You will see that:

• Not all natural/organic make up has to be expensive
• By saving money on a few items that you use, you can worry less about buying other safer yet more expensive items

Olive Oil: Eye Makeup Remover

My former eye makeup remover contained such toxic ingredients as mineral oil, propylene glycol, alkyl benzoate, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ans propylparaben. Bleh. I was thrilled when a friend told me about using olive oil as an eye makeup remover!

I put some olive oil in a small container that I keep in my bathroom. (It’s actually the container for my old eye makeup remover pads.) To remove eye makeup, I simply pour a little olive oil onto a square pad and then rub over my eyes. It works beautifully! And you can feel better knowing you are using a safe product, not to mention saving some money!

The olive oil I use, the container I keep it in, and the square pad I use to apply it

Witch Hazel: Astringent/Toner

My former astringent/toner contained toxic ingredients such as benzalkonium chloride, artificial colorings, butylene glycol, and phenoxyethanol. One other ingredient it contains is witch hazel. I remember hearing about just using plain witch hazel for an astringent so I decided to give it a try.

I bought the store brand/generic witch hazel at Target for less than $2 for a big bottle. I pour some into a smaller bottle that I keep in my makeup area (and that I travel with). After washing my face with Aubrey Organics Facial Cleansing Lotion, I put some witch hazel on a cotton ball and wipe all over my face. It removes even more dirt and makeup. And at a great price, too!

witch hazel that I use, the container I keep it in, and a cotton ball I use to apply it

Related Idea

Although not for makeup, I wanted to remind you about a previous article of mine where I share many uses for liquid castile soap. Since you now (hopefully) have castile soap on hand for cleaning your house, it will be easy to use for body care as well. It can be used for:

• shampoo
• shaving cream lather
• hand soap

Other Ideas?

What other ideas do you have for avoiding toxic chemicals in makeup and related products? Any other “homemade” solutions? Please leave a comment and share; I’d love to hear from you!

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Related Articles:

• Skin Moisturizer Ingredients to Avoid, Plus Some Great Natural Lotion Options
• Safer, Natural, Non-Toxic Shampoo for Adults and Children

I’ve written before about the toxic chemicals in some personal care products:

• Is Your Sunscreen Helping You or Hurting You?
• 11 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Hand Soap and Sanitizer and Safer Options for Your Family
• Does Your Toothpaste Have These Dangerous Ingredients? Plus Natural Toothpaste Options
• Safer, Natural, Non-Toxic Shampoo for Adults and Children
• Skin Moisturizer Ingredients to Avoid, Plus Some Great Natural Lotion Options

The Story of Cosmetics

To get a quick story about this, watch this 8 minute video. You may be surprised at what you learn.

If you can’t see the video, click here.

The Safe Cosmetics Act

It’s up to Congress to close gaping holes in the outdated federal law that allows cancer-causing chemicals in baby shampoo, hormone disruptors in fragrance, and lead in lipstick. That’s what you get when you have a $50 billion industry that’s practically self-regulated.

What can you do?

• Visit the SafeCosmetics website.
• Learn more about the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011.
• Ask your Representative to support safe cosmetics. (It takes less than a minute to do.)
• Read labels and start buying safer products for you and your family.
• Look for my upcoming article where I will share easy ideas for replacing two common cosmetic products with simple things at home.

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• Loving Naturals Sunscreen Review: Organic, Safe Sunscreen for Babies, Kids, Adults

In my recent article on the new 2011 Sunscreen Recommendations from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), I mentioned that I chose to buy Loving Naturals sunscreen. I thought I would let you know what I think of it, in case you are wanting sunscreen recommendations.

Why I Purchased It: Great Ingredients

I chose it  based simply on the great list of ingredients. Hint: Even though the EWG provides a great list of sunscreens, I think you should still look at the list of ingredients. Some of them still contained too many chemicals for me. Loving Naturals sunscreen had a great list of basic ingredients:

• Non-Nano Particle Zinc Oxide (24.8%) (Active Ingredient)
• Grape Seed Oil
• Organic Sunflower Oil
• Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (derived from Coconut Oil)
• Soy Wax (Non-GMO)
• Organic Sesame Oil
• Organic Plum Kernel Oil
• Candelilla Wax
• Organic Cocoa  Butter (Fair Trade)
• Organic Hemp Seed Oil
• Organic Macadamia Nut Oil
• Organic Cocoa  (Fair Trade)
• Organic Green Tea
• Salt
• Water

What Else is Cool About It?

Loving Naturals sunscreen is SPF 30 and blocks both UVA and UVB rays. In addition to those standard sunscreen qualities, Loving Naturals sunscreen is also Certified Organic, Cruelty Free, and Vegan.

The bottle also contains a “born on” date and an “expires on” date. On my bottle those dates are 18 months apart.

Application

Loving Naturals sunscreen has a thin consistency and a little bit does go a long way! Start with a little bit at a time, especially if you want to avoid the white skin tinting. Yes, it does leave a white tint, but you may be able to eliminate most of it if you work at rubbing it in. I think that’s pretty common with natural sunscreens and nothing that really bothers me. Despite all the oils it contains, it is not greasy. It is also not smelly. Also, be sure to shake the bottle well before each application.

If you do want to avoid the white skin tint, Loving Naturals now makes CLEAR sunscreens (although I have not tried them).

But Does it Work?

Loving Naturals sunscreen worked great for us! I put some on my 4 year old son’s face and arms as we were playing on the beach in April. After 2-3 hours there was absolutely no pink at all on him. I was very happy with the results.

What About the Water?

Loving Naturals sunscreen states on the front of the bottle that it is water resistant (not waterproof). Even though we have not used it in water situations, I would be cautious about water use and reapply often. It also states that it retains SPF after 40 minutes in water and to reapply after swimming, sweating, or after 1-2 hours.

More Information

For more information about Loving Naturals sunscreen, visit their website: LovingNaturals.com

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Related Articles:

• Get Toxic Chemicals Out of Cosmetics: Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011
• 2011 Sunscreen Recommendations: Safer Options for Fun in the Sun

I’ve had a hard time in the past trying to find a pair of active wear-type shoes that are easy to put on, comfortable, look nice, and go with everything – until now. Three months ago I found and purchased my first pair of kigo curv shoes (lower case intentional); they are perfect for me! While they seem to be even more perfect for those who REALLY like outdoor adventure such as hiking, canoeing, and running, I am a simple (pregnant) mom who has found these shoes to be essential to my wardrobe.

In a testament to how much I love them, I even have nice “kigo curv” tan lines on my feet, since these are the only shoes I have been wearing since I bought them over 3 months ago! Are you curious about them? Read on!

Flat Shoe – Better Posture

By being as close to barefoot as possible we can maintain the best posture, which is important any time but especially during pregnancy. A flat shoe promotes a more natural body position/alignment, similar to being barefoot. Any amount of heel lift can throw off posture. To illustrate this point, I want to share with you an entertaining video made by Patton Gleason of the Natural Running Store. (And if you don’t think a video about flat shoes and posture can be entertaining, then you’ve never witnessed the skills of Mr. Gleason!)

If you can’t see this video, click here.

Comfort

Looking at the simple, flat styling of the kigo curv you might wonder about their comfort – especially if you are used to thick shoes with lots of padding. But the moment I put them on I could feel their natural comfort. They have a removable insole that provides enough cushion while maintaining their flat profile. Adding to their comfort is the super flexible and thin (1.5mm) rubber outsole.

The more you wear them the more they seem to mold to your foot, almost like a second skin, creating a shoe that is just for you.

Styling

With a Mary-Jane style, the kigo curv is designed especially for women. I think they look great; a bit outdoorsy wilderness and city casual all in one. I have received several compliments on them and am happy to recommend them to others looking for this type of shoe.

