Meet Me at The Intersection of West Elm and Green
Date: August 14, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Food & Drink, Home Furnishings, The Home
Growing consumer awareness about the dangers of pesticides, which have been linked to birth defects, reproductive disorders and weaker immune systems, has led another big name in retail to invest in the health of our bodies and our planet. We recently celebrated when West Elm debuted a line of high-quality, certified organic home accessories for bed and bath. We were all admittedly quite taken with their color-block shower curtains, which come in three handsome color combinations and are reasonably priced at $49. Then we noticed that the vinyl liner was sold separately (in other words, totally unnecessary and icky). Nonetheless, their plush organic cotton towels and bath mats come in a bold selection of earthy solids and sexy prints and are made with non-toxic dyes. So, if you’re in the market for a housewarming gift or your towels and linens have outworn their wear, give your dollars a voice at West Elm, and hopefully they’ll just keep growing greener.
Shower Power
Date: August 12, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Featured, Green Building, The Home
Ecofabulous is all about loving the environment. But secretly we also all love an invigorating shower. Thankfully the two need not be mutually exclusive. The new Mira Eco showerhead allows us to stay clean without wasting precious energy. (more…)
Rubble, Rubble, Oil and Stubble
Date: August 10, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Holiday & Gift, Skin Care
While scruffy has its place, there’s no doubt, a clean-shaved man is simply irresistible. But it’s hard to find a line of skincare that steers clear of parabens, a preservative absorbed into the bloodstream and associated with a variety of health issues, ranging from weight gain to reproductive problems. Fortunately for me, I just discovered a line of paraben-free grooming products that delivers one of the smoothest shaves I’ve ever had! (more…)
The New Face of Beauty
Date: August 10, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
One of the most frequent complaints we hear from environmentally-conscious consumers is the amount of green associated with green living. Buying organic produce at Whole Foods is certainly healthier than standard supermarket products, but it often carries a premium mark-up. This is why we always recommend stocking up at your local farmer’s market. In terms of finding moderately priced make-up, however, the pickings remain slim. Physician’s Formula Organic Wear is looking to change the face of earth-friendly cosmetics. Offering a full line of organic, non-toxic beauty supplies, all of their bronzers, lipsticks, eye-liners, powders and other girlie goodies are available at Walgreens from around $7 to $15 and are completely free of synthetic additives, GMOs and parabens. Made from certified organic ingredients, the line is cruelty-free. Even their biodegradable packaging is made from corn-based bio-plastic. (more…)
Valley of the Roses
Date: July 28, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care
When it comes to hitting the bubbly, we’ve got a soft spot for all things sweetly beneficial. That’s why it was love at first sniff when we chanced upon this splashy bouquet of artisanal soaps at the local Farmer’s Market in San Francisco. Creators Nancy and Arthur Rosenthal have been gathering and lathering buds from their organic garden in Sebastopol, California for 10 years in the quest to cross-pollinate intoxicating fragrance with supple skin-tone, yielding their Valley of the Roses collection.
Think Pink
Date: July 13, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Hair Care
We’re always excited when a trusted name in the green community comes out with an inspiring way to make our bodies and the earth more beautiful. Verikira Naturals introduced the Pink Grapefruit/Pink Ribbon Collection to help support breast cancer research and awareness. Naturally, we love the cause. But, we’ll be honest with you: Pink grapefruit reminded a few of us of breakfast. Then we brought home our shampoo and conditioner samples, and the verdict was unanimous: Ahhhhh.
The scent is a light citrus with a sultry undertone. The shampoo lathered just the right amount, leaving straight, wavy, curly and even processed hair clean without stripping out natural oils. The conditioner was enriching without being heavy. Verikira supports fair trade practices and cradle-to-cradle eco-consciousness. The vegans in the ecofabulous crew were happy to learn that all of Verikira’s products are animal-free. In sum, we wholeheartedly recommend this wonderful, eco-friendly line, which helps us live green and think pink.
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Date: July 7, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Skin Care
You may be hitting the gym to fit into your itsy bitsy bikini (or trunks as it may be), but in your quest to debut your six pack on the beach or at the pool, don’t forget about protection. Grab a tube of Soléo Organics sunscreen and hit the great outdoors. Soléo Organics is made with organic ingredients and no chemicals whatsoever. And nothing but a little burn sacrificed here; the sunscreen offers equal if not better protection than conventional counterparts. Full UVA and UVB protection is guaranteed for three hours in the water and nanofine zinc oxide acts as a fully natural reflector against the sun. Soléo combines a mix of green tea, grapeseed, macadamia oil, chamomile, and Vitamin E to leave your skin revitalized and soft for the rest of the afternoon. Use it on yourself, on the baby, or on grandma; Naturally.
Gee, Your Skin Looks Delicious
Date: July 3, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Skin Care
When Be Fine’s founder went searching for the ingredients women used before there was a cosmetics industry, she ended up in a kitchen instead of a lab. What she cooked up is a line of cleansers, toners and moisturizers, which are now widely available in drugstores nationwide and already a runaway success. The celebrated fragrances of the company’s cleansers and moisturizers are 100% natural, derived from the potent extracts used in its bestselling products. Although we bemoan the lack of recycled packaging or certified organic ingredients, we applaud Be Fine’s dedication to providing effective skincare only using superfoods like green tea, fruits, vegetables and other edible ingredients. We hear that the company’s actively working to integrate 100% post-consumer content paper board into its packaging. We hope that organic ingredients are next.
Give Me a Good Night Kiss
Date: July 2, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care
I am a shower person, but on occasion I enjoy steeping in a warm tub. It’s made even better with a goodnightkiss. That is a line of natural and organic bath teas and I am definitely a tea person. The sweet-smelling line features three aromatherapy blends – Passionflower, Lavender Herb and Motherhood - and three hydrotherapy blends – New York City Chai, Cilantro Apple and Rosemary Mint. Depending on the scent you purchase, the blends can be energizing or relaxing. The hand-blended products use 100 percent natural oils from organically grown plants, and no colors or synthetic preservatives are added. For $28, you can purchase a tin with five biodegradable, pre-measured satchels that can be tossed right into the tub. Make your bath a spa getaway, without all the time it takes to actually get away.
Making the Grade This Fourth of July
Date: June 30, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Events, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Skin Care
Fourth of July is quite a quandary for me and many other environmentally conscious fun seekers. I love the parades, cold beers and family celebration. I even like the red, white and blue (not a year goes by that I don’t don something like a blue skirt and blue and white stripped top and red accents). Unfortunately, our independence is often celebrated at the expense of the earth, which we actually are at least a little dependent upon, no? Activities are likely to contain what we’ve dubbed the “triple ‘F’ threat” : Fun in the sun, Fireworks and Food (waste is just a given). Go from an F grade to an A by going green on our nation’s most patriotic holiday. First off, try to keep your festivities local… or carpool.
Fun in the sun is much more enticing when it isn’t at the expense of your health. Sunscreen is necessary - we keep hearing - but opt for an eco-friendly alternative like Soléo Organics, made entirely from organic ingredients with nothing synthetic. No sacrifices here, though. It works just as well, if not better, than its chemically-laden counterparts. In fact, you’ll be left feeling soft and revitalized as the sun sets with both UVA and UVB protection (3 hours in the water), not to mention a natural sun reflector found in nanofine zinc oxide. If you have oily or sensitive skin, Juice Beauty’s tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 is a brilliant solution for the face (since I have dry skin, I first apply Duchess Marden’s oil first).
Who doesn’t love a good fireworks display (well, my dog isn’t particularly keen)? But just think of all the nasty stuff they set off into the atmosphere: lead, barium, chromium, chlorates, dioxins, smoke and particulates, carbon monoxide. etc. Good news is that soon you’re going to be able to convert those un-earth-friendly fireworks to green ones that are still a blast. Chemists are developing fireworks that utilize nitrogen-rich compounds for energy and non-toxic metals for color variation, thus eliminating the massive black clouds that litter post-spectacle skies (of course we’re vastly oversimplifying this here). When these hit the market (hopefully by next year), it’s up to us to get our communities to switch over.
A BBQ is the quintessential Independence Day observance. But as patriotic as slapping hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill is, consider that the sole thing you can do to benefit the environment is cut down on the consumption of animals. Here is where I confess that I too like a little sirloin, and since this is the ultimate BBQ season, the 4th is usually when I cannot resist (but I always think free-range and antibiotic-free). Eggplant, Portobello mushroom and corn on the cob can taste divine when grilled (and even more amazing when they come from a local, organic farmer), and there are tons of faux meat options. Just as important, serve up those veggie delights on anything but a conventional disposable plate that will be used for mere minutes before hitting the trash. Toting your china around may be unrealistic, but check out the compostable, all natural platters, plates and bowls from VerTerra. They are made out of fallen leaves from plantations in an enviro-consciously manufacturing process. These are the chicest single-use tableware we’ve seen. I guess it could be that we are being brainwashed by the Dharma Initiative, but the whole office is giddy for these hexagonal beauties. Apparently they can be reused for serving but I am tempted to create some sort of art project - like covering an entire wall. For more ways on greening this year’s Fourth of July food fete, check out our previous post here.
Here’s to honoring and protecting the land of the free this Fourth of July!
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Founded by green design guru Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous.com is the online destination for sexy, sustainable style.
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