It seems that all it takes in Australia to get our pollies hot under the collar is a bit of climate change debate. So, while they are sweating it out, shuffling seats and generally increasing Australia’s carbon footprint we take a look at how to stay dry in times of climate crisis.
Horses sweat, men perspire and ladies glow or so the old saying goes, but what is it, why does it smell and how can we stop it?
Firstly sweating is perfectly normal and is one way our bodies keep cool and communicate to others. There are two types of sweat, firstly there is the sweat secreted by our eccrine glands which are located all over our body. This sweat mostly consists of water and is part of our cooling system. The other type of sweat originates from Apocrine glands which are only found in certain areas of the body (armpits and private parts) . While this sweat does function to cool us it also contains our own distinctive body odour – something very important when looking for a mate (oh yeh, we are all animals). Anyone who has been watching the ABC’s series John Safrans Race Relations will know just how important scent is in this regard.
So its normal to sweat. In fact it is important that we do but why does it smell so very awful?
While everyone’s sweat has the potential to smell bad, some people will give off stronger odours than others. There are racial differences in our smell, biological differences in the number and activity level of our sweat glands, differing emotional response levels to environmental stimulus (or ETS legislation), the impact of our personal hygiene, our diet, our general health and medication status and our hormones on any given day. Fresh sweat on most people has a very low odour but when left, it can start to break down and whiff.
Body Odour happens when bacteria join in the party. Bacteria starts to break down the fatty acids that we excrete making us smell either a bit cheesy or vinegary depending on the bacteria type. Mix this with some garlic, a touch of bad personal hygiene and some spandex pants and you have a pungent cocktail.
So, can we stop the whiff? Of course we can.
Clothing.
When temperatures soar natural fibres are your friend as these will let your skin breathe – oh, well that is unless you choose tight leather (tight, restrictive clothing can lead to thrush and other fungal infections so make sure you get some air between wears – especially in the hotter months). Make sure that you wear cotton or silk undies (great excuse), change the clothing next to your body daily and go for lighter colours that reflect heat away thus keeping you cool.
Drink plenty of water.
The better your hydration, the easier it is for your body to function. A well-functioning body excreats toxins in a slow and orderly fashion rather than storing up heaps just to dump it all out at an inopportune moment!
Watch what you eat and drink.
Everything we put into our bodies that can’t be used up has to get out and some of it is via the skin. If you are worried about smelling bad, avoiding the obvious foods like garlic and onions may seem like good sense but these things are good for you and actually help to boost your metabolism. It is far better to avoid junk foods such as fried meats, cakes and pastries and cut back on the alcohol in the race to smell ace!
Put the Sweat factory on part-time!
Of course, you can choose the easy option and go for an antiperspirants. These stop the production of sweat by plugging up your sweat glands with aluminium chlorohydrate or equivalent. These are very effective at reducing wetness and often contain fragrance to help cover up any residual smell BUT they do make it harder for your skin to eliminate toxins naturally (by blocking the exit) which is one reason why you shouldn’t douse your whole body – armpits are just fine!
If the thought of an aluminium containing antiperspirants turns you off you can just cover up the smell with any of the wide range of deodorant products around. These may be based on natural ingredients such as essential oils to cover the smell and clays, talcs or mineral salts to help mop up and neutralise the odour (such as bicarb of soda) .
An even more ‘natural’way of deodorising is to use a special crystal that can be rubbed around the armpit area where it imparts its magic. These crystals are rich in natural mineral salts – namely potassium or sodium alum – salts that have natural antibacterial properties which help to reduce our bacteria load before the smell begins.
Avoid Embarrassing Situations.
This one is tricky but when we are under pressure our epocrine sweat starts to flow. This is one of the things that lie detectors are programmed to pick up – our apocrine sweat can tell a fair bit about us and give our game away. The best way to keep this under control is to give yourself a fighting chance in potentially stressful situations by controlling your breathing, being well prepared, wearing breathable clothes and giving yourself time to think. Not always possible but worth keeping in mind.
