Archive for the ‘Bath & Body’ Category
I had no idea people would love to know what products I have as much as they did, so here’s what’s on my bathroom counter top and a few things from inside “The Drawer”:
Deodorant: I use a couple deodorants. I have found that switching my deodorant from day to day lends to the effectiveness of natural deodorants. But they don’t all work for me so I rely on three to do the job. The first is Bubble & Bee Geranium Lime Pit Putty. Love this one and when it runs out I’m going to get their Geranium Lime Pit Putty with Baking Soda. I also use Soapwalla’s Cream Deodorant which I like to use on days when I take a more decadent shower… I don’t know why exactly but just go with it. I also use Weleda’s Rose Deodorant Spray. I use the Weleda mainly when I take a shower at night. The alcohol seems like it should be a bacteria fighter so in my weird brain I think “ok this will keep the stinky away all night and then I can put on regular deodorant in the morning”. I have no idea if that is even true or remotely accurate but it makes sense in my brain. I’ve also been making friends with Miessence products (Ely Organics) and one I do like is the Miessence Deodorant. If you prefer roll on deodorants this might be the one for you. If you are new to natural deodorants here’s a primer to get you started.
Face: Depending on the time of day I am using two face creams. This is one area I struggle because as I mentioned, I have very sensitive skin, plus rosacea, plus aging, plus occasional breakouts. So finding something gentle and effective is really hard for me. For night I am trying out Yes to Cucumbers Facial Hydrating Lotion and it seems to do ok. I also have a pack of Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes which I thought would be good for quick sweat wipes or lazy nights to remove make up. But they kind of burn a little so I think they’ll get tossed. For daytime, its Burts Bees Radiance Day Lotion with SPF 15. It contains phenoxyethanol though so I’m on the lookout for something better. When I last visited the dermotogolist they told me to use Aveeno and I did for a while until I saw what was in it. I’m constantly trying to find a good replacement. Have yet to find something I really love. I’m open to your suggestions ladies.
Eyes: I haven’t used an eye cream much since I had to stop using my beloved Clinique eye cream which was my favorite thing on the planet. I have a small bottle of John Masters Organics Firming Eye Gel but I often forget to use it.
Body: This also depends on the shower. Showers where I have time for a scrub allow me to skip lotions and potions. I towel off and get dressed. Quick showers tend to leave me wanting a little extra moisture so I opt for body oils. While I do like the occasional rub down with a lotion or body butter, oils don’t require any processing or chemical emulsifyers. And if you find a great body oil it can double as perfume. Right now I use Soapwalla’s Luxurious Body Oil. It’s light enough for day use and smells lovely. I also have Burt’s Bees Vitamin E Bath & Body Oil which has a great citrus scent but it’s pretty heavy and greasy so I haven’t used it in a while. Also making appearances on my counter is The Body Deli Coconut Body Souffle, Weleda Seabuckthorn Body Lotion, and Badger Balm Vanilla Coconut Body Balm (I use this primarily at night).
Hair: This is definitely one area where I need improvement. It’s sad really. I do own several natural hair products but I shamefully admit that I use one or two NOT natural hair products. I have one or two natural ones I do like. One is John Masters Organics Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray. I use this for curly hair days to give my curls that “fresh off the beach” wind look. It works great. The other is Giovanni Frizz Be Gone which is great for straight hair days. It seals and protects my hair before being tortured by a flat iron. My shame lies in my use of John Freida’s Fresh Curlz. I also use Aveda’s Curl Cream which is like the best hair stuff ever for curly hair. See? Not perfect but trying.
Part 3: You get a peek into my make up bag!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Badger Balm, Bath Goodies, Body Balm, Body Cream, Body Lotion, Body Oil, Bubble and Bee, Burts Bees, John Masters Organics, Miessence Certified Organics, Weleda, Yes to Carrots!
