Organic Cosmetics go mainstream

Following a late start, organic cosmetics are finally going mainstream. With companies such as L'Oreal pushing a new line of organic environmentally friendly cosmetics, we can expect to see more and more big brand manufacturers following suite. Beauty experts predict that organic cosmetics will only continue to grow even as eco-conciousness continues to summon interest and passion amongst Americans.

Here are a few brands that are focused on organic cosmetics:

Collective Wellbeing

The line of products from this company include facial, hair and body care products. The company ensures that all products are made out of certified organic incredients. Products include:

Better Acne Treatment kit, with a month's supply of cleanser, day cream and night cream for $30.
Skin care solutions include Oatmeal/Rasperry Cleansing Paste for $13 and Night Quenching Cream with Antioxidant Defence ( $25).

All these products are available at WholeFoods and online at www.collectivewellbeing.com

California Baby
This company caters to baby products that include shampoos, lotions, sun care and bug repellent for sensitive baby skins.

These products include no sulfats, dyes, DEA or synthetic fragrances. The products can be purchased at Target, Whole Foods and online at www.californiababy.com



Healing Garden Organics

This body and skin care line contains certified organic botanicals and is dermatologist-tested, biodegradable and never tested on animals.
The seven facial products include reFortify anti-wrinkle cream for $13.95 and reHydrate cleansing milk for $6.75. The products are available at Walgreens and Wal-Mart


Jo Wood Organics

Jo Wood wife of Rolling Stones member Rhonnie Wood developed this high-end organic products. These products do not even contain water but contain a filtered form of orange juice known as vegetal water. The products include baby lotion for $110 and soap for $24. You can get the Jo Wood products at Neiman Marcus.

Eco-friendly products: Bamboo products from Vivavi

Here are some more eco-friendly products from Vivavi, a fashion retailer that specializes in modern style, eco-friendly furniture and home furnishings.

Bamboo Dining Chair
The Bamboo dining chair is the perfect complement to the Bamboo Dining Table and can also stand on its own. Brooklyn-based designer Bart Bettencourt focuses on fine-edged geometric proportions to meld contemporary design with environmental sustainability. Products in the Bettencourt collection are made with non-toxic adhesives and finished with non-VOC Danish Oil.

The Bamboo chair currently retails for $1000.

Bamboo Cocktail Table

Brooklyn-based designer Bart Bettencourt introduces his contemporary bamboo and steel cocktail table. Bettencourt focuses on fine-edged geometric proportions to meld contemporary design with environmental sustainability. Products in the Bettencourt collection are made with non-toxic adhesives and treated with non-VOC Danish Oil. The Bamboo Cocktail Table retails for $2000.00

Eco-friendly Products made from Vetiver

Being eco-concious and eco-friendly is suddenly the in thing. A recent search in Google for eco-friendly product spited out over 2 million pages of products ranging from fashion, home decor, food, health products etc.

While browsing through this list, I came across this interesting bathroom mat made from Vetiver, a a tall, dense, wild grass with long narrow leaves and a strand of underground white, yellow and brown roots. It is sought after for its calming, protective, soothing and uplifting characteristics. It can be found in Java, Haiti, Japan, Indonesia and South India.

Vetiver has been used throughout his in many different cultures for many different reasons from its healing abilities to ceremonies. In India and Sri Lanka it is known as the oil of tranquility. Vetiver was also used to make shade awnings and fans, a natural form of air-condictioning.

Vetiver oil was used to anoint brides to bless them before entering marriage. The root and essential oil are used for heatstroke, fevers, and headaches. Russians used vetiver in sachets attached to the lining of their coats to help in retaining warmth. It was used in perfumes with rosewood and lime in the middle ages. It was also grown to prevent soil erosion in India. The grass was also used to make woven baskets, rugs and parts of the house in Africa.

Vetiver is also used for its antiseptic, sedative, stimulant and tonic properties. Vetiver’s essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from its roots. Vetiver essential oil’s aroma has a smoky woody scent. It is often blended with geranium, jasmine, lavender and rosewood.

The bathroom mat I came across had some interesting properties. In addition to giving the bathroom a fresh eco-friendly look, the mat when stepped on with wet feet gives out a natural highly aromatic fresh smelling fragrance that hides other embarrasing bathroom odors.

In addition, to the mat, you can also find this perfume for men at eyezotica.com: VETIVER CARVEN By Carven EDT SPRAY 3.3 OZ: Launched by the design house of Carven in 1957, VETIVER CARVEN by Carven is classified as a flowery fragrance. This masculine scent posesses a blend of: lemon with lavender and jasmine with the warmth of vetiver as high note. It is recommended for evening wear.