I Love You, I Honestly Love You! Sunscreen Review: The Honest Company

Posted by:  Jordan

Unbelievably, another summer is coming to an end.  And so it’s time to recap my favorite sunscreen of the summer from The Honest Co.  This is an incredibly gentle, unscented, effective sunscreen that our whole family has been loving.  My husband even commented on how he liked it (it’s a major sign of how great a product is when it’s comment-worthy from a man!)  As pretty much all physical sunblocks do, it will leave a slight white tint if it’s not rubbed in well.  But, as my husband commented, it rubs in really well for a physical sunblock.

We used this on our baby and ourselves while we were spending a week on a lake this summer.  As any mom knows, wrestling with your child to put on sunscreen is no fun task, no matter which sunscreen you use.  So it’s definitely a bonus when a natural sunscreen is water-resistant because that’s just one less time I have to worry about reapplying (though don’t let that deter you from reapplying every few hours.  That’s important with any sunscreen, and I’m a huge culprit of forgetting to do this while we’re having fun outside.)  My only wish was that the sunscreen had a slightly higher SPF than 20.  SPF 30 is my comfort level for our fair-skinned family.

It goes without saying that the ingredients in this sunscreen are totally natural and safe:

ONLY contains the following 8 organic, natural, and edible-grade ingredients: 25% Zinc Oxide, Eldorado Springs Artesian Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Shea Butter, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF, and Vegetable Vitamin E

I subscribe to the Diaper Bundle from the Honest Company (amazing diapers, if you are in the market for chemical-free, plant-based, disposable diapers.  I could go on and on about them, but that’s another post for a non-beauty blog!) so I added this sunscreen to my monthly shipment of diapers.  The price is completely reasonable, $13.95 for 3 oz.  I will definitely be reordering it with our next shipment.  As of right now the sunscreen is only available to purchase through their website, but hopefully in the future they’ll start distributing their amazing natural goods to retailers.  I haven’t tried any of the other personal care products, but I’m anxious to try as many as possible and report back.  From what I’ve heard from other people, and what Emily has experienced, all the products are equally fantastic!

Just Say No to Petroleum-Based Products! Review: Waxelene and Egyptian Magic

Posted by:  Jordan

We all know that we should start looking at the ingredients in our beauty products and paying attention to what we put on our skin and, hence, in our bodies.  Why exactly should we be concerned about petroleum-based products?  This is a really good, succinct article that will explain why, for health, beauty, and environmental reasons, we should be avoiding petroleum.  So what should the Vaseline addicts use?  I have some great suggestions!

 Waxelene is a fantastic moisturizing balm with so many uses.  The local, sustainable ingredients are pure and simple: Organic Soy Oil, Beeswax, Natural Vitamin E Oil, Organic Rosemary Oil.  It’s a great deal too–a huge 9 oz jar costs $15.99 on Amazon. So you can really lather this stuff on and not feel guilty about how much it costs.  I love using it as a super-rich hand cream, a lip moisturizer (I like to put a small amount into an old lip balm jar with a couple drops of lavender essential oil), an incredible overnight foot cream, a makeup remover, a flyaway hair tamer, a sunless tanner barrier (if you’re into that…I encourage you to just embrace your natural skin color though.  Who knows what chemicals you’re breathing and putting on your skin with sunless tanners!), a diaper rash barrier for baby…I could go on, but why don’t you just check out their list of suggested uses!  Summed up, this stuff rocks.  I think it’s a necessity in every household, but especially one with a baby when you’re washing your hands ten million times a day and need a heavy-duty moisturizer lest you have hands that are dry, cracked, and looked like you’re the baby’s great-grandmother rather than the parent!

