Green Options

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,

It seems the moment cooler weather arrives our skin and hair feel the affects; dry, rough hands, tight skin and fly-aways.  Not to worry, there are remedies for these problems.  By adding a few products or ingredients to your existing regimen, you will be flake and fly-away free in no time.

Occupational Hazards

Always the intrepid investigative journalist, I braved crosstown traffic to respond to a tip about a salon using all natural hair color. Shades Natural Hair Color Studio was founded by Susan Henry in 2006. She was a very successful colorist, with hundreds of Hollywood A-list clients. But around 2001, she became so ill from ammonia poisoning, she could no longer work in a salon. Inspired by her daughter’s botany studies, she developed an ammonia-free, all-natural product in order to continue doing the work she loves.

Susan carefully selects each product she carries and uses in the salon, interrogating the manufacturers even as they avoid divulging their secret formulae. Her products are also sold online, and she just released a boxed version of the home coloring kit which may soon be available in stores. The colors I saw on other clients were lovely, and I immediately recommended it to a friend who is prematurely grey and has been coloring her hair for ages.

In the photo, Susan touches up the gorgeous red on a regular client.

Tina explained to me that many of their clients are cancer survivors who understand as few others do the traumatic effects of the chemicals in our lives. While the health of clients is important, I could not help but think about the health of the stylists who spend the majority of their waking hours inhaling all manner of toxic chemicals. Unlike other salons, I walked in and smelled nothing, even with color clients present. And of course they didn’t have the ubiquitous Prop 65 warning on the door. I recalled a nail salon I’d visited in Spain with such poor ventilation I could barely stand it, so this was a real treat. The nail polish Shades uses is free of toluene and formaldehyde, and the mani included a wonderful oil & sugar scrub.

Terri Bly, president of The Nature of Beauty, LTD, announces celebrity makeup artist Christy Coleman’s revised website, featuring a DIY guide to achieving runway glamour as well as everyday looks using nothing but natural and organic beauty products.

These days there are all kinds of new products on the market claiming to be the new natural cure for all of your beauty issues. Before you spend your hard earned dollar on another new product promising to get rid of wrinkles or magically make the cellulite disappear from your backside, here’s the scoop on some natural ingredients that have been scientifically proven to work. Real Simple Magazine put together a list of some of the most useful and natural ingredients to look for in products in order to brighten up your skin and make your hair silky and shiny. Here are a few of them to be on the look out for.

Terri Bly, president and founder of The Nature of Beauty, dispells common misconceptions about natural and organic hair care, with the help of Wil Baker, co-founder of award-winning Max Green Alchemy.

Malie Organics Jasmine Rose Beautify Facial Tonic is so simple, yet feels so indulgent.  This pure floral water purifies skin for that extra clean feeling, while providing light hydration. 

Made from distilled flower hydrosols and pure spring water from the slopes of Hawaii’s Haleakala volcano, this refreshing tonic encourages cell growth and collagen production. Healing jasmine (often used as a mood elevator) and rose (a natural anti-inflammatory that helps to soothe and calm dry, sensitive skin) provide gentle moisture and balance to tired, irritated skin. 

Terri Bly, green beauty maven and president of The Nature of Beauty, offers some suggestions for prioritizing purchases when switching from commercial to non-toxic beauty products.

John Masters is quickly becoming one of my favorite organic beauty brands. I love the hair products and now I am really loving the green tea and rose hydrating facial serum. It keeps my skin smooth without feeling weighed down or greasy, which so many moisturizers do, even natural ones.

John Masters green tea and rose hydrating facial serum is very light weight, perfect for summer moisture. The scent reminds me of black licorice which is not an unpleasant aroma for me, sweet and a little heady but pleasant.

Summer heat, crazy humidity, air conditioning, pool water…our hair gets assaulted throughout the summer with fluctuating temperatures, weather conditions, and contact with chemicals. Give your hair a little extra help bouncing back to it’s natural beauty with John Masters Lavender and Avocado Intensive Conditioner.

John Masters Organics are USDA certified organic and they are “committed to using the finest, most therapeutic organic ingredients on the planet”.

Greening Hollywood Guild by Guild’s founder, Paige Donner, interviews Rachelle Carson Begley on the importance of using clean cosmetics.