Well, our pollies may well thrive on the drama of a good leadership challenge but that doesn’t mean we have to smell a rat. I think I will put in an order for Deo crystals all around.
Stay dry this summer and feel great being you!
Late last week the European Union agreed to the adoption of a set of new rules governing the safety and marketing of cosmetic products. Contrary to what some NGO’s would have us believe, the cosmetics industry has been regulated (albeit self-regulated) since the first cosmetic directive was introduced in the 1970’s. So, while the industry has always strived to provide the public with safe, effective and high quality products it is legislative frameworks such as this that ensure everyone is singing from the same song sheet so to speak.
So, the new law states that nano particles present in cosmetic formulations have to be listed on the label. Now while this gives the public greater transparency, I do wonder what people are going to do with that information. You can read an earlier post on this topic here.
The majority of people would not have any idea of what a nanoparticle is, looks like or what it could do (good or bad) for the skin / general health or the environment. That doesn’t mean that we are all stupid, it means that most people do not have chemistry or physics backgrounds. Oh, and even those of us that do need to take a whole new lesson in all things nano to understand the consequences in using these materials. So, what are we to do with this information? aren’t all chemicals used in cosmetics supposed to be safe (as per Cosmetic Directive) ? Oh and while we are at it, What are the benefits of nano anyway?
While I can answer some of my questions there are clearly gaps in the scientific data as to the long-term implications of these tiny particles. Is this alarming or surprising? Not when you consider that we live in a global economy where growth, innovation and speed to market are king (or queen). This is, to a large extent how science works these days. Something great comes along, it is tested according to the laws and best practice of the day, the due diligence box is ticked and we go to market all glossy and shiny. And this is fine until….
…… We get a hangover.
Now, to view what is happening to the nanotechnology ingredients market as a hangover is a bit trivial. This is ground breaking science that is being applied not just to lipsticks but to life saving and ultimately planet saving inventions. However, there really is a feeling of “party’s over” and as the sun pokes its head above the horizon once more we just have to pop ourselves an aspirin and decide what road we take next. After all, abstinence may give us the moral high ground (and yes, it has its place) but there is a party going on and we are all invited.
So, if you want sunscreens that don’t contain chemicals (according to marketing depts Zinc and Titanium are chemical free!) or want to look younger without a facelift (many anti-ageing creams contain nano technology) you may want to keep posted as “nano” may be coming to a label near you SOONISH.
A couple of weekends ago I was lucky enough to attend the launch of the Hoopaholics new DVD – hooping for beginners. As someone who just loves anything fun and physical just one viewing of the DVD was enough to have me hooked. During the launch party however, I found out that hooping is not just for sports junkies, hooping has something for everyone. Hoop Empire founder Bunny explains how she became hooked below.
So, if any of these statements sound like you:
- You love music and have been known to jiggle your booty when provoked.
- You are looking for something to feed your mind as well as your body.
- You want to exercise without knowing it.
- You feel the need to release your inner child.
- You are aged between 4-104
can I recommend the Hoop Sir/ Madam?
We have 2 copies of the DVD to give away. To win one simply e-mail me at amanda@realizebeauty.com with your name, address and the answer to this simple question:
The filming for the DVD took place in Bunny’s favourite place in the world - tell me where?
You have until 10am Monday 30th November to get your answer to me. All correct answers will go into a hat with the two winners being announced at around 12 noon on the same day. GOOD LUCK!
A Word From Bunny.
Over a decade ago I was dancing at a nightclub in Melbourne and came across a circus performer spinning many hoops all over her body. I think it was in that moment that a higher energy beamed down and implanted in my being the obsession to hoop! I was transfixed and very intrigued by the power of the hoop and its ability to captivate not only me as a viewer but obviously the beautiful hoopstress herself. Very soon after this initial siting a friend gifted me a hoop which pretty quickly became my new essential accessory – I took it everywhere. Together we attended many a party and dance floor where I would settle into the corner, tune into the music and bliss out on the circular and rhythmic whole body meditation that hooping dancing essentially is. I felt like I was in an invisible bubble and strangely enough (many people refuse to believe me when I say this) it drew me out of my shyness! It wasn’t until well into my performance career which started several years later in Sydney and specifically when I added lights and fire to my hoops that the invisible bubble popped and I began to engage with my audience, my self and life with a new level of awareness and the ability to literally light up people’s lives. I have stepped into a comfort zone within that feels good to be me – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and energetically.
