Boston Green Beauty Bloggers

Boston may be a small city, but there are local bloggers and vloggers covering an incredible array of topics, and luckily for those interested in sustainable living, there are some awesome green beauty bloggers in the city. So if you are interested in detoxing your collection of cosmetics, learning DIY treatments, or get the details on what ingredients to watch out for, add these blogs to your reading list:

Boho Chic Meets Organics
This blog is a great place to find product reviews, gift ideas, and holistic wellness tips. The author, Yeiza, is  Boston based wellness coach with a passion for healthy beauty and sustainable fashion.

The Green Queen
Andie the Green Queen is a vlogger covering vegan, natural beauty, diet, and women's health. The great thing about videos is that Andie is able to show you exactly how to use products and you viewers can see the real results.

L'Amour et La Musique
Another vlogger, L'Amour et La Musique is a great channel for makeup tutorials featuring organic, non-toxic products. She covers some lifestyle and music topics as well, and is perfect for eco girls looking for a little glam.

Non Toxique Voyage
Shirley is a Boston based vlogger (who, sadly, is moving to North Carolina this winter - we will miss her!) that uses video to share her journey of learning healthier alternatives for both skincare and diet.

Notes on Lifestyle by Georgina
Georgina is a popular lifestyle blogger in Boston that recently discovered green beauty. She covers a lot of healthy living and fitness topics and is a great place to start for those that are new to non-toxic cosmetics and veganism.

Short, Small & Sweet
This is another great blog to find product reviews, DIY beauty recipes, and some delicious food recipes. Inspired by "The Story of Cosmetics," the author, Ru, documents her green lifestyle through her blog.


BONUS - these are commercial brands that have great blogs!

Moringa Connect
Learn about moringa, the next big sustainable ingredient in healthy beauty.

Organic Bath
Boston's favorite skincare startup shares their process.

The Dirty Dozen for Skincare

Image courtesy of Safe Cosmetics

The Dirty Dozen was a term coined for a list of twelve fruits and vegetables that are contaminated by the most pesticides and herbacides - the list is a handy guide for consumers so they know what to buy organic. However, toxic chemicals aren't only found in our food. Harmful chemicals can be found in all sorts of consumer products - including the soaps, moisturizers, and makeup we put on our skin everyday. So, health experts have created a Dirty Dozen list for skincare! Print this list and keep it with you when you shop for cosmetics and make sure to read ingredient lists and avoid all of the above chemicals. Or, download an app to do the work for you. I love the EWG SkinDeep app and the ThinkDirty app. both of which have great information on the safety of skincare products. 

How to Recover from an Over-Indulgent Thanksgiving

Image courtesy of Annie Mary

1. First things first, REHYDRATE! This is especially important if you had one too many glasses of red wine at Thanksgiving dinner. One of the best ways to re-hydrate is Harmless Harvest raw organic coconut water!

2. Next, stretch it out with a little yoga. Your body will appreciate it for sure.

3. Thirdly, get something done. Of course it is nice to have a few days off, but it is also a great feeling to accomplish something over the long weekend. I suggest holiday shopping on Black Friday - but ONLINE ONLY. Definitely check out ClimateStore.com and Follain's online store for eco gifts for the whole family.

4. Freeze your leftovers, and enjoy them a little at a time instead of binging on them all at once.

5. This weekend is a great time for a digital detox. All of your friends and coworkers want to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families too, so turn off your phone and computer. This will help save energy and your sanity - just in time for the holiday season.

How to Make Your Money Work for You and the Planet

image courtesy of Teen Vogue

We all buy stuff, there is no way around it. But, a lot of us buy too much. The average American spends between $30 and $60 on clothing each month. So, how often do you buy new clothes? Do you really need them? Are there greener shopping options that you've been meaning to try but haven't? Here is how you can test if you need to make a change:

1) Look at your spending for the last month and make a note of what percent you spent on clothing. If it is more than 5% of your monthly paycheck, you should re-think your shopping habits. 

2) Did you buy more than one item of clothing in the past month? Was it practical?

3) If you bought clothing last month - have you worn it yet?

4) Did you look at vintage, thrift, or fair trade options for clothes before making your purchases?

