Body
Coconut Oil Skincare – Just Coco
The smell of coconut oil always transports me to tropical island paradise, and for good reason- coconut oil has been used as a skin moisturizer, hair conditioner and healing agent by Pacific Islander and tropical natives for centuries.
Just Coco is a sustainable, community empowering business started by my world traveling friend Sara Krosch, and uses all natural cold pressed virgin coconut oil in their products. Based out of her home on tropical island paradise in the Philippines, she runs Just Coco.
Using only all-natural and, whenever possible, organic ingredients combined with virgin coconut oil, they create skin, hair and nail care products. All of Just Coco’s products are vegetarian or vegan.
Their cold pressed, preservative free pure virgin coconut oil contains 50% lauric acid (the highest content possible) with natural antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. › Continue reading
Top 5 Winter Skin Picks
When I first started changing my lifestyle to reflect my environmentally conscious goals, I had a very difficult time finding products that fit my spring and summer routines AND my fall and winter routines while still avoiding harmful skincare ingredients . The harsh winds, the freezing temperatures, and still having to deal with all the normal things that go wrong with my skin! Winter wreaks havoc on most people’s skin, and your regular routine usually does not pack enough moisture. I stock up on a myriad of products to get me through the winter, but I’ll share with you my favorites for this season.
This stuff smells sweet like Calendula and goes on thick. It has enough moisture to solve any trouble area. I like to keep some in purse for emergencies. It works miracles on knees, arms, heels, legs, elbows, and the occasional severe chapped lips. This stuff works on anything! It’s seriously amazing. My girlfriend uses it on her face as well and swears by it, but it is a little too intense for my own and causes breakouts.
If you’re more into oil, like me, I’d go with Dr. Hauschka. My favorite of their scents is the Arnica scent. My husband says that’s what ‘organic’ smells like and if so, that’s fine by me. I love body oils because they seem to lock in the moisture throughout the day. I crave hot showers in the cold winter months, but that strips the moisture even more from your skin. Throughout the winter I use this oil after every shower and before bed. I always wake up in the morning feeling silky smooth and supple! I love them!
3. Lavera Wild Rose Liposome Cream
This is hands down my favorite night cream. While it’s not technically a night cream, and I do use it for daytime use too, I love how well it works overnight. I didn’t really understand having a day cream and a night cream before, but now I get it. The hydraulic acid in this cream is the key. I swear it clears up my skin too, but it doesn’t claim to do that anywhere. Either way, you’ll wake up with noticeably smoother skin.
Peace Keeper Cause-Metics
If you’re like me, you love when you can contribute to a great cause just by buying things you would normally. That being said, I cannot stand buying things simply because they donate 10% of a way overpriced item to charity. I’d much rather donate that 10% myself, and buy something I actually want for a decent price. I donate regularly to my favorite causes and finding products that support good causes is just a bonus in my opinion.
Peace Keeper Cause-metics, while a still a young company isn’t shying away from donating despite the rough economic times. They’re embracing it. They continue to donate a portion of their sales, even when they are not profitable. That, I think is the mark of a great company. Putting the cause before the cash.
While Peace Keeper is committed to supporting women in harmful situations around the world, they’re not skimping on quality. Most of their formulas are mineral-based, without parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, mineral oil, synthetic fd&c colors, artificial fragrances, artificial preservatives, and they don’t test on animals. Yeah, get out your list of no-no ingredients (or check the skin care ingredients to avoid list), and that about covers all my concerns.
Seven Skin Care Ingredients To Avoid
Our skin covers our
entire body. Every day we have the option to apply lotion, sunscreen, make-up, or hundreds of other products to our skin. What we don’t know is that some of the ingredients lurking in our cabinet can be harmful or even deadly to us. Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when revamping our personal care routine, so I’ve listed seven of the worst ingredients you’ll find in your cabinets.
Parabens- These are commonly seen preceded by Ethyl-, Methyl-, Propyl-, or Butyl-. Parabens are used in lotions as a preservative, but they have been connected to so many negative things that I’m amazed anyone is still comfortable using them. Parabens are known endocrine disrupters that affect the hormone balance in your body, and can interfere with fetal development. Also, they have been liked to breast cancer, and are an immuno-toxin that can cause a myriad of allergic reactions.
