In the world of beauty products, not all are created equal, especially in terms of safety. The Environmental Working Group is well aware of this fact and decided to lend a hand in figuring out which products are the best - and more notably, the worst - when it comes to the toxins found in them. After discovering the number of chemicals we're exposed to thanks to these products, this information seems especially important to have.

Simply visit the site and enter a product, ingredient or company name into the searchable database. If the EWG has information about it, you will be given a summary on the product or the company, including whether ingredients used pose the risk of cancer, developmental or reproductive toxicity, violations, restrictions or warnings, allergies or other concners. You can also find out if the company conducts animal testing. Finally each product contains a hazard score from zero to 10, with zero to two indicating a low hazard, three to six indicating a moderate hazard and seven to 10 meaning - well, if it scores that high, you may want to reconsider slathering it all over your body or face.

If you already use organic products, you can find out how many of them measure up and if they are actually better than the non-organic alternative. The site even contains a section on baby care, so you can check out the safety levels of the products you are using on the smallest members of your family. Think that baby shampoo or lotion you're using is toxin-free? Find out for sure, as well about the other products currently in your regimen after the jump.

» Cosmetic Database

Who would have ever thought the humble bee would serve as inspiration for one of the most widely recognized natural body care lines available today? Burt's Bees originally started out selling beeswax candles in 1984, using the by-product from beekeeper Burt Shavitz's business. The company became successful quickly, but it wasn't until 1989 that Roxanne Quimby, Burt's partner, found a nineteenth century book containing recipes for homemade personal care products, which inspired the company to branch out use beeswax to make natural soaps and perfumes, in addition to candles. Lip balm was added soon after and remains one of the company's most successful products to date.

The company prides itself on creating over 150 items that are 99 per cent natural. Every product contains a "natural bar" that indicates the percentage of natural ingredients contained in it. There are no artificial colors or preservatives found in the products; instead beta-carotene, chlorophyll are used to provide color and natural preservatives such as the ones found in sugar enzymes are used. Burt's Bees also tries to use as little in the way of fragrance components as possible, and all of the fragrances sold by the company as phthalate-free.

The packaging has been designed to reflect the company's commitment to natural products; all of the packaging is made from recycled materials that are also fully recyclable.

Finally, the company takes care to follow the natural production cycles of bees, so that the bees' environment is never harmed when the beeswax is harvested.

...read the rest...

While most people go into hibernation mode during winter, wanting nothing more than to curl up around a fire with hot coco, there are those of us who start going slightly delirious at the thought of being caged in for the next few months. However, unless you’re in the Arctic, there’s no reason why you have to induce self imprisonment during the season.  With a mix of both creative and practical thinking, you can have just as much of a ball during winter as you have during summers by bringing the outdoors in. 

And even though we’re penny pinching these days, we can still have a fabulous get together – and with the slightest bit of effort and inventive spirit, we can host a splendid evening boasts of eco-chic brilliance. When thinking of winter, my first thoughts escape straight to a “Winter Wonderland” theme and with a slight obsession for eco-friendly entertaining, I’ve been able to source some charming ideas.

One of the great things about winter is that you can get really creative and free-spirited with the décor. (During what other season would you get away with bringing trees indoors and the decking them with magpie-envying pieces?) When you think of “wonderland”, think odd, magical and strange. Think Alice in Wonderland meets the Snow Queen, where everything is just slightly off the wall, creative and wonderfully mad – with a rich frosty touch. 

Setting the Scene

Ambiance is everything. This is especially true if you’re going to host an evening of kaleidoscopic proportion.  Think white candles, silver accents, pops of color, reflective surfaces– just about anything that would catch the eye.  The great thing about the holiday season is that just about anything goes and the best way to get this is to pay attention to details. Make sure you include lots of accents and clusters of décor pieces. 

A quick inexpensive and recyclable option is to top your cake platters with old Christmas tree ornaments. This ensures that you’re using them not just around the holidays, but in a clever festive way that actually gives you the thrill of holiday decorating without sacrificing a tree for it.  You can use either tiered cupcake platters or single level ones. Standard cake platters are also great to use as a base for nesting pillars of candles among pine cones and branches from your yard.

