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Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:23 am  |
Let's say you're going to back-pack for 7 days, stopping at some eco-resorts. You want to pack all natural products and use as little space as possible. What would you pack? This is my bag:
Hair & Body:
Morrocco method sample sized Sea essence shampoo and Chi conditioner. Small jar with Coconut oil as deep conditioner while on the beach for both hair and body. The Shampoo will doubble function as a facial mask and cleansing cream. Tea tree oil as toothpaste and toner. Collodial silver applied as a toner, and as a back-up in case I get sick. Real Purity Deoderant. Small Boars Bristle hairbrush and tooth-brush. Bach's Rescue Remedy spray, both taken orally and sprayed on my hair.
Face:
I'm right now sampling Zenbiotics/The Vital Image, and the Collagen serum and Renewal serum are such small bottles, I'd definetly bring them. A sample of the Eminence Organics Eight Greens Mask would be great too, and Shankara Microcrystal Exfoliation.
Eminence Organics Organic Sun Defence powder SPF 30 or my Jane Iredale powder...maybe both. Jane Iredale blush and Cream to Powder liner in brown/black. I know the Blinc kiss me mascara is not natural, but it is somewhat sustainable since it's waterproof and last 2-3 days on your lashes...he he...so I'm making that my one rule-breaker item. I want to swim in that hidden water-fall without worrying about racoon eyes. (Although in reality I probably wouldn't wear any mascara while hiking). Small Jar of Lanolin for my lips and probably some clear JI gloss too.
My big Cowboy-hat!
I'm all set to hike natural and yet look great!
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Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:53 pm |
Is this an actual trip you are going on?
So I think I would pack extremely light:
*Any Neal's Yard Shampoo & Conditioner, decanted into smaller plastic bottles.
*Homemade Dr Hauschka Cleansing Cream
*Witch Hazel - for toner and first aid kit
*Jojoba Oil
*Tea Tree Essential Oil
*Lavender Essential Oil
*Neal's Yard natural deoderant Stone
*Aloe Vera Gel
*Small pot Physicians Formula Loose Mineral Powder & Concealer Brush
*Blusher
*Burt's Bees Lipshimmer
*Eyelash Curlers
*Bare Escentials Soft Black loose shadow & Jane Iredale eyeiner brush.
*Clear Mascara
*Dr Hauschka Sunscreen
Hmmm I think I may have overpacked!!  |
_________________
oily/acne prone - acne scars on chin area/Large Pores in winter. Oily in Summer. Fair, nuetral/cool complexion, burn easily. Early 20s |
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Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:48 pm |
Yes, rosebud, I think you overpacked! I'm actually surprised because from the what I gather from your routine, it is so nice and simple. I'm really trying to get down to your system (I've been following your advice from other posts) because I feel mine is too complicated right now! I've got a 5-year-old, a 2-year-old and a soon-to-be newborn. I need to make it easier on myself!
I have done some long-term backpacking in the past in both Russia and Asia. Granted, I wouldn't bring the same things along now but it's so imperative to pack light! These are a few items I would absolutely include:
*sunscreen (not sure which brand yet, I'm trying Dr. H's sensitive one for kids now but I've only used it a few days so far)
*olive oil (my gosh, I just started using this about two weeks ago. I LOVE it!! I am 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant and it's causing my stretch marks on my belly to fade even BEFORE the baby is born!!! I am just slathering it all over -- it's great!).
*a jar of my blend of cleansing oil
*a good mask (can't live without my masks but when I'm in a camping group, I have to be so secretive about them!)
*cover-up to cover my spots  (like Kevyn Aucoin's because it can be used as a light foundation as well and it stays on so well)
*tinted lipbalm (can double as blush) - Delux is a good one
*moisturizing lipbalm
** this is important and I learned this the hard way: bug repellent with DEET in it! I one time went the all-natural Avon approach and the Russian mosquitoes actually LIKED the stuff. I got eaten alive for a month! 
Years ago I included so much more but I think I'm getting better. Of course, right now I've got my bag packed and ready to go to the hospital when my labor starts. I'm only going to be there for TWO days but I must have included 12 lipsticks because I just don't know what my mood will be! Plus, I must have ten bottles of lotions and oils because I don't know what I will feel like putting on my skin or how it will be in the hospital!! I feel so silly but I want to feel pampered while I'm in pain and exhausted. 
Have fun happyhippie! |
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Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:13 pm |
Well I have done more than my share of backpacking so I think I've mastered the art of packing lightly. I suggest packing your fav shampoo and conditioner in smaller plastic bottles to save space, same with your toothpaste. Try to find travel sizes or trial sizes of your favourite skin care line: Dr Hauschka and Primavera have fantastic travel kits, and Weleda's toothpastes are quite compact too. Here are some other must haves:
*Baby wipes or Facial wipes (great for freshening up - quick facial cleanse and pit refreshner and great for hands too. I don't leave home without them when I travel)
*sunscreen
*spray bottle hair detangler (great for on the beach and protects against harmful sun's rays -Aubrey Organics has a good one)
*Facial mist or toner (Good hydrater for long flights or for warm destinations - love Primavera's toner but a blend of your favourite hydrosols works great too)
*Rosehip Oil (great for all skin types)
*first aid kit, including a natural medicinal balm (I make my own so can't suggest one)
*Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil
*Lip Balm or Gloss ( I like Weleda's Everon Lip Balm and Dr Hauschka's Lip Conditioner)
*Antibacterial Hand Lotion
*Wormwood Herbal Drops (I hate the side effects of Malaria tablets and found that this was just as effective if not more plus I had no side effects - but please consult your herbalist and travel doctor)
*Hat or cap
*Sungalsses of course!