Hooping has been a channel for so much personal growth and self-development. It keeps me fit, pushes me to explore my boundaries, invites me to be playful, sensual and creative, has opened me up to a global community of people who are driven to feel as positive, healthy and happy as possible and has tuned me in to my eternal inner child which is a bubble in itself. It’s also radically improved my wardrobe. Life can get way too serious all too often. I love how hooping pretty much overrides this feeling. I see it in my students or in my fellow hoopies when we jam, I see it in videos on the internet, I feel it in my heart – when you spin a ring around your body and start to move your body something magical happens and then keeps on happening as you learn new tricks and ways to play with the hoop.
My greatest wish is to share my love of the hoop with as many people as possible, which in essence is why I made Hooping for Beginners – A Hybrid Hooping Journey. This is my first instructional DVD which focuses on the foundations of a style that incorporates both circus hooping (multiple hoops) and hoop dance (freestyle movement and flow). It is a 90 minute DVD divided into three lessons – on the body, off the body and multiple hoops. We shot it in my favourite place in the world, Central Australia, where the stars shine so bright and the red earth vibrates with a creative dynamism that I’m not quite sure I have experienced before. But of course when you beam three hooping divas out into the Australian desert there is bound to be a touch of Priscilla Queen of the Desert… and beyond. After each lesson you are taken on an Intergalactic Space Babe journey which features hot moves, grooves, costumes and attitude… it gets pretty funky! The soundtrack is a delicious smorgasbord of international beats and melodies that cross world, electronic, classical and indigenous genres. There is also a non-stop 10 minute closing Hoopaholic performance that explores character, costume, lights, fire, visual montage and sound. We wanted to move beyond purely the instructional side and add a visual and auditory feast as an art project as well as a series of lessons that says: get your bling on, get your hoop on, tune into your own personal rhythm and have fun!
Bunny Hoop Star is a multimedia artist, hoop teacher and founding member of The Hoopaholics, Australia’s one and only hulahoop troupe.
She has been hooping for over a decade and now performs and teaches professionally in Australia and throughout the world. With an emphasis on movement and flow her classes range from learning the basics of how to spin a hoop or two… or three or four… to more advanced Hoop Dance moves. She has been teaching the hoopla to both adults and children over the past four years and is an accredited trainer with the Australian Sports Commission.
For more info visit the website: www.hoopempire.com
This morning many of us (in Australia) would have been chomping down on our corn flakes while watching the piece about the 515 chemicals that us women douse ourselves in each day in the name of beauty. Fact? Possibly, so what is the problem? Let me give you just the first five of my 515 reasons why women need to stop reading rubbish.
Eyes Wide Open
1) Who funded the segment. Why? Because if it was meant as a “news” item I would love to see the balanced and fair journalism stats. If not, we need to know who and why so that we can work out how to act.
2) If all of these chemicals are putting us at harm can the health minister and the cosmetics industry “please explain”.
3) How do you think we all feel now after hearing that our shimmer body lotion may give us cancer and our ”Eau De Beauty” body spray will deform our developing offspring? Can you dish out the phone number for the mental health clinic while you are at it please?
4) Stating that a chemical that is in your body lotion is ALSO IN OVEN CLEANER is pointless. It is like saying Glycerine is ALSO FOUND IN epoxy resin. Chemicals have thousands of uses and are refined and manufactured according to their end market.