They come in six color combinations. Being so practical, I chose the grey with white stitch so that I can wear them with anything – and I do! I wear them with shorts, skirts, crop pants, and jeans.

Fit

The kigo curv does run small. On the company website, they even recommend you select a pair that is ½ to 1 full size larger than your normal shoe size. I typically wear a size 7 in every pair of shoes I own, but I did end up purchasing a size 8 in this shoe (they do not make half sizes). Find the right size for your foot and you will be a happy camper!

Easy Use / Easy Care

The kigo curv is easy to put on and take off, thanks to a fixed webbing loop on the heel. The shoe is also water and stain resistant (EPA approved) and the EVA insole is removable and anti-microbial. For as much as I wear them, I really haven’t noticed any extreme dirtiness. Looking at the pictures I’ve shared, you can see what they look like after three months of wear. You could just use a wet cloth to wipe them down.

Non-Slip Grip

Nobody wants a slippery shoe, especially pregnant women! The kigo curv’s rubber outsole has non-slip grooving as well as a protective rubber toe cap. This is especially nice when having to make a quick dart after your toddler or walking on wet surfaces.

Eco-Friendly

To me, the icing on the cake for the kigo curv is knowing that the company is eco-friendly. Their shoes feature post-consumer composition, including water-based adhesives, recycled nylon lining, and non-toxic dyes. They also have CYCLEPET uppers, which means plastic jugs are cleaned, broken down, and woven into strong, soft fabric. How cool is that!

For packaging, there is only minimal tissue and a downsized recycled box; only what is necessary to protect your new shoes.

Price

The kigo curv shoes retail for around $70, which is reasonable considering you may need just this one pair of shoes! If you check out the Natural Running Store (below) they do have periodic discounts.

Where to Purchase

I bought my kigo curvs from the Natural Running Store. They provide fast shipping and great customer service. If you “Like” them on Facebook, you can find out about special discounts that are offered periodically.

Summary

Whether you are a true outdoor adventurer loving to hike, climb, and paddle your way through challenges to reach great happiness, or a mommy adventurer tackling those day-to-day challenges that test your skills and also bring great happiness, you can appreciate these shoes. In fact, you will forget about these shoes once they are on. And isn’t that the point? You shouldn’t be worrying about how your shoes will handle your adventures, you should be ENJOYING your adventures to the fullest!

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EWG recently released their 2011 Sunscreen Guide, which provides a handy way to find your sunscreen and see its rating, as well as find the best and safest sunscreen for your needs.

New FDA Rules on Sunscreen

At first it might seem like good news has finally arrived: after 33 years of deliberations, the FDA has finally issued sunscreen rules. But looking closer, EWG feels the rules do not do enough to protect us from the sun and instead caved to industry. Dangerous ingredients are still allowed and UVA protection standards are not on par with the strict ones in Europe, making it hard for customers to differentiate between mediocre and superior products.

What Would I Buy?

EWG lists 134 beach/sport sunscreens (out of 1783) that earned their best rating. Some of the sunscreens in that list still contain lots of “chemical” sounding ingredients. Here are a few of the top sunscreens that I would personally choose for myself and my family: (This list has changed from last year.)

• Kabana Skin Care Green Screen: Made with only EIGHT organic (86% certified organic!) and natural ingredients.
• Badger: They also have a lip balm and face stick.
• Loving Naturals: They also have a vegan sunscreen.
• Caribbean Solutions: It’s also biodegradable.
• Doctor T’s Supergoop! Quickstick SPF 30: Convenient size, easy to use for babies and kids.
• Goddess Garden Baby Natural Sunscreen: Although they have others for kids and face, I would choose the baby one.
• Aubrey Organics Sports Stick Unscented: The sports stick version seems good to me!

You can easily shop for these items and more in my Amazon store!

What Did I Buy? Loving Naturals!

I purchased Loving Naturals and have been very happy with it! I will write a more detailed review in the near future.

