Eco-Friendly Mama: Safe product recommendations with a focus on organic and Made in USA!

Review of Nurture My Body- your skin, our organics: based in Denver, CO. Info about the company, from their website: “After seven years of research and development we launched our business in June of 2006. Our passion is to provide the safest and most natural personal care products that reflect the unique beauty in all of us while maintaining our stewardship with the Earth. What led Patty Kerr to conceive and give birth to this dream? Twenty-six years in the beauty industry as a licensed Esthetician and Hairstylist, a Certificate in Nutrition, Body Care and Herbalism, coupled with past experience of overexposure to chemicals. Additionally, with two beautiful teenage daughters, it became apparent that the pressure from society to look and act a certain way was affecting the way the girls felt about themselves. They were never going to be “enough.” Patty became passionate to create a different ideal that would empower young women and men to learn to accept and love themselves by simply appreciating what nature gave each of us.”

I’m trying to do a review for every business on my “approved” personal care listing, which this business has been for some time after a recommendation that I check it out from someone on the page (how I find out about most of the smaller personal care lines represented). When you browse their products & ingredient labels you will see very long ingredient lists, which often is a red flag. However, when you look at these labels you’ll realize that’s not the case. The products are filled with organic, wildcrafted, biodynamic ingredients. EWG lists 40 products by the company, none scoring more than a 1 which is EXACTLY the reason it is on my safe/approved list.

I was told I could choose a full size product from their offerings so I chose shampoo, as it’s one of the most Frequently Asked Questions on my page. They have 3 types of shampoo to choose from (moisturizing, for normal hair, volumizing), with a scent-free option for each of those as well. I chose the shampoo for normal hair.  About this shampoo– Price: $24.95/ 8.5oz bottle: Our botanical Shampoo for Normal Hair combines 18 certified organic ingredients to gently wash away dirt, impurities, and build-up while leaving healthy, soft, and manageable hair with a beautiful shine. This is our most popular shampoo which beautifully cleans without stripping the hair’s natural oils. It does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate or any harsh detergents. Safe for color-treated hair.

Ingredients: Purified Water, Decyl Polyglucose, Lauryl Polyglucose, Cocos Nucifera (Coco de Cream)**, Chondrus Crispus (Seaweed) Extract**, Tussilago Farfara (Coltsfoot) Infusion**, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Infusion**, Urtica Dioica (Nettles) Infusion**, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Infusion**, Ulmus Fulva (Slippery Elm) Infusion**, Althaea Officinalas (Marshmallow Root) Infusion**, Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey Root) Infusion**, Calendula Officinalis (Pot Marigold) Infusion**, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile Flowers) Infusion**, Avena Sativa (Oatstraw) Infusion**, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) CO2**, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Essential Oil**, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedar Atlas) Essential Oil**, Citrus Reticula (Red Mandarin) Essential Oil**, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Essential Oil**, Rosemarinus Officinale (Rosemary) Essential Oil**, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Extract *Organic **Certified Organic ***Wildcrafted ****Biodynamic/Demeter Certified

The shampoo produced a fabulous lather & I only needed a little bit for my hair, which is quite short so you would obviously need more for very long hair. The shampoo smells lovely, with an earthy smell from the cedar, lavender, rosemary, with a hint of citrus which I’m a huge fan of. It did not leave my hair feeling oily or greasy, and I did not follow-up with any conditioner. I love that they give you  the option of a BPA-free plastic bottle, or glass bottle with pump for only $1 more, which of course is a fabulous deal & I would certainly go for if purchasing this product!

Categories of offerings by this company: Skin, body, hair, baby & pregnancy care, sunscreens, or you can shop by skin-type or feature such as vegan, nut & fragrance-free. Many of the products are in the $25.95-$27.95, with a few a bit cheaper such as a lavender toner for $15.95, and some more expensive such as facial serums going for $69.95. I generally don’t like to comment on affordability of the lines I review, but know from my 1 ½ years of experience on my page that this line  is definitely out of the budgets of 90% or more of the page (a fact I’m sure they’re well aware of). And that’s Ok. But, I do know that there are some on the page who have the money, and desire, to splurge on some great quality products, made with great care & love, and this is a line for those folks! I was very surprised when looking for a photo from Google images to upload for my review I noticed picture from Amazon where the products are indeed available! Most are the same price, but I did see a bottle of the conditioner for $10!!!

In conclusion, I think this is a fabulous, safe line that I have absolutely no hesitation recommending. But it is also one that is out of the reach of many financially. I thank them for allowing me to sample a bottle of their shampoo, and I thank them for making terrific products with no harmful ingredients.

Website: http://www.nurturemybody.com/

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

Review of the Puzzle People, handmade in Philo CA. From their website: “Puzzle People have been making wooden puzzles since 1972. Located in Northern California , the Puzzle People use baby safe materials and finishes on all puzzles. We are known for high quality educational wooden map puzzles and a variety of personalized name puzzles, as well as for award winning puzzles of endangered animals.

One of the main reasons I started this page was to find alternatives to the Melissa & Doug wooden toys made in China I was seeing everywhere, puzzles being one of their very popular offerings. The Puzzle People was one of the only non-jigsaw options I found so I put them on my Made in the USA toy list (https://www.facebook.com/notes/eco-friendly-babyfamily-products-made-in-the-usa/awesome-battery-free-safe-toys-made-in-the-usa-list/488605551155090). My sister bought my babe a personalized name puzzle for his 1^st birthday. It sat on a shelf looking beautiful for at least 8 months as it was too advanced for him & I was worried about him losing pieces before he was ready to play with it. Then one day when he was about 20 months old I brought it down for him to try out. He (and I) have been puzzle lovers ever since! We currently own 4 puzzles from them including the one in the photo which they sent for our new baby girl, and will continue to purchase one every time I can come up with an excuse to buy one J

When I asked my page about ideas to help my toddler welcome our new baby, many suggested that I get a gift to give big brother from his new sister. So I thought “great, I can buy him another puzzle”. I ordered the number puzzle, which also has the names of the numbers written in English & Spanish underneath as well as a series of little dots (like on dice) to represent the numbers. My due date was getting close & I still hadn’t received it, so I gave Pat a call to ask if it would be arriving soon. She informed me they were having trouble with their computer server, and my order had been delayed but they would get it out immediately. I mentioned the reason I was ordering the puzzle, and also my page, and she told me to let her know when the new baby arrived & what we named him/her & she would make a name puzzle for the new arrival. As my baby girl waited until 8 days past our due date, the number puzzle gift for big brother made it on time! Then I let her know that Althea had arrived and they sent me the one in the photo as a gift. I absolutely LOVE that they sent the “scrap” which is a by-product of Althea’s name puzzle, with a note that suggests it could be used as a picture frame. I will certainly do that, or something creative with it. I also really enjoyed the handwritten note on the little heart piece welcoming Althea & congratulating our entire family on her arrival!

