I was taking a walk around the mall the other day and remembered I had some gift cards to use up before every company in this economy goes belly up.

First stop was Bath and Body Works.

I have had a problem with B&BW since I was 16 and my pediatrician thought I had TSS, though it turned out my full body rash was actually from a dye I was allergic to in a B&BW soap.

Still people insist on giving me gift certificates here sigh. This one I had since December 2007 - I am never excited to go and shop in there.

So I wandered in amiss the mass of women digging through clearance bins and found a sales person. I asked ‘Do you have any Organic or all natural products?’.

Do you have any Organic or all natural products?

She looked bewildered as though no one had ever asked her such an absurdity. After a second she let me know the closes thing that had was probably their CO Bigelow line.

I wandered over to the meager display and selected the trial sizes of the CO Bigelow Not Your Ordinary Daily Shampoo, CO Bigelow Not Your Ordinary Daily Conditioner and CO Bigelow Lemon Cream Body Wash.

These products don’t claim to be Organic or all natural but it was the best they had to offer for my gift card purchase.

CO Bigelow Not Your Ordinary Daily Shampoo & Conditioner

The Not Your Ordinary Daily Shampoo’s ingredients include: Pathenol (sp) 1%, Coconut Extract 1%, Silk Amio Acids 0.5% and the Not Your Ordinary Daily Conditioner’s ingredients include: Soy and Wheat Protein 1.5%, Jojoba Oil 1%, Mallow Extract 0.5%

I’m not sure what ‘Pathenol ’ but Google seems to think it’s a misspelling of a chemical compound panthenol. I don’t know why they would boast that ingredient but to each their own.

I liked these shampoos enough but they’re not a green product like the kind I am trying to incorporate into my daily life. I like the natural scents and how they make my hair feel but there won’t be a long lasting relationship between me and the CO Bigelow shampoo and conditioners.

CO Bigelow Lemon Cream Body Wash

This product boasts 7.2% Lemon Oil and Extracts and 7.5% Safflower Oil as it’s natural ingredients, but I have got to admit I really enjoyed this body wash.

The smell of lemons wasn’t overwhelming but left me with citrus like refreshed feeling. The cream body wash is nice it lathers well on my bamboo poof and didn’t leave my skin feeling oily or too dry after I stepped on the shower.

Green Behavior doesn’t necessarily recommend or endorse these products for their green value but it’s the greenest that we have seen from Bath & Body Works. We’d only recommend trying these if you have a gift card that needs spending - they’re not bad products just not the most green conscious ones we’ve seen.

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: C.O. Bigelow - Bath and Body Works’ Natural(ish) Solution

There’s a great Dirty Jobs episode on the Discovery Channel where Mike Rowe goes to Terressentials in Maryland and makes and gets his hair washed in organic shampoo. I must divulge that I love Mike Rowe (my boyfriend is often jealous) so I hopped on their website and online store, Terressentials.com, to see what they had to offer!

The first order I made included the Fragrance-Free Facial Care Sampler. I’ve often had problems with scented products so I figure since my face doesn’t need to smell good: fragrance free would be my best route.

The samples are small but they go a long way, I used my sample package for a bit over 2 weeks, anywhere between 1 and 3 times a day. The bottles are small but the recommended amounts to use are very small as well - good things really do come in small packages.

Fragrance-free Organic Facial Cleanser & Toner

Of the four items in the sample pack these two items: the fragrance-free organic facial cleanser and fragrance-free organic facial toner, have made me a loyal Teressentials fan.

I’ve had a hard time with my skin in my early 20’s to the point where I considered using some of the prescription strength systems but the responses I read in blogs to such systems were overwhelmingly negative. So I started trying new face washes and low and behold the first organic one I tried I fell in love with.

The Terressentials fragrance-free cleanser and toner are USDA Certified Organic. They’re for all skin types and the naturally gentle cleansing power of these two are just what your face wants.

I’ve been using the face wash 2, sometimes 3 times a day and the toner at least once a day and I have never been happier with my skin. I have seen a drastic reduction in breakouts and my skin feel softer and battles the New England dry winter weather very well. I’ve noticed my skin even out a bit and I don’t ever feel the need to use harsh scrubs to “exfoliate” like I had before.

The best part - Terressentials is affordable organic. Their products might seem pricy per bottle but when you usee only the recommended amount your bottles will last a long time!

Fragrance Free Organic Facial Lotion & Moisture Cream

The other two products in the sampler fragrance-free organic facial lotion and 100% organic fragrance-free moisture cream, were a great compliment to the cleaners and toner. The Moisture cream is perfect to naturally soothe a dry nose during a cold and the facial lotion provides the moisture locking I look for in a moisturizer without a lot of weight or scent.

More USDA Organic Face Care Options by Terressentials

Terressentials also offers a flower therapy organic skin care system that I may try next order now that my skin feels more balances than my pre-teen days!

If you’ve used any of the Terressentials face care lines let me know what you thought otherwise - get to ordering! You won’t regret it.

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: Terressentials Face Care System

When I launched Green Behavior onto Twitter (@greenbehavior) I found an interesting Twitter follower, @saveessentials. It’s a PR guy letting us know that Arm and Hammer is looking to cut Essentials cause there’s no one buying it.

Why buy it?

• It’s a great product that really works
• Less packaging = less weight = less transport cost = smaller carbon footprint
• Why waste bottles - reduce and reuse.

Video via the Save Essentials Campaign

Cleaning with Essentials

I grabbed the multi-surface cleaner and went to town cleaning and testing for y’all. I picked a good and dirty place to clean: my best friend and boyfriend’s condo kitchen.

The kitchen looked and smelled clean once I was done - the multi-surface cleaner cut through microwave grease and baked on stove top goodness. The faucet sparkled and the glass was streak free and see through (again.)

About Essentials Multi-Surface Cleaner

• Cleans without streaks
• Uses plant-based cleaners with other biodegradable cleaners derived from coconuts and palm kernel
• Effective and safe, When used as directed — with no ammonia or phosphates
• Light, fresh scent — no harsh chemical fumes
• Refill 2-pack uses 80% less packaging than 2 pre-filled spray cleaners

Safe and Effective Cleaning - the Multi-Surface Cleaner Works Great On

• Counters
• Appliances
• Sinks
• Kitchen & Bathroom Tile
• Glass
• And more!

Register to Get Essentials Coupons here

Featured on saveessentials.com 12/23/2008

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: Arm & Hammer Essentials - Green Cleaning