A box full of films, books and snacks to keep you entertained all winter long.

Our exclusive EcoSalon shopping must-have, the curated product assortment known as The Box, is back. We’re offering $500 in eco-goodies for the New Year for just $99 and these won’t last. That’s a guarantee.

Since we’re in the middle of winter, we think the best way to embrace the season is to pack a box full of everything you’ll need for a night in. Warm up with a mug of organic hot chocolate and throw on a DVD; this box is all about keeping you entertained and cozy through the winter months.

(If you do miss out this time around, our friends at Ecorazzi are hosting a giveaway for the last remaining Entertainment Box standing. Head on over to their site and register to win!)

Just look at what we have in store for you this time around:

Vinylux coasters

Make sure to keep your coffee table clean and do it in style by putting your glass on a Vinylux LP coasters. Each coaster is created from an original record, which has been trimmed to frame the label with a thin ring of black vinyl. The coasters are double-sided (as were records) and laminated to protect the labels from moisture and to prevent scuffs on furniture.  Coaster sets are comprised of six assorted vintage record labels, so each set is totally unique.

(Retail value of $20)

23 Feet DVD

A film about a community of people who make the conscious choice to live simply and do what they love in the great outdoors, 23 Feet by Red Reel Video follows the story of three women who set out in their 23-foot, 1970 vintage Airstream and the stories they find along the way as they travel through the West. Bursting with wanderlust and inspiration, 23 Feet gives an intimate look at the ups and downs of dedicating your life to a passion.

(Retail value of $15)

i-Ecko eco-friendly speakers

Portable and convenient to store, these speakers not only fold flat, but they are also made from recycled materials. i-Ecko speakers are universally compatible with all MP3 players, iPods and iPhone 3G, meaning that you can blast your favorite beats no matter where you are.

(Retail value of $14.99)

Tweet This Book

What would Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill had said if they lived in the Twitter age? Full of some of great quotes from across, Tweet This Bookfrom Ulysses Press puts some of the best sayings from literary greats, politicians, musicians and celebrities all in one place, and easily translatable to the digital age.

(Retail value of $10)

Treeverse DVD

We’re big fans of video production company Uncage the Soul. They were the genius behind the stunning timelapse, Finding Oregon that we featured recently on EcoSalon. Treeverse is a complelling documentary that follows arborists Brian French and Will Koomijan as they attempt an unprecedented one kilometer canopy trek through old growth Oregon White Oak forest. The DVD but also features a collection of their other films, including “Finding Oregon,” all sure to get you motivated to get outside and explore the natural world.

(Retail value of $20)

Equal Exchange Hot chocolate

Warm up with a mug of hot cocoa from Equal Exchange. There are Plenty of reasons to love this stuff. The organic cocoa is sourced from small-scale farmers in the Dominican Republic, the organic sugar is fairly traded from farmer co-operatives in Paraguay, and the organic milk powder comes from U.S. dairy co-operatives, so you can fill good drinking a cup. Or two.

(Retail value of $7.75)

1 year Sierra magazine subscription

Why not add some regular compelling environmental and sustainability coverage to your reading list? With a tagline of “Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet,” Sierra is the official publication of the Sierra Club, and you’ll be getting an entire year’s subscription.

(Retail value of $15)

Gourmet Oren’s Kitchen Nuts

Committed to using seasonal and organic produce, Bay Area Oren’s Kitchen is committed to good food. Snack on a bag gourmet nuts, randomly selected bag from the following Oren’s Kitchen flavors: Wild Rosemary Almonds, Indian Ajwain Cashews, Smoked Paprika Pecans, Coconut Chili Macadamias.

(Retail value of $6.99)

Tipu’s Chai Now Tea

Tipu’s is the perfect quick fix of spiced goodness. All you have to do is add water, and you have a delicious mug of chai soy latte. Chai Now is made with organic spices and non-GMO soy milk.

