My Younique Moonstruck 3D Mascara Review

Several months ago, after several requests, I tried out the Younique Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lashes Mascara.  Let me just say that I was "WOW'D" by this product.  I mean super excited as this opened a whole new door for me in the modeling/acting aspect of my life as well as for me as a hobby HMUA.  I was so amazed that I went around showing everyone my eyes.  I would ask people if they noticed anything different about my eyes while batting them coyly.  I wanted everyone to see how amazingly long and plush my eyelashes were - without using false eyelashes which are always heavy, noticeable, and can be quite an annoyance (not to mention irritating to my sensitive eyes).

I would go into work and put on my make-up and make sure to just do one eye with the Moonstruck 3D Fiber lash mascara and ask everyone who walked by my desk if they noticed anything different about my eyes.  The response was always the same, one eye had lashes that were long, thick and very pretty while the other was average and pretty.  After a month or so of using this amazing product, I decided that I was ready to tell everyone I knew about it and how well it worked.  I rarely endorse anything and really won't promote a product if I personally have not tried it or like it.  I love this product so much, that I became an ambassador...i.e. a seller of this awesome company.

You can Order Younique Through Me

Nature. Love. Science.

Younique's cosmetics development processes utilize scientific research to ensure that our products contain high quality ingredients that enrich and nourish the skin. The result is a beautifully efficacious product that is safely compatible with virtually every skin type..

Younique begins by looking to Mother Nature for the inspiration behind our cosmetics. Our in-house scientific team then formulates a product that honors that inspiration while delivering cutting-edge cosmetics. Our goal is to provide healthy, clean, and pure cosmetics..

 

 

 You can Order Younique Through Me

 

 You can Order Younique Through Me

There is so much that you can do with this amazing organic cosmetics, it just boggles my mind every time I stumble upon something new and simple.

 You can Order Younique Through Me

 You can Order Younique Through Me

On top of being just an amazing company that has rapidly grown in the 2 years it's been around, Younique products have been used on the runway and recently, Jen Lilly who plays Theresa on DAYS, gave Star Style an interview of what her fashion favorites were.  Guess what is in her bag?  You guess it!!  Younique Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash Mascara!!  I am telling you, this is the most amazing product I've used.  It truly replaces false eyelashes for amazing eye popping beautiful looks and photos.

 

Below are several photos of myself wearing Younique products and especially my love - the Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash Mascara...You can Order Younique Through Me

 I'm 45 years young and love the way the Glorious Primer sets the foundation for all my make-up.

My Right eye has the Moonstruck 3D Fiber Lash

My Left eye has just regular mascara

You can see a huge difference with just one stroke

 I love how amazingly long my lashes are without the irritation of

false eyelashes and the dangers of lash extensions.

 My natural look for work with Younique products.

This was Halloween - I used Younique products to create this "infected" look

Zombie infection on left side to show infection spread.

You can Order Younique Through Me

 

Besides Younique being as natural as possible, the company also as an amazing Guarantee!

The Younique Love It Guarantee

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We're so confident that you'll love Younique that we guarantee your satisfaction with, and the quality of, all of our products. We've crafted our product guarantee policy to make purchasing Younique products easy and worry-free. If you don't love it, we've got you covered!

Within 14 Days of Delivery,
No Questions Asked

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If you are unsatisfied with our products for any reason, you may exchange them for equal value product credit, same-value exchange, or a full refund (less shipping & handling).

Within 15-30 Days of Delivery

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You are eligible for a cash refund of 80% of the purchase price*, equal value product credit, or product exchange (less shipping & handling).

Within 31-90 Days of Delivery

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You are eligible for equal value product credit, or product exchange (less shipping & handling).

You can Order Younique Through Me

Besides their every day items, they have specials each month.  For the month of November, it's Free Lip Stain (limited quantities) with any $150 purchase.  Plus there will be some Black Friday Specials but don't wait too long to buy your products because last year they had so many products on back order!!!

