Zoe Organics is dedicated to educating parents and providing a safe alternative to the abundance of toxic skin care products on the market. If you have not seen this video, it is really worth watching. Please share this video with someone today – let’s spread the word!
I have spent the past two days pulling together resources to help educate our community on the dangers of toxins in our homes and our personal care products. Rather than just taking my word for it, I thought I would point you in the direction of some really great organizations who are making a big impact in helping to educate and promote change! Here is a list of my favorites:
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
The Daily Green – I particularly enjoy reading this blog: Ask an Organic Mom
These organizations are packed with useful information and include ways for you to get involved and make a difference in your home, community, and world! I know you have many “to do” items to check off your list today, but I promise you will take away some valuable information from these sources.
We must make informed decisions about what we put in and on our bodies. Our children can’t make these decisions for themselves. We have been entrusted with their care and the responsibility lies in our hands to protect them.
calendula flower
I have been receiving emails from concerned and discouraged moms who have children suffering from eczema. Although my own children, thankfully, do not suffer from it, I have witnessed cases from mild to severe.
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, can be commonly characterized by severely dry, itchy and irritated skin. Causes range from environmental and food allergens as well as genetics.
Although there are many factors that affect eczema, your child’s skin care products and routine can have a significant impact on your child’s eczema. Here is a list of suggestions I have compiled. I would love for you to add to the list, by sharing your personal stories in the comments section!
- Keep bath time relatively short. Most kids love baths, so don’t deprive them of playing in the tub, just don’t let them turn into prunes.
- Avoid using soaps and shampoos that contain sulfates, fragrances or other harsh and drying chemicals. We created a fabulous organic baby bath tea that we believe is a perfect alternative to soap.
- Moisturize as soon as they get out of the bath. Rather than a regular lotion, try using a natural massage oil or balm, particularly on the hot spots.
- Reapply moisturizing balms often. Balms are effective because they contain rich oils and wax that create a barrier and hold in much-needed moisture.
- Natural remedies can be just as effective as medication such as steroids. Just be sure that the products you choose are pure and natural; free from synthetic fragrances and hidden chemicals.
- Calendula is a popular herbal remedy for eczema. It has antibacterial properties and is known as an immuno-stimulant. A common use for Calendula is to treat minor skin infections. Our organic diaper cream, organic body cream and organic baby bath teas contain significant amounts of Calendula.
- Of course fabrics, textiles, detergents and household cleaners which come in contact with your child’s skin play a role too! One of my favorite resources for information on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding harmful toxins is Healthy Child Healthy World.
If your child suffers from eczema and you would like to try a sample of Zoe Organics gourmet skin care, please send me an email with your mailing address: heather[at]zoe-organics.com.
My heart goes out to all you moms who are desperate to find a solution for your child’s eczema. I will continue to research ingredients and solutions for your little ones!
These last several months have been pretty eye-opening for me; I’ve mostly been doing research about package design (and some web design, though I’m a bit timid to admit this, because I’m clueless when it comes to the subject!), and I’ve been learning a ton: how things are made, where the materials come from, what the printing options are, etc. etc…. and I feel like I’ve only just seen the tip of this iceberg.
But some of the things we’ve been wanting to do for ZO turn out to be pretty hard, if not impossible. Using recycled glass to make the glass jars and bottles for the products – this I thought would be a piece of cake. Turns out, if you can only order small quantities of things and don’t have the budget to custom-make your containers, you’re actually very limited in your options. Oh, there are options – don’t get me wrong – they’re just not what I’m looking for, stylistically or aesthetically. (And to a designer, what’s more important than that??)
I posted earlier about a book called Cradle to Cradle, and how it’s really had an impact on me. I feel like there’s been a giant shift in my perception of what it means to live sustainably. Seriously – like what it means to recycle, and how being good by recycling isn’t really good enough when it comes to preserving our resources. But what I love the most about the book is that it’s not really a guilt-inducing, finger-pointing type of manifesto; it’s actually pretty inspiring, and makes me want to try to create totally new ways of making things. (Try! I said.) The sweet spot here is to find a way to manufacture your product so that no waste at all is produced (or, I should say, the “waste” that is produced can go back into the system as a benefit for something else). It’s all a system, after all, this world we’re living in, and currently severely out of balance.
I’m paraphrasing here, and pretty awfully I might add, but that’s kind of the general sense of the book. Anyway, it’s become quite a buzz phrase, “cradle to cradle,” and not to jump on the bandwagon or anything, but there are companies out there who are making major changes in the way they manufacture products – and how amazing would it be to actually initiate change on this level? Hm.
All that to say, I’ve been inspired by this book. And I hope to have the chance to do some things differently, when it comes to the making of our packaging and products. There are lots of things to consider, of course, and believe me it can get overwhelming, but I’ve finally accepted that this is a process, and I’ll just continue on this road, and see where it leads.
Change is hard. But often, a very good thing.
I keep hearing the greatest stories from our group of product testers of how much their kids are lovin’ Zoe Organics!
The little girls especially love having their own special products; the mini balm pot is a hit as they can carry it in their own little purse to use as lip balm. Word on the street is that they like to reapply often.
Toddlers love the bath tea and don’t want to get out of the bath. Moms report that their babies and toddlers seem more calm and relaxed after bathing with it before bedtime. And who doesn’t love a massage with aromatherapy oil?
Recently, I found my potty-trained 3-year-old applying Zoe Organics diaper cream. He assured me that it was helping his “diaper rash.” My Zoe Organics balm has deep toddler finger indentations in it from my boys eagerly helping to apply balm to their cheeks and mouths. We have our own after-bath routine, and my boys insist on helping by using the products themselves.
Isn’t this what it’s all about? Although I wouldn’t knowingly let my kids eat the stuff, I am never concerned about allergic reactions or them getting sick if they drink some bath water (as a child, I once had a severe allergic reaction after drinking too much bath water with bubble bath in it!). Our ingredients are so natural; many of them are found in our kitchens!
I would love to hear your stories! If you have tried Zoe Organics and have a fun story, please share! If you are just learning about Zoe Organics and would like to try a sample, send me an email: heather[at]zoe-organics.com.
As we enter a new year, I can’t help but feel excitement and anticipation about the possibilities this new year may bring. The past few months were filled with holiday hustle and bustle, but January brings new focus and energy toward getting Zoe Organics ready for our official product launch! We have had some wonderful feedback from our community of product testers. In fact, the response was so great that we are planning to have our products available for purchase in February! There will be some exciting posts in the coming weeks, including the reveal of our logo and packaging! Make sure to check our blog often!
This year, although I did not make an official list of resolutions, I am continuing on my journey to simplify my life. The further I delve into a “green” lifestyle, I am amazed at how many opportunities I have each day to live a more healthy, sustainable life. I guess you could say my new year’s resolution is more of a daily commitment.
We want to thank our growing Zoe Organics community for the many ways you contribute to the value of the company. Let’s welcome this new year and embrace life as the precious gift that it is!
One of my very favorite ingredients to work with is virgin coconut oil. Besides the fact that is smells similar to what I imagine heaven smells like, it is packed with health benefits! Coconut oil is a powerhouse against free-radicals, fungus and bacteria. It is commonly used to treat acne and ezema.
What I have created is a decadent body cream that is especially beneficial for dry skin. I also recommend this to pregnant women with their beautiful growing bellies, to bring relief from the dreaded belly itch.
It is that time of year when our skin needs extra moisture due to the cold and dry weather. This cream is a wonderful compromise between a rich body butter and a lotion. The scent is mild coconut with a hint of gardenia. All you have to do is close your eyes and be transported from winter wonderland to tropical paradise.
A few years ago, I joined a group of co-workers and participated in “march for babies”, a 3 mile walk to raise money for the March of Dimes. March of Dimes is an organization that funds basic and clinical research worldwide and supports services that help women and infants receive medical support and social services. Their mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Today is Prematurity Awareness Day and I wanted to take a minute to share a few of the alarming statistics about prematurity in our country.
According to March of Dimes:
- 1 in 8 babies is born premature in our country
- The prematurity rate in America is higher than most other developed nations
- The U.S. scored only a “D” in the premature birth report card, demonstrating that over half a million babies in our nation didn’t get the healthy start they deserved
- In America alone, the rate of premature birth has increased by 36 percent in the past 25 years
- The worldwide rate of prematurity is almost 13 million babies per year; more than 1 million die because they are born to soon
Research concludes that preventing prematurity begins as early as preconception. The March of Dimes website provides resources and tools to help educate parents so they can take steps toward prevention. You can also contact your local chapter for more information.
