Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Do you ever find yourself watching infomercials from guthy renker or mesmerized at the celebrities launching there own line on QVC? I haven't made a purchase from any of the television shopping networks and yet I'll still watch 10-20, 30 minutes of the show observing the strong production and presentation skills in the program segment. Is it just me?

Have you noticed national advertising campaigns are starting to mimic the formats of the successful television shopping networks? The numbers don't lie, they're reaching a lot of people and putting quality consumer goods at a good value in the homes of millions via a convenient familiar medium. The television. Out of all of them, QVC is one of the best and If you're like me, a confessed infomercial voyeur, beauty addict or hair care / skin care blogger you may want to set your Tivo to record the WORLDWIDE LAUNCH OF OJON's NEW PRODUCT. Monday, October 23rd. To see the launch tune into QVC on October 23rd at 1am, 11am (2 hr show) and 10pm.

Ojon's worldwide launch of it's exclusive, brand new Ojon ‘Rare Harvest’ TAWAKA Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cream – the ultimate rejuvenating treatment for dry, aging skin and hair. Ojon will also be launching a new limited edition Holiday 5 - piece Ojon Hair Ritual Kits, they make the perfect gift for anyone on your list (or yourself)!

Jane Iredale recently launched Global Beauty; mineral makeup colors that are geared towards ethnic skin tones. The above video, exclusively from Jane Iredale, gives step by step instructions on how to apply her products, and the benefits, for an African American woman.

Today I had the chance to get some input regarding the obstacles that African American women face when it comes to makeup and representation in the marketplace. You can read my post with Patrice from the blog Afrobella and Lianne from The Makeup Girl exclusively on Makeup Minute.

I have been in the beauty industry for about 12 years and doing beauty pr for about 7 years. And in all of my years of experience with press releases especially those that that go out on the wire I have never ever seen one as damaging as the one that Russ Fons PR in Las Vegas ran today about their client; National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation (NTEF) and their opinion on Clarins Cosmetics. You can view the horrific release here.

In this release the NTEF states in great detail on the extensive damage and misleading labels of the Clarins brand, so they claim.

What’s odd though is that John Sheppard the director of the foundation states that you are putting your health at risk if you use these products. I don’t know about you but I see a huge lawsuit taking place from Clarins. I am sure executives at Clairns are beyond miffed about this release. What’s even odder is that all of the ingredients used by Clarins are found in most other top selling brands. One would assume that NTEF is crucifying Clarins based on a personal agenda and not on logic.

However was John Sheppard not aware that Clarins recently acquired Kibio an organic skin care manufacture who has gone into negotiations on creating new products together? I posted about this on my other blog a few weeks back. You can view that post here.

Eco-Fashion is an idea that has always been around, but really begun to take steam in February of 2005 at New York’s Fashion Week when Earth Pledge teamed up with 28 designers to create a special runway event called FutureFashion. This past Spring Oscar de la Renta, Halston and Elisa Jimenez showed off their echo-fashion designs at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2006 Conference. The response was overwhelming and the designs were again shown over the summer at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, where Stephen Burrows and Heatherette also added dresses to the collection of designs to be shown. With such great designers coming to understand that fashion can be earth friendly and design friendly, it is sure to increase in popularity among the world of fashion designers.

Eco-Fashion is clothing that takes into account the environment, the health of consumers and the working conditions of people in the fashion industry. You may not have know the exact term for this industry, but we have all heard and been up in arms over, the stories of big name celebrities having their clothing made in sweat shops only to sell them for top dollar. Taking into account the working conditions of the people who actually put the products together to get you what you purchase at the store is a part of Eco-Fashion.

Sometimes there are products I get excited about and then there are the products I want to shout from the rooftops about. Some products I got to try out for review from Earth Therapeutics have me wanting to shout from the rooftops without a doubt.