Someone asked me recently if I would publish a list of products I use. I was hesitant because like you, I am a work in progress and I sometimes think people expect me to have it all figured out. I don’t, but I try. So here it goes…
Giovanni Colorflage Beautifully Blonde Shampoo: Ok this stuff isn’t nirvana when it comes to ingredients, it contains phenoxythanol and a few other questionable items but its better than a paraben, phthalate ridden shampoo and it works really well. I spend a fortune on my toxic highlights (hey I’m vain ok? I like being blond!) and the last thing I want to do is ruin my expensive ‘do with lame shampoo. This claims to protect from fading and enhance blonds. So far I’m just really happy with the cleaning power and the softness.
Giovanni Organics 50:50 Balanced Conditioner: Again, not perfect but better than many. Leaves my hair smooth and soft and works just as well as traditional conditioners. I also like John Masters Organics Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner but right now I can’t afford a $22 conditioner. I love it, and when I can swing a bottle I’ll get it but let’s face it, it’s a fortune. Giovanni is available at Target and only costs about $7-9 bucks. I can handle that.
Tilvee Shea Butter Bap Soap (Face): I have very sensitive skin and mild rosacea and a dermatologist told me to use anti-bacterial Cetaphil. Well, I’m not comfortable with the ingredients (fragrance, PEG’s and Triclosan as the anti-bacterial agent) so I set out to find a better soap that had few ingredients. Tilvee was the winner/ I use their Shea Butter bar for dry and sensitive skin and it works great. Plus no gross ingredients.
BAR SOAP: Ok this is where my obsession is and it’s evident by the bar soap in my shower. I’ll just list them all. Kiss My Face Sudz C-Weed Sweet Orange and Hemp – I love citrus scents and this doesn’t disappoint. Bubble & Bee Coconut Lime Soap – another awesome one. Dr Bronner’s Lavender Bar Soap – cheap, works and available at Target, Kroger, etc. One type of soap I don’t have right now that I love is bar soap from LuSa Organics. I like the Ylang ylang and Lavender Goats Milk Soap but they have a ton of choices for every preference. All natural and they’re purely awesome. I love their sugar scrubs and their lip balms too… actually I love everything they make and need to place an order soon. Worth every penny. There are tons of natural soaps to pick from – this is the easiest thing to change when going natural.
Weleda Birch Body Scrub: I got this on a whim and reviewed it but it doesn’t get much play in my shower. It smells nice and I think if I tried it with a loofah it might work better but then its a body wash not a scrub so it gets neglected. Read my review here.
Rocky Mountain Soap Company Bamboo Body Scrub: I just reviewed this and really love it. I’ve been using it often and I am buttery soft as a result. I love scrubs and although I don’t always have time to use them, when I do they have to be awesome. This one is worth of my time for sure.
Next time I’ll give you the inside look at my after-shower body care and perhaps a peek into my make up bag!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Bar Soap, Body Scrub, Body Wash, Bubble and Bee, Conditioner, Dr. Bronners, Giovanni, John Masters Organics, Kiss My Face, LuSa Organics, Rocky Mountain Soap Company, Shampoo, Tilvee Eco Ethical Skin Care, Weleda
A box arrived on my doorstep not long ago from a company I like called Rocky Mountain Soap Company. I was introduced to them last year when a reader asked me to review them. I still use their body butters and went through a bottle of their gentle Tiny Tot Foaming Wash. So when a box came that I wasn’t expecting with the Rocky Mountain logo on it I was squealing with glee. (Products tend to evoke that kind o reaction from me). Rocky Mountain Soap Company creates really luxurious body products using the best ingredients available that are really effective. This is definitely the case with their new line of body scrubs!
These are all natural and when I say that I really mean it. I have used MANY body scrubs in my day. I prefer sugar scrubs over salt scrubs because I have pretty sensitive skin and anything too abrasive is too harsh for me so I stick with sugar scrubs.. BUT their Bamboo Body Scrub is the first salt scrub I have used that wasn’t totally chunky and unpleasant. In fact I thought it was a sugar scrub until I read the ingredients.
