Effects of Positive Ions and Negative Ions on Human Health

What are ions?

Ions are electrically charged particles that are present in the air around us. They are created when energy is transferred into the air through UV rays from the sun, friction between blowing sand, dust, wind, or rain, radioactive elements in the soil, lightning and storms, evaporating water, waterfalls, and ocean surf. Ions affects our body's capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen. Our body's cells naturally contain a negative charge. They enter the body through inhalation. Breathing negative ions in significant concentration improves our mood, energy, and overall health, while too much exposure to positive ions will make us depressed, distressed, and our bodies to be overloaded with toxins. Like a magnet, opposites attract, and our body pulls these positive ions towards ourselves, causing harm. Crime and suicide rates are higher, the elderly experience respiratory problems, and children grow irritable when exposed to too much positive ions.

Where are positive ions found?

- Pollutants such as dust, pollen, bacteria, heavy metals, and toxins carry a positive charge. 
- Free radicals. Smoking, overexposure to radiation, the use of randic or unstable fats to cook, such as vegetable oils, can form harmful free radicals. Free radicals are the cause of so many diseases and they carry a positive charge.
- Electronic gagdets, electronics, and home appliances all emit positive ions. It's a good idea to keep these items away from your bedroom, as an example.
- Synthetic fabrics/fibers (e.g. in carpet, clothing, and furniture) attract positive ions. 
- Fumes and smoke from car, factory exhaust, and even cigarette smoke.
- Air-conditioned buildings, trains and planes. All the metals, filters, and air-con systems deplete negative ions and thus these areas become supercharged with positive ions.

Generally the more populated a city is, the fewer negative ions and the more positive ions.

How to Get Exposure to Negative Ions Naturally?

- Ventilate. A good start to expose yourself to negative ions daily is by opening up the windows and use less air-con. If you drive, lower the car windows. Fresh air contains negative ions.
- Spend time in nature. Spend time in the garden and surround yourself with trees, go camping, hiking, get close to waterfalls, spend time by the ocean and play in the water. Plant life, fresh air, ocean surf and the crashing pure water from the waterfalls are charged with negative ions. 

- Walk barefoot in the sand and on the grass. The earth is charged with negative ions and our feet are conductors to absorb negative ions.

- Have a relaxing walk after the rain. The air before a thunderstorm carries a very large concentration of positive ions and the storm then releases a large concentration of negative ions afterwards. That is why we feel "heavy" before rain comes and calm after rain stops. It's the surge of negative ions we are breathing in and we feel good.

Additionally, you can increase your exposure to negative ions and decrease the positive ones in your life by choosing natural or organic materials/products such as clothings, bed sheets, towels that are made with natural fabrics, use organic bodycare products (soaps, creams, etc.) and cleaning products (laundry detergents, dishwasher soaps, etc.). Avoid synthetic materials such as commercial furniture polish and other cleaning agents paints, and furnishings.

If you live in a crowded city and find yourself hard to get exposed to nature, try getting exposed to the right kinds of technologies that produce negative ions. You can use himalayan rock salt lamps or an ion generator/purifier, wear negative ion clothing, place fresh potted plants around your living spaces (plants absorb positive ions, replenishing the healthy negative ion balance), or install a portable water fountains.

Our body will not function optimally without negative ions. Negative ions improve health, treat illness, accelerate healing, and reduce stress. I have also read that nursing moms find themselves with more higher quality milk for their babies when exposed to a lot of negative ions. 

Although topic is very new to me and I had no idea what positive or negative ion was prior to this, I know that I find myself very happy, rejuvenated, and more relaxed whenever I get a chance to hike in the forest, walk by the beach, or just resting by a waterfall. It's good for our health and well-being to feel this way whether we think it's just a coincidence of being away from the busyness of life or if it's really the negative ions playing a part. Either way, I may just start to go to the beach more often and walk barefoot in the sand. At the very least, I get to breathe some fresh air, spend time with my children, play, and get vitamin D from the sun. :)

What are your experiences wiith negative ions? Have you tried negative ion clothing?

