Skin · Eco-Chick

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Heroines for the Planet: Model and Skincare Chef May Lindstrom

Photo by Larry White

May Lindstrom is a self-professed explorer, skin chef and conscious epicurean. Her deep connection to the earth seeps into every facet of her work as a successful model, green makeup artist, painter and now, entrepreneur. May’s new, artisanal skincare line, May Lindstrom Skin, is a collection of the purest concoctions imaginable, personally crafted using only ingredients that are organic, bio-dynamic, wild crafted, cruelty free, vegan, sustainable and conscious. Since each bottle is formulated, hand-blended and filled by May in her private studio, she controls precisely what goes into her products, avoiding harmful chemicals, outsourcing and labs that are commonly used and abused in most beauty and skincare products.

I had the pleasure of catching up with May recently. She shared how wildly passionate she is about her new line, where she sources her ingredients from, how her modeling career took off, and what she loves most about her job.

Lindsay: Congratulations on your skincare line! What inspired its creation?

May: Thank you so much, Lindsay. It has been the most incredible journey introducing this line into the world. I started formulating as a little girl, mashing plants and mud together and coming up with special “potions” for all my friends. I took playing in mud puddles very seriously! As I got older, the process evolved and I grew fascinated with the history of beauty rituals, the coming together of women to celebrate themselves and indulge in their own self care, the sharing and passing on of recipes and traditions from one generation to the next across continents and social divisions.
My own skin has also been a constant motivator. I am highly sensitive to several of the chemicals common in everyday cosmetics and beauty products and am fighting a never ending battle with these influences to my complexion. As a consumer, I have yearned for something nourishing and luxurious, deeply indulgent and beautifully packaged without sacrifice to purity and potency. As a formulator, it only made sense for me to make it myself. What a fun challenge this has been!

Photo Credit: Courtney Dailey

Beauty, cosmetics, health, makeup, may lindstrom, natural, skin, women

Jane’s Flower Oil: Handmixed Loveliness for What Ails You from the Owner of Grace Heaven Salon

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by Starre Vartan · 11/09/11

Jane Webb runs the supergreen hair salon Grace Heaven in the East Village of Manhattan (or by appointment in LA), and I see her regularly to keep my crazy-curly tresses red and glowing. She uses only the most natural and toxin-free colors and hair products, and she’s extremely serious about that – her salon is a no greenwashing zone.

Jane has twice now gifted me with some of her unbelievable handcrafted oils. I took the first batch with me on my around-the-world travels, and it steadied and centered me when I was feeling (sometimes literally) adrift. I use the newest version on my whole body after my once-a-week super scrubdown, while my body is still warm and damp, and I use just a bit on my hair almost every day, to keep it in check and to tame my frizzies and ends. It is my very favorite beauty product of them all (well, that and my mascara!).

Jane says of her most recent blend:

Every batch is different and I choose the scents based on what resonates for me at the time. Lately I have been loving sandalwood recently and I like ambrette, neroli, rose, frankincense, lavender, sage, jasmine, helichrysum, geranium. I am always trying different purveyors and like any crop it depends on season, growing conditions, how it is extracted; these are all super critical issues.
I don’t always use [an oil] because it smells good. Sometimes the benefits of a certain element are so important that it must be included. I am not trying to be a perfumer but it comes with the territory and you never know what the end result is until you combine everything. What will top out, what will be laying in the background.
But once you become accustomed to the lushness, the true luxury of essential oils you will never be enchanted by a man made chemical based perfume again. What I love about it is the subtle but powerful way that it works on the emotions and the body. It is the life blood of a plant- truly the healing medicine of the planet.

Jane makes small batches of 15-20 bottles at a time, and she can tailor the oil to deal with certain issues. If you are interested in this incredibly healing (and wonderfully moisturizing) oil, Jane can be reached through her shop Grace Heaven salon, which is on 3rd between A and B, or at 212.253.5490.

all natural, body care, oil, skin

Abhyanga: The Ancient Art of Self Healing Massage

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 01/07/11

One of my favorite new body beauty wellness routines is to practice an Ayurvedic massage called Abhyanga (“ahhhh-buy-anga,” because it feels so good!) Abhyanga is a practice of self-massage that entails, in simple terms, annointing one’s body with oil. Now, this might sound a bit much: “Won’t it get on my clothes???” “Am I going to slide all over the place?” “Can I do it and go to work??”

There are various ways to perform Abhyanga, and depending on one’s dosha (constitution in Ayurveda) one might use different oils, but the most universal oil is cold-pressed organic sesame oil. Sesame oil is naturally soothing and slightly warming. I pour about a quarter size drop into my palm and rub my hands together to warm the oil and then I rub my joints: the shoulders in circular patterns, elbows, wrists, clavical bone, hip/butt joint, knees, and ankles. Then I focus on my feet and hands, pulling at the digits, getting in between, and generally vigorously massaging my entire body. I don’t massage my face with the sesame oil, since I am very sensitive about what I apply to my face. Here is a little more how-to from the Chopra Center.

Some people perform this massage and then gently rinse in the shower. I choose to massage after my shower in the morning, especially in the winter on these dry days. It takes only a few minutes if you are in a hurry, or you can devote more time to your body and really rub those muscles, joints, and even your scalp (pre-shower for that one is most likely best, unless you can sleep with the soothing oil.) Your skin will be glowing and grateful. This nourishing self-touch is truly healing.

Here are some of the benefits of self-care through Abhynga:
-Produces softness, strength and color to the body
-Decreases the effects of aging
-Bestows good vision
-Nourishes the body
-Increases longevity
-Benefits sleep patterns
-Benefits skin
-Strengthens the body’s tolerance
-Imparts a firmness to the limbs
-Imparts tone and vigor to the dhatus (tissues) of the body
-Stimulates the internal organs of the body, including circulation

Happy New Year!
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healing, health, massage, skin, Winter

Fall Eco Fashion Beats the Chill In Style with Keds, Loomstate and Eileen Fisher Organics!

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by Haley · 10/15/10

It’s official. Fall is off to a cool start! The best part about fall is the chance to start anew: new initiatives (turn off that a.c. and switch to eco-bulbs), new motivations (make lunch), and new clothes! You want to look street smart even when it is cold and this new apparel is both warm and eco-chic.

The limited-edition eco-conscious Loomstate poncho!

Since there’s been a chill in the air, there’s never been a better time to sport a cute overlayer. But with the season not quite winter the hustle and bustle of a thick wool coat overwhelms. Eco-Chick has a solution! In mid- October Loomstate, a men’s and women’s eco-conscious brand, presents their limited edition poncho in celebration of Barney’s CO-OP’s 25^th Anniversary.

Pair the chic poncho with organic denim and prepare to be enviable!

The poncho is made from organic cotton canvas and recycled blankets. It’s cute brown and blue colors make it an essential wardrobe piece to pair with the cutest of cotton organic skinny jeans, for they go the best with the sneaks, like these from Eileen Fisher. Not only are these jeans made from cotton grown without pesticides, they are dyed (jean dyes are notoriously polluting) under the Global Organic Textile Standard. And if you’re not into this style, Eileen Fisher offers a whole line of organic denim on their site and in stores.

Made from non-polluting organic cotton canvas, these sneaks are eco-chic.

Sneakers are a must – whether you’re running around, walking home from work, or taking a stroll in a local pumpkin patch. Whatever you’re up to, cute comfortable sneakers are essential! Keds are superclassic and come in various colors – but this month they’re eco-chic too! Introducing Keds Organic Champions, chic footwear made from one-hundred percent organic cotton, stitched eyelets, and tea-stained laces. The sneakers are 55$ and can be purchased at www.keds.com.

Don’t back down for the fall chill. Beat it. Sport this super cute outfit and be an eco-chick.
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art, bra, clothes, cotton, denim, eco, eco fashion, Eco-Chick, epa, fall, fashio, Fashion, fish, green, Home, jeans, local, lunch, men, ny, Organic, organic cotton, recycle, recycled, running, skin, sneakers, sport, style, Tea, weather, Winter, women

Eco Fashion Basics: An Ode to the Perfect Little Black Dress

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by Starre Vartan · 01/07/10

Wearing my Carol Young LBD at the Mini Exhibit at the Go Green Expo in LA.

It is only this year, my 32nd, that I have truly understood the value of the Little Black Dress. Of course I have heard the legend; what woman hasn’t? This mythical raiment could be worn anywhere, tarted out or demurely cover up, achieve figure flattery whether one was surviving on a diet of tropical fruit and raw macadamia nuts or daily chocolate bars and creamy pastas nightly. A frock that would work equally well with flats or heels, could be thrown in a bag and would never wrinkle, and be made of fabric that would dry quickly after a drenching but keep you from perspiring in the blasted sun (and could even hide said dampness when it inevitably made its moist mark). And of course it had to be impossibly chic.

This Little Black Dress from the very specialized boutique, Little Black Dress Shop