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Apr
28
SafeMama Cheat Sheet: Safer Hand Sanitizers
Filed Under cleaning products, Product Safety, Safe Mama Tips | 11 Comments
- Clean George Hand Purifier
- Cleanwell
- Dr Bronner’s Hand Sanitizing Spray
- For My Kids
- Healthy Hands
- Joyful Girl
- All natural hand sanitizer by picnic basket crafts
- Quash Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer
- 100% pure aloe vera gel (organic is preferred – aloe can be preserved with parabens)
- Witch hazel
- Tea Tree Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Place about 1 cup of your pure aloe vera gel into a bowl.
- Slowly mix in 1-2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel. You do not want the consistency of the gel to become too thin.
- Add 3-4 drops of Tea Tree essential oil, and 3-4 drops of Peppermint essential oil. Slowly stir ingredients together.
- If you find the consistency to be too thin, add more aloe vera gel a teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Store in a re-purposed container.
- Keep the computer in a common area. I realize now that most kids have their own laptops, which may be necessary for older kids to use for school work, but have them stay in view of you. If they’re teenagers, have a common agreement where you respect their need for privacy, while still being able to make sure they’re not getting into trouble. This is also somewhat critical for teens who are apt to lock themselves away, never to be seen by their families again.
- Install web filters to keep young children away from sites intended for adult eyes only.
- Share Login Info. If you’re allowing them to create a Facebook or other type of social media account, let them know that you’ll want their login info. Not because you want to spy on them, but because you want to keep them safe. If that’s not something you can agree on with your child, at the very least, have it be a requirement that you’re “friends” on Facebook.
- Consider using a monitoring software. If you wanted to use something like this, be honest with them, and let them know that you’re able to see what they’re doing, and not because you intend to watch their every move. Make sure you don’t violate that trust just to get the daily dish of what’s going on in their social lives. Hopefully you’ll have the lines of communication open enough that they’ll keep you in the loop of what’s going on, but older kids need some privacy. We all have stories we tell our parents when they’re at prime heart attack age, of the things we did as kids. You may even get the old line of “don’t you remember what it’s like to be my age?” And sometimes, we forget, but we also didn’t have the technology that they have so readily available to them. If you were lucky, you actually had a computer, and if you were even luckier, you had a 2400 baud dial-up modem. “And we LIKED IT!”
- Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
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- Follow @yoreganics on Twitter
- Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED DAILY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): RT Enter to #win a @Yoreganics soap trio from @safemama #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/yywy4ox
- Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
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- Sign up for EcoStoreUSA’s No Nasty Chemicals Newsletter on their Blog (leave your first name and last initial to verify)
- Fan SafeMama on Facebook
- Fan EcoStoreUSA on Facebook
- Follow @safemama on Twitter
- Follow @EcoStoreUSA on Twitter
- Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED DAILY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): #WIN an @ecostoreusa $25 gift cert from @safemama #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/y7ez4dm
- Subscribe to SafeMama.com via RSS reader
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- Share this giveaway on Facebook
- Fan SafeMama on Facebook
- Fan ThinkBaby on Facebook
- Follow @safemama on Twitter
- Follow @ThinkBaby_Sport on Twitter
- Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED DAILY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): #WIN a set of @ThinkBaby_Sport Feeding Separates from @safemama #giveaway http://tinyurl.com/y4ohclx
- 1 cup of baking soda
- 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil.
- Clean or replace HEPA filters according to the manufacturers recommendations.
- thoroughly wash all tubes and hoses at least once a year.
- always inspect the brushes every six months to make sure there’s no lingering hairballs that are making it work ineffectively.
- Never let a bag or canister go beyond the fill line. The vacuum has to work harder, putting strain on your motor.
For the longest time, we were always getting the question, what about sanitizing? “I want to carry a hand sanitizer!“ “What about sanitizing my toys/baby bottles/pacifiers?“ It seems like these days, it’s so much more prevalent to see some parent slathering Purell or the like on their kid at every turn. They keep giant warehouse size bottles of it in school classrooms. Parents want to sanitize their entire life. Even my washing machine has a sanitizing mode. Do my kid’s socks really need to be sanitized?