Benefits of Calendula and How to Make Calendula Salve

Benefits of Calendula

Calendula is one of my favorite herbs as a mom. Since the first time I knew of it, I know I will always need it on hand. Also known as (pot or garden) marigold, a term that refers to Virgin Mary, this medicinal herb has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral properties, and has been used for centuries to heal minor wounds and skin irritations. 

You can make calendula oil simply by infusing calendula petals with extra virgin olive oil for several weeks and it can be used for cradle cap, diaper rash, chapped skin, bruises, inflammations, and sore muscles. It is perfect as a massage oil and all-around moisturizer. You can make calendula salve using calendula oil. This helps to preserve the medicinal qualities of the herb in a form that can be easy to use and it is not messy to carry around. Calendula salve can be used for any skin irritations and inflammations such as minor cuts, scrapes, bruises, burns, acne, diaper rashes, and bee stings. It also relieves itches from eczema flare ups. 

Its naturally soothing properties and mild floral scent is gentle and safe to use on babies and children.

How to make Calendula Salve

I bought a pack of organic calendula petals and wanted to make calendula oil and salve at home. I saw a video tutorial online and have successfully made my first batch of calendula salves. Mine is a simple one - just a mixture of calendula petals that I infuse with extra virgin olive oil (for one month) and I added lavender essential oil, for an added healing power.

Ingredients and Supplies (from this tutorial)

Extra virgin olive oil

Organic calendula petals

Lavender essential oils (optional)

Organic beeswax

A mason jar

Cheesecloth

Strainer

Double boiler or a cooking pot

Measuring cup

Directions

First, make the calendula oil (see this tutorial) by infusing calendula petals with extra virgin olive oil.

Let it sit for four weeks. Make sure the glass jar is dry so mold will not grow. Check and shake the jar daily. After four weeks, the color of the oil turns golden:

Pour the oil through a cheesecloth and strainer and squeeze out all the extra oils from the petals.

Melt the beeswax in the double boiler, then add the calendula oil (I forgot to take pictures of this step). Stir until everything melts completely. Turn off fire, add lavender essential oil.

The formula is 1 cup (8 oz) of calendula oil by volume to 1 oz of beeswax by weight. If you use beeswax pastilles, it will be 2 tablespoons (reference). If you add the essential oil, add 1 teaspoon per cup of oil.

Pour into your containers immediately, otherwise the mixture will harden and you have to re-melt it. You can use any glass jars or tins like this.

I make a label using this tutorial and now it looks pretty!

If making your own calendula salve doesn't suit you, there are many brands that sell them in Singapore and one of my favorites by far is the one by Four Cow Farm. (See my reviews of their products here). Their 100% natural calendula salve also contain jojoba oil and roman chamomile, another two ingredients that are so gentle even for the most sensitive skin. 

For Pasture Living readers, take advantage of a 10% discount on Four Cow Farm balms and oils this month using this code 3UH4XN07HDVY for the whole month of March 2015. Enjoy!

Have You Heard of Baobab Oil?

I was recently introduced to baobab oil by EcoProducts in the search to heal acne scars and relieve eczema flare ups and I am glad I gave it a try. I was surprised how moisturizing this oil is, almost like a concentrated oil if there is such a thing, even thicker than coconut oil. Then I started to research about this oil and here is a little background about this exquisite oil:

Baobab oil is made from baobab seeds that are found in large capsule-like fruit which grow on baobab trees. Baobab trees grow throughout the savannas of Africa. When the fruits mature, they naturally drop off of the trees. The seeds are removed by cracking open the fruits, washed, and then sun dried. These seeds then go through an expeller and oil is cold pressed out of the seeds.

Baobab oil is rich in:

- Vitamins A, D, E, F: Promotes healthy skin and skin revitalization.
- Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids: Rich moisturizers that nourish damaged skin, protect the skin, and encorage cell renewal and regeneration.
- Antioxidants: Protection against free radicals.

