Are Your Skincare Products Killing You?

The huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is dominating the news, but what if I told you your skincare and makeup had that same crude oil as well as other harmful chemicals and animal by-products in them? Would you still use those products?

Unfortunately, most products that aren't natural or botanically-based do contain these harmful ingredients. In Europe, there are over 1,100 chemicals banned from their skincare products, while the US has banned a mere 9!!! European countries like Switzerland have always enjoyed a much higher standard when it comes to their skincare and food products. And the results can easily be seen in the way the women there carry themselves. Last Wednesday, the New York Times listed 10 Ways to Age Like a Frenchwoman. The article said French women simply take better care of themselves by using lotions and hydrating creams for the face and body and never soap.

Getting back to oil that's put into skincare. An oil is any substance that remains in a liquid state at room temperature and that is insoluble in water. In other words, it floats on top. Skincare and cosmetic products need an oil in their cleansers and moisturizers. The three most popular oils used in the cosmetic industry are: mineral oil, vegetable oil and essential oil.

Mineral oil is a liquid petrolatum (crude black oil from the ground) and is the same oil we use for gasoline in our cars. Mineral oil is a lightweight, inexpensive oil that is odorless and tasteless and is used in almost all skincare and cosmetics. Mineral oil comes in different forms and has many different names. Go look at the ingredient lists on your skincare products and this is most likely one of the top three ingredients even though it is banned in Europe. Mineral oil doesn't add any moisture to the skin. Putting mineral oil on your skin may make it feel moisturized but it blocks the skin from ever receiving moisture, making your skin dry and ages it. In addition, it deprives your skin of the nutrients it needs and blocks your skin from releasing toxins. This can result in toxins remaining in your body.

Crude oil, harmful ingredients and dead animals are in a majority of personal care products.

Arbonne doesn't use petroleum-based oil ingredients like mineral oil. Instead, Arbonne's oils include vegetable (derived from plants and naturally contain vitamins, minerals, nutrients and essential fatty acids) as well as essential oils (oils derived from leaves, bark, roots and other aromatic portions of the plant) in its formulations because of Arbonne's botanical-based heritage and because of the many additional healthy benefits plant oils can bring to the skin.

Everything you put on your skin is absorbed into the blood stream within 30 seconds. Shame on skincare and cosmetic companies for including toxic ingredients in their products to save a few bucks.

Imagine this. It's cold and pouring rain outside. Would you rather be standing under an umbrella in that rain? Or would you rather be in your favorite chair, watching your favorite movie, eating your favorite foods? In each scenario, you are protect from the rain. All good. So do you want to be just protect or would you want to be protected, comfortable and nourished all at the same time. What's your choice?

Hopefully by now you're feeling a bit disappointed and wondering what to do? You can actually start by using something that works better than what you're currently using and is safer. Arbonne has completely blown me away. I sleep better knowing I'm not putting harmful chemicals or animal fat on my skin. All of Arbonne's products are formulated in Switzerland who have much higher standards than the US, but they are made here.

If you want to experience the Arbonne difference, holla at me at jennifer.weitzman15@gmail.com or visit my website, jenniferweitzman.myarbonne.com.

Don't Get Burned: Summertime Sun Protection

May is skin cancer awareness month.

It’s a great reminder how important it is for all of us to take care of our skin when we’re out in the sun.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, affecting one in five Americans during their lifetime. There are more than two million people in this country who develop non-melanoma skin cancers ever year, according to a study in the Archives of Dermatology, which is more than a 350 percent increase in skin cancer incidence since 1994, when rates were last estimated. And, recent studies show that people over 40 have the highest annual exposure to the harmful UV rays.

Don’t get burned! Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day, even with the sun isn’t shining.

I have a complete line of the very best sun protection products for the face, body and hair. It will leave you and your whole family protected from the harmful, damaging rays. And, since 90 percent of the visible signs of aging is due to sun exposure, all of my products are formulated with anti-aging elements and key botanicals like calming chamomille extract, linden extract and moisturizing rosemary that will support your skin before the damage is done.

Before Sun Damage Control Set

I want to share with you my favorites:

The Glow With It After Sun Lotion. I simply love this. You put it on after you get out of the sun and it will give you that nice sheen.

I also love the To The Rescue Hair Protectant. Since hair is an appendage of your skin and we need to protect our hair just as much as our skin.

If sitting out in the sun isn't your thing, but you want to look like you just had a Mediterranean vacation, be sure to pick up Made In The Shade Self-Tanner Sunscreen with SPF15. Say good bye to your self-tanners that give you an that orangey glow the Oompa-Loompa's made famous in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

I also have a fabulous Damage Control Water-Resistant Sunscreen SPF 30 and Lip Saver Sunscreen SPF 30, perfect to toss in your beach bag.

Oompa-Loompa's

Arbonne's sun protection line has no mineral oil in any of them. I mention this because mineral oil is the second leading cause of aging, sun being the first, so when you're out in the sun with products with mineral oil, it's a double-edged sword. Click to read about how harmful using products with mineral oils can be here.

Remember, SPF is not an indication of how much time you can spend in the sun. Rather it's a filter that blocks out a percentage of the UVB rays (An SPF of 15 filters out about 93 percent, SPF 30 about 97 percent. In addition, the beneficial effects of sunscreen decreases over time, which means that during the first hour you get more protection than as time passes.

With the beautiful, sunny weekend we have in store for us this weekend, please remember your sunscreen! You will thank me for this later.

While you're pondering which sun products you need, click here to listen to my favorite summer song from The Boss.

Girls In Their Summer Clothes

To purchase any Arbonne beauty or wellness products or if you or a friend need more information, you can contact me directly at jennifer.weitzman15@gmail.com or visit my website, jenniferweitzman.myarbonne.com. The products can be shipped directly to you or anyone else.