Green Reviews
This section of the site is where I will review products and services that are environmentally friendly, natural, or organic. Each review is based on my own personal use.
Burt's Bees Products
Chap Sticks/Lip Moisturizers
Burt's Bees line of products boast an average of over 97% all natural ingredients. The chap sticks include the original line, which smells of peppermint, the honey line, which includes and smells of honey, and the lifeguard line, which provides extra protection against wind and sun.
Hair Care
Burt's Bees also offers a line of hair care products including shampoos and conditioners. The shampoo may not smell as nice as other brands with fragrances added, but the product washes hair well and does not leave a chemical buildup like other brands do.
Sun Block/After-Sun Protection
Now that summer is here, I have tried Burt's Bees All Natural Sun Block and After Sun lotion. The sun block comes in SPF 15 and 30 and is not greasy. It provides protection through natural items that reflect the sun's rays. Be sure to reapply as necessary and especially after swimming or toweling off.
When you are done with fun in the sun, use the After Sun lotion with aloe and linden flower to provide your skin with the moisture it needs. Both of these products work well and do not leave you feeling greasy. Both have low odors and come in easy to hadle tubes that are made from post-consumer recycled content.
Men's Care
The Natural Shave Cream is pH balanced, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate free, parabin and phthalate free. It produces a good lather and has a masculine smell so you don't have to worry about smelling flowery. I find that it works just as well as regular shaving cream and leaves my face and neck feeling smooth and hydrated.
Crystal deodorant stick is made from natural mineral salts and does not contain Aluminum Chlorohydrate. It is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and 100% natural.
It does not prevent your body from sweating, which it needs to do to keep cool and expel toxins through the skin. The stick works by preventing bacteria which cause body odor. This allows your body to continue to sweat and release the toxins.
Traditional deodorants shrink your pores or prevent them from working with harsh chemicals and prevent your body from releasing toxins through the skin.
Crystal deodorant can be found at most retail and grocery stores and the stick will last you over a year.
I have been using the stick for the past couple of weeks and it works well. I use it before I go to the gym and it prevents the body odor but not sweating so you are able to stay cool.
The Meijer Naturals line offers such items as glass cleaner, laundry detergent, and fabric softener, all made from 100% natural ingredients. I have tried the Meijer Naturals laundry detergent with the lavender scent and found it to work as well as regular detergents. It comes in two varieties - non-scented and lavender scented, which does not leave a flowery scent on your clothes. It comes in minimal packaging and is comparable in price to regular laundry detergents. I have washed many loads of laundry (in cold water) and Meijer Naturals has held up and cleaned stains as well as other laundry soaps.
At Home Organics is a line of Meijer products for the home that are made from organic materials. I have tried the At Home Organics sheets for about a month now and besides noticing the incredible softness of the fabric right away there is not much difference between these and regular sheets. The care is the same and they are priced comparable to regular cotton sheets. There is a variety of colors available and all of the sheet sets are dyed with natural dyes. The sheets are extremely comfortable and help to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used in the production of cotton.
Beeswax Bar for Dry Skin by Laney Honey
The beeswax bar is made from only beeswax, safflower oil, and vitamin E. You simply rub it on dry areas of your skin. It works just as well as lotion and comes in a smaller package. It works well against that winter-dry skin and smells good too.
Greener Choice Cleaners
Greener Choice cleaners come in a wide variety including daily, shower cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and kitchen cleaners. They work as well as normal bathroom cleaners and cost about the same as conventional products. They can be find at many supermarkets.
Arm and Hammer Essentials Cleaners
Arm and Hammer has created a line of cleaners that are made from natural ingredients but also help to reduce waste and packaging as well as emissions from transportation. To use the degreaser, all-purpose, or window cleaner, you initially buy the empty bottle with a small package of concentrated cleaner. When you get home, you empty the cleaner into the bottle and fill it to the line with water. When the bottle is empty, you can buy just the cleaner and refill it with water from your tap. This helps to reduce packaging by up to 80%.
Arm and Hammer also has laundry detergent, dryer sheets, cat litter, and deodorants made from natural ingredients.
Resolution Cleaners
Resolution is a line of cleaners that user naturally sourced ingredients. They include all-purpose and glass cleaners, and laundry stain removers among other things. I use the laundry stain remover all the time and it removes tough stains easily and allows me to use cold water to wash my clothes. The products are competitively priced and are available at Menards stores.
Nature's Gate produces a line of shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, deodorants, and lotions. They are made from organic materials and come in a variety of natural scents. The hand soap works very well and leaves your hands feeling clean and smooth.