Beauty Archives - Page 8 of 9 - Life of an Earth Muffin

How to Zero Waste Your Period ❣️

Posted on August 21, 2019August 5, 2024

Hey earth muffins! While my “How to Zero Waste Your [insert room here]” series was originally supposed to only focus on certain rooms of the home, I really wanted to write about periods today (don’t ask me why 😆). I have tackled everything from the laundry room to the kitchen in my “How to Zero Waste Your —” series, but periods happen every single month for 50% of the population… That is a lot of waste that can be avoided! Here are some great ways for you to mitigate your own waste during that time of the month:

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1. Menstrual cups – After going through the pros and cons of a menstrual cup here on Life of an Earth Muffin, I decided to purchase a Lena cup for Plastic Free July. If you read my Waste Audit at the end of the challenge, you will know that I struggled to get the cup to work for me… But menstrual cups are definitely one of the best options for a zero waste period! I am continuing to try out this cup, and I am extremely hopeful that I will be able to make the switch eventually. 😊

2. Reusable pads – Just like reusable diapers for babies, these cloth pads can be washed and washed again and again. 👍 Disposable pads are often filled with chemicals, which can make your period smell unpleasant (it isn’t actually supposed to smell ladies!). You can purchase these reusable pads on many websites, but Amazon and Etsy both have a bunch of options for cheap prices.

3. Herbal remedies – Medicines like Midol and Tylenol can be helpful during your period, but these lead to plastic waste. Try to incorporate more natural ways to reduce menstrual cramps – like these herbal remedies from Our Blue Ridge House. A DIY heating pad made from an old sock filled with rice is another great way to reduce period pain.

4. Period panties – While these are more expensive than the other options (as you will need to purchase a few pairs to last for your period), you might want to make the investment. 🤔 I don’t know if I would personally like to “free bleed”, but it definitely would give you the freedom to not have to worry about your period during that time of the month!

5. Reusable tampon applicators – This is obviously not completely zero waste as you would need to still use tampons, but reducing the plastic of an applicator per each tampon is definitely a win! 🎉 This is similar to a menstrual cup as you would need to wash/sanitize it after each use to keep it bacteria free.

How do you try to reduce your waste on your period?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Tough Teeth Tooth Powder ft. Primal Pit Paste!

Posted on July 15, 2019June 18, 2024

Hey earth muffins! After struggling to find a low waste deodorant a few months ago, I stumbled upon Primal Pit Paste (now Pretty Frank) and their amazing selection of sustainable products. I have talked about both their Wild Woods Natural Deodorant and Charcoal Whitening Tooth Powder in the past, so I am excited to share my thoughts on P3’s Tough Teeth Tooth Powder with you all today! 😊

The first thing I obviously love about this product is that it comes in a glass jar. As I am on a journey towards being as sustainable as possible, this is a huge pro for me! The only negative I found about their packaging is that there is a band of plastic around the lid when it comes in the mail. 😕 While this makes it not fully “zero waste”, the jar can be reused or recycled after the product is used up, making it way more Earth-friendly than other fully plastic toothpaste tubes.

I also love that there are only 7 ingredients in this tooth powder: Kaolin Clay, Bentonite Clay, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Organic Peppermint Essential Oil, Sea Salt, Myrrh Powder, Organic Spearmint Essential Oil. When I started making more sustainable choices last summer, I realized just how many chemicals and un-natural substances I was putting in/on my body. This powder definitely makes me feel good about avoiding those nasty things 😍

The powder is super easy to use, and the small jar will last me quite a long time! Compared to using toothpaste from a tube, there is a small learning curve to figuring out how to use a powdered toothpaste. Here is what works best for me:

1. Wet your toothbrush

2. Dip the brush into the jar until there is a generous layer of powder covering it

3. Brush your teeth as normal (making sure to leave the faucet OFF as you brush 💧)

I was quite surprised how clean my teeth feel after using this product! I am curious to see if my dentist says anything to me after my visit next month… (*Will update this post if she does or not!*) The only downside I have found is that it does have a salty mint flavor that was a bit off-putting at first. However, I got used to this flavor after only a few brushes and it doesn’t bother me at all! 🙂

Overall, I have absolutely loved all the products I have used from Primal Pit Paste. This tooth powder is great, and I will definitely continue to use it. 🎉 What toothpaste are you currently using?

*The Primal Pit Paste products were sent to me for free, but all opinions are my own. The link to P3’s website is an affiliate link. 😊*

Love,
Jenna ♥

Review: Ethique Boost Hair Mask 🌸

Posted on June 21, 2019June 19, 2024

Hey earth muffins! As the summer humidity starts to set in, my hair usually goes through a period of being extremely dry. This probably hasn’t been helped by the fact that I have been doing some traveling recently and hotel air doesn’t agree with the frizz of my hair either… To give my hair some pampering, I decided to try out a hair mask from Ethique. 😊 As their brand fits perfectly with my mission towards living low waste, I will be sharing my experience with this product today!

The hair mask that I decided to try was in the “flavor” Boost (you can find it on their website for $13.95!). I featured their other mask, Bloom, in my Sustainable Gift Guide for Mother’s Day, but I figured a little boosting would be perfect for my hair right now. This product comes with two masks in a compostable box – wow, such a great way to reduce your waste!

Overall, I thought the mask was extremely easy to use. Just plop the adorable heart shaped product into a mug, pour 150 ml of boiling water over top, stir until smooth, and let it thicken for about 15 minutes. Then, apply to dry hair for 20+ minutes and rinse out in the shower. 👍

For me, the process was extremely easy; however, I found that 150 ml seemed like too much water. After only 15 minutes the mask was still a bit watery, but after letting it sit for longer it was fine to apply into my hair. Maybe the water was too hot? Or maybe I just added too much? I’d say shoot for about 130 ml 🙂

I think this hair mask did boost the shine of my hair, as it felt extremely soft after my shower. My hair tends to be on the greasier side, so I was glad that it didn’t seem to make my hair appear like it had more oil in it. I am excited to use the second hair mask in this package, and I love that I am able to pamper myself while still reducing my waste! 😁 I would definitely recommend checking out Ethique’s hair masks!

What are your favorite hair products?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Wild Woods Natural Deodorant ft. Primal Pit Paste!

Posted on June 5, 2019June 18, 2024

Hey earth muffins! Back in March I reviewed Primal Pit Paste’s Tough Teeth Charcoal Whitening Tooth Powder for you all. In that post, I mentioned that I was also excited to try out the company’s natural deodorant (especially since I LOVED the tooth powder). As Primal Pit Paste (now Pretty Frank) products come in glass jars, they fit perfectly with my journey to live low waste! 🎉 My old deodorant finally ran out, so I have been using the Wild Woods deodorant for about three weeks now – the perfect amount of time for an in-depth review 😁 Let’s jump right into it!

The Pros
*Easy to apply – While you can’t just roll it on like a typical deodorant, it is still so easy to apply! Using the small wooden stick that comes with the jar, you take out a pea sized amount and roll it between your fingers a couple of times to make it soft. Then, just rub into your armpit! I have found it easiest to apply my deodorant before I put on my shirt for the day as I can see where I am applying it 😊
*Smells amazing (and keeps ME smelling amazing!) – I don’t usually smell unless I am seriously sweating, but this deodorant has never let me down! 🎉 The Wild Woods scent is earthy and smells like a forest, and I love it!
*Dries fast and doesn’t become sticky during the day – Before switching to this product, I was using Tom’s of Maine deodorant. This would often become sticky during the day, so I am so thankful that this natural deodorant stays dry all day. You can’t even tell that it is there!
*Doesn’t stain clothes or leave residue – I was worried that it would leave white stains on my dark clothes… But it does nothing of the sort!
*Comes in a glass jar – In my Zero Waste Successes and Failures post, I mentioned that I was having a hard time finding a zero waste deodorant. While Tom’s of Maine was natural, it still came in a plastic container and there were no TerraCycle places near me to recycle it properly. Therefore, I LOVE that Primal Pit Paste products come in glass jars. I will be able to use the jar for something else after I finish up the product or recycle the glass.

The Cons
*Difficult to get the same amount each time – As you need a wooden stick to get the product out of the jar, it is hard to get the same amount each time. This isn’t a huge deal at all, but it was the only con I could think of! 😝

Overall, I would recommend checking out the Wild Woods deodorant from Primal Pit Paste (or any scent of their deodorants really!). As mentioned in my last review, I also still have a tooth powder that I haven’t been able to start yet (as I still have some of my toothpaste tube). Keep a lookout for a review of the tooth powder when I start using the product!

Have you tried anything from Primal Pit Paste? Will you give their products a try??

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

Love,
Jenna ♥

Review: Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo Bar

Posted on April 23, 2019August 18, 2023

Hey earth muffins! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday if you celebrated Easter this weekend 🐰 I got to spend some marvelous time with family, which was super great to relieve some stress during finals. 😀 At the end of January, I reviewed the Jumping Juniper shampoo bar from LUSH… After finishing that bar, I wanted to explore some other package free shampoos as part of my journey towards living a zero waste life. Ethique has some great zero waste products, so I decided to try out their Heali Kiwi bar. 😁 Here are my thoughts so far:

Pros:
~Fits nicely in my shower container: I mentioned in my How to Zero Waste Your Bathroom post that I have an Ethique container that keeps my shampoo bars/soaps dry in the shower. I love that the bars from Ethique fit perfectly in this!
~Sustainable: This bar is package free, which is amazing for the planet. I also love that the box it comes in is compostable 💚
~Smells nice: Compared to the Jumping Juniper bar, it smells a bit more earthy – but it still smells really good!
~Larger than LUSH bars and more cost effective: The bar at LUSH was $10.95 for 1.9 oz, which is about $5.76 per ounce of product. Compared to that, the Heali Kiwi bar can be bought on Amazon for $16 for 110 grams (which is about 3.88 oz). This means that you are only paying $4.12 per ounce!

Heali Kiwi (left) compared to Jumping Juniper

Cons:
~Doesn’t lather as well: I have found that this is a common problem with many organic and natural soaps so this isn’t a big deal for me… Just make sure to wash your hair well if you want to avoid grease! 👍
~Seems like it won’t last as long: Even though the product is larger than the bars at LUSH, it seems like it won’t last as long. The soap is softer than the hard bars of LUSH, which makes it more susceptible to water. Just make sure to keep it out of water to make it last as long as possible!

What shampoo are you currently using? Would you switch to a shampoo bar?

Love,
Jenna ♥

Should I Get a Menstrual Cup? – Pros and Cons

Posted on March 26, 2019June 18, 2024

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, 2019June 18, 2024

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 ♥

Review: Clean Faced Cosmetics Foundation Powder

Posted on March 5, 2019June 9, 2024

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, 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)!