I spend a lot of time looking into the safety of personal care products before I ultimately use them. Here’s what happens when I buy a new personal care product:
Look through the ingredient list If everything at first glance looks OK I buy the product.
Take the product home in a reusable bag (would you expect anything else?).
If the product gets a 0-2 hazard rating it is welcomed into my home.
Anything over a 2 it goes back to the store.
Labor intensive, right? But so worth it.
When I was given the opportunity to review a few Juice Beauty products I was armed and ready to go through my 6 step process (a few less steps because the product was mailed to me). I had been hearing about Juice Beauty for quite sometime from my friend Micaela over at Mindful Momma, so I was curious to see for myself what this brand was all about. I chose the Green Apple Age Defy Collection because how could I pass up products that claimed to “Brighten, Lighten, Tighten”?
I’ve been using the products for a few weeks now and here are my thoughts:
Green Apple Cleansing Gel
I generally use old fashioned soap and water in the morning and evening. The Cleansing Gel has a nice, light green apple scent. It textured like a hand soap and was easy to apply and rinse off. My skin felt great after each application. It received a 1 (very low hazard score) on the Skin Deep site. Sold!
Green Apple Peel Full Strength
I enjoyed trying the peel. Again my skin felt fresh and clean after use. I don’t think I would use a peel on a regular basis. It seems too labor intensive. Juice Beauty recommends using the peel once a week. I guess I could handle that-especially if it’s going to smooth and firm my skin!
Green Apple Age Defy Serum
This serum comes in a pump bottle and I absolutely loved it. It was easy to apply and soaked into my skin without being greasy.
Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer
This was by far my favorite product. I loved the scent and the texture. My skin felt smooth and it wasn’t greasy or oily.
Repair Eye Treatment
I’m always hesitant to apply creams around my eyes since the skin is so sensitive. I tried this cream a few times-there was a very small sample in the kit. It went on easily and smelled like green apples! I think I would probably stick to using the moisturizer for my entire face, including my eyes.
What I love about Juice Beauty-their EcoChic Values:
Clinically Validated Results: efficacy achieved through cutting edge organic technology.
Authentically Organic: target a standard for all Juice Beauty products to fall within 80 – 98% total organic content. Meet California Organic Products Act minimum of 70% total organic content (excluding water) by using a certified organic base & ingredients.
Powerful Action Without: Stay on the cutting edge of purity by excluding Parabens, petroleum, butylene and propylene glycol, PEG, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances. Continual preservative improvement.
Support our USDA Certified Organic Farmers: Stay close to our suppliers.
Buy Local: Buy the majority of our ingredients locally from the West Coast.
Sustainable & Recycled: Use only sustainably sourced and/or recycled paper for all supplies, focus on recycled components & recycle again.
Solar Power & Gluten Free Labs: Manufacture the majority of our products using Solar Power and all manufacturing done in Gluten Free Labs.
No Animal Testing: Conduct no animal testing.
Give Back. Juice Beauty currently donates a percentage of all profits to the following charities: San Francisco Breast Cancer Fund; The Organic Center, Teens Turning Green; Conservation International and the documentary-Miss Representation.
A few of my wishes for Juice Beauty products
I have been searching high and low for a moisturizer that contains sun protection. I would be completely sold if the Green Apple Age Defy Moisturizer included some SPF. Just checked their site and they have a moisturizer with 15 SPF-I’m sold!
There’s a lot of plastic packaging. I’m guessing glass packaging would be cost prohibitive, but it would be nice.
GIVEAWAY
Now it’s your chance to try out Juice Beauty products! Juice Beauty has generously offered to give one Groovy Green Livin reader a $50 gift certificate to be applied towards the products of your choice.
For another opportunity to win this kit, Karen at EcoKaren s is also giving a $50 gift certificate away. Check that out HERE.
Disclosure: Thank you to Juice Beauty for a complimentary Green Apple Age Defy Collection. I didn't receive any compensation for this Giveaway. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.
Lately I’ve been receiving oodles of amazing green questions from Groovy Green Livin readers through Facebook, Twitter and email. I love that so many of you are reaching out. While I try to answer each and every question individually, there are times when it’s impossible. There are also many times when your fabulous questions deserve to be shared. So in light of all of the above, I’ve decided to create a weekly post dedicated to your questions!
