Mindful Momma

Honest Products from The Honest Company {+ a Giveaway!}

I'm not much of a celebrity groupie but I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with Jessica Alba. Last spring, she used her star power to rally for stronger Federal chemical laws on Capitol Hill. Now she is busy helping to run a new natural product company called The Honest Company.

The Honest Company offers an eco-friendly line of family essentials (diapers and wipes, bath and body care, and household cleaners) sold exclusively through their website, Honest.com. In a nutshell, here's what they are all about:

"Savvy style, sustainability, and extraordinary service & convenience all wrapped in a passion for social goodness, tied with a bow of integrity and sprinkled with a little cheeky fun."

Eco Strengths

The goal of The Honest Company is to deliver products that are as non-toxic, healthy and earth-friendly as possible while being effective, beautiful and fun at the same time. Check out their list of health and sustainability standards - it is quite impressive.

• Bath products are free of parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, artificial fragrances and many other yucky chemicals.
• Diapers are made with sustainable, plant-based materials and are chlorine-free.
• Cleaning products are biodegradable and free of common chemicals like 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde.
• Full ingredient list is available on website and product packaging.
• Charitable partnerships including Baby2Baby.org means the company is giving back to people and the planet.

What I appreciate about The Honest Company is that the are honestly trying to do better. Not only better than other companies, but they strive to make their business better and better each day.

Fav Products

Honest Hand Soap - I'm not a fan of highly fragranced hand soaps. This one has just a touch of yummy citrus scent. Plus the adorable bottle looks sweet on my bathroom counter.

Honest Lotion - A lightweight but rich lotion - a style that I love. It's fragrance-free, which is exactly what you'd want for baby. If it came in a citrus version like the hand soap, I'd be in heaven!

Honest Laundry Detergent - I only had a small sample to try (1 load) but it did a fine job on our dirty clothes. The product fragrance and dye free, making it suitable for babies, delicates and the whole family.

Honest Shampoo & Body Wash - I love multitasking beauty products and this one certainly delivers! It's super mild and safe for color-treated hair. And the vanilla tangerine scent is divine!

Second Thoughts

Up until now, the company business model has been to sell products in bundle only. However,they have listened closely to customer requests and will be offering the purchase of individual products in just a couple of weeks!

The hand wash contains two preservatives that are a bit controversial - Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Phenoxyethanol. It is my understanding that these preservatives are considerably safer than parabens and other popular preservatives but if you are uncomfortable with them you may want to skip this product. Meanwhile, the company is already working on reformulating the product. (see what I mean about working to do better?)

Giveaway!

Wouldn't you love to try some products from The Honest Company? I've got a Family Essentials Bundle to give away to one lucky Mindful Momma reader!

Win a one-month supply of non-toxic body care and household cleaning products for your entire family. Package includes Honest Shampoo, Body Lotion, Hand Soap, Healing Balm, and Laundry Detergent. ($35.95 value). Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

Good Luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Treat Yourself to Something Green for Mother's Day!

As I've been oogling over some of the Mother's Day gift guides that have come my way, I've been wondering whether or not very many men actually end up seeing them. After all, many of theses guides are found on Mom-focused blogs and websites - places my husband certainly doesn't go for gift ideas.

Not that I'm complaining. My husband is actually really awesome about making Mother's Day special! But I got to thinking that maybe Mother's Day could be a day to justify buying or doing something special for yourself....as in scheduling a massage, treating yourself to a lunch out at your favorite cafe or even buying something you are coveting from one of those gift guides!

When I treat myself, it's usually with pampering body care products, fun shoes or pretty jewelry. Want to see what I'm dreaming of this Mother's Day?

Jewelry from the Andean Collection - made with tagua nuts, acai seeds and other eco-friendly materials:

Organic Skincare from Medicine Mama's Apothecary - Hand-crafted skin creams made with soothing honey, purifying propolis and moisturizing organic oils (get 10% off your order with code MothersDay):

A pair of sporty new shoes from Kigo - Minimalist style shoes made with recycled CYCLEPET fabric and PLUSfoam outsoles. Use discount code FORMOM for a 20% discount through 5/16/12:

 

Earrings from Etsy seller Kelly Johnston - made from vintage Lucite, crystal, metal and wood beads:

A sweet pair of summer sandals from Jambu - made with partially recycled outsoles and packaged in an awesome reusable box (perfect for Legos!):

A really nice facial soap from True Body - made with shea butter, Maurita Flexuosa fruit oil and other natural, sustainably derived oils:

Do you ever treat yourself for Mother's Day? What is your favorite gift to give yourself?

