Ultimate Organic Treat for baby skin - GIVEAWAY!

Happy Holidays to everyone! What do we want for Holidays? Happiness, love, understanding, support, well, money too. But what does make a baby happy - love, kisses, toys and of course Chocolate. So here, we are happy to announce a great giveaway for babies. The Ultimate Organic Choco Skin care set. It contains Yummi*Tummi Organic Baby Choco Butter, with Calendula, 3.5oz and Choco*Smooch Organic Baby Lip & Face Balm, with Argan, Calendula and Sea Buckthorn o.75oz jumbo. Both products are Organic and contain only natural ingredients. And both of them smell like yummy chocolate - achieved with again, only natural butters and oils. Both rich with Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter and Essential Oils of Jojoba, Coconut, Argan, Kukui Nut, Tamanu, Macademia and Sea Buckthorn to care, nourish and repair dry, cracked and irritated skin. Detailed descriptions of the products can be found by clicking the links. Do you want it? This is what you have to do to enter this giveaway:

1. Visit www.sweetsationtherapy.com and tell us what product, you think, is our best achievement and why? This is mandatory.
2. Follow our Blog, to know about all the latest and greatest. Optional for extra entries.
3. Become our fan of Facebook. Optional for extra entries.
4. Become our fan on our new page of Facebook, for new skin care line SkinQR, that we are launching soon. Optional for extra entries.
5. Sign up for our news letter on the main page of our site. Optional.
6. Follow us on Twitter.
7. Answer the question, "what perfume scent do you like the best? Choices: fruity, light floral, heavier oriental and seductive, masculine or none. Or comment if it's not listed. Unexpected question, but we need your opinion for research.

That's all. Please make a separate entry for each.

Winner will be chosen randomly on December 6th, 2009, 11pm and notified by email.
Announcement: We will conduct a Giveaway every week of the December.

Let's celebrate Holidays the Giving Way!!!

This Giveaway is open for everyone, no matter where you live.

Perfect Christmas Stocking Stuffer. Choco*Smooch Organic Baby Lip & Face Balm, with Argan, Calendula and Sea Buckthorn has finally arrived.

This luxury Choco*Smooch baby lip and face balm comes in a jumbo size of 0.75oz, which is 5 times bigger then a regular lip balm. Keep it handy for those dry baby lips and cheeks, especially during the cold time of the year. Infused with nourishing ingredients like Argan, Calendula, Macadamia and Sea Buckthorn, rich in Palmitoleic acid, Omega 6, Omega 9 and Vitamin E, it will help to regenerate and revitalize dry, chapped skin and bring softness to where it belongs. Addition of Pomegranate, Cranberry and Raspberry seed oils, high in antioxidants and lipids including pucinic and ellagic acid also can be effective in treating dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and sunburned skin.This balm smells like true chocolate and kids (and mom) will love to have it in every pocket. And it's only $12.

Ingredients: Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Butter), Organic Beeswax, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Organic High Oleic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Oil), Organic Persea Gratissima (Avocado Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Vanilla Absolute, Mel (Honey), Theobroma Cacao (Cacao Seed Oil), Organic Argan Oil, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) fruit extract, Organic Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn Oil), Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) fruit extract, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed (Macadamia Nut Oil), Organic Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry), Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry Seed Oil), Punica Granatum Linn (Pomegranate Oil). Treat someone special NOW.

The 515 Chemicals Women Wear

Women and beauty products - it's a love affair that's been going on for centuries. And no wonder. There's nothing like a new lipstick or favorite perfume to make us look and feel good. Or so we thought...
In fact, according to a new report, most of our favorite cosmetics are cocktails of industrially produced and potentially dangerous chemicals that could damage our health and, in some cases, rather than delivering on their potent 'anti-aging' promise, are causing us to age faster.

We think it's a treat for our body when we exfoliate, moisturize and polish, but are we actually making ourselves sick? It's been estimated that the average woman wears 515 chemicals a day -- from eye shadow ingredients linked to cancer to perfume ingredients linked to kidney damage.

In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found extremely high levels of lead in lipstick. In addition, recent research from the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Working Group (EWG) showed that teenage girls are exposing themselves to potentially hormone-altering substances by engaging in that seemingly-innocent coming-of-age tradition of applying makeup. Yet, despite the dangers, women need to bathe and groom -- and most of us like a little extra color on our faces. So what can we do to stay healthy and still look good?

The quick answer is: Use fewer products and educate yourself. The average American uses 10 products every day, and chances are, she doesn’t know what’s in them. “It’s simple: Read the labels and be a smart shopper,” says Leann Brown of EWG. “Buy from companies that disclose their formulations.” Since producers aren’t required to make their ingredients public, many choose not to. “A company that discloses all ingredients and keeps out ingredients of concern will probably have lower risk products than cosmetics with mystery ingredients,” says Brown. These transparent products are likely to be equally effective -- your hair will be just as smooth, your cheeks just as bright -- but without the lurking health hazards.

