LilSugar

The Prez's Cancer Panel Weighs in on Cosmetic Safety

BellaSugar — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:00:54 PDT

Interesting news on the cosmetic-safety front this week: the President's Cancer Panel has released a report on the thousands of chemicals Americans use on a daily basis. Its conclusion: environmental exposure to some chemicals in air, food, water - and yes, personal care products - is placing people in "grievous harm." The number of cancers linked to these chemicals, the report says, has been "grossly underestimated."

The report (which is worth reading) spans subjects from fertilizers to military activities, but let's focus on personal care products. Environmental activists have long questioned the safety of endocrine-disrupting ingredients like phthalates and parabens, both of which are commonly used in cosmetics. But the PCP is as mainstream as it gets, and it says phthalates disrupt the body's natural hormone system. Its report acknowledges that more research into these ingredients is needed and suggests taking a "precautionary approach" to them for now.

To find out what's next, and what the American Cancer Society has to say, keep reading

Common Chemicals in Cosmetics Could Affect Hormones

BellaSugar — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:00:18 PDT

Could shampoo or lotion be doing more than just keeping you clean? It's quite possible, according to a new study by researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Their article in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives finds that three types of common chemicals may affect female development.

The study focused on phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens - all of which interfere with the body's endocrine system. These ingredients are frequently found in grooming products such as antiperspirant, lipstick, and shampoo. To find out why the news is troubling, keep reading.

Yet Another Reason to Steer Clear of Plastics

babysugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:31 PST

The last thing mommy wants to do is add another worry to her already fret-worthy list, but this one may be worth noting. We all know that plastics can contain BPA and other harmful toxins, but we don't always know why they are hazardous. Fortunately, scientists are doing the dirty work for us and informing us of yet another reason to steer clear of items containing phthalates. In a recent study, British researchers found that certain phthalates were not only affecting male genitalia, but their behavior, too. Boys who were exposed to higher amounts of the chemical were less interested in the stereotypical car toys and less apt to play in a rough and tumble manner. Elizabeth Salter-Green, director of the chemicals campaign group CHEM Trust said:

We now know that phthalates, to which we are all constantly exposed, are extremely worrying from a health perspective, leading to disruption of male reproduction health and, it appears, male behavior too... This feminizing capacity of phthalates makes them true 'gender benders'.

While the EU banned such toxins from toys years ago, the US has yet to make such dramatic (and in my opinion, necessary) moves. This is just another good reminder why us moms should speak up and let our voices be known. Join the Million Baby Crawl and speak your mama mind!

Ecotot: Green to Grow

babysugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:00:33 PST

If your baby is hitting the bottle, you might want to check out the line from Green to Grow. The Bisphenol A and phthalates free containers were created by parents who wanted to give their child a better drinking alternative than hormone interrupting polycarbonate plastics.

To learn more about Green to Grow,

read more. Lucky for the consumers, they didn't have to sacrifice looks for comfort. The eco–friendly bottles are actually charming as each one has a lil sprightly fruit friend grinning. At $7 – $10 a pop, they may make your wallet thinner but you'll smile wider knowing your babe is safely sipping. An added bonus: In addition to safeguarding their children from harmful toxins, Green to Grow is dedicated to preserving the environment by using 100 percent recycled paper and soy inks in all of their packaging and printed corporate materials.

Green to Grow Bottle ($7)	Green to Grow Bottle ($8)
Green to Grow Bottle ($10)	Green to Grow Bottle ($11)

Mommy Alert! Toxins

LilSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:05:00 PST

Just when you cleared out the bisphenol A baby bottles and recalled toys, now a study shows that phthalates, the chemicals that make plastics flexible and are used in fragrance making are a cause for concern.

An Associated Press article said a small study shows that the products you use to freshen up baby - from shampoo to lotion - can potentially cause reproductive problems. To see what the study found,

Air Fresheners: Just Don't Inhale

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Nobody likes to sit in a stinky room, but many big name environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, argue that air fresheners are big stinkers for many health and environmental reasons!

An alliance of environmental groups commissioned an independent lab to study the health and environmental safety of the chemicals used in scented sprays, gels and plug-in air fresheners. The outcome moved them to file a petition with the EPA and moved the drug store Walgreens to quickly pull Walgreens branded air fresheners from their shelves. There are no health benefits to these air fresheners, but they have been linked with breathing difficulties, developmental problems in babies and cancer in lab animals. The environmental groups also argue that the air fresheners often mask smells associated with mold and mildew, which can pose serious threats to respiratory health.

The main problem is many air fresheners, even those with the word "natural" on their label, contain harmful chemicals including benzene, formaldehyde and phthalates - which can disrupt testosterone production causing genital malformation in boys.

