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Green-eyed Girl: All
Gain, No Pain
By Tess Kurzeja
For years, we have accepted a “no pain no gain”
mentality when it comes to maintaining youth and beauty.
When it comes to the everyday beauty maintenance routine,
though, it isn’t us feeling the pain while we
slather on lotions and serums. Instead, it is the environment
that feels the pain, from non-recyclable materials that
house out beauty products to animal testing.
From soaps to lotions, hair care to facial scrubs, there
are scads of suitable products that come in a vegan
and vegetarian variety and I’ve gathered some
of the best beauty products that are good for you and
the environment.
Some of my favorites come from the one-woman operation
called the Manor Hall Soap Company.
Susan Mann, the founder and proprietor of Manor Hall
makes all her products, by hand and maintains her burgeoning
Massachusetts business with the help of her husband.
When she came stateside from her native England in 2000,
she got interested in soaps after admiring a simple
bar in a souvenir shop. From there, she began a long
process of independent research in the hopes of making
her own, even enduring eight full months of “practice
runs” before turning out her first bar of vegetarian
soap.
 When
asked why it was important to Mann to make her soaps
and other personal care products cruelty-free, she noted
simply, “I’m a big animal freak. I’ve
enjoyed so much learning about American wildlife.”
So Mann has refrained from using animal fat in her soaps
and has relied, instead, on vegetable sources. And,
it doesn’t end there. She’s created vegan
hair care products and a full skin care line all vegetarian
and organic.
Mann’s website, vending her products nationwide,
is growing in popularity. I adore Manor Hall’s
specialty soaps from the sweet and soothing Ooh
La La Lavender and Oatmeal to the romantic, unique
blend of Almost Sunset (Mann’s personal
favorite), Manor Hall Soap Company has a scent for every
season and taste ($4.85 each at manorhallsoapcompany.com).
And,
since Manor Hall hopes to turn out “products with
a purpose,” the Manor Hall Skincare line is paraben,
sulfate and alcohol free and offers cleansers, toners
and masks. A can’t miss from this line is the
Lavender Rose Toner ($7.85 at manorhallsoapcompany.com).
To sweeten the pot, with any purchase from the Manor
Hall site, get a free bar of soap plus a special Manor
Hall freebie when you spend in $30 increments.
Another
impressive boutique line, Holly Beth’s
comes clean with face and body products that
are organic and cruelty free. Featuring precious blends
such as the Marigold and Sweet Basil Cream,
Holly Beth’s products offer sweet scents and all-natural
ingredients ($30 at hollybeth.net).
As
a supplement to the moisture found in the array of lotions
by Holly Beth’s, the Flourish blend
of organic essential oils ($45 at hollybeth.net).
In a convenient roll-on stick, Flourish is
the perfect blend of rose and jasmine.
With no harm done, we’ve taken green to a whole
new level with these vegetarian and vegan products.
And, we might just be able to reform the “no pain,
no gain” theory after all.
 “Green-eyed
Girl” is PrettyCity®’s monthly guide
to the latest beauty products and treatment trends reflecting
a consciousness for the environment and personal health.
If it’s organic, we know about it; if it’s
helping our environment while keeping us looking and
feeling our best, we love it. And, you can rest assured
we’ll tell you all about it. Please contact
us with story ideas or product suggestions.
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