And for those of you that can't stand deet and want a natural alternative here is my recipe:
Equal parts of Tea Tree Hydrosol, Lavender Hydrosol, Peppermint Hydrosol
Mix with a table spoon or two of witch hazel
5 drops of citronella or eucalyptus citriodora essential oil
5 drops of lavender essential oil
3-5 drops of peppermint essential oil
10 drops of tea tree essential oil
Put in a 200 ml bottle and shake well before use.
Great thing about it is that it doesn't contain harmful chemicals, it smells great and it won't stain your clothes. |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:32 am |
Wildflower, have you tried your bug repellent recipe in really tough mosquito conditions (like Louisiana, for example)? I sooooo hate using DEET but I'm pretty scared of West Nile Virus now for my kids so I've tried to compromise and use the weakest one I can find for them. I would love to use a natural formula but, after my experience in Russia, I've been afraid to experiment on my kids. My husband has a coworker who's next door neighbor (did you follow that?  ) is paralyzed for life now because of West Nile (he lives in Boulder, CO too, not somewhere near a lot of water and humidity). Scary.
Also, sorry about the double post earlier. I'm new to this forum. In fact, this is the first time ever I've participated in a forum of any kind! |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:52 am |
| ellyp wrote: |
| I sooooo hate using DEET but I'm pretty scared of West Nile Virus now for my kids so I've tried to compromise and use the weakest one I can find for them. |
The CDC website about West Nile recommends using a repellent with Deet or Picardin. However, they do take care to mention that eucalyptus oil has been shown in studies to provide protection equal to repellents with low levels of Deet. That might be something to look for or try. I am pretty sure that I've seen eucalyptus containing products in the store, or you could try the DIY one using eucalyptus. Here is the page I read on the cdc site http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm
hth, Jennifer |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:05 am |
| Thanks, I will look into this! |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:18 pm |
| No worries ellyp...we all make misstakes... I forgot to mention Activated Charcoal- it's amazing to take as capsules if you get a bad stommache, and as a compress if you get bit or stung by anything poisonous. I think it absorbs something like 200 times it's own weight in toxins. |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:48 pm |
| wildflower wrote: |
*Wormwood Herbal Drops (I hate the side effects of Malaria tablets and found that this was just as effective if not more plus I had no side effects - but please consult your herbalist and travel doctor) |
where do you get these??? is there a particular brand you like? |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:30 pm |
For Elly P
| Quote: |
| Wildflower, have you tried your bug repellent recipe in really tough mosquito conditions (like Louisiana, for example)? I sooooo hate using DEET but I'm pretty scared of West Nile Virus now for my kids so I've tried to compromise and use the weakest one I can find for them. I would love to use a natural formula but, after my experience in Russia, I've been afraid to experiment on my kids. My husband has a coworker who's next door neighbor (did you follow that? ) is paralyzed for life now because of West Nile (he lives in Boulder, CO too, not somewhere near a lot of water and humidity). Scary. |
Well I have used my particular blend on every camping trip, at home in my backyard (I live on the river) while in the Amazon Rainforest, in the bush in southern Africa and I wish I had taken some with me to Egypt where I got bitten severely even though the hotel room was stocked with bugsprays and smoke rings and citronella candles galore(and just FYI it was in St Katherine close to a very stagnant lake, hence all the mosquitoes). What I did to experiment the first time was to spray my bottom half with a bug repellant with deet and the area around my face, arms and chest with my natural spray. I found that the areas I got bitten most were the areas sprayed with Deet so I continued just using my spray and found some comfort in that. You have to remember though, that most bug sprays only work on certain bugs and not all that well either. If the bugs like the smell of you and your blood, they'll still bite regardless of what you spray on - it'll just minimize the attacks. Jiggers and ticks will bite you regardless of what you put on your body, so the best things is to wear long pants and thick socks. Remember to wear light cloured clothing and nothing perfumed when in an infested area and that includes deodorants, soaps, shampoos etc.
For La Vie en Rose
| Quote: |
| where do you get these??? is there a particular brand you like? |
I bought mine at my health food store but you can also get them from your homeopath, naturopath or herbalist. The brand I have is St Francis which is made in ON, Canada. The name of the tincture is Wormwood Absinthe (yes this is what they made absinthe with) and the latin name is Artemisia absinthium. What many doctors don't tell you is that you can still get Malaria even though you take Malaria tablets. The cure? More Malaria tablets. LOL Go figure. There is supposed to be one specific type of Malaria tablet that acts as a mild preventative but I can't remember the name. I've tried 2 different kinds and they both reaked havoc on my body, while other people experienced no side effects at all. It all depends on the individual as does everything else in the world.
