Greenstyle

• Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style: Eco-Bag Lady’s Best of 08
  

  

  I’m proud to be evolving into quite the eco-bag lady! I have amassed an amazing collection of various earth-friendly bags - canvas, bioplastic and organic cotton totes for shopping; a wonderfully useful computer bag made of recycled plastic bottles; and a couple of great purses that make a fashion statement while keeping all kinds of materials out of our landfills.

  There are so many reasons to NOT use plastic or even paper bag for shopping and to adopt a few reusable bags to handle most shopping needs. There are also great reasons to buy some of these great funky stylish accessory bags that are made from recycled materials - keeping more non-biodegradable materials out of landfills.

  The Eco-Bag Lady’s Picks for Best Eco-Bags of 2008
  

  Read more of this story - 17 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Yogoco The Eco-Friendly Yoga Mat Bag
  

  Finally an eco-friendly yoga bag that has room for everything you need. The yogoco has room for a large mat, a seperate space for your towel and change of clothes plus a water proof inner pocket for your keys, cell phone and wallet…and they are made from recycled t-shirt scraps.

  Read more of this story - 18 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• The Seven Best :: Classic Red Lipsticks For The Perfect Pout.
  

  For girls who love makeup, the perfect red lipstick is as essential as air, water, fashion. Red has graced some of the sexiest lips around and it’s actually a very forgiving color for anyone to wear if you find the right shade. Gwen Stefani always rocks the perfect pout. Problem is, if you’ve ever mounted a search to find what should be a ubiquitous item - you’ll know as well as I do that finding the perfect shade is about as elusive as getting your hands on a sample from a designers collection, six months ahead of time. Near impossible. Sure, there are loads of reds if you don’t mind slathering your pout with petrochemicals & parabens and ingesting all that toxicity, but for you discerning ecoista out there who are savvy enough to know better, here’s my lineup of the best, classic, modern, fresh, organic & natural reds.

  1. Dr Haushcka - Intense Garnet : www.drhauschka.com
  2. Bare Essentials - Red Delicious : www.storebareescentuals.com
  3. Sukicolor - Dahlia : www.futurenatural.com
  4. Afterglow - Kiss : www.afterglowcosmetics.com
  5. Jane Iredale - Carrie : www.janeiredale.com
  6. Honeybee Gardens - Desire : www.honeybeegardens.com
  7. Josie Maran - Devious : www.josiemarancosmetics.com

  Image Credit: Ed Geller/GLOBE

  
  - 18 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

December 16, 2008

• Does Pravana = Nirvana :: A New Natraceutical Hair Care Line.
  

  The founder of Pravana Natraceuticals, Steve Goddard, is a 30 year veteran of the hair industry and former CEO of Wella. Not content with being a mere hair stylist or business genius, Goddard believes that hairdressing has evolved and transcended the status quo, to encompass what needs to be a holistic approach to hair care that enhances both your inner and outer beauty. Enter Pravana Natraceuticals. A unique fusion of European sophistication, ancient Mayan botanicals and innovative American technology, the entire collection is infused with a proprietary blend of human hair keratin amino acids, silk amino acids, and hydrolyzed wheat protein to strenghten and fortify hair from the inside out.

  Read more of this story - 20 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• The Worst Idea for a Perfume
  

  File this one in the you’ve got to be kidding me section.

  Both The Orange County Register and the Boston Herald pointed out that Burger King, the nation’s No. 2 burger chain (NYSE:BKC), recently debuted “Flame,” a new men’s body spray that’s billed as “the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat.” Yes, this is a legit item the chain is selling online via Ricky’s Halloween Costume Store, for $3.99.

  Click on over to the Burger King Flame website, “FireMeetsDesire” and you will find a sexy soul track playing in the background and a Barry White like voice telling you to “come on baby give it a spray.”