They use non-toxic water based paints & finishes for all of their puzzles. The colors are very vibrant, and these puzzles hold up AMAZINGLY well. My son’s name puzzle has been around the longest, and has  been played with over, and over, and over & there are barely any chips or dings from the wood or paint. There is nothing he owns that he plays with more than these puzzles (and the lacing puzzle we own from Smiling Tree Toys, our other favorite puzzle). About the birch plywood used, or more importantly, the glue that holds it together: “The adhesives used in plywood have become a point of concern. Both urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde are carcinogenic in very high concentrations. As a result, many manufacturers are turning to low formaldehyde-emitting glue systems, denoted by an “E” rating (“E” 0 possessing the lowest formaldehyde emissions”. Plywood produced to “E0” has effectively zero formaldehyde emissions.” They sent me a copy of their MSDS sheet (https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0/?ui=2&ik=47df4bcb4f&view=att&th=140a3364eea7bf80&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P__-hj0ySDKPpqTwRrBtXU1&sadet=1377187357478&sads=7lcLPknf_PwUe9gUuRrR4pLEuMo), which states that tested panels “have emitted at levels within the generally accepted E-0 European standard”, the toughest standards that exist. And, as the make their puzzles in the state of CA, they must comply with the strictest standards in our country.

Categories of puzzles, with several options in each category: map, name, animal, educational, preschool, toddler. The least expensive puzzles cost $14, and the most expensive one I saw was $75. Even the simplest ones with 5-7 pieces will still provide hours of entertainment for your little one. I seriously wish we could own one of each, and get rid of the rest of the toys in our house- I love these puzzles that much! My husband has come up with a creative idea to keep our son engaged—he started turning the puzzles upside down when he presents them to my son, adding an extra challenge! And, even the simplest puzzle becomes challenging again if my son doesn’t play with it for a week or so. They really, really keep him engaged. I also love that they offer “Paint-A-Puzzle” options, which include 25 pieces that you & your kids can paint yourself- how fun for the older kids, and most of them are only $15, with a couple running $30 (http://www.puzzlepeople.com/blue/blue.html)!!! I feel the prices are very reasonable for these puzzles, considering what goes into making them, how much enjoyment your child(ren) will get out of them, and the fact that they can be passed down or even resold (we’ve only lost 1 piece so far- I know it’s in the upstairs of our house somewhere)…

I absolutely loved browsing their photo tour tab. I learned that their puzzles are made of bird, which is fast-growing, non-endangered, and white which helps the colors show up very nicely. I highly encourage you to browse this album & see photos of how they make the puzzles, including their giant silk-screen machine they use to imprint some of the images. Viewing this album helped me realize how much work goes into these works of art (as I believe each & every one is): http://www.puzzlepeople.com/black/VT1.html

During the months of November and December, please allow us up to 3 weeks to make your puzzle. I will certainly be ordering these puzzles for both my kids for Holidays & Birthdays for years to come.

Website: http://www.puzzlepeople.com/

This may be a 1^st for a review I’ve done, can you believe they don’t have a FB page?!

The subject of Norwex cloths have come up several times on my page & many have chimed in with such statements: “they make their products in China”. That is true for the most part, but they do make their dish cloths here in the US so I agreed to do a review on that specific product. Their headquarters are in Norway, with their North American headquarters in Canada. Generally I like to support only companies making their products here, with their headquarters here also. But as several have pointed out before, the Norwex line is sold by many Work-At-Home Moms here in the US, so you are helping generate a bit of income for a couple of people here in the US by purchasing one of these dish cloths.

The cloth is $6.99, and here is a description of it from the Norwex website (link to the product: http://norwex.newgreencleaningsupplies.com/kitchens/white-netted-dish-cloth). “The Norwex Dish Cloth is a loosely woven white nylon netted cloth. It dries quickly and will not absorb grease or odor and is an indispensable tool for cleaning dishes in the sink! It does a great job of cleaning everything and anything from plates and bowls to stuck-on food in pots, pans and casserole dishes, and it doesn’t scratch. Even better, because it’s so “holey”, this cloth can just be rinsed through with a little soap and water and left to sit in your sink for quite a while before washing. When you do need to wash it, you can put it straight into the washer and dryer using any laundry soap you like.

• Great for removing flour dough, etc. from counter tops      after baking
• Removes sticky or stubborn substances off counters
• Scrub off soap scum from shower stalls
• Take off bugs and paint from windows
• Cleaning vegetables from your garden
• Removing soap film that builds up on the bottom of dishwasher      doors

The cloth was quite large so I cut it into 4 pieces. As described, it does a great job with anything in your sink. I’ve even used it on my cast iron pans to remove crusted on eggs & more. I love seeing that made in the USA tag, I love that it is reusable for a long period of time, and I love that it doesn’t retain much moisture at all & end up smelling like a stinky sponge (which I ditched long ago for a simple wash cloth).

Amanda, the consultant who sent the dish cloth to me had this to say about other products made in the USA by Norwex: “I have found 7 other products that made in the US and 1 that is “produced” in the US. Unfortunately, there is no list for me to go off of on my site or the in the catalog, so I am reading labels from my personal collection which does not encompass the entire product line. However, here is the list: Descaler (an enzyme replacement for CLR), Mattress Cleaner, Oven & Grill Cleaner, Laundry Pre-Wash, Refresh Odor Neutralizer (comparable to Febreeze, but chemical-free) Drain Care, Kid’s All Natural Bubble Bath, and (My favorite!) Timeless Lip Balm (which won’t melt in the car and is gluten-free).” Unfortunately, I have Norwex on my “Greenwashers” list, as they don’t fully disclose ingredients in their cleaning supplies, and every label I’ve viewed from their personal care line has ingredients of concern. Here’s a link to their catalog if you’d like to take a look for yourself: http://media.norwexcs.com/Product-Manual-2,0.pdf

If you don’t have a friend or family member selling Norwex, here is a link to Amanda’s site (the very nice consultant who contacted me, sent the dish cloth, and answered any questions I had): www.amandagonzalez.norwex.biz

Review of Greenshield Organic products made by Greenology Product, Inc based in Raleigh, NC. As always expectations, water types, severity of dirtiness, etc. differ—these are my experiences with these products. GreenShield offers a line of USDA certified detergents & cleaners containing all of the basics you could need for your home. They do not test their products on animals, unless you consider this tidbit that I learned about their origins: “Our chemistry can trace its origins to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska. Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, Birds & other Wild Life were cleaned with our safe, oil removing chemistries. Motivated by those brief moments of ecological success, today, we are an even more determined company, focused on raising the bar of standards in our industry.”

