Also available in a travel size, Lulu Organics hair powder contains organic ingredients and essential oils and is talc-free (a common ingredient in “dry shampoo” that has been linked to ovarian cancer). Whether you use the powder as an alternative on “days of unwash” or keep it as a quick fix for mornings that don’t go as planned, it’s a one-product-wonder to stay stocked up on.

Since everything is bio-based (no synthetic ingredients or other harmful chemicals) the products are safe and effective for you and fully biodegradable (read: won’t harm the surrounding ecosystem when washed down the sink). Living Nature’s theory on this: “Our ingredients have evolved as part of nature over millions of years. It’s as if we are just borrowing them for a short period.”

The collection is extensive, with complete product lines for Face, Hair, Cosmetics, Men, Mother & Baby, and more. Some of our faves in the skincare line include the Radiance Night Oil (add a drop to the Nourishing Night Cream for a complete rejuvenating boost), and the Hydrating Toning Gel (a unique product that refines pores and rebalances the skin’s pH). For cosmetics, we are completely obsessed with the light weight flawless Foundation, and super thick, smudge-free Mascara.

Aside from being hooked on the stunning collection of skin care products and cosmetics, we’re more than enamored by the company’s founding principles and how their ongoing commitment to the environment extends further beyond product ingredient lists. Amidst ktichen composting, on-site effluent treatment for use in on-site irrigation, rainwater collection, and getting energy from a carbon neutral electricity supplier, we’re inspired by Living Nature’s original mission statement: “To create a sustainable, profitable, ecological, educational and inspirational business that impacts on the individual by providing healthy, vibrant skin; on the community by creating employment; on the country by featuring the uniqueness of our plant resources and earning export income; on the world by being a model of ethical, honorable business and solving inherent 20th century problems in a way that inspires the human spirit.” If only all corporations had such deep commitments and authentic aspirations!

A decade after the company first launched out of the founder’s kitchen, Gourmet Body Treats’ ethically made 100% natural and 100% vegan products are still made by hand. Aside from being able to pronounce (and recognize!) the ingredients on the back of each jar (the Chocolate Facial Mask contains only five ingredients: organic cocoa powder, organic cane sugar, organic oat powder, chamomile extract, and green tea seed extract), you can rest assured knowing that Gourmet Body Treat’s has signed on the dotted line with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, pledging that all products will be free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected to cause cancer, mutation, or birth defects.

If you’re less into sweets for the face, try the Kukui Mint Facial Cleanser for a refreshing wash that purifies without leaving skin feeling stripped – plus the organic peppermint oil provides a nice wake-up call for sleepy senses.

Partners John Amato and Teri LaVerne’s combined experience in the upscale environs of Beverly Hills, traveling the world to witness the traditional luxuries of other cultures and being entrenched in the fashion industry led them both to the understanding that fashion and hair are two sides of the same coin. “Fashion is about expression, versatility and rediscovering yourself, while well-maintained hair expresses timeless, effortless style.”

Suffice it to say, we were more than happy to turn our tired locks over to these pros for a much needed revamp. We tested the daily regime of Pure Shampoo and Essential Conditioner (free of sulfates, parabens, silicones and other toxic no-no’s) for two weeks. The results? A luxurious at-home pampering experience that left tresses completely (and naturally!) nourished. This sophisticated combo has officially earned a permanent place on our shower shelves!

After a successful run with Aveda, his new venture is entirely based on Nutritional Chemistry, using only food-derived ingredients (they are in fact 100% food-based and organic certified) that the body recognizes and understands as nutrients. From the Anti-Aging Serum that works to feed, restore and protect skin to an entirely organic hair care line to the array of multi-functional aromatics (we’re big fans of a mid-afternoon spritz of “Focus”), the Intelligent Nutrients collection has every base covered – even supplements and functional food… like an antioxidant rich innercalm in-fused chocolate bar!

After devoting his life to the study of plant-based medicine, winning countless awards and honors, it’s no surprise that such a stellar combination of healthful ingredients and effective results would come from Rechelbacher’s hands – there’s even an INcyclopedia on the site with descriptions, recipes, and in-depth info for everything used in the line (the goal, after all, is to educate and change the industry as a whole).

Beauty and brains? Check! Now on the hunt for brawn…

Los Angeles is rife with glitzy hair salons, most of which tend toward a cold aesthetic and factory-like treatment of clients. Not so at Primrose, where a light-filled interior decorated with vintage vanities, painted with VOC-free paint, and stylists’ inscrutable attention to your – yes, your – needs make for a warm ambiance.

Primrose carries a slew of ecofabulous-approved lines, Hamadi Organics, John Masters Organics, and Priti nail polish among them. In the chemical-happy hair industry, Primrose is a vanguard of eco-friendly beauty, and we laud the salon for proving that going green can be done on any scale. From their reclaimed, gussied-up salon chairs to the non-toxic putty spackled on their walls, Howe and Tornay are examples for small business owners hoping to move toward a sustainable future. The duo is committed to honing their product selection and researching the best in even greener treatments as the industry evolves.

When it comes to sheer—or rather, shear—talent, we were blown away by Felicia’s ability to turn an unruly mane into a stylishly full-bodied, low maintenance cut. The salon also offers eco mani’s, which would be an amazing add-on to a day of beauty at Primrose. We’ll take seconds from this gem of a salon and its en vogue staff.

Primrose Organics, 4616 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, 323.664.5446

ACT (Advanced Cosmetic Technologies) Hair Coloring Kits contain 100% plant-based dyes and all of their ingredients are checked against toxicological data to ensure safety (read: they use the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Database). The products are never tested on animals and because they are made with renewable and sustainable plant-based ingredients (rather than synthetic ones like most hair colorants), the line has an ultra-low environmental impact. Coloring Kits come packaged in FSC-certified cartons printed with vegetable inks from a manufacturing plant that is fueled by wind power.

Toxic tresses be gone, the natural answer is blowing in the wind!

Stacey L. Stilts, founder and owner of Green Line Beauty in Los Angeles, gets it. We recently stumbled across her makeup enclave on our way to M Cafe de Chaya, the city’s macrobiotic restaurant extraordinaire. Thoughts of lavash wraps and veggie burgers were interrupted when, through the window, we noticed that Green Line carries one of ecofabulous’ favorite skincare lines, Duchess Marden. We peeked in and talked at length with Stacey, who was affable and explained the benefits of different products—including those from Dr. Hauschka and Alkaitis—while insisting that we try out different sweet-smelling oils and serums.

What you won’t find at The Green Line are synthetic colors, fragrances, dyes, products with sodium laurel sulfate, toxins, animal byproducts, or lines that conduct animal testing. Instead, the paraben-free zone is a carefully curated beauty haven where you’re encouraged to smell, touch, sample, and take home products that will make you look and feel your best. And with a prime location next to M Cafe and a tea emporium, it’s the perfect place to kick off a lovely, very organic afternoon.

Determined to continue in the field she loved, and determined to find a solution to her debilitating condition, Susan turned to herbs and natural ingredients. After an extensive period of research and kitchen sink experiments, she had developed an all-natural, 100% ammonia-free, natural color process! With celebrity clients flocking into her salon, she also wanted to make sure that the product was widely available to anyone that needed a toxic-free hair color solution – so thankfully for all of us, it can be purchased online for at-home use.

Choose from six rich colors for only $19.95! You can even sign up to become a member of the “Perfect Hair Program” where you’ll be automatically sent your kit each month – don’t worry, you can change your color selection at anytime… now if only a name change were that easy too.