It’s easy to crave less. Less to buy. Less to clean. Less to store. Less to chose from. Less to throw away. And we’re those people who get a rush from consolidating two items down to one or earning more space in the drawer/cabinet/closet by paring down, so this is our idea of a good time (why buy ten bottles to do ten things when one product can do it all?). Three years ago I wrote a post about how we try to keep things simple in small ways, so after more than a few requests for an update/extended list, here it is. Happily, three years after embarking on Project Simplify, we probably have fewer cleaning/grooming/hygiene products around the house than we did back then – even with a third person in the house to care for. The “magic products” that work for us are probably going to be different than the ones that work for you (so there’s no pressure to conform to organic stuff if that’s not your jam), but hopefully it helps to see how we try to keep things simple.
Back in 2009, John and I realized that we don’t mind using the same shampoo and conditioner (Avalon Organics from Target) and could also share the same body wash (we currently use Say Yes To Cucumbers, also from Target) so why not stop buying our own bottles – for a total of 6-7 containers in the shower at all times – and share? Purchasing a single bottle of each breaks the constant cycle of someone needing shampoo or conditioner every time we go to the store, and three bottles (total) in the shower at all times is pretty darn refreshing. We don’t have other bottles of shampoo/conditioner/body wash in the vanity or linen closet – this is it. When it gets low we get a new bottle. It’s nice and uncomplicated.
Thanks to a lot of our eco-related changes from a few years back, pairing down in a few other areas has gotten awesomely automatic. Relying only on Seventh Generation Free & Clear laundry detergent (without any fabric softener) makes shopping for laundry products few and far between (and makes storing a single bottle a breeze). We used to use Charlie’s Soap for diapers but alternated with Seventh Generation whenever we ran out, and eventually just stuck with Seventh Generation (diapers are still doing great and it’s easier to find and use one thing on everything across the board). We ran out of fabric softener a few years back and did some loads of laundry without it and didn’t even notice a difference, so we just stopped buying it.
We use this in the dishwasher. We have talked about making homemade laundry detergent and dish detergent too, but haven’t tried it out yet (we’ll blog all about it if we make the switch someday). We have some great recipes in this post of yore.
When it comes to cleaning everything else around the house, from floors to counters and tubs and tile, we use these two cleaners 99% of the time (along with the occasional homemade recipe from this post). No buying window cleaners and tile cleaners and wood floor cleaners each to do an individual job. We usually just water down some Mrs. Meyers (the “all purpose cleaner” label really means it works on counters, wood floors, etc) and use a moist microfiber cloth to rub down whatever it is that needs scrubbing (floors, counters, tabletops, windowsills, etc). For glass, I just use vinegar and water (5 parts water to 1 part white vinegar). Here’s a post with more of our cleaning routine broken down for ya.
We also water down our Dr Bronner’s soap (it recommends that on the bottle, which is awesome since it goes twice as far) and use it for all the hand-washing in the house (kitchen sink, bathrooms, etc). We do one part water to one part soap and it’s great. It’s also what I use to wash my face/remove makeup. It’s nice and mild. And we wash Burger with it. So it’s pup approved.
I think I got bitten by the simplicity bug back in NYC, when I lived in the tiniest studio, with no room for anything. Ladies (and gents?), I give you my makeup bag. I’m not proud of my $5 Chinatown bag from nine years ago (I can’t believe the zipper still works) but the point is that virtually all the makeup that I own lives in this little bag. It’s not a travel bag, it’s my only bag – which makes it easy to pop into a suitcase. It actually lives in the car for the most part since John’s the driver and I get to “put on my face” as we go wherever we’re going (since I can never seem to get it together and do it at home).
It holds:
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear bronzer/blush (from Target or CVS)
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear two-toned eye make-up (from Target or CVS)
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear concealer stick (from Target or CVS)
- Physician’s Formula Organic Wear mascara (from Target)
- An eyelash curler (from Sephora)
- A blush brush (from Sephora)
- One lone contact (just because I am known to lose them randomly)
I’ve used all of the above products exclusively for the past 2-3 years. And I love them. I’ve never been great with anything like liquid liner or fake eyelashes, so for those of you who are, maybe I don’t know what I’m missing. But either way, my simplified makeup bag facilitates super speedy makeup application, which actually results in me looking more polished. I’d never slap on make-up if it was too complicated or took too long – I’m just a wash and go girl (hence my ponytail tendencies). And now that I only use a few organic things, my skin is a lot better, and I find that I don’t amass a pile of new products (no more impulsive purple eye shadow or bubble gum pink lip gloss purchases that seemed like a good idea at the time).