 

 

(Disclosure: I received free samples from Medicine Mama, Kigo, Jambu and True Body in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Is Your Meat American Humane Certified?

One of my New Year's resolutions was to buy better meat. So instead of grabbing the cheapest package of meat in the case, I've been looking more closely at the labels.

Meat labels are notoriously difficult to decipher. I wrote a post many years ago about demystifying the meat counter and it's surprising that not a whole lot has changed in the 5 years since I wrote that post.The term "all natural" is still widely used even though it has very little true meaning. Organic meat is more common but is still at a price point that is prohibitive to many.

One label that I've seen cropping up more frequently is American Humane Certified. The American Humane Certified seal ensures that animals live under humane conditions that allow for natural behaviors and provide adequate living space. All products labeled American Humane Certified are:

• Third party certified
• Cage-free
• Vegetable and grain fed (no animal by-products)
• Given no hormones or steroids
• Fed no antibiotics
• With ready access to fresh water
• Free of discomfort and pain

We tend to eat a lot of chicken in our household and I was happy to learn that Minnesota based Just Bare Chicken was recently approved as American Humane Certified. You can find the seal on their packaged chicken at the grocery store.

I did a quick price comparison and found that Just Bare boneless, skinless chicken breasts were only a 5% price premium over another national brand that is not certified humane. Totally worth it to me. 

The American Humane Certified seal can also be found on beef and pork as well as eggs and dairy products. You can find a list of producers who are American Humane Certified here.

Do you look for meat, eggs and dairy that are certified humane?

 

 

(Full disclosure: I was sent samples of Just Bare Chicken in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Better Snacks + a NatureBox Giveaway!

Calling all snack-a-holics! How many of you have felt guilty after giving in to a big time snack attack? I've got my hand raised! The good news is, the world of better-for-you snacks is moving way beyond carrot sticks and boring whole wheat crackers. Yes, you can still indulge and be healthy at the same time!

Here are a few healthy and great tasting snacks that have come across my desk recently:

NatureBox

The people behind NatureBox, a new subscription based, healthy snack delivery company, know that snacking is here to stay. Their mission is to help you snack to your heart's content without feeling the least bit guilty.

The NatureBox monthly snack delivery is filled with Nutritionist-approved, delicious treats made with wholesome ingredients and without the bad stuff like high fructose corn syrup, trans fats or artificial colors and flavors.

Each NatureBox includes 4 to 5 unique snack foods, based on a a new theme every month. The March box was focused on healthy swaps and when I opened up my box, I found Sunshine Chips made with sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, taro and green beans, Figgy Bars (fig bars made with honey), Firecrackers (rice-based sweet chili crackers), dried cherries and a delicious, homemade granola. The cost is $19.95 per box with free shipping.

Interested in trying NatureBox? The company is offering a one-month NatureBox delivery to one Mindful Momma reader! (See details at the end of this post.) If you don't win, use the code HEALTHY for 25% off your first month with a month-to-month subscription. Also keep in mind that you get 1 month free with a 6 month subscription, and 3 months free with a 12 month subscription. Wouldn't this make a wonderful gift for a college student or new mom?

Bare Fruit Apple Chips

When you're dying for something crunchy but don't want to give in to potato chips or crackers, Bare Fruit apple chips are just the ticket! Super crunchy and 100% organic, these chips are dry baked without oils and are only 29 calories per 2.6 oz bag. Available in Cinnamon Apple, Granny Smith Apple or Fuji Apple.

Navitas Power Snacks

Sometimes you are just plain hungry and you need a snack that will stick to your ribs and tide you over until the next meal. Navitas Power snacks are good for that. Made with a base of date paste, nuts and seeds with superfoods like maca, camu-camu and lucuma mixed in for added nutrition, Navitas Power Snacks are certified USDA Organic, raw, vegan and gluten-free. Available in Blueberry Hemp, Citrus Chia and Cacao Goji.  (They make an awesome superfood chocolate making kit too!)

What are your favorite "better" snacks?

(Full disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products in exchange for my honest opinion. There are affiliate links in this post. Any purchase you make helps support this blog. Thank you!)

Tints of Nature Hair Color: A Better Box

"The Box". That's what salon people call the hair dye products that people like me use at home. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit to my hair stylist that I use "The Box" instead of getting my hair colored at the salon. But for completely unglamorous reasons like money and time (those salon appointments take hours!), that's typically what I do.

Messy dye, smelly fumes and the knowledge that conventional hair dye is a cocktail of toxic chemicals makes me wish I could skip the whole process completely but given my vanity (I've still got a kid in elementary school - I can't go grey!), I'm stuck going through the process every couple of months or so.

