Green Girl Basics

I founded Green Girl Basics in 1999. I believe in a cause as much as making a living off of what I do. Green Girl Basics handmade toiletries are all natural, 75% organic, vegetarian, cruelty free, and biodegradable. I aim to accomplish Green Girl Basics’ mission of "compassion before profit" through education in the form of soap making classes and promotion of our green products. I use the finest food grade vegetable oils, herbs, essential oils, and natural colorants. My goal is to be 100% organic and biodynamic by 2011. I formulated our products to be mild for those with sensitive or problem skin. Many of our fair skinned customers with psoriasis, eczema, and acne are experiencing wonderful results with our products.I believe that as consumers we hold the keys to change in our wallets. We have the ability to vote for what we believe in by simply purchasing items that are in line with our beliefs and boycotting products that go against our principals.Green Girl Basics promotes the right to know what ingredients are in the toiletries that are being applied our skin. The skin is the largest elimination organ we have. Everything that comes in contact with your skin must be processed by the liver.Making your own soaps is a creative and practical art not to mention a sweet science project. When you make your own soap, you chose the green alternative to commercial consumerism. For the last 5 years, I have offered a class in the spring to celebrate my first batch of soap made that I made in the spring of 1999. That batch of Rosemary and Lavender soap was a dismal failure but a super fun learning experience. I love teaching people how easy and fun it is to make your own soaps. My next course will offered at the John C. Campbell Folk School on November 17 to November 21, 2008. This week long creative chemistry course with cover the manufacturing of soaps, lotions, balms, scrubs and more. I also host private soapmaking parties for groups of 7 to 12 students. People have asked me, "Why are you sharing all your years of trial and error? Aren’t you afraid someone will copy you?" The way I see it, the more people who "copy" me, the greener and more compassionate this earth will be. So, copy the recipes and knowledge in my blog and distribute freely. ~Colleen Trickett