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• Loving Naturals Sunscreen Review: Organic, Safe Sunscreen for Babies, Kids, Adults

What About Cost?

I would guess that most parents who choose disposable diapers choose a brand mainly for cost and therefore choose a mainstream disposable brand. Whether parents aren’t sold on the merits of a natural disposable diaper or the presumed higher cost keeps them away, Seventh Generation diapers are probably not found in the majority of households with babies.

But if cost has kept you away in the past, I have found a way to save big money on Seventh Generation Diapers and wanted to share it with you.

How To Get Discount on Seventh Generation Diapers

The popularity of Seventh Generation diapers is increasing; I have seen them available in more and more locations, from Target stores to those small natural sections of grocery stores. But if that is where you buy your Seventh Generation diapers, you are paying too much! I have seen packages range in price from $12/pack up to $17/pack, depending on the store.

Here’s how to get them cheaper:

1. Buy them by the case (four packs) on Amazon.com. Just by doing that the price drops to $10/pack ($39.99/case).
2. Sign up for Amazon.com’s Subscribe and Save. By having a case automatically ordered every so often (you choose the frequency) you save 15%, bringing the price down to $8.50/pack ($33.99/case).
3. Sign up for Amazon Mom. With this free membership you save another 15%, bringing the price down to $7/pack ($27.99/case).

Bonus: There is free shipping for Subscribe and Save!

Let’s do the math:

We just went from $12/pack to $7/pack, for a savings of 42%! (If you currently pay $17/pack, you can save 59%!) Don’t you just love Amazon.com!

I grabbed some quick numbers from Target.com to compare size 4 diapers:

• Luvs case of 96 diapers for $16.99=$0.18/diaper
• Seventh Generation case of 120 diapers for $27.99=$0.23/diaper
• Pampers pack of 27 diapers for $8.99=$0.33/diaper
• Huggies case of 108 diapers for $36.99=$0.34/diaper

As you can see, this discounted rate is even better than most mainstream diapers!

My Thoughts

I have been getting our diapers at this discounted rate for quite awhile now and it’s been great! Now that my son is potty trained during the day we don’t need as many diapers, so I changed the frequency of delivery. Even if the frequency isn’t exactly right, you can order more anytime and update the next shipment. It’s so easy! And I usually get my diapers in a few days.

How To Purchase

Simply click on Seventh Generation Diapers to take you to the Amazon.com product page. Seventh Generation Diapers are also listed in my Amazon.com store in the ‘Diapering’ category.

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And now we are nearing the season of stuff. How many of you are gearing up for “Black Friday”, just waiting to go out and buy more stuff? Before you do, I’d like you to take a few minutes to think about all the stuff we have. And chances are, we ALL have too much stuff.

Do we ever stop and think about our stuff? Where does our stuff come from? What is the impact on the planet? Why do we keep buying more and more? Are we happier now that we have so much stuff? The answers may surprise you.

We have more stuff, but less time for the things that make us happy. ~Annie Leonard

Great Video: The Story of Stuff

Here is a great video about the Story of Stuff, by the same people that did The Story of Bottled Water I mentioned earlier this year. Hosted by Annie Leonard, the video is well done, very interesting, easy to follow, and highlights the BIG impact that stuff we buy has, not only on our planet but on our lives. Even though it’s about 20 minutes long, it’s WELL worth watching. If you can’t watch it now, come back and watch it as soon as you can.

(If you can see the video, click here.)

Another Great Video: The Story of Electronics

They just came out with another video called The Story of Electronics. This 7 minute video is equally interesting and really highlights the problems we may not even know or think about regarding electronics. It explains how electronics are created with ‘planned obsolescence’ (they are designed for the dump), how it started, and what we can do about it.