I have been using baobab oil to heal acne scars these few weeks and I can tell that the scars are lighter as baobab oil is easily absorbed in the skin and doesn't clog pores. This is an excellent oil to calm inflammation and provides relief from itch, rashes, eczema, and sunburn. You can also use it to nourish dry and flaky scalp. 

Different oils have different vitamin content and moisturizing/healing effect. Between jojoba oil, coconut oil, and baobab oil - the three oils that I have read about more extensively and used longer, I find that baobab oil is the most moisturizing of all three. It doesn't have any odor like coconut and a few drops are all that we need to moisturize a large area of our skin and hair. On the other hand, jojoba oil is a more neutral oil that is suitable for oily skin as it prevents the skin from overcompensating with more oil production and coconut oil has an added antimicrobial properties that helps to heal wounds. Give it a try. I personally think baobab oil is more superior compared jojoba oil or coconut oil for its moisturizing and relieving of itch and rashes, but different oils may work differently on everybody. Use it as you would a regular moisturizer. 

You can purchase EcoProducts Baobab Oils from Pura Vida. I love how Kristi, the owner of Pura Vida Singapore, works with small business owners that are passionate about natural living, environmental sustainability, and those that create work employment for the people who live in underdeveloped parts of the world. One of them would be Sarah Venter, a scientist and the founder of EcoProducts. From early on, she makes sure that the harvest of baobab fruits is sustainable. In doing this, she also creates employment for many women in the underdeveloped parts of southern Africa and Venda. Read more about her and EcoProducts here. I love that her baobab oil is natural, eco-friendly, nutrient-rich, and creates economic benefits.

Check out Kristi's other products/brands on her site:

- I specifically love Alteya's Organic Rosewater Spray. It is 100% pure, steam distilled rose water that is made from organic roses from Bulgaria. This is an all-in-one cleanser, toner, and moisturizer that balances our skin's pH, rejuvenates, and beautifies the skin. Like EcoProducts, Alteya has been able to provide employment to some of the poorest villages in Bulgaria and we help to support these families when we purchase their products. 

- I also enjoyed Oh-Lief's trial pack containing salves for pregnant moms and babies. Oh-Lief makes an all-natural salves for stretching tummies, nappy rashes, insect bites, and more. These little tubes are so convenient to bring in our handbags!

Thanks to Pura Vida, three winners will be randomly selected to receive a bottle of 30 ml baobab oil each. To enter the giveaway, simply:

1. "Like" Pasture Living Facebook Page 

2. "Like" Pura Vida Singapore Facebook Page 

3. Comment on this post on why you'd like to try baobab oil and leave your email address. If you are uncomfortable leaving your email publicly, send me a message through Pasture Living Facebook page. 

4. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page. 

This giveaway will end on 25 November 2014 Singapore time and the winners will be announced through email. Open to Singapore residents only.


You can also use code "pasture15" for a 15% discount for any purchases you make on Pure Vida's website (a minimum of $30 purchase). 

Disclaimer: Pura Vida sponsored the above products for reviews, no compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

DIY Dried Lavender Potpourri Pouches

I have been sewing a lot lately from quilts to kitchen appliances covers and my last project was making potpourri pouches for party favors. I made small pouches, filled it with dried lavender, sewed them together, put some ribbons, and there I have very cute, pretty, naturally scented homemade potpourri pouches. My daughter loves to take a pouch, which she calls her little pillow, to go to sleep. It makes a lovely natural air freshener too. This will be for the birthday party favors of a friend's two year old daughter. I hope the little ones will love getting them as much as my daughter does! This will work as homemade gifts for the upcoming Christmas or any wedding or bridal/baby shower parties as well. :)

Lavender has a healing and calming effect which helps us to relax and go to sleep. The use of lavender essential oil is endless. It has powerful healing powers from treating rashes, soothing eczema, relieve muscle aches, and more. 

