The Ingredient Geek

Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options

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How I’m Coping with Stress and Anxiety Naturally

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Coping With Stress and Anxiety Naturally

Here’s how I’m coping with stress and anxiety naturally. Like many, during the COVID-19 stay-at-home for months, I have ridden the rollercoaster of various emotions.  Many of the tips I used during this time I had learned and put into practice back in 2017. 

A few years ago anyone following me for very long on Facebook knew I had been dealing with my beloved Shih Tzu Ginger’s health. Around Memorial Day 2017 she fainted at the groomer and that started a bunch of tests ~ cardiac, blood, urine, etc. She was about to turn 14, had a heart murmur, and also had loose teeth and periodontal disease. September was her oral surgery where she needed to have about 15 teeth pulled.

Thankfully we had already been going to a great holistic, homeopathic vet who was able to find ways to support Ginger’s little body. We are huge proponents of the raw diet, as well as giving her good water to drink. It took months, and finally our vet felt she was healthy enough to go under anesthesia. As an Ingredient Geek I had to figure out how I would be coping with stress and anxiety naturally.

Of course I was happy that she would finally get her mouth taken care of, however, it started my mind going to the anxious “what if” places. Do you know that place? What if she’s not REALLY healthy enough? What if being under anesthesia is too much for her heart? What if this? What if that? Argh!

Natural Ways I’ve Used in Coping with Stress and Anxiety

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Easy Product Swaps for Living Toxic Free

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Product Swaps for a Toxic Free HomeIf you read my post Are You Avoiding These Top Toxins? You know you need to get some easy product swaps for living toxic-free. You may be overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Since my passion is to help people live toxic-free, I am happy to help you with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. Making small steps truly CAN make a big impact for you and your family.

If you want to understand my journey and why I chose Pure Haven’s products, read my post Meet the Ingredient Geek.

Pure Haven creates fresh products, made in small batches, free of toxins, environmentally sustainable and cruelty-free. They adhere to a strict, six-step ingredient sourcing procedure and manufacture the products in their USDA Certified Organic facility.

The easiest way to get started on your non-toxic journey is with one of these bundles.  They are made up of our best-sellers and are guaranteed to be 100% free of toxins. We also offer a full 60-day money-back guarantee.

NonToxic Lifestyle Bundle

Empower yourself to make healthier choices. This bundle will eliminate an average of 125 toxic chemicals from your daily routine!

Bundle set includes: lip balm (single – .15 oz net wt), shampoo (8 oz net wt,) conditioner (8 oz net), deodorant (2.65 oz net wt), toothpaste (4 oz net wt), sweet orange dream cream (2 oz net wt), sweet orange bar soap (single – 3.5 oz net wt), comfort oil (1 fl oz), surface cleaner (4 fl oz), master blaster (4 fl oz) and laundry detergent (sample size).

Valued at over $211, includes free preferred club enrollment and free shipping. Shop Here for only $189!

NonToxic Skincare Bundle

Nourish your skin with our exclusive skincare formulas with prebiotics and probiotics to balance your microbiome and achieve a healthier-, younger-looking complexion.

Set includes a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, night serum and eye cream, and a free charcoal mask and exfoliator.

Valued at over $274, includes free preferred club enrollment and free shipping. Shop Here for only $199!

NonToxic Ultimate Bundle

Our best-value bundle offers huge benefits, with safe, effective products that help protect your entire family from harmful toxins.

includes: non-toxic skincare bundle, non-toxic lifestyle bundle, free scrubbing cleanser (4 oz net wt), and $50 product credit toward next $100+ non-replenishment order.

A $535 retail value, plus free delivery and free Preferred Customer Club enrollment. Shop here for only $378!

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LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Monique & I were on a Zoom chat when she noticed I couldn’t sit still because I was super itchy. After a few questions we narrowed it down to a new laundry detergent I thought was natural as the probable cause.  She gave me a few suggestions to help immediately until I received my order. What a difference! The Pure Haven detergent works great; everything is clean, no smelly fragrance lingering on my clothes, and best of all I no longer itch! ~ Shirlene R.

What do you think? Start with these easy product swaps for a toxic-free home.

