I might find myself camping out in an area where it’s almost impossible to find recycling and some recyclable materials go into the garbage and before I know it I’m using more paper products or buying a bottled water — all the little things I feel I’m typically good about.  In general, being more eco-friendly typically takes a little extra work or money and I think when you’re lazy once, it’s easy to be lazy again.

It’s Hard To Be Perfect

I move around a lot, go for a lot of road trips and don’t live a lifestyle where I can bike to work, so I do find that I log a lot of miles on the road.  I use a good amount of gas.  I drive a Subaru Outback, which is probably one of the more efficient cars I can have for the amount of gear and the 2 dogs I take with me everywhere I go; however, just because I use a decent amount of gas doesn’t mean I call it quits in every other aspect of my life.

React To Each Small Decision

I think a large part of being greener is reacting to each situation you encounter as best as possible.  Whenever you encounter a situation where you could go one way or the other, stop and make the right call.  I’m thirsty; I could get the quick convenience in the store or make an effort to find a faucet to fill up my container.  I just made a mess on the floor; I could use half a roll of paper towels to clean up the mess or grab a few old rags to take care of it.  I have some weeds around my patio; I could buy some weed killer or take an hour to hand-pick them and keep the herbicides out of the picture.

Food

One area that I find it hard to make greener decisions is when it comes to food.  Believe me, I would love to eat all organic or local fruit, vegetables and meat, but especially at the grocery store it’s very clear that one simply costs more than the other and I, like many others, don’t have an unlimited budget.  Still, as is the point of this article, it’s not an all-or-nothing decision.  Purchase what your budget allows at the grocery store. Personally, I spend the extra money for organic foods I consume in raw form versus cooked.  Furthermore, organics are nice, but if you really want to make the right decision, buying local certainly saves the most fossil fuels and additives needed to preserve your food for a long journey.

Most of us aren’t perfect, and it’s hard to always be perfect when it comes to making green decisions in life.  Don’t let yourself make multiple poor decisions just because you made one.  Face every situation one at a time and do the best you can at every stepping stone.

Cooper Elling is passionate about health, fitness & blogging. When he’s not working out, he writes about Sono Bello, cooking and a myriad of other topics. He’s also active with Sono Bello on Twitter and Sono Bello on Facebook.

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Have a Namaste.

Product diversity: Skin offers a full line of face and body products, including lip balms, hand creams, eye makeup remover, a cleansing scrub, hydrating face serum, body wash, body lotion, foot rub, salt scrub, detoxifying clay, and a healing calendula salve.

Quality of ingredients: All products are free of harmful chemicals, parabens, synthetic dyes and fragrances, chemical preservatives, phthalates, animal products, mineral oil, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Of 20 different products listed on the Skin Deep Database, they all rate a phenomenal 0-1, lower than any other skincare line I have tried so far. The ingredients lists for all products are fairly short, which is always a good sign, as is the fact that all individual ingredients are easily recognizable: jojoba oil, olive oil, aloe vera, rosemary extract, tea tree oil, macadamia nut oil, and mango butter, to name a few. Most are certified organic.

Product experience: The products are lightweight, feel fresh and clean, and smell terrific. Really, what more could you want?

Pluses:  I love Skin’s philosophy and its commitment to providing nourishing products free of any harmful chemicals. The super-low scores on the Skin Deep Database give me confidence that I’m not putting anything harmful on my skin. Products look and feel great. And I love that I’m supporting a local company.

Minuses: Not many. There is only one serum, the Hydrating Face Serum, which seems to work double duty as a hydrating and anti-aging treatment. I’m not really in need of additional hydration, but I might give it a try. In terms of oil control, the Rosey Plum Day Moisturizer doesn’t perform quite as well as the Boscia, but Skin’s lower toxicity scores (and reasonable prices) make up for it.

Bottom line: In terms of product ingredients, this is the best I’ve seen so far. I’m really looking forward to trying more products. The product line is so diverse, there’s plenty of stuff to try without getting bored with it. Skin is also available at Green Acres Market, a health food store in northern Kansas City, and online at CarenOnline.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. 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.”