Travel: Singapore's Eco-Friendly Gardens by the Bay

If you are visiting Singapore, you cannot miss the Gardens by the Bay. It is Singapore's latest multicultural wonder that began as an international design competition in 2006 and opened its doors in 2012. It features spectacular supertrees, cool conservatories (plants and waterfall), children's water play area and playground, and the heritage gardens that showcases plants that occupy a special place in the history and culture of Singapore's main ethnics. The Indian gardens features banyan trees, which symbolizes eternal life for the Indians. The Chinese garden has a circular opening in the wall that welcomes people into the Chinese garden, a feature found in a traditional Chinese garden, called a moon gate, which represents a full moon. The Malay garden showcases traditional village residents known as kampong house and some food plants used by the Malays such as lemongrass. The colonial garden is decorated with white flowers that were chosen to match the black and white houses of the early British times. The cloud forest conservatory features plants from mountainous areas of the world.

Some of the trees in this garden have remarkably survived the long passage of time such as the Mediterranean olive trees that are estimated to be about one thousand years old. 

Eco-Friendly Garden

At night, the mighty supertrees groves, about 20-50 meter high (as high as 16 storey buildings) are beautifully lighted. The trees absorb heat and solar panels atop their canopies harness solar energy. This energy is sufficient to light up the trees at night, collect and store rainwater to irrigate the plants that flow on their trunks.

Rainwater is collected within the gardens and passes through filter base of semi aquatic plants which cleans the water before it enters the lake. The water in the lakes that surround bay south is used for irrigating the plants and then returned to the marina reservoir when the water level rises.

Fun for the kids!

Their outdoor playground and water play area is fun for children of all ages. It's clean and spacious. And best of all, it's free!

And while there, try the unique floral ice cream made by Udders specially for the Gardens by the Bay. You can get them in their gift shop.

bSoul Natural Skincare Product Reviews and a Giveaway!

I have very sensitive skin. I have eczema that is hereditary. When I consumed a lot of processed food and used skincare products that contain a lot of chemicals, my skin wasn't in its best condition. Even when I had significantly switched to a healthier and natural lifestyle, there are still environmental factors such as pollution and dust that easily irritate my skin. Eating the right kinds of food is definitely the most important factor for healthy skin. Some people are blessed with beautiful skin naturally. Some others, including me, have to intentionally take care of our skin daily to keep them healthy. There are many ways to nourish our skin naturally, but some people still prefer to buy formulated products for convenience and comfort. There are indeed advantages to buying high-quality natural skin care products because these companies have spent time and resources researching on blends of ingredients that give maximum effectiveness for our skin.

Let me introduce you to bSoul skin care from Tuscany, Italy. This product range is eco-friendly and skin-friendly. They look to nature to get rich ingredients that gives the best to the skin, while respecting the skin and the environment. bSoul range does not contain toxic ingredients including mineral oils, petroleum products, dimethicone, petrolatum, paraffin, alkyl, acryl, peg, substances of animal origin, SLEs and parabens. Some of these substances, such as paraffin, acrylics and silicones give an illusion that our skin has improved, but in reality they interfere with our natural moisterizing properties and disrupt our skin's ability to self-regenerate and self-protect, even when combined with excellent natural ingredients. bSoul skin care is certified by ICEA (Environmental and Ethical Certification Institute), vegan friendly and also cruelty free. They are unfortunately not 100% natural because they do contain preservatives called phenoxyethanol and fragrances (though they are approved by ICEA). Preservatives are needed for all skin care products sold on the shelves to prevent bacteria from growing and phenoxyethanol is the lesser evil compared to many other preservatives out there. The good news is they are used in very little amount and thus their shelf life is only 6-12 months. The packaging materials for bSoul range are also made with recycled or recyclable materials, making them eco-friendly. 

That said, this is not a perfect product but the choices we have in the market today may be far worse. A close look at ingredient labels will give you the answer. bSoul aims to help the skin restore its ideal condition through continual research and improvement.

bSoul Physiological Normalization Kit

I was fortunate to receive their Physiological Normalization Kit to try. One of the main functions of the skin is to regulate the quantity of lipids, thickness (keratin), pH (skin acidity), melanin, vasodilation, and defend itself from external factors (cold, UV rays, wind, bacteria, humidity, etc.). This kit is formulated to do just that:

Hydra-Milk Cleanser cleanses the skin without drying it. It is made with argan oil and rosa moschata which lipids are similar to our skin thus they can be easily absorbed, contains antioxidant properties, and gives the necessary fat acids for our skin; Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary Extracts: Sage and thyme are antiseptic, purifying, sebum-rebalancing and anti-inflammatory. Rosemary has antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals, and Lactic Acid to regulate the skin pH. This cleanser is very gentle and moisturizing on the skin.