Egyptian Magic is an ideal all-purpose moisturizer–less thick and Vaseline-y feeling than Waxelene, yet amazingly hydrating.  The ingredient list is similar to Waxelene, but just a bit more exquisite with the addition of the super-luxe ingredient, royal jelly.  Ingredient list: olive oil, beeswax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis extract (the resin from bee hives). A little goes a long way with this stuff, which is good since a 4 oz jar costs $36.  The consistency is that of a jelly; however, as soon as it’s warmed in your hands it becomes an oil, which we all know is the best way to moisturize.  Skin loves oil.  And I love Egyptian Magic.  It has a cult-like following, including stars such as Madonna and Kate Hudson.  Some of the testimonials are bordering on fanatical they’re so devoted to this stuff.  I admit that I bought this cream after being sold on how this “miracle cream” can cure whatever ails you–eczema, acne and old acne scars, burns, fever blisters,  warts, bug bites, crow’s-feet, etc. Perhaps I’m a little cynical–I’m not completely convinced that this stuff is quite as magical as some of the testimonials, but is it an incredible natural moisturizer worth every cent?  Absolutely!  I’m also in love with the outdated packaging.  Kind of reminiscent of kooky Dr. Bronner’s packaging, which of course leads me to believe that they actually put their money into the product’s quality ingredients instead of marketing and advertising.

So please, get rid of that cheapo Vaseline and get a product that is healthier for you and the environment.  Choose your (organic) poison and let us know if you discover any miracles!

The Replacements are here!

posted by: Emily

If you’re like me, and you grew up using products like Vaseline and Aquaphor, you might miss them once you’ve gone green. I don’t miss the toxic part of the ingredients, or the not-at-all-earth-friendly aspect, but I have to admit that petroleum products (aka petrolatum, petroleum jelly, paraffin) are really great moisturizers, and I miss that part. For years, I thought there was nothing like it in the natural product world.

But recently, I have discovered NOT ONE, but TWO! new petroleum alternatives that really work and are good for you! Both are technically marketed as baby products, which is how I discovered them, but I assure you they are great well-beyond their uses on little ones.

The first is from our beloved Weleda: Calendula Weather Protection Cream. (Full disclosure: Weleda sent us this product for free to try on our babies, but I had purchased a tube of it myself long before then and was loving it before we got the free one from them.)

It’s called a “cream” but it’s more like a gel, a little more oily (in a good way) than the texture of Aquaphor. Spreadable, great-smelling, and, as promised, incredibly moisturizing. I used it on my daughter’s wind- and cold-burned cheeks during the winter when the pediatrician suggested Aquaphor. It worked amazingly well and the smell is so soothing and restorative. So I started using it on my hands, chapped from way too much washing. It worked like a charm. Both my daughter and I love it year-round, regardless of the titular weather.

*

The other product that I LOVE as a petroleum-product replacement is Honest Healing Balm. It’s from a new company you might have heard about, The Honest Company. Read all about them here– they are a great company. You will be hearing A LOT more about them from us, as both Jordan and I have sampled products from them and loved every single one of them. We purchased their sampler packs– they send you travel-sized versions of many of their products for FREE other than shipping costs. I highly recommend doing that, and also trying their diapers if you have a kiddo in diapers in your life.

All their products are natural, non-toxic, many are organic, and all and have pure, wonderful ingredients. Many are unscented, and all are extremely effective. Their packaging is sustainable, and the company is partnered with a non-profit to provide for babies in need. We’ll be posting more reviews soon.

The Healing Balm is advertised as “soothing protection & relief for diaper rash and sensitive skin” and is “Hypoallergenic / Clinically tested / Pediatrician Recommended / Vegetarian / Sensitive for Everyday Use.” I have found it works great as an all-purpose moisturizer, healer, and protector. It’s texture is almost exactly like Aquaphor– thick and rich. Not as easily spreadable as the Weleda, but still plenty spreadable. My only complaint is that even though it’s “unscented” it has a faint odor I don’t totally love– nothing bad, just a natural oil scent. It probably won’t bother anyone else (my husband doesn’t smell it) but I’m very odor-sensitive since having my daughter. Blame hormones, what can I say?

*

I tried out both of these products simultaneously for comparison and can say they work equally well. First, I did one on each hand, and was thrilled to find that even the next time I washed my hands– with soap– the balms worked as moisture-providing barriers and water beaded up on my skin keeping my hands from getting dried out. From my many other uses of both balms, I know they both healed the cracks and scrapes on my over-washed hands practically over night.

