Ingredient of the Month

You may consider yourself an expert on alcohol and experiment with it daily. But did you know that TOPICAL alcohol must always be poisoned before it is bottled and used? Recreational drinking alcohol or ethanol is a huge source of … Continued

Just below the Great Sahara Desert lies a broad swath of the African Savannah lands. Outside of the rainy season, this is one of the harshest, driest, dustiest places on earth. Brutal sun, wind, and the Hamatan dust take a … Continued

Previous “Ingredient of the Month” columns have focused on topical ingredients to avoid, generally petrochemical based materials and specific preservatives like Triclosan ™ and Butyl Parabens. Let’s talk some GOOD ingredients to look for, like plant-based vegetable oils. Remember; “Good … Continued

And today’s secret ingredient is….Everything made from petroleum! Oils are mostly carbon and chemists know that carbon is carbon is carbon- wherever it comes from. So why is that if I rub vegetable oil on my skin for 20 years … Continued

Take a look at the ingredients in your shampoo right now, even those touted as “natural”. Chances are the of those ingredients is DEA or Diethanolamine. This foaming chemical is found in combination with fatty acids (bits of oil molecules) … Continued

And this month’s ingredient of the month is…pthalates! Pthalates, (pronounced thalates) is a large family of molecules used in a variety of industries. Pthalates are used to flavor cheap whiskey, and they are what makes plastics flexible. The rule of … Continued

Previous “Ingredient of the Month” columns have focused on topical ingredients to avoid, generally petrochemical based materials and specific preservatives like Triclosan™ and Butyl Parabens. Let’s talk some GOOD ingredients to look for, like plant-based vegetable oils. Remember; “Good ingredients” … Continued

In this column we will continue to explore Green Chemistry and how it impacts the transition to a more sustainable society. This month’s focus is on antimicrobial chemicals. The word “antimicrobial” is regulated by the FDA. They control the meaning … Continued

Welcome to another addition of our mini course in Green Chemistry. I cannot guarantee that paying attention to the synthetic chemicals around you will give you a longer or healthier life. I can however guarantee that if you do NOT … Continued