Green, Mean Cleansing Machine or the Magic of Face Cleansing Grains

As promised in my last post, I'm bringing you the best in non-toxic personal care products. But first, a quick note: non-toxic beauty (ie, cosmetics free from toxic chemicals) has a ripple-in-the-pond effect. Not only do your smart beauty choices save your body from harmful chemicals, but they also save the planet and your neighbor from the cumulative effects that these chemicals have.

When you use a shampoo or body wash or facial cleanser--or any other products, for that matter--the chemicals from these seemingly innocuous items get washed down the drain and accumulate in our water supply. In the not-too-distant future, I'll discuss some of the scary scientific research on the effects of the products we use on our population, including decreased sperm count in men. Yeah, like I said, scary.

But in an attempt to keep this post light, I'll fill you in on a great way to clean AND exfoliate the delicate skin on your face without spending too much money. Two words:

CLEANSING GRAINS

What they are: Cleansing grains can be composed of a variety of materials, but the important thing is that they come in powder form. In other words, cleansing grains are dry. You sprinkle some into the palm of your hand, add water, and scrub away!

Why they're great: When water is introduced to any formula, cosmetics producers generally add lots of chemicals to stabilize the ingredients and preserve them. By leaving water out of the picture, many innovative creators of skin care can leave out the nasty chemicals that act as preservatives. All you get is pure, unadulterated green bliss.

Where to get them: For those of you who aren't diy-ers, here are some great, inexpensive options.



MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS CLEANSING GRAINS

I love this product for the gentle whiff of rose petals that greets me every time I unscrew the lid and for the way it makes my skin feel baby soft. Mountain Rose Herbs designed these grains to tighten the skin, remove dead skin cells, and unclog pores--all of which are essential for clear, radiant skin.

Price: 2 oz. for $4.95 (and believe me, a little goes a very long way)

Bonus: Mountain Rose Herbs is a Zero Waste Company, meaning that they take extra steps to reduce their footprint on our precious planet. The company also became the first U.S. supplier of Fair Trade Certified medicinal herbs and has converted its entire operation to 100% renewable energy. To find out more about this amazing company's efforts at sustainability, visit www.mountainroseherbs.com.




ANGEL FACE BOTANICALS ORGANIC FACIAL CLEANSING GRAINS


Angel Face Botanicals (aka, Spa Goddess), another one of those amazing etsy shops, offers three types of organic facial cleansing grains.

The Organic Adzuki and Green Tea Cleansing Grains gently exfoliate, soothe, and rejuvenate, all with the added benefit of the antioxidants from green tea.

The Organic Ambrosia Cleaning Grains contain a mix of softening fruit extracts and detoxifying clays to cleanse pores.

Finally, the Organic Ayurvedic Cleansing Grains blend sandalwood, ashwagandha, citrus, and rose for healing, astringent, and antiseptic properties.

You can purchase a sample of all three for $6.00 on etsy. What a great way to discover which formula works best for your skin type!

For all of you resourceful green divas, stay tuned for my next post on diy cleansing grains. For those of you who've decided to take the plunge and purchase your own grains, enjoy!