(Retail value of $10.95)

Hug Me Pillow Cover

VivaTerra‘s Hug Me Pillow is the perfect item to snuggle up with on the couch, reminding you to take some time and relax. Please note that this is only the pillowcase – down pillow insert not included (we know you may prefer a vegan option). Only eco-friendly, humanely-sourced wool is used in the making of this cuddly soft pillow!

(Retail value of $39)

Funky Monkey Banana Snacks

In need of a quick snack for your movie night? Look no further than Bananamon by Funky Monkey. The freeze-dried organic banana and organic cinnamon is just as delicious for adults as it is for kids, so serve some up to the entire family.

(Retail value of $2.49)

Plantlife Lemongrass and Orange aromatherapy candle

Make your living room smell sweet with this Lemongrass and Orange aromatherapy from Plantlife. No matter which room you place it in, this candle will fill your space with its energizing, refreshing and subtly sweet aroma.

(Retail value of $9.90)

Albert Nobbs by George Moore

Curl up with this copy of Albert Nobbs, a novella-length story by George Moore that is the basis for the Oscar-nominated film, in which Glenn Close plays a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19th-century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men’s clothing, she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making. Glenn has been nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Albert in this film, so get a chance to read the book before you watch the film.

(Retail value of $10)

Green Field Paper Hemp Heritage Journal Book

If you need a break from films and television, take some time to write or draw your thoughts. This journal from Green Field is perfect for just that, filled with blank pages to fuel your creativity. The paper is made with 25% hemp and 75% post consumer waste.

(Retail value of $11.95)

Ginger People 3 oz. bag of Gin Gin Hard Candy

For a boost of energy for the evening, pop one of these hard candies from Ginger People. They’re double strength, which means they’re just as an after dinner digestive as they are for a soothing throat lozenge. You can’t go wrong with candy that does double duty.

(Retail value of $2.79)

Pawling Print Studios 2012 Calendar

Keep your walls beautiful and your life organized with this distinct calendar from Pawling Print Studio. The hand draw illustrations are inspired by traditional textile patterns, and printed in quarterly series, you’ll have a new one to hang on your wall every 3 months.

(Retail value of $25)

Discovery Channel’s Oceanic DVD
The ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface and contains 97 percent of the planet’s water, yet more than 95 percent of the underwater world remains unexplored. Discovery Channel’s “Oceanic” brings the ocean to life, following the team from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as they make history, sending their robotic craft Nereus into the darkest depths of the ocean, past 6,000 meters to be exact.

(Retail value of $14.98)

Two Moms in the Raw Vegan Truffles

Wheat and dairy free, these truffles from Two Moms in the Raw are the perfect healthy evening treat. Made with almond butter, it’s chocolate you can feel good about indulging in.

(Retail value of $5)

Orders are processed through Paypal. Simply click to buy!

Notes to EcoSalon

The fine print: Please note there will be an additional $30 flat charge which covers all shipping, handling and sales tax fees. Packages are processed and shipped with love within 7 business days of ordering via UPS ground. We cannot ship internationally (we wish we could!). You’ll receive a confirmation email once your order has gone through. Due to the extremely limited nature of these special assortments, we regret that refunds are not possible if you change your mind. If any items you receive are damaged, the participating brands and EcoSalon are happy to replace them for you as soon as the item(s) is available. If the exact item is not available, one of similar value will be offered. Enjoy your assortment of green goodies!

We’re excited to send them your way.

ColumnSnobs, Europhiles and Organivores: You know who they are. Here’s how to cope.

When your friends start texting you photos of what they made for dinner and include only a list of ingredients, you know you have a food problem: You’ve turned into that person. If you’re lucky, things will hold at that manageable minimum, but inch one crumb further, and you might soon be labeled a Food Snob, or worse, the in-house Europhile. Because for every style of food under the sun, there’s a food personality to go with it. We’ve put together a guide to help you that’s just perfect for navigating, and sometimes placating, the wide world of foodies.

