The Secret to Beautiful Skin Top 10 Reasons to Choose Natural Skincare Products for You and Your Family www.bodyverde.com BONUS SPECIAL BONUS SECTION: Tips for More Natural, Balanced Living
1. You care about what goes into your body. THE AVERAGE U.S. CONSUMER uses about 10 cosmetic products every day including makeup, soap, shampoo, lotion, hair gel and cologne and exposes himself or herself to 126 different chemicals daily. I The body s largest organ, skin is often underestimated in its importance to overall health. The skin is a porous protector, allowing some of the substances put on it to enter the bloodstream including potentially cancer-causing substances, explains Scientific American. II The chemicals absorbed, breathed and ingested can have a cumulative effect over time, experts say, putting a toxic burden on the body and contributing to skin conditions, illnesses, and developmental problems. Skin care products with ingredients derived from nature moisturize, heal and protect skin without the use of questionable parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, artificial colors, fragrances, mineral oil, petroleum, or animal products. 2. You may be unaware FDA does not regulate cosmetic ingredients. You may not realize this, but it is up to us to learn about harmful ingredients that are used in the products we buy. Most people have heard of olive oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and shea butter the first few ingredients listed on a jar of natural moisturizer. But far less familiar are substances such as cyclopentasiloxane, hydrogenated polyisobutene, or aluminum starch octenylsuccinate. They re among the first ingredients listed in a similar big-name moisturizer. As noted on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration web site, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act does not authorize the FDA to approve cosmetic ingredients, with the exception of color additives. III Rather, the FDA says, it s up to companies to assure that products and ingredients are safe and properly labeled. Nor does the cosmetics/skin care industry fall under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate chemicals. You can use www.cosmeticsdatabase.com as a resource to research the ingredients in your favorite brand to see if it is rated on their safety scale. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 2
3. You want products that heal, not harm, your skin. A QUICK LOOK AT LABELS of skin care products shows main ingredients such as ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and propylene glycol, which can actually dry out the skin rather than keep moisture in. Sodium lauryl sulfate is another example of a commonly used ingredient that can cause skin irritation and dryness. Synthetic dyes and fragrances; ph stabilizers referred to as MEA, DEA and TEA; and nanoparticles are other potentially damaging substances. IV Particularly for those with skin conditions like eczema, it s important to try alternative products to find one that works. In fact, the first BodyVerde product was the result of a mother s search for a way to soothe her son s eczema and cut back on steroid-containing treatments. Using BodyVerde s Fresh Skin Rx, topical steroid applications were cut down from daily use to just three times per month. For people who want help healing dry, cracked or damaged skin, BodyVerde s Miracle Skin Renew combines 16 different plant extracts into one antioxidant-rich, therapeutic formula. It s safe enough to use on children as well making it the ideal remedy for scrapes, cuts, bites, wounds, dry scalp, chapped lips and more. 4. You want results-based products. NATURE PROVIDES THE RESOURCES to maintain skin s delicate balance, and science proves it. Tea tree oil, for example, has disinfecting and anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe damaged skin and ward off bacteria that cause blemishes. V Green tea another ingredient found in all-natural products contains polyphenols that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. VI A third natural example, cocoa butter, is said to mimic the lipid content of healthy skin. BodyVerde s Fresh Skin Rx contains all these ingredients, plus more plant extracts for balanced, natural results. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 3
5. You want to look more youthful without expensive, invasive procedures. MORE THAN HALF OF THE WOMEN responding to a recent survey (53 percent) said they seek anti-aging benefits from skin care products, such as wrinkle and line reduction. VII The wide array of often pricey products makes many promises, when in reality, products can claim to be anti-aging if they simply contain sunscreen. The basic function of a moisturizer is to hydrate the skin. Other products may eliminate the appearance of fine lines, not the wrinkles themselves. Natural skin care products achieve the same or better results healthier, more youthful-looking skin using botanical ingredients. BodyVerde s Age Correcting Moisturizer offers anti-aging protection in a silky, non-greasy cream and contains glycerin, olive oil, shea butter, vitamins A and E, soy protein and rose flower. It also has a light hint of lavender essential oil, which is used to treat insomnia and migraines and to provide stress relief. In fact, essential oils have been proven to boost the body s ability to fight off infections, VIII which is why many make aromatherapy part of everyday life. Another all-natural anti-aging alternative is BodyVerde s Age Correcting Serum. Using non-irritating plant and fruit extracts for temporary results that last all day, this safe and effective Botox in a bottle smoothes frown lines, plumps vertical laugh lines, erases crows feet, and revives tiredlooking eyes all for a fraction of the cost of department-store and salon treatments. 