Todd English’s Green Pan

The other day I was in Target, shopping for odds and ends, when I remembered to check the cookware aisles. I’ve been needing to beef up my supply of stove-top cookware, and have been window shopping for the perfect items to fill in the gaps in my artillery. I happened to stop when I saw a powder-blue and grey skillet. It was 12″ with high sides. I almost moved on because of the non-stick coating, but then I noticed the name: Green Pan.

It was one of the pans that National Geographic’s Green Guide recommends. I checked the price: $39.99. Not bad. I was in the market for a wok and an 11″ skillet, but it occurred to me that this would suit both purposes adequately. So far I’ve cooked Indian curry, eggs, turkey meatballs, and pancakes in it, just so I could test out its performance range.

Things to love: According to the packaging, you can use this pan on any type of cook top surface (gas, electric, flat, coil) and it is safe up to 800 degrees–which is pretty safe. The high-temp tolerance means that the pan won’t emit fumes or leak toxins into your food the way other non-stick pans do when heated past their idea temp (usually less than 500 degrees, I believe). The green technology that Green Pan utilizes greatly reduces their carbon emissions during different steps of the manufacturing process and they use less packaging than most (just a bit of recycled paper).

The pan heats evenly and cooks beautifully. At $39.99, that’s a bargain for a great, multi-purpose piece of cookware.

Less than perfect: I can already tell I’m going to have to be careful not to scratch the non-stick coating. My bamboo cooking spoons and my silicone spatula are the only things that are coming near this. I also wouldn’t feel comfortable sticking it in my draining rack. I wash and dry it by hand. But that’s what you sign up for when you buy non-stick cookware.

Final analysis: Pretty, functional, human and eco friendly. Sold! I plan to stock up on a few more of their products.

Posted by: Catie

Burt’s Bees Soapbark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream

Stop the presses. After raving about Bee Ceuticals products (which I still love, fyi) I found a product to supplement my skin care regime: Burt’s Bees Soapbark and Chomomile Deep Cleansing Cream. While Bee Ceuticals is very gentle, and nice for daily cleansing, sometimes you need something with more oomph! I use a microdermabrasian system, but I’m talking about something that feels like it’s cleaning deep down in your pores, and this does. I have sensitive, combination skin, and this is what I think of it.

Things to love: The cool, tingly way it makes your skin feel. You can tell it’s really working. It cleans so well, I don’t have to remove any of my makeup before I use it. It’s also 97% natural, which isn’t bad. My sensitive skin doesn’t react to it at all. And the price is great. A six ounce tube is approximately $8.

Less than perfect: This won’t be my twice-a-day-every-day cleanser because it dries out my skin a little. When I don’t use it every day, it’s great–like a cleansing booster. I recommend following it up with a very hydrating moisturizer or a night cream.

Final analysis: For the price and results, I love this product. When used to supplement my regular skin-care regime, it’s perfect for me so far.

Posted by: Catie

Nic’s Sticks.

Last week I was lamenting the fact that I haven’t found a cheap and easy way to keep my nails done as I agonizingly painted and repainted them. Then, my sister introduced me to this product: Nic’s Sticks, by OPI. It’s nail polish in a tube that you apply with the applicator brush-tip. Brilliant! I applied two coats to one hand and one coat with a top coat to the other to see how it held up over the weekend.

Things to love: Fast and easy application. In one coat with my sister’s bright red polish I got an smooth, even layer of polish. The color saturation is very good, so even on the hand with one coat plus a top coat, my nails looked great. OPI is a solid brand, and I always like their products. There’s also a lot of color variety, from funky to understated.

Less than perfect: The polish chips easily without a top coat — too easily. You’re also paying the same price for the stick as you would for a bottle, but getting approximately 30% less. (Both bottles and Nic’s Sticks run about $7).

Final Analysis: I don’t wear nail polish very often, but this would be a fun product to have around for date nights or events. It’s easy enough that I just might start wearing polish more often.

Posted by: Catie