By Wendy

With all the flip flop wearing we do during the summer, we have to make sure our toes are in tip top shape and sandal ready. But with all the different toxic chemical ingredients that are in nail polish, like Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate), Formaldehyde Resin, and Camphor, it makes you think twice about painting that nail polish you recently purchased on your porous nails.

A number of companies are now offering eco-friendly nail polish options that contain none of those toxic ingredients. These nail polishes come in many environmentally friendly shades to choose from minus all those chemicals so you can use it and share it with your best girlfriend. Have pretty nails and help make this planet a more beautiful place.

Here are some great environmentally friendly nail polishes you can try:

Peacekeeper Nail Polish in Paint Me Va Voom- infused with argan oil, a great source of vitamin E, Peacekeeper Nail Polish will help keep your nails beautiful and strong. It’s also vegan!

Piggy Paint Nail Polish in How Merlot Can You Go- the color name itself makes me want to purchase this! Piggy Paint Nail Polish has less of those harsh chemicals you usually find in nail polishes. It’s also low in order, kid friendly and comes lots of in fun vibrant colors.

Toe Shades Nail Polish in Havana Red Cream- Nail polish that’s peelable and can last up to 21 days, Toe Shades is a great option for those who hate removing nail polish with acetone.

Scotch Naturals WaterColors Canal Street Daisy- an eco-friendly alternative to conventional solvent-based nail polishes. Scotch Naturals doesn’t contain any toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, acetone, or heavy metals. And they have a line for women and kids!

If you’re done painting you nails with your new environmentally-friendly nail polish shade, but still could use a bit more pampering, try this DIY hair mask for shinier and healthier hair, or these homemade face masks to really treat your skin.

Who knew being eco-friendly could be so beautiful!

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

We’re always looking for ways to be eco-friendly indoors, especially when it comes to household chores. So what about laundry? Our weekly routine always includes one or more loads of laundry a week. Are there ways to make doing laundry more eco-friendly?  Laundry Enhancer Powder- it naturally and safely neutralizes odors and smells from your laundry that are almost impossible to remove.

One way to be more environmentally friendly with our laundry is to use cold water. Cold water is just as effective as using warm or hot water. Not only is it just as effective, it saves on heating energy, helps prevent shrinking, and keeps clothes from wearing out too quickly.

Another way you can be more eco-friendly with you laundry is the detergent you use. Is there a way to be more eco-friendly with your suds? Try these naturally derived laundry cleaners to get your clothes clean. They’re tough on stains and gentle on sensitive skin.

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Natural 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquid- contains plant-derived cleaning agents to lift dirt without the need to harsh chemical

Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent from EnviroKlenz cleans a full laundry load only using 1.5ounces, so it’s both economical and eco-friendly

greenworks Laundry Detergent- get clean clothes naturally with plant derived cleaning agents and no harsh chemicals

Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent- a super concentrated detergent, Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent is not only tough on dirt, its biodegradable

Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda- no harsh chemicals and hypoallergenic, this tough laundry soda is great for those who want to have naturally clean clothes. All you need is a tablespoon to do even the toughest load of laundry

Or you can make your own laundry soap! Here’s how you can make your own batch of powdered detergent

What you need:

2 cups finely grated soap

1 cup washing soda

1 cup borax

What to do:

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight plastic container

Use 2 tablespoons per full load

What are your favorite eco-friendly laundry tips?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

It’s so difficult to keep your hair shiny and healthy. And with all the time you’ve probably been spending outside in the heat and sun this summer, you’re noticing your hair looking a little drab. Put some bounce back into your hair with this great do it yourself organic avocado hair mask. All the ingredients are easy to find in your supermarket, and you may already have some in your kitchen already. Best part, this all natural hair mask should only take about an hour to complete the whole process.

What you need:

1 ripe avocado

½ cup coconut milk

3 tsp olive oil

What to do:

Mash up your ripe avocado in a medium sized bowl

Add in coconut milk and olive oil with the avocado and stir in until well blended

Heat up the hair mask ingredients on the stove until warm

Apply the mask ingredients from roots to ends, massaging into your scalp

Leave in for 30 minutes

Rinse out, and wash hair as usual

So postpone that hair appointment at your salon and try this inexpensive homemade hair mask out. This organic hair mask will bring back some of that missing volume, shine, and health back into dull, limp hair, and give your hair smell delightful coconut smell.

If you’re ready to try some other do it yourself beauty fun at home, try these homemade face masks. These DIY face masks are quick to make and you can do this while you have your homemade hair mask on!

What other do it yourself hair masks have you tried and loved?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

Rain showers are great in the summertime. With the high temperatures these past few weeks, it’s very much a relief to see some rain in the forecast. But with the kids at home from summer vacation, what can you do to keep them busy? How about making your own play dough!

Play dough is one of those toys that have been around for decades. They’re easy to play with, can be molded into lots of different forms, and keep kids busy. There are a lot of different play dough’s on the market, most made out of flour, salt, boric acid, and mineral oil. But why not make your own in the kitchen and from ingredients you already have in your cupboard. Not only is it super easy to make with your kids, its non-toxic.

What you need:

1 cup flour

3/8 cup salt

1 tbsp cream of tartar

1 cup water

1 tbsp oil

1-2 tsp food coloring

What to do:

Mix together the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and cream of tartar). Add all ingredients into a medium saucepan and cook under medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until a ball forms and most or all the moisture is gone. Turn out play dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Wrap in plastic wrap and let it cool. Store in an air tight container.

What other diy projects do you like making with your kids?

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Wendy Yuis a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas. She is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.

By Wendy

School is over and it’s time for some good old summer fun! You want to make sure the kids are not spending too much time in front of the tv and doing something that will keep them active and entertained. Here are 4 fun eco-friendly activities you can do outside with the kids’ right in your backyard.

Start a Garden- not only will you be teaching your kids how to grow their own food; you’ll also be able to teach them about where some of the food they eat every day really comes from. The easiest way to start is with an herb garden. It’s very easy to start your own herb garden. All you need is some dirt, seeds, water, and some sunlight. First day morning, I got a new lawn sweeper and we started to clean and prepare the lot to plant herbs with the children.

Water Fights- water fights are such a great way for the kids to stay active and cool on those hot summer days. Squirt bottles are great to give the kids since you’ll most likely have some around the house so there’s no need to buy plastic water guns that usually only get used a few times a year or water balloons.

Create Your Own Sandbox- a cheap and easy way to bring the beach right to your backyard. You can create your own sandbox with just a few bags of sand, a big container to keep the sand contained in, and a few toys. The kids will love having a sandbox right in the backyard.

Make your Own Bird Feeder- help kids gain an appreciation for nature and the wildlife right in their backyard with this inexpensive and fun project for the kids to create this summer. You’ll be surprised that you can make one with items you already have around the house.

So whether you’re creating a garden with your children for the very first time or having an old fashioned water fight, there are definitely lots of eco-friendly ways to keep your kids active and entertained this summer.

What are some of your eco-friendly activities for the kids this summer?

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Wendy Yu is a digital marketing professional living in New York City. When she’s not using the power of social media to share ideas on how to be more environmentally friendly, she is exploring the city, trying local foods, and learning more about how she can reduce her carbon footprint.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Green Halloween® or our partners.