Tarte Double Dose Lip Gloss Review

Tarte’s Double Dose Lip Gloss in Acerola Rush is available at Sephora. It has Sephora’s “Natural Seal of Approval”, which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s completely good for you, but it is lacking in a few of the worst chemicals.

I have rewritten this review because this gloss has grown on me. At first I was adamently against the texture– I thought it was gunky, but after using it more, I found it more appealing. If you don’t use too much at once, the texture is more manageable.  I like glosses that are a little bit oilier and have a smooth texture, so it depends on what your preferences are. This one is a bit waxy, so using it in small quantities is best.

It has two different compartments: one for the pigment and one for the clear gloss. They blend together on to the applicator as you squeeze the bottle. I like the peppermint scent and tingle, and the slanted applicator. It’s easy to throw in my pocket when I’m going out, and the it’s easy to apply without overdoing it because of the nice slanted applicator. It seems more hygienic that your ordinary lip gloss. Acerola Rush is a subtle color that isn’t too pigmented, but shows up enough to enhance your natural lip color.

The price is steep.  I’d be willing to try a drugstore brand and see if it’s just as good.

<3 Cameron

This month Cameron Diaz is on the cover of Vogue. For people who don’t know, she’s one of the celebrities who tries to set a good example in the green department by practicing what she preaches. I don’t really buy magazines anymore, but I picked up a copy the other day. Her photoshoot is gorgeous– lots of natural fabrics and hot summer whites.

Wearing Rag and Bones organic cotton sweater and Tibi bikini

Coming next week…

Stay tuned for reviews of some natural and organic cosmetics from Sephora.

Green Weddings

The latest trend in weddings is all about GREEN. I haven’t done a lot of reading about this yet, since I’m not planning a wedding, but I thought I’d share some of my initial ideas for having a more eco-friendly wedding.

- Keep it small. I think big weddings are like a circus anyway. Why not just invite people who mean the most to you? Otherwise the whole thing is like a stage performance. The smaller the wedding party, the less it will cost and the less resources you will use. PLUS, if you keep your guest list trim, you can afford to have the reception at a nicer location.

- If you like to garden, grow your own flowers. Someone I know is doing this– she’s growing sunflowers. Keep your aesthetic and color palette in mind. If you don’t garden, try scoping out a local flower grower at your farmer’s market and ask if they could plan to accommodate your wedding order.

- Have the ceremony local. To cut down on your carbon footprint, you can have the ceremony in a place that makes it easier for your loved ones to attend without jetsetting all over the country.

- Make your own  invitations, but only if you’re talented in the craft department. If you’re not, get them done professionally by a place that uses recycled paper and soybased inks.

- Get the wedding catered by a local organic restaurant or bakery. Or if it’s a really small wedding, have a domestic goddess friend take care of the food.

- Let your bridesmaids wear dresses that they will use again. JCrew has nice dresses that are not ocassion-specific and are classic enough to rewear.

- Get a conflict-free diamond. I won’t lecture you on the African diamond trade, but check out this site, which has rings made in Canada: Brilliant Earth.

- Go wherever you want on your honeymoon– it’s a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. Keep in mind that there are luxury eco spas in a lot of different countries, though. It’s worth looking into. Forbes recently published a list of some of the best.

- If you know a great vintage shop, look there before ordering a wedding dress. You probably won’t find anything, but at a high-end vintage shop, you might come across a gem.

- If you have a registry, only ask for things you really need and want. Otherwise, ask for donations to a local charity in leiu of gifts.

Comparisons: Reusable Water Bottles

This post will compare four water bottles that are on the market. It can be confusing to know which to buy if you don’t already have a tried and tested favorite. So, here’s my take on Sigg, Klean Kanteen, Blue Q, and Pura. I’m sure there are other brands out there, but these are the ones I’ve used or seen in person.

Sigg

Sigg bottle with sport cap, $19.99

Sigg was the first reusable water bottle that I bought. They’re a Swiss company and have been around since 1908. They have a design for literally everyone’s taste (thus the Hello Kitty example). In terms of sheer number of choices for design, Sigg is the leading water bottle manufacturer.