To see which products, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council contain the most phthalates

read more Highest levels of phthalates: Walgreens Air Freshener Spray (removed from shelves) Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Fresheners (removed from shelves) Walgreens Solid Air Fresheners (removed from shelves) Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer Medium levels of phthalates: Air Wick Scented Oil Febreze NOTICEables Scented Oil Glade Air Infusions Glade PlugIn Scented Oil Oust Air Sanitizer Spray Low levels or no phthalates detected: Citrus Magic Febreze Air Effects Air Refresher Lysol Brand II Disinfectant Oust Fan Liquid Refills Renuzit Subtle Effects One can only hope that the industry will be regulated soon and then we will all be able to breathe a little easier.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Yoga Mat

Jenny Sugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:36:43 PST

Buying a yoga mat is like buying a new pair of running sneakers. It takes careful consideration and research to find the right fit. Since there are hundreds to ~~confuse you~~ choose from, narrow down your search by asking these important questions.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?
Your budget is a huge factor in the mat you end up with. Do you have the dough to lay down for the priciest one on the market or are you happy buying a cheaper mat? The upside of buying a more expensive mat, like the Manduka PRO Black Magic ($104), is durability, which will actually save you money over time.

How Thick Do I Want It?
If you're new to the mat-buying scene, you might not realize that mats come in different thicknesses. A quarter-inch is the standard mat thickness, probably like the one you've borrowed from your studio. Think about how your body feels on this mat in certain poses where your bones are pressing into the floor. If you've felt discomfort, splurge on a thicker mat, but make sure it's also dense. A thick squishy mat makes balancing postures more difficult.

Keep reading for more things to consider when purchasing a new yoga mat.

What We're Sweet On: Night Cream That Smells as Good as It Works

Jaime Richards — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:02:00 PST

Many night creams make your face feel heavy and greasy come sunrise, but Bliss has found a way to lighten things up with its The Youth As We Know It Anti-Aging Night Cream ($79). This feather-light, soaks-right-in moisturizer, however, still packs plenty of punch. And it smells rather amazing, too, redolent of fresh, light citrus aromas. Free from sulfates and phthalates, this mighty hydrator is formulated with vitamin A to aid in cellular turnover, making for a plumped, smoothed, and brightened mug. In fact, it would make an excellent night cream option for those who are looking for something that's not very intense. Think of it like the training bra of night creams.

The Buff Baby Dumbell Rattle: Kid-Friendly or Are You Kidding?

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:16:12 PST

You're never too young to start a fitness routine! Mama strove to keep up with her prebaby workout throughout her pregnancy, and now that the lil one's arrived, she's getting him gym-ready from the start!

Fred and Friends Buff Baby Dumbell Rattle ($7) is phthalate- and BPA-free dumbbell for tots - wait, a dumbbell for tots? Not really, it is actually a rattle for lil ones in the shape of dumbbell, making it the perfect gift for your expecting gym buddy or pregnant trainer, because body-building babies are just too cute in pictures.

OnSugar Blog: Packin' Smart Snack Containers

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:15:42 PDT

Lots of moms like to think out loud, and House of Anaïs is one of them. Here is one of the latest posts to her House of Anaïs blog.

Our family has become, lately, such a great tester family, and especially the kids love testing as they get some cool new things to try on. Last time the lucky one was little Hugo, who got the Din Din steel bus platter from Innobaby. He's definitely become a better eater - and he's been a real gentleman by letting his sisters take turns and use that cool platter too.

We had some more green products to test from Innobaby and this time I thought the lucky girl would be Celeste, but it turns out that kids have become such good sports that they all just happily shared their snacks and things with each other. And that makes mom happy too. What we got to try was the Packin' Smart Zoo Animals stackable containers in Strawberry Sorbet. Our container had three tiers, but there are also 5-tier containers available.

The verdict was very positive - both from the kids and mom, especially the mom I should say. I have been using resealable plastic bags (not very green I know) and sometimes little plastic containers with lids, but somehow most of the raisins, goldfish or cheerios end up crumbled in the lunch bag, or even in the backpack among the schoolbooks. As we have had some ant issues (building site next door!), I am desperately trying to prevent crumbs outside the kitchen, as these ants just smell them instantly! What is so great about these containers is that when stacked and the lid is on, they don't open up magically by themselves. And if you happen to knock over the little container just one or few items will spill out and onto the floor (and not the whole bag) - depending on the size of the snack you have packed into these containers.

Miss C. loves carrying her stack of containers around like a handbag and she also learned quickly to stack and open the containers by herself. I love the reduced mess and the fact that I have less crumbled goldfish and Cheeries that I need to throw away. This stack is easy to take on a trip and then share among everyone. And for school I am planning to start packing each kid their own container once I have ordered some extra lids (the stack comes with one lid) as this is a perfect snack size for them at the moment.

This certainly is yet another step for our family to become greener while reducing disposable waste (plastic bags). And just like other Innobaby products, these containers are safe as they are free from BPA, Phthalates, PVC and Lead - and can go to the dishwasher, freezer and microwave.

So our verdict of Packin' Smart containers is that they are very functional, cute, safe – and fun products, and therefore recommended for families with kids (or no kids if you are looking for cute and fun snack container for yourself)!

Want to see more photos of the snack set in action? Click here. Or, start following OnSugar blog House of Anaïs or start your own OnSugar blog, and we may just feature your post on LilSugar.