eating raw...

The cute green is sexy blog did a post on the benefits of introducing more raw foods into your diet. This not only limits your impact on the environment but is great for your health and will give a youthful glow to your skin. Click here to read the article...

Target embraces "going green"...

Target, which is widely viewed as the hippest mass market retailer in the country is making a commitment in 2008 to stock shelves with organic beauty products. Nine product lines, including Kiss My Face, Burt's Bees, Juice Organics, Jason Naturals, Alba, Avalon Organics, Dr. Bronner's, Giovanni and Weleda are the brands included in Target's natural care set rolling out in the next several weeks. I think this is wonderful news. The more accessible organic products are the more likely it is that people will adopt them into their lifestyle. View full article on WWD.com.

five days of fasting...

I have been meaning to follow up on my Organic Avenue love fast that I posted a few weeks ago. Overall, it was a really great experience. The menu was tasty, although I will admit by the last day I didn't even drink two of the items. I think I was getting bored from the taste of some of the drink options. The menu consists of seven "meals" so you're drinking almost every other hour until 7 PM. I wasn't too hungry throughout the day; I was late in the evening though. I avoided all social events after work and the gym because I felt like I just needed to go home and relax. The most challenging part of the fast for me was not being able to snack at my desk, which is apparently a serious habit I've picked up after working in an office for so many years! Overall, I felt amazing (physically and energy-wise) during the day. I drank a ton of water, which I think also helped my energy level. I highly recommend fasting; you learn amazing things about your body and its habits when you clean out your digestive system and rest. I was happy with the service and meals Organic Avenue provided me with. The customer service was a little inconsistent. I did the fast with my roommate and coworkers, and we all had odd things happen during the week. It wasn't anything big enough to make me not use Organic Avenue again … maybe they are just understaffed? Not sure. Hopefully with the price they set, they will get everything worked out because I only see their fasts getting more popular in the future.

a small world type of thing...

I was blog browsing this morning when I saw a post on the book Subtraction by Clinton Friedman. The images are amazing, a great way to view the beauty of nature and the source of where products come from! Then, to my surprise I browsed through more of this great blog housemartin and realized that is blogger is one of my past coworkers, Pam. I love when small world stuff like that happens! Thanks Pam for the wonderful post and I am so glad you are doing inspiring things!

clearing troubled skin...

I think the most difficult product to find when looking for all natural products is something to clear blemish prone skin. It's frustrating enough to break out, let alone not be able to do anything about it! I want to share the quick fix tips I have as well as long term treatments. I'd love to hear if anyone else has any great home remedies to clear acne. Is there any organic products out there that really do the trick? Well, the most basic way to solve this problem is to make sure your eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water.

My personal favorite trick that works great to draw impurities out of a blemish is Tea Tree Oil, which can be found at any local grocery or beauty store. Just apply a drop on any pimple and this will speed the healing process.
For longer term treatment I have discovered two products that I really like, pictured above is a clearing Amino Derm gel offered by Aubrey Organics. This gel can be spread on wide areas of the skin, never bleaches or feels tight and always dries clear. Blue Green Algae is also known for being great for clearing up skin. I haven't tried any of Aubrey Organics algae products but I'm sure they are great, I'm always pleased with what Aubrey Organics has to offer!

I also have been using this active charcoal/zinc body wash from Collective Wellbeing. The only think I am not too crazy about is the texture of the body wash, it's an intriguing black color but has a hand feel that is kind of hard to work with, it just needs to be lathered up a bit! By the way, this is the same company that makes amazing foot lotion.

Josie Maran Cosmetics...luxury with a conscience...