The EWG cleaning database rates 16 of their products at an A (10/14) or B (4/14): (http://www.ewg.org/guides/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=GreenShield&page=1&per_page=15&x=0&y=0) which is what originally brought this company to my attention (searching the products that scored an A with EWG). I’ve had them on my ‘Approved’ list for quite some time, but have never seen their products on the shelves of the stores I shop in, or heard from many of you on this page who’ve tried them so I was very happy when they agreed to send me a few products to sample to get a feel for the line.

I have to tell you that it was a very pleasant experience opening the box, lifting out the products and seeing that USDA certified stamp. I’m a huge fan or certified products, why? This statement found on their website sums it up perfectly: “Natural is a term which is NOT regulated and has begun to lose some of its resonance with consumers. “Natural” is not equated with any government standards like ORGANIC is on food, crops & food processing products with the USDA. “Natural” is important, but not as impactful as ORGANIC.  There is no mistaking what ORGANIC means.  To be certified organic by the USDA, it means our ingredient contents meet the NOP (National Organic Program) standards for 95% or higher Organic ingredient content (the same as Organic Milk or Organic Produce). Along with being USDA Certified Organic, we disclose every ingredient on every label. We promise to use Zero GMOs, Zero Synthetic Preservatives and Zero Harsh Chemicals when producing GreenShield Organic cleaning products.” For more on the topic of natural & organic terminology here is a link to an excellent article written recently by Jolene (my co-admin): https://www.facebook.com/notes/eco-friendly-babyfamily-products-made-in-the-usa/discovering-the-truth-behind-that-natural-label/704019859613657

They sent me a baby version of their laundry detergent, a toilet bowl cleaner (one of their top-sellers), and an all-purpose cleaner. Here are the ingredients, prices, and my experiences with the products sent:

Baby laundry detergent (free & clear)- $9.99 50 oz. (32 loads in regular  washer) or $14.99 100 oz. Ingredients: Water, Cocos Nucifera (Saponified Organic Coconut Oil), Sapindus Mukorossi (Organic Soap Nuts), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder (Organic Aloe Vera), Glycerin (Organic), Sea Salt, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba Gum (Organic Guar Gum), Acacia Senegal Gum (Organic Acacia Gum), Xanthan Gum, Quillaja Saponaria (Organic Soap Bark). I’m a huge lover of soap nuts, which are my normal laundry detergent, and as it turns out soap nuts are the 2^nd ingredient in this detergent. I feel they cleaned my clothes on a very comparable level to what I’m used to with soap nuts. I’ve mainly used this detergent on my cloth diapers, and they came out clean and soft. I have also done several loads of regular laundry to put it to the test. Overall I’m totally satisfied with the job it has done on all loads. I have had a couple of newborn onesies which have been soiled from poo going up the front or back of the diaper. I did not pretreat and they sat for around 24 hours or so before being washed, and neither came out clean. I sprayed them down with my Dr. Bronners & peroxide stain remover & they both came out cleaner the 2^nd time around, although you can still see a bit of the stain (stain remover recipe: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=702811769734466&set=pb.397517646930548.-2207520000.1376250015.&type=3&theater)

All-purpose cleaner- 32 oz $4.99. Ingredients: Organic Citric Acid, L-Malic Acid, Organic Soybean Oil, Organic Lemon Extract, Organic Acetic Acid, Organic Soap Bark, Organic Glycerin, Water. My experience with this product is exactly as described in their FAQ: their products are meant for everyday use. If you have lots & lots of caked on grease & grime you are not going to get the results you would with a harsh, traditional cleaner.  I first used it on my stovetop which I’m not good about cleaning on a regular basis, so it was very dirty & greasy. I let it soak for 20 minutes or so, and can say it did an OK job. Mainly I needed a lot of “elbow grease” and several rounds of spraying to get it decently clean. But, I don’t blame the cleaner for not doing a good job, I blame my lack of staying on top of it, and now that I’ve got it relatively clean I’ve been spraying it down more regularly & feel it does a decent job. It says on the label (most of the labels) that it fights odor causing bacteria, but not food borne bacteria so you should “clean contact area after each use”. So I follow-up with my normal go-to all-purpose cleaner which is vinegar soaked in orange peels for a final wipe down (here’s my “recipe”: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=494009793947999&set=a.494009763948002.128085.397517646930548&type=3&theater).

Toilet bowl cleaner- 24 oz. $4.99 Ingredients: Distilled water, organic citric acid, organic acetic acid, lactic acid, organic guar gum, organic acacia gum, xanthan gum, organic glycerin, organic fragrance.

As with the All-Purpose cleaner, you can’t expect it to work as well as something harsh like The Works, but it does work. It is septic system safe. It didn’t remove my hard water stains from the toilet, but they’ve been there a long time since I haven’t used a store-bought toilet bowl cleaner in years as I normally use my orange peel infused vinegar to do all my cleaning. I feel both the All-purpose and Toilet Bowl Cleaner by Green Shield worked as effectively as the vinegar. So why not just use vinegar then? Many have expressed their dislike of vinegar, even after soaking it in orange peels, so this would be a great alternative for that crowd. I feel these products are very reasonably priced, shipping it reasonable as long as you’re not ordering 1 item (which I never recommend), and I absolutely LOVE that this company has taken the steps to be USDA certified organic.

The one & only thing I take issue with is their statement that they “disclose every ingredient on every label” (from their ‘Why Us’ tab on their website). When browsing through their scent options I noticed scents such as ‘Magnolia & Poppy’ which caught my attention as they didn’t seem like scents I’ve seen before as essential oil fragrances, so I asked the company for more information which led to a series of questions & answers which you can read all about in the following thread. The labels list ‘organic fragrance’ and I was told they don’t list all components of those fragrance blends because it would be too long to list on the label. I feel this contradicts their statement of full disclosure on every label… https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=697309680284675&id=397517646930548https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=697309680284675&id=397517646930548

Other products include: automatic dish detergent, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, kitchen cleaner, carpet spot cleaner, surface wipes. They also have a ‘Commercial Products’ category, where they offer all of their products in a 5 gallon cardboard box for a reasonable price.

They told me they’re working on a regular dish soap for hand washing as well!