Purifying Salt Scrub Detox Formula: Out of the three products, this is the one that I was most excited to try. I know the benefits of using Salt Scrub, especially those made with Dead Sea Salts. Earth Therapeutics Salt Scrub also contains organic Tea Tree Oil, which enhances cleansing and detoxification, and moisturizing essential oils. While the oils feel slick in the shower, once you get out and dry off, you feel nothing but baby soft skin. Using this once a week has given me fabulously soft skin, which has helped solved my winter-skin dilemma.

Soothing Leg Lotion: The scent of this lotion is heavenly. This lotion has Rosemary, Wild Mint and Aloe Vera. The consistency is almost like a silky shower gel. It spreads easily and absorbs nicely. It made my legs feel wonderfully soft and I loved the scent so much, that I put it on my hands before bed. I found the scent to be so relaxing, that it helped me fall to sleep.

Nail & Cuticle Care: If you are someone whose nails are brittle and whose cuticles crack easily, this is surely the nail conditioner for you. When I rubbed it on my nails and over my cuticles I could almost hear them saying, “ahhh,” in relief. The scent was a nice citrus scent, which I love. It contains Sesame Oil to moisturize, Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil to protect your nails from infection and an Organic Nutrient Matrix to nourish and deep condition your nail bed and cuticles.

Have you used any Earth Therapeutics products? Let me know what you thought in the comments.

Kiss My Face was a green beauty company before green became an in thing. Every product they sell is organic without anything artificial at all. Yet going organic certainly doesn’t mean that quality is compromised at any point or that organic means a heavy price point. Most Kiss My Face users will tell you, their products are top notch and won’t break the bank in the process.

It’s not very often that you can go to a company’s website and read the background on how things were started, and if you can find one, you certainly will not find one so personable and down to earth. When you read the story behind how Kiss My Face began and their mission and purpose of their products you can’t help but feel their humor, lightheartedness, and of course their love for our great Earth. Their story is definitely a Squash to Riches story and one I think everyone should read.

Kiss My Face sells a variety of products for your bath, body and more. The products range from hair care to soap to facial moisturizers. Since we all know that organic is not only earth friendly, but also skin friendly, more people who may have a sensitivity to ingredients in other products may find comfort here.

If you use Kiss My Face, what is your favorite product from their line?

Decleor Paris is a luxurious face, body and suncare line for both men and women. Decleor was founded by a team of aromatherapy experts who use their knowledge of active plant extracts to create a comprehensive line of products that are both preventative and on going natural skin care. Decleor is also partnered by Shiseido, known for their wonderful beauty products, and are also the 4th largest beauty group in the industry.

Essential oils have wonderful healing properties with aromatic fragrances that, depending on which oil is used or combined with another, promotes such things as well being, calm, relaxation and so on, therefore promoting balance of both body and mind.

While Decleor’s packaging makes you feel like you just bought a diamond necklace at Tiffany’s, don’t be fooled that the luxury ends there. It’s what is inside the package that is luxurious, making your skin look and feel like you just spent hours at the spa. In fact, Decleor also offers Salon and Spa treatments at select locations. Within the US, it is at Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles where you can receive their Aroma Mosaic treatments that focuses on care of your face, body and the effects of the sun. Each focused treatment is broken down to be tailor made based on the needs of each individual.

You can find Decleor products in various cities throughout the country or locate one close to you with your zip code through their website: www.decleor-us.com

As I’ve been gathering stories to write for both of our Beauty and Fashion blogs, I’ve been noticing something become more and more prominent in the news headlines: more companies are going green or collaborating with a green initiative. In 2006, we began to see this trend emerge, but it looked uncertain whether it would take off with the American public or not. Now as I try to write more diversified posts, it seems I can’t get away from writing about who is the next brand marketing green, therefore proving that this topic is not going away anytime soon.

Dave Morgan, at Media Post’s Online Spin, echoed my thoughts exactly today in an article he wrote, “Is Green The New Red, White And Blue?” He too wonders if green is just the “flavor of the month” or a defining element for US brands for years to come. Some of the recent brands I have been Blogging about have been Lancome and their collaboration with Carbonfund.org to reduce carbon foot printing, Diesel’s ad campaign that shows fashion in a post-Global Warming world and whose website encourages becoming involved in StopGlobalWarming.org and watching Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” as well as, H&M expanding upon their use of Organic Cotton in more of their clothing lines. I predict these will not be the only companies, or industries for that matter, that incorporate green into part of their branding.

Organic Spa Magazine launched this January, published by Oceans Publishing Company, and is available year-round in a complete digital version found online at www.organicspamagazine.com . Co-founder and Editor in Chief, Mary Bemis, is the visionary behind the editorial mandate to integrate personal well-being with environmental sustainability. Her partner, Bev Maloney-Fischback, was responsible for bringing in 27 charter advertisers including Aveda, Jane Iredale, Laboratories Luzern, and Willow Stream the Spas at Fairmont.

Among the first magazines to debut in both print and digital formats, Organic Spa Magazine has a circulation of 40,800 and will be available by subscription for $12.95 for a year of the printed version; $9.95 for digital edition; and $16.95 for the combination.

The Queen of Green: Mary Bemis

You'll be also able to find Organic Spa at Whole Foods Markets.

I recently had the chance to ask Mary a few questions about OS and hear her thoughts on launching a magazine and the current focus on organics in general.

JR: What was your motivation to start Organic Spa?

MB: I really wanted to give something to the consumer. The consumer is so confused about the definition of SPA. The word has become a marketing gimmick pasted on everything from bubble baths to candles. The magazine is intended to communicate that SPA can be a lifestyle and show the consumer how to live that lifestyle at home. I was able to parlay my contacts and expertise into creating a magazine designed to teach the consumer how to incorporate spa into all aspects of their lives – home, rest, work, and play.

JR: What is your definition of Organic?

MB: To me, organic means “from nature”. The magazine is printed on recycled paper and with linseed oil ink. The digital version supports our philosophy of saving trees and paper. Organic is also the name of this growing “movement” that I am seeing, not just a trend identified by the media, but something that will be impactful and long-lasting.

JR: What’s the best / your favorite part of Organic Spa?

MB: Having created it – taking my vision to fruition, making it user friendly, developing meaningful content, and knowing it came from the heart.

JR: What do you see as the future for Organic Spa?

MB: I see the magazine becoming an important source of information for living the spa lifestyle, and I plan to aggressively grow the brand wherever it takes me.

JR: What do you see as important influences in 2007?

MB: Certainly there is attention to a growing organic / natural trend in beauty that needs to be fleshed out. Because there are no standard regulatory principles, it is exacerbating the level of confusion on the part of the consumer. I also see the developing trend as a backlash to the aggressive growth of the medi-spa category. Consumers are buying more natural and organic products across the board – whether it is food or the emerging clothing alternatives.

JR: What’s your greatest hope?

MB: That people take responsibility for their actions – and develop more awareness of the impact on our planet and our supply of water, food, and electricity.

JR: What is your greatest fear?

MB: Apathy and Laziness.

L'Oreal is looking to add ayurvedic beauty products to its current skin care line up through acquisition of an Indian ayurvedic brand. Although L'Oreal hasn't identified a brand that it wishes to acquire just yet, it has been aggressively pursuing the ayurvedic market in India to tap into consumer's growing desire to use exotic beauty products. It was also reported last November that L'Oreal expressed interest in acquiring Ayusoft, ayurvedic software that they approached the CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) for customization and further product development of.

As I mentioned yesterday another French company, L'Artisan Parfumeur, will be launching Jatamansi next month. Jatamansi is their first venture into the skin care market and is one that is based on the Himalayan plant used in Ayurveda, an alternative medicine practiced in India. Beauty and personal care products that are ayurvedic are organic and promote healing and health without the use of synthetics or chemicals.

