I recently picked up this new body lotion at Whole Foods Market.  I love that it is very moisturizing but light and not at all greasy.  I don’t recall the exact price but I believe it was around $8-$9 which is cheap for a 32oz bottle – I go through a lot of lotion so I like to purchase it in large bottles.

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It comes in Vanilla, Lavender and Unscented.  I got the Vanilla – I LOVE Vanilla, but at first it is a little over powering…it does get better after it sets in though. 

It is also a Whole Trade product, which according to them….

Whole Trade Guarantee products must:

• Meet our high Quality Standards
• Provide more money to producers
• Ensure better wages and working conditions for workers
• Utilize sound environmental practices

Plus, with each purchase of those products, one percent of the retail price goes to the Whole Planet Foundation, which is creating real results in the fight against poverty.

I did just realize one drawback on this lotion – it contains phenoxyethanol, which according to some is no better than parabens…I’ll have to do a little research on this.

I first purchased a Dr. Bronner’s soap when I was in junior high.  It was a little difficult to find at the time but now their soaps can be found in nearly all health food stores.  Whole Foods Markets and Trader Joe’s both carry many of their products.  I often order directly from them online since shipping is free!  They ALWAYS have a monthly special.  This month they’re offering 15% off liquid soaps in 32oz or 8oz bottles.  Click on the photo below to be directed to their website.

I use the liquid soaps and Eric likes the bar soaps.  They have such intense aromas.  The soaps are vegetable based (no tallow – animal fat), biodegradable, organic and fair trade.  They do not contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (foaming agents which are carcinogenic) which most soaps do contain.

I like to keep my shower stocked with a few different scents of the liquid soap.  I even use the rose scented one to wash my face!  It is far cheaper than other facial cleansers, a little drop goes a long way and there is nothing better than smelling roses while washing your face

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The bottles note Dr. Bronner’s 18-1 uses for his soaps.  The first list is what you’ll find on the label and the second is a more paraphrased one done by his children and grandchildren who now run the company [taken from Dr. Bronner's website]:

1. Always dilute for Shave-Shampoo-Massage-Dental Soap-Bath!
2. Peppermint is nature’s own unsurpassed fragrant Deodorant!
3. A drop is best Mint Toothpaste; brushes Dentures Clean!
4. A dash in water is the ideal Breath Freshener & Mouth Wash!
5. Peppermint Oil Soap for Dispensers, Uniforms, Baby, Beach!
6. Dilute for ideal After Shave, Body Rub, Foot Bath, Douche.
7. Hot Towel-Massage the entire body, always towards your heart.
8. Pets, silk, wool & body tingles head to toe – keeps cool!
9. 3 dashes in water rinse most Sprays Off fruit & vegetables!
10. 1/4 oz in qt H2O is Pest Spray! Dash, no rash Diaper-Soap!  
11. For everyday body-washing: Get wet and pour soap full-strength onto hands-washcloth-loofah. Lather up, scrub down, rinse off, and tingle fresh & clean.

• For other uses, dilute from one part soap into 40 parts water for light cleaning, to cutting it in half or using it full strength for heavy-duty grease-cutting jobs.
• For shampoo, though we now recommend our new Shikakai soaps for this, many people are fond of using it as such. The method of application is to wet hair and scalp very thoroughly, squirt some soap into hands and work into a lather. Wash hair, then rinse well. Afterwards use our new citrus hair rinse and leave-in conditioners as directed.
• For the laundry, use 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup for one regular load; adjust as needed depending on hardness of water. I’ve been told that adding a dash of baking soda makes it even better.
• For toothbrushing, apply a drop or two of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap to a wet toothbrush. Brush as you normally would, rinsing accordingly. Be careful about using more than a couple drops of soap, as you might start foaming at the mouth. Many people with sensitive or softer teeth like to use our soap as a toothpaste because it lacks abrasives.       

Click on the photo below to be directed to their website

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Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Classic Soaps

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