fête à fête

Here's a great gift idea (also good for Mother's Day). Made with organic soy wax and undiluted essential oils, Dirt candles make a stylish green statement. The packaging is also made with recycled glass and paper. Good for you and the enviroment. Available in 20 unique scent blends (I like the floral Best Friends and minty fresh White Wedding), these long-lasting eco-candles burn for about 60 hours and contain 30-100 fragrance notes each.

A portion of all proceeds go to select charitable causes (National Cancer Society, Susan B. Komen Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Nature's Conservancy, City of Hope, and Make a Wish Foundation, etc.).

Shop at www.dirtcandles.com

-Tami

Tagged as: essential oil, fragrance, gifts, Natural, organic, organic ingredients, shopping

Posted by Tami Yu at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In celebrating Earth Day this week, here's a yummy 'green' cocktail from Elixir of San Francisco. This refreshing and pretty drink is really versatile (you can use whatever fruit is in season) and fun to make.

Country Thyme

1 ½ oz. Square One Organic Vodka

10-15 Fresh organic blueberries (can also be made with other fresh berries like black berries or huckleberries but may need more sweetener. Use whatever is in season and fresh)

1/2 of an organic lemon, in pieces

¼ oz. organic agave nectar

Place blueberries and lemon pieces in a mixing cup and muddle to juice both. Add agave nectar and vodka, and then top with ice. Shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds. Place one small sprig of Thyme in the palm of your hand and slap it to release the oils. Twist it and place at the bottom of a 10 oz glass (highball or old fashioned bucket) and fill with ice. Strain the drink over the ice. Take a nice big, pretty sprig of Thyme and slap it again before sticking it into the drink as a garnish.

www.elixirsf.com

-Tami

Tagged as: cocktail, cocktail recipe, drinks, organic, organic ingredients, seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Spring has never been so yummy. With the Eminence Citrus-C Collection, you are bathed in juicy bursts of pink grapefruit, zesty mandarin, and tangy lime. Already the #1 best-selling collection, this line will get you all primed for radiant skin.

I love the Citrus Exfoliating Wash. Great for all skin types, this refreshing cleanser buffs off dead skin cells with grapefruit seed/peel, infusing the skin with antioxidants and vitamins. The lime juice also helps minimize pores. The silica provides the right amount of exfoliating so my skin felt soft and clean. Many other brands are to harsh on my skin, but this one feels great, like a mini-massage.

The Pink Grapefruit-C Gel is a good hydrating product for oily/acne skin. It provides just the right moisture for the skin, along with healing properties of peppermint and aloe. Perfect for warm weather, this also bathes the skin in a nice layer of Vitamin-C and their Biocomplex™ (antioxidant booster with Vitamins A, Ester-C, E, Coenzyme Q-10, Alpha Lipoic Acid). The Pink Grapefruit Clarifying Masque is also a great healing product if you are having those pesky blemishes. Kaolin clay purifies while grapefruit seed provides antioxidant protection.

A nice anti-aging treatment, the Pink Grapefruit Vitality Masque is a wonderful spa treat at home. I use it in a bath and let the steam activate the masque to do its magic. Great for dry skin, the firming qualities and Biocomplex help boost nutrient levels. Follow with the lovely Lime Refresh Tonique to balance and tone the skin. The lime juice provides an extra shot of Vitamin-C and antioxidants.

Another winner is the Mandarin Grapefruit Body Butter. I love how I end up smelling like a citrus souffle. The fluffy texture of the butter is so light it absorbs instantly with no greasy residue. Grapefruit stimulates and tones while jojoba and aloe heal and moisturize.

As part of an ongoing commitment to the environment, Eminence is launching the Clean Energy Event to help reduce carbon emissions and increase clean energy usage. For every 2 Citrus-C products purchased, they will make a donation of 2 energy credits to the clean energy fund to promote wind power energy.

www.eminenceorganics.com

-Tami

Tagged as: fruit, health, organic, organic ingredients, skin care, skin care product, skin cream, skin renewal

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sunday morning breakfasts suddenly got way easier with the Batter Blaster pancake and waffle batter. The ready-to-use organic mix is packaged into an aerosol can, so you can spray and cook in minutes. No more messy prep work- just aim the nozzle at the griddle and you're a-cookin'. Made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients, the batter uses certified humane, cafe-free eggs. I feel so healthy already. The propellant contains no CFCs and the cans are made of recyclable steel.

Available at Whole Foods, Mollie Stones, Lunardi’s, Andronico’s, Draeger’s, Smart & Final, Raleys/Nob Hill Foods, independent retailers, Costco’s, and Lucky/Save Mart stores.

www.batterblaster.com

See ya in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: breakfast, cooking, food, organic, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Roxanne’s Fine Cuisine, the new brainchild of raw food innovator Roxanne Klein, is a gourmet line of raw food products. Made with fresh organic ingredients, the food is free of diary, eggs, gluten or refined sugars. The flavorful 'living' food line has over 30 products to peruse from, including snacks, prepared foods and ice creams.

I like the Salted Sprouted Almonds and Berry Bliss Trail Mix. I already feel healthier snacking on these, as the active enzymes and micronutrients work their magic on me. The Tu-nut Pinwheel Sandwich and Rox Kremes look tasty.

Currently available at Whole Foods (wholefoodsmarket.com) and other gourmet markets in the Bay Area. For more information: www.roxannes.com

-Tami

Tagged as: breakfast, dessert, dinner, food, Gourmet and Gourmand, healing foods, health, healthy snacks, lunch, organic, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TSP Spices is a great way to revamp your spice collection. They only offer certified organic spices - I love the Korintje Cinnamon and Green Cardamom. I like to bake so I find their Sweet Basics collection a real gem, containing Allspice, Anise Seed, Green Cardamom, Korintje Cinnamon, Cloves, and Nutmeg.

Not only is their single-use packaging super handy (pre-measured in teaspoon increments!), their cute reusable tin cans are stackable, to create less kitchen clutter. It is even worthy of Oprah's approval. They're also great for picnics and BBQs.

Try using a teaspoon of cardamom in a pot of rice for an exotic twist, or sprinkle it in some vanilla ice cream. Make dill butter for a seafood dish, or create your own curry dip with a packet each of the cumin, coriander, ginger and tumeric. Blend into a cup of sour cream and voila! Instant fancy appetizer.

www.tspspices.com

See you in the kitchen!

Tami

Tagged as: baking, cooking, cooking techniques, food, Natural, organic, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Now that your social calender is jam-packed with one holiday soiree after another, you need to put your best face forward. Instead of slapping on the concealer to hide those dark circles, try the new Eminence Organics Eye Quattro treatment. The active organic ingredients in these four amazing proucts will banish the panda eyes, boost hydration levels, exfoliate and de-puff.

As the first step, the gentle Naseberry Eye Exfoliant is excellent at smoothing out the wrinkles. Wild Black Carrot helps diminish fine lines while Green Apple and Calendula infuse antioxidants to the skin. The Raspberry Eye Masque provides intense hydration with 16 vitamins and herbs to improve elasticity. The area around my eyes were so nice and dewy after using these two products. It is like an instant eye-lift. For maintenance I follow with either the Cucumber Eye Gel (instant de-puffer) or the iron-rich Wild Plum Eye Cream (targets dark circles). All of these may be used individually or together as a four-step treatment.

There is a holiday gift with purchase - buy any 2 Eye Quattro products and receive a lovely special edition ornament filled with travel size minis of the entire eye care collection!

For more winter protection, definitely get the creamy Linden Calendula Treatment or the Rich Black Perlette Grape Moisturizer from the Tradition Series (a group of favorite products with extra rich formulations). Super potent with active anti-aging ingredients, these will be a surefire way to prevent the cold weather dryness. Folks will be wondering what your secret is to fabulous skin!

www.eminenceorganics.com

-Tami

Tagged as: antioxidants, beauty, exfoliation, eye care, eye cream, moisturizer, organic, organic ingredients, product review, skin care

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For all you shy lovers out there pining after that sweet object of your affection - try sending some Chocolove bars and you might get a love note in return...wrapped around a gourmet chocolate bar that is. How many folks can resist that? Not me.

