March 2019 - Life of an Earth Muffin

Should I Get a Menstrual Cup? – Pros and Cons

Posted on March 26, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! As I use a natural form of birth control, I am still plagued by my period every month. 😬 While I wouldn’t say it is the highlight of my month, I am grateful that my cycle is almost always regular/predictable using my Femometer. Ever since the start of my journey towards zero waste, I have been toying with the idea of getting a menstrual cup as it has been one of my major failures so far… I still have not made up my mind yet, so I wanted to share my personal pros and cons of using a menstrual cup with you all today! 👍

Pros
~Saves A LOT of waste: Just think about how many pads/tampons you use during one cycle of your period… And then multiple that by 12 months…. And then however many years you have had your period. That is a TON of waste. A menstrual cup is a great reusable alternative that diverts waste from heading to the landfill (and thus, damaging the planet).

~Less money!: While one menstrual cup might seem a bit pricey (they are usually around $40), they last for multiple years… Which will save you $$!

~Needs less attention throughout your period: Instead of having to change your pads/tampons throughout the day, a menstrual cup can stay in for 12 hours. That is a lot of time that you don’t need to worry about any leakages!

~More natural and free from chemicals: Did you know that our periods only smell because of the chemicals in our pads/tampons and the fact that the blood is exposed to the air? Learning that fact made me want to switch to a cup right away, as I am always down for cutting back on the chemicals that are exposed to my body. Plus, smelling nice is always a bonus 😛

~Easy to use: You basically just insert it like you would with a tampon, which makes it easy for anyone to use!

~Easy to sanitize: After each cycle, you can sanitize your cup by boiling it water (but not for too long or the plastic could warp!).

Cons
~Easy to insert and remove?: While I say it is “easy to use” in theory, I am pretty sure it would take me quite a bit of time to figure out how to use it… I am also pretty scared that I might have an issue removing the cup… But, I definitely think that I would be able to learn how to insert and remove it correctly!

~A bit more messy: When you change your menstrual cup, you need to dump out the blood into the toilet, wash it, and then re-insert. This is one of the main reasons I haven’t purchased one yet, as I currently live in a dorm with public restrooms. I think it would be difficult to change/clean the cup if you don’t have your own place with your own bathrooms. 😬

~Can mess with implants/IUDs: While this doesn’t pertain to me (as I use the Femometer as my birth control method!), I thought I would include this for others. Apparently, if you have an IUD or another implant in, a menstrual cup can mess with the strings and can possibly pull it down from where it is supposed to be… Just talk to your doctor to make sure using a menstrual cup is a good idea!

~Hard to find the right fit?: There are a bunch of different types of cups, and some people have a hard time finding one that gives them the right fit… I suggest lots of research beforehand!

What are some pros and cons of using a menstrual cup that I missed?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Charcoal Tooth Powder ft. Primal Pit Paste! 😁

Posted on March 21, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! My journey towards living zero waste has introduced me to so many great companies along the way… I’ve actually been astounded by how many firms are starting to create products that are both natural/chemical-free (and therefore good for your body!) and create less waste. After writing about my failures to find a zero waste deodorant in this post, I stumbled upon Primal Pit Paste (now known as Pretty Frank). Not only does this company create deodorants in glass containers (aka super low waste!), it also has a bunch of other products like tooth powders.

I decided that I wanted to test out one of their deodorants, their Tough Teeth toothpaste powder, and their Charcoal Whitening tooth powder. As I am waiting until my current deodorant and toothpaste runs out to try those first two products (yay for not wasting products 😉), I thought I would share my experience with the Charcoal Whitening tooth powder with you all today! Let’s get right into it! 🎉

First off, the glass container that the powder comes in is actually larger than I expected – there is so much product in it for only $11! Shipment was extremely fast and the box (and the brown paper package filler) were all recyclable. 🙌 The only downside that this packaging has is that the glass container was wrapped in a huge seal of plastic… While I know this is to make sure no precious powder gets out in the mail, I was just hoping that this product would be fully zero waste.

Overall, this product was SUPER easy to use – and it definitely worked! All you need to do is wet a toothbrush, scoop some of the powder onto the brush, brush your teeth until they are coated, let it sit for two minutes, and then brush/rinse away the powder. As the main whitening ingredient is activated charcoal, your teeth turn a hilarious shade of black which is the perfect opportunity to snap a photo and send to your friends (I may or may not be guilty of that 😝).

Before using this product, I was interested to see if I would be able to tell if it was working or not… And you definitely can! The first time you use it your mouth feels tingly as the product ingredients start working, which is a great way to know that something is actually going on! However, as there are only 8 ingredients in the powder it gives you a sense of relief that you aren’t damaging your teeth/gums/mouth like other chemical whitening procedures (which tend to be quite painful). Plus, I actually have noticed a difference in the color of my teeth! My teeth were never extremely yellow or anything, but they are definitely more white now!

To sum up, I would definitely recommend this product if you are looking for some sort of natural teeth whitening solution! I have been using it about 2-3 times a week to start out, but you can use it more or less as needed. 😀 For the price, the results, and the low waste product itself, Primal Pit Paste definitely created a win with this sustainable charcoal tooth powder! 🎉

Would you ever try a whitening tooth powder?

*The Primal Pit Paste products were sent to me for free, but all opinions are my own! 🙂*

Love,
Jenna ♥

The Misconceptions About Living “Zero Waste”

Posted on March 14, 2019January 16, 2024

Hey earth muffins! Even though my journey towards living a zero waste lifestyle started less than a year ago, I have heard so many misconceptions about being “zero waste” from friends, family, and strangers when I talk about my progress! While this isn’t surprising (as many people aren’t familiar with the concept of living without making waste), I thought it would be informative to share some of
the most common things I have heard to dispel some of the major rumors. 😀 Let’s jump right into it!

1. Most “zero wasters” DO make trash – Being absolutely zero waste is quite the feat, so many people aim to be as zero waste as possible… But yes, this does mean trash is created! And no, this does not mean that people aren’t real or good “zero wasters” if they create some waste. The whole point of the lifestyle is to limit your trash output as much as possible! 👍

2. The mason jar trash can is not ideal for everyone – I have seen so many articles about that one girl/guy in the inner city who is able to fit all their trash from the past twelve years in a mason jar… Good for them (because that is quite the feat!), but that is not the end goal for everyone who calls themselves “zero waste”.

3. Being zero waste is “weird” or people will look at you differently – Again, maybe they will… But I have only been met with positive reactions when I ask for a drink without a straw or bring my own bag into a store. People are generally interested and even excited to learn about what lifestyle I am trying to live. If your friends judge your for trying to help the planet are they truly your friends?

4. You don’t need to throw everything away and buy zero waste alternatives – That is actually quite the opposite of the lifestyle! Many Instagram photos romanticize the collections of zero waste products that a true zero waster should have, but the whole point is to make the belongings you have right now last until they NEED to be replaced. At that point you can then buy into products with the sustainable aesthetic.

Check out my Living a Lower Waste Lifestyle 101 or 10 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Consumption for my top choices on sustainable products! 😊

5. It takes too much time to be zero waste – It takes time to do anything right? But as soon as you change your habits to be more sustainable, you spend the same amount of time doing the things you have always been doing (minus the endless hours spent retail shopping but that I personally haven’t missed 😉)!

6. The zero waste lifestyle costs more money – I mean, it could be if you make it that way (I guess) but I have found the opposite! From shopping in bulk bins and thrift stores to reducing my spending on clutter in the home, I have saved a bunch of $$$ already.

7. One person being zero waste can’t make a difference – WRONG. Because of my actions my family, friends, and even strangers are more likely to re-think their choices. I’ve seen those around me make small improvements to be more sustainable, and in my eyes, baby steps are still steps! ❤

What other misconceptions have you heard about the zero waste community?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Review: Clean Faced Cosmetics Foundation Powder

Posted on March 5, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! I posted on my Instagram recently that I purchased the Clean-Faced Cosmetics Foundation Powder in the shade “Light”. After using their zero waste mascara religiously (and featuring it in my How to Use Cake Mascara post), I thought that I should try out their powder and see how I like it to continue on my journey towards zero waste. After using it for a month or so, I wanted to share my thoughts with you all today 😃

Pros:
~Keeps me matte almost all day: I was worried that a natural product wouldn’t work like a “normal” powder, but this keeps my skin matte almost all day! 👍 It definitely does his job!
~Perfect amount of coverage: I don’t like a lot of coverage, so this powder is the perfect one for me. If you are used to a lot of coverage I would suggest using a foundation as well, but it can definitely be used by itself.
~Made with wayyyyy less ingredients/chemicals: This powder has three components (kaolin, tapioca starch, and cocoa powder) versus the 27 in the Neutrogena Skin Clearing Mineral Powder (aka the old powder I used to use).
~Feels better on my skin: I don’t know if it was the Neutrogena powder specifically, but my skin never felt that great when I was wearing powder. My pores felt suffocated, so I am so happy that this one feels so light on my face! 🎉
~Price: You literally cannot go wrong with a powder that is less than $10!!!
~Doesn’t break me out: Maybe this goes back to the pores being suffocated, but this powder helps keep my skin clear (which I of course appreciate!). I have had sensitive skin my whole life, so it was super exciting that I found a powder that doesn’t make me breakout.

Cons:
~A bit tricky to use: The powder is loose and comes in a metal tin which makes it a bit difficult to use. However, after you figure out the way that works for you this isn’t an issue at all. 😁
~Often lose product when you open the tin: Again, this goes back to how it is packaged… Especially if you travel and the powder gets moved around, you will lose a bit of powder when you open the tin. To counter this, I have found that hitting it on the counter a few times allows it to settle.

Overall, I would definitely suggest you check out the Powder Foundation from Clean-Faced Cosmetics! I think it is an excellent powder in general AND you get to be sustainable while using it (truly a win win)!