“There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness.”
—Mahatma Ghandi (1869–1948)

Are you exercising and eating organic food, but wearing conventional, synthetic, chemically treated clothes? Learn why natural, organic fiber clothing is not just a gift for your body because it breathes with your skin, wicks off moisture, is naturally fire retardant, repels mildew and bacteria, and more, but is also a gift for the planet.

An Inconvenient Truth about Conventional Clothes

The cotton industry uses about 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and 10 percent of its pesticides. More pesticides are used on cotton than almost any other crop in the world. This causes illness and or death to the cotton farm workers, plants and animals exposed

When you think “eco-friendly” wardrobe, something totally unsexy probably comes to mind. You know what I’m talking about–those old-time Birkenstocks, baggy burlap-feeling dresses, or some other form of “hippie” gear. Well, put aside those preconceptions and consider that an eco-friendly wardrobe has more to do with the approach to building and maintaining your wardrobe rather than some ascetic ban on the pleasure of feeling good while you’re looking good.

Here are some suggestions from The Green Teen by Jenn Savedge (Kedzie Press) for planet-lovers of all ages who like to dress well.

1. Fix It.
Try taking a fresh look at what’s in your closet to see what can be fixed and what can be reconfigured into something great. Learn how to sew a

During the long winter months, it’s important to pay special attention to your skin. “Skin loses its healthy glow, so you need to exfoliate more often, at least twice a week,” says Julie Lindh, spa and skin care director at Townhouse Spa in New York City. “A facial every six weeks is ideal for someone who needs a lot of extractions,” she adds.

Other seasonal skin care tips? To retain moisture, make sure to use tepid, not hot water, when cleansing, advise the spa experts at Willow Stream The Spas at Fairmont. Opt for a gentle cleansing cream or milk instead of lipid-stripping soaps, and stay away from products that contain fragrance and irritating ingredients.

And as basic as it may seem, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate by drinking plenty of fluids. Add professional

If you think your beauty cabinet passes muster just because you’ve banished parabens, think again. “A health-minded consumer’s responsibility does not end with the purchase of healthy and eco-friendly bodycare products,” says Julie Ebner, founder of Philadelphia’s Juju Spa and Organics. “We must also spend our money wisely on the related accessories.”

Washcloth. Skip the standard washcloth (which can harbor millions of microbes), and try one made of sustainable ayate from agave plants. “The fibers are renowned for their natural antibacterial properties, and these multipurpose cloths can be used wet or dry,” says Ebner. Exfoliate and boost your circulation when you use your ayate washcloth dry, or lather up with it in the shower. Best

It’s never too early to start thinking about flip flops. Take your tootsies out of winter hibernation and soothe away dryness, calluses, ugly toes, and odor with expert natural tips.

1. Add moisture. If the cold, dry winter months left your feet parched and flaky, rich natural butters and oils can restore lost moisture. “Shea butter—based lotions provide some of the most effective moisturizing,” says Tara Oolie, founder of Just Calm Down Spa in New York. For a natural moisture boost, she recommends grape seed, sunflower, and olive oils. Try smoothing on foot lotions rich in these ingredients every other day, right after a shower or bath. To prevent fungal infections, wait until feet have absorbed the lotion before putting on socks and shoes.

2. Soften calluses

A couple of weeks ago (while still at home), I was in my town’s local health food store with a friend who was visiting from college. She was looking at all of the hair and body products and commenting on how she wanted to green-ify her body care collection. As I watched, she began pulling moisturizers and shampoos and deodorants from the shelves without a glance at the ingredients list.

Well, let’s just say I put a stop to that. “WAIT!” I cried. She looked at me questioningly. She had thought that, because she was in a health food store, every product must be completely green. COMMON MISCONCEPTION!!!!! Common misconception that is very wrong. Very wrong indeed. Many products in health food stores still carry such things as parabens and fragrances–you have

Whether you’re rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday, or if you’re just in it for the commercials, score a culinary touchdown with these green and healthy Super Bowl recipes!

• Black bean hummus   
• Sweet and spicy glazed nuts   
• Chile cheese toast   
• 3 ways to do sweet potato fries   
• Spicy tortilla chips and guacamole   
• Smokey tomato salsa   
• Black bean and sweet potato chili   
• Jalapeno spoonbread   
• Greek layered veggie dip recipe   
• Taco salad

Given poor government regulation, many of the cleaning products available on the market contain “everyday” carcinogens such as formaldehyde, nitrobenzene, methylene chloride, and napthelene, as well as reproductive toxins and hormone disruptors. Not to mention other ingredients that cause liver, kidney and brain damage, allergies and asthma. I really am a happy person–not your basic Eeyore type, but toxic cleaning products seriously get my goat. One of the best things you can do to detox your home is to create one of Annie’s simple non-toxic cleaning kits to use–most of the ingredients you probably already have on hand.

But there are a host of products, other than those used for basic cleaning, that often contain carcinogenics. This list, from Cancer: 101

Economic times are tough, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely give up on your luxe beauty habits. You can always back away from those pricey potions at the store. Instead, discover key ingredients right in your home and try some tricks that are so simple you might be surprised they really work. We asked the experts to reveal their favorite eco-friendly ways to beautify on a budget. Here are 10 easy ideas that all cost less than $5.

1. Fruity Facial

When you go to buy an anti-aging face cream you probably know to look for superstar ingredients like coenzymeQ10 and AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids), but did you know you can get the same from pineapple? Emma Pezzack, president of FutureNatural says to keep the rinds next time you eat the fruit. “Gently rub the rinds