Green Living Today

Vanilla Beans

Green Tips for Using Vanilla in Your Home

Vanilla is one of the world’s most expensive spices, next only to saffron and cardamom.  In fact, it is so highly-prized that growers will do just about anything and everything within the bounds of the law to protect their crops from thieves.  These facts are not surprising considering the wide range of culinary uses vanilla has in many global cuisines.

Did you know that the vanilla extract can be used to make the Earth a greener place to live?  Yes, indeed, but first here are a few basic things about vanilla that will enrich your knowledge of this aromatic spice.

Description

Vanilla traces its origins in Mexico although countries as far away as Tahiti and Indonesia also produce the plant in large tracts of land.  The vanilla flavor comes from the bean, or seed pod, of the plant,  although synthetic extracts are also available.  Take note that synthetic vanilla is identical in flavor to the natural beans, if and only if it is of the highest quality.

The vanilla beans contain thousands of tiny black seeds that are scraped off for their strong flavors and smells.  All vanilla beans have a rich, full and powerful aroma although the Indonesian and Tahitian varieties are generally considered inferior than the Madagascar and Mexico varieties.

Natural vanilla comes in whole beans, oils, extracts and powders with alcohol, all of which are expectedly more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.  Synthetic vanilla is made from artificial vanillin combined with pure vanilla extract.

Alternative Uses of Vanilla

Aside from its culinary uses, vanilla can also be used for alternative purposes around the house.  If you have a bottle of vanilla that has expired past its best before date, don’t throw it away.  Here are some ideas for using it.

* Use vanilla as an insect repellent.  Combine 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract with a cup of water and stir.  Pour in a spray bottle, apply to your skin and rub in.  You should smell of vanilla, sort of a perfume, while keeping the insects at bay.  Those around you will certainly like it more than the store-bought insect repellent with its chemical smell.

* Remove the various odors found in refrigerators, coolers and microwaves.  Soak a piece of cloth in vanilla extract and then using it to wipe down the insides of these appliances.

* Remove odors in other areas by soaking cotton balls in vanilla extract overnight. Then place them in an open jar and set the jar in the affected areas. The next morning, all will smell fresh.

* Combine drops of vanilla in a can of paint to lessen its toxic fumes.

* Relieve pain on minor burns by soaking a cotton ball in vanilla extract and then dabbing on the affected skin.  The alcohol content in the extract is responsible for the relief.

Green Vanilla

So what makes using vanilla Green you might say?  By using vanilla in these alternative ways, you are able to reduce the use of toxic products in your home and on your body.  Insect repellent, many cleaning products, and lots of air fresheners use products not good for our environment or your health.  Using vanilla can make you and your environment healthier.

And by using vanilla instead of other products, you can come out smelling like a rose – make that vanilla!

The United States of Recycling

Ten Reasons for Recycling

A New Year’s reminder – this may be old news but I think it worthwhile to remind ourselves once in a while why we do reuse, reduce, recycle.

According to estimates, every American produces an average of 7.5 pounds of trash on a daily basis.  Yikes!  That may not seem like much, but when you do that for a year, you have produced 2737.5 pounds of trash.  That’s over a ton!  Now, multiply that by the number of people in the US and you will quickly realize why we need to recycle our wastes.   With that being said, here are ten reasons to recycle now.

1. It Makes For Good Economy

Recycling makes good economics.  Many states profit from recycling revenues. This can run into billions of dollars.  These reveues  can then be poured into making the economy stronger.  Our country also exports its recycled products to other nations, creating more income because we recycled.  And today, many companies rely on recycled materials to produce new products.

2.  It Creates Jobs

The recycling industry is on a roll.  The industry requires manpower which means more jobs – even in these recessionary times.  In fact, the recycling industry earns over $236 billion annually and employs more than 1 million workers.

3.  It Reduces Waste

This is a no-brainer, as one of the main purposes for recycling is to lessen the wastes in our landfills.  And you are probably aware of the negative impact landfills have on the environment.  They create toxic leaks into the soil, which breeds a host of other problems for our society.

4.  It Is Eco-Friendly

Another no-brainer.  Recycling utilizes fewer natural resources and requires less energy, not to mention decreasing the burden on the landfills and other trash areas of the nation.

5.  It Saves Energy

Instead of using virgin materials that require greater energy expenditures to transform into their final forms, recycling old materials utilizes only about half of the energy.  For example, recycling aluminum saves 90 percent of the cost necessary to make aluminum from scratch.

