Body scrub is very important especially when we age and no longer in our teen years. It helps our body exfoliate and remove the dead skin cells that the body sheds every minute. Dead skin cells not removed and stuck in our skin and pores results in uneven skin tone, rough and dull skin. So we can actually skip a spa or two, skip that back-cleaning etc. if we exfoliate often.

I've got this body polish from The Body Shop on sale last week. I've tested this kind already, the strawberry variant, and it's a mild scrub you can use even daily. However, if you use salt as body scrub or the like, meaning with larger grains, you might want to do it one to two times a week only. As if you over-exfoliate, it may leave your skin dry and sensitive.


For an even greater result, you can also do dry brushing first before your body scrub in the shower. If you

Have ever heard of dry brushing? Dry brush, preferably one with soft, natural bristles, for body and for the face. Of course, brush for the face should be a extra finer.

I got my body brush from The Beauty Bar, and my face brush from The Body Shop

I woke up today with a not-so-good mood. I feel like a lot in the universe is just not going right today it sucks. I felt I want to be fierce, let nobody get in my way today, or else I'll eat it. I was looking for something to perk me up in the bath, then I thought of having a Moroccan argan oil skin treat: TBS' (The Body Shop) Spa Wisdom Morocco Black Olive & Argan Oil Scrub.

At first, I remember how bad or maybe, strong it smells, really. But then again, I told myself, why not? This is what I actually needed now. I took the tub and scrubbed away my bad mood. Affterwards, I felt fearless.



This body scrub is not your typical sweet-smelling scrub. If it's the first time you're going to smell it, you'll feel like you're going to have a headache, really. Imagine, I went to work with it's smell still lingering on my skin, I can still sniff it in two hours, haha! For some reason this is just one of those days I appreciate strong scents like this that reminds me that I am a strong woman, and that I can handle and overcome just about anything, even if the world is turning upside-down.

A Backgrounder On The Moroccan Argan Oil

It's just today that I have learned the reason why it smells that bad is because of the argan oil, an exotic oil produced from the argan tree fruit (nut) in Morocco. It is its natural smell. Back in the old days, or until now actually, goats there eat the fruit of the argan tree, it's their favorite. Remember the old Filipino saying, amoy kambing (smells like a goat)? I don't know if there's any significance. But I really think that is the reason why this argan oil has this rancid smell.

The Berber people (indigenous tribe in Morocco) use the Moroccan argan oil for food and cosmetics, since it is long been known and proven to have natural anti-aging properties. Ooh-la-la! Now that's the good part. It's all in the name of beauty. Calling out on all adventurous kikays out there!

We want to be beautiful and we want to make sure we are safe from harmful chemicals that are present in almost all of the beauty products that are out there in the market everywhere. Now how safe is your beauty product?

In my recent addiction for organic beauty products, I learned that not all organic products are safe as they claim to be, and that we should be wise in buying. Some will put special oils, saying product is made of organic ingredients, but still has large amounts of harmful chemicals on it. See the list below I gathered from my research to check which products to avoid purchasing, or to use minimally. I have the complete list now, I hope, whereas before, I just remember paraben, and when there is paraben, I'll be reluctant to purchase a product.

The List

1. Parabens - tagged as the bad-ass of all harmful chemicals found on cosmetics/beauty products. This is an ingredient used as preservatives for moisturizers and lotions. Shampoos also contain parabens.

2. Petrochemicals - Suspected carcinogens are in food colors FD&C pigments which are pretty common I noticed, said to be made from coal tar.

3.  Phthalates - has Dibutylphthalate and diethylphthalate (DBP, DEP, also butyl ester) helps lotion absorbed into the skin faster.

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) - found in shampoos. This is a known carcinogen and causes allergic reactions and contact dermatitis, headaches, etc.

5. Glycols - There types of glycols that are not proven harmful. The only types we need to avoid are: ethylene glycol, carbitol, and diethylene glycol --  these are used as moisturizers.

6. Formaldehyde - Formaline, we know this isn't good. See also Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, which is a  formaldehyde releaser. We don't want to be fooled so be familiar with these as well: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin. These can either be found in nail polishes, shampoos, including baby shampoos, or liquid body soaps.

7. Oxybenzone - photo carcinogen. It comes from benzophenone, known to attack DNA when illuminated. Usually found in sunscreens. It can penetrate and photosensitize the skin. (What?)

8. Cosmetic Fragrances and synthetic fragrances used in perfumes.

Yes, we can control the amount of chemicals we consume, and yes, we can find real organic stuff  to be our new bestfriends, just be aware of the above, some contain very little amounts.

Well, there you go. I've yet to check my beauty kit at home whether they contain these. For one, I know my TBS (The Body Shop) body butter has paraben, oops! I know!



But I will not throw this away, no. Will just use it once in a while. It's a spa body butter, so whenever I do deep scrubbing, that's the only time I would need some deep moisturizing. Also, I know that a couple of my korean-branded beauty stuff contains a couple of hazards, too, that I need to save for future posts when I do their reviews.

Anyway, my O.N.E. Naturales buys are said to have controlled amount of SLS, and other harmful chemicals, so that's a good ONE! See http://www.watsonsbeautyfinds.com.ph/one_naturales_solid_shampoo.aspx

http://www.healthy-communications.com/8coschemicals.htm
http://www.madefromearth.com/content/harmful-ingredients-skincare-products
http://lotionsecrets.com/glossaryharmful.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben