I tried Origins Sunshine State  two weeks ago on vacation. I have to say that I liked it and will be buying more of it. It was an easy rub-in and smelled nice. I spent considerable amounts of time by the pool enjoying the sun and refreshing water. This sun screen did not fade and was not oily on my skin. It doesn’t leave a white-wash look to your face like some of the heavier zinc products. It contains mineral based products, vitamin E and Bisabolol, from Chamomile to soothe your sun exposed derma. With no harsh chemicals to react to, you skin will be soft, smooth and protected. Resistant to water and sweat, Origins is a great product that beckons you to try it out and do your part for our environment and yourself.

 Origins’  mission is to create quality natural skincare products using organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils. It is their commitment to protect the planet.

Burt’s Bees Peppermint Shower soap is 99.9% natural with the following ingredients; vegetable soap, glycerin, almond meal, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, rosemary leaves, peppermint leaves, comfrey leaves and calendula flowers. It is also NOT tested on animals. How much more natural can you get than that? I do recommend using it as it makes you feel very clean after you’ve showered and you know that you did your little part for our environment. Burt’s Bees products are in no-nonsense packaging and printed on recycled board containing 30% post-consumer waste.

When it comes to being eco-friendly green and all-natural, it’s always best to make your own, whatever it is. Then you know exactly what the ingredients are and if you don’t like it, you can start new without spending a ton of money. I did some research on a product that I use every day and feel I couldn’t live without. Skin toner is a must have, at least in my bathroom and I look forward to the effects that it has on my face every day. I was just wondering…. Is there a recipe out there that I could make my own toner, save money, be green and have a natural product that is still good for my skin? Well, the answer is YES, I can! Below are some recipes that I found and some I put together myself after experimenting. Try it, you may like it.

• Green Tea Toner – 1 Cup of lemon and green tea, steep for an hour, cool completely. Put in a small recycled spray bottle and spritz your face. You can use it refrigerated for extra coolness! Gets rid of unwanted oils and keeps your face balanced. There are other variations for this recipe out there like adding vinegar or thyme. Will last a week in the refrigerator.
• Floral Water Toner – Add 1-3 drops of essential oil(s) to 8 oz. of floral water in a clean, sterile bottle. Shake to thoroughly blend the ingredients. Mist or splash it on your face after cleaning skin.
• Aloe Vera Toner – One tsp. of Aloe Vera gel, a tsp. of lemon juice, and a cup of water. Add 3 tsp. of rubbing alcohol if you have oily skin.
• Herbal Toner – 1 tsp. horsetail herb, 1 tsp. lavender flowers, 1 tsp. lemongrass leaves. Add herbs to ½ cup of water and stir in 4 tsp. witch hazel, 4 tsp. Aloe Vera gel and 2 tbsp. orange blossom water. Shake together and mist, pat or sponge on clean face.
• Green Tea and Chamomile Toner - 1 green tea bag, 1 chamomile tea bag. Steep tea for an hour in 1 cup of boiling water. Let cool, add 1 tsp. Aloe Vera gel and shake or stir. Use as a mist in a small spray bottle.

By Dena Fritz

Buy your products in bulk and you can help save our earth! The landfills are being loaded up with consumer packaging and we can do something to put a stop to it. Wasteful packaging, for products like toilet paper, paper towels, napkins… buy a product in bulk and it is wrapped one time compared to buying it every week and in the end, you have thrown away several wrappers. You may even pay higher prices by buying food and produce in fancy excessive packaging. They look nice but when unwrapped, the quality is not better, just prettier. Buy your meat in larger quantities and break up, place in reusable containers to freeze. That means less Styrofoam, which NEVER breaks down in a landfill.

The same goes with many products that are boxed needlessly. Deodorant now comes without fancy boxes, who needs them? They go in the trash and kill trees anyway. Look at these things when shopping and try to buy things that go package free. Many manufacturers are looking at ways to display their products without all the needless dump fillers. You can do your part by shopping smart and avoiding all the over-done packaging that are most times just marketing ploys.

