That's Fit

Ever read the ingredients on your beauty products? Our friends over at The Beauty Brains recently did and found that one Oil of Olay product contained a surprising ingredient--Butane, aka that stuff that goes into cigarette lighters.

But is washing your face in butane safe? The brains seem to think so -- while it's not ok to wash your face in lighter fluid, having butane in your face wash isn't a problem. Butane is used as a propellant in aerosol cans, and that's about the end of it's use. Once it's exposed to air, it quickly evaporates and most likely doesn't even end up on your face.

Interesting, huh? The Beauty Brains have lots of inside info to share -- head on over there to learn more about your beauty products.

We talk a lot about reading labels here at That's Fit, like how whole wheat bread isn't always whole wheat, and "natural" and "organic" can mean several things. However, more than just your food is labeled -- so are your cosmetics.

In honor of Earth Day this past Tuesday, I wanted to tell you a bit about how you can find cosmetics and beauty products that are truly cruelty-free. After all, causing pain for an animal just isn't pretty.

Companies use several different types of wording to make the extent of their animal testing ambiguous. For example, if the label says Final product not tested on animals, that means that while that particular lip gloss might not have been put on an animal, the ingredients going into it might have. Or, if it says This brand does not test on animals, it could mean that a supplier or lab that brand works with tests on animals.

Want beautiful skin in 2008? (Who doesn't?) Rather than spend your money on expensive potions, consider these simple tips from the New York Times instead. An ounce of prevention will keep your skin healthy and glowing, and stop problems before they start. My favorites include:

• Throw out old beauty products. I know, I know, they're expensive to replace, but what you can't see (bacteria) can hurt you.
• Keep your hands off! It's tempting to pop those pimples, but you may just make matters worse.
• Use fewer products. Skin experts recommend -- at most -- a mild cleanser, moisturizer with sunscreen, a product with antioxidants, and an anti-wrinkle treatment that contains retinoids or vitamin A.
• Wash your face. So simple, so effective, washing your face gives it a rest from environmental exposure.

What's your favorite great skin habit?

Looking for the most healthy way to look beautiful these days (and nights)? Of course, it starts from the inside out. Eating highly nutritious meals along with plenty of water and staying away from excessive fatty foods, fried foods and high-calorie foods and soft drinks is a great start to allow your body all the necessary items is needs to function well and provide you with the kind of glow and radiance you need -- and desire.

Sure -- there are bountiful products that will cover up the signs of inadequate nutrition and poor physical health. These come in all shapes and sizes, from over-indulgent and sappy facial moisturizer and makeup to actual tan-colored "body paint" that will cover up those blemishes and marks that exist. I know -- a lot of that has nothing to do with treating your body good from the inside out. In those cases, the purpose for such products -- when chosen wisely -- is clear.

It seems like the health debate regarding hair dyes and their relation to cancer has been around forever, so I decided to do a little digging. Here's what I found: the Canadian Cancer Society doesn't seem too concerned with the risk, as they point out in this article. The New York Times has also pointed out that there's no significant link, or as they put it, "no smoking gun."

Both sources acknowledge that an ingredient in hair dyes prior to the 1980's have been shown to present a larger risk than ones produced today, and that darker shades are more correlated with cancer than lighter ones. Dyes have been linked to both bladder cancer and Lymphoma, but not yet conclusively. All other info I found against hair dye seemed to be fairly outdated.

I know a lot of people who dye their hair and probably would continue to do so unless there were smoking-like warnings (the old 'vanity knows no cost' saying probably applies here). I'm fairly cautious with cancer warnings, but I don't think there's enough evidence to force me to live with my mousy-brown roots just yet. What do you think?