Blog Posts by EcoSalon

burdock-root

By Sarah Irani

Since the beginning of time, we've been beautifying ourselves with the plant kingdom's best skin andhair care helpers, and if you buy wholesome, natural cosmetics, you'll notice your ingredient list is full of plant names. But let's face it, these little beauty potions can be pricey. Thankfully it's not difficult to create your own homemade beauty products using common herbs and essential oils. It doesn't take a huge expense to ensure you have beautiful, healthy skin and hair.

Rosemary

rosemary

It's no secret why many natural brands make rosemary shampoo - a rinse made from this herb adds luster to dark hair and strengthens and smooths damaged hair shafts. Check out EcoSalon's DIY recipe for rosemary shampoo or make a strong rosemary tea for an after-shampoo rinse.

Chamomile and Thyme

chamomile thyme

Infused into a strong tea, chamomile and thyme make a great and gentle cleanser for oily skin. Pour a liter of this tea into your bath to help clear up body blemishes, not to mention the

Read More »from 15 Essential Herbs You Can Use to Make Natural Beauty Products

By Stephanie Rogers

With every breath we take and every drop of water that we drink, we're connected to the ocean - no matter where we live. The world's oceans are the lungs of our planet, supplying most of our oxygen as well as a vast amount of our food and medicine. Life on earth simply can't survive without healthy oceans, and yet marine ecosystems are faced with seemingly insurmountable threats like global warming, pollution and overfishing. What can we do to help? Here are 10 easy steps that we can all take to protect the oceans for World Oceans Day.

1. Use Less Plastic

Plastic is such a big problem for the world's oceans, it's accumulating into a disgusting mass of man-made junk in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Garbage Patch is big enough to qualify as the nation's largest landfill. While recycling is an important step, the best thing you can do to help is simply use less plastic. Carry a reusable shopping bag and water bottle at all times, and choose products

Read More »from 10 Easy Ways to Protect the Ocean

By Katherine Butler

Our relationship with the sun can be akin to hanging out with an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. There was a time when he or she warmed you to the tips of your fingers. But if you let your guard down, you were toast. Consequently, it's time for us to rise up and reclaim our defenses, and keep our outer layer of skin intact. The essential rules to sun care are simple. Hats, clothing, and shade are key in your defense against ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen remains an essential component in preserving our skins, but we have to be careful with which brands we're slathering on. Foremost, do not be lured into a false sense of security of sunscreen - aka spending the entire day in the sun with only one application, then expressing bewilderment that you're burned. Be sure to reapply it every 90 minutes while you are in the sun, more if you are sweating or swimming. Look for both UVA and UVB protection. (Ultraviolet A is linked to skin cancer, while ultraviolet B causes

Read More »from 6 Natural Summer Sunscreens Made Without Toxic Ingredients

By Stephanie Rogers

Global fisheries are on the verge of collapse, global warming is raising ocean temperatures, coral reefs are dying at an alarming rate and runoff from farms and neighborhoods is fouling the seas with fertilizers and other pollutants. For Ocean Week, we want to show our love of oceans and how we can't live without them - we need serious action to protect them from these threats and many more, and we need it now. Thankfully, we have these 10 inspiring ocean conservation groups that are influencing public policy, drumming up public support, researching solutions, and even going out there and stopping illegal activities that harm wildlife.

Blue Ocean Institute The Blue Ocean Institute doesn't just work to preserve the world's oceans and all of the biodiversity they contain, it also aims to inspire a love for the ocean in all of us. Engaging the public with science, art and literature to foster a deeper connection with nature, the Blue Ocean Institute provides an

Read More »from 10 Ocean Conservation Groups Making a Difference

apple

By Sarah Irani

Is the economy beating you up? It's time to get creative. Next time you have an ache or pain, forget about a costly trip to the drugstore and test drive some of your grandmother's remedies instead. It'll save money and be gentler on your body and the environment. Recessionistas (and Gents), welcome to the DIY medicine cabinet.

Indigestion and Heartburn

spicy-food1

It almost goes without saying - but consider why you're getting heartburn in the first place. Did you overeat? Too much grease or spicy food? Eating late at night? Scout out the cause and try to stop this before it happens. Then, put down the antacids. The belching, bloat and heartburn caused by indigestion come about because you don't have enough stomach acid to do the job right. A spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar will help break down the excess food that is causing you trouble and bring your stomach back to balance.

Sore Throat

honey-lemon-tea

Sore, scratchy throats are usually a sign of a cold or flu coming on, so you Read More »from The Best Natural Remedies for the 15 Most Common Aches, Pains and Health Complaints

runner

By Adrienne So

No one is trying to deny that yoga and pilates can dramatically improve your general level of fitness, increase your strength and flexibility, and enhance your quality of life. But for all the benefits, there are a number of things that a rigorous daily practice can't give you - variety. The opportunity to escape four stifling walls. In the middle of all of summer's glories, getting in your daily workout shouldn't mean that you have to trudge reluctantly inside. Weight-bearing activities, like running and lifting, help fend off bone thinning and osteoporosis which is an unfortunate side effect of growing older as a woman. Vitamin D can lift your mood, and social activities like boxing - yes, talking to your sparring partner counts as socializing - can make working out so much more enjoyable. Here are ten activities that you can rotate into your workout routine to switch it up and sweat it out this summer. Playlist not included.

Long Distance Running

Flickr CC license Brian Sawyer

Christopher

Read More »from 9 Sports to Get You Outside and Enjoying Fresh Air

Composting isn't just for food, silly! You'll be surprised at all the strange, random junk you can toss in the compost bucket. Don't draw the line at peach pits and coffee grounds - start chucking the following items into that bucket and watch your garbage bill go down while you create top-drawer dirt (and help the planet, of course).

1. Bills - because somehow it's a lot more satisfying shoving bills in with melon rinds and egg shells than the recycle bin. Trust me.

2. Latex condoms - both latex and sheepskin condoms are biodegradable; note that sheepskin does not protect against STDs.

3. Junk mail - if you're like me not even the Do Not Mail list has managed to alleviate the jubilant deforestation companies are undertaking on your personal behalf.

magazines

4. Catalogs and magazines - just shred them first.

5. Old fish food and stale catnip

6. Abandoned hide/bone dog chews

7. Worn out rope and used masking tape

8. Any old leather - shoes, gloves, wallets, belts, "sexy" Halloween cat

Read More »from 30 Unexpected and Unusual Things You Can Compost

By Stephanie Rogers

Honking cars emit foul black clouds, skyscrapers blot out the sun, litter lines the gutters and healthy green space can be hard to come by. But in many of America's biggest cities, these negative traits are being eclipsed by clean, efficient public transit, bike-friendly infrastructure, multiplying trees, reliance on renewable energy and a fierce pride in locally-produced products. Slashing greenhouse gas emissions and coming close to zero waste is no easy feat for a metropolis with a population of at least 250,000, but these 10 cities - from Boston to San Francisco - prove that sustainability is possible on the largest of scales, in good economic times and bad.

10. Boston, Massachusetts



Representing the entire East Coast in impressive renewable energy stats, Boston boosted its solar power with the Solar Boston program and counts wind among its top three sources of electricity, with a turbine on city hall and more slated for several public schools. Other big

Read More »from 10 Greenest U.S. Cities