6.  It Lessens the Burden on the Land

Here’s an example:  A glass company contacted local contractors to use their stockpiled mountains of glass.  What did they use it for?  They used it as a substitute for sand and gravel in building roads and highways.  Imagine the space that stockpile would take in the landfills.

7.  It Mitigates Global Warming

Each material that we recycle means fewer greenhouse gases being emitted into the air. This can mitigate the effects of global warming.

8.  It Reduces Water Pollution and Use

There are many ways this is possible.  Transforming recycled materials into new products often requires less water.  Toxic leaks from landfills are reduced with less trash in them.  We all end up with healthier, cleaner, clearer water.

9.  It Protects Wildlife

Because there is less need to harvest the forests of its riches – trees, that is – the habitats of many wild animals are spared.  Because of this, we are protecting the wildlife.

10. It Creates New Demand for Recycled Products

Thanks to the ripple effect, the process of making and buying recycled products creates a new demand for them.  And so the cycle of recycling starts again and again, all for the benefit of society and the environment.

So remember, every little paper, tin can, plastic bottle and other things that you recycle is for the benefit of not just you and your immediate surroundings, but also the national economy and international community as well.

Plastic Caps - Recycle Them!

Recycling plastic caps or lids is an issue which just keeps going on.

Not too long ago I said to include them but do not attach them to the bottle as they tend to explode during the recycling process and can cause injury to workers.  Most recycling companies will take the lids but the question is what do they do with them.

Here’s the answer to the problem:

Aveda Cap Recycling Program.  Yes, the Aveda Company, manufacturer of high end, good for you, hair and body products, has added a cap recycling program.  This is great news for all involved.  They run a program whereby school children can become involved in the collection of caps and lids and the school sends them to Aveda.  Aveda supplies both shipping labels and postage paid labels if needed.

Here is an excerpt from their site of what they collect:

“What type of caps do we collect?
The program accepts caps that are rigid polypropylene plastic, sometimes noted with a 5 in the chasing arrows recycling symbol. This includes caps that twist on with a threaded neck such as caps on shampoo, water, soda, milk and other beverage bottles, flip top caps on tubes and food product bottles (such as ketchup and mayonnaise), laundry detergents and some jar lids such as peanut butter.

Excluded from collection are pharmaceutical lids and non rigid lids such as yogurt lids, tub lids (margarine, cottage cheese), and screw on lids that are not rigid. Please do not include any metal lids or plastic pumps or sprayers. Unfortunately, too much of the wrong types of materials can contaminate the recycling process. We appreciate your efforts in keeping it clean! Please help Aveda in our mission to encourage local recyclers to accept plastic bottle caps.”

This is a great opportunity to begin a program at your local school, your church, any group that would be willing to participate.  My local Aveda Salon is also accepting caps and lids, so I will be taking mine to them.

Here’s the link to Aveda’s site so you can get all the scoop. http://aveda.aveda.com/aboutaveda/caps.asp

Caps and Lids – little things that really add up.  Let’s get them in the right place!

Related articles:

• How To Separate Your Recycling (howcast.com)
• U Penn Grads to Wear Recycled Plastic Caps & Gowns (treehugger.com)
• Recycling facts that may surprise you (cnn.com)

Emissions Check

Perhaps more than any other invention in history, cars have had a profound impact on our society and our environment in both positively and negatively.  On one hand, the transportation industry allows for faster human mobility, easier delivery of basic services and closer linkages.  On the other hand, automobiles are responsible for the huge amounts of air, water and land pollution as well as a variety of human diseases.  That being the case, it is very important to start greening your ride with these easy tips.  Just count to 10 and you’re done!

Keep Your Car – The environmental costs of buying a new car easily outweigh the costs of keeping your old car and keeping it as energy-efficient as possible.  Extend its life as long as possible so that the landfills will be less crowded.

Slow Down – Save 30-40 percent of gas costs by accelerating gradually, maintaining steady speed and braking slowly.  Plus, your tires, brakes and engine will last longer,  saving on additional car costs including speeding tickets.  Your ride will be safer, too.

Check Your Tires – Three things: Ensure that the tires are the right size for the car, that the tire air pressure is of the recommended amount and that the tires still have good treads.  This should result in reduced gas costs and tire blowouts.

Go for Tune-ups – Make the mechanic your friend through regular tune-ups.  This should save about 7 to 10 cents to the gallon, which should add up in the long run.  Better yet, ask your mechanic for the energy conserving synthetic motor oil.

Throw Away the Junk – Excess weight in the car makes the engine work harder than it should, reducing fuel efficiency.  It makes sense to clean and clear your car of its junk on a regular basis.  Plus, it makes a better-smelling ride.

Cruise Control – Unless you are climbing mountains, the car’s cruise control should be turned on. Fuel efficiency is maximized because the smaller decreases and increases in speed balances out with this standard feature in most cars.

Idling Off - When stuck in traffic or waiting for someone for more than 10 seconds, just turn off your car.  You will be saving on gas costs and reducing carbon emissions.  Every little smoke helps in global warming, if you must ask.

Multi-task with Trips – Before going out of the house with driving in mind, plan the errands that need to be accomplished.  This way, you can maximize car use.  And if possible, park you car and walk to your destinations when you get to the general area.

Carpool – It may not sound cool to carpool with others but for the sake of the environment, it should be.  It will help in reducing the traffic, the dependence on oil of our society and the pollution from too many cars on the road.

Clean with Green Materials – Cleaning with hose, bucket and rag is fun for the whole family, not to mention that it conjures up images of those sexy carwash girls.  However, it is also the most wasteful use of water, more so where commercial car washes are concerned.  Instead, use waterless car cleaning polishes and sprays to make your car sparkling clean.

Follow these tips for making your car as green as possible.

Most of us have this mistaken idea that in order to live a  greener life, we must spend more of our green dollars.  Actually, you need not strain your budget just to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle.  In fact, you could fatten up your wallets with these tips on going green without spending your green dollars.  Relax, these are easy, effective and convenient ways to live greener.

Reduce Food Waste

Your grocery bill may make up more than 50 percent of your total household expense.  Any and all efforts to reduce the wasting of food will add up to big benefits not only to your pockets, but also to the environment.  You can achieve this by:

* Reduce your food consumption in terms of shopping for groceries.  In other words, don’t buy what you won’t use.  Many people in other countries shop for their meals every day.  While this may be time consuming, you can bet that they buy only what they need.  They often do not have the luxury of refrigerated food storage.  So if you don’t want to shop daily,
* Use your leftovers.  Most of us our too quick to just “throw it out.”  Get creative.  Try some for dishes and see if you can’t use rather than discard your leftovers.
* PLAN meals in advance.  This will avoid having too many leftovers.  But more than that, if you have a  PLAN for the week’s meals and stick to the plan, you will discover that you can, indeed, buy less.  Also, avoid running into the grocery store to pick up a few things.  This is not sticking with the plan.  This is opening the door to impulse shopping.

Use Heaters Wisely

We are overly dependent on hot water for many of our needs from washing our bodies to washing our dishes and clothes.  Try going green by choosing cold water for some of these activities in the house.  Start by taking cold/cool/warm showers when the weather permits instead of hot tub baths.  Then progress into using unheated tap water for washing your hands, dishes and clothes.  Studies show that tap water is just as effective in killing germs as hot water.  The trick is to wash your hands properly for 20 seconds, soak the clothes for 30 minutes to remove stubborn dirt and wash off the dregs on the eating utensils before placing in a full dishwasher.

Unplug the Appliances

You can save as much as 10-15 percent of your electricity bill simply by unplugging the your appliances and electronics when they are not in use.  This is because so-called phantom electricity does flow from the grid into your appliances.  You can also save money by purchasing appliances that have the Energy Star logo or by purchasing refurbished appliances.  Of course, make sure that the refurbished appliances are also energy-efficient.  In the long run, you will save money by replacing your old, inefficient appliances.  And you can recycle your old appliances.  Ask the dealer where you buy the new ones – they will often do it for you.

Other ways to save a little money is to exchange CDs, DVDs and computer games with your family and friends, or even with strangers via dedicated online sites.  Some communities have stores these used items.  You can take your to them and they will give you credit to purchase something else.  A nice way to reuse these items.

Use Recycled Materials for Your Home

Whenever possible, use recycled materials for your home.  You can purchase scrap lumber from hardware stores, vintage wood and glass panels from garage sales and old houses, utensils and ornaments made of recycled materials from green stores and sites.  Some communities have stores that carry recycled building materials, including some beautiful architectural ornamentation.  You will often spend less on these items, they work just as well, and in the process you may end up with something quite beautiful and unique.  By adopting the motto of environmentalists everywhere - reduce, reuse and recycle,  you will discover that being eco-friendly has its rewards for you and for your children’s children.

Starting today, look around your home and see what else needs to be done to be as environmentally-friendly as possible. And at the same time, earn as well as save money while you are at it!

Related articles:

• Green Materials 101: Your Guide to Green Building, Remodeling, and Home Improvement (treehugger.com)
• ScrapHouse: San Francisco: Home, Sweet Recycled Home (Video) (takepart.com)
• D-Build: Finding parts from old homes (makezine.com)

If saving the planet is important to you, then one of the ways that you can go green is to STOP using those plastic bags when you go shopping. Many stores now offer simple bags with their name emblazoned on them for $1.00 or less.  The truth is, I have used them but find them to not be very durable.  The sides seem to always be ripping and then I need to replace it. I’ve seen many shoppers with designer canvas totes and market bags – these seem to have become very popular.  So you can “look good” while saving the environment!

More than Going Green

These reusable bags are about more than just going green these days. It seems they have also become a fashion statement. As more and more people take their own bags to the stores when they are shopping, more stores will offer their own green bags.  Also, you will find many more “designer” shopping bags. In fact, you simply need to talk to a French woman and she will tell you that her bag is definitely a fashion accessory!
The crafters are also getting in on the market for reuseable totes and bags. They are a hot item and many crafters are taking canvas tote bags for shopping and really dressing them up. You can even get them personalized.  What’s cooler than having your shopping bag let the world know a little about who you are?

Designer Trends

As these bags have become a designer trend, several activists as well as models, are selling their own bags online.  The top designers are also getting in on this trend.  Many have created designer fashion bags meant to be used as shopping bags.  Some bags can be purchased from a charitable program, making your purchase a donation to that group.  No doubt that as more of these designer bags come on the market, the whole idea of purchasing a cool shopping bag will become more popular.

A Look Around the World

As you look around the world you will find many countries that are turning away from the use of plastic bags and going to a more environmentally friendly option. China is one country that has done this. They have totally banned the use of plastic bags, which has definitely increased the market for canvas totes and market bags. China used to use more plastic bags than America, and now they are no longer doing this, helping to save the environment.  Many countries have been using alternative bags for years.  Those who shop daily for food made the “string” bag very poopular.

The  small, inexpensive reusable bags you can purchase at the stores can hold the amount of 3-4 plastic bags. That’s quite a lot.  So, if you can’t afford to go with a designer option right now, even purchasing a cheap bag can help you to work on saving the environment.

Wondering why plastic bags haven’t been outlawed in the United States? Well, if you’d like to see this happen, consider talking to your local congressional representative and telling them you’d like to see this happen in the United States. When many people use their voice, changes can be made.

Do your part to make us green!

Related articles:

• Target, CVS Pay Shoppers to Bring Their Own Bags (shoppingblog.com)
• It’s a Day Without a Bag (laist.com)
• Fashionably Green (passionategreen.net)

Many people still think that living and loving the green life costs more money than if they choose to not be green.  Well, nothing could be further from the truth.  Yes, you will spend money when you replace your incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lights, when you install residential solar and wind power facilities and when you install low-flow faucets, to name a few examples, but all these inexpensive green investments will pay for themselves sooner than later.

You can actually earn green dollars by living and loving the green side of things.  How’s that for loving the environment and loving your pockets at the same time?

Recycle and Resell

This is by far the fastest and easiest, not to mention probably the most profitable, way to earn green dollars.  Look through your attic, basement and garage to determine which of your junk items you can sell for profit over many venues.  Hold a garage sale, advertise on Craig’s List, set up a space at a community sale.  Don’t worry that you consider it junk for indeed the adage about one man’s trash being another man’s treasure is very, very true.

* Recycle your old mobile phones through various independent recycling plans on the Internet like Fonebank and Envi

rofone.  You can also ask the manufacturers for their recycling plans.  Your earnings will depend on the plan and the company, but $20 is not bad for an old unit.

* Recycle old computer games, CDs and DVDs, which will definitely lessen the 2,500 tons of discarded similar items each year filling up the landfills.  Again, your earnings will vary depending on the recycling site’s policies.  Check your local computer and electronics stores as well as the internet on how to do this.

