Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Products

I am definitely one of those girls who like products. As a matter of fact, I can't leave for work most mornings unless I have used most of my favorite products (either vitamins or toiletries.)

Last fall I joined a book club for women (are there even male book clubs out there?) and the first book we were assigned was Stacy Malkan's Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. This book was absolutely terrifying; every woman should be required to read it.

This book outlines some of the most dangerous products we, as women, flock to and how these very same products that make us (feel) beautiful are poisoning us, killing us, and causing significant health problems (breast cancer, etc.) Some of the products actually get passed to our unborn children and can cause cancers a very young age and/or even birth defects. Like I said, every woman should read this (and men too, Aaron perused it briefly.) That's all I'll say about the book as it isn't the purpose of my blog, but if you want more information I encourage you to visit the site by simply clicking here. If you don't want to do the research, one of the main ingredients you want to avoid is phthalates, labeled as BBP, DBP, DEP, DEHP. It's bad, bad news, and unfortunately very common in baby products :(

Taking animal testing and poison into consideration, I (still) use the following products, many of which are completely safe (as far as I've investigated... or at least until another study comes out. ;)

10. Paul Mitchell: I only use Paul Mitchell's products in my hair; shampoo, conditioner and styling -- but, I especially love the gloss drops. They make my hair so shiny!

9. Clean and Clear: I love these products. I use the facial scrubs and the face cream. (**Please note: Clean and Clear is made by Johnson & Johnson, a company notorious for animal testing and certain additives, but Clean and Clear- or at least the products I use, are poison free and J&J has been working, in recent years, so make products safer. But, be a saavy consumer; read the labels on all products.)

8. Mac: It's the only cosmetics I'll use. I have to travel far and wide to get it, but it's my favorite.

7. Burt's Bees: I love, love, love Burt’s- almost all of the products- especially the pomegranate chapstick. I can't leave home without it. If you buy any one product off this list, buy the chapstick.

6. Flintstone's Vitamins: I eat one every day but, as soon as I'm done with this jar, I'm switching to prenatals ;)

5. Crest White Strips: I don't know what's in these. I can't bear to look. I drink too much coffee to go without, LOL.

4. True Blue Spa cuticle cream: Every night before bed, baby

3. True Blue Spa: Tahiti Sweetie body cream…obsessed.

2. Secret: Chai tea scent.

1. Dolce & Gabbana’s Light Blue: It's my favorite perfume. I don't even dare look at the ingredients. I can't leave home without this scent. I'm obsessed. Aaron gets me a bottle every year for Christmas. I'll take my chances with this product.

Forgive me, I was exhausted!