What most people don't realize about big glossy magazines is that advertisers in the magazine also get favored additional product placement in the form of mentions in product line ups and other "advertorial" mentions. Nothing wrong with that, it's just how it's always been. A good publicist can help non-advertising brands get more exposure in the same magazine, however those that can afford integrated advertising and publicity often get the best exposure in print and television, of course all this comes at a cost.

Some beauty brands or fashion brands may not have the funding or budget for a large media buy. This post is to address those brands. While selling ad space is not a new idea, finding the appropriate space that is the most effective is critical. If you can't afford the premium ad space in beauty magazines and the top fashion books perhaps you should investigate non-traditional advertising in addition to your PR plan.

Today you can buy ad space on everything from urinal pucks, coffee cups, pizza boxes, shopping bags and now a new and innovative way to reach more people, especially business professionals. Do it through dry cleaning, most specifically, the hangers that go home with each suit and dress and tend to stay in your target customer’s closet for future use.

With 3.5 billion wire hangers ending up in landfills each year, The Hanger Network has designed coat hangers made completely out of paper. The paper is thick and laminated and perfectly acceptable to toss into your recycle bin. It’s strong enough to hold your clothes without falling apart while remaining flexible at the same time. The Hanger Network is hoping that dry cleaners will begin using their EcoHanger because it is free. That saves dry cleaning businesses approximately 8 cents a hanger, meanwhile helping to lessen the burden on the environment.

The Hanger Network is able to give their hangers for free to dry cleaners because it is the advertisers who pay the Hanger Network to place a color advertisement for their product/service on each hanger. These advertisements target both men and women such as ads from Van Heusen and L’Oreal. It’s amazing to me that no one has thought of this idea before. While I would have never dreamed of a sturdy paper hanger, my dry cleaned clothes always come back with white paper wrapping the wire hanger, most times simply stating the name of the place I was just serviced at. Since hangers are reused time and again, this is the perfect opportunity to have your product seen virtually every time a person opens their closet doors. It is unobtrusive, yet subliminal, and done in a way that is functional and serves a purpose.

Presently the EcoHangers are being distributed by Cleaners Supply, the largest distributor of dry cleaning products in the U.S. Currently you can find these hangers at dry cleaners throughout New York City, but with 8 million dollars in venture capital obtained, the Hanger Network will soon be expanding into other cities across the country.

Erbaviva first began its organic line of products to focus on babies and with its success, developed a line for mom’s to be. As success of their products has grown, they have added Aromatherapy and Bath & Body lines that have been sold in high-end boutiques and spas. Now Erbaviva has created their USDA Certified Organic line of products called Erbaorganics and have partnered with Target to sell the brand.

In the realm of beauty where there is no FDA regulation and in an industry that relies upon policing itself, Erbaorganics gaining the USDA’s seal of Certified Organic, means that they are held up to the same quality and standards as organic food. Certified Organic means that you can be assured that there it is chemical-free and hormone-free and that it is organic-plant based. Something I can assure you many mothers think about when applying products to their new baby’s skin. Besides becoming one of the first beauty brands to be USDA certified, it is also one of the first brands to be marketed to the masses through such a retailer like Target. Mass distribution also means a lower price point for consumers and those entering the doors of Target don’t expect to pay a lot for their beauty products, yet demand quality at the same time.

The collaboration of Erbaviva LLC and Target seems to be remaining with the focus of branding that Target has made for itself over the last several years. First adding top household designers to bring a high-end look to their housewares and home decor at a fraction of the price, then adding fashion designers like Liz Lange and Isaac Mizrahi, beauty products by Sonia Kashuk and now Erbaorganics, it seems that Target is setting a standard that other mass retailers fall far behind on.

I am a big fan of Target, so the addition of a high quality totally organic product line for mothers to be like myself and my soon to be newborn son, are a wonderfully appropriate fit.

With all of the excitement over the Academy Awards this weekend everyone is getting ready for the big night with pre-Oscar parties. One pre-Oscar party, in its 3rd year, is the Global Green Pre-Oscar Party. While the Oscars are associated with being an elaborate extravaganza with ornate gowns from the creme de la creme of the fashion industry and the most expensive pieces of jewelry, I loved the idea of the glitz and glam being turned into a good cause.

