How to be a Conscious Consumer During the Holidays

How to be a Conscious Consumer During the Holidays

by | Nov 19, 2018 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

One thing that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is how much plastic and paper waste a single person produces in a day. There are so many things that we use once and throw away without even thinking twice about it. Unfortunately we’re getting to that point where we really should be more conscious of what our consumption is doing to the planet. Especially during the holidays it’s hard to comprehend just how much plastic and paper is wasted and thrown into the landfill.

Luckily you don’t have to take it to extremes to make a dent in the waste that you are creating this holiday season. There is a powerful Zero Waste Movement happening right now that focuses on making simple swaps for every day items, which means less going into the garbage at the end of the day.

Here are some ideas to get you started being a more conscious consumer. Especially now that the holidays are upon us, a time when there is so much unnecessary waste.

Minimize Single Use Plastic

Simple things like having reusable travel utensils in your car so you don’t have to use plastic forks and knives at Starbucks (I’m totally guilty of that). Same goes for plastic straws, which are wreaking havoc on marine life. By getting some reusable stainless steel straws you can make a simple swap that also helps the environment.

More and more people recently have made it a habit to take their reusable grocery bags to the store, but have you ever though of how much plastic you are wasting with the produce bags you put your greens and other veggies in? Their lifespan is only as long as the veggies you put in them, then they go right in the trash. A smile solution is taking your own produce bags to the grocery store along with your own grocery bags. Same goes for Zip-lock bags, which I use almost every day when I go to work. Instead try using the cute Stasher Reusable Food Bag. 

Many businesses and towns are even doing away with plastic bags and straws all together! My hometown got rid of plastic bags in grocery stores and charge people for each brown bag they use. Not only does it cut down on plastic bags which pollute out environment, but the extra charge (which was only like 5 cents or something) was enough incentive to try to remember my reusable bags each time I went shopping.

Another thing is to be aware of what you are purchasing, either as its or just in general. Are you getting gifts for people that come in a ton of plastic packaging or requires bubble wrap because of shipping? Note I’m a huge fan of online shopping for the sanity it saves me, but these are things to be aware of.

Waste Free Gift Wrapping

One of the biggest waste issues around the holidays is all of the gift wrapping and boxes that get thrown out. When I think about it I find it kind of insane that we will use expensive paper for the sole purpose of ripping it up and throwing it out after 5 seconds. I mean, I love how presents look all pretty and wrapped up, but there are more creative, and sustainable ways, to make presents look beautiful.

One way is to use reusable gift wrapping. I found these stretchy fabric bags that can fit around different size boxes and can be used over and over. If you’re not into reusable gift wrapping you can always skip the wrapping paper and reuse gift bags. I know in my family we never have to buy new ones because my mom has a whole closet full of saved gift bags that we just use year after year.

Get creative with brown paper bags. I love using brown paper bags from the grocery store (when I forget my reusable grocery bags of course!) and cutting them up to use as wrapping paper. They are a blank canvas for making fun art that makes each gift unique. Using paint, crayons, stamps, and stickers is a great way to decorate them for any season or holiday, and it’s free! One year my mom used brown paper to wrap all our presents and used Christmas-ey stamps and twine to make them look beautiful! It was an art project in itself, and made wrapping more enjoyable.

Action Step: Here’s something I want you to try…

Tomorrow from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep, notice how much you throw away, or how much unnecessary paper and plastic are a part of your everyday life. Paper towels, ziplock bags, the plastic wrap on food containers, junk mail, makeup remover pads, produce bags, receipts,  all of it. Just by becoming aware of how much unnecessary waste you accumulate in one day can be a big motivator in making tiny changes.

And if you’re really interested in learning about more ways you can live a zero waste life (or close to it) is to check out the book, aptly named Zero Waste Home.

I am an affiliate of Amazon, which means that if you make a purchase from any of these links I may make a small commission, as no extra cost to you. This helps me maintain and run this website and keep putting out good content for you all to enjoy. Thank you for supporting Bloom & Spark!

Skincare Series Part 3: How to Switch to Safer Skincare Products

Skincare Series Part 3: How to Switch to Safer Skincare Products

by | Sep 9, 2018 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

Welcome back for part 3 in the Skincare Series!

We spend so much time talking about what goes in our bodies, avoiding pesticides, eating clean, shopping organic, yada yada yada. So wouldn’t it make sense to also look at the skincare products that we put on our skin every single day?

In Part 1 of this series I shared what happened when I looked at the ingredients in my skincare, and how you can find out what’s in your most frequently used products too.

