The Quest for Green Sunscreen part 1

I just touched down in Boston for a much needed vacation and dose of New England summer fun! While I'm super excited to catch up with friends and family, I'm equally jazzed to visit some of my favorite summer spots. Tomorrow we leave for Marblehead, MA to go sailing for the weekend, then we're heading up to Squam Lake in NH for some wake boarding, rest and relaxation at the lake house. We'll finish off the trip at a beautiful resort on the beach in Cape Cod with 30+ relatives to celebrate my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary. As you can see, we're planning on being on and in the water the entire trip, so a safe sunscreen is a must.

I have spent the past month researching and decoding labels on the quest to find the best green option for sun protection and skin safety. This is confusing territory to navigate through for many reasons. These chemicals can be listed under different names or trade names. I'll start by sharing what you don't want in your sunscreen and follow up with posts on recommendations and reviews once I can give selected products a solid test run... now I just need the sun to start shining!

Let's start with what to AVOID in sunscreen and why:
parabens
I've talked about these a lot in The Grapeseed Co. newsletters over the past year. Check out this post for more info
diethylphthaltate
may cause liver and kidney damage and fertility issues
Avobenzone/4-Methyl-Benzylindencamphor
this ingredient is better known by it's trade names: Eusolex and Parsol it has been linked to cancer, fertility and allergy issues and it chemically breaks down when exposed to sunlight
Oxybenzone
the British Medical Journal has found possible links between this ingredient and higher risks of skin cancer
Cotyl-Methoxy-Cinnamates (OMC), Homosalate (HMS), Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
known to cause allergic reactions and even photosensitivity (why would these ingredients even be in a sunscreen? good question!)
Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid (OD-PABA)
causes phototoxicity and sensitisation and does not block UVA rays (the bad ones that cause skin cancer)

As I always say with any skin or personal care product, READ YOUR LABELS. Remember, your skin is the largest organ in your body. What you put on your skin is absorbed into your system. Think about how nicotine patches work when people are trying to quit smoking. They apply the patch to their skin, and nicotine is absorbed through the skin to prevent cravings. Lotions and other topical personal care products that stay on the skin can also be absorbed into your body.

what are you putting on your lips?

Before you smear anything on your lips, ask yourself, would I eat that?

Resveratrol: Can you Intervene in the Aging Process?

Part 3 of 3 in the resveratrol education series from Green Skincare: The science behind resveratrol, found in grapes (part 2 from 60 Minutes*)

Resveratrol is found in red grape skins and used in our innovative skin care & spa products handmade in Santa Barbara, California. The Grapeseed Company creates botanical beauty from the byproduct of wine with certified organic and local ingredients. Our products contain polyphenol and antioxidant rich ingredients like pure crushed grapes, grape seed extract, grape seed oil, and grape seed butter.

*The Grapeseed Co. does not support testing on animals and is certified cruelty free by PETA.

Bring Beauty to your Day

"Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears."

~ Edgar Allen Poe

Happy Birthday Grapeseed!

botanical beauty from wine

is celebrating our 5th year in business!

It's hard to believe it's been 5 years already... time flies when you're having fun bringing innovative, eco-friendly products to the marketplace! Thanks to all of you for helping us reach this point. You rock and we feel so blessed to have you as part of the Grapeseed Family!

Enjoy $5 off your purchase of $25 or more through the weekend
enter discount code at checkout: BDAY5
expires midnight PST June 14
Cannot be combined with any other discount code or promo

The Science Behind Resveratrol: 60 Minutes part 1

Part 2 of 3 in the resveratrol education series from Green Skincare: The science behind resveratrol, found in grapes (part 1 from 60 Minutes)

Resveratrol is found in red grape skins and used in our innovative skin care & spa products handmade in Santa Barbara, California. The Grapeseed Company creates botanical beauty from the byproduct of wine with certified organic and local ingredients. Our products contain polyphenol and antioxidant rich ingredients like pure crushed grapes, grape seed extract, grape seed oil, and grape seed butter.

Green Skin Care: Fresh from Your Kitchen

B.C.C. Hair Mask
(BCC = Brighten, Clarify & Condition)

1 T coconut oil
1 t grape seed oil

mix next few ingredients based on your hair tone
light tones:
1/2 t lemon juice
10 drops lemon or grapefruit essential oil

dark tones:
10 drops rosemary essential oil

Directions:
melt coconut oil in glass pyrex in the microwave
Add grapeseed oil and essential oils to mixture and blend

Application:
Apply to warm, damp hair while oils are still warm
Put on a shower cap or wrap saran wrap over hair, and a warm towel turban
try heating towel in the dryer for a few minutes while you make and apply the conditioning mask
Kick back and relax for 10-20 min.
Wash, condition and style hair

What it Does:
Coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids that help revive and replenish stressed tresses. It has a wonderful conditioning effect of the hair when used as a hot oil treatment. Grapeseed oil is rich in vitamin E and polyphenols. It is light and moisturizing on the hair shaft while depositing antioxidants to the surface of the strands. Lemon helps to brighten and tone blonds, while brunettes are renewed with the clarifying botanical, rosemary. The heat and shower cap help to enhance the treatment by infusing and absorbing the mask in your hair shaft.

