The Simple Life
I don’t know if it’s the economy, the downsizing trend or just my obsessive compulsive personality, but lately we’ve been more into living with less than ever before.
From paring down our closets and cabinets for a soul-cleansing Goodwill run, to sorting our files and folders in an attempt to whittle down our paperwork, we’ve officially been bitten by the “it’s-a-new-year-so-lets-organize-the-whole-house-for-real-this-time” bug. But not only do we find ourselves striving for a clean house with everything in its place. Lately I’ve actually been craving less. Less to buy. Less to clean. Less to store. Less to use.
For example, here’s what we now see when we step into the shower:
We recently realized we both liked the same shampoo and conditioner (Burt’s Bees) so why not stop buying our own bottles and share? Purchasing a single bottle of each breaks the constant cycle of someone needing shampoo or conditioner every time we go to Target (or worse, someone thinking they do and realizing they don’t when we get home). And using the same body wash (Jason) allows us to pick up a jumbo sized bottle every once in a blue moon which saves us money, time spent replacing smaller bottles more often, and even cuts down on packaging waste. We also share a loofa, a bar of face soap, and a pumice stone (ok, the last item’s all me) so other than the razor (also all me) there’s nothing else cluttering up our shower or frequently appearing on our shopping list. Just the small decision to share shampoo, conditioner, body wash and a bar of soap has seriously cleaned up our act in the shower. But there are a few more places that we’ve opted for less. Update: we’ve since switched over to Avalon Organics shampoo & conditioner and Dr. Bronner’s body wash (which is even more natural) and we love it!
Thanks to a lot of our eco-related changes, pairing down in a few other areas has gotten downright automatic. Relying only on Seventh Generation laundry detergent (no bleach or fabric softener) makes shopping for laundry products few and far between (and makes storing a single bottle a breeze).
And now that I only use all natural eco-friendly and organic makeup, I find that I no longer amass a pile of new products in my makeup bag that I never use. Presto- no more impulsive purple eye shadow or bubble gum pink lip gloss purchases that seemed like a good idea at the time. I’ve also permanently passed on painted fingernails (and painted toes most of the time) and must admit that I love the clean and never-chipped-and-in-need-of-a-touch-up look. Of course there are water based non-toxic formulas (like Honey Bee Gardens and Zoya) but something about completely eliminating that expense and the time it takes to maintain painted fingers & toes feels like more of a gift to myself than polished ones ever did. And I still keep ‘em clipped and buffed for a polished appearance so I hardly feel like I’m “letting myself go.” Not that John would even notice if I was (love ya for that, honey!). And in the rare event that I do paint my toes, I use one of three vegan non-toxic polishes that I own (soft pink, deep red and punchy coral are all the colors I’ll ever need). No more spending money on the trendy hues or having to store dozens of bottles.
Here’s another example of the simplicity bug. Ladies (and gents?), I give you my makeup bag:
You’ll have to excuse my $5 fake Louis purchased in Chinatown over six years ago (can you believe the zipper still works?) but the point is that all the makeup that I own lives in this little bag. It’s not a travel bag, it’s my only bag (which makes it easy to pop into the suitcase when we do hit the road) and it only holds a handful of tried and true products that get me through the day and the occasional fancy schmancy event.
Here it is all emptied out:
Organic Wear bronze and blush (in recyclable paper containers) not only add a bit of color to my too-pale face, but the bronzer also doubles as shimmering tan eye shadow when applied with the little padded brush. Then I just curl the ol’ eyelashes, slick on some mascara and polish things off with a little brow gel and I’m good to go. I’ve never been great with anything like liquid liner or fake eyelashes, so for those of you who are, maybe I don’t know what I’m missing. But either way, my simplified makeup bag facilitates super speedy makeup application, which actually results in my looking more polished than ever before, thanks to a streamlined process that actually appeals to an on-the-go girl like me.
In short, I’ve never felt like less of a slave to beauty products. Or hair products and perfume for that matter. I’ve always been a wash and wear girl, so hairspray and pomade have never been my thing, but I’ve recently made the decision to forsake perfume as well (after years of somewhat religious use). All those chemical fragrances can be irritating and can actually contribute considerably to indoor air pollution, and I actually love the smell of my organic soaps and lotions so I hardly miss the alcohol-riddled scent of perfume hanging in the air before I leave the house. And now there are entire sections of magazines about makeup, perfume and polish that I can gloss over entirely. I can’t tell you how nice it is to not always want everything I read about.