As for what we do use in the name of hygiene, John has hair stuff (Crew from Target after he couldn’t find his favorite old stuff, Got2be – which we later learned got new packaging so it was hard to spot) and shaving cream and aftershave (Burt’s Bees). I actually just shave with a little bit of conditioner in the shower. We both use the same type of razor (we have two of them, mine is in the shower and John’s is in the drawer) so that buying refill blades is nice and simple (we don’t have to buy two types for two different razors). And we both use Tom’s of Maine deodorant and toothpaste (the kind with fluoride since we tried the fluoride free kind and both got cavities and then switched back and have had none for the past two years).
That’s about it when it comes to beauty/grooming products that we buy beyond shampoo, body wash, and conditioner (John’s not a cologne guy and I’m not a perfume girl). We also use sunscreen and lotion, but just try to buy one container and restock only when it runs out. We like Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Coconut Organic Lotion (from Target or Whole Foods) and Bullfrog Sunscreen SPF 30 (Target, CVS). We keep a tube of each of those in our travel bag under the sink and in our car’s middle console. I don’t even use face cream now that I use mild makeup and Dr Bronner’s soap (it doesn’t strip my face so it’s not dry and in need of lotion anymore – which used to make my sensitive skin break out anyway).
In high school I was kind of a slave to beauty products (you should have seen my stash – I probably had a million bottles) but since I no longer get home from school at three pm and play with my nails/hair/face for hours, this new “grown up busy mom” routine works for me. For the past three years I’ve actually not used hair spray, pommade, or perfume. This is definitely one of those to-each-his-own things, but I like the smell of my shampoo and body wash enough to be cool with that being “my scent” – and thanks to my ponytail propensity, there’s no need for any hair stuff beyond shampoo, conditioner, and a good old fashioned brush. It’s a look I like to call low-maintenance chic on a good day (and messy momma on a bad day).
One of the nicest things is that there are sections of magazines about makeup and perfume that I can gloss over entirely (in high school I was kind of an “ooh I want that!” kind of girl, which is probably why I had approximately 500 bottles and samples and cans of things on my vanity) so I can’t tell you how nice it is to not always want everything I read about. I just flip on by. Oh wait, but there’s nail polish.
I didn’t paint my nails or toes for a while just to keep it simple, but I do have occasional yearnings for a bright pop of color, so I do have a few polishes made by Zoya and Honeybee Gardens (they’re free of some of the fumier chemicals in some other brands). I have ten nail polish bottles total, which all fit into our freshly organized drawer. It’s nice to keep it to that number, so I won’t impulsively buy any more. I probably had 50+ bottles in high school, but now ten is the new number – no buying any more unless one runs out.
Oh and I love this stuff. It’s in my purse, a box next to my desk, on my night table and in the glove compartment of the car. You don’t want to see me when I can’t get my hands on lip balm. I’m a total baby. You’d think my lips were falling off or on fire or something. Seriously, it’s not pretty. So I learned that keeping one stick of it in four key places is the simplest solution for me. I never completely run out since I have a few stashed around the house, and because I have so many in rotation, they tend to last a while so I’m not always buying it a stick at a time.
Oh yes, but within the last three years we had a baby! So we must have amassed a ton of products for Clara, right? I mean we are pretty attached to the girl. But when it comes to keeping Clara moisturized, clean, diaper-rash-free, and sunburn free, instead of registering for twenty creams and lotions we decided to scan three things and take more of a wait-and-see approach. We knew we could always purchase more/different products once Clara came along (who knows if she’d have an allergy to something anyway) so we started with:
- California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash (for bathtime) from Target
- Badger Baby Sunscreen (for sun protection) from Whole Foods
- California Baby Calendula Cream (for face, body, diaper rash, cradle cap, eczema, dry skin, etc) from Target
That’s it. No baby powder, no face lotion and body lotion and diaper cream (just one that does it all), and no body soap that differs from hair soap. Just three basics. And miracle of all miracles, that’s still all we use! After almost two years. Seriously, those three products are our entire arsenal. So you can imagine that when it comes to storing them it’s no biggie (they all slip into the top drawer of her dresser except for the shampoo which we keep in the closet in her bathroom with the washcloths and towels). So we don’t have a big basket of products or a stockpile of extra bottles. Just those three things. And when they run out we get more. Just one more though, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. Haha. Who knows when things could change. But so far, so good. Off to knock on some wood…
By making an effort to covet less (and trying to focus on natural things or a small amount of items) it cuts way down on the products that can jump into my cart on a whim. And it doesn’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. It feels like I’m gaining closet and cabinet space, more moolah in my wallet, and extra time that I can spend doing things other than restock various bottles. I’m dying to know what you guys do to make life easy and live with less. From sharing products and even making your own to forsaking certain things and purchasing specific items in bulk, I’d love to hear what works for you.
Update – Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint colors we used? Just click on this button:
Jenny A. says
I still have make-up leftover from high school in my make-up case and I just turned 39 in March. Ugh. No, I don’t even use it, which would be gross, but maybe I’m emotionally attached? I need to to do this.
Heidi P. says
I do too! I’m actually trying to use them up these days. It’s gonna take a looooong time. lol
Lauren says
Sherry, I love how you wrote a post about how less is more—that is a message we don’t hear too often in our culture. You are right—simple is better! Thanks for this reminder!
heyruthie says
i’ve found that there’s a constant contest within me (and my household) between frugality and simplcity. sometimes they go hand-in-hand, but often, they are at odds around here. how? well, i have a BIG family, so stocking up on items when the go on sale is really frugal, but it creates a great deal of “stock” to manage–NOT simple! (what’s going to expire, what needs to be stored, etc.) also, i’ve gotten into couponing, which saves us a lot of money, but it means i have to buy whatever’s “couponable” or on sale–meaning multiple different brands, sizes, shapes, etc. also: clothes for my 4 kids–well, we do hand-me-downs, and we pass ours along to friends. this saves us thousands of dollars, but it means that (between the 4 kids–two boys, two girls) I have a CONSTANT and complex rotation of “incoming” and “outgoing” clothes. frugal? yes. simple? *sigh* not one bit. i dread the “change of seasons.”
the truth is, this post of yours is inspiring me. i really wish i could streamline more, and i see the frugality in simplicity. so, i’d like to try to combine the two more, and let frugality and simplcity become better “friends” in our house. “Mr. Frugality, meet Ms. Simplicity. We hope you can start to get along around here.” wish me luck.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- wishing you lots of luck with those two! I bet they’ll be lovebirds in no time!
xo,
s
Maggie says
I use Seventh Generation for dish washing, cleaning, laundry and even order bulk boxes of their toilet paper and brown (unbleached) paper towels from Amazon (cheaper than buying at the store!) and love it!
For the shower? Kiss My Face shampoo, conditioner, olive oil soap, and their Potent and Pure organic line for my face wash and moisturizer.
My makeup is Jane Iredale concealer and mascara. That’s it. I’m a bare faced kinda girl too :)
YoungHouseLove says
I love reading people’s lists! It’s so weird, but I’m having so much fun hearing from you guys.
xo,
s
Kris-Ann says
Not sure if anyone commented on this yet, but you may want to research the CA Baby Calendula Cream formula change. The product is no longer 100% all natural. http://blogs.brighthorizons.com/momtomom/2012/02/22/california-baby-product-formula-change/
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we heard! Thankfully our stash is from before they reformulated and from here on out we’ll be checking out something like BabyGanics, which we hear good things about!
xo,
s
Yulia says
I love this post!!! Here are two tips that I’d like to share with your readers:
1) Use Olive Oil instead of lotion. I promise it won’t clog your pores and no you won’t smell like a hoagie! It will absorb into your skin quickly and it’s all natural! Just make sure you get a quality oil (the kind in a dark glass bottle!) Apparently the conventional stuff can be diluted with cheaper oils despite what the label says.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/books/extra-virginity-by-tom-mueller-a-word-on-olive-oil-review.html
2) You can use Lansinoh nipple cream for any skin irritations….minor cuts, diaper rashes, whatever! It’s natural and works really well!
YoungHouseLove says
Love the tips! And I for one, sort of like the idea of smelling like a hoagie, but I can see how that might not be an across the board thing. Hahah.
xo,
s
Wendy says
Yulia is right!
Olive oil helps to de-cholorinate the skin, too! After a long swim set in the pool (or even a short one), it works wonders… soft skin and no chlorine smell! mmm :-)
Leah says
Great post! I’m into natural and organic products as well. I get all my stuff from Amway.com, their products are truly the best! You should check them out!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tips everyone! So helpful!
xo,
s
Deb says
my daughter just started selling their products and I am so excited about their cleaning products!! In fact, that is going to be our first purchase!
Ashleigh says
The only thing I dislike about this is that I have to sit at work for the next three hours while my motivation that this post gave me fades away.
Seriously good info. I’m ready to do some major pairing down!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I hope it sticks! Try putting on fast loud music when you get home. It’ll amp you up! Haha.
xo,
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
Ashleigh – this is me every single day! I still have to do the toy organizing from yesterday’s post that I was suppose to do last night!