Rocky Mountain Soap Company’s body scrubs really deliver. The Bamboo Body Scrub is thick like you would want a scrub to be like and the granules are fine enough not to cause any irritation at all. I was soft and smooth and it smells great… has a lighter citrus scent. It has shea butter to soothe and moisturize and grapefruit essential oil to refresh and combat cellulite. It’s a delightful addition to my shower arsenal. What I adore about scrubs like this is the lack of need to moisturize after a shower.
They have two other fabulous scrubs… a Blood Orange Sugar Body Scrub and a French Lavender Sugar Body Scrub hich are both equally fabulous. Rocky Mountain Soap Company has a ton of great products without the risk of icky chemical additives and preservatives. Always paraben, chemical, PEG and phthalate free – but without losing any of the awesomeness. Rocky Mountain Soap Co. is definitely one of my favorite companies.
GET IT: Trust me you ‘ll love them. Pick up these scrubs or any other of their great products on their website RockyMountainSoap.com! They have a deal going now if you order one scrub get the second scrub for 50% off!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Body Scrub, Rocky Mountain Soap Company
There’s been a lot of hoopla around perfume lately, most in part to to a new laboratory analysis done by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Along with the EWG, they tested 17 mainstream fragrances from Chanel to Calvin Klein. The study found that the perfumes contained on average 14 ingredients not listed on the label because of a loophole that allows companies to claim their toxic recipes as a “trade secret”. Pathetic. They also found 10 sensitizing chemicals associated with allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing, headaches and contact dermatitis and 4 hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to a range of health effects including sperm damage, thyroid disruption and cancer. You smell sexy but cancer is most definitely not sexy.
Have a look at the products they tested and the appalling results: Not So Sexy Report
What Do I Do?
I hate to say it but ditch the perfume, ladies. People overdo it with perfume and I personally can’t stand being near someone doused in Britney Spears CIRCUS… However I will admit it’s nice to be able to put on a dab of something when you’re dressed up. Here is a list of a few natural fragrances that aren’t laden with toxic hormone mimicking chemicals:
- Red Flower (I use this and love it)
- Rocky Mountain Soap Co Natural Perfumes
- LaVanila Perfume Oils
- Tsi-La Organic Perfume Oils
- Blends Organic Perfume Oils
- Parfums Honoré des Prés
I’ve been known to “make” my perfume simply by dabbing a desirable oil behind my ears (just be careful of reactions if you are sensitive) or I rely on the natural scents of body oils. My current favorite is Soapwalla’s Luxurious Body Oil. No need for added perfumes to make me smell pretty.
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Perfume & Scents, Toxic Chemicals
Sunny Lime Skin Care is one of many reasons I love Etsy.com. You can find great products that aren’t full of chemicals and processes contaminating ingredients. Sunny Lime sells Organic Shea Butters for your skin with no icky stuff added. You can get pure Shea Butter which is unscented or one of their scented butters that are lightly scented with a blend of organic essential oils, or oils that were not cultivated with chemicals. All of Sunny Lime’s Shea Butter’s are mixed with Jojoba oil for maximum moisturizing capability!
Shea Butter has many great uses and healing properties. Use it on rough feet, elbows and knees. Use as a skin primer for shaving in the shower to reduce nicks and cuts. Shea Butter helps reduce wrinkles and lines, age spots, softens scars, and heals chapped lips. There are a million uses for this moisturizing power house ingredient. Sunny Lime’s Shea Butters have no gross stuff like preservatives, parabens, phthalates or synthetic fragrances. Just simple Organic Shea Butter and essential oils.
Sunny Lime is giving away one full size 4oz jar of Sunny Lime Shea Butter to a lucky LovelyMama reader!
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Giveaway open to US and Canada. One winner will be chosen via Random.org. Entries accepted until midnight PST on May 19th 2010. Good Luck!
