Balance

This is not a post about standing on one leg. It's about balancing things that are good for you with fads.

Let me explain. At the Sense and Sensibility message boards there has been a discussion about using natural facial cleanser, moisturizer, and cosmetics.

I do believe that it is smart to only allow natural products on such a sensitive area as your face. As a result of that thread, I have completely gone to Burt's Bees for facial cleanser and moisturizer and am in the process of figuring out my colors with the Everyday Minerals brand.

After reading some of the posts about what actually goes into the commercialized products, I want to avoid every putting those things on my face again. Here are some of the links that were provided on the board:

Costmetic Ingredient Dictionary : it tells you exactly what in those substances you are putting all over your face

Toxic Chemicals In Costmetics : list of chemicals in things labeled "natural"

Top Five Ingredients to Avoid : short and to the point

That's a good starting place for the issue. Through doing research Shannon and I have also changed to using baking soda for toothpaste. It has an amazing whitening powder. My mom's a dental hygienist so she can tell us if we're using it improperly.

Now my delemna has come into play at this point. Yes, I agree. We shouldn't be putting these chemicals, etc. on our skin. But what about using them in other places: cleaning, eating, drinking?

Soon after this original post on S&S it was cleaning day. My turn to do the bathrooms. I went to where the basket with the cleaning products in it was. I grabbed the basket and headed to the first bathroom. First thing I did was put on my gloves and start spraying.

After a while, I thought, "Okay, I'm not putting chemicals on my skin directly, but here I am using chemicals that I have to wear gloves to protect my hands. I am spraying this substance in the air, possibly breathing it in, but definitely walking through it while it is in the air. I need to find something natural to be able to clean with."

So I started looking online for recipes and such and found quite a lot including a good recap here of what household items can do for cleaning. So I want to start making my own cleaning products.

Now that leads me to eating. Okay, now I've decided I don't want the chemical landing on my skin, whether I purposely put them there or not. But what about all those chemicals I've put into my body through eating!

Oh, dear, this seems to be growing to be much more than just changing makeup brands.

But, it makes sense doesn't it that I continue what I'm trying to do (avoid chemicals) to its logical conclusion. So I start paying attention to what I'm eating and how much of it is processed. Now in our home, I don't buy the groceries, so I don't have control over what comes into the house, but I do have control over what I put into my mouth. So I start watching what I'm eating.

All right to recap: I have changed my facial cleansers, facial moisturizers, makeup brand, toothpaste, cleaning products (in process) and am trying to change my eating. The only thing left in drinking.

A few months ago, I read on someone's blog about drinking from plastic (Lauren, if you read this, I would love to include the post!). My doctor also told me that chemicals leach into the water to drink from plastic bottles. I have almost completely given up using plactic. I'm trying to find an alternative for going to the gym, but other than that, I use glass or aluminum.

Okay, there's all my reasons and they really are valid reasons, I believe. Now my question, and the question other people have asked.

"When does it go too far?"

It's a good and valid question. This is my answer: As long as I am doing these things to keep the temple of the Lord healthy, then it's wonderful. But as soon as I start doing these things to hug trees, save the environment, or become one with nature, I'm doing them for the wrong reasons and should either re-evaluate what I'm doing, or change my focus.

Because I've changed so many things, I want people to understand why I'm changing them.

Tiffany

Edited to add a link: plastic water bottles Thank you, Lauren!