Category Archives: Natural Products

BEAUTYCOUNTER

If you already love Beautycounter, click here! If not, read on to learn why I do.

beautycounter

I’ve been using natural products for as long as I can remember. The reason? Everything we put on our bodies is absorbed by our skin and enters our bloodstream. Many (MOST!) of the ingredients found in personal care products are toxic and linked to cancer, birth defects, infertility, etc. Very few have been tested for safety and even those that are known to be harmful are allowed to be used.

That simply is not ok.

At one point I was so strict about what I used, my rule was if I couldn’t eat it, I wouldn’t put it on my body. So there were many years of moisturizing with coconut oil, exfoliating with oatmeal, cleansing with honey.

As for cosmetics, while I was working full time as a model I was at the mercy of whatever the make-up artist used. On days off I would go make-up free. I really loved Chanel for the beautiful colors and sleek packaging and their adherence to European skin care guidelines (which are better than ours- In the U.S., only 11 ingredients are restricted or banned from cosmetics. The European Union (EU) bans 1,300 ingredients from cosmetics.) It was hard for me to switch to brands I could find at the health food store for obvious reasons- but I tried.

Enter BEAUTYCOUNTER.

Beautycounter is a line of personal care products- everything from baby care to luxurious skin care and beautifully packaged color cosmetics. They are a company devoted to progress and making the world healthier, by offering safe products we can trust.

I have been supporting The Breast Cancer Fund, Environmental Working Group and Healthy Child, Healthy World for many years and when you sign up to be a consultant with Beautycounter they donate $10 to one of these organizations.

On top of all of this, I’ve heard from many people how gorgeous their skin has become after using Beautycounter.

Safe and effective products, chic (yet recyclable!) packaging, support of meaningful charities. Everybody wins.

I am thrilled to be a consultant for Beautycounter and hope you will click here to browse the products and see for yourself how amazing this company is.

Please contact me with questions you have about any of the products, and stay tuned for a GIVEAWAY!

BEAUTY COUNTER

 

Gift Ideas for the Women In Your Life (Some Ideas for Men Too!)

For the past few years my husband I and have decided to give gifts that give back. That’s why I am recommending these two socially responsible companies for gifts! AND, you can shop from the comfort of your own home.

fairtrade gifts

Noonday Collection works with 28 artisan groups in over 10 countries, and provides dignified jobs, no interest loans, scholarship programs and emergency assistance to these artisans. In turn, through YOUR purchases, we create a marketplace for these artisans here in the U.S..
Noonday has an amazing selection of beautiful jewelry and accessories. Many under $40! Everybody wins.
You can check out the website here.
fairtrade gifts
One of my favorites is the Paper Dreams Necklace– only $38! It is made from PAPER beads in Uganda, and looks like turquoise. I love it.

fairtrade jewelry

If the women in your life love the idea of natural products, or you’d like to introduce them to some, look no further.

Ava Anderson Non Toxic is an incredible skincare line. Almost completely organic.
organic skincare
They also have home cleaning products, products for men, and baby/kids items!
organic skincare

shavegel

I love the pet deodorizer (it works as a stain remover! The best one I have ever tried), the dishwasher pods, the cotton pads and the entire skin care line.

And there is a limited edition candle that is perfect for the season- this candy cane candle is subtle, but refreshing. Not in the least bit overpowering. It is made with organic coconut oil and an organic cotton wick.

ava anderson non toxic

PLEASE contact me directly if you have any questions about any items recommended above. As always, I only recommend products I can whole heartedly get behind, and these products make such fantastic gifts with meaning.

The True Cost of Fast Fashion

Last night I saw a documentary film that is truly going to change my life.

I have always known bits and pieces about fast fashion, the garment industry and the importance of organic cotton, but I’ve never seen it woven into such a coherent story as the one I saw last night. I really got it. It hit me deep and I will never look at clothes the same way again. This was one of those moments that the lights turned on, the scales fell off my eyes, and I can’t un-know what I now know. And I don’t want to.

You must see The True Cost.

It is a documentary directed by Andrew Morgan. From the website: “This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing?”

