Perfecting Your Tan in an Eco-Bikini + Your Chance to Win One Free

Written from the sands of San Diego…

Thinking about heading to the beach or pool side to work on your tan? Well then you better think twice about wearing that faded, stretched out bikini you bought 2 seasons ago. Instead, earn your golden glow this year more consciously and with style. Wear a sexy eco–friendly bikini by Nikster.

Known as, “the sexier side of green,” Nikster’s bikinis have the entire package: style, sexiness, substance, and sustainability!

What makes Nikster’s flirty & exotic eco-bikinis environmentally friendly & socially conscious?
1) They’re made from sustainable soy, organic cotton, bamboo, and other natural fibers.
2) They’ve reduced their carbon footprint by manufacturing their suits here in the US.
3) Recycled materials are used whenever possible such as surplus materials from a factory that made Olympic speed skater outfits!
4) 5% of gross sales are donated to globally responsible charities and organizations which focus on:

• Promoting a sustainable planet
• Improving third world life
  
• Helping protect endangered sea turtles
• Planting trees in local communities
• Coastal beach clean-ups
  

Plus, any accessories you find on Nikster’s eco-bikinis are made from natural materials found around the world such as shells, pearls, stones, bamboo, and coconuts!

How can you make a difference while splish splashing & having fun in the sun?!

Easy, get your fine, bootylicious curves into one of Nikster’s eco-bikinis. Here are a few of my favorite itcy, bitcy eco-bikini picks!

Freedom

This 2 piece bikini (which can be sold in separates) features a strapless top and Brazilian cut bottom; thus maximizing your skin’s surface area to tan, and minimizing your tan lines. Fabrics: soy, organic cotton, and spandex.

Sweetie

This 2 piece bikini features a triangle top with Brazilian cut bottom string tie sides (I know what you’re thinking boys, but sorry we’re smart enough to double knot the strings!). Fabrics: soy, organic cotton, and 5% spandex.

Eco-Beauty

The Eco-beauty bikini is a hot item because of its unique style. This bamboo (+5% spandex) bikini comes with 3 pieces including a top that can be tied multiple ways.

Learn how to WIN a FREE ECO-BIKINI!

Currently Nikster is making financial contributions to:

www.onepercentfortheplanet.org
www.seaturtle.org
www.warthai.org/Project/SeaTurtle/seaturtle
www.roomtoread.org/countries

But, if you know of a responsible organization which can benefit from Nikster’s donations, please click here to send them the organization’s link along with a summary of why you think they would be a great candidate. If Nikster chooses your recommendation, you‘ll win a free eco-bikini! How great is that?! Good luck!

Green Living Around the House can be Eco Fabulous

Living green doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive!

There are a number of simple things you can do around the house to keep you SAVING ENERGY, MONEY, and the PLANET.

Here are a few easy steps to make your life a little greener. Knowledge is a beautiful thing...

1. Dishwasher: IF you’re lucky enough to even have a dishwasher (unlike me in my tiny NYC apartment), make sure it's full and properly loaded before running a cycle, air dry the dishes instead of using the dry cycle, DO NOT rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher – you’re just wasting hot water.

2. Laundry: Wash your clothes in cold water and load a full cycle. Dryer: Make sure your lint trap is clean before drying a load or better yet… air dry your clothes on a clothes rack or hang them outside on a clothes line if the weather permits.

4. Cleaning: Use old rags (like those socks in the drawer with holes) for cleaning to eliminate waste and paper towels. Use the 80/20 rule – choose reusable clothes 80% of the time

5. Cleaning products: Try to buy organic or environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. (Tip: If you can recognize the ingredient, that's a good start). Remember that box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in your fridge? It can be used for more than just soaking up the stinky food smells you’ve got. It’s also an effective, natural and gentle cleanser with no harsh chemicals. Click here for a list of some DIY household cleansers & how to make them.

6. Mail/ Junk mail: Convert to paperless billing whenever possible (for credit cards, utilities, and phone/cell) – Reduce your junk mail, such as the unwarranted catalogs you keep getting, by going to "CatalogChoice.org" and cancelling mailings. It’s FREE!

7. Showering: Limit your shower time to 10 minutes or less! Don’t just stand under the hot running water because it feels good.

8. Teeth Brushing: Turn off the sink water while you’re brushing your teeth. Is it really necessary to hear the water running while you scrub your pearly whites clean?

8. Electricity: Switch your incandescent light bulbs to the new Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Instead of keeping the lights on during the daytime, take advantage of natural light and open up your curtains and blinds. Don’t let the voltage vampire suck the juice from your electronics either - unplug your electronic hard wares such as your toaster, cell phone charger, blow dryer, and spare bedroom lamps when they’re not in use, especially for 3hrs.

The Sexy Glow…Just In Time for Spring

Get ready all! We have a new sexy face gracing the pages of Sexy Sustainable Style. Her name is Elena Lipson aka The EcoDiva™.

Elena is a freelance eco-writer and consultant and the mother of a sweet toddler who keeps her on the move and motivated to live a simple, sustainable, simply fabulous green life. Words straight from the EcoDiva's mouth, "I am always on the hunt for all things ethical, luxurious and eco-friendly in the world of beauty and fashion. I look forward to sharing my ethical luxury finds as well as sharing some amazing stories on green simple living and the Zen of going green."

You can also find The EcoDiva at: PlanetPinknGreen.com, GreenLiving.Suite101.com, theEcoDiva.blogspot.com, & Sexy Green

Here's what The EcoDiva has to say about getting that special glow...