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

Life With Less Stuff: Achieving the Work Life Balance

I hear all the time about ‘work life balance’. People want a better balance between working (which maybe they don’t love) and enjoying life (play). Now that you’ve watched the videos, do you see how buying less stuff fits in with achieving a better work life balance? If you had a smaller car, smaller house, less clothes, toys, and gadgets, you could work fewer hours (or work at a job you love that may not pay as much). And you could have more time for what makes you happy, whether that’s spending more time with your kids, parents, friends, working on a hobby, or traveling. Doesn’t life with less stuff sound better?

What Can We Do?

After watching the videos, you may be wondering what you can do. I’ve compiled a few quick thoughts below. If you have any more ideas, please leave a comment and share!

REDUCE

Buy less stuff! Before making a purchase, stop to think how long you might own that item. Is it really something you need? (Or just want?) Learn to RETHINK your purchases.

• Kids: Kids don’t need as much stuff as we may think. Think about how many toys or clothes they have and how much they really need. The holidays are coming up; this might be a good chance to practice buying less stuff. If you exchange gifts, consider giving them fewer items. Or instead of gifts, perhaps purchase a family membership for the zoo, children’s museum, or other family activity that you can all enjoy together, like going to a play or musical.

• Adults: We have too many clothes, shoes, gadgets, and toys also. Many people get new cars and gadgets quite often, well before the old ones have quit working. Do we really need 10 different purses? Or the latest phone as soon as it’s released? How about REDUCING the size of vehicle you drive or house you live in? The next time you want to buy something, RETHINK.

REUSE

Buying gently-used clothing and toys saves natural resources in creating the material, processing it, and transporting it. If you regularly use disposable items during your day, find a way to provide a reusable option instead.

• Kids: Many of my son’s toys and clothes were given as hand-me-downs, borrowed from friends, or purchased used (from a garage sale, Craigslist, eBay, or a resale store like Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child). There are even many used sports equipment stores out there, like Play it Again Sports.

• Adults: There are many things that can be purchased used on Craigslist or eBay. Some resale clothing stores are Plato’s Closet, Clothes Mentor, and many others. Avoid disposable items as much as possible; invest in some cloth napkins to use again and again, reusable coffee cups, etc. Use the library, borrow books from friends, or visit used book stores (like Half Price Books) instead of always buying new.

When you are done with your gently-used clothing, donate it to a charity, give or loan to friends who can use it, sell at a garage sale, or sell to a resale or consignment store.

RECYCLE

While it may seem like the easiest step, many of us under-recycle and some people don’t recycle at all. Even if it is a bit more inconvenient for you, I encourage you to seek out your local resources for recycling and DO IT!

• Kids: Start early teaching kids the importance of recycling.

• Adults: Don’t forget to buy products made from recycled materials. Paper towels, toilet paper, printer paper are just a few of the many items made from recycled materials.

Benefits of Living With Less Stuff

In case you need more reasons to buy less stuff, here is a list of seven benefits of living with less stuff, as seen on Zen Family Habits. (My favorites from the list are less time cleaning and more open space.)

More information:

• The Story of Stuff: How Our Obsession with Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-and a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard
• Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything by Daniel Goleman

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Dr. Bronner’s castile soap is a combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba, and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils. From their website, here are a few more great things about their castile soaps:

• Completely Biodegradable and Vegetable-Based
• Made with Certified Fair Trade and Organic Oils
• Multi-Purpose: 18-in-1 Uses
• No Synthetic Foaming Agents, Thickeners, or Preservatives
• 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Cylinder Bottles and Paper Labels

I use it for so many things around the house and I thought you might like to know of a few more uses.

1. Shampoo

In a recent article I told you how I use plain castile soap for shampoo. I have also come across some simple recipes for making shampoo using liquid castile soap.

Simple Shampoo Recipe

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/2 teaspoon sunflower or other light vegetable oil

Mix the ingredients, store in a bottle, and use as shampoo.

Check out NaturalNews.com for variations of this recipe for other hair types: dandruff and dry scalp, oily scalp, color treated hair, enhancing blond hair, and enhancing dark hair.

