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6/8/2023 Shopping for Plastic-Free and Biodegradable Products and Clothing on the Internet. Products Made from Natural Materials.Read NowTrying to shop plastic-free is very challenging these days, whether on the internet or in-store. Thankfully there are getting to be more companies that are creating low-to-no plastic products that are biodegradable and clothing that is made from natural materials. I’ve even found quite a few options on Amazon. I will be sharing the products in this blog post that I’ve found and tried; most of them are on Amazon and Etsy to make shopping quick and easy for more people. I will be adding to this post as I find more products. Please note that Amazon’s packaging may contain plastic. Sometimes I get shipments from them in the brown paper envelopes and boxes with brown paper air pillows, and sometimes I still get the plastic envelopes and air pillows. I do try to recycle or reuse them. Also, depending on the company, they may put their product in plastic packaging, even if the product itself is plastic-free. But, at least it is cutting down on plastic. *This blog post contains affiliate links from Amazon and other companies. I may get a small commission on qualifying purchases through these links (at no additional cost to you). All company names and trademarks are the property of each respective company. I will organize the products into sections below, and continue adding more as I find and use them. Plastic-Free Products for Home and KitchenThis small business makes beautiful and non-toxic kitchen utensils, cutting boards, serving trays and more. They make their products from wood such as white oak and walnut. You can check out their store on Amazon: From another small business making wood kitchen products is this black walnut and stainless steel dough whisk. It works amazingly for mixing dough, but I also have been using it to froth milk for beverages and whisking ingredients in general. This whisk is featured in my YouTube video that you can see here: This is a nice set of 2 metal storage trunks. I love using them to store things around the house. They are plastic-free, except there was a plastic wrap around the middle of each one in the packaging.  Clothing Made From Natural MaterialsHere are garments made from cotton, wool, and other natural materials. No polyester allowed! Polyester clothing is basically like wearing plastic. I don’t include any acrylic, nylon, or spandex products either. Although I’m trying to switch over to organic cotton, I am including non-organic cotton and material below, as it takes time and money to switch over to organic. Step by step is certainly better than not at all, so sometimes a middle-of-the-road approach is helpful to make it more doable and realistic. These pants are 85% wool and 15% cashmere. I got a pair and they are so soft and comfortable. I can even wear them in the summer, because they are so breathable.  These pants are so comfortable. You can visit the company's Amazon store below: Natural and No-Plastic Products for Bath and Body CareIn this section, I will be sharing plastic-free and low-plastic products for bath and body, and makeup too. Foraged Fields makes completely plastic-free skincare and makeup. There is no plastic in the packaging or shipping either. Also, the ingredients are pure, basic, gentle, and healing. A small business run by a skilled woman with such a kind heart.  Entirely plastic-free skincare products and makeup. Even the packaging and shipping material is plastic-free! Blinking Owl Acres is another small business run by a talented and kind businesswoman. Many of the products are plastic-free. A few of my favorite items from this skincare and makeup company. Dr. Stamler’s Sensitive Skin Care products are mostly plastic-free. He makes soaps and skincare products from organic ingredients. He is a very generous businessman and donates all profits from his small business to charity.  Soap and skincare products made by a doctor. Largely plastic-free.  Radius is a family-owned business since 1983 and made in USA. Their floss, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are plant-based, biodegradable, cruelty-free, and even ADA accepted (a bonus to find in a natural brand!).
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3/1/2023 Minimalist Skincare Routine: 2 Step Routine and Simple Makeup. Organic, Basic, and Inexpensive Skincare.Read NowSome products linked below are Amazon affiliate links. I may earn from qualifying purchases. I don’t earn from the companies’ website purchases, but they are also linked below. Company names and trademarks of the property of each respective business.  🌾Foraged Fields has an Etsy shop.    ⚖️LBCC Historical is called LitttleBits on Etsy (yes, that is 3 t’s). Here is a YouTube video I made showing these products and how I use them. 🛍️On Amazon: 🧽Exfoliating Mitt 💎Jade Gua Sha Tool 🪨Rose Quartz Gua Sha Tool 📖Gua Sha Instructional Book 🪴Arrowroot Powder 🍊Sweet Orange Essential Oil 🍨Vanilla Essential Oil 👑Frankincense Essential Oil 🖌️Fine Tip Makeup Brushes 👩🏻🎨Eye and Brow Brush Set 👝Powder Brush Set 🫙Glass Jars with Bamboo Lids ➡️If you aren’t ready yet to go as natural as the aforementioned companies, these are the brands I used before: 💄Gabriel Cosmetics 👩🏻🌾Honeybee Gardens 🫧Acure Over the years, I’ve tried various skincare products and routines, trying to find something that would work for my skin and be affordable too. One day after being so frustrated that my skin was getting worse and I was having to add more products trying to correct the increasing problems, I decided to get rid of all the superfluous products and routines and go as simple as possible. I had been buying organic products, but found even organic and natural products had ingredients that were either unnecessary or actually not good for the skin. I had ongoing acne, clogged pores, and skin that would peel and be prone to redness. In addition to this affecting my appearance, it also affected the way I felt physically. I think it makes sense when one’s skin is inflamed and struggling, it can make you not feel good overall. The skin is, after all, an organ. So, I finally decided: forget all these products and complicated routines. And, although I never bought overly expensive products, it was adding up to more than I wanted to spend on skincare and makeup. Here you will find the products I discovered in my search for the most natural, basic, and affordable ideas. Everyone’s skin is so different, so these may not work for you. Also, be aware that just because a product is plant-based it can still cause reactions, allergic or otherwise. Test products first and try them at your own risk. I just hope there is something helpful here for you, if only knowing you’re not alone in the struggle for healthy skin. The companies I feature in this blog are ones I found randomly in hours of research and I currently use their products. Most are very small businesses. I hope all the hours, and trial and error effort I put in, can save you some time and trouble. *I belong to the Amazon Associates program and other affiliate programs, which means I may get a small commission on purchases through some of the links on my site. FYI, I already used these products before belonging to any affiliate programs. Washing Up and MoisturizingFirst, let’s start with washing the skin. I tried soapnut powder which worked okay. Also, white kaolin clay is very gentle for cleansing the skin. Pink kaolin clay stained my bathtub and skin. Amla powder stained my skin when using it as a paste to wash up with, even though I read online that it doesn’t stain. I use it in my homemade shampoo and it doesn’t stain my skin in that mix when it runs down from my hair, but using it straight on my skin did stain. It was minor and washed off after several soap washes, but that’s not something I want to deal with. So, I am currently using Dr. Stamler’s soaps. They are completely unscented; they only have the wholesome smells of the organic ingredients in them.  This is one of the several Dr. Stamler soaps I use.  This is a pure olive oil Castile soap by Dr. Stamler. It only has two ingredients: olive oil and distilled water. It’s gentle and nourishing. It’s very soft, so it’s important to keep it on a soap dish with good drainage. Also from Dr. Stamler, is a pure olive oil Castile soap. It is coconut oil free and fragrance free. For those with severe allergies, it can be a great option as it only has organic olive oil and distilled water in it. Very pure and gentle! Sometimes it is out of stock. White kaolin clay can be used as a gentle skin cleanser or mixed with soapnut powder. Both have a pH that is friendly to our skin’s natural pH. I just mix the powders together and add enough water to make a paste. I add an essential oil sometimes.  I add marshmallow root powder sometimes too. It is very gentle on the skin. I also use it as a hair conditioner.  Here I’ve mixed some various powders and some aloe vera in a bamboo bowl. I just added water to make a paste. I rotate between the Dr. Stamler soaps and the homemade powder mix. I use the same for both face and body wash. So that’s step one of the two step skincare routine: just wash up face and body with a simple soap or homemade wash. Step two is moisturize. I use the cream below from Foraged Fields for face and body. Simple! I also use the cream for a clear mascara.  This cream is available in three versions: the original version plus vegan and coconut oil free.  The cream comes in a 2 ounce jar. It’s in glass or you can request cardboard, which is my favorite. Either way, it’s plastic free! The cream is made by a plastic-free company, Foraged Fields. When I have time I like to do gua sha massage. I’ve found it really does make a difference. I received good instructions with pictures from this book. Here are some essential oils that I sometimes add to the homemade face and body wash. These are truly pure essential oils; no fake fragrances! Minimalist and Healthy MakeupFor makeup: I have a very simple, minimalist routine now. I just use products from Foraged Fields. They have an Etsy shop. I also use Pearl Powder from Amazon as a face powder.  Eyeliner I made from Foraged Fields cream and clay powder.  Foraged Fields makes various colored makeup powders from clay and plants.   Here is the link to my blog post about my homemade shampoo; conditioner and hair care:
www.starlightsarah.com/blog/easy-homemade-soapnut-shampoo |
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