Ingredients and Safety At-A-Glance

Busting a Few Beauty Myths

When it comes to cosmetic ingredients and safety, you can’t believe everything you
read these days. Chances are you’ve probably seen a “beauty-gone-bad” story about the
evils of lipstick or mineral oil on television, the internet, or in magazines. So how can
you separate truth from fiction, and feel good about looking good? Here are a few facts
to set the record straight, and to help you feel great about the Mary Kay® products you
use and purchase.

Myth: Lead in lipstick can be the kiss of death!
Fact: Lead is a naturally occurring material and there are small amounts of lead in the
air we breathe and in the water we drink every day; these naturally occurring levels
cause us no harm. It’s a fact that lipsticks, along with many consumer products,
naturally contain very small trace amounts of lead, but the experts agree that the
amounts are insignificant and absolutely safe. The levels are well below the daily safe
limits established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental
Protection Agency.

Myth: TALC is a bad word!
Fact: Talc has been getting a lot of bad press lately because of the recent popularity of
mineral-based powders. Talc used in cosmetics is a specially-refined grade and has a
proven scientific record. While it’s true that this natural ingredient can be used for noncosmetic purposes, rest assured that the grade of talc used in cosmetics is perfectly safe
for consumers.

Myth: If it says natural or organic, it’s BETTER (naturally!).
Fact: Organic, natural, and botanical are buzzwords in the beauty industry right now.
Sometimes the benefits associated with these products and ingredients are greatly
exaggerated. There is no scientific data that supports the blanket statement that
natural, organic, or botanical ingredients are always better. At Mary Kay, our goal is to
develop the safest and most effective products possible, including organic, natural, or
botanical ingredients when they provide a benefit. In fact, most Mary Kay® color and
skin care products contain a number of key natural and botanical ingredients that
research has proven to be effective.

Myth: Why do some people claim that paraben-free cosmetics are better?
Fact: First of all, the word parabens just sounds scary, doesn’t it? The fact is, a world
without parabens would be very scary indeed! Parabens are used extensively in
cosmetics, foods, and even medicines because they function as preservatives and
protect products from microbiological contamination. Paraben safety has been studied
extensively by various governmental regulatory agencies around the world, and none of
those agencies has found any scientific data that support the rumors that parabens are
harmful to human health.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW MYTH BUSTERS I thought were worthy of a share - I like to keep skin care simple and that is the purpose of this blog. Enjoy!

9 Aphrodisiacs to Heat Up Your Love Life

By Joe Wilkes

Named for Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, aphrodisiacs have been the stuff of legend and song throughout history. Lovers looking for a leg up in the libido department have gone to their shamans, medicine men, and herbalists for centuries, searching for themagic ingredient that will kick their mojo into high gear. And today the search has gone to the Internet. Anyone with a lackluster spam filter has probably scanned the hundreds of emails that arrive every day, advertising powdered rhinoceros horn or some unpronounceable chemical that promises to goose your or your partner's desires. The efficacy of these miracle products is extremely dubious (and, in the case of the exotic animal parts, illegal), but there are plenty of products that you can find right in your grocery store or farmers' market that can potentially increase the heat between the sheets. Here are some common foods and why they might be able to put a little extra oomph into that special evening. And over half of them are in the top two tiers of Michi's Ladder, so you can have your cake and eat it, too! (Well, not cake, but asparagus and bananas!)

1. Oysters. These are perhaps the classic aphrodisiacs of all time. The legendary lover Casanova reportedly consumed 50 oysters every day to keep his . . . um . . . stamina up. But until recently the powers of these bivalves were only backed up by anecdotal evidence and the testimonials of mollusk-loving Lotharios. Recently though, studies have shown that oysters and their shellfish brethren, including clams, scallops, and mussels, all contain chemical compounds that may aid the release of testosterone, estrogen, and other sex hormones in both men and women. Oysters are also full of zinc, a deficiency of which can cause impotence in men, another reason they can be man's best friend in the bedroom. And then of course there's the conventional wisdom that if you'll eat an oyster, you'll eat anything.
2. Chocolate. What's more associated with Valentine's Day than chocolate? The ancient Aztecs considered chocolate to be an aphrodisiac for both men and women, and when the Europeans got wind of its inhibition-lowering properties, it wasn't long before the candy treat became a must-have when pitching woo. Casanova and famed Louis XV courtesan Madame du Barry were reported to be great believers in the powers of chocolate, and there may have been something to it. Chocolate contains the chemicals phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are also naturally occurring chemicals in the brain, usually released when we are happy or in love. Its chemicals can literally cause your heart to beat a little faster. Add to that a boost of caffeine and sugar, and it can be a pretty good pick-me-up with a small side of euphoria.
3. Figs. Maybe it wasn't just the apple in the Garden of Eden that got things going. Remember, Adam and Eve ended up covering themselves in fig leaves. And it was also the favorite fruit of Cleopatra, who was certainly no slouch in the ways of love. In ancient Greece, fertility rituals would often follow the first fig harvest, and Greek portrayals of bacchanalia usually also included some fig action. In some European countries, figs are thrown instead of rice at newly married couples (ouch!) as symbols of fertility.
4. Bananas. In the Islamic version of the tale, Adam and Eve covered themselves with banana leaves rather than fig leaves. Bananas are also considered a fertility symbol by the Hindus. Bananas can really get you going with their high levels of potassium and B vitamins, which aid the production of hormones. Bananas also contain the protease bromelain, which is believed to help circulation.
5. Asparagus. It is rich in vitamin E, which is critical to the production of hormones. It also contains a lot of folic acid, which the body needs to produce histamines. And histamines are the chemical compounds that cause muscle contractions. A word of caution though—too much asparagus can cause flatulence, which might make the whole romantic plan backfire (no pun intended).
6. Avocados. The Aztecs referred to the avocado tree as Ahuacuatl or "testicle tree." Apparently, the fruit usually hangs in pairs. There appears to be little besides anecdotal evidence to support its claim as an aphrodisiac, though it is rich in many nutrients, including vitamins B6, C, and E. The California Avocado Commission conducted a Valentine's Day survey in 2000 of experts, 63 percent of whom concluded that the avocado does have some aphrodisiac qualities, some of which could be attributed to recently discovered phytochemicals.
7. Caviar. This fish-egg delicacy has been enjoyed by lovers for centuries, including, of course, Casanova (which increasingly leads me to believe a lot of women were just sleeping with him to get to the buffet). Caviar is known for its silky texture. Naturally, eggs are common fertility symbols, but there may also be some chemical reasons for which they are rated so highly on the love-maker's diet. Like oysters, they are high in zinc and rich in vitamins A and D and omega-3 fatty acids. They also are high in arginine, an amino acid which acts as a vasodilator, widening blood vessels and increasing blood flow.
8. Truffles. Not the chocolate kind (although those count under the "chocolate" category) but the expensive underground mushroom kind that pigs and dogs root out of the ground. Unlike other foods, it is the musky scent of the truffle that is believed to be what gets us going. Scientists have recently discovered that black truffles contain the pheromone androstenol. There is some debate over how much human beings are affected by pheromones, but truffles have been considered to be aphrodisiacs for centuries, and this recent discovery could be one explanation.
9. Champagne. When we think of romantic beverages, the list pretty much begins and ends with champagne. Most of the effects of champagne seem to be largely psychological, though. The purchase of an expensive beverage may set the mood for a special evening, and a mystique has been built in the media about the drink and its drinkers, from Marie Antoinette to Marilyn Monroe. But scientifically speaking, its amorous effects seem to come from the same place as most alcoholic beverages. Alcohol appears to have no positive effect on sexual function and, when overindulging, will usually move you in the other direction. It does, however, lead to a loss of inhibition and a decrease in judgment—in other words, a prelude to a kiss.

Mary Kay Shines With the Stars

It was so exciting last Sunday to be outside on the Red Carpet as Mary Kay Directors  gathered for our annual  leadership conference.  Click here to see our very own  Mary Kay Shines With the Stars

Join us tonight at "Our Pink Studio" 6:30 pm so that I may share with your all that's new fresh from the Hollywood walk of fame Mary Kay style.

Consultants are welcome to bring guests, you must RSVP me asap. And I'll see you later!!!