I love that you said “just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s better”. Especially in a society that profits off of consumers who mistake and group the word ‘natural’ with certified organic, eco friendly, or sustainable. ‘Natural’ has no legal meaning for products! Thank you for shedding some light. I appreciate your ideas, and how you let people know about important topics that are swept under the rug.
Another thing is the whole old is better. Like people rant about finding some obscure grain in tombs and they’re like “IT MUST BE GOOD NOW”. Like sure, some good things are found in tombs but there are also dead people and moldy cheese. Not everything old is good.
UGH! I totally agree with this. Also, some 'Natural' products don't even work. We need to be trying to move as a society into finding/researching sustainable products that ACTUALLY work!
Like buying coconut bowls that are flown across the world as a ecofriendly bowl alternative. You don’t need a bowl alternative. whats wrong with Glas and ceramic that you can use forever probably longer than a coconut bowl. Also for on the go Tupperware can be used forever
My friends have go at me for my 'bang on the door cutie' sandwich box that my ma has owned since before my birth, but it does the job. It's plastic and it's all scratched up and ugly, but it works fine and it's a hell of a lot better for the planet that buying a new one. As happy as I am that sustainability is becoming popular and trendy, I think there is too much of a focus on practicing it in a performative and 'aesthetic' way, buying steel and bamboo containers and clothes, when we should for us on using the stuff we already have.
Ciara McCann thank you for not being influenced by that. It seems normal to you but many people are really influenced by other people and fitting the aesthetics. Having plastic is great when you will use it forever! Or at least try to have it as long as possible. I really empathize with people that try to do the right thing for the environment but then get slammed by vegans. being vegan doesn’t automatically make you environmentally friendly. I still have to choose between cheap produce that is wrapped in plastic or more expensive farmer market produce. I’m a student so it’s hard But I feel better whenever I can buy myself the things that I feel good about.
Nika You're absolutely right! Eating vegan in a way that is enjoyable and sociable is bloody expensive. Sure, you can survive off endless bland meals of rice, beans and bananas for pennies, but when you start to add up the tempeh, the nutritional yeast, the dragonfruits - you know, the things that make it actually fun and tasty - it adds up very quickly. I also wonder if eating soybeans and quinoa grown halfway around the world has a bigger carbon footprint than eating grass fed lamb and eggs from chickens fed on your kitchen scraps: I genuinely don't know either way, nut I would be curious. Don't get me wrong, we should all be trying to eat mindfully and responsibly where we can, but that's a hell of a lot harder to do on a shoestring, particularly when you live in a food desert with highly limited options. It's very easy to be sanctimonious why you have an abundance of resources and choices.
Right, South Asian coming in here to defend aloe. I got old ladies in my family using it pure from the leaf for decades (btw best skin ever). Always cut the end off and leave it standing vertically in a cup and you'll get this yellowy substance emptying out of it. This is the stuff you want out before you extract the aloe from the leaf. It's harsh and bad for the skin, I'm assuming a lot of people don't know about this step. I usually leave it for about 20 minutes before I proceed.
thank you for sharing! I've been under the impression that I am sensitive to aloe vera because many skin care products that contain it sting my face and the one time that I bought a leaf from the store for a homemade face mask, it gave me such a bad reaction. I definitely didn't prepare it correctly so I'm going to give it another go to see if I experience different results
The reality is most people probably don't need to swap anything, they just need to change their behaviour. The only thing I've bought since going low/zero waste, is a set of beeswax wraps, which I would actually recommend, very useful. But unless you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years, you probably already own a reusable coffee cup. Other than that, what do you really need that isn't already in your kitchen? Most people's kitchens are overflowing with cutlery and reusable containers, just make do with what you have. People are too hungry for superficial change to prove they are doing something; but it's not about image, it's about action.
I would definitely suggest swapping cleaning products and shampoo, conditioner, hand soaps etc to plastic bottle-less alternatives! We go through those bottles so fast and we just throw them away because you can’t go to your local grocery store and just refill them.
I make my own beeswax wraps, the cost of the commercial version is insane. Beeswax, resin and tea tree oils or jojoba oil . Plenty of UA-cam DIY’s out there.
Yes! No need to buy new eco-friendly products when you already have things you can use. Even if something wasn't ethically sourced/vegan/etc, you already own it.. don't let it go to waste, literally. Like I bought some metal straws before I knew that they're actually pretty awful, but I'm going to use them because they're already here.
I always ask myself: Why is there an alternative to basic cutlery? Especially reusable bamboo cutlery? Why not use the stainless steel cutlery we also use at home? Makes zero sense to me. Of course, there are variations for people with disabilities, but why for people who can use normal cutlery?
1000000% agree! Sometimes it nice to have something small and compact/light but other than that, when I lost my first set of “reusable cutlery” I never bought another set and just used one from the kitchen! Even on backpacking trips sometimes! I do have a “spork” that I use too but they both work perfectly fine y’know! No need to buy more if you don’t need to 🙈
@@SedonaChristina yes! My husband has a "hobo tool" (that's the name) that I bought him while he was deployed a decade ago. It is a swiss army knife -style utensil with fork, spoon, knife, corkscrew, and can opener. He loves it bc it fits in his pocket and doesnt get bent up bc its so compact. It's metal... But so much more practical for him than bamboo, which requires more care. I just use regular old utensils for the kids and i. And if you dont want to lose your good cutlery, get some from the thrift store! Cheap and eco-friendly.
If you want to travel with reusable cutlery it’s very hard to travel with stainless steel as it could be detected at security at the airport and not allowed on the plane. I think that’s why some people want to use wood/bamboo!
celebralbore I have a stainless steel cutlery (knife,spoon, fork, straw, chopsticks) set that I take with me to potlucks. I’m thinking of keeping it in my bag at all times now after watching this video and reading comments.
in the same vein as the "dont just dump your unwanted clothes at thrift shops" I have an even bigger pet peeve - dumping unusable clothes at thrift shops. I have noticed this trend in the past couple of years. Especially last christmas NGOs in my home country have been reporting it. At home lasts year, one charity received children's toys that were literally broken, toy cars with wheels missing, ripped plastic, sad looking stuff. Essentially people had used the charity as a glorified dumpster. Those toys were supposed to go to an orphanage. When the NGO asked people online to please donate only intact toys, they received a ton of hate for being "greedy" but... imagine going to an orphanage and explaining to the kids that their christmas gifts are literally someone else's rubbish. Donating CAN be great but it should not mean that you donate anything without a second thought. Not all the clothes that you declutter are still wearable. When a top is completely bent out of shape, seams have come loose, there's stains and rips in them. Those items will not sell at a charity shop. What happens instead is that the charity shop cannot sell it, it will take up space that could be used better, and then the shop has to get it to the landfill. If you cannot be bothered to mend that tear in the shirt, dont expect others to buy it. When sth has really received the end of its life time, take it to a recycling shop, turn it into rags or, yes, bin it. And then be cautious that you had to bin it.
Seriously. I volunteer sorting donations at one of our local charity shops and it's unbelievable the crap people try to donate. I had one a couple of weeks ago apparently gave us the contents of their bathroom trashcan, dirty tissues and cotton buds and so on. I wanted to believe they just mixed up two bags but the manager was like nah, they donate this stuff to get rid of it.
Also we regularly get sports clothes that still smell of someone else's sweat and that's just disgusting. Take pity on people like me and at least wash and dry them before donating!
The charity shops around my way (Northern Ireland) and one I volunteered in where happy to take clothes which couldn't be sold on, as they sold them for rags and made money that way.
@@Courtneyburns90 The charity shop I usually take donations to is happy to take a bag marked as 'rags'. I'd never donate something for sale that I wouldn't wear myself, only good things I've realized I simply don't wear.
@@nonamepainter I don't see them a lot but there's one on my street, they take your recyclable good and pay you per kilo I think. Also take electricals and stuff like that. it's UK based but who knows if there's companies like that elsewhere
@@SedonaChristina It's so great you do so much research, it means we can trust what you're are saying. And, you're so right in that IT IS OKAY to make mistakes. We are all learning! Thanks for all you do!
My controversial take is that we should avoid using Amazon, like I get that it is convenient but do we really want to support this company? Big no Edit: of course some people don't have any alternatives, that is sad but don't feel bad, nobody is perfect and we are doing our best!
I try not to support amazon as much as I can ant buy local things, but sometimes I really want or need something and can’t find it close to me so I have no choice but to order it online. Or it’s way too expensive locally made so I have to buy from somewhere else.
@@bumblebeez1995 you could try to look for other online shops maybe! I am french, I mostly order from french websites for example :D. Keep in mind as long as you are trying you best it is good 💛 nobody is perfect !!
Some zero waste swaps look totally unnecessary to me. Don't want to use plastic cutlery anymore? The metal cutlery you already use at home will work just fine, no need to buy something new. Don't want to use plastic mugs? Just find a way to have your coffee at home, there are so many (i'm italian and we use moka here, but also french press works just as well) and you can use your own mugs. Same with paper rolls and cotton rounds and tissues, we all have some useless cloth laying around that will do totally fine. Ditch the q-tips and just clean your ears in the shower with soap and water, then wipe with soft cloth. You always use a straw and are looking for a more sustainable one? Go on and buy a reusable one, but if you never felt the need for a straw before you'll be just fine without. There are some very useful swaps (thinking of period cups, toothbrushes and a couple others) that you can't make at home, but also a lot of dumb ones that you may think you need when you actually don't.
AMEM to you SISTA! Totally agree with you, we dont need to be consuming all of these needless items when we can use other methods that are already lying round in our houses! Thanks for sharing! BIG love x
I bought travel cutlery. It comes with a pouch, smaller and lighter in weight. Plus less likely to lose my good cutlery at home. They are stainless steel and were cheap for a set of 3 with travel pouch. They fit nicely in a small purse.
@@SedonaChristina ua-cam.com/video/wCO0k-COsZY/v-deo.html she's phd in biochemistry. also dr dray dermatologist mentioned so many time, no essential on your face, no real benefits other than causing irritation and allergic reaction. when you shop for skin care, go for fragrance free. DIY skincare also makes no sense most of the time, especially sunscreen. ua-cam.com/video/aTNcbLHZusc/v-deo.html
The worst thing about essential oils is how people are making dangerous claims about them. Promoting them as medicine, (which they aren't!) is the biggest one. Not to mention the piramidscemes...
I’m a witch, so I use essential oils very commonly and believe they have many amazing benefits and properties, but the people who market it as a replacement for medications..... 😬 Yah I believe they are great, but that’s just never okay.
Yup, when I was growing up my parents had them (just for smelling nice) and the foundation of my understanding of them as a child was that they are dangerous.
Those Sad Bois aw in bulgaria we have what would translate to “which doctors”. Old, OLD, women who have passed their work down for centuries. Even they use modern medications!!!! It’s kind of wonderful to see the art form still alive. Blessings and happiness to you hun❤️
As someone who works in the fashion industry, I can't stand it when people say they are using "Vegan leather" - vegan leather is just plastic-coated synthetic foams with a leather print in the plastic. If you don't want to wear leather because of the animal cruelty issues, please don't use leather alternatives as they are just as bad. Loved this video, so many people just use the "green" and "sustainable" label very loosely and it can cause such miscommunication!
Someone said "Glad you can afford those things" and actually I don't think I can yet? But things like that are always most expensive when they're first developed. It's a glimmer of hope going forward.
exactly! leather products last longer so you’ll be less likely to buy them again and support cruelty. it’s also good to buy second hand for inexpensive leather :)
@@petra1995 Very true, but unfortunately not durable and not easy to manufacture as they are very expensive alternatives. I hope in the future we can move towards more sustainable alternatives but for now... not a lot of choice
@@DipandDab100 For now I just buy higher quality fake leather, or opt for other materials. My Vegetarian Shoes faux leather belt was a bit pricey but still looks very good after a few years of constant use. My cheap H&M pleather gloves on the other hand... Starting flaking after a year or so heh
To add on to the essential oil point: A LOT of companies claim that it is pure essential oil but there not. If the bottle says natural fragrance, fragrance oil or even perfume. It is not pure Edit: Also I should point out that some times the way to tell if an oil is fake is based on the price of it, most oils are expensive because of how they are made(time/effort etc) so if, let's say a good sized bottle of oil is pretty cheap, it's fake
Adding to the points about essential oils and "natural beauty": At least in the US there is no regulation for these things. Anyone can create a product and call it "clean beauty" or "all-natural ingredients", and there is no official definition anywhere about what that actually means. That makes it very hard to do research, and that puts it mildly.
Essential oils are not nontoxic. Some of the most popular oils are deadly to pets when diffused into the air. Essential oils are not worth the risk. They are a neurotoxin to animals such as cats.
Ratoftheswamp yes, some cats (interestingly not all of them) get toxicity to oils. But did you know that anything can be toxic? Even considering too much water is toxic.
