Going Green, Saving Green and not Splurging Green

So a question on many people's minds these days is how to go green, without spending that much green. Here's a few tips on going green, saving green and not splurging green:

1.) Organic products are less diluted than mainstream products so you can actually use less to get the same effect. For example, how much shampoo do you use in the morning? Yes, we know that it takes a while for you to fully wake up and maybe you don't really observe the gob of shampoo you pour into your palm with your eyes still firmly shut... but here's the thing, most people use double to triple the amount of shampoo and conditioner actually needed! Try to use the shampoo only on your scalp and massage lightly throughout the crown of your head. Conditioner should only be used from the mid-section of your hair to the ends. And don't forget- we're talking a dime to quarter size at most here! So that shampoo you keep buying ever two to three weeks, can actually last you a whole season if you are careful. Try our Kaia House Organics Sweet Orange and Lime Shampoo which gives back to Breast Cancer Awareness Charities!

2.) Be your own at home spa. We've all had mom's or grandmom's that swear by some strange kitchen ingredient that will cure your skin woe's...and for us busy gals, while the idea is tempting, we still may be addicted to our expensive spa therapy habit. What's the real difference between a facial at that trendy spa downtown, or that mask you just bought? The truth? That facial that is going to make that dent in your shoe budget is most likely a series of powdered masks and peels whereas that mask you just bought, while really fabulous is not powdered. So what's the difference? Powdered, not powdered? For one thing, powdered masks last longer because they do not have a water base which reacts with molecules in the air. For the same reason, when you apply water or toner to activate them and apply to your face, they are fresher and more potent- so they tend to work better. Additionally, powdered masks are great for people with finicky skin. Because they do not have preservatives of any kind in them (including Essential Oils), they can work with skin that's sensitive but oily, dry but blotchy, and everything in between. The best part? When you calculate the cost per application, most powdered masks you can buy will run you $1.50-$3.00 per use. Now compare that to the $60-$150 treatments that do nearly the same thing... um now where is that shoe store again?
For a good head start on what powdered masks and scrubs we love, try Miessence Organics Rejuvenating Mask or our line of Chemically Naked masks and scrubs. We also recommend at home peels from Juice Beauty like their Green Apple Peel for Sensitive Skin or our very own Kaia House Pumpkin Peel. Don't forget to steam your face before your mask with Dr. Hauschka's Face Steam Bath and close up your pores after your treatment with a cold water drenched cloth and our pore minimizer Red Carpet Ready. Another great way to say on the spa? Do your own waxing!! We love Shobha's Madhu Sugar kit complete with strips and application sticks.

3.) Have you Soyed the new candles yet?
Not many people know this, but Soy candles not only burn clean and are free from yucky paraffins and petroleum that makes our walls black and is toxic to our lungs, but they also burn LONGER! So picture this, a romantic evening all to yourself and your loved one, (in my case it's my dog Cookie), with a nice clean burning candle that doesn't leave any trace of the event the morning after... that and the ability to use it upto 60 hours in comparison to the typical 15-30 hours for a standard 20oz candle. Not much to convince here really, you SOY got me on this green tip! Try our fabulous Hugo Naturals Sweet Orange and Vanilla Soy Candle, or Red Flowers Jasmine Room Diffuser that's on sale now!

The Most UN-wanted List

What's on our Most UN-wanted List?
Our products are all put through what we call the Most UN-wanted list, a detailed and up to date list of synthetic chemicals of questionable safety that are found in many mainstream cosmetic and body care items today. Kaia House maintains this list as a guide to the products we carry, by checking each and every ingredient on each product we research for these chemicals. If any of these chemicals are in the product we are considering, we will not carry the product. You can rest assured that your skin is in good hands. To see what is on our latest Most UN-wanted list please see below.


1. Petrochemicals
These are chemicals derived from Petroleum and Natural Gas and are used for their foaming and emulsifying qualities in Hair Products, Body Creams and Facial Cleansers. Most common forms are Cocomidopropyl Betaine or Coco Betaine (derived from coconut oil, this is processed using petrochemicals)*, PVP/VA Copolymer, and Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). These petrochemicals can cause eye impairment, intestinal damage, kidney and liver problems, breathing problems, cysts, skin spots, rashes and hair loss.

