"There's Lead in your Lipstick" giveaway!

Have you ever looked at the ingredient listing on your shampoo, deodorant or face cream? Chemicals such as diethanolamine, sodium lauryl (ether) sulfate or triclosan are common to many everyday body care products. Even when the product label reads "organic" or "natural" the ingredients are often anything but.

Confused? You're not alone.

The average woman uses a dozen personal care products each and every day, and by the time she heads out the front door, has spritzed, sudsed, and slathered herself in more than 127 different chemicals -- many of them more toxic than beautifying.

But there is another way. Best-selling author Gillian Deacon offers her latest book, There's Lead in your Lipstick, as a "guide for all those who want to be cautious and considered when choosing the products and ingredients they use in, on and around their bodies.".

Here's an excerpt on "The Real Cost of Cosmetics":

There’s a reason why these more healthful options are usually more expensive. Most conventional cosmetic manufacturers use parabens to preserve the ingredients, claiming it is a necessary evil. Parabens are estrogenic, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, which means they mimic natural estrogen and can wreak havoc on your hormones. When your hormones are out of whack you can experience mood swings, irregular menstruation, skin irritations, and other troubling symptoms. Parabens are also potentially carcinogenic.

From There’s Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon (Penguin Canada). Copyright © Backbone Inc. FSO Gillian Deacon, 2011

What's fabulous about this book is it not only educates the reader about what chemicals to avoid, but it provides alternatives -- both store-bought and DIY, everything from body scrub to moisturizers to sunscreen.

For example, Deacon offers up this recipe for a "Make It Yourself: Moisturizing Mask"

Greek yogourt is also very moisturizing and can be used as a base for this mask.

You need:
• 1/2 medium to large avocado
• 1 to 2 tbsp honey (5 to 15 mL)

1.) Puree ingredients together in a blender or whip by hand.
2.) For dry, sensitive skin, add one tablespoon of oatmeal and
on tablespoon of water.
3.) Mix together into a smooth paste and apply to the face and neck area, leaving on for about ten minutes.

That's it!

Want to learn more? As part of Gillian's exciting blog tour, Rowangarth Farm and Penguin Canada are offering a sweet giveaway: a copy of There’s Lead In Your Lipstick PLUS an Eco Kiss kit from Saffron Rouge. Retail value total is approx CDN $48.95.



Simply leave a comment as to why you'd like to win this prize pack. Please note: this Penguin Canada-sponsored contest is only open to Canadian residents. (Sorry, folks!)


The contest is open until midnight on April 22nd -- Earth Day. Good luck!



* - * - * THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED * - * - *