Triclosan has been used in hand soaps, hand sanitizers, body washes, and other personal care products for a while now. And people buy them to stay as healthy and germ-free as possible.

The problem? Triclosan is a strong antibacterial designed for use in hospitals, where germs are rampant, not our homes. Too much contact with this heavy duty ingredient can cause health issues like skin and eye irritation, hormonal disruption, and organ toxicity. Not only that, but bacteria are developing resistance to it.

What’s more, there’s some controversy over whether or not it can effectively kill viruses–like the cold or flu virus. Chemical company BASF points to several viruses including SARS that can be killed with triclosan, but FDA data show it may not be effective in preventing the spread of common cold and flu viruses.

The FDA saw the toxic light on this (and 18 other ingredients commonly used to make antibacterial soaps), and put a ban on their use in consumer (i.e., not for hospitals and food service settings) products. Companies who use these ingredients have one year to reformulate or take the products off the market.

Well, that’s a step in the healthy direction. But how are we supposed to keep ourselves germ-free this cold and flu season without powerful antibacterial hand soap and sanitizer? The FDA found, while investigating triclosan and related ingredients, that a good hand washing with soap and warm water is an effective way of steering clear of germs and infection.

Time to get shopping for safer products free from harsh antibacterials and other toxic ingredients. Of course, we aren’t always near a sink. So, grab yourself a natural hand sanitizer for de-germing on the go.

7 Natural Alternatives to Antibacterial Soap and Sanitizer

1. 100% Pure Hand Wash goes a step beyond simple soap. As with all products this brand creates, this unique formula is created with unexpected ingredients, like Sake and coffee cherry. Available in three scents.

2. Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pump Soap cleans without drying. Comes in a big 12 oz bottle and several scents.

3. SKIN Oodles of Orange Hand & Body Wash is not only nontoxic and made with the most natural ingredients, but adds some zest to your vanity.

4. EO Peppermint Hand Sanitizer is safe and gentle on skin. A refreshing blend of essential oils make this hand san a pleasure to use. Also available in Lavender.

5. Tammy Fender The Purist Hand Sanitizer keeps hands free of germs with a botanical blend. Includes echinacea to boost immunity and antiseptic tea tree oil.

6. Intelligent Nutrients Sanitizer kicks 99.9% of germs to the curb without leaving hands stripped or sticky. Clean, refreshing scent.

7. Jao Brand Refresher combats two winter skin woes at once. This blend of germ fighters and natural moisturizers hydrate skin while protecting against contaminants.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon
Endocrine Disruptor Triclosan Found in 50 Percent of Newborns
Taking Toxic Triclosan Out of Your Soap (By Making Your Own)
The 5 Best Immune System Boosters to Prevent Colds and the Flu

The post How to Stay Germ-Free This Flu Season Without Toxic Antibacterial Soaps appeared first on EcoSalon.

EO turns 20 this month and we’d like to help them celebrate! You may know them by the fabulous eco-friendly hand sanitizer that is a staple of their line. Learn more about EO in this interview with co-founder and co-CEO, Susan Griffin-Black.

1995 was the dark ages of modern natural personal care. Sure, many people were making clean products. But doing it right and sticking with it for the long haul? Pretty rare. So when we see a natural product creator that is still in the biz two decades later, and with a stellar product line to boot, we have to tell you about it.

In case you don’t already know, EO is a plant-based personal care line with an emphasis on essential oils. Yes, the hand sanitizer is the bomb. But the EO product line up includes items for face, body, and hair too.

Want to know more? Thought so. Read on for all the juicy deets in this interview with EO co-founder and co-CEO, Susan Griffin-Black.

An Interview with EO Products Susan Griffin-Black

Liz Thompson: Happy Anniversary! So, you started EO 20 years ago. What was the catalyst behind creating a line of clean products?

Susan Griffith-Black: Thank you! It’s been 20 wonderful years. My business partner Brad and I started EO for a few reasons; the first is we wanted to make healthy, safe products for our family and friends. Additionally, we wanted to live an integrated life and be able to be present for ourselves, kids and family – so we set up shop just minutes from where we lived.