Courtney says
I’m surprised no one has mentioned it yet, have you looked into Amazon’s subscribe and save program? I started using it when we had our second baby with the amazon mom program. Discounted diapers, baby food, wipes with free 2-day delivery? Sign me up! Then as she got older and I stopped needing some of these basics I branched out to household goods. I now order my dishwasher and laundry soap through this service. I’ve tried other things like coffee, but decided I like the coffee from a local store better. Anyway, just thought you’d be interested since you can get the Seventh Generation detergent from there (like I do!) Great post, thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a great idea! Thanks so much!
xo,
s
Maggie says
I’m all about the subscribe and save! Forgot to mention that. It’s awesome!
Karen F says
Great post and really informative comments, too! You guys are really inspiring! I thought I was living eco and simplified but in reading this post I realized the cabinet under my sink is full of various cleaning supplies (every once in a while I get seduced by their false promises) and my bathroom closet is full of products (even though I only really use a few). Time to pare down!
I love the Dr. Bronners almond soap but didn’t realize it has so many uses! I also love Method products and Mrs. Meyers. I noticed last week when I was at Whole Foods that they had an eco rating system for the cleaning products – both the Mrs. Meyers and the Seventh Gen were not well rated according to their system – I have no idea why! In any event, they’re still greener than regular products.
And don’t you hate when your favorite products get discontinued? I notice that it happens a lot with hair products – I hate when I find something that works and then they discontinue it!
Emily @ Home Station says
Ahh…having a simple and clutter-free house makes me feel warm and cozy inside. However, I wish I could be as disciplined as you are with my makeup/nail polish collection. Maybe once I have kids I will decide to ditch it all. But probably not.
Jennifer Hohner says
I love Mrs. Meyers as well and have used it for years. I dilute it and put it in a spray bottle to clean my counters with.
What do you use to wash your dishes with? The ones that don’t go into the dishwasher ;)
Thanks,
J
YoungHouseLove says
We actually used diluted Dr Bronners since it’s plant based and non-toxic (and it’s right in the pump by the sink, so it’s easy)!
xo,
s
Anna says
I’m sorry if someone has already mentioned this, but if you are antsy to get rid of your chemical-based household cleaners and replenish with natural products all in one go, it might be nice to donate them to places that could really use them.
Some that come to mind are preschools/day cares, humane societies (some ask specifically for them on their donations page), art classes at local schools, homeless shelters/women shelters, etc.
When my housemates and I parted ways after graduating, we donated all of our cleaning supplies to the humane society. They were thrilled because people often don’t think to donate such items, but they are always in need of them. We didn’t want to bother splitting up random bottles of windex and lysol and hauling them with us when we moved. This way, we got rid of them guilt free and helped someone else out. Win-win.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a great idea Anna! Totally win-win!
xo,
s
Kristen says
Where is your soap dispenser from? We used to refill ours but it got sooooo cruddy that we started buying individual disposable dispensers. I’m glad you’ve had luck with the 7th Generation diswashing gel.. we used it for awhile and it just didn’t work for us. I love California Baby too, but have you tried Mustela? It’s amazing too. Also, one more question – is your sunscreen chemical or mineral? I’m usually limited to two mineral brands, but I’m wondering if I’m just missing out. Thank you for this post! (You know it’s never crossed our minds for my husband and I to use different products in the shower – we’ve always used the same…and I really want to try the ones your recommended).
YoungHouseLove says
That’s from Target (made from recycled glass!). We love it but hear that it can get gunked up and corroded with thick soap, so watered down soaps like Dr Bronners (which we use and don’t have any issues with) seem to work best. Hope it helps! We haven’t tried Mustela yet, but will definitely look into it! Our sunscreen is mineral I think (Badger gets one of the lowest ratings on EWG, at least the last time we checked it did). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kristen says
Huge help! Thank you Sherry! I’m going to look for Dr. Bronners and water it down as directed. And thank you for the sunscreen rec too!
YoungHouseLove says
Good luck with everything Kristen!
xo,
s
Jeanna Walton says
I’m just finally jumping on the bandwagon :) I’ve been making my own soft scrub, and I love it. Just recently started making my own dry laundry detergent, and so far it’s awesome! And sooo much cheaper to use. I’ve begun doing the vinegar and baking soda cleaning, and am really surprised by how well they do. Why didn’t I do this years ago??!
Elizabeth says
Is the homemade laundry detergent, gentle? I just wonder how it would work on gentle cycle items.