$9.99 shipping on all orders. They have a coupon category (currently offering a $1.00 off coupon). As always, I love hearing from those of you who’ve used these products. My opinion is just one…

Website: http://www.greenshieldorganic.com/

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

Review of Earth Paints, a family-run business based in Oregon. I have had Earth Paints on my Made in the USA list under art supplies since learning about them some time ago, but had not personally tried the paints so was very excited to receive a sampling of them for this review! About the family behind Earth Paints, from their website: “Artist and mother, Leah Fanning Mebane & her husband, Drew, work from home creating small batches of high quality, natural, sustainable paint (no child labor involved!) We create our paints in basically the same way our cave-dwelling ancestors did 100,000 years ago, and most cultures around the world and throughout the centuries have (with the help of a few modern gadgets). We enjoy carrying on this ancient tradition and sharing non-toxic, natural paint with the world. We create Earth Paints using eco-friendly, natural pigments, millions of years in the making. Harvested from the earth, the naturally colored clay is dried, crushed and sifted into pure pigments. The vibrancy and luminosity of these natural paints are unsurpassed for creating deeply saturated colors. We offer both our professional, eco-friendly Earth Oil Paint Kit for artists and water soluble Children’s Earth Paint Kits. A professional toxicologist tested every pigment for toxicity. We mix the pigments with organic milk protein to create a paint that is water-soluble and creamy”.

This business, like all businesses these days, gets tons of requests from bloggers such as myself for samples of their products. They agreed to send a partial kit for me to get an idea of the quality of their product. I was sent a red, yellow & blue sample, the whole kit contains orange, green & brown in addition to the colors I was sent. The kits are available in 2 sizes: Petite which will yield 11 ounces of paint when mixed ($19.95), or the larger kit which will yield 96 ounces of paint when mixed ($29.95). Refills & bulk amounts are also available, something I always like to see offered! They also offer an egg- dyeing kit, an eco gesso kit and face & body paint kit.

My son has really, really enjoyed these paints, and so have I as I have no concerns over their safety! 1st, mixing them up has been great fun. I use a 4 oz. glass Mason jar for each color, which is convenient for when we’re done as they have lids for refrigerating leftovers until the next use. I get out ~1 TBSP of powder, hand it to him & let him dump it in the glass jar. Then I get out a shot glass & fill it full of water & hand that to him to dump in, and then hand him a paint brush for each color & let him mix them up. He really loves the process of making the paints, and I love that it engages him, and he learns that not everything comes ready-to-go in a plastic tub from the store. And of course he really enjoys painting. The project he’s enjoyed the most was when I let him dip his hands & feet in for prints, as you can see in the photo. The colors are very earthy, and dry very similar to the color they are when wet, dulling maybe just a little. And of course you can water them down more or less depending on your preferences. The hand/foot prints were from a different batch that was more watered down than the brilliant artwork above in the attached photo. The blue is extremely vibrant & impresses me every time I see it, it’s my favorite! Here’s info from their website on how they acquire this blue color:
Where do you find the blue earth?

•The blue earth is the only color that has been tampered with to get this vibrant color. It is made of 90% earthen clay with 10% mineral added and then heated in the oven. Throughout history, blues in nature were very rare and usually made with precious stones like Lapis Lazuli. These stones are now unsustainably harvested in Afghanistan so we’ve found this alternative.

Their website is full of great information, I really enjoyed reading the following facts: “We are proud that our Earth Paints are one of the safest paint products on the market. They are safe for you, your child, and the planet. They are handcrafted, and because of their undiluted purity, these paints have a time-tested durability of thousands of years. Of the many benefits, here are a few….

•Archival: Pure pigments are the most permanent of all pigments, lasting thousands of years.
•Superior Quality: There are no added fillers or stabilizers (to increase shelf life). This increases paint intensity and allows the refraction of light to bounce off of pigment particles. Color mixing is also greatly improved without additives.
•Vibrancy: The pigment particles are larger and more irregular (than synthetic pigments), which allows for more light to pass through the pigment particles and creates a paint that has a higher refraction-vibrancy.
•Non-toxic and natural: Truly certified non-toxic and earth friendly paint for you and your child (no need to ventilate studio).
•Durable: Not affected by sunlight, temperature or humidity.
•You don’t have to worry about harming yourself, your family, and the environment in order to create your art.
•No more off-gassing paintings in your studio or home.
•The risk of acute/chronic diseases from heavy metal toxins is eliminated.
•You can safely dispose of rags and excess paint in the trash and flush wash-water down the drain.
•The ONLY type of pigment that is completely unaffected by UV rays (commonly used to protect metal & wood).
•Made in the USA by a small, family-owned business.
•Connection with nature and the earth beneath our feet: Children are always shocked to learn that they’re actually painting with “dirt.”
•Earth Paints were developed primarily with safety, sustainability, and quality in mind. Using natural earth pigments, our paints are safe, certified non-toxic, and organic. They have been tested by government approved toxicologists and are 100% non-toxic. But no matter how tantalizing they seem, we still do not recommend ingesting them and please avoid inhaling the dust.
•For the children’s kit, it’s best to use the paint mixture promptly after mixing or refrigerate it because the milk in the paint will spoil after a few days if left out. Refrigerate them in a closed container and they will last as long as milk lasts (1-2 weeks). Wash hands after use.
•* Note Possible Allergen: Children’s Paints contain organic milk protein (from happy, local, organic cow dairy)
•*Paints are safe to wash down the sink.
•* Conforms to ASTMD-4236
•If you’ve used toxic paints for years, here are some easy ways to detox those nasty chemicals.

Did you know………
•Arts and crafts products do not usually list ingredients. Consumers rely upon “non-toxic” certification, believing that their art materials have undergone sufficient testing to ensure the products they use are safe. Don’t let these labels fool you.
•Art pigments (colors) are commonly made from petrochemicals, and the actual hazards of these materials are not always known. In the US, synthetic pigments that have never been tested for toxicity can be labeled “non-toxic.” The rationale? There is no data to prove otherwise.
•Arts and crafts paints are exempt from consumer paint lead laws, and often contain lead, cadmium, and a host of toxic ingredients like formaldehyde (a carcinogen), one of the most common paint preservatives. Be careful what you paint with or give your child to paint with.”

I am very grateful that Leah agreed to send me a sampling of these wonderful paints! I learned a lot about natural pigments, and appreciate all the additional info they provide on their website about paints in general. I think these paints would make any child a very happy artist, and would be a fabulous birthday or other gift idea. I will definitely be buying my son a full kit of colors once we use up these samples.

For more information, including a photo gallery, please visit their website & ‘like’ their Facebook page:
http://www.naturalearthpaint.com/
https://www.facebook.com/EarthPaints

Hello! My name is Althea & I’m so lucky to have this organic cotton swaddle blanket & hat to keep me warm & snuggly J Growing Up Wild is an Etsy shop based in Boise, Idaho. Kelly, the Mama behind this business, puts her heart & soul into every item she creates, just as if she was making them for her own family. ‘About’ info from her site: “Growing Up Wild is more than just the organic labels that many of my clothes carry. It is about creating quality items that are good to your baby and good to our planet. It is the little things that I do as I create to ensure that I am being environmentally friendly in my practices. I try to utilize every last fabric scrap so that there is very little waste, to walk to ship items whenever possible and to run my home (since that is where I hand make each item) in a sustainable way. Every item I sell is pre-washed in Charlie’s Soap and shipped to you ready to wear! All items are made one at a time, by hand in my smoke and pet free home studio in Idaho. All of my designs are made without hazardous decorations such as beads, buttons or sequins. My shop is the joining of my two loves- little ones and nature. I believe kids should get to experience the joys of running barefoot outside, watching birds soar, climbing trees and splashing in creeks. Each item in my shop is inspired by that belief. Most items were originally designed for one of my two boys but then morphed into a product I hoped others would love as much as our family does. My days are filled with a constant hum of sewing, laughter, cuddles, fabric and at times even tears.”

I’ve had Growing Up Wild on my Made in the USA Master list under the shoe category for some time after they were recommended by others, but had not personally owned any items. I was so honored to have Kelly offer to make me a matching organic blanket & hat of my choice for my new bundle of joy. Since we didn’t know if we were having a girl or boy (I STRONGLY encourage you to hold off, it was SO exciting not to know), I picked out this gender-neutral print. You may, or may not know that cotton is one of the most heavily-sprayed crops grown in the US. So having this organic cotton blanket & hat as one of the 1^st materials to touch my newborns skin made me a very happy Mama, both for my newborns sake & for the environment as well! They are SO incredibly soft and very light-weight, making them perfect for swaddling my July baby (who loves to be swaddled). There are numerous themes & colors available. They can be personalized and are available in newborn & toddler sizes. The hat has plenty of room to grow with my babe, who was 10# at birth- the hat & the blanket will both see many, many months of use.  Most of the blankets run $45 themselves, or $55 for the blanket/hat set. What a great item to put on your baby shower registry if you are an expecting Mama!

Categories of offerings from her Etsy shop, with several items in each category: Organic bodysuits, organic gift sets (matching onesies/t-shirt & shoe sets), organic shoes (0-18m, absolutely adorable offerings!), organic hats & blankets, organic teething toys (very cute wooden rings with fabric animals & shapes), toddler t-shirts, organic burp cloths, non-organic shoes (0-18m), sale & supplies, dresses.

Where she gets her fabrics: “The organic knit fabric for my swaddle blankets and hats is produced in the USA and GOTS certified. I buy most of my printed fabrics through a WAHM in Oregon (I like to pay it forward so people buying from me can actually help support two families), the printed fabrics are nearly all made in India though. The few fabrics that I don’t buy through that WAHM (cedarhousefabrics.com) are purchased directly from Jennifer at Monaluna (a US based company) as I buy from her by the bolt. My plain colored knit prints and the organic sweatshirt fleece that line many of my shoes are grown and milled in the USA. I wish more fabrics were 100% made in the USA. I always have my eyes open but currently the fabrics I buy through Near Sea Naturals are the only ones that meet my quality standards, are GOTS certified and made in the USA.” I have asked numerous clothing/cloth product manufacturers where they get their fabric & can tell you most of them say “it’s too expensive to get US-made fabric”. I feel Kelly is going out of her way to support Made in the US, and I TRULY appreciate her effort!!

THANK YOU Kelly for sharing your beautiful creations with me! And thanks for making great, safe, environmentally-friendly products using US-sourced materials as much as possible. Keep up the great work!!

Please visit her Etsy shop & Facebook page to browse her beautiful product offerings!
 
Spend $75 or more and use coupon code GONATURAL to save 15%!
Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/GrowingUpWild (424 feedback, 100% positive!)
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/growingupwild

Review of Redmond Trading Company Real Salt, Season Salt & Bath salt. The following are my experiences with these products, of course, results always vary!

”Real” Salt… I had heard of this before & thought “what the heck is Real Salt”? You can tell just by looking at the shaker that it’s different than any salt you’ve had before.  Real Salt is mainly white like traditional “table salt” but has flecks of brownish-red tints in it too, due to the wide array of minerals present.  It definitely tastes like the salt most of us are used to, but is more complex too—you don’t taste ‘just’ salt. What makes this salt real? Product info from their website: “It is unaltered, straight from the earth as it was deposited centuries ago.  When you remove the trace minerals that used to accompany sodium chloride, you typically get a bitter flavor that many producers try to mask with chemicals or even sugar. (Go ahead — grab your salt shaker and read the ingredients. See any dextrose? Yep, that’s sugar!)  Even worse, when you consume chemically treated or de-mineralized salt, your body’s mineral balance doesn’t always respond gracefully. When people started consuming chemically altered salts 100 years ago, we started seeing high blood pressure and water retention that had never been associated with salt before. Interestingly enough, our customers tell us these are the same problems that go away when natural salt replaces “table salt” in their diet. In other words, salt can be bad for your health, but real salt is actually a crucial part of good health! That’s why, more than 50 years ago, we named our brand Real Salt: Your body knows the difference between what is real and what has been chemically altered. Real Salt is salt exactly the way nature made it.  You can taste the difference on your tongue, and you can feel a difference in your health.” Neither my husband or I are struggling with high blood pressure, thankfully, but  I have indeed read both numerous testimonials of people lowering their blood pressure after switching to Real Salt.

In addition to Real Salt, Redmond also makes a fabulous line of Season Salts. The Season Salt contains a delicious blend of Real Salt as a base, plus: organic onion, organic coriander, organic mustard, organic black pepper, organic paprika, organic celery seed, organic turmeric, organic parsley, and no MSG. ($4.92/4.75 oz.). Now that we’ve been using this for a couple of months we’re wondering what we did without it?! At one time in our lives we actually used Lawry’s Season Salt, and there honestly is NO comparison. The organic Season Salt has been a wonderful accompaniment to every meat and veggie dish we’ve tried it on.  I really, really like it myself but my husband does not hardly eat anything without it anymore. A shaker of it resides on our table instead of the traditional salt & pepper you’ll see on most families tables. I’ve even seen him put it on buttered toast… I brought this Season Salt in at my food co-op along with my order of Earthpaste & Redmond Clay and have had several people tell me they are in love with it also.

