ecostoreUSA Review and Giveaway

Like just about everyone these days, I am trying to be more conscious of the products that I buy and what type of chemicals and other things they are made from. While I haven’t jumped all the way on the organic, green bandwagon, I’m learning a lot and beginning to make some changes.

A few weeks back, I was given some products to review by ecostoreUSA . I chose three from their hair and personal care line, since I had never bought anything chemical free to use in the bath. (I know, I know, poisoning myself, don’t lecture me.)

From their website:

ecostore was founded in 1993 by longtime organic gardener and environmental pioneer Malcolm Rands from his family’s home in an Eco Village in New Zealand. ecostore began as a mail-order business promoting eco-friendly products to a small group of dedicated organic gardeners. Known throughout New Zealand and Australia today as “ecoman,” his dream was to create a healthier and more sustainable world through the development of a permaculture, or self-sustaining ecosystem village.

ecostore USA has formulated its products without toxic petrochemicals, phosphates, nitrates, chlorine, ammonia, enzymes, synthetic perfumes, coloring or dyes, optical whiteners/brighteners or chemical preservatives. Instead, ecostore USA uses sustainable ingredients derived from plants and minerals, producing safer products that work equally as effectively as those that are chemical-based. Customers anecdotally have reported that, after using ecostore USA laundry products to wash clothes and linens, children’s eczema and dermatitis have disappeared, while allergies and asthma symptoms have decreased.

I tried the Vanilla Shampoo and Conditioner, as well as the Vanilla scented bar soap. I was feeling matchy the day I picked my products. I was a bit apprehensive about how well the shampoo and conditioner would work, being that I was a natural hair care products “virgin.”

The shampoo and conditioner had a great vanilla scent, which hubby even complimented me on. My hair felt very clean and soft after using it and after a few days, I’m pretty sure it had stripped some of the nasty buildup from my hair that had been left behind from months (years?) of product use. I’ve even started using the conditioner on the baby, because with his thick curls, the kids 2-in-1 I’ve been using just isn’t cutting the mustard. With this conditioner, I can now get a brush through his hair without meltdowns ensuing.

The soap is great, too. It also has a nice scent, though it doesn’t last quite as long as regular soaps with perfumes and chemicals. On the whole, I don’t often use bar soap because of the icky residue left behind after you rinse. I did not get that feeling at all with the soaps from ecostore.

Overall, I was very pleased with the items I was sent to review and will be very likely to purchase more from them in the future. If you are interested in giving some of their product line a shot, you can visit the ecostoreUSA website, or stop by your local Meijer, as they are introducing their line in those stores.

I have also been given a $25 gift certificate to give to one lucky reader! If you want a shot at winning $25 in products from ecostoreUSA, all you need to do is go to the ecostoreUSA website and come back and leave a comment with what you would like to try.

For additional entries (main entry must be completed first), you can:

• Tell me what national retail chain you would love to see feature ecostore products.

• Tweet about this giveaway (up to 3 times)

• Subscribe to my feed

• Blog about this giveaway

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Winner will be drawn by Random.org, after the close of the contest. Contest will end on Friday, July 10, at 11:59 pm. Winner will be emailed and will have 72 hrs to claim their prize, or another winner will be drawn.

Good luck!

Product was provided for this review.