I was passionate about the energy and vitality of essential oils, making wholesome and beautiful products and Brad was a great guerrilla marketer who could figure out the manufacturing process. Our combined strengths have made EO what it is today.

LT: How do you use essential oils in your products? Which are your favorites?

SGB: I have a natural affinity and deep connection with essential oils, and I’ve been working with them for years. Essential oils not only smell beautiful, they have a powerful influence on mind and body, and they enable us to appreciate the inner-connectedness of our world. A few of my favorites are: rose absolute, rose geranium, jasmine, sweet orange and lemon myrtle.

LT: Can you please share a bit about the evolution of EO over the past two decades?

SGB: We’ve grown and learned a lot along the way. We now have two brands, EO and Everyone by EO, and we’re nearing 100 employees which is amazing considering Brad and I started this company in our garage with just the two of us. As we’ve grown we’ve learned to appreciate the challenges of scaling a business and the purpose for doing so. Intentional growth with a purpose has always been our guide.

LT: What is your ingredient commitment?

SGB: We have an essential ingredient charter, the first being that everything we do is rooted in the benefits of essential oils and the plant based ingredients that work to enhance and support them. We also manufacture in-house in our own certified organic facility, something that allows us complete control and transparency into how our products are made, by whom, and with what ingredients.

Additionally we choose to use certified organic or non-GMO ingredients, and our products are certified cruelty-free, gluten-free, and are packaged in PCR materials. In addition we’re a certified B Corp, meaning we put equal value on people, the planet and purpose, as we do on profits.

LT: What types of products do you create?

SGB: We have more than 250 different products between our two brands! We’re most well known for our French Lavender products, including our natural and organic hand sanitizer. We also have a wonderful new Skin Care Line that launched earlier this year.

LT: What can we expect to see in EO’s future?

SGB: We are evolving into a lifestyle company with 2 distinct brands. We are focused on creating innovative, wholesome and beautiful products that enhance the quality of daily life for ourselves, each other and our community of customers.

Related on EcoSalon

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Image via EOProducts.com

The post EO Products Turns 20: Co-Founder Susan Griffin-Black Dishes on Personal Care, Essential Oils, and Running a Business appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sold Out!

Kick off the hottest season and pamper Mom with EcoSalon’s exclusive shopping event: The Box. We’ve hand-curated $507+ of summer swag, gifts and treats for just $129.00 + free shipping. They’re going to go fast because we only have 40 Boxes, so get with the seasonal program and stock up now. Buy one, two or three!

We’ve got what you want: yoga gear, nourishing wellness products, uplifting scents, and a bevy of full-sized eco-conscious goodies. Our Summer Box is chock full of just what you need to take summer by storm—with a beautiful bod, and inspired spirit.

Affirmats’ Yoga Mat

Step up your fitness practice and step onto your mat knowing you’re doing something good for the planet and your health! Affirmats’ Yoga Mats unify the spirit of an affirmative practice with a fun contemporary design and innovative, eco-conscious materials. Each mat features Jute fiber and eco-PVC construction to ensure a non-slip surface for all of your challenging poses, plus a brilliantly secure base that grips the floor and grounds your practice. Mats come in three cool colors with three accompanying affirmations: I AM WONDERFULLY MADE; LOOK HOW PRETTY YOU ARE; I AM HEALTHY, I AM WEALTHY, I AM LOVE. (Buyers of The Box will receive one of the available colors with an affirmation.)