You can Order Younique Through Me

 

Again, the more I use Younique products and learn new and interesting ways to utilize everything, the more I'm in awe.  The versatility is unlimited for these awesome products.  I created a Younique Pinterest folder just so I can post new and creative ways for Younique products. 

What you put on your skin affects you later down the line.  If you are conscious of what you put into your body, why wouldn't you be just as conscious of what you put ON your skin?  Give Younique a try, and I promise you will become a Younique gal (or guy) yourself.  To get your Younique products today, just click on any of the random links that I've posted throughout this blog.  What have you got to lose?  Nothing.  But you have a Younique and beautiful you to face every day when you start using these awesome products. You can Order Younique Through Me

25 Words That Are Their Own Opposites

A former classmate posted this article on Facebook this morning and I really liked it.  As a hobby writer and a reader (I don't really read digital except on the computer - I prefer actual books), these were great.  So I wanted to share them with you as well.  Upon reading the article, it was apparently updated shortly thereafter with 11 additional ones, which I have posted below the original 14.

Enjoy.  @Mentalfloss.com thanks for the article.

Here’s an ambiguous sentence for you: “Because of the agency’s oversight, the corporation’s behavior was sanctioned.” Does that mean, 'Because the agency oversaw the company’s behavior, they imposed a penalty for some transgression' or does it mean, 'Because the agency was inattentive, they overlooked the misbehavior and gave it their approval by default'? We’ve stumbled into the looking-glass world of “contronyms”—words that are their own antonyms.

1. Sanction (via French, from Latin sanctio(n-), from sancire ‘ratify,’) can mean ‘give official permission or approval for (an action)’ or conversely, ‘impose a penalty on.’
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2. Oversight is the noun form of two verbs with contrary meanings, “oversee” and “overlook.” “Oversee,” from Old English ofersēon ‘look at from above,’ means ‘supervise’ (medieval Latin for the same thing: super- ‘over’ + videre ‘to see.’) “Overlook” usually means the opposite: ‘to fail to see or observe; to pass over without noticing; to disregard, ignore.’
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3. Left can mean either remaining or departed. If the gentlemen have withdrawn to the drawing room for after-dinner cigars, who’s left? (The gentlemen have left and the ladies are left.)
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4. Dust, along with the next two words, is a noun turned into a verb meaning either to add or to remove the thing in question. Only the context will tell you which it is. When you dust are you applying dust or removing it? It depends whether you’re dusting the crops or the furniture.
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5. Seed can also go either way. If you seed the lawn you add seeds, but if you seed a tomato you remove them.
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6. Stone is another verb to use with caution. You can stone some peaches, but please don’t stone your neighbor (even if he says he likes to get stoned).
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7. Trim as a verb predates the noun, but it can also mean either adding or taking away. Arising from an Old English word meaning ‘to make firm or strong; to settle, arrange,’ “trim” came to mean ‘to prepare, make ready.’ Depending on who or what was being readied, it could mean either of two contradictory things: ‘to decorate something with ribbons, laces, or the like to give it a finished appearance’ or ‘to cut off the outgrowths or irregularities of.’ And the context doesn’t always make it clear. If you’re trimming the tree are you using tinsel or a chain saw?
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8. Cleave can be cleaved into two “homographs,” words with different origins that end up spelled the same. “Cleave,” meaning ‘to cling to or adhere,’ comes from an Old English word that took the forms cleofian, clifian, or clīfan. “Cleave,” with the contrary meaning ‘to split or sever (something), ‘ as you might do with a cleaver, comes from a different Old English word, clēofan. The past participle has taken various forms: “cloven,” which survives in the phrase “cloven hoof,” “cleft,” as in a “cleft palate” or “cleaved.”
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9. Resign works as a contronym in writing. This time we have homographs, but not homophones. “Resign,” meaning ‘to quit,’ is spelled the same as “resign,” meaning ‘to sign up again,’ but it’s pronounced differently.
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10. Fast can mean "moving rapidly," as in "running fast," or ‘fixed, unmoving,’ as in "holding fast." If colors are fast they will not run. The meaning ‘firm, steadfast’ came first. The adverb took on the sense ‘strongly, vigorously,’ which evolved into ‘quickly,’ a meaning that spread to the adjective.
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11. Off means ‘deactivated,’ as in "to turn off," but also ‘activated,’ as in "The alarm went off."
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12. Weather can mean ‘to withstand or come safely through,’ as in “The company weathered the recession,” or it can mean ‘to be worn away’: “The rock was weathered.”
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13. Screen can mean ‘to show’ (a movie) or ‘to hide’ (an unsightly view).
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14. Help means ‘assist,’ unless you can’t help doing something, when it means ‘prevent.’
The contronym (also spelled “contranym”) goes by many names, including “auto-antonym,” “antagonym,” “enantiodrome,” “self-antonym,” “antilogy” and “Janus word” (from the Roman god of beginnings and endings, often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions). Can’t get enough of them? The folks at Daily Writing Tips have rounded up even more.