>Boscia was created by Fancl Corporation, which is based in Japan. The products contain organically grown jojoba leaf, a powerful antioxidant, and willowherb, an anti-inflammatory. All products are free of preservatives, synthetic colorants and fragrances, mineral oil, animal products, and phthalates.

I told my mother-in-law I was interested in trying more, and she let me borrow her Makeup Breakup Cool Cleansing Oil, a lightweight cleanser that smelled faintly of eucalyptus and mint and left my skin feeling soft and clean. She also gave me a sample of the Vital Daily Moisture SPF 15, which is a decent lightweight moisturizer. But I really wanted to see how the products fared at controlling oil, so I picked up the Travel Kit for normal-to-oily complexions. (Boscia also offers a normal-to-dry Travel Kit and a Clear Complexion Kit for battling breakouts.)  The normal-to-oily kit retails for $45 and features travel-size bottles of the Purifying Cleansing Gel, Balancing Facial Tonic (a spray!), Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15, Recharging Night Moisture, and a pack of Green Tea Blotting Linens.

A word on blotting papers: My oily skin needs midday blotting and powder application, or else I start to feel like a grease pit, which isn’t good for my complexion … or my concentration. For years, I have used the non-waxy brown type of paper napkins for blotting — they absorb oil magnificently, and I  always pick up some extras whenever I go to Chipotle, Panera, or Starbucks. I tear them into thirds to get more use out of them, but it’s still not the most eco-friendly practice.

Boscia’s Blotting Linens are made of 100% natural acacia leaf fiber and green tea, which sounds pretty darn natural to me. They come in a slim little packet that fits anywhere, which is definitely better than cramming a wad of napkins in the bottom of your purse. And they’re available infused with a variety of plant extracts, including vanilla and lavender, which are my two favorite scents. It’s just a question of whether you want to shell out the $10 for a pack of 100, or stick to free napkins from the coffee shop.

The first day I used my new Bosica products, I noticed an immediate difference in my skin. Even after applying moisturizer, my skin felt clean and fresh.  It actually felt like I wasn’t wearing any products at all, which was a first for me. In fact, my skin actually felt a little … dry. But in a good way. Not in a tight, itchy way, but in a wow, my skin doesn’t feel like a grease pit way. By midday, I still get a bit of a sheen, which the blotting papers and a little powder take care of nicely.

Pluses: The products are lightweight and smell fresh and clean.  I love that Boscia is readily available at my local Sephora, inside the JC Penney’s just ten minutes from my house. Product diversity is outstanding: Boscia offers cleansers, toners, exfoliators, and moisturizers targeted toward different skin types. The wide array of treatment products includes formulations for anti-aging, breakouts, pore minimizing, age spots, sun care, plus lip and eye products, masks, and even supplements. And Boscia gets extra points for the spray toners.

Boscia is also now offering a rewards program where you can earn one point for every dollar spent. When you accumulate 300 points, you automatically receive a $30 rewards certificate towards your next purchase. Unfortunately, it appears that points are awarded only for online purchases and not for in-store purchases. Hopefully that will change in the future.

Minuses: Not many. The two daytime moisturizers both contain SPF, and I would prefer an option with fewer chemicals.  Also, the products are a little pricey. ($27 for one ounce of moisturizer; treatments and eye creams run $25-48.) But a little bit goes a long way.

Bottom line: I love this skincare line. I’ve never used anything else that feels so lightweight and fresh on my oily skin. And I can’t think of anything I could possibly need that the extensive product line doesn’t offer.  I’m still working my way through a few other products, but when it comes time to replenish, I’m definitely buying more Boscia.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. 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.”

Evidently not, I learned from the multiple women who came to us wearing the wrong shade of foundation, thinking they could camouflage their complexions with darker colors. (You can’t; if you need more coverage, opt for a different formula rather than a darker shade.) Though it may be a bit of a stretch to think of my work as a “beauty advisor” as some sort of human service, one of the favorite things about my job (maybe only second to all the free goodies) was helping women feel better and more confident about their appearance. We all known women who wear an unflattering shade of lipstick, or shun makeup altogether because they feel intimidated by it. But it’s very easy to learn how to make skincare and makeup help you make the most of your natural beauty.

