Green Beauty Packaging: Does it Really Matter?
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There are three most popular types of skincare packaging: aluminium, glass, and various plastics. Packaging is perhaps the most neglected aspect of green skincare. Even when the juice is all roses and zero chemicals, the bottle often contains some of the worst environmental offenders. If you are paying attention to what goes inside the bottle, you may soon find yourself wondering, what’s the very bottle doing to the environment – and ultimately, your health.
From the very start, on a shoestring budget when launching Petite Marie Organics, I wanted to go with glass. Amber glass is practical and recyclable, it leaches zero chemicals into the product, and it’s undeniably the most glamorous solution. However, there’s an issue of using glass around babies. While I have never had any accidents with glass baby bottles, I completely understand that not all moms are as confident about glass as I am (hey gals I’m still using bottles that are five year old to feed babies at play dates or feed herbal cough tea to my 5-year old when she’s ill). So I will probably try one of the safer plastics.
There’s no way I am using aluminum for my product packaging. While aluminum seems to be eco-friendly and easily recyclable, thereâ??s a concern about aluminum leaching into products, especially if they have a higher acidity. While the risk may be minimal, I’d rather err on side of caution. Many cautious doctors now recommend not baking food in aluminum foil and cooking in aluminum pots and pans.
Anyway, it appears that plastic is not the worst of evils. I needed to find a plastic that does not leach and is recyclable, and there are a few types of plastic that match my needs.
My number one choice is #5 PP (polypropylene). I will rather not use #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene) simply because I strongly dislike anything that involves 1,4-Dioxane-producing ethoxylation. But then again, these plastics are recyclable and do not leach anything harmful into products.
By all means I will stay away from formaldehyde-releasing #3 polyvinyl, carcinogen-releasing #6 polystyrene and #7 polycarbonate. The latter may leach bisphenol-A, a xenoestrogen. Bisphenol A is a a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies. Synthetic xenoestrogens are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.
DEA Diethanolamine: The Dangers, Green Alternatives
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Let’s talk about one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in the shampoos you and millions of other people are buying, anything with letters DEA.
DEA is diethanolamine. When combined with natural or synthetic fatty acids it makes a nice moisturiser. DEA is used to thicken the shampoo, a body wash, or a facial cleanser and give it a nice goopy consistency. It serves no other purpose than creating a nice look to the product. It doesn’t help the health of your skin, it doesn’t assist in cleansing, it’s all about marketing gimmicks when it comes to DEA.
Product manufacturers believe that the thicker is the product, the more appealing it seems to the customers. Maybe they think rich product is more nutritious or natural. But there’s nothing natural about cocamide DEA.
Smart marketers will state that cocamide DEA is sourced from coconuts. That’s true: coconut oil is mixed with diethanolamine to make cocamide DEA which is then used as a emulsifier and a surfactant.
Easy way to remember: DEA=death.
Diethanolamine may hide under such names as Lauramide diethanolamine, Coco Diethanolamide, coconut oil amide of diethanolamine, Lauramide DEA, Lauric diethanolamide, Lauroyl diethanolamide, and Lauryl diethanolamide.
Chemophiles also insist, and here I am quoting LUSH Cosmetics who are very protective about their parabens, synthetic dyes, and artificial fragrances in their “homemade” skincare, that cocamide DEA has been safely used for more than fifty years.
And how about skyrocketing rates of allergies and cancer in the last fifty years? I am sure that cocamide DEA, as well as its relatives triethanolamine and diethanolamine, parabens, and phthalates, are partially to blame. These ingredients do not make us healthy, but they make the manufacturers richer. And speaking of health:
DEA and its variants are suspected of increasing the risk of cancer. DEA can combine with amines present in cosmetic formulations to form nitrosamines (N-nitrosodiethanolamine), which are known to be highly carcinogenic.
Studies also show that DEAs (including cocamide DEA) directly inhibits fetal brain development in laboratory studies by blocking the absorption of choline, a nutrient required for brain development and maintenance.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have discovered that when DEA was applied to the skin of pregnant mice at concentrations similar to those found in shampoos, the fetuses showed inhibited cell growth and increased cell death in an area of the brain responsible for memory – the hippocampus.
“I don’t believe any woman who’s been using these products needs to have a sleepless night about having caused harm to her child,” said Dr. Steven Zeisel, Kenan Distinguished University Professor of nutrition in UNC’s schools of public health and medicine and associate dean for research in the School of Public Health.
