Green Options

Everyone loves a great lip balm, and for good reason.  They not only protect and nourish our puckers, but are tote-able and fun to use.  And just when you didn’t think there was anything new that could be done with lip balm, along comes eos.  eos (as in, evolution of smooth) has created two new ways to keep your lips soft, smooth and tasting yummy with lip balm smooth spheres and lip balm smooth sticks.

Packed with vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil to keep delicate lips in top form.  Innovative soft-to-the-touch packaging makes them a pleasure to use and the cool sphere design is so utterly modern that you will leave them sitting around just for the pleasure of looking at them.

I have always loved the idea of aromatherapy and at times (headache, extreme stress…) have tried it.  But the idea of having to 1) research which essential oils are appropriate for which need, and 2) buy and combine said oils without coming up with something obnoxious, sounded like more than I wanted to take on.  And even though essential oils can be very beneficial they are also very potent and care needs to be taken when using them.

Not long ago Stancie Wilson reported on Nuworld Botanicals Aromatherapy Personals on her blog Fig+Sage, and I just had to try them.  They are little rollerball vials that combine aromatherapy and acupressure, along with health benefits of antioxidants, vitamins and 100% certified organic essential oils.  Nuworld Botanicals uses a base of 100% certified organic Jojoba oil to dilute the essential oils for safe use.

Amenity, well know for their modern organic living interior design products, has created a line of delightful organic nursery products.

A child’s genuine comfort and a parent’s peace of mind guides our careful selection of the purest organic elements that form this collection: bumpers filled with organic wool, lovable blankets of breathable organic percale and supremely cozy organic fleece, all printed with certified organic dyes.

When Alison Rothwell’s youngest daughter developed severe baby eczema, she searched for eczema-friendly baby clothing.

Rothwell observed when she wore organic cotton baby clothing, it helped relieve her eczema.  After she outgrew her organic babywear, Rothwell shopped for funky organic kids clothing and couldn’t find any she fancied.  So the UK-based Rothwell decided to create her own and Arabella Miller was born.

The concept that we must cleanse both inside and out resonates loudly with me. As one who has experienced the benefits of seasonal detoxing and who believes we should be mindful of what we put on our bodies and what we put into them, I was excited to recently discover SoCal Cleanse, a company who advocates the importance of both.

My passion for organics began with food. Not long after becoming more aware of what I consume, I began to wonder why I would be feed my skin with anything else. It simply made no sense to be conscientious about one and not the other.

It seems Germany has always been ahead of us in terms of placing value on the natural and the pure. Its not a fad, phase or new concept for them its simply their way of life. So it comes as no surprise that some of the great organic skin care geniuses have come from Germany and I’m genuinely excited to introduce you to yet another.

Amala (ah-mah-la) translates to “most pure” in Sanskrit, “revered mother” in Tibetan and “love her” in Spanish. This exclusive collection is for those seeking an intersection of luxury and purity. Ute Leube, creator and founder behind this pampering brand knows her ingredients, inside and out, backwards, forwards, up and down and has strong convictions about what is “responsible skin care”. She and business partner, Kurt L. Nübling are some of the world’s experts in the cultivation of organic botanicals and have been for the past 20+ years. Up until now, they’ve been known for their extensive and popular organic essential oil line (and anti-aging skin care), Primavera Life; which can be found throughout Europe in most drugstores and health food markets and scarcely available online in the U.S. This past May, Amala made its world debut in Singapore with great success and is currently only available in America in select upscale spas and online.

Have you ever cracked open a bottle of your favorite wine to find it didn’t taste as good as you remembered? 

Or taken a sip from the House wine at some fine dining establishment, and tried to quickly recover from the pursed lips that would reveal it tasted a bit sour?

You probably chalked these experiences up to simply a bad bottle, or the Sommelier at the restaurant likely whisked it away uttering something about the batch of grapes that particular year. 
But did you know that the culprit was most likely the continually changing climate?

Experts say that grapes grown to make wine are more adversely effected than any other crop, making it even more critical for wineries to focus on reducing the negative effects on the environment.  So, from organic wine (wine that has been produced from organically grown grapes) to biodynamic agriculture (organic farming that excludes the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants), the wine industry is committed to this important initiative. 

In addition, certified ‘green’ programs like the ‘Napa Valley Green Certified Winery’ are popping up all over the world, establishing sustainable and green business practices for wineries.  Certified wine production facilities demonstrate a commitment to conserving water and energy, reducing waste and preventing pollution with the primary goal of reducing their overall carbon footprint.  The result is less carbon emissions and more flavorful grapes.  

Recently featured on MSNBC, model and student of art & cosmetology, Spirit Demerson has long been concerned about the environment and interested in beauty.  She used to concoct her own natural fragrances, lotions & scrubs in her kitchen and she’s been the “go-to” beauty girl in her circle of friends, family & colleagues for years.  Frusterated about having to send them in a dozen different directions, she decided to open up shop online.  After years of research (and obsession) her dream of opening her very own “beauty lounge” came to fruition last month. 

Sometimes you just run into the answer to a question that you didn’t actually know you wanted to ask. That was the case when I ran into this article on wisegeek - Why Are Chicken Eggs Different Colors? that carefully validated my usual choice.

Chickens who eat free range, varied diets tend to produce healthier eggs, as their free range lifestyles allow them to consume the dietary minerals they need for their own health, and these minerals will be passed down in their eggs. You may also have noticed that farm-fresh eggs have very dark yolks, whereas chicken eggs from battery hens have much lighter yolks, indicating less nutritional value.

I admit, like many of you, my husband and I often stand in complete bewilderment in front of the egg section and wonder if spending that extra 2 TO 3 DOLLARS per dozen of eggs really makes a difference? Or why the brown, free range eggs we tend to buy at Trader Joes are less than the organic white ones? Or why we like the taste of brown eggs better- is this just psychological. (My husband I have to admit gets into these types of conundrums in the milk aisle too).

As I started to dig into this issue, I ran across this article in the NY Times, which helpfully, seemed to answer most if not all my questions and definitely summarized my dilemma.

Now they can be cage free and free range, vegetarian and omega-3 fortified, organic, “certified humane” or “American humane certified.” The incredible, edible egg is becoming unintelligible.

Most of us know Stella McCartney as a very popular star, she is a famous fashion designer and cares dearly for all animals. Her skin care line is amazing with an all organic ECOCERT policy, and great earth honoring mission.

Just launched in February ‘08, Saaf Pure Skincare is a British beauty brand that’s scientifically-researched, carefully formulated and one of the most certified skincare ranges in the world.  Accreditations include organic certification from the Soil Association (one of the most stringest certification agencies in the world), certified 100% Vegetarian by the Vegetarian Society, Vegan Society registered, Halal certified (no GMOs, alcohol or irradition) and cruelty-free certified by Naturewatch.   From rave reviews of beauty editors and bloggers, to a ”Best Organic Facial Skincare Product“ nomination, to it’s founder honored for her work at Buckingham Palace; this line boasts pure cold-pressed ingredients from a company whose ethos is founded on integrity.