Bath vs Shower?
It is a personal preference as to what is better a bath or a shower. Showers tend to be faster, more convenient and use less water, so are their benefits to a bath? Bathing in water that is too warm can cause heat stress to the body, where your internal organs cannot regulate themselves, and...
Environmental Cost to Beauty
Apart from the price tag at the register, there is an environmental cost to cosmetics and beauty products too. This cost ranges from the product ingredients, creation, the packaging, and even the air-miles to get the item to the end user. Facts: Adult women (and not only women...) use approximately 12 cosmetic products per day,...
A Scentual Mood
A Scentual Mood Many psychologists agree that particular scents will have a positive impact on a person’s mood, attitude, and performance. This is not to say that scents have an effect on people, rather that people will put sentiment to odours. A pleasant experience in a field of lilacs may make you calm when you...
Advantages of Natural Deodorant
Sweat happens. For years there have been concerns over some of the ingredients in drug store purchased deodorants, namely: • Aluminum Compounds. These compounds clog your pores, have been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease, and interferes with natural estrogen levels. A body that cannot process estrogen properly has a higher risk for breast...
Sunscreen and the Environment
Most people are aware how cosmetics, cleaning products, soaps and medicines end up in waterways, however some never think of the impact that sunscreenpollution has on the environment. Sunscreen does end up in the water, whether we wash it off and it travels through sanitation systems, or when we get into the water and it...
Menstrual Cups
Period Facts: The average woman will have her period for 38 years (456 months) and will use 11 000 hygiene products. Feminine hygiene, globally, is a multi-billion dollar industry. An estimated 20 billion pads, tampons and applicators are sent to North American landfills annually. Since plastic can take as long as 500 years to decompose,...
Not So Vegan Ingredients
Common Latin and Scientific Terms Often Used in Skincare Ingredients Most countries have labeling laws that require companies to list all of the ingredients in their products on the packaging. When it comes to all natural products it should be easy to spot the “real deal” for ingredients. However people are sometimes confronted with Latin...
Insect Repellent – Harmful or Beneficial?
Most people do not think about bugs in the same way as they do other animals. People tend to get outraged at the idea of animal testing on a bunny, but do not think about the fact that the cockroach they killed in their kitchen has a place in the ecosystem too. People are always...
Green Washing
As terms like “natural” “organic” and “green” become more and more popular to consumers, it is becoming more and more relevant to companies, which has led to some producers switching their production methods, while some have been updating their marketing strategy. This happens enough that a term was created for it, greenwashing. Greenwashing is when...
Microbeads
The existence of microbeads, small plastics in many household products such as face washes and toothpastes is becoming more and more widely known. It has caused an uproar with many organisations and individual people, which has led to several countries and companies adopting new legislation to #banthebead. This seems great; it will help the problems...
Eco Friendly Bathrooms
When people think about having an eco-friendly bathroom the first thought tends to be about plastics. The first thing that comes to mind is plastic accessories, for instance, the plastic tray that holds the wet bar of soap or a toothbrush holder. So it is natural to think that having a plastic free bathroom begins...
Environmental Benefits to Cruelty Free Cosmetics
People buy cruelty free products for several reasons, perhaps their ethics, because they believe that will be more gentle on the skin, or simply karma. Not all of the people choosing cruelty free products make the connection between animal research and the environment, however there are environmental advantages to choosing something that is PETA approved,...
Toilet Paper and the Environment
Should toilet paper be flushed after use? What is the most environmental way to dispose of toilet paper.
Bandages and the Environment
Bandages and the Environment Exactly how good or bad for the environment are commercial bandages? A used adhesive bandage cannot be reused or recycled. If you look at the lifecycle of adhesive bandages (http://www.designlife-cycle.com/new-page-4/), it may not be as bad as expected. To look at the bandage as a whole, the transportation and distribution of...
Green Beauty Travel Tips
It can be difficult to travel light and to take all of the necessary personal products, especially while trying to keep it green. The key to packing light is to try to bring only the necessities. When it comes to personal products, this means opting for dual use products. Here is a list of green...
The Curing Kansa Wand: What it Is and How it Works
"The Curing Kansa Wand: What it Is and How it Works" on Health Perch
Eating for Skincare – Selenium
Selenium and Natural Beauty It is said that in order to keep skin young and healthy a person needs 5 vitamins and minerals; ACES and Zinc. Those are vitamins A, C, E, Selenium and Zinc. The fast majority of diets get the daily recommended doses of vitamins A, C, E and zinc within a healthy...
