Happy Earth Day — Guide to Earth-Conscious Beauty, Health, and Fun
On Earth Day or any day of the year
“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” Ladybird Johnson
Happy Earth Day. Also, let’s make every day Earth Day.
Light Years Ahead (LYA) and Everything Branding public relations firms recently reached out to me with several companies they represent. I had the opportunity to choose products to review with Earth Day in mind.
I was given these products for review consideration. I usually skip over PR inquiries because I don’t believe in what they represent, but LYA and Everything Branding represent brands I’m genuinely interested in trying and possibly incorporating into my daily life.
I’m thankful to LYA and Everything Branding for sending me some of these fun products for review and happy to share my user experience with you.
Let’s make an effort to support earth-conscious products and companies.
Style
Coop+Park Upcycled Handbag
“We give textile waste a chance to realize its wildest dreams of a new life with you. Fun and functional, we strive to let these fabrics free. Why let them mope around in a landfill?” — Mission
This chic boutique handbag is upcycled from carefully selected used denim jeans.
The details are the icing on the cake: a grommeted keychain hole at the top of the bag and more grommets for the detachable (and adjustable) canvas strap. A few snaps to better hold the bag shut when on the go.
Mine is packed with a couple books, crossword puzzles, and my wallet when we go on day trips.
The price point is high fashion (to me at least) around $150, however it’s sturdy, upcycled, and beautiful. A great treat for yourself or someone you care about.
Products range from $28-$150.
Beauty
Mychelle Tinted 3-in-1 Super Serum (Sunscreen Drops) $28
“Creators of the Clean Skincare Movement; making highly effective products inspired by nature.”
For younger skin, it’s probably better. Also for light sweat days. I love the idea but… the first time I wore it, I smeared it on thick and noticed it creasing in my middle-aged wrinkles.
The 2nd time, I used a lighter touch and liked the results much better.
This is a liquid product in a glass container with a dropper, which took a bit of getting used to. It’s messy if you aren’t careful, but I think the trade-off is worth it to scrap plastic.
SPF 30.
Dental Hygiene
Canary
Prices listed below
“As parents & earthlings we have decided that it is no longer acceptable to stand by & watch the trash build up around the earth and pile up into the future of our children. Our oceans are full of islands of plastic trash & less than 5% of plastic is actually recycled! It’s time to clean up where we clean up.
Canary was born out of a desire to make the purge of plastics fun, accessible & unexpected with conscious personal & home care products that kick ass.”
Toothpaste Tabs $8
To use these tabs, chew one tiny little, tasty circle and start brushing. It has a surprisingly good foam once you chew and brush. I like mint; my daughter likes watermelon. Then you brush your teeth as normal. Refill packs are available for the glass container. I’m all about innovative ways to cut down on waste. Go, Canary!
Handsoap/container $15 for starter kit
The glass container for Canary’s hand-soap is sleek, stylish, and functional. It’s reusable and the card book soap packaging is recyclable. The idea to use slivers of soap in recyclable paper packages is genius. However, I don’t particularly like the soap. It foams well, but doesn’t suds up well, and the fir/ has a medicinal scent that isn’t for me.
GuruNanda Mouthwash Drops $12.99
“At GuruNanda, we bridge the gap between the time-tested ancient wisdom of Ayurveda and the clinical science-based of the West.”
My daughter has been gravitating to these mouthwash drops since they arrived in the mail.
Which got me to try them. I love the clove taste.
However, she says it has a strange aftertaste. I’d make sure you like all the ingredients used before purchasing.
One of the ingredients is cloves, which I love, but may be too strong a flavor for some.
I’ll be reviewing more GuruNanda products in May.
Dr Plotka Toothpaste & Toothbrushes (Mouth Watchers)
Prices listed below
“Mission: To Make Life Healthier With Unique Dental Hygiene Products And Services Combining Superior Quality And The Very Latest Technology.”
Swoon!!! Surprise favorite. I have sensitive teeth and gums and love the gentle toothpaste and the brush feels so soft and effective with its different heights of bristles.
I have sensitive and stained teeth. I look forward to using this toothpaste. I don’t think I could say that about any other toothpaste I’ve ever used.
The travel toothbrush has a great foldable design that keeps your toothbrush clean.
Toothbrushes: about $5 each and last; recommended to replace every 3 months
Travel toothbrush: about $6 each
Toothpaste: $4.99
Check out the website for more products and pricing.
Snacks / Drinks
Confetti Snacks
About $3-$5
“Confetti is a mission led snack company that crafts scrumptious award winning snacks that are nutrient dense and bursting in plant goodness. We are committed to upcycle ugly produce, and to end hunger in the poorest parts of the world.”
I like the idea behind these packaged superfoods, but not all of the flavors are for me. My family tends not to like “hippy-style” foods, so it was a miss for them. I tried orange, mushroom, veggie chips, and tandoori. While I enjoyed them, the flavors are rather strong for me, and I love spice. In our household, this would be a once-in-a-while packaged superfood snack for just me.
Every Day Dose (EDD) Mushroom Coffee
About $40/Bag which contains 30 servings
“It’s Coffee. But Better.
Everyday Dose combines the classic coffee flavor you know and love with functional mushrooms, collagen protein, and nootropics to promote focus, energy, immunity, and gut health. No crash. No B.S.”
I found this through a friend several months ago. I love the flavor. I got sweet swag when I signed up for a monthly subscription. I get compliments on my mushroom travel mug and the hand frothed is the best one I’ve ever used.
After a couple months, maybe less, with this product, I quit craving caffeine throughout the day. I love this product and the company seems intentional and down to earth.
I like mixing my EDD with “Sex Dust” cocoa by MoonJuice…
MoonJuice
“Our strict criteria help protect the natural environment and its stewards. From sowing seeds to extraction, we commit to regenerative practices and wild-harvesting sustainably. We partner with people that monitor their native plant population and hand-harvest without disrupting the ecosystem. We never formulate with any endangered plants. By signing long-term contracts and contributing to the local communities’ infrastructure, our partners go well beyond industry standards to guarantee equitable partnerships with farmers.”
This is another company I came across on my own. They are earth conscious and describe how so in detail on their website. One of my favorite things about this company is glass jars and minimal packaging for refills.
Sex Dust $38
I bought this because it’s a no sugar cocoa. I add it to my Dose in the morning with oat milk and CBD tincture. After frothing, it tastes like I went to a coffee shop.
SleepyOm $38
This powder has three different forms of magnesium and L-theanine. My body loves its relaxing effect when taken a bit before bedtime.
Gardening
Renee’s Garden Seeds
Various prices
“First and foremost, Renee’s Garden is a company run by gardeners, for gardeners. It is our way to spread the joy of gardening as a meaningful, productive and satisfying activity that connects us to each other and the earth.”
Many years ago, I discovered Renee’s to be the most dependable, organic seed option. I became an affiliate during Covid. Their website is beautiful and their mission is all about positive interactions with earth. Gardening is a great way to develop more love and respect for the home we all share.
Cannabis — Medical/Recreation
Blazy Susan
“Blazy Susan wouldn’t exist without YOU, so we take pride in giving back to the amazing community. As a brand, we stand for equality and empowerment. We know that the community and industry we are a part of is often unfairly judged and criticized, as are its members. We hope to be a glowing example of how to operate and lead the way in this uncharted territory.”
This is a conscious cannabis company. I admit it still feels like breaking a social norm when I write about cannabis. However, I’ve used medical marijuana and CBD over the past few years for pain management and am grateful for the current access. Blazy Susan makes sturdy, fun products for the more frequent imbiber. I was given a pink Fanny pack ($27.99), Rolling Tray ($29.99) sturdy, practical, and various-sized prerolls (wide range of prices).
The prerolls are pretty and have a lovely slow burn and high-quality feel.
I’m happy to stigma-bust along with Blazy Susan.
Aimée Brown Gramblin is the founder of Age of Empathy. She became a memoirist in her younger years and is writing the stories out now in middle age. A regular contributor to AOE and The Memoirist, Aimée is also a late-blooming pop-culture enthusiast; she’s a contributor to FanFare and The Riff. With a minor in art history, she occasionally publishes art-centric nonfiction.
