I bought a copy of the Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth Winter, which changed my life. Pick up a copy and see if you don’t agree. A new edition comes out almost every year with updated listings.

I feel that we all need to ask the hard questions about how to get plastic out of our lives while at the same time making sure that what we use is not toxic to us in our homes — and at the same time insure the products are totally cruelty free on the front end at it’s creation, as well as on the back end, when the product is used up…hopefully without a container to “recycle.”

I love what I’m learning here.

Thanks!

~Anthea

This is my first time commenting on your blog. I have been a daily reader for about a month. Your archives have been extremely helpful as I search for eco-friendly products. I wanted to return the favor and recommend a recent find.

I live in Berkeley and had been on the hunt for a shampoo bar without traveling to the SF Lush store. A couple of Burts Bee’s displays I found were missing the shampoo bar. But I hit gold at Body Time on College. J.R. Liggetts makes a great shampoo bar. The store had travel size samples, and after two washes, I’m a convert. There largest bar comes wrapped in paper inside an open top wooden box for storage in the shower.