6. You want to use products you can feel good about. THE BOTANICALS USED IN NATURAL PRODUCTS are renewable resources, derived from living plants rather than artificially produced chemicals. At the same time, natural skin care products don t contain petroleum-based compounds. The benefits are twofold: using these products helps reduce our reliance on oil-based products, and it helps people avoid a harmful petroleum-based chemical called 1,4-dioxane. Nearly 25 percent of all cosmetic and skin care products contain 1,4-dioxane, including more than half of all baby soaps, according to one study. IX Finally, natural products take far less time to break down, reducing environmental pollution. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 4
7. You want to simplify your beauty routine and get the best value. A MORE NATURAL SKIN CARE ROUTINE starts with drinking plenty of water; eating fresh, unprocessed foods; exercising regularly; and getting adequate sleep. (See Tips for More Natural, Balanced Living, page 7.) From there, using natural skin care products can help eliminate some of the clutter on the bathroom counter. That s because skin care products that are truly natural contain much higher concentrations of active ingredients. Simply put, that means users can apply less of a product and expect healthy, more youthful-looking skin, at a lower cost. Natural product manufacturers don t use expensive advanced technology or processing methods because their ingredients are simple and as close to the original source as possible. Therefore, natural skin care products are often more affordable ounce for ounce than the popular brands. But buyer beware: natural can be a term that any cosmetics or skin care product manufacturer can use in its labeling or advertising, even if the product contains only a trace amount of such ingredients. 8. Your decisions affect others beside yourself. PARENTS DON T HAVE TIME to examine labels in the store aisle, let alone conduct exhaustive research on skin care products. Yet there s reason for concern: many products intended for babies and children contain phthalates, chemicals used in plastics and fragrances. In one study that analyzed the urine of 163 infants, all of them showed exposure to at least one phthalate and baby care products were cited as a possible source. X Some phthalates have been banned in Europe, but in the U.S., they may not even show up on a product label. Hormone-disrupting preservatives called parabens are another category of chemicals often used in baby lotions, shampoos and bath products. Again, even some products with the word natural on the bottle may contain them. Web sites such as CosmeticsDatabase.com can provide more information. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 5
9. You take pride in supporting independent businesses. WOMEN, WHOSE DECISIONS CONTROL 83 cents of every household dollar spent, XI often prefer to spend their money supporting cottage industries as well as independently owned and womenowned businesses like BodyVerde. Customers get the benefit of products made in small quantities using sustainable manufacturing processes, allowing for greater quality control. The direct link between customer and products allows for useful feedback and may even generate ideas for new products. BodyVerde s Speed Shave, for example, was designed with the military in mind: the founder s husband needed a solution for shaving out in the field. It works equally well for a woman in a locker room as it does for a man deployed to the desert. 10. You want to lead a greener lifestyle. BECOMING MORE INGREDIENT-CONSCIOUS and establishing a natural skin care routine is a worthwhile way to start living green. BodyVerde s green body philosophy encompasses many aspects of green living. Each product is inspired by the idea that nature creates us perfectly and provides the resources to maintain skin s delicate balance. The products are made from biodegradable, renewable flower, plant and sea extracts, without preservatives and other chemicals that are harmful to the body and the earth. Just as eating more locally grown, minimally processed foods is gaining more attention, so is the desire to use products with natural, plant-based ingredients. Both simple lifestyle changes have the same premise: you are what you put into your body. On an individual level, using products with natural ingredients brings immediate results healthier skin as well as potential long-term health benefits. On a broader scale, the more consumers make different choices about the products they use, the greater an impact they make on the health and beauty products industry and the environment. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 6