Read the full text here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/49834/14-words-are-their-own-opposites#ixzz2omZkp4dv
--brought to you by mental_floss!


 11 MORE Words That Are Their Own Opposites

Thanks to all who took the time to comment on last week’s list of contronyms. Some of your suggestions were already lined up for this sequel, but the first word below was good enough to bump another term from the queue.

1. Bitch

In a comment under last week’s story, reader Shawn Ravenfire pointed out that “bitch” can refer to a woman who is considered overly aggressive or domineering, or it can refer to someone passive or submissive.

2. Clip

Clip can mean "to bind together" or "to separate." You clip sheets of paper to together or separate part of a page by clipping something out. Clip is a pair of homographs, words with different origins spelled the same. Old English clyppan, which means "to clasp with the arms, embrace, hug," led to our current meaning, "to hold together with a clasp." The other clip, "to cut or snip (a part) away," is from Old Norse klippa, which may come from the sound of a shears.

3. Continue

Continue usually means to persist in doing something, but as a legal term it means stop a proceeding temporarily.

4. Fight with

Fight with can be interpreted three ways. “He fought with his mother-in-law” could mean "They argued," "They served together in the war," or "He used the old battle-ax as a weapon." (Thanks to linguistics professor Robert Hertz for this idea.)

5. Flog

Meaning "to punish by caning or whipping," flog shows up in school slang of the 17th century, but now it can have the contrary meaning, "to promote persistently," as in “flogging a new book.” Perhaps that meaning arose from the sense ‘to urge (a horse, etc.) forward by whipping,’ which grew out of the earliest meaning.

6. Go

Go means "to proceed," but also "give out or fail," i.e., “This car could really go until it started to go.”

7. Hold up

Hold up can mean "to support" or "to hinder": “What a friend! When I’m struggling to get on my feet, he’s always there to hold me up.”

8. Out

Out can mean "visible" or "invisible." For example, “It’s a good thing the full moon was out when the lights went out.”

9. Out of

Out of means "outside" or "inside": “I hardly get out of the house because I work out of my home.”

10. Peer

Peer is a person of equal status (as in a jury of one’s peers), but some peers are more equal than others, like the members of the peerage, the British or Irish nobility.

11. Toss out

Toss out could be either "to suggest" or "to discard": “I decided to toss out the idea.”

Read the full text here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/49952/11-more-words-are-their-own-opposites#ixzz2omZyTbQP
--brought to you by mental_floss!

Perdue Whole Roast Chicken

Food can be very fashionable - especially when it's simple, delicious and easy.

Perdue has come out with a line called Perdue Oven Ready Roasters.  These are pre-seasoned and presealed.  All you have to do it purchase, place in roasting pan and put into oven... and voila!  It's perfectly seasoned, tender and oh so delicious!

You buy it in the fresh meat department, so it's not processed.  While I love trying new things, I'm always a skeptic for pre-seasoned meats - most times they're just over seasoned, over bearing in flavored or fail to deliver/falls short on the company's promise.

