Latest News
Eco
Can This Laundry Detergent Make Your Skin Softer?
Just when I thought beauty products couldn't get any more unusual, out comes Borba Fabric Fusion 2-in-1 Eco-Laundry Wash. The green-leaning detergent is free of petrochemicals, which should satisfy the ecologically minded; as a regular user of Nancy Boy eco laundry soap, I can say that gentler laundry detergents work well. What's unusual about Borba's version, however, is that it claims to "help skin feel softer and healthier" through its incorporation of pansy extracts, sea moss, and glycerin.
Definition: Greenwashing
You've probably heard of the deceptive terms white lies and whitewashing, and now you can file away greenwashing in your brain's internal dictionary. Greenwashing is the practice of making a product seem more environmentally friendly than it might actually be.
We all know that buzz words like organic, all-natural, and green are attractive adjectives for companies to use, particularly in this day and age, but since the laws aren't as stringent in the organic beauty industry as they are in the food industry, manufacturers often get away with putting an eco-friendly twist on product descriptions that might not actually deserve it.
Reader Review of the Day: Nature's Gate Hemp Velvet Moisture Body Wash
Here's a fatty that won't get you in any trouble. I'm talking essential fatty acids, which are nourishing for the skin, and incidentally, found in hemp seed oil, a main ingredient of Nature's Gate Hemp Velvet Moisture Body Wash ($6). Reader Hottpink sung the praises of this moisturizing cleanser, and here's what she had to say:
I was on the hunt for a body wash that was eco- and animal-friendly, and thought I would give this a try after spying it at a Whole Foods Body.
DIY: Make Your Own Bubble Bath
Over the weekend, I was really looking forward to a nice, fluffy, over-the-top kind of bubble bath. But, alas, the bubble part was missing. Realizing I had run out of my stash of sudsy products, I got to thinking that I should just make my own.
Check Out the Three Newest Trends in Fragrance
When it comes to perfumery, trends do indeed exist — much like in the fashion industry and the culinary world, and in seasonal makeup collections. Recently, Mintel's Global New Products Database, which analyzes consumer behavior and product innovations, took a look at what's en vogue when it comes to women's fragrance. Not surprisingly, organic, eco-friendly products lead the pack.
Lush Gets Political With Its Endeavors
When you shop, you could be helping make a political statement without even knowing it. For example, the owners of Amway donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, and in a new profile of Mark Constantine, the founder of Lush, we discover that in the past year alone, Lush has donated more than $1 million to environmental groups.
But these aren't just "hey, um, it would be nice if you would recycle" do-gooders; some are more progressive groups such as Sea Shepherd, a maritime conservation organization that favors direct-action protests.
Reader Review of the Day: Wet 'n' Wild Natural Wear 100% Natural Pressed Powder
To find a product that works and costs under $5 is pretty amazing. Add natural ingredients and eco-friendly packaging to the mix, and it's even better. That's just what reader Sarasonne has found in Wet 'n' Wild Natural Wear 100 Percent Natural Pressed Powder.
Which Is More Eco-Friendly: Paper Towels or Hand Dryers?
You're at the airport (or any other public bathroom scenario, for that matter), and you're faced with a choice: paper towels or dryer? Studies have shown that both are effective at preventing germs, but from an environmental standpoint, which option is essentially better?
According to Slate, while both options lead to carbon dioxide emissions, when all is said and done, dryers use less energy.
Alicia Silverstone Is Launching Eco Bags and Brushes
Alicia Silverstone has long been an environmental activist, working to support PETA, and a vegan lifestyle. (Her new book, The Kind Diet, which focuses on veganism, hits stores in a couple of months.) Now, the actress is slated to launch an eco-friendly line of makeup brushes and bags for EcoTools this December. The collection features designs of lavender, thyme, rose, and chrysanthemum — all favorites of Alicia's.
The Hood Offers Creative Rain Protection
While Curly Bella shared her hilarious — to us now, not to her then — tale of creating a makeshift rain bonnet out of a plastic shopping bag post-blowout (like this woman), it's not a look she wants to do over. If you're really concerned about the best protection from drips and drops, umbrellas often fall short when the rain heads straight for your face.
Now entering: The Hood.
More on BellaSugar
Fall Award Season
Top Brands
Eric Van Peterson
mytheresa
Zucca