Congratulations Cathy commenter #59! Thanks to everyone who entered and thank you Sunny Lime for the great giveaway!
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Body Balm
One of my absolute favorite scents is coconut. Real, authentic coconut… not the weird candy like scent or the kind that smells more like a Christmas cookie. The kind that reminds me of the beach, old school suntan lotion or tropical drinks and relaxation. Which is why I tend to gravitate to it when it comes to my body care. It makes me feel warmer and somehow happier… like you feel when you’re laying on a deck chair in a tropical place and no one is talking to you but the ocean waves. (Can you tell I need a vacation?) Anyway, it’s the scent I more often choose when trying a new product line since it’s a common scent among natural brands.
I was introduced to The Body Deli maybe a year ago when they sent me samples of their Mai Tai Lip Gloss, so when they offered to do another review with us I was all for it. They have a great selection of products chock full of organic and fresh ingredients. I really dig their mission and the idea behind their products. Since they don’t use icky preservatives in their products, most items have a shelf life. Just like food. But that’s not a problem because I plow through it in no time.
This time I picked their Coconut Cream Body Souffle and it is just as wonderful as it sounds. You open the generous sized tub and it’s filled to the brim with a whipped white cream that looks good enough to spread on top of a chocolate pie. It has a smooth consistency so it spreads on like icing (I sound hungry, don’t I?). It smells HEAVENLY.. like real genuine coconut. It’s a treat to use which isn’t always the case. I hadn’t been moved to order more products until now… I plan on getting myself some of the Coconut Cream Body Scrub to go with the Body Souffle. It’s just divine. The Tahitian Vanilla sounds intriguing too.
The Body Deli uses organic ingredients and no icky preservatives, parabens, phthalates, PEG’s, propylene glycol, dimethicone, or other common chemical ingredients so I feel they have some really great products. For those of you who are ingredient mavens, there is vegetable emulsifying wax and Grapefruit Seed Extract present in some products so if you avoid those be sure to read the labels first.
GET IT: Seriously, if you like coconut like I do, you’ll thank me. Pick it up on their website TheBodyDeli.com
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Body Cream, The Body Deli
There’s been many times where I’ve tried different products here and there and although they are natural and organic, they just don’t measure up to my girlie need for something indulgent. I’m a reformed bath product junkie so the stuff I choose now has to be safe and also work well. But to really impress me it needs to make me feel like I’ve invested in something special. I know that I found a line of products that meet all my standards when I look forward to getting out of the shower to use them. That is definitely the case with the products I have tried from Soapwalla.
Rachel, the “chef” behind the Soapwalla kitchen, created a line of truly natural products that not only work, they smell and feel unbelievably awesome. Rachel, kind soul that she is, sent me 4 samples and while I loved all of them – I immediately went to her store and ordered 2 things: Her Deodorant Cream and the Luxurious Body Oil. I’ll tell you why.
After using her Deodorant Cream I was totally hooked. At first I thought “I have to slap this on like spackle into my pits?” But in
reality, you simply smooth a little bit on after a shower and that’s it. You never feel sticky or wet. After a week or so using it in warm (read: hot sweaty) Florida it has been effective enough to keep me odor free. With some other natural deodorants I have had to reapply during the day and on one occasion I reeked after a few hours. (I don’t use that one anymore…. do you see what I do for you ladies? I SUFFER WITH B.O. just to find out what works best. You can thank me later. With products. Or love and admiration. Whichever.) There are some I’m still trying and some I still use depending on the day but Soapwalla’s Deodorant Cream is definitely an awesome and effective product. It gets the LovelyMama seal of approval.