Have you ever wondered how all those "flawless" (i.e. touched up) models in the magazines attain that sexy afterglow in every picture? You know the ones, where their skin has that dew-kissed perfect glow? Well the secret is out, and I’ve found the answer…EcoDiva style. Meet Rose-Marie Swift, celebrity makeup turned organic makeup creator. NY based make-up artist, Rose-Marie Swift, has been a prominent authority in the beauty industry for over 20 years. Her work has been featured in such publications as Vogue, W, Harper's Bazaar, I.D., Allure, Numero, Pop, Marie Claire and Elle. Her make-up has appeared in ads for Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany's, Shu Uemura, Biotherm, The Gap, Victoria's Secret, and Celine Dion Perfume; and some of her celebrity clients have included the faces of Celine Dion, Giselle Bunchen, Gretchen Moll and Sheryl Crow.

Combined with extensive research of organic ingredients and her two decades of professional experience as a make-up artist, Rose-Marie launched the rms beauty line in November 2008 as the first truly organic color cosmetics brand in the world! Learn more about Rose-Marie, her brand, and her research at www.rmsbeauty.com and www.beautytruth.com.

As the winter months are keeping you cool and you and your loved ones are trying your best to stay warm, it is important to keep that radiant glow to light up those sexy nights! RMS's "living luminizer" was created for a healthy, sheer, glowing finish that all of us ladies love to see on our skin! Think about that glow your skin has after a refreshing visit to get your favorite facial – this ultimate illuminator does just that in seconds. Best of all, it enhances your natural youthfulness without being sticky, greasy or glittery. Most products on the market today leave skin flat, matte and dull. RMS's products are not only created with all certified organic ingredients in their raw and natural (living) state, but rms beauty feeds your skin with the vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients that other products lack. The sheer glowing, flawless finish of the "Un"cover-up (concealer) combined with the living luminizer will make you ditch your old makeup without ever looking back.

Application tips from a pro:

Apply sparingly with fingers. Blend over the cheek bones, down the bridge of the nose and at the bow of the lips. Great as a lip gloss on its own, or in combination with the Lip2Cheek and Cream Eye Shadows for a more sensual shimmery mouth. Mix sparingly with "Un" Cover-up for a radiant sheen. Try it on your shoulder blades for a sexy evening look – in fact anywhere you want gorgeous, glowing skin. This is my absolute favorite for adding a glimmer to the eye when applied very lightly only over eye lid. For more tips, eco-product reviews and the real story on Ethical Luxury ™, check out EcoDiva.blogspot.com .

Embracing Earth Day with Sustainable Jewelry

Do you know what’s happening on April 22, 2009? It’s Earth Day! Earth Day is a time for us to unite around new actions and celebrate the environmental gains we’ve made thus far. It’s about showing our love for the Earth and wanting to protect our planet. And what better way is there for a green queen to show her support than with jewelry?! Express your Earthly love during Earth Day’s 39^th anniversary by wearing the beautiful Embrace Pendant.

Created by top jewelry designer Jennifer Dawes for C5 company, the Embrace Pendant is the perfect combination of fine craftsmanship and sustainability. Hand-made from recycled 14 Karat yellow gold, this necklace features a ¾ inch charm that reads “embrace” on one side and has the outline of the Earth on the other. Also, the split ring from which the charm hangs holds a 1 carat, bezel set Zultanite stone.

Have you ever heard of Zultanite? I hadn’t until I came across C5’s Embrace Pendant. Zultanite is a natural, tri-color gem that transforms in various lighting from shades of pale green to champagne brown to deep pink. This rare color-changing gem is exclusively mined in Turkey, and has a light dispersion greater than that of a diamond! It’s absolutely breathtaking to see the sparkle and so uncommon here in the U.S. that C5 is just one of 40 U.S. retailers to carry it. Zultanite is one of the most socially and environmentally responsibly mined gems in the world; therefore putting it on the list of conflict free gems.

So let’s get down to brass tacks...or gold clasps in this case. For years we’ve been hearing horror stories about conflict gems. Remember Leonard DiCaprio’s movie Blood Diamond or Kanye West’s song Sierra Leone? C5 is on the same mission as these super stars - to raise awareness about sustainable luxury jewelry and the importance of ethical business practices in the jewelry industry.

Here’s where things get even better... Typically the Zultanite gem alone retails for a whopping $600, but the limited edition Embrace Pendant is available for only $495! I can’t believe C5 is offering this gorgeous handmade necklace, made from the finest recycled gold and precious gem, for less than the gem itself costs! That’s unbelievable. But that’s not it… C5 also offers a recycled sterling silver version of the Embrace Pendant without the gem for just $80. This is the perfect option for anyone watching their purse strings or if they’re a silver lover like me. Click here now to learn more about C5 and visit their online boutique today to order your Embrace Pendant before Earth Day.

Signing off from the beautiful sunshine state of California. :-)

hitting up the west coast with cmarchuska

It's official! Christine Marchuska is heading to the Hollywood Hills from March 23rd-30th to pair up with Equinox gym & feature the cmarchuska collection in some fabulous trunk shows at their boutiques (locations to be announced soon). The best news from this?! Sexy Sustainable Style will be in attendance to cover all the action! As your style source to all things sexy and sustainable, I will be reporting back with the latest updates on eco-fashion and events happening on the West Coast.

In the meantime here are some hot new scenes from the recent cmarchuska trunk show I attended at NYC's Equinox boutique on 63rd & Lexington.



Photographs by Keith Lew of Klew Foto.