100% Pure Review

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Please note that I’m not bashing a company. I’m simply reviewing the products. This is not personal; it is merely education. People need to know what’s in the products they put on their skin every day. I focus on promoting safe, healthy, toxin free skincare and makeup and educating on all things toxin free. My passion and purpose is helping women reduce their toxic body burden and become confident and empowered in the products they are using.

Instead of going through each product (because that would be crazy), I will outline the ingredients that the company allows in its products. Some products may be clean, but the fact that the company allows toxins in its products, makes its a no for me.

The ingredients you will find in this brand that I would not personally use or recommend are:

• Japanese Honeysuckle 🚫 sounds super natural and innocent, but it contains parahydroxy benzoic acid, which is found to behave in a similar way (with very similar molecular structure) as a paraben inside the body. “Paraben” is somewhat of a buzz word in the beauty community and is becoming very well known to be avoided in cosmetics, skincare, and body products. It is a synthetic preservative that mimics the role of estrogen in the body…wreaking havoc on your endocrine system. It has also been linked to breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.

• Retinol ❌ We all know that retinol is irritating… thats why it “works”. It irritates the skin and causes the cells of the skin to grow (divide) and die more rapidly, increasing the turnover of cells. This turnover leads to massive inflammation, and the Cosmetic Database also has it linked to a laundry list of health hazards: cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, restrictions and warnings, cellular level changes, and organ system toxicity.

• Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) 🚫 has been at the center of preservative controversy for as long as it has been in the industry. It is marketed as a “natural preservative” however, it is commonly adulterated with synthetic preservatives such as triclosan, benzethonium chloride, and methylparaben. I have chosen not to utilize products containing GSE due to the ongoing debate.

Some additional things that I recommend taking into consideration when deciding to support a brand:

– Few certified organic ingredients are used ▪️ Certified organic cosmetic ingredients insure a higher level of purity and peace of mind. Many women with sensitive skin also prefer cosmetics made with as many organic ingredients as possible because the organic certification removes the risk of concentrated pesticide residue – a potential irritant that holds additional health concerns with repeat exposure. 

– Unspecified if minerals used are non-nano ▪️ Non-Nano and EcoCert are the most pure and safe options that you can look for. One of the many scary things about nanoparticles is that the materials are small enough to penetrate the skin or get inside the body through inhalation. Just to list a few common nanoparticles they are: titanium dioxide, zinc, silver, and fullerene. When these nanoparticles are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried around the body it can cause DNA and cell function damage, brain damage, liver damage, and affects on the immune system. On top of all of that, titanium dioxide specifically has shown MAJOR potential repercussions in offspring.

-Unspecified if plastics used are toxin free (majority of packaging) ▪️ Not only is plastic significantly worse for the environment, but not knowing if plastic packaging is toxin free means you risk toxins from the packaging leeching into your product. 

In summary, ingredients in these products contain ties to cancer, hormonal disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, cellular level changes, and organ system toxicity. And this is why I do these reviews. Women deserve to know that they are using products linked to serious health issues. If you’re ready to start detoxing your products and making the change to a more toxin free life, please head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/ where you will find tons of resources and support!

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Organization Tip #3 – Create a Plan to Create More Freedom Within your Day

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As someone who has always loved planning, I’ve seen the difference it makes in my day. One time I tried unplanned Sundays and my day felt like a chaotic mess. But, I’ve heard from people who don’t plan that they feel it takes away the freedom within their day. It is a common belief that having a plan, structure, or routine that governs your day limits your own personal freedom to just do what you want, when you want. I disagree with this.

I’ve been reading “Atomic Habits” with my Crunchi team and he talks about this in regards to habits. He mentions that people wonder if habits and routine will make their life dull, restrict their freedom, and take away the spontaneity of life. He writes that it does the opposite, it creates freedom.

Having a plan, structure, or routine for your day actually opens up more freedom for you. It allows you to live your life proactively rather than reactively. You know what you need to get done that day, so you don’t waste precious time and energy on less important tasks or wander aimlessly, unsure of your priorities. It allows you to spend time doing the things you want to do rather reacting to the needs and wants of others all day long. It can completely change the way you live your day to day life.

I’ve talked about a few different ways to plan your day in previous posts, but below I’ll list some tools you can use for planning.