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My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person.

Ingredients to Avoid & Safe Sunscreen Tips

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Ingredients to Avoid & Safe Sunscreen TipsAs the weather warms up, more of us remember about putting on sun protection. Of course living in San Diego, we are out in the sun a lot! In the back of my mind I realize that the sun’s rays actually get to me while I’m driving my car every day, but I don’t think about sun protection until I’m going to an event and I know I’ll be outside.  I was running out, so I put my *Ingredient Geek* glasses on!  I started looking at what ingredients to avoid and what is the safest sunscreen.

WHAT TO AVOID

When I first became an Ingredient Geek I was surprised that one of the most popular ingredients in many sunscreens and moisturizers is Retinyl Palmitate. I was SHOCKED to learn that it can act like a sun magnet to draw the sun’s rays to you, and has been linked to skin cancer, accelerating the process (WHAT?!)

Some of the other common ingredients to avoid are:

  • Oxybenzone

Oxybenzone is a sunscreen ingredient associated with photo-allergic reactions. This chemical absorbs through the skin in significant amounts. It contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s know for endocrine disruption and persistence and bio-accumulation. It is one of two chemical ingredients banned in Hawaii due to the damage to coral reefs.

  • Octinoxate

Octinoxate is shown to have hormone-mimicking effects on laboratory animals. Endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental toxicity, organ system toxicity.  It is the other chemical ingredient that is banned in Hawaii due to the damage to coral reefs.

  • Octisalate

Octisalate is suspected to be an environmental toxin. May cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

  • Octocrylene

Octocrylene has high concerns. Biochemical or cellular level changes. Also, this ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in people. Suspected to be an environmental toxin. It may cause allergic skin reactions in sensitive individuals.

  • Avobenzone

Sunlight can cause avobenzone to break down and lose its effectiveness for skin protection. A recent study found when this chemical comes into contact with sun and chlorine, it can become toxic. (WHAT?!)

I’m also not crazy about nano-particles because I don’t want unknown ingredients & chemicals going all the way into my cells ~ who knows what that will do to me years down the road? The nano-particles are also ending up in our oceans and waterways wreaking havoc on our coral and marine life.

Ingredients to Avoid & Safe Sunscreen Tips

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The top ingredient I look for is NON-Nano Zinc Oxide. I suggest looking for a Physical Sunscreen rather than a Chemical Sunscreen. Chemical based sunscreens must be absorbed into the skin to be effective via a chemical reaction with the UV rays. Since most have crazy ingredients (as noted above) that often degrade in sunlight and can have lasting ill effects, I don’t recommend them.

Physical sunscreens work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect damaging UV rays. They are kind of like wearing hats and long sleeves to physically block the sun. Zinc Oxide seems to be the safest sun protection available since it protects from the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays and doesn’t degrade in the sun. If you remember lifeguards with white noses, that’s zinc oxide.  The challenge has been that it is difficult to rub in, and no one wants to run around looking like you have white paint all over you.

I posted this on Instagram to show how excited I was that this sunscreen had great ingredients, and did not leave my arm ghostly white!

Non Nano Mineral Safest Sunscreen

I’m really enjoying this sunscreen!! It even helps control shine and acts as a make up primer! Save money and benefit your skin and minimize beauty routine! Luv it! So happy! Thx sister! ~ Bryna B.

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My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person. Making small steps CAN make a big impact.

Great articles to learn more:

✔ Kitchen Stewardship

✔ EWG’s Guide to Sunscreens

✔ Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

✔ News about the published study of Avobenzone in the Chemosphere Journal

✔ Sunscreens and the Ocean

✔ General Sunscreen Information

What Are Some Great Relationship Quizzes?

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great relationship quizzes

Roy & I are often asked for premarital/relationship advice. Perhaps it’s because we have been married for 30 years, and we were engaged before our first date. Yes, you read that correctly! But that’s a subject for another blog post, or maybe I’ll write a book and submit it to the Hallmark Channel. I will say that it is a lovely story of God’s design.