1. I Made it Myself!

Taking a cue from Martha Stewart, this is the friend who effortlessly whips together coq au vin at the drop of the hat, any hat. Is there anything they can’t do? Yes: Admit that cooking takes time. Although you are used to them effusively detailing their latest creation – “Who knew fennel would be so good with figs?” – the truth is they’re completely frazzled when they find they have over-committed themselves once again and now are up to their elbows in half made canapés. Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s mini quiches are not an acceptable substitute, so the only answer is an overdose on homemade espresso shots. Hors d’ oeuvres and the jitters, every time. Rx: a large glass of rosé.

2. The Organivore

“It’s finally farmer’s market season again! I just don’t know how I’ve managed all winter without kale.” Beyond filling their basket with root vegetables and cold pressed olive oil from the next valley over at the weekly market, the Organivore is also known to always opt for the kind of authentic eateries that serve wine in Mason jars unironically. Nevermind if it’s organic falafel; the Organivore will inquire as to whether the yogurt in the house-made tzatsiki is goat’s milk or cow’s milk and which local farm, exactly, it has come from. Rx: Focus the conversation on the polenta.

3. The Europhile

“I was eating Nutella before you could even buy it in the States,” they say, pronouncing the word “Nutella” in the European accent of their choice. This is the friend you’re happy to take along to the French bistro because they’ll know exactly how to order, but you’ll cringe when you realize they plan on studiously avoiding English throughout the entire meal. Rx: Never bring them a bottle of wine as a gift.

4. The One Upper

“You like this calamari? Do you? Yeah? It has nothing on the raw octopus I ate on my last trip to Southeast Asia. I said to myself, ‘if you can get past the squirming tentacles, this will probably be the best thing you have ever eaten.’ I was totally right.” If you find yourself forced to spend time with this person, give wide berth to any exotic or international cuisine as you will only set yourself up for a shame session. Try a good café for lunch and get sandwiches. This way, you’ll only have to hear about the excellent baguette with real Brie that your globetrotting friend once consumed on the banks of the Seine itself. Rx: This foodie is your Wikipedia of food. Keep her busy recounting categories, techniques and definitions.

5. The Snob

“The pork. belly. last. night. was. horrendous.” Soup is returned because it’s not the right temperature, wine pairings lacking “nuance” are rife, and if the meal does not begin with two pounds of freshly steamed mussels, you’re in for disaster. Since the Snob has not used his own kitchen, keep your mouth shut and enjoy the fact that when the food apocalypse comes and his favorite restaurant can’t import raw Danish butter or the Barolo anymore, he’ll be asking you how to make eggs for breakfast. Rx: Let him pick up the tab.

6. The Anti-Snob

“Foodie culture has totally taken over this city. At least there are still food carts keeping it real,” says the anti-snob while ordering a wood-fired pizza smothered in truffled gorgonzola, figs and prosciutto. Anything that’s served in a cart, from a trike or out of a small window – preferably in a back alley – is acceptable. Dating tip: You’ll be hard-pressed to get the anti-snob to treat you to a three course dinner, but on the bright side, she’ll fill you up with more food cart crème brulee than you could ever dream of. Rx: Let her pick up the tab.

7. The Avoider

“No thanks: I’m off gluten right now. Also, could you put the cream sauce on the side? I’m avoiding dairy. There aren’t any traces of nightshades in this, are there?” Be it dairy, gluten, corn, soy, meat, wheat or anything with a high glycemic index, the Avoider strictly follows the advice of the latest health book they have tracked down, much to the chagrin of those with actual food allergies. Rx: Give them a gluten-free vegan cupcake with sprinkles and they’ll be thrilled.

8. The Blogging Food Pornographer

“Let me get just one more shot. Wait, can you move the fork just a little to the right? Can we change the lighting at all?” Although they run a traffic-laden culinary corner of the internet, your blogging food porn addict just can’t give it up. Ever. Food apps, a huge Instagram following, two lenses for the DSLR at every meal…the list goes on. Rx: Ask them to explain Tumblr.

9. The Bacon Lover

“I don’t eat meat. Except for bacon.” Just like the internet, the Bacon Lover is crazily obsessed with anything that smells of fried pig fat. If you’re invited over for brunch, prepare yourself, as their kitchen is sure to have a lingering bacon smell that you’ll never get out, no matter how hard you scrub. Rx: Be sure to bring a change of clothes with you.

10. The DIYer

“Try some of this homemade kombucha! I don’t even go near that high priced stuff at the co-op anymore.” Not to be mistaken for I Made it Myself, the DIYer is a little more low key with their cuisine. Think sprouting greens on the windowsill, homemade pesto and ricotta salata. All labeled. Rx: Give the gift of a new Sharpie.

Are you one of these 10? Consider yourself and your foodie reputation warned.

Editor’s note: This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’s weekly column at EcoSalon, Foodie Underground, discovering what’s new and different in the underground food movement, from supper clubs to mini markets to the culinary avant garde.

Images: KaiChanVong, Anna Brones, Bolshakov, striatic, lisaclarke

 Raw food reinterpreted into 11 mouthwatering recipes.

I used to think that raw foodism was reserved for the kind of girl who only eats salads.

Nevertheless, the raw food movement has always intrigued me. Raw foodies claim that eating unprocessed plant-based foods in their natural state provides the body with more nutrients, leads to more energy, and has the power to cure disease. Critics dispute the science behind these claims, saying that a diet consisting solely of raw food can lead to nutritional deficiency.

Whichever line you believe, embracing a diet with more natural greens can’t be bad, when done right. And it turns out, there’s more to raw food than just salads. This week’s Foodspotting Friday highlights 11 dishes, including takes on pizza, tacos, and chocolate cake, that are hearty, substantial, and haven’t been anywhere near a stove.

(above) Veggie in a Flaxseed Cone @ RawDaddy’s

Raw Lasagne @ Pure Food & Wine

Bruschetta @ Kensho

Chocolate Raspberry Mousse @ Cru Organic Raw Food Restaurant

Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Truffle Shallot Cashew Cheese @ Pure Food & Wine

Raw Vegan Sushi @ Rasayana Raw Food Café

Soft Shell Tacos @ Live Organic Food Bar

Chia Seed Pudding @ Quintessence Restaurant

Maui Waui Pizza @ Gorilla Food

Nori Rolls @ Bonobo’s Real Food Restaurant

Raw Chocolate Hemp Seed Pie @ Gorilla Food

In Foodspotting Friday we highlight one of Foodspotting’s – or our own – top picks from our Foodspotting guides. Be sure to check them out and tip us off to your own favorites in our Readers’ Picks guide. Want to start spotting food on your own? Join Foodspotting and take part in the food spotting revolution. It’s visual, it’s positive, it’s global and we are in love with it.

Images: james, FrancesRenHuang, Heather Park (x2), Sarah Cooley, allen wolf, MountainCatKing, Meng, cynspiredbyfood, SweetOnVeg

Prepare yourself for cold and flu season with these immune boosting products.

Many people may watch Mad Men for the human-interest stories, intense character arcs, and glimpses of history. I watch for the women’s gloves. Gloves to this germaphobe means never having to open another public bathroom door with my sleeve. Or successfully touching my nose after riding the Metro. Or pushing a grocery cart without fear. Oh, what a world it would be.

So what’s a glove-lusting germ-hater to do at the advent of cold and flu season? Green beauty has a nice selection of immunity boosters free of toxic ingredients. Check out our favorite picks to boost your immune system and see you through the winter.

(None of these products are meant to be consumed internally, nor has their effectiveness been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. They are not intended as a substitute for a doctor’s care, so see your doctor if you are sick. Embrace hand washing. This announcement is courtesy of the common sense side of everything.)

I-Booster Salve by Buddha Nose ($24.00)
The last severe cold I (heroically) endured, I heavily employed this salve from Buddha Nose. As creator Amy Galper writes of her product, its intention is “to wake us up when we feel fatigued and to activate and protect us when we feel run down.” By rubbing it on your neck and shoulders, you are said to receive a natural boost to your energy. Made with USDA certified ingredients, this lemon, clove, and cinnamon blend brings a pleasant scent up to your aching head.

Cloud of Protection By Nieves ($18.00)
Perhaps one of the most fragrant spritzers I’ve ever come across, this formula contains essential oils that claim to fight bacteria and viruses. With naturally antiseptic ingredients such as juniper needle and eucalyptus, this product goes airborne to keep you in a lovely haze of scent. Its creators also recommend it to clear negative energy in your vicinity and to help with some “odor guidance” in public bathrooms and more.

Vapor Bath Elixir by Farmaesthetics ($31.00)
Another slam-dunk product from the green experts over at Farmaesthetics, this fragrant immune boosting “spa in a bottle” brings to mind evergreen forests when it’s added to the bath. Containing certified organic ingredients to open congestion and boost the immune system, its mix of menthol, clove, eucalyptus and lavender is not to be missed. I actually keep my bottle on my desk to use as an aromatherapy boost throughout the day, it’s that good.

Aromatherapy Personals Immune Boost ($17.00)
Eucalyptus and lemon make another appearance in this fragrant roll-on from Aromatherapy Personals. Made with certified organic ingredients, it contains bacteria-fighting tea tree oil. It also has lemon, frankincense, rosemary, and sweet orange to sooth your senses. You can roll it onto pulse points along your wrists and use it on your temples and the back of your neck. Aromatherapy Personals also offers a product to sooth a sinus headache.

Hand Sanitizer Spray by EO Organics ($1.99)
Anti-bacterial sprays can be controversial. Loaded with triclosan, they kill off bacteria but not all of it. The surviving bacterium gets angry. And you don’t want to see bacterium get angry. This product from EO Organics is ready to fight bacteria. What’s more, it contains certified natural ingredients such as fragrant lavender. Yes, perhaps we can’t walk around sporting Betty Draper-friendly elbow gloves. But at least we can dose our hands with some lavender-scented product to make life just a little easier during cold and flu season.

Image: Fran Ulloma

FTC Compliance

ColumnWhether you buy it outright or make your own, tinted moisturizer is your cold weather must-have.

The one makeup product you need to make it through the dry seasons of fall and winter is tinted moisturizer. Skin becomes particularly parched as the air dries it out and indoor heating systems only exacerbate the problem. Hydrated skin makes us look fresh, younger and more vibrant and who doesn’t want that? Having a makeup product that can add needed moisture and even out skin tone is essential for every skin type. Yep, even you oily skin gals, listen up! There’s tips for you too.

One option is to buy a tinted moisturizer or a lightweight hydrating foundation. The other is to make your own with what you have on hand. The advantages of ready-made products are they save a little bit of time and mess while ensuring the ratio of foundation to moisturizer is just right.

A few of my eco favorites include:

Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make-up

Lavera Tinted Moisturizing Cream

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer

Making your own blend can save money while letting you receive the benefits of your favorite cream and getting the exact shade of foundation right, especially if a pre-made line just doesn’t seem to have the right one for you.

What you’ll need to make a custom tinted moisturizer:

A liquid foundation or mineral powder that matches your skin tone.

A hydrating moisturizer for the daytime that works well for your skin type.

You will have to experiment a bit to find the exact ratio that works to achieve the coverage you desire. The best ratio to begin with is a dime size amount of moisturizer and a nickel size dab of foundation.  On the palm of a clean hand mix them together. You’ll see there if you need more foundation or moisturizer, then you can add accordingly. If you are using a lightweight foundation already or want a heavier coverage out of your base, decrease the amount of moisturizer.

Using mineral powder with a face cream to create a tinted moisturizer works especially well for those concerned about shiny, oily skin. The ratio for using mineral powder mixed in with moisturizer in this case is much smaller. A very tiny bit of powder goes a long way with a lightweight cream. The combination will dry quite matte, so keep that in mind before you start mixing up a giant batch. I’ve done it successfully but it took a few tries to get it not looking like a gummy mess. Once I had the ratio down, then I had a shine-free face, that didn’t feel dry and lasted with coverage all day.

Now let’s hear about your experiments and favorite products for tinted moisturizers this season, and leave your comments below.

Editor’s note: Got a celebrity look you’d like to copy or a trend you’d like to see incorporating healthy, non-toxic makeup? Send your questions to High Definition columnist Kristen Arnett at beauty@ecosalon.com

New York City based Kristen Arnett is an internationally renowned makeup artist and founder of the Green Beauty Team, styling high profile celebrities and runway models as well as a sought after beauty expert, educator and teacher for other makeup artists.

Image: Aimaness  photography

ColumnWhen it comes to makeup, figure out what the difference is between want and need.

During economic depressions and recessions, the one thing that doesn’t slow in sales very much is lipstick. It’s an easy purchase; a luxury item that is relatively cheap and can brighten your mood quick. If you are spending $8-$28 dollars every time you want to feel better on a shade that is similar to one you already have, maybe it’s time to rethink the purchase pattern.

I mean, have you ever asked yourself, “what am I doing with six of the same shades of lipstick?” In general, women like buying something new, but we fear too much change and often end up with variations on a theme in our makeup bag.

Every time I do a makeup bag review for someone I come across this habit of multiples which tends to be about the same for every woman, no matter what age. In the confusion of her makeup bag there’s a few eye shadows in a variety of browns, some color she’s barely touched like sparkly green, a shimmery white and sparkly gold. Then a few eye pencils in black and brown, maybe one outlandish color she never wears. Several lip glosses and lip colors ranging from pale rose to deep wine with some bronzers and blush to fill out the rest of the bag. All of these products come in various states of wear and tear, with the safest colors being the most worn and others just standing by because they never really looked good but their owner can’t seem to justify throwing them away.

My advice?

First, start by editing your makeup bag, box or cabinet the way you would your wardrobe. Find your classic staples, a few good accessory colors for fun and toss out anything that is ancient or never looked good in the first place.

Second, start asking yourself what you need vs. what you want.

We tend to buy makeup from these two mindsets and often get derailed in the “want” department. Beauty counter associates and marketing ploys are great at doing just that. The beauty industry is built on creating buzz around newness. They want you to get excited and feel the urge to buy.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t start unconsciously gravitating towards pretty packaging every time I enter a Sephora. So there’s nothing bad about this, but having been on the marketing side of cosmetics, I can tell you that it’s a very direct and intentional methodology to get you to buy out of want and perceived need.

The best way to not make double purchases is to go with your makeup to the store and swatch test the colors on your hand to make sure what you are buying is truly different. Then try the new color on your face, wear it around for a couple of hours and if it still sings sweetly to you, then buy it.

I would be remiss as the eco makeup expert if I said, “just go out and buy anything.” Instead, I have hopes that each of you will take the time to find more natural and organic makeup to put on your face. If you need some suggestions and motivation for swapping out your traditional products, watch this short video where I replaced common makeup items with “green” substitutes and gave startling statistics about the amount of chemicals women are exposing themselves to daily.

Editor’s note: Got a celebrity look you’d like to copy or a trend you’d like to see incorporating healthy, non-toxic makeup? Send your questions to High Definition columnist Kristen Arnett at beauty@ecosalon.com

New York City based Kristen Arnett is an internationally renowned makeup artist and founder of the Green Beauty Team, styling high profile celebrities and runway models as well as a sought after beauty expert, educator and teacher for other makeup artists.

Image: Flickr: Viviana_Love

Eggs from a coworker and bacon from a local ranch makes the simplest brunch recipe.

It’s Saturday morning. On Friday a coworker handed off a carton of eggs from her own chickens, and later that day you broke down and bought a package of local bacon from Niman Ranch. What do you do? Make bacon cups, of course.

Or at least that’s how it went in the EcoSalon kitchen a few weekends back when we were brainstorming brunch ideas.

To be perfectly honest, we’re (almost) over the bacon internet meme, and we really don’t want to be one of those people, but these bacon cups are kind of amazing. And simple!

So if you want to impress your bacon-and-egg-loving friends – we make plenty of vegan fare, too, honest! – give these a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

These are also ideal for large breakfast or brunch parties because you can pop in several muffin tins into the oven at once, solving the perennial “How to fry eggs for 10 people and all sit down to eat at the same time” conundrum.

EcoSalon’s Bacon Cups

Ingredients:

• 6 strips of local, organic bacon
• 6 organic eggs, preferably from chickens you know
• Some type of crumbly cheese: goat, blue cheese, parmesan, etc.
• Green onion, chopped

Directions:

• Line each tin hole of a muffin tin with bacon. If you like your bacon a little crispy, put tin in the oven at 350F for 10 or so.
• Crack one egg into each hole.
• Sprinkle with green onions and cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Pop the bacon cups out of pan onto a plate and serve immediately.

See, easy. And the best thing about this recipe is that you can vary it however you want. Add in some sundried tomatoes? Why not. Sprinkle in a pinch of Herbes de Provence? Sure.

Enjoy!

Images: Anna Brones, Natalie Dee, Anna Brones

John Patrick Organic’s optimistic presentation for spring ’12 makes way for an aesthetically-pleasing collection.

John Patrick showed his 19-piece, spring 2012 collection on a rainy New York morning just steps from the Hudson River. With a diverse troop of models looking relaxed and even happy, Patrick’s presentation was in stark contrast to what one usually identifies with New York Fashion Week shows.

Patrick says, “I don’t do trends,” allowing him to take the idea of sustainability to his own metropolis where other designers want to emulate him and where in fact, he becomes the trend setter. Patrick says this collection comes from his personal quests: “It’s about going on a journey, but you don’t know where you’re going. It’s where I am in life.” If not by intent, his designs nonetheless feel very relevant – light, ethereal and make for an effortless and natural life.

Freedom, as we know, comes in many forms. Pieces like the Khaki Strapless Dress (below), an all-weather hat and cozy flats channel Patrick’s wilderness-seeking independence.

His white, off-shoulder dress, coupled with a recycled nylon Camel Catskill Rucksack (below) – “A bag that people can use!” proclaims Patrick – takes lightweight travel to a more cosmopolitan place.

Following his pursuit of the organic life, Patrick’s blend of simple luxury with sustainability is clear in designs like his featherweight Tie Silk Shorts and Raw-Edge Shirts.

True to name, the bottoms are made from recycled men’s ties sourced from New York, California and France.  “Recycled materials are so important given the state of the world,” I overheard Patrick telling the buyer from Barney’s New York. A part of me wished I could have seen her face better when she digested that.

As the non-linear, runway-free show came to a close, the models danced around hugging and still smiling. More fodder for the aforementioned show optimism.

If Patrick’s designs point a compass toward the future, this writer thinks we should all join the journey.

Here are more shots from the show:

ColumnEcoSalon Beauty Columnist Kristen Arnett gets actress Katie O’Grady ready for her red carpet close-up.

Check out the Rid of Me trailer:

For her red carpet premiere in New York City, Katie wanted someone she could trust and she tracked me down through Katherine Ross, a mutual friend, makeup artist and a woman I considered to be my mentor in Portland, where I began my career.

The Lower East Side apartment Katie and James had rented out for the week was teeming with various friends and cast members with an energy of nervous anticipation and preparation. Katie was bustling around, hair and face freshly washed, while James was lying on the bed in almost a monk like state of what may have been meditation, or him just trying not to throw up.

We cleared off a small desk to lay out the makeup and utilized a window sill to hold the curling iron. I began to reassure Katie about the wonderful quality of natural products I would use on her. Like every woman I’ve encountered before her big moment in the spotlight, she seemed to not care if I used tar as long as she looked good when it was done. Shutting up about the whole thing, I wielded brushes, lashes, a curling iron and a lot of hair spray transforming her into a modern, sexy screen siren ready for her film’s premiere. We wondered if anyone would know she was the same plain-Jane woman from her movie.

Katie O’Grady in the movie, Rid Of Me.

One of the biggest thrills of my job is to see how makeup and hair can completely transform the presence of a woman.  I asked Katie how she felt about its importance in her work and life as an actress and producer.

“Makeup plays a huge role in any actor’s life. For Rid Of Me, it was important to keep my character, Meris, fresh and natural. She is a woman who believes that organic matters, that family matters, and that life is better when things come from the earth. When I shaped her look, it was from the outside in, because physically we look opposite from one another,” says O’Grady.

“It was so much fun to incorporate Meris’ same belief in an all-natural approach with my joy of dressing up for the red carpet, and that certainly included my makeup! We feel our best when we are honest with ourselves, our truth, and what goes in and on our body that is most connected to the earth. Staying grounded is a daily battle; it all begins with a fresh face,” she said.

Katie O’Grady shines thanks to Kristen Arnett’s experienced touch.

Since she asked and I’m sure you want to know, here’s a list of some the main products I used for Katie O’Grady’s red carpet look:

Youngblood Mineral Primer

Alima Pure Foundation

100% Pure Blush in Healthy

Youngblood Eyeshadow Quad in Starlet (appropriately  named!)

Image of Katie O’Grady at Tribeca Film Festival: Zimbio

Makeup: Kristen Arnett

ColumnNothing’s steamier than an eco sex writer channeling Brigitte Bardot’s makeup.

In the steamy, hot month of August I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Stefanie Iris Weiss, the author of Eco-Sex for the filming of a French documentary on American sex. Friends only through our interwoven virtual connections on Facebook, I’d never communicated with her until days before she stepped foot into my apartment to have her face made up in an early 70′s Bardot inspired look she so desperately desired. Stefanie, by the way, is pretty much a sex bomb in the womanliest sense with her full hips, incredible cleavage, and cascading blond hair.

An hour later, sprawled out on a red and white checkered blanket on the grass in Central Park, Stefanie looked perfectly poised and ready for a romantic encounter with a semi-traditional picnic basket containing a bottle of organic wine and of course, some snacks deemed to be aphrodisiacs. Suddenly Stefanie started whipping out condoms, lubricants and vibrators discussing their particular “eco-friendliness,” and me, with an unconscious nodding of my head started taking notes.

Maybe it was when she began extolling the wonders of using coconut oil as a lubricant that I felt a little more in my own groove since I work with the oil in many different ways and it’s not as foreign to me as perhaps vibrator talk. One thing we are on common ground with though is that makeup adds to a woman’s overall sexy factor.

When I asked Stefanie why she thinks makeup enhances a woman’s sexiness, she answered:

“Makeup gives us the ability to enhance our natural beauty and play up our assets, which is the way I like to wear it during the day. It brings confidence, boldness, and reminds you of the kind of power you have. It allows you to walk into any given room like you own it. At the same time, when you have a shoot, an event, or just a hot date, you can wear makeup the way you’d play dress-up as a little girl. It can be a game, a ritual, a way of starting foreplay before you’ve even got anyone else in the room with you. I always say that sex begins with our relationship to our own bodies, the moment we wake up in the morning and look in the mirror. And when you begin to dress your face, the real fun starts.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself. So, I will leave it at that.

Products used for the eco-sexy Bardot inspired look:

Jane Iredale Circle Delete Concealer #2

ZuZu Luxe Mineral Bronzer

ZuZu Luxe Brow Pencil in Flax

Couleur Caramel Lip Gloss in #802

Couleur Caramel Eye Shadow in Coppered Brown #52 and Light Taupe Brown #5

Youngblood Eye Liner in Black

Image of Stefanie: Jonathan Alpeyrie
Makeup: Kristen Arnett