With a broad range of flavors (including a new organic line and the Chocolatour single-origin vintage line), you can pick and choose which love package to send. Each comes in a distinct color that resembles a love letter, with a romantic poem tucked inside. AND you get a gourmet Belgian chocolate bar!

I really like the new Toffee & Almonds in 33% Milk Chocolate (yummm...buttery toffee bits floating in caramel-like choco) and the limited-edition Chilies & Cherries in 55% Dark Chocolate. Ancho and chipotle chilies give a lovely slow-burning warmth that goes well with the sweet dried cherries. Talk about things getting hot and heavy!

For the dark lovers, the Extra Strong Dark 77% is a winner. The Chocolatour Tanzania 76% rocks with notes of banana and cinnamon. I also dig the Crystallized Ginger 65% Dark - perfect for cold winter nights.

www.Chocolove.com

-Tami

Tagged as: artisan, chili, chocolate, chocolate bar, food, Gourmet and Gourmand, organic, single-origin, toffee

Posted by Tami Yu at 7:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Just in time for fall, Eminence Organics is presenting a couple of new products from their fabulous Pumpskin Skin Renewal Collection. For the ultimate luxury treatment, head over to your favorite spa to get the Pumpkin Cream Body Wrap. Your entire body (along with all the rough spots) will be drenched in super-hydration heaven, not to mention smelling like a freshly baked pumpkin pie.

Too busy for the spa? You can still create the luxe experience at home with the yummy-smelling Pumpkin Latte Hydration Masque. If your home/office heater is aggravating your poor delicate skin, this one is created just for you. Packed with mega antioxidants from the powerful pumpkin, this masque also contains soy milk to keep the fine lines at bay while avocado and sunflower oils nourish and hydrate the skin.

I just love the Yam & Pumpkin Enzyme Peel, as it lifts off every spot of dead skin, revealing the perfect glowing visage underneath. An antidote to too much summer fun, it does a great job of getting rid of hyperpigmentation and sun damange. Best of all, if you get the Yam & Pumpkin Peel with the Chamomile Soothing Tonique (or Pumpkin Latte Masque), you also get a free fan brush as a gift!

To learn more, visit www.eminenceorganics.com

***Beauty addicts in San Francisco can also purchase their Eminence products from Dana Leslie Organics at 399 Arguello Blvd, or call 415-602-1109.
www.danaleslieorganics.com

See you at the spa,

Tami

Tagged as: beauty, beta carotene, chamomile, Eminence, enzyme peel, exfoliation, hydration, mask, masque, organic, organic ingredients, pumpkin, pumpkin puree, Pumpskin Collection, skin, skin care, skin care products, skin renewal, toner

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you live in a foggy cold microclimate like I do, there will be days where you will want to curl up with a good strong cup of tea. You might even find a moment of inner peace, especially with Yogi Tea's Chai Black tea. It has an authentic full-bodied flavor with organic ingredients of ginger root, cardamom seed, clove bud and black pepper. And if that is too exotic for you, try their other blends such as Green Tea Goji Berry, Mexican Sweet Chili or Kava Stress Relief.

www.yogitea.com

-Tami

Tagged as: chai, organic, organic tea, relaxation, tea, tea bags, Yogi Tea

Posted by Tami Yu at 1:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I love anything with chocolate and I'm not ashamed to admit it. That's why my fellow choco fans will appreciate the rich cocoa flavor in Dr. Oetker Organics' Organic Brownie Mix. It produces an unbelievably chewy texture that resembles made-from-scratch versions. This mighty box of cocoa goodness packs a punch in flavor, but it's not so bad in the calorie department. It only calls for a 1/4 cup of butter, vs. the typical 1 stick in other mixes. Not only can you tell your friends you made it from scratch (they won't know the difference, trust me), you won't have to feel that guilty about gobbling up that second or third piece.

www.oetker.ca

See ya in the kitchen,

Tami

Tagged as: baking, baking mixes, brownie, brownie mix, Chocolate, cooking, Dr. Oetker, food, organic, organic ingredients

Posted by Tami Yu at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Summer is almost over, but that doesn't mean you're gonna be sloppy with your precious locks. If spending too much time at the beach has turned your hair into a dry frizzy mess, try the following hair care products from John Masters Organics & Kiss My Face for instant damage control.