“At this point it is a caution,” he added. “But it would probably be prudent to look at labels and try to limit exposure until we know more.”
DEA is also associated with miscarriages in laboratory studies. “We saw smaller and smaller litters as we gave higher doses. No one has ever noted that before,” Zeisel said.
“This agent not only affects brain development, but at higher doses probably affects some other development in a way that is fatal to the fetus,” he said.
So that’s what diethanolamine does to animals. But what about humans? An average bottle of shampoo contains up to 10 ml diethanolamine. When we use this shampoo, we massage the diethanolamine into our scalp, pouring in hot water to increase absorption. After 30 shampoos, we are exposed to 10 ml (0.3 oz) of pure, undiluted diethanolamine – more that poor lab mice were!
So stop thinking like a mouse. Just because it appears on a bottle with the word organic on it, it’s not organic. What’s worse, it’s carcinogenic and it damages your brain. Be proactive and shield yourself and your loved ones from harmful chemicals like cocamide DEA – they aren’t doing you any good!
How to Save Money by Going Green in Beauty
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Green beauty today is so diverse, it suits any budget. When shopping for organic beauty products, consider these three basic rules:
1. REDUCE: buy less but choose the higher quality. Organic beauty products contain no synthetic fillers such as silicones and mineral oil, and they are more concentrating, so you need to use less to see the great results.
2. REUSE: use one great multitasking product to tackle numerous beauty woes. An organic massage oil can become a hand moisturizer, a hot oil treatment for hair, a base for your own sugar or salt body rub, a cuticle oil, a frizz tamer for your hair, and so much more. A great mild cleanser will wash your face, hair, and body. Be creative and don’t believe that you need a separate moisturizer for each body part.
3. RECYCLE: reuse the glass packaging to make your own beauty products. Recycle paper boxes, plastic, and aluminum containers diligently.
The ultimate way to save money and still enjoy organic, truly green beauty is to make your own beauty products. This isn’t complicated at all. Some of the most effective natural products are right there, in your kitchen. Plain yogurt makes a great exfoliating cleanser. Tablespoon of olive oil mixed with a teaspoon of sugar makes a wonderful face and body scrub, and you can massage it in your hands for an instant manicure. Egg whites make a very nutritious facial lift.
If you need a bit of a special treatment, like a whitening cream or an antiaging serum, you can buy an inexpensive organic baby lotion and add some ready-made active ingredients like coenzyme Q10, liquorice extract, or various antioxidants, and you will make an amazingly effective product for a fraction of a price.
Shopping online is a wonderful way to cut costs on organic beauty because it’s cheaper, you can buy in bulk, and it’s good for the planet, too, since you don’t have to burn gasoline to get to the store.
There are products that give you more for your organic dollar than others. Some products will infuse your skin with more chemicals simply because they sit on your skin for longer facial creams and body lotions, for example. That’s why you need to go organic with items that sit on your skin longest such as moisturizers, toners, and topical treatments. If you have a limited amount of money to spend on organic beauty, those would be smart products to buy.
I think that for a lot of people, it’s a matter of priorities. If you can afford a few more dollars a month on green beauty products, it would be a really good investment. The benefits are so great, in terms of not just your health, but the health of our planet and the health of the world economy.
Green Beauty Makeover: Let’s Go Green in
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MICHELLE, 34, GA (USA)
Michelle is overwhelmed by the amount of chemicals ahe slathers herself with every day.Â
“Common sense would tell you that’s not a great idea for long-term health,” she says. ” I’d like to be around a long time to enjoy my children and my children’s children.”
Dear Michelle,
Your beauty routine seems to be well-rounded and reasonably green. You managed to balance eco-consciousness with practicality without going overboard in either way. Here are the changes that may help you take even better care of your skin and hair.
FACE
Your skin seems to enjoy the healthy diet you are eating daily, and you only need a bit of extra pampering to make it really glow with health.
CLEANSING
Your skin can benefit from gentle double-cleansing routine: you can remove the makeup using plain grapeseed or olive oil and follow it up with an exfoliating yet mild cleanser such as Burt’s Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser or Grandpa’s Old Fashioned Oatmeal Soap. When on the run, you can simply cleanse your face with full-fat organic milk.
TONING
After an exercise, spray your face liberally with mineral water with high magnesium content such as Vichy or Volvic. Unfortunately this water is only sold in plastic bottles but you can reduce the environmental impact by decanting the water into spray bottles (ideally made of polypropylene #5 plastic) and recycling the original bottle.
