MOMPRENEUR-OF-THE-MONTH: THE SPOILED MAMA

Tamara Johnson, RN, is the founder and CEO of The Sp-OIL-ed Mama. The Spoiled Mama was created in 2005 while Tamara was pregnant with her first child. During her pregnacy she became increasingly frustrated by the available prenatal skincare products available today that often contain harmful chemicals and preservatives, and was then inspired to create products that are not only safer but also Luxurious to help Mamas feel 'Spoiled'. That is how The Spoiled Mama began and which inspired our name: The Sp-oil-ed Mama. 

Congratulations ~ you’re expecting! Your skin is changing in so many ways and you should take care of it as best you can…even though you feel as  if you are turning into a giant moose with cankles to boot.   

Some women are lucky to have their complexions even out and  have that famous “glow” of expectancy. This is due to the increased blood circulation and the high, sustained levels of estrogen during pregnancy. I think of my baby makin’ bod as if I need to take care of it from the outside in. Our skin is our body’s largest organ. It's thirsty and craving hydrating nutrients. I want to feed my body the best food with ingredients that I can trust. 

Many skincare products claim to be natural and safe but contain potentially hazardous ingredients including Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, Harsh Surfactants, Artificial Colors, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Petroleum Derivatives….whew,  that’s a lot!!! Most of these hard to pronounce ingredients canwreak havoc on your skin and are possibly detrimental to the development of growing babies. It is extremely important to read the ingredients on your skincare labels. Most likely, if you cannot say you should not use it. I will list below the common side effects of the ingredients I have listed above.

Mineral Oil: A petroleum derivative that is found in many moisturizers and causes severe allergic reactions.

Parabens: Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl — Widely used as cosmetic preservatives and antimicrobials, even though they are known to be toxic and a leading cause of contact dermatitis. Some studies have shown that parabens mimic estrogen in rodents. The chemicals also have been shown to stimulate growth of human breast-cancer cells in the lab. A University of Reading study, published in the January 2004 Journal of Applied Toxicology, found that 18 of 20 breast tumors studied contained significant concentrations of parabens.

Petrolatum: This is a very cheap jelly made from mineral oil that causes such skin problems as photosensitivity and interference with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, which leads to dry skin and chapping. Oddly enough, this product often creates the very conditions it claims to alleviate! Go figure!
Phthalates: Generally covered by the general term "fragrance," and readily absorbed by our fingernails, skin and lungs. Phthalates can lead to liver cancer and birth defects in lab animals. A study published in May 2005 from the University of Minnesota, Environmental Health Perspectives, found a connection between phthalates and genital abnormalities in baby boys.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: A synthetic substance primarily used in shampoos and body wash for its detergent and foam-building abilities (an it is even in toothpaste!). It can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, dry skin and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation that it "comes from coconut." In a 1983 report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, The Journal of the American College of Toxicology concluded that "studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, lungs and the brain from skin contact."

Synthetic Colors: Synthetic colors are used to make cosmetics "pretty" and, along with hair dyes, should be avoided as they are believed to be cancer-causing agents. They appear on labels as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number; e.g., FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6.

Synthetic Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances can contain as many as 200 ingredients. There is often no way of knowing what these chemicals are since the label simply states "Fragrance", and these items do not have to list their chemical constituents. Potential problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rashes, hyperpigmentation, coughing, and vomiting.

Keep in mind lotions and crèmes do need preservatives to stay free from the microscopic bugs that can lurk inside.  The good news is that  there is a  preservatives that is accepted for use in organic products by the Soil Association. This preservative is called: Phenoxyethanol. Yes, hard to pronounce I agree. However, this little wonder preservative is nothing more than an organic chemical compound derived from sage essential oil, which provides broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity. That's why I opted to use it in Tummy Butter, one of the most popular items in my line of body care, The Spoiled Mama. I decided early in planning for my business that all of my products from the Sippin Teas for Nausea to our Organic Body Wash would not have harmful chemicals and additives because why would I give to another child what I would not give to my own?
 
Mama whether or not you are glowing we know that your growing and this body will be yours forever. You can't trade it in. Take care of it and everyone it nurtures.