There’s no doubt that sex toys and personal lubricants are fun, and that condoms are a necessity for any person who likes to have safer sex. But in our opinion, some sex accessories are more fun than others because they are safer for you and the environment.

And that’s why we were thrilled to see that Jeffrey Hollender, former Seventh Generation CEO, and Meika Hollender, his daughter, founded Sustain, a condom and personal sex aid company.

Sustain’s main goal is to sell personal lubricants and condoms that are sustainable and healthy for consumers. In addition, 50 percent of Sustain is owned by women. Treehugger points out that that’s quite important considering the condom industry is typically riddled with male-dominated marketing. (And that women who buy and carry condoms are typically stigmatized and slut shamed.)

According to Treehugger, Sustain’s condoms are packaged in recycled packaging, and are Fair Trade certified. Also: Sustain’s condoms contain no “detectable traces of nitrosamine, a carcinogenic that occurs in rubber in the manufacturing process.”

Sustain’s other product, its organic lubricant, are equally impressive. The lubricant, which comes in unscented and lavender, contains aloe vera, as well as xantham gum, agar, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (food grade preservatives), and lactic acid, reports Treehugger. The lubes also are vegan, gluten-free, and are not tested on animals.

Luckily, Sustain isn’t the only company that’s gotten into the sustainable sex game. We found a few other companies that take consumers’ health and the environment’s well being into consideration.

Intimate Organics: The company sells flavored glides, intimate cleansing products, massage oil, gels and sprays, and glides. “All Intimate Organic products are made with USDA Board Certified Organic Extracts and are Paraben and DEA Free.” They also are all vegan.

Good Clean Love: This company sells organic lubricants, body candies, and arousal love oils. It also has a strong environmental policy: The company uses certified organic and clean ingredients in all its products, uses recycled and recyclable materials in its packaging when possible, and doesn’t test on animals.

Do you have any favorite sustainable sex products that you use regularly?

Related on EcoSalon

Sex and KY Jelly (Everything You Ever Wanted to Know…But Were Afraid to Ask)

Sex Lube: Your Own Personal Oil Slick

The Male Birth Control Pill is a Reality: Call Your Boyfriend or Husband Over!

Image of couple on beach via Shutterstock

The post 3 Companies that Make Sustainable Sex Sexy appeared first on EcoSalon.

Just in time for the holiday shopping and gifting season: The Box is back!

Our exclusive EcoSalon shopping must-have, the curated eco product assortment known as The Box, is back. We’re offering $500 worth of holiday eco-goodies for just $99 and these won’t last. That’s a guarantee.

This beauty and yoga focused Box is chock full of organic and all-natural beauty products and perfume, intimate love enhancers and of course, yoga gear – a perfect gift or gifts for the beautiful women in your life. Or buy it for yourself and enjoy without a moment of guilt. Hop on this now or miss out!

(If you do miss out this time around, our friends at SheFinds are hosting a giveaway for the last remaining Yoga/Beauty Box standing. Head on over to their site and register to win!)

Just look at what we have in store for you this time around:

Blissoma Yoga Mat Cleaner Spray

One of Irie Star’s most popular products for the past six years is the Blissoma Yoga Mat Cleaner spray which solves the problem of mat maintenance from dirt, sweat, body oils, and odors. Just mist lightly on your mat before or after use, wipe with a cloth to ensure even distribution, allow just a brief moment to dry and you are good to go. Their new formula is designed to also be a great hand and foot cleanser as well, so that it can be used in any situation where soap and water can’t be found.

(Retail value of $9.95)

Blissoma Candles

The Blissoma 4 oz Travel Tin soy aromatherapy candle is perfect for sampling scents or packing in your suitcase to make anywhere seem like home as they give a warm glow and pleasant aroma to your surroundings. All candles are made with only 100% pure botanical essential oils and never any scent extenders, pthalates, colorants, or additives that may irritate sensitive individuals.