When we were younger our parents weren’t insane about wiping down grocery carts before we sat in them. We didn’t have cart covers. As much as I eschew religious references, like my mother says “God made dirt and dirt don’t hurt!“. Maybe she could use a little polishing on her grammar, but what she says is true. Yu can’t be sterilized all the time. But dirt can be contaminated with pesticides, lead and PDBE’s…. I’m paranoid like that.
I know that there are times when there is a need for something to sanitize when you’re on the run and you have nothing else available to you. Like when the only place to go to the bathroom for miles is an old disgusting gas station rest room with no soap.
Now that I’ve stepped up on my soapbox, here are some natural sanitizer alternatives:
Looking to kill bacteria or fight germs in your home? One of our favorite ingredients we’ve recommended time and time again, is vinegar. Another great ingredient is lemon juice (from a fresh squeezed lemon is best). Making a mix of the two to clean your counters and other surfaces in your home beats the pants of off those noxious smelling blue multipurpose cleaners any day of the week.
Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer
You can easily make your own hand sanitizer. Essential oils such as thyme, oregano, tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus to name a few are great at killing a host of bacteria. Here’s an easy recipe from eHow.com
Ingredients
Directions
Most of the time however, just warm soapy water for 15-20 seconds is more than enough to kill germs. I have my son sing his ABC’s while washing his hands to get into the practice of washing for long enough. I save even the natural hand sanitizers for when we’re truly in need.
Apr
26
SafeMama Discusses Internet Safety
Filed Under Safe Mama Tips, Take Action | 4 Comments
Our usual subject matter is safety for babies and younger kids, because that’s what we know right now. I’m sure however, we have readers with older kids and this subject is going to be one that will become near and dear to my heart in the coming years, I’m sure.
My husband is an engineer in the network security field. Sure, it sounds all fancy and stuff, but what it really means for us, as a family, is that he keeps abreast of all of the latest in regards to internet security, and it’s already been discussed that when our kids are older, our network will be on complete monitored lockdown.
It’s important for your kids to learn how to use the internet. To some, it may seem as if the internet is this new fangled thing. Some passing fad, but when you get right down to it, there’s already a generation out there that has no idea what life is life without it (which makes me feel old when I can say, “I remember the day MTV aired”). So it’s important to teach your kids internet safety. Especially these days with every type of social media you can think of, it has become much easier for cyber predators to lurk around every corner, and now there are more and more stories cropping up about cyber bullying. But where do you draw the line? You want to give your kids some freedom to have a Facebook account like their friends, or allow them to play online games with their friends. And while you want trust your kids, you’ve seen more episodes of Dateline to instill enough fear in you to last a lifetime. So how do you go about teaching them how to safely surf the internet, while still being able to monitor them? SafeMama has some tips:
Got any other tips? Software suggestions? Start a discussion in the comments!
Apr
25
Eco-Friendly Diaper Bag by Kalencom
Filed Under Product Reviews | Comments Off
I was recently asked to do a review for a great store that we’ve featured here before, Baby Cribs Plus. Last time they provided some organic jammies and bpa free dishware to giveaway. They are part of a huge network of 200 online stores by CSN Stores. You can get anything from baby gear, cribs, clothing, housewares, you name it. Each store has an easy way to filter their eco-friendly products available. For a review, Baby Cribs Plus sent me a great weekender diaper bag by Kalencom.
Up until now, through two kids I’ve been using a diaper bag given to me as a gift. A fancy, designer bag. While it looks fabulous, it’s really heavy – even with nothing in it. It’s partially made of leather and probably isn’t the most environmentally sound item I own. Kalencom uses natural fabrics and synthetic leathers, and some styles use PVC. However they use a Phthalate free PVC that is free from AZO (dye used in PVC), DEHP (Di[2-ethylhexyl] phthalate), DBP (Di-n-butyl phthalate), or BOP (butyl octyl phthalate).
I’m ditching my old diaper bag for this one permanently. It’s really roomy, has a ton of pockets and the top has a zipper which I love. My old bag didn’t zipper up so easy and I often left it open which made me prone to spilling the entire contents on the floor or my car or wherever else I happened to be. It has comfortable straps for over the shoulder too, but the best feature? Stroller straps. It has 2 little snap straps so you can hook it to any stroller or even grocery carts so its right there where you need it instead of jammed under the stroller or in the back of a cart. I seriously don’t know how I lived this long without a convenient diaper bag. I’m never going back.
