Andalou Naturals Healthy Shine Shampoo Sunflower and Citrus

I've been using this shampoo for the past few weeks and wanted to tell you about it.  I love the lather and the citrus smell, which is derived from natural sources.  Washing my hair with this shampoo is very close to using traditional shampoos, so it's a great natural alternative for those not wanting to compromise on the richness of the lather.

The company's focused on their 'Advanced Fruit Stem Cell Science' which claims to improve hair follicle longevity and vitality for healthy hair.  Citrus gently clarifies and brightens while the sunflower, rich in Vitamin E, nourishes and conditions the hair.  I certainly saw the results myself, my hair was shiny and looked really healthy!

Best of all, it's made naturally without sulfates, GMO, petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, colors or preservatives. It's also pH Balanced & Hypo-Allergenic for those with sensitive skin.

Andalou Naturals Shampoo can be purchased for approximately $10 at natural food stores or online at www.Amazon.com Andalou Sunflower and Citrus Shampoo.

My Top Picks for Kids

Many of my mom friends have been emailing me for recommendations on baby/kid products, so I've compiled a list of my favorite ones below.  I have lots of other recommendations on baby products beyond this so if anyone has any questions, please let me know.  Hope it's helpful!

Baby Shampoo/Bodywash
For infants, I love Angel Baby Shampoo & Bodywash since it's really natural.  California Baby Calming Shampoo has also been a favorite and is great for toddlers.

Baby Lotion
I don't believe in applying moisturizer for the sake of it.  But when we have needed it, we like Erbaviva's Baby Lotion, a light and fresh lotion with an herbal scent.  For something more heavy-duty, we like California Baby's Calendula Cream for dry/red spots; it clears any rash right up. 


Diaper Rash Cream
Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment is a zinc-based, healthy diaper rash cream that really works.  It's also good for other dry skin issues.  Another favorite of mine is Arbonne's Diaper Rash Cream.

Sunscreen
We've used California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30 Sunscreen for a few years now. The reformulated product is a bit runnier, but I prefer that to the thick mineral sunscreens on the market that are hard to spread.


Diapers
Earth's Best Diapers diapers were the best in terms of wetness protection for us, even compared to regular brands.  For overnight, we now use Seventh Generation Overnight Diapers since they came on the scene last year. 


Wipes
Whole Foods 360 Unscented Wipes are my favorite baby wipes, they don't have a scent or strange smell (which I experienced with a few natural wipe brands) and are safe enough for little faces.  They are a little bit soapier than traditional wipes but this has never bothered me.

Cleansers
I use Dapple's Surface Cleaner for Highchairs, Toys & More for my son's highchair and tray and use it multiple times a day.  It acts like a soap and water wash and thoroughly cleans safely and effectively.  I also used Dapple's Baby Bottle and Dish Liquid for the first two years of my son's life to wash bottles, dishes, utensils, pump parts, pacifiers, everything!  Now we use Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid for all our dishes.

Laundry Detergent
You don't need a specific 'baby' laundry detergent, just a safe and gentle one with no artificial fragrances, such as Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent.  For stubborn stains, a friend and fellow green mom recommends pre-treating the stain with dish liquid or/vinegar and baking soda prior to washing.

Kiss My Face Potent & Pure Eye Repair Creme

I've been using Kiss My Face's Eye Repair Creme for a few months now and can tell you I'm a fan!  It's a lightweight moisturizer with a subtle smell that goes on smooth and easy.  I like that it's not heavy and greasy like many eye creams out there.  I don't have deep-set eye wrinkles but I do have my share of fine lines so I put it to the test. To be clear, we are talking about a natural product here but I'm actually pretty impressed with what its been able to do.

I dot the lotion (I'll call it lotion since it feels more like a lotion than a cream to me) around each eye and rub it in lightly in a circular motion to make sure I'm not pulling my skin.  Since using it, I've definitely noticed that my fine lines are reduced.  It also helps with puffiness in the morning if I don't get enough zz's and gives the skin around my eyes a brighter appearance in general.  I don't believe it works for dark circles, so if you have that as an issue, tune in as I'll be testing out some other products specifically for dark under-eye circles.

I like that this new product has healthy, organic ingredients and with no pthlalates, parabens, artificial dyes or fragrances and limited preservatives.  It seems that many natural brands are listening to their consumers and changing their formulations to exclude artificial fragrances (parabens) and other chemicals from their products to ensure they are as healthy as possible without compromising efficacy.

You can purchase Kiss My Face Potent & Pure Eye Repair Creme for $19 at natural food markets such as Whole Foods, or on www.drugstore.com or www.amazon.com.

Hope it works for you too!

EO Liquid Hand Soap in Rose Geranium & Citrus

What can I say about hand soap?

