Why You Need to Avoid Cheap Bath and Body Products this Christmas!

We’ve all seen them...piled high on a center isle store display or lined up at the checkout counter, with their cute branding and colorful packaging, convenient bath and body gift sets geared toward moms, teachers, friends, and just about any other female in your life that you need a quick gift for. It’s so tempting and at an average price of about $15 a pop it seems like a no brain-er, right?

Wrong! Beneath the cheap sticker and glittery boxes these discount beauty products are hiding a whole host of things that are potentially dangerous for you and your loved ones this Holiday. Here are the top five reasons you need to avoid cheap bath and beauty products this Christmas!

1. With these discount creams, gels, and lotions what you are mostly paying for is water!

Ever wonder how these companies can sell hand soap for $1 or a gift set of 4 products for $4.99? It’s because the main ingredient in most of these cheap, discount, products is something that you already have at home...plain old water! Not that water, in and of itself, is a problem, but when it comes to beauty products being shelf-stable, water is the enemy, which is why the remainder of the ingredients in products like these are primarily synthetic stabilizers, preservatives, and fillers so that these products won’t go rancid sitting on the store shelves.

Not to mention the fact that, as counter-intuitive as it may seem, high water content in skincare products makes them extremely drying and harsh on the skin. In the winter, when most of us are already trying to combat the dry, itchy, and sensitive skin that these cold, harsh winter winds and the hot dry air our furnaces at home bring why would we want to ADD to the dehydration of our body’s largest organ?  These products may seem like a good deal, but when you realize that what you are really paying for is water laced with carcinogens and hormone disruptors, that may cause liver damage, even if they are pretty, colorful, and smell good, you have to ask yourself if it is really worth it?

2. They are chocked full of chemical colorants and synthetic scents.

It’s not just the fillers and preservatives that are dangerous in products like these. The pretty colors and captivating holiday scents that they exude also come with their own set of problems. Seemingly innocent, synthetic fragrance is actually one of the most dangerous additives found in bath and beauty products. Considered an “industry secret” it is protected and therefore manufacturers are not legally required to disclose the chemical makeup of the fragrances that are used in their products. Even the sweetest smelling fragrances are chocked full of synthetic chemicals that can cause allergies, skin rashes, thyroid problems and some studies have even linked the ingredients that go into common fragrance oils to infertility and infant mortality.

Made from chemicals derived from petroleum, synthetic colorants are no better. For years we have known that dyes used in the food industry and deemed “safe” by the FDA are actually a leading contributor to hyperactivity in children, learning disabilities, allergies, and a host of other neurological issues. Many parents have made the commitment to drastically change the ways in which their families eat in order to avoid these toxic ingredients and yet, are still willing to slather synthetic dyes all over the largest organ of the body, their skin! Make no mistake, it’s not just the oral ingestion of artificial colorants that is dangerous. You skin is a direct highway to your bloodstream and the things you put on your skin will, without a doubt, end up inside your body!

3. They are wrecking the environment!

We’ve already established that these cheap, discount, products are brimming over with some pretty nasty ingredients, many of which, we end up leaving to leak and rot in the garbage, sinking into the soil of our landfills and waste stations. We could also talk about how the mass manufacturing of these products and the byproducts that are pumped into the atmosphere as a result are probably not the best, most natural, things we could be breathing but sadly, this kind of obvious environmental contamination is just the beginning. Think about this: if you have ever used a sparkly body product during the holidays...where does all that body glitter and shimmer go once you wash it down the drain? How about that body polish with exfoliating microbeads, or the “flushable” wipes that you carry with you to clean up spills or remove a face full of Holiday makeup at the end of the night?

Microbeads or microplastics are small plastic particles found in a variety of day-to-day products but specifically used in the beauty industry. A recent study by the International Maritime Organization, the UN agency responsible for preventing marine pollution now has evidence that these microplastics are ending up in the fish and seafood we are buying and frying up in our very own kitchens, as a toxic and creepy new kind of “circle of life.”

"It has infiltrated every level of the food chain in marine environments and likely fresh water, and so now we're seeing it come back to us on our dinner plates," says Chelsea Rochman, a University of Toronto ecologist.

