Kiehl’s Offers Free Products for Green Behavior

Article written by guest blogger Melissa Long

Since its inception in1851, Kiehl’s has made it a priority to serve the world we live in and the people that inhabit it. Kiehl’s has made giving back such an important aspect of their business that they have gained recognition by the National Resources Defense Council as one of the Nation’s Most Environmental Activist. Over the past 150 years, Kiehl’s has even reduced their packaging by 99%. Now that’s going green!

Kiehl’s newest venture to save the world is their Recycle and Be Rewarded Program. For every empty Kiehl’s container you bring to your local store, you will be given a stamping card. Once you collect a certain number of stamps, you start earning free products: bring in three bottles and get lip balm #1, bring in five bottles and get a 2.5 oz travel collection product, or if you are really dedicated to saving the world, bring in 10 bottles and get any full size product of your choice ($25 value). I can’t think of a better combination - saving the world and free beauty products!

Prefer to moisturize to help the environment? You can check out Kiehl’s latest philanthropic effort, the limited edition Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion. Not only does this lotion hydrate skin, but it helps improve skin’s resilience and texture, enrich skin’s moisture barrier and leaves skin looking healthy. You know Kiehl’s is committed to serving the greater good because even the argan oil used in this lotion is fairly traded.

To promote this unique lotion, Kiehl’s has teamed up with professional surfer Kelly Slater, actor Adrian Grenier, musician Erykah Badu, and Parsons the New School of Design, and promised to donate 100% of all proceeds sold from this lotion ( up to $100,000). The generous donation will support Waterkeeper Alliance; a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by Robert Kennedy Jr. to find solutions to the world’s clean water problems.

Be on the lookout, because Kiehl’s is always creating new ways to help our planet. You can learn more about Kiehl’s and their efforts to better our world by checking out www.kiehlsgivesback.com.

For more products that support the environment, go to Uptown Liz.

Pangea Organics Earth Day Coupon

In celebration of Earth Day, Pangea Organics is offering 20% off your entire online order through the end of April (code "ALWAYSEARTHDAY").

The ecocentric bodycare line - known for their packaging that you can plant - is made with the highest quality organic and cruelty-free ingredients and without petroleum, sulfates, detergents, synthetic preservatives, GMOs, artificial colors and fragrances.

Not only is Pangea Organics good for your skin, it's good for the planet as well. A portion of their profits go toward building the Pangea Institute - "an emerging, non-profit organization dedicated to researching and teaching all aspects of sustainable living and business practices".

Shop for a Cause: Open Your Eyes with Tarte

I - professed makeup junkie - can't get enough of tarte's natural mascara and lash stain. Always the sceptic when products claim to be "natural" but still deliver results, I was thrilled when my lashes looked lovely with these "greener" eye openers.

lash hugger ($18), an eco-friendly, natural mascara, is perfect for someone like me who is concerned about the chemicals in her personal care products. Free of parabens, phthlates, sulfates, mineral oil, propylene glycol, synthetic dye and fragrance, this mascara hugs lashes with volume, length and curl. The formula includes natural ingredients such as olive esters which conditions, treats and protects lashes, rice bran wax that helps lengthen lashes, carnauba wax to ensure a smooth application, mineral pigments to soothe and soften lashes, and water to deliver and retain moisture in lashes. To make sure there's no extra waste to our planet, the chic, metalized tube is composed of recycled aluminum.

For those of us who want great looking lashes for more than one day without having to reapply, there's 4 day stay lash stain ($18) with PolyFlex™ - a technology that allows mineral derived pigments to adhere to lashes for extended wear-time while keeping them soft and flexible. With ingredients like provitamin B5, but free of technologysynthetic dye, mineral oil, petro, phthatate, sulfate or fragrance, you can shower and exercise with no worries of fading or flaking.

Now - thanks to tarte - you don't have to give up looking good for fear of what's in your products. And if that weren't enough, tarte is supporting Sambazon's Sustainable Acai Project (SAP) which is helping to preserve the Amazon Rainforest through forest conservation, improved living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil.

You can purchase these products at tarte, Sephora, Beauty.com, Henri Bendel and Bergdorf Goodman.

For other products that support the planet, go to the environment page on Uptown Liz.

Green Gifts: Vert, Eco-Friendly Boutique Offers Mulitple Options for Shoppers

Attention last minute shoppers! Still trying to find that perfect gift, but want to help the environment (and your health) at the same time? Then click your mouse over to Vert.

Vert, the one stop shop Los Angeles eco-chic beauty boutique, will personally create customized gift baskets for purchase, ranging from $50-$500 (free shipping on orders over $75). Specifically tailored to men, women, couples, travelers and babies, the offerings in each basket will be handpicked to provide the perfect green gift for any occasion.

Born of owner Renata Helfman’s quest for a completely chemical-free lifestyle, Vert represents an unparalleled collection of sophisticated, eco-chic formulas for skin, hair, body and home from around the world. The one-stop shopping destination is Los Angeles’s first beauty boutique to provide eco-friendly options without sacrificing luxury, specializing exclusively in high-quality green products. Josie Maran Cosmetics, Arcona, L’Artisan Parfumeur, REN skincare, Naturopathica, Pratima, Keys, Red Flower and Me & Ro are just some of the luxe, eco-chic brands found at Vert. Customers flock to the boutique not only for Renata’s handpicked selection of products, but also for her knowledge of skincare, eco-friendly makeup and green living. Now the home of the eco-chic shopping that Renata envisioned, Vert is a destination as well as an education.

To visit Vert online, go to http://www.vertlosangeles.com/.

Uptown Liz & Fuffy J. Couture on Good Day Sacramento

Uptown Liz and Fuffy J. Couture appeared on Good Day Sacramento this past Monday, October 13. The segment featured the Liz Collection, the new Just beCause Bags by sisters and stay-at-home moms, Lyndi Eimerl and Kristin Morrow, that support breast cancer awareness. The chic handbags, which were named in memory of Elizabeth "Liz" Overturf, are black with pink lining, with an inspirational quote inside, and a charm that you can have personalized.

Also featured on the segment were the new GALS line at FranklinCovey, which includes planners (featuring the Uptown Liz story), folders, totes, business card holder, passport holder and more. Other products shown on the segment supporting breast cancer awareness were Grill Charms, Boob Lube, Honest Tease tee, shower for the cure, Nicola Gift Set, Luxe Link - Megan in Pink and the Uptown Girl - Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet.

All of these products (as well as 200 more supporting breast cancer awareness) can be found at Uptown Liz on the Breast Cancer page.

Photo caption: GALS Collection Wire-Bound Cover.

Target Hits the Bullseye with New Pink Products

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, Target, the nation’s fifth largest retailer in sales revenue, has unveiled a fun and stylish new line of pink products.

The Brita Water Pitcher, Bialetti Cupcake Carrier and KitchenAid Pink Two-Slice Toaster are just three of the boob-friendly items that will join the 35-40 existing products (our fave: the Conair Ionic Styler and Dryer), already promoting breast cancer awareness on Target's Web site. But the pink doesn't stop there. Using proceeds from sales of its pitchers, Brita will donate a total of $50,000 to the City of Hope during the 2008 campaign, and Trudeau will donate 5% of the proceeds from the sale of its Drive Time Travel Mug to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

It's no doubt that The Target Corporation, best known for its corporate responsibility and philanthropic efforts in the fields of education and environmental awareness, has continued its quest to "do good" for the community, while keeping its shoppers "pretty in pink."

Look Good, Feel Good and Do Good with Soulstice Spa

Delicate tuberose. Zesty grapefruit. Energizing mint. These are just a few of the gorgeous, natural scents found in the Soulstice bodycare collection.

Based in Sausalito, California, Soulstice Spa is an innovative, boutique skincare and cosmetics company merging beauty, science and social responsibility. A portion of company proceeds goes to support social and environmental non-profit organizations. The entire line is vegan, cruelty-free and manufactured in the United States.

The seven piece bodycare line consists of lush body lotions, corrective balms, polishes, shower scrubs and daily cleansers. The Soulstice Nail Colour collection features twenty modern shades of long-wearing color and shine. All of the polishes - plus a clear topcoat treatment - are free of the toxins DBP, formaldehyde and toluene.

Founder, Kayse Gehret, set out to create a high performance line for the body, employing natural botanicals and essential oils along with cutting edge ingredients developed by science. Customers adore these luxurious botanical formulations and embrace the company's goal: "Look good. Feel good. Do good!"

For more information on product by Soulstice Spa, visit the beauty page on Uptown Liz.

Photo caption: Kayse Gehret

Brighter Smiles with tarte

What will tarte think of next? Not only are they making their beauty products "green" and good for you, they're on the cutting edge of the cosmetics industry. Their summer 2008 collection: health couture has lip products for even the most avid of collectors. If your bathroom has become a cosmetics lab like mine, you'll only be too happy to make room for these genius innovations.

