Posted on March 16, 2010 - by Leslie Billera

Expert Voice: Laura Klein, Green Lifestyle Expert

At Napa Valley Bath, we celebrate body, mind and soul every day. In our ‘Expert Voice’ series, we’ll get insights and updates from those who are doing the same.

Meet Laura Klein, a green living authority and founder of OrganicAuthority.com and Laura Klein’s Green Club.  Laura has devoted her life to communicating how living a green lifestyle is healthier for you – and for the planet.

Pesky Parabens Everywhere

“Unfortunately, there are tons of toxic ingredients in our personal care products,” says Laura, “but I always zero in on paraben preservatives since they’re so rampant.”

Parabens are found in most cosmetic and beauty care products. Look for them as methyl-, propyl-, butyl- and ethyl-paraben on ingredient lists. They’ve been linked to cancer as well as infertility, birth defects and developmental delays in children.

“The repetitive, every day use of parabens is where the danger lies,” Laura says. And with women using 12 personal care products a day on average, exposure adds up fast.

Without further ado, here are some of Laura’s paraben-free, DIY recipes, courtesy of LauraKleinGreenClub.com. Try them out, and let us know what you think!

Laura Klein’s Green Goodness Deep Exfoliating Foot Scrub

Use this quick and easy recipe to revitalize tired feet and scrub away dead skin cells.

Healing Ingredients:

1 cup of sea salt
½ cup of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil
10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil

Additional Tools:

A wide-mouth glass jar
Wash cloth (preferably organic cotton)

How To:

Mix the salt and olive oil in your container. Sprinkle in your essential oil. Stir to combine.

Place a towel underneath your feet and sit down. Apply the scrub to your feet using an organic cotton washcloth. Gently exfoliate callus-prone heels and toes using light circular motions.

For a softer scrub for those of you who don’t have heavily calloused feet, replace the salt with cornmeal and/or baking soda.

Laura Klein’s Green Goodness Organic Oatmeal Mask

Oatmeal calms and softens skin. A natural anti-inflammatory, it creates a thin moisture retaining layer on the surface of the skin and acts as a super gentle exfoliant.

Healing Ingredients:

2 tablespoons dry, organic oatmeal (rolled, not instant)
2 teaspoons honey
1 egg white

How To:

An oatmeal mask is ideal for a tub soak. Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Mix into a thick paste. Apply to cleansed skin. Relax for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Follow with your favorite all natural moisturizer.