Sometimes at night as I am washing my face for the second time, I think about other skincare secrets that many women have never learned. Here are a few of the best tricks I have learned over the years, both from my magazine addiction and my years behind the counter.

What was that about washing your face twice? If you are wearing makeup, you should always wash your face twice in the evening. The first time removes the makeup; the second cleans your pores. You can use the same cleanser both times, although if you wear a lot of makeup or a long-lasting foundation, you might want to use a specially formulated makeup remover first. I use two different cleansers, but only because I have an extensive product collection, and I am always trying out new ones.

Water is not toner. I can’t tell you how many times I would ask women if they used a toner and they would reply, “Oh, I just use water.” The whole point of toner is to remove impurities left behind after cleansing and restore the skin’s pH balance. Water can have a pH level as high as 9.5; toner helps restore the skin’s natural pH level, which is between 4 and 6.5. However, alcohol-free toners are best because they won’t strip the skin of its natural oils, which can cause dry skin to become dryer and oily skin to actually become oilier. Also, do not vigorously rub your face with toner as this can irritate skin; your skin should already be clean by this point if you have properly washed it. A simple swipe is sufficient to remove any residue.

Apply your eye cream first. (You do use an eye cream, don’t you?) The skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most delicate on your entire body. It is also highly absorbent. You should not use products on the eye area that are not especially formulated for the eyes. If you apply your moisturizer or any special treatment products first, there will be residue of these products on your fingers when you apply your eye cream. You should also use your ring fingers when applying eye cream as these are your weakest fingers and you’ll be less likely to pull or stretch the skin, which can cause premature wrinkles. Simply pat the eye cream around the eye area; do not rub.

Pat your moisturizer and treatments into your skin in the evening. Most women sweep moisturizer and other products over their faces, which is fine for the morning as it creates a smooth canvas for your makeup. However, to allow for deeper product penetration in the evening, pat your products into your skin.

Do not rub your wrists together when applying perfume. Nearly everyone does this when trying on perfume at the makeup counter, so I can only assume this is how most people apply it at home. Rubbing your wrists together will crush the fragrance molecules and cause your perfume to wear off quicker. Just pat it lightly into your pressure points to preserve the fragrance.

And the number one rule in skincare: It’s a lot easier to prevent damage than it is to repair it. The time to start taking good care of your skin is when you still like the way it looks. Once you start seeing signs of damage, it may be too late to do anything about it. Pollution, sun, wind, smoke, and other external elements are far more damaging to the skin than the natural aging process (if we lived in a pollution-free bubble, we would all look much younger!) So choose products with antioxidants that help protect you from harmful free radicals. Many nighttime serums help reverse the effects of environmental factors you face during the day. Choose products specially formulated for your skin type and your skin care concerns. Using the right products and taking proper care of your skin can greatly enhance your skin’s appearance. You may even find that you don’t need as much makeup. Remember, it’s all about making the most of your natural features, not trying to cover them up.

Have any questions about these or other skincare issues? Let me know! If I don’t know the answer, I’ll try to find it. And check back for more reviews of skincare products that are free of harmful additives.

I was really surprised to learn that these products even exist. A natural skin care line made with herb and flower extracts … whose products contain more than 94% natural ingredients … that uses no parabens, SLS, phthalates, or petrolatums … and is available exclusively at CVS for an average $5 price point? Get out!

After seeing an ad for Vickery & Clarke Natural Apothecary products in my Natural Health magazine, I almost couldn’t wait to head over to our brand-new neighborhood CVS to try them out. The products weren’t in stock the first time I checked, but they were in a few weeks later. I stayed for a few minutes and smelled just about everything, and was surprised by the variety of products.

Of course I wanted to take home everything, but at the time I had just thrown down 64 bones for a dental filling, so I had to limit myself. However, for a mere $23, I walked out with …

• Aloe Vera & Chamomile Face Cleanser
• Aloe Vera & Cucumber Face Tonic spray toner skin (yay for sprays! I love spray toners because they don’t require you to buy those little cotton squares, which is one less thing that goes in the trash and therefore the landfill.)
• Vitamin A & Vitamin E Face Moisturizer
• Anti-Oxidant Face Serum with Vitamin A & Vitamin E
• Cocoa Butter Lip Balm

That’s five products for what many quality lines charge just for a cleanser. Who says there aren’t options for natural girls on a budget?

I’m also digging that the line is named after Alice Vickery and Isabella Clarke, who, according to the product packaging, “broke new ground for women as pharmacists in the 1800s.” The brand was created in recognition of their work, and “promises to deliver effective remedies using pure and simple ingredients.” Sweet … I feel like an environmentalist and a feminist.

So how does V&C rate?

Product experience: Not bad. Scents are light but clean and appealing and also slightly medicinal, which I enjoy … it makes me feel like I really am using old-school apothecary products. A little bit of the anti-oxidant serum goes a long way. The Cocoa Butter lip balm tastes faintly of cookies, which is awesome, and it’s moisturizing, not at all greasy.

Product diversity: Outstanding. Face cleansers, moisturizers, and toners come in two versions: normal to dry, and normal to oily. Other facial products include a scrub and a mask. I think I even saw a spot on the shelf for an eye cream. V&C also offers a body wash, body scrub, body lotion, shea butter hand cream, milk bath, foot cream, and some sort of leg spray … plus a Lavender Vanilla Pillow Mist and a Eucalyptus Peppermint Cold and Sinus Soak. It’s part aromatherapy, part apothecary in a simple yet diverse product line.

Packaging: Products come in recyclable plastic bottles. I would prefer a bar cleanser, but I know those are hard to come by. The company does get bonus points for the spray toner.

Accessibility: Debatable. There were some empty spaces on the shelves, and availability of products on the Web site seems to fluctuate. But CVS is everywhere.

Quality of ingredients: Hard to verify the “94% natural” claim; some of the ingredients have scary-sounding names like cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, but this actually rates a hazard score of 0 (low hazard) in the Skin Deep Database. I entered all the ingredients from the face cleanser and came up with an overall hazard score of 4 (moderate hazard), which isn’t too terrible. The worst offender in the ingredients list is fragrance, which falls towards the end of the list so probably isn’t used in abundance. The aloe vera extract, lavender extract, and jojoba seed oil are all safe, natural ingredients and fall towards the middle of the list.

Bottom line: The normal-to-oily products are a bit heavier than I prefer, but I am using them at night. I love the smell and the simplicity of the line. And you simply can’t beat this price point. If you like to have lots of products on hand that smell wonderful but you don’t want to spend a fortune on personal care products, give V&C a try.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. 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.”

MyChelle Dermaceuticals markets itself as natural skin care that is “always free of phthalates, parabens, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, fragrances, encapsulated nano particles, and artificial colors.” The company seems very committed to providing non-toxic, plant-based, cruelty-free products (no products are tested on animals), and most of the ingredients rate a respectable 1 (low hazard) on the Skin Deep Cosmetics Safety Database. I also love that MyChelle offers lots of different serums and treatments for different skin types.

A word on serums: Ever since my days of working behind the Clarins counter, I’ve tried to choose product lines that offer targeted skin serums. Many moisturizers today offer additional benefits, such as free-radical-fighting antioxidants, but moisturizers can only do so much. To really address your specific skin concerns, you need to use serums in your daily skincare routine. Serums can be layered, meaning you don’t have to choose just one, and they provide targeted treatment for anti-aging, brightening, firming, and other skin issues. Serums can also provide more protection from environmental damage, and are great for replenishing nutrients at night.

Favorite products: I enjoyed the Fruit Enzyme Scrub, a very fine exfoliant containing bamboo and jojoba. It smelled like Trix cereal and left my skin feeling smooth and soft. I also love that the company has spray toners, including the Fruit Enzyme Mist, which also smells yummy.

Downside: Aside from the Fruit Enzyme products, most of the product scents didn’t appeal to me. Most of them smelled like something my grandmother would use. And I didn’t receive much oil-control action from the Oil-free Grapefruit Cream. Overall, there just wasn’t enough of a wow factor to justify the price ($29.95 for one ounce of moisturizer). The packaging could use an eco-update as well: most products come in bottles or jars that are sold inside boxes.

Bottom line: Not for me, but if you want a paraben-free line that offers lots of different options in serums, scrubs, and masks, you might enjoy it. I also recommend the Del Sol sunless tanner with aloe, which doesn’t smell icky like most other self tanners out there. At $13.34 for 2.3 ounces, it’s one reasonably-priced product I may go back for.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I have not received any compensation for writing this post. 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.”

Please note that my incredibly subjective testing process is not intended to evaluate long-term effectiveness of any one product. Rather, I will be sampling a variety of product lines and offering my initial impressions in terms of quality of ingredients, product diversity, and commitment of the company to providing safe, eco-friendly products. Even though I may decide against a brand, that doesn’t mean it might not be a good choice for you. To even be considered for the project, products must be free of dangerous synthetic chemicals such as SLS and parabens. Safety of ingredients will be tested against the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.

Other considerations:

1. Product lines must include formulations specifically designed for oily skin. (Even at 34, I am prone to breakouts.)
2. Product lines should offer a variety of products, such as serums, eye creams, and exfoliating scrubs. Different moisturizers for night and day are preferred.
3. Products must be locally available. I do not want to pay for shipping or have to wait for products to arrive in the mail. I also do not want to have to make a special trip into a part of the city that I don’t otherwise frequent.
4. Products must look, smell, and feel appealing.
5. Brands will receive bonus points for minimal product packaging and other eco-friendly factors (i.e. bar cleansers as opposed to liquids in plastic bottles; spray toners as opposed to toners that require the use of disposable cotton pads).

If there are any other product characteristics you would like to see discussed, or if you have any product lines that you would like to suggest, please let me know! I will try to post product reviews regularly for the next few weeks until I make a decision. I already have a frontrunner in mind, but you never know … I could be persuaded to go in a different direction after trying some more brands.

Shampoo

I’m using my Chagrin Valley Café Moreno shampoo bar. My scalp feels so much better now that I am not using SLS-based shampoo. Surfactants like SLS strip hair of its natural oils, causing the scalp to produce more. Many people go through life with unnecessarily greasy scalps because of this. After a few washes with my Café Moreno bar, my oil production has started leveling out, and I can go for a few days between shampoos without feeling greasy. (Note: I went back to using my Lush shampoo bar to use up the rest of it — I just hate throwing anything away — and I couldn’t stand how greasy my head felt just one day after shampooing. I may be forced to throw away the rest of my once beloved shampoo.)

Ingredients:

Saponified oils of clove infused olive, babassu, coconut, castor bean, unrefined shea butter, rice bran, and expeller pressed canola; brewed coffee; essential oils of clove, patchouli, ylang ylang, and lavender; vitamin E oil; and rosemary oil extract.

Absolutely nothing you don’t recognize or can’t pronounce!

Packaging: nothing but a small paper bag.

My friend Emily has been following the “No Poo” trend and started using baking soda instead of shampoo, which I may try when I run out of my Café Moreno bar. She said her thick hair is softer and more manageable and she’s gotten tons of complements on it since she switched to baking soda.

Body soaps

I’ve picked up a few Zum goat’s milk body bars from Indigo Wild, which are manufactured right here in Kansas City. My current fragrance obsession is lavender, so I love the formulas like Lavender Rosemary and Lavender Oatmeal, which are encrusted with exfoliating herbs. I also picked up some clean (non-girly) scents like Rosemary Mint and Lime Basil for Ryan. Packed with essential oils, these soaps make every shower a luxurious experience and leave my skin feeling soft.

Zum soaps are easy to find around Kansas City, but I’m not sure about their availability in other markets. My local health food store carries lots of other Zum products as well, so I may try out some more of them. The company also manufactures a few vegan products.

Ingredients:

Saponified 100% food grade olive, coconut, palm, and castor oils, in a goat’s milk base, with pure essential oils and mineral pigments.

Packaging: Zum bars come almost bare, wrapped simply in a small paper sleeve.

Facial cleansers

Facial cleansers have always been a challenge for me. For a while I’ve been using Lush’s Coalface bar (which does contain SLS, but I spent around 20 bucks for a big chunk and still have quite a bit left. Again, I just hate wasting anything …). I’m not sure what to try next. I have a hard time finding cleansers that keep my oily skin under control.

I did buy a Burt’s Bees Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub, which contains yummy-smelling finely ground peach stone and willowbark, a natural source of Beta Hydroxy Acids, which help unclog pores. And although Burt’s Bees has a Garden Tomato Complexion Soap and accompanying toner for oily skin, I’m hesitant to use them simply because the company’s product line is a little limited, and doesn’t include a moisturizer specially formulated for oily skin. The Burt’s Bees nifty online product advisor recommended its Carrot Nutritive Day Creme, and even though they describe it as “lightweight,” I really need something that is going to help control oil.

I have a few samples and some product lines I’m looking into and will post my findings as I learn more.

Alternatives to chemical-laden shampoos

I’ve often extolled the virtues of my favorite Lush shampoo bar, so I regret to report that, after looking more closely at the ingredients list, Lush uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in their shampoos.

I’d heard about the dangers of SLS before, but hadn’t really researched it until recently, when I wrote articles about natural hair care for both Green Diva Mom and AltGlobe. I’m hoping the Green Diva Mom post will be live soon; here’s the one I wrote for AltGlobe:

Choosing Natural Hair Care

SLS and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate are foaming agents found in shampoos, detergents, and toothpastes. They are also skin irritants that are sometimes tainted with carcinogenic dioxins during the manufacturing process. They can cause skin and eye irritations, contribute to frizzy hair and split ends, and build up in the internal organs, doing who knows what kind of damage.

In my search for a safer shampoo, I ran across Ohio-based Chagrin Valley Soap and Craft Company, which offers an extensive line of all-natural, SLS-free soaps and solid shampoos. I ordered a few samples, which start at $2.40 and are a decent size at 1.5 to 2 ounces. Full-size bars are 6.5 to 7.5 ounces and range from $6.50 to $6.80. So compared to Lush’s 1.9 oz bars that sell from anywhere to $7.95 to $14.95, they’re a much better deal. Even better, they contain all natural ingredients and essential oils such as coconut, lavender, clove, and ylang ylang.

I tried my Café Moreno sample bar today, which contains fresh brewed coffee to add shine and luster to brown hair. Washing with SLS-free shampoo takes a little getting used to. It doesn’t foam like traditional shampoo, but foaming isn’t actually necessary to achieve cleanliness. A good foam just makes us feel like a product is working better. Manufacturers know this, which is why they put these dangerous chemicals in their products in the first place. Some testimonials on the Chagrin Valley Web site even state that the natural shampoo bars deliver so much moisture and nourishment that separate conditioners aren’t even necessary, so I experimented today and skipped the conditioner. Although my curls don’t have as much definition as I usually like, my hair is soft and frizz-free, and has a nice herbal scent.

I also ordered a Chamomile and Citrus shampoo bar, so I’ll probably alternate the two. I’ll post the GDM article as soon as it’s live; it contains links to other SLS-free solid soaps available for order online. And if you don’t want to pay for shipping, check your local health-food store for locally made or other smaller brands. Burt’s Bees offers a Rosemary Mint shampoo bar, which is listed as 99.9% natural and is SLS-free. Just read the ingredients and opt for short ingredients lists with recognizable names. The general rule for natural beauty products is, if it contains anything you wouldn’t eat, don’t put it on your skin! Your skin absorbs whatever you put on it, and dangerous chemicals go directly into your bloodsteam.