Get It: You can get Kalencom Diaper Bags on Baby Cribs Plus (free shipping on that item right now too)
Apr
21
YoreGanics Review: Soap Nuts (& Giveaway)
Filed Under cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons | 80 Comments
I have a confession. I’ve sinned. I’ve tripped over the green wagon. I haven’t fallen off of it entirely, but I’ve had to use not so eco friendly products in recent months, for various reasons. I don’t like it one bit, but I was having some major skin problems, as was my daughter and I had to resort to some conventional laundry detergent, on the off chance it was something in the detergent. I really love the idea of a greener detergent and less chemicals being absorbed into my skin, but the rashes and the itchiness were just too much to bear.
And then, one day, Kimberly from Yoreganics emailed us to see if we’d be interested in doing a review. Including some soap nuts. I was intrigued. No chemicals, just pure nature. So I decided to give it a shot. And like with any natural product, I’m an immediate skeptic. Perhaps this is years and years of being brainwashed by large corporations making me think that surely all of those chemicals are necessary to clean your clothes. And surely, that artificial “laundry” smell that we’re all so fond of is what laundry is truly supposed to smell like.
Soap nuts, if you’re not familiar (see inset) are nature’s little nuggets, hailing from the soapberry tree, that give off the ability to create a lather. You can use them for household cleaning, bathing, and of course, laundry. Curious to see how they work? Stephanie from Bubble and Bee put together a quick no frills video:
And there you have it. The washing machine agitates well enough to create a lather, leaving you with clean clothes.
So how did it work for me?
First, I did a load of whites, and put in Kim’s whitening powder, tossed the soap nuts in their handy little bag and threw them in my machine (note: you can still do this if you have a front loader, it works fine). The result? CLEAN clothes. They smelled fresh, like clean laundry, but obviously not like chemically clean laundry. It was pretty cool. The best thing is that you can get a few loads out of one bag of soap nuts. My clothes were also noticeably brighter. Also? Not crunchy, which tends to happen with a lot of eco-friendly laundry detergents, I’ve noticed. And who likes their clothes feeling as if you’ve put a pound of starch on them? Especially baby clothes.
Win It:
We’re giving away a laundry trio, courtesy of Yoreganics.com. This is a great deal and such a great opportunity to try out some soap nuts. I think I’m a convert.
To Enter (Required):
To enter, simply visit Yoreganics.com and tell us what inspired Kim to create Yoreganics, and then leave your answer in the comments.
For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):
One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until May 5, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck 
Giveaway Ended! Thanks to all who entered!
Apr
16
FAQ: Why Is TruKid Sunny Days Sunscreen Missing From This Years Cheat Sheet?
Filed Under Chemicals, FAQ, Product Safety, Skin Care | 5 Comments
We’ve been getting this question a lot since I released this years Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet so I wanted to clarify my decision to exclude it in this years list. I want to preface this by saying one statement. I do not know everything. See? I’m just like you. But I spend a lot of time trying to learn more and more about the topics I cover here at SafeMama. I care deeply about the safety of products and food. But this is also a learning process for me too. Since I published the first cheat sheet I learned a lot about ingredients, chemical processing, possible contamination from that processing, and about green washing. So when I decided to redo all our cheat sheets for 2010 I wanted to carry this new knowledge through.
One of those ingredients is phenoxyethanol. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative used by many “natural” brands as an alternative to parabens. So to the novice ingredients reader, they glance at the back and they don’t see the telltale parabens and think they have something much safer. In some ways they probably do.
In comparison to parabens, trace amounts of phenoxyethanol in a product isn’t too much of a concern. MY concern however, is that say you use anywhere from 10 – 20 products a day and they all contain phenoxyethanol. It starts to add up. All skin care items with the ingredient “water” in them require some kind of preservation method to prevent the growth of bacteria. Phenoxyethanol is one of the preservatives that gets used in lieu of parabens. Phenoxyethanol is also used as a stabilizer in perfumes. The ingredient is processed with chemicals that are known carcinogens so there is some concern with contamination. It is also an irritant to the skin, eyes and lungs as well as restricted from use in cosmetics in Japan and the European Union.
