At least that’s what my fiance believes…and says to me constantly about all of the natural products we have around the house (and lack of any bug spray). And frankly, when it comes to natural deodorant & most makeup, I tend to agree (although I love my Method laundry detergent, and various seventh Generation cleaning products). So far. But it’s absolutely not true that if something is “natural” or made with organic ingredients it’s less effective. By the same token though, it’s also not necessarily true that those products are MORE effective than chemically-based. Non-chemical based products are inarguably better for our environment, homes & bodies, but some just don’t work.
Like Tom’s of Maine deodorant. I ran out of my favorite packed with aluminum anti-persperant/deodorant by Fresh recently and bought Tom’s to try. I never smelled so bad!!! I was so disgusted that I ordered 3 sticks of the Fresh recently just to make sure I never run out again…but that was before I read this article over at EcoSalon and became convinced that some natural/non-aluminum deodorants CAN work. I really think that deodorant is deeply personal; they work differently based on your body chemistry, so it requires a lot of trial and error to find one that truly works for you. But seems like it’s a general consensus that you don’t need to try Tom’s. It doesn’t work. Which is a shame, because I love Tom’s of Maine and have used the toothpaste for years…
What’s your experience been with natural beauty-products? Do you have a favorite brand? What about home care & laundry? Please share 
I don’t usually watch videos on blogs or websites, but a reader over at Grechen’s Closet recommended I take a look at the new CP Shades website and the video on their homepage. And I’m glad I did.
I’m human, and while I do try to shop consciously, paying attention to where my garments are made, and what they’re made from, I sometimes don’t. I forget, or I’m so smitten with the piece, I don’t WANT to know where it came from. Not terribly enlightened, I know, and I’m not proud of it, but it happens. Watching the video at CP Shades reminds me of WHY I should care about who makes my clothes, and where. I WANT to buy my clothes from people like the Weinstein’s from Sausalito, California. They have such a passion for the clothing, the designs, the manufacturing and for the people who will wear their designs. Like me:
(me in my CP Shades linen dress)
If what you wear is important to you, you cannot ignore your clothing’s history and the journey each piece took to get to you. I love it when what I wear has a story; I just need to take better care from now on to make sure that story is one of sustainability, passion and quality.
One of my FAVORITE online boutiques, Sodafine, recently launched a newly re-designed site and is offering 20% off all orders over $100 with code “grechen20.”
In the vintage department, I am TOTALLY smitten with this floral dress (I’ve been wanting something pretty and feminine to wear with jackets this Fall):
And I LOVE this leather wallet made from scraps/reclaimed leather pieces:
Also check out the great selection of jewelry – both vintage & new pieces – it’s never too early to start thinking about holiday shopping
I posted about these first over at Grechen’s Closet when I found them on No6′s blog, but now they’re for sale at Baggu.com and I snagged a few 
My Baggu bag is my FAVORITE reusable bag EVER. I carry it with me all the time and use it for everything from groceries to splurges at Barney’s Co-Op I lost my carrying bag for it almost as soon as I got it, so I’ve been carrying it in a zippered bag (which sometimes gets caught), so I’m looking forward to having new ones with their own pouches again. I got the constellation print and the fuschia animal print. What are you getting?
I found this bag today via Fly
and I think I need one, or two. I already have a great “vintage” bag similar to this one that I’ve carried all Summer, but it couldn’t hurt to have one more, especially this one in a nice neutral pattern. If you’re not into neutral, Sakaad has all kinds of colors/patterns available; each bag is handmade in Kenya and only $40.