They also make an onion & garlic salt. While we love the blended Season Salt & put that on just about everything, sometimes I like a simpler salt to accompany lightly sautéed veggies, which we have at just about every meal. We just finished asparagus season & my favorite way to prepare that was with just a bit of olive oil & either the Garlic or Onion Salt. Sweet potato (yam) fries are also one of my favorite quick, easy, delicious side dishes, and they’re wonderful tossed in a bit of olive oil & dusted with the Garlic Season Salt, and I add just a dash of red pepper flakes as well to give them an additional little bite- they’re SO good! Everyone has their own favorite seasonings of course, and I love that Redmond offers this variety. You may be aware that salt is not a product that can be certified organic, but Redmond’s line of Season Salts is indeed USDA certified organic—how’s that?!

Why salt cannot be certified organic By definition Organic means “once living” or “carbon based” and salt neither is, nor was, technically, either of these.   Because of this definition, in the USA salt cannot receive an organic certification from the USDA.  That said, there is an organization called the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) that certifies items as an “organic ingredient” even though the item itself cannot be defined as organic.  When items are “OMRI Listed” they can be used as an organic ingredient just as if it were USDA organic.  I know that sounds confusing, but that’s just the nature of it.  The good news is that Real Salt is OMRI Listed which means that they can be used as an organic ingredient even though it is not organic (because it was never living nor is it carbon based).  There are some foreign companies that list their salt as organic because they don’t follow USA regulations, but these are few and are dropped as soon as they are discovered by the feds. As an example, because Real Salt is an organic ingredient per OMRI, we can use Real Salt as the base ingredient and mix it with other Organically Certified herbs and spices to create a USDA Organic Seasoning Salt line (even though they are mostly salt which is technically non-organic).    There are lots of sizes to choose from in each category, and I feel the prices are very reasonable. The larger size shaker of the salts last many, many months: coarse salt with grinding mill, refill pouches, kosher salt, powder salt, organic season salt, organic garlic salt, organic onion salt, and many bulk & gift box options available. http://www.redmondtrading.com/product-category/real-salt/

Another salt product offered by Redmond Trading Company is bath salt, a product new to me until I received a sample from them. As we recently did away with our shower in favor of a claw foot bathtub, something I’ve always wanted, it’s been an excellent opportunity to test out their Bath Salt Plus.

What is special about the bath salt? Info from the ‘About’ section of their website: Redmond Bath Salt is a natural mineral sea salt that comes from a sea bed dating back thousands of years. This prehistoric deposit has been tucked away, protected from modern-day pollution. We extract this salt from deep within the earth, and bring it to you in its pure, natural state–without any additives, chemicals, or heat processing. The result is an all-natural sea salt, rich in trace minerals. In Redmond Bath Salt you will find an abundance of trace minerals that can help restore mineral-deficient bodies back to good health. Through osmosis, toxins are released from the body into the bath water, while trace minerals from the sea salt are absorbed through the skin.

Redmond Bath Salt is great for: •Soothing Stiff, Sore & Aching Muscles •Detoxification & Cleansing •Improving Circulation •Promoting Sound, Restful Sleep •Remineralizing the Body http://www.redmondbathsalt.com/benefits/

What is the difference between Redmond Bath Salt and Epsom Salts? Epsom salts are refined salts made up of magnesium sulfate, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Not only does Redmond Bath Salt contain a natural source of magnesium, it also has numerous other trace minerals that benefit your body in so many other ways.

What is the mineral content of Redmond Bath Salt? Redmond Bath Salt Plus is 100% natural mineral. We don’t add anything to it. The main mineral, of course, is sodium chloride (salt), and there are more than 60 other trace minerals that make up this powerfully-effective bath salt.

Obviously, there’s no way for me to know for sure how many toxins I’m releasing by taking a bath with the bath salts, or how many minerals I’m uptaking, but I can share this recent experience with you. I recently received a leg massage from a masseuse in an attempt to help induce labor as I am overdue, and while massaging my legs she commented on how excellent my in & muscle tone were & that she noticed the lack of toxins under my skin that she often felt with clients. Yes I eat a largely organic, healthy diet which is definitely responsible for that as well, but I immediately thought of the bath salts that I’ve been enjoying 2-3 times weekly in my bath. I can tell you that they make for an incredibly relaxing bath, and I have no doubt that my body is benefiting from this product!

Here are the links to the website & FB pages of Real Salt where you can find tons of other useful info, and personal testimonials from others using these products. I always appreciate others who are using these products to add your opinions to the discussion by adding your testimonial in the comments below.
*Real Salt website: http://realsalt.com/
*Real Salt FB page: https://www.facebook.com/realsalt Earthpaste & Redmond Clay are also part of the fabulous product line made by Redmond  Trading Company. As they are all very unique products I’ve divided my reviews on them up. They also each have their own FB pages, which are linked to in their reviews.
*Earthpaste Review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=677690208913289&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater
*Redmond Clay Review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=687531201262523&set=a.568349859847325.144572.397517646930548&type=3&theater
*Redmond is offering 15% off through September 7 using the code EcoSummer15 (case sensitive)

Review of Redmond Clay (AKA bentonite clay) from The Redmond Trading Company, based in Herber City, Utah. The following are my experiences with Redmond Clay, of course results will vary. Always seek advice from a trusted medical professional before starting any new internal treatment. I appreciate it if those of you who have experience with these products (or bentonite clay in general) add your input by commenting on the ways you’ve used it as well.

This is a product I knew nothing about until a few months ago, and it has quickly become one of those products I will never do without again. My goal is to have as few products that serve the greatest number of uses in my home as possible- both an eco- & budget-friendly solution. Things like vinegar, castile soap, baking soda, coconut oil, apple cider vinegar are staples in my house, and Redmond Clay is now on that list. It is a product that has been used for thousands of years by those native to the areas it is found. I LOVE discovering new (to me) products such as this, and appreciate the chance to share this info with others!

Here are the ways I’ve used it thus far: it is AMAZING for bug bites. We had a late start to bug season here in Wisconsin with an exceptionally cool spring (a blessing for this pregnant mama), but as I live on the banks of a river it’s just a matter of time before the mosquitos get horrendous, and that time has arrived. The gnats have also been exceptionally bad and while they’re more of an annoyance than anything they can bite & some (my husband) get a nasty welt from them. I try to spray my toddler down as much as possible when I know we’ll be outside for any length of time, but we find ourselves running out for a couple of minutes here & there and I don’t always get a chance to spray him. The bugs LOVE my sweet-blooded toddler, and he’ll inevitably get 2-3 bites in a matter of minutes and I won’t get any. It took me awhile to remember to try the bottle of 1^st aid ointment (hydrated clay) I had sitting on the shelf, but I am so glad I finally did and it is now my go-to as soon as I see a bite. If left untreated his bites will swell up to huge, red welts in no time & obviously bother him as he itches them. Now when I see a bite & apply the ointment immediately it never develops past a tiny little bite- no redness, no swelling, and no itching. A small little red mark is left behind, and over the course of the last few weeks he looks like he’s healing from chicken pox, but none of them seem to bother him after the initial bite and application of the clay.

