Free Yoga Class - New Year's Day

If your new year’s resolution is to run a marathon, climb Mount Kilimanjaro or cycle around France, why not take baby steps and start with a gentle yoga class? Triyoga are holding 2 free classes tomorrow, Thursday 1st January 2009 at London’s Primrose Hill (first come first served). Yoga teacher, Catherine Annis has over 20 years experience and will teach the one hour open yoga classes at 11:30 and 12:45. Donations can be made on the day to the Teddy Foundation (a not for profit organisation aiming to make yoga more accessible to children within the UK). See Triyoga for further details.

The Best Organic Teas for Winter

Pukka Herbs Revitalise Tea – 20 sachets for £1.99
Pukka’s Revitalise is the perfect hug-for-the-soul tea during the cold winter months. With warming organic ingredients of ginger and cinnamon and spicy cardamon, this tea is perfect day or night. Pukka Herbs draw strongly on Ayurvedic ingredients so their teas not only delight the taste buds, but they also address the rest of the body as well.
Available at most supermarkets and health food stores or online at http://www.pukkaherbs.com/

Steenbergs Organic Christmas Tea – 125g tin for £5.25
If you still want to drink in the festive charms of Christmas, there is always Steenbergs organic and fair-trade Christmas Tea. The heavenly scent of organic clove, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and orange peel will permeate through the house and leave some christmas cheer during the dark winter months.

Tea Palace – Immune Boost Tea from £3.25
Notting Hill’s Tea Palace not only provides a chic environment for an indulgent afternoon tea but you can also order their delicious loose leaf teas online to enjoy at home. Keep your immune system strong this winter with their award winning ‘Immune Boost’ tea. Certified organic ingredients include echinacea, ginger, ginseng and orange peel. The Tea Palace also does another great winter tea, ‘Healing Hand’ which contains lemon peel, eucalyptus and echinacea.
Tea Palace – 175 Westbourne Grove, W11 2SB.
Hampstead Tea Ginger Green – 25 bags for £1.89
Enjoy the warming and antioxidant properties of ginger and green tea this winter with Hampstead Tea’s ‘Ginger Green’. Ginger is perfect too for anyone who overindulged over Christmas as it will settle any sensitive stomachs. This tea is organic and fair-trade and there are extra green points for the non-chlorine bleached tea bags made without glue or staples.

Where to Find the Best Vegan Shoe Sales

Beyond Skin – Who doesn’t want a pair of beautiful Beyond Skin shoes? Natalie Portman has worn them and now you can slip your feet into these usually pricey vegan shoes thanks to the sales. The English made shoes usually retail anywhere from £200-£300 but depending on your shoe size, you could grab an incredible steal for as low as £40 or £50. Petite feet will squeal with glee as many size 3, 4 and 5s appear to be on sale (other sizes are also on sale).

Georgette – This Belgium site has a selection of divine vegan shoes marked down to around £55. You can find sparkly silver ballet flats, stylish ankle boots and quite a large range of pretty strappy sandals. Just be quick in order to get your size!

Devidoll – A small selection of shoes on sale. Great opportunity to buy Charmone shoes at £145 down from £200.

Adili – Up to 50% off Beyond Skin shoes. If only I’d brought the red ‘Cherub Round Toe Heels’ by Beyond Skin (pictured above) before Christmas. They would have been great for all that festive partying. They were £140 and are now £70.

Net-a-Porter – If ever there was a chance to get your Stella on, it is now. Net-a-porter have discounted Ms. McCartney’s shoes by 25-60%. Thank you shoe gods!

Eco Fashion Sales

Want to know where to find the best sales for ethical and organic clothing online? Green Lashes has scoured the web to update you on what's on sale and where.

People Tree - Up to 50% off knitwear and knitwear accessories

Fashion-conscience - Great for snapping up some holiday items such as bikinis, shorts and fedoras.

Adili - Up to 50% off womenswear, beauty, jewellery, shoes, kidswear, menswear, homewares.

Devidoll - Up to 60% off selected items and 25% off new autumn winter 2008 collection.

Equa - Sale items range from under £20 to above £200. Disco divas may like the Noir silver leggings for £45 reduced from £75.

For all the girls who still love Net-a-Porter and Asos, why not try perusing the organic and ethical labels listed below.

Net-a-porter - 40% off many Stella McCartney items.

Asos.com - Green brands on sale include Kuyichi (look out for half price jeans for £45 reduced from £90) and People Tree (yoga top now £14.69 reduced from £45).

Coming soon: The best sale sites for eco shoes

Skincare and Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid

Many popular beauty and cleaning products contain harmful ingredients that have been linked to cancers and others have the ability to alter hormone levels. Some commonly used products even contain the same ingredients used for engine degreasers, brake fluid and anti-freeze.

I was shocked to learn how hazardous many skincare and cosmetic ingredients were. If you scan some ingredient labels of products you already have in your bathroom or make up bag, you will probably find long lists of unpronounceable ingredients that require a science degree to decipher. Chemicals such as parabens appear to be in every product as a preservative. Parabens have been found in breast tissue, according to the Teens for Safe Cosmetics list of chemicals to avoid. This kind of information is enough to wake up anyone and encourage you to overhaul your bathroom and beauty cabinets ASAP.

Green Lashes aims to avoid the following ingredients on this site:
(as and when I come across new ingredient information I will update this list).

Some ingredients to avoid:

Preservatives
Formaldehyde
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Methylisothiazolinone (MI/MCI) and Methychloroisothiazolinone
Parabens
Phenoxyethanol
Triclosan

Solvents
Butyl Acetate
Ethyl Acetate
Phthalates
Propylene Glycol
Toluene

Foaming & Emulsifying
Sodium Laureth Sulfate / Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS/SLES)
Cocamide DEA / Lauramide DEA

Other
Aluminium
Talc
Petrolateum
Fragrance / Parfum

For detailed ingredient information, please visit the following sites:
http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/
http://www.teensturninggreen.org/

Lavera Lipglosses

Lavera Lipgloss No. 3 was my first foray into the organic and natural cosmetic world. Their gloss performed so well that I was immediately converted.

No. 3 (brown) has a subtle red earthy colour with just the right amount of glimmer. The organic jojoba oil and natural berry extracts create a gorgeous scent and feel light and natural on the lips. No. 4 (transparent) is a great staple to have in the makeup bag also to apply over your favourite lipstick for an extra gloss factor. The other two shades include No. 5 (orange) and No. 6 (Blackberry). No. 6 is the only shade containing carmine.

Lipgloss Ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris/ Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer,
Soybean Glycerides, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Flavor (Aroma), [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Zinc Oxide (CI 77947), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Carmine (CI 75470)]

* ingredients from certified organic agriculture BDIH certified, Carmine free: No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5

Available for £7.79 at some healthfood stores and Wholefoods London
Online at: Lavera UK / Lovelula.com / So Organic

Largest Organic Wine Range in the UK

Vinceremos

Why drink organic wine? According to Friends of the Earth, ‘up to 240 chemical compounds from spray residues are detectable in wine’. Yeek! That’s enough to convert you.

If you have an upcoming party or special occasion and want to purchase good organic and fair-trade wine, look no further than Vinceremos. This Yorkshire based company are the ‘longest established organic wine specialists with the largest range in the UK’.

Vinceremos also offer organic beers, soft drinks and fruit drinks. Stay local and try their British wines or venture a little further into Europe for some French and Italian wines (organic French whites range from approximately £5.29 to £20).

Environmentally Friendly Taxis - London

GREEN TOMATO CARS / Ph: 020 8568 0022

If you need a taxi in London but still want to remain eco-conscious, why not use Green Tomato Cars? This environmentally friendly company only uses the hybrid electric Toyota Prius in their fleet.

Green Tomato Cars will quote the price when you book via the phone or internet, so you do not have to nervously watch the meter when sitting in traffic. I have found Green Tomato Cars to be really affordable and they are my preferred method of transport for getting home after a night out in London.