By choosing to covet less (and only buy organic and all natural) it cuts way down on the products that can jump into my cart on a whim. And it doesn’t feel like I’m missing out on anything at all, on the contrary, it feels like I’m gaining so much more. A healthier and more pure lifestyle, closet and cabinet space to spare, more moolah in my wallet, and extra time that I can spend doing things other than shopping and obsessing over every new product to hit the shelves.
It’s official. Life is good when it’s simple. And I’m dying to know what you guys do to make life easy and live with less. From sharing products and even making your own to forsaking certain things and purchasing specific items in bulk, we’d love to know what you guys are doing to clean out your closets (and your lives) for 2009! Dish the less is more dirt.
*Check out this great post over at decor8. There’s something in the air! Everyone’s getting back to basics.
**For an exhaustive list of our favorite certified organic/all natural/chemical-free products, check the comment section of this post for specific names of everything that we use and love.
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Comments
One thing I noticed was that you’re using body wash, bar soap and liquid soap. I see no reason to buy body wash and bar soap. I stopped buying bar soap a long time ago. It gunks up the soap dish and makes a mess. My husband and I both use California Baby Shampoo & Body wash. This product has replaced shampoo/conditioner/soap/bodywash all in one. It’s safe enough for babies. I buy it online and stock up with one purchase every six months. No more soap,shampoo, conditioner, etc. etc. etc. One bottle in our shower. That’s it. I use the same thing on the bathroom counter in a glass container to wash hands. I think if you find a good shampoo you don’t need a conditioner. Conditioner’s are needed when your shampoo strips your hair.
This is a great post! I am moving soon and it will be the perfect time to purge all of the useless stuff that’s just taking over my space as well as doing away with items that just aren’t good for me. I’m curious as to what Sherry washes her face with? You have great skin! Thanks!
Every time I visit this blog I find posts about exactly what I am doing! I started simplifying last year when I moved, because who wants to carry all those boxes up the stairs. Plus it was a great chance to get rid and start new.
I’ve also been searching for a lot of natural products lately, from cleaning products to body care, it’s easy when you start to look. I won’t throw out the old ones, but buy natural when they old ones are done.
I love to purge and fill a box for donating about once every 2 weeks. The satisfaction of letting go, cleaning out, getting rid, and simplifying is addictive and feels good! I’m glad to see so many people like me out there who are conscious about the earth, their health and environment overall. I think the rule is – if it doesn’t have a purpose, get rid of it!
Bungalow, Samantha, Live a Colorful Life – I’m with you. Leila – I do the fashion show too! Nichole – thanks for the tips on Giovanni, I have been looking at that one and am glad to know it is good.
Kristy,
Bravo for getting down to one bottle. We’ll definitely have to look into that California Baby Shampoo! As for bar soap, we don’t use it near the sink (and agree that it gets super gunked up and gross for hand washing) but I do use it in the shower (I use it to scrub my face) while the body wash is mostly John’s thing but I also occasionally use it on the ol’ bod too. And the liquid soap lives near the sink in both of our bathrooms for hand washing (we could never give up our Dr. Bronner’s but we doubt it would work as a shampoo & conditioner too- boo!). But we definitely can brainstorm about paring down even more somehow. The simpler, the better we always say. And where there’s a will there’s a way. Thanks for the inspiration!
Oh and Cari, scroll up to see a big list of my favorite products listed above (including my favorite face cream and bar soap). Thanks for the sweet skin complement!
xo,
Sherry
Sherry, Haven’t met you yet, but I love chatting w. John at the Y. I must admit, I had cut out many of those things a while back, more trying to save money than the environment… now I’m more environmentally conscious. But since I’ve had kids, I’m also more ME conscious… I love the way painted nails, purfume, and a few too many cosmetics in my bag make me feel! I’ll never give them up! Good for you for being content to manage well with less though! Kudos!
Sherry, I love the idea of paring my wardrobe down to the items you have. So you’re basically saying your cloest looks like the ones you see in magazines after a closet makeover–a few items in the closet with space between the hangers? I always thought that looked impossible…but maybe not!
Good topic! I began my live with less lifestyle when we were in Hampton, VA. Hampton is part of the Chesapeake Watershed area and I was horrified after I had done the reading on what is happening to the Bay. We completely eliminated the use of pesticides, bleach, anything with phosphates, you name it. Of course, we lived down the street from a guy with a giant SUV with a “Save the Bay” sticker on his truck–he had a Chem Lawn guy come once a month to keep his yard perfect for the sake of saving the bay, I guess.
I love your simplified routine but you are so pretty you don’t need much makeup! I need more work, I’m afraid – but I am always decluttering. At the minute I am trying to use up all the half-started bottles of lotion etc before buying any more.
Perfect post, something I have been striving after for a while now. Granted I still have a lot of room for improvement, but we all need to start somewhere. Kudos!
Hi there. Was just sent here by a friend who is suddenly inspired to clean out her closets because of you! So, I read your post and wow, you are doing so well working with the environment, instead of against it. I do my best with recycling and such, but I’ll never get to the level you’re at!
I use physician’s formula organic wear makeup too! Yay for eco-friendly makeup :D You should check out my blog, i just started it a couple months ago, but it’s worth your time :) Thanks!
-Sophie
I love the California Baby line of products…they are chemical-free and have a light smell–which is great if you are smell sensitive like I am. Sherry–how do you keep your clothes from getting all static-y in the dryer? I use the Seventh Generation laundry detergent and a fabric softener from Whole Foods–but I can’t kick the softener habit until I can learn how to de-static my clothes.
Hey Andrea,
Hmmm, good question. We actually haven’t had an issue with static on our clothes – maybe its our new front loaders that do so much drying in the washer that we only need to dry for 30 mins? Perhaps someone else could offer a solution to preventing static without frabric softner. If not, sounds like your Seventh Generation and Whole Foods products are a good way to go!
Great post! I am inspired by your paring down. I feel that I’m pretty good about clutter around the house and getting rid of things I don’t need. But, I’m a sucker for beauty products! I don’t know what it is. We have two different kinds of shampoo for me, one conditioner (me), his two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, one body wash, one specialty body scrub (me), facial scrub (me), razor (me) – this could use some work!
Hi Sherry!
Darn. Wish they had a better way of mixing!
I’m actually looking for a more yellow green, so I might just bite the bullet and buy a gallon of green and a gallon of yellow and mix ‘em myself. We’ll see!
Thanks for the info. :) I’m going to try the new mascara when I’m out of the L’Oreal. Why not?!
Thanks,
Susan
Hey Susan,
Definitely keep us posted if you end up mixing your own custom green paint color! It actually sounds like a fun little afternoon project to me (although I’ll admit I’m paint crazy). I love that in doing it yourself you can just keep adding or subtracting ’til you get the perfect color. Whee!
xo,
Sherry
Hello,
I just stumbled across your site today and I really love it!
I also absolutely adore your soap dispenser beside your makeup bag. I have been looking for something like that for awhile but cant find anything close here in Missouri. I have recently started making my own bar soap. Which I then use to make my own laundry soap, body wash, tooth paste, dish soap and anything else i can think of (except shampoo, i use the burts bees too :) ). I just wanted to ask if you remember where u got your dispenser? Thanks for all the good information!
Niki
Hey Niki,
It’s actually from Target and they should still have ‘em (it was a pretty recent purchase) so check out their bathroom section. Best of all it’s made of recycled glass and only $9 or so, good for the wallet and the conscience.
xo,
Sherry
Hey Jessie,
The 84 inch fabric liner is from Bed Bath & Beyond (I don’t see it on their site but I found it in the store). It doesn’t need to be as long as the 95″ white waffle curtain (since that hangs outside of the tub and the liner only has to hit the top of the inside of the tub). The 95 inch waffle curtain is from Amazon (I don’t have the exact link, but try searching “extra long shower curtain” or “95″ waffle shower curtain” until something pops up). Happy hunting!
xo,
Sherry
Hi Sherry & John,
I’m loving your liquid soap dispenser on the sink pictures in the photos above. Where might I find one??