When shopping, there are a few key ingredients to be avoid. However, due to lax regulation, you may find them in products marked “organic” and “all-natural,” so be on the lookout. Choose from the many nail polishes that have been reformulated to remove a common “toxic trio:” Dibutyl phthalate, a reproductive toxin; toluene, which affects the nervous system and may cause headaches; and formaldehyde, which can cause allergies and irritation. Stay away from sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate, which are so popular in cleaning products, such as body washes, as they can cause skin irritation.

Triclosan and triclocarban, which pop up in antibacterial hand soap, can damage both the thyroid and the environment. Instead, use plain soap. If you wash for 20 seconds, you’ll be just as germ-free.

Parabens, for example, which are designed to preserve the shelf-life of your cosmetics, are one of the most widely used preservatives in the world, and are found in shampoos, hair gels, shaving gels and body lotions. But their use is becoming increasingly controversial - a range of different studies has linked them to serious health problems including breast cancer, as well as fertility issues in men. These preservatives have been so widely and publicly exposed as toxic contaminants that it is now relatively easy to find clearly-marked paraben-free products. It also would be a good idea by cutting out fragrance completely, since the term “fragrance” is poorly defined and could contain any number of mysterious and unhealthy synthetic compounds.

If the ingredients sound too long to remember, the Cosmetics Database offers a free pocket-size ingredients guide, where you can also find out more about over 50,000 products. If improving your health and helping the environment isn’t enough, think about this hidden benefit: Eliminating every mascara with toxic ingredients will make choosing from the overwhelming array of drugstore brands (Thickening! Lengthening! Double-thickening and lengthening!) much quicker and easier.

Exposure to nano titanium dioxide could up cancer risk, says study

There may be a potential risk of cancer and genetic disorders for individuals working with high concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, according to US scientists.

The researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, arrived at this conclusion following a mouse study that suggested ingestion of the nanoparticles led to genetic damage. In addition to warning against occupational exposure, the study, published in the journal of Cancer Research, warns against the ingestion of food colours, vitamins and non essential drug additives that contain titanium dioxide nanoparticles. One of the study’s authors Dr Robert Schiestl also advised against using spray-on sunscreens as these could lead to the inhalation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles that are often used to improve the UV protection provided by the products. Sticking to sun protection products in cream or lotion form is preferable as the nanoparticles don’t cross the skin barrier, according to Schiestl. The UCLA study looked at the effects of feeding mice titanium dioxide nanoparticles in their daily water supply for a period of five days for adult males, and ten days for pregnant females from day 8.5 to day 18.5 post coitum. Effects on the DNA and genetic material of the mice were observed to investigate whether ingesting the nanoparticles was genotoxic, led to DNA damage and brought on an inflammatory response within the organism. According to the study, exposure to titanium dioxide nanoparticles leads to double strand DNA breaks in the mice, in a dose dependent manner - the higher the dose of titanium dioxide the higher the number of double strand breaks. The double strand DNA breaks are particularly important in a health context as they are more damaging than single strand breaks or oxidative damage, which are transient, according to the authors.
In pregnant females, exposure to the nanoparticles induced significantly more DNA deletions in their offspring than those not exposed. Inflammatory mechanism The team also found higher concentrations of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the mice that had been exposed to the titanium dioxide nanoparticles, which led the researchers to suggest the toxicity of the particles could be due to their ability to elicit an inflammatory response. Explaining the potential mechanism, Schiestl said in a statement: “The novel principle is that titanium by itself is chemically inert. However, when the particles become progressively smaller, their surface, in turn, becomes progressively bigger and in the interaction of this surface with the environment, oxidative stress is induced.” Further human studies are needed in order to truly understand the health effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, but the researchers feel the data suggests we should be ‘concerned’ about cancer or genetic disorders for those working with the material and that it would be ‘prudent’ to limit the ingestion of the materials. “It could be that a certain portion of spontaneous cancers are due to this exposure. And some people could be more sensitive to nanoparticles exposure than others. I believe the toxicity of these nanoparticles has not been studied enough,” added Schiestl. Source: Journal of Cancer Research
2009, volume 69, issue 22
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Induce DNA Damage and Genetic Instability in vivo in Mice
Benedicte Trouiller, Ramune Reliene, Aya Westbrook, Parrisa Solaimani, Robert H. Schiestl

Easy Re-Treat that you can make yourself. Ginger Crush Salt Scrub

I've come across this awesome recipe and just couldn't not to share it with you. On those cold nights when you need just a little pick-me-up treatment, this scrub would be just perfect and it's very easy to make. If you don't have those particular oils recommended here, you can replace them with the ones you have or purchase them by clicking the links of each ingredient.

