I’ve found 7 plastic-free organic hand soaps for you that contain no toxic chemicals and come in paper packaging you can easily recycle. Why hand soaps? Because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) say washing our hands with soap and water works better than hand sanitizer for killing the germs that cause Coronavirus, the flu, and other illnesses, like diarrhea and the common cold.

Why plastic-free? Because plastic trash is out of control!

And why organic? Because as good as soap is for fighting germs, too many soaps contain harmful toxic chemicals or come packaged in throwaway plastic.  The soaps listed below contain healthy ingredients that work – and don’t come in plastic!

7 Plastic-Free Organic Hand Soaps

Dr. Bronner’s

Zum

Tom’s of Maine

O Naturals

Makes 3 Organics

Ma’na Organix

Patchouli Soap

Here Are 7 Plastic-Free Organic Hand Soaps That Fight Coronavirus and the Flu

Dr. Bronner’s – Made with vegan ingredients and castile soap, but no synthetic preservatives or foaming agents. Packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Available unscented, or in peppermint, lavender, almond, eucalyptus, hemp rose, hemp tea tree, and hemp citrus. Fair Trade certified and Non GMO verified, too!

Zum – Made with goat’s milk, essential oils, and fresh citrus herbs. Minimal paper packaging that can be recycled. Available in variety sampler pack as well as individually. Look for it online but in Whole Foods, natural foods stores, and food co-ops, too.

Tom’s of Maine – 5 oz. bars, available in 6-packs; available in lavender, orange blossom, coconut oil, and other plant-based compounds (NOTE: May also be available in store in CVS, various supermarkets, Whole Foods, Target, etc.)

O Naturals – 100% natural organic ingredients, vegan, and infused with essential oils. Available in oatmeal & coffee, agave nectar & soy milk, coconut & shea butter, jojoba & tea tree, and rosemary & peppermint. PETA certified.

Makes 3 Organics – Made in Santa Barbara, CA with USDA certified organic ingredients, including coconut oil and shea butter. Packaged plastic-free in a recyclable paper box. Also available in orange blossom.

Ma’na Organix – This hemp oil based soap is infused with eucalyptus that both cleans and leaves your hands smelling fresh. Ma’na is also sulfate- and paraben-free, cruelty-free and vegan. It’s packaged in a minimal recyclable cardboard wrap. Available in lavender, peppermint, spearmint, and cinnamon vanilla cappuccino.

Patchouli Soap – In case you’re wondering, patchouli is a fast-growing shrub related to mint and lavender with an “earthy, sensuous” scent. Additional ingredients in this soap include olive, coconut, avocado and castor oil, cocoa butter and cocoa powder, water, and sodium hydroxide.

When Should You Wash Your Hands During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may have been touched by other people, like door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping cars, or electronic cashier registers and screens

Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, because that’s how germs enter our bodies

Before, during and after preparing food, and before eating food

After going to the bathroom

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After shopping and packing and unpacking groceries

After opening mail

Remember to lather and scrub for 20 seconds. The CDC recommends people no longer shake hands with each other. If you somehow do shake hands with someone, wash your hands afterwards and before you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

NOTE: We may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through our link. It’s teeny tiny, so not enough to affect how we think, but helpful enough to keep us going. Thanks!

The post 7 Plastic-Free Organic Hand Soaps That Fight Coronavirus and the Flu appeared first on Big Green Purse.

WHY YOU SHOULD READ THIS POST ABOUT REUSABLE COTTON FACE MASKS!

√ Links to 5 reusable cotton face masks you’ll love that will last a long time.

√ Short reminder about why it’s important to wear a mask.

√ Update on how much plastic pollution throwaway masks create.

The coronavirus pandemic isn’t going away any time soon. That probably means you’ll need more and better face masks that won’t create plastic trash and can last you through the end of 2020 and potentially way into 2021. Of the many brands and varieties available, we knew you’d most be on the look-out for reusable cotton face masks that you could wear comfortably and securely and that are plastic-free.

Here are five of the best options we’ve found, plus filters you can get for them.  (NOTE: Some products are linked to sites we have affiliate relationships with, so we might earn a few pennies if you make a purchase. Thanks!)

USA Reusable Cotton Face Masks – 100% Cotton with Filter Pocket, Ear Loops and Nose Wire Bridge for closer fit. Made in the USA. (I haven’t tried this one, but it got lots of 5 star ratings on Amazon!)

Avocado Organic Cotton Face Masks – These 100% organic certified face masks are made with two layers of organic cotton canvas, a pocket so you can insert a filter (not included), and simple tie straps.

Triple Layered 100% Cotton Face Mask with Filter Pocket – This made-in-the-USA mask comes with a flexible nose clip for a better fit and adjustable ear loops. Does not come with filters, but you can buy some separately and insert them in the mask pocket.

 Cotton Face Mask with Replaceable Filters – This mask uses activated carbon PM 2.5 filters for extra-effective particle capture. Adjustable ear loops make for a closer fit.

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Cotton Reusable Face Masks With Filters – Here’s another option for a face mask that comes with adjustable straps, a nose bridge, and activated carbon filters for extra protections.

Activated Carbon Filter Inserts for Reusable Face Masks – If you only wear your mask a little while each day (which is what I do), these filters will last a long time. If you wear your mask a lot, the manufacturer recommends changing the filter every three days.

By the way, if you don’t have a “professional” filter, you can make one out of a coffee filter.

Here’s a short refresher course from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on why face masks are essential.

Centers for Disease Control: Wear a Mask!

COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Studies and evidence on infection control report that these droplets usually travel around 6 feet (about two arms lengths). So, stay 6 feet away from anyone who you are not certain is not infected. (If you’ve quarantined with someone for two weeks and neither of you has gotten sick, you’re probably fine. If you’re getting together with friends or family to hang out, you should all wear masks and still stay 6 feet apart.)

Also, wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.

This is another important point: Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus by people who may have it but not know it. If you have it but don’t have any symptoms, you could still spread it just by talking, coughing, sneezing, and even singing. Wear a face mask to keep your viral germs to yourself!

NOTE: The CDC says that children younger than 2 or anyone who has trouble breathing or is incapacitated should not wear a mask.

I personally expect to wear a face mask for years to come. In addition to protecting against COVID-19, my mask could also help protect me from the flu and the common cold. I never wore a mask before, but from here on out, I’m going to wear it all the time when I’m out shopping, on the subway or bus, or at a public event.

Single-Use Throwaway Masks Pollute the Seas and Could Kill Wildlife. Plus, They Create Ugly Litter.

Throwaway plastic-based masks, along with single-use plastic gloves and wipes, are quickly becoming a significant source of pollution. Environmental group OceansAsia’s recent survey of the waters around HongKong found dozens of masks washed up on shore and floating in the water.*

Opération Mer Propre (clean seas), a French nonprofit, worries that there may soon be more masks than jellyfish in the Mediterranean.* Even in my neighborhood outside Washington, D.C., every day I find throwaway masks on the ground, where they can get washed into the storm drain and end up in the Chesapeake Bay and, eventually, the Atlantic Ocean.

Most single-use masks are made from polypropylene, a plastic that does not break down. It’s already estimated that over eight million tons of plastic enter our oceans. Some of that breaks down into micro plastic. Animals eat some of it, dying in the process.

Some people are adding to the problem by just tossing their mask out the window or to the ground, where it becomes ugly litter that no one wants to pick up.

Reusable face masks last many times over. And even if they’re thrown out as litter, cotton masks will biodegrade into harmless fibers.

What To Look For In a Reusable Cotton Face Mask

There are many masks on the market. CDC recommends we wear cloth masks like the ones featured in this post to help prevent all of us from spreading the disease.

CDC does NOT recommend an “N-95” mask regularly. N-95s are what doctors and first-line responders need to protect themselves when they help people who are sick with COVID-19. Some of us with compromised immune systems and respiratory diseases might need them, too. Or if you’re getting on an airplane or otherwise will be in an enclosed space in close proximity to other people, an N-95 could be your best option, because the N-95 prevents almost all particles from coming through your mask, where you might inhale them.

However, on the whole, the CDC says if we all wear tight-fitting, multi-layered cloth masks, we’ll go a long way to protecting ourselves and each other. Here’s me in one of my masks!

Reusable Cloth – You might be able to wear a paper mask a few times, but ultimately, it will end up in the trash. Get a cloth mask you can wash and reuse frequently.

Two Layers of Fabric – Choose (or make) a mask that has at least two separate layers of cloth. When you hold your mask up to  the light, the cloth needs to be woven so tightly that you can’t see through it.

Filter Pocket – In addition to two layers of fabric, you’ll get extra protection from having a filter between the layers. Before I had an actual mask, I rolled up a cotton bandana and put a folded coffee filter between the layers. That worked really well and provided extra protection! The mask I now use most often has a pocket in the middle that I can slip a filter into. I have bought some charcoal filters that will trap really very tiny particles.

NOTE: You may have heard about using a vacuum HEPA filter for your face mask. Make sure the filter is NOT made of fiberglass, as minuscule particles of glass may break off and be accidentally inhaled. A coffee filter folded in half adds more protection. This Merv 13 Material is not fiberglass and is designed to stop tiny airborne particles, increasing your masks’ effectiveness.

