When you’re shopping for cosmetics, lotion, cleansers, shampoo and other beauty necessities, it can be hard to keep track of all the nasty ingredients you’re supposed to avoid. After all, companies are getting tricky lately with disguising ingredients like formaldehyde with relatively innocuous-sounding alternative names. That’s why it’s important to have places like Spirit Beauty Lounge, who do all the hard work of sorting the good stuff from the bad for us.
Spirit Beauty Lounge is the only carbon-neutral boutique for luxury green, organic and cruelty-free beauty and lifestyle products. Founded by organic beauty expert Spirit Demerson, Spirit Beauty Lounge carries a great range of organic and sustainable beauty products from companies with clearly defined humane, ethical and environmental policies. They carry recycled and vintage jewelry, hard-to-find European skincare lines and even non-toxic cleaning products.
Spirit Demerson graciously agreed to answer a few of my questions so that you, Eco Chick readers, can get the inside scoop on this brand-new beauty shop.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to start Spirit Beauty Lounge?
SD: I’ve always been a beauty junkie but for years I was disappointed with the quality and packaging of most safe, natural beauty products. I obsessively searched for more organic and natural based products that would perform like department store brands. As I honed in on the best products, I was always trying to get my friends to “convert” but everything was so hard to find that I ended up buying everything for them! Even since before cosmetology school, I’ve wanted to make the world a more “beautiful” place inside and out! My haircutting skills weren’t well…”cutting it” in beauty school so I dropped out and later developed the Organic Beauty Lounge concept. I’ve been hosting Organic Spa Parties for years just to get my friends excited about going green with organic snacks and cocktails, organic mani-pedis, facials and clothing swaps. Finally, I built the whole concept online: A place for guilt free shopping, beauty advice and eco awareness in one-stop.
It sounds like you’ve got a really thorough selection process for the products you choose to sell, which is great news for consumers – the hard work is done for us. How difficult has it been to find vendors who can meet such stringent criteria?
SD: Let’s just say I have a whole closet full of products that didn’t make the cut! I love to work with manufacturers who are constantly improving on their formulas and developing new formulas towards being ultimately 100% organic and chemical-free. I’ve fallen in love with certain products in testing and then couldn’t bring them on because they couldn’t promise fair labor or protected resources were used. It can be a little heartbreaking at times but it also helps me appreciate so much more, how hard some of our vendors are working to provide truly green, ethical products.
It’s always been challenging to find truly safe and natural cosmetics like mascara and foundation. Spirit Beauty Lounge already carries NVEY Eco, which is awesome since they’re a really reputable brand with quality products. Do you see any other cosmetics companies meeting your standards any time soon?
SD: Yes! Nvey Eco is fantastic and has some great new products in the works that we’ll introduce soon plus we are bringing on two more cosmetics lines in January.
Do you have a few personal favorite products from your shop that you could share with us?
SD: Skinnyskinny is one of my favorite lines because not only are their products unique, beautiful and high quality but their business is totally carbon-neutral as well. They just introduced these brand new tub teas that make me want to get up and take a bath every day instead of a shower! The packaging is 100% recycled, right down to the recycled rubber bow.
Another favorite company is Organic Apoteke. They are probably the “greenest” business we work with which is just an added bonus to how well their skin care works. I’ve been using Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum which really helps even out my skin tone.
I love the Offhand Designs Tia and Nina bags. They’re perfect for the season, totally chic and are entirely hand made of recycled and reclaimed materials.
I’ve been slathering myself with Ila Body Balm every night before bed. The exotic rose scent is so sensuous and the unrefined argan oil keeps me from getting dry and itchy overnight.
Eco Chick readers – make a purchase at Spirit Beauty Lounge and get 15% off with coupon code ECOCHICK. It’s a great opportunity to pick up some winter beauty essentials, or gifts for friends and family!
I have searched this site thoroughly and enjoyed every single page. The site alone is so fascinating, and the PRODUCTS ARE FANTASTIC! From the lipsticks to the purses to the bracelets to the moisturizers and masks, it’s all guilt free! WHOOPIE! and about time!
12/13/08 » 8:11 am »
Spiritbeautylounge.com is an awesome site. I love that it’s organic. My friend, Jomari loves it, too. We are manly men, but the skin care is for everyone!
12/15/08 » 4:28 pm »