This weeks question comes from a longtime groovy green friend and was raised during our monthly book club.
Baking soda is touted as an all natural cleaner and we use it for so many things, but I have no idea what it is and where it comes from. Can you help?
What is baking soda?
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate. In its natural form, baking soda is called nahcolite, taking its name from its chemical formula.
It is a naturally-occurring mineral that is chemically known as sodium sesquicarbonate. Trona is the raw material which is refined into soda ash. Soda ash, in turn, is used to make glass, paper products, laundry detergents, and many other products. It also is used in the manufacturing of other chemicals, such as sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium phosphates (detergents).
Baking soda is considered very safe and non-toxic. So many foods contain baking soda. I use it to bake with constantly. It doesn’t taste very good straight up, but you technically could take a teaspoon of baking soda and eat it.
Any environmental issues with baking soda?
My friend Umbra over at Grist raises an interesting environmental issue with regard trona mining:
“…the wastewater is very salty, and when it is piped away to a holding pond, it can make the birds that visit said pond fall sick, and sometimes drown.”
What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder?
Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate (the only ingredient in baking soda), but it includes the acidifying agent already (cream of tarter), and also a drying agent (usually starch). You can substitute baking powder for baking soda, but you can’t use baking soda in place of baking powder.
Baking soda uses
There are so many amazing uses for baking soda. I use it for everything from baking to cleaning. Think outside of the cookie box and the baking soda options are endless. Here are a few great resources to help find ways to use baking soda that may not have crossed your mind.
Now I need some help from you: I would like to name my weekly Q & A post with a catchy title-something like Dear Groovy Green Livin (but much more creative!). Let me know if you have any ideas! Also, send your groovy green questions to me and you could be featured as next weeks question of the week!
[Photo used under Creative Commons from Deb Nystrom/Flickr]
Everything from the food we eat to our cleaning products, furniture, personal care products and our yards can contain toxic chemicals. No one wants to be exposed to these harmful chemicals, but where do we begin? How do we sort through all the information? Sometimes it just makes sense to combine forces to find an answer. The astonishing and knowledgeable women of the Green Moms Carnival have once again joined together to share their wisdom, tips and stories, helping to shed some light on a confusing and overwhelming issue: how to keep toxins out of our home.
TIPS FOR KEEPING TOXIC CHEMICALS OUT OF YOUR HOME
Brenna of Almost All the Truth has written an in-depth post about Keeping Our Homes Free of Unwanted Toxins. She talks about making changes and doing it one small step at a time.
Margie from Healthy Child Healthy World shares Eight Steps to Purging Toxic Chemicals From Your Home. Healthy Child Healthy World’s motto says it all: “No one can do everything but everyone can do something”.
Did you know that many plastic food containers contain antibacterial chemicals like Triclosan? Beth from My Plastic Free Life talks about how to Get the Antibacterials Out of Your Plastic!
Betsy from Eco-Novice sheds some light on Avoiding Toxins in Baby Products. Betsy has a three month old and this is her third child. She has lot of tips to share about what she’s learned along the way.
Danika from Your Organic Life talks about the whys and hows of buying second hand furniture in her post: Buying 2nd-Hand Furniture that’s Off-Gassed from Model Homes.
INSPIRATION FOR NON-TOXIC LIVING
Carolyn of Women of Green shares a podcast with Liberty Phoenix, the sister of River and Joaquin Phoenix. Liberty’s story is heart-wrenching: she experienced the death of her baby due to toxic out-gassing in his nursery and started a green building store so no other parent would have to ever experience what she did.
I was and continue to be inspired by the untimely loss of a 5 year old boy in our community to cancer. His family’s strength and perseverance inspired me to find ways to Keep Toxic Chemicals Out of My Home.
There has been a lot of talk recently about toxins found in our makeup. There’s a known carcinogen nitrosamine (banned in Canada and the European Union) in our mascara, concealer, sunless tanning lotion and baby shampoo. There’s lead in our lipstick. There’s arsenic in eyeliner. The reason why: the FDA isn’t regulating our cosmetics.