The Global Green Pre-Oscar party was held last night at Avalon in Hollywood and was co-chaired by top celebrities like Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Leonardo DiCaprio and Edward Norton. The Pre-Oscar party was to benefit Global Green USA’s global warming initiative and the rebuilding of a green New Orleans and Gulf Coast. Guests were served organic wine, beer and cocktails and the group showcased smart solutions to global warming climate change. The party wasn’t focused on who will win Best Actress, but instead it was for the purpose of raising awareness to the cause and raise funds in the process.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks this is an incredibly wonderful idea. During a week when we are so focused on who is throwing the most elaborate Oscar parties or wondering who will be wearing the most expensive piece of jewelry around their neck, it’s nice to see an Oscar party that in the end, will be beneficial to us all.

For updates on the Oscars, check out the offical Microsite by Ask Men.

If you have ever been to Disney in Orlando and toured “Future World,” then you may be familiar with Aeroponics. Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air/mist environment without the use of soil, producing larger growth and harvests. AeroGarden is the first company to bring an aeroponic kitchen appliance into homes, so that those of us who love to cook with fresh herbs and veggies have the opportunity to grow them at our convenience without needing any actual acreage to garden.

Pierce Mattie’s President's Pick for the week is the AeroGarden. Steve Hultgren (confessed foodie and gadget lover), purchased two AeroGarden’s today and bubbled with excitement when he told me all about it. Steve used to have a 10-acre garden in Oregon growing up and has fond memories of being able to eat and cook with fresh vegetables and herbs. Some people may think living in a big city you can't get fresh vegetables, it's actually quite the opposite. New York City has some of the best, freshest produce right off the farm, you just have to know where and when to find them. From the Green Market at Union Square to Fresh Direct, nothing is quite as fresh as homegrown herbs right from the kitchen and that's where AeroGarden performs.

The AeroGarden is very easy to use with its bio-dome seed system that guarantees 100% seed germination, computerized “Smart Garden” technology that alerts you when you need to add water and nutrients and automatically turns on and off the built in plant lighting system, as well as its aeroponic optimizing chamber that reproduces a rainforest-like environment. Each seed pod comes with 4 to 6 months worth of continuous harvests. The AeroGarden’s computer automatically detects how often your plants need light, water and nutrients based on the kit type. There appears to be no way that even those of us who lack a green thumb can mess up growing a garden with AeroGarden.

Bank of America has been known for a long while now as a leader in the banking industry. Until recently, they had a stellar reputation, however when the news hit that they would allowing the extention of a line of credit to those without social security numbers or a credit history (aka illegal immigrants and possibly potential terrorists), it left many with a bad taste in its mouth. Now Bank of America has shifted the focus off of this controversy to something more positive and an issue that has most of the world buzzing about right now: going green.

I’m not talking green as in the almighty dollar, although that is obviously what is fueling this initiative, but green as in participating in a way to contribute to diminishing the effects of global warming. This is a great endeavor for a bank as large as Bank of America to embark on. They will be investing $20 billion dollars into this initiative, making them the leader among financial institutions. This initiative will include support for trading in carbon units, which is a means to enable its clients to achieve carbon emission neutrality through existing and emerging market mechanisms. One way they plan to enable this is through an eco-friendly credit card. Each time this particular credit card is used, the bank will make a contribution to an environmental organization to invest in greenhouse-gas reduction projects. Those who plan to obtain a mortgage through Bank of America will also benefit if they purchase a home that meets Energy Star specifications, as it will result in an a reduced interest rate or $1000 cash back.

Portovert is the first and only magazine targeted at eco friendly weddings, helping brides-to-be take into account the environment when planning their big day. Portovert only launched just last month, which is amazing to me with the length of time people have been going green. It is founded by Meghan Myers, who previously had been the Editor for Family Circle.

