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Military Sale !!

11/25/2016

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I've been told by many people in the military community that they missed out on our Black Friday- Cyber Monday Sales because it was in the middle of a pay period! 

Don't worry guys I have a plan for that!! If you or your spouse is in the military please fill out the form below! I will email you a secret coupon this week & let you know what I have planned! 

**PS I'm using the honor system here! 

--Much Love!

~~Jessica Kellaway 
Founder HBC Organics 

    Please fill out the following questions:

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Moisturizer Ingredient Show Down, HBC Organics Verses Ever Popular Bath & Body Works

11/4/2016

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I want to start this post off saying that I wasn't paid for this post. It was quite simple to do my research for this post as well, I'm not a scientist or a chemist. I'm just a mom & owner of a skin care company. For those of you who don't know, I created and run HBC Organics (formerly known as Healthy by Choice). My skin care line is all natural, organic, chemical free, & cruelty free. I take pride in what I do. 
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I started making skin care products in 2011. My fiance (at the time-- he now has graduated to being my husband) and I were broke. We literally had about $25 in our bank account. I remember coming across an email from my nutrition school about a simple and easy recipe to make your own soap. I have always had extremely sensitive skin and couldn't use many of the commercial products on the market. I spent quite a bit of money for soaps and lotions that made my skin dry, flaky, and would even give me mysterious rashes that even stumped my doctors. I looked in our bank account and made a spur of the moment decision. I bought the ingredients to make basic soap. I ended up with 10 bars. I sold 9 of the 10 bars and had enough to make another 10 bars. Eventually I started experimenting with making moisturizer and scrubs. It took me a long time to "get it right", but when I did-- there was no stopping me!Once I became a mom, I became pretty passionate in making chemical free baby products for parents-- there always seems to be articles online and on the news talking about a recall of some baby lotion or rash cream- when you don't use chemicals, you don't usually have that problem. Here I am today, 5 years later making orders for people all over the world. 

I thought soaps would put me on the map, but it was soaps & infinity balm that really helped me make a name for myself. 
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Someone asked the other day, "What is the difference between your products and say a lotion at Bath & Body Works, I've always bought my lotions from there." My first answer was "The list of ingredients. My products don't contain many ingredients at all. The ingredients don't contain chemicals that could cause your skin more harm than good." She asked me to name a few and I couldn't off the top of my head. So today, I took a moment and walked into Bath & Body Works, bought a bottle of their Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion, figuring it was a similar scent to my Madagascar Vanilla. Then I came home to write this article for you!

I was shocked when I counted 31 ingredients in their lotion. I paid $5.30 for a 3 ounce bottle of lotion. You can view the list of ingredients below, along with some side effects that have been found. I use a website called "Skin Deep", this is a common website used by crafters and people who do what I do for a quick reference. It contains studies of ingredients and their effects! 

Before you look over these ingredients

I want to say this--

Having a large amount of ingredients in your product DOES NOT make it a bad product-- as long as those ingredients aren't synthetic chemicals. My body butters contain at most 5 ingredients and as little as 3 (when you order unscented). I don't play games & neither should the stores that people trust to make a good skin care product! Also if you are new to this-- if you can't pronounce an ingredient don't eat it or put it on your skin. Stay away from parabens- they mess with the endocrine system. Parabens act as synthetic estrogen. Ladies-- hormone problems?? hormone issues?? hmm.. lets stay away from that mmk?? 

I provide a source with each ingredient so you can read further and read about the studies! Happy investigating! Also let me know what you think!! 

Ingredients in Bath & Body Works'
​Warm Vanilla Sugar Lotion

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  1. Water
  2. Glycerin
    1. Glycerin (also called glycerol) is a naturally occurring alcohol compound and a component of many lipids. Glycerin may be of animal or vegetable origin. This ingredient is listed in the PETA's Caring Consumer guide as a byproduct of soap manufacture which typically uses animal fat. 
    2. Overall Harm Rating: Low 
    3. SOURCE
  3. Petrolatum
    1. Petrolatum is a semisolid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.
    2. High Concern: Contamination concerns, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
    3. SOURCE
  4. Cetearyl Alcohol
    1. Cetearyl Alcohol is a mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols that can come from vegetable or synthetic sources.
    2. Low Concern: Data gaps, Ecotoxicology
    3. SOURCE
  5. Cetyl Alcohol
    1. Cetyl alcohol is a long chain organic alcohol; according to the PETA's Caring Consumer guide, this ingredient can be of either animal or plant origin.
    2. Moderate Concern:  Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive); 
    3. SOURCE
  6. Dimethicone
    1. Dimethicone (also called polymethylsiloxane) is a silicon-based polymer used as a lubricant and conditioning agent.
    2. Moderate Concern: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) . Suspected to be an environmental toxin. Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful.
    3. SOURCE
  7. Fragrance
  8. Ceteareth-20
    1. Ceteareth-20 is the polyethylene glycol ether of cetearyl alcohol; may contain potentially toxic impurities such as 1,4-dioxane.
    2. SOURCE
  9. Isododecane
    1. This is a fragrance. Not known to cause any harmful issues. 
  10. Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate
    1.  Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate is a diester of neopentyl glycol and heptanoic acid.
    2. Not known to cause any issues
    3. SOURCE
  11. Shea Butter
    1. Shea butter is a vegetable fat obtained from the fruit of a tree native to Africa, Butyrospermum parkii. Shea butter is primarily composed of fatty acids such as stearic and oleic acids.
    2. SOURCE
  12. Tocopheryl Acetate
    1. Tocopheryl acetate is a chemical compound that consists of acetic acid and tocopherol (vitamin E)
    2. Has a low chance of causing cancer
    3. One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high doses
    4. Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or bioaccumulative (uncertainty in environmental toxicity or persistence/bioaccumulation)
    5. SOURCE
  13. Aloe Leaf Juice
    1.  Aloe vera gel is extracted from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, Aloe barbadensis