(Retail value of $64)

Anchor Bay Entertainment’s Element: Yoga for Stress Relief & Flexibility (DVD)

Get fit and blissed-out with yoga expert and Counseling Psychologist, Ashley Turner. You’ll alleviate all those annoying symptoms of stress (think: shallow breathing, clenched jaws, furrowed brows, tightened shoulders), and increase physical flexibility. Ashley’s best-selling DVD helps you feel better and move more freely—anywhere, anytime. Filmed in a tranquil garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this DVD features two rejuvenating programs designed to work together as one longer practice, or individually to address the physical and mental effects of tension:

• The Stress Relief practice includes deep, conscious breathing and the opportunity to hold the gentle stretches, with lots of forward bends. Enjoy improved sleep and reduce signs of premature aging!
• The Flexibility practice helps prevent injury, stimulate circulation, remove lactic acid, and reduce aches and pains through Vinyasa sequences that link breath with movement.

(Retail value of $14.98)

Truce’s Linen Sprays + Hand Sanitizer

Keep your yoga mat or gym bag fresh with Truce’s eco-friendly line of cleaning products. Born at a local farmer’s market, Truce products are Green America approved and contain only all-natural, simple ingredients.

Two 4oz Linen Sprays (in different scents)
Spritz throughout a room on linens, pillows, or anything that needs freshening. Can even be used as a body spray. The three scents offer a just-stepped-into-a-spa scent. Great for both women and men. Made from just water, rubbing alcohol, glycerin and aromatherapeutic essential oils. Comes in Citrus & Lemongrass, Lavender & Citrus and Lavender & Lemongrass scents.
(Retail value of $8/bottle)

One 2oz Hand Sanitizer
A convenient way to soften hands while naturally sanitizing. Just spray on hands then rub until fully absorbed. Made from six simple eco-friendly ingredients: rubbing alcohol, water, glycerin,
aromatherapeutic essential oils, and aloe vera. Lightly scented with rosemary and peppermint essential oils.
(Retail value of $3.50)

(Total retail value of $19.50)

The Prime Method’s 28-day Membership

Summer is here and you’re out of excuses! Get fit for life with The Prime Method, a long-term holistic health plan for real people who seek total body transformation through intelligent movement, eating well, and nurturing the mind. The Prime Method believes in combining all three aspects of complete wellness—MIND, MOVE and MUNCH—in a comprehensive online program that anyone from the busy mom on the go, to the traveling professional can access and practice, anywhere, anytime.

(Retail value of $29.99)

Shentrition’s Herbal Superfoods Powder

Take your new summer fitness program to the next level with Shentrition’s potent Herbal Superfoods Powder. Pronounced like nutrition, “shen-trish-uhn” is a powder blend of adaptogenic and tonic herbs plus greens and superfoods. As in Chinese and Ayurvedic health traditions, the cornerstone principle of ShenTrition’s formula is that life force (qi or prana) is the foundation of health, healing, and growth. ShenTrition promotes whole health by supporting the body’s ability to adapt to day-to-day stressors, building life force and enhancing the growth of consciousness.

(Retail value of $50)

Sibu Beauty’s Sea Buckthorn Repair & Protect Facial Cream

Exercise your bod? Check! Fortify your diet with nutrient-packed superfoods? Check! Now it’s time to nourish your face—especially when you’re having so much fun in the sun! Sibu Beauty’s Sea Buckthorn Nourishing Facial Cream, with omega-7 fatty acids, creates the perfect barrier to moisturize, rejuvenate and repair sun-damaged skin, protect against environmental stress, and preserve skin tone and texture. This weightless non-greasy cream is ideal for daily use and offers a pleasing, light citrus scent. Paraben-free and cruelty-free. Contains NO dairy, yeast, wheat, gluten, sodium or preservatives. For all skin types. 1 fl. oz.

(Retail value of $20.95)

GIVESCENT’s GIVESCENT Signature

Feel deliciously beautiful this summer with GIVESCENT’s GIVESCENT Signature. Not just a fragrance, GIVESCENT is an experience. After living in Italy for two years, celebrated yoga teacher, Elena Brower, fell in love with the culture, the pace and especially the scents. She discovered a Sicilian almond oil blend that inspired her to create a scent of her own. Back in New York City, Elena teamed up with dear friend Alexandra Lyon Perelman to recreate the blend. And so GIVESCENT was born. Inspired by the first sultry summer days in Italy, GIVESCENT echoes a captivating blend of sun-ripened citrus and spicy vanilla.