I also want to talk about her Luxurious Moisturizing Body Oil. To start, I really love body oils over lotions. Lotions usually need some kind of emulsifying ingredient which is typically a chemical or chemically processed wax or stearate. So I use a lot of lotion bars and oils to compensate. I’ll admit that I love the idea of lotion more due to the ease of use and tend to choose them over oils when I’m in a hurry since oils can leave you feeling greasy for a bit while they soak in. However there are certain cases when body oils don’t feel like you’re bathing in olive oil. This is one of them. Soapwalla’s Luxurious Moisturizing Body Oil goes on really light and absorbs in a reasonable time, so I don’t ever wish I chose lotion. And the scent? Ooooohhhh my. If I was a scent, I would be this one. It’s light and citrusy, but with a delicate floral component so it has a certain feminine appeal to it. After using it I feel girlie and pretty. No need for phthalate ridden perfumes. I just sniffed my arm and I still smell it – clean and girlie – even after running around all day. In a word: LOVE.
Soapwalla only uses organic ingredients and oils and never uses icky preservatives or chemicals. I will definitely be shopping there again. My next splurge? Organic Citrus Grove Soap Bar and some Almond Joy Body Polish.
GET IT: You can pick up all of Soapwalla’s great products on her Etsy Shop.
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Bath Goodies, Deodorant, SoapWalla
Ok, you know how much we SafeMama girls love our cheat sheets. And I know you’re thinking, sure, our kids are covered, but what about us? We get a lot of questions asking about particular products, and while we would LOVE to try every single one of them, there is just not enough time or money possible for us to do so. But with that in mind, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t compile a list of products for you to have at the ready when you’re looking for information on whether or not we think your favorite product is safe enough to use.
Notice: Please do not redistribute this list anywhere without our prior written consent. If you would like to share this information with your readers, please use the handy little button we created for doing just that and link back here. We spent time away from our kids, pouring over ingredients lists, digging in the Skin Deep Database and learning about chemicals and processes. Please help us make that worth our time and energy by not copy/pasting our work on other websites. Thank you!
Please keep in mind that this is not a full list of products. This is what we’ve found so far, and this will be a constantly updated list as we find things, or as you submit your findings to us. But we think this is a great starting off point. [Last updated April 5, 2010]
Best Choices – Our top picks
These are the products that are free of all of the chemicals we avoid along with labels that have ingredients you can actually pronounce.
- Bubble and Bee
- Badger Balm
- Dr. Bronners
- Earth Mama Angel Baby
- Lusa Organics
- Bien Ella
- Nature’s Paradise Organics
- Tilvee Soaps
- Talulah Skincare
- Sweet Beauty
- WoodSprite Organic
- Keys Soap
- Soapwalla Kitchen
- Joia Botanicals
- Lulu Organics
- Zum Face
- Nostalgia Organics
- Miessence Certified Organic Skin Care
Better Choices
These are the products that are free of all the big chemicals we like to avoid, such as parabens, phthalates, phenoxyethanol, SLS’s, PEGs, propylene glycol, dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Benzoate as well as some others, but they just weren’t squeaky clean enough for us to warrant putting them on our “best” list. Maybe they have a couple of stearates or a few more synthetics than we’d like to see. However, they’re still pretty great and we even use some of ‘em.
- Dr. Alkaitis
- John Masters*
- Intelligent Nutrients
- Shea Moisture
- Dr. Hauschka
- Primavera
- Weleda
- Moody Gurl
- 100% Pure*
- Aubrey Organics
- Revolution Organics
- Erbaviva
- Living Nature
- Pangea Organics
- blissoma solutions
- Kahina Giving Beauty
- Mamma Michal’s Freshly Made Body Care
Good Choices
These are brands that may have a few products with questionable ingredients on our list of ingredients we like to avoid or maybe they have more synthetic ingredients than we’d like to see, however, they are FAR better than your conventional, chemical counterparts. While they’re not going to make you sprout a second head, this is something where you’re going to have to be the one to make the judgment call whether or not you want to use these products.