Hydra-Face Scrub 3Action is a delicate scrub that nourishes and normalizes skin. It is made with vitamin E-rich and hydrating jojoba that has antioxidant properties, aloe vera extract - a cooling plant that protects, heal, reduce inflammation, and boost cell regeneration, and baking soda - an excellent and gentle exfoliator that helps to remove dead skin cells, making skin brighter and more youthful. I enjoy this scrub a few times a week. It exfoliates my skin very well.

Redness-Sinergy Serum is a serum with a very high functional ingredients concentration that boosts sensitive skin defense against oxidative damage. This concentrated serum contains potent anti-inflmmatory magnolia bark extract, maitake mushroom extract that enhances skin elasticity and firmness, lactic acid to regulate skin pH, aloe vera, chamomile, mallow, and calendula extracts that refresh, calm, and sooth the skin, and vitamin E (antioxidant). Suitable for all skin type, especially for delicate, sensitive, and reactive skin.

This is by far my favorite. It is a rich moisturizer and penetrates deep into the skin. It smells mildly sweet like honeysuckle, which is refreshing. 

Hydra-Comfort Face Cream is a moisturizing cream that restores, hydrates, and gives a radiant complexion. It is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and delicate, as it is made of soothing and softening altea and mallow extracts, aloe vera extract that shields our skin against the sun rays, antioxidant rosemary extract, vitamin E, nourishing shea butter, and squalene to retain the natural moisture of the skin. I apply this cream when I go out since aloe vera helps to protect our skin from the sun's UV rays.

I have to say that this set beats many of the skin care products that I've tried in the past. I love that this is as natural as it can be, while still smell appealing to those who are switching into natural products. My skin feels so pampered and hydrated and I highly recommend this set!

A healthy skin is able to self regenerate, self protect and also can retain water and the nutrients in it. People who are used to using synthetic skin care and cosmetic products or have a complicated skin history may find that their skin will need a longer time to stabilize. It takes about a month for our skin to regenerate new skin cells and thus you need to be patient when switching your skin care products to a natural one. You may see break outs in the beginning but your skin will calm down afterwards. 

Thanks to our sponsor Hap Global, one lucky winner will receive one set of Hydra-Milk Cleanser + Redness Sinergy + Hydra-Comfort Face Cream (worth S$296) and three other winners will receive bSoul trial kits, one set each. To enter, simply:

1. "Like" Pasture Living Facebook Page

2. "Like" bSoul Singapore Facebook Page

3. Comment on this post on why you'd like to win a bSoul skincare set and leave your email address. If you are uncomfortable leaving your email publicly, send me a message through Pasture Living Facebook page.

4. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page and tag a friend.

This giveaway will end on 25 July 2014 Singapore time and the winners will be announced through email. Open to Singapore residents only.

A special discount for those of you who want to purchase bSoul Physiological Normalization Kit, use coupon code "BSVicky10%" (expire 31 September 2014, for a 10% discount when you shop through their online store.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: Hap Global sponsored the above products for reviews, no compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

CocoNurture Organic Coconut Oil Reviews and A Giveaway!

I have been consuming coconut oil for about two years now and I've witnessed health improvements by making coconut oil a regular part of my diet. I recently found out about CocoNurture, a company based in Singapore that sells coconut oil. I was excited when they sent me some of their products to try because I know coconut oil is sooooo good for our health as well as for our skin.

