It occurred to me in the shower yesterday that our toiletries are a perfect place to start making a difference for the Earth, for our health, and for our consciences. There are so many natural, organic, and cruelty-free products out there, it's not that hard to find one that you like, even at a price that won't necessarily break the bank. I thought I'd give you a rundown on the different products we use and why we like them.
First, let me explain what I'm looking for in products. I want the ingredients to be derived from natural and organic plants, not petroleum and chemicals. I want the products to smell yummy, not artificial and chemical-like. I want to know that the companies are making a difference with their actions outside of the market, not just manufacturing "green" to make more green money for their bottom line. Finally, I want to know that no bunny was harmed in the making of my product. (Read more about the horrors of Draize testing here.) Now, let's get clean!
We seem to like a lot of products by Alba Botanica. Our shower is filled with them, so you'll see their name a lot in this post. They meet all my criteria for a clean body and a clean conscience. Their products can be bought at Whole Foods or directly from their website, if you don't or won't shop Whole Foods. Many of these products can be bought online. One site I like is drugstore dot com.
The first thing I do is wash my face (well, after undressing, adjusting water temperature, and contemplating what that peach-colored slime on the tiles could possibly be). I do this with Kiss My Face Olive & Verbena soap. It smells divine, and I love that the brand new bars are perfectly rectangular; for some reason, that comforts me. It doesn't provide as big a sudsy punch as do other commercial soaps, but that's because it's missing the controversial ingredient sodium lauryl (or laureth) sulfate.
Next up, I shampoo and condition my hair. My current favorite is Alba's Gardenia Hydrating Hair Wash and Conditioner. I love the smell of gardenias, and shampooing my hair with it makes me envision being in the tropics (oh, how I'd like to be in the tropics!). It contains certified organic ingredients like aloe and kelp and kukui nut oil* and awapuhi. It lathers perfectly well, and it does not contain sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates, if you're cutting back on it for health reasons. It's also gentle enough to use every day, and there are other yummy fragrances to try if you don't dig gardenias. (Most dudes would object to smelling all flowery, I suspect.)
I also like Aveda's hair products, although no one else in the family will use them because they smell "gross" (read: natural). Eldest doesn't like minty smells, and a lot of Aveda's stuff has a minty undertone. I happen to love their Color Conserve, Rosemary Mint, and Shampure. Aveda also is one of the most socially and ecologically responsible companies around, from their use of organically farmed ingredients to their use of recycled packaging, from their support of indigenous communities all the way to their frequent buyer cards, which are made of cornstarch rather than plastic.
While my hair is conditioning, I wash my body. We have two different options to choose from, both from Alba. I love, love, LOVE the Honey Mango fragrance, but hubby prefers the Island Citrus. It's a little too citrus-y for my sniffer. It's plenty bubbly, thanks to sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (a safer sudsing agent than the more sinister SLS, mostly due to the size of their molecules), and there's no icky residue left behind. (As for method of delivery, I gave up my petroleum puff just over a year ago in exchange for a cellulose sponge.)
Then, if I'm wearing shorts or a skirt that day & my legs are looking especially, um, European, I shave them. I use Alba Shaving foam. It takes a bit of getting used to, as it's nothing like traditional shave cream. It's more the consistency of those hand soaps that magically comes out as a foam. I use the Mango Vanilla fragrance, though there are others I haven't tried. The razor I use is from Preserve, who makes fantastic toothbrushes and razors from recycled plastic. (When you're finished, stuff several into one of their mailers and mail the used products back to them for further recycling.)
Lest you menfolk think I'm neglecting you, fear not! I bring you tidings of great joy. Kenton Athletics makes sexy-smelling plant-based shower gels that can also be used as shampoo. One-stop scrubbing. Their formulas are pretty cool in that each one uses ingredients from the plants of a different region of the world, and they evoke the "correct" olfactory image, too. Surf contains extracts of plants found in "coastal regions of the world's legendary surfing destinations" and makes you want to go to the beach; Mountain contains extracts of plants "native to rocky, mountainous regions" and makes you want to go camping; and Trail is made from extracts of plants and trees "indigenous to rich North American woodland regions, " making you want to pick up a hiking stick and compass. (The rare times I can convince Youngest that it's in his best interests (as well as the best interests of those in close proximity to him) to shower, he uses Surf.)
After-shower moisturizing comes in the form of Kiss My Face Honey & Calendula lotion or J/A/S/O/N Wild Yam Hand & Body Therapy (made with wild Mexican yams!). Kiss My Face is thinner (a true lotion), comes in a pump, and smells like beeswax, whereas J/A/S/O/N (that is really freakin' annoying to type!) is more of a cream, dispensed from a squeeze tube.
Well, folks, there you have it. More information than you ever wanted to know about my showering routine. (Plus all the good information about great products that are good for your body and your karma!)
*If you want to see me get all dreamy-eyed and weak-kneed over any one substance (one that's non-alcoholic and non-dairy anyway), mention kukui nut oil. Srsly, I think it is Nectar of the Gods. I discovered it in Hawaii a few years ago when my stupid white self forgot sunscreen and crisped myself miserable. I was pointed in the direction of kukui nut oil rather than aloe for the burn, and, HOLYSHITBATMAN, that burn didn't peel and it didn't hurt anymore and I was IN LOVE. It's magic. I swear. It's great for sensitive skin, for eczema, for psoriasis, for general moisturizing, for breast enlargement. Well, okay, I made up the last one, but I'm willing to bet it might still be true!