HER

How toxic is your beauty regimen?The FDA doesn’t meaningfully regulate the ingredients in cosmetics. Cosmetics in this case include makeup, lotions, cleansers and anything applied to the skin as a daily routine. That's It veggie bars. Save 10% NOW! Use code HER. Click here to order. Only the colors used in the products are regulated. The FDA only responds if a problem has repetitively been reported by consumers. You can report cosmetics complaints on the FDA website. You can also call someone and give a verbal complaint. They have to receive many complaints for any meaningful change to occur. Sadly, complaints direct to the manufacturer don’t have to be reported to the FDA. They also don’t have to make changes based on direct complaints. Less than 10% of dissatisfactions are reported. Most people just throw the products away. Tricky Labeling Dermatologist tested just means the product was tested by a dermatologist. That doesn’t mean it was endorsed by a dermatologist. Fragrance free doesn’t mean there is no fragrance. The complicated chemical names don’t necessarily read like the fragrances they are. Botanical scented goods can train your immune system to recognize them as allergens. While it may be natural, your body may not like it. Natural fragrances can still lead to itchy, red bumps on the skin. Antibacterial products aren’t as good for you as you may think. Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor, messing with how the body makes and uses hormones. It’s now banned from soaps because of FDA complaints but is still found in toothpaste. Methylisothiazolinone (MI) is a preservative that is common in shampoo. Your immune system may see it as an allergen. It’s the most common preservative in cosmetics and the cause of many itchy, skin rashes. Find skin care products that are free of the most common causes of skin reactions on the Skin Safe website or app. Listen as Dr. Jimmy Yiannias joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss how toxic many cosmetics are. Sponsors: Smarty Pants Vitamins Head to www.thatsitfruit.com and enter code HER to save 10% today!

Learn how authors influence designers and fashion influences writers.What do your clothes say about you? Designers often look to literature for fashion inspiration. Looking at the clothing of authors can give you insight into their character as people. Authors also use clothing for character development in their writing. The key to fashion is to dress for yourself. Be brave. Wear what you love. Fashion loves an original. Listen as author Terry Newman joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss her latest book about authors and fashion.

Marital aids can come to the rescue in making bedroom time enjoyable for both you and your partner.Women don’t always have as much sexual pleasure in their lives as men do. This is known as the pleasure gap. Marital aids can help bridge this pleasure gap.  The founders of Dame Products used scientific studies and an understanding of human sexuality to develop products that can bring female orgasm up to speed in partner intercourse. These devices are designed for partner use so one partner doesn’t feel replaced while increasing stimulation. In fact, 45% of Dame Products buyers are men. Since the products are designed for couples, most buyers are over 35. There’s no need for a social stigma in buying marital aids. The goal is mutual pleasure and there is no shame in having enhanced intimacy. A marital aid should bring you and your partner closer. It’s best to speak with your partner about what marital aid may best make your union more pleasurable for both of you. Listen as Dame Products co-founder Alexandra Fine joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how marital aids can improve your relationship in the bedroom. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

How can you be more compassionate toward difficult people?There’s a lot of drama in dealing with a difficult person. There’s also a lot of trauma to the back of that difficulty. One of the most difficult people to handle is yourself. Compassion is an awareness that someone else is suffering, a caring for that person, and a desire to reduce suffering in the world. We are energized by anger. We can also be energized by compassion. You have to increase your empathy and compassion. It isn’t necessary to develop compassion for yourself before caring more for others. In fact, you may have an easier time being kind to yourself after you’ve had success with kindness for others. How to Be More Compassionate Don’t suppress your thoughts. Suppressing thoughts makes it tougher to take the edge off the distress you’re feeling. Accept it and create the space to decide how you want to respond to the distress. Label the emotions when you discover them. Recognize you can be difficult. Your friend wants to be free from suffering. You don’t have to know the source of the suffering but you do need to recognize your friend is also human. Use your humanitarian skills in interactions because you’d like others to treat you the same way. Be curious. What are the opportunities in this situation? Learn more about the cause of suffering to help someone else solve a problem. Listen to your body. Notice what you’re sensing. You have the freedom to accept what’s happening. You can also transform it into something else. Decide how to give yourself a different experience with your emotions. Practice. Remind yourself to be compassionate. Catch yourself when you’re critical or angry. Notice what makes you feel better. Listen as Dr. Kelly McGonigal joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share tips on becoming more compassionate. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

How could obesity affect pregnancy?One-third of Americans today are classified as obese and another one-third are overweight. Pregnancy brings weight gain, but it can present complications if you start out your pregnancy obese. That's It veggie bars. Save 10% NOW! Use code HER. Click here to order. Risks for Mom First, there is a greater risk for diabetes. Gestational diabetes may go away after the pregnancy, but it could develop into type-2 diabetes. Second, the pregnancy can increase an obese mother’s chances at developing hypertensive disorders.  Additionally, larger moms give birth to larger babies. The babies are at risk for birth trauma due to fatty deposits around the shoulders. A C-section can deliver a larger baby, but mom is at greater risk for respiratory issues and blood clot development. There is a greater chance for overdue deliveries. There’s not an exact determination of why this happens, but there is a correlation between obese mothers and long gestational periods. Lastly, there is more risk of urinary tract infections during pregnancy. Risks for Baby Babies born to obese mothers are more prone to congenital anomaly; specifically neural tube defects. When you’re obese, you metabolize sugar in an abnormal manner. This can cause issues in the development of the brain and spinal cord. These concerns are not based in body shaming but in optimal health for both mom and baby. Your doctor wants you to have a successful pregnancy and delivery. Fertility Concerns Obese women who present as infertile my have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). A sonogram can help with diagnosis. Best Practices for Pregnancy When Obese Take folic acid to assist in neural tube development. Early screening for gestational diabetes. Get urine screened for UTIs. Talk with your doctor about how you’re eating. Cut out fried foods and fast foods. Eat lots of proteins, fruits and vegetables. Check your vitamin D levels. Have your baby measured regularly during pregnancy. Visit with an anesthesiologist late in your third trimester for exams in case surgery is necessary for delivery. Listen as Dr. Kecia Gaither joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how obesity affects pregnancy. Sponsors: Smarty Pants Vitamins Head to www.thatsitfruit.com and enter code HER to save 10% today!

Do you share a skin microbiome with your partner?Your microbiome is collectively composed of all the microorganisms on and in your body. Certain bacteria, viruses and fungi assist in healthy living. The gut microbiome is frequently in the news. But, you rarely here about the skin microbiome. When you cohabitate with someone, you share a biome. A recent study at University of Waterloo collected 340 different samples from 17 body locations to determine microbiotic community similarities. Couples were matched with up to 86% accuracy through these samples. Partners have the most similar biome on their feet. While the hands may come into contact with more microbes, we wash our hands constantly. While the study focused on romantic partners, it wouldn’t be surprising for families and roommates to share some biome similarities. It’s no surprise that people with pets have a more diverse skin biome. Interestingly, samples from the inner thigh could not successfully match couples. However, these particular samples accurately classified gender in every instance. Listen as Master of Science student and researcher Ashley Ross joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share the results of the study. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Learn insights from the rainforest.Daily life in America is stressful. Leaving the hustle and bustle of busy living can bring much needed peace. Lessons on being more fully alive, gleaned from the rainforest: Find strength in vulnerability. Get through challenges to find your power. Look at what’s not working and get support when needed. Practice gratitude. Weave thankfulness into your day-to-day life. Challenge your routines. Value the unusual and unexpected. Changing up how you do simple actions will make you appreciate those simple actions more. Tap intuitive insights. Refine and leverage your intuition. Listen as Tyler Gage joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how his life improved after leaving suburbia and spending time in the rainforest. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Not every loving relationship mirrors a fairy tale.Love stories influence our expectations about romantic love. Are you basing your romantic relationship on tales of love? Maybe it’s time to be more intentional about falling in love, a process that may shape the rest of your life. How do you fall in love logically and make it last? You have to choose to love someone with no guarantee they’ll choose to love you. Treat your lover with kindness. Look for someone who makes you better. Love is ordinary. It happens to humans and animals alike. It’s a small part of a larger life experience. Your love narrative is your own and doesn’t have to follow a template. It’s more important to have a loving relationship than to have a love story. Listen as Mandy Len Catron joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss how to fall in love. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

Get the lowdown on facials.Is a facial worth the expense? It depends on you and your skin. They work best for those with acne or dry/sun damaged skin. Facial Advice Have realistic expectations for facials. They don’t lift sagging skin. They don’t address deep-seated problems. Peels can be useful every four to six weeks for adult acne or sun-damaged skin. It takes about one month for your skin cells to completely turn over. Schedule your facial four to seven days before a big event. Stick to your usual facialist so there are no surprises. Facial Procedure A good facialist will talk to you about your skin and past experiences with facials. Your hair will be banded out of your face and your eyes covered. The first step is a warm mist that softens the dead layers of skin to make extractions and treatments easier. Say something if the steam is too hot. Extractions come next in order to clean out pores. Some facialists use comedone extractors that clear out whiteheads and blackheads. Others will use their fingers and a tissue. Any instruments used for extractions should be sterilized between patients. Those with anti-aging concerns may then get micro needling. Hair-like needles are rolled across your skin to pierce the skin to help stimulate collagen production and improve penetration of antioxidants. Finally, your skin will be treated with an appropriate skin care formula selected by your facialist. You may get a light face, neck, shoulder or hand massage. Don’t stop your skin care at the edge of your face. Cleanse and moisturize all of the areas that are exposed. Listen as Dr. Jessica Wu joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share what you should know about facials. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins

How do different genders make decisions?Most books about decision-making are written by men. All the examples are from a male perspective. As a result, there are some misconceptions and misunderstandings about how women decide. There are stereotypes about women. “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind” is one example. It suggests that women aren’t as decisive as men. This is untrue. Women tend to be more analytical than men. There’s a saying about women being more intuitive. Research shows that women collect more information and analyze everything before making a decision. Men and women make decisions differently under stress. Men tend to take more risks than they would ordinarily when huge gains or losses are on the line. Stressed women are more likely to make the safe bet and go with the sure thing. Different areas of the brain are impacted when men and women face stress. Tips for Making Decisions in Business Make sure both men and women are in the room when important decisions are being made. The environment needs to be conducive to women’s voices being heard regarding those decisions. Encourage risk-taking in the workplace so women feel comfortable taking risks. Make it easier for women to step up. Mentor women to speak up on their ideas when they’re not absolutely certain they will work. It’s better to speak up and be 60% certain than to stay quiet until 80% certain. Listen as Dr. Therese Huston joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to share how women make decisions. Sponsor: Smarty Pants Vitamins