Eco-Friendly lifestyle products for Earth Day
By Carla Snuggs

Every April, we are reminded about how we can make great lifestyle choices in honor of Earth Day. It’s really important to search for beauty, lifestyle and fashion products with natural elements as well as lifestyle products that support our environment. Here some of my favorite Earth Day products this year!

Schmidt’s Lily of the Valley Natural Deodorant and Body Wash

Schmidt’s has partnered with world-renowned conservationist Jane Goodall to co-create the Lily of the Valley collection inspired by Jane’s favorite scent. What’s more? They are donating 5% of proceeds from each purchase to the Jane Goodall Institute. Schmidt’s is proud to join organizations like the Jane Goodall Institute in making small, yet effective changes to benefit the health of our planet – even down to the choices they make with beauty products. Like all Schmidt’s products, the Lily of the Valley collection is vegan, cruelty-free and free of artificial fragrance. Purchase at Whole Foods and on Schmidts.com.

CoCoTaps

CoCoTaps is a Zero-Waste beverage founded in Las Vegas.  The CocoTap tool is the only 100 percent Made in USA, BPA Free, and dishwasher-safe coconut water system. CocoVinny brings CocoTaps coconuts to businesses that are tired of hearing news about plastic in the ocean and an undernourished society. In partnership with businesses that want to see a zero-waste future, CocoTaps can retrieve all of the plastic CocoTaps for sterilization and can cycle them back into use.  Shop: Cocotaps.com

Color Up Therapeutics

Color Up Therapeutics is the first CBD-infused brand on the market with an advanced, comprehensive skin care line, and full facial protocol for both professionals & at-home care. The brand is based in Colorado and was founded by a team of three who have backgrounds in science and product formulation. They are clean and green! Try the 25mg Dark Circle Reduction & Firming Eye Cream. Just a little bit dotted under the eye has done so much for the hyperpigmentation under my eye. 

Take My Face off

Take My Face Off creates reusable, super soft makeup removing Makeup Mittys and Mitty Minis that are much better for the environment than single-use products like makeup wipes and cotton balls. Take My Face Off is on the forefront of combating waste from single-use products with gentle and effective beauty tools. Plus, they take off every trace of makeup, are way cuter than a gross old washcloth, and can even be used on eyelash extensions! They recently collaborated with world-famous lip artist, Vlada, to create Vlada's Mitty Pout, a reusable lip cleansing tool that removes even the most stubborn lip color with ease.

The Living Urn

The Living Urn is a patented bio urn and planting system designed to grow a tree memorial from our unique biodegradable urn holding a person or pet’s ashes. They offer over 50 trees, narrowed down by zip code to the ones that grow best in each area of the U.S. The Living Urnis in over 800 funeral homes nationwide and has been used in tens of thousands of tree plantings with great reviews. In addition, for every Living Urn planted, they donate to plant a second tree to help with reforestation efforts in one of America’s forests!

Dune Jewelry

Dune Jewelry, the Original Beach Sand Jewelry Company® is launching their new bracelet collection and global charity initiative named Touch the World on April 22nd . The twelve beautiful bracelets can be customized with your choice of sands or natural elements or feature Dune’s signature blend of sands and elements curated from all seven continents around the world. In addition, the launch will honor Earth Day on Monday, April 22 and through experiential giving by continually donating 10% of the proceeds from each bracelet to the following twelve causes that make a difference around the world:

• Ocean Conservancy

• Rainforest Conservation

• Climate Change Prevention

• Clean Drinking Water Initiatives

• Humanitarian Medical Care

• Alzheimer’s Care & Research

• Animal Welfare

• Childhood Cancer Care & Research

• Heart Disease Care & Research

• Autism Awareness

• Mental Health Awareness

• Opioid Research & Rehabilitation

Each bracelet retails for $32.00. Shop Dunejewelry.com

Organic Initiative (Oi)

Organic Initiative (Oi) is a New Zealand-based company that markets 100% cotton, organic, chemical, plastic and dye-free tampons and pads.  The average woman uses about 11,000 feminine hygiene products over the lifetime of her period. Stacked – that is 8-times higher than the Golden Gate Bridge! More and more women are recognizing that one important step they can take to protect the environment and their health is to use organic feminine hygiene products (FPs).  Until recently, these products were often more expensive than traditional FPs and often hard to find. Good news, just last month Walmart started carrying Oi – the first organic FP line on their shelves.  In addition to Walmart, you can purchase Oi at Amazon.com and other major retailers.

Hay! Straws

HAY! Straws are made from natural wheat stems and are 100% biodegradable, which means they won’t linger in landfills, polluting our land or oceans. They are similar in feel and function to the plastic straws we’ve all become so accustomed to, but without the toxins and the damaging footprint on our earth. Unlike paper straws, HAY! Straws are made from a renewable source, and best of all, they don’t get soggy and are gluten-free!