Don’t forget your pet; you can use castile soap as a natural pet shampoo!

2. Shaving Cream Lather

While you are in the shower, use some of that castile soap for a lather when you shave your legs. It will also work for men when shaving their faces.

3. Hand Soap

You may remember my article on the toxic ingredients in hand soap; here is a solution!

For a cheaper (and non-toxic) hand soap, fill a self-foaming soap dispenser 1/4 full with liquid castile soap, fill the rest of the bottle with water, and shake it up. This has worked so well for us for awhile now. I didn’t go out and buy a new soap dispenser; I actually just use an old bottle and keep refilling it with castile soap and water. (See the photo on the right.)

Dr. Bronner’s also makes castile bar soap.

4. Dish Washing Liquid

As I mentioned in my article on natural cleaning tips for the kitchen, liquid castile soap can be used for a liquid dish soap. Combine the following ingredients in the container of your choice (a recycled dish soap squeeze bottle is one idea):

• 2 cups of liquid castile soap
• 1/2 cup warm water
• few drops of essential oils for scent (optional, especially if using scented castile soap)

Shake well before using.

5. Laundry Soap

Many people want to use non-toxic laundry detergent for their baby’s clothes; in my articles on non-toxic laundry detergents and greening your clean you learned the importance using non-toxic laundry detergent for everyone. One of my readers shared these instructions for using Dr. Bronner soap to wash laundry. (Thank you Leslie!) The instructions are straight from Dr. Bronner customer service.

Castile Soap

• Normal top loading machine: Use 1/4-1/3 cup of soap per large load.
• HE machine: Use 1/8-1/6 cup of soap per large load.

Sal Suds

• Normal top loading machine: Use 2 T Sal Suds per large load.
• Front loading HE machine: Use 1 T Sal Suds per large load.

Remember, you can also add 1/2 cup (1/4 cup for HE) of baking soda for extra whitening, brightening, softening, and deodorizing.

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Related Articles:

• Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Using Simple Homemade Cleaning Solutions
• How to Have an Eco-Friendly Laundry Room: Non-Toxic Detergents and Energy-Saving Tips
• Natural Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen: Sharing Homemade, Inexpensive, Non-Toxic, and Eco-Friendly Recipes
• Green Your Clean: What You Need to Know for a Safer Home and Environment
• Whole Food Based Children’s Vitamins

Chemicals to Avoid in Shampoo

Some of the chemicals to avoid in shampoos are the same as those found in other body care products, so you may be familiar with their names by now. I have described the following chemicals, and the concerns with them, in my articles on toxic ingredients in hand soap and sanitizer and safer sunscreen:

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Dioxane
• Parabens
• Propylene glycol, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
• Synthetic fragrance

There are two more dangerous chemicals found in shampoo that you should avoid:

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a surfactant which gives shampoos and liquid soaps their cleansing and lathering properties. It is derived from coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine and is sometimes used by companies instead of SLS. Despite being made “from coconut” it can contain traces of nitrosamines, a possible human carcinogen.

Diethanolamine (DEA)

Diethanolamine (DEA) is used as a wetting agent in shampoos, lotions, creams, bubble bath, and other cosmetics. From Mercola.com, a recent FDA report showed that approximately 42% of all cosmetics were contaminated with NDEA, with shampoos having the highest concentrations.

• DEA readily reacts with nitrite preservatives and contaminants to create nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA), a known and potent carcinogen.
• DEA seems to block absorption of the nutrient choline, which is vital to brain development. Pregnant women actually require extra choline so they can pass it onto their fetus.
• It is also linked to developmental/reproductive toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity.

Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) created a huge database of cosmetics chemicals and ranked them, giving them a hazard score. On their site, you can:

• Enter specific chemical names to find information.
• Look up a specific product and see its ingredients.
• Look for safe products by type.

So go grab your bottles of shampoo, look up the ingredients, and see for yourself their hazard score.

