The Organic Beauty Expert

Yet another reason to consider buying local instead of paying for "organic"

Since my very recent "healthy eating awakening", I have chosen to buy local fruits and vegetables instead of paying more money for the organic label at the store. Why? Well, I'm obviously cynical and don't quite trust the government to construct a system that actually protects what I eat. So this article is not shocking but should certainly make you think a bit more before you shell out the extra bucks.

The Washington Post recently reported findings of shortcomings in the USDA’s Organics program—meaning that consumers, who at times must pay twice as much for organic products, are not always getting what they expect: foods without pesticides and other chemicals, produced in a way that is gentle to the environment.

Relaxation of the federal standards, and an explosion of consumer demand, have helped push the organics market into a $23 billion-a-year business, the fastest growing segment of the food industry. Half of the country's adults say they buy organic food often or sometimes, according to a survey last year by the Harvard School of Public Health.

Oakley offers first ever eco-friendly recyclable sunglasses :: Bob Burnquist Signature Recycled Gascan®

Oakley skateboarder Bob Burnquist has long championed “green” initiatives and environmental protection. To show support, Oakley is pleased to present this special edition Gascan® eyewear. The frame is made from excess materials produced from the manufacture of other eyewear and the eco conscious design utilizes 100% certified organic bamboo for the icon accents and the included storage bag. Packaging is constructed from recycled materials and printed with eco-friendly inks.

“We are proud of this new sunglass, the first of what we hope to be numerous innovations created with Green initiatives in mind,” stated Pat McIlvain, Oakley Vice President, Sports Marketing. "Bob has long been a source of inspiration to Oakley, and he brings a wealth of knowledge to the design table. It's very exciting to see Oakley take this approach with our environment in mind."

“I am very excited to be part of the creation of this special eyewear piece,” said Bob Burnquist. “The way Oakley has bridged the gap between technical innovation and a more green route is quite an achievement.”

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the Bob Burnquist Gascan® will go to the Action Sports Environmental Coalition (ASEC), an organization co-founded by Bob in 2001. With the help of athletes and companies, the organization takes a proactive approach to educate others about environmental responsibility and the importance of preserving the Earth's valuable resources for future generations.
Price:  $100.0.

ecoStore USA cleaning products review

After a disappointing venture into natural cleaning with Method laundry detergent and Seventh Generation dishwashing powder, it was nice to find this decently priced line from ecostore USA. My biggest gripe is that they are not yet readily available in local stores, so you have to buy online, which never seems to happen. On the plus side, they are now available in all 185 Meijer supercenters in five states.

Products reviewed ::
Citrus Spray Cleaner, $9
Ingredients :: D-Limonene (from citrus), Palm and coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants, Fatty acid derivative, Ethanol, Filtered water
Dish Wash Liquid, $8.50
Ingredients :: Palm and Coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants, Mineral hydroxide, natural citrus oil
Laundry Liquid, $11
Ingredients :: Palm and Coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants, Fatty acid derivative, Mineral hydroxide, Certified organic Eucalyptus oil
Number of times used :: 40+
Overall :: Let's state the obvious -- these products cost more than your usual cleaning products. And I'll be honest, I still use the "other" laundry detergent, simply because it's more convenient to go to Costco and buy it bulk. However, once this bottle of "other" is gone, I am going solely natural from here on out.

The laundry liquid is very effective and I love the fresh eucalyptus smell. I tested it by using it to wash my massage sheets, which are usually heavily laden with lotion and /or oil. The scent didn't linger in the sheets, they were clean, crisp and white and honestly, that bottle lasted about three months. Considering I wash sheets three to four times a week, that's pretty efficient.

Additionally, not suggesting that you do this, but I also used the dish wash liquid to clean my fruits and vegatables and for the first time, I didn't hesitate, wondering what else I was putting into my body. There's no heavy scent and the product does what it's meant to do, which is clean the grease and grime from my dishes.

Looking for a natural hair dye? Research teams say it's just around the corner

Hair dyes made with only natural ingredients could be on the market within two years, according a research team at the University of Leeds.

Read the full article.

Now, Advanced Cosmetics offers a 100% plant-based permanent hair color system. I haven't used it personally so can't state for sure about the ingredients, but might be worth looking into until the fully all-natural option comes around.

Lavera Sunscreen :: a natural skincare choice for summer

from release
Knowing what is in your sunscreen is just as important as using it! Studies show that chemical sunscreens (the majority of what you see on shelves today) may have undesirable side-effects. The chemical compounds in sunscreens can accumulate in body fats and mimic estrogen, inducing hormonal activities in your body.

What is the difference between chemical sunscreens and mineral based sunscreens?
Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and are themselves absorbed into the skin and into the body. Effective after 20-30 minutes, only against UV B rays.
Mineral based sun blocks reflect UV rays—they build a physical protection layer on your skin and work immediately when applied. Effective against UV A & B rays.

Lavera is the leader in “truly natural” skincare. Bringing the strict European standards to the lenient U.S. regulations, Lavera is educating consumers that pure is best when it comes to your skin care needs. They use 100% natural mineral pigments to deliver effective UV-A, B and C protection in their SUN product line. Mineral pigments create a physical shield that sits on the surface of the skin to block UV rays and do not in any way affect the healthy functioning of internal organs or the normal balance of reproductive hormones.

All Lavera products:

• Are designed for sensitive skin
• Are made from pure organic plant oils, herbs, flowers extracts and essential oils
• Are cruelty free
• Are free from parabens, synthetic preservatives and fragrances, emulsifiers and petroleum
• Adhere to the strict guidelines for the Certified Natural Cosmetics set by BDIH in Germany—the toughest certification process anywhere in the world for making sure products are natural and organic.

