Green Options

I have long been a fan of EO (Essential Oil) products.  I discovered EO when I was searching Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic database Skin Deep for products that would not irritate my son’s sensitive skin.  EO was the answer, as they never use irritating sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates, and I quickly adopted the products into my preschool classroom, as well.

My daughter is blessed with very thick hair. She used to wear her locks very long, but now it is shoulder length. Even with shorter hair, it likes to tangle, and we often use a detangler.  We’ve tried California Baby’s hair detangler, which we love, and Kiss My Face’s detangler, which doesn’t work so well. Now, we can add a new line of natural beauty care designed just for girls to our repertoire of hair detanglers:  Sparklehearts!

One thing I love about Sparklehearts is they give full disclosure of their ingredients (they have not been evaluated by the Environmental Working Group yet), as well as actual percentages of organic and natural ingredients. The hair detangler, which really works by the way, is 99.6% organic and is paraben, phthalate, and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate free!

Like many of the companies we feature on Eco Child’s Play, Sparklehearts was started by moms searching for safer products for their children:

Most girls would wince in disgust if you told them their favorite body wash contained a chemical that is produced by boiling bugs (called carmine.) And, most parents would wince in disgust if you told them their daughter’s body lotion contained sulfates, phthalates and dozens of toxins and chemicals. Enter Sparklehearts, a line of natural, safe and fun beauty products that are girl- and parent-approved.

Clary Sage Organics has been having blast this year! We loved their Spring offers and now for Summer the CSO team encourages us to: “Delight in spa and health treatments such as chair massage, rolfing, reflexology and more while shopping the wonderful assortment of organic clothing and taking part in our raffle.”

If you are interested in these special treats, please read on for details…

Facial treatments, unless part of our daily beauty routine, are often overlooked.  Most of us barely have time to floss let alone apply a mask and put our feet up for the suggested 10-15 minutes.  Even if we do have the time, the thought of a putting on a facial mask is not what comes to mind.

Last night, as I was digging through my basket of samples and forgotten purchases I stumbled across a clay mask I was sent a few months ago, and figured “why not?”.  After rinsing the mask off and peering at my fresh, glowing skin in the mirror, I remembered why I used to make time for these things.

Tune your television to the Today Show on NBC (check your local listings) tomorrow morning, Friday April 24th, for a bit on “green” beauty products by Kelly Magill of Positively Green Magazine.  One of the products she will be featuring is Bubble & Bee’s Lemongrass Rosemary deodorant, relative of Pit Putty, which I raved on about back in January.  All Bubble & Bee deodorants are made without propylene glycol, aluminum or parabens.  They also work really well and smell terrific!  So be sure to check out the segment and see what else Kelly has in store.

Just in time for Earth Day, Zoya has launched their exchange program to help eliminate more toxic nail polish and save your beauty dollars.  Starting now through June, you can trade in any bottles of polish you may have around the house (any brand other than Zoya) and choose from one of the over 300 color choices at Zoya.  Zoya will take your old polishes and dispose of them according to EPA safety guidelines.  All Zoya polishes are free from formaldehyde, toluene, camphor and dibutyl phthalate.

We are thinking about our skin now more than ever, with sleeveless tops, shorts and (shudder) bathing suits on the horizon.  There are many things you can do to get the bod summer-ready.  Starting with, of course, a healthier diet and picking up where we left that exercise program last fall.  As for the skin, a little self tanner goes a long way, evening out skin tone and giving you a nice glow.

To have truly healthy skin from the inside out you absolutely have to think about what you are feeding it.   Be sure you are using skin care and cosmetic products that are safe (free from harmful ingredients) and right for your skin type.  But don’t stop there, your diet definitely shows up in your complexion.

As we continue on our quest for the purest skin care products, Skin has to be at the top of the list.  Founder Stephanie Simkins, nutrition consultant and herbalist, has combined holistic healing with pure organic oils and botanicals to create products that nourish the skin, as well as the body and mind.  All chemical and additive free.

If you have yet to try Argan oil, the beauty secret of Moroccan women, here is the scoop.

Argan oil is produced from the kernels of the argan tree which grows only in southwestern Morocco where it has been used by the women there for centuries.  It is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and medicinal properties and holds anti-aging benefits when used as skin care.  This is because Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids and contains high levels of vitamin E.

Crazy Rumors, creators of luscious coffee and tea flavored lip balms, have added a little color to their collection.  HibisKiss™ - All Natural & Vegan Gourmet Lip Colors combine the moisturizing goodness of the lip balms with a hint of all natural mineral color for gorgeously hydrated lips.

After my Bono and his eyeliner post last week, a member of a U2 fan club wrote in and mentioned Bono’s use of and hand in creating  Nude Skincare line (he and wife Ali Hewson are investors and she suggested the name to creator Bryan Meehan). Curiosity piqued, I contacted Nude directly to check it all out.

I do just love trying a new (to me, I realize Nude has been around for a while) line of nontoxic skin care and the customer service at Nude was speedy and courteous.  My samples were sent out right away and I had them in my hot little hands no more than a few days after my initial contact.

Three products arrived for review; Miracle Mask, Age Defence Moisturiser and Replenishing Night Oil.  The Miracle Mask warned those of us with sensitive skin that it was not suitable for our type.  Being the skin care guinea pig that I so willingly am, and after a quick inspection of the ingredients label for any common triggers, I gave it a whirl anyway but avoided the five minute leave-on directions and went for a mere one minute, maybe.  Designed to brighten and smooth skin, the mask contains natural AHAs and I noticed the scent of fruit acids right away.  My skin did look rosy afterward, as if I had exfoliated with a mild scrub.