In the interest of preventing waste, I warn you off bad (but supposedly ecologically sound) products

[jaderabbit]

For a while now--probably since I first heard about the clams on Prozac problems--I've been trying to use health/beauty products that are better for the health and beauty of the the planet my children will someday inherit. (Scratch that. Those kids are hardly meek.)

Some easy replacements have been excellent; some have even made me wonder if the

Comments

[whatifoundthere]

This might be TMI, but I only wear deodorant on warm days (or at job interviews). I don't like the way it feels and I sweat very little, so it seems to work out okay. But who knows, maybe everybody I know has maintained a polite silence about the fact that I've been stinking to high heaven for decades!

But I love Tom's fennel-flavoured toothpaste, love love love it. I don't really like the taste of mint, so I have to make special efforts to get non-minty toothpastes and mouthwashes. (Listerine has a citrus mouthwash I really like, and when I can't find Tom's stuff -- its availability is patchy up here -- I'll usually buy cinnamon toothpaste if I can find it.)

I'm definitely up to reading more of these reviews.

Edited for apostrophe fail.

[jaderabbit]

You probably don't smell very much, either. I know other people who don't, and who don't use deodorant or antipersirant. Unfortunately, I sweat a lot, so I have to wear the stuff every day.

I think it's great that you're using products only when you need them. Probably a lot of the chemicals that the water company is trying to remove are there because people believe that they *have* to wear perfume and hair product and lotion and blah blah blah every single day. I'm not a paragon of eco-friendly beauty, but my skin has been a lot happier since I started saying, "Okay. Is my skin dry? Does it need lotion today?" instead of just going with a routine.

Good to hear a thumbs-up about one of the Tom's toothpastes. We have a ton of grownup toothpaste to work through, but I'll pick some Tom's kiddie toothpaste up for the kids and see how they like using dental care with a smaller carbon footprint.

[auros]

I didn't like Tom's back when they were first spreading around the country, but I tried the cinnamon-clove toothpaste about six months ago, and liked it enough to switch to that as my usual purchase. (Fennel sounds interesting too.)

If you're really going to write a bunch of green product reviews, have you considered trying to publish them? I know a few places that might like the content (TriplePundit, TreeHugger, Grist, etc).

[jaderabbit]

That's an interesting question. I do have a background as a product reviewer, and I even have some understanding of testing methodology. I was just going to casually write up some things I've tried, but if you have a lead on something bigger, I'd be interested in learning more.

[cynodd]

Whose days are such that they only want to be non-smelly for 12 hours?

Interesting column. Do keep them up!

[ptd1028]

Curses...I have that very same deodorant sitting unopened in my bathroom cupboard. Thanks for the heads-up.
I can completely relate to your plight - since I started trying to get pregnant, I've purged my skincare routine of all toxic badness and replaced it with eco-friendly substitutes. Some of them are great, but some are definitely lacking (Maybelline Full N' Soft Mascara, how I miss you...). Sigh.

[jaderabbit]

I'd be interested in hearing what works for you. I'm having trouble finding a good toner, in particular.

The deodorant is okay for days when you're around the house or something, as long as you can scrub out your pits with alcohol later. Ugh. But if it's unopened, maybe you can give it to charity? Someone at a shelter would prefer it to nothing, I'm sure.

Thanks for the comment!