The Problem With Phthalates

Most people love fragrances. Almost everything we touch, from cleaning supplies to personal body care, has a fragrance. We use them to feel and smell clean, appear healthy, more attractive and to appeal to the opposite sex. But, did you know a single fragrance has multiple chemical compounds, anywhere from 10 to several hundred? When you think of synthetic fragrances, think of chemicals. Phthalates (pronounced "tha-lates", emphasis on first syllable) are a family of chemical substances used in fragrance formulations. Phthalates are plasticizers commonly used in the manufacture of plastics. They are used as softeners and lubricants. PVC is manufactured using phthalates. So, why are phthalates in synthetic fragrances? Well, it is used to help scents evaporate more slowly and last longer. They look like vegetable oil, have little or no smell and are relatively cheap, all appealing to manufacturers. But, of course, that isn’t all they have to offer. Phthalates are hormone disruptors. That means, in a nutshell, they absorb into the body and attach themselves to hormone receptor sites, mimicking the endogenous hormones. Since the body cannot tell the difference between the artificial or chemical hormones and endogenous hormones, a message is sent to the brain to stop producing whatever hormone is being mimicked (often estrogen). The body is confused into thinking there is a sufficient supply of hormones and thus cuts back on hormone production.

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a common phthalate used in fragrances including perfumes, lotions, shampoos, conditioners and detergents. One website, Scorecard.org (a pollution information site) listed dibutyl phthalate as a developmental toxin, endocrine toxin, immuno-toxin, kidney toxin, neurotoxicant, reproductive toxin, skin or sense organ toxin. How healthy and sexy does that sound?

Labeling laws regarding fragrance are somewhat loose in this country to say the least. Because these scent formulas are protected by law as “private information” for cosmetic companies, including companies that produce any soaps, shampoos or personal cleansing products, they are listed in such generic terms as “fragrance” or “perfume” without any information on chemicals used or the amounts used. And don’t be fooled by “fragrance-free” labels. This only implies that a product has no detectable fragrance. However, it may contain fragrance used to mask bad smelling raw materials. Phthalates are petrochemicals. We know they aren't good for us to consume and remember, consuming a product means more than just putting it in your mouth, if you are using it on you skin or hair, you are consuming it.

Once these petrochemicals are in our bodies they have a party that would make a frat hazing seem like Sunday School. They reportedly impair proper DNA expression, weaken the DNA repair process, accelerate gene loss, degenerate the body’s detoxification organs, and affect the blood/brain barrier - the brain’s primary line of defense. They affect the nervous system, immune system, the onset of child and adult cancers, neurological disorders, autoimmune disorders, asthma, allergies, infertility and miscarriage, learning disabilities, hyperactivity and ADD, the list goes on and on. The CDC has conducted studies and found phthalates in the urine of every person tested, with the largest amounts, (20 times higher) in women of child-bearing age. And it doesn't end there. Once these phthalates pass through our bodies via urine, or go down the drain as runoff from our showers, they return to the ecosystem. Water waste facilities cannot flush out such chemicals. We then re-consume them as drinking water. While the evaporation and precipitation process does help clean these chemicals from our drinking water, it cannot clean out all particulates. This is why we are seeing phthalates in the urine of such a high percentage of our population, in fact, everyone, according to the CDC.

So, what's a person to do? One easy step we can all do is make sure we are using chemical-free personal care products as much as possible. We can replace many of our chemically-ladened products with all-natural products. This was one reason I started making soap. I was looking for something safer for me and my family to use on our skin. Itty Bitty Soaps are all-natural and you will never find any synthetics or chemicals in them. NEVER.  That is our promise to you. Take a step towards true cleanliness, health and beauty, and do it today!

Manual Microdermabrasion

I don't know how dry it is in other parts of the country during the winter months, but here in Utah it is dry, dry, dry. Here is a quick and easy recipe that you can do at home. This recipe comes from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes" by Stephanie Tourles. Stephanie is a licensed holistic esthetician, certified aromatherapist, and author of seven books on natural body care and wellness. I love her book and will be offering many of her recipes in the future.

Manual Microdermabrasion

1 TBS. baking soda

1-1/2 tsp. water (I often use less water)

2 drops helichrysum essential oil

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients until a velvety slurry forms. Dip the pads of your fingers into the slurry and slowly and lightly begin to massage the entire face, throat and decollete, using very small, circular motions. Do not use much pressure -  let the tiny baking soda granules do the exfoliation work. Continue to dip fingers into the baking soda mixture as often as needed in order to cover skin with a thin coat. The procedure takes almost 10 minutes to complete. Rinse well. 

The beauty of this treatment is that it is recommended for all skin types, except sunburned, windburned or irritated skin. You can do this one to two times per week, at your convinience. Be sure to follow up with a moisturizer. Wear sunscreen at all times following treatment and observe common sun sense, even on cloudy days.