Thankfully, Tints of Nature makes a permanent home hair color that is much safer than conventional boxed hair dye. Somehow they found a way to make an effective hair color using a high percentage of natural and organic ingredients, while leaving out most of the nasty chemicals.

Eco Strengths

• Free from known toxins like resorcinol, nonoxynol, ammonia and parabens.
• Uses the lowest level of PPDs (phenylenediamines) that still penetrate the hair cuticle to permanently color the hair.
• Contains up to 60% organic ingredients certified by ECOCERT and the Soil Association.
• Includes natural ingredients like chamomile, comfrey and aloe vera help soothe and moisturize hair and scalp.
• Package comes with pre-treatment clairifying shampoo to prep hair and after treatment shampoo and conditioner to prevent color fade (and make your color last longer!)

Second Thoughts

PPD or phenylenediamine is rated as a high hazard on the Skin Deep cosmetics database, due to immune system and skin toxicity and a potential link to cancer. Most hair dye products contain PPDs because it is the only way to get color to permanently penetrate the hair shaft.

Recommendations

When I use Tints of Nature, I know that I'm getting one of the safest, permanent hair colors available that still does the job. It's one of those areas where I am willing to make a trade-off. Knowing that the majority of my beauty routine is chemical-free helps me to feel OK about making this choice.

If you would prefer to skip "The Box" and let someone else do the dirty work, look for salons that use Organic Color Systems - it's from the same company that makes Tints of Nature.

If you would rather avoid PPD altogether, take note that later this Fall Tints of Nature is coming out with a line of semi-permanent hair color that is PPD-free. I am looking forward to trying it!

Another option is henna, a natural, plant-based hair color. I've tried it and personally, I'm not a fan of the mess or the barnyard scent. However, Lori from Groovy Green Livin is a henna fan and did a great review of a few popular henna brands.

Buy It or Get It Free!

You can find Tints of Nature at many Whole Foods locations and also on Amazon.com. Also visit the Tints of Nature Facebook page - they are doing weekly giveaways for FREE product!

Are you concerned about chemicals in your hair dye? Do you have a hangup about using "The Box" instead of going to the salon?

(Full Disclosure: I was sent a free sample of Tints of Nature in exchange for my honest opinion. There is an Amazon affiliate link in this post. Any purchase you make helps support this blog. Thank you!)

Going Green at the Grocery and Other Healthy Things...

Hey there! Spring break starts tomorrow and I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to post much next week - but I'll certainly be checking in on Twitter and Facebook off and on. We're not going anywhere, but now that spring is in full bloom, I'm happy to hang out with my boys and do some fun outdoor activities. Meanwhile, here are a few things on my radar this week...

Green Grocery Shopping

Are you strictly a food co-op shopper, a Trader Joe's fanatic, a Whole Foodie or do you prefer your local grocery for most of your food shopping needs? It doesn't matter where you shop, you can still find ways to make it a greener and healthier experience. Read my post on J.R. Watkins's Clear Conscience Blog, about how anyone can go green at the grocery.

Keeping Out Toxins

In case you missed it last week, Lori from Groovy Green Livin hosted a fantastic Green Moms Carnival discussion on the topic of toxic chemicals. We talked about everything from keeping nasty chems out of our homes in the first place to where to find non-toxic products to how to clean your home without chemicals. Lots of great links!

Healthy Samples

Do you love to try natural products but hate to spend money on things you haven't tried? Abe's Market has a nifty sampling program going on right now where you can pick 3 product samples to be delivered to your door for just $2. They sent me a few things to show me how it worked: A Raw Revolution snack bar, oatmeal and honey lotion from The Bath Place and a bar of loofah soap from Wembe. I liked them so much, I ordered another sample pack!

Crafty Resources

If you're on the lookout for craft ideas and inspiration, here's a new place to peruse. Babble.com has named their Top 50 Mom Craft Blogs and it looks to be a fantastic list, including some of my favs like The Crafty Crow, Make and Takes, Maya Made and Mossy. I'm looking forward to discovering many more!

Pin of the Week

This milk carton watering can is such a simple, repurposing idea but I just love it! What have you repurposed this week?

Hope you have a green & healthy weekend and a fantastic week ahead!

On Being a Pack-Rat and Other Green & Healthy Things

Sometimes it's great to be a pack-rat. Like the other day, when I discovered these green glass bathroom accessories while "shopping in the basement". I had saved them from long ago, when our second floor bathroom was green (now it's blue). Don't they look good in my new third floor bathroom?

I just love reusing things! Meanwhile, I'm on a mission to clean out the clutter in our basement so we can finally empty out our storage space.