The bright orange color of this salt scrub comes from Carrot Oil. We've used this boldly colored oil in a small proportion due to its potency. The majority of the Oil in this recipe is Rice Bran Oil, a moisturizing Oil with a pleasant, light texture. (If you don't have it in your cabinets, you can substitute it with Olive or Sunflower) The scrub is scented with Ginger and Tangerine Essential Oils, giving it a sunny, energizing aroma to match its bright, cheerful appearance.

Ginger Crush Salt Scrub
Makes about 4 ounces

Ingredients
1/2 cup Sea Salt, Fine
1 ounce Rice Bran Oil
1 teaspoon Carrot Oil
10 drops Ginger Essential Oil
20 drops Tangerine Essential Oil

Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine the Sea Salt, Carrot Oil, and Rice Bran Oil. Stir the mixture well to ensure an even color in the scrub. Next, add the Tangerine and Ginger Essential Oils, and mix again. Carefully spoon the mixture into jars when finished.

Usage & Packaging
Citrus Essential Oils, such as Tangerine Essential Oil, can cause photo sensitivity. Keep this in mind when using this scrub. The Scrub should either be followed with a body wash, or used at night to reduce sensitivity caused by the Essential Oil.

Treat yourself and have fun.

The best way to get rid of the stretch marks is not to get them in the first place...

Pregnancy is an amazing experience. Feeling a new life growing inside, kicking at you and responding to your actions is a truly unique experience. You really gain a new appreciation for the abilities of the human body as your stomach stretches beyond anything you had ever imagined to accommodate a new baby. However, there are definite downsides to being pregnant and one of them is the side effect of all that stretching . . . stretch marks.

What Causes Stretch Marks

Stretch Marks occur when the skin is stretched beyond its elasticity. The upper layer stretches and the lower layer of skin tends to tear, causing small rips in the tissue. This results in some rather ugly red marks that feel different from the regular texture of your skin. These will fade to white after your pregnancy, but this can take time and they never really do go away..

Whether or not you will get stretch marks really depends on genetics, the elasticity of your skin and how big you get during the pregnancy. Some women don't grow much at all and have more than sufficient elasticity in their skin to withstand the stretching and remain completely unmarked.

Preventing Stretch Marks

The best way to get rid of Stretch marks is not to get them at all. While 90% of women have the genetic predisposition to stretch marks in pregnancy, that doesn't mean you have to just sit back and let them happen. Prevention is truly the best medicine when it comes to these nasty lines. They may be a banner of your ability to carry a child, but really, most women would prefer to avoid them all together. The best time to start prevention is as soon as you know you're pregnant, long before the skin needs to expand.

Its important to only use organic skin products while pregnant. Most chemicals are not proven safe for your unborn baby and its best to just avoid them. Going organic will give you peace of mind and you'll be able to treat your skin without fear of affecting the child inside.

Organic skin products are just as effective against stretch marks, if not more so, than commercial, chemical laden ones, like Palmers. You'll find that natural ingredients work naturally with your skin to soothe it and soften it. Not only will you be preventing stretch marks, you'll also be promoting softer, more hydrated skin.

What to Look for in Stretch Mark Prevention Treatments

Certain organic products work better than others against stretch marks. Basically, you want to moisturize your skin and enhance the elasticity. A good prevention cream will also provide some healing power to help any existing tears in the skin heal faster, without getting worse. This is particularly helpful if you are starting treatment later in the pregnancy.

Organic stretch mark creams usually use one or more of the following ingredients:

Shea Butter: By far the most common ingredient used in stretch mark prevention since is one of the best natural moisturizers on the market. It also has healing properties to help with any existing stretch marks. Coconut Oil: A very good moisturizing oil that also enhances elasticity and hastens healing of existing problems.

Olive Oil: Another good moisturizer that helps boost elasticity and soften skin, making it more supple and resistant to tearing.

Any organic skin product designed to treat and prevent stretch marks should include one of the above ingredients for maximum benefit. Often they will have other natural ingredients, as well , to promote healing and enhance the moisturizing effect. Sweetsation Therapy's Organic products contain over 30 elasticity boosting ingredients and offers a great choice of products for moms-to be.

Does an SPF30 Sunscreen Mean Twice the Sun Protection as SPF15

The weather is beginning to cool down but the sunrise happens every morning anyway. Sadly, many of us think that sun protection is not important during the winter time. Skin cancer occurs more frequently than all other cancers combined. In the U.S. alone, there will be about 1,000,000 new cases of skin cancer this year. Importantly, the rate of skin cancer is increasing rapidly for reasons that are not entirely clear but surely have something to do with sun exposure. And as a result USA has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. It’s frightening to see that more and more Americans are treated for skin cancers every year.

