my 2 cents

For some reason I have had a lot of people asking me (or commenting) lately about natural skin care products (or hair care). Everyone seems to have the impression that because it says it is natural it is much better for you. The reality and truth of it is, is that natural is not always better. More people will have a tendency to an allergic or irritant reaction to a product that is natural (not laboratory or man made) than a product that is man/laboratory made. The reason for this are the plant proteins. More people are allergic or have irritant tendencies towards the plant proteins in natural products than they do towards products that have been copied (that is the best phrase I can use) in a lab to make them have less irritancy.

Now with that said that doesn't mean that all natural and organic skin care products are going to cause a reaction. It all depends on the skin type and condition of the person using the product. For instance if someone has sensitive skin I would actually prefer to use a product that has laboratory or man made ingredients because I know it will be less irritating for their specific skin type.

So what would be the best option for you? I cannot answer that. The best way to know if your skin can handle certain ingredients is to try them. Perform a patch test with a small amount of the product on either the underside of your forearm, behind your ear, or in front of your ear on your lower jaw. Wait for 24 hours to see if you have any type of reaction. If no reaction occurs you are safe.

If you do have a reaction you now need to determine if you really are allergic to an ingredient or have an irritant reaction to a product. When you apply a patch test and immediately the product starts to cause any type of a rash or reaction, then you are having an irritant reaction NOT an allergy. The reaction will also stay within the area that it was applied. When you have an irritant reaction it does not mean that you cannot continue to use the product. Usually your skins barrier (a protective outer layer of the skin) is broken down or irritated and the skin cannot handle it at the moment. When you repair your barrier you may possibly be able to continue to use the product again in the future.

If you have an allergic reaction to a product you will not see any type of reaction for at least 24 hours (which is why you leave the product on for 24 hours). The reaction will not be subject to just the area the product was applied, but will have spread to other areas and you will possibly notice swelling, redness and sometimes hives.

My whole point to this rambling is that just because it is not natural does not mean it is not a good product. Give both products a chance! I even sell a natural, organic and raw skin care line that is AMAZING, but I also sell and use a line that is not natural or organic and it too is AMAZING.

So for anyone who is interested in different skin care facts or new trends for different treatments or product lines I have decided to create a skin care blog to continue to give my 2 cents on skincare. Check it out if you would like, and leave me comments on subjects or questions you would like to know more about! click here on my2cents
Thanks!
Emily

Funny!

Ryan was sent this special offer in the mail! I thought it was funny!



Proof that it was sent to him!


Man I'm jealous!


Ryan ALWAYS gets the good stuff sent to him in the mail!

Bountiful garden!

This year our garden has been great, but also kind of a strange year for crops! Everything it seems came on so late! Regardless we were really able to utilize the produce we grew! I canned (this was really my first time doing some serious canning) peaches, pears, made salsa (which I might say is delicious). I also made freezer tomato sauce and am in the process of making my own baby food with some butternut squash! We always grow soo much. I almost NEVER buy produce starting about mid summer through the end of September! Everything in this pic is from the garden!
A volunteer cucumber plant grew between two of my tomatoes! It actually grew up the tomato plant!
Armenian cucumbers! Very tasty!
I decided to try growing some heirloom tomatoes this year. The picture above is some of them. They were almost 6ft tall! They are awesome! They all have different flavors shapes and colors! I recommend everyone to grow them!
Black Russian tomatoes (my favorite), and Pink lemons
Aussie (these were freakin' huge tomatoes!)
Striped Roma tomatoes and we also tried growing baby eggplant!

I don't know if it is from suddenly becoming a mother....but I feel so domestic all of the sudden! I just feel a need to make use of all of these things in my garden! I think canning is going to be a regular thing each year for me from now on! Next years goal...Pickles!