Bath and beauty products do more than just keep us clean, they make us look and feel our best. And in a 24/7 society where busy is the norm, a simple bath or great skin treatment can be a relaxing personal moment in an otherwise hectic day. Now more than ever, people are using bath products that are made organically through green processes because it's not only good for them, but also good for the environment.
"Going green is more than just an environmental concept, it's something that can have a dramatic impact on personal health," says Justin Gomolka at , a company that makes 100 percent natural bath and body, skin care and hair care products. "We're seeing more interest in natural products that respect human life, animal life, and the environment we live in -- something our entire line supports. We do not test on animals or use harmful synthetic preservatives or additives such as sodium laurel sulfate or parabens. One must be on the lookout for greenwashing, where companies claim to be natural and /or safe for the environment, but use harmful synthetic ingredients."
These are the top bath and beauty trends of 2008:
Trend 1) Organic Soaps When you're washing your skin, are you using something that contains harsh chemicals? Don't forget, your skin is your body's largest organ and the first line of defense against disease and infections. If you look at the ingredients of your common everyday soap, you might find it difficult to pronounce the list. Animal fats and synthetic ingredients help make soaps cheap for large companies, but wreak havoc on your skin and overall health! For this reason, organic soap made from all-natural ingredients is a top beauty trend. For example, handmade soap from Best Bath Store (www.BestBathStore.com) uses luxurious quality ingredients that include organic extracts, essential oils, and cleansing particles harvested from the earth. Because of the use of organic ingredients, this soap is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.
Trend 2) Safe Cosmetics / Cruelty Free / Environmentally Friendly Traditional cosmetics and bath products can contain unhealthy ingredients. Exposure to one of these chemicals is unlikely to cause health problems, but repeated exposure can be linked to serious health issues like cancer and birth defects. More people are seeking safe cosmetics that they know won't be causing them, their families, or any animals harm. You can do three things to help buy healthier products. First, look for products that do not test on animals or companies that are PETA business friends. Second, visit www.SafeCostmetics.org to find a list of companies that have pledged to keep their products safe from unhealthy compounds. Lastly, find out how a company packages their products and ships them. Do they use Styrofoam or corn starch peanuts?
Trend 3) Aromatherapy Different scents have the power to trigger sensations in the brain such as relaxation, calmness, alertness and more. Lavender is a popular ingredient used in bath products that is believed to have the power to promote relaxation and relieve stress, important for today's constantly hectic lifestyle. Lavender has been used as a natural medicine to help relieve headaches, migraines and insomnia for centuries. Other scents and herbs have properties that help keep the body balanced and healthy. More people are now looking for these ingredients in their favorite soaps and lotions.
Trend 4) Real Results People want a luxurious, natural product, but they also want results from their beauty regimen. From wrinkles to acne, natural ingredients just might be the cure you've been seeking. For example, acne medicines made from all natural ingredients treat problem skin gently, great for sensitive skin types. Additionally, some natural ingredients may work better because the body isn't able to build up a tolerance to its effectiveness like it often does with chemical treatment options. Natural, green ingredients also can make a difference for other beauty concerns such as wrinkles and skin tone.
Trend 5) Not Just for Ladies Bath and beauty isn't just for females any more. Products are being made specifically for the needs of children and men too. Fun, natural products make bath time enjoyable for kids of all ages, helping them stay clean and healthy. And men are realizing that looking their best today and in the future requires more effort than a simple daily shower. An increasing number of men are seeking out all-natural soaps, shampoos and shaving creams because these products give them better results and are better for their body.
To learn more about natural bath and beauty products and receive free samples, visit
Lots of books and articles aimed at home buyers tell you that you can gain an edge during a competitive real estate market by getting prequalified before you begin your search. That may be true, but how do you find out if you're a qualified home buyer? There are several relatively easy and inexpensive or free ways to find out if you're qualified for a home loan, and how much of a loan you can qualify for.
First, you'll need to be able to prove that you have verifiable employment and a good income. Then you'll need to demonstrate that you have good credit.
Proving that you have a job and verifying income is relatively easy, but proving your creditworthiness is a bit more difficult, because it involves providing lenders with your FICO score. FICO is an acronym for Fair Isaac Corporation, which is a company that computes the credit ratings that are the industry standard by which lenders determine a borrower's credit history--and their potential to repay a mortgage, based on that history. (To learn more about FICO, you can visit www.myfico.com.)
For a fee, you can order your credit reports from all three credit reporting companies (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) and your FICO score. It may be well worth your while to examine and compare each of those reports, because they will contain somewhat different information, and some of it may be incorrect. However, the credit score you pay for is not the same one your mortgage lender will see.
You can also obtain all three credit reports once a year at no cost (which is a good idea, even if you're not planning to buy a home, by the way) by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 1-877-322-8228. However, you won't receive your FICO score, which is really the number that's most important to lenders.
Once you have all that information together, you can go to the lender of your choice and work with them to negotiate the best terms, interest rate, and amount of money you can borrow. Using the information you've provided, your lender will be happy to work with you to make your dream of buying a home a reality.
Once you've established the guidelines for your home loan qualification, ask for a preapproval letter. It lets sellers and their agents know that you've already gone through the process of qualifying for a loan, which means the sale will go through more quickly, which is always a good thing in the minds of sellers. A preapproved letter counts more than a prequalified letter.
It can take time, but finding out how much you're qualified to borrow can help narrow your home search and give you a competitive advantage when it comes to buying your new home.
Both Robert D. Thomson & Jeanette Joy Fisher are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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Jeanette Joy Fisher has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Network Marketing and Real Estate. Jeanette Fisher teaches how to get out from under credit card debt, how to use credit to make money, and six ways to build strong credit to finance your first home and multiple investment properties. For a free credit advice and free ebook Credit Tips for. Jeanette Joy Fisher's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.