Jolene’s safe make-up list!

23 Jun 2014 27 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Resources, Reviews

Jolene Marty has been the co-admin of my main Eco-friendly USA page for ~3 of the 4 years I’ve had the page. I personally don’t wear make-up, she does & she is as devoted to label-reading as I am. So make-up questions go to her, and she has compiled this, it is a work in progress.

 

BEST OF THE BEST (100% of products have safe ingredients, are either certified organic or made with all organic ingredients, made in the USA, cruelty free)

Poofy Organics

Suncat Mineral Makeup

Au Naturale

Lauren Brooke

Simply Rustic

**If you happen to choose Poofy, purchasing through this link costs you no more than shopping directly from Poofy, it ships straight from them, I earn a bit of commission: https://ecofriendlyusa.poofyorganics.com/

 

STILL REALLY GOOD (these are still pretty darn good in terms of ingredients, just not the absolute best. They are cruelty free, might have an exception or two, and worth a look!)

Willow Tree Minerals (reviewed makeup line only, with a few exceptions in a few products, everything looks good. Do NOT recommend mascara)

NYR Organic (makeup line reviewed only most, ingredients are safe, not certified organic however many products have several organic ingredients in them also NOT made in US)

Faerie Organics (mineral makeup line ONLY, except their mascara, cruelty free, products are not certified organic but they use a lot of organic ingredients sourced in Oregon)

RMS Beauty (except their mascara and lip2cheek, line has safe ingredients in it, not certified organic but many organic ingredients, all ingredients are non-GMO)

Epic Mineral Beauty (except mascara due to non disclosure of ingredients; will update at later time, non-GMO ingredients, cruelty-free, made in the USA)

Cowgirl Dirt (except for the mascara, this line has safe ingredients, not certified organic but made with many organic ingredients, made in the USA)

Everyday Minerals (safe ingredients, not organic, doesn’t specify non-GMO or not on the few items that have corn, cruelty free, made in USA)

Rejuva Minerals (safe ingredients, except for pressed powder & pressed bronzer, made in USA, several organic ingredients used)

 

GREENWASHERS (I would avoid these, minus maybe a few items in the line, they are unsafe in their majority)

Jane Iredale (with a couple of exceptions in the face line)

Bare Essentials (original forumula loose powder is good only, everything has icky ingredients in it)

Physician’s Formula (filled with horrible ingredients)

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear (is it possible this line is worse?! A lot of bad stuff here)

Lead in bentonite clay-based toothpaste, is ANY amount safe?!

15 May 2014 18 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Resources, Reviews

UPDATE: before you even read this, know that the whole reason this was written was my Son had a BLL (blood lead level) of 2, at the age of 3, after ~18 months of using Earthpaste & Poofy Organics bentonite-based toothpastes. WELL, my daughter, who has never used ANY toothpaste, came back with a BLL of 3 at the age of 1…. I’ve heard from SEVERAL parents who have had their kiddos tested, who’ve only ever used E.paste and/or Poofy, and they have not had elevated levels. It’s a very complex issue, but I’m back to believing that there is no risk involved in using a bentonite based toothpaste. That being said, read on…. 🙂

UPDATE #2, 5/3/16: Both of my kiddos had a vein draw lead test, my 5 & 3 year old came back less than 1, as good as I can hope for in this world we live in! All they’ve ever used for toothpaste has been bentonite-based from Poofy and Earthpaste. And I’ve heard from numerous, numerous others who’ve had test results of less than 1 as well, and who’ve only used bentonite-based as well….

As you all know (or most of you) I’ve been a very firm supporter of Earthpaste & Poofy Organics toothpaste for almost 2 years now. It’s the only toothpaste my Son (now 3) has used, other than a toothpowder for a few months before discovering these other toothpastes that I consider to be a fabulous alternative to fluoride, SLS, titanium dioxide- laden alternatives. Honestly, when I 1st started using them I wasn’t aware of the lead in the clay issue. Had I looked at the elemental analysis of the clay provided by Earthpaste on their website I would’ve seen that yes, it does contain lead, also aluminum, and a host of other elements as it’s gathered from within the earth. The research I did after learning that info all pointed to the fact that these elements were not absorbed by our body, and whole books have been written about how fabulous the clay is, and those who’d taken it as supplements did not have high levels of the elements that would indicate cause for concern. In the recent months Earthpaste has added a Prop 65 warning label, required by the state of CA (although Poofy doesn’t have one), which has resulted in many concerned emails from those new to it. Once everyone reads the info on why the label is there, just about everyone continues to use it without much concern (the explanation here: http://www.earthpaste.com/prop65/). Then someone shared this post by Lead Free America with me (http://leadsafeamerica.org/earthpaste/). Tamara calls out Earthpaste as one of the worst Greenwashers on the market, and you all know I don’t take greenwashing lightly & am on a mission to out green washers myself! You really need to read it for yourself, as well as the comments below, from Redmond, many from myself (both Jessica Brandt & Jess B are me) & from Tamara.

So, after reading her concerns I decided to have my Son tested. He was tested at 1 year & came back with a level 1 which I was told was great, and no concern. We hadn’t been back in since that time, and as I said he’s been using these toothpastes since he was ~18 months old. Also, as many kids do, he eats the stuff right off the brush, sometimes even squirting it right in his mouth from the tube. This never concerned me since all the info I can find on bentonite clay is that it’s great for you. So, the results…. After a year & a half of use, his level is up to a 2, which my doc said should be of no concern and was just fine. Yes, it did go up from a 1-2, but according to everything I’ve read, above 4 is start to be cause for concern, and after doing my own research I found this info which let me know the range can go up to 45 or more and in the 70’s-80’s limits were around 60 (to stay under)! Of course, when we know better, we do better, and there were many issues with levels that high & that is certainly off the charts in our day. This document says at a 0-4 there is very little lead in your system, and 2 is the average, above 10 requiring action: (https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2526.pdf). The CDC states that above a 5 is concerning, that used to be above a 10 (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/blood_lead_levels.htm). “In the past, blood lead level tests below 10 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood may, or may not, have been reported to parents. The new, lower value means that more children likely will be identified as having lead exposure allowing parents, doctors, public health officials, and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child’s future exposure to lead. What has not changed is the recommendation for when to use medical treatment for children. These new recommendations do not change the recommendation that chelation therapy be considered when a child is found with a test result of greater than or equal to 45 micrograms per deciliter of lead in blood. ” (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/lead_levels_in_children_fact_sheet.pdf)