Much to my dismay, TruKid’s Sunny Days Sunscreen contains phenoxyethanol. Does that mean I hate TruKid? No, of course not. I’ve raved about them in the past and still think this and all their products are much better alternatives to most mainstream kids products. TruKids brand is free of parabens, phthalates, dioxanes, SLS and is rated well in Skin Deep. But I’ve come to learn that just because Skin Deep rates it well, doesn’t mean I do. I can’t help but want the best for all of us. Perhaps TruKid will reformulate some day and they’ll be back in my good graces. But until then, I’ll stick with their Sunny Days Sun Stick which has a better ingredients list.
Apr
14
EcoStore USA Products a SafeMama Favorite (Giveaway!)
Filed Under cleaning products, Eco-Mama, Giveaways Coupons | 130 Comments
We reviewed EcoStore’s products ages ago. Well, Statia did and I never got around to trying any of them myself. I meant to though. So when EcoStore reached out to me to do another review along with a great giveaway I was so willing and happy to do it. For review, EcoStore USA sent me a bottle of their plant based Dishwash Liquid and their plant based Laundry Liquid to try out.
EcoStore was founded over 15 years ago by Melanie and Malcolm Rands who were living in an eco village in New Zealand. Having to be responsible for your own water waste and it became apparent that petroleum based soaps and products were damaging to the villages delicate waterways. Malcolm started working with scientists to develop products that would be gentle on the environment, and gentle on us. No Nasty Chemicals is their mantra and SafeMama loves that!
Having not tried these before I was really impressed that their products were all super concentrated. A lot of “green” brands claim this but I always end up using more to overcompensate for shabby performance. The perfect example is the Dishwash Liquid. I have several other brands next to my sink but inevitably when I’m doing dishes I keep going back for more and more soap because they A) don’t suds the way we are all used to with regular soaps and B) They don’t really clean all that great so I end up washing things twice. That’s a lot of soap and money literally down the drain. I will admit I was really skeptical that EcoStore’s Dishwash Liquid would be different but I was pleasantly surprised. It has a light lemony scent which feels “clean” to me.
One of the things I struggle the most with is laundry detergent. Confession time. I was still using TIDE. Free and clear Tide but TIDE. ME! SafeMama…using TIDE. I feel so much shame. I tried… really, I tried lots of eco-friendly laundry soaps and eventually my laundry started looking dull and funky every time. So I went back to Tide. But then EcoStore sent me their Laundry Liquid. The clouds parted, the sun streamed in on my washing machine and my fluffy clean laundry thanked me. I think I can break my Tide habit, finally. This Landry liquid is concentrated so you literally use a tablespoon or so for a full load. It suds and cleans, and my laundry comes out smelling clean and faintly of cool eucalyptus. After a month or so I still have bright clean laundry not to mention plenty laundry Liquid left, and no sad gray looking socks that used to be white. If you need extra boosting power EcoStore does carry a Pure Oxygen Whitener which Statia really likes.
Get It Yourself: You can pick up all of these products and other great stuff like bar soap, baby shampoo as well as pet care on their website EcoStoreUSA.com. Order now and get TWO for ONE during Earth Month as well as free shipping on orders over $25! That’s an awesome deal… I think I’ll stock up on Dishwash Liquid right now…
WIN!
EcoStore USA is offering a great giveaway to one lucky SafeMama reader. The winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to use on the EcoStore USA website!
To Enter (Required):
Visit EcoStoreUSA and tell us what product of theirs you’d love to try out!
For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):
One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until April 28, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck
(Please note: If you have won a prize from EcoStore in the last 6 months you will be ineligible to win. )
Apr
13
New ThinkBaby Separates (& Giveaway)
Filed Under Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews | 244 Comments
I’ve been a fan of the ThinkBaby company for some time and feel like a broken record when it comes to singing their praises. I use their ThinkSport stainless water bottle myself and have been using their ThinkBaby Feeding Set for over a year. I try to eliminate unneeded waste in my day to day and packing my son’s preschool lunchbox is no exception. ThinkBaby’s dishes are something I use on an almost daily basis. I use the separates for snacks for the park, in my son’s lunchbox, for the beach, for serving baby food – they have endless uses. They are made with food grade stainless steel and insulated with BPA Free polypropylene plastic. The parts come apart for easy washing too.
The ThinkBaby Feeding Set comes with a Soup Bowl, a Baby Bowl, a Bento Box, a handled Cup (which is my son’s favorite cup of all time), and a spoon and fork. All bowls and boxes come with a safe plastic lid for storage. I’ve tossed a bowl full of grapes or fruit in my diaper bag on more than one occasion and never once had to clean sliced kiwis out of my bag.
