Natural enough to eat

Vivian Buenrostro, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

May 17, 2013

In the last months left of the year, Janet Renteria, 11, brought up the idea to C-104’s weekly meetings to make all natural lotions, chap sticks, and body scrubs with the help of Eco Club adviser Mrs. Santacruz. “I’ve always like to make new creation with fruits and oils,” Renteria said, “so why not make products lots of people can wear.”

Downey High School’s Eco Club is fundraising by selling one hundred percent organic body products such as: lip chaps, lip balm, lotion bars, body lotion, and face lotion made by health teacher and Eco Club Adviser, Ms. Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz has been making these products for her family for five years, but the club didn’t start to sell them until April 2013.

Each product is made with the following organic, raw, cold-pressed and unrefined ingredients: coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, shea/cocoa butter, cosmetic beeswax and essential oils. The essential oils include: lavender, vanilla, orange, mint, eucalyptus, geranium, jasmine, ylang ylang, chamomile, clary sage, lemongrass, coffee and cinnamon. Any product can be customized with whichever sent is preferred.

“I bought the lotion and it smells good and has made my skin really soft,” senior Rosie Endow said.

The ecofriendly club has been active for eight years and performs different activities that benefit the environment, like the annual beach clean up at Bolsa Chica. Since the club was founded in 2005, learning different ways to give back to mother earth has remained their main priority. Once Santa Cruz shared her way of using natural products to replace the unknown substances stocked on the shelves at convenient stores, the club was stoked. “I hope these products sell well throughout the years because they have a better representation of what the club is about,” club member Ashley Clemens, 10, said

Eco Club has been selling Cup Noodles for the past two months. Although the noodles financially contributed to the club, they failed relate to what the club truly stands for.

“We [Eco Club] know that using foul toxins found in body products sold at every store is not good for us,” Santa Cruz said, “but now we just really want to get the word out to the student body and educate them.”

The health teacher admits that the earth gave life to humans and it is the public’s responsibility to “use less of the earth’s blood.” Whether it is the need for chap stick, body lotion or both, room C-104 is open for business.

About the Contributors

Vivian Buenrostro, Co-Editor-in-Cheif

Senior Vivian Buenrostro is not only a writer for The Downey Legend online newspaper, but has also taken on the responsibility of Co-Editor-In-Chief. Having been a part of the newspaper staff since her sophomore year, she has experience with the different positions and has even held the positions of Arts and Entertainment Section Editor and Song of the Week Editor. “Newspaper has been one awesome ride these past three years,” Buenrostro said. “I’ve learned skills that are applicable to everything and anything.” Although Co-Editor-In-Chief is a tough and tedious job, Buenrostro is ready to take on the challenge. Throughout this year on staff she hopes to build a close bond with all of the staff members and have productive deadlines. When she is not running the staff or writing stories, Buenrostro enjoys jogs around her neighborhood, making healthy shakes and other concoctions, or swimming in the waves at Huntington Beach. “Time doesn’t really exist when I’m in the ocean,” Buenrostro said. Buenrostro also loves live music; she has been to various concerts including Young the Giant, Arctic Monkeys, and Walk the Moon. Buenrostro plans to graduate and attend an out of state school far from California. “As much as I love Downey High,” Buenrostro said, “I can’t wait to go to college in a new environment.” While away at college she hopes to major in biology and medicine to start her path towards her career goal of being a doctor. Buenrostro aims to make her final year at Downey High School rewarding in both her academics and her position on The Downey Legend staff.

Monique Munoz, Co-Photo Editor

Soon to graduate from Downey High School, 17-year-old senior Monique Munoz is a photographer and the Co-Photo Editor for The Downey Legend. Although this is her first year shooting for The Legend, she has had a passion for photography since her sophomore year. “I always have a camera with me whether it is my Canon Rebel or my little carry around camera,” Munoz said. “I take pictures all of the time in random places, looking to capture unforgettable moments.” Her goal is to be the best photographer on The Downey Legend staff. Munoz is also a photographer for Downey’s High’s yearbook. Aside from taking pictures, she enjoys cooking, dancing, and watching basketball and football. One of her dreams for high school is to participate in the powder puff game. Munoz wants to obtain a minor in photography attending Cal State Long Beach, and she plans to finish her schooling at UCLA. Because of her love for children, her main desire is to major in the medical field and become a pediatrician. She decided this as her dream career because of how well she is with children due to constantly having to take care of her younger siblings. “I wouldn’t mind working as a photographer on my breaks and vacations from my career, because photographing is more of a passion then a job to me,” Munoz said. She also mentioned she wishes to travel the world to photograph portraits, candid and landscape photos. “No matter what it takes, I am determined to achieve all my goals and believe I am capable of accomplishing anything I want to,” Munoz said.