5) Parabens are going to kill us? Based on the column inches that parabens receive I could surmise that parabens worry more people than global warming. Parabens do have a slight estrogenic effects but so do some foods (including Soy and some fruit and veggies). They have been scientifically proven to be have no adverse effect on the body. However, the cosmetics industry has taken notice and it is now easy to find paraben free cosmetics.
So, do I believe that the chemicals in your cosmetics are all OK and we should just get on with life? NO I don’t and that’s because I am a scientists and as such am part of a community that is ALWAYS looking for better and safer ways of doing things.
It is true that research is going on to ascertain what effect some of these (and other) chemicals have on our bodies, on the environment and on the rest of the food chain. All ingredients used in the cosmetics industry have to be tested for their health and environmental impact as individual chemicals BUT there has been increasing awareness of the impact that mixtures of ingredients can have on health and waterways. This is especially true when people are using many different products, day in, day out from an early age. As you can appreciate, this work is complicated, expensive and difficult to control. We encounter chemicals every day in the food that we eat, the products in our houses and the transport we take. Trying to link one chemical delivered via a body lotion to cancer is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
OK, so now you are thinking that “SHE is one of them, of course SHE would downplay the risks as part of the cosmetics industry”. Well NO. I am NOT one of anything. I am a cosmetic chemist that has worked for chemical companies, small brands, big brands and individuals. I have worked for charities and councils. I have and do volunteer for environmental groups. I have children, I am hoping to live to a ripe old age and I ride a bike. I am an Independent consultant / journalist and educator.
My agenda is this. To tell you the truth as it is today and to seek out the facts about the backstage world of an industry that is supposed to turn on an agenda of FUN. I am an advocate of “green chemistry”, believe that we should value our resources more than we currently do and am passionate about empowering people through education.
What I don’t like is fear based journalism as that plays on all of our insecurities without giving us any ladder with which to escape.
The material that was presented on Sunrise sourced an article from the Daily Mail in the UK and quoted Dr Ginni Mansberg who generally gives good and well-rounded advice, maybe she had an off day.
Ok, so you read the books, saw the movie and now want to take your “twi-hard” obsession to the next level. Well, thanks to Summit Entertainment teaming up with professional make up brand Du Wop YOU CAN! Now I haven’t been bitten by the bug yet (we are still working our way through Harry Potter) so what I wanted to know is this, what does it take to look vampish?
Twilight Venom Lip in Bloodstained Crimson.
This lip stain needs to be shaken before use to activate the vampire essense (or to facilitate dispersion). Apparently it has a bit of a bite to it which causes the lips to swell slightly giving them that “just bitten” look. I can’t find an ingredients list on the website but would guess that the “beesting” look is caused by a vasodilator (something that brings blood to the surface) such as capsicum oleoresin, Ginger extract, cinnamon or pepper alongside a skin irritant which could include any of the above as well as things like Alpha Hydroxy Acids.
The literature states that you will feel your lips tingle when you apply so I would suggest that you only try a little to start with and check out the full ingredients list before use (as you may have allergies to some of these ingredients).
Pale and Passionate.
The range has also made it possible to get that “other world glow” through using light reflective pigment technology that bouce light away from your face. This gives the illusion of a glowing, moonlit complexion as well as making you look pale and interesting! There are also body shimmers to give your body that extra dimension!
In light of what has been happening in the cosmetics industry over the last week (Human Fat Trade) I find the whole fascination with vampires quite extraordinary – I really can’t see the beauty in sucking blood……… but guess it takes all sorts!
Anyway, have fun and stay safe. For more information on the range or to make a purchase visit the Twilight Beauty website.
Our hair looks best when kept under slightly acidic conditions. Why? Well, it’s all to do with its structure.
Hair is around 95% protein (proteins are made up from amino acids) with the remaining 5% consisting of an acidic oil (mainly eicosanoic acid), melanin and other trace elements. It is the acidic oil film that our scalps produce to lubricate the hair shaft that commercial conditioners strive to replace. So, while we think that sophisticated hi-tech conditioners are great, mother nature is even better. Let’s have a look at Apple Cider Vinegar.