BriteSmile® and tarte cosmetics have put their heads together to ensure a beautiful smile in one product - enbrightenmint ($26). On one end of this double-ended item you can whiten your teeth and the other apply lipgloss - all on the go. The BriteSmile® formula whitens teeth up to eight shades in just 14 days, and with the minty taste you won't have to worry about offending your smooching partner or ruining your dinner. Both the radiant red and pearly pink shades have blue undertones, which help your teeth look extra white in no time.

Who doesn't want a few choices in their lipgloss, but doesn't have room in the overstuffed bag (never mind the kitchen sink)? No problem with tarte's limited edition lips ahoy ($30) lipgloss set which comes in a nautical pouch and has a water resistant formula. Four mini, double-ended, natural vanilla fragrance glosses come in eight colors: cherry and dallas (gold-tinged coral and shimmery pale pink), allie and noah (shimmery thistle and sheer lilac pink), annie and sam (shimmery pastel pink and gold-tinged apricot), angela and jordan (sheer peach and gold-tinged mauve).

Both of these healthy, chic, on the go lip products are paraben free, phthalate free, sulfate free and mineral oil free. They also have the the tarte t5 super fruit complex™ which is a proprietary blend of the five most active super fruits: goji, acai, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate. The first blend of its kind, the t5 super fruit complex™ is loaded with naturally occurring, antioxidant rich nutrients and vitamins that have been known to deliver refining, anti-aging and skin-restorative benefits with each application.

With the purchase of every tarte product that has their new t5 super fruit complex™, you'll be supporting Sambazon's Sustainable Acai Project (SAP) which is preserving the Amazon Rainforest through forest conservation, improved living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil.

To purchase these products go to http://www.tartecosmetics.com/, http://www.sephora.com/, http://www.beauty.com/, Henri Bendel or Bergdorf Goodman.

Bare Your Soul with Philosophy

Sephora and Philosophy are teaming up for a contest that lets your inner philosopher shine. Share your personal mantra, words of wisdom or inspiration and they might be on an exclusive Philosophy shower gel launching during Sephora's 10-year anniversary. The winning author will also receive five bottles of their branded shower gel and $500 of their favorite Philosophy products. Three second place winners will receive $250 of product. So get the creative juices bubbling and click here to enter the contest.

For more information about Philosophy's products that give back to charity, go to the Uptown Liz beauty page.

Give Makes Philanthropy Chic

Give is a collection of travel accessories that marries the concept between fashion, function, and philanthropy seamlessly. Founded by designer Christine Valenti in April of 2004, the budding company has taken off quickly with rave reviews from local, national and international magazines and a celebrity following that includes Christina Ricci, Rachel Bilson, Samaire Armstrong, Jessica Alba and Sheryl Crow to name a few.

As the name implies, Give donates 10% of its net profits to charities annually. The philosophy at Give is that part of being chic means not just carrying the bag that you love, but also supporting the organizations you love. Organizations We Love is a campaign in which Give chooses a different non-profit each month and in addition to donating to that organization, they feature them on their website and in their e-newsletter so that more people can learn about the great work that they do.

Although Valenti always had an interest in fashion, her education was skewed more toward problem solving, majoring in both Math and Philosophy. That background has proven to be invaluable when you realize Give comes full circle with every detail in her designs painstakingly chosen for not just aesthetics but for function. She has solved the disorganization equation and come up with a whole new generation of business - the concept of one that is genuinely charitable, useful, yet utterly sophisticated. For more information, go to the bags page on Uptown Liz.

Save the Planet and Your Skin with tarte

Being a former make-up artist, I am a self-professed make-up junkie. I've tried to kick this habit, but with companies like tarte making better beauty products that are good for you designed in chic packaging all while helping the planet, my rehabilitation efforts are out the window. One of the reasons I fell off the wagon was tarte's Spring 2008 Health Couture line, where they are introducing their new t5 super fruit complex. The first blend of its kind has naturally occurring, antioxidant rich nutrients and vitamins and is made with the five most active super fruits: acai, goji, maracuja, acerola and pomegranate.

My make-up mania tends to focus on lip gloss, so when I tried the double dose berry boost & gloss ($21) that lets you control your pigment and shine, I was taken right back to my artist days. With four brilliant colors to choose from you’ll be an expert in no time.

