***CONTEST CLOSED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!***The "green movement" is something that I didn't know very much about until I became pregnant with my first child. While I realized the importance of offering small acts of kindness to Mother Earth (such as remembering to recycle and always tossing garbage inside trash bins), I never realized that so much of what hurts our planet also hurts us in turn.
During the 9 months that I impatiently awaited my son's arrival, I devoted much of my free time to researching what I could do to make his life healthier and more natural. It was then that I learned that there are hidden dangers lurking in everything from household cleaning products to the most popular baby body wash on the market.
The fear of exposing my child to harmful chemicals right from the moment he was born inspired me to take deliberate steps towards creating a more eco-friendly environment for him. I familiarized myself with brands that offered greener products, and began shopping from organic markets and stores whenever the opportunity arose.
Now, two years and one baby later, I'm every bit as motivated to make sure that my children will grow up in the cleanest, most natural environment I can possibly supply them with. It was through my ever-expanding search for eco-friendly products that I came across EcoStore USA.
An extension of EcoStore NZ, which was founded over 15 years ago, EcoStore USA offers a variety of plant-based household cleaning products that are every bit as effective as the leading supermarket brands, and body and baby care items that are gentle on all skin types.
EcoStore USA is based on the philosophy of using absolutely "No Nasty Chemicals" , and as a result great care is taken to make sure that the following chemicals are eliminated from all household and body care products:
...responsible for health problems such as skin irritation, eczema, and allergies, in addition to being non-biodegradable.
...effective at breaking down proteins and fat stains on clothes, but also capable of reactivating against skin and causing allergic reactions.
...likely to cause allergic reactions when exposed to sunlight, in addition to being non-biodegradable and toxic to aquatic life.
...used to make products look or smell more appealing, but generally ineffective otherwise and capable of acting as a trigger for chemically-sensitive individuals.
...efficient at stripping away fats and oils, but capable of being absorbed through the skin and penetrating systematic tissues such as the brain, heart, spleen, and liver.
...responsible for stimulating excessive growth of plants and algae in waterways, in addition to endangering aquatic life when build-up occurs.
...responsible for the creation of highly-toxic organochlorines, which can persist in the environment for decades and are known endocrine-disruptors, going as far as to be a direct link to certain cancers.
...an irritant that can affect the skin, eyes, and respiratory passages in addition to adding nitrogen to the environment which can be harmful to plants, fish, and animals.
...ammonia derivatives that are thought to have hormone-disrupting effects and are potentially carcinogenic when combined with nitrates found in other products.
...which act as chemical preservatives but have the added effect of being mildly estrogenic, mimicking female hormones when applied to the skin.
...which is potentially irritating to the skin.
All products are instead made from plant- and mineral-based ingredients, in the hopes of bringing people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally-safe solutions that also help to reduce their carbon footprint.
EcoStore USA is committed to making a difference in people's lives, never compromising on performance and offering hundreds of products that meet the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. Devoted to making all products not only good for humans but good for the planet as well, EcoStore USA is a wonderful resource for helping people become more informed about the importance of leading an eco-friendly lifestyle while offering safe, authentic alternatives that really work!
I came into contact with a representative of EcoStore USA shortly after discovering their wonderful online store, and was given the opportunity to select two items from their list of natural products for review. After taking the time to familiarize myself with their amazing selection, I finally decided to choose one household product and one baby care item: the plant-based Laundry Powder and the Baby Nappy Balm.
Averaging at 33 washes, EcoStore USA's Laundry Powder is a non-toxic, high-performance product that consists of simple mineral salts and plant-based ingredients. It has the ability to attack even the most heavily-soiled fabrics, and contains a fresh, lemon fragrance that will not harm or irritate the skin.
While most commercial laundry detergents are sold in liquid form, I prefer laundry powder because it is generally easier to measure (no overflowing cups or scoops to worry about). EcoStore USA's Laundry Powder certainly didn't disappoint with its ease of use - not to mention the fact that it simply outshone the store-brand detergent we've been using lately due to financial limitations. Tinged with a fresh, clean lemon scent, the powder dissolved quickly in the wash without leaving traces of stickiness or residue on the load of clothing that I tested it out on.
After running the clothes through the dryer, I found that they emerged feeling soft and clean, and smelled only faintly of the original lemon scent - something that I was infinitely thankful for since I am sensitive to overpowering smells (like the ones I am usually faced with when using regular store-bought detergent).
