PlantLove by Cargo

Hi everyone!

Let's get back to "green" make-up.

Most make-up brands out there are made from a variety of harsh products, and it's close to impossible to find make-up that is completely organic. However, there are new innovative products coming out that are as close as you're going to get to environmentally-friendly make-up.

Let me introduce you to the brand Cargo -- the only make-up brand to create a line of lipstick completely packaged in 100 percent organic tubes. The line is called PlantLove, and when I say organic, what I actually mean is that the tubes are made entirely from corn! Yes, the tube you roll the lipstick out of is technically made from food you eat! Cargo is the first make-up brand to do this, and so far their attempt to save the enviornment has been a success. Sephora, the well-known and very popular beauty boutique, has named the PlantLove line one of their best products of 2007 which you can read more about on their website, sephora.com.

What makes PlantLove so great is that it is so much more than just organic. The lipsticks also come in a box that when planted can grow wildflowers. Who would have thought! The box, as you can see in the picture, looks rugged and worn, but that is done purposely so that the wildflowers can grow from inside. My sister, Lindsy Browder, bought the cargo lip gloss and tested the company's claim that if you plant their box, you can grow flowers. And guess what, like they said, Lindsay had wildflowers sitting in a pot on her window in just a couple weeks.

Photograph taken by Lauren Browder

Aside from being packaged in plant growing cardboard, and tubed in plastic made of corn, what else could be so special about this lipstick? Well, the women who designed it are all famous! There are 15 different shades to choose from in the PlantLove line, and six of those shades were designed by celebrities Lindsay Lohan, Mariska Hargitay, Maria Menounos, Evangeline Lilly, Courtney Cox, and Sarah Chalke. The colors the celebrities picked are supposed to be the best shades to compliment their skin tones, which makes it easier for buyers to find one of the celebrity skin tones that best match them.

Hold on, I'm not done just yet raving about this lipstick.

Cargo Cosmetics is donating $2 from each purchase of the PlantLove line to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, according to their website. Not only does this lipstick support a healthy enviornment, but it also supports research for the health of our own society. This is the epitome of do-good make-up!

If you're living in Tucson like myself, there is only one place to buy Cargo's PlantLove.

Product by Maria Martin, 2905 E Skyline Dr. Suite 237 (520-615-1200), is a beauty boutique at La Encantada and is selling the lipsticks for $20 each. If you're anywhere else in the world, you can find the brand at Sephora stores, or order from Sephora.com.

If you decide to stop by Product at La Encantada, there are some other "green" beauty buys you should check out.

Mario Bedesku is an all-natural skin care line that fights aging, acne, and rosacea. Because it is all-natural, it is gentle on the skin and does not use harsh chemicals that normally dry out the skin, according to their website.

Ole Henrikson is another line that is organic and handmade. It has made a splash into Hollywood and is one of Products most popular lines.

Check out the sideshow below for pictures of Cargo's Plant Love, the boutique Product, and the lines Mario Bedesku and Ole Henrikson.

Departmental Organics

Hi everyone!

Department stores have jumped on the "green" band-wagon and are re-organizing their inventory to create a new "green" section! Whether you are shopping online or in stores, finding organic clothing and accessories is right at your fingertips now. The trend-starting department store, Nordstrom's, developed this recent marketing campaign to help push the newer organic trends, something that seems to be huge movement in the fashion industry. Organic clothing is the industries first-hand involvement in the "green" lifestyle many Americans have taken on.

At Nordstrom.com, buyers can at a click of a button receive a list of all the organic clothing and accessories the store sells. Nordstrom's organic inventory ranges from women's fashions, to baby clothes and accessories, to beauty products and men's fashion's. Click on the frame below to be taken to Nordstrom's organic web page.


Here in Nordstrom's "Organic Style" section of their department store, buyers can easily navigate through the array of "green" products. Like the rest of Nordstrom's website, you can search by price, style, department, size, or popularity. Some of the most popular environmentally friendly products the department store is offering are:

C&C Extra Long Sleeve Organic Cotton Tee, $65
Nordstrom Lingerie Organic Cotton Hipster Briefs, $10 each
Viridis Luxe Bamboo Twist Dress, $165
Lavanila Perfumes, $56

These products are just a small percentage of the total organic products available. Nordstrom's is simply leading the way for other department stores in there new availability of organic. Nordstrom's had even development their own organic brand. However, other department stores like Dillard's, Macy's and Nieman Marcus are also providing green-centered products.