Not forgetting our Winter Wonderland theme which embraces creativity, start by breaking convention and bringing in a tree earlier in the year – then turn it upside down.  The idea has been popular for a few years now, and it’s both gorgeous and eco-friendly since these trees are of the faux variety.

Another simple idea that heats up the evening was discovered in Sunset Magazine, which suggested that “vases of varying heights [can] contain conifer sprigs in an inch of water.” White votive candles behind each jar adds a mesmerizing glow.  This is a much more sustainable décor idea than flowers, since branches can be found in most yards and can last up to a month in an inch of fresh water. The idea makes even more sense when the taken the scarcity of naturally available flowers during the winter, and the high cost of store-bought stems.

The Feast No matter how much time and energy you’ve invested in creating a lush atmosphere, there’s one key element that always wins out – and that’s taste! Your party doesn’t have to have a five course meal but it does have to have rich savory foods perfectly paired with a winter setting.

For a beer bottle budget, try either a cheese and bread fondue party and for dessert take the evening outdoors. Set your patio or deck with a couple patio heaters about a half hour before you expect guest to step outdoors – this way by the time you enjoy the next half of your evening, you’re in a nice toasty niche. 

Next, have your guests collect twigs from around the yard and bring them back to serve as marshmallow skewers. Pair that with organic chocolate and your classic cup of hot chocolate, and you’re set for the evening. 

“Eco Winter Wonderland” is written by Shireen Qudosi and brought to you by http://www.air-n-water.com/

Images in order of appearance: The White Company, Sunset Magazine, Flickr User Lisa23366, Martha Stewart Living

» Heater Home

The average adult uses nine personal care products a day, with an average of 120 chemicals in them.  What's scary is that many of these chemicals have never been tested for toxicity!  What's scarier still is that many products labeled "botantical" or "natural" contain these chemicals too!  Yikes!

Here's 12 chemicals to look out for:

1. Antibacterials
2. Coal Tar
3. Diethanolamine (DEA)
4. 1,4-Dioxane
5. Formaldehyde
6. Fragrance
7. Lead and Mercury
8. Nanoparticles
9. Parabens
10. Petroleum Distillates
11. P-Phenylenediamine
12. Hydroquinone

But wait!  We didn't tell you the common names for these products or where they're commonly found!  Sorry, you'll have to hit the jump and read the full article for that.

» National Geographic Green Guide

No matter how good your intentions to religiously apply sunscreen, inevitably sunburns occasionally occur. Whether it's you experiencing the discomfort of the burn or someone you live with, it can be a painful experience for all those involved (especially if you're the one who has to hear all of the ensuing whining and complaining). Besides sipping ice water and staying well-hydrated, there are natural ways to soothe sunburn and make the healing (and peeling!) process a little less traumatic.

For starters, forget about store-bought aloe vera gels and lotions; get yourself a real aloe vera plant instead for the most effective relief. If it's too time consuming to use the plant for large burned areas (ie, your legs) and the gel is a simpler option, make sure it is pure aloe vera gel with as few additives as possible.

You can also try making your own soothing lotion using one chopped cucumber, a quarter-cup glycerin and a quarter-cup rosewater. Squeeze the juice from the cucumber with a lemon-squeezer and mix well with the glycerin and rosewater. Or try a relaxing bath using two to four cups of colloidal oatmeal (not regular breakfast oatmeal), a half- to full cup baking soda, one to two cups powdered chammomile flowers and (optional) one cup of buttermilk. Add these to running bath water and soak.

And don't forget to apply that sunscreen next time. If you need refresher course on how to properly do so, check out the video tutorial with instructions!

» Chiff.com

Alcohol-based toners are often too harsh for people with sensitive skin.  Why not try making this all-natural green tea toner which is bursting with antioxidants?

All you need is 1 cup of spring water, 4 teaspoons of green tea leaves and 1 teaspoon of mint leaves.  You boil the water to create an infusion with the leaves, let it stand for 10 minutes and strain the infusion into a clean bottle.  That's it!  You can apply with a cotton swab or use it as a spritz.

It's almost too simple sometimes, isn't it?

» Canadian Living