Green Options

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.

I’ve always found most body kits to be silly. Side skirts, fender flares, and front splitters usually do little more than add weight and make a slow car look like it’s trying too hard to go fast. But every now and then a good, clean body kit can improve the appearance of a car, and if done right, even improve its aerodynamic properties.

Hybrids seem to be especially popular to make body kits for recently, with both the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid receiving different takes on body enhancements. Toyota is taking the game a step further with its Aerius body kit which offers subtle improvements to the exterior without negatively affecting the drag coefficient.

If life’s a journey, Journey Inn — an eco-inn and retreat that’s designed with nature completely in mind, spirit and body – serves as a guide.

Located in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, about an hour from St. Paul-Minneapolis, this Travel Green Wisconsin and Green Routes certified enterprise launched by John Huffaker and Charlene Torchia in 2006 artistically crafts a peaceful refuge to enhance our experiences with nature and allow our inner beings to breathe. Journey Inn is part restoration enterprise and part center for recreating our human soul in more meaningful ways.

I had the opportunity to stay at Journey Inn for a couple days this past September with my family, since we prefer ecotravel-oriented accommodation options. We hiked some of the abundant hiking trails on their sixty-six acre property that includes a spectacularly restored prairie and garden labyrinth. We sipped tea while relaxing in their gardens. We even shared a few of our cucumbers and tomatoes from Inn Serendipity with a couple celebrating their honeymoon there.

It is that time of year again when we all want to banish bumps, spots, imperfections and even (gasp!) cellulite.  You just get your facial care system down for the warmer weather months and it seems that the skin on our bodies goes into shock.  Or at least the first time we have to put on a bathing suit, that is.  Let’s face it, it has been all covered up for months now, getting ignored and neglected.  It is time for a little pampering.

Ready for a skin smoothing, luxuriously scented treat for warm weather skin?  Then it must be Suzanne aux bains Nourishing Body Millk ($30).  Lightly scented with Chamomile, Lavender and Incense essential oils, this creamy-dreamy body lotion is a sweet little indulgence for the skin.

The first time I used Suzanne aux bains Nourishing Body Milk I really didn’t put much thought into it, until later that is.  I  received a sample sachet and quickly applied some of the lotion to my arms and shoulders on the way out the door.  Later, as I was getting ready for bed, I couldn’t help but notice how soft and smooth my arms were, and had to think back to even remember what I had put on them.  Well, needless to say, I purchased a tube the very next day.

In drier winter months a body cream or butter provides us with a thicker, richer form of hydration for the skin.  In warmer seasons we need to switch to something lighter and more regenerative.  Suzanne aux bains uses Jojoba oil for deeply penetrating hydration and Lavender honey to gently exfoliate the skin.

If you have yet to try Argan oil, the beauty secret of Moroccan women, here is the scoop.

Argan oil is produced from the kernels of the argan tree which grows only in southwestern Morocco where it has been used by the women there for centuries.  It is valued for its nutritive, cosmetic and medicinal properties and holds anti-aging benefits when used as skin care.  This is because Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids and contains high levels of vitamin E.

Malie Mango Nectar Luxe Cream Soap instantly transports you to that first step off of the tarmac once you hit Hawaii.  This luxury cleansing bar (isn’t there just something about a bar?) is creamy, dreamy, smooth and leaves you and your shower smelling of sweet mango-y goodness.  Skin is left soft and lightly scented.

Enriched with the hydrating properties of Kukui Nut, Macadama Nut and Coconut Oils, this easy to grip bar moisturizes and nourishes skin.  Malie fruit and flower hydrosols add exquisite, pure scent and aromatherapeutic power  to this luscious hand and body cleanser.  Also comes in koke’e (a crisp, green scent), coconut vanilla, plumeria, and pikake (Hawaiian Jasmine).

Swiss auto-maker Rinspeed has revealed a revolutionary electric car, that morphs its body shape depending on the number of passengers onboard (see gallery below).

The Rinspeed iChange is the brain-child of prolific Swiss designer Frank Rinderknecht, also responsible for the sQuba ‘fully submersible’ EV (video). The car, showcased at this week’s Geneva 2009 Motor Show, starts off as a one-seat sports car, but is capable of changing to a three-seat coupe thanks to a pop-up rear end. The intention is that the zero-emission EV can optimize its aerodynamic profile according to the passenger load required (more pictures after the jump).

Lately, in an attempt to conjure any notion of warmer days, I have tried several fruit scented body lotions and butters and all smell good enough to eat.  And with all of their fruity goodness ingredients you practically could, but it’s probably not recommended.

Let’s start off with the new Bubble & Bee Body Butta - that’s right, it has ‘tude.  The subtle Raspberry and Vanilla scent is warm and fruity, evocative of a chocolate raspberry torte.  And the luscious creamy texture (think buttercream frosting) goes on smooth and keeps skin soft all day.  Comes in 4 or 8 oz jars and is made with shea butter and lots of oils, like coconut, sweet almond and macadamia.

Now that we are just past the autumnal equinox, it is time to shake up your beauty routine to adjust for the cooler months coming. The fall is a time of change. Making small and subtle changes now will help you look and feel your best this season. Here are some Fall beauty tips that are easy to incorporate into your routine.

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that to live a greener, healthier life, you have to completely reinvent your ways. But more often than not, lasting change comes by making things simpler, not harder. Instead of thinking about all you should do, try a gentler approach - one that goes back to basics. Reusable shopping bags. Manual can openers. A walk to the corner store. Handmade gifts. A sustainable future doesn’t grow out of a to-do list, but from a desire for the kind of lifestyle that brings us back to ourselves. - Terri Trespicio

Here-here to that, sister! Though it is tough to get away from cleaning the bathroom and doing laundry, most “modern” inventions and products end up making our lives more cluttered and complicated instead of relieving us of senseless stress. Keeping things simple (or at least progressing them towards that end of the spectrum) is the overall theme of Body+Soul Magazine’s April 2008 issue - right in time for Earth Day, of course.

Learning how to kick back and take things in stride is the theme of this issue’s Reader to Reader column (page 20) . In celebration of the premiere of Sundance Channel The Green’s second season on April 1st, Body+Soul is giving away a luxury goody bag (worth over $2,500!) to one lucky reader.