Household Necessities – Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil (melaleuca oil or ti tree oil) is an essential oil derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia which is a shrub also known as the narrow-leaved paperbark or narrow-leaved tea tree. It is native to Southeast Queensland and to North East New South Wales, Australia. In many natural products, tea tree...
Eating for Skincare – Plant Based Diet
There are some foods that are generally considered good for the skin. It is said that eating them can help to clear your skin, reduce inflammation, or protect from sun damage. 1) Fatty Fish – salmon, mackeral, herring – are high in Omega 3 (a plant-based supplement is available) It is recommended to have 1100...
Eating for Skincare – Turmeric
Eating for Skin Health – Turmeric Turmeric; used in India as a medicinal herb for thousands of years, recently has been hailed as a powerhouse food for health. It is known to have natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used to treat (and some say prevent) cancer, Alzheimer’s and other age-related illnesses. It...
7 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
People often ask, what can I do to help the environment. Some steps are quite simple and will not impact a person's day-to-day life that much, yet it can do a lot for the environment. Many of these are related to green beauty or at least come back to it in some way. Buy locally....
Do Not Wear a Plastic Poppy
As Remembrance Day approaches and the Poppy's are everywhere, I will not be wearing one. It is not a protest against veterans; I support the troops who are fighting for and fought for democracy, it is an environmental decision. I will not wear a plastic poppy, rather I have a reusable pin that I wear...
Disposing of Cosmetics
During a ‘spring clean’ or a feng shui detox, eventually it is time to clear out your medicine cabinet and bathroom cupboards, and old medications and beauty products have to be disposed. There are some logical steps to make sure that these substances are properly destroyed. First check the expiration date – it is a...
Household Necessities – Coconut Oil
Many people think of cooking oils as something for the kitchen and the kitchen only. Having gained some notoriety and conventional approval, coconut oil is becoming more popular for cooking and baking. It also provides a useful non-stick coating for pots and pans, measuring spoons and utensils can even be coated with this before use...
Beauty and the Bees
Beauty and the Bees What the Declining Bee Population Means for Skincare It is not shocking news that the bee population is declining, globally, and that in some areas pollinators are nearing the extinction list. A world without honeybees would also mean a world without fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. This will greatly and negatively...
Garbage Island; Our Love Affair With Plastic
Between 1985 and 1988 scientists became aware of the Great pacific Garbage Patch, also known as Garbage Island, which is an island of debris floating in the Pacific Ocean. By 1995 even more people became aware of this floating mass of plastics, chemical sludge and other garbage, that was the size of Texas (roughly 700...
Oral Hygiene and the Environment – Dental Floss
Oral hygiene has a long history. The first recorded use goes as far back as Natives who used yucca tree fibres to clean between teeth. An American dentist, Levi Spear Parmly, invented silk floss in 1790, and some form of silk floss was used until the 1940s with the introduction of nylon. The majority of...
5 Foods to Hydrate Skin in Dry Climates
Foods to Hydrate Skin for Autumn via @ClementineField As summer turns to autumn and autumn to winter, the change in climate is a shift for our skin as well as our bodies. Fear not, there's more that can be done to help our delicate skin keep it's precious moisture besides what we slather on top...
Oral Hygiene and the Environment – Toothbrushes
In the United States alone, approximately 50 million pounds of toothbrushes (1 billion toothbrushes) are added to landfills annually. Most toothbrushes are made up of polypropylene plastic and nylon which come from non-renewable fossil fuels. Although these are recyclable it is estimated that only 20% of avid recyclers put their old toothbrush into the recycling,...
Eco Friendly Holiday Ideas
Create less waste on holidays with these easy steps. 1) Instead of wrapping paper give gifts in a decorative bag that can be re-used several times. 2) Give a gift donation to your favourite charity. 3) Give the gift of time - spend a day with loved ones. 4) Give skills - such as a...
Natural Cold Sore Remedies
As there is no cure for cold sores, the most effective way to combat them is through diet. This includes eating foods high in immune boosting vitamins such as C, E, Zinc, and L-lysine during an outbreak this may require some supplements and it may be advisable to take a lysine supplement a few times...
Face Mapping and Green Beauty
Sometimes the reason for an outbreak is obvious – that time of the month, recently ate an entire meal of fried or fatty foods, or just stress. For stress spots, the advice is to rest, relax, and revive. Unplug for an hour a day and just read a book, do some yoga, or reconnect with...
How Bad is a Sunburn
A sunburn, whether blistering, peeling, pink or just itchy, is a sign that your skin cells has been damaged from too much UV exposure. Over time the inflammation will heal and the burn will fade away; many of the sun damaged cells will die and peel away. However minor or sporadic sunburns still increase your...
Ashy Skin and How to Avoid it
Recently there has been a lot of talk about people being “ashy” Basically all ashy means is to have dry skin that is somewhat flakey and has the resemblance of ash. So how does one avoid such a fate? Preventative Measures 1) Daily lotion – if ashiness has not become a problem any natural lotion...
Oral Hygiene and the Environment – Mouthwash
The daily oral health routine often includes mouthwash whether used once or twice daily it is a necessity for many. As with all cosmetics, beauty products, cleaners, and household detergents, what isn’t used is washed down the drain. As many mouthwashes have alcohol in them, those who refrain from or avoid alcohol do have some...
Natural Bruise Treatment
Before a bruise has formed, it is advised to ice the area. This will keep any swelling down and it may help keep the colour of the bruise lighter. Once the bruise has formed, the best way to treat it depends on the colour. Regardless of colour, arnica will help. After ice, dry area and...
Dry Skin Under Eyes
The skin under your eyes is much thinner than anywhere else on your body, and for that reason it may have trouble retaining moisture. For a small amount of dry skin, a common solution is to use some aloe on the area. Some people go so far as to use Vaseline. If you are looking...
Baby Wipes: Green?
It has been a long held belief that the only things that can be flushed down a toilet are the 3Ps – Poo, Pee, and Paper. There are several parents who have been throwing baby wipes down the toilet under the belief that it counts within the 3Ps. This is simply untrue. Baby wipes are...
Zero Waste Home
Zero Waste Homes Many people are moving towards zerowaste living these days; trying to create as little waste as possible, whether it be recyclable or refuse. There are many steps one can take to change their garbage habits. There are things to do at home and with daily routines like shopping or eating out. Foodwaste...
Caffeine Eye Cream: Will It Work?
There are several eye creams that promise to relieve puffiness and erase fine lines. Many of these creams include the ingredient caffeine, usually coffee bean of tea based. The question that many ask is, does caffeine eye cream work? In many ways this is a personal question and the only way to be sure it...
COVID
Green Beauty and COVID-19 One of the most useful things that we can do to protect ourselves is to practice good hygiene. Diligently wash hands and use hand sanitizer. Wash the face and ears at least twice a day. Although the advice to not touch your face is best, at some point we will scratch,...
Witch Hazel: Miracle or Disaster
Witch hazel is a plant with powerful medicinal properties that can be used in a variety of ways. Witch hazel is often applied to the skin and scalp, as it is widely known for its ability to ease inflammation and soothe sensitive skin. It can also be added to herbal teas to ingest orally, in...
Covid Vitamin Cocktail
There is anecdotal evidence from the medical community that vitamins can help speed up Covid recovery time, there are also several studies and reports concluding that a strengthened immune system helps to ward off many infections including Covid. After being fully vaccinated and quite cautious, our household succumbed to Covid. Here is how Covid was...
Shingles: Combatting Pain and Discomfort
Day 1 - felt like kidney stones (at this point go to the hospital or health care centre) Day 2 - a few flea bites on the torso Day 3 - flea bites from belly button to spine on one side of the body Day 4 - was diagnosed with Shingles. After day 3, Shingles...
Scalp Massaging for a Healthy Scalp
Scalp Massaging for Hair Growth and a Healthy Scalp A healthy scalp is necessary promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. But how do you keep the scalp clean and well-nourished? A scalp massager is one tool that can help with this. Scalp massagers are intended to stimulate blood flow and circulation in the scalp,...
Exfoliation
Exfoliation Advice and Tips Exfoliation is a major part of any complete skincare routine. It's one of the best ways to boost glow and keep your skin looking brighter, smoother, and fresher with very little effort. But how exactly does exfoliation work? How many times a week should you be scrubbing and buffing your way...