* Recycle your old books, clothes and other stuff through yard sales and online auction sites like eBay.

You will find that not only did you lessen the clutter in your home but you also earned bucks in the process.  Not bad for a day’s work!

Avail of the Clunkers for Cash Program

This is a government program, now closed,  that allowed car owners to trade in their old cars for a cash incentive, which could be used to purchase a new car.  That’s earning money from disposing of an old motor with high carbon emissions while getting the opportunity to drive new wheels.  Not just any car, however, as you want to purchase an eco-friendly one.  Think of a fuel-efficient model that’s just right for the size of your family.  This program is no longer available, but should it come a

round again, you might consider taking advantage of it.

Grow and Sell Your Own Produce

Organic backyard gardening is a great way to reduce your food costs and your carbon footprints.  You don’t even need a big backyard since you can always try growing fruits, vegetables and herbs in pots and containers.  You might also want to try your hand with hydroponics gardening.  If you have a large yard with lots of room to grow, you can plant extra and then you can  sell your excess produce and earn money in the process.  Selling at local events or tailgate markets is a great way to make connection with those wanting locally grown produce.

Earning green bucks for your efforts in green living is but a welcome bonus.  The most important thing is that you are doing your share of protecting and preserving the environment that, admittedly, you are but a caretaker of for future generations.

Happy New Year, Readers!

Not only do we have a new year but also a new decade facing us.  For some reason, society has put the big “Make a New Year’s Resolution” burden on us.  Frankly, I don’t like it and seldom make resolutions.

This year, though, I would hope you would join me in making a resolution to be “more Green.”

Now that is quite broad but here is what I am going to do and hopefully you will like my idea and pursue your own Green Resolutions.

First of all, most resolutions are way too big and way too general.  “Being more Green” is a great example of that.  So instead, I am going to take on a new Green project each month.  As I do that, the accumulation after a full year should show that I did “become more Green.”

So what to do.  Here are some ideas.

1. Change out your incandescent bulbs.  Since the new bulbs are more expensive, you may need to stretch this over four week’s time in order to be able to purchase them.  Even though these are more efficient, remember to turn them OFF when not in the room.

2. Purchase some “reusable shopping bags” and get in the habit of taking them in to the store with you.  That is the habit that I need to work on for a month.  Remembering to TAKE THE BAG WITH ME!

3. Really pay attention to water usage.  Every time you turn on a faucet, see how quickly you can finish up and turn it off.

4. Pay attention to your comings and goings when using your automobile.  Work really hard at consolidating your trips so that you can drive less.  This takes planning but I know you can do it!

5.  Do some research into your local economy and determine that you really can shop more locally.  Shopping local supports the local economy but also cuts down greatly on the cost of transporting other products to your area.

Keep it simple.  Do something new each month and really concentrate on keeping to that.  As you go along, what you worked on last month will be much easier to continue with in the new month.  You know, habits are formed in 30 days.

Hope that gives you some ideas for a Greener New Year.

Make a Green New Year’s Resolution – but make it one you can keep!

Compost - Black Gold!

Choosing to live green does not have to involve spending lots of money to transform your home into a more eco-friendly place.  In fact, it can take just a  little time, effort and money to improve energy efficiency. By doing that, you will lessen both your energy expenditures and carbon footprints.

Are you ready to begin the path that will lead you to an environmentally conscious home?  Here are 10 do-it-yourself budget-conscious projects.

1. Reduce Water Waste – There are many ways to reduce water consumption in your home without sacrificing your comforts.  First, taking showers instead of tub baths will not only save water, but will also save on heating costs.  Second, add a 2-liter water-filled bottle into an old toilet’s water tank to reduce the amount of water used with every flush.  Third, instead of letting the water run, use a glass for brushing your teeth.  Every little drop of water helps!

2. Replace Your Incandescent Bulbs – Fluorescent bulbs light your home just as well as incandescent bulbs.  So replace those incandescent ones today.  Plus, with the new bulbs, you will enjoy the benefits of 75 percent less energy consumption as well as having a bulb which last 10 times longer.

3. Install A Programmable Thermostat – This will save on energy costs simply because you can program the thermostat to reflect your immediate needs for heating and cooling energy.  This is great, especially if no one is at home all day.  Plus, the energy-saving features of a programmable thermostat will add up quickly to replace the cost of the new thermostat.

