Green and Grateful

Sunday, November 18th, 2007, 3:43 pm

With Thanksgiving just days away, I’ve been musing about this past year and recounting my blessings. High on the list is the fact that Green has certainly busted out all over. This newfound mass awareness of the eco-friendly lifestyle and its importance to us all makes living Green much easier.

Certainly, I’m thankful for my Going Green group that gives me a voice to share my thoughts, and the chance to hear my Green friends on Connect.  I’m thankful for the recent launch of GreenIsUniversal which gives us Green folk another forum to spread the word. These blessings got me thinking about all the wonderful people I’m connected to now as together we try to make our lives a little Greener.

I’d love to hear about your own “Green Team” – the people and companies who you rely on everyday to make living healthy and eco-friendly possible for all of us.

Mary Beth Gonzalez

Tags: organic, healthy, green, thanksgiving

Natural Beauty Products Review: Makeup

Monday, November 12th, 2007, 3:31 pm

Who doesn’t have a friend who swore off makeup because it “clogged her pores”, “caused wrinkles” or “took too much time in the morning to put on or at night to remove”? Like many women, I was taught that wearing makeup harmed my skin and that a natural, no-makeup look was the best thing I could do to keep my skin young, healthy and clear.

Then I learned about natural mineral make-up. Did you know that you can wear simple, natural mineral makeup and not only look good but also do good for your skin?

I thought it was too good to be true so I put my face to the test and tried 4 natural mineral based makeup lines over the course of 4 months. I used each product for a month so I could see the effects through a monthly cycle and also gauge the reactions of others. Since we wear makeup so others will think we look more beautiful, I wanted to hear what they thought about my latest and most revealing Green experiment.

It seems that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. My best critics noticed that something was different, but they kept asking me if I had done something to my hair. I even tried wearing one makeup to bed one night because it was advertised to be so good for my skin that I could wear it overnight. I got more makeup on the sheets then I got compliments from my husband.

But it didn’t matter because I was already hooked, line and sinker. I didn’t need to look in the mirror. I knew that I looked healthier, more natural and more glowing…if only from the inside out.  Just knowing that my new makeup brands were natural, free of chemicals and preservatives (as well as not tested on animals) brought a rose to my cheeks. And while I wasn’t completely blemish free for 4 months, I did notice a decrease in periodic eruptions and overall redness.

My new favorite natural makeup lines:

-          Bare Escentuals: The most natural “bare” look imaginable with mineral makeup that actually heals and protects your skin. I sprung for the Introductory Kit because it was a great value with foundations, blushes and brushes as well as an easy to follow DVD showing how to get that gorgeous bare, natural look both day and night. Not only do you look like you don’t have makeup on (in a good way) but you don’t get that “I’m wearing makeup” goopy feeling.  Skin Deep scores: 1-3

-       &nb sp;  Jane Iredale: Literally referred to as “The Skin Care Makeup”, this mineral makeup produces an effortless, flawless finish that dermatologists and plastic surgeons highly recommend. I’ve grown quite attached to her Moonglow Bronzer, Amazing Base, UnderEye brightener and her luxurious brushes. Skin Deep scores: 1-4 (mostly 1’s)

-       &nb sp;  Dr. Hauschka: Combining mineral makeup with natural botanicals makes this makeup nourishing as well as beautiful. I found their lipstick with shea butter and carrot extract to be moisturizing and yummy too (important since the average woman ingests 4.4 pounds of lipstick a year) and I like their Translucent Makeup with carrot and witch hazel extracts that soothes and calms my skin while avocado and jojoba oils keep it moist and glowing.

-       &nb sp;  Suki Color: Thought mineral makeup was just in powders? Well Suki Color has a fabulous pure mineral cream makeup that provides sheer, flawless coverage. Plus they include several organic ingredients throughout their makeup line. My favorite find is their Pure Cream Stain with chamomile extract to heal and soothe the skin.

I suggest that you select one brand and then use their products exclusively as they work best together to enhance, balance and nourish your skin. And then you just have one place to go to get all your makeup (cutting down on carbon emissions!). These products are all available through their online stores where they often provide a retailer locator.

And now I’ll never wander aimlessly through the halls of the Bloomingdale’s makeup floor again. I just look forward to the day when I can find these superior natural makeup products as easily as I can now find organic milk at my local deli.

Tags: beauty, organic, makeup, natural

Green Holiday Gifts

Monday, November 5th, 2007, 11:19 am

This year, I decided to give as many Green presents as possible. I realize that everyone on my gift list isn’t devoted to a Green lifestyle, yet I’ve discovered so many nifty green products this year and I really want to support their fledgling business with more than my written word. And maybe my little green gifts will be an inspiration to those I love to learn more about why an eco-friendly lifestyle can be better for their own health as well as the planet. Spoiler alert: those who think they just might be getting a present from me this year are warned not to read further if they want to be surprised.

Let’s see…what to buy for Mom…she lives in Florida and we share a lot of traits including a passion for purses. I think she will love HerDesign’s Mushroom purse in a fabulous tropical coral organic cotton with vegan leather trim ($169).

Now I’m done with my holiday shopping. What is often a taunting task was made fun this year as I enjoyed hunting for the perfect Green goodies. And as an added bonus, all these items can be purchased online so I didn’t have to drive to a store and add to my carbon emissions.

I plan to email those who I won’t see in person this holiday season to explain that their gifts will not be wrapped in shiny toxic paper and non-recyclable bows. I’d rather capture the long lasting smile of a green gift than the fleeting grin of a well wrapped present. I wonder if you have been thinking about how to be Greener this holiday season. Please share your green tips and gift suggestions here so we can all spread a little Green cheer this year.

Mary Beth Gonzalez

(photos of all these green gifts are in my blog photo gallery)

Tags: green, green gifts, presents, holiday

Eco-friendly Eco-warriers

Monday, November 5th, 2007, 11:19 am

I’m just back from London where I had the opportunity to experience their eco-friendly efforts first hand. Eco-friendly might be a little too gentle for the more activist “Eco-warriers” that abound in London. While mainstream America is just waking up to the climate crisis, Londoners have been protesting environmental abuse for many years. I heard tales of these Eco-warriers protesting the building of new streets and slashing the tires of SUVs. Being an island, water conservation isn’t a main concern but better not to be caviler about jumping a quick flight to Europe for the weekend and burning unnecessary fossil fuel in the process.

I was only in town for a few days so my green scouting trip wasn’t exhaustive but it was enlightening. First a brisk walk to the brand new, three story cavernous Whole Foods Market on Kensington High Street. Just opened in June 2007, this previous Barkers’ department store is immense and covers over 80,000 square feet. I was salivating as I toured the dining room offering sushi, sake, oysters, pizza, fresh juice and gelato, then on to the cheese room, the wine bar and the organic coffee shop. In addition to all the fresh, natural, organic food you would expect (and more) they have holistic treatment rooms and sell every type of American and European green beauty product you can imagine.

Next, I jumped a #19 bus to The Organic Pharmacy where they don’t allow any carcinogens or harmful chemicals in their products. In addition to seeing some of my favorite natural beauty brands: Jane Iredale and Dr. Hauschka, I bought their own Organic Glam High Shine Lip Plump in a fabulous Petal pink since all proceeds went to No More Breast Cancer, a UK Breast Cancer organization.

Finding a healthy meal in London isn’t easy with meat pies and fish & chips at every turn. However, just a #11 bus ride away, Daylesford Organic restaurant was a true green discovery. Based on a desire to turn their family land in the Cotswolds and Staffordshire over to sustainable, organic farming, a 20 year project was born. Their passion: to grow crops naturally, and rear healthy animals, for local people; and to feed their children better. Their mission: to reverse the industrialization of our food, and the pollution of the land that nurtures it. At Daylesford Organic, they grow, produce and cook real food, organically. And it tastes delicious. They practice organic, sustainable farming without using dangerous pesticides and herbicides on their crops. No artificial growth promoters, antibiotics and drugs on their animals. Sitting in their sidewalk café on Pimlico Road eating an organic cheeseburger with homemade chutney and locally grown tomatoes, I thought I’d gone to heaven.

A pleasant surprise, my hotel (the Atheneaum) served organic foods and highlighted on their menu that all their food purveyors practiced “good animal husbandry”. I think that means that they are nice to their animals before they eat them.

With the ease and popularity of London’s public transportation system, I frequented the tube and buses. This made me feel so much better when I taxied off to Heathrow for my 7 hour plane trip home. While not exactly an Eco-warrier, I am now more conscious of how much further we have to go in the US to address our personal impact on the environment. And I’m dreaming of a Daylesford Organic theme restaurant chain.

Mary Beth Gonzalez

Tags: ecofriendly, london, green, organic

Best Natural Dental Care Products

Monday, November 5th, 2007, 11:19 am

Best Natural Dental Care Products:

Kiss My Face: Offers fluoride-free and SLS-free products with no animal ingredients, artificial colors or unnecessary chemicals.

- Wake Up: Certified Organic Aloe Vera Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1

- Triple Action AloeDyne Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1

- Whitening AloeDyne Toothpaste,  Skin Deep score: 2

- AloeDyne Fresh Breath Mouthwash: Skin Deep score: 2

Jason: A Hain Celestial Group company, their natural and organic toothpastes are fluoride-free and SLS-free.

- Healthy Mouth: Tea Tree Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 3

- Powersmile Whitening Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1

Auromere: Auromere provides Ayurvedic products that are pure, authentic, cruelty-free and their toothpaste contains no fluoride or SLS.  I love their non-foaming, Cardamom and Fennel herbal toothpaste.  

Tom’s of Maine: A Colgate-Palmolive company, Tom’s of Maine sits on both sides of the fence. They offer SLS and Fluoride products as well as SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpastes with glycyrrhizin, derived from licorice root, to foam and disperse ingredients. Skin Deep scores not available for these specific recommended products but other Tom’s of Maine products scores range from 0-5

- Natural Clean & Gentle Care SLS-Free Antiplaque plus Whitening Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

- Natural Sensitive Care SLS-Free Toothpaste

Finding the right natural toothpaste for your personal needs isn’t easy. I’ve often spent more than 30 minutes at a time in the natural beauty aisle reading the detailed toothpaste ingredients. Some “natural” products sneak SLS in as one of the last ingredients. Others list sorbitol, a sugar, as one of the first ingredients. Though sorbitol, unlike common sucrose, isn’t suppose to cause dental decay, why would I want to brush my teeth and gums with sugar? Aren’t I brushing to get rid of the sugar that causes tooth decay? Manufacturers add sorbitol to appeal to the sweet tooth and sugar addictions of consumers.

We can be smarter and not fall for these tricks. We can take our toothbrush into our own hands and stop foaming at the mouth. Mary Beth Gonzalez

Tags: natural, healthy, green, dental care, toothpaste