Looking Good: Using of the green

By Leigh Grogan - Bee Fashion Writer

Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Story appeared in SCENE section, Page E3

From Nature's Gate, Rainwater Organics lotions are among the first in this country to be labeled "USDA Certified Organic" ($7.99); available at Whole Foods Markets and at www.internatural-alternative-health.com. Nature's Gate

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When it comes to personal-care products, the push continues to offer consumers healthier choices for skin and hair care.

Oh, and it's part of a drive to make the environment safer, too.

Of course, the term "organic" gets bandied about, from produce to lip balms. And although the Food and Drug Administration regulates cosmetics, there is no FDA definition of the term "organic" as it applies to either cosmetics or personal-care products.

So, what do you look for if you want products that contain the least amount of preservatives (parabens) and other chemicals?

We found at least two lines to consider:

• Juice Beauty: Karen Behnke is the chief executive officer of this San Francisco-based company. She says one of the issues facing consumers is that anyone can put "organic" on a label, "even if there's not a single organic thing in the product."

"Total organic content must be 70 percent or higher, which is very hard for most skin-care products to achieve," Behnke says.

Juice Beauty uses 100 percent organic juice-based ingredients. Its line includes both skin care and body products.

• Nature's Gate: This company, founded by two brothers in Venice Beach, used food regulations to create its line of products, so the challenge was to change how their plants and fruits were grown to meet the organic guidelines. The company's Rainwater personal-care line of lotions was the first of its kind to be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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Bundling up baby -- naturally

Good ideas can turn up in, of all places, a baby shower. Just ask Robbie Mahlman, an El Dorado Hills wife-mom-businesswoman who hit on the idea of creating a line of organic baby blankets after attending a friend's shower.

"She wanted natural gifts, but I noticed that there was no color in the natural products she was receiving," Mahlman says. (Think beige.)

"I kept thinking, 'Gosh, I wish I could get this in pink,' " she says.

So Mahlman, who was looking to start a business from her home (she has two children), created Robbie Adrian Inc., a line of luxury organic baby blankets that, as she says, "are green but with an upscale twist."

The company was named after Mahlman's grandmother. What's unique about the blankets is that Mahlman was able to come up with a way to have the blankets (made in Los Angeles) contain 100 percent organic cotton (grown in Texas) that's formed into yarn (in North Carolina) and knitted (in South Carolina) in fleece or velour.

Colors range from raspberry to petal pink, ocean blue to natural with chocolate trim and polka dots. They're trimmed in natural silk and are machine-washable and dryable. Prices are $44 to $116, depending on size.

Recommend this story at Yahoo! Buzz:

From Recycline, the Preserve razor is made from 100 percent recycled plastic ($7.49, includes the razor and two blade cartridges); available at Trader Joe's and Whole Food Markets. Recycline

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From Green By Nature, this almond cocoa body lotion contains no synthetic preservatives ($8.99); available at Bed Bath & Beyond. Green By Nature

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Origins' "I Don't Get Wasted" organic cotton reusable totes ($10) will be available next month in Origin stores and at www.origins.com. Origins

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The Robbie Adrian line of colorful organic baby blankets is carried locally at Goore's (2700 Marconi Ave.) and Wildflower Boutique (1729 L St.). You can also order at www.robbieadrian.com. Robbie Adrian

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