Image from www.dev.josiemarancosmetics.com.
Model Josie Maran recently started her own natural and/or organic cosmetics line. The packaging has great shelf appeal and is recyclable which is always a plus! I have not yet had a chance to try the make-up but I like what the company is doing. Here's a statement from their website...
"Josie Maran Cosmetics is just getting started, but it is our goal to be known for the responsible choices we make. Our products, packaging and processes are only the beginning, as we endeavor to broaden our scope of responsibility each day. Our efforts include small but important steps – printing only when necessary and using recycled paper and eco-friendly products in our day-to-day operations. Our display units at our retail counters have been constructed from sustainable materials and we do our best to be responsible in our manufacturing and shipping materials. We learn as we go and these things take time, but we're getting there."
Now available online.

a soap for every purpose...

EO, a pure and organic product company exclusively produced an all purpose soap for Whole Foods Market. This natural plant based soap can be used on the body, washing fruits and vegetables or household cleaning. The soap is offered in three scents, peppermint, lavender or lemon. All refreshingly organic!

...do you really know what you're putting on your body?

Do you ever wonder what is really in the products that you are using? Make-up, lotion, shampoo ect, contain lots of toxic ingredients. Flawless beauty blog is all about focusing on products that are natural, easy on the environment and/or organic. I understand it is hard for people to set boundaries and use strictly organic products so I am a believer that some is better than none. Some products should just be off limits though! How do you know? Well there is this amazing site called Skin Deep. This site is put out by the Environmental Working Group, whose mission is to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment. This site has a ton of information and focuses on children's skincare products as well. I want to thank Cathleen, a flawless beauty reader who made a comment about this site. It made me realize how all readers could benefit from getting this information. I think it's a very important site to share. www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

time for a mask...

I want to share one of my favorite homemade masks made from almond butter. Shown in its pure form above, this mask can add a glow to skin and moisture as well. Probably most suitable for dry to normal skin. I use regular organic almond butter that I buy from the super market in place of peanut butter. I take maybe 1-2 tablespoons and mix with some dry oatmeal. This makes a non-abrasive facial scrub. If the consistency is to thick or chunky for you, mix in some honey. Experiment with different options that are suitable for what you prefer. I let the mask sit 15-30 minutes then take off with a wet washcloth and rinse my face thoroughly. That's it, affordable and good for your skin! Let me know what you think...

a few little facts about juice beauty...

I have been meaning to try products from Juice Beauty for some time now. Right now I am using the lightweight oil-free facial moisturizer. I have to say I am very pleased! It's not too heavy on my skin, I only need to use a little bit for a lot of coverage and the scent is pleasant. The moisturizer contains white grape and pomegranate juices with soothing aloe vera and leaves your skin with a matte finish. What I really love about Juice Beauty is their product content. Here are some facts about their products...

They have:
-Organic ingredients in a 100% organic juice base, making the total organic content up to 95%.
-Powerful antioxidant technology for optimum age-defying results.
-A strict no animal testing policy.
-A 100% vegetarian ingredients policy.

They NEVER have:
-Pesticides.
-Petroleum or petroleum derivatives.
-Toxic preservatives.
-Artificial colors or dyes.
-Synthetic fragrances.

Unfortunately most skincare products contain if not some but all of the above toxic ingredients. Something to think about because the skin absorbs up to 64% of what we place on it!

2$ well spent...

I guess I am going through a current trend of shedding all dry skin. Here's another great tool to help. The pumice stone from Muji. I came across this a few months back and can't get enough of it. It's soft enough to not be too abrasive on your feet yet rough enough to get the job done. The downside, the amazing Muji stores are in limited locations only. Soon I'm sure you'll be able to order online though! Hopefully you can get to a store and have the full Muji life experience...

In other events, to follow up on the Organic Avenue fast, I am on day 4! 5 days total so this is it! So far, aside from some technical difficulties with Organic Avenue the fast has been great. Good variety in drinks, I've had decent energy level and I've been told my skin glowing (thanks to all that water drinking). I am eager to see how I feel when I am completely finished...

news for '08...

Kate Hudson and son Ryder pictured above in Vogue.
I was excited to read that actress Kate Hudson is developing a range of natural hair products with her hairdresser David Babaii. She has paid special attention to the ongoing debate with links between additives in beauty products and disease. I think this is a great concept for her to take on. I know I have a hard time finding all natural hair products that I really love. I do think the Dr. Hauschka conditioner is great though. I'd love to hear about any others that people love. Anyway, will keep you posted when I hear more about Kate's venture into the world of natural products!

scrub that dry skin goodbye...

I think all this freezing NYC weather has me thinking of ways to warm up and get rid of dry skin! Below is a great recipe involving rosemary and sea salt. Sea salt revitalizes the body and is always a good base for body scrubs, it also encourages the elimination of toxins. rosemary is one of my favorite oils. It is believed that Rosemary helps clear thinking, improves circulation (so perfect when your cold) and boosts the nervous system.

Mix 1/2 cup coarse sea salt with 1/4 cup rosemary oil (or adjust to your liking). Apply with hands, washcloth or body-scrub tool. This can be done in the shower or bath. Whats great about the bath is that you can soak in the sea salt and rosemary oil for awhile.

a little Sunday inspiration...

I've been having a hard time lately finding inspirational bathing spaces but this week I did manage to pull together some great sink/storage solutions for your bathing space. I realize also that this is important because the more organized and clean your bathing space is, the more likely you are to want to spend time there and the more likely you are to take advantage of the bath!

This first image is a classically luxurious bathroom with a white marble sink. What I really like about this though are the clean lines lended by the lack of clutter. I love the glass jars for holding things, a good way to keep things organized but not take away all the character. And fresh flowers always do amazing things for any room!
This next space from Livingect. magazine, is a wonderful example of what a little pattern can to do a space. I also love the textured mirror above the sink in place of your ordinary bathroom mirror. And the silver bowl below the sink is a great way to add character and store items. I've done the same with various baskets.

Lastly, from Livingect. magazine as well, is a bathroom from the home of artist Kate Dineen. So fun to look at! Kate describes it as having a french feel. The towel warmers are a great touch. Also a good idea is to do a small tiled section in your bathroom, very cost effective! My favorite part though is that adorable baby portrait!

as soft as it gets...

Thanks to my roommate, I came across an amazing facial scrub that I am so excited to share... Eminence Organics Pear and Poppyseed Microderm Polisher. I instantly felt a difference on my skin, actually I don't recall my skin ever feeling this soft! I wish I could actually do a full body scrub with this, it's that amazing. The scent is nice as well and I love the directions it gives on the packaging, "Mix the polisher with an equal amount of water, tea or juice. For sensitive skin, mix with an equal amount of the Pear & Green Apple Masque. Gently apply to the skin with a circular motion for one to two minutes. (It is recommended to place a wet gauze or cotton strip over top). Steaming is possible while the masque is on. Remove with a warm wash cloth." I love how it says mix with water, tea or juice...fabulous. Eminence products are never tested on animals and packaging is 100% recyclable. Available online.

time for a New Years fast...

To start of the New Year and just because it's about that time, I am doing the 5 day L.O.V.E fast by Organic Avenue. I usually like to start the New Year off with a detox of some sort. In the past I have prepared food myself but this time I am going to give Organic Avenue a try. I feel it's easier to follow through with fasts when I don't have to prepare the food. It's best when the food is ready in front of me and I don't even have to think about it or go to the grocery store ect... Every morning I pick up (delivery is also an option) 6-7 prepared liquid meals for the day. The fast is for 5 days. Shouldn't be too hard, well see. Organic Avenue offers 3 levels of the fast depending on your current eating habits. Their website is also a good source for all sorts of product and information on vegan lifestyle and other topics pertaining to the environment.Fasting is good for a number of reasons. Mainly, fasting provides your body with a way to relax. Fasting also gets rid of your bad eating habits...well at least twice a year! Your body becomes more in tune with what you consume and your senses become heightened. This is also a great way to find out what may be causing skin issues. Anyway, I don't start the fast for another week or so but will let you know when completed if I can recommend Organic Avenue!