Sorry guys, this is not an homage to The Karate Kid, so you may want to tune out while I address body waxing to my female audience.  Parissa at-home Salon Hot Wax kit scored well with me, so I thought I would share the details.

I stumbled across Parissa products at Whole Foods and settled on the strip-free hot wax for face, brow, and bikini.  I have used other brands that use strips, and decided strip-free would reduce some of the waste.

I used Parissa on my underarms, something I have never waxed before but shaving always leaves me a little teeny bit stubbly… which I loath.  I also used Parissa on my bikini line, as swimming and Outer Banks were in my near future.  One kit (pan) did both my underarms and bikini area.

The pros:

• The product melts smoothly, and the hot wax, when used as directed, is perfectly comfortable.
• Ripping the wax off was far from comfortable, but worked flawlessly!  Worth the pain!
• Parissa is PARAFFIN-FREE!  No petroleum-based waxes here.  Only gum rosin, beeswax, and canola oil.
• Made in Canada (unfortunately not USA, but better than Asia!)
• Not tested on animals.
• Paper from instructions and such is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, made of Mixed Sources from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.
• Pan is recyclable, so when you are done, chuck it with your cans! (updated 29 Oct)
• Wax refills are available via their website, and does not come with the azulene bottle or pans, so you reduce your waste! (updated 29 Oct)
• GREAT customer relations!  Check the comments below to see for yourself!

The cons:

• $10.  Not a bad price.  I just have little to spare right now.
• The wax comes in a metal pan, which I had to throw away when finished.  Sad.
• I have been unable to find “refill” packs at stores, meaning I must continue to buy the azulene bottles and metal pans individually, creating plenty of waste.  The Parissa website shows “refill” kits but offers no description as to the contents of said kit so order those.

If you plan to wax, I think Parissa is a pretty great eco-friendly option.  If shaving is more your thing, I am happy to reshare my review of Preserve brand razors.

Happy smooth and sustainably yours,  Ashley Sue

Plastic has become such an evil word to those of us pushing an enviro-friendly agenda, but buying recycled plastic products can be an amazing way to get that “I’m reducing trash in the world” high.  Case-and-point:  Preserve products.

I have written before out using Preserve razors and Terracycle toothbrushes, both of which are made by inspirational companies that use recycled plastic for their goods.  Cheers to corporate awareness of how they can work with consumers to make an impact.

While Marc and I camped last month in the Pisgah National Forest, however, we spent our first couple days also camping with Marc’s oldest brother and nephew.  In those couple days, paper plates and plastic Solo cups were the containers of choice.  I cringed the whole time… we had brought permanent cups for the trip, but dang if the disposable convenience mentality does not prevail among the masses.  :/

The good news was that once it was just Marc and me again, we did not use another disposable cup or plate.  Only our enamel-coated camp ware for us.  Still, I felt horrible.  Damage had been done.

Preserve makes a great “powered by leftovers” product line of colorful cups, plates, bowls, and utensils.  For some people, this may be a great summer purchase.  Stop by your local Earth Fare or Whole Foods, pick a couple vivid colors for your palette and just imagine sitting down with family and friends at a picnic table with these nifty, lightweight cups full of mojitos and plates loaded with cool, zingy potato salad and steaming, sweet cobbler… Then you carry it all inside and put load your dishwasher!  So easy, so eco!

Marc brought up his desire to inspire our family not to use those typical disposable cups and plates, but pointed out he believes the primary reason they use Solos is for the weight as well as convenience.  He said he thinks they get tossed between drinks because people forget to label their cups with their names for reuse… then they all get mixed up on the table.

Alas, Marc noticed these great multicolored aluminum tumblers!  Why are these so lovable for us?  Well, beside the fact a pack of six is a pack of six different colors for easy remembering, aluminum is lightweight for packing on trips.  Even better, when these get too dinged up to be usable anymore, aluminum can be recycled countless times.  If you accidentally leave your cup on the picnic table and a bear comes and tries to eat it, after he realizes he does not want the cup and spits it out, you can chunk it into your recycling bin!

When you plan your next family outing by the lake, in the backyard, or deep in the forest, maybe you as well will pick up Preserve tableware or some easy, inspired, lightweight enamel, aluminum, or steel products.

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue

Shaving is another territory where our daily actions can have an immediate and huge impact on the environment.  Such a small choice, you would think, but consider all the people using razors and shaving products daily.  What if everyone used plastic disposable daisy razors and cheap, canned foam?

I’ve had this draft saved for over six months, but it took seeing Tiny Choices post on swapping razors to finish this up.

I’ll keep this easy… check out the Tiny Choices post.  Check out Allie’s post.  These two will be super comprehensive.

My vote?  I am a HUGE fan of Recycline’s Preserve razors.  My sister bought me a pack so we could get off our Gillette Sensor addiction.  I relate to Tiny Choices and her Gillette:

I have a Gillette Sensor lady’s razor and I dare say I’ve had it since the early 1990s – it’s been with me through high school and college, for sure, and ever since then. It’s served me well, and more so because it isn’t a disposable (the USEPA estimates that 2 billion disposable razors end up in landfills every year).

But Preserve has a great product, made of recycled plastic.  The double razor replacement heads can be a little rough, and you will notice the difference in quality if you had been using Gillette.  Spring and get the triple blade replacement heads.  You’ll totally dig them.

Or, just get really hairy when your razor is done, and save the water and waste.

Sustainably yours,

Ashley Sue Allen