It’s no secret that I’m a bit (okay, a lot) obsessive about what I put on my skin, because I know that what goes on goes in and if I wouldn’t put it in my mouth, I’m not about to slather it on my face or body.  You may have heard by now that up to 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed.  If you are skeptical about that statement, think for a moment about where the products go that you apply to your skin.  Let’s take lotion for instance.  It doesn’t evaporate into thin air…your skin as the largest organ in your body absorbs it.  If you’re still not sure, then contemplate the nicotine or birth control patch and how powerful they can be when applied to skin.   

With that said it’s not everyday I run across a skincare product that I love, that nourishes, that makes skin feel hydrated, soft and cleansed yet is without all the toxic nasties that are lurking in the majority of skincare on the market today (natural or not). 

The Stem Organics Gentle Cleansing Milk is less like milk and more like gel.  No foaming action here, but it smells like juicy oranges, is fabulously refreshing and removes makeup (big bonus).  It’s completely gentle and didn’t throw my finicky skin out of balance, cause breakouts or irritate whatsoever.  My skin isnt’ tight or dry after washing, it feels soothed & properly cleansed. 

The Fresh Start Serum is awesome!  It’s a very lightweight creamy moisturizer that makes my skin feel like silk!  I only need a small amount to massage into my entire face, neck and chest.  It absolutely did not sit on top of my skin, but soaked right in and my skin feels amazing all day!  This is mildly scented (absolutely no synthetic perfumes/fragrance) with it’s fresh botanical and essential oil content. 

If you’re looking for a new skin regiment, one that contains pure, organic ingredients to feed your skin health food rather than junk food…give it a try and let me know how you like it!  

Yoga instructor and environmentalist, Sophie Uliano is passionate about teaching women how to make small changes in their daily routines that can add up to big changes.  She’s quite aware that women, for the most part, do the majority of household shopping and are usually responsible for what clothing, food, skincare & cleaning products are purchased.  As you may have seen on Oprah’s “Green” episode for Earth Day with Julia Roberts (who wrote the forward for her book), she does indeed compost, but she is not a “granola girl” and doesn’t believe one has to be to go green. 

The book’s target audience is not women who don’t wear makeup, who could care less what their hair looks like or those who’s everyday attire is hemp and Birkenstocks.  But no matter if you’re just interested in what all the green fuss is about or if you’re a green purist, you’ll likely find her rating system useful as she rates recommendations from light to dark green (although still do keep reading labels yourself because I don’t agree with 100% of her recommendations, but then again I tend to lean more towards her “dark green” category).   

Since the book’s launch, her Gorgeously Green message has been spreading like wildfire as it resonates loudly with so many women who have embraced the idea that going green does not equal sacrificing luxuries.  The Gorgeously Green forum is a great way to connect with other likeminded individuals who have advice or questions to share.  Check out it, Sophie herself occasionally responds to the inquiries!   

What started out two decades ago as an experiment, became the inspiration and vision behind what MATT & NAT’S fashion-forward, design-centric and animal-free handbag line is today.  The experiment was to embrace a vegan diet for just 30 days, but little did Creative Director, Inder Bedi know that it would set off a series of events that would lead to the birth of a super chic handbag line influenced by modern design and architecture. 

Serious, structured, edgy & incredibly modish describes the brand new Fall ‘08 handbag collection from this widely popular Montreal-based company.  Taking its cues from menswear this season, its heavy on hardware and boasts a deep color palette.  The Feutre series is made of recycled plastic bottles that have been transformed into felt.  Absolutely perfect for that Fall getaway!       

Harry Barker Organic Dog Bed

I love the stripes on this!!! The cover is made with thick organic hemp and can be easily removed for washing. It’s pre-washed & made with earth-friendly, non-toxic dyes. The hypo-allergenic insert is made of a green fiber made out of recycled plastic. Feel good knowing your pet is sleeping safe & sound. 

Wagatha’s Organic Dog Treats

For starters I just love their name…it makes me smile.  They are USDA Certified Organic, made in Vermont and don’t include any animal by-products, nasty fake flavors, or corn (not good for dogs) or preservatives. The only thing you find in these is organic whole-wheat flour, organic extra virgin olive oil, organic eggs, organic milk, organic wheat bran, organic garlic, organic honey, and sea salt. What a great treat for your furry friend!

Natural Hemp Adjustable Collar

Made with hemp webbing with release hardware, these come in bright colors and are naturally hypo-allergenic. Unlike nylon and other synthetics, hemp softens with wear making these collars extremely comfortable for your dog.  

It’s no secret that purchasing reusable containers will help reduce the amount thrown into a landfill.  Whether you’re the one who’s going back to school or the one packing the lunches (or both) with a few cool tools, you can save time and money.    

To-Go Ware Stainless Steel Food Carrier

Great for hot or cold foods, this comes with a removable plate and 2-tiers so you can separate foods.  Stainless steel is highly durable, won’t leach toxins like plastics can and is very easy to clean. 

Plastic Bag Dryer

I never knew these existed until very recently.  Way back in Elementary school I had a friend who would save all her Ziplocs she used for snacks & lunch in a day and bring them home with her after school and gave them to her mother who would wash, dry and reuse them as many times as she could.  Back then I  thought it very strange (because no one else I knew was doing it).  Little did I know back then that it would be considered “eco-friendly” today. 

SIGG Water Bottle

According to Fast Company, Americans use 50 billion water bottles each year.  Most are not recycled.  Find a reusable water bottle that looks good (so you’ll be more inclined to use it) and help keep your share of water bottle waste out of the trash.  They come in an assortment of colors and sizes for kids and adults alike. 

Not officially or medically-speaking, but Jack Johnson seems to have a way of lowering ones blood pressure (if you happen to like mellow, yet upbeat folksy/surfer tunes).  As a Hawaiian native, and surfer-turned-songwriter, much of his melodic imagery is inspired by nature and his tropical surroundings.  This year Jack Johnson & his crew are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact on their world tour. 

Greening Actions Include:

-Providing onsite water stations, waste management and recycling services.

-Reducing waste with the use of biodegradable food service items and reusable water bottles that can be refilled onsite.

-Fueling tour vehicles and/or generators with sustainable biodiesel (where available) to help reduce CO2 emmisions by up to 78% percent. 

-Offering eco-friendly tour merchandise including organic cotton clothing, reusable water bottles and tote bags.

-Minimizing distribution of paper at shows and using 100% recycled paper and soy-based inks for all printed materials.

-Selecting environmentally-conscious travel and hotel options.

-Procuring locally grown and organic foods for backstage catering

-Offsetting all remaining CO2 emissions from the tour and for each night’s show.

If you’re a fan (or want to be), check for tour dates here.  To learn more about Jack Johnson’s All At Once campaign, click here.  To buy his latest Sleep Through The Static CD, click here. 

With a national movement underway to bring organic food to college dining halls, Colgate University senior, Nina Merrill discovered that there was very little online documenting and discussing it.  She gives college students a voice and a platform to discuss what’s happening on their own campuses.  Her goal is to encourage the development of organic good programs on college campuses nationwide.  Her theory is that by facilitating a round-table discussion where students can share their successes and pitfalls of their organic campus initiatives, others will be empowered to take proactive steps in improving the quality of their campus dining.  Her blog, titled Organic on the Green, gives students the opportunity to network with others from around the country who have similar goals and concerns.  It features essays from students on the front lines of making college dining more sustainable. 
 
She’s also working on a “How To” dining guide for students who hope to bring more organic food to their university or college.  This guide will call upon the topics discussed on the blog as well as highlight the initiatives of some of the most influential students on the sustainable campus circuit.

Additional organic food resources:

How To Go Organic

Slow Food USA

Prep your dorm room desk with items you love to look at and ones you feel good about, because you’ll likely be spending a lot of time there.  Stay organized in the midst of a crammed class load to help keep you on track.  Check out these essentials for your in-room study area: 

Foray 5-Subject Recycled Notebook  

It’s unavoidable, you’ll be using lots of paper to take lots of notes so why not use recycled paper to reduce your contribution to cutting down trees.  Make a statement with this notebook made completely from used paper.   

Pendaflex Recycled Multi-Color File Folders 

Forego the standard (and boring) manilla folders!  Spice up your desk with some color and a touch of organization with these recycled folders. 

‘We Are Happy To Serve You’ Mug

Whether you a NYC native, admirer or transplant, you know that ‘We Are Happy To Serve You’ cups are everywhere.  This ceramic version is the brain-child of TreeHugger founder Graham Hill who wanted people to realize just how many paper cups they were throwing away each day/week/month and who is also a New York resident.  Rest (not) assured that you will be cramming for finals and staying up all night, so be sure to keep this cup filled with some fair-trade organic coffee! 

 Made with only pure organic oils and wildcrafted trimmings from California trees, these soaps really do remind me of the coast of California where the merging of salty ocean air and sweet pine is refreshingly crisp and familiar. With scents like Coastal Sage, California Bay Laurel and Sierra Cedar, how can they not?

“Wildcrafting” is the harvesting of plants growing out in the wilderness, not farmed or tended too. Juniper Ridge is careful to obtain tree trimmings (with permission) from the deserts and mountains in California, in a way that does no harm to the tree and they donate 10% of their profits to defend Western wilderness.

Great for both men and women alike, you’ll find no floral or fruity scents in the bunch; just woodsy, grassy, piney aromas that will remind you of that trip to Big Sur (or the one you’d like to take).

More and more consumers are becoming aware of the toxins in conventional cleaning products that can affect human and environmental health.  If you’re conscious of what you use in your home, around your children and pets, what you breathe in and put on your body this is for you.  A wonderful way to ensure you know exactly what is in your cleaning products….make them yourself! This Eco-Me Home Kit  supplies all the containers & instructions you need to clean the house.  You supply the ingredients like baking soda, vinegar and olive oil.   The plastic bottles are #1 PET….recyclable, but you’ll use this over and over avoiding the need to keep throwing out empty cleaning bottles. 

A word on PET plastic:

Most convenience-size bottles sold in the United States are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET has become the material
of choice for bottled beverages because it is lightweight and shatter resistant, and PET has been extensively tested for safety. Bottles
made with PET are widely used for everything from water and fruit juice to soft drinks and even beer.  Like all materials intended for food contact, PET is subject to FDA review and regulations and is approved for safety.

A word on recycling:

PET bottle recycling is more practical than many other plastic applications. The primary reason is that plastic carbonated soft drink bottles and water bottles are almost exclusively PET which makes them more easily identifiable in a recycle stream.  One of the uses for a recycled PET bottle is for the manufacture of polar fleece material. It can also make fiber for polyester products.