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Alberta Co-op Grocery

Open to everyone 9-10 daily

1500 NE Alberta St., Portland, Oregon 97211  ·  on buslines 8 & 72

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Posts Tagged ‘soap’

Who Doesn’t Like a Little Magic?

Posted April 28th, 2010

Choosing soap can be an overwhelming process.  Long gone are the days when soap was just soap.  Now we have to calculate exactly what the soap will be used for- shampoo, body, laundry…- and within each of those categories we have to search for the products with quality ingredients and decent packaging, if possible.  This process can be frustrating, but will be alleviated by buying Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, which is currently on sale for $9.99/quart (usually $13.99).

To begin, the bottle is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, and when you’ve used up the contents you can bring it back in an refill it in the soap section of the co-op.  But the bottle is not the only thing great about this product.  Dr. Bronner’s is made from certified fair-trade and organic ingredients.  Though there is a bit of controversy surrounding the integrity of such labels nowadays, you can be sure that this company is true to its word as they have engaged in extensive advocacy toward tighter regulations on product labeling.  Moreover, Dr. Bronner’s philosophy includes a strong emphasis on worker’s rights, and after substantial donations to a variety of organizations, profits are shared throughout the company, with the lowest paid worker receiving no less than 1/5 of the highest executives income.

But is it any good?  Absolutely!  I was first introduced to the wonders of Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap on a camping trip a little over a decade ago, and besides the wonderful tingling sensation it provided, it was a relief to have a biodegradable soap to use in an otherwise potentially smelly situation. However, with extended use I found my hair became tangled and dry, and it was only recently when I experimented with the lavender variety that Dr. Bronner’s became the soap I use in every-day life, both for body and hair.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap is also good for a variety of other uses, including dish-washing, laundry, and even as a toothpaste alternative!  Moreover, it is twice as concentrated as other liquid soaps, making the value even greater.

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Posted in Wellness

Dr. Bronner’s Magic

Posted April 23rd, 2010

by Marianna Thielen, Working Owner

I am not quite sure what ever possessed me to pick up a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s “Magic” Liquid Soap.  How can soap be “magic”?! How can soap have 18 uses?  What are all of these quotes all over the bottle?  But, for some reason, my own curiosity got the best of me and I picked it up.  I was pleased to find out that the ingredients are much simpler than their claims: Water, coconut, olive oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E.  Wow, I can actually read and understand these ingredients!  And, what’s more, I found that the soap is a concentrate, I can dilute it, and it lasts for months!  And, it really works!  In addition, it comes in eight different scents. (My scent of the moment is peppermint, I plan on trying the rose next).

I am still not sold on the 18 uses, and have yet to find where all of these uses are listed(there are ten listed on his website), but this is what I have used it for so far: first, and foremost, as a body cleanser.  I have a bottle with a pump dispenser that I fill about one third with the soap and the rest with water.  Second, I have started using it as a shampoo (by default after running out of my usual brand) and it works perfectly well.  Finally, I tried cleaning with it for the first time the other day and found it very effective on my bathtub and kitchen floor!  The soap foams up nicely and the peppermint smells wonderful.  I have heard that it is great to use as a mouthwash, in laundry and for washing off vegetables, but have yet to experience that myself.

So, while I have not found eighteen different ways to use this soap, if I can wash my body, hair, and house with something that is made out of ingredients that are organic, simple, fair trade, and smell wonderful.  Dr. Bronner, that is “magic” enough for me.

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Posted in Wellness