The Benefits of Mineral Make-Up

Mineral make-up is made from earth pigments and natural minerals. These elements are ground to a fine powder and mixed to form foundation, blush, and powder. Mineral make-up is free from perfumes, artificial dyes, preservatives, oils, wax, or talc. Instead, it contains titanium and zinc oxide, which have natural UV protectant properties. Mineral make-up is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores. Here are some other benefits of mineral make-up.

1. Fewer germs

Proponents of mineral make-up claim it is purer than conventional make-up. The minerals used in this natural make-up are inorganic, which means they will not harbor bacteria the same way organic materials would. This is especially helpful for women who have acne or rosacea. Because of its inorganic nature, mineral make-up lasts a long time.

2. A natural look

Mineral make-up is reported to feel light on the face, and to provide coverage without looking heavy. For women who use make-up to cover fine lines and wrinkles, mineral make-up is ideal – its light-reflecting qualities obscure wrinkles. Women who have used mineral make-up claim it feels as if you are not wearing make-up at all. The earth tones complement nearly all complexion types.

3. Enhanced complexion

Because the minerals used are anti-inflammatory, mineral make-up can be used by women with sensitive skin. It is oil-free, so women with oily complexions need not worry about using it. Mineral make-up is, in fact, the only make-up that can be used after undergoing a facial chemical peal. If you find conventional make-up irritating, you may be able to tolerate mineral make-up with no problem.

4. Better for the environment

When you purchase conventional make-up, you are supporting a chemical industry that is a factor in pollution. Also, when you throw away conventional make-up – either when it is outdated or you are finished with it and residue remains in the container – you are putting those chemicals back into the environment.

Mineral make-up comes from the earth to begin with, so returning it there should not cause problems. Also, companies that manufacture mineral make-up tend to be eco-conscious and engage in environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. And most mineral make-up manufacturers do not engage in animal testing.

Your local health food store is a good place to start if you want to try mineral make-up. They will usually have “testers” available for you to see how the make-up looks on your skin. However, as more and more people demand more natural make-up options, you may start seeing mineral make-up in conventional stores more often.

Micro Hydro Energy An Explanation

You may have heard about installing wind turbines or solar panels on your roof, but you may not have considered harnessing water power for your household’s needs. It is, in fact, possible to generate electricity for your home using hydro energy, or energy generated by moving water. Here is a basic explanation of how this innovative concept works and some of its advantages.

The “micro” in micro hydro energy refers to the small-scale nature of these systems. The cost to install such a system can run between $1000 and $20,000 depending on your energy needs, your proximity to a flowing body of water, and how much you are willing to do yourself.

Water power is an ancient method of generating energy. Micro hydro systems take the antiquated concept of the water wheel and use it to turn the turbine of a generator. If you are going to install such a system, here are some items you will need, as well as some things to keep in mind:

* Flowing water within two miles of your home with a drop of at least 2 feet, or with a sufficient amount of water pressure (force and speed at which the water moves). This is necessary to turn the wheel. You will need to see if the water is fairly consistent in its flow, too – make sure the stream, creek or river does not rise or drop significantly throughout the year.

* A turbine generator system

* Car battery (or other large capacity battery)

* An appropriate site is important – you want a site that will have the least environmental impact while producing the most energy.

These are just some of the things to consider when looking into a micro hydro energy system for your home.

Some of the advantages to micro hydro energy are:

-Energy production 24/7
Unlike solar or wind, water flow is constant. This means less battery storage will be required, and you can expect a more consistent flow of electricity into your home.

-Environmentally friendly
No reservoirs are required, as the water simply flows back into the stream after being used. And of course, water is not a fossil fuel and will not pollute the air as it produces electricity.

-Saves money
Naturally, you will not need to pay the electric power company the same utility bill! Also, you may be able to sell surplus electricity to the power plant.

Hydro energy is gaining a reputation as an efficient, reliable form of electricity production for the home. In fact, it has been suggested that wind and solar be used as alternative energy sources only if flowing water is not available.

How Eating Less Meat Can Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Meat production in the United States occurs on an enormous scale. The average American eats a half a pound of meat a day, and all of that meat was once a living, breathing animal. And those living, breathing animals need food, and to grow that food, trees must be cut. Following are some of the ways that eating meat affects the environment.

1. Feeding the animals

Most of the animals consumed in the U.S. are raised on feedlots. Feedlots are grassless enclosures where cattle are kept in crowded conditions and fed grains, such as corn and soy. This means several things:

- Land must be dedicated to growing massive amounts of grain to feed these animals. Sometimes, rain forest and other woodland is destroyed to make fields where the grain can be grown.

-With so much land dedicated to corn and soy, there is less room for other healthy grains that could be grown for human consumption.

-Animals kept on feedlots and fed an unnatural diet of grains tend to develop health problems. Thus, antibiotics are administered routinely to the animals. The use of antibiotics as a preventative measure is one of the means by which “super bugs” are produced. These are bacteria that have learned resistance to conventional antibiotics, and, if such bacteria infect a person, antibiotics will be ineffective for that person.

2. Transportation

The feed, meat, and animals themselves must be transported. The cattle are driven to the slaughterhouse via truck. Then the meat is transported by refrigerated truck or airplane to its destination; it is then sold to the public. Also, the animals’ feed has to be transported to the feedlots. All of that transportation uses a lot of fuel, and creates significant emissions. And speaking of emissions…

3. Methane and nitrous oxide

These two gases are considered “greenhouse gases,” and are strongly implicated in global warming. Cattle, pigs and sheep emit these gases as they digest their unnatural grain diets.

4. What can you do?

Eating less meat, of course, is a straight-forward approach. Another thing to do is adjust the kind of meat you eat (less red meat). Finally, switching to free range, organic, grass-fed meat wherever possible is a good idea. Grass fed beef is becoming more popular, and is a healthier meat all around.