Okay, I’m a little bit giddy about VITACARE. Just at a time when I found myself needing to switch to another natural oral care brand, but not too excited about the options available, along comes VITACARE. The tastes, the packaging, the benefits, the feeling of fun about brushing your teeth again – that’s why I am so excited about this stuff!
VITACARE is a fun and funky oral care line that knows what it’s doing and keeps it simple. There are three flavors of toothpaste and gum – Acai, Pomegranate and Key Lime – as well as one flavor of mouthwash – Key Lime, all combined with the freshness of mint. Add some toothbrushes and that’s it. But that’s all they need, because the products are so good.
First – why it’s so good. There’s NO chemicals. Nope. VITACARE clearly commits to not using nasty stuff – such as parabens, phthalates, SLS, Petrochemicals, Sulfates, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or artificial sweeteners. It’s right there on the package, read it and see. Instead they use some serious power natural ingredients to whiten and freshen.
So, what is in it? Lots of healthy stuff, like:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Calcium
- Xylitol
- Cranberry Extract
- Aloe Vera
Just think about it. Your bathing your teeth in vitamins and minerals and all natural ingredients. Pretty cool.
So, how does it taste? Quite honestly, I was prepared for a little something weird when trying a product that combines real Key Lime and Mint together. I mean, that could go seriously wrong. But it didn’t. What a refreshing flavor combination!!! And the Acai and Pomengranate flavors? Equally great. It’s sweet without being too sweet, with a flavor punch that is new and different for adults. If there was a foodie version of a toothpaste, this would be it.
The gum stays soft while chewing it, and the mouthwash doesn’t sting and burn when squishing it around your mouth. Overall, the products are great!
It’s made in the U.S. (score!), with minimal packaging. The labeling is fun and vibrant, extolling their NYC background into an edgier toothpaste packaging that you’ll actually want to keep on the counter, instead of hiding it somewhere else.
If you’re bored with the same old toothpaste, give VITACARE a try. You can find it online through www.vitacareworld.com and www.drugstore.com, as well as select health food stores and some Whole Foods.
The greatest compliment that I can give? I’ve already ordered a second batch of the products for personal use. Not only did I like trying it the first time around, I’m ready to switch from Tom’s of Maine to VITACARE. It’s just that good, and I hope you agree, too.
You hear it all the time. You need to apply sunscreen. Whether it’s to prevent skin cancer or prevent aging, the mantra of “don’t forget to wear your sunscreen every day” is touted in every beauty and wellness magazine that there is. But as someone who looks into the ingredient list of EVERYTHING, I often wonder just how safe some of those products are. After all, you’re rubbing your body down in unnatural chemicals to prevent one problem, but………
That’s why it is so encouraging to find out about TRUE Natural Sunscreens. Only 100% natural products are used to effectively block the sun without adding chemical exposures to your list of things that you do every day.
TRUE says that their sunscreens are “Biobased,” which means that all of the ingredients are made from renewable biological material. More impressive, though, is the fact that TRUE products have been named to the EWG’s Skin Deep Sunscreens List 2011 as some of the best products available. And if you follow the EWG, then you will be suitably impressed.
There’s no nano-particles in TRUE’s sunscreens, either. And while the topic is too long to be discussed here, the widespread use of nanoparticles in sunscreens to drive the product deep into your skin’s surface is raising eyebrows and raising questions about safety standards and health risks.
So, is this all natural sunscreen weird or gloppy or hard to use?!? NO! 
It goes on just like anything else, doesn’t really have too much of a scent, dries clear, and all of the other properties that you want from a sunscreen, without anything that you don’t.
Among the products available from TRUE are:
Sunscreen is important, but so is what you put onto your skin, your body’s largest organ. A sunscreen that uses all natural ingredients takes away the questions of whether your sunscreen has nasty ingredients, yet allows you to enjoy your fun in the sun without worries every day.
I recently took an extensive tour of the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort and Spa in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region. What I saw was very impressive!!!! This eco-friendly resort is doing some serious things to save the environment, and by the year 2015, their goal is to have reduced the carbon footprint of each room by a whopping 70%. The resort already has many “green” rooms that are available, all situated around the pool and overlooking the ocean. Much less expensive than other all inclusive resorts in the area, yet with so much more to do and extensive earth-friendly initiatives, I would highly suggest checking this place out if you’re traveling to the Cancun area. The following is a photo tour of the resort:
The already established eco rooms at the resort, overlooking the pool. Notice the solar collectors on the roof.