Another product with the t5 super fruit complex is their best-selling natural cheek stain that is swirled with two flattering shades. Full blossom ($28) gave me that perfect flushed color in my cheeks and the formula worked well for my oily skin.

Let’s not forget those lashes. Rejuvelash declumping lash exhilarator ($16) treats, protects and revives lashes. I used this as a lash conditioner before applying my mascara, and my thin, puny lashes turned to red carpet eye openers.

Last but not least is their infinite glow bestsellers palette ($30) with park ave princess mineral powder bronzer, award-winning gel cheek stain in tipsy and a moisturizing 24.7 lip sheer in the new shade may flowers. This bronze, faux-croc, compact with mirror is just what your summer travel plans ordered.

Tarte makes it quite alright to be a make-up-aholic by giving back to Mother Earth with their support of the Sambazon's Sustainable Acai Project. With the purchase of every full blossom cheek stain and double dose berry boost & gloss, you'll be helping to preserve the Amazon Rainforest through forest conservation, improved living conditions and educational opportunities for communities in Brazil.

Bare Escentuals' customers give Rebirth to Direct Relief International

Bare Escentuals, a leader in mineral-based cosmetics, reached out to their customers to help create a new eyecolor to benefit charity. bareMinerals Rebirth Eyecolor, an iridescent denim shade, will benefit Direct Relief International, a nonprofit organization that provides medical assistance to improve the quality of life for people victimized by poverty, disaster, and civil unrest at home and throughout the world. Customers chose Direct Relief as a BE Cares (Bare Escentuals' corporate philanthropy program) beneficiary because of their continued aid to the vicitms of Hurricane Katrina. Direct Relief is one of two charities ranked by Forbes that has received a perfect fundraising efficiency score for five consecutive years and is ranked by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as California’s largest international nonprofit organization based on private support.

A self-proclaimed make-up junkie (and former make-up artist), I'm always excited to try new products. I have been wanting to try this mineral-based cosmetic line for some time, but was skeptical of the loose powder being hard to control and ending up all over my face and bathroom. I'm happy to admit I was wrong - the eyeshadow went on my eye lid and no where else. This unique blue gray color is gorgeous and can go with any skin tone, and the container is designed to keep the loose powder in place and not spill on everything you own. I don't know how they did this, but it's genius.

For every purchase of Rebirth Eyecolor, 100% of the net proceeds will be donated to Direct Relief International and an additional amount equal to 50% will be donated by Leslie Blodgett, CEO of Bare Escentuals. “The creation of Rebirth is a testament to our appreciation of our customer community and our joint passion and commitment to bring attention to important causes that affect us all,” said Blodgett. With beautiful cosmetics that are good for your skin and a generous philanthropic program, it's no surprise that Bare Escentuals is one of the fastest growing cosmetic companies in the United States.

Rebirth will be available March 3rd through April 27th, 2008 for $13.00. For more information or to purchase, please go to the Beauty page on Uptown Liz.

Health food for your lips

Is it possible to get long-lasting lip color without it drying your lips out? Not only is it possible, it can also be good for you. Tarte Cosmetics created "the first-ever lipstick that will nourish, moisturize and rejuvenate lips". Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick is powered by Borba nutraceuticals, which include grape seed extract, acai juice extract, vitamin E, green tea extract, chamomile extract, vitamin A, lychee extract, jojoba seed oil, vitamin K, shea butter and beeswax. And if it couldn't get any better, the product is also paraben and preservative free.

Maureen Kelly, founder and CEO of Tarte, says "I wanted easy-to-use products that would help me recreate beautiful, makeup-artist-inspired looks without all of the unnecessary steps. I wanted products that looked like stylish accessories when I whipped them out of my purse (and to that end, I wanted compact products that would fit in my purse!). Above all, I wanted healthy products that were doing good things for my skin."

She definitely accomplished that with this product. My lips never felt so good as when I was wearing Sweet Dreams - a bright rose color in a chic case - and after eating lunch, the lipstick was still there. If it weren't enough that Tarte is eco-friendly and has given to over 20 charities, proceeds from the Sweet Dreams lipstick (selling for $22) go to the Young Survival Coalition (YSC) - the only international, non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated to the concerns and issues that are unique to young women and breast cancer.

For more information on Inside Out Vitamin Lipstick, Tarte or their cause, go to the Beauty page on Uptown Liz.

Lucky magazine says Uptown Liz is "favorite new site"

Dawn Spinner, Associate Beauty Editor for Lucky magazine, wrote "My favorite new site is Uptown Liz" on the magazine's beauty blog in an article today called Choose Your Charity. Spinner continues to write, "The search function is particularly fantastic: You can narrow down your results by charity or by product type. It's quite possibly the best cure to buyer's remorse and/or splurging guilt." I'm a big fan of Lucky magazine, not only for its pulse on the latest fashion and beauty products, but for their monthly Do Good While You Shop seciton. Every month they pick a cause to focus on, and list beautiful products that are donating to supporting charities. You will find many of these products on Uptown Liz. Thanks again to Dawn Spinner and Lucky for their support!

New Year's Resolution #2 - Get Organized

The New Year it a time for starting over, evaluating, making room for the new and getting rid of the old. As a recovering perfectionist and self-proclaimed neat freak, I love everything in its place and the stylish products that hold it all. So it was no surprise that I fell in love (head over heels) with the bag collection from Jimeale New York. Realizing there was a market for fun and functional cosmetic bags, Jimeale Jorgensen, created a bag for all organized occasions.

The Broome Street is great for your purse or work bag. Small with three inside pockets, but large enough to hold cosmetics, mints, and anything else you might need. The Elizabeth Street can fit all your cosmetics and it's long enough to hold your make-up brushes as well. The Wooster, Thompson and Spring Street bags are the most unique in the industry. The size of bags can hold all of your travel needs with pouches and compartments to keep organized. The Mulberry Street is the mother of all bags. It's big enough to hold of all your toiletries, plus a travel blow dryer and flat iron. It has two inside pockets and a detachable pouch. It comes in a set with the Mott, Broome and Elizabeth Street bags. And don't forget an overnight bag - choose from the Charlie, Nicola or the Polly.

Not only are the bags beautiful and high-quality, they are affordable ranging from $20-$70. (not much more than you would pay in the department or drug stores). I have one in my bathroom for my cosmetics, one in my kitchen for my vitamins, and a couple in my overnight bag for traveling.

What makes these bags even more of a must-have is that Jimeale donates 15% of net profits to Boarding for Breast Cancer, a non-profit, youth-focused education, awareness, and fundraising foundation. Their mission is to increase awareness about breast cancer, the importance of early detection and the value of an active lifestyle. For more information on Jimeale's bag collection or their cause, please go to the Bags page on Uptown Liz.

The Perfect Gift for Every Woman - The Gift of Life

I have just come across a genius product - it is one of the smartest ideas I have ever seen! Boob Lube from save the tatas is the first ever breast check soap and has just hit the market. Made from shea butter, lavender and rosewood, Boob Lube is a soothing herbal soap for the hands and body that was created to promote early detection. Retailing for only $14.99, the adorable pink labeled bottle has instructions on how to do a self breast exam with a check list calendar as a reminder.

“We received a letter from a mom who was buying a save the ta-tas shirt for her 15 year old daughter and herself because her daughter recently had a cancerous lump removed,” says founder Julia Fikse. It was then she realized how important practicing early detection is, and how little we really talk about breast checks. "The idea of finding cancer is so scary", Fikse continues, “but Boob Lube™ isn’t as much about looking for cancer as it is about getting to know our bodies so if something new shows up, we know it’s new and we can get it checked out.”

There is no argument that early detection saves lives, so this is the perfect gift for the women in your life (from 15 years old on up) and a great way to show them how much you care. For more information, please go to the Beauty page on Uptown Liz.

Marathon-proof Polish

Since I am a long distance runner, my feet take a beating. I like to have pedicures all year long - even during the winter when no one sees my feet. Usually by the six week mark, the nail polish is chipped and it's time to go in. But during my last pedicure (over a month ago), I used the new nail polish (in the color Hong Kong) from Soulstice Spa. This past Sunday I ran my 6th marathon and to my surprise, I did not have one chipped toe nail. My polish looked exactly as it did before I ran the race. Not only is this nail polish long-lasting, it's 100% vegan and free of DBP, toluene and formaldehydeorganic (which I love since I have been slowly changing out my products for more natural ones). A set of five bottles of polish sells for $30.00 or you can get a set of all their beautiful colors (10 total) for $60.00. And with every purchase of a Soulstice Spa product you are making a difference. A portion of all their proceeds are donated to vital non-profit social and environmental organizations working to make the world a more beautiful place, which is apparent in their motto - "Look Good. Feel Good. Do Good." For more information, or to purchase the nail colour, go to the beauty page on Uptown Liz.