By Anna Griffin, Editor In Chief
With our theme of Girl Power this month, I am paying homage to incredible business women who have each forged their own path to create outstanding brands that honor their creative talent, as well as our planet. These ladies are pioneers and their products are special. Amongst my personal favorites, they are all exceptional and beyond their green credentials the stories behind them give me daily inspiration. In a time where women still have to fight for equality, it’s no surprise that the majority of eco-friendly CEOs are female and that as a collective, they are ruling the sustainable marketplace. Created by phenomenal Boss Babes, these brands are the ones I want to support, especially when their products leave me feeling as good as these do. So let’s hear it for the girls, remembering that anything we set our mind to is possible and beyond looking and feeling great, we too can think like a boss and contribute to a better world.
$33 USD
Inspired to make cosmetics that look good, feel good and are good for the skin, Jane Iredale launched her first product over 25 years ago and is a pioneer in the clean beauty industry. Her line delivers high-performance formulas without nasty chemicals, and with over $1,000,000 already donated tocharity,the brand is committed to making a difference. Its newest product, the limited edition Smell the Roses Hydration Spray, donates 100% of profits to women undergoing cancer treatment through Look Good Feel Better. Hydrate your skin and boost your mood with a beautifully refreshing spritz of organic rose oils and extracts, while helping women who are suffering, feel good simultaneously. Trust me - it’s that burst of feel-good that you and your skin are needing!
PC: Jane Iredale
$68 USD
Holding a Masters of Library Science from UCLA, founder Jean Seo, was inspired to create clean beauty products with natural moisturizing factors that our body naturally produces, but deplete with age. On the market for over 20 years, Évolué’s mission is to produce a clean, effective, luxurious anti-aging skincare line with a highly selective, thoughtfully curated roster of ingredients, which are organically certified. Committed to the excellence of her products, Jean consistently re-invests in brand research and development, and Évolué is in a class of its own with formulas that are sometimes years in the making. There isn’t a product in this line that I don’t love, but the Day and Night Cream is a particular favorite for its convenient two-in-one formula and skin enhancing results, which make me look much younger than I sometimes feel!
PC: Évolué
$29 USD
A four-time undefeated boxing World Champion, Laila is an entrepreneur, fitness and wellness advocate, TV host and author, whose focus is to inspire others to be the best version of themselves. Championing us to fuel our mindset and our legacy, health is at the heart of her lifestyle brand and her products reflect her commitment with a focus on clean ingredients, independently tested for verification that she can authentically stand behind. Her Plant Power Protein is vegan, creamy and delicious, made with non-GMO, North American grown yellow peas, and is soy and sugar free. Perfect for weight management, building lean muscle and workout recovery, the Chocolate Fudge gets me excited to go to the gym, just so I can reward myself with its deliciousness post-workout!
PC: Laila Ali Lifestyle
$695 USD
A qualified metalsmith and jewelry maker for over 20 years, Christie is a Hollywood original. Designing and hand making her collections, she has an impressive history from magazine covers to fashion shows and music videos. A true creative who carefully considers each piece she creates, her jewelry has adorned A-list celebrities including Pink, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. She keeps her feet rooted in her passion for the planet however, proudly running a green company that uses recycled silver and gold, upcycles scraps during the production process, and uses recycled materials for her packaging. Her newest design, a stunning, 14k gold and conflict-free diamond Evil Eye, was inspired by her feeling that the world needs a little extra protection right now. I love its ethos, which makes me feel a little bit safer and a lot more chic when I’m wearing it.
PC: Christie Martin Designs
$39 USD
Founded over 7 years ago, Miami makeup artist Valerie (Val) Giraud, sought to create the best organic makeup and brushes that were cruelty free and gentle on the skin, and launched Antonym Cosmetics to bridge a gap between clean cosmetics and professional-level performance. A darling on the green beauty scene, In-Style, Elle and Cosmopolitan have all given the brand rave reviews, while celebs such as Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Keira Knightely, Elizabeth Banks and Felicity Jones have all sashayed down the red carpet in it. A huge fan of all their products, a favorite is their Quattro Eyeshadow palette in To The Moon & Back, which besides being a convenient all-in-one, gives me a perfect smoky eye that’s intense, silky and truly A-list worthy.
