by Suzi | Jan 1, 2019 | CLEAN BEAUTY, Product Reviews
Welcoming in the new year with a clean beauty box roundup for January! This month has some serious clean beauty boxes that are dropping. What a better way to welcome the new year then to treat yourself to some seriously great clean beauty products! I’ve got the pulse on the latest natural beauty boxes and I’m here to dish on them. I’ll be adding more as they come in- SO stay tuned!
Beauty Heroes January Discovery with Jane Scrivner products
I was so excited to try this brand out. I hadn’t tried anything that she’s made and I knew I was in for a special treat. Let’s just say I was not disappointed! I can’t wait to share all the details with you! But before I do, if you’re not familiar with Beauty Heroes Clean Beauty Box- allow me to introduce you here.
Jane Scrivner products are so adaptable. Going from in the spa treatment room to your counter sink at home. Her approach to skincare is both down to earth and results driven. She is known for her 5-A-Day Facial Routine. I love that her products are loved from such a wide variety of people. I couldn’t wait to dig into them!
Heroic Product: Cleansing Balm + Two Fluffy Cleansing Mitts- The heroic product is just that, heroic. It definitely stands out among other cleansing balms I’ve used. I just use about a dime size amount and rub in circular motions all over my skin. I then use the fluffy cleansing mitt, get it damp and wipe all the excess balm off my skin. I’m left with balanced skin, that feels hydrated but not oily. It feels like butter on the skin, it has such a great slip to it. Made with jojoba oil, beeswax and 9 essential oils, this is the first step in Jane’s 5-A-Day Facial Routine. If you struggle with dry skin- I can’t recommend this enough- such a great cleanser especially for dry winter months. Plus, who doesn’t want a fluffy cleansing mitt! This mitt is divine. I love slipping my hand in it to easily remove all the cleansing balm.
Sidekick: OO Cream- This cream is no sidekick in my opinion. It really stands on it’s own so well. It’s a bright golden orange hue from rosehip. I was so excited to see how this would stack up to other moisturizers. Well, I was impressed- very impressed. I’ve now been using this every night since I got it in the mail and can’t stop! It’s SO hydrating. Some creams leave your skin hydrated for a minute but this one lasts. It really sinks into the skin so nicely. I wake up in the morning and my skin still feels supple and moisturized, but not oily- I repeat not oily. Can I talk to you about the scent? I love the scent. It smells like vanilla- soothing and warm vanilla. It’s really an amazing product! If you’ve been looking for a cream to truly hydrate your skin in this winter season or any time- this is it. I can’t stop and won’t stop using it!
Best part is you can get this fabulous box right now for such a steal! This box is valued at $98 but you can snag it for $42.95. This really is such stellar box- I wouldn’t be surprised if they sell out! Hop on it now if you’re thinking of getting it. Get Beauty Heroes January Discovery here!
The Clean Beauty Box January Discovery Rescue.
One Love Organics Vitamin C Serum- So excited to see One Love Organics Vitamin C Serum. This serum is unlike anything I’ve used. It is a rich hearty face serum, that really delivers some serious skin nutrients. With plant ingredients like rosehip, baobab, and acerola + seabuckthorn that help bring the plant based vitamin c. Your skin will feel glowing and radiant! It sinks right into the skin and gives your face an overall soft hydrated feeling. The smell is very light too with subtle hints of rosemary. I apply this right before my oils, while my skin is slightly damp and it soaks right in. It’s a different formula too because it has 2 difference types of vitamin C. The first is green tea seed oil and the Vitamin E and ascorbyl palmitate. A double punch to help fight free radicals and keep your skin in tip top shape!
Henne Organics Luxury Lip Balm and Lip Mask- I have tried their lip balm in the past and loved it. It’s so nice that it’s in a stick form, making it easy to apply to the lips without getting your fingers all messy. Plus, it hydrates for a long time! The ingredients are amazing too. The lip mask is meant to be applied on the lips and left for 15-30 minutes. It is meant to rejuvenate your lips and give them a little tlc. With ingredients like sea buckthorn and evening primrose, your lips will literally be all ready for some serious smooching! I loved how hydrated my lips felt afterwards. Such a treat for the lips.
This box is perfect for the winter dry months when your skin could use some r&r. The box is valued at $131, but you can get it right now for $41.95! Such a great box and the price is amazing! Snag the The Clean Beauty Box here!
The Detox Box for January featuring The Beauty Chef.
