A decade-old health kick led me to try the hydrotherapy craze known as colonics. Three booty irrigations later and this is my story.

I was young, curious, open-minded, and health-conscious. Twenty year old me had recently gone from eating meat, to being a vegetarian, to becoming a full-blown vegan. I was up for trying new and exciting methods to improve my health, and it was right around this time (a little more than a decade ago) that the colonics craze was spreading like wildfire among Hollywood A-listers.

Droves of celebs were lining up to have their colons irrigated, and they weren’t afraid to let it be known. Back then, their open praise for the booty blasting procedure made the taboo idea of having a therapist stick a lubricated speculum, erm, “up there” a little less crazy. And being the slightly impressionable (okay, super impressional) health nut that I was, I hightailed it to the nearest colonic hydrotherapy center.

Before I get to the down-and-dirty part of my experience, I thought I’d mention that colon hydrotherapy is a personal choice, but is one that some physicians actually advise against. What I’m trying to say is that, should you choose to partake in colonics, it’s best to do so in an informed and educated way at a reputable spa. If you have any preexisting health conditions, it’s always wise to clear it with your doctor first. Plus, the results you experience will vary from person to person. Some claim to feel lighter, healthier, and cleaner with lots of immediate and long-term health benefits, while other published studies have linked colonics to the reason for some unfortunate emergency room visits.

So, as I was saying. I walked into the ReNew Life Clinic in Clearwater, Florida, and was immediately impressed by the super-clean-yet-not-in-a-sterile-way atmosphere. The office was inviting and there wasn’t another person in sight, which is nice because colonics is sorta like heading down to your local sex shop — you need more lube, but you don’t exactly want to run into your mom’s next door neighbor.

Bonnie Barrett, the owner of ReNew Life Clinic and first-hand colonics user and success story, actually made me feel pretty relaxed. Once I shimmied out of my pants and slid under the blanket, I was able to lie down on a comfy, hospital-style bed and remained on my side throughout the hour-long procedure, which was kinda nice since I was able to face away from the complete stranger who was about to become well acquainted with my butthole.

Unlike the crazy, hi-tech, otherworldly, abducted-and-probed-by-aliens kinda contraption I was expecting to encounter, the colonics machine wasn’t really all that intimidating. In fact, it was quiet and discreet. I never saw one speck of poop, which was a quadruple plus in my book. As for the speculum, or disposable tip that gets inserted between the cheeks, it was small (thank gawd) and lubricated prior to insertion. I’m pretty certain I was told to relax, although I don’t actually remember that part since I was bracing myself for impact, but all in all, putting the speculum in place was painless and not the traumatizing experience most think it will be.

When you have a colonic, somewhere around 30 gallons of purified water are infused into the rectum. The theory is that the built-up fecal matter (ew) and toxins are expelled, leading to regular bowel movements, weight loss, and detoxification. As the nearly body-temp water was whooshing in and out of my body, Barrett continuously massaged my stomach to move the expelling process along. This didn’t stop the cramps from coming, nor did it help the overwhelming feeling of having to poop, but I made it through the process. I’m not gonna lie, it was kinda uncomfortable, but never, ever painful.

I spent several minutes using the squatty potty afterwards, which is said to be a dream if you ever have difficulty with hemorrhoids or pooping in general, to eliminate the remaining water and stuff from my colonic. Immediately after, the first thing I noticed was how empty I felt and how flat my stomach was. I ended up going back two more times before calling it quits.

Yes, my skin was glowing (or at least that’s what people told me), and I did feel pretty good, but, honestly, it continued long after the sessions were through. Not only was I a young twenty-something, I also consumed zero dairy or meat as a vegan, which hindsight tells me was probably the real culprit behind feeling healthier and looking better. Besides, I was a busy college student back then, which made finding time for colonics, or anything outside of studying, the real pain in the ass.

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This summer bring a bit of the outdoors inside with one – or eleven – of our natural DIY crafts.

Have you been searching for some fresh DIY crafts to fill your summer weekends with? Then look no further because we’ve got you covered with some of the prettiest home decor revamps.