Essential oils are a great addition to anyone’s medicine cabinet, but as with anything people should educate themselves on proper use and potential toxicity or allergy.
YES THANK YOU!! essential oils are usually toxic, which is why we dilute them! They're varyingly toxic depending on the organism exposed to it. Also hearing "essential oils have medicinal properties" disappointed me, they don't. They really don't.
@@rhg3212 Please don't say vague things like this, all essential oils are different and while some may have certain benefits, others may be dangerous when used in the same manner.
My thing with essential oils is the claim that they are “free of chemicals” which is literally impossible since the whole wide world is made of chemicals 😂 even if we are talking about them being “natural”, they are not! Tell me one place in nature where you can find ready-to-use essential oils: oh that’s right, there’s none!
poison ivy are also natural...this is so obvious, why ppl r so dumb...you never see fragrance in baby product cuz they wont take the risk, but for adult, they put tons of fragrance and marketed as natural wtf... everything i use is fragrance free except my cat litter...cuz he creates smell all the time..
Thank you for taking on essential oils. As someone who was formerly sucked into one of those MLM essential oil companies, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear someone talk about how incredibly wasteful they are. I appreciate you speaking out!
Latina talking here. You’ve been using aloe in a wrong way. You have to get rid of the yellowish substance before applying the gel to your skin... it’s not bad, carcinogen or anything. Just use it correctly
As an individual with a biochemistry degree (current chemist at and environmental/analytical lab, basically I’ve done lots of research/scientific reading in my day lol) I recommend looking deeper into the EWG. Their claims are often inaccurate and based on biased, poorly executed studies. They’ve essentially been bought by personal interest groups and I would not trust the majority of the information on there. Greenwashing for sure.
Levi Hildebrand and Our Changing Climate are really good channels, too. They will look at particular products and be like is it as good as it says it is or how bad is it really. Like they have looked at REI, Patagonia, FjallRaven, Amazon, the military industrial complex, Klean Klanteen, Ect. They are really good at backing up their stuff with facts and sources. But also that is just what happens in capitalism... Most of the companies in the world are owned by 3 corporations. Like you can buy a product that might still be made will and ethically and good for the environment but is still owned by Johnson & Johnson.
look into Certified B Corporations and 1%for the Planet companies! both are indications of ethical, environmentally conscious companies and both of those certifications are printed on the companies packaging/tags!
Great point about the reusable bags!!! I was looking at them on amazon and had them in my cart for like a month. Then I started thinking " what the hell...I don't need these...I have a bunch of other containers and jars I can use instead" I wash my plastic ziploc bags and dry them and reuse them till they literally fall apart. I think a lot of people miss the point of living an eco conscious life. In my opinion it's using what you already have! Once that is used up or worn out THEN switch to another eco option. 😍🤗👍
ARL H you can get cloth zipper bags that have a waterproof lining in them you can use for snacks and to store other things that you can wash and reuse as well, and it’s better than silicone because they’ll last longer!
The only thing you can trust is the advice to buy nothing. And if you HAVE to buy something, look for it locally second-hand. Try to hone your skills for detecting bullshit and predatory marketing practices.
This is such a great video! I've recently seen an old high school classmate start experimenting with making her own make-up products, and literally 3 weeks later she's already selling them online as vegan, eco friendly products. This made me think of how many things we could end up buying that haven't been properly tested and researched and can be harmful in the end. Thanks for talking about this!
Also adding to essential oils: actually, they're pretty toxic. They can initiate allergic reactions (mild itching all the way to anaphylactic shock) and they are super toxic if consumed (please, never ever ever consume essential oils). Most of them (if not all, not 100% sure right now) are neurotoxic as well, so they're really not worth it.
So, I bought in the essential oil trend for a diffuser (never got into the MLM side of young living or doterra) and now i realize how unsustainable the farming is. Also the containers mostly can’t be recycled. So just more waste and I feel silly for thinking they were so great 🤦🏻♀️ Also- just want to state I mostly used them for aroma therapy/a few cleaners. I wouldn’t think they cure for serious issues.
Just a handful are actually neurotixic. But yeah, for the average consumer who doesn’t know how to use the, they won’t be worth it and can be harmful due to wrong use. But in the medical field, essential oils are (at least where I work) a great addition to pharmaceutical medicine. We work a lot with essential oils and the likes and usually manage to get rid of nasty infections without insane amounts of antibiotics and a thousand pills but simply by doing essential oil treatments. And I work with immuno compromised children. They come home from hospital (we’re a nursing home) with stuff like MRSA or 3/4-MRGN and are free of that within a couple weeks instead of the regular months. So, they CAN be absolutely worth it if used by a professional. And with professional I don’t mean a “therapist” that also recommends crystals against cancer, but someone who actually works in the medical field and has a background in nursing or something similar who also knows to value the strength of pharmaceutical medicine.
It was a stupid mistake on my part, but I put diluted tea tree oil on my face to try and help my acne scars. I ended up with second degree chemical burns and blisters all over my face for a week... last time I listen to “diy skincare” tips from Pinterest....
Thank you sooo sooo much for explaining the issue with bamboo coffeecups. I'm German, maybe that's why I know about this since more than one year, but no-one listens to me if I'm trying to explain this issue. It's so nice when people with such a big community like yours talk about this 💚
I think there are a lot more questions asked in smaller countries. I'm Danish and just looking at the national laws of our respective countries, the legal limit of certain ingredients etc.can vary hugely. With the EU also involved, I think we just generally tend to question things more than say Americans might. They are not constantly forced to face variations in legal limits, government controlled reasearch into safety etc. We're constantly challenged by "oh, is that hoe they fo it in Germany/Denmark/Sweden/England" etc. Many Danes go across the boardwr to Germsny to shop as well and in Germsny you can sometimes get yhingx ghat simply sre'nt allowed for personal care in Denmark and vice versa. It makes you question things
I’m British and I’m missing the EU so much. I’m worried that we’ll lose that multiple perspective (if we haven’t already) of how things are done in other countries. We’ve learned so much from you. Sorry - I just get emotional about this!
My rules for donating are that - must be reusable (ask yourself if you would buy it out of quality, not aesthetic) - prioritize charity shops or thrift stores in low income areas, especially when donating high end or high quality goods -clean before donating
My chemistry teacher was telling us about the whole bamboo reusable problem just a couple days ago :) Not only is the formaldehyde bad for you when you add hot beverages to it, but the bamboo products aren’t recyclable what so ever
And bamboo may be fast and easy growing but in Asia, some areas are starting to s6ffer brcause it tskes so mich wster, just like cotton. Arewa's are drying out and other crops sre suffering. It's basically the cotton of the cutlery section :/
I have my own collection of essential oils that I use for health, cleaning and air freshener since things like incense, scented candles, and cleaners flare up my allergies, but my feathers are not ruffled. My eyes are just a little more open. I recently heard about the rose oil too and was like “Wow! I’mma slow down on getting these oils!” I totally appreciate you shedding light on this subject (and everything else you mentioned). If people can’t handle you challenging their original beliefs about something, and making them rethink their decisions, that’s an issue they have within themselves. Keep opening our eyes and minds, girl!
Essential oils drive me bonkers! Thank you for discussing the fact that it takes sooooooooo much product to make a small amount of EO. No one talks about this, but has been bugging me for years. As they are used now, they are not sustainable. They are incredibly powerful and people don’t realize this-when it comes to EOs less is more. Thank you for talking about this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
As an esthetician who has had many a client say their daily moisturizer is coconut oil (it’s not effective, it’s pore clogging, molecular size, skin compatibility, etc), thank you for the natural isn’t always better comment. That being said, I’ve always used aloe directly from my plant on burns and never even thought to check the safety of it! I figured if it’s in aloe gel for sunburns then getting it right from the plant must be fine. I’m really glad I clicked on this video before I rubbed aloe all on my boyfriend’s sunburn! Thank you doing you for making this video and I hope we see another🌱
Coconut oil and rosehip oil are best things to ever happen to my skin. Coconut oil with lavender EO drops in it everywhere but my face. Rosehip with some EO drops in it on my (55yo) facial and neck skin. Hydrolyzed collagen, lowcarb, adequate protein and fat, IF and SLEEP to complete the skin health & beauty routine. See above for several ppls comments about correct (ancient) use of aloe vera. You have to drain out a yellow substance before smearing the aloe on you.
chadzwife1 I’m glad the coconut oil works well for you. Rose hip easily absorbs into the skin so it goes deep into the lower layers of the epidermis to do its work. PURE coconut oil can’t, it’s too thick, it sits on top and clogs pores in acne prone skin. That’s how it “moisturizes”, it prevents water loss by creating a barrier. Even though it has fatty acids and other great ingredients it will not absorb into your skin. It’s not that you CANT use coconut oil, it’s just that it isn’t the miracle everyone wants it to be. I encourage everyone to do their own research and talk to professionals that study skin and take care of skin for a living.
chadzwife1 oh and thank you for pointing out that there are comments about safe use of aloe. I’ll be looking into how to do this properly so I can continue using my aloe plant!
Gasolineandhome most ppl are only acne prone on the face, perhaps chest or back for teens. Thus, I said use of coconut oil NOT on face. Its miraculous everywhere else. But I add EOs usually, so they add quite a bit to the miracle, Im sure. My fingers crack in winter from constant rinsing and drying while cooking, and constant washing n drying. Coconut oil overnight will have them soft even! Use just a light olive oil even, no need for EVO, on your legs to shave. No need to moisturize after. Just remember to wash tub when ur thru!
chadzwife1 I’m so sorry for misreading your first comment about using coconut oil on your face. I am a licensed esthetician and practice in skin for a living and people often have acne and body acne well into adulthood. It’s not just a teen thing to have body acne. I would really like to erase that stereotype since it is emotionally damaging to the millions of adults with acne. The point I was initially trying to make was that people need to do their own research and that natural doesn’t equal better. I’m sorry we have differing opinions on the efficacy of coconut oil.
You are definitely one of my favorite youtubers 💕 thank you for always being genuine and upfront about literally everything under the sun. Controversial topics are something that need to be talked about and this video was absolutely perfect. I'm 100% a fan of low waste DIYs but I think people forget that theres a reason labs exist (i.e. so experts can give us a safe product), so I'm glad you addressed that!
Thank you for talking about bamboo!! I was looking at sustainable bamboo flooring, and learned that lots of bamboo flooring (and other bamboo products) emit VOCs and contain horrible glues, binders, etc. I feel like that’s an important thing to discuss and make people aware of when bamboo is seen as this amazing sustainable product right now.
I bought some bamboo fiber travel mugs before knowing about this, after I did my research I didn't want to bin them so I use them to store grains! 😂 But I've also seen people use them as plant pot.
There’s a “zero waste” store that just opened by me that I can just tell that they get all their straws and cups from that website. I won’t buy them, but I know a lot of people are. There’s just no way they’re selling metal straws for like .75¢ and not buying them from China
Susanna M. The last straw is made in America! I’d be fine with it if it was just the straws, but they have a lot of green washing at their store. They have “hemp” clothing that I found out is only actually 5% hemp and the rest is polyester. Just a lot of annoying things like that. And it’s not the only option so I can easily avoid it
What’s scary is so many zero waste shops will not strive for a better option, I work in a zero waste shop, we will change suppliers until we get the best option, and the amount of research we do into products we stock is very extensive. But many other shops we have visited stock products that we know from experience come in excessive packaging or are actually huge examples of green washing from some truly shitty brands. But you wouldn’t see that from a customer perspective, I think the assumption is everything in a “zero waste” shop is completely ethical and sustainable when in-fact this can be very untrue :(
You say a few times that essential oils are non toxic but I think it depends on the oil? I have a eucalyptus/ mint mix (decongestant) and definitely wouldn’t want that ingested or even on your skin or near eyes. Natural doesn’t mean safe
VERY true!! I totally should have been more clear in my word choices! What I meant was that usually marketed or perceived that way but very true that they can do harm as well 💛
@@suides4810 children too, in the case of eucalyptus and peppermint. kids shouldn't be exposed to eucalyptus until they're 10, but YL has people using thieves blend all over the house.
can you address "sustainable" palm oil? I love dr. bronner's soap and I've researched their resourcing on my own, but I'm curious to hear your perspective on it!
YES! I have a podcast all about it on patreon right now! I NEVER buy (or at least try my best to but mess up on occasion because I’m human and palm oil has what feels like a million different names) palm oil! Even when “certified” EXCEPT for Dr Bronners! They’re the ONLY ones with a traceable supply chain (from my understanding)! My recent Instagram about my dish soap also has an info graphic and some words about what I choose and why! It’s the photo I posted a few days ago where I’m holding up a bar of soap if you want to check it out 💛 I’m goi. To try and do a video about it but need to figure out a few “social media” BTS things first. But those are two good resources I’ve talked about it in! Palm oil, in and of itself, is actually the most sustainable oil IN THEORY as it uses the least amount of resources to yield the most plant oil and it’s very versatile. The problem is the supply chain we’re set up is REALLY terrible for the planet and all her living creatures. So it’s up to us humans to fix what we’ve ruined! And that’s why I support Dr Bronners (solid bars only tho) 💛
Personally, I am not fully "against" palm oil. Basically, Palm oil is one of the most efficient oils when it comes to land use. The reason it destroys environments so much is of course unsutainable farming but mostly... We use a lot of oil. Like, a lot of it. It's not better to be like "this oil destroys a lot of environments, I need to switch to another" without considering how much land it would use/environmental damage it would cost if all the palm oil produced was replaced with the alternative. In most cases, the environmental damage would be a lot worse. If we want to save the environment, we need to reduce our oil consumptionn, source it sustainably and most importantly go for land use efficiency that still respects soil (which, granted, most of the time includes mixing crops as opposed to doing one type only)
I just got an ad for a “sustainable phone case” and like what?? 1. The biggest waste is not from ur phone case. 2. You probably already have a phone case so why would u buy another one..
probably if the phone case breaks (most are plastic or rubber etc) so it’s good if there is a sustainable option however, i have heard sadly that they aren’t as durable??
@@kates7819 hi! I have a sustainable phone case from Pela Case (it is compostable) and it is very durable :), they also have even more durable cases such as the walnut case! I recommend you check them out.
I'm glad you made that point about skincare. I'm transitioning to zero waste, but always felt conflicted about not switching to DIY skincare. Good skincare products are developed to be effective, which is not something I can trust when it comes to DIY. If only there was a way to sustainably package them!
Honestly almost everything can be bad for you. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the job you have. But don’t be discouraged from sustainable practices. Just try your best and take things one step at a time. You are probably way better off now than you were when you started.
Great advice. My family has recycled and reused things my whole life but I really want to get started on being even more eco friendly. Many videos are a bit discouraging because they make every attempt I’ve made seem “wrong”
Love the essential oil point. I'm allergic, so I basically can't use any "natural" skincare bc they all have "natural fragrances" which almost always irritate my skin. I think the "eco friendly" swap that bugs me a lot is Dr. Bronners soap. I know a lot of people love it, which is awesome. But I live in an old house and it's clogged up my plumbing so bad - something about being a soap and not a detergent makes it susceptible to the pH of the water to leaving lots of soap residue? There's actually so much amazing science behind soaps and detergents, and all the amazing ways scientists have worked to make soap and detergents less likely to leave soap residue or be affected by hard water. I think my irritation comes from the *scary science* fear mongering. I don't know anything about which soaps are actually good for the environment or not. But I don't think science and chemicals are inherantly bad, ya know? And I'd rather use a soap that actually washes out of my hair. 🤷 Also, when our drains were all clogged, we bought drain-o to get them clear (tried hot water and snaking first) and it felt even worse for the environment. Ya know? I think we all just need to find what works for us.
I've had the same experience. We have very hard water here, lot's of calcium in it. I use a shea based washbar and shampoobar and that, mixed with the hard water... it clogs up SO bad!
I wonder if there's a way you can spoon it out and compost it. Perhaps a cloth under the drain grid? It would probably collect a lot of hair, but they have something like that in Japan and they empty it regularly.
Yes, fragrance is soooooo unnecessary in skincare. I like Youth to the People skincare and Dropps detergent pods because they are more sustainable but also effective and safe.
I'm a beautician and let me tell you, if you over use essential oils they can be TOXIC. Not just because they're natural does it mean that they are safe. You gotta be very careful
I pretty much make all my own cleaning products. But then again I had my own cleaning business for twenty years. I had lots of opportunities to test out lots of recipes and got to see the long term effects of their use and ease of use. And honestly baking soda, vinegar, soap and water are amazing as far as their cleaning power. I use essential oils not as perfumes but for medicinal reasons. Such as I use lemon and orange essential oils in my homemade deodorant. It took me a lot of incarnations to find the best combination of ingredients that killed odor but wasn’t harsh on my skin. I love that you try to be educated about how to use natural products in the right way. And just because someone says a product is green it doesn’t make it truly sustainable or safe. (Like if it looks like a plastic cup, it basically is still a plastic cup even if they use bamboo to make it. If it no longer resembles bamboo then it no longer is bamboo so think about what you potentially are putting in your mouth and how it might impact your health. Lol) My rule often is nothing goes on my skin unless I feel safe putting it in my mouth, in general. ( ie So I often use food grade aloe for my skin care products although I grow it too) Education is key to being a responsible human. Thanks for what you are doing to promote zero waste. It’s def worth it.
honestly don't know why it makes me so happy -- but seeing a youtuber with plants that are yellowing/not 100% perfect brings me joy! I just started a youtube channel and I love my plants but like honestly not sure how others have perfect, non yellowing plants all the time with tons in the background!
OMG I am living my dream!!!!two videos of my favourite youtube channel in 24 h? I really love your channel and you are one of my biggest inspirations. I am 13 years old and I’m currently starting to change my habits to live more sustainably and your videos have really helped me a lot. Kisses from Brazil 🇧🇷😘
Oh my goodness!!! What a compliment!! Thank you!! You're seriously far too kind hehe I don't deserve this. I'm happy to help in any way! It feels nice to finally be back after getting my computer situation fixed. Now I can make lots and lots of videos in march to make up for the lack 💛💛💛
YES YES YES! Thank you for talking about the negative repercussions of DIY skincare! Essential oils in particular are AWFUL when applied topically, especially in leave-on products like moisturizers and toners. Essential oils can easily lead to sensitization of the skin and cause awful inflammation and irritation. Plus to make it worse, in a DIY context when you are making a small batch of something it's so easy to use a ridiculous amount of EO even if you just add one drop. These are very powerful compounds. Not to mention DIY beauty can also be really harsh on pipes and drains in our showers and sinks. Dr Dray here on YT is an actual dermatologist and she really educated me on the potential dangers of EOs.
PS: I looked the Aloe Vera issue up. Seems that the cancer relevant parts are in the outer leaves, so you should be able to use the inside. Just research a little bit more.
I just found you today and I am so glad to hear about how holistically you speak to going low waste and sustainability. there's so much more to the picture than just a swap for one aspect of sustainability, when there's a whole supply chain and previous steps before/after we acquire a product to consider. yes, it makes a lot of things "gray areas" but it's not a perfect journey for anyone. so happy to have found you today!
"Stiftung Warentest" means "Foundation Product Testing" .... it's quite well known in Germany since decades. They publish a magazine on a regular basis.
During both of my pregnancies there have been people who pushed "natural alternatives" to typical things all in the name of "minimizing impact" and "eliminating chemicals." One such recommendation was from someone who is REALLY into essential oils; she urged me to swap out my midwife-prescribed dietary supplements (prenatal vitamin, iron supplement) and replace them with blends of essential oils she was selling. While I love essential oils for fragrance and do regularly use a few for topical treatments (tea tree on minor scrapes, eucalyptus in a balm for colds) it certainly doesn't seem ethical to recommend them as medication alternatives to someone, especially when those recommendations are not based on evidence, but rather are based on fear.
YES I'm so glad you're speaking on DIY's especially for skincare. So many skincare DIY's are so bad for your skin and I'm so glad you're learning more about it!!
I'd also LOVE to see/hear your opinion on the brand Youth to the People, they claim to be more of a sustainable brand and I adore their face wash to death
8:13 No, you're absolutely right about this and in many cases, such as those super cheap reusable straws, you have no idea what they are actually made of... there has been LEAD found in them before! PLEASE keep talking about this! It's important for reusable things to be accessible, but NOT at the expense someones health being put at risk.
I wish people would understand how big of a problem those oils are! Not only are they incredibly wastefull environmentally but many are also very potent allergens. Lavender is great for calm... Un-less you have to go to hospital for a massive reaction. Or the very basic, drying effects of tea tree oil, which can cause a lot of damage to the skin. As a former eastheticien I've seen how damaging the tea tree and lemony oils can be, because they are so drying. Aloe can also cause some really bad exema or allergic rashes, something you really need to be carefull about.
The problem in this case is not the oils (or any other natural or synthetic stuff) but the lack of self-education and basic observation on the part of the users. If someone is allergic they should of course stop using, if their skin drys out they should of course either stop use or reduce consistency of use. Education (of whatever subject not academics), observation, and common sense are necessary for life and seem to be sadly lacking in many people.
@@ciannacoleman5125 Going further, a HUGE problem is MLM companies misrepresenting oils and what they can do, their safety precautions, etc, then sending their distributors out into the world with ~*~everything they need~*~. The responsibility needs to be on them to either provide adequate safety training or require distributors to invest in their own education. ~*~BossBabe Julie~*~ has no business telling people to drop thieves at the back of their throat to cure a cold.
Monica Booth While I agree that at least some of the marketing is not fully accurate I have used oils my entire life. When I get sick I can tell that using them speeds recovery vs when I don’t, and while I hate putting Thieves in my throat it definitely helps sore throats when used topically. I think everyone should acknowledge that just like pharmaceuticals people will have different reactions to them though. Also I am not suggesting they replace western medicine rather be used as a supplement. While the companies might ought to provide training to distributers it is also on the individuals choosing to buy them to educate themselves. My family buys directly from a company and does not distribute we educated ourselves and know what works for us
I really love everything you shed a light on. Especially the essential oils and donating. I think we all have a hidden consumeristic mindset, and when EOs got big, everyone wanted to have every single oil they could have. But i've found that I really only need about 5 to cover all my bases for DIYs and general smells (Tea tree, peppermint, lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus). There's really no need to own 50+ bottles. And with the donating, 100% agree that should be a last resort. My mom's boyfriend used to work at Goodwill and he said about 80% of the bags weren't even looked at, just immediately thrown away. There are so many better options. And, if you have clothes especially that are pretty much garbage, it's better to drop them off at a clothing recycling bin rather than trying to pass them off as donatable.
As someone who sews, if I have clothes or other things made of fabric that I don't use anymore and no one else wants them I would take them apart and use them to make other things like pillow cases, blankets, chair cushions, curtains, etc. Nothing would get thrown away, I have a lot of buttons that I saved from old clothes to use for new things. I even keep the scraps to use in place of stuffing or small details on the things I make. I personally love to shop second hand, I love vintage fashion and would dress in cloths that a grandma would've dressed in when she was in her prime and I don't care what people think. And if I did get one of my good clothing ripped or holy I would just take a needle and thread to them instead of throwing them out.
Sustainable palm oil isn't actually bad. Palm oil is great because it has such a high yield. If you replaced palm oil with something like coconut oil, you'd need 10 times the amount of land for the same yeild. When possible, create the demand for sustainable palm oil, because any other alternative is much much worse
I totally agree! Palm oil is in and of itself SUCH a great oil from a sustainability standpoint. But there is sadly no such thing as “sustainable” palm oil, it’s severely green washed because the loopholes are so significant. It IS important to create demand for ethically and sustainable harvested palm oil, to rewrite the supply chain and the way we organize it, and that’s why the only place I support palm oil from is Dr Bronners! They’re the ONLY plantation with a traceable supply chain 💛 (to my knowledge)
@@SedonaChristina there are other plantations that produce sustainable palm oil than just one. I'm not sure exactly who they supply to exactly so I'll have to do my research. The thing is though, even with most palm oil being unsustainable, it's still better than the alternatives.
The second point you mentioned is so important but frustrating also. It’s hard when there are these not so great companies out there that are making products that are cheap. As someone who is younger or not as wealthy, these cheap products are so nice to get started with, but then it sucks to learn that they aren’t good enough and I think it helps to deter people in a way, even though it probably shouldn’t
"it's this natural plant, how could it be bad for you" there are so many poisonous plants in the world and people tend to forget this. Not everything is good for you, just because it grows naturally.
I think it’s super important to caviat this with if you already own these things, don’t just get rid of them! I.e. there is no reason to replace a bamboo fiber bowl with a steel one etc. If you have it already, USE IT!
LOVE your videos! I think it's great that you're owning that you're still learning (we all are!) on your sustainable journey. I just wanted to ask - with the aloe thing, have you taken down your old videos/added an amendment to the videos where you initially recommended that for skincare? If not maybe it might be worth doing, just so any new subscribers/viewers that perhaps find you via those old videos are kept up to speed :)
The topic of zero waste is actually what got me into studying world history in depth, we don't know how most of our products our made nowdays or what's in them or what part of the earth those ingredients come from anymore, wheras before the industrial revolution a lot of people might not have known the exact chemical makeup, but they knew what rocks or plants to use to solve certain problems. Our fine detail technical knowledge has increased while our knowledge of the bigger picture has almost disappeared.