As a safety precaution, it is great to know you will be texted the vehicle number and name of your driver prior to pick up. When I last went to Heathrow Airport (yes, I offset my carbon emissions), I found Green Tomato Cars to be the absolute best price quoted.

5 Uses for Sweet Almond Oil

1. Eye Make Up Remover
Almond oil can remove mascara and heavy eye make-up quickly and gently. Just place a few drops onto an organic cotton pad and wipe over eyes.

2. Dry skin / Night Oil
Apparently Liz Hurley uses Almond Oil on her face to rehydrate dry skin. Try using it a few nights a week before bedtime to help skin repair during winter time.

3. Hair Dye Removal
Remove stubborn hair dye stains on skin around hairline. Green women who still want to dye their hair (with ammonia free natural dyes) will understand the trouble of removing dye stains on the hairline. Using Vaseline was once encouraged but as it contains petroleum, a different and more natural solution is needed. I covered a cotton pad in almond oil and was really impressed by how effectively it worked.

4. Décolletage Moisturiser
Do as the French women do and start moisturising your décolletage area daily. Almond oil works wonderfully as a body moisturiser, nourishing the skin without leaving a greasy residue.

5. Carrier Oil for your favourite essential oil
Use with coarse sea salt and lemon essential oil for a zesty body exfoliant or add a few lavender drops to almond oil and rub onto stomach during that time of the month.

I use Absolute Aromas Sweet Almond Oil which is available at most good health food stores or online at Goodness Direct (£1.86 for 50ml) or the organic version at Amazon UK.

Organic Jeans by Kuyichi

What to Look for in Denim
¨ Not treated, washed or finished with chemicals
¨ Organic / Fairtrade / Sustainable Cotton
¨ Ethically Made
¨ Naturally dyed

Kuyichi Organic Denim
Organic: Yes (SKAL certified)
Fair Trade: SA8000 Certified (Social Accountability)
Made: Some garments made in Peru
Price Range: £85-95
Buy In Store: Stella (Camden Market, London) or Equa (Islington, London)
Buy Online: Adili or Stella and Equa (as above).
Did U Know? You can trace the journey of your garment through the ‘Track + Trace’ system (courtesy of MADE-BY). All you have to do is find the ‘Check it Out’ code on your clothing and follow a link on Kuyichi’s website (http://www.kuyichi.com/).

Image: Kuyichi Lisa Jean available at Adili. To learn more about Kuyichi, click here.

Best Organic Shampoo for Damaged Hair

Green People - Intensive Repair Shampoo Organic Geranium & Sandalwood (£9.30)
I have struggled to find an organic shampoo to befriend my unruly locks but this shampoo from Green People is quite simply incredible. Hair is left looking and feeling soft, shiny and sleek. The shampoo is an award winning and top selling Green People product, ideal for coloured and constantly coiffed hair. It is highly concentrated, so will outlast all its competitors and with nourishing ingredients such as green tea, sandalwood and B vitamins, you will be left wondering why you did not switch sooner to green hair care.
Available at most health food shops or purchase online at Green People UK.

Natural Moisturiser for Glowing Skin (Budget Buy)

Simply Soaps - Rejuvenating Day Cream (£8.95)

If your exercise and healthy eating regime isn't up to par, just reach for a pot of this cream to make your skin look radiant and healthy. It's super pure and natural with only 12 ingredients! Other moisturisers from Simply Soaps include Avocado, Geranium or Lavender.

Rejuvenating Day Cream Full Ingredient List

Water
sunflower oil (helianthus annus)
apricot (prunus armeniaca)
sweet almond (prunus dulcis)
beeswax (cera alba)
kaolin
grapeseed (cirus grandis)
shea nut butter (butyrospermum parkii)
jojoba oil (simmonsia chinensis)
geranium (pelargonium gravoleans)
orange (citrus sinensis)
may chang (litsea cubeba)

Available at select health food stores or online at Simply Soaps