For the last two days, we’ve  promised to share the easy-to-make, healthy face paint recipe from our book, Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family.

So (drum-roll, please) here it is! Direct from page 100…

Make your own perfectly natural face paints

A test performed by Washington Toxics Coalition and a Seattle-area investigative reporter found that even children’s products labeled as non-toxic may be laced with known toxins such as lead. Store-bought, non-toxic face paints are no different and can expose you and your children to an array of chemicals and preservatives, including BHA, formaldehyde, kohl (due to lead), phthalates, and parabens, which the Environmental Working Group states, can disrupt the hormone (endocrine) system, and [in one report] were found in the breast cancer tumors of 19 of 20 women studied. Given that most face paints and pencils contain parabens, your best bet is to make them yourself. You might just save some money doing it this way too.

To DIY-for face paints:

• 1 tsp cornstarch
• ½ tsp water
• ½ tsp all natural diaper rash cream, such as the California Baby brand (we know, we know, it sounds weird, but it works)
• 1-2 drops natural/ organic food coloring

In a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch. Add baby cream and food color and mix a bit more.

Budget101.com can also help to turn you into a Hollywood worthy make-up and wardrobe artist with their list of do-it yourself, chemical-free or easy to alter recipes for all your kids costume requests, from the sweet to the gross and ghoulish.

Not the DIY type?

Purchase mineral-based makeup from EcoMom.com or TerraFirmaCosmetics.com.

(Photo by Holli Dunn)

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Have you made your own face paints? Have another recipe you’d like to share? We’d love to hear it. Add your comment, below.

Yesterday we promised we’d share with you the incredible work by photographer Mark Jordan, the artist taking belly painting to a whole new level.

Here’s a peek at some of his photos (which he has give us permission to share):

To see the entire gallery with even more amazing images, click here.

Please note: Mark Jordan’s photos are not to be used, or sold without his permission. Images may be purchased by contacting the photographer.

Want to whip up some of your own safer-than-store bought belly (or face) paints? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s recipe feature from our book, Celebrate Green!

Halloween is right around the corner and if your due date is too, you’re in luck. And not just because your little one is almost here but because your baby bump is just perfect for dressing up! Now that’s reason to dance!

Just think of the possibilities…

• Pumpkin
• Watermelon
• Earth
• Fish bowl
• Basketball/ baseball
• An Easter egg
• Beach Ball
• Pearl in a shell
• Happy face

Or, forget the cliches and dress your belly up as something unique like – the president. Huh? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post featuring the amazing work of Photographer Mark Jordan.

Of course, green mamas-to-be will want to steer clear of most conventional face and belly paints, even those labeled “non-toxic” unless you know what all of the ingredients are (companies are not required to tell you) and whether the ingredients are safe. (Go to Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database to search the ingredients – if they are even listed.)

The better bet? Buy face pencils such as by Lyra, made under European’s stricter safety standards or make your own belly paints using the easy recipe in our book, Celebrate Green!.

Have you decorated your baby bump in clever ways for Halloween, or incorporated it in some other way into a funny, interesting or beautiful costume? Do share, do share!

Oeuf is one of our favorite companies. Creating simple, sustainable, use-able products for house and home, Oeuf pleases people and planet for the holidays and every day.

They’re on our minds a lot these days; in fact we just raved about their new gorgeously green garlands on our Celebrate Green! blog.

But since this is a Halloween blog, and you’re here to gather pointers for making yours a green holiday, we’ll try to curb our enthusiasm and stick to the point: Oeuf’s mask and tail accessories rock.

Not only are they made from soft, safe, sustainable alpaca, they’re knitted in Bolivia by people earning living wages. All this and more is why you will love them.

But what about the kiddos?

Without so much as leotard and tights, pants and shirt or even a pillow case with holes for a head and arms, your little one will be transformed into a Wild Thing. (The kind that doesn’t have to go to bed without his supper.)

Which leads us to our last point: when it comes to costumes (and a whole lot of things, come to think of it), less can be more. (Does your child need to be enveloped in polyester buntings to look and feel like a real-life lion? No. And buying just the masks and tails allows your child to get creative with the in-between costume parts, too.)

Looking for something similar for your wee-wild-one?

Check out Oeuf’s animal hat and booties.

Are your kids not into the animals? Too old for the furry stuff? Check out these mean beanies, for Bat Boys and Bat Girls (slightly different styles). 100% alpaca and Fair Trade, but all your kids will care about is how to make their costume as cool as their hats.

We’re featured contributors on Healthy Child, Healthy World‘s fabulous new recipes page!

Now we know we’ve claimed in the past that cooking is not our thing (although eating is certainly one of our greatest talents) but when HCHW called to ask for some ideas, we couldn’t help but the share two of our favorite super easy, super-food recipes.

You’ll notice that our submissions don’t have exact measurements or even absolute ingredient lists – our style is a what-ever’s-in-the-fridge and a-little-of-this-a-little-of that kind of thing. But you’ll also notice that the recipes include healthy ingredients with fun names your kids will enjoy (did you read the study about kids are more likely to eat good-for-you foods when they have cool names?) so after making ‘em everyone’s happy.

Give ‘em a try and let us know what you think:

Super Guac

Kaleafornian Smoothie

Do you have some favorite recipes you’d like to share with us? If they are Halloween or fall themed, add as a comment here. Otherwise, contact us at: corey@celebrategreen.net and we’ll post your ideas to our Celebrate Green! blog.