Proper Fit – The mask should cover both your nose and your mouth snugly without slipping down. It should either have ear loops to hold it on properly, or two sets of ties, one to tie the top sides of the mask around the back of your head, and one set to tie the bottom sides. It should extend an inch or so beyond your nose and mouth and fit snugly under your chin. I got one mask that looked pretty nice but kept slipping down off my nose. That forced me to keep adjusting it, which wasn’t particularly safe. I had to stop using it. I personally prefer the adjustable ear loops because I can tighten them around my face better.

Enough Masks – I have three masks I rotate among: one to wash, one to wear, and one as a back-up. Some moms had told me that they have gotten seven masks for their kids, one for every day of the week. You decide how much you need.

We are not recommending masks made from recycled plastic because plastic-based fabric can shed micro-plastic when it wears out or is washed. There are so many cotton masks to choose from, there’s no need to use recycled plastic fabric.

If you want to make your own mask, here are some sew and no-sew DIY instructions.

How to Wear Your Reusable Cotton Face Mask Correctly

• Wash your hands before putting on your mask
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face; use adjustable ear loops to pull the mask tight.
• Make sure you can breathe easily

And to reiterate, make sure your mask covers your nose as well as your mouth for the max protection the mask offers.

**SOURCES**

Coronavirus face masks ‘could have a devastating effect on the environment’

More masks than jellyfish in the sea!

The post 5 Plastic-Free Reusable Cotton Face Masks To Outlast Coronavirus appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Green consumers have scored a major victory! CVS Health, the store where you probably buy many cosmetics and personal care products, has promised to make those products safer by removing chemicals in their products that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and hormone disruption.

Those chemicals include parabens, phthalates and formaldehyde.

Nearly 600 beauty and personal care products will become safer to use, including the CVS Health store brand, Beauty 360, Essence of Beauty, and Blade product lines. The Promise Organic line of store brand products already does not contain any of these toxic chemicals.

Why Did CVS Health Commit to Safer, Healthier Products?

The company wanted to “provide customers with the safe, efficacious products that they are looking for,” said Cia Tucci, Vice President of Store Brands and Quality Assurance at CVS Health.

“We listened when customers voiced their desire for products that provide the benefits they need with fewer ingredients of concern.”  

“Customer feedback has driven this move to eliminate parabens, phthalates and the most prevalent formaldehyde donors.”

Does It Matter? Yes!!

CVS Caremark Corporation is one of the largest drugstore chains in the U.S. It has over 7,300 stores and 2011 U.S. retail sales of almost $60 million, the 7th highest nationally.

The non-profit organization Safer Chemicals, Health Families’ “Mind the Store” campaign, which Big Green Purse and many other consumer groups endorsed, put pressure on CVS Health to clean up its act.

Safer Chemicals has applauded CVS for its decision to clean up its products but says there is still more work to be done.

CVS Health can use its leverage to work with their suppliers to reduce, eliminate or safely substitute over a hundred questionable chemicals.

Consumers should also continue to carefully read labels and buy products that are free of chemicals that have been linked to health problems.

Get Help Here: The Best 11 Non-Toxic Ways to Get Healthy Skin

CVS Health won’t have its safer products fully available until the end of 2019. Until then, avoid products that contain the following:

√ Parabens

√ Phthalates

√ Formaldehyde

√ Triclosan

Parabens – Parabens are commonly found in cosmetics, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, hair styling gel and lotion and deodorant. Studies show parabens mimic estrogen and inhibit testosterone, potentially disrupting hormonal balance in both women and men.

Phthalates – These compounds are often found in fragrances and aerosols like air fresheners, as well as in plastics, solvents and even children’s toys. Of the variety of health impacts linked to exposure to phthalates, damage to male reproductive organs is among the gravest concerns.

Formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is a “volatile organic chemical,” which means that it will “off-gas” or emit its components into the air you breathe over time. It’s found in antiseptics, cosmetics, nail polish, dishwashing liquids, fabric softeners, shoe polish, carpet cleaners, glue, adhesive, paint, and more. It’s also used as a preservative in foods, like some cheeses, dried food, and fish.

Triclosan – Triclosan is actually a pesticide that may be included in toothpaste; it’s also the ingredient formulated into many antibacterial products, like hand wash, body wash and many cleaning compounds.

Increasing members of the medical community oppose using triclosan because they worry that it is actually encouraging the growth of drug-resistant bacteria.

By the way, washing your hands with hot soapy water seems to be just as effective as anti-bacterial soaps for getting rid of germs.

The post Green Consumers Score Big Victory: CVS Health Commits to Safer Beauty Products appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Rocky Mountain Oils has pulled together this infographic to explain what essential oils are, what they can do, and how to use them. I hope you find it useful. I sure did!

