I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Now that the presents are unwrapped, it’s time to examine those ingredients lists!
Our children received some gifts from some well meaning people. However, they have no idea what was hiding inside those pretty little packages.
Here are some of the ingredients we found in a play makeup set that stated:
“SAFETY TESTED: Our products are designed to be safe and harmless. Our cosmetics are formulated for children. However, necessary precaution and supervision is recommended. In case of adverse reaction, discontinue use immediately.”
I looked up some of the ingredients in the Skin Deep Database and here is what I found:
Methylparaben – is in the paraben family which are known to mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors.
Hazard score = 5 Moderate Hazard
Data score = Fair
Health concerns: Allergies & immunotoxicity
BHA – (butylated hydroxyanisole) is a preservative and stabilizer that has been classified as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.
Hazard score = 10 High Hazard
Data score = Robust
Health concerns: Cancer, Allergies & immunotoxicity and it’s Use restrictions.
Imidazolidinyl Urea- is an antimicrobial preservative that acts as a formaldehyde releaser in cosmetics and personal care products.
Hazard score = 5 Moderate Hazard
Data score = Limited
Health concerns: Allergies & immunotoxicity
These were just some of the ingredients with listed concerns on the Skin Deep Database. I didn’t even touch all the dyes and the infamous “fragrance”! Needless to say my children will not be playing with these products!
reuseit.comhelps you eliminate disposables from every part of your life by offering a wide range of items that can be reused, from bags and bottles to lunch, household items and beyond.
I had the change to review some of the great products offered on reuseit.com.
The Eco Charge Solar/Pull Flashlight is a great gift for EVERYONE on your list! This flashlight has been a huge hit with not only my husband but my kids as well!
This flashlight is so trim that you can slip in into your pocket. When you need and extra boost simply pull on the string and your up and running! This is a great addition to your car or home emergency kit! Right now reuseit.comhas this flashlight 40% OFF! That just $11.95!
This lunchbox has a remove compartment as well as a removeable sauce container, making it ideal for you to pack hot and cold items together! Simple remove the container containing cold ingredients and heat the rest! It also comes with a reusable spoon and a nice little holder on top that can also hold chop sticks!
You can find so many awesome gifts for anyone on your list atReuseit.com! Check out the Reuseit Gift Giving Guide for more ideas on what to give this holiday season! Now thru December 15, 2011 get $4.95 flat rate shipping with coupon code SHIPPING. All orders over $50 get FREE Shipping!
If you haven’t figured it out by now… I love MadeOn Skin Care Products! From the DIY Kits to the Gift Sets, I love it all! For those of you who are not familiar with MadeOn, it is a family owned business that creates hard lotion bars and other products using simple, natural ingredients.
MadeOn would be a great gift or stocking stuffer for your loved ones! You can get a set of five pocket size hard lotion bars or lip balms for the price of four! That’s right it’s like getting one FREE! Another great gift idea would be the 3 pack or 2 pack gift sets!
I want to tell you about a project that I recently came across called Terra Tee Project.
The Terra Collection is a southern California based organic T-shirt company with a global mission. With the purchase of each Terra Collection Tee, a donation will be made to one of several charities dedicated to improving our quality of life on this planet – from cleaning up the air and water to protecting the animals and the earth. Terra Tee Project, features four t-shirt designs in styles for women, one for earth, air, water and life. You can choose which charity you would like to donate to or you can let the Terra Collection decide for you.
Terra Collection was nice enough to send me the Earth Tee pictured above which I absolutely love! I’m serious, I LOVE this T-shirt! This organic cotton shirt is so soft and cozy it’s the first T-shirt I go to in my closet. How awesome is it to put on a piece of clothing that is safe, sustainably made and giving back to the environment? (These shirts do run small so be sure to order one size bigger than you normally wear!)
Terra Collection also features several other organic, natural, reused/repurposed and/or recycled products. Their goal is to create an affordable place to shop for yourself or for gifts and still feel great about giving back to this earth. Check out the selection of totes, candles, accessories, home goods and more from Terra Collection!
