An Interview with Lulu Organics creative, Linda Aldredge...

Today's post is a great interview that I think many of you will find very inspiring. Linda Aldredge, founder of Lulu Organics shares with us her creative side, tips for living a healthy life and her motivation behind Lulu Organics. Lulu Organics are the makers of the beautifully packaged Talc-free hair powder.

FB: Can you tell me a little bit about your creative side and that amazing treehouse I saw featured in Domino Magazine?
Linda A.: A little about me... I grew up all over. I've worked as a graphic designer and illustrator for close to 15 years. Most of my inspiration comes from my family and friends. And music. Music is everything to me and I'm a big nerd about it.
I spend a lot of time in upstate New York where I have a treehouse that I built with two friends. It's a tiny, sustainable house that sits 15ft up in a tree. My ideal evening would be a handful of friends, a warm still night upstate, a dinner we cooked over the fire made with only things we grew or bought in town, a bottle of wine and a great tune playing on my makeshift sound system. Simple is best.

FB: What influenced and or inspired you to start Lulu Organics?
Linda A.:It's funny how I came into this venture. Clearly, I was a graphics person by day so the packaging aspect was a no brainer, I've always loved an antiquated boudoir aesthetic. But by night I was starting to get really into herbs and herbal healing. I was raised in a home where holistic and nutritional healing is important. I woke up one day with the notion that I would teach myself how to make every single thing I used in my home [product-wise]. Some things were a disaster [laundry detergent] but most things came out amazing and I was completely hooked. I started to make things for friends as gifts and eventually I decided to sell something. Hence our first product, the hair powder. I love powders—body and hair—and I had never seen a really nice smelling one that didn't have talc—an ingredient I like to avoid—so I thought, why not?

FB: Can you talk a little bit about your philosophy behind your company?
Linda A.: Thus far just simplicity. I don't like things when they get too tricky. I like single notes, I like products that have simple yet healing properties. Ingredients that harken back to a time where things were simpler and we were more connected to all the things we used, grew, ate, etc.

FB: What are a few of your favorite beauty products of choice?
Linda A.: My beauty regiment is really simple as I have one of those complexions that can't tolerate anything. I probably couldn't live with out rose-hip oil, which I apply to fine lines on my skin before bed. And lip balm. And funnily enough—black eyeliner. Try finding that organic! I use the Korres brand currently though I'd like the come up with one of my own.

FB: Do you have any beauty tips or secrets that you are willing to share with flawless beauty readers?
Linda A.: Just one. And it might sound strange. I hate using 'regular' deodorant because of aluminum, anti-perspirants, etc. Buuuut I'm sicilian and I don't, after a long sweaty day, smell like an angelic pile of rose petals. And natural deodorants, while they mean well, don't always work. My friend Marc once shared with me a little tip that to this day totally saves me! If you cut a small sliver of fresh lemon and rub it under the arms, voila! I know it sounds crazy, but seriously... it REALLY works.

FB: Starting your own company and dealing with the day to day duties takes a lot of energy I'm sure. What do you do to insure your body and mind receives the attention needed to maintain a healthy and creative lifestyle?
Linda A.: I typically heal through food and herbs. If I'm feeling run down I take herbs for vitality and I'll eat really well. If I feel bloated I'll try and incorporate at high percentage of raw into my diet for the day, it also helps the mid-day sluggishness. And if I'm at the top of my game, I'll wake to a morning shake of berries, banana, kale or spinach with udo oil, hemp seed and spirilina. Hormonally, I try to keep the caffeine to a minimum and regulate with vitex [chaste berry]. I find that if my hormones are balanced the rest tends to fall in line.

Where to buy? Online: US www.luluorganicsnyc.com, UK www.puresha.com
Visit luluorganicsnyc.com for a full list of retailers.

Treehouse in upstate New York, via Domino Magazine.