❤ The Fluoride Controversy

So many people wonder if they should be switching to a "natural" and fluoride-free toothpaste.  I wrestled with this decision as well, here's what I came up with:

Conventional toothpaste= full of nasty things I hate like SLS and artificial whatnot. Plus I heard fluoride can be poisionous! What the heck?

"Natural" toothpaste= doesn't clean and protect nearly as well, leave my teeth with that "sweatery" feeling, and can still contain some questionable stuff like glycerine.

So here's the decision I came to, you may or may not share my opinion, but hopefully this will give you some food for thought, just brush your teeth after...........

Fluoride started being put into public water systems in the 50's to reduce the occurrence of cavities primarily in children. The overall rate of cavities did dramatically decrease during the next 20 years and fluoride was mainly given the credit- though other factors may have been at work as well: like better oral health education and more access to dental care.  Fluoride is a naturally-occuring mineral, that can actually poison you in large quantities (like if an adult consumed a couple of tubes toothpaste), but there is a lot of clinical and anecdotal data to support the claim that it helps with overall tooth and enamel health. Also, "natural" toothpastes lacking fluoride don't really clean your teeth of tartar and plaque as well as their conventional counterparts.  Even with using a Sonicare and flossing daily- the 6 months I used "natural" SLS and fluoride-free toothpaste I had the worst plaque and tartar buildup I have ever had in my life (so much so that my regular hygienist asked me what I had changed as she subjected me to a long and really uncomfortable cleaning). I live in Seattle, and I would say people here are pretty health and chemical conscious (urban hippies, anyone?). Plus the area where I live has a highly reputable college for alternative medicine, so the dentists here have seen lots of people that try to avoid fluoride and all the nasty chemical components in toothpastes at disastrous consequences to their teeth, (crowns, fillings, gum loss) something that she shared with me at length.

So here is the gist: enamel and gum tissue cannot be replaced, once it is gone it is lost forever. Also, the chemical compounds and resins used to make fillings is far worse for you than anything that is in a tube of toothpaste.  Even though they eventually harden and cure, those toxic chemicals stay in your mouth forever, not mere minutes like toothpaste. Not to mention that the actual drilling and subsequent replacement of fillings can damage and crack your teeth and gum disease can cause all sorts of issues, even heart problems. Since fluoride and tartar control toothpastes are effective for preventative maintenance for tartar control, enamel loss, cavities, and gum tissue loss due to gingivitis (aka plaque and tartar buildup) it makes sense to use them if you are heading off far worse consequences. Think of it like medicine, you probably don't like taking all those chemicals but sometimes the potential alternative is far scarier than the treatment.  

Like you, I try to avoid chemicals wherever possible and I HATE that the toothpastes that are most effective have things like fluoride, artificial sweeteners and SLS. BUT at the expense of something far worse, it just isn't worth it. Just to be sure I don't ingest any toothpaste, I rinse my mouth really well two or three times after I am done and always use a very small amount.  Read my blog and others in my sidebar to research products that save on chemicals in other areas of your life: shampoo, deodorant, soap, makeup, cleaning products etc. and buy a really "good" dentist approved toothpaste (I was told that statin fluoride found in Crest toothpastes has been shown to be the most "useable" type for enamel health).

Cheers! I'm off to brush my teeth.

❤Eco Belle Elle

❤ Natural Perfumes ❤ Part Un!

I haven't forgotten about my promise to give you the deets on some great perfume options (see original post under bitter diatribes or fragrance).  It has just taken way longer than originally anticipated to amass a sample collection worthy of writing about.  I will be upfront in telling you that I am not a true perfume "aficionado" though I do like wearing them.  If you read any reviews on perfume you will be inundated with such words as sillage, tenacity and resins.  Basically the perfumery process has its own vernacular rivaling that of wine making.  It's enough to make you exhausted trying to decipher the descriptions, so I won't even try.

Most reviewers also include arguments on how "gourmand" fragrances can be basically likened to a wine cooler (remember those?) versus a fancy '81 La Fête.  Anyhow, being neither a perfume nor wine snob I  happen to love a good gourmand.  Those can be described as a sugary, sweet fruity or candy smell.  Think candy, berries, chocolate and honey.  I know I can't be alone in my love of these scents since the majority of what is out in the marketplace is.... AHEM, gourmand.  You like these types of fragrances if you like brands like Thierry Mugler Angel, Philosophy Falling in Love, Juicy Couture's Viva La Juicy, Pink Sugar, I think even Flowerbomb would be in there.

For good measure I have included other "types" of non-gourmand fragrances in each line.  Also, I am not up on all the perfumery lingo so I just kept the descriptions understandable.  Also, you should be aware that because most natural perfumes lack fixatives (aka plasticizers) they have a shorter life span on your wrist (spray on your clothes or scarf, for added longevity).  Positives elements of this formulation is the lack of "sillage" or your perfume wake- I honestly detest that about most modern fragrances.  I believe that the Angel and those tenaciously dedicated "Obsession" wearers are the worst offenders of this by far (seriously people: time to find a new signature fragrance!).  When I used to wear Angel, I would use a micro-squirt to avoid announcing my arrival by my perfume.