To soothe your skin after a strenuous activity consider making your homemade toners with chamomile or rose flower distillates. They will also hydrate your skin and prepare it for moisturizing.
MOISTURISING (DAY)
Weleda Iris Night Cream may seem like a nighty-night for your skin but itâ??s so lightweight, you can use it as a day cream during the winter. If you need more sun protection, top it with a liquid foundation from Jane Iredale – I use it daily, and my skin really benefits from added antioxidants!
MOISTURISING (NIGHT)
If you feel you need a bit of extra moisture, why not feed your skin with biodynamic yet very affordable Weleda Skin Food? It always makes me glow in the morning, no matter how little sleep I had!
SPECIAL TREATMENTS
To maintain healthy sebum secretion in your skin you can benefit from evening primrose oil supplement. Flax seed oil added to your salad dressings will keep your skin supple and glowing. Once a week make an avocado mask to soothe and nourish your skin: simply mash half an avocado and apply it to your skin, including neck and eye area.
You need to increase the water intake DRAMATICALLY. You are drinking too little water to support the healthy metabolism. My advice is to buy a 1 liter glass bottle of Vichy, San Pellegrino or San Benedetto water, empty it on one day and then fill it daily with filtered water. It will only take three minutes and a few cents. You can also add Echinacea, vitamin C, or even multivitamins to the water, and you will always know how much you have to drink. Ideally, you need to finish this bottle by bedtime. 1 liter is reasonable. 1.5 liter is ideal but involves too much bathroom trips. If that doesnâ??t concern you, please go ahead and buy two 0.75 l bottles, keep one by your desk and one in the kitchen or wherever you spend most of your time. This works for me. I have several bottles planted around the house.
EYE TREATMENT
Vitamin E capsules applied around the eyes will nourish and revitalize the skin – great for us, owl people! Simply poke the hole in an vitamin E gel capsule and apply the contents anywhere you need extra moisture and lift. Jason Natural Cosmetics Pure Beauty Oil, 5,000 IU Vitamin E Oil is a convenient option. Weekly mask of raw potato puree are proven to lighten under-eye circles – again, vital for those who lack sleep.
HAIR
SHAMPOO
If you choose to change just one product in your current beauty routine, make it your shampoo. I don’t want to sound too alarmist but Sunsilk shampoos contain some of the most obnoxious chemicals, including waterways-poisoning and skin-dehydrating sodium laureth sulfate, irritating ammonium chloride, phthalate-containing fragrance, petrochemicals dimethiconol and amodimethicone, formaldehyde-releasing DMDM Hydantoin, nitrosamine-releasing (carcinogenic) TEA dodecylbenzene sulfonate, carcinogenic PEG 45M, C11 15 Pareth 7, Laureth 9, Ethoxydiglycol, and potentially endocrine-disrupting iodine-containing methylchloroisothiazolinone.
Dr Bronner’s soap can become an excellent shampoo, and they just have launched an amazing line of Fair Trade shampoos and conditioners – worth a try!
CONDITIONER
If you love Aubrey Organics, youâ??ll adore Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner. It is vitally important during wintertime! As a special treatment to maintain suppleness and bounciness, make a jojoba hot oil treatment at least once a week: super easy, just pour some jojoba oil on your hair, pop on a shower cap, ideally PVC-free, and leave it to penetrate for 5 minutes. Rinse off and enjoy a week of gorgeous, thick hair! To prevent hair loss, make an onion puree mask once a month.
MAKEUP
FOUNDATION
Of all hardwearing mineral foundations there are two brands that really deliver coverage: Jane Iredale and Nvey Eco. For Jane Iredale, try the liquid topped with pressed foundation. Either way, you are minimizing the inhalation of mineral nanoparticles.
CONCEALER
If you use a conventional concealer on top of an organic and mineral foundation, itâ??s absolutely fine, as long as you like the results. But make sure you address the underlying cause of your spots first!
MASCARA Aveda mascaras have much fewer toxic and plain irritating ingredients than most conventional brands. They do have parabens, but just one kind and itâ??s listed really low down the ingredients list, so I assume the damage is minimized. For special occasions when you’d rather have super-thick lashes than be green, I suggest MAC Mascara. At least MAC Cosmetics supports a good cause, AIDS charities worldwide, that is.
BLUSH
I am absolutely sure you will love Dr. Hauschka blush (Dr.Hauschka Skin Care Rouge Powder Blush Compact #03 Accento) – I know, itâ??s rather expensive but it will last you for about three years with normal use, and you can buy it for much less from eBay.
