Norwex Changes the Game/Ain't Nobody Got Time for Chemicals

I come from an illustrious line of neat freaks. My maternal grandmother and my father (both Virgos, curiously) instilled in me meticulous techniques for cleaning, a neurotic appreciation for routine, and an unbridled passion for cleaning products. Having allergies and sensitive skin make this kind of cleaning compulsion very beneficial for my quality of life, so it's just as well that I embarked on this journey through the filthy, disgusting world with some proper training.

There's always a monkey wrench though, isn't there. When my dermatologist advised me years ago to avoid ANY kind of fragranced product touching my skin, I promptly switched to Dove Sensitive Skin soap, started spraying my perfume on my hair/clothes, and started using fragrance-free laundry detergent. With excellent results. However, it's easy to forget that pretty much any kind of product that isn't a solid object generally has some kind of added fragrance or unnecessary chemicals. I'm talking everything from Pledge to 409 to Lysol to Comet... everything smells like SOMETHING and half the time burns your eyes pretty bad when you use it. There are a lot of new products coming out that are "green" or "enviro-friendly"... which is great, but they tend to be pricier, and aren't solving the problem of not wanting to coat surfaces with any potential cleaner-remnants.

Several months ago, my lovely sister-in-law and fellow sensitive skin victim Rebecca Roeper got turned on to this Norwegian company called Norwex, that makes antibacterial microfiber cloths fabled to completely replace every single cleaning product one could have in their arsenal. She quickly became a consultant for them because she was amazed at how Norwex simplified her cleaning experience and got her kids involved too (a welcome but unexpected side affect). They explain themselves better than I could...

Unlike cotton cloths that will simply spread the dirt, grease and other particles around, Norwex BacLockTM * Microfiber lifts these particles up into the cloth and away from the surface. Once inside the cloth, the Norwex MicroSilver in the cloth goes to work with self-purification properties against mold, fungi and bacterial odor within 24 hours, so that it is ready to use again.

Basically what happens is you dampen the cloth, scrub to clean, wrinse it out, let it dry, repeat. I've used it to get butter off my countertop, grease off the stovetop, toothpaste scuzz off the bathroom sink, etc. She hooked me up with a bunch of different cloths to start out with, eager to see if using these products would quell some of my skin issues. The purple one is for glass/windows (streak free! no Windex!), the pink one is the do-everything Envirocloth, the brown one is for your body - yes, showering and cleaning yourself without soap, and the blue mitt is for dusting.

I've tried them all, and the Envirocloth is the one I get the heaviest use out of. It definitely cleans without leaving residue of any kind. I can't totally convert to phasing out soap, but the body cloth is a nice alternative maybe a couple times a week if I want to have a more lo-fi shower experience. I feel more secure using these cloths around the house not just for myself but for my dog, who of course also has some sort of skin allergy. 

It's also pretty refreshing that Norwex doesn't just make these products to reduce the use of chemicals in people's homes; the company is also truly dedicated to protecting the environment and reducing the amount of chemicals that are produced just for the sake of going into a bottle to be sprayed on someone's counter. 

Listen... my mom was the queen of all Tupperware ladies back in the day, (legitimately the Empress of Tupperware), so I'm overly familiar and with the consultant-selling structure that companies like Avon, Norwex, those weird bags that come in different colors, diet stuff, etc. all employ. The soap box (excuse the pun) "This product will change your life!!!!" gets old, and I generally stay away from it. In this case though, it seems like Norwex has applied this type of selling structure in the US to nurture organic growth and enthusiasm for the brand. The results wouldn't be the same if they came to the US and stuck their products in Bed Bath and Beyond as much as developing a following based on user experience and word of mouth testimony. So for this, I respect them, and I'm willing to put my stamp of approval on these funky Norwegian cloths.

You can reach Rebecca, Empress of Clean, at simplygreencleaning@yahoo.com, or on her website.

Brooklyn Shop Stop

I spent some time exploring Williamsburg last Friday, and my experiences in the five shops and two eateries that I visited really got me thinking about something I'll call "shop etiquette." I won't name any names here, for the sake of being diplomatic, but my advice to all small shop owners is this: you need to be friendly and welcoming to everyone and anyone who comes into your store. Do I have a lot of money to spend? Hell no. Is there a really good chance I'm only going into your store to stealthily take photos and talk about it on my blog? Absolutely. In three of the shops I went into, my companion and I were greeted immediately in a friendly way. In one shop, neither of the TWO PEOPLE working so much as looked up when we came in. We browsed for at least 15 minutes and at no point did anyone bother to acknowledge us. Am I going to spend $40 on a t-shirt in your kitschy, overpriced shop, when you can't even greet me? Nope. In shop number 5, we were greeted but it was a little forced, and there was no music playing in the shop at all, so the awkward silence made me want to leave.

I think part of the problem with shops in Williamsburg in particular is that people get a little too arrogant. The fact that your target demographic (privileged young professionals with disposable income and no ingrained sense of financial responsibility) are easily accessible and will spend money on whatever they feel they're supposed to in order to maintain their lifestyle does not excuse you from practicing good business. Good SMALL business, to be exact. Because the whole reason why I'll go into a little shop and spend at least 25% more on something I could easily get for less at a big box store is the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I know I'm helping an actual person keep their business going. It feels good to know where your money is going, know where/how the products are made, and know that if you have a problem, the person who sold them to you is likely to be the person to resolve it. What is the point of spending more, then, when I go into a small shop that occupies maybe a 20x20' space and the person doesn't even attempt to engage with me on a person-to-person level? 

To drive my point home, I'd like to give out the award for BEST BROOKLYN CUSTOMER SERVICE to the Cotton Candy Machine, a really neat art boutique on South 1st. As soon as we walked in, the guy working the shop greeted us and introduced himself as Lyejm. We chatted about the shop, about what exhibitions they had coming up, small talk, etc. He was incredibly genuine and I felt right at home poking around the awesome prints, toys, and books they had. While we were thumbing through the books he even came around and showed us his personal favorite. These are little tiny acts, gestures of humanity if you will, but they make a world of difference. If he had sat numbly behind the cashwrap looking through his Facebook and ignoring us, I would have lost interest and walked out. Instead, I plan on going back and investing in a couple of lithographs to frame, and I definitely want to go to the "A Little Knotty and Dead Inventors" exhibit they have coming up in March. 

The Cotton Candy Machine!

I was VERY excited to see the Hickorees brick and mortar for the first time. The second floor space is beautiful, with huge windows and lots of light. They have lots of product there but still manage to maintain a feeling of openness. I bought an awesome bar of soap (via my previous sensitive skin post), as part of my crusade to see how many different soaps I can try before my skin just explodes into a giant rash and then falls from my bones. Happily, the Mountain Ocean "Skin Trip" Coconut bar soap did not irritate my skin. It smells unbelievable, lathers up really nice, and doesn't dry my skin out at all. I was going to use it sparingly, but it's actually so intoxicating that I've used it every day. It's made of all natural stuff and not tested on animals! 

Wondrously merchandized goods.

Massive Hill-side assortment!

Parrott Canvas Company tote, $85

The leaf camo tote from Parrott Canvas Company is the main thing I wish I could have gotten. It's Made in USA from Japanese cotton duck and has pockets for everything you could ever carry. I did get a sweet carpenter pencil with my soap purchase though. Hickorees knows how to do it right. They definitely get my stamp of approval.

We stopped by Joinery to see what they were all about. The store is beautiful all around, and it's obvious that a lot of thought went into every aspect of their vibe/layout, which I appreciated. The main thing that caught my eye was their jewelry -- a lot of natural/uncut stones with a big vintage/handmade kind of feel.

My last stop was at one of my favorite places in the neighborhood, the Brooklyn Art Library. They feed my vintage papergoods/notebook/paper addiction in the worst way. I end up buying things for myself and buying gifts for other people because somehow it's impossible not to. It's a very inviting place and the art librarians are always happy to recommend cool sketchbooks to look at. 

Sketchbooks from all over the world!

I treated myself to this little weekly planner that stands up and has a manila folder attached. Multifunctioning for my all-encompassing obsessive compulsive tendencies.

Apart from shopping, I had breakfast for lunch at the Rabbithole. It's truly an amazing little restaurant. The second you step inside it's like entering another world... a cross between Miss Havisham's house and an abandoned Victorian country home. They manage to make dusty and old look chic. 

I'll be doing a lot more exploring in the coming months, and now that a few relatively unpleasant customer service experiences have caught my attention, I'm anxious to see how associates in other Brooklyn shops behave. If you don't have customers, you don't stay in business. Recognize and appreciate the people who are patronizing your store!

Featured:

The Cotton Candy Machine

Hickorees

Joinery NYC

The Brooklyn Art Library

Rabbithole

Sensitive Winter Hands: Crack No More!

"Cold hands, warm heart." That's what my Grandmother used to tell me when I balked at her icy cold  hands, and later complained of my own. I sadly cannot confirm that my heart is exceptionally warm, but my hands are definitely always freezing. I've also been blessed (read: plagued) with extremely sensitive skin. Anything with artificial colors or fragrances makes me break out. I can tell immediately if my clothes have been accidentally washed with scented detergent because the itchiness makes it unbearable. All the soaps I use are fragrance free, and any perfume I use is sprayed predominantly on my hair/clothing to prevent unwanted blotchiness. Thanks to my dermatological afflictions, I'm something of a professional when it comes to hypoallergenic skincare products. Winter has been especially hard on my hands and face recently, so I felt inspired to make up a post of some skincare goodies, ALL made in USA.

