Who doesn't love a good party, right? We decided a 24-hour Earth Day celebration wouldn't suffice, so we kicked off our environmentally sound festivities last week, with a comprehensive guide to some of the best green fashion and beauty finds. Now, with Earth Day only a day away, we're in full-fledged party monster mode. Here, we bring you a run-down of how to green your lifestyle by investing in goodies like recycled jewelry, organic cotton t-shirts, all-natural eyeshadow palettes, vegan shoes, and botanical skincare and haircare products.
This Earth Day, go green or go home!
Hands Up Not Handouts "Urukundo" Collection Earrings, $50 each. Available at HandsUpNotHandouts.com
Handmade in Rwanda, these coiled earrings were made using the traditional sweet grass basket weaving technique. By partnering with women in Rwanda and creating a global business model through which they can sell their handcrafted goods, Hands Up Not Handouts provides these women with a means for economic empowerment. Plus, since no factories and chemical processes are involved in the manufacturing process, these earrings represent an eco-friendly alternative for lovers of bold and vibrant jewelry.
Freestyle USA April 20x10 Special Edition Watch, $60. Visit FreestyleUSA.com for store information.
The latest installment in Freestyle's 20x10 special edition watch series features an eco-friendly band made of unprocessed, chemical-free and biodegradable jute, hemp, cotton and linen fibers. Features include two alarms, a heat timer, water resistance (up to 100 meters), and a night vision backlight display option. Only 500 pieces are available worldwide.
Kamik "Janis" and "Willow" Rain Boots, $59.95 each. Available at Zappos.com
These rain boots from Canadian company Kamik add a dose of sunshine to even the grimmest of days. The "Janis" boots (pictured at top) boast a trippy floral design, with each bloom's petals featuring kaleidoscopic color patterns. The "Willow" boots, meanwhile, feature swooping swirls of color reminiscent of an abstract watercolor painting. So how are these an eco-conscious investment? Well, Kamik boots are 100% recyclable, and the company even offers customers its own recycling program — all they have to do is send in their used boots to the address provided on the Kamik website.
Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Day Cream, $48, and Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkling Night Cream, $52. Available at Sephora.com
Korres never ceases to amaze me, and its Quercetin & Oak anti-aging creams are no exception. Studies suggest that quercetin, an oak-derived flavonoid, boasts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but Korres researchers have also found that it can effectively increase the life span of skin cells, hence acting like an essential anti-aging ingredient. The Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Day Cream includes 85.9% natural ingredients — among them shea butter, sweet almond and hazelnut oil, as well as mourera fluviatilis extract, which regulates the skin's hydration levels so that you can receive moisturizing infusions throughout the day. The Korres Quercetin & Oak Antiageing & Antiwrinkle Night Cream, meanwhile, includes 96.3% natural ingredients — among them skin-nourishing pomegranate, jojoba, and grape oils. I've been using these for several weeks and have already noticed my skin appearing softer, smoother, and firmer.
Amanda Pearl BeadForLife Necklace, $348. Available at AmandaPearl.com
This colorful necklace features eight strands of beads made from recycled paper. The necklace itself is a collaboration between jewelry and accessories brand Amanda Pearl and the non-profit organization BeadForLife, which provides work opportunities for women in Uganda by creating an outlet through which they can sell these handcrafted beaded necklaces. In addition to paying these local artisans fair wages for their labor, BeadForLife ensures that all jewelry proceeds benefit vocational training, health programs, and affordable housing projects within these impoverished communities.
Hammocks & High Tea Placemats, $96 for set of four. Available at HammocksAndHighTea.com
Green your dinner table with these 100% organic cotton canvas placemats from Hammocs & High Tea, which feature prints inspired by the South American landscape, culture, and history in which founder Karen Young immersed herself as a child. Each mat measures 14" x 19" and is printed using non-toxic inks.
Recycled Effen Vodka "Surgeon General" Earrings, $39, and Recycled Neodrop Earrings, $39. Available at ElegantRoots.com
One man's trash is another woman's treasure — and who knows this better than Chicago-based artist Melissa Kolbusz, who creates funky jewelry from recycled industrial surplus? The first pair was fashioned using recycled Effen vodka labels (hence the surgeon general warning, which is printed in black against the white backdrop) and surplus steel. The second pair, meanwhile, was made out of recycled neoprene, surplus steel wire, and discarded steel springs. Since each pair of earrings was meticulously crafted by hand, no two are exactly alike.
Tarte Flower Child Natural Eyeshadow Palette, $44. Available at Sephora.com
This has to be one of my favorite Tarte eyeshadow palettes to date (second only to the Femme Fatale, which has to be my all-star pick from the brand). Designed by environmentally active makeup artist Tina Turnbow, this limited edition number features 10 shades inspired by spring blooms and natural landscapes: Shimmering Soft Daffodil, Shimmering Ecru Hibiscus, Shimmering Pink Peony, Shimmering Gray Periwinkle, Shimmering Peach Tulip, Shimmering Firewheel, Matte Buttercup, Shimmering African Violet, Shimmering Delphinium Blue, and Shimmering Vibrant Forest Grass.
Josie Maran Argan Primer Mist, $36. Available at Sephora.com
Argan oil has practically miraculous hydrating, nourishing properties, which is why everyone from Moroccanoil to Kiehl's ad True Blue Spa have been relying on this ingredient for their skincare and haircare offerings. Following up on the success of her Argan Oil and Bronzing Argan Oil, Josie Maran just unveiled her Argan Primer Mist, a lightweight spray that smooths existing lines and wrinkles and keeps skin hydrate throughout the day.
LIV GRN Crop Zebra Tee, $49. Available at ShopKitson.com
Think about all those tees and tank top in your dresser or bureau, pieces you use when layering or when you're just going for a casual, laid-back look. Now think about how of a difference you could make by simply filling you dresser's drawers with eco-friendly pieces like this 100% organic cotton V-neck tee from LIV GRN. This simple cropped tee features black-and-green, zebra-print block lettering, a piece symbol along the top of the "R" letter and, of course, the brand's ladybug logo, which references the fragile state of our planet.
Lavanila The Healthy Candle, $19.60. Available at Lavanila.com
Dilemma: you love lighting candles. You love watching their wicks' flames dancing in a darkened room. You love breathing in the scent being emanated into the air. But you loathe the thought of releasing pollutants into the air that might just rip another hole into the ozone layer. Well, here's your solution: invest in one of Lavanila's 100% natural beeswax candles, which steer clear of petroleum-based paraffin, one of the major sources of indoor air pollution (and a common ingredient in most candles). Scented with essential oils, these candles are available in four scents: Pure Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, Vanilla Lavender, and Vanilla Grapefruit.
Nature's Gate Organics Asian Pear & Red Tea Shampoo and Conditioner, $7.99 each. Available at Natures-Gate.com
I'm a longtime fan of Nature's Gate's haircare and skincare products, but I have to admit that their scents haven't always effectively wooed me. But with the new Nature's Gate Organics Asian Pear & Red Tea scent, I've opened up a whole new chapter in my history with the brand. The pear scent is youthful and fresh, and the red tea notes give it an unexpected kick, an exotic tanginess. The Asian Pear & Red Tea Shampoo and Conditioner are particularly beneficial for those with dry and color-treated hair since the formula includes a high concentration of sunflower seed extract, which helps to repair existing damage and prevent color from fading away (a result of both exposure to the sun's UV rays and to shampooing).
EDUN Live Tee Designed by Summer Rayne Oakes, $39. Available at Yoox.com
Model, nature lover, and environmental activist Summer Rayne Oakes designed the insect print on this EDUN Live T-shirt alongside fellow catwalk queens Angela Lindvall and Elletra Wiedmann. Each 100% organic cotton tee features two beetles engaged in combat, a motif Oakes said was inspired by her appreciation for the insect world (yes, y'all, she loves bug business). Part of Yooxygen's ever.green series, these tees are available for a limited time only.
Mrs. Meyer' Clean Day Baby Blossom Bubble Bath, $9.99. Available at MrsMeyers.com
This bubble bath formula is gentle enough for a tot's sensitive skin, with an organic formula that includes: moisturizing apricot kernel oil, olive oil, and glycerin; energizing orange peel oil and lemon peel oil; soothing aloe extract; and anti-inflammatory honeysuckle extract.
TOMS Grey Haas and Earle shoes, $54 each. Available shortly at TOMS.com
In addition to ensuring that its manufacturing process leaves a minimal carbon footprint, TOMS is going the extra mile by expanding its range of vegan footwear styles (i.e. shoes made with absolutely no animal by-products). The brand's "Cultural Anthropology" line, hitting stores for summer, includes these two vegan numbers: the Grey Haas, a simple striped number, and the Earle, which features a tag-like print over a pale, plaid-like backdrop.
Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment, $21 for 3.5 oz. Available at Ojon.com
Throughout the month of April, Ojon will donate 10% of the proceeds from the sale of its Restorative Hair Treatment to the Rainforest Alliance. That means you can treat your hair to to a superbly hydrating, softening treatment featuring Ojon oil harvested by hand in the Mosquita region of Honduras and help conserve our planet's biodiversity.
Boots Hawaiian Islands Pomegranate & Avocado Shower Gel, $6.99. Available at Target stores. Visit Target.com for more details.
Imagine sinking your teeth into a plump pomegranate, letting its juices trickle down your lips a bit, the intoxicating tropical smell tickling your nose. Now imagine if you could take that scent and bottle it so that, every time you took a shower, you could recapture that sensory experience and be transported to a palm-tree lined island. That's precisely what you can do with this Hawaiian Island Pomegranate & Avocado Shower Gel, which includes moisturizing organic avocado oil and antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract.
