You may be well aware of what your moisturizer or body wash contains, but other personal care items tend to get overlooked. Like your toothpaste.

Have you picked up the toothpaste on your bathroom counter and looked at the ingredient listing? Do you see Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? How about Propylene Glycol? Fluoride? And just because the label says it is "natural" does not mean it is necessarily safe. Even some natural toothpastes contain harmful ingredients.

Harsh cleansers, toxic fluoride, chemical preservatives, and artificial colors and flavorings. These are what you don't want in your toothpaste.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a foaming agent commonly added to conventional toothpastes but is also found in some natural toothpastes. SLS gives the paste "sudsiness" which some people associate with an extra clean feeling. But this harsh cleanser can irritate delicate tissue and has been known to cause mouth sores and sensitivity. It is also a penetration enhancer which allows other chemical ingredients to more easily absorb into the system.

Propylene glycol (or related ingredients PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol) is added to certain products to give them a more solid consistency without becoming dry, like deodorant or toothpaste. But this ingredient is derived from petroleum, a known carcinogen, and can easily absorb into the system. It is also used in anti-freeze and floor wax. Not exactly what we want to put into our mouths on a daily basis.

Buy One Baby Toothpaste Strawberry / Raspberry Fluoride Free and Get a Second One Free! *Expires Jan 14th!

Fluoride is a controversial issue. Dentists swear by this ingredient for its cavity-diminishing properties, and recommend children and adults use fluoride-containing toothpaste. It is added to most mouthwash, and you can even buy bottled water that contains fluoride. But this toxic ingredient has also been found to exacerbate acne and other skin conditions. And it accumulates in the bones over time and is thought to weaken them, causing certain ailments and even cancer.

Synthetic colorants and flavors are added to toothpastes to entice both children and adults into using them. It has actually become difficult to find a plain white toothpaste, free from fluoride, chemical whiteners, and other toxic ingredients.

Toxic synthetic ingredients are not only unnecessary for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums, but irritating and harmful to your health. Fluoride-free toothpaste made from plant extracts, natural minerals and essential oils fight bacteria, protect teeth and gums, and freshen mouth naturally. Our selection of nontoxic toothpastes contain healthy natural ingredients to provide safe yet effective cleansing for you and your family.

Lavera's Kid's Toothpaste Strawberry/Raspberry protects against plaque and cavities gently with natural orthosilicic acid, and the yummy flavor will be a hit.

Natural. Organic. Green. All of these monikers are commonly found on cosmetic products, but who do you trust?

Currently the government does very little as far as protecting consumers and workers from harmful chemical ingredients used to make cosmetics. This means that awareness and education are the best ways to look out for the health of yourself and your family. The current dilemma over the use of the Brazilian Blowout hair treatment, and the FDA's delayed warning, is a prime example.

The Brazilian Blowout (hair smoothing treatment) was called out last year when the Oregon Health and Science University's Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology and Oregon OSHA received a complaint from a stylist suffering from nosebleeds, breathing problems and eye irritation after using the treatment. Subsequent testing showed the product contained up to 10.4 % formaldehyde (linked to many health issues, including cancer). OSHA requires formaldehyde to be listed on product safety materials at levels exceeding 0.1 percent, Brazilian Blowout is well over the mark.

While Canada and other countries pulled Brazilian Blowout and similar products from shelves last year, it took the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an entire year to come to action. And they still cannot require salons to quit using the product, even when the ingredient in question is one of the most toxic.

A letter was sent last month to Brazilian Blowout officials from the FDA saying that testing showed up to 10% of the formula to be a liquid form of formaldehyde (methylene glycol). The FDA has asked for a response from the officials.

Why not pull from the shelves products with known harmful ingredients that have already been deemed unsafe by other countries such as Canada or the EU?

Due to outdated cosmetics laws the FDA does not have the power to issue a mandatory recall of the products. They can, however, issue a voluntary recall.

While this may be a step in the right direction, it does very little to help right now. Salons across the country continue to use the treatment, A-list celebs among the followers.

Of course, if a highly toxic ingredient like formaldehyde (The Environmental Working Group (EWG) gives it a hazard score of 10, very high) can be used so freely, you can be sure that an array of nasty chemicals are being used to make cosmetics lining our store shelves.