Then it was hubby’s turn to try it. He was outside shirtless working on his car one recent evening & came in itching all over. He had gotten attacked by gnats & had no less than a dozen bites that were starting to swell up immediately. He knew I had been raving about the clay working on our toddler, so went & grabbed it & had me apply it to his many bites. I like trying out products on him as he’s able to voice real feedback, where with my toddler it’s just what I can observe as I don’t get a real opinion out of him. I waited a few minutes & asked hubby what he thought & he said “it works!” The itching, redness & swelling was instantly gone. The clay dries quickly on the bite & seems to absorb the venom responsible for the symptoms. Since then my husband has come to me numerous time with the tube of paste in his hand, as the bugs always seem to bite the spots he can’t reach. For some reason, the bugs haven’t bothered me nearly as much as my son & husband, but I have put it on a few spots that I had been itching for a while and were starting to turn into wounds and it helped heal them up very quickly.

Here’s the other instance I used the clay last fall: I suffer from a seasonal skin affliction where my hands shed like a snake- usually during the transition from fall to winter, or during the depths of winter. The two winters that I’ve been pregnant (this being one of them), the symptoms have been tame compared to some winters, but I’ve been dealing with this for years. No sooner had I said to my hubby that I thought I was going to get through this winter without it happening, then it started to happen on one hand. It starts as itchy/burny red bumps all over the palm of my hand, and then patches start peeling off and I end up with raw spots on my palm and finger tips. I can’t say I’ve tried everything, but I’ve tried numerous, numerous products: bag balm, crack cream, prescription hydrocortisone cream, hand salves by many companies, and in my recent more natural years, coconut oil, Shea butter, jojoba oil, the list goes on. Nothing really helps but time. I has just received my lovely sample package from Redmond & there was a 1^st aid cream in there with the following suggested uses: burns, cuts, abrasions, insect bites, bruises, rashes, bee stings, blisters, poison oak & ivy, dry & itchy skin. Then I looked down at my hand which was raw & peeling and thought “what the heck, I’ll try it”. I applied it 3-4 times that day, and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest when I say I woke up the next morning & new skin was growing! I seriously couldn’t believe it, and you have no idea how thrilled I am to have found something that works. Within a couple of days, my hand was completely healed up!! I REALLY wish I had taken a before & after photo, but I had no idea the results were going to be so drastic, or that it would even work. I’d say I’ll take a picture next time, but I really don’t think there’ll be a next time as I’ll start using it preemptively next fall when I feel symptoms coming on. It is so exciting to find all-natural, simple remedies that are incredibly effective!

Redmond sent me a container of their clay in its dry, powdered form, a tube of hydrated 1^st aid ointment (purified water, bentonite clay), and a bottle of baby powder (bentonite clay) to have on hand with my soon-to-arrive bundle of joy. It’s convenient to have the hydrated bottle of 1^st aid ointment for a super quick application, and I plan to leave a tube of it in my purse and/or diaper bag. The baby powder is solely the dry powdered clay in a baby powder bottle, so you can just as easily have a bulk tub of the clay around, but again it’s convenient to have it in the bottle with the fine holes on the top for nice even distribution. As I’ve said, I’m a product minimalist, so once these products are used up I will likely just keep a bulk container of the clay around for its many uses. I recently opened an account with Redmond Trading Company for my food cooperative and one of the 1^st things I ordered other than Earthpaste was the 6# bulk tub of clay that is now available for people to buy as much or little as they want at a time. I truly believe it’s one of those products no medicine cabinet should be without! The prices are very reasonable too, in my opinion- here’s a link to the page with the various clay products & prices: http://www.redmondtrading.com/product-category/redmond-clay/

So, those are the ways I’ve used it thus far. As I’m now aware of its many uses I’ll surely be using it for more & more ailments and will update this review and all of you with my new experiences using it.  Either my husband or I usually manage to contract poison ivy at least once a summer, so I’ll be very happy to have this on hand to try should that be the case. My 1^st born has had one diaper rash in his 2+ years, but I know that this would be a fabulous diaper rash remedy also. There are SO many ways to use this product, here are just a few I found in addition to the ones already mentioned: face mask, detox bath, oral health (it’s the main active ingredient in Earthpaste made by this company also), mastitis, morning sickness, internal cleansing, and the list goes on & on. For more uses just Google ‘uses for bentonite clay’ and you’ll find lots of articles with suggestions.

Now, about the clay itself. Whole books have been written about this clay, but I’ll try to just hit what I feel are the most important points, and leave it to you to do further research if interested. From Redmond’s website: “Redmond Clay™ remains as pure today as it was when the Fremont Indians discovered its uses long ago. As our world returns to more natural lifestyles, more and more people keep Redmond Clay in their medicine cabinets, first aid kits, and purses. Discover for yourself the healing benefits of Redmond Clay.

How does Redmond Clay work?

At a molecular level, Redmond has a negative electrical charge, attracting positively charged toxins. The formation of bentonite resembles tiny business card shapes, with negatively charged wide surfaces and positively charged edges, providing a surprisingly high surface area and powerful drawing effect. As most toxins are positively charged, clay naturally rids the body of toxins as it pulls and holds the toxins into its core. With a pH level of 8.7-9.8, Redmond Clay is quite alkaline and has proven effective in neutralizing heartburn, reflux, and upset stomachs. Recent research has renewed interest in the internal pH levels of our bodies. Our bodies carefully regulate the pH level in our blood, and there is preliminary evidence suggesting that drinking alkaline mineral water may help prevent bone loss. Many naturopathic professionals have started recommending high alkaline diets as a means of improving long-term health, and Redmond Clay customers report a variety of benefits with regular consumption. Minerals are essential to the chemical reactions that keep our bodies healthy, and our bodies can absorb but not create minerals on their own. As modern diets have become less mineral-dense, many health-conscious people have turned to trace mineral supplements to keep their bodies functioning properly.