Great Relationship Quizzes

One of the first things I like to do when having a discussion with anyone about the ingredients for healthy relationships is to share about these great relationship quizzes. I have been fascinated with personality profiles since I first learned about them as a Sociology/Counseling major in college.  Back then it was Florence Littauer’s Personality Plus system, and now I use the DiSC personality profiles.

Over the years it has not been uncommon for me to talk about DiSC profiles and love languages by drawing on paper napkins in a restaurant to anyone who would listen! I believe once people have a better understanding of themselves and those they come in contact with, there can be a greater chance for harmony in the relationships.

Here are links to the free quizzes that I found online.

Love Languages

Apology Languages

DiSC Personalities

Dressing Your Truth

great relationship quizzes

Monique combining DiSC personalities with Love Languages

For those who go through our premarital sessions through our church, the subsequent sessions are based on Biblical principals. Once they have taken the quizzes and we’ve gone over them, we share a flyer covering the DiSC 4-Personality Descriptions for easy reference.

The beauty of taking these quizzes and understanding them often leads to better relationships with other family members and coworkers as well as with each other.  Have you used these quizzes and had great results?

Contact me for my workshop Cooking Up a Healthier Life: the “Recipe” for Relationship Success I combine personality (DiSC profiles), partnership (love & apology languages), and presentation (body language & clothing choices) to help people learn to communicate better and create relationships they’ll savor.

Recent Testimonials:

Monique’s explanation of the personality profiles gave me a better understanding of the different relationships I have in my life. ~ Janiece D.

Monique has always been a mentor to me when it came to relationships. Learning the DiSC personalities and love languages, helped give me a better understanding of my needs, as well as serving my partner best based on their needs. Monique genuinely cares for people and has a sense of each person’s personality traits. I am an outgoing / people oriented individual who likes to keep things light and fun. During my dating times, I chose people who were not best suited for me. Taking heed to Monique’s guidance I found a spouse that is perfectly suited for me; who understands, appreciates, and supports my qualities. ~ Stephanie R.

I LOVED the DiSC test. It help me realize how together we can come up with a plan to reach a common goal. Roy & Monique’s relationship and the advice, mentorship they provide helped Brian and I start our marriage on a healthy/biblical foundation. They really challenged us to grow closer to each other and closer to God. ~ Tara W.

I really liked learning the Love Languages and Apology Languages. I’ve gained a new skill from this. Roy & Monique really spent a lot of time preparing for each night. They genuinely care for us and we can see it. I would recommend this to anyone who really wants to grow with their spouse. ~ Brian W.

Monique’s facilitation of the DiSC profile in our company has helped our managers better understand how each team member processes information and thus know how to properly motivate their team based on personality type. We now use the DiSC profile in our hiring process to help us determine who would be a good fit for our corporate culture. ~ Tory Walker, President Tory R. Walker Engineering

Are You Avoiding These Top Toxins?

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Are you focusing on healthy living? Are you careful about what you eat and exercising? Have you thought about the everyday products you are using or exposed to? Everything from shampoo, hand soap, lotion, makeup, baby wash, toothpaste, and household cleaning supplies. Our health is impacted in so many ways. Do you know the top ingredients to avoid in personal care products? Are you avoiding these top toxins?

DID YOU KNOW…

  • Europe has banned more than 1,300 harmful chemicals from personal care products? The U.S. has banned just 11?
  • “Safe”, “Organic” and “Natural does not mean your products do not contain any toxic chemicals?
  • Personal and home care products could contain ingredients hazardous to your health?
  • According to the previous President’s cancer panel only 10% of cancer is genetic and 90% is environmental?  That means you have the ability to control what is going into, and onto your body.

TOP INGREDIENTS TO AVOID…

There is a saying “It’s all about the ingredients, the rest is just marketing”. Because this is an unregulated industry, marketing slogans can say just about anything. I like to read the first 5 ingredients as they are the most active ones, then read from the bottom up as that’s usually where the preservatives are. Check out these videos for quick overviews. Below are some top ingredients the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics suggests avoiding.  If you want to skip ahead, here are some safe and easy product swap ideas.

