and not overly moisturizing—just right for summertime use. The light scent makes this shower gel a
good choice if you are sensitive to essential oil fragrances. It is reasonably priced, too.
Dr. Hauschka Rose Body Wash is a rich, creamy shower gel with a relaxing, sensual aroma
of jasmine, lilac, and rose. It’s very good for use in wintertime thanks to its highly emollient base of
nonsulfate surfactants, jojoba oil, shea butter, and soothing propolis. However, it may not be suitable
for sensitive skins because of the high content of essential oils, and the price is a little steep for a tube
that is usually finished in ten days.
Pangea Organics shower gels are some of the few body cleansers out there that are true to
their organic claims. Formulated with saponified organic oils, aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, and a
dozen plant extracts, including lavender, calendula, gotu cola, linden flower, and red clover, these
thick, rich shower gels last a really long time, helping you save money by buying less.
If you want to start your green beauty routine with just one natural product, make it a
generously sized bottle of Dr. Bronner’s 18- in-1 Pure-Castile Hemp BabyMild Soap.Very
concentrated, very natural (nothing but water, coconut soap, olive oil, hemp, and vitamin E with some
citric acid as a preservative), this cleanser can be used in tons of different ways: when diluted, it
makes a good gentle shampoo, body wash, mouth rinse, diaper soak, baby laundry detergent, and even
a baby bath.
Green and White:
Basics of Natural Tooth Care
If you decided to go organic because you care about your health, you may decide to put natural
tooth care products close to the top of your list. Some parts of the body, including the gums, are more
absorbent than others, making it easier for chemicals to pass into the bloodstream, which is another
reason your tooth care should be as healthy, natural, and chemical-free as the food you eat.
Green Fact
Many natural toothpastes are made of ingredients that are good enough to eat, which, if you’re using it in your
mouth, makes perfect sense, since we swallow nearly a whole tube of toothpaste in one year.
While claiming to create healthier, brighter smiles, many types of toothpaste are a long way from
pure and natural. Here are some chemicals you should avoid in your tooth care products.
Fluoride. Many experts claim fluoride helps fight decay, yet this chemical has also been linked to
many adverse effects, including cancer. Fluoride was found to actually increase teeth and bone decay
by causing a condition called dental fluorosis, says a study done by the School of Public Health of the
University of Michigan (Heller et al. 1997). A 2008 study by French researchers confirms the
findings and explains that elevated fluoride intake causes fluorosis by triggering DNA changes (Wurtz
et al. 2008). Scientists of Harvard School of Dental Medicine found “an association between fluoride
exposure in drinking water during childhood and the incidence of osteosarcoma among males”
(Bassin et al. 2006). Polish scientists in February 2008 found that fluoride greatly diminished the
protective abilities of kidneys in animals (Blaszczyk et al. 2008). It seems that fluoride also has an
adverse impact on our hormonal system. Scientists at the National Center for Toxicological Research
reported a close correlation between decreasing fertility rates in women and increasing fluoride