Neutrogena, Garnier release eco-friendly lines

Today, I started noticing commercials for Neutrogena's new eco-friendly line of facial cleansers sans sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. 

Neutrogena Naturals has more vitamins and minerals, amino and fatty acids, and antioxidants. Even the folding cartons are made from 100% recycled paper and  65% post-consumer recyclable content. 

Last week, while doing research for my eco-beauty salon article, I found Garnier recently released its "greenest" line of products with shampoos and conditioners without silicone, parabens, and dyes and infused with acerola berry antioxidant. 

The bottle also uses 50% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. And their commercials are coming to a television near you soon.

These new lines add to the number of widely available and relatively affordable products that use natural ingredients and show environmental support.

Rise of eco-beauty salons in rural town

Image: redding.com. Hairstylist Stephanie Davis gives
Brianna Griffith of Palo Cedro low- and highlights
with ammonia-free, hypoallergenic hair color at
the "O" All Organic Salon & Spa in Palo Cedro, Calif.

This week, I freelanced a story for the Redding Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif., so I was glad to be able to produce an eco-beauty story on the rise of salons wanting to use more natural, organic products and trying to reduce their carbon footprints. 

They use soy-based waxes for waxing instead of petroleum-based waxes because it derives from a non-renewable resource. One recycles cut hair to oil spill cleanups. One only uses products from the United States. 

Check out the story here.

Fashion maven supports eco-fashion

Image: NY Mag. Fashion maven 
André Leon Talley at New York 
premiere of Animals Distract Me.

Legendary Vogue editor and America's Next Top Model judge André Leon Talley said he wants more designers to incorporate eco-fashion in some way into their lines as well as use less energy and waste in doing so.

At Thursday's premier of Isabella Rossellini's current film in New York, Talley began to discuss his budding green lifestyle:

"At Vogue, we’re going to have certain issues devoted to green. We’ve asked certain designers to make green clothes," he said. "I don’t think everyone should be wearing hip sacks and burlap blouses. There’s still room for luxury." 

He also goes on to talk about his recycling efforts. "You have to wake up and be conscious of everything, the way you dispose of things. I do make trips to the Dumpster," he said. "And I am proud of that because it’s far from my house. But I make a special effort to go to the Dumpster and put the cardboard with the cardboard, and plastic with the plastics."

 

Celebrate Earth Day this weekend

Image: freedigitalphotos.net.

During this Earth Day, though many places have yet to commit to eco-fashion or eco-beauty, companies are still trying to reduce their carbon footprint in different ways.

Today, in the newspaper, I noticed the Macy's ad discussed its commitment to the environment by installing a solar panel system on its Goodyear, Arizona plant and placing light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, in its stores across the country.

To add to your outside decor, Lowe's hardware stores are giving away miniature trees in honor of Earth Day Saturday for its One in a Million Tree Giveaway. 

If planting trees in communities or cleaning trash off beaches too arduous, try using less energy by turning lights off not in use or walking around or using public transportation instead of driving a car. 

For events in California, CalRecycle made a comprehensive list of events in different areas. Check out A Billion Acts of Green for nearby events and activities you can engage in to celebrate the 41st Earth Day.

Marie Claire injecting more eco-fashion, eco-beauty

While flipping through the glossy pages of my May edition of Marie Claire with the 'Glee' girls on the cover, I noticed several articles focusing on sustainability and eco-fashion and eco-beauty awareness.

One article described the eco-fashion challenge the London-based Eco Age boutique owner Livia Firth, actor Colin Firth's wife, committed herself to. After wearing an eco-couture gown made from 11 recycled gowns at this year's Oscars, she talks about trying to incorporate more eco-fashion into her wardrobe. 

Eco-friendly supermodel Angela Lindvall is the subject of another article where she discusses her adventure to Uganda to support PureDKNY fragrance made from sustainably grown vanilla. Local Ugandan women help nurture the vanilla plant for the fragrance that's marketed in a 100% recyclable glass bottle and box.

Lastly, the magazine gave out Best Beauty Products awards and added an eco-beauty category with USA-made products. This is a major deal, because, unfortunately, many eco-friendly products are made overseas, but sustainability also highlights supporting our national  economy.  

To add to the subtle eco-consciousness, there were several advertisements throughout the magazine supporting more natural choices like a phthalate- and paraben-free skincare line for babies.

Straightening hair becomes dangerous with Brazilian blowout

Image: stylelist.com. Actress Mary-Louise
Parker said the Brazilian blowout led to hair
loss. The treatment is being investigated for
involving dangerous chemicals.

News of the dangers associated with the Brazilian blowout hair straightening treatment has come under fire for containing formaldehyde, an EPA-classified carcinogen.

Women with curly, frizzy, or seemingly untameable hair seek ways to better straighten their hair with the constant ushering of new products and treatments on the market, so as the Brazilian blowout reached popularity in the past few years, some experienced symptoms like nosebleeds, eye irritation, and respiratory problems, according to a lawyer blog.

Earlier this week, 'Weeds' star Mary-Louise Parker, known for her waves, said the Brazilian blowout straightened her locks like never before but also made them fall out.

On another note, for black women, perms are still considered safe, but this week CNN reported braid extensions and weaves are leading to hair loss and making women more susceptible to diabetes. The extensions and weaves tightly set in pull the hair at its root, and sometimes the damage is irreversible.

Changing shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, hairsprays, and other products to more natural choices can help repair damage. Look for ingredients you are familiar with like oils from fruits and flowers. 

Try taking vitamins B and C supplements and eating foods rich in those vitamins to fuel hair growth. 

Eco-dresses rocking bright colors

Spring weather has arrived, but the cute dress-wearing days have yet to come, so while we wait, here are some examples of eco-dresses bright enough to make those days come faster.  

Turk +Taylor Corsica Cinch Kaftan Rainbow Plaid Dress, $128, shop.moxsie.com.

Wimbledon Dress, $39.99, frenchconnection.com.

Seneca Rising Barnet Tank Dress, $150, farfetch.com.

Recycled prom dresses

Earlier this week, I was excited to get the chance to write an article and produce a video for an eco-fashion story. 

Since prom season is here, local organizations are giving away recycled formal dresses to help teenagers enjoy their prom without the financial strain. 

Check out my story and video here.