I then tested the balms on my legs, one on each to compare. I tested them right after shaving, which often irritates my severely dry skin, even in summer. Both did an excellent job of immediately providing relief from irritation post-shave, and hours later, my legs were equally still moist from the balms. The next day, both legs were STILL moist, and never were they particularly greasy.

I highly recommend both of these products, whether you have a baby in your life or not!

** Special note: Weleda has new products on their site: New natural Body Lotions! I haven’t tried them yet, but I just ordered the sampler from Weleda.com for $13.95. I can’t wait to try them all (and post a review for you)! And if you order another product and spend more than $30, you get a free Refining Toner (worth $17)! And if you buy another product and spend more than $50, shipping is free as always.

While you’re shopping on line, order Honest’s free trial– I don’t know how long they’re going to do it. It’s $4.95 for shipping and you get both body products and home-cleaning products to try! They’re great! You have to sign up for a monthly delivery but can cancel any time.

Have/Love/Want 6.13.12

Posted by:  Jordan

Have: Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Organic Cotton Rounds

After reading the positive review about these cotton rounds on the Glamorganic Goddess, I figured I should really be concerned about not only what products I put on my skin, but also what I put them on with–namely cotton rounds that have been chemically bleached.  I was won over by The Goddess’s arguments about how destructive conventional cotton farming is on the environment, so I’m trying to make a conscious effort to buy more organic cotton.  However, I can’t say I’m won over by these cotton rounds.  I always end up with cotton shreds on my face and fingers, and then waste several seconds trying to remove the stubborn hairy bits stuck to hands.  Sadly, I don’t think I’ll be buying these again.  Does anyone else know of organic cotton rounds that are a bit more sturdy?

Love: All-Natural Boudreaux’s Butt Paste

First, I need to point out the confusion that Emily and I ran into when she asked me for a recommendation for effective diaper rash relief.  We’ve unfortunately had to deal with irritating diaper rash a few times, so I’ve tried a few techniques.  I recommended Boudreaux’s Butt Paste, but I didn’t realize there was a natural version and a non-natural, petroleum-based version.  Emily saw the original formula (non-natural) at her local store and figured, “well, maybe this is something Jordan feels it’s ok to make a concession on since it really cures diaper rash”, even though she was hesitant about the ingredients.  Later that week she mentioned that it had really worked at clearing up her daughter’s diaper rash and I realized that I should write a review of it on the blog.  At that point she said, “but it’s petroleum-based…”  After much discussion on the scent and the color of packaging, we deduced that we had different versions; there must be a natural and a non-natural version.  Thanks to a quick Google search, we discovered that there are, in fact, different versions.   So, if you’re in need of some Butt Paste, we urge you to get the natural version for your sweet baby’s skin.

Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Peruvian Balsam Oil

Since the tube is rather large, and you only use a small amount on baby’s skin–Bless Google–I did a search for other uses for Boudreaux’s Butt Paste and found a multitude of things for which people had used this cream.  Basically, it’s a cure-all for skin ailments– bug bites, acne, psoriasis, dandruff…the list goes on; someone even said it cured their ingrown toenail (??).  I haven’t tried this cream for anything other than a small breakout I had, which it did seem to relieve the redness and made the pimple smaller overnight.  If you’ll remember, I tried Weleda’s Diaper Cream as a blemish remedy once, as well.  The zinc is really effective in drying any breakouts up, and Boudreaux’s has 16% zinc–a bit more than Weleda’s 12%.  I’d be interested to hear if anyone else has found this cream to be a cure-all for anything!

Want:  Eminence Organics SPF 25 Tinted Moisturizer

I am still madly  in love with all Eminence products.  They’re my Creme de la Mer of organic beauty products–on the expensive side (not as much as Creme de la Mer, thankfully), but so effective and luxurious.  Everything I have tried from them has been an instant favorite.  So it’s not a surprise that Emily and I are both itching to try this (figuratively…if it were in the literal sense, I’d recommend rubbing some Boudreaux’s Butt Paste on that itch).  Tinted moisturizers are my favorite daily beauty product.  I like that it gives me some sun protection (if I’m outside at the park or beach, I’ll apply something more heavy-duty), and evens out my skin tone.  But it feels lightweight like a moisturizer, rather than a foundation on top of a moisturizer, which is heavier than I like–especially during the summer.

As an addendum to my Eminence wish list, my friend, Amy, told me about the amazing Eminence facials she gets at Pretty Please Beauty Studio in the Flatiron District of NYC. I’m trying to find a way to get myself some free time to indulge in a relaxing, organic facial!

 

Babies Eat These Sunscreens Up (Hopefully Not Literally)

Posted by:  Jordan

We took our 3 month old baby girl to Puerto Rico for a little vacation last month and I asked the pediatrician if I could use sunscreen on her (I’ve read conflicting views of sunscreen on babies under 6 months).  She said to just make sure I did a test patch on her to be certain there were no allergies.   Of course, I also had to make sure that the ingredients were safe and all-natural. Being the product junkie that I am, I couldn’t be satisfied with just bringing one sunscreen with us on vacation–no, I had to bring three.  All three of these sunscreens are listed on EWG’s Safest Sunscreen list from 2011

First in my bag was my tried-and-true Marie Veronique’s Kid Safe Screen (see my review of that sunscreen here), which I mainly used for myself, but I did use it on my daughter occasionally as well…it just happens to be one of my personal favorites so I didn’t exactly want to share.  Mom of  the year award??

 

I had some leftover Badger Unscented Sunscreen from last summer that I also brought with us.  This one used to be my husband’s favorite until he tried the Marie Veronique sunscreen (again, I was reluctant to share).  This sunscreen was great for covering large portions of my daughter’s body because it was so thick and spreadably creamy, so it was simple to make sure we had all portions of exposed skin covered.  Notice the 2.9 oz size–thank you for thinking of air travelers, Badger!

 

Finally, I bought a travel and diaper-bag friendly sunscreen stick from California Baby, which is so convenient!  The small, lightweight size makes it perfect for keeping in your bag for spontaneous trips to the park, which we’ve been doing a lot this past week since we’ve been blessed with 70 degree days here in NYC.  The trick to this sunscreen is to apply it to your fingers first, and then spread it on your baby’s face, ears, etc; otherwise, if you apply it directly to the skin it can sometimes leave tiny clumps that are hard to blend in.   The stick form is great for baby’s face because when you’re applying sunscreen to a squirmy child they have an annoying tendency to want to turn their head away from the sunscreen blitzkrieg.  The stick makes it less likely for you to accidentally get sunscreen in baby’s eye as you’re trying to pin him or her down.

With this arsenal of safe and effective sunscreens, hopefully I’ll prevent my daughter from having to get her sunspots removed via light-therapy in 30 years, like I recently did.  Curses to you, pre-prom tanning beds.

Calling All Dreamsicle Lovers

Posted by:  Jordan

I just got home from visiting my mom in Chicago and she bought my baby the most incredible bath products: organic shampoo & body wash and baby lotion from Earth Mama Angel Baby.  It goes without saying that the ingredients are as clean as can be, and now my baby is too because I couldn’t stop bathing her, thanks to these addictive products!  I usually only bathe her every 2-3 days, but I was so in love with these products that I wanted to give her a bath every night so she’d smell just like a Dreamsicle.  The natural orange-vanilla scent was soft and sweet, not cloying and overpowering.  I also loved the design of the bottle with the self-foaming dispenser.  It makes washing her squirmy body even easier since the liquid soap is already foamed for you and you don’t lose a portion of the soap in the water.  I used this deliciously scented natural soap on myself, too, and I can attest that it doubles as a wonderful foaming shave cream for my legs.

After  bathing I applied the Angel Baby Lotion on my daughter’s skin and it was left soft and sweet-smelling.  Of course, I used it for myself too and love it as an everyday body lotion.  It has the perfect, non-greasy lotion consistency, the scent is addictive (have I mentioned yet that I love the orange-vanilla scent??), and it’s very moisturizing.  My skin usually dries out pretty quickly in the dry, cold Midwestern air, but this trip neither of us had any scaly, dry patches.  I reluctantly left these delightful products at my mom’s house so they would be there for our next visit, so I’m thinking that once we run out of our current supplies, we’re going to need some of these products at our house as well.

