Review: Cariloha Bamboo Bed Sheets, Towel, and Skirt

Growing up in the Philippines, I was surrounded by bamboo and we used many things made out of bamboo, from furniture, to coin banks, to cooking implements.

So it was a pleasant surprise when I began seeing fabric products made out of bamboo.

And the benefits of fabric made from bamboo are numerous: they’re incredibly soft, breathable, hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and provide UV protection.

And bamboo is probably the most ecologically sustainable source of fiber. You see, bamboo grows without the need for pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. And, because they mature fast, they’re very easy to replenish.

I had the opportunity to try bamboo fabric products from Cariloha, a US-based company specializing in leisure wear and other products made of a proprietary blend of bamboo.

Resort Bamboo Bed Sheets – Blue Lagoon

The Good:

• Incredibly soft and luxurious – These sheets are so soft that my children wanted to sleep on our bed. Hubby and I had to beat them away with a stick, LOL! These sheets are as soft as my high-thread count cotton sheets. No, maybe softer.
• Cool to the skin – These sheets are perfect for summer, because they keep you cool and wick moisture (sweat) from your skin, so you stay comfortable as you sleep.
• Impressive packaging – The sheets come in this beautiful, sturdy, and reusable box. It would make an impressive gift:

The bad:

• Wrinkly – Probably because they’re ultra soft, they wrinkle terribly. Reason why I couldn’t take any photos of mine. Even if I ironed or steamed mine (which I would never do, lazy as I am), the sheets wouldn’t have stayed nice and smooth.
• Expensive – They cost more than some cotton sheets with upwards of 1500 thread count.

The Bottom Line:

• If you have sensitive skin, want natural, eco-friendly sheets, and are willing to pay for quality, then these bamboo bed sheets are a good alternative to cotton or silk sheets.

Bamboo Bath Sheet – White

The Good:

• Soft and thick – Like the bed sheets, this towel was super soft and luxurious to use.
• Versatile size – Until I received this bath sheet, I didn’t know towels came in this larger 40″ x 70″ size. It’s great for swimming. It will keep up with you as you dry off, get wet again, dry off again…. And you can use it as a beach towel.

The Bad:

• Hard to pack, store – Because of its size, it may not be the best towel to pack for a trip. (But if that’s an issue, note that Cariloha offers regular-sized bamboo towels as well.)

The Bottom Line:

• I’m not picky when it comes to towels. A towel only needs to be reasonably soft and absorbent. But if you’re the type who wants the most luxurious towel, or you only want sustainable products, then you should definitely check out the Cariloha bamboo-cotton towels.

Bamboo Burnout Reversible Skirt – Merlot

The Good:

• Super soft and comfortable – This is now my most favorite skirt! Although I made the mistake of requesting this longish skirt (I’m petite) instead of the shorter cotton-viscose skirt, and even though it’s too loose for me now that I’ve lost some weight, I still love wearing this skirt! It’s super soft and cool, and the A-line style is so easy to move in, even in the hottest of days.
• Value – This is a reversible skirt, so it’s like getting two skirts for the price of one. And if you happen to buy it when Cariloha has a sale, then it’s an even better deal. This is also a good skirt to pack during a trip, since you get two skirts but without the bulk. Here’s what the other side of my skirt looks like;

• Crease-resistant – I was surprised that this skirt isn’t wrinkly at all (probably because it’s mixed with polyester). This is another reason why this should be your go-to travel skirt.

The Bad:

• Not 100% natural – This skirt is 35% Viscose from bamboo and 65% polyester, so it’s not made with 100% natural fabric. That can be a deal-breaker for some.

The Bottom Line:

• If you don’t mind some polyester in your clothing, you’ll enjoy this soft, cool, and flattering skirt that retains the hypoallergenic properties of bamboo fabric. If it’s important for you to use only natural fiber, then the Bamboo Sinclair Skirt, which is 60% organic cotton and 40% viscose from bamboo, is a better option. Although I suspect it doesn’t flow as nicely as this one. Also, the Burnout skirt’s reversibility is a unique feature that makes it particularly useful.

If you want to give Cariloha bamboo products a try, remember that they offer two guarantees:

There’s a 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee, which says if you don’t love the product, you can return it within 90 days for a full refund (less shipping charges).

And then there’s the Lifetime Quality Guarantee. You read that right, a lifetime guarantee. At any time after purchase, if you’re not completely satisfied with the quality of the product, you can return it and exchange the item(s).

I think it’s great that companies like Cariloha are providing various products made out of bamboo and other natural fibers. Now those with sensitive skin, those who value natural fibers, and those who want to use ecologically sustainable products have more choices. Cariloha proves that eco-friendly products can be good for you, good for the environment, and look good all at the same time.

Have you tried bamboo-based fabric products before? What do you think of them? And what are your favorite bamboo-based fabric products?

PS: I received these products for free to review on my blog. Nevertheless, I’ve provided my honest opinions about the products.  :

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Do You Know How To Protect Yourself?

In fact, I have been all too aware of breast cancer.

In the past year, two people close to me have been diagnosed with breast cancer, gotten mastectomies, and gone through chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

And then a few weeks ago, another person I know was found to have pre-cancerous calcifications in her breasts. She will have a double mastectomy to avoid cancer altogether.

Anyway, I’m telling you all this to let you know that we can do something to avoid cancer.

I came across an article that was empowering, because it gives us many different ways to reduce our chances of getting breast cancer. They all boil down to avoiding cancer-causing toxins in our food and environment:Continue reading

Make Your Own Non-Toxic Face Paints

In a previous post, I recommended a couple of non-toxic face paints for your kids (and yourself, too, of course).

Some of you responded that you’d rather make your own face paints. Well, that can certainly be done!

Here’s a very simple recipe I saw on the the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website, with two main ingredients:Continue reading

Non-Toxic Face Painting for Kids

Every Halloween, I always try to incorporate face paint in my kids’ costumes.

Face painting is fun. It lets me express my creativity. And it’s a lot safer than Halloween masks, which can limit kids’ ability to see their surroundings — not safe when they’re crossing the street or walking around cars.

Up until recently, I never gave a thought to whether the face paints I’ve been using on my children are safe.

But since I became an Alex+Von consultant, and got enlightened on the irritants, toxins, and other undesirable ingredients in makeup and personal care products, I’ve started looking around for non-toxic face paints for my kids.

Here are a few I’ve found so far:Continue reading

Toxins in Your Everyday Products [Video]

Are you aware of exactly what you’re putting on your body each time you clean your face, apply makeup, and wash your hair and body?

If you’ve never stopped to find out, watch this video to see why it’s important for you to be picky about what you use. It’s only 1.5 minutes long:Continue reading