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,

If you know anything at all about physics, you’ll know that every living thing is suffused with energy and each individual plant & animal resonates with its own unique vibrational pattern. These energy frequencies are said to contain healing elements that when harnessed in the right way and instilled in a carrier of some kind, can infuse their restorative effects into your skin. Much like the way Homeopathy works, this new skincare line from SKINAGAIN uses state-of-the-art computerized technology called Dermavibe, to capture over 300+ energy frequencies ranging from bach flowers to aloe vera to crystals, which are then transferred into a metallic conductor at the bottom of a healing serum.

Hardly as obssessive as the Japanese or Michael Jackson when it comes to lightening skin, I am definitely a sucker for anything that promises to ‘brighten’ and even the tone of my not bright, and definitely not even, skin tone.  It may sound like a genius marketing ploy but here’s where that old adage that ‘if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is’, actually doesn’t apply. Nature holds a vast treasure trove of spectacularly potent ingredients from plants & fruits that are being discovered and isolated every day. One of the newest to hit the market is the Amla Fruit in the form of a new Skin Brightening Lotion by Anokha.

There was a time when conversations surrounding elasticity, loss of collagen, sagging and lack of tone, were for me like hearing someone speak in a foreign language. Convinced I’d somehow and miraculously been blessed with ever youthful skin, I never paid much attention - until now that is. Whether you’re there already or you think this is something that doesn’t apply to you, it’s never too early or late to start using skincare that addresses these very issues. Now, let it be said I’m a total skeptic (and more than a little jaded) when it comes to product claims, having worked with and tried just about everything. My latest discovery however, more than lives up to its rep and having used it for the last six wks, I can verify that my skin feels noticeably smoother, firmer and more radiant.

Going through the day without being enveloped in a beautiful fragrance is as unthinkable as having no music, no coffee and god forbid… no food – that’s how seriously I take my obsession with scent. Smell is one of the most powerful of the senses and has the ability to directly impact your mood & emotional wellbeing, stimulating our emotions and awakening our senses. Once in a blue moon, a new brand comes along that blows me away with sophistication, effectiveness, a great price point, fantastic brand philosophy and overall sheer beauty. Acorelle Organic Eau de Parfum is one such line. Made by a French fragrance house who know what a fine fragrance is, there isn’t a single note lavender, patchouli or rose among this gorgeous collection. Instead what you’ll find are scents that have depth, flair, unique personality, and that meld into your skin for an olfactory experience that’s simply blissful and beautiful – not to mention good for you & good for the planet.

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 [...]

Looking for the perfect green gift for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or perhaps an upcoming anniversary? The eco-goddess in your life may love Shea Terra’s Pomegranate and Chocolate Love Kit. This delightful in the pink love kit contains three bath and body products containing organic shea butter, pomegranate oil, and fair trade African herbs and oils and  scented with the sweet fragrance of natural pink guava. To play into every girl’s chocolate cravings the kit also contains a box of fair trade dark chocolate or milk chocolate hearts. Hmmm…yummy. And the whole kit is packaged in a pretty pink handmade sinamay bag that can be reused.

Futurenatural have been featured before on Feelgood Style and I couldn’t agree more with the peeps over at Nylon Magazine. Here’s some scoop in case you haven’t yet heard of Futurenatural and some reasons why Nylon got all starry-eyed, saying “Our new favorite store let’s you be an Earth angel. How much time can you really spend in Sephora sifting through beauty labels? How much stuff should you trash to be “eco friendly? It’s a tough situation, but we’ve found something to make it easier:  Futurenatural, a modern organic beauty boutique.”

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).

If there’s one must-have product you’re going to add to your beauty arsenal with the looming onlslaught of party & holiday season, make it a concealer. This will become your new BFF when it comes to keeping you looking fresh and radiant in the face of one too many martini’s, too many events to attend and weeks of sleep deprivation! This amazing new organic concealer from Afterglow acts on all levels to brighten under eye circles, cover skin issues and deflect attention away from where you don’t want it. Aloe is legendary for healing and soothing inflammation and is the ideal ingredient to address delicate under eye skin.

Futurenatural is the ultimate modern-cool-stylish beauty emporium. Hailed as the new ‘Sephora’ for the savvy organic and natural set, they represent everything from cult classics to boutique lines. The product selection is perfectly edited, beautifully curated and most are thoughtfully designed to consider the environment. I’m excited because they’ve just unveiled some exciting new additions to their line-up including Baby Bear Shop (the gorgeous go-to organic brand for mama’s & babies), 100% Pure Fruit Pigment Lip Gloss (a cult fave), Yes (the first and only certified organic personal lubricant), Shobha (hair removal based on ancient indian rituals) Jimmyjane Porcelain Massage Stones, Suki Skincare-To-Go (now in handy travel or trial sizes) and more.