Although each project differs from the other, the running theme throughout is the use of at least one natural material. Whether it’s reliable wood, sleek stone, earthy jute, or glamorous agate, there are crafts here to suit a variety of skill levels and personal tastes. Each idea has an associated tutorial, which can be found linked in the header, so you can follow along and easily make these yourself.

1. River Rock Boot Tray

This is the perfect place to park wet rain boots or muddy shoes this summer. Simple and beautiful, this project can be more involved by creating a custom tray, or extremely fast by using a premade waterproof base like a rubber mat with a lip or plastic serving tray and filling with natural river rocks.

2. Geode Cabinet Knobs

This DIY is so glamorous and impactful, yet so simple and straightforward. Find a few of your favorite pieces of geode chunks or agate slices and adhere them to blank knob or pull bases and affix to your furniture.

3. Seashell Soap Dish

A great beachy addition to any bathroom is this seashell soap dish. With a large shell as the soap tray and a small one as the base, glue and patience is all you really need to complete this project. Once dry, pop in your favorite bar of soap and admire your craftiness every time you wash your hands.

4. Braided Jute Basket

This braided jute basket DIY requires some sewing skills and a sewing machine, but the outcome is really lovely. The instructions walk you through the process and the finished product would be the perfect vessel for carrying fresh flowers and other odds and ends.

5. Crystal Necklace Display

With just some craft wood, paint, glue, wall adhesive, and a selection of raw crystals you’ll have a beautiful necklace display, or three, to hang on your wall this summer. The best part is that it’s really as simple to assemble as it looks.

6. Burlap Pillow Covers

This one requires sewing skills, or some Heat’n Bond (shhhh, we won’t tell if you don’t), along with burlap, loose stuffing or a pillow insert, and a contrasting strip of fabric. If you’re not into the tan tone of the burlap, then paint it white first and choose a black and white geo print to make this pillow more modern.

7. Seashell Candles

Turn your treasures into a beautiful reminder of your seaside jaunts with shell candles. These would look great as part of a beach inspired tablescape and the easy to follow tutorial will tell you exactly how to execute.

8. Stone Door Mat

This is a project that has a really chic, rich looking outcome with just a few simple materials. Another plus is that it can be used as a front door mat or as a shower mat. If you plan on getting it wet, then choose a base that has holes in it for drainage or poke some in it yourself.

9. Jute Cord Camouflage

Ah, finally a solution for those awkwardly placed outlets causing your lamp cords to cut all kinds of crazy across the room. This tutorial shows you how to camouflage those unsightly strands with some hot glue and some jute twine.

10. Balsa Wood Lampshade

One of the coolest projects I’ve seen lately is this modern and natural unfinished balsa wood lampshade revamp. It’s another quick and easy DIY that has major impact. I especially love this blogger’s finished shade against her navy blue walls.

11. Wine Cork Bath Mat

Calling all wine drinkers! This easy DIY is simple, but requires around 175 corks, according to the blogger who shared this tutorial, so if you’ve got the materials, then you can also have a really nifty cork bath mat.

Are there any projects from our list that you’re excited to try? Share your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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The top ten spring colors for 2016 are as hot as the temperatures are rising. We’ve got the lowdown on Pantone’s eight additional picks for the season and where to score the pieces that will have you looking stylish all season long. For some seriously good color inspiration, check out our choices below!

1. Buttercup

What’s up Buttercup? Oh, just this super cute skirt that’s absolutely perfect for the spring season. The Marigold Mixer Kara Skirt from prAna features the sustainable edge for which this retailer is known, plus it’s totally reminiscent of Pantone’s pick, Buttercup, a warm, rich yellow that will flatter a variety of complexions.    

2. Fiesta

If you’re searching for an accessory that pops, then look no further than the Athena Cuff from Mata Traders.This modern bracelet adds just the right amount of color and style to every outfit, and it’s in the signature fiery Fiesta red that Pantone chose for 2016.

