Kiehl's Goes Organic!

Kiehl’s is set to launch its first organic Açaí skin care collection, reports today's WWD. The line has received approval from Ecocert and Cradle to Cradle. The four-item line up contains the Brazilian Açaí berry, whose “superior antioxidant properties,” says Chris Salgardo, president of Kiehl's USA, help combat environmental aggressors and stimulate the skin’s natural renewal process. “We heard that our customers wanted organics, that they wanted paraben-free, that they wanted natural — and they wanted to focus on the first signs of aging. We went to the lab to do all that. The result: our new Açaí line.” The products are due out in mid-September and will be available at over 250 specialty stores in the U.S., including 33 free standing Kiehl's stores.

Photo credit: WWD

Green Indulgence: Escape to an Eco-Spa!

Indulge in relaxing, luxurious treatments that also pamper the planet! Eco-spas have become a rising trend in the U.S and all over the world. They utilize low-impact facilities and sustainable products for traditional spa treatments, such as massage, facials, hydrotherapy, and aromatherapy. At these eco-spas, a nurturing massage or a luxurious soak benefits the individual and the environment, making the leisure of a spa experience a positive experience for all, rather than a guilty pleasure. Here are 5 top leading ec0-spas in the U.S. that will help you relax your mind, body and spirit!

1. Uhma Spa and Shop – Miami Beach, Florida
Built under eco-responsible guidelines and biophilic principals to incorporate nature indoors, the Uhma Spa and Shop in Miami Beach, FL, uses only organic products and combines therapeutic practices from around the world. Here you will find treatments from Africa to the Amazon and every place in between.Services include herbal and aromatherapy soak masks and wraps, massages, facials, and the traditional manicure/pedicure.


2. Le Petite Retreat Day Spa – Los Angeles, California
This indoor-outdoor spa was designed based on the five Chinese elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Feng Shui expert Roy Shabla was consulted to… And for the finishing touches the entire establishment was blessed by nine Tibetan monks from the Garden Shartse Monastery. Rest assured you will be well taken care of. Guests are provided with complimentary organic fruits, fruit water, and tea, and if you receive a facial, massage, or body scrub you are granted free access to the cedar sauna. Le Petite offers facials, massage, hydrotherapy, scrubs, detox, waxing, and lash extension, as well as several holistic anti-aging treatments such as energy balancing and color therapy.

3. Dragonfly Ranch Healing Arts Center – Big Island, Hawaii
If you’re ready to get back in tune with nature, the Dragonfly Ranch is the place for you. Nestled in a jungle setting, this bed and breakfast consists of five treehouse style rooms with indoor-outdoor lodging. Relax with a traditional Lomilomi massage and swim at the nearby National Park with dolphins and sea turtles. The property has a space to practice yoga, an organic garden, a colorful labyrinth, and a sauna.

4. Natural Balance Massage and Wellness Center – Brooklyn, New York
Natural Balance uses eco-friendly, organic products and offers a variety of services, plus several wellness and lifestyle education classes. They practice acupuncture and oriental medicine, massage therapy, facials, body treatments, nutritional programs and counseling, childbirth education, and pre-natal services.

5. Miracle Farm Bed and Breakfast Spa and Resort – Floyd, Virginia
Miracle Farm is a non-profit, sustainable living center. You may choose to stay at (i.e. one of their four friendly cabins:) the Farmhouse, the Creekside Rustic, the Creekside Cottage, or the Riverview Cabin. Imagine waking every morning in a wooded setting to a four-course organic, vegetarian breakfast, and then spending the day hiking, wading in the river, fishing, or bird watching.

Photo credit: thespacompany.com

Stylish Eco-friendly Throw Pillows

Throw pillows like these Eco-Art Pillows are a glam way to decorate your living space. They are super versatile, you can toss fresh throw pillows on beds, the sofa, a big chair, or even pile them on the ground near a bright window. These pillows are stylishly designed, hand printed with environmentally safe water-based ink and have 100% hypoallergenic fill. Modern green style to cheer and comfort any corner of your home!

Photo credit: Buy Green

Recycled Vintage Record Notebooks

What to do with those vintage record albums you have in your home? Give them functionality and recycle them into a super-cool note book!

This is a one of a kind vintage the BEST of the DOORS record album that has been upcycled/recycled into notebook/journal/sketchbook is filled with 50 sheets of wide ruled notebook paper and 50 sheets of plain paper for your sketches and doodles. Handmade from an independent crafter who has lot of passion for the art of record album covers and from it has found a fun and creative way to carry the love for your favorite band's album.

This item and many more are for sale at www.doti.esty.com and if you have a favorite album collecting dust on a shelf at home, you can send it to the maker of these to be recycled into a notebook for you, pretty cool!

Photo credit: Doti at Etsy.com

Fall Looks: Colorful Organic Tees from Stewart+Brown!

Fall just got brighter! Stewart +Brown new fall 2009 collection features soft organic pima cotton tees in myriad fresh prints and hues, perfect for layering.

Stewart +Brown is an ethical fashion brand based in Los Angeles, California that pioneered the sustainable fashion movement by their determination and passion for both design and nature.

Photo credit: Stewart + Brown

Modern green designs from MIO

I love this The Bendant Lamp designed by Jamie Salm from MIO. Its a flat-packed chandelier composed of a series of leaf-like shades surrounding a central fixture. You can bend the shades up or down and create unique light and shadow arrangements. Material and process guide the Bendant Lamp's design, making it a true example of eco-centric design. The size of the lamp, shape of the cuts and flat packaging are a result of material and manufacturing efficiencies. In addition, the lamp welcomes the user as co-designer pushing the boundaries of design and self-assembly.

MIO is a Philadelphia-based company that makes sustainable and innovative designs from from unique wall coverings and lighting to furniture and accessories. The company successfully incorporates green practices into all facets of production and distribution, catering to group of devoted followers who seek out their socially and environmentally responsible products.

Photo credit: MIO

Affordable Organic Beauty

Perfect Organics offers pure organic products composed of the world’s finest ingredients that are expertly formulated and gently processed to maintain the integrity of every ingredient for the long-term health and beauty of your skin, body, and the environment. They have a whole line of scrubs, oils, makeup and creams free of chemical additives, artificial ingredients, fillers or synthetic preservatives. Featured is the Perfect Organics Shea Butter Lip Balm which is packed with all sorts of nutrient dense organic oils and vitamin E at only $3.99 each.

Photo credit: Perfect Organics

Sustainable clothing from Toggery by designer Kate D'Arcy

Toggery is a new line of clothing that uses only sustainable and organic fabrics and manufactures in the USA. Toggery is fashion for the environmentally conscious consumer that also aims to give "great price point, great fit, and great color,” says Kate D’Arcy, designer. Her contemporary women’s line includes tanks, tees, henleys, turtlenecks, tunics, jackets, and blouses. Toggery retail prices range from $35 dollars for an all-organic cotton tank to $140 for a great jacket.

Photo credit: Toggery

Eco-conscious Luxury Jewelry

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Based in San Francisco, Brilliant Earth grew out of a marriage proposal. After Beth's fiance could not find a reliable source that could guarantee conflict free diamonds, Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg created Brilliant Earth to provide certified conflict free diamonds as an alternative to current diamond industry practices.

Photo credit: Brilliant Earth

Singer Alanis Morrisette and Actor Woody Harrelson Launch Reco Jeans!

Alanis Morrisette and Woody Harrelson collaborated together to launch a new line of fabulous and super-trendy eco-friendly jeans. Reco Jeans are made with 50% recycled denim. Reco is the only jeans company that is making the attempt to reclaim and recycle materials to make a more eco friendly fashion jeans.

Reco Jeans is holding a dutch auction until July 18. They are using crowd sourcing to decide the prices of 300 limited box sets of the jeans which will also include a special edition Reco Ipod case. The bids in the dutch auction will also be factored into the final price of the jeans.

Photo credit: Reco Jeans

Recycled handbags made from old leather Jackets and vintage scarves

ReMade USA is a San Francisco based company that found the way to "upcycle" used materials (namely leather) to make beautiful, one-of-a-kind handbags and clutches. The company's mission "is to create beautiful, long-lasting, well-made products that positively impact the environment, our users and our makers".

All products are hand-crafted by designer Shannon South who takes each worn jacket, deconstructs it, does all the cutting and stitching, and lines the inside of the bags with vintage scarves. Only 1o-14 bags are made at the time which makes it even more special.

I really love that the bags have this worn leather look to them and are super roomy. They also come in great colors such as chocolate brown and vibrant red. Each handbag is very unique and tells its own story.

Photo credit: ReMade USA

The Eco-trendy Sneaker

These 1970s-inspired “Volley” sneakers from the french-brazilian Veja company are made from organic cotton grown by cooperatives of small farmers in Brazil.

The shoes are made from natural latex rubber, vegetable-tanned leather and organic cotton. Wild rubber trees are only found in the Amazon and supporting wild latex production helps prevent deforestation in this region.

Ethical, well-made and a very simple design is what really sets Veja apart from the rest. I really like the vintage feel of the shoe but at the same time the look can be very modern. If you want to get a pair, these shoes are now available online at Shopequita.com

Photo credit: Veja

The World's First recycled Nylon Swimwear from Eco Panda

EcoPanda created one and two-piece suits in various prints from recycled nylon and Xtra Life lycra. Their suits are made from 82% recycled nylon and cost between $60-$80 for a full suit.

The company states, “…each piece of swimwear will retain its shape and fit longer than other suits that are used in chlorinated waters. This results in the average suit lasting twice as long as swimwear made with other chlorine resistant spandex and ten times longer than swimwear made with regular spandex, which means that less swimwear will be disposed of. Recycled nylon uses 27 percent less natural petroleum resources and emits 28 percent less greenhouse gases.”

I love that Eco-Panda offers super sexy styles that are fashion forward, in amazing colors and fun prints. Something to look forward to this summer season!

Photo credit: Eco Panda

Hot New Vegan shoes by Olsen Haus!

Vegan Shoe designer Elizabeth Olsen of Olsen Haus makes pure vegan shoes that look very stylish at reasonable prices. The designer is really committed to not using animals in any part of her shoe making process.

The pics feature several of Elizabeth’s designs like the Swim(Blue,Black and White); The David Shoes(Middle) and the Brazil Ultra Suede(Last)

Elizabeth has been a vegetarian for 19 years and a vegan for the past 2 years.

“I wanted to be the example of stylishness being synonymous with being aware of where your item came from, what it’s made of, and its impact on the earth, animals, and people,” she said, of her decision to launch her collection.

Photo credit: Olsen Haus

Cool Eco-friendly buy

Ecoist Recycled Wrapper Bag
$28.00
Made from recycled candy wrappers
From Inhabitant Shop