Sara says
I loved your post!!! I have slowly been switching over to organics, but the one thing I can’t seem to shake is my make-up stash. I am the person who walks into Bloomies swearing not to buy anything and then that one glossy, silky, coral-colored Channel lip gloss just begs me to take it home. I am not proud of it…but it’s true!! Maybe going forward I will try to avoid the make-up department;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’m like that with shoes. Someone hold me back! Although I recently consigned a bunch of them and it felt really good. Now I have a one out before one comes in rule. I know I can’t get anything without saying goodbye to something else.
xo,
s
Brady says
This simplifying post is definitely striking a chord with me! I have seen y’alls blog a few times before but never gave it a good read. It’s been slow at work the past few days and I may or may not (okay, I did) read the first 30 pages over the past 2 days. I’m in to 2011 now! It’s kind of funny watching your projects go backwards =)
ANYWAY- my husband works at a campus and we live in a dorm. With freshman. We do have an apartment but it is teensy tinsey and we can’t make any changes to it (other than trying to nail things in to the cement walls) so this blog is kind of like my 50 Shades of Grey (is that gross to say?) I definitely have to keep things simple because nothing else FITS! And I’m also from NJ so I of course enjoy the fist bumping, tan, glitz, etc references.
Thanks for all of the ideas, inspiration for the future, and ultimately just the ability to live vicariously through you guys. Also don’t be surprised if I start commenting on wayyyy early posts.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Brady! So sweet of you to say.
xo,
s
Alyssa says
I was the same way as you were with having to have millions of beauty products when I was younger. But as I live in Chicago and have a small space, frequently move (the more stuff you have, the bigger pain it is to move as I’m sure you know), need to save money (I recently graduated college), and am more environmentally conscientious, I want to simplify my life. I know I can quickly go through lotions and such, but how did you get rid of hair and makeup products and perfumes you knew you were never going to use again without feeling wasteful? I own about 50 bottles of nail polish (absurd I know) and I could never possibly go through all the bottles but I would love to get down to only 10. How did you do it? P.S. this post was so inspiring, thanks! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Some other folks have mentioned donating them to shelters or other local places like an animal kennel (they’d probably love cleaning supplies) or even craigslisting or freecycling a big “lot” of everything!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
This is a great post. I am the middle of a self-imposed clutter diet. It is so freeing to get rid of stuff. This post inspires me to take it further. One area you didn’t cover–your first aid kit. Have you already covered that? I am interested in what you keep on hand and what more natural products you prefer.
YoungHouseLove says
Uhh, we just have BandAids. Haha. And Tylenol and stuff. Haha. I do have some first aid salve I found at Whole Foods and a bug bite stick that’s eco too (also from Whole Foods). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Katie says
I saw mention of a face sunblock that you thought was a bit greasy. I’ve started using Kiss My Face – Face Factor – spf 30 and really love it. It’s not greasy, isn’t white going on and doesn’t have a fragrance. I usually have an oily face at the end of the day with any other face lotion/sunblock and with this product, that is greatly diminished.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds awesome! Thanks for the tip Katie!
xo,
s
Kelly says
Hi! Just wanted to send a big “thank you!!” for organizing week. Loving it so far and since I just found out that we are unexpectedly having to move out of our current place, its really inspired me to be honest about things we dont use and keep shoveling from one rental to the next. Hmm…I think I will go back and read your pre-move posts too!
thx!
k
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re so sweet. You’re very welcome! And good luck with the move!
xo,
s
danielle says
i have a love hate relationship with this weeks post topic.
I have been bit by the cleaning bug lately b/c my house is just a cluttered disaster (i’m thinking it has a lot to do with the fact that i’m in my 2nd trimester and have my energy back so i’m nesting).
However I work full time – so i read these posts and for instance..monday i wanted to go home so badly to start cleaning out my dining room side board and kitchen cupboards. Yesterday all day i was concentrating how i could clean up and organize the kids today. Now today I’m consumed with throwing away all my cleaning and beauty products and starting fresh and minimizing all my bathroom and cabinets and under the kitchen sink.
then I get home from work around 7 and all i have the energy to really do is clean up the dishes from dinner and sit on the couch.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, Danielle! I remember how tiring it is to bake a tiny human! I say save these in your mind and tackle them only when you have the energy. I bet the nesting thing might kick in during your last week pre baby (or even after the baby comes and you can pare down while he/she sleeps). No one warned me how much Clara would sleep when she first came home! John and I watched about a million movies on the sofa while I nursed her and watched he sleep. But sometimes I got stir-crazy and hopped up to clean/organize something. Hahaha.
xo,
s
danielle says
i forgot to mention i have a 2 and 4 year old as well so that’s why i really don’t get anything done at night – meaning after i get home, spending time with them and get them to bed I’m not able to tackle all my clutter. it’s like a bad cycle.
i guess that’s why my nesting has kicked in full gear this early b/c i know when i have three i will have even less time haha!!
