Green Options

We know that what we eat (or don’t eat), whether or not we are getting an adequate amount of sleep, how much water we are drinking and stress all contribute to the health and good looks of our skin. 

But what about temperament?  Each of us has a personality that has grown and developed over the course of our lives, but temperament is something we are born with.  It just goes to figure that it would have a pretty big influence on our lives.

Which temperament are you?

Aging is a controversial topic.  On the one hand, we hate the thought of wrinkles and age spots, not to mention disease and decline.  But, let’s face it, we all want to get older because the alternative stinks.

Since hitting 40 I have tried to embrace aging.  In general, I have always been of the “You are as old as you think you are” adage, but have noticed a few, albeit subtle, changes.  My once normal skin is getting drier (as is my hair) and there is a little more sagging and a few extra fine lines. 

But really, do we want to look 25 (or 30) when we are 40 and up, or do we want to look healthy for our own age?

How many of us think about our skin as a living, breathing organism that’s constantly in motion, every second of the day? It’s incredibly easy to overlook the fact that our skin changes with the seasons and even easier to ignore that we need a different suite of skincare products for winter than we do in summer. Often those thoughts end up in the too hard basket - i.e. it’s hard enough finding skincare that works for our skin fullstop but to change it up twice a year… as if we don’t have enough to think about?! Elemental Herbology make it about as easy as it’s ever going to get with a skincare & body collection that’s focused on delivering exactly what skin needs depending on the time of year (and they do it sooooo stylishly). The Elemental Herbology philosophy is deceptively simple, “to acknowledge the transitions of life, the ebb & flow of the changing seasons and the different aspects of your environment.”

Desert Essence is one of my favorite organic brands, mainly because I love their coconut and vanilla chai scented products.

Now in addition to their body lotions and other wonderful bath and body products they now have something simple for your sink - organic hand wash that comes in Coconut, Vanilla Chair, Lavender, and Grapefruit scents.

The balancing series by Jaimeearl is a life saver for those with oilier skin like mine. The Balancing Gel Cleanser ($35) is a rich-feeling cleanser that leaves skin feeling clean without over-drying it or leaving an oily residue. The company uses moisturizing blends that help lift impurities and get rid of oil slicks without stripping the skin (an action that can lead to an increase in production of oil.

The organic beauty products offered by this line all sound decadent and fabulous, but they are all backed by a sensible approach to selecting the right ingredients - even if it sounds counter-intuitive to moisturize oily skin - and made with organic ingredients.

Remember when eye shadow was fun?  It’s usually the first item girls grab when they start to play with make up.  The unabashed brightness swathed across their lids. 

But as we mature this teenage beauty staple often falls by the wayside.  Desire for a more “natural” look, a two- (or three-) in-one product or (usually) less time for primping all contribute to our displacement of this lid adornment. 

After not using eye shadow in years, a set came across my desk recently.  Even back when I did use shadow it was usually a light tannish, brown color not that far off from the natural color of lids.  This duo from Lavera came with a white shade and (here’s the fun part) a dark charcoal color.  The deep, sultriness of it was so super tempting that I could not wait to test it out.  Envisioning Angelina Jolie in Wanted I rounded up my brushes, sponges and assortment of applicators and plunged in.  My first attempt (done, thankfully, preshower) ended up a bit addict-y.  Not what I’m trying to represent.

After more experimentation I ended up with some cool results.  Here they are:

Glop and Glam boasts kid-friendly, organic products free of parabens, formaldehyde and alcohol. And, while the line is developed for eco-savvy kids, parents can have fun styling their hair too with products that smell good enough to eat, such as Banana, Chocolate Cream, Watermelon, Bubble Gum and Creamsicle.

Glop & Glam combines organic ingredients with natural nutrients, such as aloe, camellia leaf extract [green tea] and echinacea derived from purpurea extract to protect hair from ever present and damaging environmental toxins.

• Glam Creamsicle Detangler- Perfect for hair that has spent the day in the scorching sun, salty beach water, or chlorinated pool. This detangler incorporates Echinachea and Aloe to condition and fortify hair with necessary nutrients.
• Glam Chocolate Cream- A lightweight anti-frizz shine cream designed to provide instant control for flyaway’s and provides a textured movable hold.
• Glam Bubble Gum Glitter Gel- A lightweight styling gel that provides instant hold and definition with a sparkle and shine appeal.

Some of us wear eyeshadow, others not so much.  Most of us wouldn’t think of leaving the house without mascara.  And we all wear foundation.  Right?

Actually, there are a (smallish) group of us who have somehow, to this point in our lives, gotten away without wearing foundation.  I am one of them.  My skin is has always been fair and even toned and I really never paid much attention to covering it up. 

Even when it’s cold outside, a girl needs to keep her fingers and toes manicured and polished. For the eco-savvy mom looking for a non-toxic alternative and something fun to do with her daughter, check out Piggy Paint, the absolutely adorable line with great colors and without the toxic smell.

The company boasts that the water based paints are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. They have a

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Life is dynamic and so is your skin. Most of us don’t think of our visage as a living, breathing, changing organism, but every second of the day our skin is responding to our environment and constantly monitoring and altering itself to regulate healthy skin function. Built on the same principle of living energy, Blissoma skincare is specifically formulated to enhance & compliment the science of skin, while respecting the unique biochemical reactions that make up your body. Their philosophy is based around encouraging and supporting the skins own daily rhythms of regeneration by using combinations of bioactive, live ingredients that are pressed on demand such as juices, herbs and seed oil extracts.

You thought wine was just for drinking right? Not so. Caudalie discovered in 1993 what the rest of the world has been catching up with ever since, that grapes & grapeseeds are a veritable goldmine of bioactive, high potency, antioxidant and anti-aging ingredients. The grapeseed molecule is 10,000 times more powerful than Vitamin E for combating free radicals; Reservatrol (the new ingredient creating major buzz in skincare that comes from grape stalks) has been shown to provide exceptional action for stimulating cell renewal; Viniferine is effective at regulating melatonin production and creating even skin tone; not to mention polyphenols, bioflavanoids and on it goes. Inspired by the greatest vintages from the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte,