 "Maskne" is a growing indirect effect of COVID-19 in today's society. You may have seen this word pop up in your timeline or your friend mentioned it in a conversation over lunch. "Maskne" is essentially acne caused by wearing a face mask due to COVID-19. Now the thing about acne is that it is essentially inflammation of a blocked poor at a hair follicle and when you add in a face mask it adds an additional physical barrier that blocks oils and prevents the skin to essentially "airing out". Chin acne it's self is already a tough type of acne to deal with because it is usually linked with a hormonal imbalance or the overproduction of oil glands. Both of these issues can be considered to be interconnected as well as difficult to treat simply with products. However, the use of the right products can make a world of difference when it comes to mask acne especially in conjunction with lifestyle changes. To start off here are a few lifestyle tips that will allow your skin to reset and find a balance through your microbiome.
Finally I would like to recommend a few products to you that i have found to be helpful when it comes to acne in general. An important thing to pay attention to when implementing products into your routine is making sure they are fragrance-free because fragrance has been known to cause sensitive skin and weaken your skin barrier. (This is not what we want especially when fighting acne caused by mask friction and humidity entrapment.):  The Clear Pore Cleanser from Beautycounter is designed for acne prone skin. This cleanser helps remove dirt and debris from your pores which is important because it prevents buildup and should be used in the morning to prevent locking debris in when wearing a mask and at night to allow your skin a clean surface to restore itself on.  The Matte Effect Gel Cream from Beautycounter is also designed for acne prone skin. This gel is light weight and allows your skin to absorb moisture without leaving residue which could end up trapping in moisture when wearing a mask leading to clogged pores.  The Adaptive Moisture Lotion from Beautycounter is designed for normal skin that is seeking replenishment and nourishment. It is important to keep your skin healthy and hydrated so that the skin barrier and microbiome does not wear down which will prevent the passage of antigens and harmful bacteria into the skin tissue.  The Charcoal Mask from Beautycounter is designed to pull toxins out of pores which can prevent and treat occurring acne. This mask is especially useful as we are beginning to go more and more places that require masks such as work and school. This mask can be used 2 to 3 times a week to draw out impurities and prevent acne from forming.
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I love trying out new products and brands, especially when companies put in specific efforts to preserve the environment. After stumbling across the brand Plaine Products, I was so excited because the company’s entire principal is to create high-quality packaging that can be shipped back and reused for packaging future products. Plaine Products haircare comes in aluminum containers rather than plastic. When I first discovered Plaine Products, they were mainly focused on shampoo and conditioner. Now, if you visit the site, you will be please to find an array of products all with minimal packaging that can be sent back to be reused again and again.
If you’re like me, you have been trying to implement more sustainable products into your routine. For the longest time, the only zero waste shampoo and conditioners that I could find were usually bars. I've enjoyed using many of the shampoo and conditioner bars that I've tried, but I could never see them as a part of my routine in the long term. Even though I had tins to store the bars in, I found it difficult to preserve the quality of the products in between uses. I have been delighted with my purchases after trying out the Plaine Products, biodegradable shampoos, and conditioners. Side-note: shoutout to Plaine Products for giving readers 15% off when using the code: "sustainablog"
I hope you have enjoyed my review! Feel free to ask questions below about Plaine Products and I’d be happy to answer them! I've realized that when it comes to safe beauty products, you will find yourself investing a little bit more in them. I have people tell me all the time that they love the product, but just think it’s too expensive or they want a drugstore version. I completely understand where this is coming from, but the money has to come out of somewhere. Hence, if you’re paying less for a product, it usually indicates that the company is cutting corners on wages or quality of ingredients. At the end of the day, your bank statement indeed shows your values.
 I started the Sustainablog last year as a way for me to earn my Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the equivalent to an Eagle Scout award. Over the past year, I haven't been posting articles on this website. Frankly, it's not because I didn't want to post; instead, its because I didn't know what to post. In our world and the current climate, it is hard to know just what to say. So many times, I have pulled out my computer excited to create content for anyone that wants to read it, but I felt too overwhelmed because I feared I wouldn't say what you might have need to hear. From now on, I've decided to commit myself to post more frequently on my platform. I must recognize that I am not a public figure, I am not a politician, I'm just an ordinary person, and I don't have to work to change the world, but that doesn't mean I can't try. My generation is a virtual generation. We are told from time and time to be very conscious about what we put on the Internet. Although I am grateful for the warnings, sometimes it makes it challenging to create content, especially when there is so much fantastic information out in the world already. I have decided to stop letting perfectionistic ideas get in the way of creating content, even if only a few people find it helpful. If you have spent some time browsing around my site, you may notice a letter from a so-called sustainer. This website is backed by my high school's environmental club to ensure that in any situation where I am no longer sustaining the image or virtual presence of The Sustainablog, they may take over. Frankly, if it weren't for a few of my professional and entrepreneurial role models, I probably would've already passed the baton, but I am not done yet. So dear friends, I hope you'll join me as I venture off to attend the University of Oregon in the fall. I planned to share not only useful tips and product suggestions but also my life experiences as a college student studying biology on a pre-med track during this historical time in American history. BY: EMMA MCEVOY  In a consumer driven culture that harps on convince rather than "the right thing" it becomes extremely easy to detach ourselves from the waste we produce on a daily basis. While there are many forms of waste, I would like to focus in on plastics. You may have heard about plastic bags bans or even plastic straw boycotts due to the low chance these products have to get recycled. The sad truth is that is the reality for the majority of our plastics, especially within the United States. Only about 9% of plastic effectively gets recycled. Although consumers are convinced that their waste quickly becomes recycled after simply placing it is a bin, the truth is that these products and containers are usually sent to landfill or end up in the ocean. Why, you might ask? This is due to the lack of funding recycling programs receive. Historically the US would sell their plastic waste to China, but now it has been established that cleaning and recycling our waste was a burden on the Chinese market. Many US based recycling branches have shut down because in our market today it is more expensive to recycle a bottle than to create a new one. How does that make sense? 
BY: EMMA MCEVOY Every day we make choices, and our society has evolved to dilute the long term effects of those choices. Learning to become mindful about each decision can not only help you center yourself, but allow you to understand the changes you are capable of making. Food has become our culture. In a world like our's it is sometimes hard to feel in control. Choosing what we eat is one thing that many take for granted, yet provides people with stability and a feeling of freedom.
In this video I cover some food products, specifically animal products, that are ingrained in our society. Sometimes we are convinced that we are making our own choices, but once we take a step back we find that we have been falling into pressure from marketing and other consumers. Learning to take back your mind and your discussions is the first step to clarity. Once you start to make discussions based off of health, fact, and environmental protection you will begin to detach yourself from external pressure and discover yourself in a new light. If you have any interesting facts to mention please do so in the comments below. Resources: Eating to Save the Planet Presentation- https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1au_f3fIJWVgjhdUfX_orY627yQGzc4blWn5OEMCaCN4/edit?usp=sharing Netflix Watch List Cowspiracy Forks Over Knives Food INC. What The Health BY: EMMA MCEVOY  We live in a busy world that demands many hours of labor from those that wish to succeed. This expectation cause many people to spend many hours at work or in school. As you spend time at these place you might not notice the waste you produce because society has made it so easy to make you feel as if your trash simply disappears down a black hole.
There are always many ways we can learn to change up our routine just a little bit for a big impact. I wanted to introduce to you guys some of my favorite eco friendly tips for being your best self in and out of the workplace. 1. Bring your own container. Whether it is a coffee mug or a water bottle, it is in your best interest to take a drink container along with you to prevent the use or purchase of plastic bottle or disposable coffee cups. Having a water bottle by your side will also help you to drink more water throughout the day. 2. Pack your own food. As we invest more into pleasure many companies begin to make more of an effort to provide convenient food. While this may sound great in theory, This strategy creates a lot of waste that is avoidable simply by avoiding it. Bring your own meals in snacks in reusable containers will not only save you money, but potentially save the planet or at least the lives of many innocent animal and their habits. 3. Sort your trash. Many facilities are beginning to make an effort to keep waste out of landfill and out of our ecosystems by providing recycling and compost bins. If your workplace or school offers container such as these make sure to take advantage of them if you end up finding yourself with waste. If you facilitate does not have any systems like this in place it might even be in your best interest to discuss possible plans with management or your principal. 4. Invest in eco-friendly pencils or refillable fountain pens. Many people may not realize that although you use a writing utensil constantly once it runs out of ink or lead it is typically game over. Luckily many companies have found a loop hole in this pattern by providing various options such as pencils that can be planted or even mechanical pencils which can be used for years to to their refillable prosperities. 5. Take advantage of your resources. When it comes to getting textbooks it is often much cheaper to purchase them from past students as opposed to buying new ones. Many people tend to do this because the books are also typically annotated making it that much easier to understand the information you are learning. Even taking the bus to school or taking advantage of public transportation will allow you to not only reduce your carbon footprint but use that time to relax or study. If you live close enough to your school or workplace investing in a bike might be a smart move because you can not only clear your head on the way to work but help clear the air around you as well. If you love reading books or magazines consider looking in to utilizing your school or public library. Often times public libraries within a stat are interconnected, so if your local library does no have an item you can request that book or media item to be delivered to your local library from another one within the state free of charge. (This does vary within each state so be sure to check out your library's website) BY: EMMA MCEVOY Recently one of my good friends recommended this eye opening podcast episode by NPR to me. This podcast goes into the nitty gritty in regards to the recycling industry. More specifically, a simple listen to this 20 minute conversation will cause some raised eyebrows and confusion. How could we not know how broken our own recycling system truly is? After listening to this podcast on a brisk walk with my new puppy Floyd. I have finally come to terms with the unsettling information (this doesn’t mean I will not work for change). One tip I can give you before or after listening to this podcast is finding self control and discipline. Only buy what you need to buy and avoid excessive waste at all cost. For example, I just went to the grocery store (aka the tunnel of trouble), and told myself that I would only purchase food from the produce section. This allowed me to buy healthier options and limit the amount of potential waste I was creating. Finding little tricks and goals is a great way to make better, well informed decisions. I would love to hear what great tricks you guys come up with in the comments below. Stay green!