Crabtree&Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy cream ($30) and treatment ($26)

Hands down, the Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Hand Therapy collection is the most effective dry/chapped hands treatment I've ever tried. I came upon it as a happy accident one day, when I was working down in Suburban Square in Ardmore, PA. It was a slow, dreary winter day, I was bored, so I walked over to the Crabtree store next door to see if they had any hand stuff I could sample to get me through the day. The woman told me she had "just the thing" and brought me over to the little sink setup in the middle of the store. She ran some warm water and had me rub a marble-sized amount of the Hand Therapy treatment on my dry hands. It felt rough, like an exfoliant, which was a bit counter-intuitive since my hands were so chapped they were bleeding. The roughness really just polishes off the dry bits of skin though, and when I rinsed it off under the running water my hands felt as soft as a baby's. I dried my hands (patting, not rubbing them dry) and then applied a squirt of the Hand Therapy cream to seal in the goodness. Going into the store that day was the best whim I ever had, because it's been over a year and I'm still using the stuff. When that Crabtree location closed I was very upset, but I without a doubt bought a stockpile of La Source at half price. The Hand Therapy collection comes in a few different scents, but I like La Source the best because the blend of sea salt, algae, shea butter, and lavender oil smells like the beach. Also, despite the hoity-toity Frenchness of the name, it is in fact made in the USA. Crabtree can be ordered directly on their website, but it's also popularly carried at many small businesses and boutiques so I would check that out first and shop small!

Field Aesthetic Natural Soap, $10

When I placed my holiday order from the lovely Vermonters at Field Aesthetic, they sent along a bar of their Essential Herb soap for me to try. I'm not going to lie, I was a little scared at first, because it smelled really amazing and I assumed it had all sorts of oils and perfumes in it that would send my skin into a raging tailspin. My fears were abated when I read the ingredients and saw that it contains no artificial colors, fragrances, or preservatives. It smells very herby from all the essential oils, and the little sprigs of Rosemary and such in the bar gave it a nice exfoliating vibe. I'm still using this soap in the shower, and I have suffered no allergic reactions from it. I'm no dermatologist but I would give this the "HYPOALLERGENIC" stamp of approval if I could. It makes your skin feel ridiculously clean. A+

Long Island Livestock Co. Adirondack Scented Llama Loofa ($13) and Shepherdess Salve ($14)

I discovered the Long Island Livestock Co. at the Hampton Classic this summer. It was their first year at the show, and they came with soaps, salves, balms, yarn, blankets, and other woolen goodies, all the products of their Llamas and Alpacas. They also brought a few of their animals to the show so people could meet them, and gave shearing demonstrations as well. For such a small, family run business, I was impressed by the fact that they had an iPad in the booth for people to use to sign up for their mailing list. They really presented the full package of a small, self-sustaining business: every product they make comes from the Llamas and Alpacas, which they raise themselves. The Lanolin oil from the wool is made into soap by another local person. Some of the blankets they had were Pendleton, because they entered into a co-op with a bunch of other small wool companies to send in wool and have Pendleton make blankets for them. I love that Pendleton is conscious enough of their status as an iconic Made in America brand that they're willing to enter into partnerships to help smaller companies in the wool industry. I am happy to support LI Livestock Co. as a business that is very local to me, and I look forward to watching them grow in the community.

Anyway, they make these "Llama Loofas" by taking a natural handmade soap and hand-felting the exfoliating llama or alpaca fiber around it. The essential oils in the soap give it fragrance, and the fibers themselves are hypoallergenic and healthy because they prevent the buildup of soap residue. I haven't personally tried these yet, but they look really cool and smell awesome. The Shepherdess Salve is a very basic Lanolin oil formula, and can be used on pretty much any part of your skin that's dry: hands, feet, lips, cuticles, diaper rash, whatever. As long as you don't eat it you can put it wherever you want. It does also come in a Honey Almond variety for those with no concerns over nut allergies.

PGS Face Bomb, $21

Portland General Store never ceases to impress me by their inventive array of products. While I'd really love if they made more products that cater to women, I would say that their skincare collection is safely unisex (we all have skin, right?). The rhassoul mud (a type of clay) base is blended with essential oils, floral waters, and exfoliating ground walnut shells to create what I'm sure is an exhilarating and sensory satisfying cleansing experience. Also... it's so natural that it has an expiration date. And vegan! If I ever get to try this I will surely report how it is.

Using great skincare products is definitely your first line of defense against winter dryness. All of that scrubbing and moisturizing will be for naught, however, if you don't protect your skin once you go outside. Along with my aversion to bulky winter coats, I hate wearing gloves because they make me feel sloppy and restricted. I've had to just man-up and get over it though, because I've definitely suffered the consequences this winter. A cheeky Christmas gift I received this year were RL Rugby's Arm Warmers (below) which are basically leg warmers for your arms. They have the appeal of fingerless gloves except they go all the way up past your elbows. I haven't quite figured out what to wear them with though, so usually I just walk around the house with them on. Rugby is going out of business completely in less than a month, so if you like them I'd go online and scoop them up while you still can.

Rugby Arm Warmers

As always, I welcome suggestions and recommendations. I enjoy using myself as a test dummy for skin products, since my skin's temperamental nature and often arbitrary allergic reactions to things keep my life very interesting.

Stay warm and moisturize!

Crabtree & Evelyn

Field Aesthetic

Long Island Livestock Co.

Portland General Store

Rugby