The backside entrance to the green rooms.
The eco-friendly bedrooms...
To reduce the use of many plastic bottles, each room has one large dispenser with reusable cups.
Just one of the pools...
A wind turbine on the resort's property, right next to the main pool.
The open air entrance is luxurious, yet makes use of the natural breezes in the area.
One of the many compost bins available for the public to see on property.
Indigenous crafts are kept alive, and you can have a custom made creation made onsite and supports local crafters.
Local honey from endangered Mexican bees is harvested on site.
A refreshing cenote (like a small lake) is a great place to take a dip and swim.
If you’re looking for all-inclusive luxury at a resort that happens to be gentle on the environment, then you have got to check out Hacienda Tres Rios in Mexico’s Riviera Maya region. Sun, sand, pools, food……Hacienda Tres Rios has it all!
Located in the Riviera Maya region, Hacienda Tres Rios is less than an hour drive from the Cancun airport, away from the over-developed region of Cancun and situated in the heart of Mexico’s fun, yet still remarkably natural, region. Hacienda Tres Rios is an all-inclusive resort. Upon check-in, you are given a bracelet which identifies you as a guest. From the moment you check in, you have unlimited access to the food, snacks and drinks on property, as well as the pools and beach.
With all of the indulgence, you might think that Hacienda Tres Rios could not be eco-friendly, but beyond the lush pampering atmosphere for guests lies a strict guideline for conserving our natural resources.
Looking back at the resort from the pools area.
A room at the Hacienda Tres Rios, with a jacuzzi tub on the patio overlooking the ocean.
The breakfast buffet
The resort was designed to be eco-friendly before it was even built, which means that it was able to indulge in green practices where many other properties cannot. The rooms are situated to allow optimal sunlight exposure without overheating the interiors. Natural rivers that flow on the property and feed the mangroves were kept and maintained. In fact, the natural water sources run underneath the building, feeding the mangroves which are so important to the ecological balance of the region.
The resort’s water supply is totally resourced from the ocean, being careful not to consume the precious fresh water resources in the area. Instead a desalinization plant captures and purifies ocean water, sending it through a thorough reverse osmosis system to provide fresh, clean and safe water throughout the resort, from the taps to the showers to the drinking faucets.
The desalination and reverse osmosis water treatment facilities that create fresh, clean water for guests.
The chef uses local ingredients, including items from his own kitchen garden on property, to create the main meals and the healthy green welcome drinks, made of celery, parsley and other natural ingredients, that greet guests in the lobby each day.
The chef in his garden.
Using native landscaping is highly important at the Hacienda Tres Rios. After all, native plants can adapt to the harsh weather conditions much better than anything imported. The resort has their own nursery where they harvest and grow mangrove seedlings and other native plants to repopulate the land to an even more dense landscaping than what would naturally occur in nature. Extra plants are donated to area organizations to help improve and reforest the natural environment, which is still recuperating from hurricanes from many years ago.
Growing mangrove seedlings by the thousands.
The Resort's nursery grows a variety of earth-friendly plants used for landscaping and reforestation.
The natural environment is so important that guests are encouraged to explore the resort’s untouched wilderness – up to 95% of which has never been developed. Bike trails, kayaking, swimming in naturally occurring cenotes (like small crystal-clear lakes) and eco-tours are just some of the options in exploring the untouched wilderness of the Mexican jungle.
Sunrise at the Hacienda Tres Rios.
Be forewarned – this untouched jungle-like area is highly protected. You’ll want to bring sunscreen that is biodegradeable – since that is highly important among Mexican nature resorts. Bug spray is a definite must, too! All-natural and biodegradeable formulas are encouraged, and I was extremely thankful for a small bottle of the stuff in my room, since mosquitoes in the standing pools of water around the mangroves are large and prolific! Bugs tend to be seen everywhere in the more remote regions of the resort, since pesticides are not sprayed. However, the cool blue waters of the pool and the ocean, where you will likely spend most of your time, seem to be bug-free.
One of the amazing, tranquil pools at the resort.
Whether you are seeking eco-friendly accommodations or just want to indulge in a ocean-side retreat, the Hacienda Tres Rios is ready to offer you pampered luxury without compromising earth-friendly principles. Now, I’ll raise a glass to that! (After all….it’s included in the all-inclusive plan!)
I am honored to be featured in Orlando Magazine’s August issue about my Orlando Green Travel App. Here’s the profile – check it out!