So, nothing to worry about, right?! Well, not according to Tamara, from Lead Safe America. If you read the comments below her main post, she says I should be concerned with a 2. Here’s her most concerning (to me) comment: “Hi Jessica – 2 is not normal unfortunately – but many think it is. Natural pre-industrial level is a BLL of 0.016. For a child to have a BLL 2 that indicates a specific source of exposure in my book. I tested the redmond clay samples last week and they came in between 3 and 15 ppm, food items are considered toxic at parts per billion and even 3 ppm is not safe. Very not safe. Here’s an article about how a BLL 2 can impact a child. Please seriously consider not using this product anymore. Especially if you live in a newer or lead-safe home – it could be that this is his primary source of exposure. http://www.precaution.org/…/prn_low_level_lead.070712.htm” Her Son has damage from high levels of lead in his past, so I completely understand her mission to inform us & warn us of the dangers of lead. While I continue to research this myself I want to hear from you. What do you know about a level 2, does/would it concern you? Has your child been tested ever- especially interested in those testing after using Earthpaste or any clay based products being ingested?!

Again, I’ve researched this quite extensively & can’t find anything but fabulous remarks about clay being used, many take it as an oral supplement to improve gut health, like probiotics. At this time, we are continuing to use & love our Earthpaste & Poofy Organics (the only certified organic toothpaste made in the US). BUT, I feel this is a decision everyone needs to come to on their own, as with ANY other product. You need to be informed to make that decision, and I want to help facilitate getting ALL the info out there. I am not an expert in this area. If you are concerned, I’d suggest looking into some of the toothpowders available. Jack & Jill is a non-clay based option (made in Australia), but the research I’ve done points to it’s main ingredient, silica, being highly abrasive & to be avoided. I plan to re-test my Son in 6 months, and if the number rises more, I will re-evaluate my use of clay based products.

FOLLOW UP with more info: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/2014/07/22/what-ive-learned-about-lead/

PLEASE, share your feedback below, or in the FB thread we have started here: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=912142638801377&id=397517646930548 FB thread #2: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=912313912117583&id=397517646930548 FB thread #3: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=915541588461482&id=397517646930548

I’ve learned so much about lead since this post, you can read about many important issues here: https://ecofriendlymamausa.com/2014/07/22/what-ive-learned-about-lead/

Just Skin Food Review

24 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews

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Review of Just Skin Food, based in Cape May, NJ. I haven’t added a product line to my “approved/best-of-the-best” category for quite some time, so am thrilled have Just Skin Food as the newest addition! There are numerous things I love about this line—both the products themselves & the true eco-friendly aspect of the business practices.

Just Skin Food offers a fabulous selection of herbal salves…, body butters, bar soaps, essential oils, skincare oils, lotion bars, body scrubs & flower essences. She also categorizes everything with a seasonal product tab, and one for men’s, women’s, children’s products. You will not find a SINGLE plastic product in her packaging, which makes me so very happy! Everything comes in glass or a stainless steel tin. Details like this show me Just Skin Food definitely deserves a spot on my best-of-the-best list: “Even our inside seals are made from certified unbleached chlorine free paper. We do not like to use any kind of sealer that requires heat transfer of glue or plastic.” Also, she grows many of the herbs that she uses in her products herself, which I admire greatly!

Gabriella, the owner & creator of these high quality products, has a background in homeopathy. Here is some info from her “about” section of her website: “Homeopathy is more than my life’s work, it is my passion! I first fell in love with homeopathy while studying abroad in Florence, Italy when I was just a teenager. Since then, I have furthered my education in the field, worked as a Classical Homeopath and Bach Flower Essence Practitioner, and continued studies in Natural Medicine and Holistic Healing and Herbology. Considering my holistic approach to health and skin care, bringing Just Skin Food to life was a natural evolution. It began with a simple line of Herbal Healing Skin Salves for clients, family and friends. But little did we know, there was much more to come. While my clients were on their holistic path to healing, their use of standard beauty products was counter-intuitive. Knowing that, they wanted products that would enhance their outer beauty while keeping in harmony with their inner journey of healing. With this in mind, we developed more holistic products to help them on this journey. Thanks to them, we continually evolve.” She is currently undergoing the process to become certified organic, and as you’ll see when clicking on any ingredient tab, she uses only the best organic & wild-crafted ingredients!

Steps Gabriella takes to ensure she’s being as eco-friendly as possible. From the customer service tab on her website:
–In order to keep a lesser carbon footprint for such small items, Just Skin Food has decided to have a minimum online total order of $35.00. With a minimum online order of $35.00 shipping is always free.
–Orders are shipped either Tuesday or Friday (so she’s not traveling to the PO daily with only a couple packages).
— We try to use organic air-popped popcorn inside our packages except when we are re-using materials that we receive in packages that are sent to us. If we do not have old material to re-use for packaging we will use USPS priority boxes. Please recycle the cardboard box as well as the bubble wrap, which can be recycled just like plastic bags. You can feed the popcorn to the birds or put it in with your compost. (I’m very, very impressed with this one, what a fabulous idea! My package came with reused materials, no popcorn.)

