SFIC Soap

Once upon a time I attempted to create a fragrance-free skin care business. Due to a number of factors I was never able to get that business off the ground. One of the products I sold was SFIC soap and it is the bar soap I use today. I try many varieties of fragrance free soaps. Dr. Bronners is my favorite liquid, and this is my favorite bar. SFIC is the soap of choice for crafters who use melt and pour bases to make their own creations. They take very well to colors and scents, but I obviously prefer the bar in it’s natural fragrance-free state. There are no synthetic ingredients in these soaps. The are 100% pure soap and they come in a variety of kinds: Aloe Vera, Clear, White, Olive Oil, Castile, Goats Milk, Oatmeal, Shea Butter, Hemp Seed Oil and Cocoa Butter just to name a few.

The clear soap formula ingredients are Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Safflower Oil, Glycerine (kosher, of vegetable origin), Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide (saponifying agent), Sorbitol (moisturizer), Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier), Soybean protein (conditioner).

The complete list of formulas can be found here:

The one problem with SFIC is their minimums are high for the average customer. They specialize in bulk sales, private labeling and custom soap blending. I placed an order and my minimum was 250 lbs. I figured out that I will have enough soap for 20 years, but according to the company their soap has an indefinite shelf life, so I am good with this.
If you would like smaller quantities, go to wisterialane.com. They sell SFIC soap in with no minimum quantity.

I highly recommend SFIC soap. It is soft, luxurious, and lathers very well.

SFICSoap.com
Photo credits: SFICSoap.com

Andalou Shampoos

I’ve been trying to incorporate more natural, organic scents back into my life.  I’ve become so accustomed to everything in my life being fragrance-free, I now have to make an effort to incorporate real scents back into the products that I use.

I found Andalou shampoos at Whole Foods.  These products are

“made naturally without GMO’s, gluten, paraben preservatives, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Verified Gluten-Free 100% Eco-friendly, Vegetarian & Cruelty-Free.”  The fragrances they use are organic essential oils and I tolerate them very well. The scents smell very pure and not over powering at all.  Unfortunately, they do not make a fragrance-free version, so if you have reactions to essential oils, even organic essential oils, do not use these products.  I use the Argan & Sweet Orange, and the Sunflower & Citrus.  I haven’t tried the conditioners yet because I’m really happy with the conditioner I currently use.

Andalou products are available through Vitacost, where you can buy them for a better price than Whole Foods.

Vanicream

Photo by Vanicream

Vanicream’s line of fragrance-free personal care products are some of the first products I used after I became chemically sensitive.  All of their products are “free of dyes, fragrance, masking fragrance, lanolin, parabens and formaldehyde.  In addition, they’re all gluten-free.”

The line contains skin cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, hair care and shave cream.

Avocado and Olive Oil Hair Treatment

 

Here is a natural recipe for your hair.  Avocados are rich in healthy fats as well as Vitamin E and C.  Olive oil also provides generous amounts of healthy fats and Vitamin E.

 

Blend or mash one avocado with ½ cup of olive oil.  Add egg yolk, honey or aloe vera gel for added moisturizing benefits.

 

Apply to dry hair, cover with a shower cap and towel over top of that.  Leave the mixture on for 20 minutes, rinse and then shampoo.  Condition if you would like.

Nature’s Gate Natural Toothpaste

I try to avoid toxins wherever I can, which is why I upgraded my toothpaste. I’m currently using Nature’s Gate Natural Toothpaste. I like the Crème de Mint and Crème de Anise flavors. The main reason I use this toothpaste is because it’s fluoride free. There are several natural toothpaste brands that still contain fluoride and I wanted to avoid that. For more information on the dangers of fluoride, click here.

Not only is Nature’s Gate toothpaste fluoride free, it is also paraben free, sulfate free, contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, no artificial colors, not artificial flavors or sweeteners and no animal by-products or animal testing.