Maky says
I’ve taken your inspiring “organization week” as a challenge and have started in the kitchen (which is not so bad to begin with… little steps). Two cupboards and one drawer sorted – woooot! :)
Now the make-up thing – different story! I seem to have been doing things backwards in that department! I never cared for make-up when I was younger – now I’ve suddenly discovered it and am experimenting (and spending!!!).
As for cleaning – vinegar and baking soda is the way to go for me. I sometimes use Soda Crystals (not sure you guys have this in the US – http://dri-pak.co.uk/soda-crystals.html but it’s brilliant!). I still have some left over bottles of all kinds of cleaning stuff I used to use but just because I don’t have the heart to throw it out!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the link! Never heard of soda crystals!
xo,
s
Lesley says
You might want to check out the ingredients in that shampoo:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/318797/Avalon_Organics_SHAMPOO_-_LAVENDER__NOURISHING/
We use olive oil soap for washing hair, and apple cider vinegar as a hair rinse.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip! Someone else mentioned they must have reformulated because three years ago when we checked EWG before buying it it had a great score! We’ll probably switch to Yes To Carrots/Cucumbers since we love their stuff!
xo,
s
Carla says
love all the tips! where is the nail polish from??
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from an eco grocery store here called Ellwood Thompson and from zoya.com. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Carla says
omg how could you pick just 10!? lots to choose from! thanks!!
Lauren@FilingJointly says
Did you know there’s a “Clara” color?
http://zoya.com/content/38/item/Zoya/Zoya-Nail-Polish-Clara.html
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhhhhhhhh, I love it! Dangerous. Now I want to buy it. But that would be 11. Better use up an old bottle fast. Haha.
xo,
s
Lindsay says
You could get it FOR Clara, and just borrow it from time to time, and then it wouldn’t have to count against your 10, am I right?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s cheating! But I like your sneaky logic.
xo,
s
Lauren@FilingJointly says
Or just invite all of your friends over for a nail party (telling them not to bring anything of course, you’ve got it taken care of.)
And then provide one bottle of nailpolish.
And then be like “What? I think this color suits us all, it’s uncanny. We’ll be like the Sisterhood Of The Same Color Nailpolish.”
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, cute!
xo,
s
Lisa says
Wow, that is enough to motivate me to downsize my plastics. Love the info on suncare and your makeup. You guys rock! I always go here to doublecheck – http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
YoungHouseLove says
Love that link for double checking sunscreen!
xo,
s
Trissi V. says
Ok…I just stopped reading the blog entry after I saw that Got2Be was discontinued. Which product? Or the whole line? I think I am having a panic attack at my desk now.
YoungHouseLove says
I know, right? We hear maybe it’s just in new packaging so maybe we missed it? Or our Target stopped carrying it but it’s in other places? Someone said they saw a ton of it on sale at CVS so we can’t tell if it’s discontinued (hence the clearance/sale to get it sold) or just getting new packaging and potentially just not being stocked by our Target right now). Total mystery!
xo,
s
Bethany says
I’m SUPER inspired! We are moving in one month and I’m totally inspired to make a change and simplify.
Jessica says
I would love to quit using and buying fabric softener because I, too, don’t notice the difference. But our dryer is broken and if I don’t put any fabric softener in the wash, my clothes end up hard and rough! =(
sarah says
i just have to say i LOVE this post! (long time reader first time commenter)
my little gal is just a week younger than clara :) & california baby products didn’t work with her sensitive skin, (rashes!) but we LOVE burt’s bees baby products for her. we couldn’t live without their bubble bath, it’s the highlight of her day. i highly recommend the new baby bee multipurpose ointment. (target carries it) it could replace your california baby one. it’s kind of reminiscent of vasoline, but no petroleum, which is important to me. it’s been great for her dry skin and she LOVES to put it on herself… somedays it’s “helpful” other days not so much… :) you know how that goes i’m sure!
happy may and happy simplifying! *s
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cute! Clara loves saying she’s being “so helpful” – adorable!
xo,
s
Nicole Hansen says
Sherry–If you’re ever in need of anything for your face, you should check out Neutrogena Naturals line. I don’t use anything else and it is amazing. I have really acne prone skin which was a nightmare when I was pregnant. This stuff kept it pretty manageable and doesn’t have any of the chemicals that are a no-no for pregos. I’ve tried EVERYTHING and this line is by far the best.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Nicole!
xo,
s
Ashley @ sunnysideshlee.com says
I love this post! I’ve been thinking about integrating more organic products into my life and have really just worried about the cost. It seems like organic products can be so expensive (esp from Whole Foods). But i think this gives me the courage to start trying to integrate them more into my life! Thanks for sharing!!
