Eco & Organic

I have been craving — yes, craving! — that Anthropologie-esque smell (attributed to Capri Blue Jar Candles) in my apartment. But I was so busy last week, I didn’t get myself over to the store to buy one (and I wasn’t completely sure which candle to get, so I didn’t want to order them online just yet). Luckily, I received samples of luxury candles just in time from lifestyle & home décor expert Baroness Monica von Neumann (wife of the late Austrian Baron John von Neumann), and I really like them!

My favorite in the collection of four soy-based candles (Atlas, Savon, Fete and Modena) is Fete, which combines navel orange, Seychelles Cinnamon, Zanzibar Clove, Norwegian Pine, Indonesian Patchouli and exotic Amberwood to create just the type of sweet yet spicy, tangy scent I wanted. (more…)

So, after all those holiday cookies and hangovers, CLEANSE and DETOX appear to be the buzz words of the month. (And judging by the fact that two local Borders stores were sold out of Dr. Alex Junger’s “Clean” book, I think all of L.A. has jumped on the bandwagon.) Prompted by my curious husband (who despite feeling sluggish after the new year was suspicious of the detox trend), I enlisted us in a cleansing experiment: 5 days of raw-food-eating and 2 days of Lori C. Kenyon and Marra O. St. Clair’s Ritual Cleanse — an Irvine, Calif.-based juice cleansing program designed to “reset” the body.

Now, I know, some people do “Beyonce’s maple syrup diet” for well over a week, and many follow Dr. Junger’s advice (endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrow) for at least three weeks, but honestly, feeling faint, weak, mucus-y and stuck with a headache is not my idea of a good time … no matter how skinny, light or euphoric I’m supposed to feel. One week of abstaining from all the things I love about food — caffeine, all meat, refined sugar, dairy, alcohol, soy, wheat, gluten — was about all I could stomach. That’s why I chose this route. With raw food, we got to eat a bunch of vegetables and feel full; and with Ritual Cleanse, we didn’t have to prepare meals (vegetables are time-consuming!) and worry whether we did so correctly.
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Although Glamour’s September issue has declared leopard print back for Fall (at least on J.Lo), as far as I’m concerned, it should never leave! I am obsessed with the sold-out peep-toe Michael Kors leopard-print canvas platform pumps I recently scored at Bloomingdales for under $100 (after lusting over these oh-so-perfect-yet-out-of-reach Manolo Leopard Pony d’Orsays of course), and now I have my eye on Knitwit‘s lightweight, “tofu-cashmere,” animal-print wares: feather-print scarves, tiger- and zebra-print sweaters, and cheetah-print hoodies!

Having tried out one of their cardigans (you may remember it from our March Lust List, I can attest that each 85-percent soybean and 15-percent “cashmere” piece is very well-made, decadently soft and super cozy without being obscenely heavy. Plus they wear well; I haven’t put a run in my scarf (the feather-print one above) yet, and I usually end up doing so on day one. It’s a good thing, too, because Knitwit is a pricey line for casual wear, so definitely look at any piece you buy as an investment purchase. And lucky for both of us, you can take advantage of sales like the current free shipping and $25 off promotions at shopknitwit.com (enter TOFU at checkout). Happy feeding!

As someone who has at least three lip glosses in my pocket or handbag at any given time, I’m always on the lookout for new, tasty lip products. Yesterday I was at my local drugstore and stumbled upon Lip Smacker 100% Natural, the first-ever 100% natural Lip Smacker product! Thinking it would be fun to indulge in the grown-up version of my favorite childhood gloss line, I choose the acai berry flavor, made with olive oil, beeswax, aloe, vitamin E, and pure fruit essence. Even the packaging is printed on recycled paper using soy based ink! The gloss is dye-free and left my with a slight shine, tasting just as deliciously sweet and feeling soft as the original varieties. Lip Smacker 100% Natural comes in other natural-inspired flavors, such as honeydew melon, pink guava, and vanilla bean. Be a kid again and indulge in this affordable, green-friendly, and fun beauty product!

I recently received a bath and body recommendation from a very strange source for a very non-trendy, no frills product. In this specific case, a man. Yes, I am writing about my new favorite body wash, which was introduced to me by my manly friend who has an interest in all-natural bath and body products. Even more surprisingly, this particular product, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Pure Castille Soap has been in existence since 1948, has a very unique product history, and literally has 17 uses other than a liquid body wash!

The soap comes in a variety of scents, but I was most intrigued by the almond variety, which smells deliciously like almond extract. This particular product is made completely from free trade ingredients including organic extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, hemp oil, and vitamin E, and are certified under the USDA Natural Organic Program. Many natural bath products lack the “foaming” quality mainstream products offer, but just a small squirt of this soap on an exfoliating loofah will lathing unlike any other natural bodywash I’ve used. Plus, it doesn’t hurt (but may expand my waistline) that the almond scent has me running to the kitchen baking almond cookies after my showers!

Dr. Bronner’s has a huge selection of bath and body products I’m itching to try, as soon as I go through my stash of existing soaps, lotions, and balms. I purchased my soap from the terrific Whole Foods Body store down the street for $10, but is also available at Vitamin Shoppe and local natural product stores nationwide.

While I’m a big fan of The Sports Club/LA and the luxuries and amenities that come with such a great (expensive!) gym membership, there’s something to be said for small, independent studios that large chain gyms don’t offer. Continuing my attempt to combine pilates and yoga in my existing exercise routine, I was presented the opportunity to visit OMBE Integrative Health Center in Boston’s Back Bay. OMBE (One-Mind-Body-Earth) offers a full range of integrated services catered towards creating a “better you”, including yoga, pilates, nutritional counseling, acupuncture, and massage. Since I’ve also taken a more recent interest in running, I thought it would be fitting to check out OMBE’s Yoga for Runners class! (more…)

If there’s one thing I love as much as products, it’s England.  London is my favorite city in the world and I would totally move there if I could find the perfect job that paid enough for me not to have to live in like, a studio apartment the size of my bathroom.  (Have you guys ever been there?  London is expensive!)  I also have fond memories of hours spent browsing in Boots (sort of the British equivalent of CVS) and finding some amazing products that I haven’t been able to get in the US, so I have very fond memories of my time living there.  Which is why when I recently learned about Bamford Bath & Body – a product line made entirely in England, I couldn’t wait to try it. (more…)

As a makeup artist who is always trying to find more eco-friendly choices to work with, I’m hippy-happy about Austin-based, toxin-free eco-beauty brand W3LL PEOPLE Supernatural Cosmetics. It’s affordable, high-quality, revolutionary and recyclable … and oh yeah, super FUN to use!

The brainchild of cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Reneé Snyder, former NARS Cosmetics leader Shirley Pinkson and tree-hugging brand developer James Walker, this modest collection of makeup and skincare products lacks parabens, phthalates, artificial dyes, sulfates — all that nasty stuff. And with pomegranate extract, reishi mushroom and organic green tea, it’s packed with protective antioxidants (and smells a lot like nature)! Products come in stick and powder form, perfect for experimenting with color and finger-blending (Ah, to be a kid again … ). My fave so far: Narcissist Supernatural Foundation, $38, a mineral-derived cream foundation and concealer stick, and Universalist Supernatural Multi-stick for Eyes, Cheeks and Lips, $34, (inspired by NARS The Multiple, perhaps?).

Check them out in person at Marie Mason Apothecary, Ron Robinson’s Apothia Beauty, Planet Blue stores, Vert Los Angeles or at W3LL.com!

Beta carotene and organic fruits and vegetables; sounds healthy, right? While healthy eats and taking our vitamins and minerals are important for our health and well-being, they’re also important to maintain our oh-so-healthy glow, good looks, and outward appearance. Combine these ingredients with dead sea minerals, and you’ve got Yes To Carrots, a natural and affordable line of hair and skin products. (more…)

Have you heard about Ilha Organics? It’s a fantastic new line of organic skincare products from Karen Young, the creator of the home goods line Hammocks & High Tea. Ilha means island in Portuguese, and Karen was inspired by her roots in South America to develop this line. Her grandmother used to make amazing, all-natural skin care remedies right in their own kitchen! Using organic ingredients like calendula flowers, green tea leaves, and various essential oils, Karen has developed her own hand-blended body balms, massage oils, and soaks.

I tried a sample of the Flor Organic Body Balm, which I loved. Just smoothing a little bit on my legs, arms, and any dry spots seriously went a long way. The balm immediately softened under my fingers when I opened up the jar, so I didn’t need to apply that much. It’s incredibly moisturizing and soothing without leaving heavy or greasy residues, which some skin care products targeted at dry skin can do. I also enjoyed the warm, floral scent and the amber glass jar packaging, which was almost apothecary-esque. It would make a great gift or treat for yourself if you’ve got dry skin like me. For more info on Ilha Organics, check out hammocksandhightea.com.