Life is good. We’re eating healthier, exercising more and we remember to bring our reusable bags to the grocery store. But do you feel as if something is missing? Do you ever wake in the middle of the night, wondering what final piece of the green puzzle will make your life complete? Well, I do. And the puzzle piece I’m looking for is an organic deodorant…that actually stinkin’ works.

I’m sure many of you are aware of the dangers of regular deodorant – that it contains aluminum chloride and aluminum chlorohydrate to stop you from sweating. Of course, no one likes to sweat, but sweating is how our bodies process food, expel toxins and regulate temperature. Blocking this bodily function isn’t a good idea. Plus, aluminum has been established as a neurotoxin and has been shown to adversely affect the blood-brain barrier, cause DNA damage and have adverse gene effects.

But hey, as long as no one sees you sweat!

My point is that you want to keep your deodorant natural and organic. As with all organic deodorants, you might sweat a bit more than you’re used to, but you won’t smell. And one more tip – deodorant sprays work far better than sticks.

Now let’s get down to business – the Good, the Less than Good and the Yes, It Really Does Work of organic deodorants! The following list includes all organic or natural deodorants that I tested over an extended period of time, in hot Los Angeles temperatures and even on a trip to Las Vegas.

The Holy Grail: Grapefruit and Geranium Deodorant Spray by Avalon Organics

(Note: According to Avalon Organics, the direct link is not yet available because this product is new to the market, but it’s coming!). This is the best of the best, and I’m anticipating a long relationship with this spray. It smells fruity and pleasant. I kept reapplying it  just to experience a mini aromatherapy session. And most importantly, it works. I wore one application for a day and night, and didn’t notice any body odor (my boyfriend didn’t, either). It’s certified organic and made with various citrus peel oils. It contains no parabens, aluminum or other synthetic ingredients.

The Close Runner Up: Jasmine and Grapefruit Organic Deodorant by Erbaviva

When I can’t find my Avalon Organics, I reach for this spray. As above, it contains grapefruit extracts which help eliminate the odor-causing bacteria. It really does smell good, like something you’d find in the middle of a spa. It also works really well, though you may want to keep it on hand for touch ups. It’s made with certified organic ingredients like grapefruit peel oil, cedar wood oil and jasmine oil.

The Perfume Impersonator: Wild Rose Deodorant Spray by Weleda

This spray is most like a perfume, with a fun, floral rose scent. The first application lasted for a few hours, though I found myself sniffing for a second application earlier than the aforementioned products. The floral scent goes on strong, but it mellows with time. If you like an old-style, cool perfume-y scent, you’ll like this spray. This UK product is made with natural essential rose oils and fragrances.

The Old Standard: E Plus High C Natural Roll-On Deodorant by Aubrey Organics

I have used this product for years – pre-spray, it was the closest I got to a working natural deodorant. It has more of a traditional scent, with hints of baby powder. It works, but doesn’t last as long as the sprays. However, Aubrey makes a Calendula Blossom spray that keeps the protection going longer than the roll-on. Both are made with natural and organic ingredients like rose water, coconut cream and organic aloe vera.

The Pioneer: Deodorant Crystal by Naturally Fresh

Back when natural deodorants were new to the market, deodorants crystals were at the forefront. This company first discovered the crystal while in Thailand, where the process of wetting a crystal and rubbing it under your arm has a long tradition of killing odor-causing bacteria. There’s a spray and a roll-on, and apparently the spray is the number one recommended product by oncologists, allergists and dermatologists.

But does it work? Happily, it does. A friend of mine often uses the crystal in conjunction with other natural deodorants. One word of caution though – you need to wet it before applying, which can prove a little messy.

The Experience: Geranium Lime Pit Putty by Bubble & Bee Organic

This is a new concept that literally involves putty for your pits.  It has a great lime-y, fresh and clean-smelling scent.  You apply it with your fingers, which is a little odd.  It turns to power, which is cool.  But if you start sweating, you will be running for the sprays.

The Good Stick: Clear Enzyme Deodorant Stick by Alba Botanica

Like I said, sticks in general don’t seem to work as well as the sprays.  But many do offer decent protection. This one from Alba Botanica offers a fresh scent and a decent run of it.  It has antibacterial properties from coriander and lichen and certified organic aloe vera.  It is also 100% vegetarian!

The Fruit on a Stick: Mandarin Orange and Patchouli Deodorant by Nature’s Gate

This is another fruity scent that proves much more pleasant than anything you’ll find at the supermarket. It lasts for a bit, but then you will have to follow up. The ingredients for this product are grown on a family-owned farm in California with a water source derived from the winter rains and snow pack of the Sierra Nevadas. It is paraben-free and naturally contains no aluminum.

The Nice Scent But… Naturally Fresh Deodorant Stick for Men by JASON Pure, Natural and Organic

I wanted to like this product because JASON products are generally outstanding. And upon opening the deodorant, I found it has a light, green tea scent that goes on smooth.  But a mere hour after applying it, I found myself reaching for the sprays.

Yes, I know it’s for men – so I had my boyfriend try it out, and he agrees. It’s certified organic and is enriched with lavender oil, Vitamin E, shea butter and certified organic corn starch.

The Reason No One Thinks Natural Deodorants Work: Unscented Deodorant Stick from Tom’s of Maine

This deodorant from Tom’s of Maine works well – if you sit motionless in a chair and under an air conditioner all day.

Image: TheAlienessGiselaGiardino

What’s not to love about lip balm? In fact, a girl’s love affair with lip balm often starts very young. You were probably given a clear Chap Stick to soothe your dry lips, and naturally you pretended it was bright red lipstick.

Regardless, you got used to the feeling of soft, moisturized lips.

Cut to a couple decades later, and you’re frantically flipping through your organic cotton clutch for the lip balm you know is in there…somewhere. No one likes dry lips. Of course, we can technically live with dry lips, but who wants that?

Chap Stick was invented by Dr. C. D. Fleet, who decided that petroleum jelly would be the best short-term fix for dry lips. But petroleum doesn’t absorb into the skin, so it prevents the skin from breathing and makes your lips more chapped in the long run.

But not to worry! There’s a whole wide world of natural and organic lip balms out there, and we recently applied our lips to the best of them.

Here’s a look at our favorites, styled by category. It’s like a high school yearbook for lip balms! (They grow up so fast, don’t they?)

Most Likely to Be Tasty
Organic Root Beer Lip Balm by Bubble and Bee
This balm goes on smooth and yes, tastes exactly like root beer. The moisture lasts – a few hours later and my lips were still fully hydrated. (And tasty!). It’s made with organic beeswax, sunflower oil and cocoa butter. The flavoring is Stevia-based and all organic.

Pineapple Quench Lip Balm by Alba Botanica
This delicious lip balm tastes like a pineapple margarita over and over, but without the brain-crushing hangover. It does a great job keeping your lips initially hydrated, however you should keep it hand because the need to reply will arise in an hour or so. It’s made with organic coconut oil and apricot kernel oil.

Most Likely to Last at the Beach
Peppermint Vanilla Liplux SPF 15 by Coola
This light, peppermint-y balm goes on silky smooth, and one application lasts a long time. It has an SPF 15 which explains the slight sun block aftertaste. They also have an SPF 30 version for you serious sun worshippers! It contains certified organic flavors and is paraben free.

Lifeguard’s Choice Weatherproofing Lip Balm by Burt’s Bees
From what I can tell, this product does not contain an SPF but it goes on white and therefore acts like the old-time zinc lotions that reflected sunlight. It has a high menthol taste too, but that’s a good thing. It’s recommended for both “sun and snow” and contains a large amount of Vitamin E.  95.20% natural, this lip balm is made with coconut and sunflower oils.

Most Likely to Replace Your Lipstick
SPF 8 Lip Moisturizer by Juice Beauty
This lip balm offers a fantastic, subtle touch of color – a pretty hint of makeup beats lipstick, any day! However it fells slightly drier than some of the other balms and drags on your lip a bit when being applied. It may not be as silky as some, but the trade-off is color. It contains certified organic oils and natural fruit essences.

Mostly Likely to Make You Hungry
White Chocolate Lip Protector by Terressentials
This lip balm tastes exactly like white chocolate. Yum! It goes on silky smooth and provides excellent hydration, but you’ll need to reapply after a while. The ingredients are simple: certified organic cocoa butter, beeswax, vanilla and coconut oil.

And Finally, for the Best All Around…
Natural Beeswax Lip Balm by J.R. Watkins
This balm has a strong peppermint taste and really hydrates in all its good, silky smoothness. One application lasts a long time. It’s 100% all-natural (not organic) and contains premium beeswax, vitamin E and shea butter.

Organic Lip Treatment by EO Organics
Another outstanding lip balm, this one tastes great, goes on light and silky and leaves your lips hydrated for a really long time. While writing this article, I had all eight lip balms on the table in front of me, and this is the one I kept reaching for. It’s made with certified organic cold-pressed safflower and sweet almond oils, beeswax, vitamin E and more.

Find your favorite and pucker up!

Image: Aleera

Green girl Josie Maran has modeled for Glamour and Sports Illustrated and she’s appeared in films like The Aviator and Van Helsing. Now she’s an eco-entrepreneur whose eponymous cosmetic line is one of the best on the market.

What qualifies a model-actress to start her own makeup line? Models and actresses look fresh faced and makeup free for one reason – they are experts at applying makeup.

As Maran puts it, “When I began to land jobs, I discovered what a lot of girls already know: the power of makeup. I saw that a little could go a long way.”

After spending hundreds of hours in the makeup chair, she realized she was uniquely experienced to design her own line of healthy, natural cosmetics. And Josie Maran Cosmetics was born.

Recently, Maran shared some of her product and beauty tips from her fall line, exclusively for EcoSalon readers. Here’s what she had to say:

EcoSalon: A typical green girl might love makeup, but not love looking like she’s caked with it. What are your best tips for a natural look?

Josie Maran: You can achieve a natural look by using tinted day-cream instead of heavy foundation. Then, go in with a concealer to cover blemishes. For small areas use a pointy brush. This way you can place the concealer where it’s really needed.

Fall is here, bringing with it cooling temperatures and fading tans. What’s your best tip for transitioning our skin from the summer sun?

Smooth lips and hydrated skin are the ultimate foundation. Start your fall beauty routine with targeted moisture. This fall, balms are making a big comeback and my Argan Moisturizing Stick smooths chapped lips and hydrates dry, peeling skin. It targets areas that need moisture most, providing a smooth canvas to work with! And there are other fantastic balms to consider: Jurlique Love Balm and Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil.

What are the best eye shadow colors you recommend for fall? And more importantly, what are your tips for applying it?

This fall is all about a neutral color palette. Create a natural smoky eye with my favorite earthy shades (for this look think: soft brown, not harsh black). Start by sweeping a muted, light brown shade all over the lid. I love the Maple shade in my line of eye shadows.

Then blend a darker, smokier brown into the crease for a dramatic effect. Try my Eye Shadow in Smoke, or my personal favorite Chianti – it’s a rich brownish plum, perfect for fall Smudge a brown eye liner along the lashes to get the smoky effect. Finish the look with brown mascara.

Lastly, what do you recommend for lips?

Red lips, naturally! Red lips have been a huge hit on the runways. I wear mine naturally with paraben-free lipstick in Desirous and shine it up with Joie De Vivre lip gloss.

Josie Maran Cosmetics is made up of a 70-piece line for eyes, lips, cheeks, skin and more. It’s free of parabens, toxins and petrochemicals, and it contains a large percentage of natural and organic ingredients. The product line is available online, at Barneys in New York City and at Vert in Venice, CA. You can also find products at various Sephoras around the country.

The sad truth is the carpets that hold up best to traffic are the ones coated with toxins. And we don’t want those in a place where humans dwell.

If you do have a healthy wool carpet in your home, you can still clean it without harsh chemicals like perchloroethylene – which the EPA has linked to kidney and liver damage. Naphthalene, made from coal tar, is also considered a carcinogen that can harm the central nervous system.

Ask cleaning services if they simply steam to lift dirt or apply shampoos to loosen those hard-to-clean coffee and wine stains. Treatments like Oxi Fresh use an oxygenated method by applying less water and natural ingredients. Some cleaners also use citrus-based products that smell much better than standard chemicals. Just check and see if their products are plant-based chemicals (Biokleen, NatureClean and Seventh Generation’s Natural Citrus Carpet Cleaner) or made with synthetics.

Here are some natural ways to go for maintaining cleaner carpet:

1. For daily maintenance, have guests and family members remove shoes when entering the house if you have carpet on the first floor. Otherwise, remove shoes before heading upstairs. Obviously there can be exceptions, such as when you are entertaining. Guests often complain about taking off shoes for a more formal event. They may have holy socks or need the height so their pants won’t droop.

2. ehow tells us to spot clean with vinegar and water by mixing equal parts into a spray bottle and applying to the stain, then blotting with a clean, dry towel. For tougher stains, you can make a paste of baking soda and water and coat the stain. Let the paste sit for about 30 minutes, then wipe away with a damp cloth. For deeper cleaning, they suggest going with biodegradable cleaners like AFM Safecoat added to a rented carpet cleaner.

3. Do It Yourself recommends regular vacuuming to prevent dirt and pet dander from settling into your carpet fibers, and to sprinkle on some baking soda before your sweep to eliminate potential orders. You can even add spice, such as cinnamon or cloves, in the baking soda before you spread it. Also, let the baking soda sit on the carpet to lift stains and dirt at least 10 minutes before you vacuum.

4. For spot removal, use a clean dry cloth or paper towel to soak up the spill and blot the stain rather than rubbing it. Once you blot it, apply club soda or soda water to dissolve and lift, then blot up the liquid. You also can use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar mixed with water or rubbing alcohol to lift the stains. You might also try making your own spot cleaner with a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and one to two cups of water.

In terms of cleaning fiber rugs, such as sisal, it is best to just use water or soda water. These can be the hardest rugs to maintain because many products don’t work very well to get out the stains.

Let us know if you have some other tried and true green methods of carpet cleaning!

Image: adriagarcia

It would be grand to just roll out of bed every morning looking glamorous and fresh, but it requires serious maintenance to stay sexy. Here are eight easy and eco-friendly tricks for dealing with some of the most frustrating beauty predicaments.

Tired Eyes
Everybody knows about sliced cucumbers, but I recently discovered a more effective method. Steep a couple of green tea bags, put them in the refrigerator until they’re cool and place them over your eyes.

Blemishes
Apply a touch of toothpaste overnight and dab blemishes with lemon juice before putting on makeup in the morning.

Oily Skin
If you start your morning off with a hot bowl of oatmeal, this one’s a cinch. Let your leftovers cool, mix in a little bit of honey and apply this homemade mask to your face. Leave it on for five minutes and rinse.

Dull Hair
Next time you pop the bubbly, save a glass of champagne to rinse through your hair for brighter locks.

Bad Breath
Add several drops of lemon juice to that reusable water bottle you carry around all day. When your mouth feels stale, just take a swig and swish. Bad breath bacteria don’t stand a chance against the acid present in lemon juice.

Wet Nails
Who has the time to wait for nail polish to dry, especially after a couple of coats? Dipping them into ice cold water will speed up the process.

Chapped Lips
Lip balm may moisturize, but it doesn’t get rid of dead skin cells. Make your own exfoliating scrub by blending a bit of honey with coffee grounds and massage the mixture onto your lips.

Dandruff
Mix several teaspoons of vinegar with water and massage into your scalp. Wrap your hair in a towel and leave it in your hair overnight. Repeat the process weekly for the best results.

For more beauty suggestions, check out Katherine’s picks for the best organic skin toners, shampoos and sunscreens.

Image: clickflashphotos

The flu is already spreading like a Malibu wildfire in my Bay Area community with dozens of kids out the first few weeks of school and contaminated parents unable to play nurse.

It’s going to happen, no way of avoiding it all together, but there are some simple steps to build immunity and combat the spreading of germs at home.

Some people opt for the influenza vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says protects against the three main flu strains causing the most illness during the season. This year’s vaccine contains three new virus strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.

The government says it is believed the 2009-10 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

For those choosing not to get the shot, most methods of fighting and containing the enemy involve keeping your hands and surroundings clean and lying low when you know you’re not well and can infect others. The good news for the planet is that none of the hygiene practices require harmful chemicals to kill the enemy.

1. Hand Washing

Discovered only 150 years ago, frequent hand washing is the most effective way to keep germs from making you sick and spreading to your pals. According to Every Day Health, it doesn’t matter what kind of soap is used as long as the water is warm and the soap lathers and spreads over the hands sufficiently to trap the germs. Soap and water works best (meaning you don’t have to use a chemical-doused sanitizer that can actually lead to worse viruses). Here are the steps recommended by the CDC:

- Wet your hands with clean water – warm, if available – and apply soap.
- Lather by rubbing hands together; be sure to cover all surfaces.
- Continue rubbing hands together for 15 to 20 seconds – sing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head.
- Thoroughly rinse hands under running water to ensure removal of residual germs.
- Use paper towels or an air dryer to dry hands and then, if possible, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

2. Sponge Duty

Sponges used to wash dishes and wipe down counters harbor massive amounts of bacteria, at times even salmonella.  While we are urged to replace them often to keep our kitchens clean, many sponges are made from plastics which means even more petroleum waste in our environment.

According to Living Green, the added environmental danger with many synthetic sponges is that they often contain Triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent banned by Canada in household products this past August. Even though it’s registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being a pesticide, it is frequently used in many antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and cosmetics. The chemical is linked to health problems and harms fragile aquatic ecosystems and waterways.