I like how my hair gets that squeaky-clean feel with John Masters Organics' Lavender Rosemary Shampoo . Great for normal hair, the gentle paraben/sodium lauryl sulfate-free formula is pretty concentrated, so you don't need to use a lot of it. The heady lavender scent makes me wanna linger in the shower. I also like to follow up with their amazing Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor. Not only does it smell heavenly, the intense nutrients (honey, hibiscus, bergamot, patchouli) leaves your hair feeling like a curtain of silk. It reminds me of the sleek texture your hair feels after leaving the hair salon. It's that good.

An everyday shampoo I like to use is the Kiss My Face Miss Treated Shampoo. Infused with Palmarosa and Peppermint oils, it's a great organic cleanser for colored hair. Paired with the matching Miss Treated Conditioner, both products are paraben/SLS free, so they won't strip the natural oils from your hair. Other nourishing ingredients include rosemary and eucalyptus oils, providing an uplifting scent that brightens your mood.

Available at www.johnmasters.com and

www.kissmyface.com

-Tami

Tagged as: beauty, conditioner, dry hair, ecualyptus oil, hair, hair care, hair products, John Masters Organics, Kiss My Face, lavender, organic, organic ingredients, palmarosa oil, rosemary, shampoo

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For those who are big skin care fans, they shouldn't miss the latest summer goodies from Eminence. Their Blueberry Bliss collection is another heavenly winner, with over 15 power nutrients working overtime to deliver nature's very best to your skin. It doesn't hurt that everything smells like a fresh blueberry smoothie either.

The Blueberry Soy Repair Masque and the Blueberry Soy Night Recovery Cream (my new fave cream) are packed with a scrumptious puree of whole fruit blueberries for ultimate hydration and skin repair. Paired with non-GMO soy yogurt, these lovely products are also packed with Vitamins C, E and other anti-aging weapons (evening primrose oil, coenzyme Q10, etc.) to fight cellular damage and restore elasticity.

After days of frolicking at the beach, your body will also appreciate the Soy Blueberry Body Wash or Blueberry Soy Sugar Scrub to replenish the much-needed moisture. Your skin will be thoroughly silky!

Sun protection is also key to ageless skin, so I highly recommend their new translucent Sun Defense SPF 30. The clear shade is also great for men and children, as it blends right into the skin. Waterproof and super easy to use (comes in a handy brush tube), it's the perfect thing to put into your purse, backpack or beach tote before heading into the sun and sand. Unlike conventional liquid sunscreen, it doesn't have the problem of greasy leaky bottles.

Available at your local spa or check out www.eminenceorganics.com

-Tami

Tagged as: Beauty, blueberry collection, body wash, Eminence, Luxury, masks, masque, new translucent shade, non-GMO soy yogurt, organic, Organic, skin care, skin care product, skin cream, Skincare, SPF, sugar scrub, Summer, sunscreen

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

With the slow food movement and numerous farmers' markets dotting the American culinary map, still there are folks out there that think healthy eating equates to tasteless, bland food with dense textures. Thanks to Heidi Swanson's new book, Super Natural Cooking: Five Ways To Incorporate Whole & Natural Ingredients Into Your Cooking, she helps demystify this unfounded assumption.

It's not as hard as you think to swap out the processed foods lurking in your pantry. Utilizing five ways to encourage a whole foods diet, Swanson explains in great detail on how to buy the right flours, fats and spices, baking with 'alternative' grains like teff and quinoa, choosing color-rich vegetables, working with antioxidant-laden superfoods, and using natural sugars for desserts.

With eighty easy recipes to experiment with, you can try everyday dishes like the Clemenquat Salad, Black Tea Spring Rolls with Mushrooms and Mango Chutney Dipping Sauce, Sprouted Garbanzo Burgers, and Ginger-Amaranth Shortbread. Accompanied by Swanson's absolutely gorgeous photography, one might be immediately compelled to run to the kitchen and try their hand at re-creating her dishes. With such delicious flavors, you will soon kiss the refined grains and sugars goodbye.

Spring Minestrone with Brown Rice

Serves 4.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
¾ cup medium-grain brown basmati rice, rinsed
6 cups vegetable stock
1 cup sugar snap or snow peas, trimmed and cut in half diagonally
8 spears asparagus, trimmed and diagonally sliced into 1-inch pieces
½ cup green peas, fresh or frozen
Fine-grain sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the shallots and garlic and sauté for a couple of minutes until soft. Add the rice and cook, stirring for 1 minute, then add the stock and bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer until the rice is just tender, 35 to 45 minutes.

Add the sugar snap peas, asparagus, and green peas, and season with a few healthy pinches of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Simmer for another 2 or 3 minutes and serve immediately; this way the vegetables stay crisp and bright.

Reprinted with permission from Super Natural Cooking: Five Ways to Incorporate Whole & Natural Ingredients Into Your Cooking by Heidi Swanson. Photographs by Heidi Swanson. Copyright 2007. Published by Celestial Arts.

See you in the kitchen!

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Books, Breakfast, Chefs and Confectioners, Dessert, Dinner, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, Gourmet and Gourmand, Lunch, Natural, Organic, Seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you want to see pure organic honey produced as an art form, Big Island Bees is the real deal. Believing each jar to be a beautiful masterpiece, the husband and wife team (Garnett Puett and Whendi Grad) behind the label channel their passion into each carefully crafted jar. Unlike the commercial, watery bland stuff you see in the supermarkets,these have a thicker and creamier consistency, with a full-bodied flavor. The best part is that the honey is totally unheated and unfiltered to preserve the natural sugars and enzymes needed for complete nutrition.

Specializing in three unique single varietals, the bees collect nectar year-round from the Wilelaiki trees (Christmasberry), Macadamia Nut trees, and Ohi’a Lehua trees. Each honey retains the distinct flavor of the nectar the bees feast on. Whichever flavor you choose, it is really wonderful for your breakfast toast, tea, waffles, or marinades. It goes well with baking, so try it with the following recipe below.

Whendi’s Honey Cake

½ cup butter
¾ cup sugar
1 generous cup Macadamia Nut Honey
3 eggs
1 cup dark, strong, warm coffee (Whendi uses Kona)
3 cup flour
3 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoon dried ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon allspice
½ cup Macadamia nuts, chopped
½ cup candied ginger, diced

Cream butter and sugar together. Add honey and eggs, and mix well. Sift dry ingredients together and add to butter/sugar mixture alternately with coffee. Fold in candied ginger and nuts, and pour into greased 10-inch bundt pan or two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

To purchase, go to www.bigislandbees.com

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Breakfast, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, Gourmet and Gourmand, Natural, Organic

Posted by Tami Yu at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

For all you lucky San Francisco/Bay Area foodies looking for a fresh, yummy and healthy lunch, your slow food choices just got sweeter with Split Pea Seduction. A spin-off from the local catering company Jersey Tomatoes, the new breakfast/lunch eatery just opened on 6th Street and Minna.

A true labor of love from founders Sarah Ellison-Pinkin and Christian Noto, they prepare everything on-site, from scratch. Using only seasonal ingredients, their delectable menus (changes daily!) feature sustainable produce sourced directly from small local farms.

Breakfast features freshly baked muffins, scones, and open-faced crostatas with home-made fruit preserves, while lunch offers hearty gourmet soups and salads (fresh house-marinated sardines, shaved fennel and watercress, yum!). This is not your generic garden salad with ranch, folks. Be prepared to be dazzled. Your office lunch will never be the same.

