Now that Spring is in full swing and (we hope) all the winter germs are gone, it’s time to clean out your medicine cabinet. Anything expired? Anything with icky ingredients like parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, phthalates or aluminum? Toss ’em out and “green” your medicine cabinet with earth-friendly, animal-friendly and human-friendly products. Check out our reviews for some inspiration.
Radius | organic ginger citrus coconut toothpaste
HE SAID: Okay, this one freaked me out a bit the first time I tried it because I was pretty sure I was attempting to clean my teeth with foot lotion. Fortunately, this toothpaste just has an unusual balm-like consistency. It had a pleasant fruit taste, but it didn’t seem to have much in the way of grit. I wish I had more time to review this product so that I could report the long-term effects of brushing with coconut oil.
He gave it: ★★★
SHE SAID: Well, that was quite an unusual toothpaste! First of all, the coconut oil was very firm, which made squeezing the tube similar to a wrestling match – one that I was clearly losing. I wish I had lost, because brushing the bland, oily-pasty substance on my teeth was not pleasant. I hope it really does detoxify and support gum health, because it sure didn’t freshen anything. I needed to brush 10 minutes later with something minty.
She gave it: ★★
Schmidt’s | ylang-ylang and calendula natural deodorant
HE SAID: I get the old song “He’s So Fine” by The Chiffons stuck in my head every time I see something with ylang -ylang fragrance in it. I put this deodorant to the ultimate test…manual labor. I applied it in the morning on a day of running around and moving heavy boxes, and by the end of the day I still smelled “so fine.” I smelled fine enough to make any girl wish she were mine, “do-lang, do-lang, do-lang…”
He gave it: ★★★★
SHE SAID: We’ve been making our own deodorant for years, but we always have to scoop it out of a little jar. An actual stick is much more convenient, so I was excited to try this. Other than the ylang-ylang smelling like a cross between a jasmine flower and commercial bathroom cleaner, this worked great! It kept the funk away well into the next day. Beware of residue, though – no wearing a little black dress with this.
She gave it: ★★★★
Essential Oxygen | peppermint brushing rinse 
HE SAID: The primary ingredient in this mouthwash is hydrogen peroxide, which did a wonderful job at deep cleaning every corner of my mouth, and had a surprising foamy effect when I spit it out. The rest of the ingredients read like a recipe for stove-top potpourri: lemon, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus. But don’t worry, the flavor is extremely mild.
He gave it: ★★★★★
SHE SAID: When you find a product that can nearly erase the fact that you just had garlicky Chinese food for dinner, buy it immediately! My mouth definitely felt fresh, clean and minty after a quick 30-second rinse. It’s perfect for battling the dreaded morning “dragon” breath too!
She gave it: ★★★★
EO Everyone | exfoliate
HE SAID: Everyone…needs to exfoliate more. This Everyone face scrub is a convenient way to help get rid of those pesky blackheads and blemishes. It had a pleasant fruit and floral fragrance and an adequate grit, and my face felt smooth and hydrated after. But, can I tell you a secret? Plain old baking soda is just as good at exfoliating and costs a fraction of what this does. Shhh, don’t tell anyone I told you that.
He gave it: ★★★★
SHE SAID: Microbead-free is key when it comes to exfoliants – those plastic beads are polluting our lakes and wildlife. Instead, Candelilla wax provides the scrub action here. I loved how super creamy and luxurious this felt on my face. It was moisturizing and gentle enough for daily use. My skin felt smooth and refreshed.
She gave it: ★★★★
EcoDent | Cinnamon VeganFloss
HE SAID: Nothing quite as exciting as writing a review for dental floss. I mean, if I had to review one item for the rest of my life, I’d pick dental floss. I hope you’re picking up my sarcasm, because I’m laying it down pretty thick. All jokes aside, this tooth cleaning rope was great. It was thin enough to get between teeth easily, and strong enough to hold up through a full flossing session, which is better than most other flosses.
He gave it: ★★★★★
SHE SAID: Why worry about “greening” your floss? Over 700 million plastic containers end up in landfills every year! This vegan floss is bee-friendly (bees need all the help they can get right now) and came in a recyclable paper box. Although the floss seemed thin, it worked just as good as any other brand I’ve tried. The only negative is that I couldn’t taste any cinnamon flavor.
She gave it: ★★★★
Product reviews by our eco-conscious couple John and Jennifer Burkhart.
See more product reviews at greenlivingaz.com/hgsg