In Part 2 of this series I laid out the top offender ingredients you don’t want to see on your labels. I’ve found the ingredients part of this whole process to be the most overwhelming, I don’t pretend to be a scientist and know what all these long words mean, so to have a list of everything in one place made it much simpler!

Why Doesn’t “Natural” or “Nontoxic” cut it?

Federal regulations around skincare haven’t changed since the 1930’s, so terms like “natural,” “nontoxic,” “plant-based” and “free of” have no legal basis in the personal care industry. Each company can decide what those terms means to them.

The term “greenwashing” refers to marketing products making them appear healthier, cleaner, and safer than they really are. “Oh yea put a big green leaf on the label and make the box out of brown paper that looks like it’s recycled, now it looks healthy!” I know I’ve fallen for it before. Basically we have no way of knowing what each manufacturer’s version of these terms are because there’s no regulation, so they can basically say whatever thy want.

Where to start?

I love the Environmental Working Group’s website! It’s the best resource, I’ve found, to learn about safer brands. The EWG has it’s own verification system to label products as safe, so you don’t have to go doing all the research. When you see the EWG VERIFIED™ mark on personal care products, you can trust that they meet their strictest standards for your health.

In my research I found a few brands that stood out on the verified list. One is Beauty Counter (BTW, this is totally not a sponsored post, and I don’t work for them…although after learning everything I have learned about them I kinda want to work for them now haha!). First and foremost before being a company that sells beauty products they have a strong social mission.

They are a company that advocates for stricter guidelines and regulatory laws in the government to help change the beauty and personal care industry from the using types of questionable ingredients that other countries have long since banned. This company is starting to make major waves in the beauty industry by demanding more from an industry that has never been transparent when it comes to the ingredients they use. Finally, yeah their products are all verified by the EWG.

 

I also was introduced to a company called Native which makes antiperspirant. While not yet verified by the EWG (I’m sure they will be at some point), they have a great list of ingredients and are free of aluminum and parabens.

Why does that matter? Well, like everything else these days there is some controversy surrounding the link between these chemicals and breast cancer. Some say it’s linked, some say it’s not. Either way, if you had your choice if putting chemicals on your armpits or not, you would probably choose to go without chemicals, right?

Also you can order a bunch of scents in travel size so you can try them all out and see which one you like!

 

I also was able to find EWG verified products in my local Whole Foods, just look for the little symbol somewhere on the label.

 

Tips for switching to safer products

1.Don’t go throwing away all of your products at once! Finish out what you have and slowly start replacing them with brands that use safer ingredients. I’m going one product at a time, as I run out of something I am replacing it from a brand I have researched and trust.

2. Do some research, but don’t drive yourself crazy. This is all in the name of better health right? To start finding brands and products that meet  high standards head to the EWG VERIFIED list. Let the experts do the heavy lifting.

3. Be realistic, and remember it’s ok to make exceptions for things you love. It’s ok if you don’t have 100% of your products on the safe and verified list right away, or ever. I personally have a Bobbi Brown lipstick that I (and every other woman in my family) have been using for years, and I’m probably not giving it up.

 

Let me know in the comments how you plan on switching to safer products. I would love to hear from you, and I will keep sharing my journey as I make the switch over on my Instagram! And share this with a girlfriend if you want to help spread the word about safer products. Pin the image below!

                                              

 

*Note: this was NOT a paid or sponsored post. I don’t get paid by any of these companies to share this here, I purely was doing this for myself, and to help educate others which is what this blog is all about! I’m sharing these particular companies here because they are just what I’ve started using, but you should find which brands work for you. 

Skincare Series Part 2: Ingredients You NEVER Want in Your Skincare Products

Skincare Series Part 2: Ingredients You NEVER Want in Your Skincare Products

by | Aug 22, 2018 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

As I said in part 1 of this skincare series, I’ve been really interested in cleaning up my personal products, taking out any harmful skincare ingredients, and replacing them with ones that are safer for me and the environment. When starting to research products and ingredients I came upon a startling fact…

While the European Union has banned 1,328 harmful chemicals and ingredients, the United States has only banned 30.

omg say WHAT?!?!?!?!

That means there are thousands of chemicals Americans use and eat every day, that in other parts of the world are not deemed safe for humans. We’re talking pesticides, food additives, dyes, preservatives, chemicals in personal products like cosmetics, toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo. That’s freakin’ messed up and I’m really not cool with it!

Are you as baffled as I am? This is one of the most shocking and upsetting statistics I have heard in years. It makes me think “WTF is wrong with us? Why are are so backwards on this?”

Here’s why. In short, most countries take the stance that if there is credible evidence of danger to human or environmental health, preventative action is taken by banning the product, whether or not the science has yet to prove it’s unsafe.