NOTE: Although Rocky Mountain Oils hasn’t gone through the process needed to be able to label its bottles as certified organic, the company makes the following assertions: “Our oils have not been adulterated with fillers, synthetics or fragrance enhancers in any way. We have all the oils GC/MS tested to ensure that there are no added chemicals, pollutants, or pesticides in the oils that we offer. Check out this page on our S.A.A.F.E Promise. We offer the test results on the website for each oil by the batch code on the bottom of the bottle.”

* This post was sponsored by Rocky Mountain Oils. Sponsorships enable us to provide expert content at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own.

The post Essential Oils: What They Can Do, & What They Can’t appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Getting and keeping healthy skin involves a lot more than washing your face. It’s about protecting your skin from the sun, dryness, dirt, cuts and scratches, rashes, and maybe even the wrong foods.

Though summertime puts a focus on the need for the right sunscreen, you really should focus on healthy skin all year long. Here are the best non-toxic ways to get healthy skin, some of which may surprise you.

1) Wear sunscreen in the winter as well as summer. Most of us consider sunscreen a summertime skin treatment. Not so. Our skin can suffer sun damage every month of the year, which is why doctors and skin care specialists recommend applying sunscreen every day.

Don’t miss this helpful post! ⇓

2) Give yourself a skin self-exam. These American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) videos show people how to spot skin cancer and give themselves a skin self-exam. Most family care doctors could spot an obvious unusual skin growth, but if you or your immediate family have a history of skin cancer, get a regular check-up by a dermatologist who can tell the difference between a harmless mole and something more serious.

3) Moisturize acne-prone skin. It seems counter-intuitive to add moisture if you think your skin is already oily. But when acne-prone skin gets dry, it overproduces oil to compensate and that leads to even more acne. Ironically, acne treatments can often leave skin dry.  Use a “sandwiching” technique to apply an oil-free moisturizer before and after acne treatment. If you use a face mask, make it one that moisturizes, not dries skin out.

4) Turn down the shower temp and keep it short. A hot shower might feel great at the time, but the hotter the water, the drier your skin may feel afterwards. Keep temps warm rather than hot, and keep your shower short. Get in, soap up, get out. You’ll save energy and water, too.

5) Moisturize when you’re still wet. Don’t completely dry your body when you get out of the shower or a bath. Adding lotion to skin when it’s still damp rather than completely dry amps up the moisture quotient. Give moisturizer at least 2 minutes to work its magic before adding anything on top of it.

6) Replace tanning salons with non toxic but fake tanning solutions. Like the sun, tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkled skin, warns AAD. If you want the tan look, try a spray-on tanning product or use bronzer and blush. With winter coming (or having arrived in many parts of the country), take advantage of lowered expectations for a “sun glow” and break free of the notion that “tan is glam” altogether. Look for brands free of parabens, oxybenzone, diaolidinyl urea and DMDM hydrantoin, which can release formaldehyde as they break down.

7) Drink more water. “Drinking water is one of the best things you can do to keep your skin in shape,” reports WebMD. “It keeps your skin moist – and that makes fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.” The group says that water helps cells absorb nutrients and shed toxins, too. The common advice is to drink 8 glasses of water a day, but you can get by with less if your diet includes fruits, vegetables, juices and tea.

8) Eat more beets. Antioxidants are the compounds found in colorful fruits and vegetables that appear to play an important role in slowing and preventing the kind of “free-radical” damage that can cause cancer. Skip the chips and eat berries, tomatoes, apricots, beets, squash, spinach, sweet potatoes and other colorful foods instead.

9) Skimp on perfume, scented lotions and products made with toxic ingredients. Fragrances in perfume and skin-care products can cause the collagen in the skin to break down, leading to allergic reactions, acne and skin rash. Plus, commercial lotions and moisturizers may contain ingredients like formaldehyde or nickel sulfate, power powerful chemical preservatives. Some botanical ingredients may cause problems as well, especially Tolu balsam, which can trigger additional sensitivities to cinnamon oil, lemon oil, orange peel or oil of cloves. Find the simplest, cleanest moisturizer that works for you, and stick with it. I personally use organic coconut oil for almost all my skin needs. It is light, effective and harmless.

10) Stay away from poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. The key word here is “poison.” These plants can cause severe and painful skin rashes that, at their worst, may need to be treated with steroids. Most people think poison ivy and its cousins are only a threat in summer, but that’s not so. My daughter got a terrible poison ivy rash one winter when she brushed up against a tree that was covered with poison ivy vines. If you do encounter poison ivy, scrub your skin immediately, including under your fingernails and avoid using your hands to spread the rash to other parts of your body after you scratch or itch. Wash clothes, gloves, shoelaces and tools that came in touch with poison ivy, as the urushiol compound that is so toxic in the plant can remain potent for years.