In the spirit of conscious business and consumerism, Elena and Alexandra founded GIVESCENT to share not just a beautiful experience, but a way to empower women: 5% of GIVESCENT proceeds benefit Women for Women International.

Contains no alcohol, formaldehyde, parabens, phthalates and sulfates. Blend contains sweet almond—not suitable for those with nut allergies.

(Retail value of $46)

Blade Buddy’s eco-friendly razor-sharpener

Get bikini-ready for summer and help save the planet with Blade Buddy. Two-billion blades and their packaging are thrown out every year, equivalent to two-million pounds of plastic waste. The average consumer spends hundreds of dollars a year on razor blades. Blade Buddy ensures you’ll waste less razors and protect the planet—all while enjoying smoother silkier shaves, without nicks, cuts, razor burn or ingrown hairs. Go green and get close, comfortable shaves for months, instead of days. If you shave, you will want the Blade Buddy!

(Retail value of $19.99)

Primal Pit Paste’s Primal Pit Paste Jar + Primal Pit Paste Stick

As the temperatures soar, stay fresh all summer long with Primal Pit Paste: the first all-natural, organic deodorant that works. Handcrafted in Tampa, Florida, Primal Pit Paste contains only the finest ingredients, including organic shea butter, organic coconut oil, organic arrowroot powder, aluminum-free baking soda, and essential oils.

Primal Pit Paste 2oz glass jar (Retail value of $8.95)
Primal Pit Paste 2oz stick  (Value of $10.95 )

(Total retail value of $19.90)

COOLA’s COOLA Suncare SPF 30 Plant UV Body Sunscreen

Nordic Naturals’ Complete Omega 3-6-9

Kick your nutrition into high gear this summer with Complete Omega-3.6.9, for full-spectrum essential fatty acids in one daily serving. Reap all-around support for cardiovascular function, metabolism, hormone balance, brain health, skin, positive mood and a healthy anti-inflammatory response. This blend contains a combo of concentrated omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) from fish oil, omega-6 GLA from borage oil, and significant amounts of the omega-9 oleic acid (OA), a beneficial monounsaturated fatty acid.

(Retail value of $18.95)

kaia naturals’ juicy bamboo facial cleansing cloths

Keep your face fresh and glowing as things heat up with kaia naturals’ juicy bamboo natural facial cleansing cloths. Soaked in vitamins B12, C and E, along with 8 citrus essential oils, organic Canadian honey and sunflower oil, these are the purest, most luxurious natural cleansing cloths around. Even the toughest mascara doesn’t stand a chance! Certified cruelty-free. Zero: alcohol, synthetic fragrances, parabens, sulfates.

(Retail value of: $15.50)

 

Garden of Life’s RAW Probiotics™ Ultimate Care

Your ultimate ticket to fitness this summer and beyond isn’t only achieved via the likes of lunges and downward dog, but through maintenance of your good bacteria. That’s right! Research suggests your good bacteria populations, among countless feats, make up approximately 80% of your immune system, help modulate your body’s inflammatory response (inflammation is the root of disease), and can help with maintaining healthy weight. Unfortunately, your body’s beneficial bacteria is compromised on a daily basis by stress, environmental toxins, overuse of medications, and even normal aging. Help repopulate your gastrointestinal tract with RAW Probiotics™ ‘s unique High Bifidobacterium formula, plus the clinically studied Replenish Blend, a combo of 34 RAW probiotic strains sourced from Bulgarian yogurt and Eastern European wild kefir that promote friendly bacteria diversity. Guaranteed to “Arrive Alive.” Protein digesting enzymes further boost your digestion. Helps relieve the occasional symptoms of gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. RAW means the probiotics are uncooked, untreated and unadulterated, with no carriers, binders or fillers. Once daily serving. Small, easy to swallow capsules.  30 vegetarian capsules.