You can support March of Dimes by participating in march for babies and other events, through financial contribution or by volunteering.
Whether you have had a personal experience with premature birth, or are just now learning about it; as a community we can each contribute to this cause.
Over the past few weeks, something has been stirring in me. I have been restless with discontentment. I am a work at home mom, which means my days are filled with caring for two toddlers, managing our household and trying to contribute to our family’s income.
My home generally looks like something exploded in it, thanks to two very active boys, a dog, and my inability to keep up with the never-ending cycle of dishes, laundry, and other housework. Not only that, but my boys have acquired a small toy store, which has spilled out from their bedroom into the rest of the house.
I won’t go on with the details of our schedules, finances, or priorities, but I will say that I let the stress get the best of me and last week I hit bottom. Don’t get me wrong. I love being a mom and feel its a privilege to stay home with my kids. I love my work too! But the problem lies in the fact that I take on too much at a time, some of it unnecessarily, and in our culture of having a lot of “stuff” and always aspiring to greater heights, I lost touch with the beauty and value of simplicity.
I don’t feel like it was coincidence that while talking to a friend last week, she told me about an Oprah segment she had just watched. After watching it myself, I was convinced that it was time to take some notes from the Danes.
Copenhagen, Denmark is one of the world’s most environmentally conscious cities. One-third of the population rides bicycles. Most importantly, they top the list as the happiest people in the world.
You have to see this for yourself. Here are the videos (part 1 and part 2):
Among the things that made the biggest impression on me are:
Less space, less things, more life.
I was amazed at the small homes the Danes have, yet they are so clean and simple! How refreshing! Our U.S. culture is so warped in this area. Our lives are cluttered. I absolutely love the implication that if you have less of the material things, you have more room to live and enjoy what matters.
Happiness is considered success.
Wow. It is not what you have or acquire, or your profession or status. Success is measured by how happy or content you are; by doing what you love, prioritizing your family and living a balanced, fulfilling life.
It is an understatement to say I am inspired. I’m ecstatic! I am committed to make some big changes in my home and personal life. I am committed to carrying these principles over into Zoe Organics and sharing with you the steps I take to finding more happiness by simplifying, respecting the environment, being more true to my own passions and by keeping my priorities straight.
I hope you too are inspired to come along!
My boys have had few diaper rashes, but those they did have were very painful (this I knew by the squirming and screaming during diaper changes!). The process usually involved grabbing an assortment of balms and white creams all claiming to treat diaper rash, but few actually working well. Some required reapplying for days before seeing significant improvement. Balms, natural or synthetic, tend to be great for prevention, but most moms would agree that the most effective diaper rash “ointment” has a high percentage of zinc oxide.
I would now like to introduce Zoe Organics Diaper Cream to our line of products. This is a creamy, mildly sweet smelling product, loaded with natural vitamins, anti-oxidants and healing, soothing and restoring ingredients.
Ingredients: organic sweet almond oil infused with organic lavender flowers, organic chamomile flowers and organic calendula flowers, avocado butter, natural beeswax, zinc oxide, echinacea, lavender essential oil, vitamin E oil, rosemary oleoresin.
One of the things I really value in personal care products is the scent. The scent of a product can be a deciding factor in whether or not I will purchase it. When it comes to diaper creams, so many of the popular ones (desitin, balmex, pinxav) have a very strong, medicinal scent. In contrast, Zoe Organics Diaper Cream smells sweet; a combination of the herbs, essential oils, and natural beeswax.
Additionally, most diaper creams use a petrolatum or lanolin base. We use organic oils and avocado butter, which are not only loaded with vitamins and nutrients, but are safe.
No product would be complete without adding my personal testimony. So, once again, I pulled in one of my loyal product testers. My 1 year old, Wyatt, had a terrible diaper rash yesterday. I grabbed the Zoe Organics Diaper Cream before he went to bed and generously applied it. When he woke up, I was delighted to see that the rash was completely gone.
I would never be satisfied with product that was only “organic” or smelled good. A product has to work! So, once again, I am thrilled to offer a product that is all natural/organic, smells fabulous AND works!
