Category: Blog Post

Hand and nail care blog post

Hand And Nail Care

Posted on by Editorial Team

Now more than ever, you may find it necessary to practice a little hand and nail care. Constant hand washing, exposure to excess sunlight and other irritants, can leave hands dry, red and irritated. Learn what to do and what not to do when it comes to your hands and nails.

The skin on the hands

The skin is one of the largest organs in the body, with three layers – the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis. While the skin on the palm of the hands is thick, the skin on the back of the hands is the thinnest on the body. Because it is the most frequently exposed part of the body, it is a common area for photoaging and conditions like eczema and psoriasis from exposure to environmental stressors.

Preventing and treating dry hands

While dry, chapped hands are a very common condition, there are many ways to prevent and/or treat them. It is particularly important for those whose professions require them to have their hands in water all of the time – from dishwashers to nurses and surgeons. Many of the detergents and solvents used in washing and disinfecting the skin also tend to dry it out. Here are a few suggestions for maintaining healthy skin on the hands:

  • Wear gloves – There is a vast assortment of gloves designed to protect hands from the elements, from latex rubber to cotton. Rubber gloves are best whenever you are working with toxic solvents (turpentine, wood stains, pesticides, etc.). If your skin is sensitive, there are latex-free gloves available. Keep in mind that even though you are wearing glove, it’s important to know how to put them on and take them off. You should still wash your hands before and after wearing them in the event that the gloves have small leaks or tears. Cotton gloves are a good choice before going to bed if you are treating dry, chapped hands.
  • Use a moisturizer throughout the day – the best prevention is to use a soothing hand cream or balm (like our All-Purpose Body Balm) after working with water or irritating ingredients. You may have been washing your hands more frequently lately due to the CoVid19 virus pandemic, which may have left you with red, irritated hands or even contact dermatitis. Balms are recommended for more intense/nightly hand treatment once the skin has been stripped of its protective lipid layer. If not, hand creams can help prevent this from happening, but only if they are applied regularly.
  • Protect your hands from the sun – sunlight can create problems for your hands. Too much sunlight causes sunburn, dark spots, and a breakdown of collagen, not to mention the threat of skin cancer. Use a barrier sunscreen to prevent sun damage; wear driving gloves or use a UV filter on your car’s windows if possible.
  • If skin damage is severe, consult a physician. They are able to prescribe treatments like prescription creams to treat more serious conditions that don’t respond to home remedies. If you have an open sore or severe burn, you should seek professional attention, as these can lead to infection or worse. A physician can also diagnoses other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
  • Use products with ingredients like shea, mango, and cocoa butter, glycerin (plant-based), Vitamin E and pure aloe. Oil-based products are great for restoring the skin’s lipid layer.

The Basics of Nail Anatomy

Like the skin on the hands, fingernails can suffer from too much exposure to environmental stressors. Frequent hand-washing, for example, can leave nails thin and prone to tearing. Exposure to solvents like acetone and gel manicures can also weaken the nail. Like hair and other parts of the body, nails are composed of keratin, a fibrous protein that grows out from the lunula, or the visible portion of the matrix. Caring for nails helps them serve their function of protecting the nail bed from foreign substances and pathogens. It also protects the fingertips. What many people don’t know is that the nail is even more permeable than skin. While our skin can absorb 50-70% of what we put on it, the nail can absorb substances, too. It’s important to know how to care for this important part of our anatomy. We’ve included a few suggestions below to get you started:

  • Eat a well-balanced diet – that’s right; the same diet that may leave your hair dry and brittle can do the same to your nails. Vitamin B12 deficiency can leave nails dry, dark and/or curved. A diet containing sufficient protein will promote keratin production. And hydration is important, too- our nails contain as much as 12% water.
  • Keep nails neatly trimmed/filed – This can prevent them from catching on objects, resulting in painful tears.
  • Use a nail/cuticle oil regularly – when nails are dry, they readily absorb oils, which work well to soften and condition dry nails and cuticles.
  • Don’t cut your cuticles – not only can this raise the risk for infection, but it can result in nail ridges. Instead, use a cuticle stick to gently push the cuticle back and keep cuticles conditioned.
  • Watch what nail products you use – solvents like acetone can wreak havoc on nails. Many nail polishes contain ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene and other organic solvents that can dry nails out. They are also being absorbed into the body, which is not so good. Try nail products that are 10-free (free of the 10 major harmful ingredients). We love Zoya nail polish. For a list of some good ones, click here.
  • Instead of nail polish, try buffing your nails – not only will it leave your nails naturally lustrous, but it helps to increase circulation to the nail bed, which is a good thing.
  • Seek professional help if you see anything that shouldn’t be there – fungal infections are common and sometimes require prescription medication. Even skin cancer can appear in the nail area, so don’t wait. Contact your doctor for a consultation.

By taking just a few steps to keep hands and nails healthy, you can avoid the discomfort of dealing with dry, cracked skin and nails. A little care can go a long way.

