So, now they’re telling us it’s longer good enough to use sunscreen alone…even a really good fancy expensive one.  You have to wear an antioxidant if you want to help fight against harmful UVA/UVB rays. Recent studies have shown that pairing an antioxidant with a sunscreen significantly decreases UV damage when compared to just wearing sunscreen alone. I know, I know…I thought putting on sunscreen was asking a lot but we gotta do what we gotta do…

A pea sized dollop of AVALON ORGANICS VITAMIN C VITALITY FACIAL SERUM worn under your sunscreen should help fortify the barrier. And here’s a bonus, not only will the VITAMIN C SERUM help fight free radicals and fortify that barrier against harmful UV rays but it will also help brighten and tone your skin. AVALON ORGANICS VITAMIN C SERUM is super lightweight, non-greasy, and super yummy.  And as with all GWG beauty picks it’s organic and 100% vegetarian. Not too shabby. – VRP

With The (Eco) Beauty Biz, celebrity hairstylist & make up artist, Vanessa Rose Price, schools us all about sustainable make up, hair and skin care .  Not only does she tame those famous Justin Bieber locks (along with a scrolling list of other celebs), but Vanessa kindly takes time out of her ridiculously jet-settery schedule to bring us “Eco” beauty tid bits along the way.

We’re stepping it up, People!  As our retail big sister, Green With Glamour, grows and grows… we’re keeping in stride as any younger sibling might.   We’ll still be bringing you major, eco-chic bargains, letting you in on fantastic “green” design finds and ooh-ing & ahh-ing over all amazing things vegetarian and vegan, but now you’ll be getting more than just our 2 cents.  We’ve enlisted some serious (& delightful) experts to cover what you love!

Meet our new (& seriously stylish) team:

Celebrity hairstylist & make up artist, Vanessa Rose Price, will be schooling us all about sustainable make up, hair and skin care with The (Eco) Beauty Biz.  Not only does she tame those famous Justin Bieber locks (along with a scrolling list of other celebs), but Vanessa will be taking time out of her ridiculously jet-settery schedule to bring us “eco” beauty tid bits along the way.

Vanessa Price

Switching gears from the fast-paced hullabaloo to the bucolic countryside, comes our new foodie team, Abby Lutz and Shane Walsh.   A clothing designer and photographer respectively, this couple traded in their edgy Brooklyn address for a bit of paradise on a farm in rural Vermont.  With a slower paced life now (though they still both work and turn out insanely gifted work), Abby and Shane have found themselves lingering in the garden and creating in the kitchen.  The result?  Mouth-watering, inventive concoctions crafted from the very food they grow.  Whatever is ready to be picked is what goes on the plate…  the very reason why they are The Accidental Gourmands.

Abby Lutz & Shane Walsh

And from the moment I met writer Tiffany Romigh in her well-appointed home in the Hollywood Hills, it was obvious that she was a woman of style.  Seamlessly fusing Street Art with French antiques, bold pop colors with delicate metallics, Tiffany has a knack for merging genres and mediums – and boredom is her enemy.  Never one to ask others to do what she can, Tiffany rolls up her sleeves and dives right in – whatever the task might be!  Having recently relocated to Austin, TX… she’s now faced with a whole new house to grace with her good taste – and a whole new city to explore.  With Chic Re-do, Tiffany shows us how turn the simple into the sublime and the unexpected into the unbelievable!

Tiffany Romigh

Professional TV producer (and semi-pro shopper), Katie Vaughan, has traveled many, many miles and shopped her way across multiple countries in her young life.  And though her career is a demanding one, she always manages to find time to take several trips a year, snagging chic (and sometimes hilarious) thrift store finds all along the way.  By writing 2nd Hand Spotlight, Katie will be sharing with us her favorite vintage shops, thrift stores, flea markets and hidden shopping spots… and maybe she’ll even explain what possessed her to get those metallic high tops!

Katie Vaughan

Of course, I’m still here… wrangling stories from the inspirational, unique and supremely talented bunch above!  I’ll also still be covering divine architecture (both old and new) and must have interior design pieces (as some of you know… I’m an Interior Designer by trade).  On top of that, I’m writing a  new piece called Green Goodie Review. With it I explore great, sustainable finds that are exceptional and moderately priced (under $25).  Everything from brilliant hostess gifts to vegan dog treats to organic room sprays.  Stay tuned… it’s going to get fun!

Deana Bracken (pictured with very understanding husband, Nadim)

Read on, Friends!

So a few months back, we reviewed a line of Bamboo Eco brushes by Spornette International – raves from our beauty editor!  And now, as Summer winds down and we’re headed back from vacation, back to school, etc., we think it’s the perfect time to GIVEAWAY 3 wonderful, high quality ZHU hair brushes by Spornette ($60 value)!  UPDATE: Spornette International is adding an additional paddle brush (worth another $15 – total value $75)!!!

ZHU II #2260

ZHU 2115                                                     ZHU 2110

What you get:

ZHU 2115 – Small round with bamboo handle, boar & ionic nylon bristles and tourmaline-coated barrel (to moisturize your hair as you use)

ZHU 2110 – Large aerator with bamboo handle, ionic nylon bristles and tourmaline-coated barrel

ZHU II 2260 – Large round with bamboo & cork handle, boar bristles

LEAVE A COMMENT and your automatically entered to win!

With the sun burning bright this month… We thought nothing seemed like a better giveaway than KID SAFE SUNSCREEN by Marie Veronique Organics ($24 value)!  GWG’s Beauty Editor, Sara Jones-Rust, schools us as to why it’s an eco-chic must for you & your beloved little ones:

There has been a lot of talk about sunscreens and their safety lately. It seems I don’t go a day without an email or a Facebook post about nanoparticles, which are being shown to destroy DNA in studies on mice, or the photocarcinogenic properties of Vitamin A.  It’s a scary thing to realize that what we’ve all been slathering on our largest organ to keep from getting skin cancer or looking 20 years older than we really are, might actually be making the situation worse.

But chucking the SPF is not the answer. Clearly, making smart decisions, like staying out of the mid-afternoon sun and rocking a sun hat are good decisions. But let’s not give up our days at the beach or afternoon’s spent poolside. Summer is too short, as is life.

The Environmental Working Group, a watch dog group who has a lot of great articles on their site about sun and sunscreen safety, has a few handy-dandy lists of the best and safest sunscreens for Beach & Sport, Daily Moisturizers and Lip Balm. So all your bases are still covered.

In fact, our friends at Marie Veronique Organics, consistently rank at the top of their list for SPF Moisturizers and they want to share with our lovely Living Green With Glamour readers! More on that in a minute. They have a new product out called “Kid Safe Screen” that protects from those nasty UVA/UVB rays and contains non-micronized zinc oxide, which is “a physical sun block that reflects UV rays without releasing wrinkle and cancer-causing free radicals.” Perfect protection for both you and the little ones. Plus it’s highly absorbable and won’t leave your skin with a chalky white film, which would just be tragic against that new black bikini.

So now to the good stuff – the GIVEAWAY!  Leave a comment below and we’ll pick one lucky lad or lady to receive a complimentary bottle of Marie Veronique Organic’s  Kid Safe Sunscreen (a $24 value). Bon Chance!

About a month ago I was introduced to Marie Veronique Organics and I’ve been using their four step facial regiment ever since. The first word that comes to me when trying to describe this natural skin care line is simply – lovely. The products look lovely, smell lovely and make my skin look and feel, you got it, lovely.

First of all, they come in charming brown glass bottles that make you feel like you had an age-defying potion especially mixed up at an old-timey apothecary. And they are oh-so attractive in the medicine chest (if you’re the type of person who likes the inside of their cabinets to look good – which I am.)

Cleanse – I have been using the ‘Gentle Cleanser.” It smells fresh and leaves your skin feeling soft and not at all dry. It has a base of green and white teas and is infused with spirulina, so it’s a nice shade of green. I do recommend using an eye make up remover if you don’t already.

