For He's a Jolly Good Fellow!

When James Saavedra of Decor Fellow asked me to be a part of the debut issue of Fellow, his online magazine, I was very flattered and excited to participate and now that I've seen the finished product, I'm completely blown away! It is more professional than a lot of magazines on the newsstand! I know you will also love it! Inside is an amazing interview with Vicente Wolfe, a city guide to Seattle, some inspired styles, a few fabulous floor lamps and oh, my little list of what I need for a "well lived life." James did such an outstanding job that he's going to make everyone in the blog world step up their game! He's truly one amazing fellow!!!

Weleda Skin Food - Natural Moisturiser for Dry Skin

If You Loved Clarins Beauty Flash Balm…why not try Weleda Skin Food

Have you ever checked the ingredient list on those fabulous 'conventional' beauty products that refresh lacklustre skin and make it glow? Many products contain propylene glycol which according to the Teens for Safe Cosmetics website, 'alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin'. Don't be suprised if the infamous Paraben family are holding their family reunion in your favourite skin illuminating cream also (twins Methyl and Ethyl, brother Butyl, Aunty Isobutyl and Papa Propyl all like to make appearances). When you realise these concerning ingredients may be forming carcinogenic compounds or altering skin structure and hormone levels, you know it is time to find a new non-toxic product to make your skin glow.

Weleda Skin Food

If you thought the only ways to achieve radiant looking skin involved daily bikram yoga and copious amounts of hot water and lemon, think again. This wonder cream will create radiant looking skin just like Clarins Flash Balm but thankfully only uses 100% natural ingredients.

Weleda Skin Food has been on the scene since 1926 which makes this cream a skincare classic. Certification by German BDIH further validates the natural ingredients such as calming chamomile and calendula which work wonderfully on dry skin. The intensely earthy and pure scent delights with its aromatic sweet orange undertones. The cream is very rich so works best on dry patches on the face and body or as a highlighter on cheekbones. A little moisturiser goes a long way and seems to last eternally in its recyclable aluminium tube. Get ready for the compliments to roll in and decide who you will credit for your new luminescent complexion: yoga, lemon drinks or a tube of miracle Skin Food?

Ideal for: Dry Skin, Skin Illuminator, Winter, Outdoor People
Apply: Face or any dry patches on the body
Favoured by: Rihanna, Joss Stone and Helena Christensen
Cost: Weleda Skin Food £5.95 (75ml) - Clarins Beauty Flash Balm £25 (50ml)
Purchase: Most good health food stores
Online: Weleda, Love Lula or There Must Be a Better Way

Ingredient List from Weleda Website
Water (Aqua), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Alcohol, Beeswax (Cera Flava), Glyceryl Linoleate, Hydrolyzed Beeswax, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Viola Tricolor Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cholesterol, Limonene*, Linalool*, Geraniol*, Citral*, Coumarin*.
* from natural essential oils (i.e. naturally present in the essential oils).
V - suitable for vegetarians.

How to Choose an Organic & Natural Shampoo

If you are in the process of converting your hair products to greener alternatives you will be relieved to learn that there are some great quality green shampoos out there for all flat, frizzy, and frazzled hair types. And according to Aubrey Organics’ website we should try and avoid the following ingredients when purchasing our next shampoo. (for further information visit Aubrey Organics UK)

¨ Sodium Laureth / Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (also used as an engine degreaser)
¨ Methyl/Propyl Paraben (petrochemical that can mimic oestrogen action)
¨ Cocmide MEA (causes cancer in laboratory animals)
¨ Parfum/Fragrance (mainly derived from petroleum products)
¨ Propylene Glycol (petrochemical used in brake fluid)

A Tale of Two Homes

I had never heard of Stephen Elrod, the Creative Director of Lee Jofa, until recently but then he seemed to be popping up everywhere! His beach house was featured in the June/July 2008 issue of Domino and then his New York apartment was published in the September 2008 issue of Traditional Home. I have been buying and enjoying Traditional Home lately since there aren't that many shelter magazines left! Anyway, as I've stated before, I love to see how people decorate multiple homes and it seems that Mr. Elrod has done a lovely job with both!

I'll fill in the details later but I am off to The Bachelor Pad to work on some things and then to prepare for an installation on work project on Thursday. Ciao for now!

Damn That Mother Chucker!

Seems I'm not the only one who loves white dresses. If you want to read a really funny recap of last night's season premier of Gossip Girl, check out New York magazine's Daily Intel. Make sure you read what they had to say about The Tins too! XOXO!

Organic Beauty Store London

CONTENT (Marylebone)

Be sure to pencil in the luxurious eco beauty boutique and spa, ‘Content’ into your diary. Situated in London’s sophisticated Marylebone area, this rarity of a shop will delight all the women who have been restricted to shopping solely online for their organic makeup and natural beauty supplies.

How blissful it is to roam about a store knowing everything on the shelves has been carefully selected to meet the store’s strict criteria of products free from GM ingredients, propylene glycol, parabens, sulfates and synthentic fragrances and colourants.

The integrity of the products continues on to the décor and ethos of the business with vintage decorations adorning the shop, hard-core recycling programs in place and a delivery service that packages with biodegradable bubble wrap!

Expect to peruse skincare lines such as Dr Alkaitas and Suki and makeup brands such as Jane Iredale and Nvey Eco (try their coveted concealer). There is also a spa service offering manicures courtesy of Butter London polishes which are free from toulene and formaldehyde. Throw in the homeopathic consultations also available onsite and you pretty much have a green girl’s idea of heaven.

14 Bulstrode St, Marylebone, London, W1U 2JG. Ph +44 (0)20 30751006
http://www.beingcontent.com/

White After Labor Day

Usually by this time of the year, I'm officially over summer and ready to break out my fall clothes but not this year! Maybe because I spent so much time working or maybe because I don't know what I will wear when I put away my white dresses and my white Goyard bag! Of course, it stays warm through October so it's not exactly fall weather right now anyway and since rules are meant to be broken I will probably throw on a white dress tomorrow. I might make a concession and carry a brown handbag though. I have put away anything linen or very summery but will definitely not be putting away my white jeans for a few more weeks.

The Sartorialist photographed fashion editor Giovanna during fashion week last fall and she clearly doesn't subscribe to the "no white after Labor Day rule" but she is Italian so perhaps they don't have that fashion rule since Labor Day is an American holiday! What about you? Will you wear white after Labor Day?