Perdue has delivered on everything - flavor, tenderness, freshness and ease of roasting/baking.

I can say without a doubt I'll be purchasing this product a lot.  My picky soon to be 3 year old and super picky 21 year old both had seconds.  What little that was left over, my little asked for the next day, including asking for seconds.

Toxic Apparel - Not Good for Us!

Zara the most toxic apparel says Greenpeace

Greenpeace the environmental organization made public the investigation conducted to find toxic chemicals in garments finding out that Zara produces the most toxic items for both humans and the environment.
The organization found toxic chemicals in 89 of the 114 garments being researched. During this research the organization did a focus on the fashion garments from brand like Levis's , Esprit, Tommy Hilfiger and Zara, and the report was titled "Toxic Threads. The big fashion stitch-up".
According to Greenpeace  the nonylfenolethoxylates (NFE's) used to fix colours on textiles, may produce hormonal disruptions, and when they are used can end up in water through the laundering process and drinking water, this chemicals are not possible to remove from water.

Other brands mentioned on the report as the greatest users of NFE's are C&A, Mango, Calvin Klein, Metersbowe and Jack & Jones, had the highest use of these chemicals on its garments. In the investigation the organization also found the use of amines, which are registered by the European Union as possible carcinogens, but none of the brands have broken the law since today the amines remain within the European Union's standards.

This is not the first time Greenpeace is after fashion brands encouraging them to reduce their use of chemicals, some of the brands alerted by the organization and starting to pay more attention to nature are Marks & Spencer, H&M, Adidas, Nike and Puma.

Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, But You Should Rethink Some Cosmetic Treatments

While they say beauty is only skin deep... as we age, we often think of beauty treatments, surgeries and/or beauty products to help us ward off the little tale-tale signs of aging.  Sometimes we want a quick fix to a problem area that has been bugging us but do we really understand the long term issues of certain procedures?  Are some procedures actually necessary and/or safe?

Below are NINE (9) cosmetic treatments that doctors say we should really think before just doing.  Some of them I personally have an adversion to (my own little quirks about safety and health issues) and I'm not shy about stating that I will fight aging hard as I rather grow old gracefully - on my own terms.  LOL.

1.  Botox breast lift

By Maggie Koerth-Baker for MSN Health

 

Why do it:  In spring 2008, high-profile New York dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D., (she’s most known for these products sold at Bath & Body Works) began touting a new way to use Botox. She claimed that by injecting the drug into the pectoralis minor chest muscle (see its location on an anatomy sketch) to paralyze it temporarily, she could make back muscles (which ones?) pick up the slack, thereby forcing the patient to stand up straighter, which essentially gives the breasts a surgery-free "lift."

 

The problems:  "It's nonsense. Worse, it's dangerous nonsense," says Michael McGuire, M.D., president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He and Patrick McMenamin, M.D., president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, agree that Wexler's procedure wouldn't work. And both doctors say injecting anything into the pectoralis minor, which is in close proximity to the lungs, is dangerous.

 

Find out the potential dangers of administering Botox in this area.

 

 

2.  "Doctor fish" manicures and pedicures

 

Why do them:  "Doctor fish" (what other name are they known as?), love to eat dead human skin cells, which they suck off of the body, revealing fresh skin underneath. They're used for pedicures and to treat the symptoms of psoriasis (what is that, again?).

 

The problems:  Living creatures are hard to sanitize. At least three states have issued regulations against “doctor fish,” saying there's no way to guarantee they are clean. Martin Grassberger, M.D., who's researched them at the Medical University of Vienna (where is that exactly?), says another concern is some spas use a different species of fish (which one?), which feeds more aggressively than the “doctor fish” and can draw blood.

 

What is the potentially serious danger of using the different fish species?

 

 

3.  Waxing

 

Why do it:  Waxing yanks unwanted body hair out by the roots. It's faster than tweezing and lasts longer than shaving.