Portovert (said porto-vair) offers wedding ideas that support an environmentally and socially conscious lifestyle, offering tips on how to make favors yourself, choosing organic menu options, and how to calculate the carbon footprint of all of the activities involved with your guests (hotel, travel, etc). The site also suggests brides and grooms use a gift registry that will give back a percentage of their profits to a non-profit of their choice. In addition to all of the above, they also have everything broken down into categories so you can choose green brands for you makeup and skin care on your big day such as Korres and Aveda, green fashion brands to find your perfect eco friendly wedding gown and accessories, as well as, food, flowers, the honeymoon and an environmentally friendly location to hold your wedding and reception.

The bridal industry is massive and Ms. Myers should fare very well tapping into a niche that was just waiting to be found. Currently the magazine can only be found online, as they of course follow their own recommendations by minimizing their carbon footprint by being paperless. Regardless that this magazine cannot be found in print, I can only see success for Ms. Myers and Portovert.

The 6th through the 15th is the much coveted New York International Auto Show. This year we’re seeing many more luxury cars stepping foot into the green arena. With Flex Fuels and Hybrids, luxury carmakers are aiming to prove that you need not own a Toyota Prius to drive an environmentally clean car.

The Mercedes-Benz E320BLUETEC, which also was named the “2007 World Green Car,” is considered to have the cleanest burning diesel technology. It is also able to meet even the most stringent emissions regulations, such as the regulations in place in California. The BLUETEC achieves higher fuel mileage and can drive longer distances than other comparable gas powered luxury cars in its class.

The BMW Hydrogen 7 gives the ability to run on both gasoline and hydrogen, allowing for this luxury car to get great fuel mileage and run up to 400 miles. The new BMW captures the essence of BMW’s Clean Energy strategy where the car’s emissions using the hydrogen tank produces nothing but water vapor. None of the luxuries associated with the non-hydrogen BMW 7 series have been compromised, leaving you with a fuel-efficient green luxury car.

Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept car is an ethanol based eco-friendly luxury car. While ethanol is considered to get less mileage than gasoline powered cars, ethanol is 30% cheaper than gasoline (and right about now that sounds really wonderful) combined with its low impact on the environment making it dually attractive. This car also runs on gasoline if an ethanol station is unavailable in your travels while the engine management system adjusts the timing and boost accordingly.

With the debate that many Hybrid engines are more expensive to maintain when the warranty runs out and that in the end the Hybrid engine is actually toxic for the environment, car makers moving forward to try out new ideas when it comes to clean fuel seems to be the way to go. Leave it to the luxury market to be the ones to lead the way.

Weekends were meant for relaxing, but I was catching up on my Fashion and Beauty Blog reading to brighten your Monday. Here are some great blog posts worthy of your attention:

Fashion:

+ Chic by Nature looks at all of the colorful ways Hayden Panettiere wears Suzanne Juul’s eco-friendly knit dress.

+ Shoe Blitz posts about the comeback of Keds ever since Mischa Barton became the spokesperson.

+ Style It Less kicks off her Celebrity Bargain Stylers series with Angelina Jolie’s thrift store dress.

Beauty:

+ The Scented Life reviews DKNY Be Delicious cologne.

+ Beauty Addict reviews Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher.

+ SugarShock reviews the Napa Mist Atomizer and First Crush Lip Scrub from 29 Cosmetics summer collection.

Today is Blog Action Day; we are among thousands of blogs participating in this international call to action to discuss the environment. It’s definitely a worthy topic to cover and hopefully no longer considered “trendy” to be green, but instead something ingrained in cultures across the globe. One of the virtually painless ways to contribute to a better earth is to go organic with your beauty products.

Going organic doesn’t mean you have to compromise on using a quality product in fact, organic and all natural beauty products tend to yield better results in skincare than those synthetically produced. However to understand the broad range of how what winds up in your jar of moisturizer contributes to being good for the environment, you have to begin with how the plant it came from was grown.

