Consumer Health Features

Eco-friendly home and beauty products for Earth Day, April 22

By April MacIntyre Apr 21, 2010, 21:14 GMT

Mist floats over hills after rain near Abaliget, some 240 kms south of Budapest, Hungary, 14 April 2010. In order to incite environment-consciousness and appreciation for natural ambience, Earth Day is celebrated all over the world on 22 April. EPA/PETER KOLLANYI

Organic products for home and beauty are an excellent addition to your routine laundry lists if you are making the effort to also eat organically, and be mindful of keeping harmful ingredients that cumulatively can cause cancer and other terrible diseases at bay.

Today, thanks to forward thinking supermarkets like H.E.B., Hannaford, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and lots of local chains, it is much easier to purchase these products that deliver results without leaving residual chemicals that can harm.

Consumers are demanding higher quality personal care items in the common supermarket aisles that traditionally offer the most basic mass-market varieties.

The explosive growth and interest in organic/natural skincare is fueled by the older baby boomer population and "NPRents" – a term coined in jest by now defunct Radar magazine to describe the newest variation of the classic Yuppie: Educated, affluent progressive young parents who have a generalized fear of toxic ingredients and care about fairtrade farming.

Holistic lifestyle savvy boomers started turning 50 in the mid-1990's and have been steadily switching to natural skincare products to preserve their looks and health.

A growing awareness of organic food and concern about environmental issues has increased consumer interest and demand in natural products for total well-being. Across the board consumers are demanding non-synthetic chemical toothpastes, deodorants, skincare, shampoo and makeup along with safer home cleaning products.

With Earth Day around the corner, this April 22— Monsters and Critics will share some of our favorite tested organic products.

Here is a round-up of some of the best products for home and beauty around:

This Earth Day, help the planet, and yourself, by replacing a few everyday items throughout your home with affordable eco-friendly options.

Teeth:

Plastic may be the easiest material to make toothbrushes from, but the folks at Radius (www.radiustoothbrush.com) care more about being environmentally responsible. 

The company uses recycled material and the Radius Source Toothbrush puts an eco-friendly spin on an everyday hygiene product.

Made from recycled materials such as dollar bills, flax fiber or wood, these toothbrushes also last much longer than the average toothbrush.

Extremely thorough for a hand-held brush.

Soaps: The Wembé line

Wembé is a truly unusual handmade, eco-luxe soap from Paraguay.

This line of handmade soaps was created by a mother and son duo from Paraguay who wanted to share the natural ingredients and restorative qualities of the rainforest with people around the world.  Wembé uses natural and organic plants and ingredients to create their exotic blends like mango, avocado, black clay, yerba mate, coconut, white rose and more.  For more information, visit www.Wembe.com

Skin Pad Cleansers

Niapads are amazingly effective for blemish and Rosacea control. The pads contain Niacinamide (aka Nicotinamide or Vitamin B3). This product has worked miracles on teenage skin suffering from severe acne in our house, and is my favorite deep cleansing pad for face washing. Gentle natural formula, even most sensitive Rosacea-afflicted skin will respond well to it.  http://niapads.com/

Makeup and foundations

Christopher Drummond is an excellent mineral powder line that leaves a great finish and gives coverage.  Drummond's Beauty's line of all-natural, vegan makeup is gaining in popularity.  www.christopherdrummond.com

Laundry

Earth Friendly's ECOS laundry detergent is excellent, especially for front loaders. Safe guard your home and improve air quality with Earth Friendly Products (www.ecos.com)  Earth Friendly's ECOS laundry detergent with a built-in coconut-based softener, is the world's number one selling"green" laundry detergent. ECOS is a concentrated liquid laundry detergent that cleans a full laundry load with only one ounce and is available in four natural scents. It performs beautifully.

