Whether you’re the shopper or the wishlist-maker this holiday season, coming up with gift ideas that are both green AND hip can seem like quite the challenge. Fortunately, three eco-chic young women from Teens Turning Green filled me in on the hottest, earth-friendly items they’re hoping for this season. And these items are sure to be a hit with stylish green girl consumers everywhere.

 

 

 Natalie Whalen is a member of the Teens Turning Green National Advisory Board and a Co-President of the San Francisco Bay Chapter.

   

On her holiday wish list this year:

JANE IREDALE, duo of Christina PureMoist Lipcolour and In the Pink Puregloss for lips

Description: For each Christina PureMoist and In The Pink gloss sold, Jane Iredale will donate $2 to Beyond Breast Cancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

Price: $19.00 each

What Natalie says: “The best makeup for me is not only pretty, but also makes a difference for others.”

JANE IREDALE, CHOCOHOLICKS 

Description: A 4-piece box of chocolate glosses for luscious, lickable lips. Jane Iredale makeup evens the skin's tone while actually nourishing, soothing and protecting with natural ingredients. Jane Iredale...as nature intended.

Price: $44.00

What Natalie says: “The newest, most fun gift that smells and tastes delicious! Also, it comes with four, so I plan to get a few packages and give one to all of my friends. I find that all girls can always use more gloss.”

 

MOLLIE DASH, SCRIPT H RING and TRANSPORT NECKLACE

Description: One of a kind & limited edition jewelry. The artist creates eco-friendly pieces using many discarded, thrifted, donated, and yard sale-derived materials.

Price: Script H Ring = $28.00 / Transport Necklace = $220.00

 

 Erin Schrode is the spokeswoman and founding member of the Teens Turning Green campaign. She is currently pursuing studies in International Affairs as a Presidential Honors Scholar at New York University.

 

On her holiday wish list this year:

DOGEARED, EARTH FRIENDLY MAKE A WISH NECKLACE 

Description: Recycled silver charms, hemp thread, and recycled cards make this necklace sustainable, responsible, and fashionable!

Price: $26.00

What Erin says: “I love the elegant simplicity of this necklace.”

 

GAIAM, KITCHEN COMPOST CROCK

Description: Put your kitchen scraps for the compost pile in an attractive countertop kitchen composting crock. The Kitchen Compost Crock has a fully glazed interior that won't stain or absorb odor and holds up to one gallon of kitchen scraps.

Price range: $42.00-$75.00

What Erin says: “Cooking is my absolute favorite activity, so this eco-friendly compost bin is a must!” 

 

SOLIO, CLASSIC HYBRID CHARGER 

Description: Solio stores power from the sun or socket; freeing you to recharge your mobile phone, iPod and other handheld devices anywhere, anytime. Solio generates free and clean energy immediately. Replacing your wall and car chargers with Solio reduces your ecological footprint.

Price: $79.95

What Erin says: “I really do think this is one device that I need: a solar-powered charger that works with all of my electronics. Easy and eco. Yes!” 

 

OLSEN HAUS, BABYLON FLAT 

Description: Beautifully crafted and 100% vegan, you can smile at your feet and feel extra-relaxed since it’s cruelty-free.

Price: $140.00

What Erin says: “I am a borderline shoe addict - and these red ones are at the top of my must-have list right now! The eco-chic flats are made from 100% PCW recycled TV screens. How cool is that?” 

 

NUDE SKINCARE, TRAVEL NUDE KIT 

Description: The ultimate travel companion for any skin type. Presented in a beautiful washbag handmade from reclaimed seatbelts, this perfect hand luggage size collection makes the ideal gift for those who like to travel in style.

Price: $148.00

What Erin says: “I am going on vacation over the holidays and this is exactly what I need! A set of five fantastic products that nourish my skin (and are free of parabens, sulfates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMO or silicones. Whew!) in a perfectly cute, perfectly eco seatbelt bag.”

  

 Morgan Gooding is a member of the Teens Turning Green College Chapter. She currently studies at UC Berkeley.

   

On her holiday wish list this year:

FLOC DESIGNS, POCKETFLOPS

Description: The boutique line of Pocketflops is designed for luxurious portability.  They are made out of 90% recycled materials and come with a carrying case made from 100% organic cotton.

Price range: $15.00-$22.00

What Morgan says: “When holiday break is over and I head back to school, I want to be able to walk to class everyday in style.”

 

JANE IREDALE, POMMISST HYDRATION SPRAY

Description: Powerful antioxidant hydration spray from Jane Iredale for using to set mineral after makeup has been applied and to hydrate skin at any time - especially in dry climates or planes.

Price: $17.50

What Morgan says: “This winter I will be spending a lot of time on the ski slopes, so it would be nice to have the Jane Iredale POMMISST hydration spray. This will hydrate my skin in the dry mountains, help protect my skin from harmful UV, and quench my skin with antioxidants.” 

 

7 FOR ALL MANKIND, 100% ORGANIC COTTON/DENIM JEAN STYLES

Description: Seven for all Mankind’s first organic denim, the Yosemite, is a non-stretch fabrication with subtle indigo fading weaved throughout the front and rear. The wash is finished with green hardware to signify Yosemite’s organic appeal. Sits low on waist and slim through the knee with a bootcut opening.

Price range: $161.00-$200.00+ 
What Morgan says: “An average pair of jeans uses about 2/3 a pound of pesticides to produce. Organic jeans not only have a lesser impact on the environment and lower toxic exposure, but I also think they are softer and more comfortable.”

   

Teens Turning Green “is a national movement of youth transforming the world by investigating and eliminating toxic exposures in daily lives, schools and communities, advocating for change in policy and habits to protect our health, and educating peers and the community about greener alternatives.” Check out their line of eco-friendly body care products and learn more about the Teens Turning Green cause at their website, http://www.teensturninggreen.org/index.php. 

   

Seasons GreeNings!

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Danielle Foster is a Natural Foods Chef and Holistic Health Counselor with a knack for fabulous, easy green living. She founded Get Green Girl, a motivational workshop series ultimately teaching teen girls about self-acceptance, achieving their dreams, and making a difference in the world all while reinforcing green, environmentally-sound habits and behaviors. Visit www.get-green-girl.com for more info. 

It seems like, as a female, you are always battling some type of skin issue: acne, sun damage, dryness, redness, cellulite, and more. In honor of National Healthy Skin Month, this article provides you with the basics of green skincare and the best advice and resources to make your skin shine and glow from the inside out!  
 

Photo via weddingssc1

Here are essential tips on getting healthy skin that will be the envy of all your girlfriends:    Be a Skin-Beauty Foodie. According to research, antioxidant-rich foods help with antiaging and fight off wrinkles, pimples, sun damage, cellulite, and sagging neck and jaw skin! For the ultimate skin beauty, make sure to eat at least one of the following foods daily: avocadoes, green tea, sweet potatoes, blueberries, goji berries, flaxseeds, tomatoes, walnuts, medicinal mushrooms, and olive oil. Know Your Skin Type. Is your skin thick, oily, soft and cool to the touch? Or is it dry, thin, fine-pored and sensitive? Do you have a pink or reddish complexion with a good amount of freckles or moles that is warm to the touch? When you understand your skin’s needs, you can care for it appropriately and put forward your best face.

Here are some general guidelines for skin types as summarized from Chill Out & Get Healthy by Aimee Raupp, an Oriental medicine practitioner and acupuncturist: 

~If you have thick, oily and soft skin that is cool to the touch…

• Avoid greasy, clogging creams and go for organic, paraben-free, chemical-free, water-based foundations
• Wash your face daily with plain water and a washcloth
• Use gentle cleansers to open up and purify pores, like Cetaphil, Weleda’s wild rose cleansing lotion, or Burt’s Bees orange essence facial cleanse

~If you have dry, fine-pored, thin and sensitive skin that is cool to the touch…

 

• Avoid cleansing products that dry the skin, like alcohol-based cleansers and otners. Use nourishing cleansers such as organic olive oil soap, Cetaphil, or Weleda’s iris cleansing lotion
• To nourish the skin, massage organic olive or coconut oil onto the whole body after your shower
• Look for cosmetics that are hypoallergenic or made for sensitive skin

~If you have fair, soft and warm skin with pink or reddish undertones and a good amount of freckles or moles…

• Avoid excess sunlight, tanning treatments, and high-heat skin therapies such as facial or whole-body steams
• Use sensitive and delicate face cleansers, such as Weleda’s almond cleansing lotion

Photo via bellflowertextiles

1. Green Your Makeup Bag. Many popular beauty companies, such as Estee Lauder, Avon, Revlon, L’Oreal and more, use bad-for-your-skin ingredients in their products, like formaldehyde, lead, and lanolin. Not only are these chemicals toxic for your skin, but they are also toxic for the earth. Use the Cosmetic Safety Database (www.costmeticsdatabase.com) to find the safest green makeup products for your makeup bag.
   
2. Be an SPF Buff. Everyone needs valuable Vitamin D from the sun’s rays, and 10 to 15 minutes of daily sun exposure is great for the skin and the spirit! However, if your exposure to the sun will last longer than that, you must protect your skin with a sunscreen containing titanium dioxide and zinc; these ingredients are necessary for broad-spectrum physical sun protection but are too large to be absorbed by the skin, making them completely safe and harmless for your skin’s health. Renee Loux, organic living guru, recommends purchasing sunscreens “that are free of chemical preservatives and sunscreen chemicals, which though may prove effective for UV protection, are easily absorbed through the skin with questionable consequences.”
   
3. Quench Your Thirst. Water is necessary for all life processes. Drink a lot (approximately half your body weight in ounces of water; for example, if you weigh 130 pounds, you need 65 ounces of water a day) to flush toxins from the body and impurities from the skin.
   
4. Embrace Your Inner Sleeping Beauty. You need seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to prevent dark circles, puffy eyes, ruddy complexion, and acne. Restful sleep is soothing to the skin and completely necessary for that inner, youthful glow!

Resources:

• Chill Out & Get Healthy, by Aimee Raupp 
• 12 Steps to Green, http://www.reneeloux.com/natural_beauty/12_steps_to_green_beauty, by Renee Loux 
• Feed Your Face: 5 Best Foods for Skin, http://www.care2.com/greenliving/five-best-foods-for-skin.html, by Cait Johnson 

Danielle Foster is a Natural Foods Chef and Holistic Health Counselor with a knack for fabulous, easy green living. She founded Get Green Girl, a motivational workshop series ultimately teaching teen girls about self-acceptance, achieving their dreams, and making a difference in the world all while reinforcing green, environmentally-sound habits and behaviors. Visit www.get-green-girl.com for more info.