Gabriella sent me numerous items from her product line. Without a doubt my favorite is the Espresso Honey Scrub. I make my own coconut oil based oat & sugar scrub, but have been passing that up for this Espresso scrub every bath I take. If you’re a coffee lover, I think you’ll agree that this scrub is heavenly. Since it’s so finely ground it makes a wonderful scrub, and the oils & honey used in the blend she sent me leave my skin very nourished & moisturized when I’m done with my bath. It also contains rhassoul clay which is a clay I wasn’t previously familiar with, but am always happy to learn something new! Here’s a look at that ingredient list, along with the fascinating info about the clay. Ingredients: Harry and Bean’s fair trade organic espresso coffee, organic cold pressed virgin olive oil infused with organic vanilla bean, organic dried rosemary herb, cape may honey farm’s local raw honey, pure orange peel butter, and rhassoul clay*.*Rhassoul Clay used in ancient Rome and Egypt as a daily cleanser comes from the Atlas Mountains in Eastern Morocco from deposits formed from volcanic ashes. Rhassoul Clay has a rejuvenating effect on the skin. It has a high content of Silica which supports deep layers of collagen and gives the skin its elasticity. Two other natural component of Rhassoul Clay is Magnesium and Calcium, which are essential for skin regeneration. And it mildly lathers.”

I also am enjoying the whipped butters very much. She sent me a Whipped Fluffy Mint Cream, an Orange Cream, and a Lemon Fresh Cream (she also makes a Vanilla Bean Cream). They are so light & fluffy, each smells absolutely amazing, and they just melt right into your skin. Each is geared towards different skin conditions such as cracked & flaky, teen and oily, mature, or all skin types. I have used the Winter Brew lotion stick on the cheeks of both my kiddos, and felt it did a nice job helping heal & moisturize their mainly wind burned, dry winter skin. I am very appreciative of the product I have on hand for the summer sun, bug & itch season. We’ve had a very late spring here in Wisconsin, so it’ll be a month or more before I’ll have occasion to test the bug or sun stick. She also sent a poison ivy salve which I hope I don’t need, but we are a very active, outdoorsy family so I’m very happy to have this in my medicine cabinet should we need it.

She sent me a sample tin of each of her salves, and this is where her background in homeopathy really shines through and is a tremendous asset to these products! Honestly I haven’t had a chance to use most of them yet, but have learned that it’s very important to have your medicine cabinet ready with a very healthy assortment of product, so when the time comes, you’re ready & not scrambling in search of whatever you can get locally. I love opening my cabinet and seeing her tins of salve for the following ailments: deep healing, all-purpose, soothing, joint relief, eczema/psoriasis and more! Many are vegan, and all are made with an amazing assortment of organic oils infused (sometimes double infused!) with wild-harvested or homegrown herbs! Many, many people are making homemade products these days, but I really feel top quality products like these are unique!

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I highly recommend treating your Mom to some top quality products from Just Skin Food. Also, why not treat yourself to an Espresso Honey Scrub, or some fabulous whipped body butter as a special treat, whether you’re a mother or not! Most Mom’s I know put their own needs last, and let me tell you, there’s nothing like a hot bath & a jar of Espresso scrub to both relax, and awaken your senses at the same time! I asked very nicely & Gabriella agreed to create a 15% off coupon code for those of you interested in trying some of her amazing, high quality products! Good through April 30th: 15% discount with coupon code eco430
Website: http://www.justskinfood.com/index.html
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/JustSkinFood?fref=ts

My Made in the USA Dollhouse

13 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews Tags: , ,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA My photo.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????? Their photo, to get a better idea of the size & whole picture. From Elves & Angels website.

I have not been more excited to do a review in a long, long time. This all started when I had a message from a page called Wildflower Innocence on my FB wall, sharing with me the fact that Elves & Angels was hosting a great giveaway that I & my page would surely be interested in. I of course entered that giveaway & shared a link on my page. I also commented that if they’d ever like me to do a review for any of their products I’d be thrilled to. So, here we are…

I was initially offered Jenny’s kitchen. It’s the most economical of the wooden kitchen’s I’ve found, and I’ve looked at lots of them. They’re offering it for as little as $169, with free shipping which is a really, really good deal! I had a hard time saying no to that offer but we already own a very similar looking kitchen. The one we have was loaned to us by a local family, made by the Husband 22 or so years ago. We are the 5th family to enjoy it in that time and it will likely be enjoyed by several more families when we’re done with it. I like to tell that story whenever someone complains to me about the price of the wooden kitchens that are handmade in the US. They send me links to made in China ones for under $100 & want to know my thoughts on them. I will never give my blessing to cheap, particle board, brightly painted, made in China offerings when you can get fabulous, solid wood, handmade in the USA offerings such as Jenny’s kitchen, for under $170!!! They truly can last for decades, and knowing that your money is going to support a fellow American family is worth a few dollars saved up front. Your purchase will hold its value & can easily be resold on Craigslist, etc when you’re done with it, if you have no one in your family to pass it on to. They offer numerous wooden kitchens for under $200, which is a great price & the most affordable I’ve seen among the quality, made in USA options on the market. Anything over $100 ships free, which is a huge saving as my box weighed 30# & of course was bulky! The cost of shipping an assembled dollhouse or kitchen would be insanely expensive, so there’s really no choice but to have the consumer put it together.

All that being said, I had my eye on a dollhouse. If anyone reading this thinks dollhouses are just for girls, you’re very wrong. My Son, who just turned 3 (in March) has always taken a great interest in the dollhouse at the local library we go to Story Time at, and I’m assuming his baby Sister will enjoy them as she grows up as well. The one they have at the library is made in China as are the popular Melissa & Doug offerings. So, finding a few made in the USA options at Elves & Angels made me very happy & I knew I wanted to add one to my family at some point. I offered to chip in some money towards it, as the one I wanted was a little more expensive than the kitchen I was offered, and I didn’t expect them to give me a dollhouse for free. I did get it at a very discounted blogger special price, but not completely free, for the record 🙂  I chose the Maine dollhouse, which sells for $229, as I liked the open floor plan which means multiple children can play with it from different sides. They also offer another option that is gorgeous & I would’ve been thrilled to own as well, and that sells for $199.

