Natural Spirit :: Beauty

Natural Spirit
by author By Sherri Fisch

We know that alive readers lead active lives. Our selection of swimwear perfectly suits an energetic lifestyle. Environmentally friendly accessories have gone from hard-to-find to one of this year’s biggest fashion trends. From used skateboards to last week’s newspaper, recycled accessories are infiltrating the fashion world. Make a statement with chic, eco accessories as you commit to a green lifestyle.

Recycled vintage brass and copper necklace and Zebrawood cuff made from the highest quality eco-sustainable exotic wood veneer, both available at greenwithglamour.com.

Sun hat, stylist’s own.

Black one-piece swimsuit by Sea Queen, available at Hudson’s Bay Company and Bikini Village across Canada. Also available at Swimco, Swimwear Etc., Wishes Co., and Just Cruisin’ in Vancouver.

Sea Queen swimsuits contain a built-in bra, the SwimTech ContourLift Bra, and are designed to fit and flatter women ages 35 and up.

Swimsuit by Aqua Di Lara, available at Sandpipers Sports & Funwear, Melmira in Toronto, and aquadilara.com.

Fair Trade pink Diamond Tie Dye sarong by Nomads, available at nomadsclothing.com.

Zebrano hoop earrings, showcasing the natural beauty of wood, available at greenwithglamour.com.
Green necklace made from recycled plastic and glass beads, a vintage sterling chain, and a 1930s pot metal and rhinestone pendant. Bone camel necklace made from vintage gold foil glass beads. Both necklaces are one of a kind by Reverie, available at reverienyc.com
Cork cuff by studio1am.com. The cuff is 100 percent recycled and recyclable, flexible, water repellent, and designed to fit men and women.
Natural wood and amber earrings by Loewestamm, available at rusticinspirations.ca.
Swimsuit by Christina, available at seaswimwear.com. Also available are three styles of post-mastectomy swimsuits.
Recycled cigar box, skateboard clutch, candy wrapper bag, and skateboard bag. All by Eco-Handbags.ca, available at eco-handbags.ca.

Floral swimsuit by Shan, available at shan.ca.

Model Varsha Richards of Richard’s International Model Management embodies the alive philosophy of health and wellness. Inspired by her husband’s vegan diet, Richards prepares vegan meals for her family. She credits the births of her sons, now four and eight, with inspiring her to look at the earth differently and to make positive lifestyle changes. Richards and her husband work out in their home gym doing yoga, pilates, and kickboxing. In summertime, the family enjoys outdoor activities, especially biking.

Hosthojal lime green necklace by Palma Collection, available at palmacollection.com. This vegan-friendly necklace has a unique leaf vein etching and features an adjustable strap which is made from cotton.

Palma has created a special discount just for alive readers. Take 10 percent off your entire order by typing in “alive” in the discount screen during checkout (expires 8/31/08).

Swimsuit by Aqua Di Lara, available at Sandpipers Sports & Funwear, Melmira in Toronto, and aquadilara.com.

Gold leaf necklace by Nugaard Designs, available at nugaard.com. Celebrating nature in its design, this necklace is made with real leaves from Brazilian trees, dehydrated and dipped in precious metal–18K gold. Nugaard Designs plants a tree for every necklace sold.

Recycled newspaper tote by Raw Bags, available at raw-bags.com.

Ink swimsuit by Shan, available at shan.ca.

Sunglasses by iWood ecodesign, available at iwoodecodesign.com. All iWood ecodesign wooden sunglasses are designed using high-quality, eco-sustainable, exotic wood veneer, and can be fitted with prescription lenses.

Rebagz multi-colour tote made from recycled juice boxes by Half The Sky Designs, available at halftheskydesigns.com, and at Boutique Coyaba, Pointe Claire, Quebec.

Wood bracelets handcrafted from natural wood by Loewestamm, available at rusticinspirations.ca.

Source: alive #309, July 2008

Beauty Supplements That May Surprise You!
Beauty is linked to health. And while everything you take into your body will have an effect on your outward appearance, some foods and supplements have more influence than others.

Chamomile
What a hard day! You're stressed out, so you reach for a cup of chamomile tea to calm your inner self. But what about your outer self? What about your complexion? Chamomile's healing properties do wonders..

Extreme Natural Makeover
We have all seen the shows on prime time television. An out-of-shape man or woman needing to lose twenty or more pounds, with tired skin and dry hair undergoes a complete surgical makeover.

Your Breast Friend
When lingerie shopping, most women spend too much time searching for a sexy style instead of the right fit. Unfortunately, a plunging push-up bra is not the healthiest choice; neither is going without a bra at all.

The Copper Connection
Copper is at the core of normal body function. Without copper, we cannot form superoxide dismutase, the superpower of all antioxidants. Copper also helps our bodies create collagen, the protein that forms healthy joints and supple, young skin. And it has a role in helping our bodies store iron, a critical component of the formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Alive and Well in 2006
Beauty maintenance can seem like an ongoing melodrama at times. But, as this year's beauty articles pointed out, it all comes down to a few basic players. Visit heath food stores to find natural, toxin-free products to keep you healthy and looking your best.

Apple power

Beautiful breakfasts

Thinking pink? Think again!

Look Pretty-Amazing
Beauty may only be skin deep, but that's a perfectly good reason to put your best face forward.

Eco Trends
The biggest trend to hit the runway this season is not visually apparent. The rise of eco-designers is paving a new fashion philosophy that encompasses a green world view while also producing clothes that are beautiful, sophisticated, and fashion forward.

Aahh Inspiring
You don't need a lot of time to benefit from a spa break. One hour at a Canadian day spa is enough time to try anything from a pedicure to a facial. Length of treatment is less important than the quality and depth of the experience.

Label Lowdown
Organic beauty products are spreading faster than you can say, "go green. But when you read their labels, what do the terms organic, natural, or vegan really mean?

Sampling the Fountain of Youth
I caught the end of a stand-up comedian's routine the other night while channel surfing. He joked that plastic surgery "makes you look young in the same way that a drag queen looks like a woman. There's just something a little off...

Mud is Not a Four-letter Word
Mud has a dirty reputation. Soil, mud, dirt-they're words associated with the unpleasant side of life. We say someone has a soiled reputation. When someone is in trouble, his name is mud. When people are speaking unfavourably of each other, they're dishing dirt.