With Earth Day a mere week away, it's time to truly reflect on the different ways in which we can green our lifestyles. Since the Industrial Revolution, we've managed to pollute water resources, rip through the ozone layers, trigger perilous climate changes with our carbon emissions, accelerate the melting of the polar ice caps, ravage through rain forests, contribute to the extinction of countless animal species, and basically treat our planet like an old pair of pantyhose that can be discarded and replaced. At this point, environmentally sound practices aren't just advisable — they're imperative.
Even seemingly small gestures like supporting eco-friendly beauty and apparel lines can make an extraordinary difference so, with that in mind, here are some great Earth-loving products so you can embrace your inner green goddess.
I didn't think Kiehl's could top last year's Limited Edition Label Art Series collection, in which four celebrities (neo-soul singer Erykah Badu, Entourage star Adrian Grenier, pro surfer Kelly Slater, and a collective of students from Parsons The New School Of Design) designed labels for the 16 oz. Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion. Sure this line of reasoning can mainly be attributed to my complete obsession with the Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion, as opposed to it being based on the artwork that defined that collection. Truth be told, the new Limited Edition Label Art Series surpasses the high standard set by its predecessor, with original artwork that's intriguing, incisive, and pregnant with insights about the need for environmental activism.
This time around, Kiehl's enlisted actress Julianne Moore, hip-hop producer/rapper Pharrell Williams, model/surfer Malia Jones, and artist Jeff Koons to design labels that reflected their vision of living in a socially responsible manner. The artwork was then used to give Kiehl's Açai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist an Earth Day-ready face lift. All the proceeds from the sale of the Limited Edition Açai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist benefit the Rainforest Alliance. As far as the skincare product selected for the series, the choice is superb given that the star ingredient in the toning mist is organic açai berry from the Brazilian Amazon, a superfruit so packed with antioxidants that it can help to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, protect the skin from free radical damage, tighten pores, even skin tone, and brighten the complexion. The Açai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist also features soothing, hydrating aloe vera and lavender, which reduces inflammation and irritation.
I love the Jeff Koons label, which features the letters "A" and "C" (which reference açai) against a sky blue backdrop, with a festive floral bouquet placed between them so that the buds practically caress the top of each letter.
Kiehl's Limited Edition Label Art Series Açai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist, $26. Visit Kiehls.com
Since founding Nahui Ollin in 2003, designer/entrepreneur Olga Abadi has been working alongside artisans in Mexico to produce a vast array of handbag styles made from recycled candy wrappers. From clutches to satchels, messenger bags, totes, top handle purses, wristlets, duffel bags, and funky accessories, these handmade goodies come in festive, piñata-esque multi-color schemes, as well as basic hues like red, black, white, and silver. This roomy number features a double leather handle and measures 5" in height, 9.5" in length, and 6" in width. It's sweeter than candy!
Nahui Ollin "ER" bag, $228. Available at NahuiOllin.com
Caldrea, the home fragrance line that relies on natural essential oils and plant-based ingredients to create pleasant scents with aromatherapy benefits, has just unveiled the Caldrea Essential Collection, a Target exclusive. The collection consists of eco-friendly hand care sets, scented candles (from pillar candles to votive sets and signature candles in beautifully decorated glass containers), reed diffusers, and home fragrance sprays — all available in five distinct scents: Water Lily, White Birch, Pomegranate Fig, Cypress Sage, and Citron Ginger. I am now completely smitten with the Water Lily Signature Candle. Made of vegetable wax and featuring a paper core wick, the candle includes watery jasmine and cedarleaf essential oils that fill your home with a romantic floral aroma. I love the dewiness of the scent, how it feels like you're walking by a pond surrounded by fresh, plum blooms.
Caldrea Essential Collection Water Lily Signature Candle, $14.99. Available at Target stores.
Made of recycled foam and rubber flip-flops, these GAIAM Flip-Flop Doormats ensure that your choice of beach footwear doesn't wind up in a landfill, exacerbating our waste disposal crisis. With their beachy and even rustic charm, these doormats can liven up any threshold.
GAIAM Flip-Flop Doormat, $32 for small mat and $46 for large mat. Available at Gaiam.com
Even if you try to avoid printing out e-mails and documents so as to save some trees, you more than likely have a stack of bills or important documents in your home or office. Need to keep them from flying all over the place? Use a paperweight, silly! Even better, choose a paperweight from the Rock of Ages Press "Heart & Souls" line. Made of repurposed leather scraps, each of these paperweights features a motto or slogan — among them "Save the Planet," "Love is My Religion," and "Heaven Is With You." Hey, even your paperwork could use love!
Rock of Ages Heart & Soul "Save The Planet" Paperweight, $24. Visit ROApress.com
In March, H&M added skincare to its repertoire, introducing a range of organic shower gels, hand creams, body lotions, body scrubs, and lip balms. All the products are certified organic by Ecocert, so you know their claims of being organic are legit. Two fragrance options are available: Lavender & Mint and Raspberry & Mint. Since I have a personal distaste for lavender (I know, it's a weird idiosyncrasy), I steered clear of that scent and went straight for the Raspberry & Melon products. The Raspberry & Melon Shower Gel is gentle, making it a good choice for people with sensitive skin. The natural fragrance is extremely subtle so that, while you can detect the raspberry scent, it's very soft and ephemeral (the melon note, meanwhile, is barely noticeable at all). The Raspberry & Melon Body Lotion, meanwhile, features hydrating sunflower seed oil and organic apple juice to hydrate and brighten the skin. Granted, you may not be as floored by the performance of these products as you would be by that of higher-end skincare goodies, but at under $5 each, they're a steal.
H&M Ecocert Raspberry & Melon Body Lotion, $4.95; Raspberry & Melon Hand Cream, $4.95; Raspberry & Melon Body Scrub, $4.95; and Raspberry & Melon Lip Balm, $4.95. Available at H&M stores.
When the KAA Design Group conceived of HOM Escape in Style, they hoped to create prefab dwellings, furniture, lighting, and home accessories made using eco-friendly materials and produced through ecologically sound means. Side note: I love the name HOM since it reminds me of the "om" you'd make during a meditative chant as well as the word "home." But back to the HOM story: since launching at the 2008 Dwell on Design show in Los Angeles, HOM Escape in Style has been earning kudos for its innovative integration of rural and contemporary motifs through designs that the illusion of a rustic retreat (hence the "escape in style" tag) and yet showcase a modern aesthetic sensibility. Designed by the KAA Group and manufactured by the Cisco Brothers, their furniture pieces (such as the "Darri" side table and "WIMA modular chaise pictured above) are fabricated using FSC certified wood and natural, non-toxic, sustainable materials and are manufactured in a controlled factory environment that minimizes waste. Additionally, HOM Escape in Style is a member of the 1% for the Planet organization, which encourages companies to donate 1% of their yearly revenue to environmental organizations. HOM, then, donates its 1% to FOLAR (Friends of the Los Angeles River). Try making your use feel like a home with HOM.
HOM Escape in Style by Cisco Brothers WIMA Modular Chaise, $3600; and HOM Escape in Style Darri Side Table, $780. Visit HOMLifestyle.com
The newest addition to Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless line is this softening hand cream, which includes antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract to protect your mitts from free radicals, shea butter, sunflower seed oil, and olive oil to moisturize and soften skin, and lactic acid to even skin tone (which means you can reduce the appearance of any age spots or sun spots). The 99.1% natural formula is easily and quickly absorbed, smoothing and softening hands without creating any greasy mess.
Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Skin Smoothing Hand Cream, $13. Available at BurtsBees.com
I'm absolutely loving this new initiative between Yak Pak and TerraCycle. Together, the two companies have taken 12,000 feet of vinyl material originally used in billboard advertisements and converted it into Yak Pak handbags in an assortment of styles -- from backpacks to messenger bags, totes, laptop sleeves, and wallets. And since each of these sturdy, water-resistant bags is made from a different cut of a billboard (and since so many different billboards designs were used), no two bags are exactly the same. Each recycled billboard bag, then, is a one-of-a-kind piece of art constructed from a former work of art.
Yak Pak Billboard Bags, less than $35 (prices vary depending on handbag style). Available at national retailers like Best Buy and Urban Outfitters. Visit YakPak.com for more details.
Who thought a cardboard box that once harbored bags upon bags of Skittles would be given a second life as a pair of plug-an-play speakers? Fashionation did! These eco-friendly speakers are made of recycled candy boxes and are shaped to resemble a mini boombox for an extra kitsch-y feel.
Fashionation Candy Wrapper Boombox Speakers, $19.99. Visit MerkuryInnovations.com
Now here's a novel idea: living jewelry. Grace Martinelli, owner of the new Brooklyn floral boutique Graceful Gardens, recently started making and selling these pendants in her store. A seasoned florist and horticulturalist, Martinelli thought of how charming it would be to create wearable trinkets that would create a sense of harmony between man and his environment. These ribbon necklaces then, feature miniature glass vials packed with moss and topped with a cork, so you can carry a piece of very own secret garden around your neck.
Graceful Gardens Moss Pendant, $15. Available at Graceful Gardens in Brooklyn, NY. Visit GracefulGardensNYC.com for more information.
Smurf yourself a grin with this vintage-looking burn-out thermal top from Junk Food Clothing, which features a retro image of Smurfette frolicking through a field, with a butterfly propped on one hand and flowers beneath her feet.
Junk Food Smurfette Nature Lover Thermal Top, $42.50. Available at JunkFoodClothing.com
Back in 2001-2002, I was fresh out of college and entering the print publishing world via an entry-level editorial gig at In Style. At that time, Harvey's seatbelt bags were all the rage, with their basket-like construction. After a few years, however, many started wondering if Harvey's would be a flash in the pan — after all, how many different handbag design options can be created from recycled seatbelts? Well, apparently, quite a few. If you're tired of seeing the interwoven seatbelt pattern, test drive a bag made using another technique. Personally, I love the simplicity of the Harvey's Minnie Wristlet & Coin Purse pictured above. Made of recycled seatbelt straps woven together, this small bag measured 6.5" in length and 3.5" in height and features a top-zip closure and an 11" chrome chain strap. Fasten your seatbelt bag!
Harvey's Minnie Wristlet & Coin Purse, $38. Available at SeatbeltBags.com
This pomegranate-based line is latest addition to the Weleda family and consists of a hand cream, body oil, and body wash. I've tried all three products, but my favorite is the Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash, which relies on antioxidant-rich organic pomegranate seed oil to provide free radical protection and help to correct existing damage by stimulating the cell renewal process, as well as macadamia seed oil to hydrate your bod, and blood orange and neroli essential oils to create an energizing bathing experience through the use of light citrus notes.
Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Hand Cream, $12.50; Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil, $28; and Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash, $18. Available at USA.Weleda.com
Are you proud of your environmentally activism? Then go spread the green gospel in style with this slouchy GAIAM "I Heart Earth" tote, made of 100% cotton and measuring 19" in width and 14" in height. The three handy exterior cargo pockets make it easy to stay organized throughout the day and add a bit of an urban twist.
GAIAM "I Heart Earth" Tote, $40 (on sale for $16.99). Available at GAIAM.com
As any mother knows, babies have extremely delicate, sensitive skin that should not come in contact with the harsh chemicals used in so many body washes, lotions, soaps, shampoos, and other body care products. That's precisely why California Baby founder Jessica Iclisoy created her brand of all-natural, paraben- and sulfate-free baby products, which has now reached cult favorite status. My son loves the Light & Happy Aromatherapy Bubble Bath pictured above, which includes ingredients like: pink grapefruit, tangerine and sweet orange oils, which together create an invigorating citrus scent; a mix of yucca and soapbark that helps bubbles emerge in running water; and soothing, moisturizing botanicals like rosewater and aloe vera. My only caveat: since it doesn't include the chemical bubbling agents found in, say, a Mr. Bubbles bottle, this product doesn't produce the bountiful suds you traditionally associate with a bubble bath. Sure, you can stir the water as you fill the tub and help the bubbling process along, but you still aren't likely to see too many bubbles arise. Nevertheless, it's a gentle, non-irritating, and pleasant bath for babies, toddlers, and bigger kids alike.
California Baby Light & Happy Aromatherapy Bubble Bath, $13.99. Available at CaliforniaBaby.com
Latinos, want to be a part of the eco-friendly movement? Then support the cause with this "Go Green (Vaya Verde)" T-shirt from KC Los Angeles. This organic cotton tee's design says it all -- just like with a traffic light, we need to "go" when it comes to all things green. An extra incentive to buy this tee: for every piece sold, KC Los Angeles will donate 15% of the proceeds to Global Green USA.
KC Los Angeles "Go Green (Vaya Verde)" Tee, $30. Visit KCLosAngeles.com
I've raved about Amala Beauty in the past, a skincare line that utilizes only sustainably cultivated, custom distilled, whole plant ingredients. Since I have dry skin and I'm obsessed with keeping any wrinkles and aging signs at bay, I've mainly tested the products in Amala's Hydrate and Rejuvenate lines. But, given that the weather is changing so dramatically this spring (it's 50 degrees one day and 80 degrees the next here in New York), my skin has been going loopy on me and producing more oil than usual. I decided, then, that it was time to give some of the Amala Purify products, meant to restore balance and clarity to the complexion. The all-star product in this range is the Purify Gel Cleanser, which features blue lotus, white clay and green tea to unclog pores and eliminate oil build-up. The cleanser also features orange peel oil, lemon oil, and ginger extract, which give the cleanser a refreshing, lemon-y scent. I should warn you though: the cleanser's consistency might take some getting used to — its yellowish brown color and gel-like consistency might gross you out (it reminded me of phlegm at first, which isn't a pleasant mental reference). But the pleasant citrus scent will win you over and, once you apply it onto your skin and start seeing its luster restored, any reservations you have will vanish.
Amala Beauty Purify Gel Cleanser, $30 for 50ml and $48 for 200ml; Amala Beauty Purifying Clay Mask, $58 for 50ml and $116 for 150ml; and Amala Beauty Purifying Blemish Treatment, $32. Visit AmalaBeauty.com
This cheeky eco tote from Rock of Ages Press is made of 80% organic cotton and 20% recycled plastic bottles and features a clever spin on the "God Save The Queen" motifs (in this case, the message along the bottom of the tote reads "God Save the Queen. God Save the Green"), with a reinvented British flag featuring green hues and a recycle symbol along the center.
Rock of Ages Press "God Save The Green" Eco Tote. Visit ROAPress.com
