Are you putting this on your skin?

I check three ingredients before anything touches my skin. Every bottle, every time.

Most lotions run on the same three ingredients that keep costs low and shelf life long.

The first is mineral oil, also labeled petrolatum or paraffin. A petroleum byproduct that shows up in about 1 of every 14 cosmetic products. It seals moisture in without adding anything, and if it isn't fully refined, it can carry contaminants linked to skin irritation. The EU requires proof of the refining history. The US doesn't.

The second is DMDM hydantoin. It's one of the most common preservatives in drugstore lotion, and it works by slowly releasing formaldehyde.

The third is parabens. Cheap preservatives that also bind to estrogen receptors and turn up intact in breast tissue samples.

None of this shows up in the marketing claims on the front of the bottle. You have to flip it over and read the ingredient list to find it.

I hold what goes on my skin to the same standard as what goes on my plate.

That's why I use The Lotion from Herbal Face Food. 

139 botanicals, nothing synthetic standing in for them: aloe, shea butter, turmeric, frankincense, rosehip. No mineral oil. No formaldehyde releasers. No parabens.

It's formulated for the whole body, not just your face: dryness, eczema, psoriasis, stretch marks, crepey skin, sun-damaged skin. In their own 35-day user trial, 99% said their skin felt more hydrated.

It also comes in Untinted, a fall exclusive available through the season. You pick Tinted or Untinted at checkout.

Get The Lotion here — with 50% off using code FOODBABE50 through tomorrow, September 29 at 11:59pm only.

Xo,
Vani

P.S. Apply it right after you towel off, while your skin is still damp. It locks in more moisture that way.

P.P.S. At Food Babe, we only promote products we love and use ourselves. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission.

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Dinner plans?

I keep all my Food Babe cookbooks right on my kitchen counter because honestly, I cook from them all the time!

They’re filled with recipes my family loves and actually eats at home, so I’m constantly pulling one out to make one of our favorites.

And this recipe from my new cookbook, Food Babe Feast, is one I’m going to turn to again and again.

It’s sticky, sweet, smoky, and absolutely delicious. Everyone asks for seconds!

Wait until you see how easy it is:

WATCH ME MAKE IT!

This is one of those recipes that works just as well for weeknight dinner at home as it does when you have a house full of people.

And that’s true for so many recipes in this book.

Food Babe Feast will be the cookbook sitting in your kitchen that you reach for all year long.

With more than 100 recipes made with real ingredients, you’ll have so many new favorites to make for your family, friends, holidays, parties, and everything in between.

I seriously cannot wait for you to have this book!

Get Food Babe Feast here

Xo,
Vani

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When CLEAN means more chemicals

Did you know the laundry detergent All was invented by Monsanto? The same company that brought us Roundup and Agent Orange.

Their research team developed it in 1946 and sold it off a decade later.

You may scrutinize the ingredients in your food, but have you ever thought about the ingredients in your laundry detergent?

Many mainstream laundry detergents are made with petrochemicals, synthetic dyes, fragrances, optical brighteners, and other chemicals I don't want on my family's clothes and sheets.

And unlike food, cleaning product labels don't always tell you everything that's inside the bottle.

The word “fragrance,” for example, can stand in for dozens of unnamed chemicals that companies don't have to disclose.

I used to love the smell of fresh laundry. Then I found out where that smell actually comes from.

Most “fragrance” is water soluble, so on its own it would just rinse away. But brands use ingredients that help fragrance stick to fabric, which is why you can still smell it on your clothes long after they've been washed.

A University of Washington study measured what actually comes out of a dryer vent when scented detergent and dryer sheets are used. They found more than 25 volatile organic compounds, including hazardous air pollutants and cancer-causing chemicals.

And fragrance isn't the only thing to watch out for.

Those “whiter whites” aren't necessarily cleaner either. Optical brighteners don't remove yellowing. They leave a faint blue coating on the fabric that makes it appear brighter.

And think about how much contact we have with our laundry every day. Our clothes sit against our skin all day, and then we sleep on our sheets for 8 hours every night.

That's why I'm so picky about the laundry products I use in my home.

One brand I use and love is Truly Free Home.  

No formaldehyde, no 1,4-dioxane, no optical brighteners, no synthetic dyes. Plant-derived, enzyme-based formulas that break down what's actually causing the smell instead of masking it.

Their Mixed Laundry Bundle is enough for 100 loads:

• Laundry Wash
• Enzyme Stain Remover
• OxyBoost, a chlorine-free alternative to bleach
• Dryer Angel dryer sheets
• A laundry machine cleaner
• A stain stick

It comes in Signature Scent or Unscented, so pick whichever fits your family.

Get the Mixed Laundry Bundle here — up to 77% off + free shipping, for a limited time. No code needed, the discount applies through my link.

Xo,
Vani

P.S. No subscription required for this offer, and it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if it's not for you.

P.P.S. At Food Babe, we only promote products we love and use ourselves. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission.

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If you buy Goldfish or Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies

If you’re buying Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies, Goldfish, or Takis, you need to see this.

Consumer Reports tested 21 popular snacks and found 14 had concerning levels of at least one chemical contaminant.

They found:

PHTHALATES: Plastic chemicals that can leach into food through packaging and processing equipment. They are endocrine disruptors that have been linked to reproductive and developmental problems.