I wear makeup
There I said it. I do like makeup. Maybe it goes against the stereotypical ‘greenie’, but it’s who I am and I’m not going to change. Having said that, I do care what goes on my body just as much as I care what goes in my body. I have spent tireless hours researching make-up to make sure it’s safe.
Style Essentials
When I find a company that’s dedicated to personal care products that are safe, eco-friendly and green I know I’m in the right place. My friend Amity from Green Gifts Guide introduced me to Lisa, the owner of Style Essentials. Style Essentials is a green, healthy, beauty marketplace featuring two full lines of mineral makeup, a selection of mostly organic skincare products and a bit of carefully selected BLING. Lisa has been in the cosmetic industry for 30+ years and let me tell you she knows her stuff.
Lisa is truly dedicated to safe, non-toxic personal care products. She gives each customer personal attention, helping them select the products that are just right. I’m not an easy sell. I have a lot of questions and Lisa was there to answer them all.
Lisa was kind enough to send me a few samples to test out. I tried out Dash Natural Minerals blush, Dash eyeliner, Eyeliner brush, Dash Frosted Peach lip gloss and Honeybee Gardens Truly Natural Mascara.
If you haven’t used mineral makeup before it’s a bit different then your conventional makeup. The blush and eyeliner came in a powder form. The blush was easy to apply-I generally use a brush. The eyeliner was a little trickier. I have always used an eyeliner pencil and this was a brush and powder. I asked Lisa for some help and she was on it. My first few go rounds with the eyeliner made me look like someone had punched me in the eyes. Now I have it down and it goes on with ease. The mascara is great-not too clumpy and thickens without smearing.
The lip gloss is one of my favorites-it goes on so smoothly and my lips feel great.
Style Essentials products are non-toxic
Style Essentials products are non-toxic. None of the products on Lisa’s site contain:
bismuth oxychloride
parabens
petroleum derivatives
synthetic fragrances/phthalates
nano particles
10% of Style Essentials profits are donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Overall the products are wonderful. I’ve been looking for a new mineral makeup that’s reasonably priced and non-toxic. I took a look on EWG’s Skin Deep, as I do for all my personal care products, and found the Honeybee Gardens Mascara received a 2, which indicates that it’s a low hazard. Lisa let me know that Dash and her line, Style Minerals, aren’t rated since they are relatively small companies.
I think Style Essentials fits the bill-the company gets a green thumbs up.
GIVEAWAY
The giveaway is closed and the winner is Hoa! Thanks to everyone who entered.
Lisa from Style Essentials has graciously offered to giveaway a few Style Essential products-now’s your chance to give them a try.
This past week was school vacation week for many families on the east coast. We are big alpine skiers and try to spend our vacations out on the slopes. Although there hasn’t been much snow this season, we still managed to get some skiing in. Most of the days were spent gearing up three children in snow pants, ski boots and helmets so we could spend the majority of the day outside on the mountain.
For those of you who are non-skiers, skiing generally entails being outside, in a remote area, for hours at a time. When you need a bathroom break there’s not always a bathroom in close range. Finding one can take a while and then using it can be a big production. The skis need to come off, the multiple layers of ski gear needs to be shed and somehow you need to get to the bathroom in those big, clunky ski boots. Not a small effort. Add changing a tampon or pad to the mix and there’s no question I would have been sitting in the lodge with a cup of hot cocoa (for those of you not interested in hearing about tampons, pads and reusable menstrual cups now’s your chance to opt out of the discussion).
As some of you know, I started using a reusable Softcup a few months ago. I’ve been reporting to you on my progress and it’s been slow and steady. This month I’m feeling a bit more comfortable with it and can finally say that I have successfully greened my period.
What does “greening” your period mean?
Fifty to 70 percent of American women use tampons. A typical woman can use anywhere between 8,000 to 17,000 tampons in her lifetime. The number varies quite a bit since every woman is unique and her cycle is different. The average woman throws away up to 300 pounds of feminine hygiene related products in a lifetime. That’s a tremendous amount of waste. Then there’s the plastic wrapper around the tampon box or pads and the paper or plastic packaging around every box and individual tampon or pad. I haven’t even mentioned the cardboard or plastic applicator. So much waste.