Dish Detergent

DuoDish is the first dual cleaning product that is a powerful dishwashing gel is strong enough for the dishwasher and gentle enough for your hands. The gel can be used for both hand washing dishes and in the dishwasher to get all flatware and pans clean; and to boot, it so effective and quickly rinsable it saves water too. (www.ecos.com)

Food Washes / Counter Sprays

Ecos.com also has a great surface cleaner called Parsley Plus that smells like you just chopped fresh parsley, cleaning every kitchen surface and cutting through grease. It is clear and safe to use around even the most chemically sensitive people.

Ecos.com has Fruit & Vegetable Wash in a spray bottle that cuts through industrially sprayed on waxes and pesticides. Leaves no odors or residue on even the most delicate lettuce and herb leaves.

Hand creme, lotions 

The lavender line of LaNatura (which means “the natural” in Italian) is pure addiction for me. If you love Lavender oil, this line offers a comprehensive collection of good-for-you products including body lotions, body washes, scrubs, body butters, lip balms and exfoliators, among others. 

La Natura, courtesy of La Natura.com

Each contains the finest natural and certified organic ingredients that make skin feel fantastic.  My favorite is the Feel Well Organic Lavender Collection.  Infused with certified organic Lavender.  http://lanatura.com/

Hair texturizers

For hair that wants a life, Pre Game Texturizing spray does just that, without harsh stuff, to add real oomph. Beachy texture and volume are achieved by natural salts from the Dead Sea, and this spray really does amp up the volume as it conditions hair.  No parabens, petrochemicals, cruelty free (all our picks here are) rich in Argon oil and scented with real coconut essence.  www.stylingpowder.com

Face Masks

Pangea's Organic Japanese Matcha Tea With Acai & Goji Berry Facial Mask, this is a top selling product for Whole Foods and for Pangea. Warning: You will look like you landed face first into a muck puddle, but the results are terrific, especially too if you have Rosacea. The mask is for men, women, teens and for all skin types.
PangeaOrganics.com

Luxury Spa Gifts, Organic Skin Care and Candles

If you have never heard of NuboNau, get acquainted quick! www.nubonau.com

This Carlsbad Spa is also a genius destination for some of the best in skincare, candles, haircare and scents for anyone looking for a superb, original present for a lucky recipient. Their hand-poured candles (made in England) are unbelievably rich in scent and loaded with natural essential oils, and fill the room with a Spa fresh fragrance that is intoxicating. I am addicted to the Organika candle, and use their service to order meticulously wrapped gifts (eco friendly) for any occasion.

Founded in California in 2008, having originated from the United Kingdom, NuboNau brings the very best the entire world has to offer in Natural and Organic skin care brands.

Their website and spa carry these terrific brands (Arcona is a also staple for me, after learning of the line from Scarlett Johansson's makeup artist, Heba Thorisdottir, in a past interview).

    * Arcona
    * Aromatherapy Associates
    * butter LONDON
    * Dr.Hauschka
    * Erbaviva
    * Glory For Girls
    * Holistic Silk
    * ila Spa
    * john masters organics

    * Juice Beauty
    * La Bella Donna
    * NuboNau Organika
    * Nude
    * Pai
    * REN
    * SaniManiPedi
    * SheerinO'kho
    * Spiezia Organics

    * Strange Invisible
    * TSI~LA
    * Vive Sana

For your shopping perusal, here are some additional key players in organic and natural skincare:

Alba Organics www.albabotanica.com Eugene, OR
Alba Botanics  www.albabotanica.com Eugene, OR
Alaffia www.alaffia.com  Olympia,WA
Anna Marie Borlind  www.borlind.com imported - New London, CT
Aubrey Organics  www.aubrey-organics.com, 1 813-877-4586, Tampa, Florida (Levlad)
Aura Cacia (Frontier) www.auracacia.com   1 319.227.7996  Norway, IA.
Avalon Organics  www.avalonorganics.com  1 800.227.5120, Petaluma, CA
Better Botanicals  www.betterbotanicals.com
Burt's Bees  www.burtsbees.com Morrisville, NC  FAX 1-800-429-7487 New Accounts Coordinator
California Baby  www.californiababy.com  (baby care) Culver City, CA
Collective Well Being www.collectivewellbeing.com 1 800 896 4649
Derma E  www.dermae.net 1 805.582.2710  800.521.3342  Simi Valley, CA
Desert Essence  www.desertessence.com 800.848.7331
Devita   www.devita.net   1 877 2Devita  devita@devita.net
Dr. Bronner's www.drbronner.com Escondido, CA  760 743 2211
Dr. Hauschka  www.drhauschka.com 1 800-247-9907  South Deerfield, MA
Earth Science  www.earthessentials.com 1 800 347 5211  Santa Barbara, CA
Ecco Bella  www.eccobella.com 1 877 696 2220 x19  Montclair, NJ
EO   www.eoproducts.com   1 800 570 3775  Corte Madera, CA
Erba Organics  www.erbaorganics.com 1 877 336 8080
Evan Healy www.evanhealy.com 1 888 335 0190
Giovanni  www.giovannicosmetics.com Beverly Hills, CA
Healthy Times  www.healthytimes.com (baby care)   Poway, CA
Home Health www.homehealthUS.com
Hugo  www.hugonaturals.com 1 818 576-9917   Chatsworth, CA
IKOVE by florestas  www.florestas.net
JASON  www.jasoncosmetics.com (Hain-Celestial Group)
Kiss My Face  www.kissmyface.com 1.800.262.KISS  Gardiner, NY
Kopali Organics  www.kopaliorganics.com
Lily of the Desert www.lilyofthedesert.com Denton, TX
Magick www.magickboanicals.com 1 800 237 6674
Masada  www.masada-spa.com 1.800.368 8811
Monoi Tiare Tahiti www.monoi.com 1 808 625-7728  Waipahu, Hawaii
Mountain Ocean  www.mountainocean.com 1 303-444-2781 Boulder, CO
MyChelle  www.mychelleusa.com   1 800-447-2076  Frisco, CO
Nature's Gate  www.natures-gate.com 1 818-882-2951 Chatsworth, CA (Levlad, LLC)
Nelsons  www.nelsons.net (1) 978-988-3833, 1 800-319-9151 (based in London) Wilmington, MA
Nutribiotic   www.nutribiotic.com  1 800-225-4345  Lakeport, CA.
Pangea Organics www.pangeaorganics.com 1 877 679 5854  Boulder, CO.
Parissa  www.parissa.com 1 888 986 9974  N. Vancouver, BC (natural waxing kits)
Rachel Perry www.rachelperry.net  1 800 966 8888, 1 818 374-3455    Van Nuys, CA
Reviva Labs www.revivalabs.com
ShiKai  www.shikai.com 1 800 448-0298, 1 707 544-0298  Santa Rosa, CA
Souce Naturals www.sourcenaturals.com Scotts Valley, CA
South of France  www.goodhealthnaturalfoods.com  1 631 261-2111x17  Northport, NY
Suki  www.sukipure.com 1 888.858.suki (7854)   1 413.584.7854   Northampton, MA
Sunshine Spa  www.sunshine-spa.herbsmd.com  FAX 1 408-273-6490 Torrance, CA
Tiger Balm  www.popus.com 1 800 732 2328
Toms of Maine  www.tomsofmaine.com 1 800-367-8667, 1 207-985-2944  Kennebunk, ME
Ultra Aesthetics www.anti-aging-skincare.net   1 928-282-1614  Sedona, AZ
Queen Helene  www.queenhelene.com  1-800-434-4246  Hempstead, NY (Hain-Celestial Group)
Weleda  www.usa.weleda.com 1-800-241-1030  Palisades, NY
Zia  www.zianatural.com 1 800-334-7456 (Hain-Celestial Group)