 

The problems:  First off, burns from hot wax can be severe and are more common than you might think, according to the medical journal Burns. Waxing also leaves the body vulnerable to infection. The FDA advises people with weakened immune systems to avoid it. People using wrinkle creams or acne treatments that contain a popular ingredient (Retinol) should also rethink waxing, as the skin can become so sensitive that there's a risk of it peeling off along with the hair. The biggest worry? Topical skin-numbing cream, used to make waxing less painful, that can end up in your blood.

 

What is the serious concern with using the cream?

 

The FDA says it's best to avoid numbing cream altogether, but if you do use it, choose one that the FDA has approved as safe, and use as little of the cream with the lowest amount of active ingredients (which ones?) as you can. The FDA also recommends leaving the skin uncovered (don't cover the treated area with plastic wrap or other dressing to increase effectiveness), and says to pick the correct cream with your doctor's help—not that of your hair stylist or spa technician.

 

 

4.  Eyelash-thickening drops

 

Why use them:  Newly approved by the FDA, the drug Latisse promises thicker eyelashes. Latisse is actually a lower-dose version of a drug that's been used to treat glaucoma since 2001 (which one?). Longer, thicker lashes were a surprising side -effect for those patients.

 

The problem:  Most of the side effects are covered in the TV commercials starring Brooke Shields and Claire Danes (watch it) and include itching, redness and the potential to darken the skin on your eyelids or turn irises brown—permanently. And, like with many drugs, Latisse may not be a good choice for pregnant or nursing women. The National Institutes of Health reports the active ingredient in Latisse is associated with several issues when administered to pregnant animals.

 

What effects did the drug have on studies in mice and rats?

 

 

5.  UV-activated teeth whitening

 

Why get it:  Who doesn't want a mouth full of gleaming, pearly whites? Most whitening methods rely on hydrogen peroxide solutions, but some companies claim the hydrogen peroxide works better and faster when combined with UV lamps. (See a photo of how the UV light is administered.)

 

The problem:  New research shows UV lamps don't boost the bleaching process, and even worse, can be dangerous. In February 2009, research published in the online version of the Journal of Prosthodontics showed no difference between the two processes. A January 2009 study in the British journal Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences said not only does light -activation not work, but it also exposes users to startlingly high levels of cancer-causing UV radiation. One lamp the team tested gave a dose four times as high as what you'd get from sunbathing for a full afternoon in midsummer.

 

 

6.  Permanent makeup

 

Why get it:  Eyeliner, lip and brow color tattooed onto your skin can be a permanent solution for women who want the look of makeup all the time. Browse before-and-after photos.

 

The problem:  Colored tattoo ink isn't necessarily designed with the human body in mind, and the FDA hasn't approved any tattoo inks – many of the colored inks used for permanent makeup are the same as those used in the automotive and printing industries. The FDA has received numerous reports of allergic reactions in women who received makeup tattoos, which are also notoriously difficult to remove.

 

Find varying costs for permanent eyeliner?

 

 

7.  Chemical peels

 

Why get one:  Chemical peels, usually creams or serums containing mild fruit acid, can remove dead skin cells and help clear up acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. Peels can also encourage the growth of new, younger-looking skin cells. (Browse hundreds of before-and-after photos.)

 

The problem:  Most chemical peels have relatively mild side effects, including a risk of oddly colored, patchy skin in women who are taking birth control pills; redness, scaling and blisters for those with sensitive skin; and the possibility of triggering previously dormant cold sores. The real danger?  At-home peels purchased online, which have been known to cause painful, scarring burns, caused by the high concentration of the acids. Most effective over-the-counter alpha-hydroxy acid creams contain about 8 percent acid concentration.

 

How high can the concentrations be in products sold online?

 

 

8.  Brava breast enhancement

 

Why get it:  Introduced in 1999, Brava is a breast enhancement system that claims to help make breasts an entire cup size larger without surgery. The appeal pretty much speaks for itself.

 

How does it work?  Brava is a set of plastic domes hooked up to a small vacuum pump. The domes are placed over the breasts, with the suction turned on, for 10 hours every day over for at least 10 weeks. If you miss a day, you have to add an extra one. See the pumping device. According to clinical trials, Brava works, though never as dramatic as surgical implants.

