If you live in Ottawa and surrounding areas you've likely noticed plenty of bugs and mosquitoes this spring. Here are out top three natural bug repellents.

Do you know what’s in your makeup? Most people don’t. But if you take a good look at the labels of your favourite products, you might be surprised by what you find. 

That’s because many of the products we use every day contain harmful ingredients that could cause serious health impacts in the short and long term. For that reason, more people are choosing to switch to natural alternatives to their favourite cosmetics brands. 

Are you considering making the switch? When you’re shopping for products, here are a few of the dangerous ingredients you should watch out for:

Phthalates

Used in everything from body wash to nail polish, phthalates are added to some cosmetics to help them hold colour or scent. But phthalates can also have harmful effects on your endocrine system—the parts of your body that regulate hormone production. Studies have linked phthalate exposure with reproductive abnormalities and decreased in testosterone in men, and impaired fertility in women. There is also evidence of liver and kidney failure in children who have sucked or chewed on products containing phthalates for extended periods of time.

Parabens

Parabens are organic compounds used as preservatives in a wide variety of moisturizers, shampoos, shaving products, and makeup. Because parabens mimic estrogen in the body—and some studies have even discovered parabens in breast cancer cells—there are concerns that they could have links to some cancers. 

“Fragrance”

Cosmetics companies often use ambiguous terms such as “fragrance” and “parfum” to hide harmful ingredients in their products. Since they aren’t legally required to disclose those ingredients, “fragrance” can refer to any one of thousands of chemicals, many of which have not been tested for toxicity. These unlisted items can lead to migraines, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, skin irritation, and numerous other symptoms. Be sure to check your labels with this one—even some products that are labelled “unscented” still contain “fragrance.”

Talc

Talc itself is not a carcinogen, but the concern here is about how it is mined. The mineral, which is used in eye shadows, blush, and other pressed powders, is often found near mines for asbestos, a substance which is known to cause cancer. In a few well-publicized cases, talc-based cosmetics were found to contain asbestos particles.

Formaldehyde

You’ve probably heard of this one. The chemical used to preserve dead bodies is also used in many nail polishes, hair gels, and eyelash glues to extend their shelf life. Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen, but there is only a cancer risk when the substance is inhaled regularly for long periods of time. That means it won’t affect anyone who occasionally paints their nails, but we should be concerned about the effects on salon workers who are consistently exposed to products containing formaldehyde.

Triclosan

Although the research isn’t conclusive, triclosan—an antimicrobial agent often found in soaps, detergents, toothpastes, and colour—has been linked to problems with hormone function. Also, because it doesn’t easily degrade, triclosan builds up in our ecosystems, causing harm to sea life.

The sun shines on your skin. You close your eyes and feel your skin cells come to life like a salsa dancer on an overpacked dance floor. You sink into your chair and every thought melts away like a dripping snow cone.

Being outside whether for your daily dog walk, to get your tan on, or playing your favourite outdoor sport, can have a hypnotic-like effect on our mind, body and soul.

These days we are inundated with mental health information and online influencers urging us to get outside and enjoy what mother nature gave us. But why? What’s actually behind the brouhaha of the benefits of getting outside?

When we look beyond the magical properties of nature’ we find there are a few key factors at play.

Increased movement

Yes we’re referring to movement and not physical exercise. Exercise can often be a scary word because we all have our preconceived notions about what it means and how we do it. So the key factor here is getting out to get moving. Whether you’re out for a leisurely stroll, tossing a frisbee at the park, or canoeing at Dow’s Lake, you’re not binge watching another television series on the couch, and that’s what counts. The allure of the outdoors, especially when it’s warm out, reduces the barrier to getting excited about going out and getting more movement.

Opportunity for connection

Even if physical distancing restrictions are in place, being outdoors gives us another way to connect with friends and family. Whether we take the time to stop and chat with a neighbour, research shows that even being around others without interacting can help to reduce feelings of isolation. Isolation is found to be one of the key contributors to poor mental health.

The power of Vitamin D

As Canadians we spend a lot of time indoors. This means that we get less exposure to sunlight. When we get less exposure to sunlight, our body doesn’t produce as much Vitamin D. Beyond absorbing Calcium, various research findings show that there is a link between levels of Vitamin D in the body and experience of low mood or Depression. 

So just by throwing on your runners and stepping outside you’re taking literal and metaphorical steps towards boosting your mood.

Focusing on the present is easier

When you’re outdoors there’s so many different ways to engage our senses; birds chirping, the bright colours of growing flowers, the aromas of a BBQ hard at work. With these natural attention grabbers, we can easily attune our focus to what we notice around us. Being present, or mindful, is not about meditation, it’s about keeping your attention in the here and now. This becomes easier to do when we get outside. Quick how to: Pick a spot to observe and try to notice what you see, hear smell, feel and can possibly taste.

Less tech temptation

Being in the present moment is easier when we are not surrounded by the pings of our electronic devices. Being outside and leaving the tech at home reduces distraction while trying to engage your senses in nature.Doing this connects us to our roots of humanity and the natural world around us. When we get outside, we reduce the temptation to scroll, snap or tweet (assuming you haven’t brought your laptop with you).

Research shows that all these factors have a significant impact on our mental, physical and spiritual health. The context of being outside (regardless of the weather) is what allows all these elements to naturally come together for a one stop shop of wellness.