If you are reading this I am guessing that getting clear skin may seem impossible to you right now. It also used to feel that way to me, as I struggled majorly with my skin for about 10 years. I tried so many things, from …
I believe there are ways to eliminate some of the distractions, while still being able to make it fun and memorable for them, and most importantly keeping Christ at the center of it all!
If you asked me what thing mentally takes me right back to my college dorm room, I would definitely say this one perfume from a popular brand name store, both of which I am going to leave nameless. I will tell you though, that I considered it to be my signature scent, and so did many others. It smelled SO amazing and honestly, still does. And I know that because I still have some left, hidden deep in my collection of beauty paraphernalia. But I do not ever use it and haven’t for years– so I should really throw it away… and one day, hopefully soon, I will make myself. But such is the life of a sentimental person.
That is just a small example of how the fragrance industry has captivated people, including myself (back then), for many, many years; men and women, young and old, all different walks of life, all over the world. Thousands of scents to choose from, and celebrities creating new ones every day; could be considered a luxury item and status symbol by some.
As the clean beauty movement is gaining momentum, it is bringing to light the dangers and risks associated with conventional fragrance products. While more people are beginning to question the ingredients and seek safer alternatives every day, a lot of people still have no idea what is hiding in their favorite perfume, cologne, or body spray! And that brings me to the reason for this post… education and enlightenment on why you should avoid products that include ‘fragrance’ on the label… starting right now!
I am just going to list a few of the chemicals and some of the health concerns associated with each one. But take note, these are only a few! According to EWG, there are over 3000 different ingredients commonly used in perfume and hidden behind the blanket term ‘fragrance’.
Benzene Derivatives: (e.g. toluene and benzyl alcohol) A common ingredient in perfume and commonly used as a solvent*. Health concerns: Neurological damage, respiratory issues, skin irritation
Formaldehyde: A common preservative used in perfume, and a chemical known to be a respiratory irritant and carcinogen. Health concerns: Allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and increased risk of cancer
Parabens: These are preservatives used to prevent the growth of bacteria and extend the shelf life of perfume. Health concerns: Breast cancer, hormone disruption, and skin irritation
Phthalates: Phthalates are an ingredient used to help the scent stay on your skin longer. They are also commonly used as solvents. Health concerns: Fertility and respiratory issues, and hormone disruption
Synthetic Musk: A commonly used toxic ingredient in perfume that helps extend the time the scent lasts. Health concerns: Has been shown to collect in the environment and has been identified in human tissue… environmental repercussions and eventual toxicity
Reading this, you might be wondering, how in the world could this happen? And the simple answer is this: The FTC’s Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. This legislation treats fragrance as a trade secret, and therefore means that the ingredients making up fragrance do not need to be disclosed. Some refer to it as the fragrance loophole. Find out more about it by watching this video about the Fragrance Loophole from Beautycounter… you have to scroll down a little bit to find it!
Well, there you have it. Perfume, specifically fragrance, especially when it is used as a blanket term, is very likely to be full of dangerous, hidden chemicals. There is no way to really know what the ingredients are because of the fragrance loophole, and they don’t have to tell us! So what should we do with this information?
First, for your own health and well-being, stop using products that list ‘fragrance’, ‘artificial fragrance’, and ‘synthetic fragrance’ as ingredients. And it is in way more things than just perfume, including other beauty products, cleaning supplies, and candles. So be on the lookout! Even if a product says it is “formulated without phthalates or parabens, or whatever else, if fragrance or a similar term is listed, then it actually most likely does contain those things. That is so unethical and a huge reason to distrust.
I recommend downloading the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living app to help you determine if products are clean or not! You should still always do your own research and not blindly trust, but EWG can be very helpful in the process. It doesn’t always have every single product I search but it has most of them! I promise you will get used to reading the product ingredient labels, and it will start to feel less overwhelming. We all start somewhere!
Next, find a clean, non-toxic alternative!
As someone who has been on my own journey towards less toxic living for quite a few years, perfume has been a tough one to replace. I haven’t worn perfume or body spray for many years because of this and the lack of good options. I tried essential oils, and while I love essential oils for many other purposes, it just wasn’t the same.
