Green Options

Life is full of guilty pleasures depending on your choice of vices and though I’ve never been a chocolate kinda gal, I do have a penchant for delicious, ridiculously luxurious organic bath + body products. Shamelessly self-indulgent when it comes to self-pampering rituals, I’m a major fan of anything that beautifies my day whether it’s spraying my sheets at night with a sleep inducing, instantly relaxing organic mist, or using an organic shower gel in the morning that kick starts my day with more stimulation than a double espresso! We all know that plants do more than just smell pretty and the new line of premier Body Care from Because Skincare is a fine example of a carefully conceived, beautifully formulated collection of body products - Because good skincare is not just for your face!

It’s long been known that Alicia Silverstone is one of our most eco-savvy Hollywood Stars from her vegetarian stance to her green nuptials, so it comes as no surprise that her latest venture shows her walking the talk yet again. Inspired and designed by the natural beauty herself, Ecotools by Alicia Silverstone is a collection featuring environmentally-friendly makeup bags & brushes. The cosmetic bags are made with natural hemp and the floral designs on the bags are printed with non-toxic inks, as are the hangtags which are also printed on tree-free stone paper. The interior is made from a recycled PET lining and the brushes are compiled of earth-friendly materials such as bamboo, recycled plastic, soybean oil and crushed walnuts - with cruelty-free, non-animal bristles.

I’m a die hard scented candle afficianado, but besides the obvious olfactory pleasures I gain from burning a delicious organic version, the new ‘Light The Way’ limited edition soy wax candle from Aveda gives me extra reason to feel good.

Inspired by a French stress-relieving aroma comprised exclusively of certified organic ingredients including clary sage, lavender and lavandin, 100% of proceeds from this sale of this candle will help Aveda donate a total of $1,000,000 to clean water projects around the globe. Over 1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water and children are dying every day from preventable diseases as a result.

The girls spoke and Victoria’s Secret listened! Who among us hasn’t lusted after some of the sexy underpinnings I regularly drool over at Victoria’s Secret? Well now there’s another collection for you to covet, and holy moly, wait for it… it’s both organic & vegan!! PINK BODY is a unique and bold new move for this conventional retailer and they get a big gold star for paying attention to [...]

Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths are a brilliant, 3-in-1 quick cleansing solution that removes all traces of makeup, daily grime & buildup. Inspired by a sustainable clothing designer, not only is bamboo cashmere soft to touch making it perfect for sensitive skins & eye makeup removal, it is naturally antimicrobial and antifungal, requiring no pesticides to grow. Formulated to bring convenience to our lives with essentially three products in [...]

As a sun worshipper many years ago, who giddily slapped on coconut oil and eagerly awaited the burn I’d get after hours of baking, I’m now suffering the effects of too much exposure. The greatest cause of skin damage including premature aging, discoloration, fine lines, pigmentation, is the sun. Period. Free-radicals are formed with over exposure which run rampant, cause havoc and breakdown the very structure of skin, which leads to all of the above. Ah, if only I’d listened to my mother admonishing my bad sun habits! Too late for hindsight, but not too late for some enlightenment. Aveda are about to release a new skincare line called Enbrightenment, an entire line containing a plant-powered, skin brightening blend.

With 800 new beauty products launched last year and a market with increasing value in the billions, I’ve been consistently floored at the glaring gap in products targeted toward young girls & teens. The choices for women have become saturated along with products for babies, not a bad thing when you consider how much impact natural & organic beauty brands are having in the market. However, the category aimed at anyone [...]

I’m usually dragged into the colder months with resignation and resolve… a kind of grin and bear it mantra firmly planted in my psyche to get me through. I’ve decided that this year I need to change my paradigm to one that embraces the change of seasons and welcomes all the good things about chilly weather! So while it might seem like early days, with holiday season upon us it seems appropriate to start reviewing some gorgeous gift ideas that will keep your spirit warm & cosy over the next few months.

In the short time since she has launched the haute green newsletter and site, EcoStiletto, which encourages all the ladies to stiletto-size their carbon footprint from an Ugg Boot to a tiny Manolo, Rachel Sarnoff has made a huge impact of her own.

I got a chance to get the scoop on her inspiration and objectives and couldn’t wait to share them with the FGS readers. Keep reading to hear about her Fashion Week eco-find and what gets her going to inspire other green fashion mavens.