Even deep-sea animals have synthetic fibers found in their guts and while discount and cheap beauty products are not the sole villain in the microplastics soap opera, the fact remains that they are a relatively inexpensive ingredient, and brands and products being sold at these hyper-low price-points are far more likely to opt for a cheap and low-cost ingredient rather than a safe, more natural, and more expensive alternative.

4. They can compromise your immune system.

When we talk about the immune system our skin is, typically, not one of the main organs of the body that we think about. It is estimated that the average woman in the U.S. uses 12 personal care products on her skin each day, containing nearly 168 different chemicals. And, like we mentioned above, our skin is a direct highway to the bloodstream and bone marrow, which is where the majority of our immune defense takes place. Our skin, working alongside our liver, and lymphatic system, is also one of the main ways that our bodies are able to detox and flush out toxins once our immune system has identified them.

The skin, being such a direct route to our bloodstream, and essentially providing access to every other organ in the body, also allows the transfer or toxins inward and the contamination of our bodies by what are called endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are a specific type of toxin, found in a variety of household health and beauty products, that interfere with development and reproduction by mimicking hormones in your body, including the female sex hormone estrogen, the male sex hormone androgen, as well as thyroid hormones. Studies have linked them to serious neurological issues, ADHD, Cancer, and they are believed to also be associated with compromised immune-systems. Of the top ten common sources for endocrine disruptors synthetic personal hygiene and health and beauty products were number one!

5. Products like this are just lining the pockets of big-business!

Aside from the health and environmental toles that these cheap, discount, beauty products cost us, there are also social and economic factors to consider.  How we, as consumers, choose to spend our money, particularly at the Holidays, can have a huge impact on our local communities and neighborhoods. Did you know that if you spend $100 at large big-box store, or national chain, just over $40 stays in the local economy but spending that same amount at a local, family owned, artisan business, guarantees that almost $70 will stay in your local neighborhood? Small businesses also donate 250% more financially than their larger, national, counter-parts to non-profits and local charities funding community causes like parks, education, revitalization initiatives, and local neighborhood associations.

We’re not going to beat around the bush here, it’s true, buying top-quality, natural products, from handmade, artisan, makers and small business owners will very likely cost you a few cents more for what may seem like a “similar” big-box product but the reality is the dividends these local purchases pay back come in the form of real families who get to put braces on their daughter’s teeth, send their grandkids to space camp, help restore local historic buildings in their hometowns, employ hard-working local residents who, in turn, pump taxes into local economies, and help to sustain safe, prosperous, and thriving neighborhoods all across America.

So, this holiday season we want to encourage you to steer-clear of the discount bins and dollar stores when choosing gifts for your loved ones! When compared with all the dangers, not only to your health, but to the environment, and our local hardworking small business owners, even a $1.00 deal for hand-soap seems like too high a price to pay!

New Study Finds Women Have 84 "Bad Skin" Days A Year! Five Habits to Take Back Your Skin and Your Pocket Book!

According to a new poll, the average woman says that she experiences 84 "Bad Skin" days a year!

EIGHTY-FOUR, that's 7 days a month...once every 4.5 days, spending, on average, over 10k in the course of her lifetime on products designed to combat the troubled-skin. With most women citing wrinkles, acne and dark circles among their biggest anxieties, dry skin, enlarged pores and age spots also made the list.

Sadly, one in three adult women claims that her skin makes her feel insecure and stressed. Ironically, most skincare experts will agree that stress and anxiety can be major factors in all kinds of skin trauma from eczema and acne flair-ups to premature wrinkles and a sallow complexion.

One of the major problems in today's beauty industry is that the products that these women are buying to try to "fix" their skin are actually, in most cases, helping to contribute to the overall skin challenges that they experience! Did you know that creams, serums, lotions, and washes that contain chemical fillers, toxic preservatives, unnatural fragrance and added dyes are actually working to further your skin problems? (And that is just how the big brands like it.)

The current philosophy on skincare from the big-box brands is closer to triage than therapy...a band-aid on a bullet hole, if you will.  Products designed for immediate, albeit temporary, results make us feel good about our purchase but in the long run, rarely ever deliver the advertised results. Instead, the products are actually designed to keep your skin in an unhealthy cycle so that you will need to buy more of their products!

But, you can break the cycle...take back your skin and your pocketbook by adopting these 5 healthy skincare habits today:

1. You are what you eat. Clean food. Clean skin. 

People don't much like this fact, but it's a fact, none-the-less. You simply can not put trash into your body and expect your skin not to suffer. Like any organ, our skin feeds and is maintained by the food and nourishment that we ingest. We aren't talking about the old wives-tale of eating a chocolate bar or some fries today and having a break-out tomorrow, that's not how the science of nutrition works. Our bodies, however, were designed to run best on fresh fruits, lots of vegetables and minor amounts of lean protein and our skin is no exception! Oh, yeah...and this should go without saying but DRINK WATER...lots and lots of water. (You already know this...now, just do it!)

2. Get a little sun!

In moderation, of course! We aren't saying to skip the sunblock if you are planning an entire day at the beach or a family vacation to a theme park this summer but remember a little Vitamin D is good for you and your skin! Extreme sunburn and sun poisoning is nothing to mess around with but on a daily basis, when you are simply out running errands...try skipping the chemical-laden sunscreen. In fact, some research may point to synthetic, chemical, sunscreens doing more harm, and leading to more cancer long-term, in patients that overused the products than in those who simply avoided the sun or only experienced moderate sun exposure without consistent or long-term burning. If you really feel the need to lather up...try a sunblock made with natural ingredients, like essential oils, for a more eco-friendly way to protect your skin.

3. Ditch the "Pretty" Scents and Colorful Creams.

Love the smell of a Toasted Marshmallow Latte, Caribbean Teakwood, or Coconut Vanilla Breeze? Our advice, buy a candle...and keep it out of your skincare. The world of sweet-smelling creams, lotions, body mists, and shower gels is almost infinite at this point. Thanks to the scientific technology of fragrance engineering if you can wish it, you can probably smell like it. Everything from Cucumber to Cotton Candy Cola is up for grabs when it comes to scented body products. The problem is that almost all of these scents are synthetic and loaded with all kinds of chemicals and preservatives that have no place on our skin, or in our bodies. Beware of packaging that says things like, "Made with All Natural Moisturizers" or "Enriched with Organic Ingredients." These claims may be partially true but even products and brands that actually do use other reasonably high-quality ingredients often blow it at the end with the addition of artificial perfumes and synthetic dyes. Instead, look for all natural brands that use 100% pure essential oils to add scent to their products and natural mica powders, sea clay and minerals for color.

4. Start Dry Brushing Daily!

What is dry brushing? Dry brushing is pretty much just what it sounds like. A practice that reminds us that our skin and skincare is a total body objective, not just something we do to our faces! With a dry, short-bristled body brush, lightly stroke the skin, beginning at the toes and ankles upward toward the heart. Continue up the legs and torso and then brush the hands and arms, always working with long, gentle, strokes moving toward the heart. Dry brushing is not only a natural and gentle way to exfoliate the skin, it also helps promote circulation and aids the body in moving toxins through the lymphatic system and out of the body. Dry brushing is especially beneficial when combined with a daily prayer or meditation routine helping to detox both the mind and the body.

5. Start with quality, all natural, SOAP!

In truth, this last one should maybe have been #1 on our list because it really is the easiest thing to do for your skin to see major results! The most simple, and most beneficial thing that you can do, on a daily basis, for your skin is to use an all natural soap when you shower and bathe. Did you know that most of the products that we use as "soap" today are actually not soap at all? The body bars, the cleansing gels, and the foaming micro-scrubs that line the "soap" isles of our popular big box and drug stores are primarily, chemically developed detergents, not soap. Switching over to a preservative-free, natural soap, can not only help to balance the Ph of the skin but because there are no toxic components it won't contribute to dry or flaky skin or aggravate irritated or acne prone skin. Restoring a natural balance to your bodies largest organ, you will find that, over time, you need less lotion and have fewer problem areas to deal with, overall. Your skin will maintain a natural glow and not need to be pampered like it once was, saving you not only time but money, as well.

Old Fashioned Laundry Soap Seems Great…But Can Someone Tell Me How to Actually Use it in 2018?

Let’s face it, laundry has changed a lot in last few decades, and thankfully so. Automatic machines, ultra fast spin cycles, timed starts, lighted interiors, load detection devices, and water sensors all help make America’s most hated chore just a little bit easier! Another thing that has changed is laundry soap, or more accurately in today’s big-box market…laundry detergent.

With more and more skin rashes and conditions diagnosed in America now than ever before, many people are starting to take a long, hard, look at what we are putting in contact with our skin, and the laundry detergents we wash our clothes with are no exception. A study by the researchers at the University of Washington found that of the products studied “Five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic ‘hazardous air pollutants,’ which are considered by the Environmental Protection Agency to have no safe exposure level.” A direct quote from the study’s author Anne Steinemann.

But you don’t really need scientific journals to tell you that these products are probably not the most safe option for your family. Just take a trip down the laundry aisle in any big-box or grocery store on Main Street, USA! You won’t even need to read the back of the boxes and bottles for your body to tell you that something isn’t quite right. Did you sneeze yet? Eyes get a little itchy? Feel a faint headache coming on? And, to think, you haven’t even touched the stuff yet. Name brand laundry detergents are some of the most highly fragranced products produced and we all know…with synthetic fragrance comes synthetic chemicals!

“These products can affect not only personal health,” said Steinemann, “but also public and environmental health. The chemicals can go into the air, down the drain and into water bodies.”

Thankfully there are more options than just clothes filled with stains and odor and clothes filled with toxic chemicals! Old fashioned laundry bars happen to be our favorite alternative but sometimes they can leave the consumer stumped as to how to use them! Here are 4 simple tricks to using all natural laundry bars!

1. Use as a spot treatment! Most old-fashioned laundry bars can be used “dry” and rubbed directly on the stained piece of clothing as a spot treatment or pre-stain treatment just like the expensive pens and dobbers you find in the cleaning isle.

2. Use on hand-washables and delicates. In a laundry tub or sink, with warm water, use a laundry bar “wet” by lathering in your hand, like you would a regular bar of bath soap and then gently massaging the suds into delicate fabric.

3. Grate the bar right into the wash! That’s right…grab a cheese grater from the dollar store and simply rough up that laundry bar! (Add right to the load with the clothing, not to the top where liquid detergent goes!) You will need to adjust measurements based on your washing machine and size of load (ie: amount of water used) but generally 1 tablespoon of grated soap per load is a good place to start. Bonus Tip: Grate an entire bar at once and store in a mason jar at room temperature so you don’t need to grate before every load!

4. Make your own liquid laundry soap! If you prefer the idea of using a liquid laundry soap you can use your favorite laundry bar to make your own! There are countless recipes online about making your own liquid laundry soap but the basic things you will need, other than a good quality, natural, laundry bar are: water, heat (ie: a stovetop), a deep pot, and distilled water.

(Note: Most recipes call for the addition of borax and washing soda. In the case that you are using a regular bar of “body soap” to make liquid laundry soap you will need these other two ingredients. If you are using an actual laundry bar, like our handmade laundry bar from the Amish Country Soap Co., these ingredients are not necessary because of the special formulation of the laundry bar itself.)

Here is the liquid laundry soap recipe that we love:

1. Grate down an entire laundry bar from the Amish Country Soap Co in your choice of Unscented, Lavender, or Lemongrass.

2. In a large pot, bring 4 cups of distilled water just to the point of boiling.

3. Add the grated laundry bar to the water.

4. Turn down heat. Do not let the mixture boil.

5. Stir constantly until all of the shaving of soap are dissolved.

6. Remove from heat.

7. Add an additional 4 cups of water

8. Let rest overnight.

9. Use a wisk or stick blender the next morning if any lumps have formed. Work mixture until smooth and silky.

10. Store in a sealed container (we prefer glass, but you can use a BPA free plastic container as well)

11. Use as regular laundry soap, approx. ¼ cup per load. Makes enough liquid soap for approx. 30 loads. 

Stay Healthy the Natural Way: 5 Easy Tips to use Anti-Bacterial Lemongrass this Cold and Flu Season

With the kids now back in school one of the main concerns on the minds of parents and teachers alike is keeping kids healthy, and as much as possible, keeping germs at bay in the classroom as well as at home. These efforts tempt many to reach for an array of sprays, gels, creams, or wipes that contain some kind of antibacterial agent. Over the last 15 years the antibacterial and personal sanitation industry has grown to a whopping estimated $1 billion dollars annually.

In recent years, however, the FDA has started to consistently enforce restrictions on companies producing these types of personal care and cleaning products that claim to be antibacterial. Is the FDA finally catching up with what many of the naturalists and we at Lynseed & Co. have been saying from the start, that these so called “healthful” products are actually doing more harm than good to us and society as a whole!?

The majority of products that make these antibacterial claims, about 75 percent, use a chemical called triclosan as an active ingredient. Up until the 1990’s this drug was strictly used in hospital settings, but has since then crept it’s way into mainstream commercial products including everything from soap, hand wipes, toilet paper, cutting boards, toothpaste, mattress pads and even clothing!

If you’re someone who’s even a little uncomfortable with the idea that we are routinely pumping our retail goods full of chemicals you’re not alone. Multiple studies have shown that the continued and consistent exposure to triclosan in animals appears to interfere with their ability to properly regulate thyroid hormones. This becomes particularly worrisome if the same holds true in humans potentially leading to infertility issues, artificially-advanced early puberty, obesity and even cancer.

Thankfully nature has provided us with a natural alternative to the chemical-laden products that we’re tempted to send our little-ones back to school with and it comes in the form of lemongrass essential oil. Here at Lynseed & Co. we carry an entire personal care line that is enriched with 100% theraputic grade lemongrass essential oil.

So…how can you use Lemongrass at home, work, and school this cold and flu season to keep healthy the natural way?

1. Wash your hands! Anyone in the healthcare field will tell you…the absolute best way to keep germs away is to wash your hands regularly with good, old fashioned, soap and warm water! By using a soap that is also infused with lemongrass essential oil you’ll get the added benefit of it’s natural anti-bacterial properties.

2. Diffuse Lemongrass Essential Oil! By diffusing into the rooms that you and your family spend the most time in, lemongrass essential oil will work to clean and eliminate the air-born germs and keep seasonal bugs from being “passed around”

3. Skip the hand-sanitzer! Use a hand lotion that is made with pure lemongrass essential oil when on-the-go instead of those clear, gel, hand sanitizers. Not only will you still get the added benefits of germ control…bonus, no harsh alcohol or chemicals to dry out your skin!

4. Make your own household cleaners! There are countless recipes online for natural and non-toxic household cleaners but our favorite mixes distilled water, organic witch hazel, and a blend of lemongrass essential oil with tea tree essential oil. Use to clean almost any hard surface in your home!

5. Use an aromatheraphy hydrating mist! Hydrating mists are all the rage! In a small glass bottle with a misting pump simply mix distilled water with witch hazel, and lemongrass essential oil. For added immunity support you can also add other essential oils like clove, frankincense, lemon, tea tree, rosemary or lavender! Use several times a day for a refreshing, natural and anti-bacterial pick-me-up!

Lemongrass is both antimicrobial and antibacterial, making it the perfect edition to our all natural bar soaps, foaming hand soaps, lotions, shampoos and deodorants. The health benefits of Lemongrass essential oil don’t stop at simply killing germs, it is also a wonderful antiseptic, astringent, fever reducer, insect repellent, and works to help nursing moms produce more and better quality breast milk postpartum.

Did you know that we carry an entire line of lemongrass products? One of our most popular products is our foaming pump soap which is perfect for the classroom, breakroom, or even to keep in your car because it can also be used as a waterless hand sanitizer! Like all of our products our Lemongrass line is always handmade and never includes any preservatives, chemicals, or fillers of any kind!

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