I told myself I was going to set up the dollhouse, but when the time came & I had a super excited 3 year old there anxious to see it set up, I asked Dada to please do it. He’s a very experienced carpenter, and after laying everything out & reading the directions it took him 45 minutes to set it up, not including putting the final pegs in to cover up the screws. It probably would’ve taken me 4 times that long, but I’m certain I would’ve been able to do it if I had to. It comes with a DVD to guide you through the assembly as well! You can tell that a great deal of thought, and trial & error went into making it as easy as possible for the consumer to put this together. Had it snapped together in 3 pieces & 2 minutes, I would have to question its quality. I am very, very impressed with the care that went into making such a quality product so easy to put together. It is very solid & extremely, extremely high quality. The one & only thing it’s missing is a set of stairs, my 3 year old looked at me one day & said “Mom, how do they get upstairs” 🙂  So, for now they jump real high! But my Hubby is going to customize us a set of stairs for it.

I saw they also offered adorable furniture for it, but then realized it was made by Plan Toys in Thailand. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find a made in the USA set of furniture for it, but knew if anyone had it Pure Play Kids would. I hopped over to their page, and within minutes had my set of furniture ordered for it (turns out it’s actually made by TAG Toys, another vendor on my Safe Toys List). It’s cheaper via TAG directly, but I do have a coupon code for 15% off your Pure Play purchase: ECOUSA15 for 15% off your entire order, good through all of 2014.

Then, on to the family that would reside in this new house. Elves & Angels offers dolls made by both Plan Toys, a European Waldorf option, and some made by Wildflower Innocence (who contacted my originally). As that was the made in the USA offering, I sent a message to Suzanne & asked if she’d be interested in donating a family for my new house. Turns out she’s the daughter of David, the owner & master craftsman behind Elves & Angels (she’s 1/12 children!), and she agreed to send me the Natural Family to do a review on & share with you (sells for $103.95 on Etsy).

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I could not be happier with the family she sent me. I absolutely adore it! They are made with a base of wire with yarn & felt clothing over the wire. This means they are bendable, which is just awesome for playing with them. They are so incredibly well made; you can tell a lot of love went into them. I cannot stress how much I love them! Since receiving the family, I’ve already placed & received an additional order which will be in my children’s Easter baskets of a couple of the Birthday dolls, a gorgeous fairy, and a custom made boy doll. Please take a look at what she offers & I think you’ll agree that she is very talented. For the price she’s asking, the fact that these are made in the US & not Europe or China, the quality way in which they’re made, you will be very hard pressed to find anything comparable, believe me, I’ve looked!! http://wildflowerinnocence.com/, her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WildflowerInnocence?ref=shopsection_shophome_leftnav and she’s on FB as well!

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WAITING FOR THEIR FURNITURE TO ARRIVE

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I have a pretty lousy camera, a photo does not do these justice, but this gives you an idea of size & let me tell you, they’re just ADORABLE!!!!

In conclusion, I’m beyond excited to have connected with both David from Elves & Angels, and Suzanne from Wildflower Innocence. Having grown up in a small, family-owned & operated business myself (my dad owns a flower shop & 3 greenhouses), I know that it instilled many values in me such as supporting others on similar ventures, the value of hard work & sacrifice, and family values. Please browse Elves & Angels FB page to see many fabulous photo albums from around their shop & you’ll see their family at work, bringing us the very best of what America has to offer! I will also say I know many of you can’t afford to buy this out of the blue, but it’s never too early to start thinking about a Birthday or Christmas. If you start saving a little towards the dollhouse, buy the furniture & the dolls when you have a little extra, it could be doable for many of you. And the quality with which these products are made ensure you’ll be enjoying your purchases for many, many years, if not generations to come! You get what you pay for, and quality over quantity are 2 of the mottos I live by!

Website: http://elvesandangels.com/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ElvesandAngels

 

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Review of oil cleanser from The Natural Cajun

03 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews

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Oil cleansing—have you heard of it? Have you tried it? A Mama who has been on my page for quite some time let me know that she had just launched her own business & accompanying website/FB page: The Natural Cajun, and asked if I’d ever tried oil cleansing. I had heard of it, but not tried it, so was very interested in it. I always enjoy trying new things as long as the ingredients are completely safe, which these certainly are. I was very pleased when I received her package to see that the product comes in a cobalt blue glass bottle, which screams quality product to me! I was also very happy that she sent 2 pages of info with it fully describing the ingredients & even their sources, and the info as to why oil cleansing is beneficial. Here’s some info from those sheets. Ingredients for the combo skin formula I was sent:
Avocado oil: Swanson foods Organic
Hemp Seed oil: Mountain Rose Herbs Organic
Olive oil: Bragg’s Organic Extra Virgin
Borage Seed Oil: Raw Gaia Organic
Hazelnut Oil: Mountain Rose Herbs Organic
Grapeseed Oil: Mountain Rose Herbs Organic
Sweet Almond Oil: Swanson Foods Organic

Directions: apply a teaspoon worth of oil (I use a cotton ball), place hot rag over face until no longer hot, wipe clean. My favorite part is definitely the hot rag treatment on the face! I find myself looking forward to it, it feels really, really good at the end the day! Also, it smells wonderful, with a slightly sweet but very mellow scent. I definitely see dirt on the cotton ball daily, which shows me it’s working to remove it. I have come to like this method of cleaning my face much more than using soap. It’s both super easy, and soothing- it’s really grown on me.  Of course it’s best to use it daily, but I usually do it every other day. I know many of you can relate to the evening chaos of bath & getting the kiddos ready for bed, I put my needs last of course, but am trying to get in the habit of doing this while my kids are in the bath. But even with every other day use, I feel my skin is very healthy right now. I have always had combo skin: my forehead & nose always have dry spots, while my neck & cheeks are oilier, and break out in pimples at times. Bailey told me to leave more oil on the dry parts (don’t wipe it away), and that definitely seems to be helping! My previously oily parts are doing much better than they have in a very long time! I love it! She makes one for dry, oily , acne, or combo skin.  They are $15 ($17 for acne blend) which includes shipping. The 4 oz bottle is a month’s worth of cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.

SO, how does it work?! Here’s some info from Bailey, including her personal testimonial: “Now to tell you why I love oil cleansing! I have always had mild skin issues. I am a nutrition counselor and despite my clean, omega 3 balanced diet, I still occasionally break out, or at least I did before I discovered this amazing method. The chemistry behind it is simple: like dissolves like. Your face is constantly producing oil (known as sebum). Even if you have dry skin, oil production continues. When you use harsh cleansers or even sensitive mild simple organic cleanser, your face is being stripped of its natural oils. The result can vary from complete skin chaos to barely noticeable. When you strip your skin of its sebum, no matter how little, it goes into overdrive to produce more resulting in breakouts, dry patches, and oiliness not good. I use different blends for different skin types, but each blend has this in common: astringent oil, nourishing oil, and moisturizing oil. After a few days of oil cleansing my face got the point. I was going to let it do its job, no need to hyper produce sebum and clog up my pores.”

Also, I greatly appreciated this info she passed along to me, showing me she’s very educated about the products she’s using: “ I also wanted to let you know that most oil cleansers, especially DIY ones, use castor oil.  I do not use castor oil because of the awful harvesting practices.  The workers are exposed to the toxic chemical “ricin” (which is completely removed when the oil is refined).  I can’t, in good conscience, use castor oil for this reason.”

I’m very grateful to Bailey for sending me a jar of this to sample, and plan to keep using it in the future.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thenaturalcajun

Adventures in Babywearing

03 Jan 2014 14 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Resources, Reviews

Some people consider babywearing a recent development or new fad. I’ve had people say to me “that’s so cool, we didn’t’ have those when I was raising my children”. Of course they were around, just not everyone was aware of their existence, but babywearing is an ancient practice. It just makes sense! Different wraps have evolved in different regions of the world: wrap, sling, mei tai (tie on) depending on the climate, the type of work the mother is doing, etc. I LOVED reading this history of babywearing, which includes many great photos: http://www.slingbabies.co.nz/Site/History_2.ashx. With my 1st child, babywearing was convenient here & there, especially when traveling, shopping, etc. and I loved having his forehead close enough to kiss! With the addition of his little sister, it’s not just a convenience; it’s an essential part of our daily life. Baby Girl is 6 months at this time, and I’m starting to wear her a little less as she spends more time on a blanket on the floor, in her chair, etc. I still wear her ~6 hrs/day, down from 8+ her first several months. She naps in her carrier while I do dishes, fold laundry, or play with Big Brother. Or, she just hangs out in it, peering out & paying attention to everything Mama is doing. I absolutely love babywearing and wanted to share my experience with the few carriers I’ve tried. There are many, many carriers available. My main goal was to try each of the different styles: wrap, ring sling, mei tai, modern buckle system. It’s very possible my preferences will change as my baby grows. Althea was 10# 2 oz. at birth,  at 4 months she was 16#, at almost 6 months she’s 19.

Here’s a great article regarding the criteria that make a good carrier: http://www.babywearingadvice.co.uk/criteria.htm

So, here’s the one’s I’ve tried to date, in no particular order. I will update this as my babe grows, and if I should happen to try another one. There are many different makes of the following models:

Moby Wrap- made in Thailand. Organic available, $45- 60(organic), recommended to 35#. Great for preemies or small infants, in my opinion, although I’ve heard from many who love & wear their children until much older on back. I absolutely loved this wrap for the few times when I got it perfectly tight. Babe was nestled in there so snug & it felt very secure. However, the majority of the times I just couldn’t get it tight enough. I’d get her in there & find it too loose, and adjusting it is not easy. I’m so thankful that Debi who owns Baby, Go Green in Houston, TX (http://www.shopbabygogreen.com/) loaned this to me to try out! After using it for a few weeks I decided it just wasn’t for me (& my BabyHawk came), so I sent it back to Debi to use as a floor display. I really, really wanted to try it, and am so thankful I had the opportunity!
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Ergo- made in China. $114-$145(organic). Need infant insert for under 15# (although I’ve heard from parents who did not know they needed one/did not use one)- The insert is $25- $38(organic). Recommended to 45#. Althea was 15# by 4 months, although some don’t reach that weight until 1 year. Has hood & zipper pouch. I wore my son, who is almost 3 now, exclusively in our Ergo. I did like it, but I also had nothing to compare it to, which was one of the reasons I really wanted to try some of the other styles as I had a chance with a brand new babe. I found myself recommending the Ergo, but hated that it was made in China. I’m so thankful to have a few made in the USA options to recommend now!
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Balboa ring sling- made in China, $60. Honestly, it didn’t feel safe. Maybe for preemie, or maybe it’s just that I’m used to babe being strapped to me, but I don’t like the separation that the pouch creates. Developed & recommended by Dr. Sears, who has done a lot to promote baby wearing which I appreciate, just not a fan of this carrier. Recommended to 25#. I don’t have much else to say about this one. I passed it on to a Mama interested in trying it out.
balboa

Action Baby Carrier. Made in Detroit, MI! 2 carriers: standard $98 (recommended until ~18m) and toddler $114. The made in the USA Ergo alternative. Buckle system like Ergo. Has hood, very easy to put on, straps crisscross behind back. Here’s the recommendation I was given via email: “Standard Size is recommended from 8lbs to 40lbs. Toddler Size is recommended from 15-45lbs wherein the toddler is made wider so the support extends to the knee. If your 4months is already 10-15lbs, I may suggest toddler for longer use and you can also use it for your 2.5y.o.” However in my review I commented that I didn’t feel I could comfortably carry my babe as tightly as I’d like they said the typically recommend the standard size until 18 months. I think I will like this carrier as my babe grows. I LOVE that it’s made in the USA, and for anyone tempted by an Ergo, I’d DEFINITLEY point you to an Action instead! My email inquiring about organic options was not answered… To read my full review: https://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/2013/12/12/action-baby-carrier-review-giveaway/.
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BabyHawk. Made in Oceanside, CA! $85-$90. No infant insert needed. You can get a perfect fit by tying it on to your tightness preference, I like my babe quite tight- it feels so safe, and she loves it! As she gets older I’ll prefer to wear her more loosely I’m sure! Straps crisscross behind back & go down to tie around your waist which helps distribute weight across greater portion of your body. No buckles, nothing mechanical that could possibly break (slammed my Ergo strap in the car door once, shattering a buckle), also no hood. Very easy to tighten up & readjust if loosens up. Recommended to 40#. I feel the BabyHawk creates the best M shape, as described above in the recommended criteria for a good carrier. As you don’t need an insert, 1 carrier is good to 40# AND it’s the cheapest, it is my favorite & will be my top recommendation! They also make a couple other styles of carriers; I’ve only tried the Mei Tai. I asked them about organic options, here’s the response: “Unfortunately at this time we discontinued the organic options because they were not selling. However we do have enough of the cherry twill to make one carrier if you are interested. We also have the black and white floral shown in the pic which is also organic.” So, contact them if interested, and if enough people request organic, maybe we can get them to offer it once again! My full review here: https://ecofriendlyusa.wordpress.com/2013/09/21/babyhawk-mei-tai-review/.
babyhawk
Questions, comments, experiences- please share!

Added 8/11/16: I just learned about these made in USA wraps: http://www.thenaturalbabyco.com/top-brands/brands-k-o/ovolo.html

Jolene’s Poofy Organics Make-up Review

30 Dec 2013 3 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Eco-friendly living, Reviews Tags:

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POOFY ORGANICS ~I AM GODDESS~ MAKEUP REVIEW

I had the pleasure of receiving some makeup to review from Poofy Organics. I am always on the hunt for safe and amazing makeup as it is a question that I constantly get. I am always asked which makeup I recommend and use and where they can find it. I recently did a Mascara review that has Poofy Organics as one of our top 4 choices of safe mascara that is recommended for use. I was sent a mascara, blush, eye shadow, and lipstick to try. I must say that when I first received my products in the mail, I loved the packaging, I felt that I had a high quality product in my hands without even opening it up and using it. Also, right away, I could see that all of the colors were beautiful and were exactly what I was expecting from the description…LOVE that! When you buying online, you want to KNOW what you are getting and I was NOT disappointed!

Blush BLUSH I really enjoyed using this blush. I used their lightest one and it is light pink in color. I was pleasantly surprised that it was so silky soft not only by looks but by feel as well. I don’t usually used pressed makeup as it tends to be heavy and dry on my face…NOT the case here! Just one light application was all that was needed to get a glow on my cheeks and I felt like I wasn’t wearing any at all! Best part was that it stayed put AND felt wonderful!

Divinity LIPSTICK First I will say that I am not a lipstick person. I find them to be chalky and with one application they over power my face…not making for a great look. Well THIS lipstick actually felt great on my lips! One light sweep of it gave a subtle look…PERFECT for me!! It does layer well if you want a bit deeper of a color. I must add that this lipstick also smells delicious!!! Very impressed with this find. It is the only lipstick I now own and probably will ever own!

Sultry Silver Eye Shadow Again, another pressed powder that is silky smooth on my skin! This is a light silver eye shadow that only needs 1-2 soft applications to get the soft color looking great on your eyes. I did 3-4 as I liked it a bit more obvious and it felt like I was wearing NOTHING on my eyelids and it did NOT flake off into my contacts or anywhere else on my face. It applied perfectly! There was also NO need for re-application as it stayed put and true to color the whole time I wore it!

Mascara Black This was my most exciting product to try as I love mascara but gave up wearing it as I couldn’t find anything that wasn’t full of chemicals, that didn’t produce mass amounts of flakes half of which came from me rubbing my eyes so much from irritation! In short, I LOVE this mascara and is my favorite to date. Here’s why! Upon taking the wand out of the bottle, it was NOT clumpy, gloopy, overly wet, and runny. I applied one layer on one eye, moved to the next and repeated for a second layer. Perfect day look! Because it is not a super wet product, I didn’t get any on my eye shadow or under my eyes (which was a happy surprise for me) and even upon trying to make a more dramatic look, applying a 3rd and 4th layer still did not clump my blonde lashes or dry them out (aka flaking) at all. I had this mascara on for several hours and it didn’t irritate my sensitive contact wearing eyes one bit. I am highly sensitive to preservatives and different chemicals particularly in personal care items and I had zero reaction!! The only downside to this mascara was that it did take a bit of effort to get off at night with my coconut oil (which some would say is a plus because it doesn’t go running all over your face with just a bit of moisture), and that I didn’t discover this little gem sooner!! Note: the mascara is not waterproof, that would take some nasty chemicals!

List of ingredients with their EWG rating in parenthesis:  Water (Aqua) (EWG0), Chamomile Hydrosol (Matricaria Recutita)* (EWG0), Cera Alba (Beeswax)* (EWG0), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax (EWG0), Mica (CI 77019) (EWG2), Coffea Arabica (Coffee Powder)* (EWG0), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder* (EWG2), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (EWG0)*, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch* (EWG0), Lecithin, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Acetic Acid, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydrastis Canadensis Root Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract*. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), (CI 77491), (CI 77492). (*Certified Organic)

 

As a Side Note: The owner of this company is completely forthcoming with her ingredients and why she uses what she does. She happily answered all of my questions (which I always have a ton) and she is passionate about making safe products for her family and her customers. I am truly impressed with Poofy Organics as I feel they offer amazing customers service and superior products.

DID YOU KNOW: You can order any of the products that I mentioned in this month’s BUYING CLUB!!! Poofy Organics is part of it and she has many other wonderful products including a full line of safe and beautiful makeup to choose from!

North Star Toys People Mover Review

12 Dec 2013 2 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews

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Review of North Star Toys, located in Questa, New Mexico. Tim & Connie have been making toys since 1979, which happens to be the year I was born! Categories of toys: Rainbow Collection, People Mover, Toys for Wee Ones, Baby’s First Animals, Classics, Legendary Creatures, Creative Play Sets, Big Rollie Dinosaurs, Big Rollie Vehicles, Little Rollie Vehicles & Animals, Magic & Myth, Pull Toys, Camera, Extra People, Rubber Band Powered, Nativity.

They sent me the People Mover in the photo, which is made of Alder & Birch wood. I love that my son (he’ll be 3 in March) recognized the little wooden pegs as people immediately. He’s REALLY in to nursery rhymes right now, and has been having so much fun playing with the people. I’ve seen him playing with them while singing: Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed, 10 in the Bed, The Wheels on the Bus, Humpty Dumpty, and on & on. That’s the thing I’ve come to love about ‘simple’ toys, they really do inspire the imagination! We’ve worked on counting to 10, taking the people in & out, and arranging them by colors. Of course when he plays with Dada, they work on launching the bus off ramps & crashing it into other cars, etc The people are available unpainted as well, you can order extra people, and there are other vehicles such as boats that the people can be used with. The People Mover sells for $25.

The toy did come wrapped in a plastic cellophane wrapper. I know they wanted to keep all the people in the vehicle, and the clear plastic allows you to see the toy nicely. But, I’d rather see a beautiful wooden toy wrapped in a cloth bag, as most of the other wooden toys I’ve ever received have been. I asked them about this and here’s what Tim told me: “The bags we use for our toys are cellophane – regenerated cellulose, a plant based product. One of our primary goals is to use products which are locally made or made in America.”

From their website: “At North Star Toys we know children deserve safe, well-made toys. All our designs reflect this primary concern. We personally make each toy from start to finish in our workshop located in the mountains in Questa, New Mexico. Our lumber comes from the US, and our parts follow the federal and voluntary guidelines governing small parts, sharp points, and chemical make-up. Our toy finishes are safe. Our toys are simply coated with a non-toxic, food grade mineral oil which meets or exceeds requirements by the USFDA, US Pharmacopeia, US Dept. of Agriculture and is certified Kosher and Pareve. In some of our toys we have painted passengers. There is no lead in the paints or finishes used on our toys.” For the record, mineral oil is derived from petroleum. Is that terrible? Not necessarily. It’s the refining & other processes petroleum goes through to make it into gasoline that aren’t eco-friendly. It is a natural product.
I thank them very much for sharing one of their hand-crafted toys with my family, and also for making quality wooden toys here in the USA. They sent me a hand-written note thanking me for my site & letting me know they just became Grandparents for the 1st time & get to see their Grandchild almost every day which is obviously very important to them—congratulations Tim & Connie! And keep the great toys coming!!

Please visit their website & FB pages for more info!
Website: http://www.northstartoys.com/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Star-Toys/158946754139242

Action Baby Carrier Review

12 Dec 2013 4 Comments

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews

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Action Baby Carrier review (photo from their website). Made in Detroit, Michigan. As a WI Mama, I feel this is a local product, which makes me very happy! The Action is the made in the USA alternative to the Ergo (made in China, many aren’t aware of that!). They are a very small company, employing three full-time employees according to their website. A couple months ago I wrote several made in the USA carrier-makers as I really, really wanted to have something to recommend other than my Ergo, which was the only carrier I had at the time, and what I wore my 1st born in exclusively. As we had a new addition to the family, I seized the opportunity to try out some different carriers. I’m so happy Action agreed to send me one of their offerings to try out.

They started their business making Mei Tai (tie on) carriers, but had great demand for a buckle system similar to the Ergo many of us are familiar with them. They now make 2 models which use the buckle system: Standard Size is recommended from 8lbs to 40lbs, $98 Toddler Size is recommended from 15-45lbs wherein the toddler is made wider so the support extends to the knee, $114. They offer free shipping continental US.

At 4 months (when they contacted me) Baby Girl was already 15#, and her older brother was around ~32# ( at 2 ½ years), so I requested a toddler size. They also let me choose my pattern which was something I appreciated very much. I chose the adorable Happy Camper pattern. It is very, very similar to the Ergo. It is SUPER easy to put on, even easier than the Ergo. With the Ergo I liked to have the back buckle all the way down towards the middle of my back, and always struggled to secure it myself. The Action has a hood, but no zipper pouch (definitely something I can live without). One improvement it has over the Ergo, in my opinion, is the straps crisscross behind your back when wearing your child in the front. I feel this helps distribute the weight of your child more evenly. However, I have the same issue with this carrier that I do with my Ergo. I like to wear my Baby Girl quite tight. In order to get this style of carrier tight enough I have to tighten the part that goes around my arm so tight that the straps then don’t lay flat on my shoulders, usually riding up into my neck. But in general, I find it quite comfortable. I am “broke in” to babywearing multiple hours/day though, and just like anything it’s something your body needs to get used to. I know as she grows I’ll wear her looser & this won’t be as much of an issue, but at this time I wear her ~8 hrs/day, so little things like this matter greatly in how I feel at the end of a day of babywearing. I haven’t worn her older brother in this yet; I haven’t worn him in quite a while actually. We are planning a family trip in January which will involve multiple airports, and we will definitely be packing a carrier for each child. I’ll be doing a post in the coming weeks where I compare several makes & models of carriers that I’ve tried, and I’m trying to not do that in this post, but will just say that I prefer a Mei Tai carrier for a variety of reasons for my Baby Girl, at this time.

More about the Toddler Carrier: “The toddler carrier is 3 inches taller in the body than our regular carrier, as well as offering an inch longer hood and 2 inches smaller in the shoulder webbing (because they are used mostly for back carries and gives you a tighter fit). The base of the “seat” is 19 inches across.  All of the webbing on the toddler carrier is the same as our standard carrier. We are asked often about the sizing of our carrier.  It is either, “will it fit me?  I am really petite” or “will it fit my husband, he is really tall”?  The answer is, in most cases, YES, our standard and toddler sizes will fit you and your husband! We sell a huge amount of carriers in Asia. Women there tend to be very petite.  But, we also sell a ton of carriers to the USA and Europe where men tend to be tall and thicker in the shoulders.  When we set out to design the Action Baby Carrier, it had to fit both small and tall!  Because the designers were, one, petite and the other tall bodied. We would never design a carrier that we could not use ourselves or that we would not recommend to a friend.  So, we designed it to fit most people from the start.  This is one of the reasons for the double side adjuster for the hip belt. We can make it longer, without all the extra webbing.” In conclusion, I am so thrilled to have an alternative to the Ergo to recommend, and thrilled that it’s even cheaper than the Ergo! I like the carrier a lot, but feel I will like it even more as my Baby Girl grows a bit. I think it’s fabulous that it can carry a child up to 45#, meaning it can be used for many, many years! I will definitely be recommending this carrier over, and over!

