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ENLARGE
Dear Eartha,
I read your article in February 2007 about parabens in lotions and shampoos. I’m proud to say that I have changed my beauty products, soaps and moisturizers to paraben-free! However, I can’t stop thinking about parabens in commercial products at local salons and spas. It’s been over a year since I’ve visited a hair professional and I’m in desperate need of a haircut! Can you please help me find a way to pamper myself at the spa while minding my eco-chic ways?
— Jamie D.
I read your article in February 2007 about parabens in lotions and shampoos. I’m proud to say that I have changed my beauty products, soaps and moisturizers to paraben-free! However, I can’t stop thinking about parabens in commercial products at local salons and spas. It’s been over a year since I’ve visited a hair professional and I’m in desperate need of a haircut! Can you please help me find a way to pamper myself at the spa while minding my eco-chic ways?
— Jamie D.
Over a year since a trim? I applaud your stubbornness to stay true to your “green” self. One of my angels has branded women like you as “Lipstick Environmentalists!” Just because you’re into conservation doesn’t mean you have to forgo beauty products and even lipstick!
For those who may have missed last year’s article on parabens, I’d like to summarize what parabens are and why you should be concerned. Ever look at the back label of popular cosmetics? Parabens, often paired with methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, are chemical ingredients that act as preservatives for hair and body care products such as shaving gels, moisturizers, shampoos, underarm deodorants, tooth pastes, tanning sprays, sunscreens, and yes, personal lubricants.
So what’s the big deal you might ask? Parabens may make your products last longer but with possible health risks. The concern about parabens is that they mimic estrogen. Higher levels of estrogen may cause breast cancer or reproductive problems. There is still quite a bit of scientific controversy when it comes to the safety of parabens. But why risk it?
Another thing to keep in mind is that all commercially used parabens are synthetically produced. This can be very confusing to the consumer who thinks they’re buying an “all-natural” product. Even products labeled “organic” may contain parabens.
Listen up Lipstick Environmentalists — the best practice is to always read the label of the products you buy. The commercial world wants you to buy their product and will sugarcoat product ingredients so you think you are buying “green.” Because “green” is fashionable these days (it’s about time!). There are plenty of paraben-free products out there that treat your body and earth like the sanctuary it is.
Here are some suggestions: Dr. Hauschka — www.drhauschka.com, Aubrey Organics — aubrey-organics.com, Aveda — www.aveda.com, MyChelle Dermaceuticals — www.mychelleusa.com or Alba — www.albaorganics.com.
Now that I’ve preached the ethics of beauty products, let’s talk about eco and body-friendly salons and spas. Everyone needs a treat once in awhile. There’s nothing worse than entering a day of relaxation and indulgence with scary thoughts of salon and spa chemicals. You can rest easy knowing that there are several sustainable salons doing great things for the environment while honoring a healthy body. To name a few in our community, Serenity Spa and Salon in Keystone and Element Salon, Blue Sage Spa, and Sacred Tree in Breckenridge offer natural and paraben-free products.
I’d like to highlight Serenity Spa and Salon for their generous giving to nonprofit organizations in our community, their strong environmental principles, and their use of plant-based Aveda products. Aveda is the first beauty company to become 100 percent wind-powered. In addition, Aveda follows a responsible packaging and green ingredient policy for all products and has more than 350 product formulas preserved without using parabens.
Imagine spoiling your skin with organic moisturizers enriched with green tea, mint and eucalyptus. Detoxify and exfoliate with pure flower and plant essences. There are hundreds of healthy and natural products for your skin, full of familiar ingredients from nature that you can actually pronounce like blue chamomile, jasmine and honey.
Hopefully that last paragraph opened your eyes to your cravings for a little TLC. You know that you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to treat your body to a soothing massage and facial. And for some of you, it is finally your time for that guilt-free haircut. Here’s your chance. Serenity Spa and Salon in Keystone is offering 20 percent off all services and products for one day only — Sunday, April 6, while donating 20 percent of the day’s proceeds to High Country Conservation Center.
Call for an appointment. And also, it is the perfect opportunity to buy organic and paraben-free Aveda products at a great discount. On Sunday, Serenity Spa is throwing a pre-Earth Day bash with food, info booths on healthy beauty products, and great deals to support a great cause — Mother Earth!
Also, throughout the entire month of April, you can buy a raffle ticket for a Serenity Spa package or “green” gift basket with all proceeds benefiting the conservation programs of High Country Conservation Center. For more information on Serenity Spa and Sunday, contact (970) 513-9002.