Nature’s Gate

Toxin Free Tampons

Conventional tampons contain pesticide-laden cotton, a very dangerous toxic chemical named dioxin that is result of chlorine bleaching and rayon, a fiber made from wood pulp that requires hundreds of chemicals to convert it from wood to rayon.

I recently made the switch to organic cotton tampons because I am always interested in reducing the amount of toxins I can avoid.  I purchased these boxes of Natracare Organic Cotton Tampons from Vitacost.  Both boxes contain 16 tampons with card applicator and each cost $4.87.  They are 100% organic cotton, perfume free, biodegradable and totally free of chlorine.  Seventh Generation also makes a line of organic tampons.

I found a very informative article online by Meghan Telpner.  Her site is MeghanTelpner.com and she writes about healthy nutrition.  Click here to read her research paper “Tampax Tampons: Toxic Death Sticks.”  Meghan also discusses several alternatives to conventional toxic tampons, one of them being the menstrual cup.  A menstrual cup is a small silicone cup that is inserted to collect fluid.  They are reusable and do not carry the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome like tampons do.  I’ve been intrigued by this option for some time and I think I will be giving it a try some day.  But in the meantime I’ll stick with my organic cotton tampons.

Everyday Shea Unscented Shampoo and Conditioner

I love love love love love love LOVE this shampoo and conditioner. Did I say how much I love these products? Cuz I do. I came across them at Whole Foods and gave them a try since I love shea butter.

These products are great for my dry hair. They’re very moisturizing. Everyday Shea also makes a body wash, lotion, and hand soap, which I just saw the other day at Whole Foods. I haven’t tried the body wash, lotion or hand soap yet but I will be soon.

Fragrance Free Wipes

Carrying baby wipes is essential for me. Most of the time I keep a little bottle of Dr. Bronner’s soap with me, but when for whatever reason I don’t have my bottle of soap, I have my fragrance-free baby wipes. Fragrance transfer is so easy and so unavoidable (just from opening doors, shopping carts, shaking hands, etc) that I have to be able to get the fragrance off my hands as soon as possible. I used to get the Kirkland brand of fragrance free baby wipes and those worked for me very well, until they changed the formula and added a masking fragrance. Even my fiancé, who is fragrance free, but not chemically sensitive, noticed the difference between the new box and the previous one.

So I switched to Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation Baby Wipes are free of chlorine, dyes and fragrances. I keep them in my car and in my bathroom. I use them for my hands and I sometimes even use them to remove my makeup.

Another brand I like is Wet Ones Sensitive Skin Formula. I get the boxes of 24 individually wrapped wipes so I can throw a few in my purse and know I always have a back up with me. They weren’t easy to find. I find them one day at Target and bought five boxes. I like to stock up.

Derma E’s AHA Alpha Hydroxy Acids Beauty Fluid

I love, love, LOVE Derma E’s AHA Alpha Hydroxy Acids Beauty Fluid. As I get older, I’m trying to put forth the effort to take care of my body and my skin. While I am not obsessed with aging, I do want to take little steps to combat the little lines, dull skin and dark spots I am starting to see.

I came across Derma E’s AHA Alpha Hydroxy Acids Beauty Fluid while conducting one of my many fragrance free product searches online. I wash my face with an all natural aloe soap (link), dry my face and twice a week I apply this fragrance-free product as my nightly moisturizer instead of my normal moisturizer of safflower oil.

I am so pleased with the results I have seen in only a couple of weeks of using this product. I noticed my blemishes went away and my skin tone and texture is clear and bright. This product will firmly remain in my beauty regime.

Derma E carries several other fragrance free items, but not all of their line is fragrance free. Make sure to check the label.

Kiss My Face Liquid Rock Fragrance-Free Deodorant

Deodorants are generally hard to recommend because what works for one person simply may not work for another person. This is the one that works for me.

It has a VERY light natural scent from the willow bark extract. My boyfriend recognized the smell from his childhood growing up on a farm where they had many willow trees. After my shower he reminds me to put on my “tree.” Well, we think it’s funny.