Oh, Canada! Yeah, fable naturals comes out swinging with their eco-packaging, clean ingredients & handmade self. word up. plus, a giveaway!

"You had me at compostable."

Eco-packaging, eco-packaging, eco-packaging.  Those are the buzz words and you heard it here first (or maybe second...okay, third?)  Whatever the case, as more and more natural/organic products gain in popularity, my hope, and belief, is that people are going to start seriously looking at the whole picture.  Mainly, how is this product's packaging affecting the environment?  So, when Gwen from Fable Naturals approached me about her brand and told me that her lip balm packaging is made from 100% recycled paper and breaks down in a home compost, I was smitten.  In fact, I wrote her back, "You had me at compostable."

LIP BALMS

What's cooler than this compostable packaging?

First of all, you should know that the creators, Gwen and Chris, make everything by hand, bring in Fair Trade Cocoa Butter from Peru, Olive Oil from Palestine and sugar from Paraguay. All of their products carry certification from Fair trade International and they give back:  Fable Naturals contributes to projects in developing countries such as Trees for Life in Palestine which helps plant olive trees to help farmers maintain their traditional olive farming.  Gwen just told me that they're headed to Palestine this week...cool, no?

Okay, so back to the lip balms...they balm are awesome. For those of you who love a less emollient and more Chapstick-esq feel without the toxic ingredients, you'll be in heaven. They're vegan and come in three scents: Lemon, Mint and Vanilla Orange (which smells like a Creamsicle).  And with ingredients like Olive Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E, you've got the best thing for your lips.  $5.99  WIN IT BELOW!

SUGAR SCRUB

I'm not one of those women who are always making my own products, but I do make my own sugar scrub and let's just say it was looking pretty, pretty lame-o when little Canadian Fable Naturals' Sugar Scrub made it's way into my shower.  I actually felt a little bad for my scrub as I reached for the Lemon and Lavender Scrub during every shower (it also comes in Rosemary & Mint, too).  This scrub is all sorts of excellent.  It really, really exfoliates and it leaves your skin hydrated enough so that you won't need a moisturizer when you get out of the shower (one of my favorite qualities in a scrub, I must say).  It's also not super oily (bonus) and smells sweet!  $11.99

BODY BALM

A must-have product for Fall/Winter.  

What truly amazes me about this industry is how easy it is to purchase such healthy skincare with the best of the best ingredients and it's still so affordable.  Fable Naturals' Body Balm has ingredients like  organic coconut oil, olive oil, Camellia Sinesis Seed Oil, Spearmint, Vitamin E, just to a name a few, and it's only $9.99.  This body balm is PERFECT for carrying around in your bag (I've been doing just that).  It also absorbs nicely for something that is so hydrating.  I love the scent and I recommend that your get yourself a tin of this...healthy, inexpensive and with lots of organic, healthy ingredients.  

WINNER IS CAROLINE! FABLE NATURALS' SET OF 3 LIP BALMS!

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for playing, playas!

1.  "Like" Fable Naturals on their FB page here.

2.  Make sure we have a way to contact you - leave an email, twitter handle or something...please!

3.  Tell me your worst date experience...keep 'em funny...unless they're tragic, but that's still funny!  Leave a comment below or on my FB page here.

super cool osmia organics...like rockstar cool. yeah, like that.

Sarah Villafranco, creator and founder of Osmia Organics...gorg or what?

I tweet back and forth with a lot of green beauty goddesses who run their own companies, but I have to say, Sarah Villafranco of Osmia Organics is pretty damn cool.  The kind of cool where you wish she lived in NYC so you could yap green with her and watch her create all of her awesome skincare products.  I mean, this woman even discusses the recyclability of each of her products here.  I wanted all of you to get an idea of who Sarah is as a person, so I asked her a few questions which follow my review.  

DETOX EXFOLIATING MASK  Dare I say it's the best mask I've ever used?  Yes, I dare.  Please don't think this mask is for oily skin because it's got the word "Detox" in its name.  I have skin that can easily become dehydrated and I found this to not only clear my skin and make it bright and fresh-looking, but also leave it hydrated.  It comes in a bottle along with a little ceramic mixing bowl and spatula (love).  I find myself reaching for this whenever my skin is looking a little dull and clogged.  This is a favorite.
Key Ingredients:  Purifying clay, raw cacao, manuka honey and activated bamboo charcoal. $50

FACIAL CALIBRATION SERUM  This serum is pure, the consistency is light and not at all thick.  This serum is designed to help skin become more even and smooth and assists in regulating sebum production. It's a serum is for all skin types, but I love the fact that it will calm down skin that's acting up...something that happens often with women and our hormones!  $50
Key ingredients:  Olive squalene, kukui oil, powdered acai and organic black seed oil.

LIP LUSTER  I'm a sucker for a lip gloss or lipstick, so when I had read that Osmia's gloss that gets its color from beet root, well I just HAD to know about this company.  The scent is a subtle vanilla and I would say the color is like you were eating some blackberries.  You can make it as deep or light as you wish, depending on how much you apply.  I loved the consistency of this - not too thick, not sticky.  $15  Key ingredients: Beet root, Castor bean oil.

FOREST BODY OIL First off, this body oil comes in several scents, I just tested Forest.  One thing that strikes me about Osmia is that many of their products have an Earthy scent...creating scents in Colorado will probably inspire that!  This scent smells exactly like a bunch of evergreen trees in a forest.  It's bold and rich, but softens when on the skin.  This oil gave me that glow that celebrities have on their legs when they cross them on Dave Letterman. You know what I mean...just a pretty glisten, not oily.  It absorbed quick and was wonderful to wear.  I would love to try the Flower oil one day! $20
Key ingredients:  Ambrette seed oil, evergreen oils.

MY Q  & A WITH SARAH:

What new products are you working on now...if they’re not Top Secret, of course!  They are SO top secret, but I'll tell you anyway.  I'm working on a vitamin C lifting serum and a beautifully simple, organic exfoliant, both of which are pretty divine. 

What do you have in your makeup bag?   I have an eyelash curler and tweezers, my two most important items (I'm 40 now - I get whiskers).  I have our Luster lip gloss, RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, and some Chantecaille eyeliner.  The next on my list to try is Kjaer Weis mascara. 

What green beauty industry women would you love to sit around and talk shop with?  I'd love to chat with Rose-Marie Swift, Gwyneth (does she count?), Mandy Aftel (smart and funny), and pretty much every green beauty blogger out there - you guys keep it real, keep our egos in check, and seem to find as much joy doing what you love as I do!  When should we do it?

Name three adjectives to describe yourself.  Go.  Motivated.  Fun.  Alive. 

The Girls of Splurge Skincare Perfect The Body Scrub with, "The Rub"

THE RUB

I fully agree with the founders of Splurge Skincare, Christine Cunningham and Kara Kivi (BTW, I'm loving the alliteration, girls), getting the right body scrub consistency is hard to do.  I've got tons of body scrubs that I've used once and just detested. They're either so oily that you're slipping in the shower and come out feeling like your pores are clogged or the entire container is filled with loose sugar or salt that falls all over the place before you even get down to scrubbin'!

Well, I'm excited to announce that these girls (and very close friends) have nailed it. The Rub has thee perfect consistency.  It's gritty, but not too gritty, is easy to pick up, doesn't disappear when you apply it to wet skin AND it works...exfoliation and hydration city!

The Rub is available in Lemon, Peppermint, Almond and, a soon-to-be-released scent named, "Autumn" which is a delicious blend of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg with a hint of orange...oh, my!  I can't wait to try the other scents...this one is delicious.  I can honestly say that out of all of the body scrubs I've tried, this is my favorite...and I've tried a TON!  $26

LIP BUTTAH

I also tried their Lip Buttah in Lemon.  This is wonderful.  It's so smooth, has excellent green ingredients and also lasts.  I've been wearing it on my lips before bed and wake up and it's still on there, hydrating like it's nobody's business!  The Lip Buttah also comes in Peppermint, Almond and Orange Chocolate. $7

Oh, and by the way, these ladies aren't messing around, their pure and natural ingredients are listed right underneath their products...no greenwashing here!  I love to support small, green businesses who are churning out great product.  I hope you'll give Splurge a shot.

The Skinny on SkinnySkinny Organic & Eco-friendly Products

MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SKINNYSKINNY PRODUCT

I have SO many products from SkinnySkinny and everything that I've purchased from them has been high-quality, organic, effective and clearly made with love. They are 100% carbon-neutral and use recycled, reclaimed and sustainable materials for their packaging...gotta love that!

THE FOOT SCRUB
I'm going to recommend a few of their products. For starters, the Rosemary & Mint Organic Foot Scrub rocks.  Literally. I'm talking PUMICE, people! I live in NYC and like anyone who lives here in the summer knows, the streets can do some serious damage to your feet after a day of sandal and/or flip flop-wearing.  Whenever I've purchased a foot scrub, they're usually so gentle, they barely smooth my feet, let alone give them a silky, hydrated feel after. SkinnySkinny's foot scrub does...and how! It's fantastic. It has a thick, grainy consistency (not liquid) with lots of pumice, sea salt, olive oil, coconut oil and essential oils.  If you like to scrub between pedicures, try this.   I'm serious.  $30 9 oz. jar.

THE SOAP SET

If you need a gift for someone, I highly, highly, recommend their Organic Soap Set which comes in the most adorable tree-less gift box made to look like a book.  I actually purchase these sets for myself as I love having lots of lots of soap to choose from (odd, but true). I really don't have a favorite skinnyskinny soap as I love them all. The soaps are organic and are in thee prettiest recycled paper you can imagine. Each soap feels like you're opening a little present! $54 for 6 bars with box

THE LIP BALMS

Skinnyskinny has thee most incredible lip balms. I've tried each one and have them all over my house (by the bed, in my desk, in the bathroom). They are incredibly soft and smooth. They feel so great on the lips and they're organic, so no worries about licking your lips. $6

THE DRY SHAMPOO
Finally, I'd like to mention their Organic Grapefruit and Cardamon Dry Shampoo which has saved me several times when I've either used too much conditioner, my hair needed volume or my face oils got on my bangs...not a good look. It smells delicious and is so easy to use. The packaging here is entirely eco-friendly, too...labels and all!  $32 4.2 oz.

*I was not given these products to review, I purchased them myself. All opinions are mine.