Products I Use & Trust: Vitamins/Supplements & Health Treatments

In this series I will introduce and share products that I use whether it’s Vitamins/Supplements, Household/Cleaning Products, or Body/Skin Care. These are products that I have used for at least several months and 1) have seen be effective, 2) like to use, 3) believe to be the best choice for purity AND cost-effectiveness. 

Last Updated: August 2019

Vitamins/supplements are a tricky area because some people need certain vitamins/minerals more than others! Every person is different, and some things will work for one person but not another. I always advise people to go see a naturopathic or holistic doctor before spending a lot of money on vitamins/supplements. Some supplements can actually just work on symptoms and not address the real cause which means you’re stuck taking it forever. Most vitamin/supplement use should be temporary and NOT life-long (although there are exceptions of course). Please consider seeing a trained homeopath/naturopath before spending money on specific supplements! For example: I was dealing with fatigue/energy and digesting issues and went to a naturopath. She found that my body was/is not processing water and digesting food correctly so put me on specific supplements that my body would respond well to. Also, it is very important to be drinking lots of water, have a good diet, exercise and get fresh air & sunshine to help your body stay healthy! All the vitamins in the world will not help if you are not proactive in these ways. For sickness I typically always treat myself naturally first and only go to the doctor if it’s something more serious and it’s been several days. Example: I had a VERY bad sore throat a few years ago that I tried treating myself but after a few days of it not getting better and hurting a LOT, to the doctor I went. It was mono and I got an antibiotic. Go to the doctor if it’s serious or you’re unsure!

Magnesium: Magnesium Glycinate is one of the better-absorbed forms of magnesium. I get it online.

Other vitamins/supplements I have taken (some at the recommendation of a naturopath):

Probiotic Pearls (Amazon). This kind is the most recommended by my naturopath because of their effectiveness and how they are made. I've also had home-grown 1st generation probiotic that was made by a natropath friend. For probiotics my husband and I took daily for 3 months and then were advised to cut back to every other day, then once a week. If you’re eating healthy, that should be enough. Vitamin D3/K2 (I have been quite deficient in these – many people are), and Combination Potassium (this helps with hydration since my body at one point was not holding/processing water well). 

While pregnant/nursing I take pre-natal vitamin daily (I’ve used different brands – my favorite is SmartyPants gummies). Occasionally I will also take an iron supplement as I can get low (and the SmartyPants vitamins do not have iron). Turmeric on occasion as well. I've also started taking cod liver oil almost daily (Nordic Naturals is the best brand for this). 

When I’m feeling sick (or trying to avoid getting sick!):

Pure powdered Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) - The pure stuff is more expensive but the cheaper tablets that you find like at Walmart are actually not as effective). Emergen-C powder is NOT as good either, there are added ingredients in those so I would not recommend.

Cold Calm – you’re supposed to take this at first signs of a cold (runny nose/congestion/sore throat) for it to be most effective. This works!

Zinc Lozenges – great for sore throat.

Kevita Elderberry Apple Cider Tonic - I’ve found this at a few different local grocery stores (ShopRite, Market Basket), but it can be hard to find sometimes. I’ll drink a few sips throughout the day if I think I’m coming down with something or if I’m sick. The Lemon Ginger one is also good for you!

Oil of Oregano – This cleans out my sinuses really well! The best brand I’ve used is from Herbal Authority, but it’s very strong so be careful! I’ll put just two-three drops on my tongue then gargle with water-swallow-repeat until it’s dissolved and not strong anymore.

Vapor Rub – Mainly for sore throat/stuffy nose. Pure Haven makes a great non-toxic one that I use. The Honest Company also sells one that’s also rated well. I do NOT recommend Vicks because of added ingredients.

Oscillococcimum – For body ache, headache, fever, chills… basically I have this on hand to treat flu-like symptoms. Get it at Walmart or Amazon. Also pure Elderberry syrup. NOW brand Elderberry Liquid is elderberry syrup and oscillococcimum together – perfect for flu symptoms! You can make your own Elderberry syrup or buy it from Eartley.com

Dr. Schulze’s Air Detox – air purifier/disinfectant made from pure essential oils. This kills germs in the air. Also a very nice to spray in the bathroom if it um… smells from use. :-)

For cuts/scrapes: If it’s minor, Pure Haven’s Boo-boo Stick (has neem and tea tree oil, also good for bug bites). For deeper/bleeding cuts I use hydrogen peroxide or iodine. (I got a deep cut once that many people would have probably gone to the doctor for, maybe even gotten stitches. It was pretty big/deep…. I just treated it with hydrogen peroxide and bandaged it tightly. Healed up great and didn’t even have a scar!) I’ll also sometimes use Colloidal Silver (I get Sovereign Silver from Amazon) for cuts, and I will also spray in my mouth if I’m sick or have a sore of some kind.