🌿 Google calendar, I LOVE to color code mine

🌿 Paper planner, keep it basic or go all out with the fun planner stickers

🌿 Desk weekly calendar to be able to easily glance at important tasks or events for the week

🌿 Shared family calendar with the app Cozi

🌿 White board daily, weekly, or monthly calendar

🌿 A simple to do list on a blank piece of paper

I encourage you to try something for at least a week to see how you like it and how it makes your day run differently! Remember, you don’t have to plan out each minute if that isn’t your jam, you can have a loose plan, a general idea for your day, certain blocks of time for certain things, or just a simple list, but having some sort of plan will create more calm within your days,

Which one are you going to try or do you already use?!

Like what you read on this blog? You’ll LOVE the Raising Clean Facebook Community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

Organization Tip # 2 – Focusing your Mind

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I’ve always been known to be an over-thinker, perfectionist, control freak. My mind never wants to slow down. Since having my daughter, I’ve really wanted to work on being more present and not constantly in my head. I’m going to share some things that have worked to organize my own mind and my thoughts. Feel free to try some and leave some. None of this is a one size fits all.

🌿 Start your day for YOU. Do not check social media. Do not check email. Do not cater to the kids or the partner. Take care of you first to set your mind up for success for the rest of the day. This may be an hour long morning routine filled with reading, journaling, meditating, etc or it may be a 30 second gratitude list before you get out of bed if that’s all you have time for. Just find what works for you and be consistent with it.

🌿 Have some kind of plan for your day before you wake up in the morning. I’m a crazy planner, so I have my entire day planned out in color coded blocks in my google calendar. Some people would find that insane. You can write out a to do list each night. You can just write down the 3 things that if you complete that day, you’re winning at life. Whatever the top 3 priorities are that day. You can have a loose routine for the kids such as when meal times are and when they independently play so you can get stuff done. Again, this is trial and error and sometimes it takes a while to find what works best for you.

🌿 Practice mindfulness. I do this with yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. I love to start my day with a 10 minute meditation and I do yoga when I’m able to. This helps me in times when I need to try harder to be present or stay calm because I know I can focus on my breath even if just for one minute and it helps recenter my mind.

🌿 Do brain dumps. When we have a million things running through our minds, it can be helpful to get it out and on paper. I think this is particularly helpful before bed to quiet your mind or in the morning to set your mind up for the day. Sit down in a quiet place and just write every single thing in your mind. No filter, no worrying, just get it all out on paper. Sometimes you can even then use that to create to do lists because you’ll see if there are certain things weighing heavily on your mind that you need to get done.

🌿 Take quiet time. The world is loud. We are constantly surrounded by noise and distractions. Taking sometime to just sit with your own thoughts can be amazing. I love to do this after Addie goes to bed on the porch with some tea or while taking walks. Just be alone with your thoughts every now and then.

I truly think these things work wonders for organizing your mind and your thoughts.

Which one(s) are you going to try? And do you have something else that works well for you?!

Like what you read on this blog? You’ll LOVE the Raising Clean Facebook Community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

Organization Tip # 1 – A Place for Everything and Everything in it’s Place

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One thing I’ve noticed is that my mind is more cluttered when my environment is more cluttered. So, this tip not only will help you have more of a clear, organized mind, but of course an organized home as well.

I will say this is something I have to actively work at, it does not come naturally to me. I am actually an incredibly lazy “active” person. I love to be active, I love to workout, but when I’m not being active, I’m super lazy 😆. This means, I often will remove a hoodie and lay it on the couch, leave a tea mug by my bed, things like that. If every single thing in my home doesn’t have a place and I’m not mindful to make sure I put it back in its place when I’m done with it, my home can become cluttered real quick.

It takes an extra minute or two to put something back when finished with it (as long as you know exactly where it belongs) and it makes a massive difference in keeping clutter away. This is something that can be taught to the little ones. We’ve taught our daughter to put her toys back when done since she was one. Now that she’s three, she’s usually good about putting toys away as she finishes with them, but of course she doesn’t always do it. In that case, we start bedtime routine a little early and work together to put the toys away. If she doesn’t know where they go, however, that would be impossible for her little self to navigate.