Fragrance / Phthalates

The word fragrance (parfum/perfume) legally hides an unknown number of chemicals under the umbrella of “trade secret.” I like to say that fragrance is like the “high fructose corn syrup in food” (it seems to be everywhere). Phthalates are a large family of hormone disrupting chemicals and are hidden in the word “fragrance.” They are linked to birth defects, breast cancer, asthma, early puberty, decreased sperm counts, diabetes, obesity, autism and ADHD. (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics – 2002 “Not Too Pretty” Report, and 2008 “A Little Prettier” Follow-up Report)  Also see my other blog post  What’s Hiding Behind The Fragrance Ingredient?

Parabens

These endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be absorbed through skin, blood and the digestive system.  Parabens are not water soluble and can penetrate the skin. Repeated application of a product or multiple products containing parabens could mean almost continuous exposure. Common parabens are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.  Studies have linked these endocrine disruptors which mimic estrogen with breast cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity. (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics)

Petrochemicals

Look on the label for PPG, PEG, and polysorbate. Also look for ingredients that end in –eth such as laureth, steareth, ceteareth.  The manufacturing process results in two toxic contaminants linked to breast cancer and other cancers: ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane which the FDA does not require to be listed on the ingredient labels. The European Union has prohibited use of ethylene oxide, and Canada prohibits the use of both 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide in cosmetics products. (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics)

Formaldehyde / Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

Baby shampoo, body soap, body wash, and color cosmetics often include these preservatives. Formaldehyde and it’s releasers are linked to cancer and allergic skin reactions.  Banned from use in cosmetics and toiletries in Japan and Sweden; in the EU, restricted in personal care products. (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics)

Overwhelmed? Don’t know where to start?

My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. Check out these EASY PRODUCT SWAPS. Making small steps CAN make a big impact.

I can also send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person.

Are You Avoiding These Top Toxins?

Going Somewhere? Road Trip Ideas

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Going Somewhere? Road Trip IdeasOur favorite vacation (so far) was our 30th Anniversary Road Trip in 2018. We traveled for 17 days from San Diego -> Utah -> Colorado -> Kansas -> Oklahoma -> Texas -> New Mexico -> Arizona -> San Diego. Here are some road tip ideas that have worked for me over the years and maybe they’ll help somebody else too.

Check your carrier’s website before your flight

Apparently the sizes of carry-on bags have changed for many airlines, so what worked last year might not work this year.  I once discovered that since I had purchased an “economy” ticket, I was ONLY allowed a personal item, no carry-on bag at all. Good thing I checked before I got there or I would have had to pay extra fees if I tried to board with my carry-on.

Plan, but be as flexible as possible.

On one of my flights, I was on the airplane for an extra 2 hours!  I was so thankful that I had many of my road trip survival items with me, and not with my checked baggage! In 2016 due to various road construction and area fires, Roy & I ended up spending 8 days and 44 hours (!) in the car on one trip. Of course that wasn’t the original plan, however I’m so thankful we had some of our road trip survival items with us.

Here are some of my road trip items.

WATER:  If we’re flying, I like to bring my empty stainless steel water bottle. Once you get through security there are often Hydration Stations where you can fill your water bottle for free. Just remember to empty it BEFORE you go through security (yep, made that mistake once and got to experience the extra screening process). It also comes in handy if you’re at a conference/convention and you can fill that up once or twice for the whole day instead of having to go back & forth with a glass.

BRING SNACKS: I like to bring individual raw almond butter packets to add protein to the usually carb heavy free breakfasts. They travel well in my backpack.  I’ll often have the almond butter with a banana (shh!  Sometimes a waffle or English muffin sneaks in with them, but that’s our secret!)  It’s also great to mix in oatmeal. Nuts, dates, and protein bars are some of our other go-to snacks.

Ever since our honeymoon, we now travel with some snacks.  We landed on the big island of Hawaii and thought we’d take a quick nap and then go out to dinner.  We woke up a few hours later and discovered that the town had shut down for the night.  Nothing was open, and our dinner consisted of a vending machine picnic (ugh!)