While replacing sponges regularly is a good hygienic practice, stick to buying ones made from cellulose fiber (cellulose is sourced from plantation forests or recycled). Read the label carefully as some cellulose sponges are impregnated with polyester, a form of plastic. Keep your green cellulose sponge as dry as possible between uses, to avoid bacteria.  Sterilize them by soaking for a few minutes in boiled water, or try a dilute bleach/hydrogen peroxide solution.

The U.S. Dept of Agriculture also recommends killing bacteria and mold by microwaving a damp sponge or dishwashing a sponge with a drying cycle (the method my family uses).

3. Stay Home When you are Sick

Take cover when you are sick (just like covering your cough) by keeping away from other students, workers and friends. State health departments urge employees to stay home when they are infected for good reason. It’s the right thing to do for you and your community. Ask a friend or a loved one to make a nice pot of organic chicken soup, crank up the vitamins and heal thyself. Work can added undue stress that undermines a quick recovery. Work can wait.

4. Resist Sharing Personal Items

You don’t share brushes to avoid lice. And you don’t share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items if you want to avoid flu and colds. While sharing is a good gesture, there is a big exception when it comes to hygiene.

5. Love Yourself More

An excellent reference guide by Our Home Remedies follows the non-nonsense Farmer’s Almanac approach of boosting your immune system with rest, healthy foods like fresh leafy veggies and organic fruit, Vitamin C, garlic and thyme, and beneficial teas. We know when we are not loving ourselves because we don’t sleep and become run down, dehydrated and tend to reach for high sugar foods to revive us, rather than what we really need.

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Sure, you could spray your front yard with a generous bath of toxic chemicals. Tasty! Or, you could simply enhance your collection of greenery with plants that serve that exact purpose, naturally. In fact, some even lure beneficial insects to make a meal out of the pests that feed on your foliage. All you need is your green thumb, and Mother Nature will take care of the rest.

Catnip

Keep flea beetles, aphids, weevils and ants at bay with catnip. There are hundreds of species to choose from that grow in shades of pink, white, blue or lilac. Plus, these flowering plants are known to trigger a euphoric state in both felines and humans.

Basil

Basil contains oil that is naturally effective in warding off mosquitoes and thrips.

Garlic

To deter aphids from destroying your bed of roses, plant some garlic nearby, and aphids won’t be the only insects running for the hills. This living pesticide repels snails, codling moths and root maggots as well. Also, flavoring your meals with these homegrown bulbs can help lower your cholesterol and prevent blood clots.

Artemisia

Artemisia vulgaris releases a pungent odor. While this antiseptic smell is capable of keeping away insects and small animals, it won’t bother you or your neighbors. Be aware that this shrub exudes botanical poison, so don’t plant it in your vegetable garden. It’s safest when confined to your flower beds.

Borage

Unlike artemisia, borage works best as an insecticide in your vegetable garden because it’s known to deter cabbage worms and tomato hornworms. But, it can benefit your flower beds as well by enriching your soil with trace elements and luring beneficial insects like wasps and bees.

Dahlia

These beautiful perennial plants ward off nematodes and infuse your garden with cheery shades of yellow, pink and red.

Marigolds

Various species of these warm-hued annual plants serve different purposes in your garden. To eliminate nematodes and fend off whiteflies, French marigolds will do the trick. If you can’t keep pesky rabbits away, Mexican marigolds are a better choice.

Hyssop

Honeybee populations are vanishing right before our eyes, so take part in pollination stimulation by planting hyssop in your garden. This herbaceous plant will draw honeybees and rouse your senses of smell with its sweet aroma.

Petunia

In addition to enhancing your garden with brilliant hues of yellow, red, pink and purple, this popular flowering plant deters a variety of pests that damage your flowers and vegetables, including tomato worms, asparagus beetles, aphids and leafhoppers.

Lavender

Lavenders are known to naturally repel harmful insects like moths and fleas. Plus, this flowering plant’s fragrant scent will help transform your garden into an aromatherapeutic wonderland.

Chrysanthemum

It’s no wonder that the dried flower heads of chrysanthemums are used to create an all-natural pesticide called pyrethrum. These perennial flowering plants repel a multitude of insects like fleas, ticks, roaches, Japanese beetles, silverfish, ants and lice.

Nasturtium

Don’t let cucumber beetles, whiteflies, wooly aphids and squash bugs destroy your vegetable garden. Just plant some nasturtiums and watch them bloom in vivid shades of orange, yellow, pink and red as they repel these pesky insects.

Click here for more information. Not able to plant new shrubs? Try out some safe, nontoxic pesticides with these natural solutions to rid your garden of pests.

Images: decafinata, The County Clerk, laura padgett, clayirving, daryl_mitchell, dominic, BMully, Swame Stream, The County Clerk, daryl_mitchell, avlxyz, jam343, CarbonNYC

It’s hard to imagine in our highly-scheduled age, but there once was a time without ticking clocks and calendars. Rather, we counted the passing of days via simple observation – watching the Sun and the Moon.

Instead, our wacky Gregorian calendar marks time such that we rely on mnemonic devices (30 days hath September…). On the other hand, marking time by the moon is undeniable. Either it’s new or full, waxing or waning. We only have to look up at night to see it.

And each moon has its own season, depending on where you live. Place-dependent and based on personal observation, renaming the Moons is a fantastic way to forge a deeper connection with the particularities of nature in the place that you live.

Call it natural time. And make it playful.

I happen to live in a fairly lush canyon in northern Arizona, so here are my Moons.

January: Icy Moon
February: Flooding Creek Moon
March: Cherry Blossom Moon
April: Iris Moon
May: Planting Moon
June: Scorching Moon
July: Monsoon Moon
August: Blackberry Moon
September: Harvest Moon
October: Moon of the Colored Maples
November: The Moon of Woolly Sweaters
December: Long-Nights Moon

Tell us where you live and how you name your Moons!

Image: Envios

A few years ago, a dentist told me I’d need dentures by the time I was 50 – that’s how bad my teeth and gums were. Granted, they didn’t look bad – my teeth are strong, straight and pearly white – but my gums were already declining. I was brushing twice a day, but I wasn’t flossing and I was eating plenty of sweets.

After two root canals (and I’m only 30!), I take much better care. I still don’t floss as often as I should, but at least it’s more than I used to. I’d like to save my teeth, and save money too. Here are my natural dental care tips:

First and foremost, use a tongue cleaner. I know, it sounds icky, but the slimy stuff on your tongue when you wake up is plaque. It’s ickier to leave it on.
You have to floss. There’s no way around it. Do anything to make it fun! My husband and I have made a pact to remind each other to floss every morning. Do we always remember? No, but it’s a start!
Use ayurvedic toothpaste for the best blend of warming, astringent and detoxifying herbs. These herbs will promote gum circulation, tightening and cleansing.
Sprinkle baking soda on your toothpaste for extra cleansing and whitening.
Brush a few times a week with a paste made of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Rub this on your gums too.
Rinse with green tea for a natural fluoride wash.
If you get a toothache after all that, clove oil works wonders. Apply directly to the painful tooth with a Q-tip so you don’t get the burning oil on your gums. A paste of ginger and cayenne powder also works.
Check out Pristine Planet’s dental care page for a variety of natural products for teeth and gums.

May as well green up the routine, too! Use a Preserve toothbrush made from recycled plastic.

I often grumble about all the work and time it takes to care for my teeth, but I suppose it’s better to have teeth to take care of in the first place! Let us know your own dental care tips in the comments below.

Image: ninette_luz

We all want fresh, radiant skin, but you don’t have to throw down big bucks for an expensive facial at the day spa to achieve this youthful glow. Using ingredients from around your home (and your garden, too), you can make an assortment of 100% natural facial masks to suite all skin types for a tiny fraction of the cost.

Oily Skin

Mash up a cup of fresh organic strawberries and mix in three teaspoons of honey, two egg whites and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Smooth a thin layer over your entire face, leave it on for 1- minutes and rinse with warm water.

Dry Skin

Pulverize several almonds and thoroughly blend them with a teaspoon of aloe vera gel and powdered milk and a tablespoon of honey. Gently apply this mixture and use warm water to wash it off after 10 minutes.

Combination Skin

Remove the petals from a single red rose, soak them in warm water, pour out the water and crush them into small pieces. Add a tablespoon of yogurt and honey, two tablespoons of rosewater and mix well. Spread this concoction evenly over your face, wait 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.

All Skin Types

Grind a tablespoon of oatmeal to a fine consistency and blend it with a tablespoon of yogurt and a teaspoon of honey. Spread this homemade mask evenly onto your face, let it sit for 10 minutes and wash it off using warm water.

For more natural skincare tips, check out Sara’s ideas for DIY eco facials, Katherine’s picks for the best organic toners and Sarah’s list of 15 herbs for DIY skincare.

Images: audreyjm529, mynameisharsha, fsgm, polandeze