Complete with Vignette: Culprit #1

Cherry Choco Chip!

No, ice cream is not the culprit (well, maybe in another sense it is. But not here!).

The culprit to which I refer is an unlikely one. It is a ruthless product on the market, out to seduce the public with its delightful scents and quilted textures. It is widely used, but rarely critiqued. Readily available in stores, but seldom complete with fragrance information. It may very well be tucked away in your laundry nook at home, ready to strike once again.

It is...

DUM DUM DUMMM...

dryer sheets.

Yes, the seemingly innocuous dryer sheet is not as innocent as it might first appear. Remember how the word "fragrance" is relatively unregulated in the market? Our well-loved dryer sheets are no exception.

What makes dryer sheets of particular concern is that they deposit fragrance chemicals directly onto fabrics, which then lie directly against your skin (possibly all over your body, depending on your attire) for hours on end. And because dryer sheets are intended to leave clothes smelling flowery fresh for many hours, these chemicals may be of particular strength and longevity. Some dryer sheets can be contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals and hormone disruptors. This can cause irritation for sensitive skin and other problems, particularly over the long-term.

So what's a consumer to do?

I would recommend one of two things:

Option #1: Skip the dryer sheets altogether. This is my preference, and I feel secure knowing that my body isn't in long-term contact with unknown "fragrances."

Option #2: Try an all-natural brand of dryer sheets. These usually contain no harsh chemicals, do contain LABELED fragrance if desired (usually from much safer essential oils), and are biodegradable. Check out Mountain Green (~$7, mountaingreen.biz) and Seventh Generation (~$5, seventhgeneration.com).

Leave comments below! Do you use dryer sheets?

Review: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Gloss

*note: 100% Pure has NOT paid me OR sent me any products for free. I am in no way sponsored by 100% Pure or any of its affiliates for this review. I purchased these products myself. This is my sole opinion and experience with these products, and everyone's experience may differ.*

Two years ago, I started looking for a lip gloss line that would give me great color impact with none of the nasty chemicals, and I have found that line! I discovered 100% Pure lip glosses two years ago, and have loved them ever since.

Left: Popsicle  Right: Sheer Strawberry

I love these lip glosses for their color range. This line features bright pops of coral and pink, as well as deeper reds, mauves, and sparkly light beiges. I have these glosses in Popsicle, a light and bright coral pink, and in Sheer Strawberry, a very sheer, true pink.

Above: Sheer Strawberry  Below: Popsicle

It is hard to see the difference between the two colors from my camera shot, but the two are quite different. Sheer Strawberry is darker (but wears very sheer) and a bit cooler in tone, while Popsicle is warmer and more of a coral than a pink.

These glosses are a bit sticky, but sticky lip gloss equals more staying power. They usually stay on for about 4 hours for me. They actually have a nice velvety texture to them as well, so the stickiness is by no means overwhelming or bothersome for me. They layer beautifully over lipstick, adding a hint of color and plenty of shine. They can also be worn alone. I like wearing Sheer Strawberry with a bit of lip liner on makeup-lite days.

These products have absolutely no artificial flavors, scents, preservatives, fillers, or any other harmful chemicals. I like that the base is Tocopherol (Vitamin E)-- there is a difference between Tocopherol and Tocopheryl Acetate (a resin of Vitamin E), and I prefer to have the real thing. As advertised, these products are indeed tinted with fruits, so no scary chemical colors either!

They are about $13 each, but they last a LONG TIME. You can purchase these glosses at the 100% Pure website, as well as at the company boutiques in California.