LOOK FOR HEALTHY FOOD: If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see some of my great healthy finds at a few of the airports.  I did have to walk quite a ways for one, but since I had a 3 hour layover, it wasn’t an issue. It’s tempting to eat a bunch of junk when traveling, but I always feel better when I eat better.  Of course I don’t always eat that great, but I do try more often than not, and allow myself grace for when I don’t.

ESSENTIAL OILS: Sweet Orange, Peppermint & Lavender are the ones I take with me the most. We have a plug-in diffuser for the car and a battery operated one for the hotel room.  Diffusing oils helps keep us alert while driving, refreshes stale hotel rooms, and helps us relax in different surroundings.  It’s also great when we are driving through some “interesting” smelling areas ~ like lots of cows & chickens.  😉 Since I have MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities) I also wear my oils around my neck in an aromatherapy locket, just in case I might have a migraine triggered by a funky smell, or someone around me wearing perfume.

PERSONAL CARE: Of course I like to travel with my Pure Haven non-toxic items. With my eczema I need to bring items that I know won’t irritate my skin.  I love our Hands-on-the-Go for quick hand cleaning, and I put our Hand Soap in a small bottle since I can’t stand using the drying, smelly fragrance, and often toxic hotel soap.

SUNSCREEN: this is a must for me.  Read my post here about what to look out for when choosing a safe sunscreen for you and for the environment.

MUSIC: what road trip would be complete without some rousing renditions of some favorites? We’re pretty eclectic in our taste from Broadway (nothing like Phantom of the Opera when driving at night!), 80’s rock (don’t judge!), Oldies, Classical, Praise & Worship, and Movie Soundtracks (The Greatest Showman is the new favorite).

MISCELLANEOUS: Reading material (of course) you never know when you’ll be stuck on a plane for an extra 2 hours.  Extension cords (empty plugs are notoriously in awkward places).  I was so thankful to have also brought 2 portable phone chargers with me.  I was able to charge my phone on the plane so I had enough power to schedule Uber when I landed.

That’s all I can come up with off the top of my head.  I’m sure after I post this I’ll remember more things.  What are your road trip MUST haves?

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My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person. Making small steps CAN make a big impact.

Ingredients for a FIERCE MARRIAGE | Book Review

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Ingredients for a FIERCE MARRIAGE
BOOK REVIEW | FIERCE MARRIAGE: Radically Pursuing Each Other in Light of Christ’s Relentless Love

I was blessed with the opportunity to be part of the Launch Team for Ryan and Selena Frederick’s new book, FIERCE MARRIAGE: Radically Pursuing Each Other in Light of Christ’s Relentless Love.

Since my hubby & I have been married 30-years, are both bible teachers, and do pre-marital counseling, we’ve both read a lot of material about marriage. This is a book we can confidently share with others.

The WHY and HOW of Marriage

This is the first book that I’ve read that really supports and combines the biblical view of marriage by spending time defining the marriage covenant with Scriptures (the WHY of marriage) and also gives practical ideas and examples (the HOW to do that). I appreciate the honesty in which Ryan and Selena shared parts of their lives to show what a Godly marriage could look like. I also appreciate the examples of how they handled times when they fell short.

Seek Forgiveness Quote from FIERCE MARRIAGE

The aspects of marriage covered include examples that are firmly based in the foundation of a covenant marriage:
• time & priorities
• communication
• money
• sex
• handling conflicts in a healthy manner

The covenant of marriage has us choose to love

Whether you’re just getting into a relationship, engaged, or you’ve been married for a number of years, this is a book that can help you focus on God’s design for marriage, and show practical ways on how you choose to show that love to each other. These truly are the Ingredients for a FIERCE MARRIAGE!

Promises Made Quote from FIERCE MARRIAGE

Also, check out Ryan & Selena’s blog Fierce Marriage

Avoid Synthetic Fragrances and Make Your Own Scent

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Avoid Synthetic Fragrances and Make Your Own ScentIf you’re like me with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (thank you menopause!) with a chance of a migraine, you’ll need to avoid synthetic fragrances and make your own scent (or go without).

Fragrance is everywhere and it’s not just in your perfume, it’s also in your personal care products. Because it’s classified as a “trade secret” companies DO NOT have to disclose what’s included and usually it’s hiding toxic chemicals.