Naturals are also a little more interesting and tend to evolve and change as they dry and age on your skin during wear.  All of these options have natural, synthetic free perfume components, but take note they are from things like flowers and resins and spices, so they are NOT completely allergen-free.  Because I don't want this post to appear as an Anna Karenina-like novel, this will be a two or three part post.  This first post contains my personal favorites highlighted in pink.


Agape and Zoe


An affordable large range of perfumes makes this little perfumery a great place to start. Rollerballs can be had for as little as $10 and 1 ounce sprays for $29.  I love that the ingredients are organic and the owner is very upfront with what's in each blend.  You can also sample their complete line for just a few dollars!

Favorites include:
Repose- a lavender vanilla scent that smells just like it sounds. Simple and to the point.  I love this because it stays around for a while and to me it smells a little like a baby doll I loved as a kid.
Sugared Crush- it is a vanilla, candy scent with a little bubble-gummy and full of sugary goodness, which maybe could be construed as young, but it's simply a delicious little fragrance.  To me smells a lot like Pink Sugar without all the chemical nasties.
Faith- Like a sniffing a 50/50 bar, orange and vanilla-y sweetness, yum!

I found the other scents to be very floral and very long-lasting, though something I would probably not choose to wear myself.
Green- So if I were to wear something non-gourmond from their line, I would choose this.  Just how it sounds. I really liked this fresh, slightly herbal cucumbery scent. Perfect on a spring or summer day it is light and well, green.

I find the florals to be a little "soapy" for lack of a better word.  I will say they are highly fragranced and longer-lasting than many natural perfumes I have come across.
Beauty- Fresh scrubbed scent smelling of sandalwood with vanilla.
True- Powdery florals: rose-y and sandalwood.  I will be honest, powdery, floral scents are not my thing as I find them to be a little "mature."
Botanica- Very floral and sweet with honeysuckle, gardenia.  Like walking through your great aunt's fabulous flower garden on a sunny day.
Peace- Smells to me like Hawaiian floral breezes and jasmine
Pure Innocence- Also very floral, with a little tangy citrus finish.

Sample 10 for $20 or purchase at www.agapeandzoe.com,  if you already know what you like www.naturaljoybeauty.com offers this brand as well.


Honore Des Pres


More expensive and more rich in ingredients and scent blends, I originally wanted to discount these because they contain Benzyl Benzoate used here as a fixative.  While I will be the first to admit this isn't my favorite ingredient, I will tell you that it is naturally derived.  Benzyl Benzoate has the potential to be an estrogen mimicker- the jury's still out, but if you're truly concerned maybe you should avoid it.  What I can tell you is that far and away this ecocert brand is a far smarter choice than anything they are selling at Sephora or your local perfume counter.  When you purchase there you have no idea what you're getting, and to be honest Benzyl Benzoate is going to be the least of your worries.  It's got a celeb following that includes Rachel Zoe.  The beautiful Jessica Alba is a fan as well and we happen to share a favorite: Vamp a NY.

Vamp a NY- This is my fall favorite, and I have been wearing it every day this season.  From the New York Collection, Vamp is warm, root beer-y floral goodness is something that is hard to describe until you try it.  It smells like rum, vanilla, caramel, spice, root beer and tuberose. And, thanks (or not) to the Benzyl or Benz as it's listed in the ingredient listing, it actually lasts on your skin.  Famous perfumer Olivia Giacobetti is the nose behind these scents, and apparently, she is like perfume royalty.  So if you're into that sort of thing, these are about as high fashion as organic perfumes get.

Love Coco is aptly named and also a fave.  This smells like a natural coconut, not artificial, not fake.  Just like you climbed up a tree, cut it open yourself and sniffed the inside of it.  If by chance people actually did things like this. Yum!

Take note that from my observations HDP's first round of scents that included Sexy Angelic seriously lacked staying power.  I tried Sexy Angelic, as I was sold on it's description. However it disappeared after ten minutes.  If you're still interested in trying it, I would describe the scent as similar to a very expensive, very french baby doll.  It smells like vanilla and (no offense to Giacometti) but a little like plastic. I'm not alone in my scentservations either.  What is the word for scent observations? It is an oxymoron, so I needed to make a word of my own. I can only speak personally for this scent though and there are several others in this original line though from the blogs I read they all have the same staying problem.

Other scents not tried in the New York line include: I Love les Carottes, which is true, I do love my carrots, so maybe I should try it!  Of the original Les Verrines D'Honore line I have only tried the Sexy Angelic scent but others include, Bonte's Bloom, Chaman's Party, Nu Green and Trip. You can even sometimes find HDP at your local Anthropologie to take a sniff first hand (though that place is a dangerous spending landmine for me).  Find them at www.anthropologie.com, www.spiritbeautylonge.com or read more at www.honoredespres.com.  You can sample them at Spirit Beauty as part of a $25 sample pack and receive that $25 credit on your next purchase.

Up next some more fab fragrances!
❤ Eco Belle Elle