Jennifer
PS – By the way, I also use Dr. Bronner’s liquid Castile soap in almond (LOVE IT) but I fill a foamer pump with 1 part soap and 5 parts filtered water. It makes a quick foam, and makes the soap go a long way! (Still want YOUR dispenser though!!)
Hey Jennifer,
It’s actually a recycled glass soap pump from Target! How perfect for Dr. Bronners, eh? Here’s the link all about it:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/01/steal-of-the-week-pump-it-up/
xoxo,
Sherry
Here’s a great website offering the real skinny on cosmetics and how the ingredients affect your skin and the claims cosmetics companies make about their products. I’ve been reading and following her advice for over 10 years now and have found my skin to be so much healthier because of it. It’s very knowledgeable and insightful…. http://www.cosmeticscop.com
Ok -
So I’ve just recently been introduced to your blog about a month ago to be exact and you two are brilliant. Since I’ve read just about every post I figured it was time to dig in to the How-To section which I’m BLOWN away by! Did I mention I was BLOWN AWAY?! I love this post because I think everyone has the idea to want things simple but they find it hard because of all the glitz and glam of the media and the temptation to buy. Now has never been a better time to simplify what you have. I do have to ask….How in the world do you keep your tile backsplash to clean? I’ve bought every cleaning product know to man and I can’t seem to get my tile to clean up right … What do you use?
Hey Lindz,
Thanks for the kind words! We wish we had a big secret for keeping tile clean but we actually just use eco-cleaning products (we love Ecover and Seventh Generation) to scrub down almost every surface imaginable. A lot of them are all-purpose formulas so a good once over every week or so really keeps things looking so fresh and so clean. Hope it helps!
xo,
Sherry
When I click on the link to your list of favorite organic products, I’m directed to another section on your blog, but not to the list.. Is it located somewhere else? Love your blog, btw. You have inspired me in so many ways!
Hey Tara,
Here’s our attempt at an exhaustive list of our favorite certified organic/all natural/chemical-free products. We’ve experimented with our fair share, so here are our tried & true favorites:
Shampoo: Avalon Organics Peppermint Shampoo (from Target, CVS, Kroger, Whole Foods)
Conditioner: Avalon Organics Peppermint Conditioner (from Target, CVS, Kroger, Whole Foods)
Body Wash: Dr. Bronner’s Magic Shakakai Soap (from Target, Kroger, Whole Foods)
Bar Soap: Dr. Bronner’s All One Bar Soap (from Target, Kroger, Whole Foods)
Liquid Soap: Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap in Almond (from Target, CVS, Kroger, Whole Foods)
Bronzer: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Bronzer (the case doesn’t say the color but I get the darkest kind for some extra color since it’s pretty light when it goes on) (Target, CVS)
Blush: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Blush (the case doesn’t say the color but I get the darkest kind for some extra color since it’s also pretty light when it goes on) (Target, CVS)
Mascara: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Mascara in black (Target, CVS, perhaps Whole Foods- this is very new so it might be on the way in your area)
Sunscreen: Bullfrog Sunscreen SPF 30 (Target, CVS)
Body Lotion: Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Organic Lotion (Target, Whole Foods)
Nightly Face Cream (for me, J’s not a face cream kind of guy): Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Facial Cream- love this stuff (Target, Whole Foods)
Shower Cleaner: Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Shower Cleaner in Lemon Verbena (Target, Kroger, Ukrops)
Dish Detergent: Next Generation Free & Clear Natural Automatic Dishwasher Powder- we found this worked better than their liquid formulas (Kroger, Whole Foods)
Laundry Detergent: Next Generation Free & Clear Natural Laundry Detergent made for high efficiency washers like ours (Kroger, Whole Foods)
All Purpose Cleaner (for counters, floors, etc): Mrs. Meyers Clean Day in Lemon Verbena (Target, Kroger, Ukrops)
Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Have you ever tried making your own dishwasher or laundry detergent? There are several recipes online, just wondered if you had any experience with it? I’m doing my first batch this week when our store-bought runs out.
Hey Kevin,
That’s definitely on our to-do list and we’d love to know what works for you (maybe we’ll copy your formula!) so definitely let us know how it goes!
xo,
s
I’m so excited about this post! We made our “switch” this last weekend. However, I have a HUGE question for you. And there’s no “simple” way to ask, so I’m just gonna go for it. What kind of deodorant do you two use? I talked my Mr. into making the switch with me (we were using the kinds with 20% aluminum!) and… um…. it’s not doing so “hot”. We are definitely returning them (Sprouts fully encouraged it… so whatever, right!?) and we are *this* close to giving up in that area. So if you can, HELP! ((Especially you, John! Please save my nose! haha I’m so in the dog house for this!)) Although I could use some help in the girl’s area as well, I’m just not as desperate. =)
After trying a few brands John and I prefer Tom’s Of Maine. It still takes a bit of getting used to but if it holds up to hot humid Virginia summers, there’s hope for you! We would recommend sticking with it for a week or two and your body will slowly adjust and it will work better with time. Good luck!
xo,
s
OH ok. We’ll have to try that brand. Everyone at Sprout’s recommended the ones that we bought, but i just hate stinking! It would make sense, though, if our bodies have to “adjust” since it’s so used to the alluminum crap. Thanks for the tip! AZ is gross right now (120*F of gross…) so maybe I’m trying to do the switch at the wrong time of year! lol
J&S, this list was passed on to me by a friend. Just thought you might like to know, since a few of the products yyou use are on the list.. Me too.. Gotta find some new REAL organic products for body care. =(
FAKE ORGANICS: These companies use synthetics and sometimes very little organics in their finished product. The ingredient names follwoing the brand name are examples of the exact toxic ingredients these companies use, that landed them on my No No list and the USDA Organic regulations do not condone use of. You won’t see the USDA Organic logo on any of these brands, yet, they still try to trick the uneducated public into believing they are an “organic” product by calling their brand name ” ____ organic”.
Alba Botanica – Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.
Avalon Organics – Cocamidopropyl betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium oleamido succinate, Sodium PCA, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, etc.
Babywise Organics – Octyl Palmitate (I’m finding this to be another name for Dimethicone..correct me if I’m wrong), Retinyl Palmitate , Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Dimethicone, Cocamidopropyl Betaine , Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, etc.
Derma E Organic Expressions – PEG-7, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Dimethicone, Peg-175, PEG-200, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, etc.
Giovanni Organics – PVP (which is vinyl), PEG-40, Polysorbate 60, Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Octylmethoxycinnamate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, PEG-8, etc,
Head Organics – PEG-7, PVP (which is vinyl), Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, etc.
Jason pure natural organic – Cocamide MEA, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone,
Juice Beauty – Retinyl palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl (octyl) palmitate, Cocamidopropyl betaine. Only 4 of over 30 products actually carry the USDA Organic logo, all other 30+ products do not. To me having only 4 certified products, does not make you an organic company.
Kiss My Face Organics – Phenoxyethanol (funny their adverts claim they are “Obsesivly Organic”. HA! Really?)
Lotus Touch organic & natural – PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Bisabolol,
Mill Creek Organics a.k.a. Amazon Organics – Cocamidopropyl betaine, Octyl dimethyl PABA, Acrylates copolymer,
Natures Gate Organics – Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-120, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Oxybenzone, PEG-100, Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, PVP, Dimethiconol,
Organix – Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Dimethicone, (Behentrimonium 2 of 4 are toxic, they don’t notate which of the 4 types they are using..so this one is iffy), Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone, etc.
Organix South Inc, a.k.a. Thera Neem – Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lauramide DEA, PEG-7, PEG-40,
Pharmacopia Organic – Phenoxyethanol; Chlorphenesin, Cocamidopropyl betaine
AND
FAKE NATURALS: These companies claim they are natural, safe, part of wellness, or pure; but use toxic synthetics in their products. The words Natural, Pure, & Safe have no regulations guiding their use. Any company can make these claims regardless to if the claim is true or not.
365 by Whole Foods (so confusing to me at to why their body care products contain junk ingredients).
Alba – Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Octinoxate , Oxybenzone, Peg-100, Sodium PCA, etc.
Arbonne – Cocamidopropyl Betaine Coconut , PEG-80, Peg-120, Retinyl Palmitate, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol , Hexylene Glycol , etc. (their baby line is horribly toxic).
Arm & Hammer Essentials Deodorant- propylene glycol, tricolsan, (they test on animals, this alone is enough to boycott them)
Aveeno – Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Distearyldimonium Chloride, PEG-80, Trisodium EDTA, PEG-150, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
The Body Shop – PEG-100, Parabens (1 product alone had 5 different types of parabens), EDTA, Yellow #5, Red #4, PEG-8, Cocamide DEA, Dimethicone, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-18, PVP
Derma E – Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethyl MEA , PEG-100, Cocamide DEA
Earth Science – Phenoxyethanol, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, benzophenone-3
Healthy Times baby line – Parabens
Huggies/Pamper naturals. “Yeah, right.” yes that was sarcasim
Jackson Reece Herbal baby wipes – cocamidoproyl betaine, phenoxyethanol
Kiss my Face – Trisodium EDTA, Retinyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Propylene glycol, Triethanolamine.
Korres Natural Products – Propylparaben, Methylparaben, PEG- 8, Aluminium Oxide, PEG-100, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, PEG-60, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol (one product had 5 parabens & pheno. That’s just ludacris)
Lush – Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, (this company is at least 1/2 honest…when listing their ingredients, they color code the natural & synthetic so it’s easy to read, but they call them “safe synthetics”, I have to disagree)
Melaleuca – Dimethicone, PEG – 100, Phenoxyethanol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Avobenzone, Ostisalate, Octinoxate, Octocyrlene, EDTA, Triethanolamine, PEG-7, PEG-60,
Method – Cocamidopropyl betaine, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Cocamide DEA, retinyl palmitate, (gets sneaky & shady by not disclosing the name of their preservatives or what type of color they use. it just says “preservative” “color”)
Mill Creek Botanicals – Disodium-EDTA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide DEA, Imidazolidinyl Urea
Nature’s Gate – Phenoxyethanol, PEG-100, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Cocamide DEA, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Octinoxate; Oxybenzone, Dimethicone
Pure and Basic – Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-90, Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben
Shaklee – Phenoxyethanol, Didodium EDTA, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Oxybenzone, PEG-10, Dimethicone, AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, PEG-12, RETINYL PALMITATE
Tom’s of Maine – SLS, Proplyene Glycol
Zia – Phenoxyethanol, Octinoxate, Oxybenzone, Octisalate,
Thanks so much for the rundown! Lately we are loving all things Dr. Bronners and making our own cleansers with vinegar and baking soda!
xo,
s
Mainly at Target (they have the chapstick, body wash, lotion, bar soap and liquid dispenser soap). Then we order their shaving cream online on sites like amazon.com. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Thanks for your list of “tried and true” favorites. I recently bought the Physician’s Formula Organic powder, bronzer, and blush and LOVE it! Next time I need mascara, I’m definitely going with this brand.
Now to my question… I noticed that you have your nightly face cream listed but do you use anything else to remove make-up and clean your face? I’m slowly trying to go to more natural products but need (?) a make-up remover / facial cleanser. Right now I use Clinique but am almost out and before I purchase more, I wanted to see if you or anyone else had any suggestions for something more natural.
Thanks!!!
Good question! I actually love to use my Dr. Bronners bar soap to gently remove my make-up and wash my face (which I also use in the shower). It’s totally organic, natural and plant based so it doesn’t get more pure than that. I get mine at Target (they have tons of kinds but I prefer the almond scented one). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Your 2 step routine to wash and moisturize your face is A LOT more simple than my current 4 step process with Clinique – thanks Sherry!
Oh by the way, if you ever want to look up your products (at least cosmetically) there is a website http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com that points out all the harming agents in your stuff. I wish I had found this out before my recent shampoo/conditioner purchase! After reading about your switching from Burts Bees to Avalon Organics, I deliberated at the store between Avalon which was 8.99 a bottle and 6.75 a bottle for the Jason brand (on sale) and choosing the Jason. After looking it up, Avalon would have been the far better choice and I’m not thrilled with the Jason results as it is. I’ll remember that after I am able to buy shampoo and conditioner again when the Jason is gone.