The US, on the other hand sees it as an “innocent until proven guilty” type of deal. Meaning if there is concern over a product, it will not be banned until certain and conclusive studies have  been conducted, proving a high level of harm.

You can see my article in part 1 of this series, when I took a startling look at the ingredients in some of my daily skincare products. I highly encourage you to check out the Environmental Working Group’s website to look at the safety of ingredients in your products. 

But for now this is what I want you to be aware of. Please, ladies look at your labels!

HARMFUL INGREDIENTS YOU SHOULD AVOID

Benzalkonium Chloride
A disinfectant used as a preservative and surfactant associated with severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and allergies. Found in: sunscreens, moisturizers.
Butylatedhydroxy Anisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Synthetic antioxidants used to extend shelf life. They are likely carcinogens and hormone disruptors and may cause liver damage. Found in: lipsticks, moisturizers, diaper creams, and other cosmetics.
Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients
A byproduct of coal processing that is a known carcinogen. It is used as a colorant and an anti-dandruff agent. Found in: hair dye, shampoo.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
A chelating (binding) agent added to cosmetics to improve stability. May be toxic to organs. Found in: hair color, moisturizers.
Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)
Surfactants and pH adjuster linked to allergies, skin toxicity, hormone disruption, and inhibited fetal brain development. Found in: hair dyes, mascara, foundation, fragrances, sunscreens, dry cleaning solvents, paint, pharmaceuticals.
Formaldehyde
Used as a preservative in cosmetics. A known carcinogen that is also linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. Present where quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol), and several other preservatives are listed. Found in: shampoo, body wash, bubble bath.
Hydroquinone
A skin-lightening chemical that inhibits the production of melanin and is linked to cancer, organ toxicity, and skin irritation. Found in: skin-lightening creams.
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone
Chemical preservatives that are among the most common irritants, sensitizers, and causes of contact skin allergies. Found in: shampoo, conditioner, body wash.
Oxybenzone
Sunscreen agent and ultraviolet light absorber linked to irritation, sensitization and allergies, and possible hormone disruption. Found in: sunscreen, moisturizer.
Parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl- and others)
A class of preservatives commonly used to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Parabens are endocrine (or hormone) disruptors, which may alter important hormone mechanisms in our bodies. Found in: shampoo, face cleanser, body wash, body lotion, foundation.
Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP and others)
A class of plasticizing chemicals used to make products more pliable or to make fragrances stick to skin. Phthalates disrupt the endocrine system and may cause birth defects. Found in: synthetic fragrance, nail polish, hairspray, and plastic materials.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)
PEGs are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. Depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, which are both carcinogens. Found in: creams, sunscreen, shampoo.
Retinyl palmitate and Retinol (Vitamin A)
A nutrient that may damage DNA and speed the growth of skin tumors when used topically. Found in: moisturizer, anti-aging skincare.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES)
SLS and SLES are surfactants that can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. SLES is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethoxylation, which is used to process other chemicals in order to make them less harsh. Found in: shampoo, body wash, bubble bath.
Synthetic flavor or fragrance
An engineered scent or flavoring agent that may contain any combination of 3,000-plus stock chemical ingredients, including hormone disruptors and allergens. Fragrance formulas are protected under federal law’s classification of trade secrets and therefore can remain undisclosed. Found in: all types of cosmetics.
Toluene
A volatile petrochemical solvent that is toxic to the immune system and can cause birth defects. Found in: nail polish.
Triclosan and Triclocarban
Antimicrobial pesticides toxic to the aquatic environment; may also impact human reproductive systems. Found in: liquid soap, soap bars, toothpaste.
*this list is actually known as The Never List, put out by Beauty Counter. I found it the most comprehensive, yet simple to understand list out there*
If you find this disturbing, the best things you can do are to look at the ingredients in the products you use every day, share this with a girlfriend (’cause we look out for each other), and start looking for products with safer ingredients. I’ll show you how to do that in part 3 of this blog series! 

Skincare Series Part 1: What Happened When I Researched the Ingredients in my Skincare Products

Skincare Series Part 1: What Happened When I Researched the Ingredients in my Skincare Products

by | Aug 20, 2018 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

So for a long time I have kept telling myself that the next time I need a new cleanser, moisturizer, shampoo, etc. I’m going to really do my research and find products with safer skincare ingredients for both my body, and the environment. I’ve heard about how lots of skincare ingredients in our everyday products are pretty harmful, and considering how many products we all use, it was important to me that I start cleaning it up. 