Why use synthetic fragrances that can contain hundreds of toxic chemicals, when you can create your own? I like to put the scent blends that I create in a rollerball for ease of use.

Create Your Own Signature Fragrance

My current favorite personal scent recipe:

Base Note ~ 10 drops Organic Cedarwood (Rich, woody aroma… calming, soothing, grounding for mind & body)

Middle Note ~ 6 drops (USDA certified) Organic Peppermint (Cooling sensation … calming effect on the body, boosts energy, improves mental focus)

Top Note ~ 4 drops (USDA certified) Organic Sweet Orange (Citrusy yet sweet smell … helps uplift and energize the mind and body)

Fill rollerball with Organic Jojoba Oil (Jojoba is the perfect “carrier” to mix with any essential oil or oil recipe that comes into contact with the skin. The properties of Jojoba closely resemble the body’s own natural skin)

Here’s a great chart about Top, Middle and Base “fragrance notes” in the classification of essential oils. Let me know if you’d like get together to experiment making your own fragrance.

Be an “Ingredient Geek” and check the labels on all your home and personal care products ~ even so-called “green” companies often hide behind the word “fragrance”! My previous blog post What’s Hiding Behind the Fragrance Ingredient? gives you more information about this.

I recommend & use Pure Haven products because they disclose all their ingredients.  You will not see the word “fragrance” used in any of their products. They use unadulterated essential oils, tested for purity, at recommended safe levels in combination with time-tested, beneficial botanical butters, powders, extracts, oils, and waxes, to create a well-loved line of safe products. (More about why I chose Pure Haven here).

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My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person. Making small steps CAN make a big impact.  Let’s continue the conversation in our Natural Non Toxic Living Group.

My Journey to Becoming an Ingredient Geek and Why I Chose Pure Haven

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Curious about my journey to becoming an Ingredient Geek and why I chose Pure Haven?

I like to read. When I say I like to read, I mean I REALLY like to read. A true Bibliophile with LackaNewBookaPhobia (fear of being without a new book). As a kid, I read the cereal box during breakfast, the shampoo bottle while washing my hair, and the toothpaste tube while brushing my teeth… you get the idea. I read long into the night with a flashlight under the covers. In fact, I still read under the covers so the light on my Kindle doesn’t disturb my hubby. My love of reading turned into researching healthy options.

I’ve battled various skin issues & allergies including acne, eczema, psoriasis, & contact dermatitis my whole life.

One summer, my eczema got so bad my mom put the prescribed hydrocortisone steroid cream on the inside of my arms and wrapped them with plastic wrap. I slept with gloves on so I wouldn’t scratch! The doctors also tried an elimination diet where I remember ONLY eating green beans and drinking apple juice. I’m sure I probably ate more than that, but that’s all I remember from that time.  Side note, in addition to the red, itchy patches all over, I also wore glasses, had braces with full headgear, and had acne. Let’s just say, I was a vision to behold and my self-confidence was not at an all-time high… and yes, I was smart, so truly a geek too.

The day we adopted Gracie @GracieGirlJourney on Instagram

My long journey of holistic & healthy learning

Since I enjoy learning about various healthy options, I’ve taken many courses for people and pets. Everything from aromatherapy / essential oils, herbal remedies, and currently homeopathic medicines. Thanks to menopause (aka mental-pause), everything got a bit crazy.  My hormones, thyroid, and adrenals got all out of whack. I began having a variety of extra health issues that I’m still managing, including Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Environmental Sensitivities (ES). Many fragrances often gave me a 3-day migraine. I started making my own products, which was rewarding, but time-consuming.

I wanted to find one place to shop for a full line of personal care products

Roy (my hubby) & I got tired standing over a hot stove melting beeswax for my eczema lotion. I saw a post about products made with great organic ingredients and essential oils. Praying that none of the products would irritate my skin or give me a migraine, I signed up as a consultant to get the best price. Thankfully, I loved all the products right out of my kit. It wasn’t until I started the training that I learned about “greenwashing.” I THOUGHT I was reading labels carefully & buying products that were safe, natural, and organic.

