Our Eco-Friendly Gift Guide for 2010

The 2010 holiday season is finally here and we have some great gift ideas for you! Here are our favorite socially and environmentally conscious picks for the season:

Socks for Happy People

These brightly colored organic cotton socks will not only keep your feet toasty, they will warm your heart. With each pair purchased, the company donates socks to a child in Mongolia through their Buy One Give One Free initiative. The socks come in a variety of colors, stripes and even animal prints. They also have a series of Affirmation Socks that say: "TODAY I WILL SMILE AND FEEL GOOOOD!"

Ethically Engineered

Ethically Engineered's handmade vegan soap is packaged in compostable materials. The Chicago-based company "works to ensure a viable and sustainable product with little to no impact on the bio-sphere" and they even deliver their products by bike! They have a bunch of nice gift sets for the 2010 season including their popular No Bottle Shampoo & Conditioner. 

Greenbees

These sturdy and stylish boots are made of all natural leather, dyed using formaldehyde free methods and feature a recycled tire sole bottom.

 

The Thencha boot (pictured here) is a new take on an old classic combining the styling of an equestrian boot with the rugged comfort of a cowboy boot. A perfect gift for your favorite eco-fashionista!

 

 

 

PACT

PACT's organic cotton underwear is helping to light up Haiti during the holidays. Inspired by the stories of women in tent camps using the solar lights after the earthquake, PACT has partnered with EarthSpark International to donate a portion of profits from their 2010 holiday collection. The limited edition Winter Lights Collection was designed by Yves Behar and is available in a variety of colors and sizes.

Collective Wellbeing

Collective Wellbeing is the first consumer packaged goods company to have entirely offset its carbon footprint. They also pledge at least 1% of annual revenues to environmental non-profits. Their Holiday Detox Gift Set includes:

• Charcoal Body Wash - a sulfate-free cleanser with active charcoal and zinc
• Bamboo/Fennel Seed Body Scrub - rich in vitamins and minerals
• Aloe Vera/Chamomile Dry Skin Relief - an intensive, moisturizing treatment

Hopefully our picks will get you inspired for a holiday filled with feel-good gifts. If you prefer to make your own presents, check out Homegrown.org's Holiday Gift Guide 2010, which has tons of great food and craft ideas for you to share!

Organic Pick of the Week: John Masters Natural Mineral Sunscreen

Like most Chicagoans, summer is a time when I get outside to tank up on sunshine. But with fair skin, I always have to be careful of too much sun exposure so I'm always on the lookout for a good sunscreen.

On a recent trip to Nantucket, I got a chance to try out John Masters Organics SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen during a week of sailing, swimming and biking around the island. Not only did I return with a nice tan (look, no sunburns Mom!), I really enjoyed the light-weight and fragrance free formula.

Environmental Working Group recently did a safety study about sunscreen and they determined that "mineral sunscreens have the best safety profile of today’s choices. They are stable in sunlight and do not appear to penetrate the skin." John Masters Organics sunscreen combines titanium dioxide and zinc oxide for skin protection and includes shea butter, green tea extract and jojoba for their moisturizing and anti-oxidant properties. The cream does not contain nano-particles and is fully bio-degradable.

At 32 bucks a pop, this sunscreen is on the higher end of choices on the market but I think it's a worthwhile purchase, even if you decide to use it only on your face.

-Dorothée

Video: The (toxic!) Story of Cosmetics

Did you know that many cosmetics contain carcinogens and neurotoxins and that unlike food, the personal care industry is not regulated by a governmental body to ensure safety?

In this new video from The Story of Stuff Project, Annie Leonard examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. It serves as a great introduction to this issue by revealing the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives.

Help get toxic products off the shelves! Support legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of cosmetics and personal care products by sending an email to your representative today. And to find out what's in your products and search for healthy alternatives, check out Environmental Working Group's Cosmetic Safety Database.

Organic Pick of the Week: Sophyto

Sophyto Organic Skin Care was created after 8 years of research and development, working with complete whole organic nutrients. The company's motto is that "Not all Organic Skin Care Products Are Created Equal" - and I have to agree. After using Sophyto's gentle but effective products during a busy month of travel, I can attest to it's rejuvenating effects. Despite hours in the car and days spent visiting farms and hiking in the sun, my skin feels more toned and supple than ever before.

My favorite product is their Tone and Balance Super Bioactive. Though the name sounds intense, this toner is really just a delicious mix of restorative ingredients including aloe vera, dandelion and elder berry that balance your skin's PH level (it feels super refreshing to splash on your face after a shower, before you put on makeup or a moisturizer).

I also highly recommend their Purifying Active Mask. I have sensitive skin so most face masks tend to sting or leave my skin feeling raw. This mask is a clear, light-weight substance that feels like food for the skin. Some key ingredients include amino acids, proteins and vitamins derived from green single-cell freshwater micro-algae that neutralize the damaging effects of environmental pollutants, help reduce pore size and improve elasticity. If you want your skin to feel smooth, hydrated and have that extra glow, this mask is the definitely the way to go.

Sophyto products are free from petrochemicals, parabens, fillers and binders, artificial fragrances and essential oils (which can cause irritation). The company's agricultural raw materials come from certified suppliers who support a number of community projects in countries like Bulgaria, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal, South Africa, Italy, India, Somalia and many others. They work closely with local farmers and producers, offering financial support as well as managing their exports.

You can order Sophyto products online at Bella Floria, which is a great resource for organic and non-toxic beauty products.

-Dorothée

Full Disclosure: Bella Floria is one of the fabulous natural beauty brands that partnered with us for our Southwest Tour.