The process to make each and every tampon and pad also involves a lot of waste. The cotton alone is resource intensive as the farming of cotton requires large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilizer.
Using organic tampons and pads reduces the amount of waste on the production end, but doesn’t solve the actual waste of the product and packaging.
Reusable Softcup
Reusable Softcup is a menstrual cup that can be worn for up to 12 hours and reused throughout one menstrual cycle. The cup is worn internally, around your cervix, and it collects rather than absorbs menstrual flow. It’s non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, latex-free and completely safe when used as directed.
Softcup is affordable and an eco-friendly alternative to conventional tampons and pads. Think of all the waste that’s avoided by using a resuable menstrual cup.
Back to skiing
I still have to make the occasional trip into the bathroom with one of my boys, but I don’t have to carry extra, bulky tampons or pads in my ski jacket. The best part-I can stay out for hours and there’s no worry about leaking.
Ready to give it a try? Let me know how you do.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have been hired by Evofem, the parent company for Softcup, in their Softcup Brand Ambassador Program. This is a “sponsored post.” Evofem sent me a sample of Softcup and compensated me via a cash payment for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers and only share my honest opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
[Photo used under Creative Commons from Laffertyryan/Flickr]
Deanna Duke wears many hats. She is a mother, author and founder of the well known environmental blog, Crunchy Chicken. Deanna is also a self-proclaimed urban homesteader who lives in Seattle with her husband , two children and three chickens, a rescued chihuahua and four fish. Over the past few months I have gotten to know Deanna through a group that we both belong to: Green Moms Carnival. Deanna is a woman filled with compassion, passion and humor-all of which come through loud and clear in her new book.
Deanna’s book, The Non-Toxic Avenger: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You, walks us through how pervasive toxins are in our environment. Her husbands cancer and her son’s autism are the driving forces in her commitment to reducing the amount of toxins her family is exposed to in their everyday life. Deanna share’s with humor and insight the ways we can all avoid and reduce our own exposure to toxic chemicals.
I am honored that Deanna invited me to participate in her book tour. I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions after reading her book.
Lori: What is the most worrisome toxin out there?
Deanna: Right now I’d say it’s Bisphenol A (BPA) mostly because of the prevalence of this chemical. It’s in plastics labeled #7 (and some labeled #3), in almost all canned food and beverages, on cash register receipts and on paper money. The concerning thing about BPA is its potential health effects. Recent research has shown that BPA not only is a hormone disruptor and has the potential for causing neurological issues, but that it can make healthy breast tissue cells act like cancerous ones and can block the efficacy of certain breast cancer treatments. Additional research has shown that BPA may cause arrhythmia and heart attacks in women.
Lori: What are your top three products to avoid and why?
Deanna:
Non-stick products: Anything made with Teflon, stain resistant material or non-stick materials, particularly in food packaging. These all contain some form of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs), which persist in the body for decades and present potential harm to a wide range of organs.
Personal care products with parabens: Parabens are another hormone disruptor and can cause organ toxicity.
All products with artificial fragrances and parfums: Artificial fragrances harbor the chemicals phthalates. Phthalates have been found to disrupt the endocrine system and cause reproductive abnormalities in males. Some studies also link phthalates to liver cancer.
Lori: If you were advising someone on how to begin detoxifying their lives where would you tell them to begin?
Deanna: Start in the bathroom. Get rid of toxic cleaning supplies and analyze all your personal care products for parabens and artificial fragrance. The process of ridding toxins can be very overwhelming so I generally advise people to pick what’s doable for them and start with that. They can always go further once they’ve tackled, say, hair care products. It’s easy to feel like you have to do it all at once but, like everything else, pick your battles.
Lori: What feedback have you received on your book so far?
Deanna: Most of the feedback I’ve gotten was what an easy read it is and that it is funny. I tried to take a topic that is, for the most part, frightening and make it into something approachable and easy to read, while at the same time educational. So, I’m happy that I’ve accomplished that goal.
Lori: Do you see movement in the right direction when it comes to toxic chemicals? Are you optimistic?