Be sure to follow Terra Collection on facebook and twitter to stay on top of all their deals!
ecoMomical Me readers can get 20% off their order when they use coupon code greenholiday, now thru December 25, 2011. Plus get Free Shipping on orders over $100!
Plus Terra Collection is featuring A Deal a Day in December so be sure to follow them on facebook to find out what each days deal is!
My True Nature offers a line of soaps and shampoos for children that consist of 100% natural ingredients. All My True Nature products are free of genetically modified organisms, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, triclosan and preservatives!
My girls use this shampoo & bubble bath and they absolutely love it! They love all the fun cartoon characters on the bottles too! As a mom I think I love it more than they do! I love knowing that what I am using on my children is not filled with dioxins or other nasty carcinogenic chemicals! (You might want to check the ingredients label on the very popular pink bottle that you may be using on your children! Better yet check all your products in the Skin Deep database!)
Head on over to the My True Nature website and look at the what they have to offer! My True Nature offers Free Shipping on all US orders over $50!
Tushie Ties are an eco-friendly, naturally antibacterial, and easy to use cloth diapering system. There is no need for snappis or pins and there are no snaps or velcro. Thus no snap hot spots on babies skin or any extra accessories to buy or risk losing. No loud and annoying velcro to stick to your other diapers in the wash or to wake baby during a night change.
Tushie Ties use a ribbon that simply slips through the slits and ties at the front. Top with your babies favorite cover and your done! Tushie Ties are as pretty as a package on your new baby!
Tushie Ties was gracious enough to send us the Strawberry Patch One Size diaper and a Bamboo Velour Doubler to review. First of all this material is so soft that I just could not stop touching it! Now I have to say that these are so easy to use… once you follow the directions! (see the Tushie Ties instructional video) I kept trying to tie the diaper all the way around my daughter, then I watched the video and said duh! They fit my daughter much better and she loves her “trawberry” diaper and is now asking for that one at every diaper change!
The Bamboo Velour Doublers are awesome! They are nice and slender so you don’t get the bulkiness in between the legs. Tushie Ties are not only super soft and comfy but economical too! You can purchase a simplicity Tushie Ties bamboo velour diaper for only $7.99! Check out the Tushie Ties website and see what they have to offer!
All Green Toys products are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs. Also all of their packaging is environmentally friendly. You won’t find those annoying plastic ties or screws in the packaging of Green Toys! Watch the video below to find out more great information about Green Toys! (If you are viewing this in a feed reader, please click through to watch the video on our blog!)
Green Toys makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.
Green Toys was generous enough to provide us with their school bus to try out. The plastic is much more durable than another plastic school bus toy that my children have from a leading toy supplier. I can tell that this toy will withstand years a play from various children! The Green Toysschool bus does not have a metal axle or external coatings and is Free of BPA, PVC and phthalates. I feel much better knowing exactly what my kids toys are made from and knowing that they are made by a company that cares for the environment and their customers.
How would you like to win a Green Toys School Bus?
Cultures for Health is a supplier of REAL food products and kitchen supplies. You can find a wide variety of starter cultures such as: sourdough, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, buttermilk, soy and others. Cultures for Health also carries Cheese Making Kits, Raw Cultured Food, Baking supplies, Fermentation supplies and Kitchen appliances.
If you’re looking for a REAL food related items you will find it at Cultures for Health!
I have been wanting to learn how to make my own cheese so I was so excited to receive a Mad Millie Beginners’ Italian Cheese Making Kit from Cultures for Health! As you can see I was able to make this beautiful Mozarella Cheese with my first attempt! It took me about an hour and we where able to use it on our homemade pizza below. Frankly I think everything tastes better homemade, especially cheese!
The Cheese Making Kit came with all the items I needed (except the pots!) I was able to make my mozzarella cheese in about an hour and I can’t tell you how excited I was to accomplish this task!
If you are trying to figure out what to get for that person who loves REAL food, homemade food or just likes to cook. This is the perfect gift! Give the gift of REAL food this holiday season with Cultures for Health!