LIP PRODUCTS
Burt’s Bees makes amazing lip tints that can actually plump up your lips thanks to peppermint in them! Aveda have great lipglosses without any awful chemicals in them, and Dr. Hauschka has lovely long-lasting lipcolors that are as trendy as they are natural. Origins, Lavera, NVEY Eco -there are tons of luxurious colors and finishes to choose from. I agree, they are all pricey, but this is where you have to shift your priorities – you can buy tons of synthetic cheap glosses and use them and cringe each time you put them on your lips – OR you can buy one great gloss that suits your coloring, you will use it every day, and you will enjoy every minute you have it on your lips!
Green Solutions to Acne: Try These Simple Tips
Keeping your skin clear and free fro acne is no rocket science. Try these simple tips to see a visible difference in your skin condition.
Don’t overcleanse and overscrub. Too much pressure may lead to more pimples as your skin gets irritated and inflamed with constant mechanical pressure. Don’t use at-home microdermabrasion or peels more frequently than once a week.
Avoid benzoyl peroxide acne medications that can dehydrate your skin, increase free radical damage and lead to premature aging. This popular anti-acne chemical is a proven strong irritant and allergen and instead of healing acne can actually increase the inflammation.
Don’t attempt to dry out your blemishes with toothpaste or other drying solutions. Really dry top layers of skin can trap impurities and bacteria under skin making the acne worse.
Don’t pile makeup on your acne blemishes. Wear a concealer where needed. Use oil-blotting papers to absorb the excess shine during the day.
Don’t pick at your face. Keep your hands off the pimple until it’s ready to be extracted and never attempt to pop up a tender red blemish. If you have time, try one of the procedures described in the previous chapter, and apply a topical antibacterial product containing salicylic acid or tea tree oil.
Taking care of your acne-prone skin doesn’t end in your bathroom. Take a daily dose of vitamins and antioxidants with additional alpha lipoic acid and omega 3 fatty acid supplements. Don’t skimp on water. Drink 7-8 glasses of mineral or filtered water a day. Don’t replace water by carbonated sugary drinks and coffee. Remember your skin is the largest organ of your body and is the first to become dehydrated. Avoiding or at least diminishing iodides in your diet can aggravate your acne. Iodides occur in seafood, kelp products (seaweed), beef liver, soy sauce, turkey and asparagus.
Maintaining a proper diet, exercise routine and managing stress are all important elements in your acne skin care challenge. Once month spend a day or two cleansing your inner space to support your liver and eliminate waste matter that can contribute to the poor state of your skin.
You should also avoid acne triggers, such as humidity and heat. In summer or when in hot climates make sure you drink a lot of water and have a refreshing facial mist to cool down your skin. Don’t tan. Aside from being the number one cause of skin cancer and pre-mature aging sun also increases your skin’s oiliness resulting in more pimples. Remember that sunburns, hot wax depilation, peels, and strong chemicals can irritate your skin and lead to acne. Close-shave razors increase the risk of developing ingrown hairs, which can also increase inflammation.
Most importantly, hone your organic consumer skills by reading ingredient lists and avoiding potentially toxic chemicals that may affect your hormonal balance and result in more acne. If you eliminate hormone-disrupting chemicals early you may avoid many devastating health disorders later in life.
Kitchen Tip: Ripen Green Tomatoes
I still have a lot of green tomatoes on my plant in the garden. They’ve been green for a while, but a few have ripened. The weather has been warm for the past week, but that could change quickly. I don’t know if they will all ripen before we have a frost.
If you need to remove green tomatoes from the vine and ripen them indoors, one thing you can try is to put them in a brown paper bag with an apple. The apple releases ethylene gas that helps the tomatoes to ripen.
The other week I put three tomatoes into a bag to ripen. One (the odd shaped one in the picture below) was mostly green with some orange on the bottom of it. The other two were completely green, but one (the rounder one shown below) was a lighter green. After a few days, the first two looked like this:
I put the smaller one back in the bag and a couple of days later it was nice and red.
The very green tomato was a lighter green, but still completely green, and I though it was hopeless. I left it in the bag, though. I actually forgot about it for about five days, and I surprised when I opened the bag to find that it was completely ripened and red!
So, if you don’t like to eat green tomatoes and they have to be ripened indoors, try putting them in a paper bag with an apple. It works!
Do you have a tip for ripening tomatoes in the fall?