Deanna: Absolutely. Recent research and increased public awareness have caused a lot of changes not only with manufacturers offering up alternatives but also from a legislative standpoint as well. From local laws being written in states banning BPA from certain products and other chemicals to the introduction of the Safe Chemicals Act in the Senate, I’m hopeful that, between consumer awareness and scientific research, we can prevent many of the health and environmental effects that these chemicals can cause.
Disclosure: I was sent a free copy of The Non-Toxic Avenger for review. This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase the book through the link it will put a few pennies in my pocket. The opinions are my very own.
Earth Mama Angel Baby products have been a staple in our home since my kids were infants. Those infants are now in elementary school, but many of the products continue to make their way into our home. As an avid label reader and someone who pays close attention to what goes in and on our bodies, I continue to stand behind these green and clean products for a few reasons:
All Natural & Organic Ingredients: Their products are 100% toxin-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and free from all artificial preservatives, fragrances and dyes. Every product is rated a “0″ (no toxicity) in EWG’s Skin Deep Database.
Green Packaging: They use eco-friendly recyclable or reused/reusable packaging and packing materials.
Lullaby Organics generously sent me a few Earth Mama Angel Baby products to test out. I was already familiar with the lotion and shampoo, but it had been a while for the baby oil and baby bottom balm (yes, we did test them out!).
Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash
This is one of my favorite Earth Mama Angel Baby products. The shampoo comes in an easy-to-use pump bottle. It smells fresh and clean with a slight hint of vanilla and orange. We have been using this for many years and have no plans to stop (I use it too).
Angel Baby Lotion
The lotion is NSF Certified (meaning it went through an extensive health safety assessment), contains organic ingredients, no toxins and no artificial preservatives, fragrances or dyes. It has an underlying scent of oranges and vanilla. It rubs in without feeling oily and greasy-something I am always searching for in a lotion.
Angel Baby Bottom Balm
When the Baby Bottom Balm arrived I was excited to learn that it not only soothes a baby’s bottom, it doubles as first-aid-in-a-jar for the whole family. It can be used for minor boo-boos, burns, itchy rashes and more! This one’s a keeper.
Angel Baby Oil
The oil is fragrance free and nut-free and can be used for infant massage, dry skin and cradle cap. It doesn’t contain any scary stuff-no artificial preservatives, dyes or fragrance. My youngest let me try it on him and he loved it.
Each day, for twelve days (11/25-12/6), Lullaby Organics has offered “Holi-Daily”
Each day for 12 days, starting Friday, 11/25, and running thru Tuesday, 12/6, a different eco-fabulous blogger (or sometimes two!) will post a review and giveaway from Lullaby Organics.
In each day’s post, the blogger of the day will “REVEAL THE DEAL” for that day.
Each deal might be on a single item or a collection of items, but when the deal of the day is sold out, that daily deal is over and there will be a different deal the next day!
REVEAL THE DEAL: Today’s Lullaby Organics Holi-Daily Deal
As part of the Lullaby Organics Holi-Daily Deals they are offering an amazing discount for TODAY ONLY:
50% off the Angel Baby Essentials Bundle by Earth Mama Angel Baby (value $49.80)
PLUS: 20-40% off all other skin care products (Earth Mama Angel Baby, My Mama’s Love, BienElla and Purple Prairie).
Also don’t forget to use the GROOVYLIVIN code offered to my readers for 10% off (coupon codes can’t be combined).
All toys are all still on sale for 20%+ off thru December 18th.
Lori Popkewitz Alper, Founder and Editor of Groovy Green Livin, provides eco-wellness consulting for businesses, schools, homes and individuals; and inspiration for a greener lifestyle through her Groovy Green Livin blog and website. Read more….
When I was given the opportunity to review a few Juice Beauty products I was armed and ready to go through my 6 step process (a few less steps because the product was mailed to me). I had been hearing about Juice Beauty for quite sometime from my friend Micaela over at Mindful Momma, so I was curious to see for myself what this brand was all about. I chose the Green Apple Age Defy Collection because how could I pass up products that claimed to “Brighten, Lighten, Tighten”?
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, walks us through how pervasive toxins are in our environment. Her husbands cancer and her son’s autism are the driving forces in her commitment to reducing the amount of toxins her family is exposed to in their everyday life. Deanna share’s with humor and insight the ways we can all avoid and reduce our own exposure to toxic chemicals.