3. Green Flash

This bold hue is not for the faint of heart. However, rather than deck yourself out from head to toe in such an eye catching color, we’ve made it easier to wear by choosing an accessory like this Wood Torsade Necklace from Novica. Pair this piece with a plain white tee and shorts or skinny jeans for a fun pop of color this spring.

4. Iced Coffee

Lightweight scarves are perfect for spring nights, indoor excursions, the office, and for those of you dwelling in chillier northern climates. For instance, take this Striped Handloomed Scarf from MadeFAIR – it’s in the prettiest shade of Pantone’s Iced Latte and would elevate lots of ensembles. We especially like the idea of this with an outfit comprised of cream colored pieces.

5. Lilac Grey

Backpacks have already hit the spring runways and this Lilac Grey beauty is perfect for casual excursions, yet tailored enough for the professional woman. Get the Chanda Backpack from Matt & Nat.The vegan leather construction won’t be weighing on your conscience next time you tote this purse around town.

6. Limpet Shell

We just can’t get enough of this gorgeous aqua color and the Quartz Twin Pendant Necklace from MadeFAIR really seems to do it justice. This would look lovely dressed up or down and since it’s spring, we’d love to see this paired with light or neutral tops in order to really let this necklace shine.

7. Peach Echo

This is such a flattering color for so many complexions it’d be silly not to have Peach Echo somewhere in your wardrobe. The super sweet Daydream Dress from Mata Traders is cut beautifully and we especially love how the model has it paired with a necklace that’s really similar to our last color, Snorkel Blue.

8. Rose Quartz

One of Pantone’s two main color choices for the year is Rose Quartz, the pretty and feminine dusty pink hue we keep drooling over. The Peep Toe Wedges from Good Cloth are a fun and less expected way of incorporating the color, plus these are so soft that you could probably wear them as a neutral. Pair with sundresses, rompers, skinnies, and more.

9. Serenity

This is Pantone’s second pick as color of the year and we can see why. The soft powdery blue hue is an excellent choice for spring and we think that the Eternal Triangle Skirt from Mata Traders is really great. A tucked in tank would be perfect paired with this A line skirt. Have fun with more daring color combos, or simply stick with neutrals for a classic and timeless look.

10. Snorkel Blue

Take a dip in the deep end when you wear this Jumpsuit from Good Cloth in Pantone’s Snorkel Blue. The lagoon-like color is rich and saturated and this particular piece would look stellar with a pair of espadrilles and an arm full of bangle bracelets.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our suggestions on how to incorporate Pantone’s spring colors into your clothing rotation. The upside is that everything we’ve chosen here today is also sustainable in some form, so you don’t have to worry about harming the environment, animals, or community.

What did you think of the spring colors picked by the gurus of hues? Do you agree with the choices? Let us know what you think on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Colorful Fabric Swatches via Shutterstock

The post The Top 10 Spring Colors You Should Be Wearing Now appeared first on EcoSalon.

Throw pillows are like the icing on the décor cake. These little gems of plushy goodness provide the perfect finishing touch for nearly every room in the house, and they’re a guilty pleasure some hardcore decorators might even deem mandatory. Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice style for compassion because we have some eco-friendlydecorative throw pillows that will seriously rock your world. But you know, softly.

Whether you plop them on your bed, sofa, floor, or your favorite wingback chair, toss pillows add much needed layers of color, texture, and warmth throughout your home. They are relatively inexpensive and have the potential to create serious design impact. Plus, choosing unique patterns and images can really allow you to express your personality without taking big risks.

Sadly, many pillows manufactured today contain some less than savory materials. Down feather inserts, wool, alpaca, synthetic materials, and chemically laced dyes are just a few of the obvious obstacles that we’re faced with when shopping for cushions. Not only can these be harmful to our health, but the animal derived materials are seriously cruel. If you need further proof, check out this article from PETA on the abuse of geese for their feathers to make down filling.

On the bright side, we don’t have to support these heartless manufacturers in their quest to inflict all sorts of pain and suffering on the human and animal populations because we’ve rounded up some conscious retailers with several beautiful and decorative cruelty-free pillows.