You can find Coconut oil and essential oils at fine grocers, whole foods and natural supermarkets.

Related posts:
The Grapeseed Co. brings you easy Fresh From Your Kitchen DIY spa treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store.
Check out past features:
vanilla dream salt glow
strawberry kiwi exfoliating mask
super silky bedtime bath salts
cold care
cool cucumber under eye mask
lemon ginger revitalizing bath
breakout busters
parsley facial steam

Make Dad a Mojito Man!

In honor of Father's Day, we're offering a sweet deal to our most loyal customers who follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Green Skin Care.

Get $5 off your purchase of $25 or more through Father's Day
code: DAD09 at checkout
cannot be combined with any other discount or promo

How about a little Mojito Man for your special guy? 70-90% certified organic ingredients and an intoxicating scent that makes you go ga-ga!

shop The Grapeseed Co. ~ botanical beauty from wine

Friend us up on twitter & facebook (links to the right) to hear about exclusive inside deals and discounts first---->

Resveratrol: Barbara Walters Investigates

Resveratrol is found in red grape skins and used in our innovative skin care & spa products handmade in Santa Barbara, California. The Grapeseed Company creates botanical beauty from the byproduct of wine with certified organic and local ingredients. Our products contain polyphenol and antioxidant rich ingredients like pure crushed grapes, grape seed extract, grape seed oil, and grape seed butter.

Part 1 of 3 in the resveratrol education series from Green Skincare

5 green products to help you look fab in 15 minutes flat

I'm a pretty low maintenance natural beauty type of girl, and I've had a bit of training in the "look presentable quickly" department. This most likely stemmed from being a competitive swimmer from age 5 to 22, which meant 10 years of 5:00 AM swim practices before school! I have 2 older brothers who were swimmers and doubled as the Fraser swim carpool chauffeurs from practice to school. If I was not out of the locker room, showered and ready in under 10 minutes, they left me in the dust! Yup, mom was none too happy to receive the phone call when that happened... I learned my lesson the hard way!

As an adult, I've added 5 more min. to my speedy routine and perfected the art of looking like a million bucks in 15. Here's the skinny on five fab green products and how to make 'em work when you're in a rush:

STEP 1: CLEANSE
time: 6 min
products: 1. The Grapeseed Co. wine bar organic soap
Hop in the shower. Lather up with an organic wine bar soap. Breathe in the beautiful aroma of pure plant and fruit essences. Take a minute to visualize sipping wine in the sunshine on a vineyard hillside while your skin gets squeaky clean and benefits from the powerful polyphenols and antioxidants. Or, just think about what you're going to wear so step 2 goes as planned!

STEP 2: MOISTURIZE
time: 4 min
product: The Grapeseed Co. bath & massage oil
Turn off the water; while still in the shower, squeeze a half dollar size amount of oil in your palm and rub over your wet bod. It's a super quick, ultra hydrating and less time than lotion. Hop out of the shower towel lightly and dress- remember, you already know what you are wearing :)

STEP 3: FACE
time: 2 min
products: The Grapeseed Co. chamomile & grapefruit moisturizer, Bare Minerals SPF 30 natural sunscreen
This is one of my favorite beauty time saving tips. You get the benefits of an organic facial moisturizer + natural mineral make-up powder with sunscreen = a gorgeous, glowing, hydrated complexion! Squirt the moisturizer in your palm. Add a sprinkle (or 2 depending on your coverage preference) of mineral makeup, blend with finger tip and apply to face.

STEP 4: HAIR
time: 3 min
product: bohemian beach spray by David Babaii for Wildaid
This is my new favorite product. I just discovered it about a month ago and am totally hooked! A few squirts followed by scrunches and finger styling and my wavy/curly locks are refreshed and smelling scrumptious!

STEP 5: Sayonara Sistah! Grab your keys and you're good to go.

Let's face it, if you're doing the whole hair routine, it's going to take a few min. longer. I wash my hair every 2-3 days. Not only is my hair healthier since switching to this routine (especially after washing 2x a day following practice for so many years to remove chlorine) but it sure helps with the speediness factor!

What are your tips or favorite products that help you get out the door in the morning?