eco-chic design

natural skincare made from unique New Zealand botanicals

Since I got to Auckland I’ve been amazed at the variety of natural skincare lines that are made in New Zealand. I’m not surprised since the landscape has been gorgeous. Living Nature’s website states that 80% of New Zealand’s plants can’t be found anywhere else in the world due to its geographical isolation for more than 80 million years. It’s these unique plants that go into the sustainable skincare, body care and cosmetic lines. 

I discovered the natural skincare line through Ecostore where I picked up Living Nature’s rescue gel made from Manuka oil and Manuka honey. My hope is that it’ll soothe my skin that has been breaking out thanks to the high humidity in Auckland. And I’m sure going from winter in NYC to summer in New Zealand didn’t help either. The packaging of the product is not only super-gorgeous with a black illustration of a Manuku flower but also 100% recyclable. It comes in a carton sourced from renewable forests and contains no toxins or chlorine bleach. All Living Nature’s products are paraben and synthetic preservative free. The sustainable skincare line contains only 100% natural ingredients, preservatives and fragrances and is certified by BDIH Germany to ensure the ingredients are safe. It’s comforting to know that the products are biodegradable since they are washed down the drain at the end of the day. Keep your fingers crossed that Living Nature’s rescue gel will help to soothe my skin as well as the planet.

give the gift of giving with a nature-inspired beauty pouch

After a super-soothing massage at my favorite eco-friendly spa in Manhattan I discovered these adorable pouches on my way out. Maybe I was too relaxed thanks to the amazing treatment at Pratima Ayurvedic Skincare Spa but I really loved the nature-inspired designs. I learned that Pratima created the Beauty in Giving Bag in collaboration with The Hunger Project. The eco-chic beauty pouch is made with 100% organic hemp and lined with 100% organic cotton. The graphic pattern uses water-based paints and is naturally dried in the sun. It’s designed by Valentine Viannay and personally hand-silk printed by the artist with the help from a local women-run business in San Diego. The design reflects the pure herbs, roots, and flowers of the Pratima products. Every pouch looks slightly different and 100% of the proceeds from each purchase go towards The Hunger Project Initiative in India.

Pratima Ayurvedic Skincare Spa is LEED-certified with a décor that includes natural cork, bamboo flooring, and flaxseed or hemp carpets. The walls are coated with non-toxic paint or natural earth clay. You can also buy the natural skincare line that uses botanicals from sustainable farms in the US and India. It’s chemical and preservative free. So far I only used the refreshing mint eye gel made of a botanical blend with organic Mint, Aloe, and Triphala but really like it. Since the stressful holidays are approaching quickly I might also try the calming organic bath salts soon. And take a deep breath.

hair care that's good for your body and the environment

Last weekend I finished a paper about toxins and personal care products for my studies in sustainable design. As part of my research I revisited Annie Leonard's story of cosmetics: the ugly truth of toxins in, toxins out. All her videos are so amazing. I can highly recommend them. The amount of toxins that we apply to our bodies on a daily basis is quite scary. To make matters worse we then wash them down the drain where they also enter our waterways. That’s why I love Avalon Organics since the company understands the relationship between beauty, health, and the environment.

All products by Avalon Organics are made without parabens, harsh preservatives, synthetic fragrances or artificial colors. Instead their ingredients include organic essential oils, organic plant oils and organic botanical extracts. Not only are they safe for your body but they also support sustainable agriculture. For a while now I’ve been using Avalon Organics hand & body lotion in lavender made with 70% organic content. I’m always bummed when my local Duane Reade runs out of them. Since I love to try new products that are organic or natural I’ve been testing the tea tree mint treatment conditioner as well. It comes in a gorgeously blue bottle, has a cooling effect and smells amazing. To be honest it was the smell that sealed the deal for me even that the awapuhi mango moisturizing conditioner would have been better for my hair type. I might try this one next.

eco-fabulous make-up bags from Australia

It’s always a nice surprise when the design of a product catches my eye first and then it turns out to be eco-friendly. That was the case with the sleek and sustainable make-up bags by Australian based company apple & bee at NYIGF last week. What I loved about the bags was their envelope shape so that they easily double as a purse. And multi-functionality is a big part of sustainable design. The make-up bags are made from 100% organic cotton, non-toxic plant dye, and lined with hemp. I love that they close with a zipper and a flap with a magnetic clasp. They are incredibly well made and come in 5 charming patterns. 