(Retail value of $10.99)

Revolution Organic’s Glow Beauty Balm in Blushed

Revolution Organic’s 100% natural Beauty Balm was created with 85% certified organic ingredients and is a makeup multi-tasker delivering an instant healthy glow anytime, anywhere. The all-in-one balm infuses lips, cheeks, eyes, and décolletage with a natural, dewy radiance. Perfectly portable and ideal for on the go, the easy-to-use formula provides skincare and color in one for a hydrating hint of tint. Free of chemicals, synthetics, and artificial ingredients, the balm contains only 100% pure, natural and organic ingredients. Formulated with cold-pressed organic olive oil and deeply moisturizing organic coconut oil, The All-Over Beauty Balm comes in three glowing shades to complement any skin tone.

(Retail value of $34.00)

Prana Yoga Strap

The Prana Yoga Strap is made from recycled polyester and keeps your mat from unrolling and flip flopping all over your car. Made from washable Veeda fabric, with canvas backing and a cushioned carrying strap, you’ll be the totally together girl carrying your mat into yoga class in style.

(Retail value of $20.00)

Alabama Chanin Zipper Bag

This Zipper Bag from Alabama Chanin is perfect for cosmetics and traveling or for sewing and office supplies. Comes in natural colored 100% organic cotton. Made in the USA.

(Retail value of $15.95)

La Bella Figura’s Tesoro Mediterranean Oil

A favorite product with many EcoSalon editors, La Bella Figura’s Tesoro Mediterranean Oil is addictive. This oil is all about pure hydration with an uplifting and delicately scented, lightweight oil that absorbs into the skin immediately and penetrates to treat dry skin and smooth out fine lines. The combination of 100% organic Argan oil, and organic and wild crafted essential oils is full of free-radical-reducing antioxidants, essential fatty acids and polyphenols that regenerate skin cells and reduce signs of aging.

(Retail value of $40.00)

Trance Essence Perfume’s Genie in a Bottle Roll On

Trance Essence Perfume is hand-made in small batches. It is muse-produced rather than mass-produced and blended from the finest wild-crafted absolutes and organic essential and parfum oils. These reveal their hidden notes when activated by your own body heat. Genie in a bottle is created using seductive scents of exotic oils like Egyptian jasmine, vanilla, organic frankincense, bittersweet chocolate, black tea and organic black pepper. Inspired by a sultry Moroccan nightclub in the summer; hot, smoky, sexy.

(Retail value of $38.00)

Ambiance All Natural Color Matched Dry Shampoo

Ambiance Volumizing Dry Shampoo is a 100% natural formula that refreshes hair, increases volume and conceals roots while extending the time between washing. For all hair types, this paraben- and preservative-free dry shampoo features a built-in, refillable applicator brush for applying shampoo directly onto scalp. Its tinted powder blends with hair color without leaving a white residue. Because Ambiance wants you to have the exact color of your hair, they are including a coupon to order your very own shade.

(Retail value of $20.95)

Shannon Reed Candles

Shannon Reed’s pledge to you is to always let you know each and every ingredient that goes into the products they make. Each candle is labeled with the essential oils and botanical extracts contained in the fragrance, the wax is made from non-genetically modified domestic soybeans and the wicks are made from cotton and paper. Too add to their eco-consciousness, each candle is contained in recycled glass and the packaging is made from recycled paper and printed with soy inks.

(Retail value of $34.00)

Face Fix by Nieves

Face Fix by Nieves is a dynamic scrub and mask to benefit every skin type leaving your skin smooth and refined. Because this powerful herbal formula is in powder form it does not require any emulsifiers, surfactants or preservatives. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, it contains soothing, calming ingredients including White Willow powder, Rosehips, Horsetail powder, and Licorice for calming eczema and redness.

(Retail value of $34.00)

Teas’ Tea Matcha Green Tea by ITO EN

Matcha, or powdered green tea, is traditionally used for special tea ceremonies. An ideal matcha for every day, Teas’ Tea Matcha offers a crisply defined taste that finishes its flavor cycle with a measure of astringency.