  Read more of this story - 20 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Fashion and Earth: Everyday Eco-Style for the Earth Conscious Woman
  

  Simple, stylish and elegantly casual. Those are the words that come to mind when I browse Fashion and Earth’s online store. They have organic cotton, bamboo and other eco-friendly materials that form clothing for the earth conscious woman that is both stylish and timeless. Pieces that are easy to pair with jeans or a skirt, wear around the home for comfort or add the right accessories for a night on the town.

  Fashion & Earth is striving to be part of the solution to today’s environmental issues, not just another clothing retailer contributing to the problem.

  They have a great selection of sustainable clothing for the eco-chic woman. Their clothing and accessories would make great gifts for yourself or that eco-lady on your holiday list.

  
  - 21 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)
• Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style: Meg’s Picks for Best Organic Skincare
  

  

  I have had the wonderful privilege to test many natural and organic skincare products over the last couple of years. If I had any illusions about how sensitive my skin really is, they are now shattered. I’ve had adverse reactions to some of the most ‘clean’ sounding products out there. So, as I’ve said before in previous posts on skincare reviews, I am like the canary in the coal mine - if there is anything even slightly off about a product, my skin will react - with blooming color usually!

  I still can’t keep all the ‘good for me’ from ‘you DON’T want this on your skin’ ingredients straight. I start breaking out in a rash trying to pronounce the name of some of these ingredients - both natural and synthetic. So, if you are wanting a breakdown of the ingredients and what to use and what not to use, please don’t expect that kind of detail here. I’ll give you a couple of good links at the end of the post for better resources.

  I do look for simple, organic ingredients that are put together with some consciousness, which perhaps is why I do well with stuff made from biodynamically grown herbs. It is easy for me - it is either clean or I break out, but I would encourage others who may have heartier skin to do additional homework on safe ingredients.

  Meg’s Organic Skincare Favs for 2008
  

  Read more of this story - 21 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Brilliant Earth Ethical Diamonds and Sweet Sapphires are a Green Girl’s Best Friend
  

  

  Ethical diamonds are a green girl’s best friend and let me tell you Brilliant Earth knows this. They offer certified conflict free diamonds crafted with love and fair labor and eco-friendly practices. 5% of all their profits donated go to help local African communities harmed by the diamond industry. In fact,

  Read more of this story - 22 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Gifts with the Feelgood Factor
  

  Buying Christmas present for others can be stressful, especially if you’re not sure what to get.

  Read more of this story - 23 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Los Angeles Holiday Shopping: Eco Gift Festival 2008
  

  Yesterday I was walking through Third Street Promenade, a large outdoor mall in Los Angeles, and became curious if mainstream shops were offering any sustainable choices for holiday shopping this year. I walked into the incredible sale at The Limited Express.

  Me: “Excuse me, do you have an organic clothing?”
  TLE: “Any what?”
  Me: “Organic clothing?”
  TLE: “Organic? Uh, no.”
  Me: “Thanks.” (Sigh.)

  No Christmas presents will be bought here this year…again. So there’s sustainable online shopping, which is great for shipping to your family in faraway places, but where do you go when you want to see and feel the gifts you want to give this year? Artisan markets are certainly a great alternative to mindless deal-hungry stampedes at Wal-mart. If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend you are truly blessed, because the Eco Gift Festival is taking over the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium for the second year in a row. It’ll cost you $10 to get in, but it’s worth it in more ways than one…

  VENDORS

  At Eco Gift Festival, there will be green gifts of every sort from all over the country. Ecochic dresses by Kate Organic, stylin’ sustainable hats by Livity Outernational, sleek reusable water bottles by Earthlust and utensil sets by To-Go Ware, recycled jewelry by Smart Glass, Fair Trade shoes by Autonomie Project, loungewear by Natural High Lifestyle, handmade goat milk soaps by Chivas, Fair Trade sports gear, bamboo kitchenware, non-toxic candles, juicers, yoga gear, baby clothes, ethical clothing galore, organic chocolate, toys, gardening supplies, recycled jewelry, natural cosmetics, and on and on.