Blog Hopping

You've head of pink slime, but do you know about the woman behind the petition to ban pink slime from school lunches? Her name is Bettina and her blog is called The Lunch Tray. I took a peek around her site and here are my thoughts: she's a really good writer, she has a lot to say about nutrition and food choices and she shares some easy, kid-friendly recipe ideas. She's also got a lot of great links - be sure to check out her blogroll on the right hand side of her blog.

Going Greek

Have you tried Stonyfield's new YoKids Greek yogurt? It's organic, low-fat, high protein (6 grams per cup) and tastes like a cross between yogurt and pudding.  Stonyfield sent us samples and we gobbled them right up! :)

Pin of the Week

I haven't had much time to spend on Pinterest lately but since Easter is coming up, I want to share this great pin on making natural egg eye. Be sure to click through to the original post for the video tutorial with techniques and tips for really cool looking eggs like the ones in this photo.

Wishing you a green & healthy weekend!

J.R. Watkins and the Natural Products Association Seal

Last fall, when I visited the J.R. Watkins headquarters in Winona, MN, I had the pleasure of meeting the company Vice President of Sales & Marketing, J. R. Rigley. He and company president, Mark Jacobs, were very excited to tell us all about the history of the J.R. Watkins brand (over 140 years old!) and their line of personal care, home care and gourmet products.

As part of my quest to make sense of personal care product labels, I wanted to know more about the process of getting J.R. Watkins products certified by the Natural Products Association, something they have been working hard on for the past couple of years. J.R. was kind enough to answer some interview questions on the subject:

MIndful Momma: Why did you choose to go for the Natural Products Association certification vs. other certifications like USDA Organic, EcoCert or others? 

J.R. Rigley: It was really important for us to partner with someone that was truly an independent third party and not for profit. We were looking for an organization that could evolve the J.R. Watkins Freedom Code and create a recognized standard for the entire industry. Partnering with NPA really was a natural fit. The NPA has been recognized for being the credible voice in the natural products industry and we are honored to carry their seal. 

What percentage of the company’s personal care products currently has the NPA seal?

Currently, more than 70% of the JR Watkins Natural products in the personal care category are certified or pending certification, including the brand new baby line.

How many products did you need to reformulate to meet the NPA standards?

Through our Freedom Code, which you can see online at J.R. Watkins for each category --- home care, personal care and gourmet --- we followed manufacturing protocols and ideals consistent with what you see in the NPA standard. It was important for us to do this from the beginning, even prior to the NPA certification. We are always formulating our products to the highest standards. And, today, as the NPA standard evolves with industry advances, new ingredients and breakthrough personal care processes, we will continue to tweak and improve our formulas.

What kind of feedback have you had from customers about having NPA certification?

Consumers are becoming aware of what the NPA seal means. There has certainly been an increased demand for certification as retailers aim to distinguish their natural sets from their competitors. It has certainly become a strong selling point for our brand.

You were part of the team that created the standards. Can you explain a bit about the process, the goals and the challenges you ran into?

The creation of the standard was a collaborative effort among manufacturing, retailers and suppliers of natural ingredients. We were excited to be a part of the group.  Like any committee-based process, there are different opinions and voices every step of the way, but the objective from the start was to successfully agree on a standard for natural products that would be credible and easy to understand for consumers looking for natural products. It needed to be easily recognized across the industry in order to be credible and effective.  

There is some criticism that the NPA standards were written by manufacturers and retailers who have the most to benefit financially. Can you explain how outside input was considered and reflected in the standards?

Manufacturers and suppliers are at the forefront of natural personal care industry, which offers a forum to share advances in technology, natural ingredients and product formulations. That information sharing is critical, and created a really sound discussion from which to build the standard.  There have been other standards written by for-profit companies, but the NPA is an independent, not-for-profit group.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about J.R. Watkins and your use of the NPA seal?

Our goal is for consumers to realize that the term “natural” is not regulated in the market, and applying the NPA seal can help distinguish those products that are truly natural from the imposters. The auditing process to receive certification is extensive, and we encourage people to learn what the seal means and how it coincides with their lifestyles.

Are certifications like the Natural Products Association seal important to you? Have you seen it on any products you buy?

Favorite Multi-Tasking Beauty Products

Multitasking. We all do it, for many different reasons. Here's a reason you might not have thought about: using products that have multiple purposes is better for the planet! It means you are buying less and reducing waste, two very important aspects of lowering your environmental footprint.

The beauty aisle is a great place to look for multitasking products. Next time you are shopping for personal care or cosmetics, look for a power product that can do the job of 2 or 3 individual products. Here are some of my personal faves:

Revolution Organics Beauty Balm

• This all-in-one beauty balm gives cheeks, lips, eyes and decolletage a healthy glow
• 100% natural, made with 85% certified organic ingredients
• Hydrating formula contains organic olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter and more
• Mineral-based pigments for natural color
• Buy it!

True North Organic Body Butter

• Softens skin from head to toe
• Reduces frizz and adds shine to hair
• Great deep conditioning treatment for hair
• 100% USDA organic
• A whipped blend of shea butter, coconut and other moisturizing oils
• Wonderful natural scents
• Buy it!

J.R. Watkins Soothing Baby Balm

• Not just for babies!
• Use as a boo-boo healer, a lip balm or a hand softener
• 100% natural ingredients including extra virgin olive oil and soothing camomile and calendula extracts
• Fragrance free
• Convenient stick makes it easy to take on-the-go
• Buy it!

Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer

• Daily moisturizer with full spectrum, SPF 15 sun protection
• Made with at least 85% certified organic ingredients
• Organic fruit juice base is loaded with antioxidants, and phytonutrients for age-defying benefits
• Buy it!

What are your favorite multitasking beauty products?

 

(Full Disclosure: I was sent free samples of these products in exchange for my honest opinion.)

My True North Organic Hair Care Experiment

 

My hair is crazy thick and naturally wavy. Or naturally frizzy - depending on the day.  My typical haircare routine is to wash my hair every 2 or 3 days with a moisturizing shampoo. Then I use a very thick conditioner - one that also has detangling properties because my hair is impossible to comb without it. Finally, if I'm trying to control the frizz or define the curls, I may squirt in a couple of styling products and hope for the best.

Recently, I decided to toss that routine out the window and try something completely different. Ashley from True North Organic asked if I would be willing to try her 100% natural, castile shampoo with a vinegar rinse as an alternative to traditional shampoo and conditioner. I hesitated for a moment because I had tried the baking soda & vinegar "no-poo" method once before and never made it past the greasy stage before I quit. But I was intrigued enough to give it a go - and I'm very glad I did!

How It Works

True North Organic Shampoo is made with a blend of organic saponified oils (saponification is a simple, chemical process that turns oils into soap), vegetable glycerin and organic aloe vera to cleanse hair without drying it out. The product is low-suds compared to traditional shampoo but it does create a lather when you work it into your hair. Unlike most shampoos though, when you rinse it out, your hair feels pretty greasy. That's where the vinegar part comes in.

After shampooing, you rinse your hair with a blend of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. (I used apple cider vinegar but regular, white vinegar works too.) The vinegar helps rinse out some of the oils, softens the hair and acts like a natural detangler. If you have very dry hair, take a tiny bit of True North Organic Body Butter and rub it into the ends of your hair after you get out of the shower. (I started out doing this but found I didn't really need to.)

The Detox Period

Ashley warned me ahead of time that my hair would go through a natural detox period and that I really needed to follow the routine for a 2-3 week period to experience the best results. The first few days, my hair was looking pretty greasy and I wondered if I was going to have to bail on my little experiment. (I decided to spare you the photos!)

The Results

Fortunately, I stuck it out. Within about a week, I was loving the way my hair looked. My waves turned into curls - and without any styling products whatsoever! I also said goodbye to the hair dryer and the hair brush. It's a surprisingly simple routine for great looking hair!

Eco Strengths

• True North Organic Shampoo is made with 76% certified organic ingredients
• The Body Butter has the USDA Organic seal (meaning it is at least 95% certified organic)
• Products are made in U.S.A.
• Small, woman-owned business (a local, Minnesota company for me!)
• Proud signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics

Second Thoughts

Unfortunately, this haircare routine that I have come to love has one big drawback. The vinegar rinse seems to strip out my hair dye faster than usual and since I have some stubborn grey that I am not willing to live with yet, I prefer to keep it dyed at all times. Ashley suggested that I try using less vinegar but so far I have not been able to cut back much without my hair getting greasy again. I'm not ready to give up on this method yet so I plan to experiment with it some more and see if I can make it make it work. Any advice is welcome!

Sale!

Get 10% off your order using the code MindfulMomma10 at checkout! I highly recommend the Lemon Lime whipped Body Butter - it smells AMAZING and leaves your skin super soft! It can also be used as a deep conditioning treatment for hair. The company also makes lotion sticks, bar soap, shower gel, lip balm and products for babies and pets.

Have you ever tried a shampoo like this or the "no-poo" method? Please share your thoughts!

(Full disclosure: I was sent free samples of True North Organic products in exchange for my honest opinion)