I appreciate this so much. I've had to leave most zero-waste groups I was a part of because it was often a bit if pointless echo-chambering. For instance, a big deal to many in these groups is buying those yoplait oui yogurts, because they come in glass containers. Little regard is given to the fact that one's money is still going to yopliat and will be used to produce any of their products; the waste produced by a company when it introduces a new product increases, not decreases; glass is heavier and requires more waste and resources to transport than does plastic; and I believe there is some debate that it is more wasteful to recycle glass than it is plastic. Plastic vs. Paper egg cartons suffer similar scrutiny. Ultimately, much of the zero waste movement comes down to aesthetics for some people, and it was frustrating to be a apart of that reality.
I would love to hear you talk more about diy beauty products. What’s unsafe and how to figure out if something is safe because diy’s are the best option for a lot of people who want be zero waste and vegan but have budget constraints.
Please check out Hyram's channel on UA-cam. He talks about skincare that is in a variety of price ranges and usually cruelty free. He reviews DIY skincare and he is a great resource on what's safe and what's not okay. I like some DIY skincare too, like whipped body butter, but I have learned a lot of recipes can do long term harm.
I love that you made this video, and that you have a reasonable approach to trying to be conscious of your and others' and the world's health. I especially like that you are pointing out that it is not always simple to judge the impact of a purchase etc. One of my favorite ways of introducing this concept is paper vs electronics. Yes, paper products can lead to things like deforestation, use chemical processes to manufacture, end up in the waste, etc. but electronics also require manufacturing, transportation, and then electricity to use (which might come from non-sustainable sources) and also end up in the waste pile when they break or become obsolete or you want to upgrade. Even after doing a lot of research and math, sometimes there's not a clear-cut "best" solution.
We have some of those bamboo bowls and cutlery at our store. I love the shape but the plastic feel of it was a major turnoff for me. I don't use a lot of beauty products, just my infused ACV hair rinse, my shampoo bar and recently I got the recipe for a fenugreek/flax seed hair mask that I'm going to try. I would caution for those who are using essential oils, there are a LOT of scents that are toxic to dogs and cats, even just the smell of it can make them sick. I use my oil diffuser spareingly because the scents defuse so strongly into the air, I don't need to use it as much. Thanks for the video!
On the donation of clothing thing, I would recommend checking with your donation place (by that I mean whichever thrift store is local to you) on what they actually do with the clothing. Because yes, a lot of them send the items they can't sell straight to the landfill. However, I have seen a lot of them switching over to sending things to fabric recycling places where they break them down into fibers so that those fibers can be reused in manufacturing things where the specific type of fiber doesn't matter so much. Places that send extra items to recycling are actually great places to donate to. And definitely sending damaged clothing items to a place where they can be recycled is the best option unless you can personally use them for rags/scrap fabric.
I can’t find any information stating that aloe straight from the plant is bad APART from the EWG website... doesn’t convince me honestly. In fact the app ‘Think Dirty’ classifies Aloe Barbadensis Leaf/juice/extract as a level 0 out of 10 - “no studies found to be harmful”
Usually I skip over the sponsored stuff, but this one for Blueland definitely made me smile! I bought their essentials kit on a whim and your words are so comforting to know that maybe I'm actually making a good decision with this swap! Thank you so much for that!!
There's a lot that's more sustainable than "natural" "zero waste" things. Large companies have the facilities and the ability to make large amounts of product pretty efficiently, transport efficiently, etc. :/
@@Stuffings00 Yeah that's a tough one. Maybe eventually because you're reusing containers multiple times it takes the packaging impact out, but natural products are actually way worse for the environment (and your skin) than a lot of these mass-produced synthetic ones. I've been kind of into The Body Shop because of their commitment to sustainability, fair wages, and fighting animal cruelty. They take back their packaging, too, which is nice. But I've definitely found that I've been more lax about certain "zero waste" things because they might actually have a more negative environmental impact. :/
Thanks for bringing up issues in the manufacturing chain. Its such a big problem because its so difficult to ensure products are truly safe when you have 20 different suppliers producing 1 piece of a finished item. Ultimately I think more transparency all around would help. Thanks for asking the tough questions.
ESSENTIAL OILS ARE NOT NECESSARY NON TOXIC!!!!! Most of them are actually incredibly toxic to pets and they can trigger asthma attacks. They also should not be placed directly on the skin, eaten, or used around infants and young children. They can also be cut with common allergens like almond oil. All of this goes to say that you should be very careful and thoughtful using it and do your research.
I’ve been waiting for a video like this! It’s great that people are starting to care about the planet, but so many companies are taking advantage of that and greenwashing!
N H that's so cool!! Thanks, but unfortunately they only ship to Germany and Austria 😔 I live in Hungary. I guess I have to invest in glass bottles and make my own 😄
@@palfililla21 okey so now I did my own research and there is yet another brand called ecotabs. I just quickly went to check out and I could select Hungary, so maybe that's something for you 😁
thank you for this video!!! I run vacation rentals and have been looking for an eco friendly alternative to cleaning supplies for the longest time . buying plastic spray bottles with harmful chemicals constantly was such a drag & a lot of them design the bottles so that you can’t refill them . much love this video made my day
You should check out Hyram on UA-cam, he’s really knowledgeable about skincare and he has a video on more sustainable skincare products packaged in glass
Omg YESSS to the essential oil point!! Also two popular oil companies- Young Living and DoTerra- have extremely manipulative and sketchy business practices, as well as research that shows questionable ingredients in their oils. Good to be 100% aware of who you are buying from and supporting :)
I really enjoyed your interesting video and i agree with you, especially with the point that not because something is natural it is also good for your skin and health. I always cringe when people try to promote or encourage the use of essential oils and/or their newest DIY recipe without a scientific background, proper research or source disclosures. To me it is very tedious to see people jumping on the bandwagon of eco-friendlyness, sustainability, zero/low-waste etc, especially here on UA-cam. P.S. Your pronunciation of Stiftung Warentest was really cute :D
One thing that bothers me is when people poUr water from a plastic water bottle into a reusable one. Also when people get a plastic straw and replace the already used straw with a metal one.😑
thank you for talking about the downsides of essential oils! so many people seem to think they're harmless because of their name + chemical fear mongering. clinical skincare + beauty is not bad if you know what to look for in products. also these these dropshipping "sustainability" businesses manipulating consumers is so grosssssss
The only medicinal purpose of essential oil is unclogging my sinuses when I’m sick lol, pure peppermint does the trick. Other than that, no other oil has done anything.
You have to be careful about essential oils because dogs or cats can get sick by them. There was a story about somebody using a diffuser and their dog got really sick, and found out it was the diffuser. I still have oils but I'm care using them. Thanks for these topics.
I do wonder if ethnicity makes a difference with the way bodies react to aloe vera. Many Mexicans(Lations) and Native Americans use aloe. I live in Arizona so they grow naturally here. But all of my family members and friends who are Mexican and Native American use aloe for cuts, burns, and dryness. We call it the medicine of the desert. So maybe ethnicity makes a difference or the origin where the aloe comes from. Ours grow naturally around us and your ancestors have been using it for centuries so our bodies may find it helpful instead of harmful. I think that would be a good study to see if ethnicity and origin of the plant ( natural desert soil and non transported) make a difference.
Nah pal, it's not about that. The composition of the plant is the same, but latinxs know how to properly use the plant/prepare it (you can even read some comments here) which is knowledge not always transmitted to other cultures or even to descendants of that same culture.
I don't think it is just Latinos and Native Americans. Aloe Vera has been commonly used as medicine and for care in many Mediterranean regions (different ethnicities) for a really long time as well. I absolutely agree that one needs to be cautious, but just because someone failed at gaining benefits in a proper way from nature and natural products/remedies, doesn't mean it is suddenly poisoning/toxic and should be abolished. With this thinking, many things can harm us in one or another way.
Why compliment someone by putting someone else down in comparison? Both UA-camrs are spreading a positive message and the first part of your comment is a sufficient compliment in itself without the added negative insinuations about the way someone else does things :(
I had never considered the whole processing of essential oils so cool of you to point that out! Tbh my pet peeve is when people have like multiple expensive “low waste” items, like multiple hydroflasks. It just promotes more consumerism and it’s a waste of moneyyyyyy
Ive seen alot of info on EWG being paid for by corporations and that they have changed the rating of alot of chemicals due to that. I do not use EWG for anything.
Justin and Sabrina Webb thank you, i’ve been telling people about this for a while, they do tons of sketchy stuff that really harms natural health communities
it’s the seeing the “zero waste” and the “$300 fast fashion haul!!!” videos right next to eachother that really get me
And they always say “I normal don’t do this but it was on sell!!”
I love that you said “just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s better”. Especially in a society that profits off of consumers who mistake and group the word ‘natural’ with certified organic, eco friendly, or sustainable. ‘Natural’ has no legal meaning for products! Thank you for shedding some light. I appreciate your ideas, and how you let people know about important topics that are swept under the rug.
@@ThePrairieChronicles or hemlock! Or highly concentrated citric acid! It's amazing how many items that are "natural" are actually very harmful.
@@ThePrairieChronicles love that!
@@WouldntULikeToKnow. I agree!
Another thing is the whole old is better. Like people rant about finding some obscure grain in tombs and they’re like “IT MUST BE GOOD NOW”. Like sure, some good things are found in tombs but there are also dead people and moldy cheese. Not everything old is good.
UGH! I totally agree with this. Also, some 'Natural' products don't even work. We need to be trying to move as a society into finding/researching sustainable products that ACTUALLY work!
Like buying coconut bowls that are flown across the world as a ecofriendly bowl alternative. You don’t need a bowl alternative. whats wrong with Glas and ceramic that you can use forever probably longer than a coconut bowl. Also for on the go Tupperware can be used forever
My friends grandma had a Pyrex baking pan thing that she’s been using since the 50s. It’s not pretty but it works! I plan to do the same thing
Thank you so much for your comment!!! 💕💕💕
My friends have go at me for my 'bang on the door cutie' sandwich box that my ma has owned since before my birth, but it does the job. It's plastic and it's all scratched up and ugly, but it works fine and it's a hell of a lot better for the planet that buying a new one. As happy as I am that sustainability is becoming popular and trendy, I think there is too much of a focus on practicing it in a performative and 'aesthetic' way, buying steel and bamboo containers and clothes, when we should for us on using the stuff we already have.
Ciara McCann thank you for not being influenced by that. It seems normal to you but many people are really influenced by other people and fitting the aesthetics. Having plastic is great when you will use it forever! Or at least try to have it as long as possible. I really empathize with people that try to do the right thing for the environment but then get slammed by vegans. being vegan doesn’t automatically make you environmentally friendly. I still have to choose between cheap produce that is wrapped in plastic or more expensive farmer market produce. I’m a student so it’s hard But I feel better whenever I can buy myself the things that I feel good about.
Nika You're absolutely right! Eating vegan in a way that is enjoyable and sociable is bloody expensive. Sure, you can survive off endless bland meals of rice, beans and bananas for pennies, but when you start to add up the tempeh, the nutritional yeast, the dragonfruits - you know, the things that make it actually fun and tasty - it adds up very quickly. I also wonder if eating soybeans and quinoa grown halfway around the world has a bigger carbon footprint than eating grass fed lamb and eggs from chickens fed on your kitchen scraps: I genuinely don't know either way, nut I would be curious. Don't get me wrong, we should all be trying to eat mindfully and responsibly where we can, but that's a hell of a lot harder to do on a shoestring, particularly when you live in a food desert with highly limited options. It's very easy to be sanctimonious why you have an abundance of resources and choices.
“Paperless paper towels” get me every time... they’re paper towels you can use over and over... so... a towel. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
ahaha! EXACTLY! totally agree with this!
I’ve fallen for that! I have some that I thought I would use but of course, just use a towel!! They’re cheaper and in my opinion, sturdier.
We use dollar store rags 🤷🏽♂️ I could roll them on a dowel if I wanted to and bam paperless paper towels 🤷🏽♂️
Why not use water?
@@m.arya.m most often, for my family anyway, paper towels are used to mop up juice spills etc. so water would not be useful haha
Right, South Asian coming in here to defend aloe. I got old ladies in my family using it pure from the leaf for decades (btw best skin ever). Always cut the end off and leave it standing vertically in a cup and you'll get this yellowy substance emptying out of it. This is the stuff you want out before you extract the aloe from the leaf. It's harsh and bad for the skin, I'm assuming a lot of people don't know about this step. I usually leave it for about 20 minutes before I proceed.
Should this be done for ingesting aloe from the leaf as well?