I just like soap that is safe for my family to use and that smells good (naturally).  I'm currently using EO's Liquid Hand Soap in Rose Geranium & Citrus and am hooked on the scent.  With none of the phthalates, parabens, sulfates or artificial fragrances I typically steer clear of, this hand soap cleans my hands leaving a great, subtle smell.  EO stands for essential oils, which are what the company uses to add fragrance to their products. 

EO's Liquid Hand soap comes in other scents, including French Lavender, Rosemary & Mint and Peppermint & Tea Tree, among others.  EO is sold on www.amazon.com or at natural food markets such as Whole Foods, and their liquid hand soap is approximately $7.

Lather up!

California Baby Sunscreens for the Whole Fam!

It's that time of year, the sun is getting stronger, and if you're like me and outside with your tot all day, you know you need to protect their (and your) skin from the sun's damaging rays. The challenge with sunscreen is that there are no truly safe ones.  Many contain the horomone-distrupting chemical oxybenzone or Vitamin A (retinal palmitate), which, according to recent scientific research, may be photocarcinogenic - that it may heighten skin cancer risk when used on sun-exposed skin.  So the very sunscreen we were using to prevent skin cancer may very well give us skin cancer!  Ugh. 

So how do you choose a safer option?  Look at the ingredients, particularly the active ones.  You want to select a mineral sunscreen, containing zinc or titanium.  These sunscreens sit on top of the skin scattering and reflecting rays instead of being rubbed into the skin like their chemical counterparts.  The challenge with zinc/titanium sunscreens is that they are thicker, and spreading can become a chore, depending on the brand.  A few months ago my husband and I had ran out of our California Baby sunscreen so at the last minute, I purchased another natural brand and we couldn't spread it evenly across our skin and were ghostly white.  So annoying!

I love California Baby SPF 18 Everyday/Year-round Sunscreen since I use it myself.  It's scented with a natural aromatherapy blend that includes lemongrass and is so light on the skin, you won't believe its not a traditional sunscreen.  When I'm going to be out all day, I use it as a daily moisturizer lotion for my face.

For my son, we use California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30.  It's just a tad thicker but safer for his sensitive skin.  We use this one ourselves from time to time too, when the sun is really strong and we need more coverage.

California Baby products can be purchased at Whole Foods, www.soap.com, or www.amazon.com and they range from $18 - $23.  A bit pricey but a worthwhile investment!  

Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation with SPF 15

Pur Minerals Pressed Mineral Foundation with SPF is not just a foundation, it's a concealer, powder and sunscreen all in one!  This is the only makeup you'll need for full coverage.  This natural foundation with organic shea butter and vitamin E is actually good for your skin!  Plus, it doesn't contain any harsh chemical dyes, alcohol, fragrance or preservatives. 

My favorite thing about this foundation is the coverage, it looks like my skin has been airbrushed and the Golden Medium matches my skin tone perfectly.  I'm in love!  Plus, it won an Allure Best of Beauty award a few years ago, so you can take the experts' word that it's great.

The company claims that it's good for every skin type, although in my experience if you have very dry skin, this might be a little drying in the winter so just be sure to moisturize before applying. 

I found my Pur Minerals Pressed Foundation at my local Duane Reade, but you can find it at Ulta, Dillard's or online at purminerals.com and dermstore.com for approximately $26.  Totally worth it!

Karma Organics Nail Polish

Do you ever get a headache when you apply nail polish?  Or when you're getting a manicure?  I don't need to tell you that nail polish is extremely toxic - just the smell alone proves it!  Fortunately, there are some healthy alternatives out there that you can use at home and even take to the salon with you (I do).

Over the past few years, there has been a push to remove the top three toxic ingredients in nail polish - formaldehyde, toluene and DBP.  Although it's great that companies are removing these three major offenders, many nail polishes still have loads of chemicals in them, and I personally don't feel like they go far enough to be truly labeled safe.  Thankfully there are a few polishes that I've tried that work well and have a host of colors to choose from, including Karma Organics Nail Polishes, which are safe even for pregnant women and kids.

Karma Organics' Nail Polish is a chip-resistant and durable, long-lasting polish.  There are over 80 shades to choose from, so you can always find the right shade for you.  The formula is non-yellowing, too.  The one thing I did find was that the consistency is a tiny bit thinner than traditional formulas, so you may need to apply a third coat, depending on the color (I found this to be true for the darker shades and the creamy pink/beige shades).  And the best part - this polish has no harsh odors!

The shades I like the best include: Bride to Be (light creamy pink), Two Dozen Roses (rich creamy red) and Venom (super dark plum cream, similar to Essie's Wicked).

I found Karma Organics Nail Polishes at Whole Foods but you can also purchase them at karmaorganicspa.com for approximately $10.