Starbright Satchel made from RECYCLED PLASTIC

Starbright Satchel made from RECYCLED PLASTIC

Super cute satchel made completely out of recycled plastic and totally vegan. Front zippered compartment. Inside zippered pocket and organizer division. Zipper closure. Webbing handles. Wipe clean with wet cloth. Super lightweight. Orange background with light blue stars; Size: 9.75"x14.5"x4.5.


Eco-Lux Super-Soft Bamboo Summer Cardigan

Eco-Lux Super-Soft Bamboo Summer Cardigan

Gorgeous wrap sweater made from bamboo and organic cotton. A perfect spring addition to your wardrobe.


Green Company Profile: Care by Stella McCartney

Care by Stella McCartney at Sephora

Stella McCartney developed this skincare line after realizing that there weren't many truly green or organic skin care lines out there. She feels that you shouldn't have to sacrifice luxury to be green. 100% organic active ingredients, which means that it has everything your skin needs, nothing it doesn't. 100% certified as organic and ecological, these products don't contain and petroleum derivatives or silicones. Even the fragrance is made from 100% essential oils. This line is simple, easy to use, and very uncomplicated. Browse the line at Sephora or Nordstrom. (via deydolma)


Total Beauty Web Tour

In case these fantastic blogs aren't already in your reader, here is a sampling of the goodness that my fellow Total Beauty bloggers are talking about.

The Muse shares her first impressions of MAC DressCamp with Product Photos and Swatches of this sold out Collection!

Laurie at Beauty's Spot gets
an amazing massage and energy healing session from a San Francisco-based massage therapist and healer.

Monique at beauty girl musings shares how to save your hair from everyday heat styling.

Girl Gloss finds a great new lipstick from the new Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Cosmetics line

Tink at Casual Lavish talks about At home remedies for whitening your fingernails.

Beauty Anonymous invites you to the springtime nail colors of OPI 2008 Beyond Chic Collection .

Beauty411 shares her review of Klean Bath + Body's Blue Hawaii Sugar Body Polish, which smells like a tropical island and exfoliates your skin, too!

Forget virgin daiquiris, The Beauty of Life is all about the gorgeous polishes from the new Extra Virgin Collection from Dashing Diva!

Periodic Style's Jeanne goes back to school at Sephora University!

Toya of The Life of A Ladybug asks "What's your 'thing' right now?"

Find out which organic shower gel, leaves Christine's hubby in a woodsy lather...at Beauty in Real Life.

Answering the complicated question, "What does organic mean?", A Mom in Red High Heels helps clear away the confusion.

Budget Beauty Love takes a look at the new Sally Hansen Natural Beauty foundation and primer and isn’t too thrilled.

Makeup Junkie finds a new best friend in Mischo Beauty has a reader who shares her favorite organic conditioner!

New Green Line: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy

Makeup artist Carmindy has partnered with Sally Hansen to bring us a natural makeup line that is affordable and created with natural ingredients and antioxidants. All the products are completely paraben-free.
So far, they don't seem easy to find. If you don't have a CVS pharmacy near you (we don't have them here, either), you might be out of luck. You can always order online, though, although I would never recommend trying out a new line without actually seeing it first.
Ulta has them online, but reports seem to be mixed about finding the line in stores. However, if you're interested, there is an Ulta coupon for $3.50 off a $10 purchase with the coupon code 92524.

Green Company Profile: Pangea Organics

A very hip and eco-conscious company that even has music releases on their website! Which are quite good, really. Do check them out.
Pangea says that you have only one body and one Earth, and they will do their best to take care of both. A great philosophy which is backed up by some truly amazing products.
Pangea promises to use only 100% plant-based ingredients, each of which is clearly on their bottles. If it's not on the label, it's not in there. Petroleum products are not used, instead the focus is on quality organic and sustainable herbs and essential oils, many of which are grown here in the United States. They saponify (convert into soap by treating with an alkali) their oils to create products that lather well without the use of petroleum-based ingredients. These ingredients also begin to biodegrade within 48 hours of use.
Pangea follows the trifecta of facial skincare: cleanse, tone, moisturize. A complete line of cleansers, scrubs, toners, and creams take care of dry, normal, and oily (or demanding, as Pangea's website puts it!). A complete body care line includes bar soaps, liquid soaps, shower gels, lotions and oils. Ingredients run the range from fennel to ylang ylang, with benefits listed for each. All of which look like they should be on my bathroom shelf.
The best part of it all is the packaging. All made with a Zero Waste process with 100% post consumer paper. Plus, embedded in each are organic seeds such as sweet basil and amaranth. Just soak the box in water for a minute and plant!
So, it's on to the wish list!

Most importantly, they are celebrating Global Earth Day by offering 20% off on all online purchases at pangeaorganics.com. Enter the code GOGREEN08 to receive your discount. This discount is good through 4/30/08. Select products will also be on sale in stores, if you have a retailer near you.

Cargo Plantlove Botanical Lipstick

Cargo Plantlove Botanical Lipstick

With 20 glossy shades, many "designed" by celebrities and a few inspired by places of ecological beauty, Cargo's Plant Love line is cool enough on it's own. But what makes this even cooler is that the case is completely biodegradable and made of corn. Plant it in the ground, and it will really grow flowers. Wildflower seeds are embedded in the case. Eco-friendly indeed!\


I Am Not a Paper Cup

"I am not a paper cup"

More green goodness! Instead of always using a Starbucks paper cup (even if they are mostly recycled and eco-friendly, what with their soy ink and all that), how about a ceramic reusable cup with travel lid? A great way to reduce waste while still getting your coffee on, yes? (via FashionKitty)

Green Company Profile: Lush Cosmetics

No doubt about it, Lush is my favorite "green" company. You really can't turn around in my house without bumping into something made by Lush: we have bath bombs, shampoo, shower gel, lotion, cuticle cream, shaving cream, lip balms, and a huge basket of other stuff too. I've never been unhappy with a Lush purchase, and I always make a point of stopping in anytime I'm in a city that is lucky enough to have one.
But what are they really all about, other than fantastic-smelling products? From their website:

We believe in making effective products out of fresh organic* fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics, without animal ingredients, and in writing the quantitative list on the outside.

We also believe in buying only from companies that test for safety without the involvement of animals and in testing our products on humans.

We believe in making our own fresh* products by hand, printing our own labels and making our own fragrances.

We believe in long candlelit baths, massage, filling the house with perfume and in the right to make mistakes, lose everything and start again.

We believe that our products should be good value, that we make a profit and that the customer is always right.

*We also believe words like "fresh" and "organic" have honest meaning beyond marketing.
And be sure to check out their very informative page on the ingredients they use.
It would be impossible to get together a wish list, because really, I'd like one of everything please, thank you. But, since it's Earth Day, I thought I'd focus on one product that gives back.
Charity Pot is a body lotion made from natural oils and fair trade cocoa butter, and is scented with ylang ylang, geranium, and marigold. But the best part about this cream is the good it does. According to Lush, "Every penny of the retail price (excluding taxes) goes directly into a charitable fund to support animal rights, environmental protection and humanitarian concerns."
And really, if you need something else to buy, here are my top five.

Earth Day: Canvas Totes

Now would be a great time to commit to reducing your carbon footprint on the Earth. Start with something simple: canvas tote bags instead of grocery store plastic ones. Here are a few picks:

Green Company Profile: Josie Maran Cosmetics

No doubt you have seen some press for Josie Maran cosmetics. She has been featured in Allure, Domino, Elle, Shape, and Glamour, among others. A former model, Josie Maran decided to take her love of makeup to a more responsible level. From the website:

This isn't the first time that Josie Maran has been the face of a cosmetics company. Her lucrative contract as the international spokes-model for the wildly popular brand Maybelline lasted for an unprecedented ten years.

As a top model, Josie learned about makeup from the best in the business. While world-famous makeup artists worked their magic on her, she paid attention. She learned about the transformative power of makeup, and how just a little can do a lot. She learned what works and what doesn't, which ingredients to seek out and which to avoid.

Over time, Josie noticed a hole in the market. It was hard to find products that matched her approach to life - products that are pure and gentle, that contain no toxins or ingredients that damage the planet. The few earth-friendly products she found were lacking the sophistication and the level of luxury she craved.

Josie knew that if she wanted products that met these high standards, other women would want them too. So in 2006 Josie set out to create her own makeup line.

Josie Maran Cosmetics is arriving at the perfect time. Today's woman is discriminating and asks a lot of the products she buys. She's unwilling to compromise style, beauty, quality or caring for the planet. Now she can have all of these things and have her makeup, too.

The philosophy of Josie Maran Cosmetics comes from Josie herself. It's a balance of her low maintenance, go-with-the-flow attitude and her refined, worldly taste. "I know exactly what I like. My tastes are very specific," Josie says. "I crave quality, whether it's the best fabric, the best food, or the best makeup. I try to surround myself with the best of everything." Josie's passion for everything she does is evident in the line. Every element, from the packaging to the makeup shades, is a reflection of her unique sensibility.

The Josie Maran Cosmetics look is healthy, natural and vibrant. It's about enhancing, not covering. It's about youthful, glowing skin. "What most women don't realize is that when models and actresses look fresh-faced and makeup-free, it's because they know how to apply their makeup to make it look that way," Josie explains. "I want to open the vault on all the tips and tricks I've learned in the makeup chair. I've seen how makeup can make a person feel great. I want to share that with women everywhere."

What I like about the line is the impressive collection of eye shadows. Occasionally in a natural or mineral line of cosmetics, your choices for vibrant eye shades are somewhat limited. Not so in this case:
I could certainly use most, if not all of these shades. Especially Cappucino, Chianti, Pewter, and Smoke.

On to the wishlist!
You can receive free standard shipping on your $45 order by using the code WILDFLOWER at checkout. Happy shopping!

Green Company Profile: Gabriel Cosmetics


Gabriel Cosmetics not only does a fantastic line of makeup, but also a great skin care line that is all natural and created with pure botanicals.

Here is the background on Gabriel Cosmetics:

Gabriel Cosmetics was conceived and developed by Gabriel DeSantino, CEO and founder of Gabriel Cosmetics, Inc. Inspiration for the line was drawn from generations of family tradition and knowledge of the healing properties of the sea.

As a child, Gabriel had observed his grandmother making homeopathic cosmetics from seaweed, kelp and herbs that he had helped her gather at her home by the ocean in Mexico. As a naturopath and herbalist, his grandmother was knowledgeable of the many healing and revitalizing properties of the ocean plant life. As Gabriel grew older and entered the field of beauty, he became even more aware of how young and unlined her skin remained.


His grandmother passed on her wisdom of the healing benefits of the sea to Gabriel. He learned how the right combination of sea-derived botanicals not only revitalize the skin and keep it looking younger, but also reduce stress and help balance and remineralize the body in a natural and pleasant manner. This knowledge spurred his research further leading Gabriel to a European Bio-Chemist with 30 years experience in developing botanical formulations.

The Gabriel skincare line has been under extensive development since1991. All formulations have been stringently tested on a panel of over 150 people comprised of all skin types, male and female, all ages, nationalities, and professions. The results of this testing were spectacular, as no contraindicative or adverse skin reactions were observed on any of the subjects. On the contrary, noticeable improvements were noted after only a few days use.

What makes Gabriel Cosmetics different from other seemingly similar products on the market? Simply this- Gabriel products are made from 100% natural ingredients. No synthetic chemicals or animal by-products are utilized and no testing is ever done on animals. These environmentally safe products contain a higher percentage of active ingredients than any other similar products.

And here is the wishlist:

Green Company Profile: Perfect Organics

Here is how Perfect Organics describes themselves:

Our mission is simple: to create wholesome organic, vegan, multi-use products unrivaled in perfection, purity and effectiveness for men, women, and children. We know that what you put on your skin has to be perfect because it can be easily absorbed directly into your body –that’s why you will never find chemical additives, artificial ingredients, fillers or synthetic preservatives of any kind in Perfect Organics.™

We proudly offer pure organic products composed of the world’s finest ingredients that are expertly formulated and gently processed to maintain the integrity of every ingredient for the long-term health and beauty of your skin, body, and the environment. Our incredibly luxurious, vitamin rich and rejuvenating organic products smell amazing, feel wonderful and enhance, nourish, and protect your skin for a beautiful today and a perfect tomorrow.

Perfect Organics has been mentioned in the following magazines:

  • Newsweek
  • Elle
  • DC
  • Women's Wear Daily
  • Domino
They also have a cute line of t-shirts and some very posh-looking towels. And an organic baby and kids line called Hippo and Turtle is currently in the works.

But back to the beauty. Here is our wishlist from Perfect Organics:

Carol's Daughter

In the early 1990’s, Brooklyn native Lisa Price (a.k.a. Carol’s daughter) began experimenting with fragrance, essential oils and natural moisturizers to make gifts for her family and friends. Soon after she packaged her home-spun creations, word spread like wildfire and the demand for her unparalleled hair and body care products led to a highly successful mail-order and web-based business. Within a few years, Carol’s Daughter counted celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Brad Pitt and Chaka Khan as loyal fans, or as she refers to them, “friends of the family.”

Nature, family and love are words that resonate for Carol’s Daughter and as business expands, Lisa makes sure that detailed care and attention is given to each product. Within every Carol’s Daughter product, whether it’s the Ecstasy Shea Soufflé or the Almond Cookie Sea Salt Body Scrub, the uniqueness of the name is an association with the familial manner in which the products were born.

Right now, Carol's Daughter is offering some fantastic mother's day sets with free shipping with a $40 order. We are especially fond of anything smelling like Jamaican Punch.

Here are a few more favorites:

Going Green

In honor of Earth Day, Daily Dose of Coffee will be bringing you profiles of eco-conscious and natural cosmetics companies. Isn't it great to shop totally without guilt?

NARS Cosmetics Spring 2010

Total Beauty

About Me

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Meredith Edwards-Cornwall is the founder of online lifestyle websites RetrodivasBeauty.com and RetrodivasCloset.com. She is also known as @retrodiva on Twitter. She specializes in drinking large amounts of espresso, shopping, and enjoying social media. In all of her free time she writes for StyleBakeryMom.com twice a week, and does various other freelance gigs involving writing, designing, and generally being awesome. While she believes that success is indeed a job in New York, she currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with her husband, two children, and two cats and has hung on to her day job.

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