 By Dena Fritz

Do you have a hankering to paint your walls but want to be eco-responsible about it? Is your space needing a new look?  Don’t fret; there are many green friendly paints on the market that can help you with your selection.  Available in vibrant colors, many popular paint manufacturers are recognizing the importance of marketing household paint products that leave a low impact on our environment. What you want to look for when purchasing paint are low VOC’s or no VOC’s. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, according to the EPA.*

 Some painting tips: There are very few home improvement projects that produce the immediate sense of satisfaction like putting a fresh coat of paint on your walls. It is surprisingly easy to do and can give you a whole new outlook on your living space. Be sure to plan ahead, buy the right supplies for the job, there are new products on the market that make the trim painting easier than ever! Be sure to measure your desired space so that you get the right amount of paint. You don’t want to return to the store for more. Your wall conditions will have a lot to do with how they look when they are finished so be prepared to do some prep work with spackle and sand paper. When you are all finished, the clean-up is one of the least pleasant parts. Use disposable liners in your paint trays, drop cloths or old sheets and keep a lot of water handy, if you catch the paint while still wet, it is much easier to remove than if it dries.

Some companies that sell eco-friendly paint:

• Valspar
• Benjamin Moore
• Sherwin Williams
• Olympic

*Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.  VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions. 

Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Soap

Nothing says happy holidays quite like peppermint body wash! The multi-faceted Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Soap is a green staple and covers all the bases. This vegetable based cleanser is biodegradable, and can actually be used for about 18 purposes (i.e. shampoo, body wash, laundry, etc.). The oils used to create this powerful, peppermint wash are organic and fair trade, and Dr. Bronner’s does not use Sodium LaurylSulfate. irresistible

This liquid soap makes your skin feel soft, and tingly. It is perfect for the holidays, and smells like a candy cane. If peppermint doesn’t suit your fancy, there are several other scents to choose from including: Almond, Rose, Baby Mild, Lavender and more. The bottles that Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap comes in are made of 100% Post Consumer Recycled plastic, and the labels are paper. This is definitely a body wash that won’t leave an impact, except for on your senses!

Check out Dr. Bronner’s now.

Well, there is good news for everyone…there is an application for the iPhone called the Good Guide. This useful database includes ratings for about 50,000 products and companies that we face in our daily lives. You can break down your search by top rated, product name, and even scan the bar code for a rating result! As you develop favorites off of the database, you can create personalized lists for favorites, or products to avoid. It even allows you to develop a profile to personalize searches to products that best suit your needs.

At your fingertips, you quite literally have access to a countless number of products and how green they are. This incredibly handy application is a must have for green ladies on the go!

Body Shop Hemp Lip Protector

Lip balm is an essential part of every girl’s day. It keeps our pouts soft and moisturized, so we feel confident and comfortable. Although there is an abundance of choices for lip coverage, there is little to choose from in the natural coverage area. The Body Shop has a great hemp line of products that is a perfect fit for you ladies who want a natural looking mouth.

Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to wear color or gloss, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need a little something to wear for protection. The Hemp Lip Protector uses hemp seed oil to seal in moisture and keep your lips supple. In addition, Community Trade beeswax affirms a pampered kisser. This great lip balm doesn’t smell like the normal fruity bunch, but instead has an incredible natural, herbal fragrance. This is a great way to keep your lips well maintained in the winter air.

Take a look at Body Shop Hemp Lip Protector now.

This harmful component is a possible protagonist for causing reproductive and developmental difficulties. So when you are buying products, take a close look at the label. If it does not contain phthalates it will say so, since companies know you want better products and are proud to announce they don’t contain bad things. If you see phthalates in your product, we suggest you set it back on the shelf and continue your search for a better product…because they are out there!

J.R. Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion

This time of year seems to suck the life out of a girl’s skin! In the constant quest to find a lotion that holds up to our standards, we found J.R. Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion. This is an intense moisturizer that truly helps aide in relief of dry, chapped, or chafed skin. No doubt you will be asking yourself how they achieve such a feat. Well, they use an array of 10 natural oils including avocado, coconut, apricot, babassu, and jojoba.

The Aloe & Green Tea Hand & Body Lotion has a fresh scent, and is 99% natural. The company commits to making it’s products free of the following harmful ingredients: sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, parabens, phthalate, mineral oil, petrolatum, and dyes. This is a serious moisturizer that you want for winter, and it won’t break your budget at $10 for an 11 ounce bottle!

Check out J.R. Watkins Aloe & Green Tea Lotion now!