ThinkBaby has just released a few of their feeding items as separates, which is awesome because I have said more than once that I could use an extra bowl or bento box. They come in their traditional ThinkBaby orange or in a new fabulous blue color. The blue option says “think” on it for the big kids. The blue is my personal favorite!
GET IT: You can purchase any ThinkBaby products right from their website ThinkBabyBottles.com!
WIN IT!
One lucky reader will win a Bowl, Bento and a Mug in either Blue or Orange.
To Enter (Required):
Visit ThinkBabyBottles.com and tell me what product of theirs you’d love to try!
For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):
One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents. Entries will be accepted until April 27, 2010 at midnight PST. Good Luck Giveaway Closed.
Congratulations Anastasia B commenter #184! THANK YOU to everyone who entered and tweeted the giveaway and to ThinkBaby for providing such a fabulous giveaway.
Apr
12
FDA Re-evaluating Triclosan
Filed Under Chemicals, Healthy Home, Product Safety | 1 Comment
Last Thursday the FDA updated their website regarding Triclosan and whether it should be a safety concern. Since Triclosan was last evaluated by the FDA it had “no harmful effects” on humans and they deemed it safe. However, new research has popped up that suggests that Triclosan can alter hormone regulation as well as make bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Tricosan is found in a lot of household products like toothpaste, soaps, cutting boards, shower curtains, clothing as an additive to make an item or product bacteria resistant. The FDA isn’t suggesting anyone stop using products containing Triclosan but in a very non-alarmist way they are trying to educate people on how to look for it and avoid it. Read the FDA try to cover their butt right on FDA.gov:
Triclosan is not currently known to be hazardous to humans. But several scientific studies have come out since the last time FDA reviewed this ingredient that merit further review.
Animal studies have shown that triclosan alters hormone regulation. However, data showing effects in animals don’t always predict effects in humans. Other studies in bacteria have raised the possibility that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
In light of these studies, FDA is engaged in an ongoing scientific and regulatory review of this ingredient. FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time.
Of course, they wont publish their findings until Spring of 2011 so you can either avoid it or wait until the FDA releases another wishy washy statement about a chemical that is not really beneficial to humans or the environment.
Apr
9
SafeMama’s 2010 Safer Sunscreen Cheat Sheet
Filed Under ** Cheat Sheets!, Skin Care | Comments Off
SafeMama™ Sunscreen Criteria: All sunscreens we approved needed to be free of Parabens, Phthalates, PEG’s, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate, Dimethicone, SLS and a bevy of other chemicals I won’t bother listing. Brands exhibit a very respectable ingredients list. The sunscreening ingredient we mainly avoid is the synthetic chemical oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is an endocrine disruptor which can affect the nervous system, has been linked to cancer in some laboratory studies, and creates free-radicals when exposed to the sun which are harmful. Below are our selections of safer natural sunscreens that use mineral (or sometimes referred to a physical) sunscreen which is typically Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide or any combination of those two.
A note about the Skin Deep ratings. Their ratings are a good start, but take them with a grain of salt. They have a big job over there and sometimes formulas change and their information gets a little outdated. Which is why we stress learning to read the labels!
A note about Micronized and Nano: There have been many reports that micronized vs. nano particles of titanium or zinc oxide have the ability to pass through the skin more easily (which is why they aren’t as white as others). There is also a concern that nano titanium/zinc dioxide particles have higher photo-reactivity than coarser particles and may generate free radicals that can cause cell damage. Some manufacturers have addressed this issue by coating the particles to prevent free radical formation. We have listed the exact active ingredient in each sunscreen for a reason. So you as a consumer can decide which is right for you. We will continue to investigate these materials further and share with you our findings. We are comfortable recommending sunscreens with Micronized zinc or titanium (most natural sunscreens ARE). NANO zinc or titanium is something we feel should be avoided if possible.
A note about Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate): Recently the EWG put out their 2010 Sunscreen Guide and with it they made public some information regarding retinyl palmitate and its use in sunscreen. A study done by the FDA revealed it may speed the growth of skin lesions and tumors in lab mice. The study is still in a controversial stage at this point so instead of removing any sunscreens containing retinyl palmitate we have added a notation to the listing so you can decide for yourself.
