Green Options

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.

I’m taking a little sojourn from writing about beauty to cover eco-fashion for a minute. Not something I usually do unless particularly relevant, but here’s the scoop… Three days ago, the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers America) winner was announced and Alexander Wang walked away with the title. That’s not what I’m excited about though. What’s incredible for the world of eco-fashion is that organic fashion designer John Patrick was one of the finalists! Known for a sartorial style that is a little off beat, elegant & relaxed, Patrick is now

Shopping is costing the earth, literally, and at this time of year even more so. The idea is to spoil the ones you love not the planet, and a great way to do that is by purchasing organic & natural products. There are gorgeous gift ideas in abundance this year and no shortage of special offers to help lighten the load on your wallet. But for those  who don’t mind spending a little extra to get something  absolutely beautiful and special for someone you love, this Four Fragrance Miniature Organic Fragrance Set from Tsi-La is TDF (to-die-for).

I recently wrote about the dangers of convetional and OTC (over the counter) hair dyes under the post, ‘Your Hair Dye Could Be Killing You’. Since then I’ve discovered more and more hair care companies who are taking up the challenge to develop botanical alternatives. Most of these vegetable & plant counterparts don’t actually infiltrate the hair shaft, they coat it with color resulting in less damage, noticibly more shine and stronger hair - not to mention healthier scalp. But the latest and greatest from Advanced Cosmetic Technologies (ACT) goes even further by using 100% plant based color and a patent pending technique that creates a highly purified end product.

With a portfolio of brands that encompasses everything from animal friendly eco-accessories to organic skincare, Stella McCartney has lived and breathed a verdant life for years. Hell bent on debunking the myths and assumptions surrounding organic & natural, Stella has made sure her cool, modern & sexy aesthetic leaves no-one in doubt that not only are we entering a new era of consciousness, but it’s one that is firmly rooted in [...]

I’ve been waiting (patiently and not so patiently) to see how long it would take for truly biodegradable packaging to hit the markets. Sure the market has been working on bioplastic polymers for sometime but there are still issues with heat & cold tolerances that make usage limited. Enter Organic Essence! This is truly the ultimate in green packaging; using recycled paper pulp, soy inks, organic adhesive and even organic glaze on the outer surface. While the jars are not exactly my cup of tea in terms of design, I’m giving these guys major kudos for developing what is sure to revolutionize the way our organic & natural beauty products are bottled.

Kathy Phillips has an impressive pedigree as ex Vogue Beauty Director, and now International Beauty Director for all Conde Nast Asia Fashion Magazines. It should be no surprise then that her own beauty line, This Works, has attracted a string of accolades and awards (Times Best 100 Beauty Products, Instyle Best Body Oil, Marie Claire Prix D’Excellence… you get the picture) not to mention a cult following. Compelled to find out what all the fuss is about I recently tried the Deep Dry Leg Oil and I have to tell you I’m as hooked as everyone else.