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Personal Care and Cosmetics

Sure you know what harm some foods and drinks can do inside you, but don't forget how the cosmetics, deodorants and other bodycare products can also affect your skin.

Skin is the largest organ in the human body, and one of its most remarkable. A breathing layer of protection between ourselves and the world that we smear with all sorts of creams, lotions and deodorants.

Can those same products cause cancer? Want to know more about your Avon, Estee Lauder, and Revlon products? Read on.

Check-out the website of your favorite brand to see whether they have any features on toxicity, animal testing or other concerns you may have.

For a good on-line basket of green personal care products, try Natural Collection.

For personal care, sanitary products and more, Natural-Woman has some great products for you and even for your kids and the man in your life!

We are What we Eat

From what we eat and drink to the air that we breathe and the products that touch our skin, a vast array of chemicals seep stealthily into our bodies.

Some of them are well-known toxins; others are newer compounds with unknown effects. Of the more than 10,500 chemicals found in personal care products alone, only 11 percent have been tested for safety.

Environmental factors are believed to play a significant part in the rising prevalence of many diseases, including cancers, birth defects, and nervous system disorders like autism and attention deficit disorder. Children are particularly vulnerable to chemical exposures. Those under five consume an average of eight different pesticides in their food every day. And the dangers posed by those pesticides and personal care products are compounded by the fact that children's developing bodies absorb, pound for pound, more chemicals than adults'.

But there is good news. Increasing demand for organic foods, which are grown without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers, means they are becoming much more readily available. Studies have shown that children fed organic diets have six times fewer pesticides in their blood than children who eat conventional diets. Organic personal care products have also become more widely accessible, and detoxification programs, designed to cleanse the body of potentially harmful chemicals, are increasing in popularity.

GreenQuest has more on growing organic food and detox so check it out!

Teach your Kids

Educate, Empower, Involve and Invest.

Check-out iGo Green family for tips on going green with your kids.

Please check-out the activities for kids and encourage them to try some of the tips or games at Kidz Zone.

Cartoon tips for kids at home are fun at Kids at Home link.

Air Quality at Home

Many homes suffer from indoor air quality problems. Asthma affects many children, who miss a huge number of school days per year as a result of asthmatic attacks.

By cleaning with less toxic ingredients, eliminating mold in ducts, cleaning blankets more often and removing carpets wherever possible, your home can reduce much of the dust and other allergens that trigger asthma.

Cleaning Basics

Excerpt from article published by Greenpeace Canada

• Send to a friend.

All-Purpose Cleaner

• 1/2 cup (125 ml) pure soap
• 1 gallon (4 litres) hot water
• For a clean scent and to help cut grease add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of lemon juice.

This solution is safe for all surfaces, should be rinsed with water, and is very effective for most jobs. For a stronger cleaner, double the amounts of soap and lemon juice.

Scouring Powder

Use a firm bristle brush and scrub with pure soap combined with either table salt or baking soda.
Baking soda alone on a damp sponge is also effective on most surfaces. You can also personalize your scouring powder by adding an aromatic herb or flower. Put the ingredients in a blender and run until the fragrance has infused the powder.
For oven spills, scrub using straight baking soda or combine with the stronger version of the all purpose cleaner.
Remember to wear gloves when scrubbing.

Air Fresheners

Commercial air fresheners work by masking smells and coating the nasal passages with chemicals which diminish the sense of smell by deadening the nerves. Avoid these products. Instead, try the all-natural air purifiers — house plants. Or try these natural recipes to diminish odour and add a fragrant smell to your house:

•  Use baking soda in your garbage or refrigerator to help reduce odours at their source.
• Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) of baking soda in 2 cups (500 ml) of hot water, add 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray as you would an air freshener.
• Place a few slices of a citrus fruit, cloves or cinnamon in a pot with enough water to simmer gently for an hour or two.
  

Liquid Dish Soap

Grate a bar of pure soap into a sauce pan. Cover with water and simmer over low heat until they melt together. Add some vinegar to the water for tough grease and to remove spots. Pour into a container and use as you would any liquid dishwashing soap.

Mirrors, Glass and Windows

Wash with pure soap and water, rinse with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Use washable, reusable cheese cloth instead of paper towels.

Carpets

To fully clean and deodorize carpets, vacuum, liberally sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda, leave one hour, then vacuum again. For tougher stains, try cold soda water or repeatedly blot with vinegar and soapy water.

Polishes

Most store-bought polishes contain solvents harmful to the environment. Aerosol sprays are wasteful and also contain harmful gases.

• Furniture Polish: Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon oil in 1 cup (250 ml) vegetable oil. Apply with a clean dry rag.
• Floor Polish: Melt 1/8 cup (30 ml) paraffin wax in a double boiler. Add 1 quart/litre mineral oil and a few drops of lemon oil. Apply with a rag, allow to dry and polish.
  

Polishing Metals

Copper: Try lemon juice and a little salt or hot vinegar and a little salt on a rag. Chrome: Try white flour on a dry rag. Brass: Try equal parts salt and flour, with a little vinegar on a dry rag. Silver: Bring to a boil in a large pan: 1 quart/litre water, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) salt, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) baking soda and a strip of aluminum foil. Drop in silver, boil for 3 minutes and polish with a soft cloth. Or polish with a paste of wood ash and water. Note: These methods should be done on sterling silver only and not on silver plate.

Worried About Chemicals in Personal Care Products? See our Health section.

Links to Green Sites for Ladies

For Europe's largest Alternative Health Portal: Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Organic, Personal Care, Herbal, Health Supplements for sports, ladies, kids and more

For our links on our health page, click here.