Sunscreen Lotions & Creams
Badger All Natural Sunscreen for Face & Body
Protection: SPF 30+ / SPF 15
Active Ingredient: Non-nano, uncoated Zinc Oxide 18.75%
Skin Deep Rating SPF 30: 1 (last updated 03/07) SPF 15: 2 (last updated 03/07)
Price: ~ $14.00
Reviews: Kathy says, “I had heard Badger sunscreen was like spreading toothpaste, but I’ve got to say that totally isn’t the case at all. Goes on thick (like any natural sunscreen) but spreads pretty easily, doesn’t have an overpowering smell and really protects nicely. One of my new favorites! Badger says its naturally water resistant and I’d have to agree. One of the few that are 100% chemical free.” Read our full review here!
Notes: For extra protection, choose Badger Lip Balm SPF 15 – safe for you and the kids.
ThinkBaby (ThinkSport) SPF 30+ Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 30+
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25%
Skin Deep Rating 0 (last updated 2/16/10)
Price: ~ $16.99
Reviews: Kathy says, “ThinkBaby has been working on their sunscreen for sometime in an effort to make the safest sunscreen possible. They use mostly natural ingredients and it has no harsh scent to it. Just good ingredients that protect really well. ThinkBabys sunscreen has also passed the Whole Foods Premium Care requirements. Leave it to ThinkBaby to come out with a safe product. It’s not sticky in the least – in fact it’s more powdery and protects great. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and have mostly enjoyed it.”
Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm
Protection: SPF 15 (3rd party tests rated it an SPF 29.5)
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide
Skin Deep Rating: 2 (last updated 4/30/08)
Price: ~ $27.90
Notes: Kathy says, “Miessence has a great ingredients list packed with almost all Certified Organic ingredients. It goes on smooth, but thicker so it would definitely be water resistant. Watery sunscreens always make me wonder if I’m just sweating them off. Has no strong smell and absorbs well. Used it while out walking the other day and no burns!” Read our full review here
Mexitan Sunscreen Lotions*
Protection: Comes in SPF 15, SPF 30 and SPF 50
Active Ingredient: Titanium Oxide & Zinc Oxide
Skin Deep Rating: SPF 50: 1 / SPF 30: 2 / SPF 15: 3 (last updated 4/30/08)
Price: ~ $14.95 – $19.95
Notes: This brand has a great ingredients list overall. *Contains Retinyl Palmitate. See for details. Update: A reader emailed us to say that mexitan has taken Retinyl Palmitate out of their sunscreen formulas. I have not heard back from them to confirm this.
Loving Naturals Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Non-Nano Zinc Oxide 24.8%
Skin Deep Rating: 0
Price: ~ $9.99 – $18.99
Notes: This brand was rated the top choice on EWG. Has a great ingredients list, no ickies – totally natural. I haven’t tried it yet but it seems promising.
Green Goddess Kids Natural Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 6% and Zinc Oxide 6%
Skin Deep Rating: 2
Price: ~ $12.00
Notes: This brand rated really well with EWG . Has a great ingredients list, 70-80% organic, no icky ingredients. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks great… they also have a variety of adult versions and a face sunscreen too.
Mama Rose’s Naturals Sunblocker All Natural Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 30, SPF 50
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (inquiring further information)
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $15.00 – 18.00
Notes: Seems to be chemical free, comes in an SPF 50 which is the highest natural sunscreen SPF we’ve seen. Available online through the companies website. Kathy says “I really like this sunscreen and it’s one of the few times I’ve seen an SPF higher than 30 on a natural sunscreen. Goes on white, but its never sticky or slimy like others can be. CAN get a little chalky but I think that’s due to the high SPF. Rinses off easily when swimming so I save it for long days outside instead of the beach or pool.”
Elemental Herbs Kids Sunscreen
Protection: Kids SPF 20
Active Ingredient: 25% non-nano Zinc Oxide
Skin Deep Rating: Kids SPF 20: 2 (last updated 1/09)
Price: ~ $8.99 – $19.39
Notes: Comes in 1 and 3 ounce sizes and in a SPORT, SPORT TINTED and a KIDS version. The Sport Tinted version is SPF 22.
