During Eco-Chick’s 3rd birthday party last month, I had the chance to meet eco-beauty consultant and make-up artist, Jessa Blades.

Jessa is the founder of Blades Natural Beauty and is a vessel of information regarding all things organic beauty and skincare.  Shortly after learning about the breast cancer and body lotion connection, I had noticed I was almost out of face moisturizer. I had been sampling various brands over the last few months, and since old man winter has stepped up his game, I realized I needed to try a different moisture rich face cream. I contacted Jessa to ask for her expert opinion on the best eco & body friendly facial moisturizers out there for the winter season. Here recommendations are a perfect follow up to my body lotion post last week. 

Mod.Skin Créme Nutri-functional #1 $48.00

This rich and lightly scented cream can either be used during the day or night use. It leaves a moisturized glisten to the skin without feeling heavy. It can be used for all skin types.(Can purchase on-line, specialty beauty stores/section or pick it up at Whole Foods)

Dr. Hauschka Toned Day Cream $39.95

This is Jessa’s favorite. It is a tinted moisturizer that contains therapeutic oils which reduce the appearance of irritation and irregular skin tones for a variety of complexions. It is ideal for normal skin types, but can also be used over-top of a moisturizer in the winter for extra dry skin. Plus, it has a great scent. (Can purchase on-line, specialty beauty stores/section or pick it up at Whole Foods)

Aubrey Organics $16.28

These facial moisturizers come in 5 different varieties according to skin type. The products are available at a wide variety of stores and being that the company was founded in 1967, their heritage is respected within the industry. (Can purchase on-line, at major retailers or pick it up at Whole Foods)

Lip & Skin Balm by makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift $30

Another one of Jessa’s favorite is this dual balm. You can use it on your lips, face or apply it around the eyes at night time. The balm hydrates and protects the skin with food grade, biologically active ingredients and comes in either-Simply Vanilla or Simply Cacao.

The team at Breastlink conducted a study where they tested 16 common body lotions for estrogen-like compounds. Though none of the lotions/moisturizers listed estrogen in their ingredients, 6 samples revealed that they contained estrogen-like compounds. Unfortunately, none of those brands were released yet.

If you read my The Green Doula post on the pro’s and cons of essential oils for pregnancy and childcare, you may be thinking like I am. I pointed out how certain lavender strains’ effect  infant pre-adolescence boys’ hormonal levels and growth.  Maybe those brands tested in this study contained a lavender fragrant scent. Lavender has an adequate level of estrogen. ( Using too much lavender on a constant basis, especially if it is not harvested in a sustainable matter, can through off hormonal balances in pre-adolescence. Has there been enough investigation as to its effects on adult women? I am sure we will be hearing more from this investigation soon.

In the meantime, you can use simple body moisturizers such as Sunflower, Almond or Olive oil. Yes, these food items are nutrients for your skin. If you are used to buying your moisturizers from places other than a food store, check out these products:

Premium $57:

(Can purchase on-line or pick it up at Whole Foods)

 
Checkout this Morrocan Rose Otto Oil from Ren. Rose Otto Rose Otto is known to be purifying and regulating to the female reproductive system. It regulates hormones and strengthens the uterus.  It is great for all types of skin.

Mid-tier $18:

(Can purchase on-line, at the Carol’s Daughter’s Store or Sephora)

Almond Cookie Butter from Carol’s daughter is a yummy delicious body butter made free of Paraben, mineral oil, petroleum, and artificial color. It contains shea and cocoa butter, jojoba and sweet almond oil and is ideal for dry skin.

Economical $9.99:

(Can purchase on line, a convenience store or Target)

Check out Giovanni’s Grapefruit Sky Lotion. For those of you who prefer lotions to oils and butters, this organic lotion has a gentle blend of hydrating cold-pressed essential oils.

The FDA has reached their conclusion that levels of melamine alone or cyanuric acid alone, at or below 1 part per million (ppm) in infant formula do not raise public health concerns. Traces of any amount, especially those above the FDA minimum raise alarm in my mind as well as many others I am sure. 