Still; it can be very hard on thin, deæicate skin and have been gpund to be carcinogenic.
thank you for sharing! I've been under the impression that I am sensitive to aloe vera because many skin care products that contain it sting my face and the one time that I bought a leaf from the store for a homemade face mask, it gave me such a bad reaction. I definitely didn't prepare it correctly so I'm going to give it another go to see if I experience different results
Yes, and the yellow stuff is also a very strong laxative, and should also be removed before consuming!
latinx people also use aloe for skin care !! we have a bunch of plants growing around our house so we have a steady supply :)
The reality is most people probably don't need to swap anything, they just need to change their behaviour. The only thing I've bought since going low/zero waste, is a set of beeswax wraps, which I would actually recommend, very useful. But unless you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years, you probably already own a reusable coffee cup. Other than that, what do you really need that isn't already in your kitchen? Most people's kitchens are overflowing with cutlery and reusable containers, just make do with what you have. People are too hungry for superficial change to prove they are doing something; but it's not about image, it's about action.
YAAS! Behavioural change makes more of a difference than changing absolutely everything we own to zero waste!
I would definitely suggest swapping cleaning products and shampoo, conditioner, hand soaps etc to plastic bottle-less alternatives! We go through those bottles so fast and we just throw them away because you can’t go to your local grocery store and just refill them.
period.
I make my own beeswax wraps, the cost of the commercial version is insane. Beeswax, resin and tea tree oils or jojoba oil . Plenty of UA-cam DIY’s out there.
Yes! No need to buy new eco-friendly products when you already have things you can use. Even if something wasn't ethically sourced/vegan/etc, you already own it.. don't let it go to waste, literally. Like I bought some metal straws before I knew that they're actually pretty awful, but I'm going to use them because they're already here.
It’s very refreshing to see someone who is trying to live sustainability while still being pro science and doesn’t buy into the fear mongering!
I always ask myself: Why is there an alternative to basic cutlery? Especially reusable bamboo cutlery? Why not use the stainless steel cutlery we also use at home? Makes zero sense to me. Of course, there are variations for people with disabilities, but why for people who can use normal cutlery?
1000000% agree! Sometimes it nice to have something small and compact/light but other than that, when I lost my first set of “reusable cutlery” I never bought another set and just used one from the kitchen! Even on backpacking trips sometimes! I do have a “spork” that I use too but they both work perfectly fine y’know! No need to buy more if you don’t need to 🙈
@@SedonaChristina yes! My husband has a "hobo tool" (that's the name) that I bought him while he was deployed a decade ago. It is a swiss army knife -style utensil with fork, spoon, knife, corkscrew, and can opener. He loves it bc it fits in his pocket and doesnt get bent up bc its so compact. It's metal... But so much more practical for him than bamboo, which requires more care. I just use regular old utensils for the kids and i. And if you dont want to lose your good cutlery, get some from the thrift store! Cheap and eco-friendly.
If you want to travel with reusable cutlery it’s very hard to travel with stainless steel as it could be detected at security at the airport and not allowed on the plane. I think that’s why some people want to use wood/bamboo!
It is ok until you need to microwave your food at work..
celebralbore I have a stainless steel cutlery (knife,spoon, fork, straw, chopsticks) set that I take with me to potlucks. I’m thinking of keeping it in my bag at all times now after watching this video and reading comments.
in the same vein as the "dont just dump your unwanted clothes at thrift shops" I have an even bigger pet peeve - dumping unusable clothes at thrift shops.
I have noticed this trend in the past couple of years. Especially last christmas NGOs in my home country have been reporting it. At home lasts year, one charity received children's toys that were literally broken, toy cars with wheels missing, ripped plastic, sad looking stuff. Essentially people had used the charity as a glorified dumpster. Those toys were supposed to go to an orphanage. When the NGO asked people online to please donate only intact toys, they received a ton of hate for being "greedy" but... imagine going to an orphanage and explaining to the kids that their christmas gifts are literally someone else's rubbish.
Donating CAN be great but it should not mean that you donate anything without a second thought. Not all the clothes that you declutter are still wearable. When a top is completely bent out of shape, seams have come loose, there's stains and rips in them. Those items will not sell at a charity shop. What happens instead is that the charity shop cannot sell it, it will take up space that could be used better, and then the shop has to get it to the landfill. If you cannot be bothered to mend that tear in the shirt, dont expect others to buy it. When sth has really received the end of its life time, take it to a recycling shop, turn it into rags or, yes, bin it. And then be cautious that you had to bin it.
Seriously. I volunteer sorting donations at one of our local charity shops and it's unbelievable the crap people try to donate. I had one a couple of weeks ago apparently gave us the contents of their bathroom trashcan, dirty tissues and cotton buds and so on. I wanted to believe they just mixed up two bags but the manager was like nah, they donate this stuff to get rid of it.
Also we regularly get sports clothes that still smell of someone else's sweat and that's just disgusting. Take pity on people like me and at least wash and dry them before donating!
The charity shops around my way (Northern Ireland) and one I volunteered in where happy to take clothes which couldn't be sold on, as they sold them for rags and made money that way.
@@Courtneyburns90 The charity shop I usually take donations to is happy to take a bag marked as 'rags'. I'd never donate something for sale that I wouldn't wear myself, only good things I've realized I simply don't wear.
@@nonamepainter I don't see them a lot but there's one on my street, they take your recyclable good and pay you per kilo I think. Also take electricals and stuff like that. it's UK based but who knows if there's companies like that elsewhere
It's sad people use eco friendly transitions as a way to make a profit in such a counterproductive way
Also I appreciate all the research you do!
@@Cayoroots Thank you!!!!! 💛
Revolution?
Overthrow capitalism?
THANK YOUUUUU I did some like straws some products
@@SedonaChristina It's so great you do so much research, it means we can trust what you're are saying. And, you're so right in that IT IS OKAY to make mistakes. We are all learning! Thanks for all you do!
My controversial take is that we should avoid using Amazon, like I get that it is convenient but do we really want to support this company? Big no
Edit: of course some people don't have any alternatives, that is sad but don't feel bad, nobody is perfect and we are doing our best!
YAS! Agreed 💛
Yes! Always try and support small local bussiness first
YES YES YES YES YES. I cancelled my Prime account a year ago and only order off there when I absolutely can't find what I'm looking for anywhere else.
I try not to support amazon as much as I can ant buy local things, but sometimes I really want or need something and can’t find it close to me so I have no choice but to order it online. Or it’s way too expensive locally made so I have to buy from somewhere else.
@@bumblebeez1995 you could try to look for other online shops maybe! I am french, I mostly order from french websites for example :D. Keep in mind as long as you are trying you best it is good 💛 nobody is perfect !!
Some zero waste swaps look totally unnecessary to me. Don't want to use plastic cutlery anymore? The metal cutlery you already use at home will work just fine, no need to buy something new. Don't want to use plastic mugs? Just find a way to have your coffee at home, there are so many (i'm italian and we use moka here, but also french press works just as well) and you can use your own mugs. Same with paper rolls and cotton rounds and tissues, we all have some useless cloth laying around that will do totally fine. Ditch the q-tips and just clean your ears in the shower with soap and water, then wipe with soft cloth. You always use a straw and are looking for a more sustainable one? Go on and buy a reusable one, but if you never felt the need for a straw before you'll be just fine without. There are some very useful swaps (thinking of period cups, toothbrushes and a couple others) that you can't make at home, but also a lot of dumb ones that you may think you need when you actually don't.
AMEM to you SISTA! Totally agree with you, we dont need to be consuming all of these needless items when we can use other methods that are already lying round in our houses! Thanks for sharing! BIG love x
I bought travel cutlery. It comes with a pouch, smaller and lighter in weight. Plus less likely to lose my good cutlery at home. They are stainless steel and were cheap for a set of 3 with travel pouch. They fit nicely in a small purse.
Omg don't put water or soap inside your ear, you'll get infections
@@cgygflkj Obviously I only meant the outside part of the ear, you shouldn't be putting anything inside (not even cotton swabs for that matter)
Great comment!
Omg essential oils are the best! I cured my stupidity with a special blend of essential oils. I’m a genius now.
Hahahaha 😹 Omg thank you for this
Bahaha wow maybe I need to try that blend to help some people I know 😹
Tip some into the water supply! 😂😂
@@SedonaChristina ua-cam.com/video/wCO0k-COsZY/v-deo.html she's phd in biochemistry. also dr dray dermatologist mentioned so many time, no essential on your face, no real benefits other than causing irritation and allergic reaction. when you shop for skin care, go for fragrance free. DIY skincare also makes no sense most of the time, especially sunscreen. ua-cam.com/video/aTNcbLHZusc/v-deo.html
ahahaha! This is so good. Although I do love essential oils, this made me laugh!
The worst thing about essential oils is how people are making dangerous claims about them. Promoting them as medicine, (which they aren't!) is the biggest one. Not to mention the piramidscemes...
Essential oils are also just dangerous in and of themselves. They have so many harmful chemicals in them.
tea
I’m a witch, so I use essential oils very commonly and believe they have many amazing benefits and properties, but the people who market it as a replacement for medications..... 😬
Yah I believe they are great, but that’s just never okay.
Yup, when I was growing up my parents had them (just for smelling nice) and the foundation of my understanding of them as a child was that they are dangerous.
Those Sad Bois aw in bulgaria we have what would translate to “which doctors”. Old, OLD, women who have passed their work down for centuries. Even they use modern medications!!!! It’s kind of wonderful to see the art form still alive. Blessings and happiness to you hun❤️
As someone who works in the fashion industry, I can't stand it when people say they are using "Vegan leather" - vegan leather is just plastic-coated synthetic foams with a leather print in the plastic. If you don't want to wear leather because of the animal cruelty issues, please don't use leather alternatives as they are just as bad.
Loved this video, so many people just use the "green" and "sustainable" label very loosely and it can cause such miscommunication!
There are many non-plastic vegan leathers being developed! From things like pineapples, mushrooms or cactus.
Someone said "Glad you can afford those things" and actually I don't think I can yet? But things like that are always most expensive when they're first developed. It's a glimmer of hope going forward.
exactly! leather products last longer so you’ll be less likely to buy them again and support cruelty. it’s also good to buy second hand for inexpensive leather :)
@@petra1995 Very true, but unfortunately not durable and not easy to manufacture as they are very expensive alternatives. I hope in the future we can move towards more sustainable alternatives but for now... not a lot of choice
@@DipandDab100 For now I just buy higher quality fake leather, or opt for other materials. My Vegetarian Shoes faux leather belt was a bit pricey but still looks very good after a few years of constant use.
My cheap H&M pleather gloves on the other hand... Starting flaking after a year or so heh
To add on to the essential oil point: A LOT of companies claim that it is pure essential oil but there not. If the bottle says natural fragrance, fragrance oil or even perfume. It is not pure
Edit:
Also I should point out that some times the way to tell if an oil is fake is based on the price of it, most oils are expensive because of how they are made(time/effort etc) so if, let's say a good sized bottle of oil is pretty cheap, it's fake
YASSSSS!!! So frustrating!! Companies trying to jump on trends and then cutting corners have me like 😡
Mountain Rose Herbs are the only essential oils I use !
How do you know if its pure
Plant therapy rocks too 🤟🤟 no MLM
Adding to the points about essential oils and "natural beauty": At least in the US there is no regulation for these things. Anyone can create a product and call it "clean beauty" or "all-natural ingredients", and there is no official definition anywhere about what that actually means. That makes it very hard to do research, and that puts it mildly.
Essential oils are not nontoxic. Some of the most popular oils are deadly to pets when diffused into the air. Essential oils are not worth the risk. They are a neurotoxin to animals such as cats.
Ratoftheswamp yes, some cats (interestingly not all of them) get toxicity to oils. But did you know that anything can be toxic? Even considering too much water is toxic.
Essential oils are a great addition to anyone’s medicine cabinet, but as with anything people should educate themselves on proper use and potential toxicity or allergy.
YES THANK YOU!! essential oils are usually toxic, which is why we dilute them! They're varyingly toxic depending on the organism exposed to it. Also hearing "essential oils have medicinal properties" disappointed me, they don't. They really don't.
Sophie yep! They can be used to support body systems such as digestion, respiratory, general wellness etc but they are not medicine!
@@rhg3212 Please don't say vague things like this, all essential oils are different and while some may have certain benefits, others may be dangerous when used in the same manner.
My thing with essential oils is the claim that they are “free of chemicals” which is literally impossible since the whole wide world is made of chemicals 😂 even if we are talking about them being “natural”, they are not! Tell me one place in nature where you can find ready-to-use essential oils: oh that’s right, there’s none!
poison ivy are also natural...this is so obvious, why ppl r so dumb...you never see fragrance in baby product cuz they wont take the risk, but for adult, they put tons of fragrance and marketed as natural wtf... everything i use is fragrance free except my cat litter...cuz he creates smell all the time..
Thank you! Essential oils are as processed as headache tablets 😂
Thank you for taking on essential oils. As someone who was formerly sucked into one of those MLM essential oil companies, I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear someone talk about how incredibly wasteful they are. I appreciate you speaking out!