Glow Inner Beauty Powder- This organic superfood blend was created by Carla Oates. She struggled with eczema and allergies and was finally able to find solutions after seeing a naturopath. After finding healing herself she created a line of probiotic rich superfoods. I love the connection she brings to glowing skin and whole nutrient dense foods. Her Glow Inner Beauty Powder is the perfect marriage of gut boosting superfoods and skin balancing nutrients. You can add this to smoothies, water, on top of yogurt, really the list is endless. The ingredients speak for themselves, from maqui berry, green tea powder, ginger and turmeric. The perfect antidote to kick off your new year full of health!
Collagen Inner Beauty Boost- This pairs perfectly with the Glow Inner Beauty Powder. Use it in smoothies, water or your fave dessert. Great for skin elasticity and overall firmness. A combination of zinc and vitamin c work together to help strengthen hair and nails. Also, helps to protect the skin from free radicals and environmental damage through antioxidants. It even helps the gut with powerful probiotics. You could say this little bottle does a lot!
This box is perfect to kick off your new year with a good dose of health! Snag the box before it’s too late. Grab The Detox Box here!
by Suzi | Dec 14, 2018 | CLEAN BEAUTY, CLEAN LIVING
I’ve rounded out 40 Natural Holiday Gift Ideas! Ok, so it’s less than two weeks until Christmas and if you’re anything like me you still haven’t wrapped up your holiday shopping. I know, shame on me but life’s been a bit hectic lately- can you blame a girl?! But I thought if I’m doing this, how many other people are doing the same thing. So I thought I would share some gift ideas that I’m gifting to my family and friends and some gift ideas that are just always winners. Plus, so many of the gift ideas can either be bought on Amazon- quick and easy or Pharmaca- and they’re always having sales! Basically, I’ve got your back this holiday season.
Pharmaca has all the top clean beauty brands but discounted!
Pharmaca- (Always having sales, and you can get clean beauty, kid’s toys and even herbs all in one place)
- Juice Beauty Brow Envy Gel- This eyebrow wand is amazing! Best eyebrow wand I’ve found in green beauty. I wear the color medium-dark.
- Inika Organic Makeup- This makeup brand is a cut above and their formulations are dreamy! Their mascara is awesome, their eyeshadow duos and baked foundation.
- ZuZu Luxe Liquid Liner- This liner is my fave! It’s inexpensive, stays put and comes in a variety of colors.
- Intelligent Nutrients Hair Spray- Ok, I’ve found another green beauty hair spray I can’t get enough of. It’s so good! And with Pharmaca’s sales a steal!
- John Masters Hair Paste- This hair paste my brother and hubs love! It is clean and budget friendly! Also, doesn’t give your hair the wet look.
- AER Vapour Deodorant- This deodorant is one of the best in green beauty and you can get it for a pretty good discount on Pharmaca!
- Melissa & Doug Toys- Pharmaca offers so many natural options for toys! We love this wooden house. My girls love using the keys for it.
- Stasher Bags- These silicone bags are my fave! I use them for anything and everything. They freeze well too. Say no to plastic and grab these instead!
- S.W. Basics Cream- These easy creams are nice to take with you on the go. Put one in your car, one in your purse, kitchen- hands will never be dry!
- RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek- These are one of the first multi-use products I tried in green beauty and I still can’t get enough- so versatile. Use on cheeks, lips and eyes.
Best organic and natural green beauty at Pharmaca.
Amazon- (Quick turnaround with Amazon Prime and best deals)
The Classic Eyeshadow Palette. Satin Powder Blush and Color Intense Lipstick.
Beautycounter- (All clean beauty in one place and they’re having a sale Dec. 15th-17th off holiday sets)
- Necessary Neutrals Palette- Love this eyeshadow palette! Best eyeshadows I’ve found in green beauty. The longevity is amazing!
- Highlighter Palette- This highlighter palette has 3 shades and is so gorgeous on anyone!
- Mini Lipgloss Vault- This lipgloss set is a great option to give as one gift or to break up into smaller gifts.
- Color Intense Lipstick Vault- This lipstick set is so fun! It has so many different shades you can try out- they’re hydrating and pigment is so rich.
- Instant Awakening Trio- I use the lotion before makeup application, the resurfacing mask every other night and the eye masks in the morning- perfect skincare set!
- Best of Beautycounter- This gives you a taste of the best of Beautycounter skincare products. It’s such a great gift idea for someone just getting started.
- Travel Size Cleansing Balm- A bestseller in Beautycounter- it works so well. Now you can try it for a little less money with the travel size before buying the full size.
- Counterman Kit- This is a men’s essential kit that comes in the coolest bag- any guy would be lucky to get it!
- Travel Body Essentials- I love anything travel friendly. Makes it so easy to grab when packing- this set is all the body products you need when on the road!
- Intense Moisture Body Duo- This set will keep your skin so hydrated throughout the winter! Such a great gift idea!
Holiday gift ideas galore! Kosas lipstick, Josh Rosebrook, True Botanicals and Aila nail polish.
Misc.- (Green Beauty/Bedding/Water Filter/Nontoxic Cookware)
See anything you’re going to snag as a gift?
by Suzi | Nov 19, 2018 | Beautycounter, CLEAN BEAUTY
I’m so excited to share why I decided to join Beautycounter! This post has been a long time coming. If you would have told me 6 months ago that I was going to be joining Beautycounter I would have laughed. For those of you who have followed me for a long time this may come as a big surprise to you. That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to share why I decided to join Beautycounter. To not only share why I changed my mind but also share more about Beautycounter and their mission- because they mission is great and something I had no idea about. I didn’t care to listen, read, or watch.If you don’t care about reading about why I joined and just want me to share my experience with the product- then scroll to the end! 🙂 I’ve got pics of me wearing the products! And my thoughts. Plus, don’t forget to shop right now! Beautycounter’s Black Friday Sale started today! They rarely have sales- like hardly ever, so this is pretty big. Shop 15% off sitewide plus, free shipping on orders of $50 or more! Shop here!
I want to share first why I used to be against Beautycounter:
- I didn’t like the MLM or direct sales model- whatever you want to call it. I’ve been pitched to about Beautycounter more than I can count. Some have been nice and thought out but others to be honest seemed really salsey and impersonal. It turned me off.
- They had ingredients in their products that I thought were bad. Specifically talc and phenoxyethanol. I’ve since done a deep dive into both and I’m no longer fearful of either. I’ll share more about it this below.
- All other green beauty bloggers around me were against it and so of course so was I. I guess you could say I followed the pack! Everyone has their standards and I can only make this decision for myself. It just feels good to make MY own educated decision though and have researched it. I think it’s easy to get swept up in things, and listen to what bloggers say as Bible. People think what I say is absolute all the time. I constantly want to encourage others to do their own research- us bloggers don’t know everything- far from it. We are all on a journey!
Overall, I didn’t give Beautycounter a chance. I didn’t read up on them, or even entertain conversations about them. I simply looked at some of their products on their site and that was it.
Ingredient Deep Dive- Phenoxyethanol and Talc
Phenoxyethanol- This is used as a preservative in products. If a product contains water or aloe, it needs a preservative otherwise mold, yeast and bacteria can grow. There is a lot of false statements about phenoxyethanol out there on the internet. Trust me- I’ve read them! Beautycounter uses a pure form of phenoxyethanol, which has been tested twice by Tufts University. They have also had 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide tested on their raw form and it came back negative. Phenoxyethanol is not bioaccumulative so it’s not something that builds up in your body like many chemicals can. Beautycounter only allows products to contain less than 1% of phenoxyethanol in all their products. They work with formulators to only use what’s absolutely necessary. I don’t know about you but I’ve had multiple green beauty products have mold in them! Preservatives have been made to be the villain. We need them in formulations. Obviously, there are good ones and bad. Would I recommend you use any brand that has a product that contains phenoxyethanol-no. It’s important to know the sourcing. I trust Beautycounter’s work and efforts to make sure they have a clean source and our third party testing to ensure it stays clean.
It’s also important to understand the studies done and the percentages used. Many people are citing studies that have used 100% phenoxyethanol! I don’t care what chemical you use, you’re going to have some negative impacts when used at that high of a dosage. Some reports also state irritation when using phenoxyethanol. I would say to check if the source is clean but to also see how much they’re using in a product.
Made Safe and EWG the two most credible third party non-toxic certifications enable phenoxyethanol to be used at less than 1%.
The thing I love and respect about Beautycounter is that they are constantly wanting to improve and find better solutions. They don’t claim to know it all! They are working with industry leaders to always find a newer list of preservatives to use. They have worked to create a Safer Preservative Challenge and Sustainable Chemistry Alliance. I would also be cautious of new preservatives that have come out on the market that claim to be clean when no research has been done on them. Let’s always keep asking questions!
Talc- I had thought talc was a big no, no since I went green 8 years ago. But I’ve quickly learned I was wrong. Talc isn’t bad, it’s the by product of talc- asbestos and other heavy metals that can be the problem. Beautycounter works only with a certified company that is asbestos free and they don’t stop there, they then third party test all their talc to ensure there’s no contamination. Once again, Beautycounter always takes their efforts to the next level!
My biggest piece of advice as I preach all the time as a green blogger is to do your own research and be your own advocate! Don’t just believe everything you read, hear or see.
Fast Forward several months and now I want to share why I decided to join Beautycounter and why I changed my mind. I thought about this and it really boiled down to 5 main things.
Third Party Testing-
For those who might not be aware of what third party testing is, let me explain. Third party testing is an independent organization that tests the product to ensure it is what it’s supposed to be. They make sure it’s safe and has the ingredients it’s supposed to have in it. For ex. Beautycounter had to recall some of their face cream back in 2017 because of a failed preservative and microbial growth. I don’t know any green/natural beauty brands that are third party testing their products! The FDA is so loose on regulations for beauty products. A company could manufacture a product and list the ingredients on the label but the ingredients could be different then what’s actually in the label- and no one would know.
Beautycounter’s mission is to create laws that would force companies to be accountable. To be honest, I really didn’t fully understand this or think it was a big deal when it came to beauty until my own health journey with hashimotos. I learned that heavy metals could be a trigger for my thyroid condition! I also had a doctor share her own journey with heavy metal toxicity and an autoimmune condition. I’m not sharing this to bring fear but to be aware. I’ve been in this space for a long time and I wouldn’t have thought about heavy metals in products before. Beautycounter tests their makeup line three times for 10 heavy metals before they put it out for the consumer. Since natural makeup contains many minerals from the earth, even though they’re natural, they still can carry a load of heavy metals. If you’re using these consistently that can produce a heavy metal load. The fact that Beautycounter third party tests all their products is huge. I literally know what’s in each product!
They aren’t just third party testing for heavy metals but for common toxic ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde, 1,4 dioxane, etc.
Counteract Coalition-
This coalition is pretty amazing! Beautycounter created this alliance of companies that supports the Personal Care Products Safety Act. If you’re not familiar with the bill it would require manufacturers to post complete label information about products online and force beauty companies to provide the Food and Drug Administration with information about the ingredients used in their products. The last time a bill was passed to regulate personal care products it was 1938! I think it’s time to start linking arms and make our voices heard.
Companies in the coalition are well known green beauty brands.
- Vapour Organics, Annamarie Skincare, Follain, OSEA, Rahua, Silk Therapeutics, S.W. Basics, Vinter’s Daughter, and TenOverTen to name a few. Beauty Counter unified everyone and created something so much more impactful than if everyone was on their own. There are power in numbers! I love that Beauty Counter isn’t trying to bring other companies down but create positive change together. I love the quote from founder Gregg Refrew-
I set out to get safer products in the hands of everyone, not to get Beautycounter products into the hands on everyone.
Beautycounter is creating change and that’s something I want to be a part of!
Wearing Beautycounter’s BC Red Color Intense Lipstick, Satin Powder Blush in Guava and The Classic Eyeshadow Palette in Ivory, Sahara and Copper.
Beautycounter Spreads The Clean Beauty Message-
Isn’t that what it’s all about? Getting the clean beauty message out! Beautycounter is pioneering this. For so long I was against one of the companies making the biggest impacts in the natural beauty industry. Instead of linking arms to join in the support to raise awareness I was fighting it. They have the resources and have set it up where people are getting educated and empowered to make better choices for themselves and their families. I want to be part of a movement that is supporting the clean beauty movement and women in business.
The amount of work they are doing to clean up the industry is amazing. You can literally get email updates on their advocacy work by signing up here!
We can do more TOGETHER!
Builds Community-
This is one of my favorite aspects of Beautycounter. The people you meet. Women seriously passionate about making a difference and sharing it with their friends and family. Beautycounter first and foremost wants to educate the consumer and the amount of materials and resources they share is amazing!
Learning from one another- that’s what it’s all about. Not, I know more than you, here’s what to think, but an open dialogue where we are always growing. People aren’t just detoxing their beauty but their lives. It opens up the conversation. When you have a community of women who are sharing together- good things happen. You can lean on one another.
Beautycounter Supports Women Building Businesses-
Ok, this point is one that I strongly believe in and I’m so passionate about. I love that women can create a business that fits their lifestyle. A business that can support their family. If you would have told me I would be in direct sales 6 months ago, I would have thought you were joking. But now I get it. When your passion lines up with it, it’s impossible to say no.
Gregg, the founder, set it up as direct sales because she wanted it to be personal and relational. She wanted to educate the consumer. She could have set it up to be a retail but she didn’t. She wanted consumers to know ingredients and to ask questions. That’s why she chose direct sales. The stories I’ve heard from women being able to support their families are definitely moving to say the least.
From being able to buy healthier food now for their family because of earning extra income through Beautycounter. To being able to take their family on a vacation or affording a mom to stay at home with her kids. Beautycounter has literally changed these women’s lives.
I recently watched a video where Gregg the founder shared why women need stop apologizing for being in direct sales. Why are we apologizing? Because we now can afford to live the lifestyle we want? To pay for those ballet lessons for our child or educate others about nontoxic products? It’s silly! We need to own it and realize the change we’re making!
Those are my 5 reasons why I joined Beautycounter. These are my why’s.
Beautycounter’s Classic Eyeshadow Palette, Guava Satin Powder Blush and Color Intense Lipstick in BC Red.
I also wanted to share with you some of the product I’ve tried and their bestsellers-
As I mentioned above, don’t forget to grab some product now! Beautycounter rarely has sales of any kind and their Black Friday sale starts today 12/20! It’s 15% off sitewide and free shipping over $50!
The products I’ve tried are their Classic Eyeshadow Palette, Satin Powder Blush in Guava and their Color Intense Lipstick in BC Red(this was a limited edition, but they have one super close to the color called Girl’s Night, it’s your classic red). I’ve been super impressed with the products! The performance is amazing. The eyeshadows are the best I’ve used in green beauty. They’re highly pigmented, and stay on the whole day! The blush is also highly pigmented and long lasting. Guava is the perfect pop of pink to warm up the cheeks. The lipstick color is 100! Literally, if you’ve followed me for a while you know I love me a good red lipstick and the BC red does not disappoint. It also lasts crazy long. It has a rich feel to it.
I’m going to be sharing my experience with other products too- follow me on Instagram to get the most up to date looks! Also, don’t forget to shop the Holiday Collection! From what I’ve been told, it’s a limited edition, and they only bring back a few select items. Shop Holiday here!
Here are some Best Sellers from Beautycounter:
Ok, that’s all my thoughts on why I joined Beautycounter for now! Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to head to Beautycounter’s website to shop some product and stock up for the holidays! I hope you feel informed, and educated. If you have any questions or want to become a consultant, feel free to email me at [email protected] I would love to have you on my team!
by Suzi | Oct 19, 2018 | CLEAN LIVING, DETOX YOUR HOME, Product Reviews
I finally rounded out the best nontoxic cookware! I have received this question so much within the last 6 months that I knew I needed to write a blog post. It’s crazy how many toxic chemicals can be lurking in cookware. It might not seem like a big deal but over time these chemicals add up and produce a toxic load!
So What’s In The Average Pot or Pan?
I’m sure you’ve either used nonstick pots or pans or heard of them. These pans may make it easy to cook your food with but unfortunately they carry dangerous toxic exposure as well! Nontoxic cookware usually contains this chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA. Science has shown that it can stay in human bodies for long periods of time. It has even shown to cause cancer in lab studies done on animals.
While cancer is nothing to bat an eye at, it also can cause infertility, liver damage, plus delayed development just to name a few other things. Of course PFOA isn’t the only ingredient you want to avoid in your cookware. Things like aluminum, plastic, lead, teflon, and cadmium. These all pose a serious risk to our health and should be avoided.
When living out a natural lifestyle one of the foundations is cooking your food. It’s no secret that when you cook your own food, you’re getting more nourishment usually then when going out. However, if the cookware we constantly use is leaching out harmful toxins we may be doing ourselves a disservice. As I mentioned earlier it’s the toxic load over time that really adds up. These chemicals are literally getting into the food we’re eating and then absorbed by our bodies.
Join the 5 Day Clean Living Challenge and start living your best natural life!
So What Is Safe?
There are some great options out there now when it comes to nontoxic cookware! I will say some of the cookware definitely are a little pricier than non-stick- however the investment is worth it. These pots and pans are going to last you a lot longer than many conventional pots and pans and won’t carry the toxic burden.
Favorites-
This was the first type of nontoxic cookware that I switched over too and I still love it. It really has been around forever and that’s one of the reasons I love it. It does take a little bit of time to get used to it but once you’ve worked with it you figure it out. I really love the Lodge cast iron pans. They’re easy to find at Target or you can order them on Amazon. They’re also budget friendly! I use this pan for cooking eggs, meats, frying- really the list is endless. A couple tips when using cast iron. Make sure and slowly add heat. I found this works best instead of blasting the food with heat. It helps to not burn food. Cast iron retains heat very well. Also, make sure you season it regularly. This helps to create a type of natural nonstick surface. If you’re unsure how to season it, The Wellness Mama did a whole blog post on it here. When you season a cast iron it’s basically adding a good oil to keep it hydrated and then baking it. I avoid cooking acidic foods in cast iron because it can break down the seasoning or patina that’s been made on the cast iron. Cleaning cast iron can seem intimidating at first, but it’s actually not. You don’t want to use soap with cast iron- it can damage the seasoning and dry it out. Instead, use some salt to clean it. I just shake salt on top and then take a scrubby and scrub away. Then rinse with water. Then you want to dry it and rub in a cooking oil. *The one caution I would make is that cast iron has been known to leach iron so if for some reason you have an abundance of iron you might want to switch up your pans every now and then. I’ve been the opposite more anemic so I welcome all the iron I can get! Check out Lodge Cast Iron here!
This is another option. It is unique because it comes in many varieties and types. In other words not all stainless steel is created equal. Stainless steel is made up of a combination of metals. Some of the most common metals are chromium and nickel. The chromium is what helps to protect against rusting and is nontoxic for the most part in the body. Our bodies do need chromium in small amounts but it’s not that much and if you eat a fairly healthy diet you may already be getting more than you need. Nickel on the other hand is used to give stainless steel that extra hardness and to give it that polished look. However, it isn’t great for our bodies. There is virtually no reason for us to consume nickel. Your best bet is to buy food grade stainless steel. When shopping you will see numbers like 200, 304, 316 and 430. These numbers represent the series of stainless steel. For example, a 300 series may corrode easier then a 400 series. Whereas a 400 series is going to be the strongest and have almost no nickel. Of course the 400 series will cost more! I wouldn’t buy anything less than a 304 for overall quality. You will also see numbers 18/8, 18/10 or 18/0. The first number represents the amount of chromium and the second number the amount of nickel. It’s also important to not use harsh cleaners when cleaning stainless steel because it can cause damage to the lining. When the lining is damaged the heavy metals can leach into the food a lot easier. Personally, although this option is safer than many I still prefer not to cook with it all the time because of the possible metal content leaching into food, especially if the food your cooking is acidic. Also, many stainless steel cookware has a layer of aluminum in between the stainless steel. So it’s important to note that if your stainless steel was to get scratched you need to stop using it. You may also see copper sandwiched in the in-between layer as well. They do this because both aluminum and copper are heat conductors. From what I’ve read and researched since the aluminum isn’t coming into contact with the food and is protected by stainless steel it’s fine to have it in the cookware. *Some people already have high levels of heavy metals in their bodies and cooking with stainless steel wouldn’t be a good idea. However, many people might be fine. I know a lot of people who use it only for certain things and then other foods that might be more acidic they use different cookware. One more important tidbit is that commercial kombucha is brewed in large stainless steel vats and since kombucha is acidic it is soaking up all those heavy metals. Even though it’s housed in glass it’s best to steer clear of store bought kombucha and make your own at home. Check out this great set of stainless steel cookware here!
This has been my newest cookware option that I’ve started to use for the last several months and really have come to love! It is different than both stainless steel and cast iron. From the glaze on the cookware to the core it’s made with 100% ceramic. Ceramic is awesome because it’s completely inert- meaning it won’t leach any harmful toxins. All of Xtrema has been tested for heavy metal content and is free from glues, polymers, coatings and dyes. If you want to see their testing results check them out here. Plus, it’s dish washer safe- something all the mamas can get behind! It heats very evenly too. You can even take a dish from the fridge to the stove or oven- it’s very versatile. It also can withstand high temperatures. It’s easy to clean Xtrema cookware too, just use warm soapy water. You can also use baking soda or an abrasive scrubby if you need to. The best way to heat an Xtrema is to turn the heat on low or low medium. Since it’s so great at heat conduction you don’t need or want to crank the heat up to high. Doing this would result in foods sticking or burning. It’s best to turn the heat on a couple minutes before you start cooking and then add a little cooking oil once it’s heated. I like avocado oil, ghee or coconut oil. Don’t add the oil to a cold pan, wait until it’s heated up or it will cause foods to stick. Personally, I love cooking with Xtrema! I have their 8-inch Versa Braiser. It’s nice because it has a lid and can be used for cooking meats, quiches, casseroles etc, but also can be used for cooking eggs with. *Beware, there is a lot of deceptive marketing around ceramic cookware. It may say ceramic but it is coated with a nonstick chemical. The only company I’m aware of that is a true ceramic, with no additives is Xtrema. Xtrema
There has been a lot of confusion I’ve noticed about this type of cookware. It is cast iron but then has been given a coating of enamel. This enamel is a type of glass. It is completely safe. There has been some controversy about the enamel being made of clay and therefore having lead but from various tests performed on it, there has been no lead detection reported. A common brand you may think of is Le Creuset. Their cookware is made in France. One might think that porcelain enamel is similar to cast iron and that is true but it does have it’s differences. Porcelain Enamel will not rust where regular cast iron can if not seasoned properly. Also, porcelain enamel won’t leach iron because of the coating, where cast iron will. Porcelain enameled is also nice to have for acidic foods like chili or spaghetti sauces. Acidic foods as I mentioned above can strip cast iron of it’s seasoning, especially when simmered for a long period of time. For cleaning you can use some mild dish soap on it and a scrub pad of some kind. For stubborn stains or food that’s stuck you can boil some water in it with a few tablespoons of baking soda. Let it sit for a few hours or overnight. *Personally I love having a porcelain enamel skillet on hand too. It’s great for using with acidic foods or making stir frys, soups, or stews. I would stick with Le Creuset. To my knowledge they are the only ones that have been tested for lead content and come back negative. The only small trace amounts that were found were on the outside of the lids and pots where there was some color but not inside. Also, I’m a skeptic of things made in China as they have been known to have higher metal content and most of the other porcelain enameled is made there. Check out Porcelain Enamel cookware here!
This is a great budget friendly option that’s available almost anywhere cookware is sold. One of the most common glass cookware is called Pyrex. It is inert, meaning it doesn’t add or take away from the food. I have several casserole or baking dishes whatever you like to call them. I use them for both casseroles and special desserts. I also have a round glass dish with a lid that’s great for soups or stews that I use a lot. For making breads I like to use a glass bread loaf pan too. *Glass is a great option for those starting to detox their cookware and looking for accessible and budget friendly options. I have even seen really good deals on Pyrex glass sets at Costco! Check out this Pyrex set here! Check out this great set by Anchor Hocking here!
Bakeware-
When it comes to baking you can use a lot of the cookware I mentioned above but there are a few other options too. For the ones mentioned above you can use cast iron to bake breads, or porcelain enamel for desserts such as crumbles, cobblers or pies. Also, glass cookware is a great option for baking too, as well as stainless steel. Stainless steel is especially nice for cookie sheets or cake pans! These are a great option for stainless steel cookie sheets! If you’re still concerned about the possible metal leakage just use some parchment paper. I love this brand that doesn’t leach any toxic chemicals. I use parchment paper when baking always because it makes clean up so much easier and is sometimes essential when making cakes. You can also get stainless steel muffin trays. Another option I haven’t talked about is stone cookware. They have stone baking sheets, loaf pans and cake pans. I personally haven’t used them. I know that you have to be really careful when cleaning as you can’t use soap or get them wet. They’re also heavier too. Rada is a good American made brand that is lead free. *When it comes to bakeware think about what you use the most and swap that out first. As I mentioned earlier, you can always buy some nontoxic parchment paper and use that as a protectant too. I also like these nontoxic paper muffin liners.
I have never used silicone for cooking or baking other than some silicone muffin liners. However, I stopped using them because I started to wonder if they were actually safe. I had read a lot of information saying there just isn’t enough research out there yet and I agree. Until more long term studies come out, I’m going to stick with using silicone when food isn’t heated or cooked.
I do think it’s important to switch out your cookware because this is something you use all the time and the accumulative affect is great. Even if you could replace one item every quarter, by the end of the year you would have a whole new cookware set!
What nontoxic cookware option do you love?
