Clean to the Max
Date: September 1, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Hair Care, Skin Care
When it comes to filling your shower caddy, the trick is avoiding bogus claims and sketchy ingredient lists when combing through eco-friendly hair care that works. One of the best options is to stop at your local Whole Foods, where there are also numerous options, many affordable, like Max Green Alchemy products. They are derived from plants and are free of synthetics and the typical “natural” cosmetic repeat offenders: parabens and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate. Sourcing as many organic and wild-crafted ingredients as possible, Max Green’s line includes skin, lip, hand and foot care, as well as their acclaimed hair care products: Scalp Rescue Shampoo (a recent PETA Proggy Award winner), which combines essential oils including tea tree, lavender and geranium with ingredients such as solar sea salt to combat a panoply of scalp issues such as sensitive skin, dandruff and psoriasis. Many of the MGA products are available in travel sizes as well, so you can look great and be green on the go!
Raw Beauty
Date: August 28, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Skin Care
In the Raw has been stirring up some office excitement. We’ve been sampling dollops of In the Raw’s sweet creams and sniffing ourselves silly since the postman graced us with their gorgeous presence. And lest you think boys are immune to the lure, we had to hide the lemongrass/sage moisturizer from Omar before having to stage an intervention. Another ecofab fave is the creamsicle lotion, which smelled so yummy we found ourselves searching for the chimes of the Good Humor truck. In the Raw also brews up intoxicating bubble-baths, soy candles and sugar scrubs in a tasting menu of luscious organic flavors, including ginger/lime, coco-mango and green tea. But In the Raw is not just another pretty face, they are firmly committed to abstaining from animal testing and donate a portion of profits to local and global charities, so slather it on guilt-free.
The Future’s So Bright, I Have to Wear Shades of Green
Date: August 25, 2008 | Category: Body Care, Featured, Hair Care, Makeup, Resources, Skin Care, Stores & Resources
If you’ve ever been frustrated trying to figure out what beauty products are as gentle on the planet as they are on your skin, futurenatural has come to your rescue. This online hub was founded by “Organic Glamazon” Emma Pezzak, an amazingly talented and qualified make-up artist who also believes that natural does not have to mean any sacrifices in quality or style… in fact - just the opposite. That’s why her site is stocked full of the best natural, organic, biodynamic, wild-harvested and artisan beauty products in the world, also providing full disclosure of ingredients, an onsite glossary and personal stories behind each brand. futurenatural only sells products from companies that have no petroleum derivatives, no parabens, no synthetic colors or fragrances, no formaldehyde or any other known harmful ingredient. And of course none of their products are ever tested on animals. So when you shop futurenatural, you’ve already got an eco leg up. What shade of green you want to go is then up to you! Live Well. Do Good. Look Gorgeous. - as they say.
Mas Mojitos Por Omar!
Date: August 25, 2008 | Category: Body Care, Skin Care, ecoMan
Last week, ecofab teammate, Andrea brought in her scrumptious, vegan (though you’d never know it) Mojito cupcakes for a little taste test from her freshly-launched business, Come Hither Cupcakes. Suddenly I was craving the minty cocktail, but I cannot legally consume alcohol yet, so, imagine my delight when I discovered the Mojito Man shaving collection. The fresh citrus scent wafting from the beautiful packaging evokes sensational images of an afternoon in Puerto Vallarta (where I can get my drink on), while the organic blend of ingredients provide you with an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial facial experience; the perfect solution to unsightly ingrown hairs. The M.M. repertoire includes a shave gel and scrub, moisture mist and an antique shaving brush. Can’t decide what to get? Pick up the gift box, which includes a bit of everything. In this Ecofabster’s opinion, Mojito Man is muy caliente! Best, Omar
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…)
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.
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!
Natural Wonder
Date: June 25, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Skin Care
After discovering argan oil on a trip to Morocco several years ago, one of our contributing writers decided to classify it as one of the natural wonders of the world for skincare solutions (it’s edible too, so if you run out of food in the desert, you can nurse your oil). Josie Maran Cosmetics is also a fan and bottled the precious nectar: 100% organic argan oil in recyclable glass, of course. The miracle elixir, often difficult to find stateside, has a huge array of uses including as a cure-all for little annoyances like split ends and ragged cuticles, a luxurious moisturizer, and has even been championed for skin conditions such as psoriasis. And unlike some other beauty products that include argan oil among a laundry list of other ingredients, here it gets top billing as the only ingredient: pure, simple and perfect.
Pot of Gold
Date: June 24, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Kids, Skin Care
My son had eczema until he was out of toddlerdom. The only cream that helped was VedaPure. Their healing face cream brings olive oil’s unrivaled softening qualities together with South Asia’s miracle-working organic neem for the go-to moisturizer of the summer. Born out of pediatrician Natalie Geary’s Manhattan office and made of the purest ingredients, VedaPure boasts superior wellness products for the whole family, but not a family on a budget. The little pot of gold definitely falls in the eco-luxe category.
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