11) Bandage booboos. If you get scraped up, don’t wait to clean out the dirt. Wash the wound well with warm water and soap, and bandage if warranted. There’s no need to use something like hydrogen peroxide or iodine for most minor injuries. On the other hand, ignoring them could lead to a serious infection and potentially scars. If you can’t use an adhesive strip or butterfly tape to hold a minor cut together, see your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you get stitches, the faster the wound will heal, and you’ll increase the likelihood that any scarring will be less noticeable.

The post The Best 11 Non-Toxic Ways to Get Healthy Skin appeared first on Big Green Purse.

You know you should avoid phthalates, parabens, triclosan and other antibacterials, and synthetic fragrances in the products you put on your body. But that begs the question: What ingredients do you want?

We’ve teamed up with EcoFriendlySpot.com, an online organic marketplace, to help you figure that out, starting with this list of 5 Fabulous Organic Body Oils and Butters that will make your soap, lotion, cosmetics, and other personal care products safer to use and enjoy.

NOTE: The pictures accompanying the organic body oils and butters descriptions are posted as an example of what’s available in the marketplace and not intended to be product endorsements per se.

Shea Butter – Shea butter is the rich fat extracted from the nut of the African karate tree. Naturally infused with Vitamin A, it is off-white or ivory-colored, and very emollient and moisturizing. You’ll come across it in lip gloss, hand creams and body lotions, hand and body soap, and hair conditioners. But it is also sold on its own, to use directly to treat cracked and dry skin or to revitalize split ends.

Though it is edible, it has a very strong and distinct flavor that may require some getting used to. But you don’t need to eat it to benefit from its soothing properties! NOTE: In some cases, a dangerous chemical called hexane is used to process the karate tree nuts into shea butter. When shopping, choose “100% Pure,” hexane-free butter, or look for products whose ingredients, including shea butter, are certified organic.

Argan Oil – This oil is derived from the kernels of Morocco’s argan tree, Argania spinosa L. Getting to the oil is a labor-intensive process; the kernels lie inside a fruit that must be dried in the open air, then removed out of the nut or pit inside.

Though in some cases the kernels are roasted to produce a nutty-scented oil for cooking, the oil used in personal care products comes from simply cracking the kernels open. But it’s worth the trouble. It is safe to use and very moisturizing!

Essential Plant Oils – Many lotions and soaps get their appealing but artificial smell from synthetic fragrances that contain phthalates, chemicals that can disrupt our hormonal system.  Essential plant oils are the natural oils retrieved from real flowers and herbs, like  rose, lavender, geranium, bergamot, citronella, orange, lemon, peppermint, pine…and many, many more.

If you have a favorite scent and like to smell it in your soap or lotion, look for it or its latin name when you’re reading the ingredients list on the product label. Auracacia, an essential oils producer, has put together an “Essential Oil Directory” that lists many plant oils and describes that they smell like and how best to use them.

Coconut Oil – Coconut oil has emerged as one of the best natural and organic body oils to use because it is so versatile. I use it to: remove make-up, moisturize dry skin, condition my hair, help heal cuticles, moisten my lips…and that doesn’t even get to its uses in the kitchen, where it is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to corn and vegetable oil that might be tainted with GMOs.

Coconut oil is terrific on its own, but is also an important ingredient in lotions and soap. By the way, don’t let the word “oil” mislead you if you decide to keep a jar in your bathroom. Coconut oil is usually sold in solid, buttery form, which makes it easy to apply.

Don’t miss: 8 Amazing Alternative Uses for Coconut Oil!

Almond Oil – This sweet and fragrant oil is a mainstay in many lip balms, body lotions, hand creams, bar soaps, shampoos and conditioners. It’s rich in Vitamin E as well as other vitamins and minerals, and because it comes from an edible almond plant, you can use it in cooking and baking as well. Plus, it’s a favorite of massage therapists worldwide. Add a couple of drops to your own favorite lotion or cream, or look for it as an ingredient in pre-formulated personal care products.

What’s on your list of favorite organic body butters and oils? Please share!

Note: Our sponsor, EcoFriendlySpot.com, makes it possible to bring you expert content at no additional cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own, but of course, we wouldn’t partner with a company that didn’t reflect our values. Thanks!

The post 5 Fabulous Organic Body Oils and Butters appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Drugstores initially were places where we went to get medicine. While we may still get our prescriptions filled there, today’s drugstores also sell food, cosmetics, toys, office supplies, and home goods—and a surprising number of these items are the opposite of medicine. Many contain chemical compounds that can actually make us pretty sick if we’re exposed to them over time.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most toxic drugstore items that you should probably avoid—or at least cut back on—as well as healthier alternatives.