Time to Weatherize Your Home or Apartment

source photo

Here are some easy ways to see energy savings on your bill this winter! Start before November, and you'll get the best results.

1. Install temporary window film to blog out the cold. 

2. Make blankets easily accessible for all of the places you spend the most time at home. 

3. Make a habit of opening blinds during the day and closing them after the sun goes down.

4. Insulate your water heater to keep it from losing heat.

5. In the winter, you'll likely take warmer showers - use a timer to make them as efficient as possible.

6. Use a draft blocker for leaky doors. 

7. Dress appropriately, you really shouldn't be comfortable in a T-shirt indoors when it is freezing outside. Dressing appropriately will allow you to turn the thermostat down a bit.

8. Create a sense of warmth with solar powered candles and a cup of tea. 

Green Tip Tuesday: Purchase In-Season Produce

Nothing beats Fall in New England for fresh, local produce! Some of our favorite fall foods are just coming into season, so get over to your local farmer's market or farmstand and look for the following items that are in the peak of their season in September:

• broccoli 
• radishes
• carrots
• celery
• cranberries
• eggplant
• hot peppers
• raspberries
• tomatoes
• watermelon
• apples
• butternut squash (beginning of season)

Learn more about what crops are in season when over at the Peak-Season Map on Epicurious 

How to Detox Your Collection of Cosmetics

source image courtesy of Beauty High

On Just Us Gals, I've been posting a monthly series about non-toxic makeup and beauty products, that I thought would be very appropriate for Boston Green Blog readers too! Here is what you need to know: The U.S. only bans 11 ingredients from cosmetic products, while the E.U. bans over 1,000. The average American woman uses about 15 cosmetic products per day, which exposes her to small doses of some potentially harmful chemicals on a regular basis. While most of these chemicals probably won't make you sick, it is better to be safe than sorry! Am I right?! Here is how you can reduce your exposure:

• Use non-toxic acne treatments, toners, and coverup
• Use a non-toxic sunscreen (especially if you use products with topical vitamin A)!
• Use non-toxic lipsticks (the average woman unintentionally eats more than a pound of lipstick in her lifetime)
• Try non-toxic shampoos & conditioners
• Use a non-toxic night cream (important, since these stay on your skin for a long period).

And of course, let me know about your favorite products in comments or on twitter!

Eco Definitions: Greywater

Its the middle of August and water resources across the U.S. are strained. Particularly in the southwest, which is experiencing a record-breaking drought, water conservation is of the utmost importance. One way to save water is by using greywater more effectively. So, what is greywater exactly?

According to Greywater Action, it is "water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines. It is not water that has come into contact with feces, either from the toilet or from washing diapers.

Greywater may contain traces of dirt, food, grease, hair, and certain household cleaning products. While greywater may look “dirty,” it is a safe and even beneficial source of irrigation water in a yard. There are many simple, economical ways to reuse greywater in the landscape."

By collecting rainwater and greywater, people can water their yards without using potable water. Greywater can also be used to flush toilets!

DIY Organic Fair Trade Pops

source image

A great way to reduce food packaging waste in the summer is to use a popsicle mold instead of buying premade pops. Of course, the question is, once you have a mold, what are you going to put in it? For a green twist on this summer favorite, try using your favorite Honest Tea beverage!

Why?

• All of their flavors are USDA certified organic
• Most of their products are Fair Trade
• You'll have the choice between sweet, fruity flavors and subtle tea flavors. 
• They have delicious, unique flavors that would make great pops like pomegranate ade, berry hibiscus, and mint lemonade. 
• The end product will have less sugar and no artificial ingredients!

The 4 Best Face Masks with Organic Ingredients

source image courtesy of ENT Wellbeing

1. Clairvoyant Beauty Cooling Cucumber Mask, $30

EWG SkinDeep: Not yet rated

Think Dirty: Not yet rated

Good Guide: Not yet rated

My results: This refreshing mask left my face moisturized without any residue. This is a great treatment for sunburned, summer skin.

2. Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Treatment Mask, $18

EWG SkinDeep: 6 (moderate hazard)

Think Dirty: 8 (dirty)

Good Guide: 5.5

My results: This mask is great for changing seasons when skin needs some TLC - especially for sensitive skin types.