- Yes to Carrots
- Kiss My Face
- Burts Bees
- Whole Foods 365 Brand
- Jurlique
- Cactus and Ivy
- Sophyto Organics
- Tammy Fender
- Giovanni
- Organicare
- Beeceuticals
- Aromafloria
- Suki Skin Care
- Santaverde
- Suzanne Aux Bains
- Organoderm
- Jason*
* The ever wonderful Stephanie Greenwood of Bubble and Bee and publisher of the Chemical of the Day Blog, brought to our attention, sadly, that there are “hidden parabens” in some of our favorite products (as noted by the asterisk). We were bummed to find out that great brands like John Masters and 100% Pure are included in this list of products. Go over and read the article and then make the call for yourself on whether or not you would still want to use these products. It may not be every single product in the brand, just a select few, but she’ll tell you what to look for and breaks the slight chemical difference down into layman’s terms. This is where she helps you become empowered to read labels and learn how to decipher bad ingredients vs. the good ones. Stephanie is one of the true good people in this business.
Posted by Statia • add a comment •
Categories: Bath & Body
I make so secret of the fact that I stalk the “natural products” aisle at Target like a love-sick teenager trying to catch a glimpse of her current crush. So when a line of products showed up there a week or so ago I was all over it. A brand called Shea Moisture creates luxurious body treatments with really simple and rich ingredients. I picked up the 100% Organic Shea Butter which is more or less a tub full of thick ingredients that smell heavenly. I chose the Coconut & Hibiscus scent and I don’t regret it. It’s warm and floral = but a little strong so beware if you are scent sensitive. This balm has many great uses like fr dry skin, chapped lips, dry hair, psoriasis, insect bites… but it smells so feminine and tropical I like to use it as a hand and foot treatment before bed. While I watch TV I scoop out a bunch and start working it into my dry flip flop ragged feet and slip on a pair of cotton booties. By morning my piddies are soft and back to a human condition. I also picked up the Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Shea Butter Wash too. It foams like, whoa. And I am so buttery soft from using it, it’s quite unbelievable.
This line is totally free of parabens, phthalates, PEG’s, propylene glycols, harsh chemicals, and dyes. It’s also made with certified organic ingredients, is not tested on animals and uses ethically traded ingredients too. They have several scent profiles including the one I am in love with: Coconut Hibiscus. They also have Lavender & Wildflower, Lemongrass & Tea Tree, and Olive & Green Tea… though they only have a limited few at Target stores like their African Black Soap and Raw Shea Butter. I went back to Target to pick up the coordinating lotion and bar soap and they wee sold out. Looks like I’m not the only one privy to this new find!
Get It: Online at SheaMoisture.com or at your local Target (not all Targets carry it).
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Body Balm, Body Wash, Shea Moisture
Since a huge majority of you are snowed in, I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite every day products. It’s no secret that I love the Badger Balm company and I love supporting them. They are such a conscious company and all their products are natural and many, certified organic. I love knowing that when I use a balm or soap, I am using the safest ingredients and that they don’t bother with making products that require emulsifiers or chemical involvement.
My latest love affair is with their new Vanilla Coconut Every Day Moisturizer. They sent me a sample a little while ago and it;s almost empty. It earned a spot on my night stand and I use it nightly on my hands, cuticles and feet. The scent is perfect. I usually really love coconut scented anything since it makes me feel like I’m indulging on a tropical island or reminds me of summer time and beaches. That’s a good feeling to have when its chilly out and you need some extra moisturizing.
It comes in a large tin and the scent is a warm but subtle coconut … but toned down with the vanilla to make a really wonderful scent. As always, Badger Balm uses a natural formula and only the best ingredients… like coconut oil, vanilla and rosemary. This balm is also Certified Organic and Fair Trade.
Get It: Seriously, you need this. And you need their lip balms which are hands down one of my absolute favorites. My particular fave is the Lavender Orange. It’s the one I brought with me to the hospital when I had my son. Only the best! Pick up a Vanilla Coconut Every Day Moisturizer on their website BadgerBalm.com
Posted by Kathy • add a comment •
Categories: Badger Balm, Body Balm












