As firm believers in bodycare products relying on natually-occuring ingredients (from butter to balm), we're delighted to welcome Tracy Perkins of Strawberry Hedgehog. All her enticingly colorful handmade face and bodycare products are 100% vegan, and are available at Strawberry Hedgehog (U.S. delivery only).

I asked Tracy a few questions about the production of her range and the sourcing and choices of her ingredients.

EcoSalon: As a college student, you were inspired to
produce your own vegan body products because of the lack of affordable alternatives on the market. What sources of expertise did you draw on when you first started soap-making, and did you have to track any specialist equipment down?

Tracy Perkins: You would be surprised how much you can do with a good stainless steel pot and some pyrex! I did hold myself back for a while at first researching and thinking I didn't have the proper equipment. Really the most specialized equipment I had to get was soap molds, but if one is just starting out you could just as soon line any box with parchment paper and use that to pour your soap into.The hardest part was seeking out quality ingredients for my products and that just took time, trial, and error. There are several good books out there on natural products and I am working on my own e-book, but the key for me was just figuring out what the purpose was for ...Read More

What would your hair stylist want you to know about your true beauty?To find out, I went for a consultation at my favorite local hair salon, Fusion 3, an Aveda salon. I met with Frank to discuss possibilities for coloring, cutting and most importantly, bringing out the healthy radiance of my hair.

Frank took his time, ...Read More

In the current economic climate of massive corporate lay-offs and gas prices nearing $5 a gallon, it would seem risky to open a posh green home design store peddling eco fireplaces ranging as high as $12,000. But Fred Segal is banking on its reputation as the hippest L.A. store around since 1976. If the brand could invent the first fashion jeans it ...Read More

Robert Craymer of RC Green wakes up every morning and says, "It's a great day to be alive." Fueled by his passion for furniture design, he taught himself the skills necessary to pursue this craft. Beginning with a sketch of a coffee table on the first page of a blank notebook, he ...Read More

Danny Seo: he's been called the Martha Stewart of green, an environmental pioneer and ...Read More

We all have a unique genetic code that differentiates us from everyone else. That's the driving concept behind Genetic Denim, a cutting-edge, eco-sensitive denim brand that's on our radar screen. The masterminds of this label recognize our individuality and create denim styles that don’t force us all into the same mold. I had the chance to sit ...Read More

The "Wearable Wisdom" of Lee Tracy is the remarkable result of one artist's authentic journey to green. It's not just the fabric, or the message, or the production, or the dyes: even the speed of shipping has been considered in pursuit ...Read More

Is the week over already? How did that happen? And there are so many other things we wanted to tell you about, such as:

It's Father's Day this Sunday (bought a present yet? How about

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The impact of President George W. Bush's sizable carbon footprint is yet to be determined. But his legacy could be directly linked to sewage if a group of San Francisco activists has its way.

Calling itself "The Presidential Memorial Commission of San

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We all love our green beauty products and I often wonder about the people who create them. If it weren't for their innovative sensibilities, we'd be stuck using toxic creams and shampoos from the drugstore!

I recently had a chance to speak with Jessica Ress, creator of ...Read More