Whole Foods Market is working toward redefining organic, at least when it comes to personal and beauty care items. As of June 1st, the natural retail giant says all organic personal care products sold in their U.S. stores will be certified organic.
Major Changes for Organic Body Care LabelsApril 8th, 2011 - Jill EttingerClorox Discloses Full List of Toxic IngredientsFebruary 11th, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
The Clorox Co. has become the first mainstream company to disclose all ingredients in all of their products, including dyes, preservatives and a master list of fragrance ingredients. Read More:Clorox Discloses Full List of Toxic IngredientsNew USDA Label to Decrease ‘Greenwashing’January 31st, 2011 - Jill Ettinger
With the popularity of the USDA’s certified organic label since its launch in 2002, those omnipresent hybrid cars, and recent pro-environment action taken against single-use plastic bags, which have been banned by cities, states and retailers across the country, it may not come as a surprise that a new USDA label for green bio-based products will roll out later this spring. Read More:New USDA Label to Decrease ‘Greenwashing’Protect Your Hair with Organic Tomato JuiceJuly 27th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
If your dog has ever been sprayed by a skunk, you probably know that tomato juice is truly man’s best friend. But tomato juice has a more human application: It can rescue hair that has been damaged by chlorinated swimming pools. Light-colored hair can take on a greenish tinge from pool chlorine and other chemicals. If you find yourself with green locks:
Say goodbye to one of the few bad ways to “go green!” Read More:Protect Your Hair with Organic Tomato JuiceFrisky Felines—and Their Owners—Enjoy Organic CatnipJuly 11th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Most cats have a visceral reaction to catnip (Nepeta cataria), whose aromatic oils entice them to eat it, rub up against it, roll around on the floor and/or drool. (This is your cat on drugs…) Outdoor/Windowsill GardeningGrowing your own organic catnip is a breeze. Tolerant of virtually any type of soil, the perennial thrives outdoors and in windowsill gardens. You can buy a packet of 450 certified organic catnip seeds for as little as $1.89. Organic Cat ToysAs for organic cat toys, Duckyworld Products sells a variety of stuffed playthings, including 100% organic catnip pillow toys ($7.69) and the adorable Stinky Sardine ($8.75). The company’s toys are filled solely with 100% organic catnip—no cotton fillers, plastic pieces or other cheap mainstream stuffings. DIY crafters should check out Holly Tse’s Make Your Own Cat Toys: Saving the Planet One Cat Toy at a Time ($11.95), which features more than 50 projects and lots of eco-friendly cat care tips. Brew a Cup of Organic Catnip TeaHumans are not immune to catnip’s botanical powers. Steep dried plant leaves in hot water, and you’ll enjoy a lemony mint tea. Celebration Herbals sells a box of 24 ready-to-use organic catnip teabags for $4.89. The bags are chlorine-free and can be composted after use, and the box is made from recycled paper. DIY Beauty ProductsOrganic catnip essential oil is a natural mosquito repellant, and you can use it to scent handmade bath and body products (soaps, lotions, bath salts). It can, however, be expensive: about $23 per fluid ounce. That said, a little goes a long way, so consider it an investment. Read More:Frisky Felines—and Their Owners—Enjoy Organic CatnipNaturally Treat Summer Corns and CallusesJuly 4th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
About 10% of American women (and 5% of the general population) have unsightly, often painful corns and calluses. Extreme weather—hot summers and cold winters—exacerbate the problem, as skin tends to become drier during these seasons. “Corns and calluses are caused by friction and pressure on the feet, either from wearing shoes that don’t fit properly or from conditions such as arthritis, trauma, bunions or various deformities,” explains New York dermatologist Joshua Fox, MD. Be proactive, and you can look forward to wearing sandals and exposing your bare feet. Start by exfoliating dead skin: Soak your feet in water laced with organic essential oils, and treat rough spots with a pumice stone or foot file. Next, apply your favorite organic moisturizer to soften skin. “If you are in good health, you don’t have to see a professional for corns and calluses, unless they hurt or bother your walking” Dr. Fox says. “But if you don’t like the way your feet look, are having pain or have certain medical conditions—including diabetes, poor circulation or numbness in the feet—it’s important that you see a doctor or podiatrist who can evaluate the problem and help you remove the corns and calluses.” Read More:Naturally Treat Summer Corns and CallusesRep. Ed Markey Urges FDA to Investigate TriclosanApril 12th, 2010 - Scott Shaffer
Markey went further: “I call upon the federal government to ban the use of triclosan in consumer soaps and hand-washes, products intended for use by children, and products intended to come into contact with food. In addition, I will soon introduce legislation to speed up the government’s efforts to evaluate and regulate other substances that may pose similar public health concerns.” Rep. Markey has shown a lot of courage in standing up to big chemical companies. If you want to get ahead of the pack and ditch this dangerous chemical before the government bans it, check out our 5 Easy Green Cleaning Tips that Use Vinegar. If you want to learn about other household chemicals that you might want to avoid, read our article on the connection between Cosmetics and Breast Cancer. Read More:Rep. Ed Markey Urges FDA to Investigate TriclosanOverdosing on Shampoo?December 5th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
I wash my hair each morning. It’s long, curly and tends to get oily. You may think I wantonly go through a lot of organic shampoo and water, but I have a hair-healthy, water-saving routine that gets the job done quickly and effectively: I simply use less shampoo, and I focus on cleansing my scalp. It’s an approach endorsed by Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente in Vallejo, Calif. “When we wash our hair, we tend to use too much shampoo by washing the entire length of the hair, rather than concentrating on cleaning just the scalp,” she confirms. “In addition, how often you wash your hair should be based on how oily your scalp is. If it’s oily, you might need to wash it more frequently than someone with a dry scalp. However, most of us are probably overwashing our hair and can save some money by using less shampoo.” African-Americans should wash their hair no more than once a week, Dr. Mirmirani says, as their hair and scalp tend to be much dryer. Overshampooing can further dry out the hair and scalp. “I recommend that you choose a shampoo formulated specifically for your type of hair,” she says. (Needless to say, we recommend a natural or organic shampoo that’s free of harsh chemicals and dyes.) “If you color your hair, then select a shampoo designed for color-treated hair,” Dr. Mirmirani adds. “It is gentler than regular shampoo and can help extend your hair color. But if dandruff is a problem, then try a shampoo formulated to fight dandruff. “The key is finding the product that works best for you,” she concludes, “and avoid the temptation to spend more than you have to.” Suggested Reading
Natural Hairbrush BasicsNovember 12th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Pick up any beauty magazine, and you’ll likely find an article on buying the right hairbrush. Unfortunately, the information is often wrong. Let’s start with basic physiology. Hair is a fiber—one whose structure and integrity must be protected if you want lush locks. Our follicles produce these fibers, which are composed of hair keratins: fine, tightly packed structures covered by a protective cuticle. Think of the cuticle as the shingles on a roof, which form a barrier atop the underlying structure, suggests Paradi Mirmirani, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. When damaged, the cuticle will break apart, exposing those inner fibers. You’re probably familiar with the result: frizzy, flyaway or dull hair. Choosing the right hairbrush helps you protect the cuticle. While some hairstylists promote boar-bristle brushes (organic and nonorganic) as the best option, Dr. Mirmirani says they’re a bad idea. “Boar-bristle brushes, which are quite expensive, put a lot of friction on the hair because the bristles come into contact with hair against its natural grain,” she says. “This can cause a considerable amount of damage.” Dr. Mirmirani recommends using inexpensive plastic brushes with wide-spaced needles. Plastic, however, often contains PVC, so I avoid the animal bristle/plastic problem with my eco-friendly Earth Therapeutics Natural Wooden Pin Brush (see photo, above). Suggested ReadingRead More:Natural Hairbrush BasicsFight Dry Skin with Organic Olive OilSeptember 24th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
For me, autumn-proofing my skin focuses on the driest parts of my body: feet, elbows and knees. There’s no need to buy fancy and expensive products to treat these areas, according to Sarah Callard, author of The Little Green Book of Beauty: 250 Tips for an Eco Lifestyle. “For dry skin, use olive oil, organic if possible,” she writes. “It has excellent moisturizing properties and has been traditionally used as an intensive conditioning and moisturizing treatment for areas prone to dry skin.” Callard recommends applying it at bedtime so you can wake up with smoother skin. Also by Sarah Callard
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