Polyethylene Glycol- Often shortened to PEG, Polyethylene Glycol is used in cosmetics and face washes as a cleanser or emulsifier. When given orally in large doses to rats, it can cause them to develop tumors. Some claim that this isn’t relevant because the tumors develop when it is taken orally, not when applied topically. However, the reason PEG is used in synthetic cleansers is to allow your skin to draw more moisture (or anything else it comes in contact with), into the skin. This means that whatever you come in contact with can get drawn into your skin, and eventually into your bloodstream.
Genetically Modified Organisms- Commonly seen on labels as GMO, Genetically Modified Organisms are dangerous because they have unknown risks that are just beginning to be understood by scientists. Genetically modified crops have been changed at the genetic level using E. coli or other bacteria to produce a powerful insecticide. This is supposed to kill the insects posing harm to the crop, but has been known to pose harm to any insect including Monarch butterflies and Lacewings. Due to the way crops pollinate, it is virtually impossible to contain genetically modified crops and stop them from spreading and infecting non-GMO’s. For more information on GMO’s watch the documentary The Future of Food.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate- You usually find Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in shampoos and other cleansers. This is what gives shampoo the familiar foaming action most people associate with clean. People are often shocked by the lack of foam in organic or non-SLS shampoos, even though they contain the same level of cleaning power. SLS is small enough to easily penetrate the skin, and changes skin’s structure in such a way that allows chemicals to enter deep into the skin.
Biodegradable Natural Sponges
Another Green Festival find were sponges. This may sound odd, but how many of you think of sponges when going green?
Well I have two types of sponges to introduce you to, one is a skincare sponge for your body, the other is a natural scrubber sponge for your dishes and household. Skin and beauty products were well represented at the Green Festival, but the Konjac sponge caught my eye as being a bit unique. It is a product out of Japan that is handmade, bio-degradable and completely sustainable.
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Eco-Me Clean with Green – DIY Natural Home Cleaning Kits
With all the eco-friendly green cleaning supplies out there (Method and now Clorox coming out with greener alternative called Green Works) why not just make your own? Eco-Me shows you how to create your own cleaning products out of baking soda, vinegar, oil and water, and provides you with the tools and containers to do it. Mix to your own concentrations and strengths, and add the provided essential oils to your own taste.
Created by Robin Levine, after her very active and health conscious 36 year-old sister was diagnosed with breast cancer with no family history of the disease, took a deeper look at the chemicals we surround ourselves with. It may be shocking to learn that there is no government regulations on cleaning or personal care products, and many chemicals used in these products are carcinogenic, hormone disruptors and general health hazards. Starting as a home based natural product, Eco-me grew into an environmental ‘action figure’ when featured in Women’s Health Magazine.
Formulated from basic safe and natural household ingredients with the thought that if its safe to eat, its probably safe to use in your home and on your body. Pepper in pure plant essential oils selected for their antibacterial & antiseptic properties as well as a great aroma, and you have a clean, fresh smelling, safe cleaning product. Independently lab tested for safety and effectiveness, the Eco-me home kit test results state a reduction and elimination of up to 96% bacteria, and the removal of dirt and odors from all general household cleaning surfaces.
The bottles provided in the kit are PET #1 plastic, a safe plastic that stands up against the 5% acidity of household vinegar (a core ingredient called for in mixing eco-me products) and since the kits are meant to be mixed and remixed, with available refills you can reuse the bottles time and time again. Additionally, PET #1 is one of the most purchased post consumer plastic from recycling centers, Patagonia even makes fleece out of this plastic.
Eco-me is currently sold online and in over 500 stores in the US and Canada and will be expanding into Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and other international territories in 2009. Their natural product line includes a body care kit, a baby care kit, and a care kits for your cat and dog even. They also offer a new line of pre-mixed cleaning products so you don’t have too- an all purpose cleaner, wood polish and scrub cleanser. Mix up your own natural cleaning and care products with up Eco-me’s natural cleaning products.
