As a result of a 2007 lawsuit brought by the American Environmental Safety Institute, two leading tattoo ink makers must now place warnings on their product containers, catalogs and websites to say that the “inks contain many heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and others” and that the ingredients have been linked to cancer and birth defects. (Media credit/Thinkstock Hemera Collection)

Some red inks used for permanent tattoos contain mercury, while other reds may contain different heavy metals like cadmium or iron oxide. These metals—which give the tattoo its “permanence” in skin—have been known to cause allergic reactions, eczema and scarring and can also cause sensitivity to mercury from other sources like dental fillings or consuming some fish. While red causes the most problems, most other colors of standard tattoo ink are also derived from heavy metals (including lead, antimony, beryllium, chromium, cobalt nickel and arsenic) and can cause skin reactions in some people.

Helen Suh MacIntosh, a professor in environmental health at Harvard University and a columnist for the website, Treehugger, reports that as a result of a 2007 lawsuit brought by the American Environmental Safety Institute (AESI), two of the leading tattoo ink manufacturers must now place warning labels on their product containers, catalogs and websites explaining that “inks contain many heavy metals, including lead, arsenic and others” and that the ingredients have been linked to cancer and birth defects.

Of course, exposure to mercury and other heavy metals is hardly the only risk involved with getting a tattoo. The term tattoo itself means to puncture the skin. Tattoo ink is placed via needles into the dermis layer of the skin, where it remains permanently (although some colors will fade over time). Some people have reported sensitivity springing up even years after they first got their tattoo; also, medical MRIs can cause tattoos to burn or sting as the heavy metals in the ink are affected by the test’s magnetism.

Beyond the long term risks of walking around with heavy metals injected into your body’s largest organ (the skin), getting a tattoo in and of itself can be risky business. If the tattoo parlor’s needles and equipment aren’t properly sterilized in an autoclave between customers, you could be exposing yourself to hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis, mycobacterium, syphilis, malaria, HIV or even leprosy.

“The potential risk of infectious spread from tattooing (particularly due to Hepatitis B) is high enough that it is a practice that should be avoided by pregnant women to safeguard the health of the baby [and that of the pregnant woman herself] whose immune system is down regulated and is much more vulnerable to these types of infection,” reports dermatologist Audrey Kunin, who runs the popular Dermadoctor website. Dr. Kunin advises to be careful about choosing a tattoo parlor: “Make sure the place is reputable, perhaps check with the health department to see if there have been past claims against the parlor in question if you still have doubts.” She adds that since tattoos are essentially open wounds, they must be cared for properly, especially in the first few weeks, to stave off infection.

Those who want go ahead with getting a tattoo anyway despite the risks should consider steering clear of colors derived from heavy metals. Dr. Kunin reports that black might be the safest permanent tattoo ink; it is often derived from a substance called carbon black and rarely causes any kind of sensitivity issues. If your heart is set on red in your tattoo, ask around to see if any tattoo parlors in your area are willing to work with non-metallic organic pigments that lend a red color such as carmine, scarlet lake, sandalwood or brazilwood. There are non-metallic alternatives available for many other popular tattoo ink shades, too.

CONTACTS: Treehugger, www.treehugger.com; Dermadoctor, www.dermadoctor.com.

Skin is the largest organ of the human body, yet people have a tendency to ignore it. That is until we notice a wrinkle or a blemish that seems to have appeared over night. At that point, we’re panicking to find any cure to our embarrassing dilemma no matter how obscure it sounds. Perhaps it is time to care for your skin before you react to it. How should you care for your skin you ask? It’s simple…from the inside.

According to nutritionist and co-formulator of GliSODin Skin Nutrients, Paula Simpson, drinkable beauty is "a functional food defined as ‘those foods that encompass potentially healthful products including any modified food or ingredient that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains.’"

In simpler terms, a food that may have extra health benefits in them other than their known nutrients.

Simpson said that the idea of beauty from the inside "stemmed from the Asian and European markets. These women look at total beauty from a holistic perspective; to protect their bodies from accelerated aging with antioxidant rich diets and effective topical skincare programs."

Now you’re wondering, what foods will produce these cosmetic benefits?

The answer, according to Simpson, is foods that contain high sources of antioxidants, because they will "help to combat the damaging effects of free radicals (toxins that have been linked with accelerated aging). The richest sources of antioxidants include those from berries, carotenoids (tomatoes and carrots) citrus, and green leafy vegetables. Selenium rich foods such as oats, turkey, and Brazil nuts can help to promote healthy immunity to ward off free radical damage on the skin."

Another way to promote healthy looking skin is to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. "If you are not getting enough fluids on a daily basis then your skin will be the first to show signs of this," explains Simpson.

The website for GliSODin Skin Nutrients calls the product "ingestible skin care for beautiful, healthy skin." Simpson said the product was created to protect the body from accelerated aging as well as "to promote optimal skin health."

