BellaSugar

There Could Be a Rainforest in Your Shower

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:00:13 -0800

If a trip to the rainforest isn't in the cards, you could always bring a piece of the rainforest to you. Wembé, a new collection of handmade soaps, lets you do just that.

Made in Paraguay, the soaps ($5-9) incorporate South American ingredients such as black clay, passion fruit, and chocolate. Unsurprisingly, they smell amazingly fresh and fragrant, but they don't have that headache-causing overload. Some of the soaps sound almost good enough to eat -Yerba Mate, Dulce de Leche, and Mango among them. (Disclaimer: Don't eat soap.) My favorite is the loofah exfoliating blend, which cleans gently while whisking away dead skin.

If you're a treehugging type, you'll be glad to know that the entire line is free of petroleum products, sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrance and color. FYI, Wembé has a three-bar minimum order. Still, it's cheaper than a flight to the Southern Hemisphere.

Can This Laundry Detergent Make Your Skin Softer?

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:00:09 -0700

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. Additionally, it promises to rehydrate dry skin and provide free radical protection. I haven't tried it - and because it costs $25 plus $8 shipping, I am unlikely to - but I have a hard time believing that a laundry soap can do all of that. Your thoughts?

Definition: Greenwashing

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0700

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. Often, these descriptions can be misleading, with organic materials being combined with more synthetics than advertised, or products containing little amounts of actual green materials, for instance. Find out more about green beauty safety here.

Reader Review of the Day: Nature's Gate Hemp Velvet Moisture Body Wash

BellaSugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:03:14 -0700

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. Overall, I am really pleased with this body wash. It has a slightly earthy scent which is not overpowering at all, and it really moisturizes my dry skin. Unlike some body washes, this rinses away clean and doesn't leave that "film" feeling. It doesn't suds up as much as bar soap, but I don't mind. I have even used it to shave when I ran out of shaving cream. Another plus: it lasts a long time!

Are you impressed with certain eco-friendly products you've recently tried? We want to know about it, even if the results have been less than stellar. Our Product Reviews section is the place to go for all things beauty. We look forward to reading your opinions each day, and who knows? Perhaps you'll be the next featured reviewer.

DIY: Make Your Own Bubble Bath

BellaSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

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. So, I searched the Internet to find an environmentally friendly recipe. Check out this option below. It's easy on the budget, as well as the senses.

Gather together: one quart of warmed water; two ounces of liquid glycerin, like Nature's Answer Glycerine Extract ($9.50) or Heritage Store Vegetable Glycerin ($5); one four-ounce bar of castile soap, like Kirk's Natural Products Castile Bar Soap ($5); and several drops of your favorite essential oils to scent. Grate or chop up the soap and add to the warm water. Stir to melt. Add the essential oils and glycerin, store in an airtight container, and enjoy.

Check Out the Three Newest Trends in Fragrance

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0700

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. Find out about the three trends when you read more.

Lush Gets Political With Its Endeavors

BellaSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:57 -0700

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. (They've attacked whaling ships, earning support from the Dalai Lama in doing so.) "I hate the criminalisation of the environmental movement," Constantine says. "These people are vilified as eco-terrorists, when what they're doing is a selfless act."

To raise money, Lush has introduced a variety of products to support its causes. It's recently introduced Jungle Soap, a palm-free soap whose proceeds benefit the Rainforest Foundation; 100 percent of the retail price of its Charity Pot body lotion goes to groups that (among other things) create sustainable farming in Mali, support UNICEF's Unite for Children campaign, and send used bikes to developing countries. In general, I prefer to shop at stores that are transparent about where my money might be going; it makes me feel good to know that my purchase could support a cause I believe in. (Conversely, if I found out that a company sends profits to, I don't know, the Campaign for Kitten-Shaving, I'd stop shopping there.) Are you the same way?

Reader Review of the Day: Wet 'n' Wild Natural Wear 100% Natural Pressed Powder

BellaSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:00:02 -0700

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. Here's what she had to say about the product:

I haven't tried a Wet 'n' Wild product in years. And given the price of many cosmetics are these days, why not? I really liked this. It's got a nice medium/sheer coverage that feels silky. I was most impressed with the shades as they offer different tones (warm vs. cool). I took off a star because it doesn't last that long and also because I didn't notice any "light diffusing." It's actually quite matte. I appreciate the eco-friendly packaging, but would be afraid if the cardboard ever got exposed to moisture.

Have you found any unexpected bargains as of late? Tell us about them in our Product Reviews section, and you might be the next reader featured here on this post.

Which Is More Eco-Friendly: Paper Towels or Hand Dryers?

BellaSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:00:48 -0700

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. Variations in how paper towels are produced, transportation costs, and the maintenance that goes into keeping towels replenished all require more energy. Plus, although recycled paper uses 40 percent less energy to manufacture, most towels make their homes in landfills once used, and some are bleached, which can be harmful to the environment.

With the recent crop of 10-seconds-or-less super-potent dryers - think XLerator and the Dyson Dryblade - dryers have become more efficient, particularly when they run on 1,600 watts or less. Put that together with the fact that hand dryers last an average of 10 years, and they're the most eco-friendly option. You could always just drip-dry, or a swipe on the old jeans would do the trick, too.

Source: Flickr user nickgraywfu

Alicia Silverstone Is Launching Eco Bags and Brushes

BellaSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:00:25 -0700

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 bags are made with natural hemp and recycled linings. "I only wanted to do something that hadn’t been done before. This is a conscious product line that is good for the planet," she told WWD. "Unless you need it, it’s just stuff," she added. Along with a five-piece brush set and bag ($16), Alicia's beauty tools, which will be sold in drugstores, will also feature a cosmetic bag ($9); a cosmetics brush bag ($13); a train case ($15); and an overnight bag ($20).