Hello Friends! Apologies for my absence from the blog world of late... I'm coming off quite a week at work (returning from last week's vacation), and still have work tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday night too.
I thought I'd share a few links and sites - some of which I've shared before (at least a year ago, maybe more!). They're fresh in my mind after quite a bit of time spent pondering related topics during vacation week at Prune Ridge.
Quite some time ago I became a fan of Environmental Working Group. A short-hand version of the statement on their front page sums up what they do: "Our team pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions." A sampling of topics you can find on their top page right now: Toxic Chemical in Kids' Bath Products, Free iPhone application Shopper's Guide to Pesticides, New Commercial Fishing Report... and the list goes on! You will find news reports, research results, action items with links for contacting folks (the EPA, for example) about things you and EWG would like to see changed.
My favorite feature from EWG is their Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database. This is a searchable database in which EWG rates the safety or hazard levels of the ingredients in more than 42,000 cosmetics and personal care products - makeup, skin care, hair care, deodorants, toothpastes... everything! You can also suggest or request products that aren't already reviewed for testing. It is a fantastic resource. I won't lie though - an initial search of many of the products I was using, even when I first discovered the database a year or two ago was a bit horrifying. I took me a while to come around to changing things up, but here I go...
As of this past week, I have switched nearly all of the products I
was using, and also reduced the number of things I'm using regularly. I've chosen to go with mostly Burt's Bees products for both skin and hair. I've landed on a number of things with very low hazards that I'm already familiar with, some I was already using, and some new things as well. Relatively speaking, Burt's products offer much lower hazard levels than many other things on the market. They're not the safest across the board, but I do appreciate that they are widely available in almost any market at this point. I would also mention that I was even more inclined to support the work of this fine company after learning that friend from decades ago (Angela Woods, I and many other knew her as Kricket when we were young) was working for Burt's when she passed away about a year ago. Burt's has a wonderful and touching tribute to her on their website.
One last bit if you already know or would like to consider Burt's Bees products: In the "old days," Burts was much more off the beaten path, and not mass marketed in your average store. While I appreciate that I can pick up their products nearly anywhere at this point (Target, Meijer, Kroger... the list goes on), I know from talking to an owner at one local business that Burt's expansion in so many markets has presented challenges for the little guys! The Peaceable Kingdom store on Main Street in Ann Arbor (an awesome local shop!) finds that they sometimes have trouble getting small stocks of Burt's items they used to carry. If you know a local who carries something you can also get a big national, please consider checking the local store first when you need to buy!
And there you have what may be a long pointless yammer from me!
Happy Weekend, All. Be Well and GO ENJOY THE SUN!