SOD stands for superoxide dismutase which is an enzyme found in the human body that reduces potentially harmful toxins. It is also the key ingredient in GliSODin.

Simpson believes if you include antioxidant rich foods and drinks to your normal diet, "you are essentially boosting your intake of specific nutrients to help support a healthy immune system.”

“By maintaining healthy immunity, you will feel well and look well!"

With this already overrated recession lingering on and businesses offering only some discounted prices or sales, many women are wondering what to do about their beauty routine. Is it prudent to go and spend $200 on a sugar scrub massage? Will Obama be disappointed if you get your $50 French lotion? Well, fear dry skin and critics no longer. Chloe&Jane, an all-natural skin care line, is offering quality spa products for less than expected.

Laura Albin (aka Jane) founded Chloe & Jane in 2007 after an “aha” moment in the shower with her friend’s, Wendy Viscuglia‚  (aka Chloe), handmade sugar scrub.‚  Realizing the importance of taking time to pamper yourself, she created a collection of bath and body products to inspire, renew, and entertain. What started with one scrub is now a five-product line in three delicious but subtle fresh spa scents that has celebs like Debra Messing and Christina Milian singing it praises.

“The idea, the initial idea, started in the kitchen of a friend of mine (Wendy Viscuglia), and she’s totally into going to the spa and I’m into buying soap at Target,” said Albin, co-founder, who started mixing ingredients for scrubs shortly after trying Viscuglia’s. “So Chloe became her image, a more fru-fru gal, and Jane was just plain Jane. We thought about this to show the two sides of the product, it’s a great line with fragrances that don’t overpower and won’t scare the people like me but it has high quality for the high maintenance women who want their spa needs fulfilled. The people I know are either one or the other type of consumer, but everyone likes this spa at home line”

In wanting to bring the products to “spa veterans and spa virgins” alike, Albin thought of possible recipes and packaging ideas. She came up with an eco-chic line made of paraben and artificial dye-free products and went with a recyclable packaging. Plus, she decided to never test on animals.

“It took 9 months to put everything together and we have been in the market for little less than a year. We didn’t expect it to be so well received and be such a great product so in that sense it has been very fun to bring the spa to people who have never been to the spa. We definitely want the brand to grow even more than body care, that’s the launching point for us, but we’d rather stay in the retail market rather than higher end stores. That way we reach more places and have the line be about girlfriends and taking care of yourself,” Albin added.

Each item smells and feels amazing with a choc full of “good for you ingredients;” like grapeseed oil, which helps in cell renewal, or Japanese green tea leaf extract, known to reduce puffiness and is packed with antioxidants. ‚ But most appealing, oddly enough, are the product’s designs. Chloe&Jane prints fun anecdotes on the side of every package. From crazy waxing stories to do-it-yourself nightmare experiences. Once you see those little tales, you know the product is authentic, made and used by women who understand what women want.

Like Albin, also a mother of two, explained, it is always amazing to see how you can be great friends with someone so different from you. The stories added to the packaging help in creating a community amongst women who may be very unalike but can still form strong bonds despite it all.

“From a female perspective there’s this idea that you should exercise your passions and hope, follow your ambitions and that’s what we’re doing as far as the business. There’s a need to have good natural products that are not so serious, though, so we want to connect to our customers and we want to let you know its cool to be green while having fun and having a laugh,” Albin said.‚ 

All the items retail from $12-$26 and are available online. For a limited time Blast readers can also enjoy 20% off the Chloe&Jane product line. Enter the code: Blast48 at the website’s check out, and if you’d like to win a spa kit enter the giveaway by February 28!

Have you ever been on a date and caught a glimpse of yourself in your glass of water?‚ 

You hope it’s the condensation that’s making your reflection look like you left the gym locker room, but no.‚  You’re forehead is glistening with perspiration.

Dermelect Cosmeceuticals’ Pore-Revolution-T-zone -Mattifier might be the solution you’re looking for. This beauty treatment is safe for all skin types, and a small dab of the silky cream applied to your forehead and nose, and any other areas that are prone to shine, should do the trick (Experts say to use your ring finger when applying, as this appendage has the gentlest touch). The salicylic acid in the cream stimulates the pores and, at the same time, cooling reliefs like willow leaf oil soothe the skin.‚  The thin cream dries faster than your first coat of mascara, so there will be no remnants of residue.

The odorless product also works to tighten your pores and refine your skin.‚  Stop the shine and go through your day with confidance forever more.

Other products available at www.dermelect.com include Dermelect Cosmeceuticals’ Detoxifying Oxygen Facial Commisson.‚  This facial cleanser is designed to awaken the skin with just a dime-sized squirt in the morning. Its natural ingredients, including soy protein and licorice extract, are gentle and soothing to the skin, and the cleanser releases oxygen molecules that instantaneously detoxify the unwanted dirt and residue in your pores.‚  This product, which was formulated by medical professionals and licensed estheticians, can additionally be used as a quick and easy makeup remover in the evening.

For more information or to purchase, please visit www.dermelect.com.