Safer Shampoos for Adults

We have used Aubrey Organics shampoo and conditioner (several varieties) over the years and like them a lot. They have a lot of different types of shampoo and conditioner for a wide variety of hair types; they even have a swimmer’s shampoo. I really like the Blue Camomile Hydrating Shampoo; it cleans well and foams up nice.

We also use plain ol’ Dr. Bronner castile soap; we decided to try it as a cost-saving measure. We pay about $8 for an 11 oz bottle of Aubrey Organics shampoo; our 32 oz bottle of Dr. Bronner castile soap was only $10. It foams up nice and you don’t need much; in fact, you want to use less rather than more. It is oily and if you use too much, your hair can feel greasy; and mine did feel greasy after several days. So after experimenting, I now use the Dr. Bronner castile soap for two or three days and then use Aubrey Organics shampoo for one day. I figure I am still saving money going this way. Men, and little kids, may have different results if their hair is shorter.

Since Dr. Bronner castile soap is thick and will clog travel-size shampoo bottles, I recommend you buy an 8 oz bottle because it has a wide opening. When that runs out, you can always refill the smaller bottle from your bigger bottle of soap.

Some other brands of shampoo I would use:

• Soap for Goodness Sake Babassu Babassu Shampoo and Body Bar
• Dr. Mercola’s Shampoo and Conditioner

Safer Shampoo for Kids

We have been using Aubrey Organics Natural Baby & Kids Shampoo since our son was a baby. We love it and it’s worked great for us. SafeMama.com, one of my favorite sites, has compiled a great list of safe baby skin care products. They are organized into groups that include the Best, Better, Good, and Gluten-Free.

Some other brands that I would use are:

• Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Angel Baby Shampoo
• Dr. Bronner Baby castille soaps
• California Baby Shampoo (several varieties)

Always Read Labels – Even For ‘Natural’ or ‘Organic’ Products

After reading about all those toxic ingredients, you may decide to switch to a product labeled “natural” or “organic”. But you need to be aware that many toxic ingredients are still in products mislabeled natural or organic. ALWAYS READ THE LABELS!

What Would MamaWendy Recommend?

If you are ever wondering what types of products I would recommend, you can go to my Amazon store. I created this store to easily list various products that I think are good. You can go there and look for many types of items. Amazon.com purchases made through my link help support the continued development of this website – thank you!

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

©2012 Parenting Tips 365. All Rights Reserved. This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.

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• How to Make a Breast Milk Popsicle: Natural Remedy For Teething Pain
• Two Easy Make-Up Tips to Avoid Toxic Chemicals
• Now You Can Have Fresh Breath and a Clean Mouth Without Using Dangerous Chemicals
• Does Your Toothpaste Have These Dangerous Ingredients? Plus Natural Toothpaste Options

• Can this be recycled?
• Where can I take this?

Not Sure What to Do With Certain Items? Can it be Recycled?

Sometimes you may not know if certain items are recyclable, or where to take certain items that are unusual or hazardous. I have a fabulous website to share with you. Go to Earth911.com and type in the description of the item and your zip code. It will give you a list of local places that accept your recyclable item; if it’s acceptable with your curbside recycling program, it will even say so!

If the items aren’t recyclable, sometimes certain places will take them and find ways to use them or distribute them appropriately. Here are some common examples of items you may have questions about and can look up on Earth911.com:

• Batteries
• Car batteries
• Cassette tapes
• Cell phones
• Computers
• Gift cards
• Packing peanuts
• Paint
• Phonebooks
• Plastic bottle caps
• Styrofoam
• Televisions
• Toner cartridges
• Video tapes

So before you toss out ANYTHING, go to Earth911.com and check on your item. Who knows? You just might save it from the landfill!

Read all the posts in the Healthy Living series by clicking on the icon on the left.

©2012 Parenting Tips 365. All Rights Reserved. This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this material in your news aggregator, the site you are looking at is guilty of copyright infringement.

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