I’ll see you at Serenity Spa and Salon on Sunday … I’ll be the Lipstick Environmentalist with the new ‘do!
Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier, Jennifer Kirkpatrick and Beth Orstad, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Eartha believes that you can walk gently on our planet, even if you’re wearing stylie shoes.
Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org with Ask Eartha as the subject or to High Country Conservation Center, P.O. Box 4506, Frisco, CO 80443.
For those who may have missed last year’s article on parabens, I’d like to summarize what parabens are and why you should be concerned. Ever look at the back label of popular cosmetics? Parabens, often paired with methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl, are chemical ingredients that act as preservatives for hair and body care products such as shaving gels, moisturizers, shampoos, underarm deodorants, tooth pastes, tanning sprays, sunscreens, and yes, personal lubricants.
So what’s the big deal you might ask? Parabens may make your products last longer but with possible health risks. The concern about parabens is that they mimic estrogen. Higher levels of estrogen may cause breast cancer or reproductive problems. There is still quite a bit of scientific controversy when it comes to the safety of parabens. But why risk it?
Another thing to keep in mind is that all commercially used parabens are synthetically produced. This can be very confusing to the consumer who thinks they’re buying an “all-natural” product. Even products labeled “organic” may contain parabens.
Listen up Lipstick Environmentalists — the best practice is to always read the label of the products you buy. The commercial world wants you to buy their product and will sugarcoat product ingredients so you think you are buying “green.” Because “green” is fashionable these days (it’s about time!). There are plenty of paraben-free products out there that treat your body and earth like the sanctuary it is.
Here are some suggestions: Dr. Hauschka — www.drhauschka.com, Aubrey Organics — aubrey-organics.com, Aveda — www.aveda.com, MyChelle Dermaceuticals — www.mychelleusa.com or Alba — www.albaorganics.com.
Now that I’ve preached the ethics of beauty products, let’s talk about eco and body-friendly salons and spas. Everyone needs a treat once in awhile. There’s nothing worse than entering a day of relaxation and indulgence with scary thoughts of salon and spa chemicals. You can rest easy knowing that there are several sustainable salons doing great things for the environment while honoring a healthy body. To name a few in our community, Serenity Spa and Salon in Keystone and Element Salon, Blue Sage Spa, and Sacred Tree in Breckenridge offer natural and paraben-free products.
I’d like to highlight Serenity Spa and Salon for their generous giving to nonprofit organizations in our community, their strong environmental principles, and their use of plant-based Aveda products. Aveda is the first beauty company to become 100 percent wind-powered. In addition, Aveda follows a responsible packaging and green ingredient policy for all products and has more than 350 product formulas preserved without using parabens.
Imagine spoiling your skin with organic moisturizers enriched with green tea, mint and eucalyptus. Detoxify and exfoliate with pure flower and plant essences. There are hundreds of healthy and natural products for your skin, full of familiar ingredients from nature that you can actually pronounce like blue chamomile, jasmine and honey.
Hopefully that last paragraph opened your eyes to your cravings for a little TLC. You know that you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to treat your body to a soothing massage and facial. And for some of you, it is finally your time for that guilt-free haircut. Here’s your chance. Serenity Spa and Salon in Keystone is offering 20 percent off all services and products for one day only — Sunday, April 6, while donating 20 percent of the day’s proceeds to High Country Conservation Center.
Call for an appointment. And also, it is the perfect opportunity to buy organic and paraben-free Aveda products at a great discount. On Sunday, Serenity Spa is throwing a pre-Earth Day bash with food, info booths on healthy beauty products, and great deals to support a great cause — Mother Earth!
Also, throughout the entire month of April, you can buy a raffle ticket for a Serenity Spa package or “green” gift basket with all proceeds benefiting the conservation programs of High Country Conservation Center. For more information on Serenity Spa and Sunday, contact (970) 513-9002.
I’ll see you at Serenity Spa and Salon on Sunday … I’ll be the Lipstick Environmentalist with the new ‘do!
Eartha Steward is written by Carly Wier, Jennifer Kirkpatrick and Beth Orstad, consultants on all things eco and chic at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation in our mountain community. Eartha believes that you can walk gently on our planet, even if you’re wearing stylie shoes.
Submit questions to Eartha at eartha@highcountryconservation.org with Ask Eartha as the subject or to High Country Conservation Center, P.O. Box 4506, Frisco, CO 80443.