Purple Prairie Botanicals Sun Stuff
Protection: SPF 15, SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 10% (spf 15) and Zinc Oxide 20% (spf 30) (Z-Cote)
Skin Deep Rating: SPF 30: 1 (last updated 2/24/10)
Price: ~ $7.99
Notes: Purple Prairie has some great products and this one in particular has a fabulous ingredients list. Totally chemical free and uses mostly organic ingredients. Looks fantastic. And how cute is the packaging?
Episencial Sunny Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 35
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 10% & Zinc Oxide 4%
Skin Deep Rating N/A
Price: ~ $14.99
Reviews: Kathy says, “I’ve been using this for a few weeks and really like it. It has no strong scent, goes on smooth and isn’t cakey or waxy. Has a lotion texture to it and absorbs great. Thumbs up!” Full review coming soon.
Weleda Children’s Sun Screen
Protection: SPF 18
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 7.6%, Zinc Oxide 0.4%
Skin Deep Rating: 4 (last updated 6/08)
Price: ~ $14.00 (no longer available anywhere)
Reviews: Statia Says: “Neither of us has tried this sunscreen yet, however by the ingredients listed, we feel it makes the list and is considered one of the safer sunscreens out there.”
Soleo Organics Chemical Free Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 22.3% (Non-Nano)
Skin Deep Rating: 0 (last updated 03/08)
Price: ~ $9 – $23.00
Reviews: Coming Soon
California Baby Everyday/Year-Round™ Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 30+ (Also avail. in SPF 18)
Active Ingredient: Micronized Titanium Dioxide (CA Baby does not specify particle size)
Skin Deep Rating SPF 30: 1 (last updated 03/07) Skin Deep Rating SPF 18: 2 (last updated 03/07)
Price: ~ $17.99 – 19.99 No fragrance: $17.00 – 19.00 With Citronella: $19.00 – 25.00
Reviews: Kathy Says: “CA Baby SPF 30 goes on thick and works well but it’s sticky.”
Statia Says: “We have the bug blend and it goes on well, not as sticky, but it has a strong smell.”
Variations: These come in a No Fragrance version and a Citronella version (which Kathy can never find)
Burt’s Bees Chemical Free Sunscreen (w/ or w/o Hemp Seed Oil)
Protection: SPF 30+ (Also avail. in SPF 15)
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide (8.58%)
Skin Deep Rating SPF 30: 3 (last updated 04/10) SPF 15: 3 (last updated 04/10)
Price: ~ $9.99 – 11.00
Reviews: Statia Says: “I wasn’t really that impressed with this stuff. It was immediately cakey upon contact with the skin, and yet, I still felt really sticky. I felt gross all day.”
Kathy says, “I made friends with the SPF 30 version… it is a little tough to get on but it protects like the rest. It’s not my first choice, but it works.”
Erbaviva Natural Children’s Sunscreen
Protection: SPF 15
Active Ingredient: Micronized Titanium Dioxide
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $26.00
Reviews: Kathy says, ” This sunscreen blends in wonderful and there is no over powering scent whatsoever – great for faces too. I use it mostly on myself as a daily sunscreen since the SPF is lower. Works great under make up too.” Full review here.
Kabana Skin Care Green Screen
Protection: SPF 20
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 25%
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $16.50 40z.
Company Website: KabanaSkinCare.com
Notes: Made from 8 edible-grade organic and natural ingredients and uses non-nano Zinc Oxide for protection. This only has an SPF of 20 (also available in tinted SPF 22 and SPF 15) but it a great option as far as safe ingredients go. We’re anxious to give it a try. Kathy says “I tried a sample of this and I love that its mostly natural, but it makes you look pretty white and powdery looking. Does protect and isn’t greasy.”
Sunblock Sticks
Purple Prairie Sun Stick
Protection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20% (Z-Cote)
Skin Deep Rating: 1 (last updated 2/24/10)
Price: ~ $7.49
Notes: Purple Prairie has some great products and this one in particular has a fabulous ingredients list. Totally chemical free and uses mostly organic ingredients. Looks fantastic.