 

The problems:  The process is time consuming and rife with side effects, caused by the “suctioning” effect. Some women report getting rashes and blisters. Also, Brava won’t work as well on women with extremely small breasts or those with a cup size above a small C.

 

The cost:  It’s significant, though less than a surgical procedure. How much?

 

 

9.  Thermage

 

Why use it:  Approved by the FDA in 2002, Thermage uses heat generated by radio waves to give patients tighter, more taught skin; it's often promoted as a "non-surgical facelift." Oprah first championed the procedure, which is also known as ThermaCool, in 2003.

 

The problems:  The episodes of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that touted the treatment aren't forthcoming about its potential side effects (what are they?) or effectiveness, according to a New York Times article from 2006. And Thermage doesn't really function as a face-lift substitute. While it can reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and acne scars, it's not likely to tighten jowls—patients who go in expecting a miracle probably will be disappointed.

 

What is the price range for Thermage treatments?

Three (3) Simple Ways to Look Taller

The following suggestions are good basic information for every woman who wants to look taller.  From my experience, a clean line/cut, dark colored pair of pants (wide leg or sightly flared) with a crisp white or colorful blouse paired with a nice pair of heels (whether boots, pumps or wedges) helps to elongate the visual line of your silhouette.  For me, I do not find cropped pants to aid in appearing taller, thinner, etc.  It gives me quite the opposite effect. 

Also, while this article is from a magazine, please note that you can achieve any of the below looks for way way less money than the items they chose to display.

http://living.msn.com/style-beauty/fashion/three-ways-to-look-taller#1

Punctuate Properly

When wearing shorter pants, leave the waistband exposed and finish with classic heels that come down low on the foot.

Blazer, $695, DKNY, dkny​.com for locations. Sweater, $70, jcrew.com. Shirt, $50, gap.com. Pants, $225, vince.com. Pumps, $58, Colin Stuart for Victoria’s Secret, victoriassecret.com. Bag, $168, Lancaster Paris, lancaster.fr



Pairing pale tones creates visual space, which is why this skirt-and-shoes combination works

Jacket, $498, Iro. Select Barneys New York, 888-8-BARNEYS. Tank, $12, jockey.com. Skirt, $46, americanapparel.com. Scarf, $195, chanluu.com. Pumps, $69, RSVP, zappos​.com. Bag, $44, Street Level, francescascollections.com

Choose a Flared Fit

It'll look like you've got legs for days, while the wide bottoms conceal sky-high heels and wedges.

Blouse, $118, jcrew.com. Turtleneck, $240, White + Warren, whiteandwarren.com. Pants, $345, rachelroy.com. Pumps, $99, Guess, amazon.com. Clutch, $80, asos.com



Keep It Light

Beware! Counterfeit Items Go Beyond Luxury Items

We all know to look out for designer counterfeit items.  Most of us have studied the tell-tell signs of the item(s) that our heart covets - that expensive designer watch, a Coach, Chanel or Prada handbag, those Louboutins, Jimmy Choos, Manolo shoes or boots, 7 for all mankind, True Religion, Cavalli jeans, or even that Big Pony Ralph Lauren polo shirt.  We study the ins and outs of these items so we can look for them at discounted prices either on eBay, eCrater, consignment shops or the thrift stores.  While we understand, know and have even seen some pretty darn good fakes, we tend to overlook some other more mainstream items that are counterfeited.  Why?  Because to most of us, myself included, it baffles the mind why someone would even want to counterfeit Old Navy or even Wal-Mart brands but they do.

The more mainstream things are stuff we don't even think about -  toothpaste, baby formula, perfume, shampoo, sunscreen, cosmetics, maple syrup and even honey!

