Hasta La Ideas

Effective organic deodorant cream for sensitive skin

The issue of aluminum-based, fragrance-added deodorant poses a problem for those with allergies or sensitivity, or anyone averse to the chemicals required to fight sweat and odor. If we still lived in a nomadic hunter-gatherer society, our personal scents would identify us to our tribe, but unfortunately, that kind of natural state isn’t always a viable option. Anyone who has experimented with alternatives has likely discovered that most natural deodorants, baby powder and crystals are comically ineffective.

That’s why we were thrilled to discover Soapwalla Kitchen deodorant cream. Gently scented with lavender and peppermint, the light formula is applied by hand like any body cream, and absorbs instantly into the skin. No white streaks betray its presence, and there is no waiting period for it to dry. Most importantly it’s effective—having gone dry and stain-free during both everyday activities and even on a particularly intense three-mile run, we can confirm. The moisture-absorbing properties come courtesy of a mix of arrowroot powder, starches, baking powder and kaolin clay, without a trace of aluminum.

Soapwalla founder Rachel Winard started her line of bath and body products about 10 years ago as she was struggling with the symptoms of systemic lupus, one of which is extremely sensitive skin. Although she designed the products for herself, she vetted the formulas, their application and their scents with her friends and family before debuting them to a larger audience who could benefit as well. “I tried other application methods for deodorant but I didn’t love the texture or the fact that I needed to use waxes for them to maintain their shape,” Winard says. “I like the minimal packaging, and the user has much more control over how much and where they’d like to apply the deodorant.”

For anyone who has spent years wiping baby powder off clothes or felt resigned to choose between aluminum or sweat stains, Soapwalla’s deodorant cream might seem like a lifesaver. The cream sells for $12 and can be found online, along with Soapwalla’s complete line of vegan, organic, sensitive-skin body oils, lip balms and soaps.

Keep the environment and your teeth healthy with a unique subscription service

With an estimated 50 million pounds of toothbrushes ending up in U.S. landfills annually, there must be a better way to curb the waste of the everyday essential. After all, it’s only the worn-out bristles that need replacing, not the plastic handles that make up the bulk of the refuse.

A potential solution comes in the form of a subscription to Recycline’s Preserve Toothbrushes whose BPA-free handles are made from recycled yogurt cups. Included in the pack, along with the toothbrush, are self-addressed stamped envelopes so the used brush can be conveniently returned to the manufacturer for recycling.

The old dentist’s axiom says the brushes should be replaced every three months – so a $15 annual subscription can deliver a new Preserve Toothbrush within that timeframe, or every two months over an eight-month period. For those who can’t wait, Recycline offers four American-made brushes in a bulk pack, complete with return-mail packs.

Spray-on conditioner detangles and protects delicate tresses in a flash

I don’t have kids, but spraying Little Green’s detangler on my hair brought back childhood memories of mom pulling a hairbrush through my tangles as I ran out the door to school. Having also spent hours combing my baby sister’s long, ultra-fine hair (we called it “turning straw into gold”), the leave-in product is perfect for wrangling any unruly mop when time is at a premium.

Fortified with ingredients that moisturize, strengthen and protect (aloe, silk proteins, vitamins B5 and E, etc.), the formula helps with sun damage as well as other hazards of the environment, including chlorine, heat and salt. To use, evenly spray the fine mist on clean hair, maybe finger comb it—no rinsing necessary .

The hypoallergenic, paraben- and sulfate-free conditioner doesn’t come cheap, starting at $15 for an eight-ounce bottle (available from the Little Green site or Amazon), but the spray dispenser means it should last you longer than others.

A sustainable body waxing concept by NYC design firm The Way We See The World

by Jack Shaw

What the Hella?, a set of sustainable hair-removal products by New York design studio The Way We See the World, combines sustainability and aromatherapy in one DIY concept.

The tongue-and-cheek name comes from designer
Hella Jongerius’ experiments using sustainable chicle latex for The Nature Conservancy’s Design for a Living World exhibition. “I really don’t know what to do with this material,” Jongerius explained in a video related to the project. “It was really nice to have an alien in the house. You know, how often to you find a material which is still a secret?”

Their interest piqued, before long the TWWSTW team had their hands on and industrial-sized block of chicle, donated by Glee Gum. After a good deal of experimentation and a few singed fingers they developed an effective and sustainable home-epilation system.

The
award-winning prototype includes a chicle body wax, chicle and copal aromatherapy incense, and a sapodilla fruit-scented soap and oil to moisturize and remove excess wax. Each product is designed with its own porcelain vessel.

Five expert tips for moisturizing your mane as the weather shifts

Whichever hemisphere you’re in, seasonal changes makes a good excuse to revive tresses that have suffered recent abuses. Doing a little something extra to up hydration, whether lacking from too much sun or radiator heat, can bounce hair back to its full glory. We checked in with Angelo David of the eponymous NYC salon to get a few tips on how to achieve luscious locks—most importantly, don’t go outside with wet hair and limit the use of products with alcohol and sulfates. Read on for a comprehensive plan to get the most moisture possible into your tresses.

Locking in moisture doesn’t always mean turning to lubricating products. David suggests a home humidifier to put moisture back in the air and your hair. We like Stadler Form’s William Ultrasonic Humidifier ($230), which can cover up to 1,000 square-feet of space (in spite of its compact size), fends off bacteria with its Ionic Silver Cube, and has a timer, a turntable mist diffuser and an integrated humidistat. The stylist also recommends running dryer sheets through hair to avoid static and tame flyaways. While I rather like the laundromat smell, The Laundress’ nontoxic, biodegradable and allergen-free dryer sheets are made from fragrant plants ($16) and make a more healthy choice.

Sometimes the right products can go a long way when you need more than just hair maintenance, but some serious help. David proposes beginning with the Pureology Hydrate Antifade Complex line. The shampoo has a “ZeroSulfate” guarantee and comes packed with essential proteins to rehydrate your scalp, while the conditioner mixrd jojoba esters and shea butter to replenish and soften hair. Both cleansers are scented with organic botanical blends and are designed to conserve color ($20 each for a 10.1oz bottle).

Applying Angelo David’s Zero Frizz Control cream ($20) to hair directly after washing seals in moisture without weighing hair down. The cream works best when hair is exposed to high humidity or dry indoor heat, making it the perfect year-round restorer. They also recommend styling hair with their large round brush ($55), made with a balanced amount of boar’s hair and nylon bristles to prevent breakage and stimulate the scalp—which will help hair grow as well.