Today, the first official day of Fall has me thinking about all things autumn.  The appeal of the season has much to do with the scents and flavors, but of tradition and the way everything dramatically changes - the foliage, the temperature, the colors, the sights, the sounds.  An essential wardrobe piece this season is a versatile coat that can be worn from day to night.  I’m loving this pumpkin-colored trench made from 98% organic cotton and 2% spandex stretch canvas.  How perfect for trips to a harvest party or even back-to-school night.  This Patagonia Organic Cotton Women’s Negril Trench was $140, but on sale now for just $98.  Score!

From the heart of France comes a propreity blend of organic french red grapes, bottled by ReserveAge - a company committed to naturally extending youth.  Resveratrol has been popping up in beauty products since its known as a powerful anti-ager, but now you can get the benefits of it via these convenient supplements (1-2 vegetarian capsules daily).  Made with certified organic ingredients, this pure, beneficial and active trans-resveratrol has been proven to the SIRT1 longevity gene, provide fast cell rejuvenation and offer maximum antioxidant protection.

*These statements have no been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 

Swedish Hasbeens (love the name) have been made by hand since the 70s, in the same small factory in Sweden.  They’re made of sustainable wood and PVC-free rubber soles (a more environmentally friendly alternative), and one of the very few footwear companies that uses high quality, naturally dyed, chrome-free leather.  Swedish Hasbeens can last a lifetime if taken care of well and according to the company “if you don’t give them to your kids, you can plant them and they will disappear“.

Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda, had something to prove.  As a hair genius, organic farmer and environmentalist - he set out to create one of the most pure luxury skin care lines available, then he took it a step further and created it with all skin types in mind, but especially those concerned about aging (the majority of women over thirty).

For over two months I’ve been using his USDA Certified Organic skin care range, Intelligent Nutrients and I can’t stop raving about it!!  The superstar product for me is the Anti-Aging Serum.  If there’s one question I’m asked the most, its probably if I can recommend a skin care line that will help skin that is both acne-prone and dry and/or acne-prone and anti-aging.  I haven’t been able to answer this with total certainty until I used this range.  The combination of the Cleanser, Mist, Serum and Moisture make my skin feel healthy, rejuvenated, hydrated and refreshed.  I have a healthy glow, haven’t had a breakout since I begun using these products and many fine lines have seemed to vanish.

The serum is something that my skin craves now and I think I might be addicted/obsessed with it.  It smells herbal, sweet and mildly grassy and I need only a drop to cover my entire face and neck after I spritz on the Anti-Aging Mist.  I recommend the entire line, but if there’s one product that is a must-have/worth-the-splurge, its the serum!

If you ask me, Rechelbacher proved exactly what he intended - that there is such a thing as “organic”, “luxury”, and “anti-aging” skin care products, and they’re pretty close to, if not perfect.

Though Summer is approaching its end, it’s definitely not over yet and for many, temps are well up into the hundreds and the sun is beating down while we all try to pack all our remaining to-dos into what’s last of the season.  While many suggest staying out of the sun between prime hours (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for those of us who enjoy all the outdoor activities that summer brings, that can be difficult - especially with all-day beach trips, fairs, vacation or just yard work.  It’s important to remember to stay protected both from potentially harmful rays and from toxic sunscreens.

Erbaviva recently sent me their SPF 15 to try out and I’ve been using it while on vacation these past few weeks.  It is hands-down one of my favorite sunscreens.  The scent is pleasant, doesn’t turn my skin a pasty white and rubs in nicely.  What’s nice is that this can be used by adults and kids alike so there’s no need to purchase separate products for different family members. Alike conventional sunscreens which use synthetic and toxic ingredients like oxybenzone, Erbaviva uses Titanium Dioxide to coat the sun and shields the suns rays.

What’s the big deal about oxybenzone you ask?  Last year The Center For Disease Control released a study citing the potentially harmful effects of this chemical.  Just check out a portion of the statement here:

CDC: Americans Carry ‘Body Burden’ of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical
CONTACT: EWG Public Affairs, (202) 667-6982
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 25, 2008

WASHINGTON, March 25 – The bodies of nearly all Americans are contaminated with a sunscreen chemical that has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A companion study from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine found that the same chemical is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy.  The chemical, oxybenzone, is widely used in sunscreens. Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) analysis of ingredient labels found that nearly 600 sunscreens sold in the U.S. contain oxybenzone, including products by Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat. Although oxybenzone is most common in sunscreen, companies also use the toxic chemical in at least 567 other personal care products, including lip balm, lipstick, moisturizers and fragrance for women.
Oxybenzone was last reviewed for safety in the 1970’s but since then significant new evidence has been published on its toxicity and pervasive exposure. A recent review by the European Union found insufficient data to determine whether oxybenzone in sunscreen is safe for consumers.

“These studies are the latest in a long list of reasons the Food and Drug Administration must thoroughly review the safety of all chemicals used in sunscreens Americans use every day,” said Rebecca Sutton, a scientist with EWG. “FDA must do what it promised 30 years ago: Enact permanent, enforceable federal safety standards for sunscreens so consumers can get the best and safest sun protection.”

EWG research shows that 84 percent of 910 name-brand sunscreen products offer inadequate protection from the sun, or contain ingredients, like oxybenzone, with significant safety concerns. These products are on the market because FDA has failed to finalize sunscreen safety standards that have been under development since 1979, but has instead issued a series of delays and revisions at the request of the personal care product industry. FDA issued a new draft of the standards last October under pressure from EWG, but continues to delay finalizing the standards at the behest of the regulated industry.

EWG is a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, DC that uses the power of information to protect human health and the environment. The group’s research on oxybenzone is available online at http://www.ewg.org/node/26212.

Right now you can score these organic cotton pants for half off (only $44.99)!  I just stumbled upon them and think they’d be a great addition to my casual work wardrobe for Fall.  I love how Banana (yes, we’re on a first name basis) names their pant styles so its easy for me to go right to the ones that fit me perfectly.  Martin is one of them and the same fit of these.  Dress them up with a nice top or sweater or dress them down with a plain white tee.  And these are longer in length than usually which is perfect for those of us who like to wear a nice size heel with our dress pants.  Don’t miss out - this sale won’t last long!

Have you flipped through Lucky yet? The July issue features many green buys, including Burt’s Bees Hair Repair Shea & Grapefruit Deep Conditioner and EOS Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Sweet Mint.  Have any of you tried these yet?  I haven’t, but they’re definitely on my list - would love your feedback!

Pack a lunch - save your wallet, your health and your planet! Now you can do just that with LunchBots reusable, stainless steel lunch containers.

Made from the highest quality stainless steel - these rugged yet eye-catching lunch systems take the waste out of packing a lunch. Just think about how many bags it takes to pack a lunch. Now you can eliminate the need for bags while guaranteeing that the food you eat is kept safe. Using this type of lunch system is a great way to manage portion control while keeping everything tidy and away from plastic - which can leach onto your food while it’s waiting to be consumed. Stainless steel keeps food insulated as well, so you can keep things at room temp a little longer than using just a paper bag and since it is so tough, you never have to worry about things getting crushed in your lunch bag.

The LunchBots Uno is designed for a main course and the Duo is partitioned off for snacks or sides - both of them together make one sensible lunch portion. Reviewers are raving about the ease of use and the huge perk of feeding yourself and your family in a non-toxic and eco-friendly way. Another serious perk to owning LunchBots is the conversations you can have with fellow co-workers or other parents about your food storage choice. You can start a mini-revolution in your very own lunchroom! (OK, well at least you can get some people thinking.)

As you know, 4th of July is just around the corner and there’s no better time to think about your Independence Day outfit than right now. If you’re not one to wear a big U.S. flag on your shirt or sport socks with fireworks on them - then try a different approach this year. Wear some really cute, really eco-friendly and versatile shoes on Saturday. These Simple ‘Entire‘ peep-toe flats would make quite the statement however you choose to celebrate the holiday.

What better day of the year to show your commitment to a sustainable lifestyle as the 4th of July. After all, if we love our country and the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S. - we should be committed to making sure we are treating it with respect. By sporting these ‘ecoSNEAKS’ - you could be making a fashion statement and an ethical statement both at the same time.

Simple has been committed to manufacturing shoes with a low impact on the environment for years and these adorable flats are no exception. They have been made with style and the environment in mind, starting with the use of certified organic cotton linings, recycled car tire footbeds and outsoles, and 100% post-consumer paper pulp foot forms. The top of the shoe is made with silk (an organic fabric) and they are shipped to you in a 100% post-consumer recycled shoe box. To top it all off, these shoes are getting rave reviews from the consumers who are wearing them - so you can be sure that your purchase will be a good investment. If you’re looking for ways to make this day of red, white and blue a little more “green” - one easy way to start is with your own wardrobe!

Summer is full of delicious foods, fun-filled vacations, outdoor BBQs, and warm days and nights. Along with all of the fun summer time activities comes the downside of this sunny time of year - one of those being mosquitoes. If you live near  water, you understand the annoyance that these little bugs bring to your life when you’re trying to do some outdoor living. It never ceases to amaze me how such a tiny bug can cause such a reaction in my skin, and I am always looking for ways to relieve the itching and swelling that their bites cause. This summer I looked no further than my (alternative) medicine cabinet to find my secret remedy for those unsightly bumps.  Tea tree oil (Melaleuca Alternafolia) has more uses than I can cover here, but it’s ability to squelch the itch of a bug bite is what’s impressing me lately.  To keep the itch at bay, I dab straight tea tree oil on any bite and the sting is diffused in usually less than a minute.  The good news! Tea tree oil also detracts mosquitoes (they hate the smell).  If you’re looking for a natural way to ward off and heal bites, give tea tree oil a tree (I’ve been using it since I was a kid)!