Green Options

Have I mentioned I’m a lip balm addict??? Yes, I do confess.  I have more lip balms than I can count on two hands, but you won’t find me recommending every lip product on the planet. Because frankly, I do have my standards.  They must not be greasy, disappear in a few minutes or be filled to the brim (or at all) with any petrochem nasties, artificial color or flavor. 

But this is not a balm or gloss, it’s a lip conditioner perfect when in need of a little (or a lot) on-the-go pampering!  When you’re in a suit or a cocktail dress, do you really want to be seen pulling out your ninety-nine cents tube of (hopefully not petroletum filled) lip balm? I didn’t think so.  Why?

Making it’s debut at the All Things Organic Expo comes Revolution Organics, a brand new USDA Certified Organic skin/body line fresh out of Canada. “We really wanted to make our products look chic while still maintaining the highest level of organic integrity” says Co-Founder, Melissa Shabinsky. All plastic containers are recyclable and the packaging is made from post consumer recycled content. Their first products including a 22+ uses All Over Body Balm, Skin Creme and Lip Balm are scheduled to launch on Beauty.com October 1st. And that’s not all! Plans to roll out a color collection as well as a bath and body line are in the works and expected to be available later this year through early ‘09.

In April, Macy’s launched their Turning Over A New Leaf campaign and this Fall they plan to expand their natural/organic beauty departments starting on the East Coast.  One line they are adding is Pangea Organics, known for their pure formulations, sustainability efforts and cool (biodegradable/compostable) packaging.  It’s such great news that the demand for organic beauty products is becoming so great that large retailers cannot ignore it, in turn making it more accessible to everyday consumers.  Macy’s is currently accepting applications for Organic Cosmetics Beauty Advisors & Organic Cosmetics Shop Managers positions in the following areas: Herald Square (NY), Philadelphia Center City (PA), Downtown Boston (MA), Roosevelt Field (NY) and Paramus Garden State Plaza (NJ). 

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.

1. Hats! Try this hip California Rising ‘We Are One’ Hat (shown here) which features breathable hemp, soft brushed organic cotton jersey, canvas with locally grown, milled and knitted organic cotton all dyed with low impact dyes. California Rising is a member of 1% For the Planet. I also like this visor from the Sierra Club, simply white and all organic.

Emma Pezzack (a.k.a. the Organic Glamazon), one of our amazing Feelgood Style authors,
is beautifully featured here for a live interview with Current_

Here’s to true natural beauty! Futurenatural offers environmentally sound style products that make you look good on the outside and feel good on the inside. Emma Pezzack, the owner of Futurenatural, offers some insight into her world of high quality skin products that are backed up by a socially and environmentally conscious business. ~ Current Review

“Beauty With a Cause” Sets a New Standard

An online oasis for natural face and body products, B-cause (or beautywithacause.com) provides healthy and affordable cosmetics for a woman’s beauty regimen while doing its part for beauty in society as well, with 10% of all proceeds going towards breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and scleroderma research. You’ll find mineral makeup, facial cleansers, toners, and moisturizers, as well as hair care, fluoride-free toothpaste, and a few products for men, too. Every product offered on the site meets the self-imposed standards of Beauty With a Cause for safe, natural ingredients, affordability, operating ethics, and animal kindness.

In her own search for truly natural beauty products, owner Julie Ann Price found a way to not just effect change in the world of cosmetics, but to do it with style. “Beauty is a measure of how much women love themselves,” says Price. “B-cause wants to be a trusted resource for women where they can shop for effective skin care and vibrant cosmetics knowing that the owner is as concerned as they are that the products are both beautiful and safe. I use what I sell and I believe in my products.”

Currently the FDA lacks stringent guidelines for natural beauty products. If only 1% of the ingredients used in a product are organic, the product can have an “organic” label. B-cause has an “Ingredients to Avoid” list and it’s a little frightening to see how many of these ingredients appear in products that are probably on most bathroom shelves.

Finally, A One-Stop Shop That “Gets It”

You eat organically and locally and sustainably. You clean your home with vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. So why are you still using makeup, moisturizer, and shampoo that contains known carcinogenic chemicals?

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and its critical jobs include keeping moisture in, excreting waste, regulating body temperature, compensating for the harsh UV sun rays, and creating vitamin D. And think of its powerful connection with the mind and body — you blush when shy, perspire when nervous, and inexplicably, those little hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up when you realize you’re not alone in a dark room.

Especially during these harsh summer months, you owe it to your skin to read every label and understand every ingredient of every product you use on it. And now, going organic and natural has never been easier — or more luxurious.

Futurenatural.com is the place for “responsible hedonism.” A new Sephora for the savvy organic and natural consumer, Futurenatural offers the best organic skin and hair care, makeup, fragrances, and body-loving basics. Owner/”natural beauty junkie”/writer (and former Australian farmer girl) Emma Pezzack has searched the world for organic/natural cosmetics and goodies that are as effective as they are lush. They are also fair-trade and environmentally conscious.

“You can get something that works as well as Estee Lauder, for example, but is 100% organic,” states Pezzack. “All the products we sell are sustainably harvested, consider the environment, and contribute not only to the health of the consumer but the health of the planet.” What’s not to love?!

Futurenatural.com has chosen the brands they sell very carefully, and will soon include some exciting new brand additions such as L’Occitane, ThisWorks, Alaska Glacial Mud Co., Bamford, Stella McCartney, Patyka, Shobha, Jurlique and more. They list full ingredients for each of the products they sell. Don’t recognize what a certain ingredient is?