Latina talking here. You’ve been using aloe in a wrong way. You have to get rid of the yellowish substance before applying the gel to your skin... it’s not bad, carcinogen or anything. Just use it correctly
Hey - could you tell me more about this? Do you wash it off? I think I understand what you mean.
@@mossy.andthemoon In a way yes. One video that shows the process is Athene Greenwood's video on preparing Aloe Vera :)
The raw aloe mukbangs tho... oml
Latina here who agrees!
As an individual with a biochemistry degree (current chemist at and environmental/analytical lab, basically I’ve done lots of research/scientific reading in my day lol) I recommend looking deeper into the EWG. Their claims are often inaccurate and based on biased, poorly executed studies. They’ve essentially been bought by personal interest groups and I would not trust the majority of the information on there. Greenwashing for sure.
Is that true? If so then aw man!
This all shouldn't be so complicated. We need a list of companies that are definitely good for the environment. Too much of a guessing game out there
would advise you to check out Shelbizlee's video on greenwashing companies that she "ant-hauled"
Levi Hildebrand and Our Changing Climate are really good channels, too. They will look at particular products and be like is it as good as it says it is or how bad is it really. Like they have looked at REI, Patagonia, FjallRaven, Amazon, the military industrial complex, Klean Klanteen, Ect.
They are really good at backing up their stuff with facts and sources.
But also that is just what happens in capitalism...
Most of the companies in the world are owned by 3 corporations.
Like you can buy a product that might still be made will and ethically and good for the environment but is still owned by Johnson & Johnson.
look into Certified B Corporations and 1%for the Planet companies! both are indications of ethical, environmentally conscious companies and both of those certifications are printed on the companies packaging/tags!
@@cath6rine770 lol Levi Hildebrand was the first youtube channel to become a 1% for the planet member.
Shelbi always talks about a site called earth hero that is very particular about the brands they carry.
Great point about the reusable bags!!! I was looking at them on amazon and had them in my cart for like a month. Then I started thinking " what the hell...I don't need these...I have a bunch of other containers and jars I can use instead" I wash my plastic ziploc bags and dry them and reuse them till they literally fall apart. I think a lot of people miss the point of living an eco conscious life. In my opinion it's using what you already have! Once that is used up or worn out THEN switch to another eco option. 😍🤗👍
ARL H you can get cloth zipper bags that have a waterproof lining in them you can use for snacks and to store other things that you can wash and reuse as well, and it’s better than silicone because they’ll last longer!
JESUS I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T TRUST ANYTHING ANYMORE
The only thing you can trust is the advice to buy nothing. And if you HAVE to buy something, look for it locally second-hand. Try to hone your skills for detecting bullshit and predatory marketing practices.
To be fair... you never really could
Same here .....people: everything bad for you lol what do we do to survive? air ....people: air is bad for you 😂😂😂😔
This is such a great video! I've recently seen an old high school classmate start experimenting with making her own make-up products, and literally 3 weeks later she's already selling them online as vegan, eco friendly products. This made me think of how many things we could end up buying that haven't been properly tested and researched and can be harmful in the end. Thanks for talking about this!
I know people want to support small businesses, but with cosmetic and personal care items, there's effectively zero regulation in the US
Also adding to essential oils: actually, they're pretty toxic. They can initiate allergic reactions (mild itching all the way to anaphylactic shock) and they are super toxic if consumed (please, never ever ever consume essential oils). Most of them (if not all, not 100% sure right now) are neurotoxic as well, so they're really not worth it.
Totally agree! 💛
So, I bought in the essential oil trend for a diffuser (never got into the MLM side of young living or doterra) and now i realize how unsustainable the farming is. Also the containers mostly can’t be recycled. So just more waste and I feel silly for thinking they were so great 🤦🏻♀️
Also- just want to state I mostly used them for aroma therapy/a few cleaners. I wouldn’t think they cure for serious issues.
Just a handful are actually neurotixic. But yeah, for the average consumer who doesn’t know how to use the, they won’t be worth it and can be harmful due to wrong use. But in the medical field, essential oils are (at least where I work) a great addition to pharmaceutical medicine. We work a lot with essential oils and the likes and usually manage to get rid of nasty infections without insane amounts of antibiotics and a thousand pills but simply by doing essential oil treatments. And I work with immuno compromised children. They come home from hospital (we’re a nursing home) with stuff like MRSA or 3/4-MRGN and are free of that within a couple weeks instead of the regular months.
So, they CAN be absolutely worth it if used by a professional. And with professional I don’t mean a “therapist” that also recommends crystals against cancer, but someone who actually works in the medical field and has a background in nursing or something similar who also knows to value the strength of pharmaceutical medicine.
@@marieschmitt4558 Yes, definitely! Not saying they're not useful, but they're very powerful chemicals and need to be handled like that.
It was a stupid mistake on my part, but I put diluted tea tree oil on my face to try and help my acne scars. I ended up with second degree chemical burns and blisters all over my face for a week... last time I listen to “diy skincare” tips from Pinterest....
Thank you sooo sooo much for explaining the issue with bamboo coffeecups. I'm German, maybe that's why I know about this since more than one year, but no-one listens to me if I'm trying to explain this issue. It's so nice when people with such a big community like yours talk about this 💚
I think there are a lot more questions asked in smaller countries. I'm Danish and just looking at the national laws of our respective countries, the legal limit of certain ingredients etc.can vary hugely. With the EU also involved, I think we just generally tend to question things more than say Americans might. They are not constantly forced to face variations in legal limits, government controlled reasearch into safety etc. We're constantly challenged by "oh, is that hoe they fo it in Germany/Denmark/Sweden/England" etc. Many Danes go across the boardwr to Germsny to shop as well and in Germsny you can sometimes get yhingx ghat simply sre'nt allowed for personal care in Denmark and vice versa. It makes you question things
I’m British and I’m missing the EU so much. I’m worried that we’ll lose that multiple perspective (if we haven’t already) of how things are done in other countries. We’ve learned so much from you. Sorry - I just get emotional about this!
My rules for donating are that
- must be reusable (ask yourself if you would buy it out of quality, not aesthetic)
- prioritize charity shops or thrift stores in low income areas, especially when donating high end or high quality goods
-clean before donating
My chemistry teacher was telling us about the whole bamboo reusable problem just a couple days ago :)
Not only is the formaldehyde bad for you when you add hot beverages to it, but the bamboo products aren’t recyclable what so ever
millsabine it’s also bad for you in any other instance! Vaccines, pharmaceuticals, praying our food. Everything
And bamboo may be fast and easy growing but in Asia, some areas are starting to s6ffer brcause it tskes so mich wster, just like cotton. Arewa's are drying out and other crops sre suffering. It's basically the cotton of the cutlery section :/
Chasing Wildflowers what
@@table.for_6 Our bodies naturally produce more formaldehyde in a day than what is in a single vaccine.
That doesn’t take away from the fact you’re injecting neurotoxins into your body. Have you ever done any research on vaccines at all?!
and all germans sing together now: STIFTUNG WARENTEST ( engl:Shtyft-ung- Varren-test) ;)
Julia Ra hab’s gerad wirklich laut gesungen. hat sich gut angefühlt
Jaaaa!! :D
Ich nenn des ab jetzt immer so
Als Kind dachte ich immer es heißt : Stift 🖋 und Warentest
@@MsLinoi Omg :D
Yes!! These things have bothered me as well! Sometimes “zero waste” seems like just another excuse to buy stuff
I have my own collection of essential oils that I use for health, cleaning and air freshener since things like incense, scented candles, and cleaners flare up my allergies, but my feathers are not ruffled. My eyes are just a little more open. I recently heard about the rose oil too and was like “Wow! I’mma slow down on getting these oils!” I totally appreciate you shedding light on this subject (and everything else you mentioned). If people can’t handle you challenging their original beliefs about something, and making them rethink their decisions, that’s an issue they have within themselves. Keep opening our eyes and minds, girl!
Essential oils drive me bonkers! Thank you for discussing the fact that it takes sooooooooo much product to make a small amount of EO. No one talks about this, but has been bugging me for years. As they are used now, they are not sustainable. They are incredibly powerful and people don’t realize this-when it comes to EOs less is more. Thank you for talking about this 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
As an esthetician who has had many a client say their daily moisturizer is coconut oil (it’s not effective, it’s pore clogging, molecular size, skin compatibility, etc), thank you for the natural isn’t always better comment. That being said, I’ve always used aloe directly from my plant on burns and never even thought to check the safety of it! I figured if it’s in aloe gel for sunburns then getting it right from the plant must be fine. I’m really glad I clicked on this video before I rubbed aloe all on my boyfriend’s sunburn! Thank you doing you for making this video and I hope we see another🌱
Coconut oil and rosehip oil are best things to ever happen to my skin. Coconut oil with lavender EO drops in it everywhere but my face. Rosehip with some EO drops in it on my (55yo) facial and neck skin. Hydrolyzed collagen, lowcarb, adequate protein and fat, IF and SLEEP to complete the skin health & beauty routine.
See above for several ppls comments about correct (ancient) use of aloe vera. You have to drain out a yellow substance before smearing the aloe on you.
chadzwife1 I’m glad the coconut oil works well for you. Rose hip easily absorbs into the skin so it goes deep into the lower layers of the epidermis to do its work. PURE coconut oil can’t, it’s too thick, it sits on top and clogs pores in acne prone skin. That’s how it “moisturizes”, it prevents water loss by creating a barrier. Even though it has fatty acids and other great ingredients it will not absorb into your skin. It’s not that you CANT use coconut oil, it’s just that it isn’t the miracle everyone wants it to be. I encourage everyone to do their own research and talk to professionals that study skin and take care of skin for a living.
chadzwife1 oh and thank you for pointing out that there are comments about safe use of aloe. I’ll be looking into how to do this properly so I can continue using my aloe plant!
Gasolineandhome most ppl are only acne prone on the face, perhaps chest or back for teens. Thus, I said use of coconut oil NOT on face. Its miraculous everywhere else. But I add EOs usually, so they add quite a bit to the miracle, Im sure. My fingers crack in winter from constant rinsing and drying while cooking, and constant washing n drying. Coconut oil overnight will have them soft even!
Use just a light olive oil even, no need for EVO, on your legs to shave. No need to moisturize after. Just remember to wash tub when ur thru!
chadzwife1 I’m so sorry for misreading your first comment about using coconut oil on your face. I am a licensed esthetician and practice in skin for a living and people often have acne and body acne well into adulthood. It’s not just a teen thing to have body acne. I would really like to erase that stereotype since it is emotionally damaging to the millions of adults with acne. The point I was initially trying to make was that people need to do their own research and that natural doesn’t equal better. I’m sorry we have differing opinions on the efficacy of coconut oil.
Thank you for finally addressing that some stuff labeled "natural" or "clean" are not always the best for your health!
You are definitely one of my favorite youtubers 💕 thank you for always being genuine and upfront about literally everything under the sun. Controversial topics are something that need to be talked about and this video was absolutely perfect. I'm 100% a fan of low waste DIYs but I think people forget that theres a reason labs exist (i.e. so experts can give us a safe product), so I'm glad you addressed that!
Ahhhh thank you so so much for not only your kind words but WOW! That was the exact encouragement I needed to hear this morning! 💛
Thank you for talking about bamboo!! I was looking at sustainable bamboo flooring, and learned that lots of bamboo flooring (and other bamboo products) emit VOCs and contain horrible glues, binders, etc. I feel like that’s an important thing to discuss and make people aware of when bamboo is seen as this amazing sustainable product right now.
I bought some bamboo fiber travel mugs before knowing about this, after I did my research I didn't want to bin them so I use them to store grains! 😂 But I've also seen people use them as plant pot.
I’ve had a change of heart about DIY “natural” beauty as well. It’s definitely important to talk about!
There’s a “zero waste” store that just opened by me that I can just tell that they get all their straws and cups from that website. I won’t buy them, but I know a lot of people are. There’s just no way they’re selling metal straws for like .75¢ and not buying them from China
Susanna M. The last straw is made in America! I’d be fine with it if it was just the straws, but they have a lot of green washing at their store. They have “hemp” clothing that I found out is only actually 5% hemp and the rest is polyester. Just a lot of annoying things like that. And it’s not the only option so I can easily avoid it
What’s scary is so many zero waste shops will not strive for a better option, I work in a zero waste shop, we will change suppliers until we get the best option, and the amount of research we do into products we stock is very extensive. But many other shops we have visited stock products that we know from experience come in excessive packaging or are actually huge examples of green washing from some truly shitty brands. But you wouldn’t see that from a customer perspective, I think the assumption is everything in a “zero waste” shop is completely ethical and sustainable when in-fact this can be very untrue :(
You say a few times that essential oils are non toxic but I think it depends on the oil? I have a eucalyptus/ mint mix (decongestant) and definitely wouldn’t want that ingested or even on your skin or near eyes. Natural doesn’t mean safe
VERY true!! I totally should have been more clear in my word choices! What I meant was that usually marketed or perceived that way but very true that they can do harm as well 💛
for some pets like cats and dogs just inhaling them can be deadly
@@suides4810 children too, in the case of eucalyptus and peppermint. kids shouldn't be exposed to eucalyptus until they're 10, but YL has people using thieves blend all over the house.
can you address "sustainable" palm oil? I love dr. bronner's soap and I've researched their resourcing on my own, but I'm curious to hear your perspective on it!