4. Install Eco-Friendly Faucets and Showerheads – Low-flow faucets and showerheads will save water. That means savings on your utility bill.  Showerheads are easy to install so be sure to at least do that much.  Replacing your old faucets for a cost will pay for itself.

5. Take up Gardening – Gardening means you can grow your own organic food while lessening your carbon footprint.  Plus, a nice little garden will give you some extra exercise as well as the reward of your accomplishment when you are enjoying your home grown foods.

6. Check out Eco-Friendly Insulation – You can apply organic insulation such as recycled denim, recycled cellulose fiber and even soy materials.  You can revamp windows by using double panes or embracing the use of well applied weather stripping.  All of these options will reduce energy costs while ensuring that you are comfortable in your home.

7. Opt for Low-VOC Products – When undertaking a DIY project involving paint, stains and other chemical substances, opt for the low-VOC products.  Ask the salesperson for assistance, do your research and just take the time to read labels.

8. Make Your Own Organic Home Products – In the same vein as growing your own food,  you can lessen your consumption of the Earth’s resources, as well as your grocery bill, by making your own products for you home.  For example, look into homemade oral hygiene and home cleaning products using common ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

9. Composting – You need only a vacant portion of the backyard to make your own compost.  Using composted materials does wonders for your garden while reducing your dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

10. Solar Power – Solar panels for use in water and house heating are great ways to save energy.  Today, many DIY solar panel kits exist.  And you can off set your costs by applying for tax rebates and financial assistance.  Or you can follow the example of Ma Yanjun, a Chinese farmer, who used interconnected beer bottles to harness solar power.

It might take a little ingenuity along with your concern for the environment, but you can learn to live as green as possible while reducing your energy expenses.

Beauty Products - Think Green!

There are many ways that you can go green today; however, did you know that you can even go green in your beauty routine? If you are truly committed to saving the environment and living your life as green as possible, you will want to take a look at these green beauty tips.

1. Read the Labels on Beauty Products – Before you use beauty products, read the labels. This is the best way to find out what is really in them.  Yes, some of the products claim to be safe, natural, or eco friendly, and some of them really are.  But you need to find out the truth by checking the ingredients. If you cannot figure out what the ingredients are, then don’t use the product on your body.

2. Choose Paraben Free Products – As you choose your beauty products,  look for paraben free products. Preservatives like parabens are actually quite toxic. If you continue to use them, you are putting your health in danger. Instead of using products that use parabens as preservatives, look for products that make use of natural preservatives, such as grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E, or other essential oils.

3. Avoid Antiperspirants that Contain Aluminum – Believe it or not, many antiperspirants include aluminum as one of their ingredients.  Yes, you may need to use an antiperspirant, but choose one that does not have aluminum in it. Aluminum can block pores, and some studies show that there may be a link between this ingredient and developing breast cancer.

4. Do Not Use Products with Petroleum – Many conventional beauty products include petroleum, which is not only bad for your skin, but unhealthy for the environment. Petroleum can actually make skin problems worse. As an alternative, choose products that are plant based instead.

5. Choose Natural Moisturizers – Moisturizing is definitely an important part of any beauty routine, but do choose natural moisturizers. Go with options that are made with ingredients that are plant based so you get natural moisture for the skin. You don’t want your skin absorbing chemicals, so avoid products that include synthetics, fake fragrances, chemicals, and parabens.

6. Get a Great Smile the Natural Way – Part of any beauty routine includes taking care of your teeth. However, many toothpastes and other products for your teeth include chemicals of which you may not be aware. Instead of using products that can potentially poison your system, choose those that use natural abrasives for whitening and botanicals to help clean your teeth.

7. Be Careful When Selecting Fragrances – If you like to regularly wear fragrances, you need to be very careful when selecting them.  Some fragrances come from plants and are made with essential oils. These are quite safe.  However, there are other fragrances with many chemicals in them that are dangerous to your health.  Many scents use phthalates, which can be dangerous to your body and to the environment as well. Products that include natural fragrances are a better option for your body and the environment.

It may take some extra time to determine what really is “safe, natural, or eco-friendly.”  Be persistent in choosing your beauty products.  It will benefit you and your environment.

Related articles:

• How to Make Your Own “Green” Mouthwash (bargaineering.com)
• How to Bring External and Internal Health and Beauty Tips Together (e-prescribe.biz)