Five products for $5 and under

Yeah, you read that right! Cool products for small change.

Phyto Shield Botanical Toothpaste, $5 for 100g – Available in Herbal, Lemon Myrtle, and Propolis.

Jeymar Lavender and Tea Tree Shampoo Bar, $2.90 for medium and $4.90 for large – A nourishing solid shampoo.

Kereru Lip Salve, $4.50 for 6.4g – Available in Calendula, Teatree & Lemon, Geranium – clear, Natural Rose – pink, and Clear Strawberry.

Clear as Mud Face Mud, $4 for one 10ml sachet – Purify your skin with this bentonite clay mask.

Ecostore Boxed Soap, $2.49 for 80g – Available in Coconut, Lemongrass, Manuka Honey & Kelp, and Vanilla.

Kids' products

We've covered products for babies, but what about kids? There are plenty of natural, eco-friendly personal care products that are designed just for kids.

To keep kids' teeth clean, try Snappy Jaws toothpaste, $5 for 100g, from Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics. It's free from fluoride, sugar, and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, and it comes in three different flavours: Punchy Pineapple, Awesome Orange, and Strawberry. Another kids' toothpaste is Weleda Children Tooth Gel, 50ml for $6.80, available from Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics. It is designed especially for milk teeth.

To protect your kids from the sun, slather them in a kids' sunblock, like Dr Hauschka Sunscreen Cream for Children SPF 30, $40.20 for 100ml. This is quite an expensive option; a cheaper one is Alba Botanica Kids' Sunscreen, SPF 30+, $19.95 for 118ml. Both are available from Health 2000, and the Dr Hauschka one from Farmers, Hardy's, and Commonsense Organics as well.

Headlice is often a problem when children are young (it sure was for me!), and there are many natural products to treat and prevent lice. Ecokid is an Australian brand of hair care products for kids, designed to prevent and treat headlice. The range consists of:

Prevent (Shampoo) 250ml $25.95

Prevent Sensitive (Shampoo) 250ml $25.95

Nourish (Hydrating Conditioner) 250ml $25.95

Daily Leave in Tonic (Leave in Conditioner) 500ml $29.95

Tuff Stuff (Leave in Clay) 100g $25.95

Bubbalicious (Shaping Paste) 100g $25.95

Lice Bomb (Nasty to Lice, not kids) 50ml $32.50

I have used Bubbalicious, and while I'm not a kid, I really liked it. I think it smells great, but apparantely lice don't agree, and it helps keep them away. Stockists can be found on the Ecokid website. New Zealand brand Botanica also has some products to treat head lice: Mr Nits 50ml and 100ml ($27.90) sprays, and Mr Nits Once-a-Week 100ml bottle ($19.90). Nature's Nurse has Lice Lather Treatment Shampoo, $18.95 for 100ml, Lice Lather Preventative Spray, $15.95 for 100ml, and Head Lice & Nit Removal Comb, $11.95. Check out their website for stockists.

For kids who like to paint their nails, there are some safer options out there. SHE Australia Nail Varnishes come in fourteen colours, and are free from formaldehyde and toulene. $14.90 each from selected pharmacies. Sparitual nail polishes are free from formaldehyde, toulene, and dibutyl phthlate. They come in heaps and heaps of different shades, although I've only seen a small selection available. I've seen them at Nature Unplugged, and Bodyscape Beauty Therapy Day Spa (New Zealand's only Aveda concept spa), both in Wellington, although I'm sure they're available in other parts of the country. The nail polishes are $25 each.

For bubble baths, Unearthed has four kids' bubble baths: Planet Bubbles, Bubbles Me Hearty, Sea Bubbles, and Bubble Magic, each $7 for 375ml. They are free from parabens, SLES, artificial colours, and artificial fragrances. They do, however, contain Ammonium Laureth (or Lauryl, can't remember which) Sulphate, so if you want to avoid sulphates altogether, you could go for Bod for Bubs Bubble and Squeakie Clean, $24.90 for 300ml. I mentioned it previously here. It is intended for babies, but it would be fine for anyone to use. Unearthed bubble baths can be bought at Hardy's and selected pharmacies, and Bubble and Squeakie Clean from Nature Unplugged, and Hardy's.

Oral Care

Want to start using more natural oral care products? There are plenty of great products to choose from.

Some natural toothpastes are quite expensive, but others are a similar price to mainstream brand toothpastes which you'd buy in a supermarket. I use Phyto Shield Botanical Propolis Toothpaste, $5 for 100g. Available at Hardy's, Health 2000, and Commonsense Organics. This toothpaste also comes in Herbal, and Lemon Myrtle. I have tried the Herbal, but I prefer the Propolis.

I've also tried Red Seal Natural Herbal & Mineral Toothpaste 110g, $2.60 from supermarkets, Hardy's, Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics (costs a bit more at the health stores than it does at supermarkets). It does, however, contain parabens.

Some other options:

$10 and under: Comvita Propolis Toothpaste 100g $6, Comvita Oralfresh Toothgel 100g $6, Wala Vita Toothpaste 75ml $8.95 (available in Lemon & Salt, and Neem & Mint), Weleda Toothpaste 75ml $9.10 (available in Calendula, Plant Gel, Ratanhia, and Salt)

$15 and under: Miessense Toothpaste 150g $12.95 (available in Mint, Lemon, and Anise)

$20 and under: Jason Nutrismile Toothpaste 119g $16.50, Jason Powersmile Toothpaste 170g $17

If you want a toothbrush with natural bristles, Fuchs Toothbrushes has quite a few different ones. I'm not sure of prices, but they are available at Commonsense Organics.

For a dental floss that is free of artifical colourings and flavourings, try Desert Essence Dental Floss - I think it's about $10 at Commonsense Organics.

For mouthwashs, you could try Wala Vita Sage Mouthwash 300ml 19.95, Miessense Freshening Mouthwash 250ml $21.95, Jason Nutrismile Mouthwash 480ml $23, or Jason Powersmile Mouthwash 473ml $23.

And to keep you breath nice and fresh, give your mouth a spray with Miessense Breath Fresh Spray, $7.95 for 12ml.