1 ) Tampons and Feminine Care Products

A disturbing array of toxic chemicals have been found in conventional tampons, menstrual pads, wipes, douches, and other feminine hygiene products. These chemicals, which include pesticide residues, dioxin, unknown fragrance chemicals and adhesives, have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, allergic rash, and reproductive harm. They raise alarms because vaginal tissue is particularly porous, which means that chemicals put into the vagina are easily and effectively distributed throughout the body, says Women’s Voices for the Earth in its comprehensive report “Chem Fatale.”

Safer Alternative: Skip products marketed as “vaginal cleansers.” The vagina is designed to self-clean; douching and excess washing, in fact, can lead to infections, says WomensHealth.gov. Choose unscented tampons, as well as chlorine-free bleached or unbleached cotton tampons and pads. Reusable, washable menstrual pads are also available, as are washable menstrual cups to collect rather than absorb menstrual flow.

2) Mascara

Mercury—a potent neurotoxicant that can cause kidney damage and potentially disrupt fetal brain development if the woman using it is pregnant—is sometimes used in mascara as a preservative and germ killer.

Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the advocacy group Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, says there is no reason “a known neurotoxin should be allowed” because safer alternatives exist. Unfortunately, there’s no way you would know whether your mascara contains mercury or not, because companies are not required to list it on their product labels.

Safer Alternative: To be safe, search online for “mercury-free mascara” or shop at natural foods stores. Or, try this recipe for making your own mascara.

3) Air Fresheners

Phthalates help disperse the fragrances in air fresheners into the air, where you may inhale them or absorb them through your skin.

Once these chemicals enter the blood stream, they can alter hormone levels or cause symptoms like headache, runny nose and itchy eyes.

The State of California notes that five types of phthalates are “known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm,” reports the Natural Resources Defense Council. Exposure to phthalates in air fresheners has also been associated with increasing the risk of asthma.

Safer Alternative: First and foremost, root out what is making your home smell bad. Then open the windows and let fresh air circulate.

Keep bathroom floors and the base of the toilet clean, use fans to move moist air out of bathrooms so mildew doesn’t develop, and don’t leave old food on kitchen counters or in an uncovered trash can, where it will smell as it decomposes.

To add a pleasant fragrance to your home naturally, simmer cloves, orange peel, and apple cider or pieces of apple on your stove, and enjoy fragrant cut flowers like roses and lilies.

Don’t Miss: Indoor Air Pollution Solutions: 15 Affordable Actions to Help You Breathe Clean Air

4) Lipstick

The post The 10 Most Toxic Items on Drugstore Shelves appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Are you looking for all natural, talc-free powder alternatives?

If you’ve heard about the woman who died from ovarian cancer that may have been caused by her using talc, you may be wondering what you can use instead.

I pulled together this list of safe and healthy options for you.

How Did The Woman Die?

Talc is one of the softest minerals on earth. It’s made up of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. It has been used for decades in cosmetics and baby products, as well as in items like chewing gum and aspirin.

People like using talc-based powders because they help manage sweat and odors without the pore-clogging chemicals found in stick and roll on deodorants.

However, because they are so fine, they can be dangerous to use.

Jackie Fox, an Alabama woman, died of ovarian cancer allegedly caused by using Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower powder, baby powder and various feminine products that contain talc. Her family sued J&J and won a $72 million judgement against the company.*

This is a tragedy that shouldn’t have happened. It certainly doesn’t have to happen to you!

Why Choose Talc-free?

The first study that linked talcum powder and ovarian cancer was completed in 1971, where talc was found in ovarian tissue.

Sixteen subsequent case studies over the last thirty years have suggested the same connection, though some more recent studies have cast doubt on those conclusions.

You can read the American Cancer Society’s reviews here.

The overall concern is that, when talc or talc-based products are used on sanitary pads or near the vaginal area, it is easy for fine talc particles to enter the vagina and travel into the reproductive organs.

The first person to make a claim against Johnson & Johnson was Deane Berg. After thirty years of using the company’s “Shower to Shower” product as part of her daily hygiene routine, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She sued the company, but lost.

Right now, dozens of other women are approaching the company with similar complaints. The lawsuit involving Jackie Fox is the first to successfully sue Johnson & Johnson for damages.

All Natural, Talc-Free Powder Alternatives

People like using talc because it leaves a smooth and soft feeling on your skin. But products besides talc can offer the same benefit.

Here are a few natural, talc-free powder alternatives that you can use in place of talc-based products.

Please note again that none of these products should be used in the genital area, even if they’re safer to use than talc.

