Current Poofy Organics Fave Product: Orange Lavender Herbal Shampoo Bar

I started using orange lavender shampoo bar when I had to travel to Asia last month.
Thinking of TSA-friendly skin care, I load up my luggage with Poofy Organics orange lavender shampoo bar and lotion stick.
It takes a while to get used to using the shampoo bar as they lather differently from liquid shampoo.
At first, I feel that I over-rubbing it into my hair and I am not rinsing it well enough. But, after using the shampoo bar for a month, i am in love!

I love the convenience of using just a bar for my whole body.
I love that the shampoo bar actually leave my hair in perfect state (I wash my hair everyday and I used to feel that liquid shampoo is drying my hair and conditioner leaves my hair oilier than I expected- So I used to use just deep conditioner just every few days) Now with the shampoo bar, my hair feels much healthier and easier to style. I had couple people commented on how nice my new hair looks :)
I love that the shampoo bar is relatively cheap and last a while.
Last but not least, i love the smell of the orange lavender!

The top question people asked me about the shampoo bar:
How do you use it?It is simple. Just get your hair wet, take the bar and rub it  over your scalp and down your hair. Then put the bar away and massage your scalp and hair to work it into a wonderful lather. Lastly, make sure you have a very good  and clean rinse. Voila!

My tips, do not forget to use Soap Lift to make your bar soap last longer.

Ready to give it a try? You can purchase my favorite here

Poofy Organics Orange Lavender Herbal Shampoo Bar

Ingredients: saponified organic oils of palm, coconut, sunflower, castor & olive, rhassoul clay, bentonite clay, organic essential oils of orange & lavender

Merry Christmas DIY Matcha Lavender Honey Sugar Scrub

Today I am in the mood of being busy in the kitchen.....
not for baking, not cooking, but making my own sugar scrub!

I want to give handmade gifts for some friends, hence this:
Matcha Lavender Honey Sugar Scrub

Matcha Lavender Honey Sugar Scrub Christmas DIY

Ingredients:

• Cane Sugar or Brown Sugar (preferably Organic one) 
• Manuka Honey (This is what I use)
• Matcha (I got it from Uwajimaya)
• Lavender USDA Certified Organic Essential Oil (I got mine here)
• Jojoba Oil (I need it last minute so I went to GNC)

I used 1 cup of sugar with 2 tsp of matcha, 2 tsp of manuka honey, 1 Tbs  of Jojoba Oil, and 4 drops of lavender oil

Mixed all of them and healthy skin for the holiday is coming your way!

Choosing only the best ingredients!

Matcha's benefits:  At first I was debating whether I want to use matcha or green tea- then I read this article, so I decided to go with Matcha!

Manuka Honey: read here for benefits

Jojoba Oil: Known as the best carrier oil to treat acne (here)

Lavender USDA Certified Organic Essential Oils: " Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous aroma that is soothing and refreshing. Because it is the most versatile of all essential oils, no home should be without it. Lavender is an adaptogen, and therefore can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. It is a great aid for relaxing and winding down before bedtime, yet has balancing properties that can also boost stamina and energy. It's great for beauty. It may be used to soothe and cleanse common cuts, bruises, and skin irritations."- Poofy Organics

Ava Anderson Essential Oils NOT organic- in violation with USDA

I am all for companies that strive to provide safe havens away from harmful chemicals. However, I dislike companies that is not truthful. Marketing products as something that it is not, is considerably a fraud! I am very disappointed with this news and saddened.

I still can not wrap it in my mind why million dollars company like Ava Anderson is not providing us with USDA Organics products.
I am all for the USDA Organic certification and the seal. I have posted information about how rigorous the process of obtaining the USDA Organic seal here: http://creatingsafehaven.blogspot.com/2015/11/how-important-is-usda-certified.html

And this is another GREEN and SAFE company that speaks about USDA Organic Certification well: http://bubbleandbee.blogspot.com/2014/08/can-usda-organic-be-trusted.html

I support Bubble and Bee's statement: "Of course, it always helps to buy your organic products from sources you trust, and companies that have demonstrated their dedication to organic standards." and with that, I choose to NOT use Ava Anderson products because I just cannot trust Ava Anderson.