YES! I have a podcast all about it on patreon right now! I NEVER buy (or at least try my best to but mess up on occasion because I’m human and palm oil has what feels like a million different names) palm oil! Even when “certified” EXCEPT for Dr Bronners! They’re the ONLY ones with a traceable supply chain (from my understanding)! My recent Instagram about my dish soap also has an info graphic and some words about what I choose and why! It’s the photo I posted a few days ago where I’m holding up a bar of soap if you want to check it out 💛 I’m goi. To try and do a video about it but need to figure out a few “social media” BTS things first. But those are two good resources I’ve talked about it in! Palm oil, in and of itself, is actually the most sustainable oil IN THEORY as it uses the least amount of resources to yield the most plant oil and it’s very versatile. The problem is the supply chain we’re set up is REALLY terrible for the planet and all her living creatures. So it’s up to us humans to fix what we’ve ruined! And that’s why I support Dr Bronners (solid bars only tho) 💛
@@SedonaChristina your discount code doesnt work
@@SedonaChristina Progressive vitamins in Canada also has a traceable supply chain. They use Palm for their MCT powder.
Personally, I am not fully "against" palm oil. Basically, Palm oil is one of the most efficient oils when it comes to land use. The reason it destroys environments so much is of course unsutainable farming but mostly... We use a lot of oil. Like, a lot of it. It's not better to be like "this oil destroys a lot of environments, I need to switch to another" without considering how much land it would use/environmental damage it would cost if all the palm oil produced was replaced with the alternative. In most cases, the environmental damage would be a lot worse. If we want to save the environment, we need to reduce our oil consumptionn, source it sustainably and most importantly go for land use efficiency that still respects soil (which, granted, most of the time includes mixing crops as opposed to doing one type only)
I just got an ad for a “sustainable phone case” and like what??
1. The biggest waste is not from ur phone case.
2. You probably already have a phone case so why would u buy another one..
melanie quai I mean if you don’t have a phone case you could get one but other than that, it’s kinda useless.
It's good to know that compostable ones exist...for my next phone. :)
probably if the phone case breaks (most are plastic or rubber etc) so it’s good if there is a sustainable option
however, i have heard sadly that they aren’t as durable??
@@kates7819 hi! I have a sustainable phone case from Pela Case (it is compostable) and it is very durable :), they also have even more durable cases such as the walnut case! I recommend you check them out.
@@chloerafferty9288 interesting! i have heard the opposite so maybe when my current case breaks i'll give them a look
I'm glad you made that point about skincare. I'm transitioning to zero waste, but always felt conflicted about not switching to DIY skincare. Good skincare products are developed to be effective, which is not something I can trust when it comes to DIY. If only there was a way to sustainably package them!
Honestly almost everything can be bad for you. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the job you have. But don’t be discouraged from sustainable practices. Just try your best and take things one step at a time. You are probably way better off now than you were when you started.
Great advice. My family has recycled and reused things my whole life but I really want to get started on being even more eco friendly. Many videos are a bit discouraging because they make every attempt I’ve made seem “wrong”
Love the essential oil point. I'm allergic, so I basically can't use any "natural" skincare bc they all have "natural fragrances" which almost always irritate my skin.
I think the "eco friendly" swap that bugs me a lot is Dr. Bronners soap. I know a lot of people love it, which is awesome. But I live in an old house and it's clogged up my plumbing so bad - something about being a soap and not a detergent makes it susceptible to the pH of the water to leaving lots of soap residue? There's actually so much amazing science behind soaps and detergents, and all the amazing ways scientists have worked to make soap and detergents less likely to leave soap residue or be affected by hard water. I think my irritation comes from the *scary science* fear mongering. I don't know anything about which soaps are actually good for the environment or not. But I don't think science and chemicals are inherantly bad, ya know? And I'd rather use a soap that actually washes out of my hair. 🤷 Also, when our drains were all clogged, we bought drain-o to get them clear (tried hot water and snaking first) and it felt even worse for the environment. Ya know? I think we all just need to find what works for us.
I've had the same experience. We have very hard water here, lot's of calcium in it. I use a shea based washbar and shampoobar and that, mixed with the hard water... it clogs up SO bad!
Yes, so frustrated with how much overlap there is between zero-waste environmentally conscious people and anti-science, fearful of chemical people.
I wonder if there's a way you can spoon it out and compost it. Perhaps a cloth under the drain grid?
It would probably collect a lot of hair, but they have something like that in Japan and they empty it regularly.
Yes, fragrance is soooooo unnecessary in skincare. I like Youth to the People skincare and Dropps detergent pods because they are more sustainable but also effective and safe.
I'm a beautician and let me tell you, if you over use essential oils they can be TOXIC. Not just because they're natural does it mean that they are safe. You gotta be very careful
Would essential oils be okay to use as alternatives for perfume/cologne
"I don't have time to make the perfect decision. " yes!! Just trying is better than nothing. Thanks for all the info!
I pretty much make all my own cleaning products. But then again I had my own cleaning business for twenty years. I had lots of opportunities to test out lots of recipes and got to see the long term effects of their use and ease of use. And honestly baking soda, vinegar, soap and water are amazing as far as their cleaning power. I use essential oils not as perfumes but for medicinal reasons. Such as I use lemon and orange essential oils in my homemade deodorant. It took me a lot of incarnations to find the best combination of ingredients that killed odor but wasn’t harsh on my skin. I love that you try to be educated about how to use natural products in the right way. And just because someone says a product is green it doesn’t make it truly sustainable or safe. (Like if it looks like a plastic cup, it basically is still a plastic cup even if they use bamboo to make it. If it no longer resembles bamboo then it no longer is bamboo so think about what you potentially are putting in your mouth and how it might impact your health. Lol) My rule often is nothing goes on my skin unless I feel safe putting it in my mouth, in general. ( ie So I often use food grade aloe for my skin care products although I grow it too) Education is key to being a responsible human. Thanks for what you are doing to promote zero waste. It’s def worth it.
honestly don't know why it makes me so happy -- but seeing a youtuber with plants that are yellowing/not 100% perfect brings me joy! I just started a youtube channel and I love my plants but like honestly not sure how others have perfect, non yellowing plants all the time with tons in the background!
OMG I am living my dream!!!!two videos of my favourite youtube channel in 24 h? I really love your channel and you are one of my biggest inspirations. I am 13 years old and I’m currently starting to change my habits to live more sustainably and your videos have really helped me a lot. Kisses from Brazil 🇧🇷😘
Oh my goodness!!! What a compliment!! Thank you!! You're seriously far too kind hehe I don't deserve this. I'm happy to help in any way! It feels nice to finally be back after getting my computer situation fixed. Now I can make lots and lots of videos in march to make up for the lack 💛💛💛
YES YES YES! Thank you for talking about the negative repercussions of DIY skincare! Essential oils in particular are AWFUL when applied topically, especially in leave-on products like moisturizers and toners. Essential oils can easily lead to sensitization of the skin and cause awful inflammation and irritation. Plus to make it worse, in a DIY context when you are making a small batch of something it's so easy to use a ridiculous amount of EO even if you just add one drop. These are very powerful compounds. Not to mention DIY beauty can also be really harsh on pipes and drains in our showers and sinks. Dr Dray here on YT is an actual dermatologist and she really educated me on the potential dangers of EOs.
PS: I looked the Aloe Vera issue up. Seems that the cancer relevant parts are in the outer leaves, so you should be able to use the inside. Just research a little bit more.
WorkIn Progress why would you want to rub something on your face that is very closely related to giving you cancer lmao. Not worth it...
I just found you today and I am so glad to hear about how holistically you speak to going low waste and sustainability. there's so much more to the picture than just a swap for one aspect of sustainability, when there's a whole supply chain and previous steps before/after we acquire a product to consider. yes, it makes a lot of things "gray areas" but it's not a perfect journey for anyone. so happy to have found you today!
"Stiftung Warentest" means "Foundation Product Testing" .... it's quite well known in Germany since decades. They publish a magazine on a regular basis.
During both of my pregnancies there have been people who pushed "natural alternatives" to typical things all in the name of "minimizing impact" and "eliminating chemicals." One such recommendation was from someone who is REALLY into essential oils; she urged me to swap out my midwife-prescribed dietary supplements (prenatal vitamin, iron supplement) and replace them with blends of essential oils she was selling. While I love essential oils for fragrance and do regularly use a few for topical treatments (tea tree on minor scrapes, eucalyptus in a balm for colds) it certainly doesn't seem ethical to recommend them as medication alternatives to someone, especially when those recommendations are not based on evidence, but rather are based on fear.
as a beginner I needed this video, came out in the perfect time for me.
So glad I could help in anyyyyy way! :) 💛
YES I'm so glad you're speaking on DIY's especially for skincare. So many skincare DIY's are so bad for your skin and I'm so glad you're learning more about it!!
I'd also LOVE to see/hear your opinion on the brand Youth to the People, they claim to be more of a sustainable brand and I adore their face wash to death
8:13 No, you're absolutely right about this and in many cases, such as those super cheap reusable straws, you have no idea what they are actually made of... there has been LEAD found in them before! PLEASE keep talking about this! It's important for reusable things to be accessible, but NOT at the expense someones health being put at risk.
I wish people would understand how big of a problem those oils are! Not only are they incredibly wastefull environmentally but many are also very potent allergens. Lavender is great for calm... Un-less you have to go to hospital for a massive reaction. Or the very basic, drying effects of tea tree oil, which can cause a lot of damage to the skin. As a former eastheticien I've seen how damaging the tea tree and lemony oils can be, because they are so drying.
Aloe can also cause some really bad exema or allergic rashes, something you really need to be carefull about.
The problem in this case is not the oils (or any other natural or synthetic stuff) but the lack of self-education and basic observation on the part of the users. If someone is allergic they should of course stop using, if their skin drys out they should of course either stop use or reduce consistency of use. Education (of whatever subject not academics), observation, and common sense are necessary for life and seem to be sadly lacking in many people.
@@ciannacoleman5125 Going further, a HUGE problem is MLM companies misrepresenting oils and what they can do, their safety precautions, etc, then sending their distributors out into the world with ~*~everything they need~*~. The responsibility needs to be on them to either provide adequate safety training or require distributors to invest in their own education. ~*~BossBabe Julie~*~ has no business telling people to drop thieves at the back of their throat to cure a cold.
Monica Booth While I agree that at least some of the marketing is not fully accurate I have used oils my entire life. When I get sick I can tell that using them speeds recovery vs when I don’t, and while I hate putting Thieves in my throat it definitely helps sore throats when used topically. I think everyone should acknowledge that just like pharmaceuticals people will have different reactions to them though. Also I am not suggesting they replace western medicine rather be used as a supplement.
While the companies might ought to provide training to distributers it is also on the individuals choosing to buy them to educate themselves. My family buys directly from a company and does not distribute we educated ourselves and know what works for us
I really love everything you shed a light on. Especially the essential oils and donating. I think we all have a hidden consumeristic mindset, and when EOs got big, everyone wanted to have every single oil they could have. But i've found that I really only need about 5 to cover all my bases for DIYs and general smells (Tea tree, peppermint, lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus). There's really no need to own 50+ bottles. And with the donating, 100% agree that should be a last resort. My mom's boyfriend used to work at Goodwill and he said about 80% of the bags weren't even looked at, just immediately thrown away. There are so many better options. And, if you have clothes especially that are pretty much garbage, it's better to drop them off at a clothing recycling bin rather than trying to pass them off as donatable.
As someone who sews, if I have clothes or other things made of fabric that I don't use anymore and no one else wants them I would take them apart and use them to make other things like pillow cases, blankets, chair cushions, curtains, etc. Nothing would get thrown away, I have a lot of buttons that I saved from old clothes to use for new things. I even keep the scraps to use in place of stuffing or small details on the things I make. I personally love to shop second hand, I love vintage fashion and would dress in cloths that a grandma would've dressed in when she was in her prime and I don't care what people think. And if I did get one of my good clothing ripped or holy I would just take a needle and thread to them instead of throwing them out.