(Retail value of $12)

Bronwen Ganesha Necklace

Bronwen Lodato has been making jewelry for as long as she can remember. Her inspiration stems from a life lived in motion. Whether she is stand-up paddling in Phuket, sailing the Tuamotus in search of pearls, or slacklining in the high Sierra, Bronwen is gathering images for jewelry. The colors, textures, and memories of her adventures are reflected in the lively pieces of her collections. Her jewelry is equally lovely worn on a yoga mat, a beach in the South Pacific, or a bistro in Cinque Terre. We love this necklace featuring Ganesha, the Hindu god symbolizing the “remover of obstacles.”

(Retail value of $42.00)

Gaiam Sol Suddha Eco Yoga Mat

Part of practicing yoga safely means having the right, durable yoga mat to assist you in yoga poses. Gaiam’s Suddha Eco Yoga Mat (pronounced soo-dah) comes from Sanskrit for purity and is perfect for the yogi who is equally passionate about planet and practice. The Suddha Eco Yoga mat is made from TPE, a material that is 100% recyclable and biodegradable.

(Retail value of $39.98)

(Gaiam and EcoSalon originally had included the wrong yoga mat and information. We regret the error.)

Buddha Nose Girl Bath Salts

Inspired by the Girl Balm, the Girl Bath Salts are for all women who are challenged by hormonal mood shifts. The unique combination of essential oils is identical to the blend in the Girl Balm and offers great relief and comfort to women at all stages of their life cycle. Although the primary intention of this earthy and warming bath soak is to help ease cramps and lighten moods, it is also deeply relaxing and nourishing to the skin. Ingredients include the organic essential oils of Clary Sage, Rose Geranium, Ginger Root and Black Pepper blended into dead sea salts from Israel and red salts from Utah.

(Retail value of $32.00)

Priti Nail Polish

Known among beauty insiders as the pioneering leader in luxury and eco-friendly nail polish, Priti is founded by NYC-based Kim D’Amato. The idea behind Priti NYC came alive during her pregnancy when D’Amato made a conscious effort to switch to organic foods and health products, yet couldn’t seem to find a way to beautify herself in the same natural manner. In 2005, D’amato launched Priti NYC with a simple mission: to support organic farmers and to decrease the amount of chemicals poisoning the earth and its inhabitants one manicure at a time.

(Priti has sent us a mixture of reds so not all polishes will be this shade. They are also offering a 10% off coupon code: pritiplease10 will expire on 7/1/2012)

(Retail value of $12.00)

Earthlust Water Bottles

Hopefully you’re at a point in your life where you no longer buy plastic bottles and are toting your water in something better than a BPA laced container. Earthlust’s stainless steel bottles are made from high quality materials and are created from a custom mold in Sausalito, Calif. – always with a notably pretty design.

(Retail value of $21.00)

Lotus Wei Energy Mists

(Retail value of $35.00)

$50 Gift Certificate to Horny Toad (Flexure Yoga Pants anyone?)

Horny Toad is an apparel company based in Santa Barbara, California. They believe that the choices they make are as important as the clothes they create. The company makes a commitment each day to lighten their environmental footprint, stay active in their local community and support organizations that improve the global community. Find fun, do good, be comfortable – that’s their Live Toadally mantra.

(Horny Toad’s $50 gift certificate may be used for anything on the site but we like these yoga pants a lot!)

Sir Richard’s Condoms

Sir Richard’s believes in safe sex being a basic human right yet only a fraction of the global demand for condoms is met each year. For every Sir Richard’s condom bought, they donate one condom to a country in need. All condoms are made from 100% natural latex; are free of casein (making them vegan); and the lubricant is free of spermicide, glycerin, and parabens. We love their motto of “Doing good never felt better.” Oh yeah.

White Apricot’s Green Grab Bag

White Apricot’s new Green Grab Bag is providing a much needed and inexpensive service to demystify the broad and seemingly confusing world of natural, vegan and organic beauty products. For just $15 a month (shipping is free), subscribers can get an eco friendly “grab bag,” filled with at least six mini versions (and often a full size bonus or two) of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair products from some of the top companies in the natural beauty industry. By signing up, you get to “test drive” the products before you buy them. If you find some you like, you can then get a discount on the full size versions through White Apricot’s Exclusive Offers.