I really believe if people knew how most clothing and accessories were made- the truly horrifying process- they would not buy into the system. The director was at the screening and held a Q&A after the film. He said we have all been cast in a role as consumer, and these fast fashion companies are operating under the assumption that we don’t care enough to ask questions.

I do- don’t you?

Maybe we’ve just never thought about it before. The minute I got in the car I heard an ad on the radio for a giant sale at a fast fashion store where all skirts are $6. How are those skirts being sold for $6?

We feel rich because we can go in and buy as much as we want, but really it is making us poor in more ways that one. Human beings are treated as a commodity and are abused, devalued, made sick, and die making these clothes. It’s destroying our planet and at the same time keeping us unfulfilled as all of the materialism fails to make us happy. Then we walk around obliviously in these clothes.

Ignorance is not bliss.

I am no longer playing that part.

People’s lives matter, no matter where they live on the globe.

The director concluded that he does not want any one of us to walk away from this film feeling guilty. Guilt is something you have when you know you’re not going to do anything about it.

And, he said, “I don’t want you to love fashion any less. Fashion is intrinsically beautiful and worthy.”

true cost movie review

The reality was brought up that these horrible jobs are better than no jobs at all, which is heartbreakingly true. But why does it have to be one or the other?

There can be a third way, and we, the ones who use OUR money to purchase the clothes, are the ones with the power to make a difference. We either buy into the system or we don’t. It really is that simple. Every single one of us can do something about this.

There are horrible things in the world that we absolutely can not change, and this is not one of them.

We don’t have to buy cheap clothes. We can seek out clothes that are made in the USA or through fair trade systems. We don’t have to play a part in the problem.

There really is a bright side. There are so many companies already practicing fair trade principles, using organic cotton, and working with rescued slaves and women who have been trafficked.

Companies such as Noonday Collection, Raven + Lily, Everlane, Cuyana, Nisolo, and Indigenous.

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Yes, they are more expensive, but what that means for me is simply buying less. My closet would be better off if I did that. Wouldn’t yours? I can’t even close the drawers containing my boys clothes- they could do with less also. The high quality clothes made with organic cotton are the ones that have lasted through two boys and still look good.

Quality over quantity. It is better in every way. (Side note- donating is great in theory, but only about 10% of clothes donated to a thrift store is actually sold in that thrift store. Most of it is bundled up and sent halfway around the world to litter and pollute poor countries.)

This is going to be hard for me. I like clothes, I like new clothes, I like buying things on a whim because I walk past the store and see it in the window and I can, because it costs less than the mocha I’m drinking. As I learned last night, that is not The True Cost of that item…

But I also know it can be done. Our family already does it with food. We have done it with chocolate. My kids have never been to the major fast food restaurants in this country, on principle mostly. And the ones we have patronized are doing their part to source locally, seek out organic ingredients, or share other values we hold dear.

fast food nation eric schlosser

Before I had children I thought it would be impossible to keep them away from certain places, but we’ve done it for almost 7 years now. In fact, when I came home from the screening last night my 3 year old had fallen asleep to his dad reading Chew On This: Everything You Don’t Want to Know About Fast Food to him- Eric Schlosser’s children’s version of Fast Food Nation. He loves that book and carries it around asking us to read it to him daily.

We have the power in our lifetimes to see this change.

I haven’t even told you what struck me most about the film- seeing the children and how their lives were affected. Seeing a mom have to take her child to live in a village far away so she can continue the long arduous hours in the garment factory. Seeing a baby sleeping on a hard floor next to a pile of shoes as her mother works on them. Seeing the many children with deformities and severe brain damage and mental illness created by the toxic chemicals used to spray crops and tan leather.

I hope you will make it a priority to see The True Cost. To quote a line from the movie, It is no longer important, it is imperative.

Zevia Review and Giveaway

zero calorie soda
When you’re a natural health enthusiast it is hard to drink soda, for many reasons. The artificial colors and flavors, the high fructose corn syrup and the sodium benzoate to name a few. Sodium benzoate is commonly used as a preservate in soft drinks (and lots of food and personal care products for that matter) and it is of particular concern. This preservative has been linked to cancer, Parkinson’s disease, neuro-degenerative diseases, and premature aging. It also contributes to ADHD according to the Mayo Clinic.