ACRYLAMIDE: A chemical that forms when starchy foods like potatoes and grains are cooked at high temperatures and is commonly found in processed foods like chips and crackers. It is considered a probable human carcinogen.

GLYCIDYL ESTERS: These contaminants can form during the high-temperature refining of seed oils. Once you eat them, they are almost entirely converted into glycidol, a probable human carcinogen.

This is why I choose fresh, whole foods as much as possible.

The more processed and packaged a food is, the more opportunities there are for chemicals like these to end up in it.

And think about how often foods like these show up when we're celebrating…

We grab bags of ultra-processed chips, crackers, and other packaged snacks for parties and get-togethers.

The next time you're having people over, you don't have to run to the store and load your table with ultra-processed snacks just because they're convenient.

You can make the foods you love with real ingredients instead.

I used to LOVE eating Bagel Bites growing up…

But have you looked at what’s in them?! There's no way I'm serving that junk to my kids or at a party.

So for Food Babe Feast, I decided to make my own Mini Pizza Bagel Bites completely from scratch. Even the bagels!

And don't let that scare you. There's no yeast and no waiting around for dough to rise.

Put a big tray of these out at a party and watch what happens. The kids go nuts for them... and so do the adults!

Watch me make them here and see how easy they are!

This is exactly the kind of FUN food I wanted in my new cookbook, Food Babe Feast. Recipes you actually get excited to serve when people come over, made without all the ultra-processed junk.

Food Babe Feast has more than 100 real food recipes for every party, birthday, holiday, cookout, and celebration.

Get your copy of Food Babe Feast here!

Xo,
Vani

P.S. If you’re not on Instagram, you can also watch me make the Mini Pizza Bagel Bites on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, or X.

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What my kids bring home from school...

Every year when my kids go back to school, I know they’re going to be exposed to a lot more germs — and inevitably bring some of them home.

I can’t control everything my kids are exposed to when they’re away from home, but I do everything I can to keep our home environment clean and healthy.

One thing I pay a lot of attention to is the air we’re breathing.

Indoor air can contain dust, pollen, pet dander, VOCs, and other tiny particles that we breathe in every day.

And because we spend so much time at home, I think the quality of the air we’re breathing really matters.

This is one of the reasons I run the Intellipure H1000 in our house.

Here's what it does, straight from Intellipure:

• Captures over 99.9% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns
• Reduces seasonal allergy triggers like pollen and outdoor pollutants
• Helps remove pet dander, dust, and dust mites
• Dual H13 HEPA filters with a Honeycomb VOC backing to help reduce odors and VOCs
• Cleans up to 2,200 square feet in 30 minutes
• Filters only need replacing once a year

It’s also quiet enough to run while we sleep without bothering anyone.

For the next 48 hours, save 20% with code FOODBABE20.

Get 20% off Intellipure here →

Xo,
Vani

P.S. I’ve used Intellipure in my own home for years. If you’ve been wanting cleaner air in your home too, you can save 20% for the next 48 hours here.

P.P.S. At Food Babe, we only promote products we love to use. If you buy a product we link to, we may earn a commission.

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LAST DAY: Get 25% off Food Babe Feast!

Today is your LAST CHANCE to save 25% on Food Babe Feast at Barnes & Noble!

Use code PREORDER25 at checkout to get the discount.

(Make sure you sign in or join the free B&N Rewards program before entering the code)

Order 3 copies and you’ll get FREE shipping too, so you can get one for yourself and knock out a couple of holiday gifts at the same time.

And the timing couldn't be better because we're heading into the biggest cooking and entertaining season of the year.

Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday get-togethers... and all the ultra-processed food that comes with them.

Food Babe Feast gives you more than 100 recipes made with real ingredients so you can still make the party food, holiday favorites, desserts, and special meals you love without all the junk.

It’s the kind of gift you and your loved ones will actually use all year long.

Get 25% off Food Babe Feast before the code expires!

The discount ends tonight at 11:59 PM!

Xo,
Vani

P.S. Don’t forget, this is a great chance to grab a few extra copies for holiday gifts while they’re 25% off. Order 3 or more and you’ll get FREE shipping too!

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One more day - 25% off my new cookbook!

I have some exciting news about my new cookbook!

Right now you can get 25% off Food Babe Feast at Barnes & Noble with code PREORDER25!

It’s RARE to see a discount this big on a brand-new cookbook, and I have no idea when you’ll be able to get it for 25% off again.

So if you’ve been wanting Food Babe Feast, now is the best time to snag it!

And since this discount is so good...

Get some of your holiday shopping done early...

Grab a copy for your mom, sister, best friend, or anyone who loves to cook and entertain. This would make such a fun holiday gift, and you can get all copies for 25% off right now.

Food Babe Feast has more than 100 real food recipes for every celebration, with a beautiful photo of every single recipe.

You’ll find everything from birthday cakes and party food to Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas cookies, cookouts, and so much more.

Use code PREORDER25 at Barnes & Noble to save 25%.
(Just sign in or join the free B&N Rewards program first.)

Click here and enter PREORDER25 to get 25% off!

The discount code expires Friday, so don't miss out!

Xo,
Vani

P.S, Know someone who would love Food Babe Feast? Grab an extra copy for a holiday gift while you can save 25%!

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P.O. Box 31521 Charlotte, NC 28231
USA

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