I wear beauty products every day. But not just on my face to mask my blemishes and imperfections. I wear perfume and deodorant and nail polish and hair products. But maybe I should be a little more selective on which I choose to put on my body daily. After all, the skin is an absorbent organ and whatever you choose to put ON your body is what ends up IN your body. Ick!

I was reading an article on The Med Guru this morning and was completely disgusted by the data and findings of a new report. Do you know that the average woman puts about 515 chemicals onto her body each day? That’s a choice made through your own will. So we’re essentially killing ourselves and opening ourselves up to more disease possibilities willingly. I can’t imagine that I’m doing that to myself just by keeping up my appearance. Of course, all the products on the market have been tested and claim to have a safe amount of whatever toxin it has, but it’s scary to think that when you combine all these products you may be poisoning yourself!

One particular product that is harmful to your health is paraben. Think of parabens as the preservatives of makeup and beauty products. We try so hard to eliminate products from our food diet that contain preservatives because they aren’t good for you. This is exactly the same. And why do we need paraben-containing products when really you’re supposed to replace your makeup every few months because it’s unhealthy, and just plain old gross.

This news is not new, however. In fact, there was a study done on permanent makeup and how researchers are now warning that this could cause certain disfigurations, creating a black mark on permanent makeup.

We’re talking about long-term here. And yes, I’m guilty of thinking that this one time couldn’t necessarily damage me. Well, maybe not now, but in the future who knows what damage this may cause. I’m not advocating that you stop your normal beauty routine. All I’m saying is to think about what you’re using each day. Switching up certain parts of your regular beauty regimen may help you down the line. I understand the negative association with natural and organic products. They’re too expensive; they don’t last very long. But think of it like this: can you put a price on your life?

-Amanda Fornecker

I love hearing stories of individuals who become successful despite a misfortune. And I love skin care tips and tricks. That’s why I think Clark’s Botanicals story is such a great one that can teach us so much.

Francesco Clark worked at Harper’s Bazaar at the time of his accident. In 2002, he suffered an injury to his spinal cord that left him paralyzed and even took away his ability to sweat. Because of this his skin did not have the ability to fight breakouts and he needed something more than what traditional dermatologists were offering him. He looked to his physician father, who went on to help him develop a botanically-based skin care line that officially went on the market in 2005.

Today, Clark’s Botanicals is a successful skin care company that has been recognized by Allure Magazine and has found all of its success via word of mouth. Using natural products, like Jasmine Absolute, this skin care line is good for your skin. It’s supposed to work for all skin types, too. The line is meant to reflect Clark’s personality and journey, as he says on his website: “Everything about this line has a purpose and reason for being, from the ingredients to the packaging to the contribution to medical research. It’s an expression of who I am in its purest form.”

And to make a good thing even better, part of the profits from the line go to benefit research at The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, which is working to help those who have been paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury.

-Amanda Fornecker