Please visit their website & FB pages:

Website: http://www.actionbabycarriers.com/shop/

Fb page: https://www.facebook.com/ActionBabyCarriers

LuSa Organics review

12 Dec 2013 Leave a comment

by ecofriendlymamausa in Reviews

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Review of LuSa Organics products, handmade in Viroqua, WI. In the review I did for Action Baby Carriers earlier in the week I mentioned I felt Detroit was local to me as a WI Mama (which it is compared to made in China). Well, Viroqua, WI is REALLY local, only 20 minutes away, it’s the closest ‘big’ town with a Wal-Mart, etc. So, it makes me really, really happy to finally be doing a review for this growing company. I love browsing the other natural living FB pages I belong to & seeing LuSa Organics products recommended. Rachel is really starting to gain attention with her fantastic line of soap, and so much more, and rightfully so! I was sent 3 products: a shampoo/shaving bar, baby bath & massage oil & Sweet Soul Sister bar soap. They are all amazing and I’m especially in love with the shampoo bar!

Forest shampoo/shaving bar- 4 oz. bar for $5.25. Info from the website: “Yes, one bar can do it all. It might looks like any bar of LuSa soap, but Forest is so very much more. You’ll notice the difference as soon as you lather. Rich, thick, creamy, and buttery – this lather is perfect for washing up, shampooing hair, and shaving. The secret is a significant amount of castor oil in the mix which conditions the hair and skin and gives the bubbles a rich, buttery texture. We’ve also added two types of clay for a shaving cream lather – and to absorb excess oil from hair and scalp. Enjoy this soap from head to toe!”. Ingredients: saponified oils of *palm, *coconut, *olive, *local sunflower, and *castor; shea butter (fair trade), essential oil blend (pine, fir, cedar, peru basam, and nutmeg) french green clay and white clay. *certified organic ingredient. This bar only comes “naked”, which is one thing that makes me LOVE this so much more. There is NO packaging. LuSa does offer wonderful boxes, and they even come with a few refrigerator word magnets so you can makes some creative sentences on your fridge in your spare time. But, it is also a waste of natural resources & totally unnecessary if you’re not giving it as a gift or selling it in your shop, etc. So, it came with no wrapper, no bottle, no nothing, just a lovely bar of soap. It is both eco- & budget-friendly. I’ve only used the bar maybe 6 times, but it seems like it’ll last a long time. I have short hai, and just rub the bar right into my hair & it produces a wonderful lather and my hair feels fabulous after it dries! I highly, highly recommend this product to those of you who have been struggling to find a safe, effective and affordable shampoo!

I mentioned to Rachel that my Baby Girl still had a bit of cradle cap, so she sent me her Baby Bath & Massage Oil. I hadn’t been too diligent about getting rid of the cradle, just occasionally rubbing coconut oil on it. Since receiving the oil I have been paying more attention to her head & can say that after a couple weeks of rubbing the oil in every couple of days & using a small, fine-toothed comb the cradle cap is about 99% gone. I LOVE that it has only 3 organic ingredients! Baby Bath & Massage Oil: $9.25 for a 2 fl. Oz. bottle. “Perfect multi-use body oil designed for baby’s sensitive skin. Use for after-bath moisturizing, baby massage, or in the tub. Perfect for cradle cap too. It is unscented for your little one, or you may add essential oil drops when baby gets older.” Ingredients: *Jojoba oil, *evening primrose oil, *avocado oil.*certified organic ingredient.

She sent me one of her AMAZING bar soaps: Sweet Soul Sister Soap- tangerine and peppermint. Ingredients: Saponified oils of *palm, *coconut, *olive, and *sunflower; shea butter (fair trade), essential oil blend (peppermint, tangerine, orange, spikenard, and lime), jojoba meal, turmeric. *certified organic ingredient. Size: 4 oz. $5.75 or $5.25 naked (no box).Every one of her bar soaps has a story behind it, and I LOVE the story behind this one! “I first created this soap with my college best friend, Denise. We schemed of someday living and raising our babies next door to each other. Ten years and thousands of miles later, we gave birth three days (and one back yard) apart. Celebrate your favorite women with this joyous blend”. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of peppermint in general, but this soap makes me like it. I’m a HUGE fan of citrus, and the combination of the two is just wonderful, producing a very clean, fresh scent. And, the soap is just gorgeous, kind of speckled with veins of color running through it. Categories of products availalbe: Handcrafted soap, organic sugar scrubs, lip balm, lotion bars, essential oil blends, natural bug spray, gift collections, limited edition, best sellers, refills, scratch & dent sale. You can browse by body, baby, mama, holiday categories, also by scents. My dad recently opened a wholesale account with LuSa & I got to pick out several soaps for him to carry in his flower shop, and I can tell you they are both GORGEOUS & smell heavenly. You really need to go browse her website & take a look at the soaps to get an idea of the true beauty of these handcrafted items! Also, she offers a Soap of the Month Club, which would make an awesome gift for anyone on your Holiday shopping list.

THANK YOU Rachel (and family), for making such wonderful products! To learn more about Rachel & her beautiful family, here’s a link to the ‘About’ section from their website: http://www.lusaorganics.com/viroqua-wi-formerly-queen-bee-soaps-rachel-and-pete-wolf-s/17.htm.

Do you use any LuSa products?

Website: http://www.lusaorganics.com/

Fb page: https://www.facebook.com/LusaOrganics?fref=ts

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