So, my hair has been dry. Like really really dry. I forgot how bad it gets during winter here in SoCal, which is weird because in Portland I always felt like my skin dried out in winter. But here it’s the hair. Don’t know what that’s about . . .

Anyway! Maybe you’re dealing with end-of-winter dry hair too? If so, I’ve got just the super-magic, super-simple, super-potent hair treatment for you!

To make your hair repair treatment, simply melt 1 cup organic virgin coconut oil, and then add 1/2 teaspoon of whichever essential oil will be best for your hair. This could be anything from lavender to tea tree to ylang ylang – it all depends on what you need it to do.




Here are some common hair issues, with their corresponding essential oil remedies:

To Stimulate Growth:
Basil, Lavender, Peppermint (I can vouch for this!), Rosemary, Ylang Ylang

For Oily Hair:
Basil, Lemon, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Ylang Ylang

For Dry Hair:
Myrrh, Peppermint

For Dry Itchy Scalp/Dandruff:
Bay, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Rose, Sage, Sandalwood, Tea Tree

For Hair Loss:
Burdock, Cedarwood, Jojoba, Thyme

For Lots Of Shine/Extra Conditioning:
Chamomile, Lavender




Add your essential oil to your melted coconut oil, stir, and then pour into a container (use something with a wide-enough mouth so that you can get your fingers in there). It will harden as it dries but that’s fine – you just need to scoop some out and rub it between your fingers to melt it, see?





Apply a few tablespoons of the hair repair treatment to dry hair and comb it through. You want it well distributed, but not dripping. Wrap your head in a wet towel or a shower cap to keep the oil off your clothes. Leave it on for at least half an hour, but a few hours is best. Then, wash it out and shampoo/condition (or no-poo/ACV, haha) as normal.

♥

That is, until I got pregnant. And suddenly I was much more interested in keeping things completely natural (no way was I going to stop dying my hair all together, the horror!) It seemed the perfect time to play with henna, that strange plant powder I’d always eyed but never tried. And so I began experimenting.

‘Henna’ refers to the ground leaves of the plant Lawsonia inermis. These leaves contain the lawsone molecule, which is responsible for imparting that classic dark red dye. To be clear: there is only one color of henna. Anything claiming to be ‘black henna’, ‘brown henna’, ‘blonde henna’, etc, is a compound containing more than the actual plant. Be wary!

In order for the dye to be effective, the lawsone must be liberated. The leaves are purchased dried and ground, and then mixed with acid to coax out the pigment. Common acids are lemon juice, tea, or vinegar. The wet mix is then set aside overnight (6+ hours) while the lawsone renders.

Henna paste after mixing with lemon juice and refrigerating overnight.

Looks like just the kind of thing you’d want to rub into your head, right? Let me tell you, the first time I tried it I was pretty skeptical. It smells funky! And I was sure it was going to turn my hair some horrible shade of green. Just look at that stuff!

But I slopped it on and rubbed it in. They say to let it sit for an hour or so, but I left it for over five (I always do with hair dye). It smelled like earth and dried in crusty brown clumps. My skepticism continued.

This is what my hair looked like prior to the treatment, faded reddish with dirty blonde roots (the shame!):

And after many many hours of musty odored and mud clumpy head, I rinsed it out – certain that it hadn’t done a thing. But I was wrong!

It’s pretty, no? It’s definitely red! And I gotta say, I’m impressed!

So I’m a henna convert now. I used it all throughout my pregnancy (I find that lemon juice acts as a better acid than, say, vinegar). It has great lasting power and barely fades; you need to fix your roots before you ever need a color boost. And of course the best part – it’s completely natural, just a single ingredient!

We even used it to decorate my belly at my baby ‘sprinkle’! (henna dyes skin as well, lasting 1-3 weeks depending on the quality)

That said, I gotta be honest . . . I lasted about 7 weeks postpartum before going back to the old stuff. What can I say, I’m a sucker for bright colors!

So what about you guys? Have you ever henna-ed? What do you think?

So I’ve written up a little faq on the no-poo hair care system, an expanded addendum to accompany this Mission. I hope it helps to clear up the confusion!


What is the point of no-poo?
No-poo is a method of natural hair maintenance, including cleaning and healing, to be continued indefinitely. No-poo replaces conventional shampoo and conditioner, allowing your hair to self-regulate.

How does it work?
Baking soda and vinegar, of course! (would you expect anything else from me?) The goal is to ‘mess with’ your hair as little as possible, applying the baking soda (BS) and apple cider vinegar (ACV) once a week or less. Some people eventually remove the BS and ACV all together, and stick solely to water. Others continue the BS and ACV forever, but decrease the frequency and increase the dilution ratio over time.

You should still ‘water-wash’ your hair whenever you shower (not more than once daily), by running your hair under water and massaging with your fingers. Brush your hair carefully and thoroughly to distribute the natural oils that are essential to healthy hair. Finally, don’t overdo it! A little BS goes a long way (ha!)

But why would you do that???
I’ve written in the past about harmful chemicals in cosmetics, and shampoo is no exception. Common offenders include sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, the detergents/surfactants that have been linked to all sorts of terrible troubles. There are tons of other worrisome additives lurking in your shampoo and conditioner too, variable by brand.

Then of course, there’s the oil industry connection. Yup, shampoo contains petroleum products, in the form of ‘mineral oils’. These byproducts are added to give your hair that extra shine, – by coating it in petroleum! Ick.

And finally, if all that isn’t enough to convince you, how about the cost? It’s just cheap ol’ baking soda and vinegar, and you use a lot less of it too. Can’t beat that!

So why baking soda? What does it do?
Believe it or not, water will remove the vast (vast!) majority of grit and residue found in ‘dirty’ hair. But for those tough times, BS does the rest. BS is oh-so-slightly alkaline, is a natural deodorizer, and gently scours away dirt and product build-up.

Apply the BS (try it in a squirt bottle) to the roots, gently massaging it thoroughly over the scalp. Allow it to sit and then rinse in warm water to cleanse and clarify.

So why vinegar? What does it do?
Conditioner was invented to replace the oils stripped by harsh detergents (that’s shampoo). Without the nasty, drying, stripping soap, there’s no need for extra oils. Vinegar can do it all!

ACV is mildly acidic, with about 3-5% acid content in most store brands. Most importantly, the tincture restores desirable pH. It seals the cuticle while detangling and clarifying hair. Additionally, it promotes circulation in the scalp and reduces flaking or peeling skin. No dandruff!

Apply ACV (try it in a spray bottle) to the shafts and scalp. Distribute evenly and allow to sit. Rinse with cool water to soften hair, reduce frizz, and restore curls.

What about the transition period?
If you use normal shampoo, your hair is accustomed to being stripped of it’s natural oil. When this stops, the hair freaks out for a bit! This can cause an ‘oily period’ where the scalp is overcompensating. Just give yourself a few weeks to re-adjust.

What are the benefits of all this?
A lot! People who no-poo claim:
• volume
• shininess
• bounciness
• softness
• cleaner/clearer scalp
• less breaks/shedding (more elasticity)
• less need for styling products

And that’s all there is to it . . . so what are you waiting for!?

I’m resigned to replacing each of my store-bought products as they run out. You may remember my first foray into kitchen cosmetics, with my homemade deodorant – a resounding success (I’ll never go back!) Just recently I’ve traded my shampoo for ‘no-poo‘, and we’ll see how that all pans out.

So what about the toothpaste?

Just like the deodorant, this recipe centers around baking soda and coconut oil. And of course, it’s crazy cheap and easy to make. It goes like this:


Sayward’s Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

4 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons coconut oil (warmed to liquid state)
3 teaspoons xylitol
15 drops peppermint oil

Mix everything in a small bowl until it forms a uniform paste. Add more peppermint oil 5 drops at a time, tasting as you go, if you like it stronger (I added quite a bit more but I figure this is a good base). Transfer to a small glass jar or storage container with a tight-fitting lid. The toothpaste will keep unrefrigerated for months.





The only thing you may have trouble with is procuring the xylitol. The natural sweetener is excellent for this application, because it actually benefits teeth. Alas, it may be hard to find. It’s available online, but if you want to forgo it you can. Just use a dash of stevia – but just a bit! – that stuff goes a loooong way.





This toothpaste has been working great. Damian and I have been using it for a couple of weeks now, with no complaints. It *did* take a while to adjust to the flavor . . . eek. Sort of hyper-saline and hard on the tongue, but you do get used to it. Consider yourself warned!





And one last note: I’ve come accross a lot of concern regarding the potential for baking soda to damage tooth enamel. Apparently, there is an Abrasive Index for all toothpastes, called the RDA Index, which measures a product’s grittiness. After all, toothpastes are abrasive – that’s how they work! But according to the RDA Index, baking soda is the second least abrasive option, right above plain ol’ water. So no worries!

I use Manic Panic because its a ‘non-toxic, non-noxious, vegan vegetable-based semi-permanent product’ . . . but what does that actually mean? I wrote to the company for more information, but alas, they were silent.

So I took matters into my own hands (as I tend to do) and began an investigation. An inquiry into each and every ingredient in my hair dye: what is it?, what does it do?, and is it going to hurt me? Here I present my result, in black and white:


Manic Panic ‘Classic Cream Formula’ hair dye
Ingredients: Synthetic beeswax, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth20, Humulus lupulus extract, Anthemis nobilis extract, Acetic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylene glycol

May Also Contain: Orange 4 (CI 15510), Red 33 (CI 17200), Blue 1 (CI 42090), Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Green 5 (CI 61570)

Synthetic Beeswax

• A blend of fatty esters, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, and hydrocarbons, with properties similar to natural beeswax.
• Acts as a thickener and emulsifier.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 1 (out of 10)

Cetearyl Alcohol

• Another wax, not really an ‘alcohol’ in the traditional sense.
• Vegetable derived fatty alcohols, like coconut alcohol.
• Acts as an emulsifier, emollient, thickening agent, and moisturizer. Also a ‘carrying agent’ for various ingredients.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 0 (out of 10)

Ceteareth20

• Helps ingredients to dissolve within a solvent that they wouldn’t otherwise dissolve in.
• Not advised for use on ‘damaged skin’.
• May contain traces of 1, 4-dioxane, a nasty no-no, but this is removable with proper purification.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 5 (out of 10)

Humulus lupulus extract

• This is hops extract (yeah, the beer stuff)
• Acts as a strengthener and conditioner in hair products.
• A very understudied additive, with virtually no data.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 0 (out of 10)

Anthemis nobilis extract

• This is chamomile extract (yes, the tea stuff!)
• Used for conditioning properties as well as fragrance.
• May increase skin absorption of other ingredients.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 1 (out of 10)

Acetic Acid

• Essentially this is vinegar, in a concentrated form.
• Classed as ‘Generally Recognized As Safe’ (GRAS) by the FDA.
• Acts to stabilize the pH.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 2 (out of 10)

Methylparaben

• Eek! This one is no good.
• Implicated in a slew of health concerns, including allergies, immunotoxicity, organ toxicity, and skin/lung/eye irritation.
• May have an estrogenic affect.
• Added as a preservative.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 8 (out of 10)

Propylene Glycol

• Considered safe in concentrations up to 50%.
• However, it’s implicated in a slew of health concerns, including carcinogenic properties, allergies, immunotoxicity, organ toxicity, skin/lung/eye irritation, and bioaccumulation.
• Added to absorb water and maintain moisture.
• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 7 (out of 10)

May Also Contain . . .

Orange 4 (CI 15510)

• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 4 (out of 10)

Red 33 (CI 17200)

• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 3 (out of 10)

Blue 1 (CI 42090)

• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 0 (out of 10)

Yellow 10 (CI 47005)

• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 2 (out of 10)

Green 5 (CI 61570)

• Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database Page
• Skin Deep Rating: 1 (out of 10)

And that’s that, the ingredients profile. If you want see how they all work together, here is the Skin Deep Database page for a sample color. I chose my most recent inspiration, Infrared. As a whole the product receives a Safety Rating of 5.


Whew! That was a lot of work. I sorta wish the company had just written back to me, but oh well. Now you have the information, plain and simple. And you can make your own, informed, choice.

[ sources: (1) (2) (3) ]

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I sort of dye my hair. A lot.

The love affair began when I was 13, and has continued, uninterrupted, ever since. Seriously.

It started off eggplant, a dark auburny aubergine, inspired by the blossoming Grunge movement and, admittedly, My So-Called Life. Hey, what can I say? It was junior high. That show totally rocked.

By high school I was ‘that freaky blue-haired girl’, and I was a dye-hard. I went through a brief phase post-graduation, where I decided that I was an ‘adult’ now, and thus I had to ‘start acting like one’ (ha!). I got a job at a posh little boutique, started wearing mainstream clothing, and dyed my hair a normal color. Within 6 weeks I was miserable, alienated, and pretty much an alcoholic. A few months later I quite that job, quit the afternoon cocktails, and shaved my head down to the first guard. That was the only lesson I ever needed in the importance of self-expression.

My aesthetic is a huge part of who I am and it’s played an integral roll in my life. I make no excuses or apologies about that. At university I excelled within a highly competitive field. I was a model academic in every way – except for my appearance. It definitely worked in my favor though, and endeared me to my professors once they realized I could back it all up with intellect. Before my lab flew out to present our work at an international congress in Glasgow, my advisor asked me if I was going to tame down my [then magenta] hair. “Um, . . . no?” I cautiously replied. His answer: “Good.”

So suffice to say, my hair dye is here to stay. But how natural is it? And how healthy is it? I’ve received a lot of email regarding the topic, and so I wanted to address a few of the issues. I’ve got some good news, and some bad news.

Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt, & Magenta

Is there such thing as a natural hair dye?
Short answer: sort of. There’s henna, but true henna only comes in one color (reddish-orange) and is rather hard to find. Most ‘hennas’ are sold as compound hennas, containing additional dyes, metallic salts, and other [toxic or nontoxic] chemicals. Other plant-based dyes, like indigo (to get blue-black) or woad (to get a dark brown) are available. But again, these are difficult to find in pure form.

If you’re hoping for candy apple red, neon orange, submarine yellow, granny smith green, turquoise blue, grape jelly purple, princess pink, or bright white, you’re simply out of luck. Same goes for bleach/lighteners. Sorry! Any compound product claiming to be ‘all-natural’ or ‘organic’, whether it be alternative or traditional colors, is blowing smoke. Don’t buy into it!


Have you ever used henna?
No – not yet! It’s next on my list though. Henna doesn’t react well with bleach or other dyes, so I have to grow out my roots and then shave my head. I’m looking forward to the experiments with henna. Stay tuned for a full report!


Is there any vegan hair dye?
Unfortunately, it’s pretty grim. Like the vast majority of cosmetics, most hair dyes (and/or their ingredients) are tested on animals. Luckily, the entire line of Manic Panic’s classic cream formula dyes, as well as their flashlightning bleach kits, are 100% animal and cruelty free. Woo-hoo!


How bad is the boxed stuff at the drug store?
Pretty bad. It’s ammonia-based and noxious (you can tell it’s trouble just by the smell). It’s probably not gonna kill you, but it’s certainly nothing you want to apply to your precious self.


What about the stuff my hairdresser uses?
Sorry, but it’s about the same. Ammonia-based and full of noxious chemicals. Plus, most hair dressers don’t know the first thing about real-world coloring (in my experience, and no offense to the good ones out there!). Stay true to the subculture; DO IT YOURSELF.


So, what do *you* use, then?
In my almost 15 years experience I’ve used everything imaginable, from the drugstore box dyes to Kool-Aid (yes the drink), from the revolving ‘trendy’ alt dyes like Fudge, Punky Colors, and Special Effects, to lemon juice + sunshine, from professional salon jobs to backyard experiments with Jello (yes the dessert).

These older-and-wiser days, I stick exclusively to Manic Panic. Most importantly, they’re vegan. But they also provide an excellent range of colors and they super-condition your hair. Plus, they’re the original old school alt dye, and I grew up on the stuff!

Manic Panic is a non-toxic, non-noxious, vegan vegetable-based semi-permanent product. They are NOT all natural, they are NOT organic, and they are NOT saving the world from environmental destruction. No illusions, okay?

I wrote to the company requesting further information, but I never heard back from them. So I decided to do a little sleuthing of my own, and began researching each and every ingredient. My goal was to accumulate an honest, unbiased assessment of the risk associated with use. I’ll be presenting these findings here, coming soon.


So, what’s your real hair color?
Ha! Wouldn’t you like to know!?

No seriously, I don’t actually know. Before my first dye job I was a towhead, like totally white-blond. But that was pre-puberty and I’m certain it’s darkened up since then. But to what, who knows? . . . and maybe we never will . . .

I was appalled, absolutely astounded by the questionable additives found in almost all commercial self-care products. I resolved, then, to purge each product as it ran out (no waste), and to derive my own amazing alternative.

A few days later, my deodorant was running low, and I came up with this solution.

OH MY GOD you guys, this stuff works SO GOOD. I can’t believe it! But I finished my recipe right at the start of a massive heat wave, and both my husband and I wore it through the entire week of 100º+, with nary a stinky or unsightly pit stain. How could something so simple work so well? I LOVE BAKING SODA!  *swoon*

Sayward’s Homemade Deodorant Recipe

1/3 cup Corn Starch

1/3 cup Baking Soda

10 drops of Antibacterial Essential Oil (tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus)

10 drops of Antifungal Essential Oil (tea tree, peppermint, sandalwood, or eucalyptus)

2 tablespoons Vitamin E Oil

3 tablespoons Coconut Oil

Mix everything up in a bowl until it forms a thick paste. Transfer to your storage container and then allow 24 hours to ‘set up’. I used an old deodorant container ’cause it looks so cute and I thought it was neat, but I don’t recommend it. In the future I’ll be using a shallow, wide-mouthed jar, applying the deo with my fingertips.





In my own concoction, I used 10 drops of Lavender oil, which is an antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, natural deodorant, and soother of skin-irritation (like razor burn!). I also used 10 drops of Eucalyptus oil, which is an antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiseptic, and increases circulation. In Damian’s version I just used the Eucalyptus oil, all 20 drops.

I can’t wait to hear how this works out for you guys!

Okay, I don’t mean to alarm you, but it’s time to take a closer look at our grooming habits. Fact: you will find unhealthy additives in almost every personal care product you own, from lead in your lipstick to mercury in your mascara (1). And menfolk, you don’t get off that easy. There’s toxins in that toothpaste and carcinogens in the conditioner, too. And so, although this may seem overwhelmingly scary, we’ve got to face the facts.

On average, we interact with twelve personal care products each day (2), and that means twelve daily chances for exposure. If you’re like me and slather on the organic, all natural hippie stuff, you may be surprised to learn: Apparently, lotion isn’t food! That means in the US, there’s no federal standard for labeling of these terms (2). So ‘organic’, ‘natural’, and ‘botanical’ mean virtually nothing here.

So what’s the worry? Well, in a recent study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a small group of teenaged females were tested for cosmetics-related chemicals. Every single girl, aged 14-19, tested positive for toxins in their blood and/or urine. There were 16 separate compounds found, each of which is linked to its own slew of health problems. Two parabens (methylparaben and propylparaben) were present in every teen that was tested. (2)

What the . . . ???

Ingredients are classified by the Cosmetic Ingredients Review (CIR), which is supported by the FDA (3). There are four official categories: ‘safe’, ‘safe with qualifications’, ‘insufficient data’, and ‘unsafe’. But the CIR appears reckless in their labeling, as phthalates –suspected carcinogens – have been deemed as ‘safe’. This designation was granted even though 1) the affects of phthalates on males have been understudied and inconclusive, 2) it is not understood what quantity of phthalates are absorbed through the skin, and 3) there is no comprehensive analysis that includes the range of products containing phthalates, so there is no way to measure potential exposure (3).

On top of that, ‘odors’ (chemical compounds) are considered ‘trade secrets’, so ingredients won’t be listed. There is no approval required for ‘color additives’ either, and these could include any endless number of synthetic creations (3). It’s best to purchase products that actively advertise themselves as free of these sorts of additives. Here’s a mini-list of what you’ll want to avoid:

Sayward’s Quick List for Personal Care – What To Avoid

antibacterial/antimicrobial products – It’s pretty common knowledge (and many studies corroborate (1)) that washing with warm water and standard soap is just as effective as antibacterials. Overuse is breeding resistant bugs, including very serious strains like E. coli and Salmonella. Triclosan is a common ingredient (see below). (1)

triclosan – An antibacterial, antifungal, and preservative agent. It has been linked to cancer and shown to affect both thyroid function and testosterone activity. Triclosan is detectable in breast milk. Luckily, it must be clearly labeled on the package. (1)

parabens – These are hormones used as preservatives. They are linked to cancer, especially breast cancer, and have a mild estrogenic affect. Parabens have been shown to interfere with sperm formation. Look for ‘methyl-‘, ‘ethyl-‘, ‘propyl-‘, ‘butyl-‘, and ‘isobutyl-‘ -paraben. (1)

phthalates – These hormones, often added for fragrance, are also linked to cancer. They mimic estrogen in the body, influencing hormone-related cancers, PMS, premature menopause and infertility. There is also a suspected relation to obesity (1). Often, phthalates are just listed as ‘fragrance’ (or related terms), so look for products that specifically say ‘phthalate free’.

sodium laureth sulfate – A detergent and foaming agent that’s classified as a ‘moderate to severe’ eye irritant. This contains small amounts of 1,4-dioxane (see below) and may combine with other chemicals to form nitrosamines, very powerful carcinogens.(4)

sodium lauryl sulfate – Another detergent and strong surfactant, this is implicated in a whole slew of health issues, including skin irritation, induced canker sores, and hair loss. Also can combine with other chemicals to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.(5)

1,4-dioxane – A known carcinogen, nephrotoxin (liver and kidney), and hepatotoxin (blood) (4). Look for ingredients containing ‘PEG’, ‘-xynol’, ‘ceteareth’, ‘oleth’, and other ethoxylated ‘eth’ chemicals (1).

Animal Testing – This practice is the industry standard, but is not required by law. This unnecessary process has been repeatedly shown to fail at predicting human-chemical response. Remember that a product may say ‘no animal testing’ or show the crossed out bunny logo (bottom left), but this only refers to the finished product. It does NOT mean that individual ingredients weren’t independently tested. Always look for the jumping bunny logo (bottom right), which means totally, entirely, 100% cruelty free.

This is just the beginning, but it’s a really good place to start. Avoid these additives and you’ll be avoiding a lot of toxic exposure. For advanced reading and more information, check out the following links:

The Dirty Thirty: 30 chemicals linked to cancer.

