Solid versus liquid

Next time you find yourselves in the personal care isle of your healthfood store, consider buying a solid bar of soap in lieu of liquid body wash.

If you are already using solid soap, you probably already know that a lot less packaging goes into wrapping a bar or a two-pack of bar soap than bottling a liquid bath gel or body wash. And we all know that less packaging = happier planet.

But did you know that solid personal care items may also be healthier for you? A solid bar of soap has no water and, therefore, doesn't need toxic preservatives to guard its freshness and extend its shelf-life the way liquid soap does.

Rawnessa

I recently received a request for an organic skin product recommendation to rehydrate dry winter-damaged skin. I instantly thought of Rawnessa. Until Rawnessa, I could not find a product that was organic, safe and effective. I kept finding organic products that were not made of 100% organic, safe for you, and effective ingredients.

Rawnessa organic and raw skincare products are made by the expert and super soft hands of Vanessa Conte. I met Vanessa and began using Rawnessa products last summer. I could not pass up 100% raw organic food for my skin. My Rawnessa Clearnessa moisturizer is made of shea butter, tamanu oil, kukui nut oil, honey, and essential oil of grapefruit, lemon and orange. There are no parabens or lauryl sulfates that compel me to keep my distance from the personal care isle at most department and drug stores.

Here are some features of Vanessa's genius that should not be overlooked:

Quality: My skin feels supple and nourished all day.

Eco-friendly minimal packaging: My moisturizer and lip balm came in glass bottles that I can definitely sterilize and reuse, or recycle.

Local: Rawnessa products are made down the street from my house, and available at the Hollywood farmer's market and online.

*I did not receive any compensation to write this - I really like this product and believe in the power of the small women-owned businesses.

Sunscreen

2. Ultrasolar 50 by Devita Professional Skin Care

Ultrasolar 50 and I found each other in 2008. Three factors led up to our fated meeting: I turned 30, moved to Arizona, and began hiking.  

During my stint in Phoenix, I worked in a multidisciplinary integrative medicine clinic, and often counseled patients about the risks and benefits of sun exposure. Although, Arizona has the highest incidence of skin cancer in this country, it also has a rising incidence of vitamin D deficiency. These statistics created a controversy between dermatologists with interest in skin health and holistic health experts with interest in vitamin D status, which in turn created confusion in the general public as to how much sun exposure is good and how much is detrimental. (My recommendation - always wear protective clothing, sunglasses and safe sunscreen when spending in excess of 20 minutes in the sun; get 25 hydroxy vitamin D level tested; and if deficient see a licensed healthcare provider to discuss supplementation with vitamin D3). 

However, I couldn't find a sunscreen product that I would be willing to put on my fair skin or whole-heartedly recommend to patients. (Anything that one puts on their skin (think scary oxybenzone) or inhales (think strong scented sunscreen) ends up in the bloodstream, as if you one had ingested it.) After a recommendation from a friend and colleague, I found Ultrasolar 50. I dare not call it sunscreen because it is so much more than a sunblock. Yes, it has UVA and UVB blocking ability and SPF 50! But it is also an amazing moisturizer! Owing to its micronized transparent formulation of zinc oxide (the same compound found in diaper rash creams), it feels like whipped butter and leaves my skin feeling luscious and well-hydrated, but never ever oily or sunscreen streaky.

I love Ultrasolar 50 in so many ways. I love that it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin - in fact it soothes it. I love it that it works - I tested it in 100 plus degree broiler called Phoenix summer. I love it that it doesn't have harmful ingredients (oxybenzone and paraben). The active ingredient, zinc oxide, is a source of zinc used to fortify foods, as well as a fantastic friend to skin. 

Having had the pleasure of using Ultrasolar 50 daily on my skin, I can recommend Devita International products to any adult. ( I am still looking for children's sunscreen product. Have you come across a "safe" sunscreen for children? Do you have any recommendations?)

Check out Environmental Working Group's www.cosmeticsdatabase.com to see how your sunscreen and other personal care products measure up.

Deodorant

 1. Tom's of Maine long-lasting care aluminum free deodorant stick in lavender

I don't remember exactly when I stopped using underarm antiperspirants. However, I clearly remember experiencing chaffing, itching and irritation at the site of application that led me to part with the, formerly, strong enough for a man, but made for a woman and, more recently, because you are hot type products that contain paraben and aluminum compounds, strong scent, and unpronounceable chemical components. As a result, in college, I switched to natural alternatives. But as my sister frequently, but not so subtly pointed out to me, they did not prevent the odor. Although not completely satisfied, I continued to use natural deodorants, choosing safety and ethics over effectiveness. That is, until I came across Tom's of Maine long-lasting care in lavender. We've been inseparable ever since:)

As a doctor and a consumer, my first concern is always the safety of the product that the skin comes in contact with. When looking at product label, I ask myself, do you know what the ingredients are, how they are sourced, and their purpose in the product? If the answer is no, does the manufacturer make this information available on their website? This deodorant has all natural, fully pronounceable, completely safe ingredients. As a bonus, the lovely lavender scent is reminiscent of the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia and Sofia Rotaru's rendition of Gornaya Lavanda. 

As a healthcare professional, I hold myself to a very high standard for cleanliness and personal hygiene. For impeccable personal hygiene, I am concerned with the deodorant's effectiveness. How well a deodorant works depends on its ability to inhibit of growth of odor-causing bacteria and neutralize or block the odor molecules.

At this point in the blogversation I should clarify the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorant is an agent that reduces, masks, or neutralizes unpleasant odor (think baking soda in your refrigerator). Antiperspirant is a sub-category of deodorant which prevents odor by blocking sweat produced by the body (think botox).  

Aluminum compounds are one of antiperspirants that obstruct sweat glands to reduce sweat production.  The safety of aluminum compounds is disputed. I err on the side of caution, and do not use aluminum-containing compounds on my skin. Not to digress, but it's important to note that body odor is produced by bacteria acting on odorless sweat produced by the body. The body produces sweat in order to cool itself. (A natural solution to reducing the number of underarm bacteria is to use soap or body wash that has the same pH as the skin in lieu of high pH formulas which increase the pH of the skin to become conducive to bacterial growth).

Tom's of Maine long-lasting care is not an antiperspirant. It doesn't interfere with the body's ability to cool itself via sweat production. But it is effective in reducing the odor-inviting bacteria and blocking odor. In my experience it lives up to it's label claim of 12 hour long-lasting odor protection. Has it worked for you? I'd love to hear about your experience with it?

Interestingly, this deodorant is also Kosher and Halal, certifications usually applied to edible products in accordance with Jewish and Muslim dietary laws. In this case could the Kosher and Halal labels signify an absence of animal products? If you have an idea why a deodorant would carry Kosher or Halal certification, please enlighten me! Although I have yet to find out the reason for this, I appreciate that Tom's of Maine is inclusive of individuals with many different lifestyles including vegan, vegetarian, Kosher and Halal. Last, but not least, I appreciate its environmentally-responsible business practices manifested by non-aerosol, recyclable, made in USA products.

What's your favorite natural personal hygiene product that you don't leave home without?