We all need to be extra vigilant with protecting our skin from the sun when participating in outdoor activities. This includes wearing protective clothing, slapping on a hat and applying the right sunscreen. When shopping for a sunscreen, we are normally faced with selecting between:

1. SPF15 sunscreen

2. SPF30 sunscreen

3. SPF50 sunscreen

But what exactly does the sun protection factor (SPF) mean???

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is a rating system for sun protection. The SPF of a product can be low or high – anywhere from SPF 2 to SPF 60. The number is a measure of how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning, as compared to how long you can stay in the sun without burning while wearing no protection. Example: Start with the amount of time in the sun that it takes to cause a burn. Say that your skin normally begins to turn red after 10 minutes of unprotected sun exposure. If you use a product rated SPF 2, your skin would not begin to turn red for twice that time: 20 minutes. If you use a sun product rated SPF 25, you could stay in the sun for 250 minutes, a little over 4 hours (25 x 10 minutes) before your skin would start to turn red.

The most popular levels are SPF 15 and SPF 30. But does an SPF30 sunscreen mean twice the protection as an SPF15 sunscreen?

The answer is NO.

In a controlled laboratory, SPF30 sunscreen allows transmission of 3.4% of UV radiation. In other words, it blocks 96.6 percent of the UV radiation. On the other hand, an SPF15 sunscreen will block out approximately 93% of the UV radiation. These percentages are just a guide and in reality away from a controlled laboratory test, these figures will vary according to your skin type, the weather and the time of day.

As a general guideline, if you have fair skin, it is best to go for a sunscreen with SPF30 or higher broad spectrum water resistant sun protection. Make sure to use a broad spectrum sunscreen to block out both the harmful UVA and UVB rays. If participating in vigorous outdoor activities, Reapply every 2 hours.

What else should I keep in mind when using sun protection?

Sun protection is especially important when the sun’s rays are more direct – during peak UV hours, or when you are closer to the equator. In addition, you can avoid sun exposure when the rays are strongest (generally between 10AM – 3PM), and wear hats and clothing to filter out UV rays. It’s also important to remember to apply sun protection products 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE sun exposure – and to reapply them frequently, especially after swimming or perspiring, or toweling off. Usually one ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is enough to cover most exposed skin.

Sun protection isn’t just for days at the beach, though. Your face and hands especially are exposed to UV rays when you’re outside, even on cloudy days. The window glass of your car blocks UVB rays, the rays that burn your skin – but glass doesn’t block UVA rays, the ones that do the deepest tissue damage. So wearing a little sun protection when you’re driving is a good idea.

What’s the best product for me?

Environmental Working Group or Skin Deep conducted a research and put in place a list of the safest SPF products they recommend. It can be found here. There are a few of wonderful products, but making your choice insure that you use product with both UVA and UVB protection that's achieved with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide together. That's what makes it Broad Spectrum Sunscreen.

Turn leftovers of your soap into a liquid soap

You know all those little left over soap bars in the shower or on the bath room sink that are too small to use. They either get flushed down the sink, or gets combined with a new bigger soap bar, or it just disappears into thin air.

But what if you can turn all these little bits and pieces into one big bottle of liquid soap. Wouldn’t that be economical. Well, you can and in this article, I’ll show you exact how you can achieve this.

First you need to boil about 500ml / 16.5oz of distilled water. When the water is boiled, you cut the soap into chunks and add it with the hot water. Alternatively, you can grate the little soap bars into the water. The soaps should dissolve with the boiling water and a thicker consistency should be achieved.

Continue heating the mixture at a lower temperature and add more soap or water as needed keeping in mind that you are trying to create a liquid soap that can be pumped out of a dispenser. Also know that when the water is hot and boiling, the product will be thinner than when it is cooled. When you feel you’ve achieved the right consistency turn off the heat and stick an electric mixing wand in there to give it a final thorough mix. Wait for it to cool (normally a few hours) and come back to see if it is too thick for your liking. If so, then turn up the heat again and add more water and mix again until you’re satisfied.

If you want to spice up your liquid soap a little, you can play around with your mixture by adding other ingredients such as essential oils or herbs. If you do decide to add herbs that are green and leafy, I suggest you boil the herbs first - then filter the herbs out before adding the chunks of soap. This way, you get all the medicinal herbal goodies from the greens without having a big leaf floating in your soap.

When your liquid soap is cooled and the consistency is runny, you are then ready to pop it into your favorite soap dispenser and make your first squirt. Your first pump from your very own homemade liquid soap will be like washing your hands for the first time. A truly new and priceless experience!