3. Kora Organics Clay Purifying Mask, $53

EWG SkinDeep: Not yet rated

Think Dirty: Not yet rated

Good Guide: Not yet rated

My results: Great for acne-prone skin, this mask is deeply cleansing. 

4. Shamanuti Pumpkin Enzyme Masque, $42

EWG SkinDeep: Not yet rated

Think Dirty: Not yet rated

Good Guide: Not yet rated

My results: This mask is perfect for combination skin because it both exfoliates and moisturizes. 

5 Reasons to Go Vegetarian

image courtesy of Adventures in Cooking

• Eating a plant-based diet significantly reduces your carbon footprint. Roughly, a vegetarian diet produces half as much greenhouse gases as a typical American omnivore diet. 
• A recent study shows that vegetarians live 20% longer than their meat-eating counterparts.
• Non-meat protein sources are delicious too!
• Its easy to grow your own veggies and/or buy local in-season veggies, which reduces your carbon footprint even further.
• You no longer have to worry about the horrors of factory farming and living conditions for animals. 

How to Care for Spider Plants

source image courtesy of Wabi-Sai Wanderings

Spider plants are very effective at improving your indoor air quality according to the Mother Nature Network. They help reduce the presence of  benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. The best thing about these plants is that they are very resilient and easy to care for - just follow these steps for a long living spider plant:

• place the planter somewhere with access to bright light
• water regularly in the summer (2-3 times per week) and reduce to misting in the winter 
• keep the plant indoors in winter months to prevent it from being in temps below 50 degrees
• If you want to propigate the plant, keep it in a small pot so that it can use its energy to create plantlets, otherwise re-pot as your spider plants grows.

daily summer essentials

No matter where you go this summer, there are a few essentials that are important to have on hand to ensure a sustainable, healthy summer. Sunglasses are a give-in, but wearing an ethical pair (made from environmentally-friendly materials or are part of a one-for-one program) will make you feel good every time you put them on. And when you stop to get an iced coffee, its great to prevent waste by bringing your own tumbler - and reusable shopping bag if you want to pick up some other treats while you're out. Finally, you've heard it before, but don't leave the house without sunscreen! Pickup a chemical free tube and slather it on throughout the day.

10 Tips for a Greener Roadtrip

source image courtesy of tumblr

1. Travel by train or bus instead if you have the option.

2. Purchase carbon offsets for your trip.

3. Make sure your tires are properly inflated.

4. Drive the speed limit - driving faster uses more gas.

5. Pack organic, vegetarian munchies for the road.

6. Go to rest stops instead of getting off the highway, sometimes the gas stations and food places are much further from the exit than expected. 

7. Use the AC sparingly. Air conditioning uses gas as well. 

8. Don't idle.

9. If you have the option, drive an electric or hybrid vehicle.

10. Carpool.

Save Water while Gardening

source image courtesy of Maria Starzyk

Its gardening season! It is great to finally be outdoors, growing flowers and cultivating your own food. Here are a few quick ways to make your gardening practices water efficient.

1. Do you use a dehumidifier? Use the water the machine collects to hydrate your garden!

2. Collect rain water in a rain barrel for later use in your yard. 

3. Water your garden in the early morning or late evening to prevent excess evaporation.

4. Use an efficient hose attachment, or hose water meter. 

5. Plant hardy crops that require less water.

6. Take a bucket in the shower with you to collect water - if its not too soapy, you can use it on your plants!

Harvesting Aloe for Soothing Sunburns

source image courtesy of Design Sponge

It is sunburn season! No matter your natural skintone, you should wear sunscreen everyday, but should you find yourself with a burn, here is how you can use a common houseplant, aloe vera, to treat your burns. By treating your skin with aloe rather than drugstore solutions, you can easily avoid unnecessary chemicals, artificial fragrances, and save money!

If you have an aloe plant at home, follow these easy steps for harvesting your own aloe gel:

1. Using a knife, cut one leaf, while limiting damage to the plant. Slice close to the base of the leaf and away from the center of the plant.

2. Once you've cut the aloe leaf, rinse the outer skin in under cool water.


3. Remove the serrated edges of the leaf and skin. Aloe Vera leaves are slightly curved, so put the concave side down on a cutting board. Next, slice around the perimeter. This will leave  the top and bottom layer of skin, exposing the Aloe gel between. The top layer of skin comes off next. Run the knife just under the surface and peel it away. Now flip the leaf over and do the same on the other side.

