Companies I’ve reviewed: Earthley

I have for some time now very much appreciated and been inspired by Earthley’s mission for natural health and am pleased to be able to recommend them highly!

 

About Earthley: Earthley was founded by Kate Tietje who for years blogged at https://modernalternativemama.com/ There, as a result of her own experiences and research, she has shared various recipes for natural skin and health products. She also was asked to author a book on natural remedies for kids a few years ago. As more and more people were asking about being able to purchase products instead of having to make them themselves Earthley was born. It's still a pretty small company but growing thanks to more awareness. Learn more about Earthley here: https://www.earthley.com/about-us/ 

Affordability: As I was going through comparing their products to some other non-toxic companies, Earthley’s prices were almost always lower – on some by more than half! This is a definite plus! They offer free shipping over $50 and they also have free health guides available on their website which I have found very helpful.

Ingredients: It is extremely important to me that companies 1) disclose all ingredients, and 2) use all non-toxic and mostly organic ingredients (I say mostly organic because it’s just not always practical for everything to be organic). Earthley meets these requirements. All ingredients are disclosed on the website and on products. As an extra bonus, all ingredients are easy to understand – no weird-sounding chemicals! While Earthley has not yet been rated itself on ewg.org, all their ingredients are rated 1 (that I could find anyway). Also all their herbs are organic. All products are made in the USA. I am super pleased with their ingredients and their transparency. See more information including descriptions about their ingredients here: https://www.earthley.com/our-ingredients/

Products: Earthley has various skin/body/hair products. They have a few different moisturizers, cleanser, toner, various bar soaps, deodorant (baking soda free) dry shampoo, and leave-in conditioner, sunscreen, bug repellent, natural hand sanitizer, lip balm, and MORE! I haven’t tried a ton of their products yet (I’m currently still using up previous brands) but all the ones I have tried so far I have really liked!

But what makes Earthley really unique are their Herbal Remedies and Nutritional Support products. They have various salves for cuts, bites, etc., various “potions” or remedies for pain, headache, digestion, baby teething, earache, sinus issues, PMS and postpartum support, infant and mommy tummy relief, balance, calming and sleep tinctures, anti-inflamatory tincture, a magnesium lotion (which I was super excited to find!) and more. For Nutritional support they have a vitamin D cream (vitamin D is better absorbed by the skin), vitamin C powder, cod liver oil and other multivitamins. As I use more of their products I will update this post.

Business Model: You can buy direct from the company or through an affiliate. It is NOT an MLM company (hooray! Can I get an amen?!?). This was a big concern of mine! In their affiliate program there are no “teams”, no uplines or downlines, no pressure to recruit or get higher sales, etc. All it is, is in exchange for them promoting their products, affiliates get a small commission and discount. The difference between this and an MLM is that in an MLM the commission is not just for the person you’re buying from – it’s for everyone in her upline. (Which is why there is more pressure to recruit and sell more because those in the upline can make more money without doing as much work.) With Earthley the commission is JUST for the affiliate and no one else. It’s exactly half of what I got before – 15% to be honest, so really not much but I don’t mind since the products are also a LOT cheaper (and again them not an MLM was important to me). I am an affiliate for Earthley. I do not see this as a business for me! It’s an opportunity for me to share and use great products and save a little at the same time. But again, you can purchase directly from the website if you don’t want to go “through” anyone. If you don’t mind helping me out just a little bit I’d appreciate it – you can use the link below OR choose my name at checkout (where it says “who do we thank for your order?” Thanks very much!

https://www.earthley.com/ref/ameliacoburn/

Also, if you’re possibly interested in products, but maybe not right now, or if you would like to be notified when I’m doing a group order so that you can get free shipping let me know! I have an e-mail list! Earthley does have products go on sale fairly often so I can also keep you informed about those! No spam I promise! Happy health journey! 

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! 

Companies I’ve Reviewed: Norwex

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. 

Norwex is not listed on ewg.org – but many of their products are cloths and don’t have ingredients to review. This is an MLM company (which is fine just good to know) – I actually considered selling for them at one point because of how impressed I was by their products, but the timing wasn’t good for me and I wasn’t sure it was the best long-term fit for me. (This company actually is more low-risk than most other MLM companies and you get a good commission, although it has it’s challenges too.) This company is most know for their microfiber cloths which are embedded with silver. Microfiber cloths in general are very well-made and designed to pick up dirt and bacteria extremely well (and this has been studied by outside parties). I’ve seen impressive demonstrations where the cloth effectively picks up all the bacteria from raw meat that was on a counter. But the silver that is embedded in Norwex cloths is what makes them really unique. Silver is naturally anti-bacterial so this causes the cloths to not just pick up bacteria, but also works to kill it. Now it does not completely kill it so the cloths do need to be boiled and washed from time to time. But usually after use you simply rinse and rub it together which activates the silver to “clean” the cloth. Pretty neat! I will use my cloths for several weeks before washing them. This also means that you can use their body cloth and take a shower without using soap! This sounds really bizarre, but I use it and it cleans me up just as well as soap does! (It’s pretty nice too because occasionally I’ll take a “cloth bath” and just clean myself off with a cloth!) Another cool thing about these microfiber cloths is that they naturally exfoliate your skin… this means that you can also shave without using soap or shave gel! This sounds really weird too, but it also works…. I do not use soap, gel or anything else to shave! I wet the body cloth well and rub my leg and then shave. Now of course you can still cut yourself or get razor burn depending on how careful you are shaving and the razor you’re using. But as long as I’m careful, I’ve never gotten razor burn using the cloth alone…. And I’ve used these exclusively for about 5 years! Think of how much I just saved on soap/shaving cream! AND no extra products on my skin!

Many are skeptical of these cloths of course…. I certainly was! To be very honest, I think there isn’t quite enough studies done on this to really know how well it kills bacteria in the cloths, how long you can use the cloth for, etc. Again, the cloths DO need to be washed occasionally (they will start to get stiff and smell). To effectively clean them they should be boiled in hot water or washed in hot water with ideally Norwex’s own detergent since it is made for these cloths. (They can be washed and dried normally but with nothing that would create lint as that would damage them, but they clean up better if boiled.)

The cloths DO wear out eventually too of course. I had to thrown away one my body cloths recently as it got holes and it got smelly really fast – but it was a cloth I’d had and used fairly often for about 5 years! So I consider it to be very worth it!

I currently have and use Norwex floor duster and mop, duster, cleaning cloth, dish cloth and scrubber, body cloths, mirror cloth (polishes the mirror after you wash it with the cleaning cloth), bottle-cleaning brush, & toilet brush. I totally recommend these products! I have also used their produce wash which is great, 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 the price is a little more expensive. They have many other cleaning and household products, which are all good and pure, but pricewise you can probably do better elsewhere as well.  

If you are interested in checking out Norwex I have friend who’s a consultant – you can check out products through her page here: https://www.facebook.com/Melissa-Chipman-Independent-Norwex-Consultant-461459667373672/

Thanks for reading! Check out my other reviews and stay tuned for more!