Where Our Stuff Comes From
Posted by: ryanny on: November 10, 2009
Montgomery Street Pier, March 10, 2009, just across the street from Belcam. Photograph by Ryan Wilson
So I mention every now and then that I work for Belcam. We make bath and body care products, and beauty tools. All of our products are made in a small village in the most northeast corner of New York state, Rouses Point. Well, they all at least pass through here (ie. tweezers from Italy, blades from Germany). If you look at us on a map you’ll see we’re just on the border of Vermont and Quebec. It’s a small, picturesque village nestled on the west coast of Lake Champlain. You can find out more about Rouses Point at www.rousespointny.com. The pictures you’ll see on this site are pretty much the view as we walk out the door! Kind of like this one I took last March as I was walking to work. Isn’t it nice to know that these products that keep you clean, beautiful and healthy come from a beautiful place, and not some ugly industrial wasteland somewhere?!
Like the Ped Egg? You’ll Love This…
Posted by: ryanny on: November 5, 2009
Denco Easy Grip® Heavy Duty Foot Smoother
Have you tried the “as seen on TV” Ped Egg? A lot of people have experienced problems with it, leaving mixed reviews. Just look at some of the customer reviews online and you’ll see tons of complaints: shavings fall on floor anyway, too small file area, hard to handle, and even drew blood! Well, what do you expect from one of those infomercial products?!
I use our Denco Easy Grip® Heavy Duty Foot Smoother regularly to keep my feet soft and smooth. It can be used wet or dry, so I just keep it in the shower as a reminder to use it regularly. Plus, if I use it in the shower the filings just go right down the drain. It’s got an ergonomic, rubber grip that’s easy to hold, and the angle allows you to easily reach all sides of your feet, kind of like a tooth brush. Best of all, there are no blades, so it can’t cut you. The abrasive surface has a coarse grit that never wears, rinses easily, and works in any direction. It quickly smoothes tough calluses and deep cracks, but it’s safe and gentle on non-callused skin too. Keeping the smoother in my shower and using it once a week is a great way to keep my feet nice and healthy, and convenient! A little foot balm afterwards is a good idea too. Even though I like to use mine in the shower, I know several people who like using it on their dry feet, without any water. They say it works great that way, so whether you prefer smoothing your feet while wet or dry, you should really give this foot smoother a try.
Denco Easy Grip® Heavy Duty Foot Smoother is also the number one customer rated foot smoother on Amazon.com, with an average five star rating! You can get it directly from BelcamShop.com.
Alternative Health Remedies
Posted by: ryanny on: November 3, 2009
An article in the New York Times today says that more insurers are paying for alternative health remedies. However, the selection of services actually covered may be so minimal that customers may end up mistakingly thinking they’re covered when they’re not, and having to pay the bill. There’s even an editors note on the very beginning of the article stating that:
“Ten years and $2.5 billion in research have found no cures from alternative medicine.”
The companies say they’re offering a service that is in high demand though. More people are wanting services like acupuncture for pain, high blood pressure, and insomnia. Robin Downey, head of product development for Aetna, an insurer that let sellers advertise supplements to members, says:
”’We have members who come to us and ask us for these services. When we can get a discount for them, that’s something we are able to pass on,’ although Aetna also recommends that members talk with their primary doctors about anything they plan to try, she said.”
Most people I know that use alternative remedies, do so because it works for them. This article insists that alternative remedies are unproven. Sometimes they say the remedies need more studies. Perhaps they just haven’t been proven yet. Perhaps the business of medicine is preventing that. Or perhaps alternative remedies are just about personal preference, and insurers are responding to that. What do you think?
Read the article More Insurers Are Paying for Alternative Remedies here.
Mom Blogs
Posted by: ryanny on: October 27, 2009
Where do mothers turn to these days for information about brands and products. Statistics show that blogs are becoming a trusted source of reviews and opinions. One of the most popular blogging networks for women, BlogHer.com, did a study with iVillage and Compass Partners on how women interact with social media and blogs (view the study here). The study found:
“Of the 42 million women engaged in social media weekly, 55 percent of women participate in some form of blogging activity; 75 percent participate in social networks such as Facebook or MySpace and 20 percent use Twitter… As a result of this increased activity, the 2009 study found that women online are now more than ever before spending less time engaging in traditional media activities like watching TV (30%), listening to the radio (31%), and reading magazines (36%) or the newspaper (39%).”
Are the trials and tribulations of real moms what draws readers to these blogs? What do you think?
Check out the Mommy & Family blog section of BlogHer.com here.
-RyanNY
Do It Easier
Posted by: ryanny on: October 20, 2009
Do you have an ailment like arthritis that restricts your ability to do everyday things? The Arthritits Foundation has several “Do It Easier” tips, with subcategories, like Dressing and Grooming. In this section you’ll find personal care suggestions on how to go about your daily needs a little easier. For instance:
Sit and shower. To avoid falls in the shower, sit on a waterproof chair. You can buy one at a medical supply store or use a sturdy lawn chair.
Wash up. Instead of using a washcloth when bathing, use a shower mitt made of terry cloth or loofah. If you sew or know someone who does, make these mitts out of an old towel.
Easy nail care. To make trimming fingernails and toenails easier, soak hands and feet beforehand to soften nails.
Check out the Do It Easier section at arthritistoday.org.
Dr. Oz on Aromatherapy and Pain
Posted by: ryanny on: October 16, 2009
In an article on ArthritisToday.com, Margaret Chappell interviews Dr. Mehmet Oz (also known as Dr. Oz from Oprah), about using aromatherapy for pain relief. Dr. Oz explains in the article that “the thinking part of the brain can’t inhibit the effects of the scent, meaning you feel them instantaneously.” It doesn’t end at pain relief either. Aromatherapy can also be used for anxiety reduction and rejuvenation. In the article, Dr. Oz and clinical aromatherapist Jane Buckle, PhD, recommend diluting essential oil and dabbing it directly on the skin so you can have “relief on you when you need it” (see article for specific directions). Chappell also spoke with Allan Hirsch, MD, neurologist at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. He says, “Short-term exposure is key because people stop responding to scents after a few minutes.” So make sure to restrict exposure to the scents if you want it to keep working. Finally, Drs. Hirsch and Oz offer some tips:
- Use vanilla to relax: “subjects who smelled vanilla while completing stress tests had more stable heart rates and blood pressure readings than those who took the tests in an unscented environment.”
- Use pepermint, jasmine, or citrus to invigorate: these scents are pleasant, yet mild irritants, so they’ll wake you up.
- Use green apple to relieve pain: “the smell of green apples reduced the severity and duration of migraine headache pain and may have a similar effect on joint pain.”
To read the full article on ArthritisToday.com click here: http://www.arthritistoday.org/treatments/alternative-therapies/aromatherapy-pain-relief.php
By the way, this post is being published simultaneously on my other blog as well, Inside Perfume. Please check it out if you haven’t already, at www.InsidePerfume.com. PLUS! Now you can stay connected to both of my blogs by following me, RyanNY, on Twitter (twitter.com/RyanNY), or by becoming a fan of each blog individually on Facebook (Inside Perfume on FB, Body Bath & Beauty on FB). Thanks!
Think Pink!
Posted by: ryanny on: October 8, 2009
It’s October, which used to mean lots of orange stuff, but in recent years, since National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has gained popularity, pink products to raise awareness about breast cancer have taken over! Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great to see so much support. How can you be sure the pink product you’re buying is really helping though? Find a product that supports a reputable organization. One of the largest organizations in the breast cancer spectrum is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® organization. It has become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
Now, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has their own online shop, with official merchandise. ShopKomen.com features a wide variety of products, from apparel to educational materials. And you can rest assured that 25% of your purchase price will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure® in the fight against breast cancer.
Visit ShopKomen.com for official merchandise from Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
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The Safety of Baby Shampoo
Posted by: ryanny on: October 6, 2009
There’s been a lot of press this year on new concerns about what is in baby shampoo. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has taken an aggressive role in patrolling product manufacturers and pressuring them to eliminate potentially harmful chemicals from their products. Naturally, baby products are something we want to be very cautious about. You would think that the FDA would assess and regulate baby products for safety. However, the FDA does not have authority to require assessment of safety for pre-market products like it with drugs. As a result, cosmetics products are some of the least-regulated on the market.
In March 2009, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 48 products and 61% contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. One of these was Johnson’s Baby Shampoo! The report says:
“Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are known carcinogens; formaldehyde can also trigger skin rashes in some children. Unlike many other countries, the U.S. government does not limit formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, or most other hazardous substances in personal care products.”
There are labeling laws that require ingredients to be listed, but these chemicals are not ingredients, they are byproducts of preservatives in the products & of processes in making the products. The preservatives (eg. quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea) are added to eliminate bacteria from forming in the product while it sits in storage or on shelves. However, over time these preservatives can release formaldehyde in the container. 1,4 dioxane is a little different though. The report says that “1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a chemical processing technique called ethoxylation, in which cosmetic ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide” to make them more soluble in water and foamy. Unless this is done under a low pressure environment, small amounts of potentially carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane can be produced.
Things don’t have to be this way, there are alternatives that are available to everyone. I previously wrote about Skin Deep, a cosmetic safety database that consumers can use to find safe products. There are products out there that don’t use these preservatives and processes, eliminating the need for concern. And they’re not necessarily expensive products either. The company I work for makes a great line of affordable products for children. The Bath Therapy Baby & Kids line was created to provide parents with a healthy choice for washing their little ones. The line is gentle, tear free, hypoallergenic, and has a light fragrance. Most importantly though, it is regularly lab tested and DOES NOT contain: sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, phthalates, or artificial colors. I have actually tried Baby & Kids myself, and they are a great body wash for adults too. The Lullabye Lavender is my favorite. The texture of the wash is soft, not too thick, and the scent is very mild, not overpowering. You can read more about Bath Therapy Kids & Baby by clicking here. The line is available on our new website, BelcamShop.com. And for a limited time the 1/2 liter bottles of Baby & Kids are $1 off.
Expecting Gossip
Posted by: ryanny on: October 2, 2009
I just discovered People magazine’s Celebrity Baby Blog. Get your fill of mommy and baby related, celebrity gossip. On the front page today, Kourtney Kardashian leaving a hair salon in West Hollywood, after getting her hair extensions redone yesterday. Reality TV stars have to keep up on there looks, especially if they’re a mommy-to-be. Thirty year old Kourtney is due to have her first child in December with boyfriend Scott Disick.
Beauty Tips
Posted by: ryanny on: September 29, 2009
Illustration from "Create Perfect Eyebrows"
The company I work for, Belcam Inc., has a great new shopping site. It’s more than an e-commerce site though, it’s also informational. In the Beauty Tools section of the site, you’ll find helpful beauty tips. For example, Create Perfect Eyebrows, a guide on shaping eyebrows. This is a step by step, illustrated guide that tells you how to safely and accurately shape your eyebrows like a pro. It also connects you directly to some product suggestions, and explains why these products, such as high quality tweezers, really make a difference. The guides are printable so you can keep them handy. Check it out at the new BelcamShop.com.
Here’s a complete list of the guides:
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