Darlene says
I didn’t read all 500 comments, so not sure if someone already mentioned this. As a fellow lip balm addict and former Burt’s Bees only kinda gal, I feel I should point you toward the Trader Joe’s brand Virtuoso. Label says 50% organic, so maybe check out the ingredients. Comes in a 3-pack for under 3 bucks, and if you go through them like me, that’s a considerable savings over the years. And it’s perfect consistancy, only slightly minty, and spf 15. No, I do not work for Trader Joe’s. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Darlene! Will have to check it out!
xo,
s
Tonya says
We.ll, I’m totally amazed and impressed! And I say this with absolute love and respect, but I just kept reading and thinking, “How bizarre!” lol! I guess I’m a total product junkie, and I can’t imagine giving up most of that junk, but that’s awesome that you can. I hate clutter, and it looks like you have none!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
I use Shaklee products. They are chemical free and are highly concentrated, so a very little goes a really long way. Especailly there Get Clean {cleaning product line}. They have Cleaning, Laundry, Nutrition & Weight Loss products. I have their Cleaning & Laundry products and I love them all. I love that there are no chemicals. I properly disposed of my old chemicals and I will not go back to the old brands that I used to use.
You can check out Shaklee here: http://referral.myshaklee.com/us/en/shop.s.html
I have for the last couple of years been trying to reorganize my home and really want the less is more kind of thing too. It’s crazy how much stuff we have sometimes and I realize that we never use certain things. I’m planning a big garage sale this summer and I’m getting rid of a lot of things. We are two people in a 3 bedroom home with decent sized closets and they are all full and we have no kids. haha.
Sherry, where do you buy your Zoya nail polish from? I have been thinking about getting rid of all of my old nail polish and getting something Green! I read some reviews online and people really seem to love this product. Thanks for sharing. And what awesome colors they have. Drooling!!! :)
Sherry thanks for a week of inspiration. Can’t wait to see the rest of this weeks posts. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, I’ve heard awesome things about Shaklee! As for Zoya, I get it from their site since they have awesome facebook promos sometimes (ex: two free polishes for liking them on facebook and you just pay a few bucks for shipping). I hear they sell it at salons too, if you want to see it in person.
xo,
s
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Thanks for letting my know about the FB promo’s. I’ll have to check that out. :)
rebecca says
i too go crazy when i cant use my lip balm… i think i may be addicted… i just cant get on with burts bees though.
Andrea says
I feel so inspired by your posts lately! all the cleaning and organising and decluttering. I absolutely love it. I was trying to keep our cleaning products to a minimum but somehow we endend up with loads. :/
Jessica Fielhauer says
I dont know if this is the right thread to ask this on, but I was wondering how your Kurv vacuum was holding up. Would you still recommend it? Or, since it seems to be hard to find these days, if you had any other suggestions for a good dust buster.
Loving the spring cleaning theme this week. It’s making me motivated!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, it’s still great but since it’s pretty old I’d probably just buy some new model since I’m sure it’s better somehow since technology keeps advancing (more suction, holds a charge longer, etc). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
EngineerMom says
We have the stick vac ErgoRapido, and I’ve been pretty happy with it. It has enough suction to handle our low-nap area rugs, keeps a charge long enough for me to vacuum the entire house (about 1400 sqft of hardwood floor), and is light enough that even my 3-year-old son can handle it. He loves vacuuming his room!
The hand vac, which works like a dust buster, pops out of the vacuum for vacuuming upholstery or getting into small spaces, and I frequently use it to suck up a pile from sweeping or get rid of a spider.
It’s bagless, which I personally love since it means I don’t have to keep track of whether or not I have a bag, and it’s very easy to snap out the catch area and dump it in the trash. It even has a little plunger thing to help get the worst of the dust off.
Erin says
Great post. I love the paring down of stuff and using fewer things for multiple purposes. We’re not as streamlined as you guys, but we’re getting closer. I am NOT happy to hear in your post that California Baby changed their stuff?! That all in one baby body wash/shampoo and the calendula cream were our favorite 2 must have baby toiletries and the only things we ever use on our kids. I am going to have to investigate what is new now.. boo!