Ava Anderson Essential Oils in violation with USDA

One of the Ava Anderson's page posted this "“USDA Organic” is simply a marketing term now, unfortunately. And did you know that the goal of the USDA has always been to increase agricultural sales, not promote organic farming? It's ALL about the ingredients. NO seal, stamp, buzzwords or "certifications" mean very much, unfortunately." with a link to here: http://www.realfarmacy.com/usda-organic-labels-no-longer-trustworthy/#dQsq12tY6wwGqsv3.99

What a joke?!

USDA ORGANIC CERTIFICATION SEAL means INTEGRITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.
I, personally, prefer products with USDA Organics seal.

Ava Anderson, what else are you hiding?

Before I learned about Poofy Organics, I tried 4 products of Ava Anderson Non Toxic (AANT) and I enjoyed couple of them (Deep Conditioner and Boo Boo Stick), so-so on the Dream Cream, dislike the Bathroom & Hard Surface All purpose Cleaner because it is ineffective.
My search for Non-Toxic Products continues until I stumble upon this page:
http://ecofriendlymamausa.com/2015/04/21/why-ava-anderson-remains-on-my-so-so-list-2/

I cannot believe that Ava Anderson used to contain Geogard Ultra (sodium benzoate & gluconolactone) - synthetic preservatives!
https://gogreenct.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/my-fda-complaint-against-ava-anderson-nontoxic/

Further on, on Eco Friendly Mama USA blog, she writes:
"Past issues that lead to me being wary of their claims: Many felt their diaper cream contained zinc oxide, but the label didn’t list it. Turns out eventually they did come out & say “oops, yes, there is zinc oxide in there, but don’t worry, it’s just a small amount”,  and then they added it to the label. Of course since they don’t make the products themselves they were able to pin it on the manufacturer & take no personal responsibility whatsoever. Why does this matter: What if your child was deathly allergic to zinc oxide, Zinc oxide is not cloth diaper safe, as it repels water, and we as the consumer have the right to know every, single ingredient in our products. So, this is where the trust issue comes into play. As with the CA baby reformulation scandal (Google the term if you’re unfamiliar with that), once something like this happens, my trust in the company & products is lost forever."

YES. MY trust in AANT and products is LOST FOREVER.

CA baby reformulation scandal- http://safemama.com/2012/01/21/california-baby-reformulation-drama/

What else are you hiding, AANT??

Btw, if you are looking for effecting cleaning products, use NORWEX Microfiber cloths- just add water and for my baby & my personal skin care products and cosmetics, I use Poofy Organics

How important is USDA Certified Organics Seal?

"The USDA National Organic Standard Seal not only shows your ongoing commitment to a healthy planet but assures consumers and buyers that your product meets stringent USDA organic certification requirements, thus will make your product more marketable and profitable."

STRINGENT USDA Organic certification requirements like:

1) NOP production and handling standards cover all manners of organic crop growing and livestock handling, along with standards associated with The National List.

2) If a business or individual knowingly labels or sells a product that bears the Organic Seal or USDA organic wording, and that product is not truly organic, a civil penalty of up to $11,000 for each offense may be charged.

3) One major certification policy is that all USDA certified organic applicants must submit an organic system plan to their accredited certifying agent.

So, if you happen to come around products that are labeled organic without the "seal" It is basically means nothing. Look for skin care and personal products from companies that take the EXTRA step to become certified USDA Organic with the seal.

Source: https://organic.about.com/od/organicpublicpolicy/a/Standards-Addressed-By-National-Organic-Program-Regulations.htm

Another worth reading sources: http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/green-living/organic-certification/organic-labeling-requirements/
NOP Allowable and Prohibited Substances
Can USDA Organics be trusted?