BY: EMMA MCEVOY  Many people tend to throw valuable materials in the trash everyday without knowing the benefit these materials can have in a garden or even when potting an indoor plant. Within one afternoon you can have a full functioning compost system within feet of your kitchen! There are three main types of composting that I will be discussing within this article: traditional composting, tumble composting, and vermicomposting. By composting you can create a natural, organic fertilizer that can be used in your own yard or even sold to others. What to Compost There are two primary components to a compost regardless of the process. There must be "greens" and "browns" present in the compost at a 1:2 ratio. Greens represent kitchen scrapes that provide nitrogen to the mixture. Browns represent dried woods, leaves, and papers that provide carbon to the pile. Traditional Composting can be done in many ways and forms this usually involves a larger bin, which can be built or purchased from a variety of home improvement stores. An important feature of a compost bin is having slits or holing to aerate your pile. Because you are not manually turning your pile that process will take longer compared to "hot" or aerated piles. Tumble Composting is a more contained form of composting that involves he use of a barrel on an axis. This allows you to turn the barrel, which with allow for air to flow into the compost. Much like a traditional compost you can either make your own container or buy one from a home improvement store. Vermicomposting is my personal favorite because it is a fast pace form of composting due to the worm activity and reproduction. This method is also the most condensed as it can be used in a dorm, apartment, or townhouse. You can easily create a vermicompost at home or you can order one like I did. When it comes to worms you can buy them from a bait shop or even order those online as well (and yes they do come alive, I tried it). BY: EMMA MCEVOY  Have you ever been the person standing in front of a recycling bin questioning what the fate of the piece of garbage is in your hand, and eventually decide to throw it in the trash because you weren't quite sure which bin it belongs.
The most important thing to know when sorting your trash is what goes in each category. Different places will have different categories available, so being aware of what each bin means is extremely helpful. The three main categories are recycling, compost, and trash. Some extremely eco-conscious places (shout out to my high school for falling into this category) will provide a TerraCycle program. Disclaimer: What can be recycled varies based on county, so be sure to check with your waste regulations. Recycling is the process in which a specific material such as glass, paper, metal, aluminum, cardboard, etc. is collected and deconstructed to make new products from the old products by reusing the material. Recycling bins are the most common disposables available second to trashcan which go directly to landfills. Recycling bins are often blue or have the three arrow recycling symbol on them. For the most part it is safe assume that all the materials listed above in italics can be recycled unless other wise stated on the bin. Composting is essentially nature’s form of recycling. It is the process used to turn organic waste such as fruits, vegetables, kitchen scrapes, paper towels, leaves, yard clippings, meat and dairy-free food waste, etc. into nutrient rich soil. Composting bins are not as frequently found in public as recycling or trash bins, but can be found at many well adapted locations such as the Seattle airport or some high school or college dining halls. Composting is something that can even be done at home. I am in the process of writing a post about composting from home and creating a corresponding video for your connivence. TerraCycling is less common in the public, but can also be easily brought into a school, work place, or home. The TerraCycling process creates solutions for hard to recycle materials and had programs like collecting aluminum from chip bags. TerraCycling can also include recycling elastic plastic such as bread bags, ziplock bags, plastic grocery bags, etc. The website is linked at the end of this article for more information. K-Cup Recycling is provided by a program similar to terra-cycling, which can be added into sustainability programs at schools, work places, and homes. The website is linked in the end of the article following the Terra-cycling link. Trash should be the last resort when it comes to disposing one’s waste. There are very few things people use on a daily basis that can not be composted or recycled such as plastic straws, meat, dairy, plastic wrapping, etc. Resources TerraCycling Information K-Cup Recycling Information- BY: EMMA MCEVOY I am so excited to personally welcome you to the first post on my new blog! I can't wait to hear what you guys think. I have put together a small video down below to discuss the goals and inspiration for my blog. I hope you guys can get around to watching it, if not that is totally okay! The video breaks down my goal to spread information and to help you turn it into action. I was inspired to start this blog as part of my journey to receiving my gold award. Thank you for being here at the being of this journey and feel free to comment below or direct message me at my instagram @thesustainablog. |
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