Over 2% hydroquinone requires a prescription - there are no over-the-counter creams with over 2%. Be very careful to know what you are using - many Chinese and other foreign formulations contain mercury, which is poisonous. I would stick with name-brands from a reputable store. The hydroquinone creams work but you must use them for about 2-3 months religiously, and protect your skin from the sun in the meantime, as it makes your skin more sensitive. You are not supposed to use them continuously. About 3 months at a time is suggested. There are some rat tests out showing a hydroquinone-cancer connection. But the tests were not definitive and have not caused the FDA to pull hydroquinone, and it's been years now. I noticed Estee Lauder has pulled their whitening creams off the shelf for some reason. Shiseido is now using some secret formulation that costs an arm and a leg. You'll see some alternative ingredients like licorice being used. I can't vouch for any of those. But hydroquinone is still the "gold standard" of skin discoloration faders.

terriks, There are lots of great recipes at the joe cross website. These are some of my favorites: Carrot Apple Lemon Juice This recipe makes 2 servings. Ingredients: 4 apples 4 carrots 2 lemons, peeled Directions: Rinse all ingredients and cut to size for your juicer. Add ingredients to juicer. Enjoy! A lot of times I sub a grapefruit for one of the apples Green Lemonade Juice Ingredients: 6-8 kale leaves (Australian Tuscan Cabbage) 3 handfuls spinach 1 green apple 1 cucumber 2 celery stalks 1 lemon Directions: Rinse all ingredients and cut to size for your juicer. Add ingredients to juicer. Enjoy! Green Citrus Juice This recipe makes 2 servings. Ingredients: 2 green apples 2 oranges, peeled 6 big handfuls of leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach, romaine, etc.) Directions: Rinse all ingredients and cut to size for your juicer. Add ingredients to juicer. Enjoy! I usually sub out an orange for a grapefruit in that too. Mostly those make about 32oz. Gazpacho Juice 4 plum tomatoes ( I usually use 2 tomatoes and 2 carrots) 1 large cucumber 2 celery stalks 1 red bell pepper 1 small red onion 2 cups parsley (leaves and stems, roughly chopped) 1 lime the site below is also great. you can plug in your ingredients and it will give you recipes. I started out buying a juice a couple times a week from a juice cafe, then every day, then I got a juicer. trying it out when someone else makes it is easier and cheaper at first. :) there are also a lot of juicers out there and you have to figure out your goals before you buy one. We have two. a centrifugal and a masticating. one is MUCH easier and faster to use than the other. once you start making them every day you start subbing and come up with your own recipes. I try to use cabbage, kale, bock choy, broccoli, romaine, spinach, swiss chard, etc in the green lemonade. I just use two each day and switch it up. I usually have two 32 oz of the green lemonade a day. Here is a link that might be useful: recipe site

Pat. I mostly use Kirks on the boys hair also. One thing I truely HATE is when kids have a stinky head...iI've found that even shampooing 3 times with shampoo kids can still have a stink head. My boys have oily heads so that could be why. Anyway Kirks on their heads and their heads smell so very clean and fresh. I do use a chamomile tea rinse.. I used to use lemon juice, they are both blondies, but I tried the Chamomile and wow it left their hair silky with a natural shine. so every night I brew 2 cups of Chamomile LOL glad I found a cheap brand that's 97cents for 25. I think though I'll try one tea bag and just let it steep an hour or so than dilute it some and split it in half for each boy. For those of you that don't know Kirks is a lovely coconut castile bar soap that can be used as a shampoo you just have to use a acidic rinse afterwards to restore PH. Kirks has a shampoo but I've never seen it at a store, ive been really really wanting to try it. So if any of you have please report to me if you like it. Thank You.

Blue Onblue, that is amazing! Years ago, a stray cat came to us, wouldn't leave and became expectant. I knew when this would happen, my indoor cat had raised a ruckus so we noticed the event. The stray lived in the garage (hence, her name was Garage Cat or GC) and when I came home the day before the expected event, she had oil all over her back! Called the vet who said she must be bathed and to use Dawn Dishwashing soap or Murphy's Oil Soap. I had neither of those so used what I had (Palmolive and the like) but none of my stock would do more than slide off the oil slick! Husband made mad dash to grocery while I held her in the bathtub, used the Dawn and have never bought any other brand since. That was probably 35 years ago! She was small and so round and heavy that she could not fight. Came home the next day and four new kittens. Kept one and had to put down at 19 years old! Our Sugarbaby!