I Have Such Ennui....

I've been up since 4:30 a.m. and my day went downhill from there (unplowed driveway, snowy roads, shitty job, not enough money, not enough time, too much time, too many car problems, too long day, still unplowed driveway).

J and I were getting on each other's nerves when we finally got home from our myriad stops and I decided it'd be best if we retreated to our separate corners: J to his computer, me to the shower to scrub, scrub, scrub my malaise away. I followed my new Ahava scrub with some hydrating shower creme, then some lemony and hydrating moisturizer. Finally, I layered on the Lush Mask of Magnaminty.

I feel better now. Not awesome, but better. Yay!

LUSH Helps Protect Orangutans. You Can, Too!

Maybe you think I'm fussy because I don't want mass market cosmetics, because my preferred purveyor of all things soapy is LUSH. There is good reason for my insistence. For instance, LUSH is in the process of eliminating all palm oil from all of its products because the environmental and social impact of using it is enormous!

During a recent trip to Indonesia to explore the palm oil industry, we witnessed firsthand the grave impact it has on Asian rainforests, wildlife and indigenous people - massive deforestation, Indigenous peoples being forced from their homes and the orangutans being pushed to the brink of extinction.

As our beliefs are at the heart of everything we do, we knew that we had to take action immediately and minimize our use of palm oil, (and hopefully save some rainforests along the way). The cosmetics industry uses approximately 6-7% of the world’s palm oil, and it’s a main ingredient in many soaps. Upon our return from Indonesia we rushed back to the LUSH labs and for almost a year worked in partnership with a leading UK soap-base manufacturer, Kay’s, to develop the world’s first commercially available palm-free soap base. Cracking this formula wasn’t easy, but after a lot of sweat we’ve finally got it right.

LUSH North America has now switched all of its soap production to this new palm-free base, and we are also using palm-free glycerin. Our end goal is to remove palm oil from all of our products, and we are currently investigating our surfactants which might be palm oil derived. Here at LUSH we understand that if the rainforests have any chance of surviving, retailers are going to have stop putting palm oil into their products.

As long as companies continue using palm oil, the Indonesian and Malaysian governments will allow the clearing and burning of rainforests to develop new plantations. Oil palm trees are so lucrative that governments and businesses only see dollar signs.

It seems to us that the only way to really tackle this problem is if palm oil becomes less popular. Because so many people want to use palm oil, it simply cannot be produced in a truly sustainable manner. Lush is hoping other business will move away from palm oil, which is why we are willing to share our expertise with anyone that wants to take similar steps. We are proud of our new formula for our palm-free soap base, which is why we want to share it with other soap manufactures. more...

See. I'm not fussy. I'm socially responsible. Do some research; maybe (hopefully) you'll want to make a similar stand with your money.

image via LUSH

Green is Good for My Body, Good for the Planet

This past year, J and I have seriously overhauled the way we consume groceries, produce, meat, household items, gifts, personal care items and more.

Previously, I blogged about my switch from mass market antiperspirant to Crystal Body Deodorant. I have been using it for months and not only do I still use it, I want everyone else to use it. I even started a dialog with local humorist Tim Mollen who wrote about his pits and his concerns regarding toxic antiperspirant in his weekly newspaper column. I told him about my love of the rock and love of not being poisoned; we became "sweat buddies" with an unusual commonality.

I also blogged about my switch from traditional lady part products that add waste to the landfills to the Diva Cup. I made that switch in July and, after a couple awkward months of adjustment, I now am happily using and reusing my Diva Cup and feeling good about eliminating some trash.

Recently, I have discovered LUSH Cosmetics, a company that makes handmade, 100% vegetarian cosmetics with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. 75% of their products are vegan, they are all nearly preservative-free. PLUS Lush buys ingredients only from companies that do not commission tests on animals.

I am currently using Coalface Cleanser with ingredients including licorice, charcoal and sandalwood oil. Since it is a bar soap, the only waste is the small plastic bag in which it shipped (70% of their products are available "naked"). The scent was a bit strange to adjust to. Its very licorice-y and woodsy but now that I have grown accustomed to the smell, I find myself craving black licorice which I have previously disliked. The soap really does great exfoliating work because of the powdered charcoal, also a great detoxifier.

I have already noticed a great improvement over my previous chemical-laden, contained in several ounces of non-recyclable plastic facial cleanser. I have no more mini-breakouts along my hair line and the mini-breakouts along my jaw line are almost all gone, too!

Lush says the following about Coalface:

Removes impurities and tones combination skin

Who would have thought charcoal and liquorice could get along? One is tough and gritty, the other sweet and syrupy. But charcoal and liquorice could just be the odd couple of skin care, teaming up to fight oily, troubled skin in our Coalface cleanser. Powdered charcoal removes impurities and mildly exfoliates while liquorice heals naturally. Sandalwood oil tones the skin (and mediates should charcoal and liquorice disagree about anything).

I bet you're wondering what I use to follow such a great first act! I'm glad you're curious. I'm using Tea Tree Water toner, which I also love. I do a few quick spritzes after my licorice wash and I am ready to go. My skin feels so smooth and I love the tingly feeling I have from the tea tree oil.

LUSH describes Tea Tree Water as such:

Tea tree and grapefruit detoxifying facial spritzer A spritz of Tea Tree Water here, a spritz there and all your worries soon vanish along with inflamed pores and pesky blemishes. We combine tea tree with grapefruit water and juniper berry to make this calming elixir. Use it daily or as a pick-me-up in any dry environment. Our special mixture tightens pores and lifts away dirt and oil so your skin can breathe. What more could you ask for?

Oh, and remember I mentioned that all LUSH Cosmetics are handmade? Well, check out who made my Tea Tree Water toner. Its NIC! I've got his picture and everything.

I dig it!

Future greening of this bod: solid shampoo. NO BOTTLES!

To be continued....