They have two kinds of organic coconut oil: Ultra Light and Premium Culinary Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO). They are both cold-pressed and organic but they use different methods of extraction, thus yielding a slightly different result in texture, taste, and aroma. The Ultra Light VCO is more coconut-ty in flavor and lighter in texture and is best consumed raw. The Premium Culinary VCO is thicker in texture but lighter in taste, which is perfect for cooking as it doesn't alter the taste and aroma of food. The VCO's that I have bought previously have very strong coconut flavors and some people do not enjoy the coconut taste in the food when I cook with it. The ultra light VCO is easy to swallow raw in my opinion and it is my favorite because I sometimes gag when swallowing If you don't quite like the coconut aroma but wish to add more coconut oil in your diet, CocoNurture Premium Culinary VCO may be your answer. The other advantage of getting CocoNurture coconut oil is that you can get your coconut oil on your door immediately as they deliver fast and they offer free shipping for orders over $80. 

Aside from coconut oil, they also sell other organic coconut products such as coconut sugar, a natural sweetener with low GI index (GI 35), coconut nectar syrup, coconut flour (which is gluten-free), coconut cider vinegar, and coconut oil-infused skincare products, including baby oil and diaper rash oil. On its own, coconut oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, aids in healing of wounds, is moisturizing for our skin, and doesn't leave oily residue on our skin because it gets absorbed very quickly into our skin. When coconut oil meets the right essential oils, the nourishing and healing properties of the infusion is even greater. CocoNurture has in-house herbalists who specialize in essential oils and know the precise concentrations they need to make a particular blend. The essentials they use are gentle yet very effective for the purposes they serve. 

I particularly love their Eczema Flare Relief Oil, which I have been applying on rashes and eczema. It's very moisturizing, cooling, and soothes itchy and dry skin.

Insect bites on my daughter's leg

Coconurture's Natural Mosquito Repellent Oil has been a lifesaver when we go to the parks. My daughter has sensitive skin and one little insect bite will leave a mark on her skin for a long time. I'm pleased to know that it doesn't contain DEET, an active ingredient that is found in most commercial insect repellent. DEET has been linked to neurological problems as well as eye and skin irritants and I don't want it on my daughter's skin.

I have to say that this is one of the most effective insect repellent I have tried. I often bring my daughter down to the park and always come back with mosquito bites. Since I apply this oil, we are mostly mosquito bite-free! When I applied the oil thinly, we still come back with some bites, so I have been more generous in applying the oil and that has really prevented us from getting mosquito bites.

I've also been applying their Intense Scalp Treatment on my husband. I've been applying just VCO on his scalp, but having this coconut-oil infused mixture that is already blended with essential oils specifically to nourish the scalp is very helpful and convenient.

Best of all, the ones I have mentioned and reviewed here do not contain any toxic ingredients such as  parabens, sulfates, phthalates, petroleum, preservatives, and synthetic fragrances. And they come in handy spray bottles for ease of use.

Thanks to CocoNurture, some of you will get to try their awesome coconut oil products! Three winners will get a set of twin pack Ultra Light and Premium Culinary Virgin Coconut Oil (worth S$36.60) and another three winners will get a bottle of Eczema Flare Relief Oil and a bottle of Mosquito Repellent Oil each (worth S$33.60). 


To enter, simply:

1. "Like" Pasture Living Facebook Page

2. Comment on this post which Coconurture coconut oil productscyou'd like to win (coconut oils or the eczema/repellent oils) and leave your email address. If you are uncomfortable leaving your email publicly, send me a message through Pasture Living Facebook page.

3. Like and share this giveaway on your Facebook page and tag a friend.

This giveaway will end on 18 July 2014 Singapore time and the winners will be announced through email. Open to Singapore residents only.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: Coconurture sponsored the above products for reviews, no compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergents and Dishwashing Liquid and Ecover Zero Product Reviews and A Giveaway!

Many of us, including myself, wash dishes, do laundry, and clean the house on regular basis. It is a chore that we don't think much about anymore. But have we ever wondered what happens to all the water that go down the drain? Toxic waste from chemical-filled household products makes its way to the sewer and continue into the soils and ground water, polluting the environment and harming aquatic life, which then comes back right at us when we consume them as food. My family has been trying to make our own household cleaners as much as we can, including all purpose cleaner and floor cleaner. But making everything natural is not always easy. I've succeeded in some, and I have also failed, wasting all the ingredients I bought for those specific purposes. Some others I'm just too intimidated to try, including making my own laundry detergents and dishwashing liquid, because I'm afraid the result will not be effective and disappointing. I want my laundry clean and plates sparkling and I just don't have the confidence that homemade detergents and dishwashing solutions can give me this result. Thus, I have to resort to using gloves when I wash the dishes to protect my hands from itch and rashes from the harsh water and chemicals. 

Then I discovered Ecover Zero, a range of Ecover products that are made from natural, sustainable plant-based and mineral ingredients, which makes them very mild and gentle for the skin. It proudly boasts that:

- It is biodegradable - quickly and completely, leaving no residue behind. 

- It is fragrance and coloring-free: This range is formulated especially for allergy-prone and sensitive skin, such as eczema. (The fragrance that is used in Ecover's other range of products are sourced from nature, like their soft and gentle Camomile and Marigold Washing Up Liquid.)

- It is dermatologically tested, for sensitive skin.

- Phosphate-free: Phosphates pollute the water and endanger aquatic life. 

- It is eco-friendly: Their packaging are made using Plant-Pastic - a renewable, reusable and recyclable plastic made of sugarcane, which spares the oceans a tsunami of plastic litter. And because it is phosphate-free, it does no harm to the waterways of the world after it's been washed down the drain.

- Doesn't contain foam boosters and optical brighteners: Foams don't necessarily clean any better and optical brighteners only create an illusion that our laundry is clean, but they actually do not enhance cleaning performance and they do not biodegrade completely.

- It uses eco-surfactants: Surfactants is an active ingredient used to give great cleaning results. Ecover uses plant based alternatives instead of harmful petrochemical-based surfactants found in many conventional household cleaners.

- Preservatives used are naturally derived and/or Ecocert approved.

- Through continual research and development, Ecover ensures their products use more and more renewable science, leave fewer unwanted residues, biodegrade even more quickly and have less impact on aquatic life. 

I had the privilege to try Ecover Zero's Washing Up Liquid and Laundry Liquid and I'm completely satisfied with its effectiveness and cleaning power. My plates are squeaky clean and laundry fresh. Not only they are eco-friendly, they don't irritate my skin, they don't have any overpowering fragrance (just the way I like it), and they do their job well! I have spent a lot buying conventional "baby" detergent and dishwashing liquid to wash baby clothes and bottles before and I can guarantee that they are not as safe and eco-friendly as we think. Now that I know about Ecover Zero, I have no reservation in using their products to wash any of my things, including baby things.

This range also carries Fabric Conditioner to soften fabrics, should you choose to use it.

Amazingly, even Environmental Working Group (EWG), the non-profit organization that rates household and cosmetic products, gives this Laundry Liquid a smashing A! That means it's one of the best one out there. (There was no rating for the Washing Up Liquid). 

To have a green product that works as effectively as its non-green counterparts, which means being kind to our skin and to this earth God has entrusted to us, what more can I ask for?

Ecover products are available in all Home-Fix Singapore outlets. They are giving a 20% discount (expire on 31 August 2014) exclusively for Pasture Living readers when you shop on their website (Discount Code: ECV20PL). iHerb also carries selected Ecover products, but not as extensive as Ecover's own website and retail stores.

Thanks to Ecover, three lucky winners will each receive a bottle of their regular Washing Up Liquid to try. To enter, simply:

1. "Like" Pasture Living Facebook Page

2. "Like" Ecover SG Facebook Page

3. Comment on this post on why you'd like to win Ecover's Washing Up Liquid and leave your email address. If you are uncomfortable leaving your email publicly, send me a message through Pasture Living Facebook page.

4. Like and share this giveaway on your Facebook page and tag a friend.

This giveaway will end on 6 July 2014 Singapore time and the winners will be announced through email. Open to Singapore residents only.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: Ecover sponsored the above products for reviews, no compensation was received and all opinions are my own.