The founders became inspired by the anti-plastic movement after reading dozens of articles about plastic polluting the ocean and so came the idea of a HAY! Straws, fast forward to present day where over 40 million HAY! Straws have been sold helping remove so many plastic straws from our oceans. Ideal for cocktails, low viscosity drinks, and hot drinks, HAY straws come in two size, 5.5inches and 7.75 inches and can be purchased via the HAY! Straws website or online retailers.

TLD Candles

TLD Candles is a sustainable candle company dedicated to their mission of reducing CO2 emissions by using all-natural candle materials/packaging and their reusable candle containers. 

• Candles are hand poured in NYC using all-natural soy wax, low smoke hemp/cotton wicks, essential oils and nontoxic adhesive to create fully fragrant & long burning candles. Packaging from recycled materials. 

• TLD containers are made to be reused. After the candle has finished, we encourage our customers to clean repurpose/reuse the the containers. 

• No two candles are the same, our limited edition candles are one of a kind and won't be remade! Often using vintage teacups, planter pots, kitchenware to create home decor for all personality types.

• A portion of all proceeds go to NYC Material for the Arts

Tani

Tani USA, believes in making the best underwear in the best possible way. They’ve taken industry-leading steps to limit the environmental impact of our production and believe in responsible consumption and aim to produce with minimal impact to the environment. Their raw materials are sourced from renewable resources.  They require fabric mills to adhere to high environmental standards that include extensive recycling and a focus on green manufacturing. They source only the highest grade of each fabric. We don’t cut corners by using knock-offs or “just like the real thing” fabrics. The result is underwear, loungewear and thermal clothing that we can comfortably guarantee is like nothing you’ve ever put on.

Pristine

This eco-friendly product was recently featured on ABC's Shark Tan and is a new product that can do wonders for the environment. Pristine is an alternative to wet wipes, many of which are considered single-use plastics and are causing massive problems for sewer systems and landfills across the world. The wipe issue has been getting a lot of press recently, but there has not been many articles highlighting that alternatives exist. Pristine is a toilet paper spray.  Pristine is sprayed onto dry toilet paper to create an instant wet wipe that is actually flushable and free of harsh chemicals.  To date, Pristine has prevented 3,700,000 wet wipes from entering sewers and landfills, and this Earth day, they are making a strong push to reach a 4,000,000 wipe goal. Shop: Pristinesprays.com

Alternative Apparel

Alternative Apparel is deeply rooted in responsible and eco-friendly practices, using proprietary fabrics and specialty washes to make one-of-a-kind pieces. The spring line is soft, simple and sustainable, and filled with comfort (as always). With a long-standing commitment to the planet and its people, Alternative Apparel strives to provide the best quality, while inspiring alternative ways of thinking. Eco-friendly fabrics from the Spring/Summer 19  collection (including Eco-Jersey, Eco-Fleece and Eco-Gauze) include:

• Printed Eco-Fleece Jogger Pants in Eco Light Grey Country Floral

• Champ Remix Eco-Fleece Sweatshirt in Eco Peach

• The Simone Shirred Eco-Jersey T-Shirt in Eco Lavender Grey

• Cropped Eco-Jersey Lounge Jumpsuit in Eco Grey

Catskill Provisions

Catskill Provisions, an artisanal food and craft spirits company with honey at its core. A percent of all sales is devoted to bee-saving causes. Catskill Provision’s 100% NY raw wildflower honey is the star ingredient in its finely crafted, small batch products including a line of honey, NY Honey Rye Whiskey – rye whiskey infused with a dash of honey, maple syrup, chocolate honey truffles, ketchup, apple cider vinegar and pancake mix. Claire founded Catskill Provisions in 2010, when she walked away from publishing to make a difference and follow her passion, turning her beekeeping hobby into an award-winning artisanal fine food and spirits business. Claire has two passion platforms; environmental legislation focused on saving the bees and organizations that empower women. Among much more, she works with local farmers and artisans to create each product; a percent of all Catskill Provisions sales is donated to environmental causes devoted to saving bees and other pollinators; Claire is a founding member of the newly launched Women’s Cocktail Collective; she is growing pollinator-friendly botanicals at her farm, and; the packaging for all products is done at a facility that hires people with disabilities. 

BareOrganics

BareOrganics is the perfect Earth Day find! This is because all containers are reusable with an easy-peel label. They are also microwave and top shelf dishwasher safe. Once emptied, the use for BareOrganics containers is vast, including — storing leftovers, creating an herb garden, buying and storing bulk foods. Check out how fans are re-using their jars by searching the hashtag #BarelyUsed on social media!  Try the Brew Cups and start your day off right or get a healthy afternoon pick-me-up with BareOrganic’s single serve brew cups! They are Fortified with beneficial superfoods and probiotics, each recyclable cup has the potential to help you reach your health and wellness goals, or provide an extra boost of nutrition whenever you need it. They’re compatible with most single serve brewing systems.

*Disclaimer: Press samples were provided for editorial consideration, product testing, photography and honest review.