Uncovering the best eco finds in San Francisco and beyond
Fragrance is a natural beauty’s ‘red alert’ ingredient. Under trade secret laws, companies can use the word fragrance, or the more elegant parfum, on their labels and get away with not having to disclose thousands – yes, you read that right – of synthetic ingredients used to make the product smell good or mask any [...]
What’s in your lipstick? If you’re a fan of L’Oreal, Estee Lauder, Chanel, Mac or other top beauty brands, your pretty pout may be getting a daily dose of lead, finds a recent study by the FDA. Even with all the awareness around toxins in cosmetics, primarily voiced by the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Campaign for [...]
There’s something exciting about receiving a package in the mail. The anticipation. The unexpectedness. The surprise contents inside. I was in college the last time I received a box of fun goodies in the mail from my mom, so when I heard about the subscription service Quarterly, Co., I was intrigued. Every three months for [...]
As any natural beauty girl can attest to, finding a non-toxic perfume that smells as good as Chanel No. 5 or the latest Ralph Lauren fragrance is downright difficult. Many of the eco blends out there leave you smelling like a flower child, which is fine if you’re really into patchouli. Dabbing on a homemade [...]
The allure of sky-high eyelashes has been around since, well, almost the beginning of time. Back in Cleopatra’s day, Egyptian women used kohl to line their eyes and darken lashes. In the early 1900’s, Victorian ladies mixed together ash and elderberry juice. And now…we apply chemical ingredients that emit formaldehyde, mess with our hormones and [...]
In need of a beauty pick-me-up for 2012? Over the last five years I’ve switched all my cosmetics and skincare products to natural alternatives, and one product has always kept its prominent place in my beauty bag: rms beauty’s Living Luminizer cream. When my skin is feeling a little dull or pale, I dab the [...]
As of late, many of my conversations with friends have focused on complexion woes – zapped moisture creating flakiness, harsher weather bringing on redness, or a number of other factors causing malcontent. Every season inevitably brings change, but there is a natural secret to keeping skin healthy and balanced all year long: moisturizing with oils. [...]
As avocado season nears its tail end in California, I brace myself for parting with what I consider to be the best beauty food around. Whether I’m smearing it on my hair or spooning it right out of the peel, this vitamin-packed and healthy fat-filled fruit keeps my skin and hair smooth and moisturized. So [...]
Bees are magic makers. From honey for colds to beeswax for skin, their hard work provides us with incredible natural benefits. Moon Valley Organics, a Deming, Washington-based company, has taken these health perks and crafted beeswax-based, herbal recipes for a line of unique medicinal salves and soap bars. The family-owned-and-operated business is certified organic, and [...]