Hey Brianna,
Great tip! We love the Skin Deep website and suggest that everyone check out their products. Sometimes the results are downright scary. They were for us which is why we use totally different stuff now. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Is this seriously true?! “currently have…. 18 shirts/tops/blazers.” What about sweatshirts, t-shirts, cleaning clothes, etc…?! How do you keep your look fresh with less… buy pieces that you can mix and match with your jeans, pants, and skirts? You have inspired me to declutter my closet! I have a LOT of clothes that I cannot wear anymore because, unfortunately, I have gained weight. My husband urges me to keep them as “motivation” to begin working out (I eat pretty healthy most of the time!) but I figure that by the time I can fit into them again, I’d probably be tired of them anyway. :-)
Hey Laura,
It’s really true! And since writing this post I probably have fewer items of clothing because one of my favorite things to do is to ruthlessly pare down when it comes to my closet. I mainly use jewelry (a few pairs of statement earrings, some bold and fun necklaces, a few punchy and colorful bracelets) and other accessories (a few scarves, belts, and super fun shoes) to keep my pretty basic wardrobe looking interesting enough for people not to notice when I wear the same basic black top, clean-lined sweater, etc. And I only have two skirts (one black and one denim) that are also super classic that can be mixed and matched along with two pairs of jeans (one dark and long, one lighter and shorter for flats) so that makes grabbing bottoms super easy. Of course I have one pair of black pants and a few dresses for more formal occasions, but nobody needs ten pairs of black pants and khakis and twenty pairs of jeans- just pick the ones that look the absolute best on you (they’re guaranteed to make you feel your best too) and do yourself a favor and donate the rest to charity (or sell them to a secondhand store).
Oh and I’m a dictator when it comes to t-shirts, cleaning clothes, sweatshirts, etc. I have one sweatshirt. It does the job. I have two t-shirts for cleaning and bumming around. I’ve never needed more. And as for painting clothes, I have one shirt and one pair of paints which is really all you need, right?
As for your clothes that no longer fit, I definitely think you can lose 99% of them. You’re right about the fact that you’ll probably grow tired of them anyway and they just take up valuable real estate in your closet that you could be devoting to new clothes that make you look and feel awesome. Of course you can save anything that has sentimental value or that might actually be a classic that you can wear over and over again, but for the most part either donating, selling, or storing the rest of them out of your closet (perhaps in under-bed storage containers) will definitely free up some room for you to breathe. Hope it helps! Good luck!
xo,
s
Hey! Much like everyone else and their mom, I love your blog- and your style- which made me so surprised when I read about your simple closet. It makes sense!
One thing to add: I don’t like perfumes, either, so I use essential oils (which are great for many things) as my perfume. natural and great smelling. (but read up b/c when you are pregnant some scents are not recommended). Then, you can use the oils to make your own bath salts, scrubs and other products.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE DO YOU PUT THINGS, LIKE BODY LOTIONS, ANTI PERSPIRANT, PARFUMES, COMBS, HAIR BRUSHES,AND SOME OTHER UNSIGHTLY TINGS, THAT INVADE NIGTH TABLES AND ALL SURFACES IN A BEDROOM..
Hey Sara,
We actually have shelves in our bedside wardrobes that are super easy to access just like a night table while we’re in bed. We just slip our hands behind the curtain and grab things like our contact solution, phone (which we use as an alarm clock), etc. Here’s a post with a view of that shelf for ya: http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/closet-crashing-our-very-own-digs/
And here’s a post with a view of the newly renovated bathroom which shows the drawer where we keep deodorant and toothbrushes and toothpaste (while we use a basket in the open closet to store brushes and combs and hair things, etc): http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/01/tackling-the-bathroom-the-big-reveal/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
i am so glad i found this article. we are switching over to all non toxic products in our house too. two questions- do you still use toms of maine for your deoderant?
and what products are you going to use on the beanette when she arrives?
Yup, we still use Tom’s deodorant and toothpaste and like it. When the baby arrives we’ll be using California Baby products on her (a great green line that is actually carried at Target in the baby aisle). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I have been thinking about this a lot lately and feel like it is time for a change. You have inspired me to go clear out my makeup drawers.