Spending the evening with a gaggle of wonderful like-minded women on an economically-grey evening in Chicago, was just the ticket. Did we discuss the monumental economic crisis or politics? No Way! We gathered around a huge counter and made organic skin care products. I demonstrated how to make the Gorgeously Green Luxury Facial oil and body scrub: so easy, so Green and so blissfully light on the pocket book. The party was held at the Method Home Open House - so if you happen to be in Chicago this week, you can toddle along to 2034 north halsted (at armitage) and turn in your toxic cleaning products in exchange for a FREE method hand wash. They are also selling their entire range and the store is open all day.

For you girls who asked about facial sunscreens to put on over your gorgeous face oil, here are my picks:
Lavera anti-aging sunscreen SPF 20 www.lavera.com
Glycolix Elite sunscreen SPF 30 www.skincarerx.com

Hair dye can be horribly toxic - so what’s a girl to do?? Being Gorgeously Green means scrutinizing each and every product we use, making sure it is safe for us and the planet. Conventional hair dyes contain ammonia and other chemicals that can adversely affect your health, however, it can be tough to find a good alternative that looks really fabulous. Thank Goodness for Susan Henry, owner of Shades Salon in Los Angeles and even more thanks for the fact that her non-toxic, 100% ammonia-free dyes are now available online.
Susan has been a colorist for 30 years and wound up getting sick from the ammonia-based dyes she was using. When her daughter went to college up near the Redwoods in Northern California, she met some botanists who took her through the forests and showed her how to create and use natural dyes. So her health got better and now her salon has a huge following.
Go visit her website www.shadesnaturalcolor.com and give her non-toxic dyes a try - you won’t regret it.
I’m so excited about our new message board, which is already very active. Please keep asking away and somebody, somewhere will have just the answer you are looking for!

I have finally found the most fantastic fake-tan. It is made by the organic skincare company, Lavera. Made with organic soy extracts, it is very creamy so spreads on very easily, so much so, you don’t need to mix it with moisturizer. The best thing is that it doesn’t have that awful smell that every single other self-tanner has, so it just feels although you a slathering yourself in a luxurious body creme. You need to wait a few hours for your tan to appear, but it will and without a streak in sight. Love Lavera!
www.lavera-usa.com

Do you dye your hair? If you do, make absolutly sure that the dye you (or your colorist), are using is safe and free from harmful chemicals. Regulators have recently announced the ban of 22 substances from use in hair dyes in the European Union, as they are known to cause bladder cancer and bone marrow cancer. These same regulations have not been enforced in the U.S. as of May 2007.
G.G. recommends
www.tintsofnatureusa.com
www.bytheplanet.com

What is the point of eating lovely organic food if your plaster your skin with toxic chemicals? This is why I created my own line. I wanted a product that was beautiful, effective and completely eco-friendly.

My skin polishes are incredible because they exfoliate, cleanse and moisturize all at the same time. If you don’t believe it – try it! I personally don’t have time for layering endless serums and eye gels so I was thrilled to find this product to be a time-saver.

If you have really dry skin or live in a dry climate, you may want to apply the facial oil after your daily face polish. All that remains is a good dollop of chemical-free sunscreen and you are good to go.