Top 3 Made in Canada Bodycare Products

At Lavish & Lime we love it when we find a product that ticks all our boxes. When an eco find is not only eco-friendly and natural/non-toxic but also made in Canada, we beam. In honour of Canada Day this weekend, we scanned our eco collection and came up with our top three made in Canada natural bodycare products to make every body proud – especially us!

1. Rocky Mountain All Natural Body Deodorant Unscented - made in Canmore, Alberta, this is one 100% natural deodorant that really works - honestly! Aloe is the primary ingredient, soothing and moisturizing the delicate skin under the arm while the beneficial properties of potassium alum provide effective odour control to keep you smelling fresh. It may take a few weeks for your body to adjust so the deodorant works effectively but trust us, it will.
2. Phillip Adam Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Shampoo - made in Vancouver, BC, this ultra fresh (think Granny Smith apples) smelling shampoo contains only natural-based ingredients, all of which are 100% biodegradable. Free of potentially harmful sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) and parabens as well as petro-chemicals, artificial colouring and harsh preservatives.
3. Taslie Natural Turtle 3-in-1 Shampoo Bubble Bath Body Wash - also made in Vancouver, BC our favourite turtle is filled to the brim with a gentle, no tears chemical-free bath product that is softly scented with mandarin and vanilla essential oils. Makes for a fun foamtastic bubbles experience for kids!

8 Natural Manicure Tips for Healthy Summer Nails

Guest post from Ginny Cardenas, Hopscotch Kids & Scotch Naturals
  

When things heat up during the summer, everyone loves to show off their perfectly manicured fingers and toes. Here are eight rules for natural manicures that will leave your nails feeling healthy, fun and flirty all summer long. Learn more during our Healthy Nails Healthy You Facebook Q&A with Ginny Cardenas this Thursday, June 21st, 10am to 8pm PST. You'll be able to ask any questions you like and receive answers from an expert! Plus there will be some fantastic nail care products to be won!

1. Hydrate. Keep your nails hydrated by buffing in a bit of oil. We prefer jojoba oil as it is the closest oil to what your body naturally produces. Though we must admit, we are not afraid to slap some olive oil on our nails while making dinner. A mom has to fit in her beauty routine when she can! 
2. Buff! We love to buff our nails. This technique will help smooth out any uneven surfaces and give your nails a natural shine. It also stimulates blood circulation for healthy nail growth. You don’t need to do it too often, but you will notice a big difference if you add this step to your nail care routine about once a month. 
3. Sunscreen. Protect your hands with sunscreen. My mom always told me that a woman’s hands can reveal her age. Women are good about protecting their faces with sunscreen on a daily basis but we forget to protect our hands! So slap some sunscreen on in the morning and reapply throughout the day. 
4. Avoid acetone! There are several products that contain acetone (most removers and several polishes) that should be avoided. Acetone is toxic and can affect the nervous system causing headache, nausea, dizziness and irritability. If that is not bad enough it also damages your nails causing them to be dry and brittle. 
5. Remove stains. If you have yellow nails from using traditional nail polish you can use a slice of lemon to help remove the stains. Just rub the lemon across the nails and let it soak. Lemon juice is a natural lightener and bleach so it will help restore your nails to their natural color. Are your nails badly stained? Let them sit in a bowl of lemon juice for about five to ten minutes. 
6. Trim safely. When trimming your nails, be sure to do so after they have soaked in water. This will ensure that you do not crack or break your nails when clipping. 
7. File in one direction.  When filing your nails, make sure you are filing in one direction to avoid jagged, uneven results. 
8. Be bold. Don’t be afraid to wear bold colors! Scotch Naturals has loads of intoxicating colors to choose from that will help you show off those perfectly manicured nails. Don’t be afraid to swap out your colour often! Our soy based remover and water-based nail polishes allow you to change your polish as often as you change your mood, without harming your nails. 

Why Use Non-Toxic, Water-Based Nail Polish?

Guest post from Ginny Cardenas, Hopscotch Kids & Scotch Naturals

Any mother raising girls knows that at a certain age, glitz and glam become all of the rage. From lip gloss to eye shadow, every inch of the house is covered in smudges of color. Girls come home from birthday parties decked out in trendy fashion styles that scream, “I am here to make a statement!” My home is not immune to this type of display as she has three girls who are constantly trying to express themselves through vibrant colors and glitter. Like most moms who try to make the best decisions for their children, I started to question the beauty trends of not only young girls but adult women as well. I know what we put on our bodies also goes in our bodies. I began to research the chemicals that we use in our beauty routines. What I found was that what we use to make ourselves beautiful is actually a toxic concoction of ugly chemicals.  

Through research it became clear that nail polish was the worst offender. Chemicals such as nitrocellulose, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, and formaldehyde are present in many of the nail polishes that we use on a daily basis. One whiff of the noxious fumes that seep out of nail polish bottles would tell you that there is something toxic about traditional nail polish. Your gut reaction would not be wrong. The chemicals in traditional nail polish are known carcinogens, neurotoxins, endocrine disruptors, skin irritants, and environmental toxins. Once my research was complete I decided that something had to be done, and I would be the one to do it. Enter HopscotchKids and Scotch Naturals; non-toxic, water-based polishes that are designed for good, clean fun.  

My team and I believe that you should not have to sacrifice safety for beauty. Our products allow women and children to look and feel their best while making choices that are not only better for them, but the world around them. And with salon-quality durability and tons of trendy colors to choose from, switching to a water-based nail polish means you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for safety either.

Find out more during our Healthy Nails Healthy You Facebook Q&A with Ginny Cardenas this Thursday, June 21st, 10am to 8pm PST. You'll be able to ask any questions you like and receive answers from an expert! Plus there will be some fantastic nail care products to be won!

Chemical Sunscreen vs. Natural Mineral Sunscreen

Guest post from Tyler Porteous, Coola Suncare

As with so many things, consumers have more choice for sun care than ever before. Now in addition to the traditional chemical sunscreens we all grew up with like Coppertone and Banana Boat, there's natural mineral sunscreen options. But what's the difference? Both classic chemical and natural mineral sunscreens provide protection from the sun, but they differ in their ingredients. "Chemical" ingredients, protect by absorbing and weakening UVA/UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens, on the other hand, contain"physical" ingredients; namely mineral active ingredients such as Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide that reflect and disperse UVA/UVB rays without absorption into the skin. This difference in ingredients means you have to be mindful of when you apply your SPF. For optimum effectiveness, chemical sunscreens should be applied at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Mineral, however, can be applied immediately before stepping out in the sun. Whichever you choose, just be sure to look for broad-spectrum on the label to ensure protection against both UVB rays, which cause sunburn, and UVA rays, the leading cause of premature aging of the skin. For more, visit our natural sunscreen and repellents resources page.

Image courtesy of Coola Sun Care

What Does Sunscreen SPF Really Mean?

Guest post from Tyler Porteous, Coola Suncare

What are sunscreen SPF values? SPF stands for sun protection factor. The number value of SPF classifies a sunscreen's ability to deflect UVB rays (the kind of rays that cause sunburns). A sunscreen's SPF value is measured based on the extra amount of time sunscreen-protected skin is able to withstand sun exposure before burning. For example, without sun protection, a person may burn after 10 minutes in the sun. If the same person were to apply a sunscreen with SPF 20 protection, he or she would be to stay in the sun for 20 times longer, or 200 minutes, before experiencing a burn. However, it's important to know that as you use increasing levels of SPF, the amount of UV protection you receive does not increase at the same rate: raising SPF from 20 to 45 will only provide you with 2.8% more UV protection. Be sure to do an SPF check when choosing your sunscreen, it should have a minimum of SPF 15 to provide effective protection in the sun. For more, visit our natural sunscreen and repellents resources page.

Image courtesy Coola Suncare

Learn from the Experts: Summer Series

Have questions about Sunscreen? Food Allergies? Nail Products? Bring them to our 'Learn from the Experts' Summer Series and get answers about Safe Sun Care, Naturopathic Remedies and Smart Nail Care. During the month of June, we're featuring a different expert each week with informative guest posts on our blog. We'll be making that same expert available to answer your questions via email and Facebook. The Facebook Q&A will take place on Thursdays. Post your comments and questions about the day's topic on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page when you have a moment and our expert will check in periodically throughout the day to provide answers and commentary. At 8pm PST that Thursday night, we'll draw for a prize. The winner will be chosen from among those who posted a comment or asked a question. If you are not on Facebook, feel free to email your question to us at customerservice(at)lavishandlime(dot)com and we'll put it to the expert so you too receive a direct answer. By putting you in direct contact with those who know, we hope our expert series helps you get the information you're looking for so you can have a safe and happy summer!

Learn from the Experts Summer Series Schedule

June 4-8: Safer Sun Care with Tyler Porteous of Coola Suncare

June 11-15: Naturopathy & Summer Food Allergies/Travel Tips with Dr. Cameron McIntyre, ND of Lonsdale Naturopathic Clinic

June 18-22: Smart Nail Care & Tips with Ginny Carderas of Scotch Naturals and Hopscotch Kids

True Story: Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

In the run up to Christmas, Elyssa D. a good friend (and customer too!), said she had to share something about one of our products with us. Naturally, we were all ears. Elyssa said over the last little while a number of her friends and colleagues had started asking her if she'd done something different with her hair. Cut it? No. Coloured it? No. After several more days of confusing compliments, she figured it out. She'd come to our eco shopping night in November and after talking with Phillip Adam, the creator of our Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo, she decided to give it a try. After about two weeks of using this new shampoo - made with only natural-based ingredients - the compliments started flowing. Phillip had told her it would take about that long for the shampoo to start really having an effect and strip her hair of any nasty build up, leaving it shiny and silky smooth. She was amazed and absolutely sold on the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Thanks for sharing Elyssa! For more, click here.

5 Reasons to use Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Shampoo

Love the fresh smell of apples? Want shiny, squeaky clean hair? Then like us, you'll love Phillip Adam's Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Shampoo. The use of apple cider vinegar is an age old method of removing soap residue from hair after washing. Former Vancouver hair dresser, Adam, with more than 50 years of experience in the beauty industry has incorporated the soap and vinegar in one shampoo to achieve this. Here are five good reasons to use Adam's specially formulated vinegar hair shampoo. 1. The perfectly balanced formula automatically adjusts the ph balance in your hair to help control dandruff. 2. The apple cider vinegar component of the shampoo rinses out hair more thoroughly and faster than most other shampoos, leaving hair squeaky clean and shiny - verging on glossy - and at the same time using less water and taking less time. 3. This biodegradable formula is proven safe for use on coloured hair and has been used in salons for 13 years. 4. It does not contain potentially harmful ingredients like parabens and sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) and is free of harsh preservatives, artificial colourings and petro-chemicals. 5. The yummy natural apple scent smells amazing - according to one writer, it's as if it's 'distilled from a crate of Granny Smiths'. You can't get fresher than that! For more, click here.

Natural Teeth Whitening Tip

For whiter teeth without the chemicals, look no further than your fruit basket. Want to know our latest cheap little all-natural secret? Bananas. Not only are they a healthy, delicious snack full of potassium, vitamins and dietary fibre but they're also great for brightening your smile. Simply rub the inside of a banana peel in a circular motion on your teeth for about two minutes. Yes, in our experience you'll get a mouthful of what feels like banana peel pulp but this is easy to rinse away and you'll notice a difference - smoother, cleaner feeling teeth even after just one application. Twice a day is recommended. After about two weeks you should notice the whitening benefits. The minerals in the peel such as potassium, magnesium and manganese absorb into your teeth and whiten them. Banana peels are a safe, natural, affordable way to whiten your teeth - and they're easier on the environment than chemical formulas. Compostable toothbrushes and compostable floss picks are two more great ideas for keeping your teeth healthy and the planet too. Read testimonials about the incredible teeth whitening effects of bananas here. For step-by-step instruction on how to use banana peels to whiten your teeth, click here.

Giveaway: Biodegradable Toothbrush Pack

It's summer and although there's loads of local fresh fruit to enjoy, somehow plenty of popsicles, ice creams and other summer sweets slip in under the radar too. Keep the sugar bugs at bay with our eco-friendly toothbrushes and flossers that literally disappear!

When we think dental products, we generally think about all the plastic we end up throwing out after use. Plastic that pretty much stays around forever.

Now there's another, more eco-friendly dental option, thanks to our friends at Clean Idea right here in Vancouver. Our Clean Idea biodegradable toothbrush is made from renewable crops like corn, wheat, tapioca and potatoes, instead of petroleum. This eco-friendly toothbrush will become organic soil in 180 days -- so you never have to feel guilty about disposing of your manual plastic toothbrush again!
Our biodegradable toothbrush has an angled head to comfortably and easily reach back teeth and only soft bristles are used for effective cleaning that is gentle on your gums. Guaranteed to clean your teeth as effectively as any national brand manual toothbrush - and it will last the same length of time too. Our biodegradable toothbrush comes in two sizes - adult and children.
All these same great properties go for our eco-friendly biodegradable flossers too - except the biodegradable kids floss picks also feature a fun tooth-y character molded right into the pick.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER CINDY H.!***

WIN IT!
We have a biodegradable toothbrush pack to give away to one lucky winner. Visit Lavish & Lime and tell us in a comment below which product above all others you wish you could have this summer and a toothbrush pack -- including 1 adult biodegradable toothbrush, 1 child's toothbrush, 1 pack of 30 adult flossers and 1 pack of 30 children's flossers -- could be yours! Please be sure to include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

EXTRA ENTRY:
Like us on our Lavish & Lime Facebook Page and post a comment on our wall about this giveaway with this link: http://bit.ly/r571gd

This is our Friday Freebie, and we're happy to take entries through to Wednesday. Deadline for entries is midnight PST Wednesday, July 13th and we'll announce the randomly chosen winner on this blog post and on Facebook Thursday, July 14th - in good time for the launch of our next Friday Freebie. Open to Canadian residents only. Good luck!

For more green living ideas, visit our eco boutique Lavish & Lime where you'll find hundreds of everyday eco finds and unusual gift ideas that are good for you, your family and the planet too.

Eco-Friendly Floss Picks & Toothbrush for Guilt-Free Brushing

Ever feel bad about using those little plastic flossers or manual toothbrushes then throwing them away? We've found a solution: eco-friendly compostable floss picks and an eco-friendly toothbrush for easy, guilt-free dental care!

Post by Louise

Our natural eco flossers biodegrade in a compost facility within 180 days into organic soil - a little longer if you simply throw them in your home compost or garden. That's because they're made from renewable crops like corn and potatoes instead of petroleum, like name brand conventional flossers.

It took five years of development and consultation with dental professionals to come up with this truly environmentally sustainable product made of the new safe plastic option: bioplastic. Bioplastics are made from renewable, sustainable plant-based crops. Our eco-friendly flossers are made of starch-based resins from corn, wheat, tapioca and potato starches -- ecologically sound substitues for petroleum-based plastic products -- that come from primarily the Midwest (versus oil from the Middle East).

Not only are these natural eco flossers free of potentially harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates, but they're fully certified biodegradable and compostable in the US and Europe. (Canada does not yet have certifications for biodegradability and compostability.) Unlike materials designated as biodegradable, those certified as compostable are designed to compost quickly, within 60-180 days, without releasing any toxic residues.

In terms of functionality and quality, our natural eco-friendly floss picks work just as well, if not better, than their conventional counterparts -- and the little 'Mr. Molar' character on the top of the kids' design is a favourite with little ones. The adult eco flossers feature a pointed end, ideal for cleaning specifics in between teeth.

