Recycla doesn’t wear much makeup, so her stuff tends to hang around her bathroom drawer for a long time. She hates to throw away old mascara, but what else can she do with it? Answer: Recycle it. Check out this great article on how to recycle your old makeup! Now Recycla needs to go round up some ill-chosen lipsticks and mascaras…
Posted in 3 Rs, personal care
Enviro Girl loved The Story of Stuff. It broke down the problems with consumerism is such easy-to-understand terms. It showed where solutions can work, where the problems really lie. It gave the best rationale for her choice of lifestyle that she’s ever seen or read. She’s a fan of keeping it simple, streamlined, spartan. Enviro Girl’s family’s quality of life improves with less stuff. They’re happier with less stuff. They spend less money, less time maintaining, more time enjoying each other and experiences. Less stuff = less impact on the environment.
The people at The Story of Stuff are launching their new campaign: The Story of Cosmetics.
Enviro Girl already knew a lot of these facts, but was surprised to learn a few things, particularly that the average woman uses 12 products on her skin daily.
Twelve? That seemed like a lot. Enviro Girl began counting: Nature’s Gate tea-tree shampoo, Zum bar soap, Purpose face soap, prescription salve for her rosacea, Arbonne moisturizer with SPF 15 in the morning, Kiss My Face body lotion, Crest Sensitivity toothpaste, a dab of Boots No. 7 concealer, Almay mascara, Alba lip balm, occasionally Boots No. 7 eyeliner, Certain Dri antiperspirant, a little leave-in conditioner to keep the hair frizzies at bay (a dab of that body lotion on her bangs as needed), Arbonne facial cleanser and nighttime moisturizer before bedtime and under-eye cream if she thinks of it. What’s the tally? Sixteen. Seventeen if you count the Ivory bar soap she uses when washing her hands throughout the day. And Enviro Girl considers herself a low-maintenance kind of woman.
Reader, how many products do you use? Have you checked them out at Skin Deep to make sure you’re not poisoning yourself? Will you spread the word and join The Story of Cosmetics activism?
Long-time readers of the Eco Women know our position on liquid soap. Bottom line: what you use for soap matters when you’re trying to reduce your use of plastic and other resources. Bar soap is a better choice because it costs less, it’s generally less toxic to your body and the environment, and it produces less waste.
Enviro Girl is constantly astonished at how advertisements convince people to spend money on things they don’t need. Paper towels. Air fresheners. Fabric softeners. Liquid soap.
And in a failing economy, shower gels are outselling bars of soap. Shower gels that use tons more plastic packaging. Shower gels that cost ten times more than bar soap. Shower gels that are composed primarily of water. Seriously. Water is the main ingredient in most shower gels and liquid soaps. This NPR story, Lather Up: More Men Switching to Shower Gels made Enviro Girl shake her head in dismay. It’s the economy, stupid. It’s the environment, stupid. It’s simply not necessary, stupid. Those were her thoughts. Bad enough that Bath & Body Works and their ilk have sold shower gels to legions of teenaged girls and women who apparently want to smell like artificial fruits and flowers (Hello? “Pearberry” doesn’t exist outside of a fragrance lab!). Now Madison Avenue has convinced “real men” that shower gels are a manly option to bars of soap.
Take it from Enviro Girl, men. Real women love real men who use bar soap. Irish Spring. Ivory. Zest. Lever 2000. Dial. If you buy your soap minimally packaged and lather up when you’re sweaty and dirty, you’re as sexy and attractive as if you loofah down with your plastic-wrapped, faux-fresh-smelling shower gel.
Enviro Girl and all the men in her household lather up with bar soap. Reader, do you?
By this point in the summer, the mosquitoes have become quite unbearable at dusk. Like everyone, Recycla hates mosquitoes, but her loathing goes a bit further: Her younger daughter is actually allergic to mosquito bites, which swell into painful welts on her sensitive skin. Rather than consign the child to a life of indoor living, Recycla has researched various options to see how she can keep mosquitoes from biting her daughter — but without resorting to such pesticides as DEET.
Most people don’t give mosquitoes a second thought. They just douse themselves in a spray that has DEET as the active ingredient and go on their merry way. However, studies show that, in the short-term, DEET can cause headaches and, in the long-term, neurological and other health problems. These are not chemicals you want to put on yourself or on your children.
What can you do?
Luckily, there are plenty of natural mosquito repellents available. Look for sprays or lotions that contain plant oils such as geranium, citronella, tea tree, catnip, marigold, lemon balm, lavender, and peppermint. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend oil of lemon eucalyptus or picaridin, which is considered just as effective as DEET, but much safer. Recycla has heard that eating garlic will repel mosquitoes and if you are looking for a stronger variation, you can rub garlic on your skin. Bananas, on the other hand, attracts them.
Beyond spraying yourself, there are a few other things you can do to keep the blood-sucking little monsters at bay:
If you follow these guidelines, you should have some relief and hopefully won’t hear the dreaded whine of a mosquito in your ear.
Posted in eco kids, health, personal care
It’s easy to find natural bath products for babies and adults–but what about kids? Smith & Vandiver have filled the gap for the 2-10 year old age group by creating Good Clean Fun! Packaged in recyclable and recycled materials, Good Clean Fun products include Dino-Bubbles and Ducky-Bubbles and the coolest fizzing eggs a kid ever dropped into a bathtub.
Created in 1979, Smith & Vandiver has a history of good environmental practices while making natural, cruelty-free body products. Based in Watsonville, California, all the S&V products are made in the USA and Certified Natural by the Natural Products Association (who also approve Burt’s Bees and Say Yes to Carrots!). The bath products are PH balanced; sulfate, phalate, paraben and formaldehyde-free and contain no colors or synthetic fragrances. They contain no animal by-products either, making them a safe bet for the vegan crowd.
Enviro Girl was happy to accept a free sample of this product because she doesn’t have babies and her sons resist “baby” products yet they’re not crazy about “adult” bath products either. Other kid bath products are often very toxic, too. Suave’s body wash products are moderately hazardous according to the Skin Deep website. Enviro Girl doesn’t like giving her sons her bath products because they’re costly or smell too grown up and offer no particular appeal. The Good Clean Fun line sounded promising.
Enviro Girl first stuck her boys in the tub with their free sample of a Dino-Fizz egg. Wrapped in a tight casing of plastic, Enviro Girl was pleased at the minimal packaging. The egg was pretty big and fizzed for a few minutes before revealing a tiny Tyrannosaurus Rex charm. Her sons were pleased by the fizzing, the charm and the green-colored water resulting from the bath fizz. The smell was fruity, but light. Not a “girly” smell by any stretch and not overpowering, either. The boys smelled clean and thoroughly enjoyed their bathtime experience with the Dino-Fizz. At $1.59 each, Enviro Girl thinks these eggs would make an excellent stocking stuffer or party favor. They offer a “Prince or Frog?” version of the same egg geared for girls–Enviro Girl passed it along to her neighbor girl who thought it was very fun.
A few days later, Enviro Girl convinced her sons to take another bath (no small feat in the summertime) by bribing them with Ducky-Bubbles. It came packaged in a colorful squishy pouch that uses 82% less packaging than a bottle. The bag can be recycled. Enviro Girl was again pleased at how thick, rich and frothy the bubbles were–by far the most superior bubble bath she’s found for kids. The boys had it on their heads and in their eyes without any complaint of stinging or pain, so S&V’s claims of safety were valid. Both bathroom and children smelled wonderful–”Marsh Melon” wasn’t heavy or faux-perfume/fruit smelling. The “Marsh Melon” aroma was bright, sweet and clean. The boys came out of the tub clean and happy about the Ducky-Bubbles. At $6.99 a bottle Ducky-Bubbles and Dino-Bubbles costs more than the popular toxic brands, but right in range with Aveeno and Burt’s Bees products for babies. It’s very concentrated, too, so the price seemed fair.
Enviro Girl applauds S&V for clearly labeling their ingredients, using minimal packaging, and creating a biodegradable and sustainable line of bath products for kids. She likes that they used all natural ingredients and are safe for sensitive skin and eyes. These products were age appropriate, non-toxic, and really did make bathtime fun and entertaining as promised. She’s a convert and hopes you’ll give S&V’s Good Clean Fun products a try, too!
* Enviro Girl receieved the following sample products in exchange for this review: Smith & Vandiver’s Ducky-Bubbles, Dino-Fizz, Bath Party Fizzie Fun, Prince or Frog.
As the temperatures rise, it’s time to pack away those skis and skates or take a leave of absence from your climate-controlled gym. Summer, with her longer days and balmy weather, is a great time to keep fit while enjoying the Great Outdoors. Plenty of opportunities abound to burn calories while leaving a minimal carbon footprint. None of these sports require a gas-powered motor or make a lot of noise. All of these sports are eco-friendly since they leave no emissions, no pollution and almost no environmental impact.
1. Biking. Why, it’s as easy as riding a bike! Expense: free and cheap used bikes abound at thrift stores, rummage sales and Craigslist. Add a helmet for $20 and you’re good to go! Accessibility: at your fingertips–many folks take up biking over driving–add a basket to your handlebars and you can get your exercise time while running errands. Recreation trails or roads are near most people’s houses and biking can combine with mass transit as city buses have bike racks to help people navigate urban areas. Difficulty: so easy–even a toddler can ride a bike with training wheels–biking can be a family affair! Looking for a trail to ride? Click here!
2. Swimming. Expense: a swim pass and a suit will run $100. Accessibility: can be limited depending on where you live–but if you’re near a public pool, they often have hours specifically for adults to swim laps uninterrupted by splashing children. Difficulty: moderate. If you don’t know how to swim, however, many city pools and your local YMCA offer lessons starting at $30 on up.
3. Fishing. Expense: moderate–rod, reel, license, bait and sometimes a boat. Raid grandpa’s garage or attic for your fishing gear and your only cost will be that $20 license–offset if you catch yourself dinner! Accessibility: again, depending on where you live you might not have a pier to fish from, but if you do, there is no finer way to spend a lazy afternoon. Especially if you have kids. Difficulty: it’s true, even a lousy day of fishing is better than a great day at work. If you’re new to fishing, check out Take Me Fishing to get started!
4. Kayaking/Canoing. Expense: moderate to pricey. You can rent a kayak or canoe with all the essentials, buy it used at a deal, or go full-bore and drop a month’s salary on this hobby. Accessibility: this activity is water-dependent–but many areas have beautiful, unexplored areas only available to kayakers or canoeists. Difficulty: moderate–but this sport offers excellent upper body work outs! Check out Kayak Online to get started!
5. Frisbee/Disc Golf. Expense: cheap–a good disc will cost you $15. Accessibility: quite good in most areas–frisbee golf courses have been installed at thousands of public parks across America. Difficulty: challenging. Learn more at the Professional Disc Golf Association.
6. Skating. Expense: cheap–used skates will run under $40. Accessibility: outstanding–unless you live on a gravel or dirt road, you can skate. Difficulty: moderate–and a fantastic cardiovascular exercise.
7. Tennis. Expense: cheap–a used racket and a sleeve of balls will cost under $50. Accessibility: great. Most high schools and public parks have tennis courts free for the public to use. Difficulty: moderate to challenging depending on your opponent. You’re guaranteed to work up a sweat and a thirst playing tennis.
8. Baseball. Expense: bat, ball, glove–you’re looking at $50 or less. Accessibility: fantastic. Whether playing in your back yard, in a public park or at a local schoolyard, you can find a grassy field for a pick-up game anywhere. If you’re looking for more “professional” competition, park & rec departments offer league play for $15 on up. Difficulty: moderate. But a game of catch with your little slugger in the back yard is worth learning how to throw and catch a ball.
9. Soccer. Expense: cheap–a ball is less than $20. Add cleats and shin guards and soccer might cost $60. Accessibility: fantastic. Like baseball, all you need is a flat, grassy field to play on. Drive anywhere in America and you’ll find kids and grown ups kicking balls around yards, empty lots and parks. Difficulty: easy. It’s kicking a ball–there’s a reason there are soccer leagues for pre-preschoolers!
10. Walking/Hiking. Expense: free. Accessibility: superb. You can walk anywhere, anytime. Difficulty: easy. Even easier when you take a walk with a friend.
Recycla has been reading recent reports about sunblock lately and wondering how she’s supposed to keep her family burn-free this summer. While she’s always known that some ingredients, including oxybenzone, are to be avoided, she had no idea that some sunblocks are actually hazardous to your health.
Luckily, the Environmental Working Group has released their 2010 report on sunscreens and it’s a big help in determining what to buy. Click here for a list of the Environmental Working Group’s recommendations (and anti-recs) on sunblock. The Daily Green also has a list of good eco recommendations.
Recycla has bought sunscreens by Badger Balm and JASON and, so far, both have done a good job of keeping her family from getting burned.
In addition to using the right sunblock, don’t forget the following tips:
The Eco Women encourage you to get outside this summer, but be safe!
Posted in personal care
Have you ever read the ingredient list on your tube of toothpaste? There are a lot of unpronounceable words in that list, but they can be broken down by function: binders, abrasives, sudsers, humectants, flavors (unique additives), sweeteners, fluorides, tooth whiteners, a preservative, and water.
If you look online, there are a lot of websites that discuss toothpaste and what goes in it. Some people believe that conventional toothpastes are perfectly acceptable, while other people think they are toxic and shouldn’t be used. There are artificial dyes, artificial sweeteners, and a variety of other additives.
Recycla is personally not a fan of conventional toothpastes. She doesn’t like the taste, nor does she like to put unpronounceable chemicals in her mouth. Instead, she uses Tom’s of Maine, which is the best known natural toothpaste on the market in the U.S. Tom’s uses real flavor oils instead of saccharine, and in fact of all the ingredients are naturally derived. Beyond that, Tom’s of Maine uses recycled packaging and gives 10% of their pre-tax profits to nonprofit organizations.
There are other natural toothpastes out there, including by Kiss My Face, JASON, and Weleda. You can also brush your teeth with baking soda.
As for toothbrushes, Recycla’s hands down favorite is the Preserve. These toothbrushes are actually made from recycled plastic, including Stonyfield Farm yogurt tubs. Later on, when you’re finished with your toothbrush, you can send it back to the company so that it can be recycled into plastic lumber.
Recycla has also heard good things about the RADIUS toothbrush. Replaceable heads save 80% of the material used by standard toothbrushes. The renewable resource bio-plastic handles are made from recycled wood or flax mixed with post-consumer polypropylene.
Tell the Eco Women: Have you ever used baking soda as a toothpaste or do you have other recommendations?
The Eco Women are not employed by any of the companies mentioned here, nor were they asked to do this review.
Posted in personal care
This is the time of year when Recycla spends a lot of time outside working in her gardens. Even though she wears gloves, her hands still end up dry and cracked from all that digging, raking, and more.
Her solution? Badger Balm.
Badger Balm smells good, without being too heavy. It goes on greasy and takes a few minutes to fully absorb, but it’s worth the wait.
A 2 ounce tin costs around $8, but a little of this stuff goes a long way, so the cost-per-use is actually pretty low.
The Eco Women are not employed by Badger Company, nor were they paid to do this review. Photo Credit: BadgerBalm.com.
Posted in personal care
Ever since the Green Mommy became pregnant with Girl Wonder, she has started educating herself on safer personal care products. She searched through Skin Deep, trying to find better alternatives to the cosmetics, lotions and deodorants she used.
When it comes to the products she uses directly on Girl Wonder, though, she works even harder to find the safest options. The Green Mommy knows she can’t put her in a bubble and protect her from every toxin out there, but for things she has direct control over, she’ll do her best to go the healthiest route.
This winter has been especially windy and cold here in Metropolis, which is doing a real number on their skin. Moisturizer and lip balm are a must these days. Many moisturizers on the “safer” side still often contain chemicals that the Green Mommy just doesn’t feel comfortable putting on her baby’s skin. She had heard about others making their own lip balm but she thought it would be time consuming and difficult. Well, it’s neither! It’s so easy, in fact, that she’s now making moisturizer — and shampoo is next on the list!
There’s no “icky” stuff like chemicals in these gems below. The most time-consuming part is purchasing all the ingredients. With your first batch, you may ask if it’s worth it with each of the individual purchases, but when you then think about how many batches you’ll get from it all, you’ll change your mind. These make perfect gifts, by the way, and they’re a great project to work on with young girls who you want to steer in the direction of “safer” personal care products. Visit your local health food store — they should have everything you’ll need.
The following recipes have been taken from The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Organic Living by Eliza Sarasohan and Sonia Weiss. The book is fantastic and has recipes for your face, body,hair and more.
Use recycled small jelly jars for the lip balm or other glass or plastic containers (#5 is best since they can take the heat) from used personal care products. Just be sure to wash them well before using them. If you need to buy containers, check out this site.
The “Balm” (lip or cuticle cream)
1 Tablespoon beeswax
3 Tablespoons sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon honey
8 – 10 drops of essential oil
1) In a small saucepan, melt beeswax with sweet almond oil over low heat. When the wax is melted, remove from heat. Add honey and stir well. When the mixture begins to cool, but before it gets too thick, add essential oils a few drops at a time and stir to mix. Pour into small jars and let cool.
2) The glossiness of the lip balm is determined by how much oil you use. This recipe has a slight gloss. If less is desired, reduce the amount of sweet almond oil by 1 teaspoon.
Variations: If making lip balm, try combining a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil with orange, lemon or lime; if making cuticle cream, benzoin essential oil helps heal cracked cuticles and works well with one or more of the following: lavender, Roman chamomile, tea tree, neroli, palmarosa, sandalwood, jasmine.
Yields: 1/3 cup balm
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serving size: 1/4 teaspoon balm
Lube Ya (moisturizer for hands and body)
A very rich, very smooth lotion with a slight coconut scent (smells like chocolate!) that dry skin will eat right up. A good one for areas that take a beating and where skin can get especially dry, like knees and elbows.
1/2 cup grated coconut butter
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
4 Tablespoons sesame oil
2 Tablespoons avocado oil
2 Tablespoons grated beeswax
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and set in a pan filled with an inch or two of water (this is a bain-marie, or water bath). Melt over a medium heat, then pour into a glass jar. Stir and let cool.
Yields 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons lotion.
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serving size: 1 Tablespoon lotion
If you’re not able to whip up batches now, check out Recycla’s post from this past Tuesday on great winter skin care products you can buy in stores.
Posted in eco baby, personal care
Tagged dit moisturizer, diy lip balm, make your own lip balm, make your own moisturizer