  14. Jojoba Seed Oil
    1. Jojoba oil is extracted from seeds of the desert shrub, Simmondsia chinensis, native to California, Arizona and Mexico.
    2. Hair Conditioning Agent; Skin-Conditioning Agent - Occlusive; EMOLLIENT; SKIN CONDITIONING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING
    3. SOURCE
  15. Panthenol
    1. Panthenol is a form of vitamin B5, used as a moisturizer and lubricating compound. This ingredient is listed in the PETA's Caring Consumer guide as a substance that can be of either animal or plant origin.
    2. HIGH  Concerns:Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product
    3. SOURCE
  16. Carbomer
    1. Carbomer is a large polymeric chemical composed of acrylic acid monomers.
    2. SOURCE
  17. Benzyl Alcohol
    1. Benzyl alcohol is a naturally ocurring and synthetic ingredient used as solvent and preservative; has been associated with contact allergy.
    2. Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful. Classified as toxic or harmful (only for products for use around the mouth; products for use on the lips; products that may be aerosolized (airborne))
    3. Moderate Concern: Organic System Toxicity 
    4. SOURCE
  18. Tetrasodium EDTA
    1. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a chelating agent, used to sequester and decrease the reactivity of metal ions that may be present in a product.
    2. Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful
    3. SOURCE
  19. BHT
    1. No data for this ingredient
    2. SOURCE
  20. Sodium Hydroxide
    1. Sodium Hydroxide is a highly caustic and reactive inorganic base.
    2. Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful
    3. SOURCE
  21. Disodium EDTA
    1. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a chelating agent, used to sequester and decrease the reactivity of metal ions that may be present in a product.
    2. SOURCE
  22. Diazolidinyl Urea
    1. Diazolidinyl urea is an antimicrobial preservative that works by forming formaldehyde in cosmetic products. People exposed to such formaldehyde-releasing ingredients may develop a formaldehyde allergy or an allergy to the ingredient itself. In the U.S. approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of contact allergy to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to studies in Europe. 
    2. Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence
    3. ​Limited evidence of cancer causing
    4. SOURCE.
  23. Methylparaben
    1. Methylparaben is in the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries. Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors.
    2. Human endocrine disruptor - strong evidence
    3. SOURCE
  24. Propylparaben
    1. Propylparaben is in the paraben family of preservatives used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries. Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors.
    2. Human endocrine disruptor - strong evidence
    3. Human immune toxicant or allergen - strong evidence
    4. ​SOURCE
  25. Benzyl Benzoate
    1.  Benzyl benzoate is used as solvent and preservative; associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.
    2. Possible human immune system toxicant or allergen
    3. Associated with endocrine disruption.
    4. SOURCE
  26. Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde  SOURCE
    1.  Lyral is a trade name for a synthetic fragrance, hydroxymethylpentylcyclohexenecarboxaldehyde; has been associated with allergies and contact dermatitis.

  27. Linalool
    1. Fragrance
    2. Possible human immune system toxicant or allergen
    3. SOURCE
  28. Hydroxycitronellal
    1. Hydroxycitronellal is a common scent ingredient; produced synthetically from naturally occurring scent chemical citronella

  29. Butylphenyl Methylopropional
    1. No studies have been done on this ingredient
  30. Yellow 5
    1. FD&C Yellow 5 is a synthetic dye produced from petroleum; this dye is FDA-approved for use in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
    2. Organ system toxicity 
    3. SOURCE
  31. Yellow 6
    1. No data for this ingredient 

HBC Organics Body Butter Ingredients:

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  1. Organic Avocado Oil
    1. No data 
  2. Reverse Osmosis Water
    1. No data-- but it won't contain crazy chemicals that are in tap water!
  3. Essential Oils/Extracts
    1. Extracts are made like a tincture with alcohol. 
    2. Essential Oils are AFNOR approved.
  4. Organic Beeswax
    1. Beeswax is the purified wax from the honeycomb of the bee, Apis mellifera. This ingredient is listed in the PETA's Caring Consumer guide as a substance of animal origin.
    2. SOURCE​
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Share this article with your friends! You never know who you might inspire or help! HBC Organics prides itself on using simple ingredients to get maximum effect. We stand behind our body butters and other products 110%! Try it and you'll never go back-- I promise! 