The first 50 people who sign up for gift subscriptions in November will get a Holiday Bonus Green Grab Bag for themselves, filled with natural holiday themed products.

(Bag shown is not actual bag but a representation of similar products you will receive.)

To buy:

We’re sorry, this Box edition has sold out! Check out the other available options – they’re pretty fabulous, too. And, if you want to enter to win one, our friends at SheFinds are giving one away! You can enter here.

The post The Box: Pretty You! Yoga Edition appeared first on EcoSalon.

We’ve all got one – a little tube in the nightstand drawer, ready for those moments when our bodies seem to be failing at what they’re supposed to do naturally. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I’m just going to say it: vaginal dryness happens.

Maybe you’re on birth control pills, or maybe your man isn’t spending enough – ahem – quality time before the act itself takes place. But if you find yourself reaching for lubrication, stop and read those ingredients! You might be filling one of the most delicate parts of your body with a bunch of scary chemicals, and even affecting your fertility.

It’s all too easy to just grab whatever the most promising-looking plastic tube on the drugstore shelf. The labels on products like KY Jelly, Astroglide and Durex Play focus on adjectives like “sensual” and “warming”, not safety – and sometimes, ingredients aren’t even disclosed.

Here’s the thing about most conventional sex lubes:

Many contain parabens. KY brand lubricants – aside from the ‘sensitive’ version – contain parabens, a class of chemicals used as preservatives. Even the relatively natural-sounding brand ‘Phyto Soya’ is packed with practically every paraben in existence. Parabens are estrogen mimickers and have been linked to breast cancer. Chemicals like parabens are easily absorbed through the skin, and mucous membranes – like vaginal tissue – are even more susceptible.

They’re often petroleum-based. Any lubricant that lists mineral oil in its ingredient list is made from petrochemicals. An obvious offender is plain old petroleum jelly. If you like putting fossil fuels in your vagina, raise your hand! Yeah, that’s what I thought.

They can cause infection. Whenever you see glycerin or a word starting with “glycol” in the ingredients, you’ve got potential problems. These ingredients – common in lubes like Astroglide – are closely related to glucose, which means they’re a sugary feast for yeast. Not exactly sexy.

They affect fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, think twice about using any old lube. Studies show that lubricants like KY, Astroglide and FemGlide affect both sperm quality and motility, meaning they slow ’em down and damage their DNA. While a product called “Pre-Seed” proved to be the most sperm-friendly, it does contain parabens, so it’s best not to use artificial lube at all if possible.

That doesn’t mean that just because you’re breastfeeding, going through menopause or taking antidepressants, you have to resign yourself to uncomfortable sex. Check out some of these alternatives:

Firefly Organics – Though not made for use with latex condoms (polyurethane is okay), Firefly Organics is a 100 percent natural, paraben-free personal lubricant made with sunflower seed extract, cocoa butter and shea butter.

Yes Lubricant – Yes brand lubricants come in both water- and oil-based varieties for latex condom compatibility. The oil-based product contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and vitamin E while the water-based product is made with aloe, guar gum, locust bean gum and flax extract.

Good Clean Love – Totally natural, organic and vegan, Good Clean Love lubricants come in naturally scented versions like lavender rose, almost naked with a touch of lemon and vanilla, and cinnamon vanilla – a spicy scent reminiscent of pumpkin pie, a scent that most men find sexy.

Coconut Oil – Some ladies swear by plain old virgin organic coconut oil as a sex lube, and though no studies have been done on its safety, it seems like a great choice. Coconut oil is naturally fungicidal, so nothing funky will grow in it (which is a common problem in any kind of lube). It’s also antibacterial and silky smooth, but avoiding it in conjunction with latex condoms is probably a good idea.

Image: Zawezome

The post Sex Lube: Your Own Personal Oil Slick appeared first on EcoSalon.