GREEN REVIEW: JOHNSON’S BABY ORIGINAL SHAMPOO
What they claim: Clinically Proven Mildness. The Number One Choice of Hospitals.
But beware: harsh detergents, formaldehyde donors, synthetic dyes and fragrances.
Say “baby shampoo” and the first thing comes to mind is this cheery yellow bottle of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. When you take a closer look at the label, you wonder which clinic could prove the “mildness” of this chemical brew. The only reason why a hospital would choose it is the shampoo’s modest price tag.
The shampoo contains absolutely nothing naturally mild to a baby’s skin. There’s not a single natural ingredient in it. Here’s the full ingredients list of Johnson’s Baby Original Shampoo (as listed on their website):
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Glycerin, Lauroamphoglycinate, PEG-150 Distearate, Sodium Laureth-13 Carboxylate, Fragrance, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA, Quaternium-15, Citric Acid, D&C Yellow #10, D&C Orange #4.
Worst offenders: polyquaternium-7 and quaternium-15 are formaldehyde donors and are linked to cancer by numerous studies.
Synthetic fragrance additives contain phthalates which disrupt endocrine system and accumulate in the body to contribute to hormonal imbalance which can possibly lead to increased risk of hormone-related cancers.
Synthetic colors D&C Yellow 10 (Acid Yellow 10) and D&C Orange 4 (Acid Orange 7) are not allowed for use around the eye area. No more tears, really?
Doctors blame skyrocketing rates of eczema and allergies among children on the early use of toiletries on baby’s sensitive skin. “Babies absorb more chemicals than adults because their surface to mass ratio is greater. When we put things on their skin, they receive, in effect, a greater concentration of product,” says Melinda Olson, creator of Earth Mama Angel Baby line of baby products.
I used this shampoo once (for the lack of anything seemingly more gentle in a hotel while travelling) and it left my scalp itchy and my hair dried out like straw.
A staple for generations of parents and a true classic, today this shampoo should carry a health warning.
Green alternatives: Weleda, Dr. Bronner’s and any organic baby soap (ideally, unscented) is a much safer option than the “mild” shampoo.
Is Athletic “Shape Wear” Cheating? [Plus: Green Jell-O Salad]
These are the pants.
See, this here is the tummy shaping action happening! Also, note to self: this is a super flattering way to pose, do this in all future pictures. I mean it doesn’t look any more awkward than Paris Hilton’s do-adult-diapers-go-with-this-dress signature stance, right? I can just see myself explaining this picture to my grandkids someday, “And THESE are my BABY MAKERS! Say hello to the ovaries from whence you sprung!”
I was reading on another blog a while ago (I’m sorry, I can’t remember which one now or I’d link it! If it’s yours, shout it out in the comments.) about how some people consider athletic shape wear to be “cheating.” The thought is that you’re at the gym to build those great abs so faking them before you’ve earned them is kind of dishonest. I find this funny. Is mascara cheating? Push-up bras? High heels? We women wear a lot of things meant to enhance, cover up or reshape what our mamas gave us. No, cheating is when you arch your back and swing your hips so you can use more weight for your bicep curls. (Not that I’d know anything about that, no….)
The other school of thought is that comfort should be paramount when it comes to gym clothing and glorified corsets seem like they would restrict breathing rather than encourage oxygen to get to all those new muscle fibers. I can understand this issue. When Spanx first came out with their line of athletic shape wear my first thought was, “I can barely wear those under a dress, why on earth would I want to do the 20-minute wiggle routine just to get into my gym duds??” But having tried the Champion Shape line, I can tell you that they’re nothing like a corset. I’d call it more of a “light” control. They’re not aggressively tight but they provide a little more support than your typical yoga pant. They’re especially helpful for keeping the jiggle to a minimum. It’s like wearing compression tights except way cuter.
My only complaint about the Champion pants is that the control is limited to the tummy area. Frankly I’d prefer the compression for my thighs. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about my legs – I’m actually in a really happy place with my bod these days – I’m just saying that if I had to choose where I wanted extra support it would be the upper thigh area. In the end, I’m less worried about what my stomach looks like to other people or pretending that I’m more fit than I am and more interested in comfort. Jiggle is not comfortable. And neither is tucking my pants into my bra.
In other news, this morning the kids helped daddy pick the carrots out of our garden. Son #1 presented them to me like a bouquet of flowers, he was so proud.