Now available at select Target stores nationwide and online at Lavera.com.
INGREDIENTS :: Water, Glycine Soja Oil*, Caprylic Triglycerides, Grain Alcohol*, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-3 Ricinoleate, Tricaprylin, Canola Oil, Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Jojoba Oil*, Magnesium Sulfate, Vitamin E, Almond Oil*, Calendula Extract*, Rose Water*, Lavender Extract*, Xanthan Gum, Beeswax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Betaglucan, Vitamin E, Alumina ,Vitamin C ,Stearic Acid
Natural Oils: Citral, Coumarin, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool

Natural Mineral: Coated Titanium Dioxide

Eco-friendly, recycled materials & made in the USA? Alex & Ani Jewelry

Summer brings out the jewelry case... add to yours with Alex and Ani necklaces, bracelets and rings. Made with recycled materials and crafted in Rhode Island, USA

Do it yourself beauty for the new economy from Julia March Skincare

from beautypress

In this new economy, it’s time to get creative. If the wallet isn’t agreeing with everyday beauty budgets, scan the kitchen cabinets for ingredients to create fresh, homemade, and even organic beauty solutions.

For brilliant hair:
- To help mend split ends rub olive oil into the ends of hair. Leave in for 30 minutes and then shampoo as usual. The oil nourishes hair and adds moisture.

- To add brightness and a shiny gloss to hair, Julia March, owner and specialist at Julia March Skincare, recommends combining 2-3 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar with a cup of water. Use this mixture after shampooing, and be sure to rinse to avoid a lingering vinegar aroma!
 
- Done with that beer? Put it aside for the shower. After shampooing, rinse wet hair with a tepid beer for added volume and shine.

For a radiant face:
- For problem skin, March suggests letting the face absorb the vapors from a steaming pot of 3 tablespoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar combined with a quart of filtered water. Raw apple cider vinegar can also be used as a tonic for oily skin when mixed with distilled water at a 1:1 ratio (not steamed).

- To combat puffy eyes, apply used black teabags to the swollen area.

- If slightly sunburned, apply cucumber slices to the face. Dry skin will draw moisture from the slices, in addition to being nourished by the many vitamins in cucumbers.

- For hydration and a radiant glow, March recommends applying a facial mask of raw honey and plain, full fat yogurt for 15- 20 minutes. The fats in the dairy and honey will moisturize and nourish the skin.

For smooth skin:
- To exfoliate the body effectively and inexpensively, create a DIY body scrub with olive oil and sea salt. Pay special attention to rough areas like elbows, knees and feet. March notes that a few drops of lavender extract add a nice and soothing scent to this homemade concoction.

- All out of bath foam and in need of a luxurious bath? Adding a quart of full cream milk to bath water will help restore and calm skin’s lipids while milk proteins help maintain skin’s elasticity.

- For hard and white nails, spoil fingers with a lemon bath. Dip nails into one half of a lemon and turn them, squeezing out the juice. Let them soak for a minute.

For white teeth:
- As a cheap alternative to whitening teeth, mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt with a small glass of water until mixture is paste-like. Brush teeth as usual and rinse well. It is proven that baking soda will help lighten stains, but be careful not to use too often. Once every two weeks should be enough, as baking soda can be abrasive and erode tooth enamel.

Five ingredients to avoid in sun care products from SustainLane.com

from SustainLane.com

Reading the ingredients labels on cosmetics can feel like reading Russian, so it’s no surprise that most of us don’t check what’s in our skin care products before we toss them into our shopping cart or rub them on our faces.

But if you’re not checking out what’s in your beauty products, maybe it’s time.

For years, major cosmetics companies have been inserting potentially dangerous chemicals into their products, erring on the side of cost savings rather than focusing on their customers’ health. Now that summer’s here – along with the prospect of a new, seasonal skin care regimen – flip that bottle over and see what’s really inside your beauty products.

Read the full article...

Are you an eco-wino? Check out this deal from Delight.com

One cannot live three years in Italy without becoming a wino. Seriously. We started drinking at 11.30am with our bread and salad, after our nap at 2pm and again at dinner at 8pm. It wasn't an attempt to get knocked on our butts (except when it was! haha) it was simply the way it was.

So now when I'm wine shopping, I often find myself looking for organic wine. Not because I'm overly green -- I mean, I like wine and I'm not giving up the good Italian and French vineyards -- but like anything, it's nice to check out what else is available.

With that in mind, Delight.com has a "Wine with a conscience" trio for just $49 (valued at $86) and I felt it my duty to let you other wino's know. These wines are from biodynamic and sustainable vineyards, so you can tickle your palate without guilt of a big carbon print.

Do you have a Fashion Conscience?

I am so NOT a fashion whore, but I admire those folks who can hang a rag on their body and rock it like couture. So while my forte is beauty and lifestyle, the UK has a rockin' site that features some of the best in eco-fashion and glam if you lean that way. And BTW, they ship internationally and offer a currency calculator for your online shopping convenience.

about Fashion-Conscience.com 
We stock only pieces that are organic, sustainable, recycled, vintage, vegan, fair trade or aid small local communities - and hold many exclusive and edgy designers garnered from around the world - such as eco luxe label Camilla Norrback from Sweden, Cri de Couer and Olsenhaus - the two hottest vegan footwear labels from NY, FGI 'Rising Star' nominated label Doucette Douvall, winners of the Ecco Domani Sustainable Design Award, Bodkin Brooklyn, as well as recycled anchor sail Seabags as seen in Vogue and Vanity Fair, and UK premium lingerie label Eco-Boudoir. We have recently been made the official UK online retailer for new and seriously sexy green swimwear label Emobi, straight from Bondi Beach Australia, and are the only eco site to stock recycled and recyclable Melissa, the original and hugely trendy Brazilian plastic shoes.