These mainstream items are being counterfeited and at the price of our health - and the health of our children!

http://money.msn.com/family-money/7-ordinary-items-now-counterfeited

Despite government efforts, experts say the onus is still largely on shoppers to recognize and avoid the fakes. Aside from the red flag of a deep discount, be cautious about product labeling or packages that seem different from the usual, such as a misplaced bar code, peeling label or gluey residue, says Joseph LaRocca, the vice president of loss prevention for the National Retail Federation. If a product's taste, smell or texture seems off -- or online buyers have noted that in reviews -- that's another warning sign, he says.

The price of being an unwitting buyer can be high, and not just in money wasted. "Criminals are looking to make money, so their focus is on making the product look as much like the real product as possible," Halvorson says. "They'll spend more money on the packaging than the good itself." As a result, many of the basic fakes can carry serious health and safety risks.
Following are seven household items that government and industry groups say shoppers may unwittingly buy in fake versions.  

Sunscreen

Fake sunscreen can burn people twice -- first at the cash register, then at the beach. Counterfeits often contain chemical additives, but they can also simply be cheap, all-purpose skin lotion, which provides zero UV protection.

"It's easy for a counterfeiter to make something look like cream without containing the expensive ingredients someone is buying it for," says Halloran. (The same warning holds for anti-aging creams and lotions, which are another common counterfeit category.)

Baby formula

That chalky taste may in fact be chalk, which is commonly used as a filler to give the fake product the right consistency, Halloran says. Of course, fake baby formula isn't likely to have the recommended levels of protein and other nutrients, either. Both factors can be problematic: In 2004, more than 60 Chinese infants died after ingesting fake formula. The Food and Drug Administration warns that infants may be intolerant of such ingredients and could "experience serious adverse health consequences."

Toothpaste

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers about Chinese-made toothpaste in 2007, saying it contained a poison used in antifreeze. That's still a common adulterant, and one that you don't want to put near your mouth, let alone ingest, Halloran says. Other unsafe-for-consumption chemicals may be used, too, either as a way to make the paste white or to create the right consistency, she says. Pastes may also lack fluoride or can be contaminated with bacteria.

Shampoo

It's not just pricey salon brands that are at risk for counterfeiting. Labels found at the drugstore have caught fakers' attention, too, Halloran says. Some are little more than water, fragrance and a thickening agent, but anything that suds -- notably, cheap cleaning solutions -- can be substituted for the actual shampoo.


Late last year, Beijing police seized more than 2,000 boxes of faux shampoo bottles that were contaminated with sulfur, as well as mercury and other heavy metals. That's too harsh for a product that's going on your scalp and possibly dripping near your eyes, Halloran says. (And shoppers can forget about any label-promised moisturizing, volumizing, color-protecting or anti-dandruff effects.)

Perfume

In December 2011, police in Monroe, Ohio, seized more than 500 bottles of fake perfume from local flea markets, with mimicked scents ranging from $85 Chanel bottles down to $40 Beyoncé scents. What's inside a replicated perfume bottle is anybody's guess, Halloran says. At best it is a perfume, but one that smells nothing like a designer scent and may have been watered down. Fakes more often contain chemicals like antifreeze, cleaning solutions or human urine, any of which may cause a rash or other skin problems. 

Honey

Recent tests by Food Safety News found that 75% of store honey isn't really honey. It still comes from bees, but the pollen has been screened out, ostensibly to keep the honey from crystallizing. Food safety experts say this may also be done to hide the honey's origin, says Andrew Schneider of Food Safety News. Many regulators don't consider the food honey if there's no pollen, but there could be more serious problems, too While shoppers might not notice a taste difference, tests found that a third of the faux-honey imports from Asia were tainted with lead and antibiotics.

Maple syrup

Vermont's U.S. senators recently announced they would co-sponsor a bill to make it a felony to sell fake maple syrup as the real thing. Violators could face up to five years in prison. Fakes may be made in part, or entirely, from cane sugar rather than the more expensive maple sugar. The big risk here is financial -- a gallon of real maple syrup can run $30 or more.

http://money.msn.com/family-money/7-ordinary-items-now-counterfeited