Taken in by clever marketing, I realized I was not only wasting my money but also exposing myself to harmful toxins.  That made me angry!

That’s when everything changed for me. I REALLY started reading the labels of EVERY product we used. Roy says I’m now a “crusader” empowering families to choose the healthiest products possible. Unfortunately, many are unknowingly harming themselves with their everyday products! Take a look to see if you are Avoiding These Top Toxins. Unsure of the ingredients on the products you’re using? I’m happy to help you decipher them. I’ll honestly let you know if they look good, or if there are ingredients of concern.

Products that are guaranteed 100% free of toxins.

That’s just one of the reasons why I chose to become an Independent Consultant for Pure Haven.  They create fresh products, made in small batches, free of toxins, environmentally sustainable, gluten-free, and cruelty-free. They adhere to a strict, six-step ingredient sourcing procedure and manufacture the products in their USDA Certified Organic facility.

Ready to start Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options?

Now that you know why I chose Pure Haven, are you ready to start Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options? Here are some First Steps to Living Toxic Free. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let’s chat, and let me help you on your own natural non-toxic journey. I can also send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid.

Monique, the Ingredient Geek has an uncanny sense of ingredients and what is reasonable for our best health.  She is able to make sense of some complicated products that would baffle any normal person. Being an Ingredient Geek is her superpower! ~ Milea S.

When you’re ready, come join our Natural NonToxic Living Community on Facebook. We can also start the conversation about ingredients in products with your friends ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or gather a few friends together online or in person.

What’s Hiding Behind the Fragrance Ingredient?

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What’s Hiding Behind the Fragrance Ingredient?Did you know that the word “fragrance” when used on personal care and home products is not just one ingredient?

So what’s hiding behind the fragrance ingredient?  Good question, especially since it seems to be everywhere. I don’t know about you, but since I am an Ingredient Geek, I’m always checking the backs of the labels ~ even (especially) the so-called “green” companies! Thanks to “mental-pause” I now have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) in addition to my eczema (and various other issues).  I REALLY need to know what chemicals might be in the products I’m using. Read my post Are You Avoiding These Top Toxins? to learn more about other top ingredients are best to avoid.

Phthalates are a large family of hormone disrupting chemicals and are hidden in the word “fragrance.”

@healthy_child says, “And it’s not only where you think it is, like perfume, body cream, and candles. It’s in diapers, toothpaste, even baby dolls and orange juice!”

@womensvoices says, “The term “fragrance” can be a mixture of up to 100 different chemicals, out of more than 3,000 commonly-used fragrance chemicals! Chemicals of concern in fragrance are linked to allergies, cancer, birth defects, and infertility.”

Even if a product says “unscented” on the front, please always read the actual ingredients on the label.

If I see the word fragrance, or perfume, or parfum, I don’t use it, simple as that. Because it’s classified as a “trade secret” companies DO NOT have to disclose what’s included ~ even if there’s a child going into anaphylactic shock triggered by a popular body spray (as seen in the move “Stink”)!! You can also read the story here (Thankfully due to the strong outcry, as of 02/13/17 the ingredients are started to be disclosed to the public).

Oh, and guess what?

That room spray you THINK is cleaning the air and smelling so fresh?

It’s just masking the odor and filling your lungs with unknown chemicals!

What’s hiding behind the fragrance ingredient? EWG’s Greener School Cleaning Supplies Report found that in the most popular air freshener, only 3 ingredients were disclosed on the label, yet the lab found 87 chemicals!!  (WAIT, WHAT?!) That’s crazy to have that many undisclosed ingredients, in fact it could be quite are dangerous to many.

If you want to wear some type of scent, check out this post Avoid Synthetic Fragrances and Make Your Own Scent

Overwhelmed? Want some help?

My passion is to help families with Swapping Toxins for Healthy Options. I can send you a list of the top ingredients to avoid. Let’s start the conversation about ingredients in products with others ~ Contact me to speak to groups, companies, or a few friends gathered together online or in person. Making small steps CAN make a big impact.  Let’s continue the conversation in our Natural Non Toxic Living Group.

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Here are some great articles if you want to learn more:

✔  Healthy Child

✔  Womens Voices