Hi, my name is Erin and I am a high school senior from Northern California. I founded Teens for Safe Cosmetics with a group of my peers because I don’t think that we should have to choose between beauty and health! And now I apply a similar philosophy to all aspects of my life: why risk my well being when I don’t have to?

With summer’s end just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about back to school. Can you believe it?! In addition to finding out about classes, teachers, schedules, and readjusting to waking up to my alarm clock, I think back to school is the perfect opportunity to embrace a more eco-conscious lifestyle. From my shampoo and mascara to my outfit for the first day of school to binders and text books, I am Turning Green!

Check out these four simple tips, watch Kylie’s video tips and join us on this ever-evolving journey towards a healthy body and world. Check back throughout the month of August for more back to school tips from Teens for Safe Cosmetics. And enjoy these last few weeks of summer!!

 Kylie's Video Tips [1:27m]: Play Now | Download (649)
 Kylie's Video Tips: Download (939)

Read the rest of this entry »

 Organic Kids Body Care: Play Now | Download (998)

Many people “go natural” when they have a baby, but what about later on? If raising your kids “green” has proved to be a challenge, tune in for simple ways and reasons to choose natural products. This highly respected eco-entrepreneur talks about makeup, deodorant, toothpaste and supplements from her own mothering experience. Lynda Fassa is the founder of Green Babies, the oldest existing organic cotton clothing company on the planet, and author of Green Babies and Sage Moms.

Hey everyone! It is summer time and it is officially the time of year I miss my hometown area the most. I grew up spending summers in Surf City, NJ on Long Beach Island and spent probably 8 hours a day in the sun. Well, now we know that is not the best idea and also that if you are going to surf the summer away, you better be wearing some strong sunblock.

Some of my favorites include: Dr. Hauschka SPF 20, Aubrey Organics Green Tea SPF 25 & California Baby SPF 30 Fragrance Free (for the little ones). For more information on summer sun protection check out this pdf of our Be Good To Your Whole Body brochure from June. Don’t forget to grab some Aloe Vera Gel too, just in case you do get burned, it is still the best for soothing sun-fried skin.

On another note, if you are like me with stress, travel and the general day-to-day chaos, you might not always eat enough vegetables or greens. This month we launched a great EXCLUSIVE product from the folks at Amazing Grass called Amazing Meal. There are 3 flavors (Original, Chocolate and Pomegranate-Mango) and it provides a power-packed punch with 3000mg of raw greens, a serving of protein, a blend of goji, maca, açaí and other antioxidant rich foods, complemented with a probiotics and a comprehensive enzyme blend. It is guaranteed to liven up your morning shake or give you a quick boost while on the run this summer.

Have fun!

 Natural Salon 2: Cuts and Styling: Play Now | Download (1255)

Join us as we continue our visit to Manhattan’s premiere natural haircare salon. Pick up tips from “the master” on cutting and styling hair, using examples of curly, straight and limp, and color treated hair. Discover the best secrets for creating the hair you want with all natural ingredients. John Masters has been a leader and innovator in the beauty care industry for more than 15 years. He is founder of John Masters Organics personal care products and salon in New York City.

 Natural Salon Part I: Ingredients to Look For [7:52m]: Play Now | Download (2010)

Come with us to Manhattan for a tour of natural hair care with one of the industry’s leading experts. Learn why caring for hair naturally is beneficial and what plant-based ingredients to look for depending on hair type: curly, straight or color-treated. John Masters has been a leader and innovator in the beauty care industry for more than 15 years. He is founder of John Masters Organics personal care products and salon in New York City.

Hey fellow Whole Bodies! Jeremiah here, the Senior Global Whole Body Coordinator. Having been in the natural products industry for 15 years I have never seen a more exciting time than now. Check out the shelves this month for all kinds of fun EXCLUSIVE products launching. Many of them are what we call “mission driven” or, in other words, they support a cause besides just making a profit. For instance, we are launching three new soaps from Alaffia (check out Jessica Johnson’s Whole Trade post for more scoop on these), which directly support the small community of Togo, West Africa. This is also a Whole Trade Guarantee group of products so we donate 1% of our sales to the Whole Planet Foundation on those items too!  Another great story is the three soaps from Save Your World (SYW). Not only do these soaps smell and feel great but for every bar you purchase SYW leases one acre of Rainforest for one year preserving it from being chopped down! So check out Whole Body and make a difference while you take a shower!!! (And, oh yeah, of course all of the exclusive products meet our new super clean Premium Body Care Standards!)

Our favorite Whole Body expert, Jeremiah McElwee, was featured in this Dad’s day post on Planet Green sharing his picks for favorite personal care products for his kids. Look for Jeremiah to start blogging on Whole Story next week.

Happy Father’s Day to all those deserving dads.

My name is Jessica and I am the Whole Trade Guarantee Specialist. In my role I have the opportunity to promote social responsibility through the ethical sale and trade of commodity products. We donate 1% of all Whole Trade Guarantee sales to the Whole Planet Foundation, which funds micro-credit loans to women all over the world to help end world poverty.

One of my favorite companies to work with is Alaffia Bodycare. The owner and founder Olowo-n’djo Tchala was born and grew up in Togo, Africa located on the West African coast. Times were extremely difficult growing up due to political unrest. Olowo-n’djo made a promise to himself he would do all he could to improve the lives of the women from the community he grew up in. Indigenous to the country of Togo, shea nuts are the main ingredient used in Alaffia’s Bodycare products, which provides ethical wages to the women in the community.

Olowo-n’djo explains:

Because I grew up in poverty in Togo, I feel morally responsible to dedicate my life to empowering our communities in Africa. Read the rest of this entry »

Sunburn and scrapes, bites and bruises remind us that summer’s not all easy. Fortunately, there are effective natural products for addressing nature’s small challenges. Learn how to create your own summer first aid kit with essential oils, vitamins, herbal ointments and homeopathic remedies. Malia Curran, MS, MPH, is a nutrition and health consultant.

 Natural First Aid for Summer [4:50m]: Play Now | Download (1179)

Don’t let sprains, strains and pain get in the way of your summer fun! Discover homeopathic, herbal and lifestyle recommendations for supporting the muscles, joints and whole body before during and after your activities. Dr. Tiffany Binder is a Naturopathic Physician, a general health care practitioner and a leading expert in nutrition and supplements.

 Summer Fun, Not Sore Muscles [5:06m]: Play Now | Download (1079)