There is something about wearing perfume that really just makes you feel beautiful, confident and put together. I can’t adequately explain it, but — finally — after years of missing it, I am happy to say that my days of never being satisfied with the non-toxic perfume options are now over people! Here’s some amazing news, especially if you just threw out all your toxic, fragrance-laden perfume. Beautycounter’s new Clean Eau De Parfum line just went live! And I mean literally late this afternoon! There are five scents, and after sampling all of them multiple times, I can’t even decide what my favorite is. I love them all.
Curious about which new Beautycounter scent could be perfect for you? Take the Fragrance Quiz! Or grab the Discovery Set with cute little sample sprays of all 5 scents. (That was the first thing I did!) Let me know your quiz results in the comments!
If you are looking to overhaul other products and transition towards a less toxic lifestyle, Beautycounter does have amazing skincare and makeup options as well! Feel free to shoot me an email at aj@joyandclover.com anytime if you have any questions about clean beauty or anything else in this post!
Finally, one of the most important things you can do is to share this post and tell someone what you have learned about fragrance and the loophole failing unsuspecting consumers! Sharing knowledge and raising awareness is one of the best ways to spur change!
And last but not least, you can help Beautycounter close the fragrance loophole by participating in the call for Congress to pass the Safer Beauty Bill Package here. It is such a quick and easy thing to do, but it could help make a lasting impact on many lives, including many people you know and love!
Many years later, the Irish started celebrating the day of his death as a religious holiday. Since then it has morphed into the more commercialized St. Patrick’s Day that most of us generally think of today.
If it seems like your skin is never able to heal and clear up, and is just in a constant state of breaking out, it is possible that you may have a damaged skin barrier. Your barrier staying damaged is likely to continue to cause a lack of healing and make the acne worse and worse, but I am here to help!
If you are wondering, “What’s for dinner?” then read on! Here is a diverse, family-friendly, five-night entree meal plan, complete with links to the recipes and instructions. You may need to double the recipes if you have more than one or two in your household… but these recipes work perfectly for my husband and me, usually leaving the perfect amount of leftovers for him to take to work for lunch the next day. I personally use and love each one of these recipes. They are in no particular order and are all a part of my go-to recipe collection! Side dish recipes aren’t included here, but I do mention what I like to serve on the side with each entree. Enjoy!
This Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew is a favorite and a classic, especially since it makes a great meal all by itself! Sometimes I substitute lamb shoulder for beef. Otherwise, I do everything the same as the recipe says! I like to serve it with homemade sourdough bread and butter on the side.
This Crockpot BBQ Chicken is so simple but so delicious every single time. Goes well with rice and veggies, or on a sandwich! Can’t go wrong!
Air Fryer Maple Glazed Salmon is always a hit with everyone. I love it with carrots, broccoli, asparagus or brussels sprouts, however you like to prepare them, and rice or quinoa on the side.
This Korean Beef Taco Recipe is killer. I serve it on corn tortillas with halved cherry tomatoes and coleslaw on top. The beef is also great with rice or on a sandwich or breakfast taco! Very versatile and always a crowd favorite!
This is definitely my favorite Meatloaf Recipe I have ever eaten or made. Occasionally, I will use ground turkey (needs to be 93%) and sometimes I use other kinds of crackers, chips, or breadcrumbs… whatever I have on hand really. The other day I tried crushed pretzels and it turned out awesome! I also somehow got the idea to start adding a big handful of parmesan cheese into the mixture with everything else and it really adds to the flavor. I don’t know why, but it just works. I also usually like to split the meatloaf mixture into two smaller loaves so they are not as thick and cook quickly. This last time I actually spread it out in a greased 9×13 pan and it was done in 25 minutes and perfect! Lastly, as a side note, this meatloaf is so good that I have never even made or used the sauce on top… and that just makes it that much more simple and easy! So, food for thought : )
I hope you love these recipes as much as I do and are no longer stuck trying to figure out what’s for dinner, at least for a few days! Let me know if you try any of these! Or if you have any recipe requests let me know in the comments. I look forward to sharing more of my favorite recipes with you in future posts.
One, some, or all of these things are sure to up your confidence level and boost your mood quickly.
“…13 pieces of Scripture (26 verses total) to read and pray through when you have crippling anxiety, fear, or really any difficulty.