Skin Irritations: See skin care post for lotions/creams.

Other Health Issues & Treatments:

Cold Sores - Vitamin C! Stick a tablet (usually I’ll cut one in half) against the sore in your mouth and let it dissolve. It doesn’t taste good but it works every time! Also spray with Colloidal Silver.

Muscle/body aches: BioFreeze roll-on works great on sore/tight muscles. I’ve also used Arnica for muscle/pain relief. 

Gut/Bowel issues: If you think you might have some gut issues (not having regular bowel movements, constipation, not digesting food well) I’d recommend doing Dr. Schultz Intestinal Formula – two bottles and a lot of pills to take but it really gets into your gut and cleans you out. The #1 pills you should end up with extra which are nice to have in moments of flare-ups– gets things moving!

I also use some Plant Therapy brand essential oils to help with things like headache, anxiety/depression, lack of energy, etc. Magnesium and vitamin D are also important for helping with energy, sleep, digestive health, etc.

Products I Use & Trust: Skin, Face & Hair care

In this series I will introduce and share products that I use whether it’s Vitamins/Supplements, Household/Cleaning Products, or Body/Skin Care. These are products that I have used for at least several months and 1) have seen be effective, 2) like to use, 3) believe to be the best choice for purity AND cost-effectiveness.

Norwex: Face & body cloth! I love using this cloth to clean my face and body and even to shave – NO soap/shave gel needed! It works really well! Cloths hold up well and last for years even with heavy/daily use. You can visit their page through my friend who’s a consultant here:

https://www.facebook.com/melissachipman.norwex.biz/

Earthley: Earthley is my current go-to for skin products. I have their sunscreen (and after sun lotion) magnesium lotion (which is great for my restless leg syndrome), deodorant (they have several scents as well as an unscented all baking soda free). I haven't tried their other face products, chap stick etc. yet as I'm finishing up some other products but will be at some point soon!  Visit here to see all their products (I do get a very small commission for you using this affiliate link).

Pure Haven: Up until recently I was using Pure Haven almost exclusively for skin, hair and face care. They are more pricey which is why I'm switching but they have great products! Shampoo/conditioner (will be looking for another option once I finish what I have though because of price), face cleanser & moisturizer (really nice!), tinted moisturizer (foundation), chap stick, and lip gloss, hair spray (this is AMAZING), Boo-boo Stick (for scrapes and minor cuts), and Hands on the Go (a natural hand sanitizer). Their Lavender dream cream is so nice and relaxes my restless leg and their Mom Balm is a nipple cream but also can be used like Vaseline (which is great because Vaseline is NOT a pure product!). I also have a foot cream and throat vapor rub (for when you’re sick) that I use occasionally.

Infinite Aloe Skin Care: This is THE best deep-conditioning lotion I have ever tried! I sometimes get skin irritations/itches and have minor eczema around my eyebrows and this is the only lotion I’ve tried that sooths and takes away the itch! In the winter I often deal with very dry hands (skin on my knuckles will crack) and this is what I use! It’s rather expensive so I try and use it only when I need to – but in the winter it’s still daily! Disclaimer: This does contain some ingredients that aren’t the best but I still use it when I need to. But be sure to get the fragrance-free version since we don’t really know what “fragrance” means or contains.

Deodorant:

I have mostly used Toms aluminum-free deodorant which works great, but am transitioning to Earthley (see above).

Toothpaste: 
I have used various different things for tooth-care. I do oil-pulling with coconut oil, I’ve used Toms of Maine fluoride-free/SLS-free toothpaste, and Earthpaste. I'm transitioning to Earthley's remineralizing tooth powder. For my toddler I use Pure Haven’s kids toothpaste.

Acne-treatment:

Zinc oxide cream: I make my own zinc oxide cream from powdered zinc, coconut oil and shea butter. This stuff works wonders on pimples and spots on my face/body! Store-bought stuff has added chemicals, so I made my own! Recipes can be found online. I also make a diaper cream with zinc oxide, coconut oil and then beeswax instead of the shea butter.

Earthley also has an ache treatment stick (see link above). 

Baby Products:

Right now I use Pure Haven’s baby shampoo on my little guy. I also use Pure Haven’s Boo-Boo stick on any scratches he gets. And make my own diaper cream (see above). 

