Product Review: CocoSea Soap

I bought this amazing, “All-Natural, All-Purpose,” product on recommendation from a friend – and what a find! Everything about it is beautifully simple – from its black & white label, to it uses (“Your Tropical Alternative for Toothpaste, Shampoo, Facial Cleanser and More”), to its ingredients list: organic coconut and coconut oil, seaweed, sea salt, lemon juice and distilled water.

Although it has several uses, I have only used it as a body wash and face wash, and it works wonderfully as both. It is much more watery than typical face washes or body gels (shake before use!) and doesn’t lather, but it leaves skin nicely refreshed without feeling dry. And the ingredients, when used together are purported to exfoliate and detoxify.

CocoSea is made by a small, private Los Angeles-based company (L&S Natural Inc./Astral Natural) that has been selling herbal supplements since 1992. In LA, the only place I have found to purchase this product is at Erewhon Natural Food Market (near The Grove), but you can purchase it online at http://www.astral-natural.com/cocosea.htm - $8-10 for eight ounces.

New Year - New Start

Love of the New Year

Americans love the idea of a fresh start - and the beginning of a new calendar year offers the perfect opportunity to take a moment and reevaluate where we are at and which habits, traditions and lifestyle choices could be improved upon or refreshed.

I too enjoy making my list of resolutions, which I swear to keep, and start the new year feeling fresh and empowered! And then without fail, come mid-March, I'm thoroughly wrapped up in my "regular" life and forget to remember my new commitments. This year, instead of making a list of the to-do's and the not to-do's, I've decided to begin a journey to optimal health and well-being.

To me, this means making good, healthy choices about how I live my life: nourishing my body with organic and whole foods, surrounding myself and my home with products that are free of chemicals, and making a commitment to sustainable living.

With the blossoming "green living" movement, a greater accessibility of organic food and a blossoming array of natural and chemical-free products, now is an opportune time to begin this quest. But there is still so much to learn and discover. With this blog, I aim to chronicle my journey and share the information and strategies I encounter along the way.

So, if learning more about living healthier is of interest to you, I hope you will join me on this voyage. I promise to post regularly and honestly, so check back often for updates. And cheers to a happy and healthy 2009!