Tips for More Natural, Balanced Living An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and we understand that BodyVerde is only a small part of your healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips that can help you stay more youthful from the inside out: 1. Drink one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar each morning in water with honey. It helps fight acidity, keeps your body more alkaline, helps control and normalize weight, and is a wonderful aid for digestion and assimilation. 2. Practice dry skin brushing. To do this, use a natural bristle brush and brush the surface of the skin toward the heart with firm, sweeping strokes. Start with bottom of the feet and work your way up to your arms and spine. This stimulates the lymphatic system, keeps skin clear, and invigorates your elimination of waste. (Search for dry skin brush online to purchase.) 3. Know your rites. Read Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth, available at Amazon.com. This quick read is packed with time-tested, age-reversing advice. Learn the five simple exercises (rites) you can do daily to energize your entire body, reverse aging and have you feeling younger and invigorated in just weeks. Once you incorporate these stretches and breathing techniques into your daily life you will see and feel a difference in your skin, mind and body. This book is truly life changing. 4. Begin meditating to calm the mind and reduce stress. It s free and you can do it in the privacy of your own home. 5. Drink warm water with lemon every morning to aid body in eliminating wastes and give your skin a healthy, youthful glow. 6. Practice food combining. Eat fruit alone and wait 20 minutes for digestion. Eat protein with vegetables and starches with vegetables but do not combine protein and starch. It slows down digestion and creates more acid in the body. 7. Take advantage of the most important free beauty trick of all time: drink water all day long and have it become a daily habit. It is truly the elixir of life. Water stabilizes metabolism, keeps you alert and clear thinking, gives you more energy, cuts down on sugar cravings, adds moisture to the skin, and so much more. 8. Get your omega oils. We prefer Udo s Choice brand (sold at Whole Foods, Amazon.com and other retailers), which is cold pressed and the freshest you can buy. Udo s Choice uses plantbased oils, not fish. As proven by scientific, clinical studies, omega oils keep skin moist, balance hormones, eliminate mood swings and ward off depression induced by hormone changes. To learn more about our all-natural products, please visit our online store at www.bodyverde.com. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 7
Bibliography I II III IV V VI The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-safe-are-cosmetics http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-safe-are-cosmetics Food and Drug Administration, http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/ SelectedCosmeticIngredients/default.htm http://www.smartskincare.com/ingredients/harmfulingred.html http://www.cosmeticscop.com/ingredient_dictionary.aspx?lid=534 http://www.cosmeticscop.com/ingredient_dictionary.aspx?lid=508 VII http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_100120.html VIII http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/50591.php IX X Environmental Working Group study, http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4572.cfm Pediatrics, February 2008, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/2/e260?maxtoshow=&hit S=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=phthalates&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&volume=121&issue=2&res ourcetype=hwcit XI http://www.huffingtonpost.com/morra-aaronsmele/what-if-the-women-stop-sp_b_114591.html Copyright This special report is intended for your use only. Please do not give it away, share or resell this intellectual property. Thank you. 2009-2013 BodyVerde, www.bodyverde.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted or recorded by any means known presently or to be invented in the future without the prior written consent of the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. Requests for permission and further information should be addressed to BodyVerde, sue@bodyverde.com. Disclaimer While all attempts have been made to verify the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the author assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or interpretation of the subject matter herein. The intention of this report is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. You should always consult your health care professional should there be a need for one. 2013 BodyVerde www.bodyverde.com All rights reserved. 8