hara sport spf 30 Sunscreen Reviewed

picture hara body care
                                                                 
hara sport spf 30 was included in Skin Deep's 2010 "best of" sunscreens and scored a one (1) for risk in their database. That's ONE...as in very low risk. With only seven ingredients: zinc oxide, olive oil, beeswax, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and vitamin E and priced at $6.99 for 3 oz. it sounded like hara was worth a try.

Skin Deep directed me to Amazon.com for purchase. It was early spring at the time and I procrastinated as usual. A few months later when I went back to refresh my memory I started at hara's website. I'm so glad I did. The website described a company called "sailfit" and said they took care of Hawaii and all international orders. Something intrigued me about sailfit. Maybe the name, sailing is such a part of life here in the mid-Atlantic.

Sailfit is run by an active, creative couple, Meka and Kurt Taulbee out of Clearwater, Florida. They did indeed have an intriguing story to tell. Committed to their children, community, health, wellness and sailing, sailfit's positive outlook and personalized service made me feel really good about purchasing from them.

Of course the real pay off for any product must be in the performance. The most pressing issue, safety was already covered. But that was just the beginning. I'm pleased to report that hara sport delivers. After coming in from a day of sun I have only a slight golden glow.

Hara sport is creamy white from the zinc oxide (20.3%) and goes on smoothly with a bit of rubbing. I definitely like that. It's very easy to see where I've just applied and what's left for me to do, but I don't look like a kabuki doll.

Although hara is unscented there is the very slightest delicious aroma of cocoa butter to remind me of my favorite food, chocolate. Another plus. Unfortunately once applied the aroma doesn't stick around too long. Just like chocolate again!

I loved all the moisturizers. Of the seven ingredients, five moisturize and help resist product break down in water. Moisturizing my skin while also protecting it from harmful rays and the drying effect of garden soil or Atlantic salt water! What a bargain. My skin always feels and looks so good at the end of the day, warm from the sun, moisturized from the sunscreen.
 
I read in a review somewhere about separation occurring, but I didn't experience any. Realizing I had specifically bought hara sport because it was a safe product without toxic ingredients to keep everything in suspension, I kept my sunscreen in the cooler's top shelf when going for day-long adventures. Potential problem averted! Another plus with this solution is a nice cool sensation when it's time to re-apply.

The only negative I can cough up is that it's only available in a few stores in California and Hawaii so there are shipping costs involved. But now that I know how good it is I'm buying several tubes on the next go round.

Check out sailfit to be completely inspired by what the Taulbee's, parents of two young boys are accomplishing in Florida. Energetic does not even begin to paint the complete picture! If you decide to order from them you should know that if you have trouble ordering through the company's store just email Meka directly.  She's most helpful and you'd never guess how very busy she is from her relaxed, patient demeanor.

If you'd like to learn more about the role of zinc oxide and safety in sunscreen products click here. But please remember, as with any sun protection you have to re-apply after extended sweating, swimming or body surfing. Or every two hours... whichever comes first.

Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic... Something Good!

"Tell me something good.... mmmhhhmmm..."

Although it may not be as deeply stirring as listening to that goddess of funk, the one and only Chaka Chan deliver a Stevie Wonder tune, finding a wonderful product in Skin Deep's database that rates as a low hazard (0 - 2) feels like something good to me.

Please enjoy a little Chaka Chan & Rufus while I elaborate...
Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic with Botanical Blast

Score

Data: Limited

Health Concern

LOW

Product Type

facial moisturizer / treatment

Made by

Boscia by Fancl International, Inc.

Data last updated

October 2009

how to read the score

Is it possible for a product to make one feel light hearted? Only in a CEO's dreams, right?  Yet I always feel good spritzing cool Clear Complexion Tonic with Botanical Blast on my face.

Two or three light sprays of this toner after cleansing is all it takes- my face feels refreshed and soft and looks positively dewy. That's quite a trick with my dry skin... Am I laying it on too thick? I think not. This is a product I've been using for years, not a sample provided by Boscia.