Your best defense against harmful cosmetic ingredients is reading product labels and following brands you can trust. Educate yourself on the companies who produce the cosmetics that you use and watch for red flags. Hard to find or incomplete ingredient listings are always suspect.

Use your purchasing power wisely — buy and use products you know are good for you and your family. Lavera products are 100% free from harmful ingredients, and contain healthy natural and organic ingredients. You can find complete and easy to read ingredient listing for each Lavera product.

There are other, healthier, ways to manage curl or frizz. Enhance your natural texture with products that keep hair healthy and gorgeous with pure ingredients. As with skin care, knowing your unique hair care needs goes a long way toward keeping your mane beautiful.

Every parent knows it is important to start the school year with their children feeling confident and healthy. We participate yearly in the "Back to School" shopping rituals — buying pencils, computers, clothing and other supplies, but this year Lavera wanted to promote the idea of sending children to school feeling good about their skin and hair — and most importantly, feeling healthy.

Studies have shown that up to 60% of what you put on your skin (face, body and hair) goes DIRECTLY INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM in just a matter of seconds. What goes into YOUR bloodstream can accumulate in the body and affect organ function, hormonal activity, etc. It is paramount to know what you are putting on your skin!

When you order lunch, you don't say, "I'd like a side of formaldehyde with that please". If you won't ingest it, why would you want to put chemicals on your skin? Topically applied parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, synthetic sunscreen ingredients artificial colors and man-made fragrances can be absorbed and build up to levels that impact the health of your children. They irritate the skin, cause breakouts and many are known or suspected to be carcinogenic.

Toxins accumulate in the body over time with repeated use. In time this "pollution" can manifest itself in our children in the form of apathy, depression, poor grades and concentration problems (link for this?). In the worst cases, they may lead to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (blog link) asthma and even cancer. Parabens, for example, may influence breast cancer and is known to affect the development of fetuses. The growing correlations between our health and the toxins in the food and skin/hair care we use is impossible to ignore.

So why, as parents, would we buy our children the $3.99 chemical lipgloss from the local drugstore and a pop-tart for breakfast? As consumers we know to read the labels. We know to eat organic. We know better than to buy products made with toxins. So what to do?

Start them off right!

We now know the benefits of eating organic foods and using organic cleaning products. Even the slow moving, cost-conscious school systems have taken a leaning toward organic food, natural cleaning products and to introducing less toxins into student environments. The natural extension of this is to replace our children's skin and hair care products with more natural and effective alternatives.

Self-confidence comes from feeling and looking your best. This is an especially powerful force in the lives of teenagers. Acne, eczema, dry and chemically damaged hair contribute to poor self-esteem — which directly correlates with poor grades and social participation in teenagers.

Many of these skin conditions are caused or made worse by undiagnosed reactions to various chemical additives in skin and hair care products. Lavera's founder and owner, Thomas Haase originally developed the Lavera brand to treat his own severe childhood dermatitis. He often had terrible reactions to various pharmaceutical products and synthetic ingredients. These irritations plagued him throughout his school years and inspired him to create a better choice made from natural ingredients for sensitive skin.

Healthy habits, healthy choices

Lavera (which means "the truth") was founded in 1987, and represents a philosophy and commitment to the purest organic ingredients and the absence of synthetic preservatives, additives, petroleum-based ingredients, emulsifiers, colors and fragrances. In order to assure skin tolerance, human volunteers test the products with dermatologist supervision — no animal testing is performed.

Lavera's organic beauty products effectively work in harmony with your skin’s natural functions to make you look and feel your absolute best. And they work! Consumers in Europe have bought into organics — Lavera holds 1/5th of all natural skincare sales in Europe and is increasing in popularity here in the U.S. as consumers are learning that what you put on your body can be just as harmful as what you put in your body.

Start your children off right, start the school year right — present your children with a lifestyle that includes healthy activities, organic food, and natural cosmetics and skin care! To help start the school year right for you and your children, Lavera is offering a site-wide Back-to-School Sale of 15% off beginning August 20th, until Labor Day (August 5th). Use Promo Code LABORDAY15 at checkout.