1) Arrowroot-based powder – This is a finely ground herb-based powder often mixed with cornstarch. Honeybee Gardens uses these two natural ingredients, among others, in their biodegradable powder.

2) DIY Floral Baby Powder – You can make your own baby powder. Chamomile flowers, rose petals, or lavender buds make an excellent alternative when finely powdered and mixed with cornstarch and essential oils.

3) Baking Powder + Cornstarch – When combined and used as a base, these can provide excellent skin protection. To make your own, combine 1/2 cup baking powder and 1/2 cup cornstarch in a jar with a  top. Close the jar and shake until well mixed. If you want fragrance, add a drop or two of lavender oil or other oil you prefer, close the jar and shake again.

4) Kaolin Clay – This is a mineral-based powder and the clay is naturally found in powdered form and is particularly good for sensitive skin. California Baby Non-Talc Calming Powder uses this base mixed with cornstarch and has a lovely lavender scent.

5) Cornstarch – Burt’s Bees makes a hypoallergenic and pediatrician-tested talc-free powder made from cornstarch, kaolin clay, and powdered slippery elm bark for keeping baby comfortable. Consider switching to this product if your baby has sensitive skin.

6) Tapioca Starch – Some companies opt to use tapioca as a base because it absorbs oils as well as perspiration. Take a look at Nature’s Baby Organics, which combines tapioca and aloe, and is fragrance-free.

7) Bentonite Clay  – This clay can come in different types, but sodium bentonite clay absorbs moisture best. However, calcium bentonite and potassium bentonite can be used as well. You can make your own baby powder by combining bentonite clay with arrowroot powder, chamomile, lavender, calendula, and essential oils. Many natural baby powder companies incorporate bentonite clay into their formulations.

Use Your Purse to Protect Yourself and Send Manufacturers a Message

It doesn’t look like talc-based products will be removed from store shelves any time soon. So remember the Big Green Purse motto:

Shift your spending to protect yourself and your family
and tell manufacturers who’s in charge!

 When you switch to natural talcum powder alternatives, you’ll send a message to all manufacturers about providing products with healthy ingredients.

*Here’s more information on the J&J lawsuit filed by Jackie Chase’s family.

Many thanks to science writer Megan Nichols for her research and initial draft of this article. Megan enjoys discussing the latest scientific news and discoveries on her blog, Schooled By Science.

The post 7 All Natural Talc-Free Powder Alternatives appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Why does it matter? Here’s the lowdown.

Many shampoos contain a potent cocktail of chemicals that include synthetic fragrances, phthalates, antibacterial agents, dyes and colorings. None of these ingredients are good for either you or the planet.

Χ – Synthetic fragrances and phthalates – Phthalates are essentially industrial compounds. They’re used to soften plastic, but also to help suspend the oily substances that give perfume their smell. They’re added to hairsprays, lubricants, wood finishers, nail polish, and yes, shampoo.

One single exposure to phthalates won’t cause trouble.

But multiple exposures over time, even at very low doses, have been linked to problems in fetal development.

Women who are pregnant and exposed to phthalates frequently and over time may give birth to baby boys whose genitals are deformed.

Phthalates are also linked to premature breast development in young girls and low sperm count in men.

Χ – Antibacterial agents – Ingredients like triclosan are often added to shampoo to “fight germs” or “kill bacteria.” But many public health officials worry that triclosan actually contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

Plus, triclosan gets into our streams, rivers and lakes when it is in our shampoo and then washes down the drain.

Researchers have found that antibacterial compounds like triclosan can interfere with the development of tadpoles into frogs and cause other mutations that could threaten the survival of birds, fish and other animals that live on or around our waters.

Check out “5 Ways Triclosan is Wrong” here.

Χ – Dyes and colorings – I’m not sure what the appeal of having a pink or purple or green shampoo is.

Those dyes and colorings are usually derived from chemicals that have been linked to cancer, ADHD, and various allergies.

Natural dyes derived from blueberry juice concentrate, carrot juice, paprika, grape skin extract, beet juice and other plants are a much better alternative.

What Do You Want in a Non-Toxic Shampoo?

Fortunately, many caring and concerned companies are producing plant-based shampoos that are:

√ free of toxic chemicals

√ cruelty-free – not tested on animals

√ vegan

√ biodegradable – not in 10,000 years, but in a relatively short period of time.

Non-toxic shampoo ingredients could include:

• Jojoba and quinoa proteins to strengthen and fortify hair follicles
• Organic coconut oil to moisturize
• Chamomile, calendula and aloe for conditioning
• Sweet orange vanilla, lavender, grapefruit or another citrus fruit for a light and fresh fragrance
• Other fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers – plant-based ingredients, oils and fragrances that are easy on the planet as well as your body!

