label of higher than SPF 50, be suspicious. I have seen products at the store claiming to be “SPF 100+.” That sounds super protective, doesn’t it? It isn’t. The FDA says that numbers beyond SPF 50 are misleading. This gives people a false sense of safety and often makes them think they can stay in the sun all day long.

The reality is that higher numbered sunscreens really are NOT more effective! You may see a product on the market with an SPF of 50, but in reality that may be MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE than a natural mineral sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or 20 that also provides BROAD SPECTRUM protection, which is what you need.

*Mineral sunscreens are best. Look for products with zinc oxide. These are generally a safer option because they are what is known as a physical sunscreen. Zinc oxide provides the best protection against UVA rays.  Zinc oxide is also STABLE, which is important.

5 Myths About Natural Sunscreen

 

 Myth #1: Natural sunscreens are thick and hard to rub in.

Yes, natural sunscreens are generally are thicker than their chemical-laden counterparts. Relevé Organic Skincare Sun-Lite SPF 20, though, is made with natural ingredients such as hand filleted aloe vera and grapeseed oil. These not only moisturize the skin, but they absorb beautifully into the skin.

Myth #2: Natural sunscreens leave a white film behind on the skin.

This is not always the case. When natural sunscreens first came on the market, they were notorious for leaving a sticky, white paste-like film on the skin. Products are being formulated to still protect the skin naturally, but also be more user friendly nowadays. Our own Sun-Lite, for example, is zinc oxide based, but it blends with ease and sinks into the skin because of the other wholesome natural ingredients in the formula.

 

Myth #3: Natural sunscreens do not protect your skin as well as traditional sunscreens.

Not true. Stable, zinc oxide based natural sunscreens like Sun-Lite SPF 20 work just as well as chemical sunscreens. By the way, this applies to all sunscreens. If you’re not using the proper amount, they won’t work as well.  If you do not reapply as recommended or fail to reapply after swimming, they also will lose efficacy.

Myth #4: Natural sunscreen is too expensive.

A stable, effective sunscreen will cost a bit more. This is true, but let’s put this into perspective–

A good sunscreen is going to be your best anti-aging product. Since much of aging can be attributed to UV (especially UVA)  damage, sunscreen is imperative.

Most people will not hesitate to spend quite a bit of money on a night cream or serum or on a handbag or shoes. In fact, I know of people who will spend $250 on a handbag, but do not want to spend the money on an effective natural sunscreen.

Think of it this way: you only have one skin. It should only make sense that you take care of it. Sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer AND help prevent the signs of aging. Not too many products can say that! Besides, Sun-Lite is just $24 (or only $20 at the distributor price)!

Myth #5: It is hard to find a good natural sunscreen.

This used to be the case. Not anymore. As people become more and more aware of the importance of sun protection and harmful ingredients, more and more natural sunscreens are hitting the market–many good, many bad.  We have now all seen the EWG’s Annual Sunscreen Guide. Our very own Relevé
Organic Skincare Sun-Lite is safe AND it is effective. To purchase, you can shop through your Emerald Essentials Independent Distributor, online on our website, and you can also call our very friendly Customer Service team at 866-530-7223. Easy peasy!

Popular Question: What about using ONLY natural oils and butters in the sun? Coconut oil and shea butter are good sunscreens, right?

Well, yes and no. There is anectdotal evidence that suggests the cinnamic acid found in natural oils, specifically shea butter, may provide natural UVA protection.  It is estimated that many natural oils MAY provide an SPF of up to 4 naturally.  However, in many people, especially those with fair skin, they increase the likelihood of burning if you applied them without other protection on the skin.  Additionally, while they may provide limited UVB protection, they are proven to provide no UVA protection. That is why using Sun-Lite from Relevé is so important–it provides you with true broad spectrum protection from the Zinc Oxide.

What Does the EWG say about Relevé?

Relevé Sun-Lite Sunscreen SPF 20 earns the highest marks in this newly released guide!

Our sunscreen has earned the top rating of “EXCELLENT” in all three categories: UVA Protection, UVA/UVB Balance, and Sunscreen Stability.

We are so proud of this product–and of all Relevé and Emerald Essentials products.  We are committed to providing you and your family with safe & healthy products!

Are your hands aging you?

We have discussed Relevé Organic Skincare products quite a bit here on the Emerald Essentials blog. Quite frankly, our skincare is the best product line on the market in any price range.

I am going to show you what our products can do for you. Today, let’s start with the hands. I have my makeup on and am headed out soon, but next time I’ll show some photos of our products on the face.  Today, let’s work on the hands!

Did you know that your hands are a dead giveaway of your age?  Why?  Your hands are often the most overlooked parts of your body when it comes to skincare. Brown spots, lines, uneven texture, and loss of elasticity are all visible signs of aging. We know that when we take good care of the skin on our face, that we can keep it looking more youthful.  The same is true for the hands, but most people don’t take those few extra minutes.

My hands are EXTREMELY dry. I wash them frequently and they get dirty easily, whether it is out playing with my boys, gardening, or doing some of my home projects. I make jewelry in my spare time as well and am frequently working with my hands. I would even go so far as to call my hands “old lady hands.” There IS a fix, though, and I am going to show you the dramatic difference!

Let’s see what just TWO of our products can do for your skin–and quickly.

What will Relevé do for you? Try Relevé Organic Skincare today! Contact your Emerald Essentials Independent Distributor for more information or visit http://emeraldessentials.com.

Spectacular Seaweed!

Today I am going to share with you my own experience since I started taking Emerald Sea from Emerald Essentials.

Of course, I need to preface this by saying that before you embark on any type of lifestyle change, you need to be sure it is OK with your doctor–and that this is not a substitute for medical advice.

This is my own personal experience.

I have told you about my lifestyle overhaul, which began in late winter. Now TWENTY pounds lighter, more energetic, and more content in general, I can attribute that partly to seaweed.  I did the 7 Day Body Transformation, started stepping up the exercise, and kept Emerald Essentials Action Whey as part of my diet each day. I also started taking  Emerald Sea each day. To be exact, I take three capsules daily.

Emerald Sea is an all-natural blend of 7 sea vegetables, including Organic Norwegian Kelp, Organic Dulse, Organic Kombu, Organic Bladderwrack, Organic Sea Lettuce, Organic Wakame, and Organic Nori. This is a proprietaty blend from Emerald Essentials and all of the ingredients are certified organic and have been sustainably harvested by hand.

I have been taking Emerald Sea for 3 months now.

I have experienced many benefits.

*My last round of bloodwork was stellar. No problems at all. My doctor commented on how good my bloodwork now is.

*Adding this to my daily regimen has really helped shrink my belly! I really believe that Emerald Sea has played a major role in my weight loss because it helps to regulate metabolism.

*Emerald Sea is a natural source of iodine, and I believe that is why my thyroid levels are so good. I was on the verge of being put on medication and that is no longer the case.

*I have carpal tunnel syndrome and have intermittently had to wear a brace.  Typing is often painful for me and has been on and off for the past 15 months.  My symptoms have greatly diminished. I also attribute this to Emerald Sea, as sea veggies have been shown to help with bone and joint health.

*My overall appearance has benefited from the sea vegetables, too. My skin is so clear an feels so supple. Seaweed has many beauty benefits! My hair is shiny & bouncy. I am growing it out from a pixie to a layered bob and normally the growing out process is a horrible period of regrowth. Not this time around! My skin is so radiant and bright and my nails even seem stronger and less brittle.

Do you take Emerald Sea? Share your experience with us in the comments section below!