There's a little hint of lovely, light scent. Just enough to evoke  happy memories of cool San Francisco mornings, but not enough to jump start my allergies into complaint mode.

...read more after the jump...

Did Everyday Chemicals Cause My Tumor?

I should be out pulling weeds in the garden, but instead I'm reading Salon. What a great site. Wonderful stories, talented writers and style a-plenty! I bumped into this informative article and thought I'd share it. The author requests no reproductions so here's the link... 

Did everyday chemicals cause my tumor?  


What do you think?

Flax Seed Gel- Available in Kitchens Everywhere

It's been too long since my last blog, but with good cause.  I've been in the kitchen happily playing with recipes for "do-it-yourself" hair care.

Home recipes for body care products have been around for years. I've always looked, but  never went beyond casual interest. I think I believed that buying was just easier. Now that I've taken the plunge I'm amazed at how simple it all was- and cheap. I didn't have to spend a penny- lucky me- all the ingredients were already in the house. It took some digging, but I found everything. It was a bit of a treasure hunt. Some ingredients were hiding in the back of the refrigerator and a few were piled in the cupboards. One critical bit of equipment even came from a box of unused knee high nylons in the bedroom!

Of the recipes I tested one was truly stellar. As good or better than any "store-bought" product I've tried. Most assuredly cheaper, only three ingredients and all of them good for my hair. Bet you already guessed which one it is...  Flax Seed Gel.

Hurrah for flax seed gel! Ridiculously easy, it's a mixture of flax seeds, filtered water and some aloe vera gel I just happened to have hanging around in the fridge.  Did I already say it was easy? Cheap, non- toxic...and it works. My hair was smooth and shiny, my waves loose and relaxed ... and there was no pouf or fluff in sight

That was on first day, freshly cleaned hair. The next morning I was rushed so I just water rinsed: water, a lot of friction to clean my scalp and then another good long rinse. The gel went on my sopping wet (without conditioner) before I stepped out of the shower. The result was even better than the first day.

The internet has many, many different recipes and videos to help you. I've provided some links below but you'll find a wide variety if you do a search. The recipe I used is below the videos. Have fun!

How to Make Flax Seed Gel

Botticelli Babe/Curl Talk: No Fail Flax Seed Gel

Flaxseed Gel

Flax Seed Gel Recipe

Ingredients:

1/4 cup flax seeds
2 cups filtered water
a generous tablespoon of aloe vera gel (optional)

Equipment:

medium sized heavy bottomed pot
bulb-shaped whisk or large spoon
2 pairs of knee high pantyhose
spatula
small bowl
airtight container that holds approximately 2-4 cups
refrigerator (you must store the gel in the fridge)

Method

Soak 1/4 cup of flax seeds in 2  cups of filtered water in a thick bottomed medium size pot   overnight or all day. It does not need to be refrigerated during this process. I covered the pot with a paper towel to keep any floating particles out of the mix.

Boil it at a little higher than medium high, stirring often with the whisk or spoon.   As the seeds boil they release the lovely mucilage that is the gel. This will stick to the bottom and corners of the pot which will minimize your yield, so continue to stir to keep the corners and bottom of the pan free of the gel you're creating.

You will continue to boil and stir until the seeds all rise to the top and a thin stream of gel sticks to the end of your whisk. This does not take long. The first batch I made I boiled it too long and boiled away most of my product- as well as creating VERY STIFF gel. Had to pitch it.

Remove the pan from the heat and and strain it through a PAIR of clean, knee high pantyhose. Watch out...It's HOT. Some people slide a pair of plastic tongs down the length of the hose to get every last little bit out of the seed, but I've found that if I soak the seeds long enough and don't over boil I end up with about 1 1/2 cups of lovely beige gel. Certainly enough for the 4-5 days it's going to last in the refrigerator.

I add about a tablespoon of aloe vera gel at the end

Once the mix is cooled I put it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.Mine only lasts 4-5 days refrigerated.