a peek inside the fishbowl

21 Aug, 2008

How green is your skin?

Posted by andrea tomkins in: Yaktivism

My latest piece over at SavvyMom is about organic skin care.

This was a very fun piece to research and write. Oresta and Gwen (the two business owners I mentioned in the article) were totally adorable, super knowledgeable and fun women, but I tell ya, this whole thing about skin really got me thinking.

I use natural products for my toilet bowl and for my kitchen sink, yet I haven’t really embraced organic products where it really counts… on my face. I’ve written about this before, as it pertains to sunscreen. I am struggling. Not just with the organic side of things, but with Issues of Personal Vanity. Do I want to spend an extra 20 minutes in the morning and at bedtime with a skin care regime? I’m a soap Phisoderm n’ water girl. Is this bad? Will I regret it? Gah.

I’m swamped with work right now, so I don’t really know where I’m going with this post and don’t have time to really flesh out (get it FLESH? Ha!) out this topic. So how about, for now, I’ll turn it over to you.

What is your current skin care regime? Have you considered going a more organic route? Are you at all concerned about the long list of ingredients written on the backs of all those products that promise to smooth our wrinkles and even out our skin tone? Should we trust the manufacturers of those products? Why or why not? Do you have favourite products, organic or non?

My head is still spinning…


4 Responses to "How green is your skin?"

1 | robyn

August 21st, 2008 at 11:06 am

Avatar

I have always bounced back and forth with skincare & haircare products (sucker for packaging, I am) but generally have leanings towards toiletries with “organic” or “natural” on the label, and ingredient lists I can pronounce. I’m also hyper sensitive to sodium laurel / laureth sulfate, so if I can avoid it at all, I will.

My current favourites are kiss my face (http://kissmyface.com/) (which you now seem to be able to find practically anywhere) and my current go-to, the Organic Surge line (http://www.organicsurge.com/). They smell great, and so far they work great too. A little pricier than your average bottle of shampoo or moisturizer, but totally worth it when you think of what’s in the usual suspects versus the natural / organic versions.

2 | Cath

August 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Avatar

I’m a get up and go kind of gal myself (if I use anything, it’s same-as-my-Mum vaseline intensive care for my face) but I am very careful with sunscreen, particularly for my 2-year old daughter. For her, I’m using Lavera. (I use the US Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep web-site to check a lot of products — http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com). It’s a really great resource.

3 | The Veg Next Door

August 21st, 2008 at 1:20 pm

Avatar

Like Cath I use the EWG website to check for products. I use Alba sunscreen on the girls. I have a more expensive (probably more toxic) one for myself since I tan and freckle easily and I’m outdoors far more than they are.

When picking products I don’t always look for Organic or Natural but I scan the ingredient list. You’d be surprised that some mainstream products are ok. I try to be careful since the product is either being absorbed by my skin or being washed down the sink or tub.

Thankfully there are options but it’s overwhelming.

As for my *beauty* routine, I typically wash my face once/day in the shower in the morning. I’ll wash it at night if I’m wearing make up. I probably should mosturize at night b/c I have very dry skin but I can’t be bothered unless I work out and shower.

4 | porter

August 21st, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Avatar

I use Cetaphyl to wash my face. It was recommended to me by a dermatologist and as well by our pediatrician. It’s cheap and works well. I am a sucker and buy into all the beauty products, love lotions and creams but in the end always go back to Cetaphyl.
As for moisturizer, I’m using up what’s in my cabinet right now so whatever I grab first goes and I’m not happy with any of it. I am always looking for a good moisturizer.
On my body I have used baby lotion or baby oil for years and years and I love it.
That said, I’m not using ‘green’ products…would if I could find something that worked well.

comment form:

Archives

Me and my pet projects

Ottawa Bucket list

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.


  • Gretchen Humphrey: I had a beautiful bee& birdbath filled with a solar fountain and dozens of antique marbles that were suddenly disappearing. At first I thought my
  • Jinjer: I am sobbing reading this post. And you're right, companion is not enough. Little furry treasured gifts that they are. Thanks for sharing cutie-pi
  • Karen: Dear Andrea, Mark and your daughters I am so very sad for your family xxx Piper was/is my favourite Instagram post. You shared with us so intimately
  • Christina Banuelos: Thank you for sharing Pipers life with us. Your posts of Piper brought me joy. Every time I see your post and see what kind of mischief Piper was gett
  • Carla Slocum: I am sitting here yet again crying at your loss. We have known that loss with Asta the WFT our first pup but now have the enormous gift of Stryker the
  • Janelle Brown: Dear Andrea Thank you for sharing Piper’s story with her followers. I empathise with your grief and emptiness as I lost my 14 year old Westie last
  • Natasha McReynolds-Nicholl: My god reading this is heartbreaking. December 1st was the as you describe longest day of my life, we lost out beautiful WFT hazel. Pipers final momen

The Obligatory Blurb

My name is Andrea and I live in the Westboro area of Ottawa with my husband Mark and our dog Piper who is kind of a big deal on Instagram. We also have two human offspring: Emma (24) and Sarah (22). During the day I work as a writer at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. I am a longtime Ottawa blogger and I've occupied this little corner of the WWW since 1999. The Fishbowl is my whiteboard, water cooler, and journal, all rolled into one. I'm passionate about healthy living, arts and culture, travel, great gear, good food, and sharing the best of Ottawa. I also love vegetables, photography, gadgets, and great design.

If you'd like to contact me, please use this form. If you're so inclined, you can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!

 


Connect with me at these places too!

Still calling it Twitter