Well, ingredients lists are confusing to say the least. I don’t recognize, nor can I pronounce, any of the terms, and I didn’t know where I could turn to get some answers. I finally came upon the Environmental Working Group website, which has been a really helpful resource, and I encourage all of you to go check it out. 

It allows you to research not only ingredients, but you can also search for the products youse to find if they are deemed safe. They also have a special mark they put on products that are verified by the EWG which recognizes products that meet EWG’s strictest standards for your health. SO you know which products don’t contain chemicals of concern. I found this especially helpful, and now am striving to only buy products that are EWG verified. Here’s what the mark looks like: 

I like to keep my standards high, and this seems like it will help me, without hours of frustrating google searches. 

So with this new information right at my fingertips, I decided to check on three of the products I use on a daily basis (I use more than 3, but to avoid an extremely long post, I kept it to 3 so you could see how it works).

Product #1: Dove go fresh deodorant (cool essentials scent)

This one came back with 12 ingredients of concern (yikes!). The highest concerns include contamination concerns, irritation, persistence, and bioaccumulation. 

Score: 4/10 (moderate hazard) *just for reference the higher the number, the higher the hazard*

Top 4 Suspect Ingredients

  • Fragrance– skin irritation, organ system toxicity, ecotoxicology
  • BHT– Cancer (WTFFFFFF), organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption, developmental/reproductive toxicity. 
  • Cyclopentasiloxane– organ system toxicity, neurotoxicity, cancer, endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology. 
  • Steareth-100- organ system toxicity, ecotoxicology. 

Product #2: Obaji Medical Gentle Rejuvenation Soothing Cleanser

This one came back with 4 ingredients of high concern, and 7 ingredients of moderate concern. The highest concerns are Endocrine disruption, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Miscellaneous, Occupational hazards, Persistence and bioaccumulation

Score- 6/10 (on the high end of “moderate” hazard”) 

Top 4 Suspect Ingredients: 

  • Fragrance-allergies/immunotoxicity, irritation, organ system toxicity, ecotoxicology.
  • Isobutylparaben– use restrictions, allergies/immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, developmental/reproductive toxicity, biochemical or cellular level changes.
  • Bropylbaraben– use restrictions, allergies/immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, developmental/reproductive toxicity, ecotoxicology
  • Butylparaben– use restrictions, allergies/immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, developmental/reproductive toxicity, ecotoxicology

Product #3: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer Sunscreen SPF 30

This one actually game back pretty good with a low overall concern (7 ingredients of moderate hazard,and 10 ingredients of low hazard)

Score: 2/10 (low hazard) woop woop!

Top 5 Suspect ingredients:

  • Thiethanolamine-use restrictions, allergies/immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), contamination concerns
  • Homosalate-use restrictions, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), endocrine disruption, ecotoxicology, contamination concerns
  • Octisalate– use restrictions, allergies/immunotoxicity, ecotoxicology
  • Phenoxythanol– Irritation, use restrictions, organ system toxicity, allergies/immunotoxicity

So, luckily nothing came back in the severe hazard range, the the Obagi facial cleanser was just one point away from it, which is upsetting because I got it from my aesthetician at a medical spa and paid a pretty penny for it. I expected it to be the best one, alas, it wasn’t. Either way it’s a eye opening experience to see the chemicals that I am putting on my body every day. 

In the next post in this series I’ll share about the ingredients you DEFINITELY don’t want in your products and how to start finding safer products.

Until next time!

 

skincare-1
skincare</>
skincare-2

5 Must Haves For Your Meditation Space

5 Must Haves For Your Meditation Space

by | Dec 31, 2017 | Mindful Home, Self Care

So this year maybe you’ve thought about establishing a meditation practice. You know the benefits, you have all the apps, perhaps you’ve even tried it a few times. But for some reason it just isn’t sticking. Do you find this true for you? It certainly was (and sometimes still is) true for me. By creating a sacred and relaxing meditation space for yourself the habit may just take hold, as long as your desire is there; I’m not going to promise that your practice will immediately take off- you have to be committed to it. So I wanted to share with you my 5 must haves for your meditation space. I like to break it down by the five senses.

Sight– You’ll want to incorporate images or objects that bring you into a high state of joy, focus, and love. This can be anything you want such as personal items like pictures and heirlooms, or spiritual items such as crystals, statues, and mala beads. Create a space that invites you to spend time there, and bring your personality to it. If you prefer a minimalistic style then keep it simple, if you like lots of color then decorate to your hearts content, and if plants make your heart sing then get some green in there!