(Retail value of $49.95)

Essential Patch’s Health and Wellness Patch

Keep your body and mind revved with Essential Patch, the all-natural, organic, aromatherapeutic way to immediately relieve your body’s most common ailments and boost immunity. Essential Patch also increases mental accuracy, boosts metabolism, speeds up slow digestion, and improves microcirculation. Boasts many attractive features for the eco-conscious consumer: they’re hypoallergenic, latex-free, preservative-free and made with 100% USDA certified organic, therapeutic-grade essential oils. Specially formulated to absorb both through the skin and directly through aromatic inhalation. Top all those features off with Essential Patch’s dedication to social responsibility: the company donates a percentage of every product sold to The Medicine Abuse Project.

(Retail value of $14.98)

ESP (Essential Safe Products)’s $15 eGift Card

Stock up on everything eco-friendly and toxin-free for your healthy summer lifestyle. ESP makes it easy for people to learn about toxins and find products that are toxin-free—it does the research so you don’t have to! The company’s “Learn” section of its website offers consumers tips, like how to avoid toxins, and how to cook chemical-free. Choose from a variety of products, including kitchenware, lunch gear, baby and kid gear, body products, beauty products, and more. New products are constantly being added to the ESP website.

(Retail value of $15)

DermaEarth Skincare’s SugarBerry Skin Resurfacing Cleanser + discount on future purchase

Help mom pamper her skin so it stays as vibrant as her smile. DermaEarth’s SugarBerry Skin Resurfacing Cleanser gives off an intoxicating, natural aroma of sweet sugar cane extract as it decongests pores, refines texture, reduces skin shine, diminishes appearance of wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation, and moisturizes to help maintain plump, supple skin. Perfect twice-daily indulgence for all skin types.

Mom will love the Rx-grade formulation based on technology that harnesses the potent restorative power of natural ingredients, while minimizing any unwanted side effects and toxicities. All DermaEarth products are free of natural and chemical ingredients recognized as—or even suspected of—being undesirable, including chemical preservatives, parabens, sulfates, artificial colors and fragrances. Never tested on animals.  Packaging and components are American-made, recyclable and made of post-consumer recyclable material whenever possible.

(Retail value of $18)

alex+von’s Gift Card for clean skincare + beauty products

Welcome to the motherload of treats for summer! alex+von curates boutique natural and organic beauty and personal care brands with the help of its passionate community of beauty consultants. The company supports passionate entrepreneurs who believe in building socially responsible companies. Each brand featured on alex+von’s website is carefully researched, as well as all brands’ product ingredients and manufacturing processes, ensuring both safety and efficacy. Featured brands are cruelty-free (no animal testing from ingredients to finished product), actively work to reduce their impact on the environment, and give back to the community.

(Retail value of $15 + free shipping on order)

AllergEase’s AllergEase (3 boxes)

Don’t let allergies keep you from maximum fun in the sun or amped up workouts. Created by a medical doctor looking for alternatives to help his family and friends battle allergies, AllergEase contains a unique blend of herbal extracts individually used for centuries to relieve allergy symptoms, plus a full daily dose of Vitamin C—all in a simple and yummy honey lemon lozenge. This unique blend is sure to provide that extra boost you need. 3 boxes, containing 21 lozenges each. (Retail value of $5.99/box)

(Total retail value of $17.97)

GoGreenMarketplace’s $15 Online Gift Certificate

The Go Green Marketplace, a member of GreenDeals.org, is your online shopping hub, featuring eco-friendly and sustainable products for home, office, family, pets, health, wellness and more. ). Go Green Marketplace helps you start living a greener life today. Featuring over than 7,000 products from top eco-friendly brands to choose from, including Bambu, Mrs. Meyer’s, Seventh Generation, Citrus Magic, Clean Well, Green Toys, Preserve, and more.

(Retail value of $15.00)

Total retail value of Box: $507.66

Sold Out!

How to get it + the fine print:

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