Alas, there are some times that just call for a soda. For me it’s when I’m watching a movie and eating popcorn- I just need a soda. Or when I’m having pizza- I just need a soda. Many of the alternatives at natural food stores aren’t great options- even though they are made with real cane sugar (not high fructose corn syrup) and often organic, it is still sugar. And a lot of it.

Enter Zevia Zero Calorie Soda. My husband and I discovered it a few years ago and we love it, so I was thrilled when Green Moms Meet gave me the opportunity to review it!

stevia sweetened soda

Zevia is the original naturally sweetened, zero calorie soda with no sugar and no artificial sweeteners. This tasty treat comes in 15 familiar, favorite flavors including Cola, Black Cherry, Cream Soda, Grapefruit Citrus and Ginger Ale. Consider it the smarter soda go-to for you and your family. Zero calories, naturally sweetened and delicious; Zevia is hard to beat.

Just the facts

•Zevia Zero Calorie Soda is sweetened naturally with a unique blend of high purity Stevia (grown right here in the US!) and Monk Fruit.

(Stevia is a sweet little miracle of nature. Originally found in Paraguay this small shrub, native to the Sunflower family, provides 200x the sweetness of sugar with no calories. It is basically a super sweet leaf.)

•Zevia comes in 15 different flavors, including Ginger Root Beer, Strawberry, Cherry Cola, and many more.

•This soda contains no calories, sugar or artificial sweeteners.

•It’s totally Kosher, Vegan, and Gluten-Free

•The retail price for a 6-pack of Zevia ranges from $3.99 to $5.99.

Yes, you can see me sneaking Zevia into movie theaters, along with my organic, trans-fat free popcorn. And in our home on pizza and game night, everyone gets to pick out their favorite flavor to enjoy.

Our family’s favorite flavors are ginger root beer, black cherry,  and cream soda and for those times that call for a caffiene kick, cola.

I have 5 vouchers for a free six pack to giveaway- if you’re interested in trying Zevia, enter to win one!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product

Gutsy Chewy Review

When I have any sort of stomach ache or digestive related issue I only treat it with natural products. However one of my favorite remedies is fresh ginger steeped in hot water- and that isn’t very portable.

So when Green Moms Meet asked me if I would review Gusty Chewy tablets, I said of course! I am always happy to find a remedy that is both convenient and all natural.

safe digestive remedy

From the Gutsy website:

“Over the past decade, Dr. Doug Haghighi, a Cleveland Clinic trained gastroenterologist and Harvard trained dentist, has treated thousands of patients with digestive disorders, from acid reflux and hepatitis to inflammatory bowel disease. A common concern patients present at his office is gastrointestinal distress—a condition Dr. Haghighi calls “that queasy, uneasy, refluxy feeling®.”

The Gutsy proprietary formula contains a special combination of papaya, apple cider vinegar and licorice root, known as GiGs®. The products also contain Xylitol, plus minerals like calcium and magnesium. ”

I carried these around in my bag for a few weeks, and anytime I had the slightest queasy feeling I would chew one thoroughly. They are easy to chew, taste good, fast acting and…They really work! The ingredients are safe (some have been used for centuries!) and natural, gluten-free, made in the USA. I LOVE that they are sweetened with xylitol- something I try to have every day for oral health.

I soon found myself passing them out to friends and family who were having various digestive issues.

A friend told me the only thing that ever works for him is baking soda, so he takes a box with him wherever he goes (not very convenient.) I gave him a tube of Gutsy Chewy, and his results were incredible. No more burning in his stomach. It even calmed his jittery nerves before public speaking.

I have also noticed my husband (who travels A LOT!) carrying a tube around with him- one is in his suitcase at all times, and today he took some in to the office for a co-worker who has been complaining about his stomach. That’s when you know something works- wanting to share a remedy anytime you can!

Gutsy Chewy is a quality product with a lot of research behind it.

So if you ever have heartburn, reflux, bloating, nausea, or general queasiness, try Gutsy Chewy!  Right now they are offering a summer promotion: Buy 2 tubes get one free, buy 4 tubes get 2 free, buy 8 tubes get 4 free and buy 12 tubes get 6 free. 

Let me know what you think!