A bipartisan bill was introduced by U.S. Reps. Martha McSally (R-AZ), Don Beyer (D-VA), Joe Heck (R-NV) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), The Humane Cosmetics Act, H.R.2858, to ban the animal testing of cosmetic products and ingredients for cosmetics in the US, finally joining the US to more than 30 countries that ban animal testing of cosmetics.
Will sesame become the next government regulated product ingredient? If Senators Chris Murphy, Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey have anything to say yes. In a recent letter to the acting FDA commissioner, the senators made a request that sesame be inspected for cross-contact and that it be listed by name on ingredient lists, similar to what is required for products containing nuts or made in facilities that produce products containing nuts.
Sesame seed oil is used commonly in anti aging skin care products and cosmetics. NaturDerm products do not contain sesame seed ingredients.
http://skininc.texterity.com/skininc/november_2015?pg=1#pg1
A recent study done by Revlon and Fordham University measured how partners reacted when women followed a daily ritual:
The study with hundreds of participants showed:
The FDA issued a final ruling on antibacterial hand soap and body wash. We’ve been expecting this one. No benefits have been proven for the use of antibacterial products vs. soap and water hand washing, and the ruling bans OTC (Over The Counter) consumer sales for all antiseptic wash products that are used with water, and contain antibacterial active ingredients. It does not apply to wipes, or hand sanitizers. Triclosan and Triclocarban are 2 big of the big ones, and Triclosan is under review, by the EPA and FDA. Antibacterial soaps used in health care settings (hospitals and nursing homes) are exempt.
Now does that make sense???
Here’s a link to the specifics: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm378393.htm
Is Blue Goo the New You?(sorry couldn’t resist...)Clever scientists have a solution so you’ll never again wonder if your sunscreen is still protecting your skin. Kids will love this! So they combined a mylar film, compounds, polymers and mix it into sunscreen, when the maximum UV exposure is met, it reacts with the UV light and turns BLUE, how about that!
Hormonal issues, due to ingredients in some personal care and skin care products amongst teens, is now validated.
Very interesting new study released from Kim Harley, Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health at the University of California, Berkely in the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal.
The study is based on the use of personal care products in teens, with a specific focus on chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfates, triclosan, petrolatum bi-products and oxybenzone, and the effect these chemicals can have on hormone disruption.
Ms. Harley states, “Because women are the primary consumers of many personal care products, they may be disproportionately exposed to these chemicals.”
Urine samples showed after using lower chemical products for 3 days, chemical levels fell. Co-Author Maritza Cardenas concluded, “Seeing the drop in chemical levels after just three days shows that simple actions can be taken, such as choosing products with fewer chemicals, and make a difference.”
More Info:
http://is.gd/XlfqP8
Maybe you've never thought of this, especially for kids, your sunscreen choice and how you apply it may change...
You also may not have considered this before, but you can choose your sunscreen based upon your different exposure needs.
For example, if you’re going to be in the water, or sweating, you obviously want a water resistant high exposure sunscreen, vs. if you are just going about your daily events. I say that, because sometimes we forget that UV exposure occurs even with things as simple as driving in a car. Have you ever had pink, or even aged spot browning of the skin along your jawline and wondered where that came from?
Daily use, choose something less heavy, without silicones and a good zinc base.
Did you know that spray sunscreens make up 50% of total sunscreen sales? One thing to keep in mind, to tamp down an oily film, they often contain high levels of alcohol, which can impact your skin. So if you notice your skin reacting, or feeling dry and you tend to use spray sunscreen a lot, you may want to switch it out. Some are concerned about the risk of inhalation of ingredients, and with some ingredients, that is a valid point that manufacturers attempt to lower with spray systems that regulate the droplet size to > 10 microns in diameter, to lower deep inhalation into the lungs. A good practice is to make sure to turn your face and have someone else apply your sunscreen for you, and especially when you are spraying sunscreen onto your child, have them turn their face away from the spray.
Stick products contain more waxes to help the product hold its shape over 120”F.
Perhaps you are a cyclist and need a higher level of protection on certain areas of your body, or you need to keep your sunscreen with you in an easy format that won’t explode out the cover when you open it up, due to heat or pressure.