What happens when you leave apples to ferment for too long or let the mix get too hot? You get vinegar as many a home brewing enthusiast has found out. This over fermentation is due to a bacteria called acetobacter (the bacteria that give off acetic acid or the table vinegar that is commonly used today) which can be cultured in a laboratory or allowed to develop naturally. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is a low environmental impact hair and skin treatment, it often still contains the “mother” or apple remnants to ensure that every drop of goodness is retained. The vinegar can be applied to hair after shampooing, left for a minute or two and then rinsed out leaving soft, shiny hair. This mild acid softens and smoothes the cuticle leaving it conditioned and easy to comb. Basically what you are doing here is restoring the hair back to a state of ‘normality’ by returning its pH to a more acidic one (washing leaves it quite alkali).
So if apple cider vinegar is good, are all acids worth a try?
Good results have been seen with weak glycolic acid solutions, citric acid and lactic acid however, once the pH of the acidic treatment gets too low (below about 4) you run the risk of softening the cuticle so much that you dissolve it. If in doubt don’t use until you get it checked out by a professional.
And why is natural better?
Well, that’s more holistic – the more we can simplify, the lower our impact on the environment. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction which may be fine but it is worth considering.
This morning I was called by the ABC to comment on a gruesome mass murder involving the cosmetics industry. Apparently police uncovered a Peruvian gang who were alledged to have been harvesting the fat from humans and selling it to the cosmetics manufacturers for $15,000 per Kg. Not being something I hear every day I must say that my first thoughts were of magical or mystical connections, just like the hunters who take bile from bears hoping to capture its strength and virility this certainly seemed more superstition than science.
That got me thinking of the book “Perfume” by Patrick Suskind, a book about a murderer motivated by his desire to capture the perfect essence of humanity – an essence that was captured via carefully peeling the victims scent from them after embalming their bodies in warm animal fats (a technique called effluage which is still used today, only not usually on humans).
Anyway, aside from that what use would human fat have for the cosmetics industry? I have to say that I don’t know ANY cosmetic house that would seek out this kind of ingredient. Fats are used in cosmetics to make creams, lotions and sometimes body washes feel good on the skin. The oils keep the skin moisturised and softened, help to deliver active ingredients to the skin and protect it from the environment. Nowadays the oils used in cosmetics are most often vegetable derived – palm, coconut, cotton, avocado, jojoba, macadamia and olive are often used. The prices of these oils can vary but usually you would usually only be looking at between $1000 and $4000 for a MT of plant-based oil making this human oil pretty expensive.
Chemically speaking, the composition of human fat would vary depending on the age, weight, collection site on the body and nutrition of the person the fat was harvested from. Sourcing human fat from a liposuction clinic would mean that you get lots of adipose tissue (the tissue that stores excess fat until we need to break it down and use it). This fat could contain stem cells, fatty acids, hormones and signalling molecules called cytokines – some of which could be of great interest to the cosmetic chemist – but NOT if they are sourced from murder victims (these active ingredients are usually plant or milk derived).
Overall I cannot think of any cosmetic company that would mandate using human tissue in this way, especially as the actives that the fat may (or may not) contain can be sourced ethically and sustainably from non-animal sources. The same would go for ingredient manufacturers who would have to give good traceability as to the origins of their oils, fats and actives. It seems that the lure of big money has again made some people forget all about morality, ethics and respect. Let’s hope that this gang is stopped before any more people lose their lives in such a cold and calculating way.
To hear the ABC interview click here.
I was out and about yesterday looking for inspiration among the department store shelves when I came across a few grossities. I am not usually one to spread bad news but I think that this is worth mentioning so, here we go.
While out shopping I found:
* One med-high priced brand of lip balm (in a tub) completely separated and smelling rank.
* 5 separate pump dispenser packs, caked up with old lotion around the nozzle.
* The afore-mentioned lotions in various stages of cottage cheese cakiness.
* More than a handful of brands for which one had to purchase or clandestinely rip open the pack to reveal the ingredients listing.