Joely says
I swear by Mustela!!! Especially their sunscreen! My
Boys used to break out with red dots after using several brands of other sunscreens. But not with mustela! You MUST check it out!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the suggestion!
xo,
s
Kayla says
Not sure if someone mentioned this already, but you said you keep sunscreen in the car. I wrote an article for my college newspaper about sunscreen and the dermatologist said to not store sunscreen in your car — the heat can degrade the product and render it ineffective. I was a fair skinned beach lifeguard and depended on good working sunscreen:)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip! We didn’t learn that until today. So helpful!
xo,
s
Lauren says
I have Burt’s Bees lip balm stashed all over the place too! I LOVE it…this is my lip “makeup” of choice even when I get dressed up.
Amber says
Thanks for the posts this week. I have been totally inspired to do a bit of paring down/reorganization back at the ol’ home!
I reaaally hope you share with us your methods for wrangling holiday decorations. That is the one thing that gets me every time. I’ll have this nice, organized closet and then I have to throw in the wrapping paper (which never stays together!) and the easter baskets, and the crazy paper skeleton that I like to hang on the door at Halloween and everything goes to h-e-double hockey sticks! I’m thinking of switching to craft paper to wrap everything…but the holiday knick knacks still get me down. Tips? Have you written about this before?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I just use tupperware bins for stuff (two green ones for Christmas stuff, two clear ones for fall/halloween) and they’re in the attic. I don’t think I have too much seasonal decor, so maybe it’s easier on me? I’d say just keep what you love and store it by season/holiday in bins if you can!
xo,
s
Heidi P. says
I’m gonna try that Dr. Bronner’s soap! I use my son’s Johnson & Johnson Baby Soap for my face b/c it’s mild and removes makeup better than bar soap. I tried the organic kind and ironically had an allergic reaction.
Have you heard of Jessica Alba’s company Honest? She had an allergic reaction to some organic baby detergent and as she looked into it, found that lots of “organic” baby products use the same chemical. So she started her own company. Kinda cool.
Anywho, might have to give those organic makeups too. Because breakouts at age 30 are really annoying.
YoungHouseLove says
Never heard of that about Honest. Really cool!
xo,
s
Laura says
This post was so inspiring. I have so many hair & beauty products its insane. It makes me think whether I need them all or just sucked in by advertising.
Heidi P. says
Oh and for diaper rash, I found the best thing is Neosporin! or some generic triple-antibiotic ointment.
Also, that link for the homemade cleaning recipe – it took me to your 3-yrs-ago post, but I couldn’t find anything about what you make homemade for cleaning. Did I just miss it?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, off to fix those links. Here’s the right one: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/10/clean-up-your-act-all-natural-homemade-cleaners/
xo,
s
Kelli says
We love BabyGanics! I switched to it about 6 months ago for our 2 year old and now also use it for our newborn. It’s awesome! Babies R Us frequently puts it on sale. And I may or may not admit to using it myself for the past 2 weeks while I was out of my bodywash and kept forgetting to pick up another bottle…
YoungHouseLove says
So good to know! Haha.
xo,
s
Wendy says
FYI- Dr. Bronners is very good for washing clothes, too! When we travel, I take a small bottle for hand washing in the hotel sink (after washing it down a bit). The clothes are then air dryed in the bathroom, near the vents, etc..
We mainly travel in quick dry clothes, but sometimes I’ll use it in the regular washing machine, too… one less bottle to pack.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much to everyone for sharing their awesome tips!
xo,
s
Rebecca says
Love these.
I’m definitely a stick-to-my-products gal too, but I have wild curly hair so I could never go hair-product free (insert wishful sigh). That’s really the only area of my life where I experiment. I switch my conditioner in the summer and winter, but I just wait for the bottle to run out before buying the new kind.
I also love baking soda for cleaning things–it’s a great scrub and deodorizer.
EngineerMom says
This is awesome! I never really understood the huge stash of bottles/cans/powders.
I want to try your makeup – I’m not a big makeup person, but I’ve started wearing mascara and tinted lipgloss more regularly to get away from the SAHM frump look. I have sensitive skin that generally detests any kind of makeup, so I’m curious to see how it reacts to the Physician’s Formula.
DH uses Avalon Organics, too – the rosemary scented one. I’ve tried it, but not the conditioner. I have long hair (middle of my back), and it’s super-fine, dead straight, and tangles easily. I can’t survive without conditioner! How does the conditioner work for you? Do you wash your hair every day, every other day…? I wash mine twice a week because it takes a while to dry, and it seems to be happier not being washed on a daily basis.
Also, have you ever tried going the shampoo-less route?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I have super dry hair/scalp so I only wash it about three times a week! I love the Avalon Organics conditioner – it’s all I’ve used for the past few years and I don’t have any issues with tangles or anything. Hope it helps!
xo,
s