Caring Consumer: for a list of companies that DO NOT test on animals, and a list of companies that DO test on animals

Skin Deep: an online database that matches the ingredients in over 25,000 products against 50 toxicity databases, resulting in the most comprehensive safety information on personal care products.

I don’t know about you guys, but I am a lotion fiend. I apply a hefty helping, head to tippy toes, at least once a day. So it’s important to me – for my body and for the environment – that the goo I choose to use is up to par.

And so I’ve spent the past many months in testing – rotating lotions, recording notes. I’ve squeezed and squirted and sniffed and slathered all sorts of salves, and now I present to you: my findings!


The Great Lotion Face-Off, 2009

I am not sponsored by or affiliated with any of these companies; I paid for products in full.

Products were selected via these criteria:

1. Must be widely available, ‘common’ nationwide in the US (sorry foreign readers!) and online (at least there’s that!)
2. Must be widely attainable – under $12 for a standard sized bottle
3. Must contain only vegan ingredients* and must not be tested on animals
4. Must be ‘natural’ and free of harsh/harmful chemicals

*one exception, noted

Avalon Organic Botanicals Lavender Hand and Body Lotion

~$10.99 / 12 oz

Available at: Trader Joes, various natural stores, and online

Notes:

• no parabens
• no petroleum-based ingredients
• no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate
• no synthetic fragrance or color
• carries the leaping bunny logo

My Experience: This lotion has a delightful lavender fragrance, but it is strong. The consistency is pretty thick as well, more like a hand cream than a body lotion. Considering its high price tag and strong fragrance, I think this would be best for a guest bathroom hand lotion, or something else along those lines.

Trader Joe’s Moisturizing Cream: Extra Dry Formula

~$5.99 / 16 oz

Available at: Trader Joes

Notes:

• none

My Experience: This stuff’s so thick, it sits on my skin like putty. I don’t feel like I even really absorb much, but it sure is a pain in the butt getting dressed after I put it on. I had to hang out for a while, air drying, which is fine on slow-start days but if I’m in a hurry it’s just no good. There’s nothing more uncomfortable than the feeling of clothing clinging to sticky arms and legs. Amiright?

Also, it says it’s unscented, but really it has that ‘lotion’ smell. My 0.02¢ : If it’s gonna stink anyway, you might as well add a bit of pleasing aroma.

I would not buy this again.

Desert Essence Fragrance Free Organics Body Lotion

~$8.99 / 8 oz

Available at: Natural markets everywhere, and online

Notes:

• organic
• wheat and gluten free
• no parabens or pthalates
• no petrolium-based ingredients
• no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, or other ‘harsh preservatives’
• no artificial colors

My Experience: This lotion was totally ‘meh’. It wasn’t too thick and it wasn’t too thin. It wasn’t too oily or too watery. It wasn’t bad . . . but it wasn’t very memorable either. And again, ‘unscented’ should mean unscented, not ‘icky lotion smell’.

I would probably buy this again . . . if I had to.

Burt’s Bees Radiance Body lotion*

*this product is not vegan, but it is ‘beegan’. It contains no animal products aside from bee byproducts, in this case royal jelly and beeswax. I am vegan and endorse using vegan products exclusively.

~$9.00 / 6 oz

Available at: Many major drugstores, natural markets, and online

Notes:

• paraben and pthalate free
• ‘99.21% natural’
• package from 22% post-consumer recycled plastic

My Experience: Oh, Burt’s Bees. The ubiquitous, ever present ‘natural’ option in your local drug store. And good for them – they’ve broken down a lot of barriers, made natural products accessible to a lot more people. It’s just a shame they sold to Clorox™, and that most of their products aren’t vegan (I guess, to be fair, it’s in the name). Anyways, this was some of my ‘pre-gan’ lotion, but I figured I’d include it here. I know many of my readers are not vegan, and many live in less eco-friendly regions. I do appreciate BBs’ influence in the marketplace – they’re everywhere!

But alas, this lotion sort of blows. It’s very thin, almost runny, and it goes on really greasy. Like, really really greasy. Like oil-slick-limbs, I-need-to-pat-myself-dry-before-dressing sort of greasy. One cool thing though – it contains natural mica, a glittery mineral, that makes your skin sparkle in the sunlight. So fabulous! A+ feature in a B- product.

ShiKai Cucumber Melon Hand and Body Lotion

~$7.99 / 8 oz

Available at: Natural markets everywhere, and online

Notes:

• many organic ingredients
• pharmaceutical grade ingredients whenever possible (as opposed to cosmetic grade)
• all natural fragrances
• carries the leaping bunny logo

My Experience: I really dig this company, and use their platinum shampoo to keep my hair so fiercely white. Unfortunately, the lotion didn’t quite measure up. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either. The odor was a bit too saccharine for my liking, and the texture of the balm was rather oily. It was thin and left a bit of a greasy film on my skin. Nothing as bad as that dang Burt’s Bees, but still not so fun. It’s too bad – the price sure is nice.

J/Â/S/Ö/N. Cocoa Butter Lotion & 84% Aloe Vera Lotion

~$6.99 / 8 oz

Available at: Natural markets everywhere, and online

Notes:

• paraben free
• many organic ingredients
• packaged in recycled, recyclable plastic
• carries the leaping bunny logo

My Experience: I liked both of these, but I found the cocoa butter to be more pleasing than the aloe vera. If you haven’t noticed yet, I’m a stickler for texture – not too thick or thin, not too gummy or greasy. The cocoa butter is just right, and the aloe vera is almost there, just a bit on the oily side. My biggest complaint were the odors, neither of which was very inviting. I love me some cocoa butter (it was my old standby – that giant cheap drugstore tub – before I went ‘natural’), and I love the smell of the stuff. The J/Â/S/Ö/N variety has a faint cocoa butter under-scent, but it’s obscured by a harsh, unnatural top note. Not enough to turn me off forever, but definitely enough to knock it out of first place. But bonus – this is some of the cheapest natural lotion out there!

Nature’s Gate Papaya Moisturizing Lotion & Hemp Moisturizing Lotion

~$9.99 / 18 oz

Available at: Natural markets everywhere, and online

Notes:

• paraben and pthalate free
• colorant free
• packaged in recyclable containers

My Experience: Ohmygod the papaya smells SO good. This is hands down my favorite lotion. It’s the *perfect* consistency, smooth and soft and quickly absorbed by the skin. No hanging around trying to air dry, and no desire to wipe off excess greasies. It’s awesome, and it smells so good I want to eat it. On top of that, it’s one of the cheapest options! My co-op sells it in bulk (score!), but even if you source it the standard way, it’s the same price as the others for roughly twice as much lotion. We have a winner!!!

I’m lucky enough to live in Portland, where we have a loud, proud and active vegan community. So active in fact, that they’ve been organizing the Let Live NW Animal Rights Conference, which will take place here in Portland beginning June 26th. And gearing up for the event, which is an enormous undertaking and quite costly I’m sure, the community has been fundraising and benefit sale-ing like crazy. Go team!

This Saturday was a big one down at the Vegan Mini Mall, with Sweet Pea, Food Fight!, and Herbivore all promising to donate a portion of their sales to the conference. And over at Scapegoat Tattoo, they were offering an incredible special: $30 Tattoos for the Let Live Foundation!

How could I resist? A vegan tattoo with a vegan theme by a vegan artist, all to benefit a vegan awareness event? Yes please! 

So this is my new tattoo, small and sweet and totally, totally perfect. 

I think it suits me well, don’t you?

Massively special thanks to Brian at Scapegoat Tattoo for the awesome job and impromptu sit-in. If any readers are ever in P-town, you’ve gotta look these guys up. They’re the best!