Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Artful Undergarments: Rio Wrenn’s R.A.W. Eco Lingerie Collection

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by Starre Vartan · 06/18/10

Portland, Oregon based textile designer Rio Wrenn has a unique vision for lingerie, combining modern eco friendly materials and dying techniques, antique constructions and ethical manufacturing to create her line, R.A.W. “I started R.A.W. in 2007, which is inspired by vintage undergarments ranging from the 1800′s to the 1950′s to modern day,” says Rio. Her collection of corsets, bras and undies has a special look, and with the Summer and Autumn 2010 trend of exposed undergarments, she’s right on target with perfect base layers for style mavens and lingerie fans alike.

And not only is Rio a conscious creator of unique pieces, she’s an advocate for women’s bodies and all the curves that go with them, and explained that her corsets aren’t meant to be restrictive or to reshape a body (she’s a fan of hips especially). “Corsets are actually very therapeutic, they make you stand up straight! I think people have a bad vision of corsets, but I don’t make them to be oppressive, they should be comfortable and supportive,” she says.

Each piece in R.A.W.’s collection is also a work of art and are handmade in Portland. Rio is a visual artist, but found that fine art was often out of reach to many people; fashion is a way to take a creative project and make it more accessible, wearable and affordable, she says.
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Top 5 Fave Natural Beauty Products for Winter

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by Stephanie Rogers · 01/23/09

During the winter, I use more products than at any other time of year out of pure necessity. In order to avoid dry, scaly skin and lips, I do a lot of scrubbing and moisturizing. This winter, I became even more of a purist (or what some may call a control freak) than ever in terms of the ingredients of the products I’m using – I wanted them all to be super simple, healthy and natural. These 5 products didn’t just live up to my expectations, they were so great I just had to spread the word about them.

Vintage Body Spa Ginger Cardamom Cream Body Bar – This ultra-moisturizing body butter smells absolutely heavenly and it was the only thing that has managed to keep the soles of my feet soft and smooth.  Cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil lightly scented with clove, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, orange and mint.

Mountain Rose Herbs Restorative Skin Oil – For the rest of my body, especially my hands, elbows and legs, this moisturizing and healing skin oil has kept dryness and that unpleasant itchy, tight feeling at bay. Organic calendula oil, rosehip seed oil, vitamin E and a blend of essential oils including Neroli and Helichrysium.

Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Rescue Conditioning Mask – Finally, a vegan protein treatment for hair that really works. Aubrey Organics combines blue-green algae and red algae extract with coconut, shea butter, aloe, and lavender water in a deep hair treatment that keeps my hair glossy and healthy looking despite harsh winds and drying indoor heat.

Josie Maran Lipstick in Rumi Joon – This might just be the ultimate flattering nude lipstick shade for practically every skin tone. It’s also ultra-moisturizing, long lasting and free of toxic ingredients, petrochemicals, parabens and artificial fragrances. The tube is recyclable, too.

DIY Brown Sugar Body Scrub – This exfoliating and moisturizing body scrub is so decadent yet incredibly easy to make with stuff you’ve probably already got in your pantry. I scoop about 4 tablespoons of coconut oil into a microwaveable container, nuke it just until it softens and mix in ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. You could literally eat it (and I can attest that it tastes fantastic) and the brown sugar helps to gently buff away scaly skin.

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The Final Lowdown on Stopping Stink Naturally: Ask Chicky!

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by Starre Vartan · 11/24/08

Eco-chick, I have a question. I have tried many, many eco-happy deodorants, and I always end up smelling quite unwholesome by the end of the day. I even had to make an emergency trip to Duane Reade today for some aluminum-B.O. warfare. Do you have any advice for us extra-stinky folk?

Yours,
Not-So-Brad Pitts

Mr. Pitts,

Deodorant is only half the battle (literally) to living a low-stink life, and is the last step. Many people expect to spray, roll-on or otherwise apply deodorant/antiperspirants and POOF! never produce odors again, but often they are not addressing the underlying cause of their smelliness. And then using a bunch of nasty chemicals to cover it up.

First, there is a difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorants kill or reduce the number of bacteria under your arms (bacteria creates odor). I use a natural deodorant, never smell, but DO perspire under my arms if I’m hot or really, really nervous. This is natural and normal, and as long as I don’t smell, I’m OK with it. I use a deodorant and not an antiperspirant because most of the bad stuff you hear about in regards to deodorant/antiperspirant comes from the metals (aluminum) which stop sweat in antiperspirants.

While it has not been proven that using aluminum-containing antiperspirants is a health risk, I live by the Precautionary Principle- we know that heavy metals aren’t good for our bodies, and are known to cause Alzheimer’s and cancer in lab animals, so I’m not taking the risk. Also, women may be at higher risk from whatever’s in their deodorant/antiperspirant, which can enter the body more easily through microscopic cuts when we shave under our arms (I do).

1. A healthy diet will result in a low-stink person. People who eat junk tend to smell like it- and heavy meat-eaters are particularly stinky! If you eat lots of whole foods, fruits and veggies, drink plenty of water, you WILL smell less right off the bat.

2. Sweating is one of your body’s ways of cooling and cleansing itself. Regular, sweat-producing exercise will make you feel better and you’ll get rid of the toxins we all collect every time you work out, resulting in less smelliness overall.

3. Many people’s bodies have totally overadjusted to what I call Evil Corporate Antiperspirant. This happened to me; I used Secret roll-on all through high school, totally sold by the ads and terrified of having B.O. in high school. By college, I felt like no matter how much antiperspirant I put on, I was still sweating profusely. I almost went as far as to get some of that prescription-level deo, but then a friend told me she was having the same problem with Secret, and I decided it wasn’t me, it was the antiperspirant. I learned that antiperspirant is like crack- the more you use, the more you need- because your body wants to sweat the toxins out, but can’t! So take an antiperspirant/deodorant break for a week, just let your underarms flush out and just wash with soap and water often. Your body will re-set and soon you’ll be sweating at normal levels, which are generally pretty low (this worked for both myself and my friend).

4. People naturally don’t smell that much as long as they regularly wash- wash under your arms with a good natural soap (NOT a deodorant soap!) every day or so, whatever deodorant you use.

5. If you have a decent diet, regularly exercise, and wash regularly, and have unhooked from the Evil Corporate Deo (packed with nasty artificial chemicals, fragrances, etc.) THEN use Kiss My Face roll-on liquid rock deodorant (see my love-fest about it: http://eco-chick.com/2007/03/10/this-natural-deoderant-really-works/). I’ve tried a lot of natural deodorants, and this one just kicks ass, AND comes in lovely scents, or unscented.

6. Always apply deodorant right after a shower, before bacteria has a chance to sprout. I can go two days without a shower or a reapplication of deodorant using this system, which was definitely NOT the case when my pits were addicted to the corporate stuff.

antiperspirant, bath, beauty products, deodorant

Dr. Alkaitis: Therapeutic Skin Food

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 11/17/08

The theory behind the Dr. Alkaitis skin care line is that taking good care of our skin is not just a matter of beauty, but of health and well-being. Alkaitis also believes that whatever we put on our skin, we should be able to ingest, so all of his products are biologically active and free from any synthetic materials.

Alkaitis, a highly regarded research scientist, specializes in the fields of molecular biology, ethnopharmacology (the study of traditional ways of healing with plants), and organics. The company uses 100% pure aloe vera, long revered for its healing properties, as the product base as opposed to water, and all botanicals are ethically wild-crafted. Everything is made in-house, unlike many other brands, and the company is family-owned and operated.

Wedding science and Mother Nature, the line has been praised by many, including men. After two weeks my skin is glowing. I have used many different skin care lines, and have never had people actually comment about my skin and how good it looks as they have after following this regimen. The soothing gel and nourishing oil are both very hydrating during these colder months. The prices are a bit steep, but one only needs to use a very small amount of product and each container lasts up to two months.

bath, Beauty, Organic, skin

Bamboo: Ecofriendly or Not So Much?

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by Starre Vartan · 10/15/08

I’ve heard bamboo flooring is more eco-friendly than traditional pine or oak. Is this true?
—Cara Truhlar, Montpelier, VT

At first glance, bamboo is as green as it gets. It grows like a weed (technically, it’s a grass) and can reach harvestable height in three to five years. This crop—also native to the Americas—sequesters carbon more efficiently than slow-growing oak forests, which can take 10 times as long to reach maturity.

Bamboo is grown most extensively in China for commercial products, but—here’s the hitch—it can become invasive if not properly managed. Widely acclaimed for its prolific growth, bamboo doesn’t usually require fertilizers and pesticides for optimal yields. However, once it’s cut, most bamboo is treated with chemical preservatives, as is the case with some other mainstream flooring materials, says Brad Salmon, president of the American Bamboo Society. These issues should factor into a product’s measure of sustainability.

The Forest Stewardship Council, the main green-wood accreditor, has just started evaluating U.S. bamboo producers, and so far it has okayed only one company, Smith & Fong Co. If you’re shopping for bamboo flooring, it’s best to start with taking a hard look at its source. Bamboo grows in some of the most threatened ecosystems in Southeast Asia and Central America.

Look for planks made from farmed, not wild, bamboo. Also “keep its whole life cycle in mind,” says Stowe Hartridge-Beam, program manager for indoor-air quality at Scientific Certification Systems, an industry-recognized third-party certifier. “How is the product manufactured and transported? Is it recyclable when it reaches the end of its life?” He says these questions must be asked of a bamboo floor salesperson or the manufacturer; they should be able to provide answers. Remember, bamboo, like any wood, needs additional sealants if you want to use it in a place that gets wet, like a bathroom or kitchen.

Ask for varnishes and glues that have low volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and that also adhere to California Section 01350, the highest air-quality standard for these products. Always buy the most sustainable products you can afford. You’re worth it.

For more details on the bamboo debate, specifically bamboo that’s used for clothing, check out the excellent coverage on The Greenloop’s blog.

This question and answer originally published in the Green Guru column of Audubon Magazine written by Starre Vartan.

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