  The companies vending at Eco Gift go way out of their way to bring ecological sanity to their sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. When I’m buying eco-conscious gifts for my friends and family and I know my purchases are actually creating positive effects in the communites where they’re made- for the people, the wildlife, and the land itself- it’s a really good feeling.

  VIBE

  What makes Eco Gift a festival instead of just a holiday market? According to Eco Gift Founder, Tommy Rosen “Connection with people. Passion. Awareness. And a sincere desire to find solutions rather than to just buy something. The format makes for great connections between attendees and vendors.” Tommy is also looking forward to the educational aspect of the event. “We added a really great speaker series with some amazing authors, activists and leaders of industry…I love Arianna Huffington and to be able to see her in a setting this intimate will be exciting…Dr. Andrew Dattila with his extraordinary story and products, David Crow, Mallika Chopra, Tom Szaky. I have to tell you though that I am truly excited to see every one of them.

  “I think the speakers and performers of Eco Gift Festival reflect the staff’s vision of what we have the ability to create together as one; drawing in to us a fantastic group of educated and evolved visionaries to our speaker series,” says Jay Donnellan, Coordinating Producer of Eco Gift Festival since 2007. When asked about what fresh concepts she is introducing for 2008, Jay explained, “For this event, one thing I really wanted to do was to create a more communal atmosphere. So I placed park benches throughout the Civic Center both inside and out, put a large communal dining table in the food court, and created more open pathways for people to walk though.” The atmosphere at Eco Gift Festival is authentically warm and truly about sharing the community tradition of gifting throughout the holidays. Very refreshing.

  Eco Gift will feature some of LA’s favorite musicians like Tom Freund, Jillian Speer, Jon T. Howard, and The Luminaries. Jay also organized an rich and diverse children’s stage with storytime, singalongs, Pilates lessons, and educational skits about how to be stewards of the environment.

  

  GREEN

  Both children and adults will learn about eco practices, as the event itself is a testament to it’s core values of environmental stewardship.

  • Zero Waste Stations will be placed throughout the facility to help divert 90% or more of the event’s waste from landfill.
  • Complimentary purified water is provided on-site and will be served in biodegradable cups to eliminate plastic water bottles.
  • Event signage is made with recyclable, reusable or biodegradable materials.
  • Event collateral is printed with a “green printer” with vegetable-based inks and recycled FSC paper.
  • Food sold at the event, if packaged at all, will be packaged in biodegradable, compostable food ware, and biodegradable cornstarch or potato plates and utensils are mandated.
  • Implementation of a carbon offsetting program will reduce emissions generated by equipment, heating & cooling, shipping and electricity.

  GREENBACKS

  I asked Tommy if, as the producer of a consumer gift show, the pending recession was effecting his mental state. He responded in his typically east-meets-west spiritual realism, “At times I have wondered about outcomes. Mostly though, I am trying to stay present. I have avoided most negative spins on what I consider to be a very important and necessary process of change that we are going through. That is not to diminish the suffering many have gone through, it is just to put it in a continuum and a context.”

  Luckily for those of us effected by the rough economy, there will be some incredible discounts offered by some of the vendors this year. In fact, my absolute favorite sustainable body care company, Pangea Organics will be offering an unbelievable 50% off their entire line of products! If that’s any example of what’s available there, holiday shopping here is going to be just as good as it is green.

  NECESSITIES

  

  

  Make sure to bring your reusable water bottle to fill up at the free filtered water stations (or grab one at Earthlust), plenty of reusable shopping bags (if you don’t have any yet, head to The Inconvenient Bag and the Envirosax booths), and a leisurely amount of time because you might actually have so much fun, you won’t want to rush this.

  “What I love most about Eco Gift is to be living in the solution to our biggest challenges,” says Rosen. “On a micro level, I am exposed to people and companies that support my health and well-being. In turn, I can share this radiance with others…On a macro level, I am involved with something that can effect change at the global level. The energy of money, when flowing in great directions, can be a beautiful thing.”

  Full disclosure: The author of this article, Jenn Breckenridge, was the Director of Operations for Eco Gift 2007.

  
  

  
  
  - 24 days
  source: (In The Loop)
• Organic Holiday Trees Are a Growing Farming Niche
  

  The buy local and help the farmer movements are expanding nicely for organic foods and all kinds of earth-friendly products. Yet the traditional Christmas tree without pesticide sprays is still a challenge.

  Read more of this story - 25 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Green Denim Becomes Hot to Trot as Blue Jeans Sing the Blues
  

  

  NRDC’s OnEarth site has an educational article out on blue jeans that states:

  “Some 450 million pairs of jeans are sold in the United States each year — 1.5 pairs for every man, woman, and child. The average woman has eight pairs in her closet. Chances are that to make those jeans, cotton crops were drenched in pesticides; fibers were stained with toxic dyes… There is another option: the eco-minded can invest in a pair of jeans woven from organic cotton, dyed with natural indigo, and faded with nontoxic ozone.”

  In the post they cover the truth about growing cotton, making denim, dying, hardware, distressing and fit. Here is a quick recap of the downside to wearing denim from the Natural Resources Defense Council:

  Read more of this story - 25 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Excellent Green Gifts under $50
  

  You are being conscientious this year in your holiday shopping - in more ways than one.  We hear you.  With this in mind, we have put together a well rounded good of unique, thoughtful green gifts under $50 that won’t break the bank.  Shopping for a wife, husband, brother sister, mom, dad, partner, friend or even just an acquaintance?  Pick up an activist inspired, long sleeved graphic t-shirt made from organic cotton, or perhaps a holiday themed “Turtle Doves” or “GIVE” reusable shopping tote - both made using Eco friendly fibers.   Looking to help a friend develop the BYOB habit?  ( bags…not beer, at least not in this instance).  Check out Envirosax resuable shopping bags, with three different collections to choose from, and five  highly compact bags per pack, they will make the switch in no time and thank you for it.  Maybe you’re looking for a bigger nudge down the green living path.  Our Get Hip Get Green Gift set is the perfect option, featuring a reusable shopping bag, reusable steel water bottle and a reusable, insulated lunch bag, plus a super cool Project green. bracelet.  Who couldn’t use a little inspiration or positivity in their lives.  Tees for Change are the answer  - simple tees and long sleeves in great colors with inspiring words, in organic cotton or bamboo blends.  Feeling charitable?  Then be sure to check out TOMS shoes, and feel fantastic knowing that for each pair you buy, you are putting shoes on someone who has none.  Maybe you need something for the Fashionista in your life?  Vy & Elle recycled billboard Leili clutch or Angel Hobo bag is your answer.   Looking for some trimming?  Lucina’s Berry Coil bracelets or Cheeky Monkey mini recycled silver animal pendant necklaces are sure to be a hit.

  Not to worry, we’ve got the dudes covered too - and because we know you like to keep it simple, we’ll be brief here:  Check out our eduicational, and oft dual meaning Positive Energy T-shirts, recycled rubber belts from Alchemy Goods, artsy wallets by Db Clay and, organic cotton ties from Crow, recycled banner wallets by Alchamy Goods, and recycled billboard kit bags by Vy & Elle among other excellent options.

  And…because we like you so much and love that you read our blog (we try to keep it interesting), here is a little something for you.  Use HOL25 at check-out, and you will get 25% off your gift purchases with us this year.  Nothing like a little incentive to check those items off that list.  Want an even sweeter deal?  Right now, standard shipping is FREE.

  Happy Holidays!

  
  
  - 27 days
  source: (In The Loop)

December 09, 2008

• Have a Red Hot Holiday Party Inspired by the New Eco Fashion World Sexy Celebration Issue
  

  

  This month Eco Fashion World is featuring the celebration issue stating:

  “Green glitter is in the air, it’s time to celebrate! Last month, Americans made the whole world proud and hopeful by coming together to vote for a new president who represents a real potential for change. Some may say that nothing brings people together like adversity, but the electric current that swept through the world on December 4th was pure joy.”

  On the EFW cover

  Read more of this story - 27 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Making Some Serious Green
  

  One of the greatest positive impacts we can make on the planet is through how we build our buildings. Global Green USA is dedicated to just that by educating homeowners, developers, and government on how to build structures that are energy efficient, conserve water resources, and limit toxic building materials. Last Tuesday in San Francisco, the posh 4th Annual Gorgeous & Green gala raised over $250,000 for the organization. In more ways than one, that makes for some for serious green.

  According to Matt Petersen, President & CEO of Global Green USA, “We’re putting the funds raised to work immediately in the Bay Area, including to help green affordable housing that dramatically reduces high energy bills for low-income families and create healthy green schools that improve test scores for students. The support also helps us continue our work on global warming statewide in California, while advancing our groundbreaking work to rebuild New Orleans green.”

  In addition to funding various projects, the event also is meant to inspire the attendees to integrate green practices into their own lives. Co-Chair of the annual bash Nadine Weil states, ”Our goal at the gala is to raise funds for Global Green and to show people that being green can be gorgeous, fun and possible. The most exciting part for me is seeing people having a wonderful time being green…Another exciting element for me was the actual greening of the event…Through pre-conversations with vendors, reusable and biodegradable materials, and extensive recycling and composting, we achieved an over 75% diversion rate.”

  Diverting 75% of waste from landfills is an impressive accomplishment for an event of this scale. Not only that, the Bently Reserve where G&G takes place each year is LEED-certified, the food and cocktails served are organic, the promotional materials are made from recycled materials, and most importantly to us, they have an eco fashion show that absolutely rocks. This year featured designs from some of In The Loop’s favorites like Stewart + Brown, Bahar Shahpar, EDUN, Lara Miller, Del Forte Denim, Loyale, Linda Loudermilk, Loomstate, and Charmone. It’s impressive to know that Global Green truly walks their talk, even while they party.

  
  
  - 28 days
  source: (In The Loop)
• Nature Of Beauty Launches Intelligent Nutrients Today :: Plus Product Reviews, Interview, Free Shipping + Exclusive Coupon Code
  

  

  Many of you visit to find the latest, best and most effective natural and organic beauty brands amongst other things. Organic beauty is one of my favorite topics and one I’m passionate about.  And I don’t know about you, but I value honest recommendations from fellow consumers much more than I do when it comes from an owner or employee of a business.  And I know I’m not alone, otherwise Googling “review of X product” would not be the common pastime that it is.  So with that in mind, I’m bringing you the real deal about NatureOfBeauty.com. I’ll clue you in on which products I’m loving right now, the scoop on two hot brands they just launched, share my Christmas gift ideas and divulge how to get free shipping and 15% off your order.

  Read more of this story - 28 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)

• Baggu: The Gift (Wrap) That Keeps On Giving
  

  I admit: I may have taken the concept of reusable bags a bit too far. After all, the idea behind them is conservation, right? But I seem to have turned it into a hobby, collecting every cool reusable bag I can find, which I think that may be a bit counter-purpose. But today I discovered both a new bag and a new way to use them, and so I had to share (and purchase a bunch for myself….it’s like an addiction, I tell you!!). Baggu was founded by a mother and daughter team from California. Using lightweight, durable fabric, these little guys fold up easily to keep in your car, glove compartment, even your purse. And in case you thought reusable bags were only good for grocery shopping and carrying your shoes to work in the winter, the creative Baggu ladies give you the best holiday idea ever:

  Read more of this story - 28 days
  source: (Feelgood Style)