I’ve also found that being able to see everything works tremendously well for us. We got rid of our kitchen cabinets for open shelving and keep things in clear containers. We store a lot of kitchen appliances on an open shelf in our dining area. I also use the Marie Kondo method for folding my clothes, and my hanging clothes are color coded. All of these things are not only esthetically pleasing, but they keep things organized, easy to find, and therefore easy to put back.

Some other quick tips for clothes since this was a highly wanted topic:

  • Each person in the home as one solid color of socks, never waste time matching up socks again.
  • Opt for a capsule wardrobe or a more minimal wardrobe.
  • To help you purge some clothes, try the hanger method where all hangers are facing one direction and after you wear something turn the hanger the other direction so you know which clothes are getting worn and which aren’t. I personally do this and the first day of each month I remove a couple of pieces that I haven’t worn and put in the donate bin.

I hope this is helpful! Happy organizing 🥰

Like what you read on this blog? You’ll LOVE the Raising Clean Facebook Community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

Organization Series

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For those of you who don’t know me yet, my name is Jessica DeRico. I’m a hippy-ish mama to one 3 year old girl and another baby on the way, I’m into all things clean living, holistic health, and I’ve always thrived with structure, routines, systems, and organization. Like most of you, I’m just trying to get the most out of my day so I can be productive, present, happy, and healthy. Staying organized helps me do that!

This blog is typically about all things toxin free, but in honor of Spring cleaning time, I thought we could chat organization. I was recently asked to do a short series on this topic for someone else’s business group and everyone really enjoyed it. I do consider this a kind of “detoxing” because you’re detoxing your mind and environment to allow you to live healthier!

I’ve always been picked on (in a friendly way) by family and friends because of my strict schedules and organization techniques and I know what I do won’t work for everyone, but if I can help you organize your day/life at all, that would bring me joy!

I’LL START DROPPING TIPS SHORTLY, BUT TONIGHT I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT IS HARDEST FOR YOU:

🧥 Organizing Clothes/Household Items

🤯 Organizing Your Mind

📅 Organizing Your Day

Looking forward to getting to know you all better ❤ Feel free to share your struggles in the comment section. I’m sure every person struggles in some way with organization (I’ve been working on it my whole life and still have struggles).

Like what you read on this blog? You’ll LOVE the Raising Clean Facebook Community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

Arbonne Review

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I did a review of SeneGence last year and received a lot of feedback on how helpful it was. So, I’m going to work on posting more reviews for personal care companies to help all of you become more conscious consumers and vote with your dollars!

Please note that I’m not bashing a company. I’m simply reviewing the products. This is not personal; it is merely education. People need to know what’s in the products they put on their skin every day. You all know that I focus on promoting safe, healthy, toxin free skincare and makeup and educating on all things toxin free. Unfortunately Arbonne is not safe, healthy, nor toxin free despite having this on their website: “Arbonne is committed to healthy living to improve MIND. BODY. SKIN.™” .

I will outline the ingredients that Arbonne allows in its products, you may not find each of these in every product, but just allowing these ingredients in any of their products makes it a company that I would not be comfortable using or recommending.

• Loose Powder Titanium Dioxide – The health concern involving use of TD involves inhalation of the loose powder form. The International Agency for Research on Cancer identifies inhalable titanium dioxide as potentially carcinogenic.

• Phenoxyethanol – is used as a preservative in cosmetic products to limit bacterial growth. Skin exposure to phenoxyethanol has been linked to allergic reactions ranging from eczema and hives to anaphylaxis. Infants exposed to phenoxyethanol can experience a depressed central nervous system leading to a decreased appetite, difficulty waking, skin color change, damaged DNA, and limpness of extremities. It is neurotoxic to infants…

• Retinol Palmitate – We all know that retinol is irritating… thats why it “works”. It irritates the skin and causes the cells of the skin to grow (divide) and die more rapidly, increasing the turnover of cells. This turnover leads to massive inflammation, and the Cosmetic Database also has it linked to a laundry list of health hazards: cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, restrictions and warnings, cellular level changes, and organ system toxicity.

• Disodium EDTA – is a penetration enhancing ingredient. Which can be absolutely fantastic… but ONLY if it’s enhancing the penetration of great quality instead of enhancing the penetration of toxins.