Lotions and creams fall into the category of with emulsions or without. Think of a bottle of oil and vinegar. You can shake it up, but it settles out. Something has to be added to bind the properties. When you apply a lotion, or cream, the water evaporates leaving the oil and sunscreen component on the skin.
A Lotion, or cream that is a water-in-oil emulsion will feel heavier, or greasy on the skin, and are more water resistant. A lotion, or cream that is oil-water emulsion can be as much as 60% water. Looking at an ingredient list won’t disclose which type of emulsion is present in the lotion, or cream. An easy way to see, is to place a drop of product into a glass of water, if it disperses it is an o/w (oil – water) if it forms a ball it is a w/o (water-in- oil) emulsion.
The Pantone Fashion Trend Colors for Spring 2016 are out! The winner calls us to reflect on peaceful surroundings, can you guess which one?
And The Color of the Year is “Rose Quartz “....
This soothing tone calls us to reflect on peaceful surroundings.
#2 “Serenity “, we are looking to calming expansive effects.
Followed by: Snorkel Blue, Buttercup, Peach Echo, Limpet Shell, Iced Coffee, Green Flash, Fiesta 
To see all of the new colors for 2016, visit the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2016: http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr/?season=spring&year=2016&from=pcipage
Natural-based anti aging skin care, salt therapy (thalassotherapy), multi-benefit products, wellness workplace and travel, spa visits, apps and subscriptions top the skin care trends for 2016 ~ what will your plans be?
Our Face Foam uses these properties:http://greatnewskin.com/products/transformaxion-system
More info:
The Founder of NaturDerm's daughter, Emmy Nominees Meteorologist Britta Merwin, and Investigative Reporter and Anchor Andy Cerota of KPRC Channel 2 Houston accepting the Community Service Emmy Award on behalf of their station, KPRC Channel 2. Congratulations to you all, we are so proud of you!
You may read their story here: http://greatnewskin.com/pages/our-story
According to pantone Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, “The Fall 2015 palette is rooted in multi-faceted, androgynous colors that can be worn to portray effortless sophistication across men’s and women’s fashion; it is the first time we are seeing a truly unisex color palette,” more info: http://www.skininc.com/spabusiness/trends/Fall-2015-Color-Report-Neutral-with-a-Pop-324365201.html
An interesting study out of Plymouth University in the UK, studied “microbeads” which are plastic based polymers used in personal care products such as shampoo, facial scrubs and cleansers.
Released in the Marine Pollution Bulletin, by Professors of Marine Biology, Organic Geochemisty and Analytical Chemisty, PhD student Imogen Napper said, “As the study unfolded I was really shocked to see the quantity of microplastics apparent in these everyday cosmetics. Currently, there are reported to be 80 facial scrubs in the UK market which contain plastic material, however some companies have indicated they will voluntarily phase them out from their products. In the meantime, there is very little the consumer can do to prevent this source of pollution.”
Due to the small size, these particles pass thru sewage filtration systems and there is growing evidence and concern that there is an impact on marine organisms. Electron microscopic analysis showed that each 150 ml (~ 5 oz) of product can contain between 137,000 and 2.8 million micro-particles of plastic, releasing up to 80 tons of microplastic waste into the sea in the UK alone.
Earlier this year, California banned the use of microbeads in products.
NaturDerm products do not contain plastic based polymers or microbeads.
More info: http://cosmetics.specialchem.com/news/industry-news/british-scientists-find-million-of-plastic-particles-in-cosmetics-polluting-marine-life-000177212
I had some Mother's Day surprises on KPRC Channel 2 News Houston and the Today Show Parenting Team, love the hugs from my daughter, Meteorologist Britta Merwin! Hope you all had a wonderful celebration too!
http://www.click2houston.com/news/kprc-mothers-day-photos/32862098
http://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/dream-big-1429535042
Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) proposed a bill to the Senate Health Committee, called the Personal Care Products Safety Act, that would seek a harmonized cosmetic regulation within the USFDA. Current cosmetic product regulation is by each individual state. It is backed by Personal Care Products Council (PCPC).
Here is a link to the bill:
