Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Day 3 of the 365 Day Green Home Challenge...

   I am calling today Operation Roundup for Day 3 of the challenge...I went around my home and rounded up all products that are chemically laden and put them all in bags for disposal or donation. This was not an easy task for me...at least from a psychological perspective...sigh...no more Bath&Body or Victoria's Secret for this girl! Well unless they invent some products that meet my 'organic' standards of course;)


   Included in these bags are cleaning products, sunscreens, lotions, perfumed body sprays, hand sanitizers, and  anything else that is not considered 'natural' or 'organic'. If you can't pronounce at least half of the ingredients on a product's label, then you can just about guarantee it is not good for you or the environment.


   My husband, got a little worried when he saw me adding the sunscreens into a bag...The man's skin turns red if he is in the sun for more than 5 minutes so I could certainly understand his concern...After the many alarming articles I have read online regarding the dangers of sunscreen, I am on a mission to find an alternative sun protection for my family. Believe it or not, it is not that easy to find a trusting source for sunscreen...so I am on a mission to find one!
    I approached today's challenge with the mindset, that if I knew beyond a doubt that any of these products could cause cancer I would dispose of them immediately, no matter how much I loved and used the product in the past. Nothing is worth the sacrifice of your health and well-being...So get those bags out and start purging today Greenies!

Love and Light,
Nirvani

2 comments:

  1. Thought I'd share -

    High-quality, natural suntan and after-sun products are found in abundance at natural foods stores or on websites such as Holistic.com. From avocado oil to botanicals such as rosemary and comfrey, these ingredients soothe and protect your skin. Many also are waterproof.

    Some plant oils contain natural sunscreens. Sesame oil resists 30 percent of UV rays, while coconut oil, peanut oil, olive oil, and cottonseed oil block out about 20 percent. Mineral oil, derived from petroleum doesn't resist any UV rays and dissolves the sebum secreted from oil glands that helps inhibit water evaporation from the skin.

    Cocoa butter can moisturize and soften your skin. As an ingredient in sunscreens, it offers protection from drying sun and wind. Vitamin E fights free radicals, helping to prevent skin damage from too much sun.

    For additional protection, most suntan lotions contain PABA (Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid), a sunscreen that's part of the B-vitamin complex. A few people experience allergic reactions to PABA, so be sure to test new products on a small patch of your skin. There are PABA-free lotions using benzophenone as an alternative sunscreen.

    Aloe Vera is included in many natural sun-care products for its soothing, healing qualities. Known as the burn plant, the gel from aloe is believed to stimulate skin and assist in new cell growth. Use it to relieve sunburn, blisters or heat rash, or mix with PABA for a moisturizing sunscreen.

    Australia's tea tree oil, an ancient Aboriginal remedy, is an effective antiseptic, fungicide and germicide. It's a component of many sunscreen lotions and after-sun creams and may relieve sunburn by increasing blood flow in capillaries, bringing nutrients to damaged skin.

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  2. Wonderful Andi! I knew I could count on you for some awesome recommendations! I am going to have Chad try some of these out! Thank you my friend!

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