• Artificial Fragrance – “Fragrance” or “Parfum” is a loophole that should be avoided. There are NO laws requiring the ingredients in fragrance to be disclosed and it’s always a toxic storm that will compromise your health.

Another thing I look at when deciding if I would use or recommend a brand is if they use certified organic ingredients. Certified organic cosmetic ingredients insure a higher level of purity and peace of mind. Many women with sensitive skin also prefer cosmetics made with as many organic ingredients as possible because the organic certification removes the risk of concentrated pesticide residue – a potential irritant that holds additional health concerns with repeat exposure. No certified organic ingredients are used in Arbonne products.

Numerous ingredients in these products contain ties to cancer, hormonal disruption, liver damage, skin irritation, eye irritation, breast cancer, and birth defects. And this is why I do these reviews. Women deserve to know if they are using products linked to serious diseases. If you’re ready to start detoxing your products and making the change to a more toxin free life, please head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean/ where you will find more info and support with detoxing your personal care products!

Safe Swap – Body Wash 

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Let’s take a look at some ingredients you want to say no to in your

𝔹𝕆𝔻𝕐 𝕎𝔸𝕊ℍ 🧼

✖️Phenoxyethanol-it is damaging to your DNA, neurotoxin-especially to babies. It is a very “green washed” ingredient.

✖️Fragrance-any given fragrance mixture can contain up to 3000 chemicals and has been linked to reproductive issues, respiratory distress, allergies, and more.

✖️BHT-used as a synthetic preservative and is linked to endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, and many more health concerns.

There are several more toxic ingredients to look out for but these are easy to spot!

Safe Alternatives

*Alaffia (the ones that do not contain fragrance)… Click here-> Alaffia Body Wash

*Crunchi Charcoal Body Bar… Click here -> http://www.crunchi.com/jessicaderico

*Carina Organics… Click here-> Carina Organics Body Wash

*Branch Basics

Our skin is our largest organ and it has the ability to absorb up to 64% of what we apply to it and some studies have shown our underarms and privates can absorb 100%!😳

It takes a minimum of 26 seconds of some ingredients we apply to our skin to be absorbed into our blood stream. So it is very important that we pay close attention to what we apply daily to our bodies!💗

As always I am happy to take a look at an ingredient list for you to help decipher if it is safe or not!

Happy Bathing!🧼

Living with Anxiety

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I was asked recently to write up something with natural remedies for anxiety and I thought it was a fabulous idea. I suffer from anxiety and I know so many others who do as well. There are actually several things that can be done to help combat anxiety without going straight to a medication that will likely have side effects you now have to deal with. So, let’s dive in…

Things you can do:

Fitness ( Move Your Body) – Yoga and Zumba are my favorite physical activities to reduce anxiety but there are a gazillion options. Try things out until you find what works for you. It’s not a one size fits all.

Meditation or Prayer – Whatever you call it. Just get silent with yourself every day for at least 10 minutes. You will notice a difference. I am significantly more on edge on days I skip my meditation.

Practice Gratitude – It is impossible to feel anxious and grateful at the same time. I like to list 10 things I’m grateful for from my day each night before I go to sleep. Doing it daily requires you to think of the little things and rewind through your day in your head specifically looking for good. This is wonderful for the soul.

Get some sleep – Most adults need a regular 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can lead to things such as increased stress, anxiety, reduced immune system function, increased blood pressure, and a whole host of other problems. When we practice relaxation and get enough sleep, these things can be significantly reduced. Quality sleep also helps to improve and renew your skin. Before bed, be sure to wash your face and hydrate well. I personally love Crunchi Charcoal Bar and Crunchi Nightlight moisturizer. Practice some deep breathing exercises and add a little lavender oil to your inner wrists. This routine helps me sleep like a baby!!

Things you can consume:

Ashwagandha – Importat Note: Not all herbs are created equal, and not all are safe for use by the general population. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should refrain from the use of Ashwagandha powder due to its ability to cause issues to the mother and baby, which can be fatal. People with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes should also avoid ashwagandha unless authorized by a doctor. 

