Donate Hair, Help the Environment

As anyone with an oily scalp knows, hair is frustratingly good at trapping in the excess gunk. But right now, this is a major benefit to the environment

Woven into mats or stuffed into recycled nylons to create booms, donations of hair and fur clippings are being used to soak up excess oil from the recent Gulf Oil Spill. This method of cleaning up oil is safe, eco-friendly and startlingly effective. The video below shows a hair mat in action -- who knew something swept off the salon floor could be so helpful?



For more information on how to donate, visit matteroftrust.org. Let your salons and groomers know!

-- Mackenzie Walton

Have a Damage-Free Swim

I grew up in southern California, and during summer, I was practically half fish; I’d spend all day in the pool if I could. As fun as it was, though, my swim time wreaked havoc on my hair—thanks to the chlorine, it was as dry as straw and full of split ends.

But these days, water babies (or their moms) don’t have to worry about damaged hair! The Swimmer’s Defense Shampoo & Body Wash and Conditioner from California Baby offer cleansing gentle enough for a child’s delicate hair, but strong enough to battle the effects of chlorine. That means no more chemical deposits, including the green tinge that copper sometimes leaves behind, leaving tresses softer and healthier. The Conditioner even contains natural sunscreens for added protection. Plus, these products are all-natural, contain no nut oils, gluten, soy, oat or dairy and work just as well for adults.

California Baby Swimmer’s Defense products retail for $11.49 each and can be found at californiababy.com or by calling 877-576-2825. They’re also available at select Whole Foods locations and natural food stores nationwide.



-- Mackenzie Walton

Score a Style Transformation...On Wheels!

NYC girls, you're in luck! Starting today, the 27th, until the 29th, you can transform your look from head to toe, thanks to the John Frieda Style On Site Tour.
The tour kicks off here in the big apple, then the team will be hitting the road and making style accessible to real women everywhere with a mobile salon! It's an 18-wheeler that has been gutted to become a salon with the works: styling stations and chairs, a receptionist, and even a waiting area!

Led by celebrity stylist Harry Josh (he's worked with Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bundchen, Amanda Seyfried, Ellen Pompeo), the John Frieda expert team will provide complimentary 15-minute consultations and styling lessons.

Once you arrive on site, you'll schedule a 15-minute appointment on a first-come, first-served basis for a styling lesson with a top John Frieda stylist on your own specific hair issues and even walk away with a “hair prescription” from the stylist! Then, you can buy the recommended formulas on-site at a drugstore.com kiosk.

Next, hit up the BCBG mini boutique where the latest must-haves will be on display! Lon on to BCBG shopping kiosks and order the season's style essentials online with an exclusive John Frieda discount!

Can't make it? Don't fret! You can still get Harry Josh’s expertise at home. While on tour, he'll be giving women virtual transformations via Skype video sessions and select Skype sessions will also be posted on the John Frieda site, giving women everywhere access to Josh’s step-by-step tutorials.

**Crystal Fenton

Celebrate Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! Head to an Origins store for this AMAZING deal: Just bring in a bottle of your current face wash (empty or full) to trade in for FREE! You'll get either a full-size Checks and Balances Frothy face wash ($18.50 retail value) or A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea ($20 retail value)!

Eco-Chic Clean-Up

The sad truth: Sometimes, I’m just too tired (or too lazy) to go through an in-depth cleansing routine before bed. But rather than go to sleep with my makeup on, ruining my skin and the pillowcase at the same time, I just have a quick clean-up with one of the Bear Naked Wipes from Josie Maran Cosmetics.

Now available in a travel-friendly mini-pack, Bear Naked Wipes To Go are soft, gentle and effective. A blend of aloe vera, chamomile, cucumber and Vitamin E easily cleans away makeup, soothing skin at the same time. Plus, the wipes are biodegradable, so you can use them without hurting the environment.

Best of all, a portion of the proceeds from Bear Naked Wipes is donated to the Natural Resource Defense Council’s Polar Bear SOS initiative, which is dedicated to helping save the polar bears and their habitats.

The mini-pack comes with 8 wipes and costs $6; purchase at Sephora stores or at Sephora.com.

-Mackenzie Walton

Mother's Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day falls on May 9th this year. That's just around the corner! But there’s still time to get the important women in your life something special—here are a few of our suggestions.


The strikingly beautiful glycerine Heritage Soaps from Crabtree & Evelyn are handcrafted by 3rd generation soap makers in Switzerland, utilizing botanical extracts and over 10% glycerine. They work for all skin types and come in three gorgeous scents—chamomile, lime and blackcurrant. For an extra-special gift, get all three! They’re available for $7 each at crabtree-evelyn.com and at over 6,000 locations worldwide.


Being a mother is rewarding, but it can also be hard—sometimes, at the end of the day, you just need to relax with a drink and a long bath. Now you can combine the two with the Bourbon Bubbler Body Scrub from FarmHouse Fresh®. It combines coarse brown sugar, Kentucky whiskey, Vitamin E and rice bran oil to create a non-oily, non-sticky scrub with a super-sweet scent—gingersnap-pecan! Available for $32.50 at farmhousefreshgoods.com, or in fine gift shops, spas and resorts.


Give her the gift of grace—or rather, the Amazing Grace Mini Fragrance Set from Philosophy. It contains three mini products, all in the light, distinctly feminine Amazing Grace scent: shampoo, bath & shower gel, restorative hand cream and spray fragrance. Layer on the products, and skin will smell amazing and ultra-clean. Plus, since nothing in the set is over 4-oz., it’s perfect for travel! Visit philosophy.com to purchase for $35.

-- Mackenzie Walton

Support a Cause with Just One Click

Want to make a difference? It'll only take one minute and twenty-three seconds of your time.

Jergens® Skincare and The Skin Cancer Foundation have teamed up with actress Jane Krakowski (30 Rock) to create a video that explains how she gets her gorgeous, sun-kissed skin tone. The answer: Jergens® natural glow moisturizers, which give skin natural-looking color without harmful sun exposure.

Until August 31, Jergens® Skincare will donate $1 to The Skin Cancer Foundation (up to $20,000) each time the video is viewed. It's embedded below so you can watch it right away. So save your skin--and help others save theirs, too!



-- Mackenzie Walton