While Son #2, pointed them at me like a weapon and yelled, “Don’t mess with my laser blasters!!” Son #3 is going through a serious “no” phase and refused to take any part in either carrot eating or picture taking. And that pretty much sums up my boys’ personalities in a nutshell.
I however was just so overjoyed that we actually got carrots out of the garden this year – what with the rabbits, small children, deer and my black thumb, it’s a Christmas Miracle in September – that carrots will be on the menu for every meal for the next month. Carrot muffins, carrot cake, carrot bisque, carrot salad in green Jell-O with raisins… (What? Never tried it?)
What’s your opinion on athletic shape wear? What’s the strangest Jell-O you’ve ever eaten?
Don’t forget to enter my Champion USA giveaway! The winner gets to pick an entire outfit – bra, top, pants and jacket! Giveaway closes Tuesday, September 13th at midnight.
FTC disclosure: I got these pants for free and this post is sponsored by Champion. The opinions and tummy skin are all my own however!
Green Beaver Products Review & Giveaway
“…to produce wholesome, healthy products made with natural ingredients that are safe for you, your family and our environment. We believe in Mother Nature to help us take care of ourselves. For centuries, humans have been living with and safely using natural ingredients. That is why we rely on pure natural ingredients when formulating our products.”
Their products include:
- shampoo
- conditioner
- body wash
- body lotion
- toothpaste
- lip shimmers
- an entire line of kids products
- and more!
The shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion come in three scents: lavender rosemary, fresh mint, and cranberry delight. I chose the lavender rosemary scent but was sent all three scents of the lotion, and I have to say that all are great choices.
The shampoo and body wash don’t foam quite as much as regular (non natural) versions, especially the shampoo. They still left my hair and body feeling clean, though. Very clean. In fact, my hair felt great after using the shampoo and conditioner. The lotion was very nice—not too thick or too thin.
The Giveaway:
To enter you must leave a comment on this post, not on my Facebook page and not an email. If you receive my updates by email, click on the title and it will take you to my blog page where you can leave a comment.
Leave a separate comment for each entry:
- Leave a comment on this post telling me which scent you would choose (lavender rosemary, fresh mint, or cranberry delight).
- Like
- Subscribe to this blog via
- Post this giveaway on Facebook.
- Tweet about the giveaway (include @gfhomemaker).
The giveaway will end onFriday, July 15th at 11:00 pm eastern time. The winner will have 24 hours to respond after being contacted. The winner will be posted on my Facebook page.
Disclaimer: I was provided
Red Light, Yellow Light, Green Light
When I was a kid, I was handed a book called Tournament Tough. It was written by Carlos Goffi, who at the time was John McEnroe’s coach. The book is aimed at juniors, but the strategies within the book are great for any player at any level.
A student of mine had heard me speak of the book, which had disappeared from my bookshelf through the many moves I have made in my life. He was nice enough to order a used and rare copy for me and I have enjoyed re-reading the text. There really is no way Goffi could talk about stroke production through a book back in the 80s, but he can and does talk about strategy and how he coached his juniors and Mac through games and matches.
He calls it The Red Light, Green Light. There are times within a match that are clearly more significant than others, games which are more important and points which are crucial. I will try to summarize his thoughts and how they can help you get through a tight time in a match.
A green light is a situation in which you can play your game, go for your shots and play freely. You can go for shots that have a lower margin for error, for example in doubles hitting hard at the net player or in singles going down the line. You are in a green light position when the match is level – for example 3 games all, 30 all.
A yellow light situation occurs when you go down 2 points in any game. Down 30-Love for example, or 40-15. For me, personally, I think yellow (caution) in the 5th and 7th games of any set which are crucial games. Going into a game at 4-2, a result of 5-2 is much different than 4-3. A yellow light situation means that you play with a bit more caution, aiming for a higher consistency. Add a bit of topspin so that your shots track 4 to 7 feet over the net, keep the ball cross court where there is more court to play with, and wait for an opportunity.
Red light situations occur on game points, when up or down by 3 points at 40-Love, or on any set or match points. At this time in any match, you play all percentage tennis, keep the angles limited by playing down the middle of the court and look to create an error from your opponent. This means, no drop shots from the baseline (even though your legs may be really tired – stay in the point!) Red lights can occur when you are up match point, or down match point, up set point or down set point.
I heard a stat the other day that amazed me: In doubles, close to 75% of games in which the server is down 40-Love, the server comes back to win the game. Perhaps we play red light points subconsciously? Either way, I find it an amazing statistic. I have been trying to verify it and if I do, I will pass it along.