Here are my favorite varieties: 

Gold Gummies (super tasty): https://bit.ly/3jig3ch

Standard Process (swallow tablet): https://bit.ly/3jilA2M

Earthley (liquid herb option): https://bit.ly/3ksPkcj

CBD – Green compass is what I’ve used in the past. Usda certified organic, grown in the USA by 6th generation farmers and every bottle has a QR code so you can scan and see the full lab results (tested by an third party) for that specific batch of cbd.

Do you have any tried and true tricks for helping with anxiety? I’d love to hear them!

To stay connected and learn tons more about clean living head over to the FB community -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean

Hey, friends!

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A massive welcome to the Raising Clean blog!

Raising Clean was created in June of 2018 (on Facebook, the blog came later). I had only been on my own toxin free journey for 3 months and honestly had no idea what I was doing. But I knew one thing. I was fired up about all I had learned about the harmful chemicals lurking in our products and our children’s products and I had to share it with anyone who would listen. 👂 I now have a fabulous community of like-minded women who all just want to live our best, healthiest lives!

👉👉 Here’s how to get the most out of this blog: 👈👈 

Shop Clean Beauty or Join Me: Ready to detox your makeup bag or learn more about the Safe + High Performing + Eco-conscious makeup and skincare I use –>> crunchi.com/jessicaderico 👉

GET FREE SHIPPING WITH EVERY $150 ORDER!

Need a shade match or free consultation to make sure you’re picking the best products for your skin type and needs? Fill out this free skincare quiz and I will reach out to you! https://forms.gle/idGpUXkUcPz31qFp8

 Safe Swaps Master List: A growing list of Safe Swaps beyond cosmetics + skincare that I have sourced to help you take baby steps in eliminating toxins from your life! –>>> You get access to this when you join my email list: http://eepurl.com/dC_rFL 

Toxic Ingredients Cheat Sheet: Aka – The Banished list! Click this link and save this image to help you when making everyday choices. —>>> https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10157870866692607… 

Never miss anything CRUNCHI related: ☀ Join my VIP text notification list for insane deals, re-stocks, & new product launches. Simply click https://www.remind.com/join/raisingcle and type in your phone number and name

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter here —>> http://eepurl.com/houQJj

Cosmetic Brand Ingredient Review: If you would like an ingredient review on any of the brands you’re currently using, do not hesitate to ask. Knowledge is power and I would be honored to support you in your journey by reviewing the ingredients in your current products, completely judgement free. You can always email at derico.jessica@gmail.com for the fastest response.

Ready to partner with me in the Clean Beauty Movement? —>> https://crunchi.com/the-movement/what-is-the-movement… 

Want to learn more about the Clean Beauty Movement —>> https://www.facebook.com/groups/benevolentbeginnings 

Thank you for being here 🌷✌️

Ditch & Switch: Lipgloss

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💋 Why do safe swaps matter when it comes to lip products?

Many lipglosses contain:

•Parabens

•Lake Dyes & FD&C Colorants

•Fragrance

•Flavor/Unspecific Flavor/”Natural Flavor”

•Propylene Glycol

•Formaldehyde Releasers (e.g., Diazolidinyl Urea)

•Petrolatum

•BHT

•Octinoxate

•Phenoxyethanol

•Mineral oil

Not ours!💋

Do you prefer a creamy, non-sticky lipgloss to a thick, gooey gloss? Because if so, you’re in for a treat when you try my fave!🤩

These lipglosses are loaded with nourishing oils like organic castor, coconut, jojoba, sunflower & olive oils, plus the oh-so nourishing cocoa butter! Most smell like cupcakes, except the Transparency and brand new Mulberry Mint which have organic peppermint 😍❄️ but you’ll only find vanilla plantifolia fruit or organic peppermint oil and NO artificial fragrances!

It’s ultra-glossy and non-sticky! All-vegan, nourishing, long-lasting, and moisturizing. It glides on effortlessly with a no greasy feel. You all will fall in loooove😍🌟

Definitely give some care and attention to the lip products you use, ladies! Most women consume several pounds of lip products throughout their lifetime🥴 So make sure what you’re putting ON your body is what you feel comfortable putting IN your body♥️

Want more info on these high quality, toxin free products? Reach out to me or hop over to our wellness community on Facebook where there’s ton of info plus ways to save $$ on products! –> https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisingclean