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Here's to Your Health:  Switching to organic personal care  |
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britchickny
True Blue Farmgirl
1048 Posts
Angie
Port Orange
Florida
1048 Posts |
 Posted - May 21 2007 : 04:46:47 AM
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I am gradually switching to organic products for personal care amd could use some reccomendations on brands etc for everything from the top down! Shampoo,s conditioners, body wash, make-up etc. My local grocery store has a great 'Natural Foods' section with lots of products, but I wondered if any of you could make some suggestions. I do not mind paying a little extra but would like to avoid costly trial and errors if I can! Also, hair color? I am a blonde (box!) ready to take the 'what is my real color' plunge, but is there something to lighten and brighten? I know that many of you create natural products so please feel free to direct me to your ETSY because I would like to support your business.
Thank-you in advance! Angie.
"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance" JUDE 1:2 |
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Reepicheep
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
78 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 07:09:56 AM
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I like Aubrey Organics for shampoo and conditioner. I did have to experiment a bit with the different ones available to find the one that works best on my hair (Island Naturals).
For feminine needs (homemade will not work for me), I like Seventh Generation products.
We use Dr. Bronner's liquid castile soap for bathing. You can also use it for washing your hair, which I've done on occasion.
I'm not a big fan of makeup. I rarely wear it, but when I do it's only tinted moisturizer and blush and maybe once a week a tinted lip balm. For all that I use Burt's Bees (places like Target and Walgreens are carrying the line now, but the only place I can find the tinted moisturizer and creme blush around here is at a health food store).
For deodorant we use a brand called Naturally Fresh. We use both the crystal that you wet and apply (same as Thai Crystal if you're familiar with that) and the crystal roll-on. My hubby also likes the Burt's Bees herbal deodorant, but I personally don't care for it much (just don't like the smell on me). The Naturally Fresh roll-on is available at places like Target and WalMart. You can also use just plain baking soda dusted on (I would personally choose an aluminum-free baking soda though) or cornstarch (I'd use an organic one so I was sure it was GMO free).
For toothpaste we use Tom's of Maine (we choose to use flouride free), but I'm not thrilled that it contains sodium laurel sulfate. I really like the Dr. Burt's (Burt's Bees) toothpaste (cinnamint), but none of the stores around here sell it any longer.
For lotion I use either Burt's Bees milk & honey lotion or Dr. Bronner's organic lotion (I personally like the patchouli lime). The Dr. Bronner's takes a bit of getting used to in my opinion though as it is not the consistency of regular lotion and won't feel like it on your skin (a little more oily so a little goes a long way).
I don't use nail polish. I know there are some companies that make water based nail polishes (and some offer removers as well), but I've never tried any as none of the stores around here carry any of those products.
I also don't use hair color so I can't help you there, but a trip to a health food store might be helpful if you could find a knowledgable staff member to assist you.
We also use a lot of Badger Balm products and love them. They also make sunscreen.
One suggestion - read labels and do research to decide which ingredients you are comfortable using and which you aren't. We have found all too often over the years that just because a product is touted as "natural" and sold in a health food store does not mean that the product contains ingredients that aren't bad. Most of what our health food store here carries is stuff we won't consider using because the products contain ingredients like sodium laurel sulfate, proplyene glycol, parabens, etc.
http://naturalpaths.blogspot.com/
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threebusybees
True Blue Farmgirl
222 Posts
Mandi
Myrtle Beach
South Carolina
222 Posts |
Posted - May 21 2007 : 08:23:16 AM
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Make sure you read your labels just because it says natural doesn't mean it is,after all arsenic is natural. Watch for parabens and sodium laurel sulfate(if you are sensitive to it) they are still in alot of products that are natural or organic. Jasons makes some pretty good stuff that is not costly. The Green Guide is a good source for good products.There are alot of noncoloring Henna Products to brighten your hair. If you have a whole food's their whole body section is great.
We use Jason's, Burt's Bees, and Dr.Bonner's(my husband and kids use it for head to toe cleaning)Tom's, Kiss my face(liquid rock deodorant).
As a side note if you are switching to a natural deodorant give it at least two weeks before you give up. You need to have some time to get all those clogged pores cleaned out before you body takes over for itself.
Mandi
"There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones." Madeleine L"Engle |
Edited by - threebusybees on May 23 2007 03:41:05 AM |
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britchickny
True Blue Farmgirl
1048 Posts
Angie
Port Orange
Florida
1048 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2007 : 02:50:51 AM
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Thank-you both for your in-put. I feel as if all these years I have been buying into this whole unconscious consumerism! (make sense?) I am trying to do the 'just start with me' sort of lifestyle change. I see the Burt's Bees in quite a lot of places so will no doubt try those products and I do appreciate your suggestions. Mandi, is The Green Guide a catalog or a book? I assume that I could find that at a Natural Foods store do you think?
"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance" JUDE 1:2 |
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threebusybees
True Blue Farmgirl
222 Posts
Mandi
Myrtle Beach
South Carolina
222 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2007 : 03:50:49 AM
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hey no it is a web site the editor used to be part of Mothers and Others for a livable planet
www.thegreenguide.com
or Mother Earth News had an article recently about personal care
www.motherearthnews.com
Enjoy there are so many great products out there I like Burt Bees because you can actually eat all of their products (not that you'd want to ) they actually have their reps taste everything in training meetings! But your skin is your largest organ I guess you should be able to eat what you put on it!
Mandi
"There will no longer be so many pleasant things to look at if responsible people do not do something about the unpleasant ones." Madeleine L"Engle |
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BackyardTreasures
True Blue Farmgirl
189 Posts
Anne
Connecticut
USA
189 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2007 : 04:31:17 AM
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I try to use natural products as much as I can afford and use several that have already been mentioned. I also use certified organic hair products from Lily of the Desert. I have naturally curly hair and for about 6 months now have been using the "curly girl" method of taking care of my hair which doesn't use shampoo. (If interested, read the book, Curly Girl, by Lorraine Massey and Deborah Chiel) I use Lily of the Desert's Aloe 80 Organics Daily Conditioner and use pure Aloe gel (from Lily of the Desert) to style my curls. My hair has never looked better.
Mandi, thanks for the link to Mother Earth News. The article I read about Natural Body Care was really good.
~~Anne
www.homesteadblogger.com/BackyardTreasures |
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Reepicheep
True Blue Farmgirl
78 Posts
78 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2007 : 06:55:15 AM
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If you have a chance, check out my blog - I have some good links listed on there (The Green Guide and Mother Earth News are just two of them!). :)
http://naturalpaths.blogspot.com/
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - May 22 2007 : 07:05:28 AM
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| I use some products from Burt's Bees, Aubrey Organics, and Dr. Bronners. I think they are all good companies and you can't go too far wrong with them. There was a thread on this sight earlier this winter/spring about replacing shampoo with various concoctions of baking soda, vinegar, honey, eggs, olive oil. If you search for "shampoo free" I think you'll find it; Tasha (Gaias Rose) started the thread. Many of us tried this and liked it. I haven't had to buy shampoo again. |
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Mikki
True Blue Farmgirl
1510 Posts
Mikki
Austin
Indiana
USA
1510 Posts |
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britchickny
True Blue Farmgirl
1048 Posts
Angie
Port Orange
Florida
1048 Posts |
Posted - May 23 2007 : 4:27:36 PM
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Thanks to everyone who is contributing to this topic! I have direction! (I think!) I am going to check out the Shampoo Free thread, lots to read there I know! I will let you know how my 'highly scientific' studies go!
Angie.
"Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance" JUDE 1:2 |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2007 : 05:26:02 AM
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I too use Burt's Bees. Fun to know his stuff is made right here in NC!
For hair I have had great success with Avalon Organics. Aubrey Organics has worked well in their chlorine/salt water removal formulation. Common Sense Farm makes an incredible peppermint castille body wash. It's great to use after an especially hot and grubby day outside. It's thicker than Dr. Bronner's. But Dr. Bronner does make a fabulous bar soap formulation! It's great for removing all kinds of foul smells off my hamds. (Remember, I'm an animal keeper )
My pets are fed Newman's Organic blends and Wellness.
As far as personal care, I'm still mainstream. I have a friend who I'm not sure what she uses, if anything, but reeks of B O and patchuli.  I'm also one for reading up in the latest medical journals and research, so any issues suspected to be connected with aluminum and alzheimer's is still pretty ambigious and unfounded in my opinion.
I don't recommend the all natural creamy cleanser for bathroom cleaning. It used to be sold in a white bottle and black label. It can't cut through soap scum like bleach can. AND, I highly recommend using Nature's Gate liquid hand soap for cleaning greasy dishes! If you use scalding water (hot enough to require dish gloves and kill bacteria) you don't NEED the anti bacterial formulations anyway! The lavender/aloe blend cuts though grease on dishes and hands better than Dawn or any other mainstream dish washing soap.
In a pinch, I have also used my Avalon Organic's shampoo (lavender blend) in the clothes washer! I don't make it a habit due to cost, but the smell and cleanliness difference is a nice change when I can't get out to buy the usual detergent. We have a front loader, so it requires less water and less detergent anyway.
Happy shopping! |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2007 : 09:06:38 AM
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anything I can make, I use, but some of the organic brands I use are: Burts Bees, Alba, Jason as well as the oils I use. I do my very best to buy only organic oils, but it can be tough for some of them. Amie is right about the shampoo. I use baking soda for wash and ACV for rinse. Every day. With that I notice that my hair is easier to brush and when I am showering, I am not losing as much of my hair as I use to when I showered. I let it air dry most of the time, too. I have a homemade rose water that I use on my face just before I put on my alba moisturizer.
I dont think I have anything that is mainstream anymore.
Just FYI, watch the label on Nature's Gate. They have soem less than natural ingredients. I use to be a die hard Natures Gate user, but I don't since reading their labels a little more carefully.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
Blogs: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com
http://tasharose365.wordpress.com/
Homepage:
http://gaiasrose.etsy.com
http://ForestFaeries.etsy.com
Birth is safe, interference is risky; TRUST BIRTH |
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Leezard
True Blue Farmgirl
950 Posts
Elizabeth
Novi
MI
USA
950 Posts |
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Jana
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Jana
Eau Claire
Wisconsin
USA
482 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2007 : 09:16:13 AM
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As someone who seems to be developing allergies to EVERYTHING, I have found out that organic isn't necessarily better, especially for me. I rotate hair care between Dr. Bronner's and the Baking Soda and ACV rinse. I brush my teeth with baking soda. I don't use Bronner's because its "organic", I use it because its actually soap. Something with other shampoos, even Aubrey or Jason or any others makes me get an allergic reaction. Truth be told, shampoos are detergents, they have sudsing agents, and these are sensitizers. Rembrand makes a toothpaste for canker sore sufferers. Too bad it makes my mouth swell up and break out in sores like any other toothpaste, "organic" or not.
AND all these corporations who make these products, whether mainstream or "organic" are interested in making a profit or they wouldn't be doing what they are doing.
I think the key here is to be sensible. Use what works for you. If you use it and it makes your eyes and mouth swell up and you get canker sores, it doesn't matter if it is "organic". Its no better than something you buy at a big box store that does the same thing.
Jana |
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jodyleek
Farmgirl in Training
37 Posts
Jody
Maple Plain
MN
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2007 : 10:08:52 AM
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If you are looking for truly organic and truly natural personal care products, go to www.terressentials.com. They are absolutely scrupulous about only including natural and organic ingredients in their products. And, their website is loaded with info on what is really in our beauty products.
That said, I do make my own hair care products. I use a good castile soap on my hair and follow with an apple cider/herbal tea rinse that I make at home.
I put it in a spray bottle and mist my hair, then lightly rinse (cold water rinse will really bring on the shine). No tangles, no stripping of color on my hair (I have colored and highlighted hair). My hair is now ridiculously soft and manageable with no extra hair care products to tame it. And, I do use a blow dryer almost daily. I also use a flat iron to smooth out some of the strands. I am going to start alternating the castile soap with a baking soda paste.
I am looking for a book that has recipes for personal care products...does anyone have good suggestions?
Monroe's Mom |
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Here's to Your Health: Switching to organic personal care |
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Switching to organic personal care