 As a licensed esthetician, Stephanie is privy to industry trends and trade secrets used in high-end, luxury spas and promoted by them as "exclusive." Sometimes these "exclusive" ingredients are so inexpensive and simple to create, it is shocking how much they charge. This recipe costs only pennies, nets huge results and bypasses all the risks of machine microdermabrasion.

Most often microdermabrasion is done using a hand-held device that polishes the skin with a type of micronized crystal, frequently very fine aluminum (which we all know is bad for our skin and health). When performed correctly, this procedure, repeated over several weeks time, can aid in erasing or diminishing fine lines, wrinkles and age spots and restore a smoothness and even texture to the skin. However, if the technician is not properly trained, uncomfortable damage can result with the removal of too much of the skin's outer surface, leaving it quite red an irritated. The manual microdermabrasion, on the other hand, is safer and won't ever leave your skin red or irritated. If used on a regular basis, your skin will achieve almost the same results as a mechanical microdermabrasion without having its protective shield compromised.

I love the helichrysum essential oil, but I only use one drop per application. I think two drops is too much. Remember, these essential oils are very concentrated. Helichrysum offers relief for eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis, detoxes and cleanses the blood. It is also good to help reduce scarring and scar tissue. I have also tried carrot seed oil, which is beneficial for aging skin, sunburn, wrinkles and dryness. Other oils you might like include patchouli which helps prevent wrinkles and tones the skin, as well as sandalwood, vetiver and myrrh. For sensitive skin try geranium, german chamomile, jasmine, lavender or neroli. For oily skin try bergamot, cajeput, Clary sage, cypress, jasmine, lavender, lemon, orange or ylang ylang. For wrinkles try cistus, clary sage, cypress, elemi, fennel, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemon, lime, myrrh, neroli, orange, rose, rosewood or ylang ylang. Remember to only use one drops of essential oil with the mixture. 

Haitian Relief

Yesterday I received an email from an online industry publication that I subscribe to. They were inviting their subscribers to contribute bars of soap to two very worthy organizations. The first one is Missionary Flights International out of Florida. This group is currently flying relief missions to Haiti. The other group is Clean The World, an organization that takes soap from hotel rooms and any other place they can get it, rebatch and sterilize it and send it to those in need. Through their efforts they are saving our land fills and cutting down on environmental pollution by recycling soap. Of course, Itty Bitty Soaps do not harm or pollute the environment because they are made with all natural ingredients. I was thrilled to make my small contribution. Check out both these organizations and see what you can do to help. Missionary Flights International can be contacted at www.missionaryflights.org and Clean The World can be contacted at www.cleantheworld.org. Every little bit you can do can help enormously.

New Products Coming Soon

I am so excited to introduce new products to our line of soaps. We will be adding a lotion bar that is to die for. I gave some of my friends a sample of this lotion bar a few months ago and they have been asking for it to give as gifts, so expect to see it soon! We will also be adding spa salt soaps. These soaps are similar to what you get with a good spa salt treatment, only better! They are made with Dead Sea Salts, which are full of nutrients. I have been using this soap on my face for the past six months and I love it, especially the gentle exfoliation I get with every use. Look for rose tea soaps as well. These soaps have all the benefits of rose petals infused into each bar. They are super gentle to your skin and so very nourishing, not to mention they smell wonderful. Finally, we will be adding a men's line of soaps. Even though the soaps I now offer are perfectly suited for use by our male friends, maybe the packaging is a bit too delicate for our guys. This line will feature essential oils with base notes that most men find more appealing. We'll "man up" our packaging too. These will make excellent Valentine's gifts. So be sure to check back often to see what's new at Itty Bitty Soap Company! I hope all of us have a very happy and prosperous New Year filled with the blessings we desire and the strength, faith and courage to face the blessings that often come in disguise.

What Dr. Oz Has To Say

Did you all see Dr. Oz on January 5th (maybe the 4th). He did his list of top ten "major agers" and one of them was bar soap. The problem with most bar soaps is that they are very harsh to the acid mantle of your skin. The chemicals found in these soaps strips the skin of it natural protective layer, leaving it dry, irritated and exposed to bacteria and infections in our environment. These soaps also do not break down in our water systems. We are currently seeing only female fish in our rivers and streams and this is because many of the chemicals found in commercially produced soaps mimick estrogen. When a fish is developing its sex organs, these mimickers trick the fish into thinking it is a female (because of the preceived presence of estrogen) therefore, no male organs develop. His solution - natural, pH balanced soaps. What could be more natural than Itty Bitty Soaps? They are made with all natural ingredients, such as vegetable and essential oils. They are not only gentle to your skin, but very nourishing as well. Feel confident that when using Itty Bitty Soaps, you are not only saving your skin from damaging and aging chemicals, but you are also doing your part to protect the delicate balance in our water supply too.