The signature savory crostatas (open faced pastry) are made with mouth-watering ingredients like Wilgenburg tomato, fontina and grilled chicken. For an afternoon coffee break, try the strawberry shortcake cupcakes, cookies and other daily dessert specials. You might return to the office smiling (and productive, gasp) after munching on some of these sweeties.

For menus and info, check out www.splitpeaseduction.com OR www.jtomatoes.com

Split Pea Seduction
138 6th Street @ Minna
San Francisco, California 94103

Open: Monday – Friday 7am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 3pm, Closed on Sunday
415.551.2223

-See you at the lunch counter,

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, Lunch, Natural, Northern California, Organic, San Francisco, Seasonal

Posted by Tami Yu at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Whether you choose the Wine Reduction Sauces, Germinated Brown Rice, or the Roasted Black Soybean Tea, DHC Fine Foods has all the basic ingredients to execute a healthy gourmet meal. Have a last-minute dinner date? Girlfriends visiting for an impromptu tea? You won’t even break a sweat as you whip up a Cherry Port filet mignon or dish out the fine china for some quality green tea. Here is a roundup of some popular items from their new food line:

For a quick elegant touch, the Wine Reduction Sauces are you ticket to a glam dinner. With a varietal choice of Cherry Port, Blackberry Merlot, and Tangerine Zinfandel, these compliment perfectly with all types of entrees, from steak to seafood. So easy to use – all you need to do is add it to your dish, and voila! Instant five-star dinner. Brewed in small batches, these all-natural reductions are also fabulous as dipping sauces or used in veggie stir-frys.

Caffeine-free (we like that) and delicately smoky, the Roasted Black Soybean Tea is a tasty way to compliment an Asian-inspired meal. Or, as an afternoon tea, you can also munch on the roasted soybeans afterwards as a guilt-free snack (season w/salt and seasoning if you like). Naturally low in fat and a good source of protein, you can also snack on the soybeans without brewing it for a crunchier texture.

The Premium Green Tea Powder provides the perfect instant solution to getting your daily antioxidants. A great source of Vitamin C, you can stash the individual packets at your work desk or in your purse for an instant pick-me-up. Made with first-picked, high-quality tea leaves, this can be added to cooking recipes and beverages for a subtle green tea flavor. Great for making green tea ice cream or shortbread cookies!

The organic Núñez de Prado Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the perfect balance of citrus and floral aromas. Carrying fresh nuances of oranges, lemons, grasses, and apples, this award-winning olive oil is flavorful enough as a dipping oil. Truly a versatile ingredient, it’s great for salads, most cooking needs, and for making aioli.

http://www.dhccare.com/dhc/foods/foods.aspx

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Dinner, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, International, Organic, Wine

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

French organic skin care is now easy available at American drugstores. La Fleur Organique uses only organic botanicals (produced from an organic farm in France), and is free of parabens, silicones, mineral oil, preservatives, synthetic fragrances, colorings, and petroleum derivatives. The Facial Anti-Aging Cream ($35) has a nice, light texture that absorbs easily into the skin. With effective ingredients like magnolia, Chilean rosehip, carrot and neroli oil, this cream provides the basis for cell regeneration. Used over time, it reduces fine lines, encouraging a livelier complexion.

La Fleur Organique is available at select Walgreens across the nation.

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Beauty, fashiontribes.com, International, Natural, Organic, Shopping, Skincare

Posted by Tami Yu at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For those interested in safer, natural skin care alternatives, Suki skin care is really worth a try. Created by Suki Kramer, who had a lifelong struggle with skin issues, her skin & body care products are carefully formulated with pure, organic ingredients that are free of synthetics, gentle and profoundly effective. Kramer is also a strong advocate of educating the consumers on the quality of ingredients available and providing the latest information in the natural skin care industry.

Mini Skin Care Kit

I suggest getting the Mini Skin Care Kit to get an overall sense of the main line. It includes the exfoliating lemongrass cleanser, moisture-rich cleansing lotion, concentrated facial toner-shitake, facial moisture serum-carrot, complexion brighteining cream, delicate mositure body oil, hand & body velvet creme, and hand & body butter creme.