PC: Antonym Cosmetics
$180 USD
With over 20 year’s commitment to producing luxury vegan shoes, Rebecca Mink is the founder of Mink Shoes and reigns as a pioneer in animal-friendly fashion. Passionate to make a difference and end the suffering of animals, each piece is manufactured by a team of skilled artisans at her factory in Italy, with attention given to fabrics and finish that result in ethical, red carpet-ready footwear and accessories. Renowned for her craftsmanship, she’s become the go-to vegan shoe designer of celebs such as Miley Cyrus, JLo, Natalie Portman and Dita Von Teese, and with this chic wallet, I can feel a little bit A-list, even if I’m just running to the store.
PC: Mink Shoes
$340 USD
As a pioneer in the green fashion space, Deborah has 30+ years in the garment game. Producing limited edition collections in her studio using deadstock and recycled fabrics, she has breathed new life into activewear, separates, knitwear and the pinnacle of her brand, wedding gowns. Coming into fall, I’m a huge fan of her upcycled cashmere pieces, and especially this Union Jack cardigan. With a perfect fit and striking design, it reminds me of home while turning heads and keeping me sustainably warm. And yes, it comes in the Stars and Stripes too!
PC: Deborah Lindquist
$45 USD
Raised in a background of holistic health & wellness in Vancouver, Canada, Ilia Beauty was inspired by its founder, Sasha Plavsic’s mother, who suggested she read the ingredient list on her favorite lip balm. Horrified to learn that most were not safe, Sasha set out to create a safe, effective, but natural lip balm and Ilia was born. Their focus is on potent formulas designed with active levels of skincare ingredients, which shield skin from environmental stressors. Using sustainable packaging through the use of recycled aluminum, glass components, and responsibly sourced paper and with vegan options, their passion for the environment is as strong as the quality products they deliver. I’m loving the cruelty-free Eye Heart Clean Holiday Set, which is a winning trio of their liquid Chromatic Eye Tint, Allure and Glamour award winning Limitless Lash Mascara, and Clean Line Liquid Liner. All I need for fabulous holiday eyes!
PC: Ilia Beauty
$14.99 USD
A certified practitioner in modalities including Kundalini Yoga, sound, Reiki, Clear Light and Sound Bath healing, Ava Milva created the Etherica candle to share her good vibrations with others. This vegan, organic, rose-scented candle is really special and powerfully blessed by Ava with healing positive energy, it illuminates and shifts the vitality in any room resulting in peaceful, good vibes and a change in your mood that you’ll notice. With an aura that when lit will transcend your life into bliss, everyone should have at least one of these in their home!
PC: Etherica
$125 USD
Started in 2009 by designer and animal lover, Sugandh G. Agrawal, GUNAS’s focus is to be a voice for animals. Successful as an industrial designer in corporate America, she walked away to create her luxury, animal-friendly fashion label in NYC, which is now global. With an emotive mission statement of us looking inwards without the need to hurt other living beings, the brand produces striking vegan purses, shoes and wallets, my latest favorite being Chloe. Inspired by celebrity vegan chef, Chloe Coscarelli, this bag can be worn five stylish ways including a belt bag, crossbody, wristlet, evening shoulder bag or clutch, for day-to-night, sustainable style, that keeps me chic while on the go.
PC: GUNAS
$190 USD
Initially founded by L.A. clothing designer, Alexx Jae Monkarsh, sustainability is at the heart of Dame’s production. Making garments in their eco-friendly factory, Dame originals are created using deadstock fabrics, keeping them out of the landfill by repurposing them to produce their line. With its flattering fit, this sweatsuit is a must-have for fall, effortlessly taking me to the gym, on a hike with my pups or for morning coffee with the girls. Alternatively, it’s just as perfect to stay home and chill by the fire in.
PC: Shop at Dame
$429 USD
Disillusioned with mass production, designer knock-offs and cookie cutter purse designs, Crystal pioneered a new way forward in the handbag industry and debuted her ethical bag line 20 years ago. Originally manufactured in NYC, her collections went on to amass a dedicated following of customers who are die-hard fans of her vegan and upcycled designs. As a result of Covid-19, she recently made a return to her Seattle roots to be near family and contribute to her community, and is designing her upcoming collections for a growing demand with renewed inspiration. There are many purses I love in her line, but my current favorite is the vegan Troubadour Weekender Tote, which effortlessly carries all my essentials when I need to get away.
PC: CrystalynKae