Dillard's , Neiman Marcus, and Sak's Fifth Avenue for example carry the Majorica jewelry line which is entirely organic. Majorica, based in Barcelona, Spain, makes all-natural man-made pearls in contrast to common chemically cultured pearls, according to Majorica seller Karla's Jewelery in McAllen, Texas.

No matter what department store you have in your town, you will for sure be able to find something organic. With so many name-brands providing organic alternatives, it is near impossible to not carry them. Check out the department stores listed above for more information on their available "green" inventory.

On another note:

Like a promised before, I wanted to give a brief introduction to a furniture store providing recycled and all-natural furnishings. Although it may not be fashion and beauty related, interior decorations can be just as involved in the green lifestyle many people are converting to. If you are about to re-design your home, or beginning to build your first, here is a store that has high-end designs that are environmentally-friendly as well.

Arhaus Furniture is a new chain that focuses on either recycling or refurbishing old furniture into new "shabby-chic" styles. They are also building new furniture in a variety of eco-friendly ways.

For example, the company uses all recycled copper in their pieces, creating an appealing rustic look to their inventory. According to Arhaus, "the recycle copper pieces capture a moment in time when the natural beauty of Mother Earth meets the exceptional skill of the coppersmith to create an extraordinary work of art for your home."

The company also uses natural hand-made marble. This means the marble is hardly touched, and therefor unique to each furniture piece you buy.

The store not only uses natural products, but they also have invested into energy saving light bulbs in their stores, according to sales associate Cathrine Moline.

"We do everything from light bulbs to recycled paper in order to help the enviornment here. Our company slogan is 'furnishing a better world', and we try to do that in every way possible," she says.

Arhaus also carries the Hadley Line, which is their premier "green" sofa's. According to Moline, the Hadley Line uses an innovative tanning process in their leathers to reduce the amount of chemicals used.

No matter what you purchase at this store, Moline says Arhaus assure that it has in some way been created to support a healthy environment. So shop away without a worry! You can either order from their website, Arhaus.com, or you can call them at 1-866-4arhaus. Currently they have 28 locations, mostly on the east coast.

"Work Out, Play On"

Hi everyone!

Well as I promised, I've got some great information about Nike, the world-wide shoe and apparel company, and how they are doing their part to help our environment. Have you ever thought about what happens to your old clothes and shoes after you throw them away? Well before Nike stepped in, those shoes were just added into the 220 million tons of trash America accumulates each year. That has now come to an end. Nike is providing an outlet for those used shoes and is recycling them into basketball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds and more!



ReUse a Shoe is a program Nike developed in 1994 to recycle all brands of shoes into either new shoes or sport facilities. According to Nike, the materials used in tennis shoes, like rubber, can be used in so many ways that it is a waste not to take advantage of old, used tennis shoes.

Take a look at The YouTube video of ReUse a Shoe : ReUse a Shoe

Since the development of ReUse a Shoe, Nike has recycled 20 million pairs, according to their website. They have donated a significant amout of material for the development of sport surfaces and have branched out the recycling system to various other countries. The point is - people are really sending their old shoes in, and the ReUse a Shoe program has been a success!

Now cities are working in conjunction with Nike to help recycle rubber. For example "the City of Milwaukee has participated in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program since the summer of 2004," according to the cities public works website.

Nike has partnered up with hundreds of different recycling organizations. To get your city involved contact your community leaders to have the ReUse a Shoe program in your town.

For those of you who are looking for easy ways to "go green" this is one step in the right direction. It takes less then 10 minutes to participate in the ReUse a Shoe program. First take a look at the brief description of what you can and can not send in below:

WHAT KIND OF ATHLETIC SHOES CAN I SEND?

SEND IN ANY BRAND, ANY QUALITY, ANY AGE. ALL ATHLETIC SHOES WELCOME!

WHAT CAN I NOT SEND IN?

		NO CLEATS, METALS OR SPIKES
		SANDALS, PUMPS, HIGH-HEELS OF ANY SORT, OR NICE WALKING SHOES
		DO NOT PUT YOUR SHOES IN BAGS OR TIE THE LACES TOGETHER.

Information taken from the City of Milwaukke's Public Works Website.

Now all you have to do is drop off the shoes. For many cities, there are already established drop-off locations. Click here for locations. Here in Arizona, the only drop off stations found from Nike.com are listed below:


Tempe South Police Substation
8201 S HARDY DR
TEMPE, AZ 85284

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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Arc Thrift Store
201 W SOUTHERN AVENUE, SUITE 39
TEMPE, Az 85282

Phone:
480-966-8536
Drop-off times:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-Sat; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sun.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

Arizona State University Student Recreation Complex (SRC)
400 E APACHE BLVD
TEMPE, AZ 85281

Phone:
480.965.8900
Drop-off times:
6am - 11pm, M-F; 9am - 9pm, Sat.-Sun.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

Gentle Strength Cooperative
234 W UNIVERSITY DR
TEMPE, AZ 85281

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

Kiwanis Recreation Center
6111 S ALL-AMERICAN WY
TEMPE, AZ 85283

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

Tempe Public Library
3500 S RURAL RD
TEMPE, AZ 85282

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

University Presbyterian Church
139 EAST ALAMEDA DRIVE
TEMPE, AZ 85282

Phone:
480-350-8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

Westside Multigenerational Center
715 WEST 5TH STREET
TEMPE, AZ 85281

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
8 a.m. - 8 p.m., M-F; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat; 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sun
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

Unfortunately the city of Tucson has not yet created a shoe collection project like the city of Tempe has done, however for those of you living in an area without a drop-off there is another option. You can package up your old shoes fallowing the diagram above and mail them to:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070


Hope this was some usefull information for those of you wanting to "go green"!

Lauren

H and M and the Organic Cotton Exchange

Hey everyone!

This weekend I spent a day at H & M in Northern Virginia to learn about their new organic-cotton line. H & M, a hugely popular clothing chain throughout the world, has taken on the challenge of converting their stores into eco-friendly establishments. Now in every store there is a special organic cotton section where everything from full, bouncy dresses to soft causal shirts are made from chemical-free cotton. The new line has taken off! H & M sales associate Anthony Wilcox says "the line is selling really good" and that "the cotton is extremely soft, so people will buy multiples of the same shirt."

I personally purchased one of the casual organic-cotton tee's, and now I want to go back for more! The shirt is extremely comfortable and very trendy, and it makes me feel good when I wear it because i know I am helping the cause. Take a look at at the picture to the right to see me in my new enviormentally friendly T-shirt.

According to a press release on H & M's website, www.hm.com, the company decided to "go green" in 2004. The press release states that the company wanted to focus on their environmentally concerned customers, but wanted to also ensure the same high-style in the line. The organic cotton line is available for men, women, and children and has a wide selection of looks to choose from. look below for some pictures. Generally the costs of the organic cotton line are similar to the rest of the store ranging from $14.99 to $40 max.

In order to help promote the organic-cotton line, H & M partnered up with the Organic Cotton Exchange to help spread the word about eco-friendly clothing . Since they have done so, the company has increased the amount of organic cotton they use from 30 tons in 2006 to 1,100 tons in 2007! The press release states that H & M wants to "increase the demand of organically grown cotton to help the environment", and already they have increased their consumption by 1,070 tons in only one year.

Once I began digging for information about H & M, I had to learn more about the Organic Cotton Exchange; after all they are working together. The company is an organization with a mission to "catalyze market forces to deliver sustained environmental, economic and social benefits through expansion of organic fiber agriculture," according to their website. In other words, they want to get the ball rolling on organic cottons to help the enviorment and the overall health of people living in the farmring areas.

Currently, the majority of cotton the public wears is not organically grown. Organic cotton makes up for less than 15 percent of the grown cotton in the entire world, according to The Organic Cotton Exchange.This company wants to change that and promote the clothing industry to utilize more environmentally safe cotton. Their goal is to "increase the amount of certified organic land farmed for fiber production by 50 percent per year." If they do so, this will have a huge impact on our world. According to their website, The Organic Cotton Exchange plans on doing this by working with brands and retailers, like H and M, to promote the use of organic-cotton. They are also trying to help existing organic farms stay in business as well as build new ones.

To pound in our heads how important organic-cotton is, the Organic Cotton Exhange says that one single non-organic cotton T-shirt is made with the use of about 1/3 of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers. Now think about how many T-shirts there are in this world. Each time those chemicals and pesticides are used to make our clothing, they are absorbed into the soil hurting our planet and the health of the local people who live around the farms. The Organic Cotton Exchange says going organic is "beneficial to the enviorment; beneicial to the farmers; their families and their communities and gives added value for retailers."

After my visit with H & M, and my deeper look in to The Organic Cotton Exchange, I ran into even more stores providing eco-friendly products. Next week I will bring you information on Nike's new organic product line and venture into the land of "green" furniture. I know, I know... furniture is far off from make-up and fashion, but I couldn't help myself.

Talk to you soon!
Lauren

Need an organic T-shirt or all-natural lip gloss?

Hi again!

Today I want to start talking about available eco-friendly products that are right here in our own neighborhood. Firstly, online shopping is probably the easiest way to find "green" fashion and beauty products. Today I came across a website that is completely focused on fashion with a purpose -- Threadsforthought.com
Threads for Thought is a company that makes searching for "green" and charitable fashion easy! The company has been featured in In Style magazine, US Weekly, and more. The online company provides links and information about other websites where you can order "green" and charity driven clothing. Also, they have their own online shopping mall! According to their website, "Threads for Thought uses 100 percent organic cotton and eco-friendly fabrics..." in all of their featured clothes. Most of the clothing sale proceeds go to various charities, so along with helping the environment, buyers can also be a humanitarians. Furthermore, Threads for Thought is partnered with the Natural Recourse Defense Council and the International Rescue Committee.
So aside from donating money to charities, why does Threads for Thought think organic clothing is so important? Well threadsforthought.com says that "6 pounds of harmful chemicals are added to each acre of cotton." The site continues to say that these chemicals are horrible for our Earth's soil and water, and the health of the farmers who grow them and the people who live near them. The company believes that if cotton farmers remove the chemicals they use and grow their cotton organically, they can help save the Earth's environment and the health of over 50 million people. Check out the site for more details on what they are doing to help the enviroment and/or to order your first "green" clothing article.

If you don't feel comfortable purchasing online, the store Urban Outfitters is selling Threads for Thought tee's. Above is a picture of the t-shirt available - it's cute and sends a good message!

If what your looking for is not clothing, but make-up products then Urban Outfitters still is your place to go. While your there check out their new all-natural lip gloss, Green by Nature. It comes in cherry mint flavor (my personal favorite) and peppermint. 1 percent of all the sales this company makes is donated to the natural environment, and at $6 a pop, it's well worth it. Also, the lip gloss is 95 percent natural -- don't worry, it works just as good as any other lip gloss I have tried.

Plenty of other stores are providing "green" clothing as well. American Apparel is orienting their entire company around helping the environment. They use recycled fabrics, organic t-shirts, and even run their factory off solar energy. Check out more about American Apparel at Amy's Strand's blog, Green Fashion and Beauty.

"Green" fashion is definitely a new trend people are getting into. Threads for Thought is just one of the many organizations out there focused on getting people into saving the planet, so stay tuned for more. And believe me, there will be PLENTY more.

Talk to you soon,
Lauren

Organic vs. Natural Beauty Products

Hi!
Before I start bringing you products, I think it is important to cover the basic knowledge in buying "natural" and/or "organic" beauty products. Most importantly, natural and organic products are better for the environment, and in some cases better for your health. In an article by Samantha Hallock for Women's Golf magazine, it is proven that natural and organic are very different. Hallock qoutes Ellen Marmur, MD, chief of dermatology and cosmetic surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, about the difference in the two:

Hallock writes, "'Organic' refers to a method of farming in which plants and botanicals are grown on land that is free of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides. The USDA divides these products into three categories: "100% Organic," "Organic" (contains 95 percent organic ingredients) and "Made With Organic Ingredients" (contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients)...'Natural' means the product was created from botanical sources without additives or preservatives; the soil in which these plants are grown isn't taken into consideration. Natural products are not federally regulated, so they may contain synthetic ingredients."

Click here to read Hallock's article: Organic Vs. Natural

What this means is that "organic" products are government regulated, and "natural" products are not. However, plenty of natural beauty products are still very beneficial to our earth and our bodies. My next products I show you will fall under the category of "organic" or "natural", so it is important to know the difference before buying. Keep reading for popular products you can buy!

Talk to you soon,
Lauren