Who would you like to see me take on next? I might take on Lush! 
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Thomas' Super Cold Medicine

11/1/2016

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There was a time when my husband didn't want anything to do with my natural lifestyle. He had told me countless times that he really admired that I could make soap from a minimum of three ingredients but he just wasn't too sure about everything else. 

I distinctly remember a few years back when we lived on a lake. I had fallen down the stairs that lead to said lake. The first thing I said was "Honey will you grab the arnica out of my purse.. my leg is already looking like it might bruise." He rolled his eyes but grabbed my arnica anyways. I took it and my leg no longer looked as though it was going to bruise. "Coincidence", he said as he watched me examine my leg about twenty minutes after taking it. I remember rolling my eyes at him and going about my day. 
Things got even more interesting when I hosted an essential oil and flower remedy class that his parents proudly came to in order to show me support. I have to take a minute to shout out to my in-laws. When my husband was stationed in Florida for a year, I wasn't able to live with him. They worked very hard, overtime, to be supportive since their son wasn't able to be around. They came to almost every class I had! Well at the essential oil and flower remedy class, his parents both got their very own blend of essential oils & a blend of flower remedies. Well the green eyed jealousy monster got a hold of Thomas when his mom and dad proudly told him about their special "potions". 
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A couple of years ago, when we moved to Virginia, Thomas' little jealous monster crept up again when his mom was talking about how her warts on her hand were gone ever since she used the flower remedy blend and the essential oil blends I made her. I remember my husband, a man of about 24 at the time, looking like a toddler. 

"When do I get some special potion?", he said to me as we were getting into bed that night. 

"What do you mean?", I asked. 

"Well you made my mom one, my dad one, my nieces one... Why don't I get something?" 
I have to  admit, it felt good to be wanted. So ladies, if your husband isn't "into it" just give him some time.. maybe the jealous monster will bite him too! 

A few days later, my husband started to get a cold. I offered him elderberry syrup but he insisted I make him something that was just for him. Something that was personal to exactly what he was dealing with. He had woken up with thick mucus in his chest that he couldn't get coughed up. It's amazing how he was fine one day and then sick the next!  I decided to make him "Super Cold Medicine" that was just for him. He actually still has it and takes a shot (shot glass full) whenever he is feeling off and it works wonders for him! It breaks up congestion in his chest, stops him from coughing, and makes him feel better in many ways! 

I'm partial to fire cider & elderberry syrup, but Thomas prefers HIS  special blend! So here is the recipe to Thomas' Super Cold Medicine!
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Ingredients:
2-3 Cinnamon Sticks (I use these kind)
1 Inch Ginger Root
1 Tbsp Allspice (I use this kind)
3-4 Cloves Fresh Garlic
1 Organic Lemon
2 Inches of Horseradish Root
1 Small Beet (chopped)
1/2 Cup Honey (Raw or Regular)

1/4  Cup RAW Honey (If you can't get local, I get this kind)
1/4 Cup Elderberry Syrup (make your own or get my kit here)
1 Cup Bourbon 
About 2 Cups of Water

Directions:
1. Take the above ingredients except for the second bit of honey & elderberry syrup,  in a sauce pan and cover with water, then cook on low for about 2 hours. This can be done in a crock pot on low or you can do it on the stove, whichever works best for you. 
2. Strain the liquid & solids. Put the liquid back in the sauce pan. Add 1 Cup Raw honey & Mix. 1/4 Cup Elderberry Syrup & Mix. Pour into a glass container. I add 1 Cup Bourbon to Thomas'. 
3. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. 
In order to support my blogging activities, there are affiliate links on this post. I have not been paid for this post & only link products that I actually use! When you click the links and shop, you are not charged anything, but Amazon will offer me a small amount as a thanks for sending people to their website. Once again, you are not charged! 
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    Who am I?

    My name is Jes! I am the earth loving, natural parenting, Jesus loving weirdo your mama might have warned you about! I am the owner of an organic, chemical free skin care product line, called HBC Organics.

    I'm 29 and live in Mid-Michigan with my husband, 2 children, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.

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Disclaimer:

I am not a medical doctor. 

The FDA has regulations so that we can not make claims about our health and beauty products. We are simply letting you know what properties the ingredients have & what is known to happen with your skin when you use those ingredients. If you are dealing with skin/scalp/hair and physical issues, please contact your health care provider. By purchasing our products you are doing so at your own will. 

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