2. Polyethylene Glycol (PEG/ PPG)
A family of synthetic chemical compounds, PEG can be found in Creams, Skin Conditioners and Face and Body Cleansers. Common forms are PEG-8, PEG-80 Glyceryl, Cocoate, Peroleate and PEG 15 Soyamide/IPDI Copolymer. The most troubling aspect of PEG is that the compounds often contain Ethylene Oxide, known to increase the likelihood of leukemia, uterine, breast, and brain cancer, and 1,4-Dioxane, that has been found to increase the incidence of liver, lung and skin tumors.

3. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
Common forms of PAHs are Benzene, Benz-(a)-Pyrene, DMBA, and 1-Nitropyrene. They are also found in PEG compounds. These chemicals have been known to cause breast cancer since the 1960s.

4. Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazoline
These are preservatives that are known to have mutagenic and cancer causing properties.

5. Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA and the closely related Triethanolamine (TEA) are used as emulsifiers and/or foaming agents in most Skin Care and Hair Care products. These 'amines' are ammonia compounds that have been known to cause eye and skin irritations, and are strongly linked to cancer when exposed to nitrates. Other forms of DEA and TEA are Lauramide DEA, Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA- Cetyl Phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, and TEA-Lauryl Sulfate.

6. Phthalates (DBP, DMP, DEP)
Found in Perfumes, Hair Spray, and Deodorants, and used as plasticizers and fixatives, most common forms of Phthalates are Dimethylphthalate, Diethylphthalate, and Dibutylphthalate, and are often times undisclosed on mainstream product labels. Phthalates have been found to cause birth defects in male reproductive systems, pre-mature sexual development in girls and increased child asthma rates. Exposure to phthalates has also caused malformations of male reproductive organs and damage to the prostate glands in animal laboratory tests. They have been linked to breast cancer since 1997.

7. Parabens**
These are petroleum-based preservatives that allow plant and food based products to have a longer shelf life. They are found in many consumer products from Facial Products to Cleaning Detergents and Soap. Most common forms of parabens are Methylparaben, Ethylparaben Propylparaben and Butylparaben. An excessive amount of parabens in the body have been found to cause liver problems and have weak estrogen-like effects that may cause breast cancer and reproductive abnormalities in young boys and girls exposed to the chemical either prior to puberty or during the mother's pregnancy.

8. Formaldehyde
Also used as a preservative, Formaldehyde can irritate the skin, damages the nervous system and cause cancer. 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1, 3-Diol, Diazolidinyl Urea, DMDM Hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl Urea, and Quaternium 15 all either contain, may release, or may break down into formaldehyde.

9. Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Used as an anti-oxidant preservative, BHA is found in most Foundations and Cosmetic Make-up. It has been known to cause breast cancer tumors to multiply.

10. Artificial Colors and Fragrances
Artificial colors and fragrances found in Lipsticks, Shampoos, and Facial products have been known to cause skin irritations and allergic reactions. Many artificial fragrances contain hazardous chemicals including Toluene, Methylene Chloride, and Benzyl Chloride and may cause nausea, depression, anger and memory lapses. Artificial colors such as Red 3 have also been linked to cancer. Amongst children, certain artificial colors have been linked with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and hyperactivity.


*All products containing Cocomidopropyl Betaine and Coco Betaine ingredients have been verified with manufacturers as NOT being processed with petrochemicals.
**Due to importing and safety restrictions on a number of cosmetic products, many plant and fruit based cosmetics must use synthetic preservatives such as parabens to ensure a safe shelf life of 30 months, which will protect it from the growth of dangerous bacteria. Kaia House carries a few products with Parabens in them, however, our tolerance is a trace amount of 0.4% of total Paraben ingredient per product and we label which products have these ingredients clearly. For more information on Parabens and FDA and EU regulations for Parabens please read our article "The Great Paraben Debate".

Disclaimer: All information listed above is not representative in any way of medical or scientific authority. For more information on the resources used to compile the above list, please refer to our list of Resources on http://www.kaiahouse.com/themostunwanted.html