* Two sad old creams completely separated.
Sound familiar? I am not surprised that products don’t go the “shelf life” distance when presented as sample pots. These products have a tough old life often being used by hundreds of grubby hands – large and small every day. They are also placed under hot and bright lighting and quite frequently forgotten about altogether in the rush to re-stock the sales merchandise.
The problem?
Well, rancid lotions could do more than put you off a brand, they could seriously upset your stomach. How many of us test out potential new product on the back of our hands, rubbing it in and then giving a once over before we buy? How many of us then wash it off before digging into our cappuccino and banana bread? Most of the time these actions will go without consequence but every now and then, a split lotion spells danger as it has come under bacterial attack. Candida, E-Coli, Pseudomonus and Staph grow well under cream conditions.
The solution?
- Sales assistants and merchandisers need to keep their eyes peeled for any dodgy looking sample stock. Don’t assume that because it is in shelf life it is OK.
- Suppliers of samples need to customer proof their products by choosing robust packaging that consumers can’t get into. Jars are a BIG no no.
- Us shoppers need to inform the sales assistant of any products we find looking below par. If they shrug you off saying that the product is “always like that” I would stear well clear.
- Product manufactures should ensure that shoppers can find the ingredients listing easily when shopping – many people wish to steer clear of or purchase only certain ingredients. Why not help them out?
Brand owners beware, the tester pot may be the first and last meeting you have with a potential new customer. If you product sells for over $70 per 50ml pack why not invest in a more robust tester strategy?
One Champion yesterday was Clinique. The products were flawless and samples were collected for the shopper by sparkly clean sales assistants armed with disposable spatulas. Whatever your views on Clinique, they certainly know how to pour a sample!
So, I was driving home from work the other day listening to ABC radio 702 and daydreaming about the meat that I had forgotten to get out of the freezer for tea (it wasn’t a good daydream) when something happened. I nearly put MYSELF through the windscreen when the conversation turned to the growing “designer vagina“ craze. WHAT? WHAT is one of them and show me a woman who has the time to care…..
Anyway, I listened on. So each year over 1000 women (see, they do exist) undergo surgery on their lady bits in the name of beauty. The reasons cited for the surgery vary from want to look “neater” down their, to improve “the look” of skimpy underwear, to look good in holiday snaps and to give them more confidence. So what happens next?
Well, the operation is called a labioplasty which means that the “designer vagina” should be re-named the “designer vulva” only that doesn’t rhyme and sounds too much like a very sensible car to get any air play. Basically it involves a surgeon sculpting and re-shaping your private parts to your specifications while you lay back (anesthetized) and dream of the perfect future that you are creating. Ouch.
While not all operations are cosmetically motivated there exists a growing band of women who want perfection “down under”. What I want to know now is what does perfection look like? What are we doing with our lives to warrant giving our reproductive organs so much thought? Have we not got school homework to supervise, boardroom meetings to run, friends to catch up with and charities to donate our excess money to? Come on….
But it doesn’t stop there. Once we have surgically tweaked our vagina we then feel the need to keep the surrounding area trimmed, coloured, silky smooth, even tanned and tattooed with “keep off the grass”. That sounds like seriously high maintenance.
So, I sat back and thought for a moment and as always I got a bit of inspiration from my kids (who happen to be girls). They were playing with barbie dolls (in a let’s go camping, Thelma and Louise outback adventure style) and it suddenly occurred to me. Women are using Barbie as their “designer vagina” role model. Well, that’s just great but there is about as much between Barbies legs as there is between her ears and that isn’t going to get anyone anywhere.
I soon decided that I probably have a “designer vagina” only mine didn’t cost me anything! It’s not that I am against people taking care of themselves or even having fun with their bodies (including “that” part) but what bothers me more is the social pressure that some women feel under to comply to an unrealistic standard. Our bodies do not come out of a plastics mould and variety is the spice of live so guys, keep your hands OFF it because I prefer my vagina with a bit of character (too much information). Sorry!