If you’re going to a baby shower, these would make a perfect gift along with a cute bath towel and wash cloths.  Ditch the cheap Johnson & Johnson standby lotions with synthetic fragrances and cancer-causing ingredients and upgrade to these healthy, gourmet-smelling products (remember to print out the $1 off coupon online!). And don’t just write these off as a baby product–I love them just as much for myself!

So Thankful

Posted by: Jordan

You may have noticed a lull in posting on my part recently. There’s also been a severe lull in sleeping in our household for the past 3 weeks. But the reason for both is an excellent one since we welcomed our daughter–and the newest product junkie–to our family! Harlyn Annabelle was born on October 30th and our lives have been forever changed. I am beyond thankful that we get to be her parents.

Our precious girl loves her Weleda Calendula Shampoo & Body Wash during bath time

Other things I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving:

doTerra lavender essential oil – My cousin gave me this pure essential oil–along with a bottle of fractionated coconut oil–as a baby gift. She advised me of all the ways the lavender oil can benefit baby (1-2 drops of essential oil per 2 tablespoons of fractionated coconut oil to dilute it for use on a baby; no need to dilute for adults). This oil alleviates fussiness, skin rashes, fever, earache, and most importantly for us recently, diaper rash. Our little girl already had her first case of diaper rash and after only a few days of using the diluted lavender oil on her sensitive skin, it has cleared up! She also loves when I use a little bit as a massage oil during an infant massage. I love the lavender oil rubbed on my temples and back of my neck when I have a headache–my tension headache immediately goes away (crying babies have a way with giving someone a tension headache from time to time!)

Tinted lip balm from Naked Eye Beauty – Emily and I received a sample of this amazing tinted lip balm from the line’s creator, Jen, last week. All week I’ve kept the balm on my bathroom sink and look forward to putting it on my lips. It is far and away the best tinted balm I’ve ever tried (sorry, Burt’s Bees, this blows you out of the water!) The rosy pinkish-red color is perfection–it brightens my face without screaming, “I just applied lipstick in order to make myself look less sleep deprived”. The consistency and smoothness make you want to constantly reapply it, even though the color miraculously lasts a surprisingly long time for a tinted balm. And my favorite part, other than the universally flattering color, is the scent. Jen uses rose and passionfruit flavoring and it’s reminiscent of a scent used in the lobby of a super-luxe tropical resort. Though the price isn’t super-luxe; only $6 for this little bit of happiness. Better yet, for the months of November and December all products in the Naked Eye Beauty line are 15% off by using code NEB15OFF. I want to try everything from this vegan all-natural skincare line, sold exclusively on Etsy. Guaranteed, I’ll be stocking up on these lip balms so I’m never without them ever again (also available in a coral color, which I’ve yet to try, but will definitely be ordering soon!). The lip balm doubles as a cream blush, which works great as a multi-tasker–essential in a new-mom makeup arsenal! Update: I ordered the coral color and I love it just as much as the rose!!! It’s equally flattering as the rose color but just a little less bright, more toned down. Love both of them!

Hope everyone has a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving!

Re-Surfacing

Posted by: Emily

Hello, world. I’m back.

For 3 months, I have been completely lost in the amazing, all-consuming world of my newborn daughter. She is an absolute delight, and I have been blissfully happy (and, let’s face it, pretty tired! But seriously, REALLY happy.). Until 3 months ago, I had spent my life always thinking ahead, dreaming long-term, setting goals that have nothing to do with “the moment” and everything to do with “the future.” Having a baby has forced me to live in the moment and appreciate each day, and that is the best gift Hallie could ever give me, besides her delicious smiles.

Each day with a newborn is just about moment to moment. It’s impossible to be on any kind of schedule with a brand-new baby (if you’re out there and you have figured out how to make that work, let me know!) so I learned to set smaller goals, and even to enjoy them. For example: at the beginning, my goal for the day may have been “today, I will feed my baby 8-10 times and change her diapers.” And that would be the only thing I had to do in a day. And at the end of that day, as my husband and I sank into bed, exhausted, Hallie swaddled and fed and sleeping peacefully in the co-sleeper attached to our bed, we’d look at each other and think, hey, today was a huge success! She ate, she slept, she’s happy and well. We did it.

