From the category archives:

Health & Beauty

Post image for Judith’s Herbals and her Beautiful Blue Bottles

On a recent trip to Bolinas I stopped into Judith’s Herbals and purchased the following products:

  • Jojoba Hair Conditioning Oil
  • Organic Avocado Oil
  • Morningdew Moisturizer
  • Golden Seal & Myrrh Mouthwash

These products are great but what I fell in love with was the packaging. I am a total sucker for beautiful blue glass bottles and old school labels. Not only does colored glass block UV rays, which helps increase the product’s shelf life, but they can be redeemed at Judith’s when you are done with them. Organic ingredients, Glass containers and bottle deposits might seem right out of the 1920’s but these three things makes Judith’s Herbals an amazing eco-friendly find, even more so if you are willing to ride your bike from San Francisco to buy them.

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Crazy for virgin coconut oil

I am bummed. I’m totally out of coconut oil. While swirling my fingers along the edges of the jar to salvage any possible remains, I realized it was time to feature my favorite coconut oil as my product of the week. It’s a purchase we can both make together!

buy-now

This is a great example of why I eagerly jumped on board with OpenSky in the first place. I am a product junkie. It’s my passion. I love finding great products that I truly love and confidently recommending them to you (my reader). As I refill my personal stock of my favorite products, I write about them and provide you with a direct link to buy it from me (your loyal blogger). It’s shopping made easy for you…by me!

Anyways, this particular product has a ridiculously low margin. I make less than one buck on this bad boy, so I’m not selling you on this for any reason other than that I am about to press BUY NOW and you should too, because as my disappointing face shows…we’re both living sadly sans coconut oil.

But Kelly what will I do with 30 oz. of coconut oil? And why would life with a jar of coconut oil be that much better?

Well glad you asked! Here are a few fabulous ideas:

  1. First separate the 30 oz into two jars. One for your kitchen and one for your bathroom (or where ever you keep your body care products).
  2. Apply a small amount to the ends of your hair. Coconut oil is an amazing natural conditioner for your hair. It contains essential proteins for nourishing damaged hair. Plus it give your hair a nice shine.
  3. Apply it to your scalp before you wash your hair. Regularly massaging your head with coconut oil helps fight dandruff.
  4. Apply to your feet. Coconut oil is antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial which should cure those stinky feet and athlete’s foot.
  5. Use it as a replacement for mineral oil. It is better for you and the environment!
  6. Put it on your baby’s butt. Yep, it works wonders on diaper rash too.
  7. Eat it! Replace butter and other oils in your diet. Coconut oil adds a nice flavor to your food and has a lot of health benefits.

I am CRAZY for this virgin coconut oil (a.k.a. VCO) and you will be too!

About this series: Every week I pick a product from my shop and let you know why I love it. When possible, I will work with OpenSky and/or the Supplier to bring you a discount for the week that product is featured. All products featured are ones I feel are either GOOD for you and/or GOOD for the environment. I really hope you find these products to be as FUN and FABULOUS as I do.

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Proactiv-Repairing-Lotion

Congrats Makeover Momma! I’ve selected your product submission for my Product Replacement Challenge.

Here’s the submission: Proactiv Repairing Lotion

Makeover Momma uses it twice a day with the claim that it keeps her from breaking out. Could be true. But that doesn’t make it GOOD for her or the environment and there are options with fewer toxins and equal (or better!) results.

So here goes: Proactiv, what a perfect example to start with. This is one (if not the most infamous) of those over-marketed lines, that is a miracle for some and a nightmare for others. From the standpoint of toxic ingredients-, Proactiv is a nightmare, one that just won’t go away, especially after you know what is in it.

First let’s look at the ingredients (The super big words that companies know the average consumer knows nothing about, but I do… and that’s why you love my new program)

The REALLY yucky ones are highlighted in red… as in danger :)
benzoyl peroxide 2.5%, water (aqua), ethoxydiglycol, cyclotetrasiloxane, propylene glycol, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, cyclopentasiloxane, panthenol, allantoin, xanthan gum, ceteareth-20, carbomer, triethanolamine, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

Let’s be honest. It doesn’t take an exploratory and concerned woman (me) to see there is nothing natural about these over-processed ingredients. There’s nothing that even sounds natural let alone organic. This Proactiv product (like all the others in the line) is clearly packed full of ingredients you should avoid.

Here is a silly but true test. Would you dab a dime size of this on your tongue? I most certainly wouldn’t, especially considering the warning label actually says, “keep away from eyes, lips and mouth”.  Now here’s a fact; skin is the body’s largest organ and absorbs 60% of the ingredients YOU place on it. You know the saying you are what you eat? Well, guess what ladies… YOU are what you put on your skin as well.

Okay, so let’s look at the complete ingredient list of MY PRESCRIPTION: Lotus Moon’s Blemish Control Gel
aqua (water), *alcohol denat., glycolic acid (5%), *glycerin, salicylic acid (3%), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium chloride, hydrolyzed yeast protein, pyridoxine hcl, niacinamide, panthenol, allantoin, biotin, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, ascorbic acid (l), glutathione (l), *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil. *usda certified organic

Notice how NOTHING is highlighted in red?

Okay I might not actually eat this product for lunch, but since it is free of the toxic ingredients on my list I feel this product is definitely a GOOD replacement for the Proactiv product.

I know the word acid might sound scary at first but, acids like glycerin, glycolic, and salicylic are actually natural biles that thin out the oil that your skin may be over producing. Plus this product packs plenty of B vitamins (pyridoxine hcl, niacinamide, panthenol, and biotin) to help regulate your sebum production going forward.

But does the Lotus Moon Blemish Control Gel deliver the results?
YES! After personally testing the Lotus Moon’s Blemish Control Gel for roughly a week and previously using Proactiv’s Repairing Lotion for several years in my 20’s (glad those days are over) I feel that Lotus Moon product does the same, if not better. Prior to testing I had a HUGE zit (no grace here, this is serious skin care talk) that quickly vanished as well as congestion I have been harboring around my t-zone. I enjoyed testing this product so much that I am personally going to incorporate it into my beauty routine on an as need basis. The only notable difference is the texture of the two products, which is more about a personal preference than results (Proactiv is a lotion whereas Lotus Moon is a gel). I honestly I prefer the feeling of the gel – I feel it glides on smoother and doesn’t leave a visible almost chalky film like I experienced with Proactiv.

Makeover Momma- I want day to day updates of your results!

What about the price?
Proactiv’s Repairing Lotion retails for $22.00(2 oz.) whereas Lotus Moon’s Blemish Control Gel sells for $37.00 (1 oz.). I do feel however that you get a bigger bang for your buck with the Lotus Moon product and have to use less actual product to get the desired result.

About this series:
I am convinced that if someone can give me the name of a mainstream brand they are using and why they like it – I can, and will locate a product replacement that is better for them as well as our environment. Do you have a product you would like to submit for replacement? Find out more here.

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Thumbnail image for Product of the Week: Sweet P’s Organic Baby Care

Product of the Week: Sweet P’s Organic Baby Care

May 3, 2010

Here is a break down of what is included in the bundle and why I like it…

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Thumbnail image for Perfect Personal Product Prescriptions – Let’s feel beautiful together!

Perfect Personal Product Prescriptions – Let’s feel beautiful together!

April 29, 2010

Send me your beauty products – I will look beyond the label and do some research and “prescribe” a personalized solution that is better for you and the environment than your current product.

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Eco-Friendly Organic One Minute Manicure – Perfect for Moms

April 22, 2010

I used to be a big fan of a specific product called One Minute Manicure. It lived up to its name by literally giving me a naturally looking manicure in one minute. So why am I no longer a fan?

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Thumbnail image for Pure Organic Shea Butter from Organic Essence

Pure Organic Shea Butter from Organic Essence

February 2, 2010

High quality cold-pressed, organic, pure shea butter that is truly a multi-purpose beauty staple (note: watch the video below to find out how I use it).

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Thumbnail image for Shea Cream from Organic Essence

Shea Cream from Organic Essence

February 2, 2010

Available in refreshing and relaxing scents such as Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemongrass Mint and Vanilla Orange. This USDA Certified Organic shea cream comes in a biodegradable jar,

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Thumbnail image for Eco-Friendly Organic Lip Balm from Organic Essence

Eco-Friendly Organic Lip Balm from Organic Essence

February 2, 2010

Packaged in a “eco tube”: made out of 100% recycled paper, organic glue and pure soy ink. Plastic free, completely biodegradable and safe for home composting.

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