But besides the aesthetic thrill, I would not recommend Sigg. The openings at the top are small, so they’re extraordinarily difficult to clean unless you buy the special brush. Also, you can’t fit ice cubes in the top. Be careful not to get anything stuck in them. My roommate had a lime wedge that simply would not come out!  The lining is made of something funky (not stainless steel) that retains the scent of whatever you put into it, so it’s best to use only for water. Plus side is that you can get one with a convenient sport top with easy access but no spilling.

Pros: lots of design choices, lots of options for tops including sport, fun aesthetics

Cons: hard to clean, retains smell, small opening

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen, $16.45 for 20 oz.

Klean Kanteen is hands-down my favorite of the water bottle options. It has a wide opening, is more durable that Sigg, and doesn’t retain smells. It can fit ice cubes too. It’s made of food-grade stainless steel. Probably has the simplest design of all of the options, so that could be positive or negative depending on your aesthetic preferences.  I personally really like the simplicity. (Another similar brand is Enviroproducts. I have a 12 oz one that is perfect for stashing in my purse.

Pros: less expensive than others, durable, easy to clean, doesn’t retain smells, wide opening, comes in several colors

Cons: sport cap is a little bit strange (they might not have perfected this yet), made in China

Blue Q

Blue Q is based in Massachusetts. I discovered them at a small boutique and was intrigued by the colorful designs. They are somewhat like Sigg in their designs, but have far fewer choices. But, I would recommend them over Sigg simply because the bottles are made of stainless steel and have a wider opening. Most of the designs, with the exception of the one on the left, are cheeky-sloganish so it’s not really my cup of tea, but still a fun option.

Their website implies but doesn’t state explicitly that the items are manufactured in Pittsfield, MA. I’d like to know if they are made there or simply distributed from MA.

Pros: stainless steel, interesting designs, doesn’t retain smells, wide opening

Cons: no plain design options, only flat-capped tops available.

Pura

Pura, $17.99

I don’t have as much to say about Pura because I have never purchased one of their products. However, a friend of mine has one and likes it a lot so I’ll do a quick pro and con list. My guess is that they are similar to Klean Kanteen. The colors and feel are definitely alike.

Pros: stainless steel, doesn’t retain smells, wide enough opening, comes in several colors

Cons: no sport top available, made in China

Banana Republic and Organic Cotton

Cotton tunic, 10% organic cotton

Who knew? Banana Republic is now carrying organic cotton.  5% of the cotton in most of their cotton items, sometimes 10% and occassionally 100% is now organic. Their slogan for this is “one step at a time”, which implies that they are moving towards using more organic cotton. I am pretty skeptical and I think it’s just a marketing ploy since they probably still use sweat shop labor and my impression is that they don’t care all that much about the larger wellbeing of the planet. That said, it’s better to be a little organic than not at all and also, their t-shirts and pretty blouses can make your decollete look pretty great on a date.

It is of course best to purchase second hand, from a local clothing producer, or from a company that manufacters in the US with organic cotton like Stewart & Brown. But I thought this deserved a little recognition anyway.

Book Review: Gorgeously Green Diet

Sophie Uliano’s second book, The Gorgeously Green Diet, is a health-focused follow up to her first book about green lifestyle choices. This one mostly focuses on what you eat, but she also writes about fitness, saving money, and having a healthy lifestyle. It isn’t a regular “diet” book so much as a guide for how to eat all the time, which is much healthier and easier to sustain than crash diets. Uliano offers three “shades of green”: light, bright, and deep, which are at different levels of environmental impact. She has laid out meal plans for each level, provides recipes, and “office girl” options for women with busy lifestyles.

I think this book could be really wonderful for someone who wants to begin eating organic, natural foods but  needs a bit of help with getting started. It’s perfect for helping to eliminate processed foods and start making your own meals. It also decodes health food store lingo and lets you know what kinds of foods harm the environment (and yourself the least). For example, there are certain fruits and vegetables that are best to buy organic because they are normally very high in pesticides.

Despite my upfront praise for this book, I do have some criticism. The shopping lists in Gorgeously Green are meant for “money saving” which is really a joke if you look at them. You’ll laugh out loud. Even for a family of four, the shopping lists seem large and pricey. I suppose that we’re meant to start the very first week of the GG plan anew by completely restocking our pantries with healthy food in the hopes that once we have the staples we won’t buy as much the next week. I grocery shop for just myself each week and I spend between $40-50, more if I have a guest. I eat organic meat, some organic vegetables and fruits, organic dairy, whole wheat, etc. If I followed Uliano’s shopping list, I would end up with more food than I can eat AND an empty wallet.

Second, I was confused by the shades of green. Each diet plan was not very different from the others. Just one level, bright green, would have been easier to read and follow as opposed to three different levels. Even me explaining it to you right now sounds confusing, doesn’t it?

The recipes, on the other hand, look easy and useful. Uliano includes things like tropical smoothies, salad nicoise, corn and black bean salad, lentil salad, herb crusted salmon, stuffed pepper, and other healthy options. I can’t wait to try some of these.

If you already shop at health food stores and you know what it takes to lose weight/be fit/cook your own meals/be green, I’d recommend just buying a vegetarian cookbook and a pilates DVD and try to shed the last few pounds, but if you’re brand new to being green, this book can definitely help you start on the right path!

More from Dwell

For all of you looking for a career change– how about going into green architecture or interior design? Oh how lovely it would be to think about this 24/7. Dwell magazine has a fantastic website with slideshows for inspiration. Pick up a copy at a newstand or read at your local library. Dwell is committed to featuring homes that use renewable resources and green technology. Natural surfaces, rustic settings, and new ideas make these homes out-of-the-ordinary.

Location: Big Sur, CA

Location: Belvedere

Is this for real? Location: Paris.

Can you imagine this view in your backyard? I'd never leave my house. Location: New Zealand

Contemplation studio, sans computer! Wouldn't it be nice to have a workspace without one?

Organicjoy loves…

Best of the green in 2009, in my humble opinion:

DESIGN

T-shirts: Milo in Maine (so soft)

Canvas bags: Hable Construction

Outdoor gear: Patagonia

Shoes: Terra Plana

MISCELANY

Reusable water bottle: Klean Kanteen

Magazine: Dwell

Paper products: Jill Bliss (I love Moleskine, but I don’t think they’re recycled)

Car: Toyota Prius

PERSONAL CARE/BEAUTY

Body lotion: Origins Ginger Rush

Salon: Head Games, Portland, Maine

Shampoo & Conditioner: Expensive: Pureology / Affordable: Lush solid

Lipbalm: Pangea Organics

Cosmetics: Bare Escentuals

Lip gloss: Tarte Double Dose

FOOD

Grocery Store, chain: Whole Foods (but go to your farmer’s market and local health food stores before supporting WF)

Milk: Smiling Hill Farm, Maine

Chocolate: Chocolove and Rapunzel Organic

Restaurant: The Kitchen, Boulder, CO

Bakery: Flour Bakery and Clear Flour Bread, Boston

Edible Boston: local, organic, green

I found Edible Boston publication at the d2e sustainability convention in Boston this weekend. It’s a free magazine published 4 times per year. It features local chefs and farmers, and has recipes and information about healthy eating. The magazine is free at these local places: Clear Flour Bread in Brookline, Whole Foods, Serenade Chocoletier in Brookline, Foodie’s Urban Market in Boston, Lionette’s Market in Boston, Upstairs on the Square in Cambridge, and many other businesses in the greater Boston area. The design is excellent and consistent, especially for a free magazine. Looks professional and is fun to read.

Edible Boston is a wonderful way to learn about supporting organic farmers and restaurants in the area. Supporting local growers helps reduce your carbon footprint because the closer you are geographically to the source of the food, the less fuel it took to get it to you. In addition, when you go to get fresh tomatoes at your farmers’ market you cut down on packaging that it would normally take to buy a pack of tomatoes at the grocery store.  Also, you stimulate your local economy and local food tastes better anyway! I think the best farmers’ market in Boston is at Copley Square (Tuesdays and Fridays), but there are multiple markets around the city.