It was such a refreshing change from my previous days spent type-A style worrying about the little things on my to-do lists that had, in my mind, huge, long-term implications in my career and life decades into the future. Suddenly, life was a little slower, a little smaller, and a lot happier.

Now, I know it can’t go on like that forever. Hallie will grow and I will have to think about more things than just feeding and changing her. In fact, I think one of the best things I can give her is an example of leading a full life. So I want to return to blogging and writing and acting and seeing friends and being a real grown-up, whatever that means, so that Hallie sees all that. But I hope I can always keep a sense of living in the moment, of defining success as taking care of myself and Hallie and my husband and loving them and enjoying the little things.

Now that I am resurfacing, there’s another surface I have to start thinking about again. My skin could use a little resurfacing. I have been sorely neglecting my skin since giving birth. Bad time to do so, since the huge surges and drops in hormones mean this is a crazy time for my skin. Not that I’ve noticed, or cared, until recently. And even now, I have to say I care a lot less than I used to, and that feels GREAT. But I still do care I am still a product junkie!!!

For the first time since my early teens, I have given up moisturizing after every single shower. I know, gasp.  There’s just not time, and also, I don’t want to get moisturizer all over Hallie, and since I’m breastfeeding, we have a lot of skin-to-skin contact. (I do use all-natural and unscented body moisturizers, John Masters Bare and California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion, but still don’t want to get anything on Hallie’s perfect, untouched skin yet!) (Note: I am talking about giving up moisturizing my whole body after every shower, not my face– that is a “must” twice a day no matter what or I get that tight-skin-feeling).

Anyway, a side-effect of not moisturizing constantly (I’m just happy to get the shower in– forget the moisturizing!) is that I have all these little bumps on my skin in places where it’s really dry. I decided a few weeks ago that I needed a good body exfoliator. Before birth I’d previously been using a fabulous homemade sugar scrub recipe that Jordan taught me, but it can make the tub very slippery, so I decided to try something else that was a little easier to use when one is sleep-deprived and in a hurry. I bought Weleda’s Birch Body Scrub when they had their 50% off sumer sale and gave it a try.

Despite thinking that everything Weleda makes is perfect, I was skeptical at first. You see, the Birch Body Scrub feels so gentle and soft on my skin– I was kind of thinking that in order to be effective, a scrub would have to be really abrasive and harsh, and this one is not; the little scrubbing beads are smooth, not jagged. So to my delight, after a few uses followed by a little Skin Food on the really dry patches, the little bumps are going away! I am so impressed, but not surprised. After all, it’s Weleda. And I love the scent– fresh and woodsy.  Different from any other scents I have, and perfect for summer/fall.

Now I am in the market for a good facial exfoliator! Any suggestions out there? I’m tempted to use the Birch Scrub, but it clearly says “body” on it, and not “face,” so I am looking for something made for the sensitive skin on my face. Please post ideas for me in the comments, and I will try and review the suggestions! Feel free to suggest things you use and love, or suggest something you want me to try out for you so I can tell you how it works

Product Junkies: The Next Generation

Posted by: Emily

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of the Littlest Product Junkie, my daughter, Adrienne Hallie! Born May 30, she is 2 weeks old and already has a favorite product! Hallie adores Weleda Baby Calendula Diaper Care! We both love it– as per her pediatrician’s suggestion, we’ve been using it as preventative care, and she has had no diaper rash at all! And it smells terrific. Like mother, like daughter, Hallie loves Weleda! It is the only brand she uses! We can’t wait to try out the whole line of baby products as Hallie needs them! (Despite my product junkie status, babies don’t really need much in the way of products for the first few weeks, but we’ll get there!)

Hallie

Happy family right after Hallie's birth

And more great news for the next generation of Product Junkies: Hallie is going to have a fellow Product Junkie/bosom friend: Jordan is also having a little girl!

Jordan visits Hallie

We can’t wait to share our love of healthy products with our daughters!!

Emily (aka Mama) and Hallie