I originally chose to review the second item, the Baby Nappy Balm, because our family has several eco-friendly baby products on hand except for all-natural diaper rash cream. Our children may not suffer from diaper rash very often, but I decided to take a 'better safe than sorry' approach and select an item that we may find ourselves needing in the future.
What also sold me on the Baby Nappy Balm is the fact it isn't simply an alternative to store-bought diaper rash cream - it can be used to soothe cradle cap, skin irritation, and other conditions that may afflict baby. Made from a natural blend of olive, coconut, and sesame oils, the Baby Nappy Balm is antioxidant-rich, non-greasy, and comes packaged in a handy little 2 oz container.
As a simple test of its strength, I decided to apply a small dab of the balm to baby G's legs during one of his diaper changes today - I'm always mentioning how diaper friction causes slight redness and irritation on the insides of his thighs, and I usually try to soothe the area by just keeping it as dry as possible.
I'm not going to lie to you - even I was amazed when I checked the area again at his next diaper change and found that the redness was completely gone! Also, instead of feeling slightly chapped like it usually does, G's skin was incredibly smooth and softer than it has been for months now - talk about wow! If it works this well on a minor irritation, I'm convinced that no amount of diaper rash stands a chance in this household in the future!
In short, EcoStore USA's brand of natural products far exceeded my expectations. I love that a little goes a long way with this green-minded company - each formula is safely super-concentrated, which means that you save money by significantly cutting down on cost per use, and since all products are packaged in boxes and containers that are quite a bit smaller than their commercial counterparts, much less energy is needed to ship them right to your doorstep.
Are you motivated yet to start your own journey into the world of greener living? :)
BUY IT!
EcoStore USA products are the perfect addition to eco-friendly households across the United States. Whether you're shopping for an organic-minded loved one, or are hoping to introduce a friend or family member to the wonder that natural products can bring, EcoStore USA is sure to carry exactly what you're looking for. To make your job even easier, EcoStore USA is running their annual "Share the Love Holiday Sale" in which all items are marked down 40% from now until the end of the year. In addition to this, all sales upwards of $25 will be awarded with free shipping. Feel free to visit EcoStore USA's online store to browse their amazing eco-friendly selection, or visit one of 185 participating Meijer stores.
WIN IT!!!
One (1) lucky reader will receive a $25 gift certificate redeemable at EcoStore USA!
MANDATORY ENTRY:
Visit EcoStore USA, take a look around, then come back and let me know what products you would be most likely to spend your gift certificate on. This is required and must be left as a comment at the end of this post before additional entries are submitted!
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Feel free to do any of the following to increase your chances of winning. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!
1. Become a Follower of this blog. If you are already following, please let me know! (1 Entry)
2. Follow me on Twitter. (1 Entry)
3. Follow EcoStore USA on Twitter. (1 Entry)
4. Tweet the following:RT @MommasGiveaways: No Nasty Chemicals here! Enter to win a $25 gift certificate to EcoStore USA: http://bit.ly/7cVqJn!
Leave the link to your Tweet so I can take a look (if you're unsure about direct-linking on Twitter, please see this page). (Can be done Once Daily for UNLIMITED ENTRIES)
5. Become a Facebook fan of EcoStore USA here. (1 Entry)
6. Subscribe to EcoStore USA's newsletter here. (2 Entries)
7. Subscribe to the Ruminations feed using the form in the left-hand sidebar (please be sure to confirm your email subscription!). (2 Entries)
8. Grab my button and add it to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know!). (1 Entry)
9. Grab The Unofficial Holiday Gift Guide button and display it on your blog or website (if it's already there, let me know!). (3 Entries)
10. Fave me on Technorati (by clicking the link on my left sidebar) and leave your user name in a comment. (1 Entry)
11. Blog about this giveaway, with a link back to Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma, then leave the permalink so that I can visit. (3 Entries)
12. Enter any other on-going giveaway here at Ruminations, then let me know which one you've participated in. (1 Entry Per Giveaway)
Open to all entrants. Contest ends at 11:59 PM (EST) on December 22nd, with a winner drawn via Random Number Generator the next day. If your email address is not visible in your Blogger profile, please be sure to leave it in your comment so that I can contact you if you are the winner! You will then have 48 hours to confirm or a new winner will be drawn.
Good luck!