Melamine is widely used in plastics, adhesives, countertops, dishware, and whiteboards. Because melamine is rich in nitrogen, companies who are trying to increase their production of formulas add the substance to increase the apparent protein levels of their product. This in addition to diluting the raw milk with water. It is not naturally occurring and is not approved to be directly added to food in the United States. Though somewhere in the world of government loopholes, melamine is approved for use as part of certain food contact substances. This does leave legal room for traceable levels of melamine to show up in certain food commodities.

Behind the scenes, the FDA had conducted tests over the past several months on U.S. made formula. You can check out some of  those results here. Some definite red flags from the report show that melamine and cyanuric acid, a related chemical, were found in the baby formula made by U.S. manufacturers Abbott Labs, maker of Similac; Mead Johnson, maker of Enfamil; and Nestle, maker of Good Start. The sad and alarming news is that these 3 brands make up 90% of all of the formula sold in this country.

Shortly after the China infant formula contamination scare, Nature’s One made it a integral operational process to test each production run of their “Baby’s Only Organic” and “PediaSmart” products for Melamine. The products are manufactured in the U.S.A. with no milk protein or dairy derivatives purchased from China. They also are the only carriers of organic lactose free milk based formula, Baby’s Only Organic® Lactose Free.

This is a great solution for parents who wish to avoid soy proteins and for babies who are lactose intolerant. Instead of corn syrup, which is found in all other lactose-free formulas, the company uses brown rice syrup. The formula is designed to address common digestion problems that result in fussiness, gas and bloating. You can only purchase here and the company offers free shipping if you buy by the case or they have a maximum shipping rate of just $5.95.

Of course I have to mention that the healthiest, most sustainable, and economic way to providing your baby with the nutrients and goodness he or she needs is breastfeeding. Here are just a few benefits of breastfeeding as referenced from the NRDC:

• Breast-fed children are more resistant to disease and infection early in life than formula-fed children

• Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15

• Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life, are able to lose weight gained during pregnancy more easily and have a lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer

I am still in a euphoric state. As the incredible reality of our new President starts to settle in, I am realizing the proper space now exists for a chance for change. In the realm of women’s rights and healthcare, I am anxious to see the next steps that both Barack Obama , Joe Biden, along with the amazing Michelle Obama and Jill Biden take. It has been evident that this new administration will not let these issues fall though the cracks on their watch.

Now that we finally have someone’s attention, I think that it is important to wave the flag. As much as the topic of healthcare is on the minds and tongues of many, the excessive fiscal waste and inefficiencies evident in our system are not discussed openly.

I am going to start talking about it as much as I can. I truly believe the lack of supported advocacy for women’s health has a direct correlation to the state of our health care system.

There are approximately 6 million pregnancies every year throughout the United States, more than 19 million women are uninsured in this country and up until this point, sex education ( and quite frankly anatomy education) in this country has not been given the attention it deserves. We need to pursue a sustainable healthcare system which connects the dots and get women to speak up.

99% of births occur in hospitals. The average cost for a normal delivery held at a hospital is $6,378 and $10,638 +for a cesarean. Many hospitals are reporting cesarean rates of more than 40%. The estimated cost of a delivery and prenatal care at a birthing center is about $3,000 – $4,000. And unfortunately, insurance coverage for the choice to have one’s birth at a birthing center is not yet as easy to obtain as a hospital birth.

Of course the healthcare industries as yet are not going to fully disclose where that extra $3,000 to $7,000 + cost comes from. Could it be from the HIGHLY common use of pitocin, epidurals and other analgesics, the high cost surgery fees emergency and elective c-sections? I ask you to investigate for yourself if these all to common procedures are sustainable and healthy. Truly looking at the lifecycle of our health care system can reveal mind boggling revelations about the long term effects on our bodies and our children’s bodies and minds, not to mention our wallets.

Transparency needs to be revealed as to why these statistics are what they are and truths need to be shared.

Environmentally aware party planner Danielle Venokur hosted the “Sustainable Celebrations” event at the new DWR Tools for Living store in Soho. Venokur’s company dvGreen, is a sustainable event design and production company that utilizes organic food, flowers, and table linens, tree-free paper invitations, and more to create incredible events that you can be proud of forever.

At the event, Venokur incorporated items from the DWR: Tools for Living Assortment into place settings for both the adults’ and kids’ holiday table. I thought that the displays were brilliant and full of many great ideas for the holidays.

Venokur shared the following tips that you can use in your home to create a memorable and sustainable holiday meal:

1) Revamp and reuse scarves that you have around your home or found in a thrift shop; use them as is or accentuate them with organic cotton trim to make them your own; the result, unique vintage chic napkins.

2) If you live upstate or near trees, incorporate fallen branches and foliage to create your own custom center piece

3) Use LED candles instead instead of regular candles, they last longer and retain their appearance for many, many years. <

Tips for creating a special sustainable children’s table:

1) Use bamboo flatware for the table setting such as the collection from bambu.

2) Instead of a linen table cloth, line the table with craft paper. The children can draw stencils and color leaves, snowflakes, and other holiday motifs on the table and make it their own.

3) Using organic cotton balls, you can create little snowmen place settings.

4) Reuse craft paper to make a paper flower center piece together with the children before the dinner begins. Place the flowers in a refurbished vintage container and then the children will have something to celebrate- of their own making! during their meal.

The team at Green Toys™ Inc. has a lot to celebrate. They announced that in their first year as an environmentally friendly toy company, they have been honored with these major awards:

This classic yet innovative toy company turns recycled plastic milk containers into eco-friendly children’s toys that do not contain phthalates or Bispenol-A (BPA) , and meet FDA food contact standards. So as the weather grows colder, you can enjoy a nice little tea party with your child, relative or little friend and not have to worry about a little one digesting leached BPA during simple innocent playtime.

Green Toys products can be found in this recycled packaging (reminiscent of those fun 1980’s toys from my childhood memories) at 2,000 retail and online stores in the US and Canada. If you pick up one of their kitchen or tea sets for a child, there are several  kid friendly teas and snacks that can compliment your party.

Last Sunday kicked off “Break the Silence” Congo Week. (I know, we’re a bit late!) From now until October 25th, students from the US, Canada, England, Belgium, Germany, France, Brazil, Jamaica, Norway, Korea, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Columbia, and others are running events to raise awareness about what is going on in the Congo.

What is happening there is one of the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world today. The United Nations said it is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War Two. However, hardly anything is said about it in the media; though last weekend, The NYTimes published an article to shed some light on the story.
Basically, militias are being sent into the Congo to break the spirits of the people there through rape and violence so that they can mine and steal the resources of the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) such as Coltan (used to make computers, cell phones, DVDs, kid’s game consoles, etc), copper, and diamonds and then sell it to the corporations.

Guess who some of those are? (It’s companies in the US, Europe, and Asia who supply us with all our cool stuff).  How often do you buy a new tech gadget? Are you quick to go for the refurbished tech piece, or the brand spankin’ new edition that gets updated yearly? All those gadgets are made from special base metals in the Earth, and are incredibly valuable in a poor continent like Africa- valuable enough to rape and kill over.

This long-standing war also feeds into the epidemic of AIDS. Through the rapes, the virus has spread. Thankfully, there are inspiring people like YOUTH AIDS activist Suzanne Africa Engo who is taking a stand and raising awareness for the AIDS epidemic. Right now she is on her journey, running 858 miles from NY to Oprah’s studio in CHICAGO. Check out her site and blog to see how you can help her on this journey. 

A simple solution of free trade can help disintegrate the use of rape as a war tactic. Pressure manufacturers to reclaim/recycle materials that we already have, and not to finance the militias (take action in a number of ways here). Do we really need to buy a new Laptop or DVD player every year or two or three that is made of raw materials that are gotten through murder, torture, and rape?

I know this is all over whelming but a little bit of effort to make a change goes a long way for any cause. We as human beings need to take a stand for our given rights to love, have peace and own our bodies…for the sake of humanity.  Invoke democracy. Speak to others, write to authorities, demand free trade, research, ask for help if you need it.  VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Be the change that you want to see and help create the world that you would want to bring your own children into.”

First off, As a green doula, I have to applaud Angelina for gracing the cover of the new W magazine while breastfeeding. Awesome that the photographer just so happened to be her husband, Brad Pitt. Angelina is inspirational because she has confidently taken a stand and is sending a message loud and clear. Women who are mothers are naturally beautiful and breastfeeding is a normal natural phenomenon that should be accepted as a social norm.

Though the cover picture is just a simple black and white photo, and there were no fancy film crews in their home, there still remains evident a beautiful halo of motherhood.

Breastfeeding is healthy and super beneficial for mother and child. It is unfortunate that over the years, breastfeeding has been given a taboo cloak, though that does seem to be slowly changing. Because of these tainted views, many women aren’t given the freedom, encouragement and support that they need to give nutrients to their child, build their immune systems, reduce a their own risk of certain types of cancer, and more.

With this cover, a dialogue can begin again.

Secondly, Brad Pitt has collaborated with beauty brand Kiehl’s to create the first ever Cradle-to-Cradle certified beauty product (environmentally safe, healthy , designed for material reutilization,etc.)  The Aloe Vera Liquid Body Cleanser that Brad helped design and developed the scent, debuts this month.

He also wrote a little message on the label to inform everyone where proceeds from their purchase will go:

Despite the negative tabloidization of their lives, I think Brangelina are amazing and inspirational.

Do you remember how fun it was as a little girl to go shopping with your mother, big sister, or babysitter? Those memories mark the foundation of our fashion-obsessed natures. The thing is, not all of our fashion role models at the time were eco-fashionistas.

We, as the new generation of role-models and mothers have the incredible ability to excite, educate, and inspire the qualities of an Eco-Chick into our Eco-Chicklets today so that they grow up to become even fiercer than our generation.

Loyale, ABC Carpet & Home, and Sons & Daughters, are just a few of the little boutiques across New York City that carry cute (organic) fashions for the little ones.

Some of the labels, such as Loyale, carry collections that both an adult and child could wear (so you can pick some new stuff up too). The Loyale collection uses 100% Organic Cottons, 100% Organic Cotton Faux Furs and embroidery and factory reclaimed fabrics in its construction, and the garments are all crafted in New York City.

There are definitely more on-line stores than boutiques, but the experience of going into a store or studio, and explaining to your child, niece, younger sister, or granddaughter why her new dress is better than a conventional one from the Gap can’t be beat. Remember that for kids, every experience is ripe for learning something new.

Showing them how to repair their own clothes, or even make their own, is another great way to show a young girl (or boy!) what goes into making her or his clothes (they’ll be able to relate to the usually-underpaid sewers who put together most conventional garments). Letting them pick out patterns and fabrics is a fantastic design lesson.

There are certain cultural traditions that are hard to let go of, especially when it comes to weddings and event planning, and the invitation is one of them. No matter how much of an eco-chick you are, sending out wedding invites via email might just not cut it for you. Fortunately, more and more, environmentally conscious printers and artisans are creating some gorgeous options (that are tasteful enough so they won’t piss off your mother-in-law).

Thankfully Bella Figura, an artisan letterpress shop based in Syracuse, NY, has stepped up to make sustainable event planning a bit easier and a whole lot of fun.

Debbie Urbanski and Harold Kyle are the masterminds ( and cute couple) behind this beautiful work. Together they saved letterpresses from scrap yards throughout the Midwest and the Northeast to weld together their eclectic shop upstate. Now with over 50 tons of equipment – presses, board shears, paper cutters – the Bella Figura shop has produced many fabulous invitations, announcements, and collateral pieces.

Their work has been featured in Modern Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Bride’s magazines, and some of their clients include Barnes and Noble, Little, Brown and Company Publishers and NBC.

The Bella Figuera shop is entirely wind-powered through Native Energy and they purchase bus passes for their employees to encourage public transportation use. As a member of  1% for the planet, they  donate 1% of their sales to The Conservation Fund, Conservation International, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Bella Figura’s other green business practices include: recycling their photo chemistry, film, paper offcuts, and photopolymer printing plates, keeping empty ink cans and old rags out of the landfills, and recycling and composting their waste. Once a year they donate surplus paper and envelopes to Syracuse Public Schools and they use 100% post-consumer recycled materials in their shipping.

As for the materials used to make the beautiful pieces, they only use vegetable-oil based and low-VOC inks and environmental papers. How great is that! Have fun planning away.