Apple & bee is a Sydney-based company founded by Brett Pattinson, the founder of the natural skincare line bod and designer Claire Morris, the former art director of Marie Claire. Their products combine everyday functionality with contemporary design that’s considerate of the environment. The entire line includes cosmetic, travel and baby bags made from materials like certified organic cotton, bamboo silk, hemp, and burlap/calico. The company is carbon neutral through the organization Climate Friendly. Apple & bee also created the Bee Foundation to support the study of Colony Collapse Disorder affecting honeybees that are needed to support crops and eco-systems. All this sounds pretty amazing to me. Now I just need to decide which eco-friendly make-up bag to get. After all a green life-style is all about being kind to the environment while being good to yourself, right?

go preservative-free with your skincare this summer

During the summer less is more when it comes to clothes and the same I true for skincare. While browsing Sephora’s natural and organic skincare section in search of a new eye cream I discovered Boscia’s enlivening Amino-AG eye treatment. I quickly realized over the next couple of weeks the benefits of using a lighter gel instead of my usual eye cream during the summer heat. Plus I love that it’s preservative-free and the sleek dispenser looks great. 

Boscia is a preservative-free and botanically-based skincare line founded by Kenji Ikemori. He noticed that the use of preservatives caused irritations in his wife’s skin. This led to the creation of Boscia in 1979 as one of the world’s first preservative-free skincare lines. The purpose of preservatives is mostly to extend the life of a product - sometimes up to 10 years. But nobody really uses their skincare products for so long if you use them daily. Every Boscia product has two main ingredients: organically-grown jojoba leaf that helps fight free radical damage caused by environmental factors and willow herb that calms skin irritated by harsh chemicals or stress. The latter I can certainly identify with on a daily basis. I love that Boscia’s manufacturing facilities are vertically integrated which cuts down on energy-consumption. Their factory contains 6 floors and the manufacturing process starts on the top and then moves down using gravity to assembly and distribution levels. It’s something to feel good about - inside and out.

sustainable skincare made with organic herbs and flowers

During my last visit to ABC home & planet I couldn’t resist to sample the Lavender Milk from Farmaesthetics since it smelled amazing. What initially attracted me though was the handcrafted yet super-chic look of the packaging. The design of the label seemed inspired by old recipes from grandma’s kitchen. It’s no surprise since the founder Brenda Brock grew up as the daughter of a 7th generation farming family from Texas. She first sold her handmade herbal skincare at an organic farm stand in rural Rhode Island.

All Farmaesthetics products are 100% natural made with certified organic herbs, flowers, oils & grains. The full line of 100% natural skincare products for face and body range from Nourishing Lavender Milk to Deep Lavender Rubs that bring relieve to upper respiratory tightness due to colds, allergies, stress or asthma. That’s certainly something I can use these days since allergy season is in full swing. I always like when a company considers the full life cycle of their products ranging from material extraction, manufacturing, shipping to disposal and their role in the community. Farmaesthetics was founded on the principles of sustainable agriculture and supports small U.S. family farms and organic growers. Shipping materials use recyclable or recycled boxes with minimal packaging. Thanks to the synthetic-free formulations and nonirritating qualities some products are donated to women’s oncology programs to help relieve difficult skin conditions. Knowing all this makes you feel good inside and out.

green beauty resolutions from Nature Girl

The best way to keep your green New Year’s resolutions might be to have a daily reminder to go green in your bathroom. Nature Girl’s natural and organic skin care line might just do that with names like “I Love Organic”, “Eco Chic”, or “Nature Groupie”. What initially attracted me to Nature Girl was the graffiti-style packaging designed by founder Nannette Pallround. It looks earthy yet hip and I love the stark contrast between the simple bottles and the handwritten feel of the type that reflects the diversity of nature. But most of all I love that Nature Girl’s lotions, scrubs and oils use organic and wildcrafted ingredients grown on small, family-run farms from all around the world. All Nature Girl products are 100% natural and at least half of them are 100% organic. None of them contain sulfates, phylates, dyes, parabens or any harmful man-made ingredients. Plus they don’t use any synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes or animal testing. This should make it pretty easy to stick to your New Year’s resolution to live green this year.

a positive outlook on natural beauty

It was refreshing to hear the chief carrot lover Ido Leffler from Yes To Carrots speak about the mission of his company at HBA’s green conference about business and beauty in New York last week. The opening speech for the lecture pointed out the difference between truly natural versus natural inspired beauty products and cautioned that naturalness is not the same as sustainability. 

Most of the Yes To Carrots products are naturally inspired except the Yes To Carrot lip care products that contain all-natural, 95% organic ingredients. The lip butters are paraben, petroleum and phthalate free and USDA certified. All other Yes To products are paraben free and combine organic fruits and vegetables with dead sea minerals. Depending on your skin type you can choose a complete line of skin and hair products from “Yes To Carrots”, “Yes To Tomatoes” or “Yes To Cucumbers”. What I love the most though is the company’s philosophy of celebrating optimism and a “yes to” attitude to life. It’s something our economy can certainly use these days and I appreciate the daily reminder in my bathroom to embrace positivity. Not only is the packaging recyclable with fun contemporary branding but also affordable which is something to smile about. In addition Yes To Carrots donates a portion of their profits to the Yes To Carrots Seed Fund that helps underprivileged communities to develop self-sustaining, organic food sources. Their humanitarian goal is that simple: when you say yes more often, you smile more often.

an organic summer detox

The organic eucalyptus sea therapy bath by 100% Pure was the closest I got to visiting the beach this weekend thanks to my summer cold. It’s certainly not how I envisioned my 4th of July weekend, but at least I was able to spend it in eco-modern style. 100% Pure is a Berkeley-based organic apothecary that produces skincare and makeup products without any synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, harsh detergents or any other unhealthy toxins. Instead they are 100% natural and 100% vegan except when there is honey involved.

100% Pure organic eucalyptus sea therapy bath is made with crystallized kelp from an organic seaweed farm in the Brittany Coast of France instead of ordinary sea salts. It contains 60 different minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids that replenish, nourish, detox and heal. Organic peppermint essential oil stimulates circulation and organic eucalyptus essential oil strengthens immunity and eases decongestion. The packaging looks as pure as the ingredients. It’s made from recycled plastic or glass and is completely recyclable. Another favorite of mine is the 100% Pure honey almond organic body scrub that’s full of powerful anti-aging antioxidants and vitamins. I never thought I could get a summer glow by staying at home. Other 100% Pure products include organic shower gels that look as vibrant as freshly pressed juices and color cosmetics made with fruit and vegetable pigments. Just reading the ingredients reminds me of my grocery list when I try to eat really, really healthy.

organic makeup from down under

Wouldn’t it be great to use a stylish lip gloss that’s as organic as the fruits or vegetables that you hopefully buy? After all you’re wearing it all day and you might digest more of it than you wish. NVEY ECO Lip Lustre is a certified organic moisturizing lip color and has no parabens, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals or phthalates. Instead it contains organic beeswax that has antibacterial and germicidal properties that protect while adding shine. In addition it’s enriched with orange essential oil that leaves a citrus flavor. It comes in many colors including Amour Rose, Cristal and Temptress that make green look sexy.

Australian company NVEY ECO (pronounced en-vay ee-coh) arrived in the US in 2006 and is the green child of its parent company NVEY Le Maquillage. The certified organic makeup line consists of a careful blend of plant and mineral ingredients as well as natural botanical extracts and antioxidants. In fact it’s certified organic by the Australian Government as well as the Organic Food Chain. The product line includes eye shadows, bronzers, foundations, lipsticks, and mascaras. I’ve to admit NVEY ECO is not only a truly organic cosmetics line but also a great escape from the economic gloom to eco-glam these days.