lfFE ana SCYIE

Cosmetics that Kill: the curse of the terrible tampons

Listen up ladies this is one beauty tip you do not want to ignore

By Stephanie Trembath,
Life and Style Editor

ost of the cosmetics and beauty
products used on a daily basis
are harmful on some level not

only to the environment, but also to the
body. Realistically, hairspray, deodorant,
and lipstick may or may not cause cancer
any faster than the second hand smoke
we are immersed in every time we walk
outside, but there are a few products

that women should be wary of using and
abusing on a regular basis.

Imagine someone who wishes to
bleach their dark hair blonde, and toxicity
level and chemicals involved in the
process of turning dark hair to a platinum
color. It is quite a dramatic and obvious
difference. Now imagine those chemicals
as part of the process in making the
tampons you use up to seven days a week,
possibly a dozen times a day. The same
chemicals that go into frying brown hair
into a Brittney Spears blonde are the same
toxic chemicals used in the tiny tampon
you put inside of you. Not exactly healthy.

Historically, the creation of tampons

dates back to the Egyptian era when
tampons were made from a piece of

lint that was wrapped around a tiny
piece of wood. Today tampons have
been revitalized to a range of sizes;
absorbency’s and, strangely enough,
perfumed scents. Although most brands
that compete with each other offer
roughly the same slogan “maximized
comfort and gentle glide”, what you may
not know is the amount of chemicals and
harmful toxins that are included in the
preparation of these helpful little cotton
pads.

Most brands, including Playtex,
Tampax, and OB Tampons, are made of
synthetic materials that are bleached with
harsh chemicals. Instead of the lint and
wool recipe, today tampons are made of
a combination of viscose, plastics, and
rayon for maximum absorbency, which
combine to form chemicals that are
released as dioxin. Toxic shock syndrome,
which occurs as a result of wearing
tampons for too long or too often, is a
potentially fatal illness that is caused by
these bacterial toxins that are a result of
the chemicals used. The toxins involved

in TSS cause the body extreme damage by
destroying or disrupting normal cellular
metabolism, and release exotoxins that are
fatal to the host.

While it is difficult, and sometimes
nearly impossible, to find healthier
options, there are two alternative tampon
options that both use 100% organic cotton
materials in their tampons. Considering
that the average women will use roughly
11.000 tampons in her lifetime although
these two options are a bit pricy and
difficult to find, they are worth it in the
long run.

Natracare tampons, which are a UK
brand that are sold in select pharmacy’s
here in Canada, are $8.99 for a box of
twenty and use all organic materials in
the process of making their product.
Likewise, Pearl and Jade feminine
hygiene products claim to use all natural
materials; no bleach, synthetic fibres,
plastics, or rayon.

So ladies, listen up; picture that
bleached out- platinum blonde you saw
the other day. Do you really want the
same chemicals involved in that process
trapped inside of you for numerous hours

    

at a time? The unnecessary mood swings
and cravings once a month is enough for
me thank-you-very-much. I don’t put
bleach or dyes near the hair on my head,
never mind the other more sensitive parts
of my body.

 

Damsel in a Deficit

This babe on a budget needs a knight in shining armour; preferably sans horse and plus cash

By Stephanie Trembath,
Life and Style Editor

hile I am not the type of

damsel to lose my slipper, or

relinquish my voice for love, or
live with seven tiny men, I am seriously
debating falling down a rabbit hole where
I may discover an alternate world of
whimsy where I can smoke hookah with
caterpillars and play cards with queens.
My current world has been turned upside
down and inside out over the last few
weeks, and I wish to either disappear or
at least be rescued by some fabled figure
that is tall, dark, handsome, and loaded.

Just kidding.

I am, however, not kidding about my
current state of affairs. When describing
my financial situation to a friend, he
replied “you’re no longer a babe on a
budget, try damsel in a deficit” and that I
am dear readers. After spending the first
month of my semester in Montreal and
Whistler, and then taking an additional
week off of work due to illness, I have
found myself counting pennies and going
home for dinner more often than usual
over the last two weeks.

While I haven’t received a solid
pay check in nearly a month, it isn’t my
lacking of incoming funds that worries
me the most; it’s my tendency to spend.

   

Upon receiving a $25 check for an article
I wrote, instead of using the one and
only pay check I have received in the
last two weeks to buy say food, gas, or
pay off debt, I went straight to the mall
and bought a scarf. Yes, I bought a thin,
transparent scarf that I spent an hour
learning how to tie and weave around
my head in a fashionable manner. (Did
you read my articles last week? Because
if you did you would realize that I am
following the turban trend). I also vowed
to relinquish Starbucks and other hot
beverages for the remainder of the spring
semester, and I lasted a total of seven
days. Which, might I add (and I am not
proud of), does not count the three free
coffee’s I received (read begged) from my
family and friends. It’s pitiful.

Iam fully
trained and socially
conditioned to spend
money, and while
I tell myself that I
will not go buy new
clothes, or expensive
beverages, or pricey
, food when I can make
my own, or go to
movies when I can
download, or go to out
on Friday night when
there is homework to
be done, I know in
my heart I will. Thanks to my gracious
friends and boyfriend, I have enjoyed
the last few weekends out and at leisure,
but I hate being dependant on others and
enjoy spending my own money where and
when I like. If only I could purchase some
willpower.

So, what is to be done with this
situation? I have an obsession with
spending so it seems and nothing to
spend. Last weekend, as per my resolution
to stop spending and start cooking, I
decided to steam seafood, rice, and
veggies, and then stir fry my food in a
Thai curry sauce. I followed the recipe, it
sounded delicious, looked delicious, and
voila; it tasted like absolute garbage. Back
to plain rice and kimchi for me, not to

mention my regular diet of peanut butter
on toast (I have since added nutella as
Safeway had a two-for-one deal on).

Oh, and did I mention I spent the
better half of my Monday afternoon
hunting, yes relentlessly hunting,
down a black leather jacket from Jacob
Connection; despite my lacking of funds,
my inner fashionista will not listen when
I demand “STOP! I have nothing left!
You have stripped me and left me alone
in this mess!” No, she will not listen,
and it wasn't until I received a phone
call from a friend that I realized the
absolute ridiculousness of my situation.
Not only do I have no money, but I went
from looking for a $69 leather jacket to
searching on the Marc by Marc Jacobs
website and filling my online shopping
bag with a velvety leather jacket for $780.

How does that saying go again?
“There are some things money can’t buy.
For everything else, there’s MasterCard”.
Well let me tell you, for me there is no
MasterCard, as on request I have cut
all my credit cards up, and my dad is
currently monitoring my student line
of credit he recently connected to his
banking as a joint account. So for all you
struggling students, stay on your budgets
or you will unfortunately wind up like
me; a damsel in a deficit.