As for the comment on Eucalyptus, there are different varieties of Eucalytpus plants and oils. The citridora one that I mentioned and used is a citrusy kind (hence the name) similar to citronella and has a different chemcial composition to Eucalyptus Globulus or Radiata which are more mentholy and more pungent. A combination of both may work well together too.
Hope that helps. |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 2:51 pm |
Happyhippie, you are soooo right about the activated charcoal! I swore by these when I went to Indonesia a few years back. I was popping so many of these a day (especially when I started to get sick at one point). My husband kind of kidded me about them but when he got whatever I had, he was laid up in a hotel for two days and we had to call in a doctor. He ended up with antibiotics! I will never travel without a huge stash of Activated Charcoal again!!
Wildflower, I will definitely make up a batch of your recipe this summer -- thanks so much for it!! I like the idea of it on my kids so much better. You are right about the smells on our bodies and bugs -- I have noticed that myself just from experience. I tend to hate smelly body products (or house products for that matter) or detergents and avoid them as much as I can get away with. I use fragrance-free detergent, soaps and lotions (I'm using more oils now instead) and now I'm trying a fragrance-free shampoo and conditioner (very hard to find these). I just dislike unnatural and excessive fragrances in general and your reminder will help me avoid them even more this summer! I have to admit, though, I'm starting to get addicted to essential oils and their wonderful uses, though.....
Thanks again! |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:08 pm |
| Unfortunately, I have to use DEET and lots of it! My biggest prob on trips is acne, so I find a good cleanser, a toner, some boiled water and a washcloth in a ziplock go a long way to keeping me fresh. I transfer all my skincare into those used little teeny bottles for hand sanitizers. They're perfect for backpacking! |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:56 pm |
| Quote: |
| I just dislike unnatural and excessive fragrances in general and your reminder will help me avoid them even more this summer! I have to admit, though, I'm starting to get addicted to essential oils and their wonderful uses, though..... |
Well Ellyp, being an aromatherapist I can definitely relate. I can't even walk through the perfume section of a department store as it makes me feel nauseous and lightheaded from all those synthetic fragrances and chemicals. Yuck! But real essences are so much different than synthetic prefumes. Plus essential oils act as part of a plant's natural defense to critters, bugs and other predators so we can at least enjoy those beautiful scents and feel a sense of relief. Yay for that  |
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Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:24 pm |
| He he... I want to find an Essential Oil that repells spiders! Fortunately the skitos don't like my blood...they all jump on my husband! |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:02 am |
I'm going to Seattle in two weeks and this is what I'll likely bring. (We'll be going camping as well as urban adventures.)
1)A medium sized, metal travel bottle/sprayer filled with Thayer's Witch Hazel with Lavender/Tea Tree EO I added in. A linen bag filled with organic cotton pads. Anyone know of a better supplier of disposable facial pads? Maybe hemp or bamboo?
2)A sample size Decleor Ylang-Ylang oil I've been refilling for eons.
3)A roll-on blend of Aubrey Rose Hip and Sea Buckthorn oils for around the eyes and lips.
4)A bunch of paper sample sachettes of face washes I keep around for travelling. Same with shampoos/conditioners/hair styling products. Gotta love the sample baskets they have out at Whole Foods! I even have a handfull of vitamin multiples on paper flyers from them. Cuts down on lugging all my bazillion supplements.
4)Small jar filled with BE foundation. I use it mostly as a concealer.
5)Dr. Hauschka pressed powder. (LOVE this stuff, smells like roses and feels almost creamy.)
6)A M.A.C. Viva Glam lipstick palette which I "modified" with scooping out a few shades I'd never wear and putting in gel blush and some balms/etc. This way I can have a variety of looks and only have to keep track of one palette.
7)Mascara. A must have item! I think I'm just bringing along a crappy drugstore one that's about to go bad. I need to find a more ethical brand/method. 
8)Eyeliner. I'm bringing two. A basic black from Dr. Haushcka and a glittery teal from MAC. MAC recycles and is big on supporting social issues, (even if Estee Lauder owns them.) So, I don't feel *so* bad about using their products
I think that's it as far as the face/hair/body goes. Oh... a tweezer, recycled plastic toothbrush (mini Weleda toothpaste,) comb. A disposable razor I'll reuse for a week (mostly for my "mustache" since I wax my legs!  Damn you Russian/German/Irish DNA! Super pale skin and naturally black hair. )
I think I'm going to check out some health food store baby wipes and that natural, homemade bug spray.
Great thread!  |
_________________
Mid 20s. Oily/Combo skin. Fighting wrinkle and blemishes. |
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Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:05 am |
Agave,
Just so you know, the weather out here is crazy in spring. The city gets rather hot and elsewhere it can be dry for a few days then sopping wet for a week. Tank tops/flip flops and fleece/boots will go a long way right now. Have a great trip! HTH. |
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