Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

By Jolene Hart, HL&S Beauty Editor

  1. Beware of pinkwashing. Just because a product displays a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon doesn’t mean that it’s safe and natural. Aragon recently discovered that Promise Me, a fragrance created by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to raise breast cancer awareness, contains synthetic fragrance (known as a source of phthalates and other chemicals), as well as several other questionable ingredients like coumarin and benzophenone-3. Before you purchase and personal care products, take a good look at the label.
  2. Remember to get screened for breast cancer regularly. According to American Cancer Society guidelines, women over 40 should get an annual mammogram, and women in their 20s and 30s should get a clinical breast exam every 3 years. Those with a family history of breast cancer should get an MRI as well.
  3. Pay special attention to the household cleaners and air fresheners you use. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Environmental Health linked regular, combined exposure to household cleaners and air fresheners to a higher incidence of breast cancer. Purchase natural cleansers or try making your own spray cleaner by combining equal parts white vinegar and water. Switch to an essential oil diffuser to scent your home with a natural fragrance.
  4. Go natural when choosing cosmetics. “The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) organization has assessed fewer than 20 percent of the ingredients found in cosmetic products. The rest have never been tested for safety by any public organization. Meanwhile, companies use many products that have been linked with health problems because they are inexpensive, readily available, and allowed,” writes Britta Aragon, cancer survivor and author of When Cancer Hits. Check Healing Lifestyles updates for our own natural cosmetic picks.

Ready to chip in for the cause? We can show our colors by supporting breast cancer awareness with safe, natural products (even a trip to the spa!). Check out a few of our favorite ways to remember the fight against breast cancer this month, and beyond…

Bring Pink to the Spa

For every client who arrives at Oasis Day Spa in NYC wearing pink, the spa will contribute 10% of the treatment cost to The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program. You’ll also get 10% off your treatment and any retail purchases you make while you’re there (the natural soaps from Anjolie Ayurveda make a great gift).

Get Clean for a Cause

Give your hair a boost with the just-launched plant stem cell-based hair care from Acure Organics, and $1 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for every bottle sold all year-round. Make your purchase from spiritbeautylounge.com, and the beauty boutique will match the donation! The line was created in part to honor the grandmother of founder Kristi Guerra, who battled breast cancer for more than a decade.

Breathe Strong

During October, get a confidence boost from 21 Drops aromatherapy blend #3, Strength, and 30% of the proceeds will go to The Healing Garden, a center providing therapeutic services to those with breast cancer. The mix of cedarwood, rosemary and rose flower essential oils is designed to empower and offer a sense of completeness. We love its warm, vibrant aroma, and its powerful message.

Remember your Self-Exam

Purchase the Breast SOS massage oil from La Isha and use it to give yourself a regular breast self-exam. The natural and organic oils, including coconut oil, hemp oil and rose hip seed oil, keep skin soft and hydrated, but won’t stain clothing, lingerie or linens. Each year, La Isha donates thousands of dollars in Breast SOS samples, along with additional monetary donations to women’s charities like the Breast Cancer Fund and Women to Women International.

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