Why clay and salt (they are the makers of Real Salt also) cannot be certified organic

By definition Organic means “once living” or “carbon based” and clay and salt neither is, nor was, technically, either of these.   Because of this definition, in the USA clay and salt cannot receive an organic certification from the USDA.  That said, there is an organization called the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) that certifies items as an “organic ingredient” even though the item itself cannot be defined as organic.  When items are “OMRI Listed” they can be used as an organic ingredient just as if it were USDA organic.  I know that sounds confusing, but that’s just the nature of it.  The good news is that Real Salt and Redmond Clay is OMRI Listed which means that they can be used as an organic ingredient even though it is not organic (because it was never living nor is it carbon based).  There are some foreign companies that list their salt as organic because they don’t follow USA regulations, but these are few and are dropped as soon as they are discovered by the feds.

Redmond Clay Mining Process

 The Redmond Clay comes from a surface deposit that is above the Real Salt deposit.  That said, the section of the deposit that the Redmond Clay comes from is a vertical wall so it is completely protected from runoff. Also, because it is a vertical wall, has very little exposure even to rainfall (which in our area averages less than 15 inches per year).  Additionally, when we go to the deposit to extract material, we scrape off the exposed layer on the vertical face and discard it as well as the top 10+ feet of earth/clay before collecting the newly exposed material and take it to the mill for grinding.  As with Real Salt, the only process the Redmond Clay goes through is crushing and screening before we package it.

As I’ve mentioned, there is tons & tons of info on this clay, how it works, its benefits, etc. I just want to provide an overview and will leave it up to you to do further research. Redmond’s website is full of information, and of course so is Google. Below I’ll share a link to my Earthpaste review, which is also made by Redmond. If you have any questions please ask, I may be able to answer them, or can direct them to the VERY knowledgeable, extremely nice folks at Redmond who have been amazing at answering any & all questions I’ve had! And, as the above testimonials are just mine, I highly suggest you to go to the FB page of Redmond & read the amazing feedback in their ‘posts by others’ section!

One final bit of great news is Redmond has created a coupon code just for this page! Redmond is offering 15% off through September 7 using the code EcoSummer15 (case sensitive)!!

Website: http://www.redmondclay.com/
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/redmondclay?ref=br_tf
Earthpaste review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=677690208913289&set=pb.397517646930548.-2207520000.1372617275.&type=3&theater
Real Salt, Season Salt, Bath Salt Review: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=691161900899453&set=pb.397517646930548.-2207520000.1373294367.&type=3&theater

Trillium Organics Belly & Body Polish Review, based in Sturgeon Bay, WI.

This is one of those lines that I can’t find anything I don’t love about. The entire line is USDA certified organic, and nothing rates above a 1 in EWG. Someone on my page suggested I check out the line, and I immediately loved what I saw- absolutely no ingredients of concern to me. I was just about done clicking around on their site when I saw a reference to the fact that they are a WI-based company (I’m a WI mama—my love for this company was sealed)

From their website: “Trillium Organics is your source for Authentic USDA Organic body care and all-natural skin care products. Trusted by the Organic Consumers Association and treasured by glowing fans worldwide, Trillium Organics blends and pours each and every organic skin care product by hand. If you find yourself troubled by Eczema, Psoriasis, Keratosis Pilaris, or Dry Skin, we have the solution for you. No matter how much or how little you wish to pamper your skin, we have solutions and systems that will help you heal and restore your skin’s natural glow.”

Categories & offerings:

**Bath & body: body polish, body oil & body butter, soaking salt, botanical soap, roll-on perfume in 10 safe scents.

**Skin & face: advanced Argan age defying, daily balancing calm rosacea, oil free acne control.

**Baby: Breathe Free tea tree Aroma rub, breathe free tea tree gently soap, fragrance free barrier balm, fragrance free moisture oil, tubby ruby soapless cleanser, healthy bathday gift set, get well soon gift set, and baby shower gift set.

**Mama: belly butter, body polish, gently soap, moisture oil & skin soothing sampler.

**Conditions & recovery: psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, keratosis Pilaris, dry skin, cancer treatment and your skin, cradle cap, diaper rash.

Here are the two products I was sent:

OGmama Relaxing Lavender Belly and Body Polish— 4 oz./$10.00, 24 oz. $24.00. Product description from their website: “your ticket to a comfortable stretch in the third trimester. During the third trimester, the skin is stretching so much that it itches. To scratch it with fingernails could damage the dermis and start stretch marks. Luckily, Organic Body Polish satisfies and stops the itch while supporting the resilience of the skin to stretch even further. Our Salt Crystals are perfect crystalline cubes, so they do not scratch the skin like other salt scrubs, or finger nails. They exfoliate gently yet effectively. The removal of surface dead skin cells stimulates the regeneration of new cells, further enhancing the skins healthy stretch without adding toxins or leaving marks.” They sent me this product during my 1^st trimester, so I held on to it for quite some time waiting for the 3^rd trimester to arrive. I can say it definitely feels wonderful to rub on to my tight, stretched baby belly. I use it pre-bath, rub it on really well & let the oils soak in for a bit before getting in the bath. Then I follow-up with my favorite belly butter afterwards. I can’t say what difference it’s made for my stretch marks, as obviously there’s no way of knowing what they would be like without this product. But I can say it feels wonderful to rub on and is made with a host of wonderfully nourishing organic ingredients: Crystalline Salt, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Safflower Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Lecithin, Organic Lavender Oil, Non-GMO Vitamin E, Organic Chamomile, Organic Calendula, Organic Lavender.

Vapor Rub- $7.00/ .5 oz. or $15.50/ 3 oz. They also sent me an OGbaby Breathe Free Tea Tree Organic Aroma Rub, which I was fortunate enough not to need this winter as my whole family escaped with no illness! It is nice to have a product like this on hand though, and even though we’re going into summer now a good friend of mine & her son have just came down with some sort of respiratory ailment. It will be nice to have on hand with new babe who will be joining us any day now. Ingredients: Organic Olive Oil, Organic Beeswax, Organic Eucalyptus Oil, Organic Tea Tree Oil.

I know this is not a line everyone reading this will be able to afford as it’s one of the higher-end lines on my ‘approved’ list. But as we all know, making products with completely organic ingredients is not cheap. You also have to take into account that these products do not contain water as a 1^st ingredient, but are full of nourishing oils, which means you get a very concentrated product that will last a long time (I hate paying for water myself!). I’m very happy to have this WI-based company on my “best-of-the-best” list, and thank them for sending me these products to sample! I also love the gift basket ideas they offer, and would love to give one to the next expecting Mama I know and/or receive one myself!

They have received several awards & recognitions: USDA Organic Certified, Leaping Bunny Authenticated, Green America Qualified, Certified Woman Owned Business, Green Product Alliance, Recommended as a “Brand to Trust” by the Organic Consumer’s Association.

Website: http://www.trilliumorganics.com/

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