Some non-toxic shampoos I’ve tried and like include:

Honest Company Shampoo & Body Wash

Jason Restorative Biotin Shampoo

Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo

Many new year’s resolutions are tough to keep. Switching to non-toxic shampoo should be a breeze!

Happy New Year!

NOTE: Posts like this one are sponsored by companies whose products and missions we support. Our editorial opinions remain our own, and we never recommend a product or service that doesn’t meet our environmental, health, and safety standards. In addition, we encourage you to shop locally. But if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we invite you to use our Amazon store. We will earn a tiny commission on your purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you.

The post Start the New Year Using Non-Toxic Shampoo appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Air pollution at work due to fragrances your colleagues wear has become almost as big an issue as secondhand smoke used to be.

Both are about indoor air quality and public health. Secondhand smoke affects the lungs and can cause cancer.

Synthetic chemicals like those found in perfume affect the nervous system and can cause debilitating headaches, nausea, joint pain and respiratory discomfort.

These conditions are magnified for people suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) — symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, congestion, sore throat, chest pain, diarrhea and breathing problems — which can all be linked to contact with low levels of chemicals such as those in perfume at work.

“Fragrance is a known respiratory irritant and neurological toxin,” writes researcher Christy De Vader of Loyola University of Maryland.

“For many people, such as those exposed to asthma, exposure to perfume can pose serious health risks such as migraines, nausea, tightening of the throat, and respiratory impairment.”

If you already suffer from hay fever and asthma, smelling synthetic fragrance can make it worse.[/box]

How Perfume at Work Makes Us Sick

The fragrances used in most commercial perfumes and aftershave lotions are actually made up of chemical compounds, many derived from petroleum or coal tar.

Over the past 50 years, notes Loyola’s De Vader, 80-90 percent of fragrances have been synthesized from petroleum.

They may also contain acetone, phenol, toluene, benzyl acetate and limonene, toxic chemicals that have been linked to a whole host of human illnesses.

The fragrance industry uses over 4,000 chemical ingredients to make their products and over 80 percent of these chemicals have not been tested for their toxicity, reported the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in their 2003 Health and Safety Bulletin.

Even if you choose unscented products, they may still contain fragrances that could trigger a rash or allergic reaction, Prevention magazine reported in August, 2001. “Unscented” products could actually contain other chemicals that block unpleasant ingredient odors.

And if your coworkers aren’t using perfume, cologne or aftershave, they could still be applying lotions, hairspray, deodorant and even sunscreen infused with synthetic fragrances. For those who are particularly chemically sensitive, even that can be too much.

Some companies are taking matters into their own hands and putting policies in place that restrict employees from coming to work smelling of any kind of fragrance.

Click here to learn about 16 surprising things that may be polluting the air in your home or workplace.

√  Talk with your human resources department. If necessary, provide a note from your doctor explaining how your sensitivity to fragrance is affecting your health and work performance.

√  Ask to remove fragranced products such as deodorant, hair spray, aftershave or perfume in restrooms, or get them replaced with products that are truly fragrance-free.

√  Install air purifiers, or put a small fan on your desk to keep air circulating. You may also need to wear a respirator mask.

√  Ask employees to voluntarily limit use of fragranced products if your workplace won’t institute a policy.

√  Work from home as much as possible.

Encourage your employer to follow the lead of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. They’ve had a fragrance-free policy in effect since 2009 that not only includes perfume at work, but also:

⇒ Incense, candles, or reed diffusers

⇒ Fragrance-emitting devices of any kind

⇒ Wall-mounted devices, similar to fragrance-emitting devices, that operate automatically or by pushing a button to dispense deodorizers or disinfectants

⇒ Potpourri

⇒ Plug-in or spray air fresheners

⇒ Urinal or toilet blocks

⇒ Other fragranced deodorizer/re-odorizer products

Further, “Personal care products (e.g., colognes, perfumes, essential oils, scented skin and hair products) should not be applied at or near actual workstations, restrooms, or anywhere in CDC-owned or leased buildings.”

CDC also encourages employees to be as fragrance-free as possible when they arrive in the workplace.

“Fragrance is not appropriate for a professional work environment, and the use of some products with fragrance may be detrimental to the health of workers with chemical sensitivities, allergies, asthma, and chronic headaches/migraines,” the organization says on its website.

“Employees should avoid scented detergents and fabric softeners on clothes worn to the office. Many fragrance-free personal care and laundry products are easily available and provide safer alternatives.”

Has your employer put a fragrance-free policy in place? If not, send a copy of the American Lung Association policy and encourage other employees to limit perfume use.

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