Sustainable palm oil isn't actually bad. Palm oil is great because it has such a high yield. If you replaced palm oil with something like coconut oil, you'd need 10 times the amount of land for the same yeild. When possible, create the demand for sustainable palm oil, because any other alternative is much much worse
I totally agree! Palm oil is in and of itself SUCH a great oil from a sustainability standpoint. But there is sadly no such thing as “sustainable” palm oil, it’s severely green washed because the loopholes are so significant. It IS important to create demand for ethically and sustainable harvested palm oil, to rewrite the supply chain and the way we organize it, and that’s why the only place I support palm oil from is Dr Bronners! They’re the ONLY plantation with a traceable supply chain 💛 (to my knowledge)
@@SedonaChristina there are other plantations that produce sustainable palm oil than just one. I'm not sure exactly who they supply to exactly so I'll have to do my research. The thing is though, even with most palm oil being unsustainable, it's still better than the alternatives.
The second point you mentioned is so important but frustrating also. It’s hard when there are these not so great companies out there that are making products that are cheap. As someone who is younger or not as wealthy, these cheap products are so nice to get started with, but then it sucks to learn that they aren’t good enough and I think it helps to deter people in a way, even though it probably shouldn’t
"it's this natural plant, how could it be bad for you" there are so many poisonous plants in the world and people tend to forget this. Not everything is good for you, just because it grows naturally.
I think it’s super important to caviat this with if you already own these things, don’t just get rid of them! I.e. there is no reason to replace a bamboo fiber bowl with a steel one etc. If you have it already, USE IT!
LOVE your videos! I think it's great that you're owning that you're still learning (we all are!) on your sustainable journey. I just wanted to ask - with the aloe thing, have you taken down your old videos/added an amendment to the videos where you initially recommended that for skincare?
If not maybe it might be worth doing, just so any new subscribers/viewers that perhaps find you via those old videos are kept up to speed :)
The topic of zero waste is actually what got me into studying world history in depth, we don't know how most of our products our made nowdays or what's in them or what part of the earth those ingredients come from anymore, wheras before the industrial revolution a lot of people might not have known the exact chemical makeup, but they knew what rocks or plants to use to solve certain problems. Our fine detail technical knowledge has increased while our knowledge of the bigger picture has almost disappeared.
Second hand, second hand, second hand
YESSSSS! 💛
I appreciate this so much. I've had to leave most zero-waste groups I was a part of because it was often a bit if pointless echo-chambering. For instance, a big deal to many in these groups is buying those yoplait oui yogurts, because they come in glass containers. Little regard is given to the fact that one's money is still going to yopliat and will be used to produce any of their products; the waste produced by a company when it introduces a new product increases, not decreases; glass is heavier and requires more waste and resources to transport than does plastic; and I believe there is some debate that it is more wasteful to recycle glass than it is plastic. Plastic vs. Paper egg cartons suffer similar scrutiny. Ultimately, much of the zero waste movement comes down to aesthetics for some people, and it was frustrating to be a apart of that reality.
I would love to hear you talk more about diy beauty products. What’s unsafe and how to figure out if something is safe because diy’s are the best option for a lot of people who want be zero waste and vegan but have budget constraints.
Please check out Hyram's channel on UA-cam. He talks about skincare that is in a variety of price ranges and usually cruelty free. He reviews DIY skincare and he is a great resource on what's safe and what's not okay. I like some DIY skincare too, like whipped body butter, but I have learned a lot of recipes can do long term harm.
I love that you made this video, and that you have a reasonable approach to trying to be conscious of your and others' and the world's health. I especially like that you are pointing out that it is not always simple to judge the impact of a purchase etc. One of my favorite ways of introducing this concept is paper vs electronics. Yes, paper products can lead to things like deforestation, use chemical processes to manufacture, end up in the waste, etc. but electronics also require manufacturing, transportation, and then electricity to use (which might come from non-sustainable sources) and also end up in the waste pile when they break or become obsolete or you want to upgrade. Even after doing a lot of research and math, sometimes there's not a clear-cut "best" solution.
We have some of those bamboo bowls and cutlery at our store. I love the shape but the plastic feel of it was a major turnoff for me. I don't use a lot of beauty products, just my infused ACV hair rinse, my shampoo bar and recently I got the recipe for a fenugreek/flax seed hair mask that I'm going to try. I would caution for those who are using essential oils, there are a LOT of scents that are toxic to dogs and cats, even just the smell of it can make them sick. I use my oil diffuser spareingly because the scents defuse so strongly into the air, I don't need to use it as much. Thanks for the video!
On the donation of clothing thing, I would recommend checking with your donation place (by that I mean whichever thrift store is local to you) on what they actually do with the clothing. Because yes, a lot of them send the items they can't sell straight to the landfill. However, I have seen a lot of them switching over to sending things to fabric recycling places where they break them down into fibers so that those fibers can be reused in manufacturing things where the specific type of fiber doesn't matter so much. Places that send extra items to recycling are actually great places to donate to. And definitely sending damaged clothing items to a place where they can be recycled is the best option unless you can personally use them for rags/scrap fabric.
I can’t find any information stating that aloe straight from the plant is bad APART from the EWG website... doesn’t convince me honestly. In fact the app ‘Think Dirty’ classifies Aloe Barbadensis Leaf/juice/extract as a level 0 out of 10 - “no studies found to be harmful”
It's a laxative if you eat the yellow goo but it's definitely not poisonous
Think Dirty is not a trusted app.
I remember Hyram (skincare expert youtuber) talking about it a bit on his channel, can't remember the name of the video.
Daancer57 she does say that the information isn’t 100% confirmed
Usually I skip over the sponsored stuff, but this one for Blueland definitely made me smile! I bought their essentials kit on a whim and your words are so comforting to know that maybe I'm actually making a good decision with this swap! Thank you so much for that!!
There's a lot that's more sustainable than "natural" "zero waste" things. Large companies have the facilities and the ability to make large amounts of product pretty efficiently, transport efficiently, etc. :/
A capite ad calcem makes me wonder about the sustainability of a lot of DIYs for the same reason.
@@Stuffings00 Yeah that's a tough one. Maybe eventually because you're reusing containers multiple times it takes the packaging impact out, but natural products are actually way worse for the environment (and your skin) than a lot of these mass-produced synthetic ones. I've been kind of into The Body Shop because of their commitment to sustainability, fair wages, and fighting animal cruelty. They take back their packaging, too, which is nice. But I've definitely found that I've been more lax about certain "zero waste" things because they might actually have a more negative environmental impact. :/
@fakeplasticbees
Thanks for bringing up issues in the manufacturing chain. Its such a big problem because its so difficult to ensure products are truly safe when you have 20 different suppliers producing 1 piece of a finished item. Ultimately I think more transparency all around would help. Thanks for asking the tough questions.
Yesssss!!!! I totally agree!! Many thanks for the kind words. I’m so happy ya enjoyed the vid 💛💛💛
ESSENTIAL OILS ARE NOT NECESSARY NON TOXIC!!!!!
Most of them are actually incredibly toxic to pets and they can trigger asthma attacks. They also should not be placed directly on the skin, eaten, or used around infants and young children. They can also be cut with common allergens like almond oil. All of this goes to say that you should be very careful and thoughtful using it and do your research.
I’ve been waiting for a video like this! It’s great that people are starting to care about the planet, but so many companies are taking advantage of that and greenwashing!
I'm very sad about the fact that blueland doesn't ship to Europe :( I want those eco-cleaning babies
Well thanks, you spared me the research 😅
There is a german alternative, that does pretty much the same
Called everdrop
N H that's so cool!! Thanks, but unfortunately they only ship to Germany and Austria 😔 I live in Hungary. I guess I have to invest in glass bottles and make my own 😄
@@palfililla21 okey so now I did my own research and there is yet another brand called ecotabs. I just quickly went to check out and I could select Hungary, so maybe that's something for you 😁
Thank you so much for talking about skincare! Not a lot of people realize how harmful "natural" products can make a lot harm to the skin.
I finally joined my local Buy Nothing group and it's so amazing! Highly recommended 💗
YASSSSS!!!! Isn’t it the best!!!!! One of the best “swaps” I’ve ever made. I can’t believe I didn’t know about them sooner!
thank you for this video!!! I run vacation rentals and have been looking for an eco friendly alternative to cleaning supplies for the longest time . buying plastic spray bottles with harmful chemicals constantly was such a drag & a lot of them design the bottles so that you can’t refill them . much love this video made my day
You should check out Hyram on UA-cam, he’s really knowledgeable about skincare and he has a video on more sustainable skincare products packaged in glass
LOVE Hyram!!!!!!! So much!! I actually even linked him in the description box as a few of the trusted resources I go to 💛
@@SedonaChristina Can you and him please do a colab?!
@@skylar704 far from it. And in terms of sustainability? Deeeefffiiinniiitiiilllyyy not
Omg YESSS to the essential oil point!! Also two popular oil companies- Young Living and DoTerra- have extremely manipulative and sketchy business practices, as well as research that shows questionable ingredients in their oils. Good to be 100% aware of who you are buying from and supporting :)
I TOTALLY agree!!! I’m really not an ethical fan of any sort of MLM 🙈 And it makes me question their products for sure
Oh no. I've just bought a few Doterra oils. Thanks for the heads up I won't be buying those any more.
I really enjoyed your interesting video and i agree with you, especially with the point that not because something is natural it is also good for your skin and health. I always cringe when people try to promote or encourage the use of essential oils and/or their newest DIY recipe without a scientific background, proper research or source disclosures.
To me it is very tedious to see people jumping on the bandwagon of eco-friendlyness, sustainability, zero/low-waste etc, especially here on UA-cam.
P.S. Your pronunciation of Stiftung Warentest was really cute :D
yes thank you for speaking about diy skincare!! that can absolutely destroy your skin and i’ve seen way too many people do it
One thing that bothers me is when people poUr water from a plastic water bottle into a reusable one. Also when people get a plastic straw and replace the already used straw with a metal one.😑
thank you for talking about the downsides of essential oils! so many people seem to think they're harmless because of their name + chemical fear mongering. clinical skincare + beauty is not bad if you know what to look for in products. also these these dropshipping "sustainability" businesses manipulating consumers is so grosssssss
The only medicinal purpose of essential oil is unclogging my sinuses when I’m sick lol, pure peppermint does the trick. Other than that, no other oil has done anything.
I use eucalyptus for the same thing. Totally agree with you about this.
I get bit so badly by mosquitos every year and tend to scratch til I bleed. Lavender oil reduces the itch and swelling for me
Such a good info! Especially love the essential oil info. Insane how many resources go into such a small product!
You have to be careful about essential oils because dogs or cats can get sick by them. There was a story about somebody using a diffuser and their dog got really sick, and found out it was the diffuser. I still have oils but I'm care using them. Thanks for these topics.
You're so well spoken- really appreciate the info and also your humility while presenting it! :)
I do wonder if ethnicity makes a difference with the way bodies react to aloe vera. Many Mexicans(Lations) and Native Americans use aloe. I live in Arizona so they grow naturally here. But all of my family members and friends who are Mexican and Native American use aloe for cuts, burns, and dryness. We call it the medicine of the desert. So maybe ethnicity makes a difference or the origin where the aloe comes from. Ours grow naturally around us and your ancestors have been using it for centuries so our bodies may find it helpful instead of harmful. I think that would be a good study to see if ethnicity and origin of the plant ( natural desert soil and non transported) make a difference.
Nah pal, it's not about that. The composition of the plant is the same, but latinxs know how to properly use the plant/prepare it (you can even read some comments here) which is knowledge not always transmitted to other cultures or even to descendants of that same culture.
I don't think it is just Latinos and Native Americans. Aloe Vera has been commonly used as medicine and for care in many Mediterranean regions (different ethnicities) for a really long time as well. I absolutely agree that one needs to be cautious, but just because someone failed at gaining benefits in a proper way from nature and natural products/remedies, doesn't mean it is suddenly poisoning/toxic and should be abolished. With this thinking, many things can harm us in one or another way.
This found its way into my recommended, but I love your energy. You were so sweet and respectful about this it made me happy.
This was so cute, like a friendlier and no-vulgarity take on Shelbi's Anti-Hauls!
Awe thank you 💛
Why compliment someone by putting someone else down in comparison? Both UA-camrs are spreading a positive message and the first part of your comment is a sufficient compliment in itself without the added negative insinuations about the way someone else does things :(
I had never considered the whole processing of essential oils so cool of you to point that out! Tbh my pet peeve is when people have like multiple expensive “low waste” items, like multiple hydroflasks. It just promotes more consumerism and it’s a waste of moneyyyyyy
Ive seen alot of info on EWG being paid for by corporations and that they have changed the rating of alot of chemicals due to that. I do not use EWG for anything.
Justin and Sabrina Webb thank you, i’ve been telling people about this for a while, they do tons of sketchy stuff that really harms natural health communities
Two videos in one week after your break? Hell yeah sis! I’ve been waiting! You and Shelby be making my heart full 💜