During my trip to the drugstore the other day, I wandered down the toothpaste aisle and noticed these small little toothbrushes sold in a pack of four. Each tiny individually wrapped toothbrush had a dot of toothpaste in the center and had it’s own carrying case. My first thought was “how convenient” and it would be nice to carry in my purse for those times when, well, you know, you feel the need to freshen up. Then I got a sickening feeling of just how many of these one-time brushes were going to end up in the landfill. They are not biodegradable! I mean, the convenience is nice but has our society really come to this, hygiene, over the health of our planet. Come on people, if you must carry a toothbrush with you, at least make it a reusable one and those tubes of toothpaste you get at the dentist’s office fit nicely into your purse albeit those tubes aren’t environmentally responsible either!

If you really do like the Wisp by Colgate, give them a call (1-800-468-6502) and tell them to make it biodegradable!

Till tomorrow…live green!

~Jennifer

Summertime is about being outdoors and enjoying the warm sunshine. However, for years we have been warned about the dangers of too much sun; enter sunscreen and sun block. Both enable us to stay out longer to enjoy the day so it makes no sense to slather on a sunscreen that was made with chemicals that harm the very earth we are trying to enjoy! Most conventional sunscreens contain paraben preservatives to keep them fresh however; wearing them into the ocean can wreak havoc to coral life and other delicate marine ecosystems. Paraben or not, sunscreens lose their effectiveness over time. That is why it is a good idea to replace them each year with a fresh batch.

There are quite a few “green” sunscreens on the market today and finding one that isn’t too “white” or too greasy can be a costly undertaking which is why I am recommending Alba Botanica’s  Organic Lavender Sunscreen with an SPF of 30. Not only does it not contain paraben or PABA, and made with certified organic ingredients, but the lavender serves as a pleasant scent and a natural insect repellant!

Till tomorrow…live green!

~Jennifer

Married or not, date night is an important element to a woman’s well-being. That is why this week I intend on focusing on having a more “organic” and eco-friendly date from what to wear from head to toe! Starting at the tippy toes, spring is finally here and it’s time for that pedicure! Before you head off to the local spa (we’ll talk about those next week), why not give yourself one at home? There are all kinds of eco-friendly lotions and footbaths out there but how about polish? Unfortunately, there isn’t a completely organic or natural nail polish yet but there are a few that are close! PeaceKeeper Cause-metics offers a line of polishes rated as a “low moderate hazard” by the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Rating System. In addition, they publish all of their ingredients online and even include a couple of vegan colors! In addition to offering eco-friendly cosmetics, PeaceKeeper donates all of their after-tax profits to charity, ensures that the companies they work with pay fair wages to their employees, further, their products are not tested on animals. Now that’s a company I feel good about doing business with!

Till Tomorrow… live green!

~Jennifer