Staying healthy at work and at play

Staying Healthy At Work And At Play

Posted on by Editorial Team

We are experiencing some unprecedented threats today to our health and safety. Staying healthy at work and at play has become quite the challenge. Many of us may be experiencing anxiety over the best course of action to take while waiting for the world to come back to normal. CoVid19 is not our only concern, of course. Everything from stress to chronic illness, climate change to food uncertainty complicates the picture for many.

Good Health Is More Important Than Ever

If you are currently in good health, you’re ahead of the game. Healthy bodies are better able to fight infection and recover more quickly when illness strikes. Studies have shown that chronic inflammation can contribute to many chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. A healthy lifestyle can help to mitigate the effects of environmental pollutants, chronic diseases and even cancer.

Despite the challenges involved, there are a number of things that you can begin doing right now to maintain health and to stay well no matter where you are. A few of these are listed below:

Healing is a matter of time, but it is also sometimes a matter of opportunity.

Hippocrates

Staying Health At Work

  • Practice Preventative Medicine – Regular checkups are the mainstay of a health and wellness regimen. Tests that measure blood levels of vitamins, minerals, blood sugar, triglycerides and more can tell you a lot about your current health status. Moreover, if you alert your physician about any symptoms that you are having early on, your physician can help prevent more serious problems. Most employee health insurance plans include regular checkups.
  • Get A Good Night’s Sleep – Not only will you perform at your peak, but a lack of sleep has been correlated with conditions like diabetes and chronic inflammation. It also affects your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection and making recovery more difficult. If you suffer from insomnia, avoid alcohol and caffeine, especially late in the day. Keeping computer monitors and TVs out of the bedroom prevents blue light from reducing levels of sleep-inducing melatonin. Melatonin also decreases as we age. Maintaining a regular sleep routine involving consistent sleep times and wake times helps to maintain your body’s biological clock.
  • Avoid Empty Calories – Some individuals like to eat out while others like to bring a bag lunch. Whichever you choose, it’s important to avoid temptation when it comes to those unhealthy snacks. A healthy diet can be completely derailed by that box of cheese danishes in the break room. If possible, stock the refrigerator with healthy snacks like nuts and seeds, carrot sticks, yogurt and whole grain crackers. Ask if the vending machines can be stocked with low-calorie seltzers instead of soda and fruit juice. Green tea with lemon is a healthy alternative to those high-calorie Coolatas.
  • Prevent Infection Before It Starts – If you’re feeling ill (cough, fever, body aches), stay home. Keep alcohol wipes on hand to wipe down high-touch surfaces regularly. Check the humidity level in the office; it should hover around 50%. Low humidity dries out mucus membranes, increasing the likelihood of developing upper respiratory infections. Use a room humidifier if necessary, and be sure to stay hydrated throughout the day. And avoid touching your face.
  • Get Up And Move At Least Once Every Hour – Prolonged sitting has been implicated in a number of issues from back problems to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity. If possible, set a timer and get up and walk around on a regular basis. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Stand while you talk on the phone or use the computer. Every opportunity taken to move extends your life.

Staying Healthy At Play

  • Consistency Is Key – Whether trying a new exercise routine, diet or a new sport, it’s important to stay at it long enough to reap the benefits. Find a work out buddy. Pick the same time each day or week to practice. Pace yourself. Reward yourself for a job well done. Remember that achieving something new can be its own reward.
  • Be Aware Of Your Environment – Be aware of potential hazards for a particular area so that you can be prepared for them. Wear boots in areas that harbor ticks or snakes. Carry water and sunscreen if sunlight and heat are prevalent. In cold climates, avoid staying outdoors too long and wear adequate protection. Carry a first aid kit with you when visiting a new area or maneuvering across new terrain. And if you must travel alone, make sure that someone knows where you are going and when you’re expecting to return.
  • Carry Snacks That Travel Well – Use stainless steel or glass water bottles in warm weather; plastic bottles can leach chemicals. High-calorie snacks like nuts, dried fruit, jerky and granola don’t require refrigeration.

Whether at work or at play, staying healthy can be as simple as being prepared for the inevitable. By being mindful of your body’s needs, you can take important steps to remain at your best for as long as possible.

Whats New in 2020 WEBA Natural Products

What’s New With WEBA Natural Products In 2020?

Posted on by Editorial Team

It’s A New Year And Change Is Coming.

Change is inevitable, of course. In our case, we hope to implement new initiatives that will contribute to increased transparency and sustainability going forward. We’ve been reading a lot about the importance of sustainability. Consumers are becoming more conscious of role that businesses play in terms of global warming, deforestation, pollution and more. Of course, we’ve been talking about being environmentally friendly since the beginning, and that hasn’t changed.

Here are some of the areas that we are looking at:

  • Primary packaging – Packaging solutions have improved over the years in response to consumer demands for less plastic and more earth friendly options. We will continue to offer our balms in aluminum tins, which are completely recyclable. We would like to move away from plastic bottles in the near future; we are looking at glass and other recycled/recyclable materials. While it is challenge given our desire for the most hygienic solution, we are committed to contributing to a more sustainable future.
  • Secondary/tertiary packaging – As we look towards designing boxes for new and revamped products, we will be transparent with customers about the sourcing and percentage of recycled material in these packages. All of our secondary packaging, as well as our shipping materials, will become 100% recycled/recyclable content. Our bar soaps will continue to use our tree-free lokta papers, which are durable and recyclable. In doing so, we support an underdeveloped community of artisans in the Himalayas.
  • Sampling program – Customers really like sampling programs. Ours will utilize post-consumer (recycled) materials, while providing customers with a cost-effective way to experience WEBA products before committing to full-sizes.
  • Raw materials – We will continue to hold suppliers accountable for organic and/or fair trade raw materials used in our products. While our bar soaps are fully palm oil free, it has been challenging to find suppliers who product palm-oil free raw materials for a few of our products. We will be working with our formulators to find new and innovative cruelty-free substitutes while maintaining product efficacy.
  • Haircare and Cosmetics – A few new lines will include basic haircare and cosmetics that are vegan, cruelty-free and perfect for travel. We will avoid problematic materials like glitter and will participate in the Responsible Mica Initiative. Issues like deforestation, child labor and toxic exposure are issues that matter to us. We will be looking for focus groups to help us develop these products; stay tuned for these developments.

We’d Love To Hear From You

There are many new and exciting things in the future for WEBA Natural Products and for our customers. We are always happy to hear from consumers – what do you love? If you would like to make a suggestion or if you want to join a focus group, please feel free to go to our Contact Us page and send us a line. After all, our customers are the reason why we strive to provide clean beauty products that meet their needs.

The Tree Free Movement Pinterest graphic

The Tree Free Movement

Posted on by Editorial Team

How Long Have We Used Paper?

Paper has been with us for quite some time. From the time of ancient China when papyrus, parchment and other materials were used to 11th century European, Middle Eastern and African water-powered paper mills.

But it wasn’t until the 1830’s that wood pulp became an important medium in paper making, when more sophisticated techniques for processing wood pulp were developed by Friedrich Keller and Charles Fenerty.

Where Does Our Paper Come From?

In the U.S., the wood used for commercial paper-making comes from what are called “managed timberlands.” Fast-growing trees are planted and grown specifically for wood harvesting (building lumber, fuel and paper). Here, trees are an agricultural crop, and whenever trees are harvested, more are planted. There are a number of privately owned companies in the U.S. that manage these timberlands, with the biggest by far being Weyerhaeuser, with over 12 million forest acres. The southern United States also has the greatest concentration of these timberlands. However, old growth forests have been threatened by logging companies around the world for a variety of reasons. These ecosystems are home to many species of plant and animal life, which may not have anywhere else to grow. These forests also play an important role in sequestering greenhouse gases.

Why Go Tree Free?

The total consumption of paper in the United States has been steadily decreasing since the year 2006, according to Statistica. One reason might be the rise of the computer era, digital documents like electronic health records and cloud storage. Many consumers may also be concerned with the number of old growth forests (including rain forests) that are being cut down unscrupulously. (For more information, click here.) Most commercial papers are also bleached using bleach compounds, which results in the release of potentially toxic chemicals into the environment. As with many situations, we have come full circle. There now exist a wide range of plant-based alternatives to timber being used to produce paper, which remains a recyclable resource. Some manufacturers are responding to the demand by producing packaging that removes plastics, which is much less recyclable and is clogging landfills and polluting waterways. Below is a partial list of tree-free alternative materials:

  • Banana leaf – made from banana waste. New Leaf makes a nice paper which is available at Office Depot.
  • Cotton rag – not a new material, but cotton is a pesticide-heavy crop.
  • Elephant poop – you read this correctly! I’ve come across very nice all-occasion cards that utilized this interesting byproduct.
  • Hemp – once vilified in the U.S., hemp is making a comeback and is one of the most versatile plants on earth. Paper is just one of the many products that can be produced using hemp, which can be grown without pesticides.
  • Straw – once popular in the US, it is now hard to find. However, actor Woody Harrelson of Step Forward Paper fame created a paper using 80% waste wheat straw. It is available at Staples.
  • Lokta paper – one of our favorites, this tree-free paper is made by hand in the Himalayas using the bark of the Daphne (lokta) bush. This durable and beautiful paper is what we use to wrap our palm oil-free bar soaps. And they can be recycled or re-used in creative ways.

A Tree Free Future?

While consumer concerns over sustainability and global warming are no doubt driving the tree-free movement, we will never be completely tree-free. So how can we help to reduce paper waste and contribute to increased sustainability?

  • Purchase unbleached and recycled paper goods. Items like toilet paper, paper towels and napkins are widely available.
  • If possible, use cloth napkins and re-usable kitchen towels towels to reduce the amount of soiled paper going to landfills.
  • Sign up for paperless billing.
  • Enroll in patient portals to view lab results, etc.
  • If you must print, make it two-sided printing; reduce the fonts, remove unnecessary graphics to conserve paper.
  • Use a paper shredder and shred unnecessary documents for use in gift boxes, packing boxes, to add to compost piles, as garden mulch, etc.

If we exercise a little thought when making purchases and before discarding goods, we can contribute to greener, more sustainable world. Have you joined the tree-free movement?

https://theweek.com/articles/562853/why-future-paper-more-complicated-than-think