Complete your dental care with our eco-friendly toothbrushes for kids and adults -- also made from safe, sustainable and biodegradable bioplastic. Similar to conventional toothbrushes, our compostable eco-friendly toothbrush lasts about three months and the children's eco-friendly toothbrush is good for kids up to about 12 years.

It's spring and a great time to rethink our old ways with fresh, new ideas. Why not feel good about cleaner teeth and a cleaner planet with effective dental products made from plants?

The eco-friendly flossers and compostable toothbrushes mentioned above are available at our eco boutique Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about dental products or care, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!

Win a Turtle of your Choice - Natural Skin Care

All natural Taslie products for kids are some of the best natural skincare products on the market. They're not only biodegradable and chemical-free but also hypo-allergenic, ph balanced and tearless.

Taslie natural skin care products - including the 3-in-1 bubble bath/body wash/shampoo, moisturizer and conditioner - are made in Canada.

Enter to win:
Tell us which of our Taslie natural skin products you'd like and why and you could win it! Simply leave a comment below. The winner will be chosen Monday, November 29th.

Get two extra entries:
Become a fan on our Lavish & Lime Facebook page and leave a comment below telling us you did!

Taslie natural products for kids are made from organic blends of rosehip and burdock, the soft scent of mandarin & vanilla essential oils. The Lemon conditioner includes sage, ginseng and lemon essential oil. Taslie products contain no sodium laureth, sulfate, lanolin, parabens, synthetic colours or fragrances.

The 3-in-1 shampoo/bubble bath/body wash and natural kids moisturizing lotion come in adorable, recyclable turtle bottles that make kids want to get clean! These are hand painted with lead free paint and made from PET recycled plastics. There are also larger size refills for both products. The Taslie lemon creme conditioner comes in a biodegradable, non-toxic tube with a colourful giraffe on the front.

If you're in Metro Vancouver, join us at our Grand Opening Warehouse Event on Saturday, November 27th, 9am-1pm at 272 East 1st North Vancouver, where you'll be able to chat with a Taslie expert about toxins and skincare. Free samples too!

We love everything about Taslie and are thrilled to be able to giveaway a product from this fantastic natural line of kids skincare products - good luck!

View the full range of Taslie skincare products and other natural products available at eco boutique Lavish & Lime here.

Guilt-Free Glam: Hopscotch Kids Safe Natural Nail Polish

It's almost summer and time to get those toes out. Love to paint them but worried about all the toxins your body can absorb through the polish and the remover? Your worries are over with our exciting line of Hopscotch Kids Water Colors safe nail care products - they're brand new to Canada.


Straight from the Oscar swag bags to Lavish & Lime, our Hopscotch Kids natural nail polish is safe and free of harmful chemical solvents found in most polishes, ie. Toluene, Formaldehyde and Phthalates. It's completely water-based, free of noxious fumes, biodegradable and doesn't result in yellowing or drying of the nails. Hopscotch Kids nail polish is made in the US.

With names like Hands Up, Seven Up and Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum in a Dish, you can tell the great range of colours are geared towards the younger set, but to be honest, we think this polish is ideal for adults too. We particularly love the lighter pale pink Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear and the Barbie-esque pink Ice Cream, Soda Pop. In fact, the owner of Hopscotch Kids tells us she paints her three girls' and her own nails - with just one easy coat - before running off to church on Sundays.

In addition to single bottles, we have a Hopscotch Kids nail polish twin pack - in two different colour ways available (comes with a free buffer), plus a party pack that includes two bottles plus remover and a buffer. Both packs make ideal birthday gifts for any glam girl. The Hopscotch Kids polish remover is all natural and corn-based. It includes Aloe and Vitamin E for extra moisturizing. The remover comes with a free buffer for a complete nail care pack. Go glam naturally - and safely - this summer.

Hopscotch Kids Water Colors Safe Natural Nail Polish is available in Canada at Lavish & Lime. If you have any thoughts or ideas about nail polish or natural beauty products in general, please leave a comment below. We'd love to hear from you!