Farmers who grow organic plants are committed to using earth-friendly agricultural methods and practices, including growing their plants without the use of pesticides. While this practice is really not cost effective for the farmer in the short term, the benefits to our environment greatly outweigh any immediate profits. Organically grown agriculture dually aids in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the preservation of our ecosystems.

Kiss My Face is one organic beauty brand that is not only obsessed with organic skin care, but is also committed to promoting awareness of the climate crisis. They currently are on a mission to raise $1 million dollars for the Alliance for Climate Protection, founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Vice President of the US, Al Gore. They have partnered with Whole Foods to sell their Lip Action balm, of which $1 of each $3.49 balm will go to the Alliance for Climate Protection. The Lip Action balm not only promotes sustainability, but helps to raise awareness about global warming and the steps we can take to solve this crisis.

To learn more about Kiss My Face, Lip Action and the Alliance for Climate Protection, please visit the following websites: www.kissmyface.com; www.climateprotect.org

Why is there a growing trend to be healthier and more environmentally conscious? Awareness. Eating organic foods, properly disposing toxic items, conserving water and recycling are some of the necessary things to do for ourselves and the environment to keep both our bodies and our earth healthy and strong.

Protecting and preserving our natural environment is a matter of life and death for every creature on earth and all future generations. Our ability to use resources without depleting them, to function as part of a sustainable ecosystem, and to serve as responsible environmental stewards is critical,” says Larry West of About.com's Environmental Issues (who was awarded the Meeman award for national environmental reporting.)

I'm beginning to understand why there is a Think Before you Pink campaign as Earth Day draws to a close. Each October we see brands big and small slapping pink ribbons on their products to drive up sales in the name of charity. Unfortunately, I noticed that overwhelming theme for Earth Day, as well. Companies left and right pushing their products in the name of the environment, some legitimately, others riding the bandwagon.

If you really want to do something good for the environment on Earth Day (and everyday) here are some eco-friendly tips with no hidden agenda (other than trying to stop global warming):

1--Use eco-friendly paint If you have plans to paint or repaint your house, National Geographic's Green Guide has a great listing of non-VOC paints for you to choose from.

2--Change a light bulb. Although a light bulb may not seem like a big deal, they waste a lot of electricity. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs to conserve energy.

3--Lower your thermostat in the winter. Just dropping it 2 degrees less will not only conserve energy, but it will save you money as well.

4--Buy carbon credits. When circumstances don't permit you to be eco-friendly, offset it with carbon credits.

5--Walk, Bike, Carpool. Less pollution via emissions means cleaner air for all of us.

Tell us what you did for the environment today.

*Photo Credit: NOAA 

If you’ve never experienced bamboo, now is the time. ONNO’s bamboo t-shirt's are as silky smooth as cashmere. Not only do they feel luxurious, but bamboo is good for the earth, doesn’t deplete soil nutrients and grows faster than any other plant. These cozy bamboo t-shirts also provide UV protection, keep you warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. Bamboo provides more oxygen than trees, but as a shirt, wicks moisture and is anti-microbial. ONNO cares about the environment and brings that sense of consciousness to their shirts. In an array of natural colors including moss green, sea blue and espresso brown, not to mention black, white and un-dyed, ONNO blends sustainability with style.

Read the complete post on our Fashion PR blog The Fashion Rag.

Are you one of those people who:

1. Love Priceline.com because you like to name your own price?
2. Bid on ebay because you like to control how much you pay for an item?
3. Love indie green fashion?

Then you will love CROW, a revolutionary eco-friendly fashion company that is changing the way you purchase clothing. This company is evolutionary in that they recycle, reuse and compost all of their fabric and scraps. Customers even send back their packaging for recycling to be repurposed for the next customer's order--they call it "upcycling."

But the part that really blew me away? They offer their clothing on a sliding scale.

To read the complete post, check our our Fashion PR blog, The Fashion Rag. 

How The Present Economic Conditions Could Force Consumers to Choose Saving Money By Opting For Conventional Products.