Products I Use & Trust: Around the House

In this series I will introduce and share products that I use whether it’s Vitamins/Supplements, Household/Cleaning Products, or Body/Skin Care. These are products that I have used for at least several months and 1) have seen be effective, 2) like to use, 3) believe to be the best choice for purity AND cost-effectiveness.

Norwex: I currently use their floor duster and mop, duster, kitchen/cleaning cloth (I also have their body cloths that I love), mirror cloth, bottle-cleaning brush, & toilet brush. I totally recommend these products! I have also used their produce wash which seems to work well, but it’s also easy to make your own. I have some of their laundry detergent but I use it only to clean my cloths as it’s more expensive. You can visit their page through my friend who’s a consultant here.

Shaklee: This stuff is the BEST deep-cleaner! It’s a paste that I use to scrub areas that need a stronger cleaner like: bathtub/shower, drains, kitchen sink. LOVE.

Plant Therapy Essential Oils: There are tons of different brands out there for essential oils. I go mostly with Plant Therapy because they are one of the purer brands that’s also the most cost-effective. They have lots of different blends that I use in our diffuser, and I also have a few kid-safe ones that I’ll be using with my little one as needed. I get them on Amazon.

Pure Haven: Bar and liquid soaps. Their Master Blaster is a great all-purpose cleaner and stain remover.

As far as dish detergent and laundry detergent I have used Ecover for both (which has an A rating on EWG and I think is one of the best out there if you can find it for a reasonable price) and it is probably my brand of choice. Their dish soap at least can be gotten for a reasonable price and that’s what I use. I am currently using Bioclean for my laundry detergent which is working just fine and it is one of the best rated that’s also the best price! Win!

For stain remover, since this is something that I don’t need often at this point I usually use Dawn Dish Soap – not a very pure product but it works amazing! Pure Haven’s Master Blaster cleaner also works as a stain remover (many reports of it working really well even on heavy stains). I only use bleach if I have a white piece of clothing with a stain that won’t come out…. And then I use gloves and open the window!

What pure products do you use around your house that you would recommend?  (If you are a consultant/seller please no sharing links without permission.)

Companies I’ve Reviewed: Pure Haven

Companies I’ve Reviewed Series:

In my research and reviews of companies/brands I look at:

-Rating/Reviews – I look at general reviews online and check rating on ewg.org and/or ewg.org/skindeep (a website that examines brands/ingredients for toxicity). On the main website the best rating is an A, on skin deep best rating is 1. Note that it can be complicated to search for things on the main site – usually I google the brand and “ewg” and see if it comes up. Occasionally a company/product cannot be found so then I look more closely at the actual ingredients and reviews both online and people I know.

-Cost – Is it worth it for what you’re getting? How does it compare to what else is out there?

-Effectiveness – Do the products really work? This is sometimes a matter of opinion - some find certain products to work well that others don’t. 

Review of: PURE HAVEN ESSENTIALS

So I was actually a consultant for Pure Haven (a MLM company) for about a year and a half. But even as a consultant I did not use all their products - many of their products I really like and a few I am still using up, but others I could care less about because I can get something similar/else cheaper elsewhere. After much research and trying their products I chose to become a consultant because I believed the company to be pretty trustworthy regarding the pureness of their products and they had a great range of products! (If you’re curious as to why I stopped it was largely because it was just not working out for me as I was not able to keep up with the requirements.)

To be short and sweet: Pure Haven is completely non-toxic and organic - they have a solid ewg.org rating of 1. I also really like many of their products and have found them to work well. Downside is that the prices are quite high (one of the annoying side-effects of MLM companies). 

Products I recommend (and have used often): Soap (bar and liquid), *hands-on-the-go (hand sanitizer), shampoo/conditioner, dream cream lotion, face moisturizer, face cleanser, deodorant, tinted moisturizer (makeup foundation),*chapstick and lip gloss. I also highly recommend their *hair spray and they have a vapor rub that’s great! I also use their baby shampoo and the Mom Balm (this can used like Vaseline but it's SO much better!) and the baby lotion and cream. I love having pure products to use on my little one!

Other Pure Haven products I use occasionally: other facial care products (exfoliator, eye cream, night serum), foot cream. I have tried their 5-defense essential oil and it was good, but pricewise is a LOT more expensive than other brands. I’ve used their shower gel which is fine, but I usually use a Norwex body cloth so don’t need it. I was not a fan of their toothpaste, but I have use their kids toothpaste for my toddler. 

Pure Haven is a great option and all very good ingredients, but again they are fairly pricey. There’s also shipping and tax on top of the price and that all adds up. The best way to buy: Find a consultant and host a party - you get a discount and some free stuff that way!

Thanks for reading! Check out my other reviews and post about what I use and recommend!