Summertime elements: sun, chlorine, sand, and salt all take a toll on skin. Time spent outdoors depletes skin of moisture, resulting in dryness and roughness. Dry, rough skin not only looks less healthy, but older too.

You can enjoy summer fun and keep skin healthy and beautiful; all you need is the right summertime skincare regimen. What is the best way to revitalize summer-weary skin? Lavera Body SPA Products are the answer to parched skin!

Start off by replenishing your skin with Lavera's Body SPA Shower Gels and Lotions. Chemical bath gels deprive your skin of its natural moisture barrier. However Lavera organic bath gels cleanse gently without stripping away natural oils keeping skin soft and supple. Made with mild cleansers, Lavera's SPA Body Show Gels refresh and tone the skin while removing dirt and impurities.

The best way to get skin silky smooth is with a mild exfoliant. Indulge skin further with Lavera Body SPA Scrubs. A couple times per week, apply a quarter size amount of Body Scrub and gently, using a circular motion slough dead skin cells and peeling skin off.

After toweling off, re-hydrate skin by applying your favorite Lavera Body SPA Lotion. All natural and organic ingredients help replace moisture lost by being out in the sun. Each of the six-summer fresh scents individually hydrates, restores elasticity and luster, softens and calms dry skin; plus they smell delicious!

Going barefoot and wearing sandals during the summer can make our feet calloused and dry. Use Lavera Body SPA Bath Salts to help your feet and dry skin look their best. Soaking in a tub of bath salts helps softens calloused skin and aids in exfoliation. Lavera Body SPA Bath Salts combine Fleur De Sal and coarse-grained sea salt crystals with natural essential oils for the ultimate in luxury. Simply add Bath Salts to running water and enjoy. You can also use a pumus at this time; you will have soft feet for days!

Finish your bath time routine with Lavera Body SPA Natural Deodorants. Natural deodorants actually provide longer lasting odor control than the synthetic variety and you can feel good knowing only healthy ingredients are applied to your skin. Lavera soft roll-on deodorant is aluminum and alcohol-free and will not clog pores or irritate the skin. Lavera Spa deodorants minimize perspiration and absorb wetness with natural bamboo and cotton fibers. Bamboo has proven antibacterial properties to help combat odor, and its soft, smooth composition makes it an ideal ingredient for sensitive skin.

Either choose your favorite fabulous scent or pick the product for your specific need. For anti aging choose Orange-Sea Buckthorn, for inflammation use Lavender-Aloe or Wild Rose. Milk & Honey and Vanilla Coconut are strong re-hydrators for extremely dry skin. For antiseptic, astringent properties use Vervain-Lime, (great for teenage boys; as I speak from experience!) The Lavera Body SPA line is made with pure plant extracts, organic ingredients and all-natural fragrances for the finest at-home spa experience.

Our line of mascaras are designed to be very gentle on even the most sensitive eyes, and all products are safe for contact lens wearers. Choosing the right mascara is easy with Lavera safe, natural, and beautiful mascaras.

We know that mascara is a very important (if not the most important) component in many women's beauty routine. Not too thick, not too thin, non-irritating, and that just-right color all add up to the perfect mascara.

But different women, different lashes, and different looks all need different mascaras. That is why we at Lavera offer a wide selection of lash trimmings — from volumizing, to lengthening, and even a hit of color.

Lavera brand is formulated for gentleness, using only the safest and highest quality natural and organic ingredients available. Our products are BDIH Certified Natural and we have two vegan options with Volume Mascara No. 1 Black and Volume Mascara No. 2 Blue.

Lavera Mascaras are made with earth-pure minerals for deep, intense color. Natural plant oils lend super smooth application and non-clumping texture. Our mascaras offer all day color and volume, no annoying flaking or melting.

And we have something to fit every need, look, or desire. Have full lashes that are a bit on the stubby side? Go for Long Lash Mascara in Black to lengthen. Do your long lashes need a little oomph? You are looking for Intense Volumizing Mascara in Black to pump up the volume. Maybe you are looking for overall lengthening and volumizing? Double Black Mascara with two different brushes to create length and fullness is the one for you. And our customer favorite Volume Mascara with silky smooth color and coverage is perfect for any lash type. Volume Mascara comes in both basic Black and brilliant Blue.