Get the job done sans toxic creams and lotions but with chemical-free gadgets and nifty new-to-the-market do-dads instead! This Earth Day, save money, your health and the planet with easy and reusable swaps for dental floss (typically coated in carcinogenic Teflon), harsh acne meds like benzoyl peroxide, bleach and caustic depilatory creams, cleansers with harsh sulfates and more. Listen up and I’ll show you how easy it is to go green and still geek out on some shiny new tech innovations!
There’s a reason women who are pregnant need to lay off acne meds. Acne remedies such as isotretinoins, a member of a family of drugs called retinoids, has been shown to cause birth defects due to the molecule’s close resemblance to retinoic acid, a natural vitamin A derivative which controls normal embryonic development.
This is not the only topical that poses a danger. Products readily available over-the-counter such as benzoyl peroxide can remove the top layer of your skin causing photosensitivity, which may lead to sunburns and can make your skin age prematurely.
To break it down, acne occurs when hormonal changes cause sebaceous glands to produce excess oil. The P. acnes bacteria feeds on the sebum, multiplies and clogged pores trap the multiplying P. acnes bacteria and white blood cells move in to fight off the invading bacteria – the result, a pimple.
Luckily you can be in the clear with at-home blue light treatments with gadgets such as the Tanda Clear+ at Overstock.com.
This blue LED light treatment has been shown clinically to kill the P. acnes bacteria, clearing existing blemishes and preventing future outbreaks without any harsh chemicals that seep into your skin. And no, you don’t have to worry about harmful UV rays. The narrow-band, high-intensity light in the blue wavelength range (405 nm to 420 nm) is safe, gentle and an effective approach to treating inflammatory acne. It can kill bacteria in as little as six seconds.
Plugging your nostrils to smear on caustic depilatory creams? Hair removal creams contain chemicals like calcium hydroxide and potassium thiogycolate and that dissolve the keratin just below the base of the skin but can cause nasty chemical burns, hives, allergic reactions and more.
Your red and irritated skin is begging you for another solution! While it might make you squirm at first, test out an epilator like the Emjoi Light Caress Epilator which mechanically grasps multiple hairs simultaneously and pulls them out. It’s very similar to waxing, but there’s no danger of ripping the epidermis causing infection and tenderness.
Looking for a more permanent solution? mē Smooth is the only at-home hair removal device clinically shown and FDA cleared to be safe and effective for all skin types and tones. The combination of Intense Pulsed Light and Radio Frequency allows you to treat the mane problem from head to toe with zero downtime with permanent results in just a few weeks – no dermatologist appointments needed!
The no! no! PRO 3 uses 100% heat to remove hair painlessly from the body – and the face without burning or stinging. It also offers long-lasting results over time.
Has washing your face with sulfates and harsh cleansers wreaked havoc on your skin? Yep, I hear you. Lucky for you – and the environment – the newest cleansing craze by way of Konjac sponges aren’t going anywhere anytime soon!
Konjac root is an Asian-cultivated, root-based, potato-like vegetable that the Japanese have traditionally used as a calming, exfoliating sponge for delicate skin. It’s naturally alkaline and balances the acidity of the skin’s impurities and oils while being enriched with skin-clarifying charcoal, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folic acid. Phew.
But truly, the best part? You don’t even need a cleanser to rinse your skin clean of impurities. Julep’s Konjac Cleansing Sponge is 100% biodegradable and lasts for 2-3 whole months!
You may want to think again about going to town post-dinner with minty-fresh floss.
Feel free to grit your teeth: The truth is dental floss is dipped in Teflon, a known carcinogen!
Opt instead for a sonic clean, sans the nylon with the newest flosser on the market that cleans teeth with air and microdroplets of clean fresh water. The Sonic AirFloss features microburst technology that removes plaque biofilm between teeth in just 60 seconds.
What have you replaced in your beauty cabinet that’s friendlier to your skin, wallet and environment? Would love to know and add to this rundown!
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