4. Next squees the Aloe gel to a storage container - I prefer a glass bottle with a pump. Fresh Aloe gel will keep for about a week, but you can increase its shelf time by storing it in the fridge. If you wind up with more than you can use in that time, stick your leftovers in the freezer. It can be stored there for up to 8 months. HINT - mix with a bit of water and use ice cube trays to make sunburn soothing frozen cubes!

Healthy Home Manicures

Today's Green Tip Tuesday is to treat yourself to an all natural mani! I'm hoping for some good beach weather over Memorial Day weekend, so I need nail polish that can withstand the sand and surf and still look fresh for an evening BBQ. The non-toxic nail care brand, Scotch Naturals has a great "sticky" base coat and shiny top coat that keep your nails from chipping. Scotch is perfect for people that bite their nails or are trying to detox their beauty routine. Unfortunately, Scotch products are not yet rated on the EWG Skindeep Database, Think Dirty, or GoodGuide, but the fact that these products don't contain the chemicals listed above is a good sign!

Take Action Now to #SaveCitySoil

source image courtesy of The Boston Globe

City Soil operates its composting site at the Boston Nature Center in Mattapan. They have partnered with the Suffolk County Conservation District to develop the Mattapan Ecovation Center, an enclosed composting system and intensive 4-season urban agriculture demonstration on state-owned land leased from Zoo New England.

Unfortunately, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recently announced a plan to evict City Soil from 50% of their leased site – including the area dedicated for the innovative urban agriculture project. Why? An out-of-town corporation, Landscape Express, has strong-armed the DCR into evicting City Soil and awarding the leased land to them for sales and parking space, under a no-bid expansion of their contract to manage the DCR’s neighboring site.

To prevent this eviction, hundreds of City Soil supporters such as the Conservation Law Foundation, Higher Ground Farm, Boston Natural Areas Network and more called State Senator Pacheco and Environmental and Energy Affairs Secretary Sullivan. Pacheco called the founder of City Soil that day and let him know that he heard the message loud and clear, but he's not sure  he can do anything about it. City Soil then made its next move and collected over 200 signatures on a petition to send to Governor Patrick.


You can help support city soil by joining the twitter campaign #savecitysoil and by calling Secretary Sullivan or Governor Patrick's Office:

Secretary Rick Sullivan

Phone: 617-626-1101

Email: rick.sullivan@state.ma.us, rachel.kreitz@state.ma.us

Governor Deval Patrick

Phone: 617-725-4005

5 Easy Green Lifestyle Tips for Spring

Image courtesy of Lets Go Ride A Bike

1. Forget driving, taking cabs, or even taking the T - bikes rule this time of year, and for good reason, they are a low carbon, quick way to get around the city.

2. No heat or air conditioning. Open up those windows and breath the fresh spring air!

3. Unplug your workout. Now that the weather is nice, there is no need to go to the gym and use energy-intensive machines. Instead, try jogging outside or taking a class.

4. In season, local foods. Strawberry season is right around the corner, so look for locally grown options. 

5. Air dry your laundry. This is one of the best ways to reduce energy use and save money. Plus, you'll be surprised how fast your clothing dries on a sunny day. 

Dust Yourself Off For Spring

source image courtesy of HealthyChild.org

Ah yes, spring cleaning continues. Dusting is a quick and easy step towards a clean and healthy home. Here are some dusting tips that reduce your exposure to toxins that may be in your household dust or in your usual cleaning supplies:

 Skip the feather duster. Interior household dust often includes tiny paint particles from slamming doors and opening and shutting windows. If you live in a building that was constructed before 1978, this paint most likely contains some amount of lead - which if inhaled through dust can decrease IQ and lead to serious developmental issues. So, instead of using a dry duster that irritates particles back into the air, use a wet rag instead. Using a rag is also more efficient because many brands of paper towels are made from virgin forests! Warm water is also the best method because it ensures that you aren't replacing household dust with toxic cleaning chemicals. If the dust is particularly hard to remove, try using vinegar and lemon juice on the rag as well. 

Happy cleaning!