natural Archives | Cool Mom Picks

Aluminum in deodorant and antiperspirant: Health issue or internet rumor?

by Liz Gumbinner | Beauty + Cosmetics, Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Thinking : Parent

For a long time I had been hearing about a terrible link between aluminum and deodorant. We have even had writers through the years who have insisted on only using natural deodorants, which, cool. Because we believe in choices. But several years ago, I did my own...

7 DIY face mask recipes for every skin care woe that ails you

by Kate Etue | Beauty + Cosmetics, DIY

While I’m not personally a huge makeup buff, I do enjoy a good skincare product to clean and brighten my skin…and hopefully reduce some fine lines. And when it comes to face masks, they’re just plain fun. In fact, it’s become one of my favorite...

We tried Hairstory New Wash shampoo: Here’s what we thought | Damn You, Facebook Ads series

by Kate Etue | Beauty + Cosmetics

I typically fly right past most of the ads in my Facebook and Instagram feeds, but recently the Hairstory New Wash shampoo ad caught my eye. This sulfate-free shampoo is supposed to change the way you wash your hair, and with 4/5 stars and more than 5,000 reviews, I...

New limited-edition Mrs. Meyer’s scents for fall! Here’s where to find them.

by Kate Etue | Kitchen + Dining

I’m a big fan of Mrs. Meyer’s all natural cleaning supplies. In fact, I buy a lot Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products in bulk and keep them stocked under my sink so I don’t run out. Because, life with four kids = lots of messes. I’m usually...

6 natural remedies to help keep families healthy during the germy school year

by Caroline Siegrist | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Tips + Tricks

Now that we’ve found new school clothes and back-to-school gear for all our kids (well, mostly), parents are now moving onto worry #2 — how to avoid back-to-school sickness. My family has already been through hand-foot-and-mouth disease and a wicked...

The top 10 most affordable safe sunscreens for kids, from EWG’s 2018 safer sunscreens guide

by Kate Etue | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Kids

Every year, I browse the Environmental Working Group’s report on the best safe sunscreens for kids and babies. This list measures popular brands against the EWG’s standards, including everything from worrisome ingredients to false marketing claims. But...

5 hot fall lip trends you can totally wear every day. Hey, if we can, you can!

by Kristen Chase | Beauty + Cosmetics

As much as I’m obsessed with beauty products and keeping up with make-up trends, I feel like most of them are for people with tons of time (and well, expendable income). And let’s be honest, lately, I feel like they’re meant to stay on the runway, or...

Gorgeous essential oil jewelry that doesn’t look like it at all

by Kate Etue | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing, Jewelry

Essential oils are everywhere, if you haven’t noticed, and they’re not going away anytime soon. At least if my Facebook feed is any indication. So why wouldn’t essential oil jewelry be A Thing right now? I’m a big fan of peppermint oil to cure...

2017 EWG best safe sunscreens for kids and babies: Which is the most affordable?

by Kate Etue | Family Travel, Health, Fitness + Wellbeing

Every year, I take a look at the Environmental Working Group’s report on the best safe sunscreens for kids and babies. This list measures popular brands against the EWG’s standards, including everything from worrisome ingredients to false marketing claims....

Damn you, Facebook ads: We tried the FLEX disposable tampon alternative, and here’s how it worked for us. In full detail (sorry).

by Kate Etue | Health, Fitness + Wellbeing

I’m coming up on my 25thish anniversary of my first visit from Aunt Flo. And over that those 2.5 decades, I’ve had the same exact routine every month: tampons and pads. I wasn’t necessarily looking to spice things up in that department, but when I...

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz!

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Picks in 2006 to help make life cooler, easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun for parents of all kinds.

Trivia: It was called Cool Mom Sh*t for the first two days. (Yeah, we rethought that.)

We had no idea our site would grow to become a major lifestyle network, that we'd end up sharing our finds with the TODAY Show and Martha Stewart, that we'd be able to make a real difference for so many small businesses and women-run companies, or that we'd end up with an incredible community of the coolest readers on the planet. (If we do say so ourselves).

But we did.

And we still love what we do every single day.

We're so glad you're here.