1. Bursaria Workshop

If you’re a fan of Australian wildlife, or any sort of cute animal really, then you’ll fall in love with these pillows featuring wombats, possums, and even crayfish. The graphic designer and printmaker who runs this little shop has brought her original designs to life in the form of charming, creature themed cushions and the occasional abstract image.

Bursaria Workshop uses recycled PET fiberfill whenever possible (which seems to be very often, if not all the time), utilizes organic hemp and organic cotton regularly, and prints using water based inks.

It goes without saying that these pillows would fit right in nestled on the bunk bed in a child’s room, but these are also great for the kid at heart. Add one or two of these among a small sea of cushions atop your sofa, or isolate and call attention to a single piece of furniture that holds a special place in your heart.

2. Zleep Shop

Bold geometric patterns and colors more your thing? Then look no further than the modern Zleep Shop. This small retailer contains a limited selection of designs, including the ever popular chevron, stripe, polka dot, scallop, and abstract printed encasements. Hand crafted from natural and eco-friendly materials, the pillows from this shop are made from exclusively organic cotton fabric.

Although bold and contrasting, these pillows are actually very versatile – just as easily as they are able to stand out, will they also blend in – it really just depends on the atmosphere and the overall design goal you’re interested in achieving.

Black and white geometric patterns are excellent safeguards to utilize when getting your feet wet with pattern mixing. These are generally neutral territory despite the contrasting images, but the basic color, or lack thereof, keeps them very grounded in a sea of other colors, images, and patterns. I recommend trying the chevron or scallop in black and white. 

3. River Oak Studio 

Finally we have the perfect shop for you to pick up your organic and sustainable fabric-based pillows from that has simple and modern cottage living in mind. With softer patterns and a more subdued palette, River Oak Studio definitely understands how to appeal to the masses.

The designs are sophisticated and look like they belong in a West Elm or Pottery Barn display for sure, although they can be a tad on the rustic side. Fortunately, this shop owner has good intentions with her use of eco-friendly water based inks for printing and organic cotton GOTS certified sateen.

These would be the highlight in a quaint and quirky bohemian abode, especially the patterns leaning more toward the organic side, like the feather, dahlia, and even bunny rabbit prints. When decorating for this laid-back style, eclectic is best, so it may be better to buy your pillow patterns singly, rather than in matching pairs.

With that said, this shop’s offerings really are so versatile that many of the pillow designs could be used in a variety of applications – from the nursery to the beach house, to the apartment of an avian obsessed fan – do spare a moment to check out this well-intentioned online shop.

We really hope you enjoyed our decorative eco-friendly pillows compilation. What did you think? Let us know your thoughts on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Pillows on Bed via Shutterstock

The post 3 Eco-Friendly Decorative Throw Pillows That Will Rock (and Cushion) Your World appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnAre you confused by reading food labels? You are not alone.

In a sea of choices, reading food labels can be the thing that help to guide us in the right direction. Leading busy lives, we don’t always have the time to do all the research on everything we buy, so we look for certain indicators to help us get what we want. Some go for “organic” some go for “non-GMO.” Ultimately food labels should help us to know what we’re buying. Unfortunately, they don’t always serve that purpose.

According to a recent Consumer Reports study, around 60 percent of people look for the “natural” label when they grocery shop because they think that products labeled “natural” are better for them than those products without the label. In fact, 66 percent of Americans believe “natural” means a processed food has no artificial ingredients, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms. But the truth is, it doesn’t mean any of that.

There’s actually no FDA definition of “natural,” but “the agency has not objected to the use of the term if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.” Which means you can essentially slap the word “natural” onto a whole lot of things. For example, when it comes to “natural flavors,” you can have “any number of (naturally derived) chemicals concocted to enhance the taste of your snack,” writes Grist. “They’re dreamed up, extracted, and blended by flavorists in labs to preserve what your food would have tasted like before it was processed, frozen, heated, pasteurized, or otherwise addled on the way to your grocery store.” Which is why you get things like Diet 7-Up boasting “100% natural flavors.”

A food marketing word that has come to carry no meaning, Consumer Reports actually launched a petition to ban the use of “natural” on food products.

What is a conscious food shopper to do? Simple. Buy real food.

Let’s go back to the FDA for help. According to the agency, “natural” is hard to define because, “From a food science perspective, it is difficult to define a food product that is ‘natural’ because the food has probably been processed and is no longer the product of the earth.”

Ah yes, there we have it, the one phrase that says it all: “food product.” A food product is not the same as real food. It is food that has been processed and made into something else. Some food products can be fairly harmless, a basic granola for example – as long as it’s not hyped up on tons of additives, and other things that are simply weird. Go-gurt anyone? As a rule of thumb, I am sure we can all agree that if a product comes in a flavor of “cool cotton candy” you can go ahead and assume that it’s not real food.

Which brings us to another one of the food labels that causes a lot of confusion: organic.

Organic is different, because it has guidelines and an entire certification process behind it. In a world where we’re ruled by industrial agriculture, organic is better than non-organic. But remember that there are plenty of small-scale farmers that can’t afford the certification, and like with anything, we shouldn’t let the organic label stop us from doing just a little thinking when we shop.

An organic banana is still a banana, and unless you live in the tropics, that banana had to travel a long way to get to you.

An organic apple from New Zealand individually wrapped in plastic, is still an apple from afar that’s protected by a single-use disposable wrapping.

Organic goji berries are still exotic superfoods that could easily be replaced with something more local.

The reality is, you don’t have to master the world of food labels to eat well, you just need to use common sense. Buying something that isn’t whole foods or grains? Turn that box or bag around and look at the ingredients list. If it’s full of a bunch of things you can’t pronounce, don’t buy it. The fewer the ingredients, the better.

We don’t need to overthink what we buy. In fact, the more we simplify what we buy, the better off we are. That means apples and not apple chips. Black beans and not bean dip. Sparkling water with a slice of fruit in it and not a soda boasting “100% natural flavors.” Plain yogurt with a spoonful of jam and not a Go-Gurt.

Don’t be fooled by a natural food label. Eat real food instead.

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This is the latest installment of Anna Brones’ weekly column at EcoSalon: Foodie Underground, an exploration of what’s new and different in the underground movement, and how we make the topic of good food more accessible to everyone. More musings on the topic can be found at www.foodieunderground.com.

Image: Quinn Dombrowski

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Munich designates six areas for nude sunbathing. What does that say about the rest of us?

When statewide laws in Bavaria regulating public nudity expired last fall, the city of Munich decided to take the issue of nude sunbathing into its own hands, by officially declaring six urban naked zones, where people can partake in as much nude sunbathing  as they like.

While public nudity is a rarity in the United States, and many other Western countries, German culture is much more well accustomed to going sans clothing in public saunas and thermal springs. In fact, in most of those places, it’s odder to wear a bathing suit than not.

Munich’s large park Englischer Garten has long been home to people basking in the sun in the nude. But the urban naked zones make six designated areas specifically for nudists who don’t want to be bothered by their clothing (or lack thereof) choices. (Atlantic Cities has a map of all of them in case you are interested.)

This may seem as extremely progressive to some, but this is a culture that has much less prudish attachment to nudity. When you grow up in a culture that often has same-sex, public saunas you get used to it. Nudity isn’t sexualized. It’s just natural. As Andrew Welch wrote in an editorial in The Independent in regards to the British views towards nudity, “Our society is still obsessed with Victorian attitudes towards the body, and the idea that skin equals sex.”

You can sort of envision prospective tourists to Munich snorting about how funny it will be to see naked people sunbathing in a park. But if there’s one thing about German culture to know, it’s that being nude is normal. Certainly, not everyone chooses to go nude sunbathing, but German, and other Northern European cultures, have a much more normalized relationship to nudity that makes these types of citywide decision not as shocking as they seem to us in more reserved cultures. “[S]tripping off in public is the voluntary removal of a heavy mask, a return to unvarnished honesty rather than some titter-worthy peek-a-boo,” wrote Feargus O’Sullivan in Atlantic Cities.

Spread out across the city, the six areas are all in parkland, meaning that you’re not going to come across a nude sunbather just anywhere, and it certainly isn’t acceptable to go and hop on a Munich bus without your clothes on. Instead, areas in natural spaces are open for enjoyment, and if you want to do that without your clothes on, then you are more than welcome to. In a culture that has a lot of respect for the outdoors and nature, when you think about it, it’s not that odd or radical of a decision.

Maybe it’s time to rethink our own Victorian ideal-induced relationship to nudity. Look at things like the World Naked Bike Ride. Nudity doesn’t always have to mean sex, and while there are few that advocate for going naked 100 percent of the time, we’re certainly at a point in our culture where most of us have become entirely removed from our natural state of being. Because even if we don’t want to go nude in public, we could all spend a little more time being okay with our naked bodies.

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Value driven jewelry designer Nettie Kent talks with EcoSalon about her process, what changing color in brass jewelry really means and why she chooses to hand make her jewelry in New York City. 

Juliette Donatelli: When people find out your line is made in NYC what is the reaction you get?

Nettie Kent: Buyers here [in NYC] care. My showroom is actually in LA, it’s on the west coast, and they don’t care [laughs]. But people here definitely care. And also people that care about sustainable design, where things are made and all that–they definitely care.

One of my biggest selling points is that everything is handmade in my studio, and all my metals are recycled. I work with an amazing caster. This is all brass and he has just the best quality brass. A lot of casting techniques afterwards they rinse the casting in these super gross harsh chemicals– he doesn’t do that. And he doesn’t do that because he necessarily cares about the environment. He is so funny; his name is Frank and it is a family business. His daughters work there and so does his son, and when I first interviewed him — it was important to me — he was like, in this thick Long Island accent, “My family works here! I am not going to put that shit around here, I am not going to expose them to that.” I said I love you we are working together!

So, it’s more work because when my castings come back they are really dirty and it is more work polishing them and cleaning them up. But for me it is worth it. Sometimes is it a curse [laughs] you know. But the color I can achieve from his brass is amazing.

JD: Yeah, I would have never been able to tell it was brass, I thought it was gold. 

NK: Yeah, it is wild, [matches up gold ring against Nettie Kent brass ring] this ring is gold and you can hardly tell the difference.

Also, I don’t do any plating, plating is a really dirty business.

JD: Why is plating a dirty business? What does it entail?

NK: A lot of customers want things to be gold plated; they think it is more valuable and they think it means that it will stay. But what happens when you gold plate something is first it is washed–it has a nickel coating on it and nickel is a white metal, a lot of people are allergic to it, so that is why I say my brass is nickel-free. Because people think they are allergic to brass, it is not actually brass they are allergic to, they are allergic to nickel. So when something is plated it is dipped in a nickel bath and then dipped in the gold. So between the brass and the gold it has this kind of like a poison on it. It is really hard. The only kind of plating that lasts a long time is micron, and  it is a real thick layer. And it very expensive. It is hard actually to find someone in New York that is good at it. Rhode Island is actually the best.

So I just decided not to do it. People ask me too, and I say sorry I just don’t do gold plating. If you me to make it in gold, I would love to make it in gold for you. It is just not part of what I do.

Here I am going to all these lengths to make my jewelry and make my practice clean. And then to cover it in that seemed totally silly.

I love brass, I love how it changes color with the environment and ages. And it is just an interesting metal. It reacts to your body’s pH too. Your body reacts to brass when it is too acidic, like when you are overtired or drinking too much coffee.

I had to learn all this about brass when I switched over. I had to learn this because people would ask me, ‘Why is my brass turning color?’ And I would say, let me figure that out!

I try to have fun with it, and make things I want to wear. I am not a sales person, but I feel like if I believe in it I can recommend it to people.

images from the brand

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The post Nettie Kent: Value Driven Brass Jewelry Designer appeared first on EcoSalon.

Horst Rechelbacher, Austrian-born founder of Aveda Corps., one of the first mainstream companies to eliminate toxic chemicals in products, and enthusiastic-pioneer of mass market plant based beauty, sadly passed away last month at the age of 72. But he left behind a legacy of healthier communities.

Throughout his work and career Horst Rechelbacher shed light on the dangers of toxic chemicals in cosmetics long before the conversation was mainstream. Most importantly, not only was he an outspoken advocate on the issue, he offered solid solutions.

Founder of beauty care companies Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, author, ayurvedic scholar and organic farmer, Rechelbacher grew revolutionary companies supplying high performing products and a keen awareness to the vital importance of natural beauty.

He would famously drink hair spray and other products made by his company to prove they weren’t simply giving lip service. “Everything we put in and on our bodies must be nutritious and safe,” was Rechelbacher’s signature motto.

Our skin, like a sponge, absorbs mostly anything we put on it; yet cosmetic ingredients are not regulated the same way food is. In the last decade, studies linking cosmetic ingredients to cancer have uncovered the importance of Rechelbacher’s pioneering work. But long before the conversation was mainstream, he was formalizing the best, toxic-free products through Aveda, and later Intelligent Nutrients; safe alternatives in form that didn’t sacrifice function.

Through his companies and tireless advocacy work, Mr. Rachelbacher revolutionized the beauty industry forever.

Mr. Rechelbacher’s plant-based approached stemmed from his mother, an herbablist. At the age of 14, he apprenticed at a nearby hair salon; only three years later to find himself working in Rome. He went on to found Aveda in 1978, fusing plant science and beauty against the modern ideas of efficiency through chemicals.

Thanks to Rechelbacher’s dedication Aveda is the first beauty company to produce with one hundred percent wind power, and the first beauty company to use one hundred percent post-consumer recycled PET packaging.

After selling Aveda in 1997, Rechelbacher founded Intelligent Nutrients, a beauty company using only certified organic ingredients. Most of the ingredients used are grown on his 570-acre organic farm in Osceola, Wisconsin.

Horst left us with fundamental ideas of the power of nature. Below are three revolutionary shifts he brought into the beauty industry forever.

1. The Relationship between Plants and Beauty is Luxury

Horst launched his career at a time when laboratory science was the shining horizon of global industries; food, beauty and others were looking for leaps in efficiency via chemicals as the answer to limits of nature. But Horst held on to the intrinsic benefits plants have to offer, and believed in beauty from the inside and out. His luxurious products free of toxic chemicals offer an alternative to the mainstream, proving you didn’t have to sacrifice form for function.

2. Companies are Greater Than Their Final Product

Rechelbacher’s work went far beyond his products. As an outspoken advocate for eliminating toxic chemicals in beauty, Horst helped finance the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Today, the organization stands as one of the largest and most influential groups working towards regulating the cosmetic industry and increasing consumer awareness. Their most recent work persuaded Johnson & Johnson to remove two ingredients from their baby shampoo that are linked to cancer.

He also conducted his business as a holistic vision of health: He led Aveda to be the first beauty company to produce with one hundred percent wind power, and the first beauty company to use one hundred percent post-consumer recycled PET packaging. Intelligent Nutrients offers an ingestible product called Intellimune, made of five powerful seed oils: black cumin, pumpkin, red grape, raspberry and cranberry. His companies didn’t just make healthier products, but healthier and more holistic consumer world.

3. Natural is Not Only Good for Our Health, It’s Good For Business

In 1997, Aveda Corps. was sold to Estee Lauder for a reported $300 million, and is still carried in over 25,000 stores and salons worldwide. Now that’s good business.

To leave something behind, greater than ourselves, is a life well lived. Horst Rechelbacher founded and matured healthy companies that have touched millions of people. As the father of safer cosmetics, his legacy will live on; inside and out.

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The post 3 Revolutionary Ideas Aveda Founder Horst Rechelbacher Brought to the Beauty Care Industry appeared first on EcoSalon.

Imagine the stress your face goes through on a daily basis. Natural beauty creams and make-up aside, gravity has it being pulled downwards all day, everyday. And unless you sleep on your back, your face is either being dragged to one side or squished into a pillow. So as we get older, this wear and tear makes our faces wrinkle, sag, and attain a rough, unbalanced texture and appearance.

Luckily, going under the knife isn’t the only way to counteract these effects. If consistent with these tips, you can tone face muscles and pull your face up where it belongs, in the direction of your smile.

The following three wrinkle-blasting, face-toning tips are just needles in the natural beauty haystack of ways to improve your complexion and face tautness. Don’t forget, a plant-based diet and organic face products devoid of toxic chemicals will set the base and are perhaps the most effective factors to fighting age.

1. Puff it Up

The “buccinator” muscles are located in your cheeks. Strengthening these muscles will help to firm and lift your face. To exercise these muscles, puff your face like a blow fish and tap your cheeks with your hands. Relax and repeat. Keep doing until your face aches. Do this three times per week.

2. Turn it Upside Down

There are many benefits associated with inversions. When you are upside down or lying so that you head is at the bottom of an incline, blood rushes to your face, improving circulation and providing oxygen to tissue. This also gives your face a break from gravity, which is apparent in the very obvious physical feeling of your face sliding upward as you invert.

3. Self Massage

Sometimes all you need to prevent the wrinkle wrath is a well-deserved massage – on your face, that is. Apply an oil cleanser to your face and being to use both hands to massage in small circles, starting on the corners and moving inwards, all over your face. Focus on wrinkle areas and massage upwards against the grain. When finished, light tap your skin with the tips of your fingers and wash and dry clean.

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The post Natural Beauty: Get a No-Knife Facelift with 3 Natural Ways to Beat the Sags and Wrinkles appeared first on EcoSalon.

Twelve DIY face mask recipes so you can start 2014 with healthy, glowing skin.

I live in Colorado where winter weather means one thing (besides terrifying driving conditions): dry skin. My skin is naturally on the oily side, so the arid climate creates an uncomfortable conundrum. Either my face feels tight and dry, or I moisturize and clog my pores.

Over the years I’ve learned that a good face mask treatment can work wonders to balance out my skin and restore a natural glow. Facials are an expensive spa treatment but there’s no need to go broke. A good DIY face mask can clear your pores, cleanse, detoxify, and hydrate your skin just as well as the $100 treatment, you just have to know which one to use.

To help, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best DIY face mask recipes the internet has to offer, and conveniently organized them by skin type so you can zero in on the ones that will help restore your skin to its rightful beauty.

12 DIY Face Mask Recipes For Your Skin Type

Acne-prone Skin

If you struggle with acne, what you need is a DIY face mask that will exfoliate and heal.

Try:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Acne DIY Face Mask & Scrub

2. Simple Baking Soda DIY Fask Mask

3. Burning Face Mask (designed to lighten up marks, blemishes and scars, and even out your skin tone)

Dry & Sensitive Skin

If you’re dealing with dry, flaky or cracking skin, you need a DIY face mask that will saturate your face with hydrating moisture.

Try:

4. Honey and Avocado DIY Face Mask

5. Oatmeal and Fennel DIY Face Mask

6. Organic Chocolate & Honey Nourishing Face Mask

Oily Skin

If your pores work over time to produce oil, the best DIY face mask is one that exfoliates and draws impurities out of the skin.

Try:

7. Yogurt and Plum DIY Face Mask

8. DIY Face Mask for Oily/Combination Skin with Cucumber, Egg White, Lemon and Clay

9. Banana Honey DIY Face Mask

Wrinkled Skin

As we age, wrinkles become more pronounced. Minimize those laugh lines and crow’s feet with a DIY face mask that tightens, moisturizes, and replenishes our natural collagen.

Try:

10. Egg White and Honey DIY Face Mask

11. Grapeseed and Blueberry DIY Face Mask

12. Cocoa, Avocad0, Honey and Green Tea DIY Face Mask

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The post 12 Market Price DIY Face Mask Recipes For Every Skin Type: Affordable and Effective appeared first on EcoSalon.