 

Smell- It is said that the sense of smell evokes the strongest emotional and memory reactions in the brain. I find that using the same smells consistently in your meditation or yoga practice over time will have the power to bring you back to a state of peace by just smelling it. You can use essential oils, candles, incense, or burn sacred cleansing items such as sage or palo santo wood.

Taste– While it’s not necessary to incorporate taste in your meditation practice, I feel that engaging in all 5 senses creates a full body experience and brings you fully into the now. Get creative with this one. I usually have tea with me (because I always have tea with me) but if dark chocolate, peppermint, or a certain type of fruit brings you happiness then go for it. The use of food in mindful meditation is also a great way for non-meditators to get into the habit. You can do this by picking a food and spending a significant amount of time looking at it, touching it, smelling it, and tasting it. Fully being in the moment. We can use food as a tool to bring us in the present, but sadly most of the time we are devouring our food in a rush or while doing something else. I was lead through a mindful meditation one time with a slice of orange and it was unforgettable.

 

Feel– Giving your hands something to do is a great way to stay with your meditation. Holding onto something that has spiritual or energetic significance to you will help you stay in the vibration of your higher self. Holding a crystal in your hands or at your heart’s center is a powerful energetic tool for elevating your meditation. Mala beads are useful when chanting certain mantras and can help you from drifting off into thoughts of the past or future. You also want a comfortable cushion to sit on; if you are uncomfortable you are less likely to tune in to your practice. Overall, let the space be a refuse for your tactile sense, incorporate whatever feels good. If you like velvet find a velvet cushion to sit on, or if you love cashmere wrap a shawl or scarf around your shoulders.

Hear– Whether it’s a sound that you produce yourself or one that you listen to, not only is the auditory component of sound a great way to stay engaged in your meditation, but most importantly the vibratory component to sound will affect you on a cellular level. I always loved chanting in my yoga classes in preparation for meditation because I can physically feel the vibration in my chest and moving it’s way through my body. It’s more than just sound. When our cells are vibrating at a higher level we can significantly deepen our experience in meditation. I also love, Tibetan singing bowls or guided meditations because they occupy my mind, when it might other wise drift off into meaningless or worrisome thoughts.

 

 

Whatever you incorporate to your space let it be a reflection of you, and the things you love.  There really are no rules, and it doesn’t have to be big either. There are loads of ways to create a space with limited room. Get creative and share in the comments what you have in your sacred space? I would love to hear what some of your favorite items are!!!

xo,

 

 

 

 

PS. If you like this PIN It and share it with others. Feel free to pin the image below.

5 Must Haves For Your Meditation Space

Block Island Organics Skincare Review

by | Jul 9, 2017 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

As a kid my family would take a vacation every summer to Block Island, a small pristine island off the coast of Rhode Island. I still go there every summer, and next summer my fiancé and I will be married there! It is one of the most special places on earth; I call it my happy place. There’s just something magical about it that I can’t put into words, but if you have ever been there you know what I mean.

So when I came across Block Island Organics I couldn’t contain my excitement!! Er-meh-gerd!!!  I know a lot of my friends and readers are conscious about what they put in their bodies and on their skin, and I’m always looking for a great organic skincare line that is safe and not in the three figures.

I’ve had the opportunity to test out their Revitalizing Night Cream for a few months now, and since it’s summer, (and I will be vacationing on Block Island next month) I can’t wait to try out their Mineral Sunscreen.

So heres what ya need to know:

  • Block Island Organics is a family business, created by brother and sister Will and Lauren von Bernuth, along with Will’s wife Kelly.
  • They are all about helping educate people on healthy sun protection and safe skincare.
  • They use NO parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dyes, artificial fragrances or gluten.
  • Products are vegan, cruelty free, and never tested on animals.
  • They use organic ingredients such as rosehip, chamomile, sunflower, avocado, and olive.

Ingredients

I believe that ingredients matter a lot when it comes to skincare and so does Block Island Organics. I love that they give full disclosure of the ingredients and their reasons for choosing them. Right on their website they have a list of every single ingredient in the products and what it is used for. For all my educated consumers out there like me who stand in the grocery store googling every ingredient before purchasing something- they’ve got you covered!

I love that there are no fragrances too, because they can sometimes irritate my sensitive skin. I find that the night cream is super moisturizing without feeling heavy and thick. Plus every time I use it I think of my favorite vacation spot!

I share this product as someone who genuinely likes and uses it. I was not paid to write this review. Hopefully you will get a chance to try out these cruelty free and vegan products if that’s your thing. Happy summer!

XO

PS.. Because I freaking love all of you so much I wanted to share my discount code if you want to snag yourself some of these kickass products. Use the code “caroline” at checkout to get 20% OFF!