Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Colorado Safe Personal Products Act | How Will It Effect You?

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Proposed legislation in the state of Colorado could change your life drastically and your state could be next!

I was a compact signer of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CFSC) until they formed a petition in favor of the FDA Globalization Act of 2008, which would have more than likely been the end of Cactus & Ivy. I could no longer support an organization that was for legislation based on their beliefs and not concrete evidence that has been in place and continues to work. Our industry is and always will be concerned about safe cosmetics.

Instead of giving you my take on this proposed legislation, I have been given permission to use content from other industry leaders in regards to this dangerous bill. Please take the time to read each one. The Colorado Safe Personal Products Act, if passed, will have a huge impact on you, the consumer.

Donna Maria Coles Johnson, CEO/Founder of The Indie Beauty Network has this to say....

Oppose the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act
I
n November, I shared my views as leader of IBN on the FDA Globalization Act of 2009. This post was followed by a second trip to Washington, DC to meet with Food & Drug Administration (FDA) officials and staffers in the House Energy & Commerce Committee. I have also shared my views on President Obama’s initiatives to earmark additional funds to support small
business owners as our nation faces the challenges of a recessionary economy....read more
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Kayla Fioravanti, VP, Chief Formulator, ARC Registered Aromatherapist and Co-Founder of Essential Wholesale and Essential Labs has (2) posts as follows....


Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act :: Take Action Immediately
If you live in Colorado or sell cosmetics into Colorado it is time for you to speak up. Colorado has a proposed a bill before them during this session known as The Colorado Safe Personal Products Act. This Act is so broad and vague that if it passes in this form the personal care shelves in stores would go bare. You can read the entire bill here. To follow the bill as it is updated click here and change the range to House Bills 1201-1250 and then scan down to 1248....read more

The Slippery Slope of Bad Science
I live and do business with green practices. Organic is part of our business and how we eat and shop. Natural medicine is a major part of my life, beliefs and history. My husband and I got into the natural cosmetic industry because of my own allergies and chemical sensitivities. I am telling you all this so that you understand that I believe in green, natural and organic in all things. My stance against the Colorado Safe Personal Care Products Act is due to the fact that even completely safe cosmetics using organic, natural and organic materials will be banned in Colorado with this bill....read more

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Two other great posts on this proposed legislation are:

Tunnel Vision by Robert Tisserand, Founder of The Tisserand Institute and Tisserand Aromatherapy

You Can Die From Salt Too by Anne-Marie Faiola, CEO of Bramble Berry, Inc.

I cannot stress enough how important this legislation is to you and I urge you to take the time to read more at the above links. Please post your comments here and/or at any of the other sites. I'd love to know what you think!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!






Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Cruelty Free & Vegan Body Products Kick Dry Skin To The Curb

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous Tuesday! Over the weekend, we had a burst of warm weather. Needless to say, I am no longer in stir crazy neutral. I have shoved the gears into over drive and determined to make spring appear faster. If you need help kicking dry skin to the curb, Cactus & Ivy has a couple recommendations for ya!


For tired, over worked barking dogs, our Peppermint Tree Foot Balm is just what the doctor ordered. Spring means sandals, bare feet and fun. The tingling and cooling sensations coupled with the moisturizing ingredients is a must have to keep your feet in tip top shape and feeling refreshed.

Peppermint Tree Foot Balm can be used daily to revive tired, dry feet or as an intense overnight treatment for really worn out tootsies. The oils of apricot kernel and sweet almond penetrate the skin easily and a great emollient for dry, inflamed or irritated skin. Menthol gives it the fantastic tingle and cooling kick! Anti-fungal properties of tea tree oil and the pick me up relief of peppermint oil round out this fabulous product. It is one of my faves!


Our body souffle`s are creamy, dreamy and whipped to perfection with a sweet aroma of butter cream frosting or almond biscotti. Shea butter contains a wealth of healing ingredients while peach kernel oil has high levels of fatty acids to nourish the skin. A moisture rich and intense emollient to soften, soothe and hydrate dry skin. It doesn't take much so a little goes a long way. We include a mini spatula to eliminate the use of your fingers to remove the souffle` from the jar!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!






Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Pomace Olive Oil

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. Pomace olive oil is used in all of our bar soaps and can be found in our Cactus Nail Balm. Did you know that green olives and black olives come from the same tree? Black olives are ripe whereas green olives are unripe.



Pomace olive oil is solvent extracted from previous pressings of olives using the pits (pomace) and flesh (skin). 95% of the more than 750 million olive trees cultivated worldwide are from the Mediterranean but global olive oil production comes mainly from North Africa, the Near East and Southern Europe.


While pomace olive oil is the lowest grade of olive oil, it is not used in cooking or on salads, it adds to a very nice bar of soap. Pomace olive oil has a high percentage of unsaponifiables, and it tends to draw the oils into a quick saponification. It's composed mainly of the mixed triglyceride esters of palmitic acid, oleic acid, other fatty acids, with traces of sterols and squalene. The composition varies by time of harvest, region, altitude, cultivator, and extraction process.


It is an excellent emollient, to soften and soothe dry skin. Contains anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, is a great choice for sensitive skin and people who suffer from eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.


Thanks for stopping by y'all. Hope you have a fabulous day!



Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Monday, February 8, 2010

Cactus & Ivy | Bionic Beauty Loves Us

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! Imagine my surprise on Friday when I was notified by Jami, the Bionic Beauty herself that Cactus & Ivy made Bionic's Best of Beauty 2009 Awards.


Bionic Beauty's Best of Beauty 2009 Award Winner!

What a huge honor it is to be among such talented and wonderful companies providing a wide array of beauty products. I'm always grateful for the recognition given to Cactus & Ivy products.

How are Cactus & Ivy products performing for you? I love feedback - good, bad or indifferent. Your comments are always welcome!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Thursday, February 4, 2010

National Wear Red Day

Hey y'all!!

I hope this post finds you doing well. February is American Heart Month! The American Heart Association (AHA) has thousands of volunteers, whose goal is to raise money for education and research for heart disease, all the while providing valuable information on heart disease.



Friday, February 5, 2010 is National Wear Red Day! Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. Go Red for Women is a powerful movement dedicated to helping women fight back against heart disease. Visit their site for more information on how you can make a difference.

Heart Attack Warning Signs
(from the AHA website)
  • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
Thanks for stopping by y'all and don't forget to wear read tomorrow! Have a fabulous day!!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

** Go Red and Go Red For Women are trademarks of AHA.
** The Red Dress Design is a trademark of U.S. DHHS.