Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…

Like most Tomatoes, I love to walk around the city and discover new treasures. I stopped by to gaze at the majestic Christmas tree in Rockefeller center last month. I was surprised to find that on the lower level there were retail stores that seemed far from the crowds. The personal service that I found was an unexpected delight when I dropped into the new Terre d’Oc at, 55 West 49th Street in Manhattan, and enjoyed a feast for my senses. This new shop and knowledgeable staff exemplify an expression and a passion for sensual elegance. As I browsed the store I noticed the global influence, the respect for nature’s gifts, care for human beings, reverence for the environment and understanding of beauty as an extension of wellness.


















Make-up has been around for over 5000 years. Think about the ancient Egyptians, Native American Indians and African cultures and their use of body and face paints-to name a few. In our very modern world we have acquired a collective knowledge and scientific sophistication.  One would imagine that living here in the USA we would not be unknowingly applying poisons to our skin.

We all want to look great but at what cost? There are many products that promise to make us look healthier, younger and better.  Massive advertising campaigns for large cosmetic companies use words like pure, natural, organic and even hypoallergenic to give us a false sense of security so we will purchase their products-I call it “safe-washing.” We buy these items because we are fooled into thinking that they are safe and even good for us but have you read the labels? Why not look healthier because you are healthier-using products that nourish instead of poison you? If you are like most, reading the label means nothing because you don’t know what to look for. The European Union has already banned most of the following ingredients from the cosmetic industry but the United States falls way behind in this area.  According to www.PreventCancer.com: “A U. S. General Accounting Office report notes that the FDA has committed no resources for assessing the safety problems of those chemicals which have been found to cause genetic damage, biological mutations, and cancer.”

What we put on our skin goes into our body, so in an effort to get you on track for a healthier life, here is a list of 10 chemicals to avoid in your cosmetic and personal care items:

1.Mercury
2.Lead Acetate
3.Formaldehyde
4.Parabens
5.Toluene
6.Petroleum Distillates
7.Diethanolamine (DEA)
8.Triethanolamine (TEA)
9.Ethoxylated Alcohols
10.Polysorbates

Terre d’Oc made it easy for me to choose luxurious products that not only make me feel beautiful but made healthy options accessible. Try the Moroccan anti-aging Elixir made with argan, prickly Pear, dates and flower extract. Slather on lipstick made of argan oil, 100% shea butter and pomegranate which beautifies, moistures, and improves the condition of your skin as the day turns into night. Or pick up a gift for a friend or family member. Each item has a history or a story to for you to share. Try this experience and Tomatoes receive 10% off until the end of January by using the code: ecochi3Tom12

Products range from Organic Makeup, Skin Care, Home Fragrance, and even Organic Teas from around the world. The days when the cosmetic industry can pull the wool over our eyes is over. Unless it is certified organic wool of course!

NORDSTROM.com
The NYC Insider's Guide
for women who aren't kids
Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for your FREE insider's e-mail guide for "women who aren't kids."
For Email Marketing you can trust
Share |
The Three Tomatoes
Share |
HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
Feng Shui For Your  Life
A guide for using Feng Shui Principles
Debra Duneier is the Founder and President of Living Home by Debra LLC, a Feng Shui Master Practitioner, an accredited LEED Green Associate, Certified Eco-Designer, and a New York State licensed real estate broker.  She is the creator of the EcoChi system of design and the author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience, scheduled for publication Spring 2011.  Her training, background and perspective have made her a resource on topics including: Feng Shui, Real Estate, Green Design and Sustainability for media outlets including Martha Stewart Radio, Brokers Weekly, Social Life Magazine, Barons.com, CNBC, MSNBC and the Associated Press.

Learn more at:
debra@LivingHomeByDebra.com
www.LivingHomeByDebra.com
NORDSTROM.com