Lemongrass Cleanser

I liked how the Cleansing Lotion hydrated my skin. It wasn't greasy upon application, and provided an ample layer of moisture. If your skin is oily, you might be tempted to skip the moisturizer. The Exfoliating Lemongrass Cleanser is another great product. Smelling like an exotic lemon drop, it encourages cellular turnover with chamomile and natural vitamin C. The Velvet Facial Creme has a wonderfully light texture, without any heavy residue. This creme is especially powerful with its healing antioxidants, which helps with blemishes, redness and inflammation. The Carrot Facial Serum is great for dry winter skin, and is particularly helpful with sun damage, general skin irritations, rosacea and eczema.

Cleansing Lotion

To learn more about Suki's entire line, check out www.sukisnaturals.com

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Beauty, Cleanser, fashiontribes.com, Natural, Organic, Skincare, Trends

Posted by Tami Yu at 12:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With Terra Nostra's new organic offering, you don't need any excuse to indulge in high quality chocolate. The super smooth Robust Dark & Roasted Almonds bar (60% cacao) contains about ten times the antioxidants of fresh blueberries, so it's almost like a daily fruit serving (at least that's what I keep telling myself)! There's no need to feel guilty over the calories, and you're also supporting a company that is socially responsible (founder Karlo Flores is an active member of international fair trade community).

For the vegan folks, the Ricemilk Choco Bar collection is something you should seriously try. Made with a high percentage of cacao, these 'milk chocolate' bars have a very smooth feel and an intense chocolate flavor (56-57% cacao content). Also great for those with dairy allergies. Can we say yum?

See you at the health food stores!

The Sweet Life

Tagged as: Chefs and Confectioners, Chocolate, fashiontribes.com, Food and Drink, Gourmet and Gourmand, International, Lifestyle, Organic, Trends

Posted by Tami Yu at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

If you haven't heard of Eminence Organic Skin Care, now's the time to check it out. A venerable skin care line from Hungary, they only make each product in small batches, without any preservatives. This is the real deal, as the shelf life is only one year or less. Plus, each organic ingredient is derived from the best sources, making it super potent and very effective. How many other skin care lines can boast that awesome quality?

I took the liberty to test out their latest offerings and the new Pear & Apple collection doesn't disappoint. The Pear & Poppy Seed Microderm Polisher totally rocks, with fine walnut and poppy seeds gently buffing your dull complexion to a positively glowing visage. The yummy pear and green apple pulp will boost your skin with antioxidants and bioflavonoids, meaning more fruity goodness for your lovely face. A small amount is enough, so don't go overboard with the product. For the sensitive types, try using less product and massage very gently.

The Pear & Green Apple Masque is very lovely, replenishing the moisture back to your dry skin (great for over-exposed summer skin). The pear and green apple purees infuse the skin layers with nourishing vitamins while active powerhouses such as Ginseng and Burdock Root act as healing agents, toning and purifying your skin.

One of my new favorites from their body care line is the Pear & Green Apple Yogurt Body Wash. Very gentle for everyday use, it doesn't contain any Sodium Lauryl Sulfates, which can really dry out and irritate the skin. Like all their products, it smells like the actual fruit is being blended into the wash. I felt like I was literally washing myself with fruit juices.

Last but not least - the Pear & Green Apple Sugar Scrub is a luxurious skin polishing treatment. The natural AHA in sugar cane gently exfoliates the entire body to perfection while pear and apple extracts drench your skin with much needed vitamins and bioflavonoids. Comfrey provides calming and antiseptic properties while Butcher's Broom firms the skin. I use this sparingly, since you don't want to waste the product. It's so moisturizing I don't even bother with a moisturizer afterwards.

Available only in exclusive spas - call 1-888-747-6342 for a listing of retailer spas or visit www.eminenceorganics.com

Tagged as: Beauty, fashiontribes.com, International, Luxury, Natural, Organic, Seasonal, Skincare, Summer

Posted by Tami Yu at 3:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)