Green Options

I’m one of those label-reading, ingredient poring, information seeking obsessives who needs to know everything there is to know before making a purchase, whether it’s my beauty products or what I eat. How could I have known that obsession would reach a whole new level of pedantic a while back when I became pregnant with twin boys, but it did with a vengeance! While I could write a whole post on the baby industry and it’s unbelievable lack of organic & natural products, not to mention its mind-boggling lack of knowledge by supposed industry experts, the purpose of this post is to bring to your attention a new natural & organic hair care collection by Nine Naturals, specifically targeted to pregnant mothers.

Here’s a fun stocking stuffing gift for those who have been a little naughty this year: Sweet Soaps Santa’s Coal and Snowman Poop soaps.

Sure to get the message across while garnering a smile these fun soaps will make perfect eco-friendly stocking stuffers.

It seems as though every day I get news of another ‘great new this’ or ‘fabulous new that’, and I’ll be the first to put my hand up & gleefully admit it makes me just as excited as the rest of you to be in the know, to hear of things first, and to be updated on the latest & greatest - however, there’s something to be said for the ancient, the stoic, the classic, the tried & tested. Known and used for thousands of years by island cultures, coconut oil is one such legendary ingredient that falls squarely in that category. Not only has it properties that make it a staple in most organic beauty products as well as most natural skin & haircare collections,

If you know anything at all about physics, you’ll know that every living thing is suffused with energy and each individual plant & animal resonates with its own unique vibrational pattern. These energy frequencies are said to contain healing elements that when harnessed in the right way and instilled in a carrier of some kind, can infuse their restorative effects into your skin. Much like the way Homeopathy works, this new skincare line from SKINAGAIN uses state-of-the-art computerized technology called Dermavibe, to capture over 300+ energy frequencies ranging from bach flowers to aloe vera to crystals, which are then transferred into a metallic conductor at the bottom of a healing serum.

Who doesn’t love the spicy scents of the season, right?  But you have to admit, summery scents are always welcome.  Enter the newest creations from Jurlique:  Body Wash and Lotion in the gorgeous scents of Rose, Lavender, Citrus and (here it is!) Jasmine.

I have been lucky enough to sample the latter and, let me tell you, it is delicious.  The Shower Gel is thick and rich and foamy.  And the Body Lotion – which on first impression seems a little thin – is actually very hydrating and leaves skin incredible smooth.  Really!  But my favorite part of the whole experience is the luscious scent.  Subtly, fresh Jasmine that actually smells like the real deal and not a plastic imitation because it is made from natural essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance.  Leaves you smelling yummy all day.

People keep telling me it’s just my body detoxing, releasing some sort of angry toxins all over my face. Apparently, new yogi’s go through this period when beginning their journey into the yoga world. Well, I’ve been at this yoga thing for a few months now, and still, my face continually breaks out. I’ve never had flawless skin, mind you, but lately, it’s been at a whole new level of imperfect. And, who would have thought, I’m not too happy about it. In fact, I’ve turned into a little angry toxin myself, infusing my brain with nasty negative self talk and feeling much like a teenager girl all over again- constantly looking at my face for new imperfections and crying a little on the inside every time a new one pops up.

Enter Organoderm and Dr. Alkaitis- two facial products that have flown into my life like little superheros wearing capes, flexing their big muscles and fighting the big bad break out.

A Place to Feel Eco-Fabulous

The  ecofabulous lounge at Opportunity Green was appointed with gorgeous sustainable furniture used throughout the conference space, and is a flawless manifestation of Opportunity Green’s commitment to design. I’ve been to a few sustainability-oriented conferences in my time, and this is the only one that celebrates sustainable design, and helps designers and clients alike to better understand sustainable design. It was so uplifting to see so much creative talent using sustainable principles to make gorgeous clothes and accessories.

The ecofabulous lounge is that chic yet welcoming boutique where you want to just hang out and be surrounded by gorgeousness. The lounge has a corner dedicated to Vie Bungalow, another corner for Arcona facials and product sampling, and the uber-eco PACT underwear, repping for the men, with his & hers boy-cut briefs.The Ekla sofas were gorgeous and seemed a great place to relax and chat with people.

Neroli Rose products are made with hydrating shea butter from Southern Sudan. Sudanese Shea Butter is thought to be the finest natural moisturizer in the world.

“In Sudan, shea butter is called Lulu, meaning ‘treasured pearl’. Sudanese women process their Lulu by hand, using an ancient, cold-pressed technique that retains the highest concentrations of Vitamins A and E. The butter is produced from the nuts of shea trees that grow wild, deep within the Sudanese forests, untouched by chemicals or fertilizers. This rare shea butter from the Nile Basin is so nutritious, it serves as a food staple for the Sudanese people during the dry season.”

The Dazzle Dry Nail Polish System is made for the “on the go lifestyle”. The really great thing about the quick drying Dazzle Dry Nail System is that it contains no harmful chemicals. It is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, and camphor and is also nitrocellulose free (this is the stuff that turns your nails yellow).

The Dazzle Dry formula is also Vegan and Non-Toxic.

I’ve been shaving my legs from the millisecond my mother gave me permission to create the smooth, sleek pins I’d always wanted. I’m not divulging how long that is but let’s just say in my vast experience with razors and creams, mens razors are infinitely more well engineered and perform better than their female counterparts. This latest razor, called ‘Azor’ from the King Of Shaves, is no exception, but what I particularly like about it is the careful consideration for the environment in the manufacture & design. It not only uses less packaging but the plastic is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic, the ‘one part’ design reduces energy and uses a tool that manufactures leaving no waste, the shape of the razor eliminates the need for secondary packaging, and organic inks are used in the printing process. The wishbone shape of the handle is such that you can clearly see where you’re going and what you’re doing - a huge bonus to anyone who regularly slashes themselves trying to go over knees & ankles (that’d be me).

Miserable winter weather, harsh winds, bitter cold…all that can do a number on sensitive lips.

That’s why lip balms make great gifts.

Stick some eco-friendly lip balms in some one’s stocking this year.

Several companies offer delightful organic lip balms in numerous lip smacking flavors that will leave lips soft, smooth, and totally kissable.