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

I stopped at Walgreens earlier this week to pick up a prescription and found all the holiday gift packs on sale. Amongst them a green product that caught my eye.

I snagged a 5 brush set of EcoTools makeup brushes and bamboo holder for $5 usd in a post-holiday gift set sale. I’ve been using the brushes ever since and I love them.
Even when not on a super duper clearance EcoTools’ makeup brushes and bath products are really affordable. The powder brush is only 7.99 usd, the blush brush 6.99 usd and the eye shading brush only 3.99 usd.

I’ve use cheap drug store makeup brushes in the past and those end up in the trash quickly. I also own a number of MAC brushes that I adore and would highly recommend to any woman looking to play up her makeup a bit.

Even beauty blogs picked up on these great brushes earlier this year noting, as I did, that the brushes were not like those other synthetic brushes you’ve used before.

This earth-friendly brush set is packed with the 5 high-quality brushes you need to look beautiful.

What makes EcoTools Makeup Brushes green??

• Bamboo handle has a low impact on the earth’s resources as it is a highly sustainable plant that can grow up to 4 feet daily
• Synthetic taklon bristles are made from soft and pliable synthetic hair and are 100% cruelty free.
• Sleek ferrule (silver band that holds bristles) is made from recycled aluminum.
• EcoTools utilize resources that minimize the negative impact on the environment
• EcoTools (a product of Paris Presents) is part of the 1% for the Planet program

They often come in very un-green, PVC packaging and while noted in last months’ post on treehuger the company states they use the acid-free PVC packaging with plant-based inks intending the consumer will use it to protect the brush or a great case to use when traveling or on-the-go.
You can get a set of 5 brushes inside a natural cotton and hemp case. Which might be more along your green lines of ‘reusable packaging’ standards.
The gift set I purchased with the bamboo cup came in recyclable plastic and cardboard - so maybe in the future we will see this company use greener packaging solutions and let us buy a vinyl case on our terms only.

I can’t fault a company for not going 100% with their products or product lines. As far as I’m concerned it’s always better to start getting green then wait till it’s convenient to go 100% green. Do what you can - to go as green as you can - now!

More Info

• Learn more about ecoTools
• Buy ecoTools at Walgreens
• Buy ecoTools at Target

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: Eco Makeup Brushes - EcoTools

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

Looking or a healthy snack? Try Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies.

I got turned onto Annie’s by an old friend who hated blue box mac and cheese and insisted I try Annie’s Mac. I was hooked after I tried it and have since kept an eye out for more of Annie’s products with their mascot Bernie the bunny on the box.

The other day I was looking for a healthy snack to leave on my desk at the office and I saw Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies. I grabbed ‘em and was again hooked. I think Annie’s Cheddar bunnies taste better than Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish. Cheddar bunnies are made with organic wheat flour and real aged cheddar then baked to delicious perfection. Their nutritional value and cost is comparable to Pepperidge Farm’s Cheddar Goldfish but I like knowing there are organic ingredients and that my products are coming from an eco-conscious company.

Need some other healthy reasons to grab a box and try them for yourself?
Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies have:

• 0g Trans Fat
• Low Saturated Fat
• No Cholesterol
• No Sugar Added
• Contains Non-GMO

Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies come in a few different flavor varieties that I am dying to try once I ask my local grocery market to carry more than just the cheddar variety.

• Sour Cream & Onion Cheddar Bunnies
• White Cheddar Bunnies
• Whole Wheat Cheddar Bunnies

Learn more about Annie’s other snacks and more about Annie’s Cheddar bunnies and their new Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies - made with even more organic goodness on the Annie’s website: www.annies.com

Have you tried Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies before? What did you think?

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies - Healthy Snack

Every time I hit the stores I poke around to see if I can find any new organic, green or natural products I didn’t know existed. The other day I was at the grocery store and I saw some body butters with packaging that caught my eye.

Their clever packaging with hand drawn retro pinups girls give an old Americana feel to a fresh 72% organic product. Their packaging has been recognized by the NACDS in Boston in ‘06 and ‘07 for best packaging and their products can also be purchased at some retail locations without the unnecessary cardboard packaging.

All of their products come in 4 fun fresh scents:

• New York Cheesecake with an Edge
  Scented with vanilla and strawberry
• Toast to the Coast
  Scented with ocean and grape seed
• Southern Belle
  Scented with peach and mango
• Vermont VaVa Voom
  Scented with green apple, maple and blueberry

The lotion comes in a tin or pump - I prefer a pump. At first the body butter appears a bit greasy but locks onto your skin and is absorbed in seconds with no greasy residue - leaves you feeling fresh for hours. It feels extra good on fresh shaved legs since it contains no alcohol.

I am now in love with the Body America Organic - Toast to the Coast Body Butter. Though part of it might be a scent memory there’s something about Toast to the Coast that sends me back to my Gram’s beach house as a kid.

You can buy Body America products online on amazon (see above) or in stores such as Target, Price Chopper and PRice Rite.

Body America Promo Video

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: Body America Organics - Body Lotion

One of my favorite day to day green health and beauty products is by far the Yes to Carrots Lip Butters.

The lip butters come in five lip smacking delicious flavors:

• Melon
• Citrus
• Berry
• Carrot
• Mint

The lip butters are actually the product that first drew me to Yes To Carrots. I grabbed a melon lip butter one day at Walgreens cause I didn’t have a Chapstick in my pocket - a daily staple. I used the melon lip butter all night and the next day I promptly bought the other 4 flavors.

Melon is still by far my favorite with citrus in a close second. The smell of the citrus is really refreshing , I can’t wait for summer to use this one!
The mint flavor is really energizing - mostly because of the smell. It’s a good pick-me up in the morning - especially a cold rainy morning. Carrot is pretty plain but the berry is one of the tastier varieties.

What? Quite Tasty??

Oh yes, since the lip butters are 95% Organic (USDA Certified Organic too) and all natural I don’t worry about how much I ingest. One downfall of many lip balms on the market is when they smell good and taste good you tend to smack your lips often - wouldn’t you feel better knowing you’re eating organic lip balm?

You can learn more about Yes to Carrots’ Organic Lip Butter on their website. I have officially replaced all the Chapsticks and lip balms in my life with these - they’re the best organic lip balm I’ve ever used.

You can buy the Yes to Carrots Lip Butters at Walgreens, Target and online at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com.

Check out some interesting and unusual uses for lip balm - besides soothing your lovely lips!

Upcoming Green Behavior Contest

Keep an eye out for Green Behavior’s first freebie content on Monday, December 15th! I mean come on - everyone loves free stuff! Subscribe to the Green Behavior newsletter (up top), follow @greenbehavior on Twitter or read the feed for updates!

This feed comes from Green Behavior The specific article's link is: 95% Organic Lip Balm - Yes to Carrots Lip Butter