Green Options

Not long ago, I wrote a post on argan oil and its many beauty benefits.  From anti-aging and antioxidant properties to hair and nail treatments, this oil is a wonder ingredient.  Safe and natural, light and hydrating, argan oil has many uses in the beauty world.  But the argan tree and its fruits have a long history with Moroccan women that goes beyond beauty.

I have always loved the idea of aromatherapy and at times (headache, extreme stress…) have tried it.  But the idea of having to 1) research which essential oils are appropriate for which need, and 2) buy and combine said oils without coming up with something obnoxious, sounded like more than I wanted to take on.  And even though essential oils can be very beneficial they are also very potent and care needs to be taken when using them.

Not long ago Stancie Wilson reported on Nuworld Botanicals Aromatherapy Personals on her blog Fig+Sage, and I just had to try them.  They are little rollerball vials that combine aromatherapy and acupressure, along with health benefits of antioxidants, vitamins and 100% certified organic essential oils.  Nuworld Botanicals uses a base of 100% certified organic Jojoba oil to dilute the essential oils for safe use.

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.

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.

We all know that too much fat, sugar and salt are not good for us.  Staying up late and being sedentary are also counterproductive to our wellbeing.  As long as you are getting a good night’s sleep, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise program and using nontoxic skincare and cosmetic products you are doing what is right.  Right?

Believe it or not you can get too much of a good thing and we may be overdoing it without even realizing it.  Most of us use too many beauty products. Not only that, but we tend to use too much of each product at one time.

Only a handful of safe and effective items are really needed in our beauty arsenal to keep our skin happy and healthy.  A nontoxic cleanser, a toner for those with oily or acne prone skin, one good moisturizer for the season, an eye cream you can use in the morning and at night, a treatment and a product for exfoliating your skin.  Pair these items up with mineral makeup and blush, nontoxic mascara and your favorite lip color and you are good to go most days.

If you have not yet heard of Bubble and Bee let me put the bug in your ear.  This maker of organic personal care items is making waves in the world of safe organics.  Their fun products are nontoxic and made with the best ingredients they can get their hands on. The line touts lotion sticks, lip balms and shower gels, to mention a few.

But their stand out product, in my humble opinion, has to be Pit Putty.  This stuff really works and best of all, it’s aluminum-free.  Like your typical organic deodorant this one controls odor, but unlike others it even seems to help keep you dry.  It is made with organic arrowroot powder, which absorbs wetness and doesn’t cause skin irritation like baking soda can.  Pit Putty also contains organic extra virgin coconut oil for moisture and essential oils to keep you smelling nice.  Comes in two scents; Lemon and Clove (unisex) and Geranium Lime (more girly).

Once again, I must give credit to the wonderful Kim of fabric blog True Up for introducing me to an eco-friendlier fabric.  The Andover Vegetable Dyes collection of cottons isn’t made from organic cotton, but it addresses the other side of the green fabric equation: the materials used in dyeing.

Leslie here at Crafting A Green World has talked to us about non-toxic dyeing using natural materials.  This collection is a larger scale equivalent of Leslie using her landlady’s plums to cook up some pretty fabric.

The collection is carried by Z&S Fabrics and Strawberry Patches, and the latter of which has some background information about the collection that is not found on Andover’s website. 

Easter is upon us again! This year, why not say goodbye to those prepackaged kits and dye your eggs with vegetables? For fantastic instructions to make beautiful eggs like those in this photo, please visit Billi-Jean of My Bountiful Life!

Photo copyright Billi-Jean.com. Used with permission.