TruKid Sunny Days Face Stick
Protection: SPF 30+
Active Ingredient: Micronized Titanium Dioxide 8%
Skin Deep Rating: 0 (last updated 3/08)
Price: ~ $8.99
Reviews: Kathy says “I carry one of these in my bag for those ‘oops I forgot’ moments or unexpected uses. I rub a little on faces and cheeks for quick protection. Makes getting tops of ears and noses easy too…stays on well. “
SuperGoop Dr. T’s Quickstick
Protection: SPF 30
Active Ingredient: Titanium Dioxide 8%, Zinc Oxide 5%
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $9.00
Important Editor’s Note: This is the only SuperGoop product we feel comfortable recommending. SuperGoop has reformulated their sunscreens to eliminate parabens and some synthetic ingredients but they still contain phenoxyethanol. They aren’t horrible but there are more natural choices.
California Baby Everyday/Year-Round™ Sunblock Stick
Protection: SPF 30+
Active Ingredient: Micronized Titanium Dioxide
Skin Deep Rating: N/A
Price: ~ $14.99
Sunscreen Usage and Sun Tips
Follow the directions on the sunscreen you use for proper sun protection. However, our motto is “everything in moderation”. This means sun exposure too of course. It’s ok to be out in the sun for 20 minutes without covering every square inch of your kid with SPF 80. Sun exposure is good for us, (Vitamin D!), and it’s been studied that people – especially kids – with regular moderate time in the sun are healthier and may have less risk of developing conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or other auto-immune deficiencies. But sunburns are not good, so choose a safe sunscreen and apply according to the directions for days when extended sun exposure is on the docket!
When the option is available, use hats, cotton clothing or use the shade of umbrellas to avoid too much sun exposure. No need to bake in the sun all day… keep cool and stay in the shade! Investing in some SPF Protected clothing for the kids is a good idea too. Reduces the need for so much sunscreen and can have a UVB protection of up to 50. Snapper Rock makes great SPF Swimwear for kids. We also like Baby Banz Sun Hats for baby and kids… they also have a wide brimmed bucket hat with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor rating of 50+. The wide brim helps keep sun off kids faces. If you can avoid prolonged sun exposure between 10-2 it’s recommended.
Enjoy the outdoors! Be sure to check out our Safer Bug Repellent Report for safe choices to keep the buggies at bay.
Apr
2
Some Quick Friday Green Tips: DIY Carpet Fresh
Filed Under Eco-Mama, Green Mama, Safe Mama Tips | 2 Comments
Having two kids, and two dogs, and a whole lot of in and out foot traffic, I hate having carpet. It makes me feel grimy and dirty and it holds pet odors, dander and hair like crazy. Unfortunately, when we bought our house, 3,000 square feet of hardwoods were just not affordable. So, we replaced the old worn carpet for new, just so that my new baby didn’t have to crawl around on other people’s funk.
Fast forward three years later, and my carpet, well, it smells like dog, and dust. Our carpets are cleaned regularly but you need something to keep them smelling fresh in between. And you can do that safely and effectively with this quick tip:
What you’ll need:
A large shaker container. You can re-purpose your old grated cheese container, which would be perfect for this, or an old spice container that has larger holes.
That’s it. Put the baking soda into the container, add the essential oil, and shake to mix it all up. Sprinkle it on your carpet and rub it in. Let sit for maybe five or so minutes to let it absorb the odors and then vacuum up. Your carpet shouldn’t smell overpoweringly like essential oil, but it definitely shouldn’t smell like stale dog, either.
Another quick tip is to make sure you clean your vacuum regularly. We live in a day and age where vacuums are so disposable. My mother blows through one every six months to a year! That’s insane to me. I think of all of those vacuums piling up in landfills. You can make your vacuum last so much longer than that. We bought our Dyson Animal 5 years ago. Sure, you say, for the price you pay, it should last that long. Yes, it should, and it was entirely worth the price we paid for it, but it’s not without a little elbow grease.
Every six months, I not only clean out the hepa filter, I disassemble most of the vacuum (anything that has tubes or anywhere dirt gets trapped), and I give each part a good scrub in super hot water and soap. Any tubes, I soak in hot water and a little bit of bleach. Not a lot, just a little. I let the parts soak over night, and then give everything a good thorough scrub. I have a vacuum that looks and works as good as the day I bought it. I don’t have to waste money on a new vacuum, and I keep another one out of the landfill. It’s a win for everyone. You don’t have to have the Dyson to do this. Just remember:
Got any other tips to keep your carpets fresh or your vacuum running smoothly? Leave ‘em in the comments.
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