Monday, April 18, 2011

"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 * - * - *

16 comments:

Lori-Grace said...

OMG a contest only open to Canadian residence? That HAPPENS??? Consider this my entry for this draw!

Because: Well, knowledge is power. I've already cut out so much of that garbage from my life, BUT this would be a great read. And after that, it would make a great addition to a local green lending library I'm part of!

Also, because the 20th is mah birthday, so BIRTHDAY PREZZIE!

~Lori

Unknown said...

Thanks for posting this, Fiona. There is so much out there that's bad for us, and so much misinformation.

Please consider this comment entry for the draw. And, winning would help me to pass the valuable information on to my students at the studio!

Caroline Owen

Erin said...

I would love this book - I have terribly sensitive skin and have had really bad luck finding anything that doesn't irritate it.. This book would be a big help!

THanks Erin

mtnchild said...

I'm in the US so I don't qualify, but I had to say that I too, am slowly doing what I can to eliminate chemicals from my life. It is not easy, but I keep plugging away.

I will have to look for that book so I can do more.
Hugs
Yvette

momtodc said...

As a lip product addict and a lover of non-fiction, this prize pack is perfect for me.

momtodc(at)gmail(dot)com

Sparkless said...

Oh wow a contest for us Canadians! How can I resist. I'd love to win this book.

Josée said...

I've taken that book out from the Library but never got to it. I'd love to give it a read. That Eco lips kits looks very nice. What a lovely giveaway!

I'm also having a giveaway over on my blog. Feel free to come and check it out: http://thornstothestars.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Yay! Thanks for hosting a Canadian only contest. I am proficient at recycling and reusing. However I'm ignorant of what is in my personal health care products. I know Sodium Laurel Sulfate should be avoided and that Mr. Clean's Magic erasers contain carcinogens. Having a resource manual on hand would help me make better informed choices.

Thanks!

Happy Earth Day to All

Heidi C. @bibliosmartgirl

Anonymous said...

I would love to win because i always want to know the ingridients in products. I think it's all tied in with cancer.

billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

Krista said...

I heard Gill Deacon on the radio a few weeks ago and what she had to say totally shocked me. I threw out my lip gloss and moisturizer that very day. I would love her book so I can learn more about alternatives to the products I'm addicted to, or at least learn to live without them.

Jacquie Fleming said...

As I get older, my skin seems to be fighting against me. So many problems with the products I use. I am trying to educate myself on healthier and more natural ways of cleansing and taking care of my body, but it's so complicated.

David said...

Fiona, whew, I'm glad it's only Canadian folks, but I promise not to use lipstick with lead in it.
:0)

Mama Pea said...

Don't qualify for the drawing (waaahh!) 'cause I'm in Minnie-soda in the U.S. of A. but the prize pack looks great.

Several years ago I came across a book that may be a lot like the one you're talking about. It's titled, "The Safe Shopper's Bible - A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food" by David Steinman and Samueal S. Epstein, M.D. Some horrifying info in there regarding what we ingest and put on our skin every day.

ikkinlala said...

I'd like to be able to pass along this book to certain friends who think I'm just making up stories about the problems with cosmetics. Also, the lip balm looks great!

ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

g_cioffi87@hotmail.com said...

Because a try is worth it.
Because I too have sensitive skin.
Because I collaborated on a group project on the dangerous poisons that are in our cosmetics, and want to learn more.
Because knowledge is power.

Julie said...

What is next, where were these lipsticks made is it the country that put lead in everything they made, I really wonder if America cannot make things for themselves, what really is their problem in such case.

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