Hydrate – The “Anti-Aging Mist” smells so nice that I always have to force myself to stop spritzing the intoxicating concoction of tea, flower extracts and essential oils on my face.

Replenish – I wasn’t sure how I would feel about using an oil instead of my typical cream based moisturizer, but the “Anti-Aging Oil +” is just spectacular. This is not just any old oil, it is a complicated mixture of many natural oils that combine for maximum moisturize-ation, without grease-ification. And it’s completely free of any toxins, just as all MVO products are.

Protect – The sunscreen doubles as a tinted moisturizer. The “Moisturizing Face Screen +” is SPF 30 and the light scent doesn’t cling to your skin like some SPF moisturizers. I used the medium tint, which I would typically think would be too dark for me, but this blended beautifully with my skin tone and did a great job of evening out my pink spots.

I would highly recommend checking out these and other MVO products, for healthy and naturally lovely skin.

I believe I’ve mentioned my feelings on fragrance on this blog before – I like hate it in my cosmetics, unless it’s very subtle and dissipates quickly. I do, however, enjoy the occasional spritz of perfect perfume, but it has to be light and never synthetic. I prefer Earthy scents over flowery or fruity, but nothing too reminiscent of a Grateful Dead show.

I have been loving the “Lotus Bamboo” scent from Acorelle. After all, who does fragrance better than the French? All of Acorelle’s scents have an impressive 90% organic ingredients. They are made out of flower water, essential oils and natural extracts.

Even the perfumes with more of a food-centric note, which I typically don’t care for, such as the “Wheat Almond”

or “Citrus Verbena” went on light and blended nicely with my natural scent. I wasn’t reminded of baking in the slightest.

The best thing about this line of natural perfume is its subtly. There is no chance of overpowering your carpool mates or leaving your smell on anyone you might happen to hug, like a dog marking its territory.

Let whatever fragrance you pick compliment your style, enhance your essence. It should not be the only impression you leave behind.

Get your preferred Acorelle scent HERE!

Play it Neutral – Go with Starry Trail Violet and dress up a neutral nail with a bit of shimmer.

Rock it Out - Chelsea Star is the perfect shade for those hot summer nights, preferably spent dancing your cares away.

Much of the country is in the home stretch of winter, which is putting on quite the finale show, I hear. I am spoiled with Los Angeles weather now, but I’m a Midwestern girl and so I know when it snows as much as it has lately the harsh, dry conditions wreak havoc on your face and skin. Here are a few at home remedies for keeping it soft and supple over these last few weeks of winter.

I like to keep my DIY beauty products under four ingredients and made of only things that can be found at the local grocery store. I’m sure orange flower water is lovely, but where am I going to get that on a Sunday at 9 p.m.? Also, it’s probably going to be pricey. Keeping it simple is key.

Cleanse – Pine Nut Scrub – Exfoliates while moisturizing.

Throw a 1/2 cup of pine nuts in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of light oil. Grind them up until they are a fine paste. Apply to face, arms, legs, whatever spot needs a little TLC. Rinse and pat dry.

Balance – Madzoon Facial Mask – Restores skin’s natural protective properties.

Spread a 1/4 cup of organic, plain yogurt over your skin, relax for 20 minutes and then rise off with warm water. Seriously – that’s it.

Moisturize – Essential Oil

Making your own moisturizer is not easy, a lot of things go into those creams we depend on. That’s why they have such a hefty price tag. But when I’m feeling like simplifying as much as possible I do keep a bottle of almond oil in my medicine cabinet (jojoba works great too). It’s a wonderful moisturizer and the scent hints at baking without being too overpowering.

Treat Yourself – Greta Garbo Bath – You just saved a bunch of money on beauty products and did your tired winter skin a favor, you deserve it.

Tie 3 chamomile tea bags around the faucet of your tub and then draw yourself a hot bath. Before hopping in, toss 3 sliced oranges into the water. Commence relaxation and aromatherapy.

Voila! A beauty routine change up for the winter months. Try it for a week and then go back to your tried and true. It never hurts to spice things up a bit.

All recipes above were adapted from “Natural Beauty for All Seasons” by Janice Cox

Valentines day gifts can really, well…suck. Roses? Yawn. Little boxes full of waxy, nearly inedible mounds of chocolate. Ew. Cheesy teddy bears holding a heart that you are going to do what with? Come on! It’s time we all stepped up our game. The best gifts are experiences or things that add to an experience.

After a nice evening out, or home cooked dinner, how about drawing a nice bath for you and your special someone. Embellishments are endless. Create some mood lighting with Pacifica’s soy candles. The sexy smelling Bourbon Island Vanilla will put you both in the right state of mind. Speaking of states of wine…I mean mind. Domaine Carneros’s Brut Cuvee Sparkling Wine is certified organic and will add the perfect amount of bubbles to your bath.

Now let’s get back to the issue of chocolate. I love it. That’s why I know when it’s done badly and it often is. Voges Haut Chocolat, however, does it very very well. Their organic peanut butter bonbons will forever turn you off the common drug store peanut butter cup. Upgrade.

Voges Haut organic peanut butter bon bons!

PI Organic makes lovely little things to compliment any body type. And the Red Love boy shorts by A Lot To Say are the perfect underthings for the jeans and t-shirt kind of girl (available at the Green With Glamour online store). So much more desirable than one of those synthetic rayon nighties that litter the local discount chain. Who wouldn’t feel their sexiest in these?

PI Organic nightie

End the night (yeah right) with a massage using Pangea Organics Pyrenees Lavender Body Oil or Body Lotion if you prefer a little more friction.

Most important of all, say tell someone you love them. Sometimes that’s the best gift you can give!

It might seem contradictory that a beauty blogger would despise her morning makeup routine, but that is totally me. It all comes down to time and my life long love affair with sleeping. After hitting the snooze button far too many times each morning I am forced to run around my apartment cutting all unnecessary bits of my routine just to make it into the office on time (ish). This has successfully squelched any relationship I might have had with foundation. All that blending and dabbing is not happening at 7:00 in the morning.  However, I am no longer in my twenties and my days of naturally lovely skin are past me. So in a compromise with myself I decided to give mineral makeup a shot, since it’s all the rage these days.

A friend of mine did a funny video promo for Raw Minerals before the holidays (for your perusal below – get ready to laugh…or gag, depending) which brought the company to my attention. I liked what I saw on the website – no animal testing, natural and sustainably sourced ingredients. So I ordered some of the Active Mineral Foundation in Light 3 for $30. There is a bunch of other stuff recommended, like Skin Perfector and Active Veil, but brevity in application was my goal, so the foundation needed to stand on its own.

Active Mineral Foundation

Skin Perfector

I was really surprised at how nicely it matched my skin tone, after all ordering online is always a bit of a gamble in that regard. It wasn’t cakey, went on smooth and actually kind of creamy – something I wasn’t expecting. And the best part is it was quick! A few swooshes with a powder brush and I’m set. Much to my dismay my co-workers have noticed a big difference – “you look so rested,” “you’re absolutely glowing,” “did you get work done over the holidays?” Gee thanks, just ignore that sobbing you hear from behind my office door, it’s just me mourning my youth. Ah well, at least now I have Raw Minerals in my age-combating arsenal.

Click to watch Raw Minerals Video

*Just a note on some nasty rumors on the interwebs about some scam Raw Minerals is running regarding free trials of their product. I wasn’t trying to get anything for free. I paid full price and got a fully functioning product in return so I can’t comment on anything that may or may not have happened to others. But always remember, you get what you pay for, Lovelies.

We want to kick off 2010, Green With Glamour’s year of giveaways, with a serious bang!  So, hello adorable, hemp and vegan-chic bags from Eco Tools… designed by none other than accomplished actress, animal rights activist and all-around-darling, Alicia Silverstone.

After Living GWG’s very own beauty editor, Sara Jones-Rust, gave the bags her seal of approval… we thought to ourselves, “you know who would really enjoy these gorgeous bags?  Our readers, clients, colleagues, um… everyone!”  And here we are.

What exactly we’re giving away:

1 Eco Tools “Overnight” bag along with a matching “Cosmetic” bag – both designed by Alicia Silverstone, given as a set.  The Overnight (11″ x 9″ x 3.3″) is perfect for traveling.  It’s roomy and chic while it’s multiple inside compartments make it easy to stay organized at the same time.  The Cosmetic bag (8.5″ x 5″ x 2.5″) is the go to bag for your everyday makeup needs.  Throw it in your handbag, on your vanity, in your car… and you’ll always have your beauty necessities at the ready!

The Overnight Bag

The Cosmetic Bag

Both bags are made of a gorgeous hemp print (non-toxic inks), lined with recycled plastic and finished with a “tree free” hang tag featuring the lovely Alicia.

How (easy is it) to win? Leave a comment on this post and you’re automatically entered.  Winner will be chosen at random and notified in the 1st week of next month.  GWG provides all shipping and handling costs. YAY!

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? Hanukkah begins Friday! How has this happened? I hope for your sanity and your loved ones that you haven’t failed in the gift buying department as hugely as I have this year. Luckily I have a great idea for stocking stuffers!

Spornette International, a 50+ year institution in the brush manufacturing world, has started making bamboo brushes, and they have quite the selection. I love their well-crafted ZHU collection with bamboo handles and nylon bristles. They range in style from a paddle brush, for the hang straight blow-out, to aerated rounders with ceramic barrels, for styling bangs and creating flips… and Spornette brushes can be found at over 5,000 beauty supply retailers (that’s pretty much everywhere)!

I have found that the smaller barreled rounder is perfect for creating lift when I work it around the crown of my head. The nice ceramic barrel also helps avoid embarrassing adolescent mishaps, like getting the bristles tangled in your hair so badly you have to have your mom cut it out with the kitchen shears.

Well, hello Hairbrush Hero!

Okay, well that was easy (and my hair looks luscious)… Now on to more last minute shopping.

So… we thought it would be fun for the Green With Glamour team to share their holiday gift lists and wish lists.  We’re an eclectic bunch, but all seriously value style, substance and sustainability.  This week we’re featuring our First Lady of Beauty, Sara Jones-Rust!

Sara Jones-Rust

Getting:

My husband and I have a five year plan to live in a city that lets us have a yard, and in that yard we want a big garden. This beginners canning kit will help us eat local all year round.

Dirty Librarian chains have got to be my favorite find of 2009 (thanks to Deana). It’s hard for me to narrow it down to just one, but I think the “Reference necklace” would suit me just fine.

I am a book worm at heart and would love nothing more than to amass an entire library. From the classics to the Twilight series, I love them all. But why buy new when the latest best sellers pop up in my local used book store in no time?

Since I am also a makeup junkie, my list would not be complete without some BEAUTY!   The Nvey Eco gift set is complete with blush, bronzer, gloss and shadow.  This kit has it all.

And what’s an eco-diva to do with all those fantastic, sustainable, beauty products when she wants to leave the house? Put them in the gorgeous Alicia Silverstone line of makeup bags for EcoTools, of course!  The hemp & recycled plastic train case seems to be about the perfect size for all my basics with room left over for those fancy holiday shades.

Giving:

My favorite thing to give and get, especially this time of year, is a donation to a charity. One of my favorites is Women for Women International which helps women in war torn countries rebuild their lives. Having sponsored and corresponded with a young woman from Kosovo, I can tell you it’s an incredible experience and better than any thing you can buy at a store.

This week Living GWG Beauty Editor, Sara Jones-Rust, traded lip gloss testing for wine tasting!

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of a private tasting at Foxen Winery in Santa Maria, CA. And by private, I mean while my husband and his crew were there shooting footage for their documentary before business hours, I was being thoroughly entertained by Foxen’s amazing staff and falling under the spell of their magical wines. Nothing like a 10 a.m. wine tasting!

Foxen is more than just a maker of fantastic wines, in August their main tasting room and winery became solar powered. A portion of their grapes are ‘dry farmed’ – which means they grow their grapes without irregation, hence saving water. I have lived in Southern CA for a little over two years now and I can say with certainty I’ve seen it rain about five times. So coming from Indiana where we grow a lot of things (ok, mostly corn) that is an amazing feat. Their main goal is to be sustainable in as many ways as they can and it shows in the way they produce their wine and the way they serve it. Plus the staff are such a fun bunch I want to go back every weekend to hang with them.

I can say that you will be happy buying anything from a Chenin Blanc to a Pinot Noir anywhere that Foxen distributes (Whole Foods seemed to be a popular place on their distributor list), but if you are in So. Cal you should absolutely treat yourself to a visit. Their new (solar powered) tasting room is lovely and dog friendly and The Shack – the second of their tasting rooms – is a quaint lovely stop. I could sit for hours on their patio sipping their marvelous wines.

After last week’s post about lip balm, I started thinking about lip color. Not just keeping them soft and kissable, but completing a look. After all, we need variety to shake things up.

For the last few weeks I’ve been trying out Sukicolor’s Pure Cream Stain in Dahlia. This has been great for everyday wear. It’s soft and creamy and it comes in a cute little pot that is easy to throw in my purse without worrying about the cap coming off. There are several colors in neutral shades and it’s great for hydrating dry lips, nice in this cooler weather. You can’t beat Suki’s business philosophy (you should read the whole About section on their site, I was very impressed) which is, “having honest, complete information, so we can arm ourselves with the knowledge to make the right decisions & find the right solutions in what we consume & absorb both inside & out.” Amen.

Neutral or au-natural lips are typically my style, but sometimes, I like to go red. I wondered if the Old Hollywood red lips, generally made of petroleum, aluminum, lanolin and a whole lot of other things we don’t want on or in our bodies would have to be a thing of the past. Not so! Gabriel Color Lipstick is brilliant. It comes in a ton of colors (pomegranate is the shade pictured), is made of natural waxes and is totally vegan. Hooray! My inner femme fatale can still come out and play.

Last spring my brother’s girlfriend gave me a beautiful journal for my wedding shower. In the bottom of the gift bag were two tubes of lip balm rolling around. She looked at me laughing saying she knew lip balm was a weird shower gift. I shrugged and noted that my love for soft lips was nearly equal to my love for writing, so the gift seemed perfect to me. But then she explained that this was no ordinary lip balm, this was the best. Lip balm. Ever. Seriously.

She was right. I’ve been using Yes To Carrots lip balm ever since. There are actually three “Yes To” product lines – the previously mentioned Yes To Carrots, for normal to dry skin; Yes To Tomatoes, for oily to combination skin; and Yes To Cucumbers, for Normal to Sensitive Skin. They are much more than just lip care, they have entire lines of body, hair and hand care products. And they are everything we love, cruelty and paraben free, made with organic veggies and the company is making efforts to reduce their carbon foot print. Plus the formulas contain lovely things that you’d actually want to put on your skin, like various teas, aloe and dead sea minerals.

My husband has since stolen my tube of Yes To Carrots lip balm and will not give it back. This is a man who will not use even the smallest amount of moisturizer on his face because he hates any “slimy” feeling on his skin. And by slimy he means, sticky, greasy, moist, or anything that alters the way his natural skin feels. This is how I know this is a truly superior product. Beauty editor tested, husband approved.

Check out the lovely Yes to Carrots Lip Tint too!

Last spring my brother’s girlfriend gave me a beautiful journal for my wedding shower. In the bottom of the gift bag were two tubes of lip balm rolling around. She looked at me laughing saying she knew lip balm was a weird shower gift. I shrugged and noted that my love for soft lips was nearly equal to my love for writing, so the gift seemed perfect to me. But then she explained that this was no ordinary lip balm, this was the best. Lip balm. Ever. Seriously.

She was right. I’ve been using Yes To Carrots lip balm ever since. There are actually three “Yes To” product lines – the previously mentioned Yes To Carrots, for normal to dry skin; Yes To Tomatoes, for oily to combination skin; and Yes To Cucumbers, for Normal to Sensitive Skin. They are much more than just lip care, they have entire lines of body, hair and hand care products. And they are everything we love, cruelty and paraben free, made with organic veggies and the company is making efforts to reduce their carbon foot print. Plus the formulas contain lovely things that you’d actually want to put on your skin, like various teas, aloe and dead sea minerals.

My husband has since stolen my tube of Yes To Carrots lip balm and will not give it back. This is a man who will not use even the smallest amount of moisturizer on his face because he hates any “slimy” feeling on his skin. And by slimy he means, sticky, greasy, moist, or anything that alters the way his natural skin feels. This is how I know this is a truly superior product. Beauty editor tested, husband approved.

Check out the lovely Yes to Carrots Lip Tint too!

Over the last year or two nail color has been creeping away from the boring pinks and french tips that seemed to be the norm for so long. I am happy to report (in case you weren’t paying attention) that this fall/winter season things have really exploded into fun and fresh territory. I have been having a blast experimenting with some of the seasons most fashionable colors and conveniently my two fav non-toxic, eco-friendly and very stylish brands are right on the cutting edge with their color selections.

In my opinion, black nails can be quite elegant when done correctly. (No Elivra Queen of the Damned claws, Ladies. Short and slightly rounded works best for this look.) Oh what’s that you say?  You did this look all last fall?  You love it, but…yawn. And to that I say, try a matte black. It’s the same lovely look without the high gloss. Try Zoya’s Dovima. It’s the everyday black polish.

Zoya’s Dovima

Okay, now let’s raise the stakes a little. How about blue? Picking the right shade for your skin tone is important here, but there are tons to choose from. Get a little royal with Zoya’s Ibiza or try something more subtle like, Butter London’s Big Smoke. The color I’ve been rocking all month is a racing stripe green. Check out Butter London’s Thames.

Zoya’s Ibiza

Butter London’s Thames

…and their Big Smoke

Just not the bright color type? Well you’re in luck. Neutrals are very in this season. More beige than pink, these are great for an understated look. Butter London has a great one called Crumpet.  For Butter London’s color page click here.

and the scrumptious Crumpet

And what about when it’s time to change it up? Kaia House Soy polish remover. That’s right! Soy Polish remover! No formaldehyde or other ickies.

Just grab an organic cotton ball and a few swipes of this barely scented remover and your on to your next experiment!

The hubs and I bought our holiday travel tickets this weekend and I’m already dreading the chaos that comes along with getting to and from our families. Carry-ons will be essential for the shorter trips and that got me thinking about travel size products. I do use refillable travel size bottles for some things, but I was curious to see what was on the market as far as travel size eco-beauty goes. That search lead me to our featured beauty retailer of the month – Upurea.com.  They have a huge selection of travel sized…well everything. I happen to be a sucker for a kit, preferably something that comes in it’s own carrying pouch, which I will, of course, re-purpose later.

This Mini Travel Set in Rosemary Mint (yum!) by Deep Steep caught my eye. With bubble bath, body butter and other fun products you can take a little indulgence on the road with you. Sneaking away from the holiday onslaught of relatives for a little R&R has never been easier.

I found shopping at Upurea to be a joy. They have bright symbols to indicate if products are organic, certified organic, vegan, etc… and most products have a complete list of ingredients below the description. They also have a points system so you stash some beauty bucks away for later every time you shop.
They also have a really nice selection of natural makeup (not to mention hair and skin care products, fragrances and bath & body products). I like the Vegan Cheek and Lip Shimmer from Perfect Organics. I’m not sure I’d use it on my cheeks, but the variety of colors will perk up any one’s pucker.

The last item in my online cart was a little something I’ve been needing to replace in my ongoing effort to green my makeup collection. Nvey Eco’s Organic Erase Concealer is the perfect thing to cover up those little things that aren’t so perfect. It’s certified organic and there are several shades to choose from.

Check out the variety for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.