FabSugar

Cool Cleaning Brand: Mrs. Meyers

FabSugar — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 15:50:36 -0700

I'm a sucker for hip-looking cleaning products. After all, if I have to do chores, shouldn't I at least be able to use sweet-smelling products that come in cool packages? In addition to the sleek home offerings from Method Home, I'm also a huge fan of the kitschy, natural cleaning supplies made by Mrs. Meyers Clean Day.

These dish soaps, household cleansers, spray cleaners, pet shampoos, and other products are made from essential oils, so they smell like spa products and not like chemicals. And yes, they also really work! Each product comes in a choice of three scents: lavender, geranium, and lemon verbena. Here's a look at some of Mrs. Meyers cool products.

Laundry Detergent in Lemon Verbena, $12.99, available here.

Oatmeal Pet Shampoo, $7.99, available here.

To see the rest, read more

Liquid Dish Soap in Lavender, $4.99, available here.

Surface Scrub in Geranium, $4.99, available here.

Hand Lotion in Lemon Verbena, $4.99, available here.

method: Clean Your House in Style

FabSugar — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:34:13 -0700

Cleaning-products company method home burst onto the scene a few years ago with a beautiful bottle of dish soap designed by Karim Rashid. But lest you think Method is all about aesthetics, think again-the brand's environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning products actually work. The cleaning sprays, for instance, can remove soap scum with the best of them, but they'll leave your bathroom smelling like Bath & Body Works instead of bleach. Plus, Drugstore.com has a lot of their super-stylish stuff on sale right now; here's a look at some of my favorite Method products.

Dish Cubes Dishwasher Detergent, Pink Grapefruit, $5.19, available here.

Bathroom All Surface Cleaner, Cucumber Scent, $5.49, available here.

To see the rest, read more

Dryer Sheets, Fresh Air Fragrance, $5.99, available here

Hand Wash, Green Tea, $3.43, available here.

Wood for Good Clean + Polish + Protect, Almond Scent, $5.99, available here.

On Our Radar: Quiksilver's E.P.I.C. Eco-Friendly Initiative

FabSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:00:22 -0800

Not only has Quiksilver created some cute eco-friendly clothes, they benefit an environmental initiative. The brand has teamed up with E.P.I.C., Everyday People Initiating Change, to support the nonprofit's Ripple Project. The Ripple Project helps eliminate the problematic lack of access to clean water in impoverished nations.

Quiksilver is becoming a force with its reintroduced women's line and a handbag collection. These products, including tees, dresses, and jackets, are made from eco-conscious materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, tencel, soy, and linen. Quiksilver will donate three percent of all sales of its women’s eco-friendly apparel to E.P.I.C. It should be easy to help support the cause - prices range from $44 to $148. Items can be bought online and in stores. Quite the epic endeavor.

To see more from Quiksilver's initiative, read more.

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Fab Flash: Ashley O. Peddles The Row

FabSugar — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:00:22 -0800

Late last week, Ashley Olsen made an appearance at a Dallas boutique to promote her designer collection, The Row, wearing a cashmere tunic and black leather leggings from the line.

Since Spring 2007, when the collection debuted with 18 knits, production has expanded to 110 looks for Fall 2008, including a $4,500 natural kangaroo coat and a $4,000 seamed black leather poncho with raw edges.

"What it always comes down to is simple, clean lines and beautiful fabrics," Ashley said. "The whole collection is based on fit and quality." She also mentioned that everything is made in the US, with the exception of cashmere knits, to maintain tight quality control.

Ashley is on hiatus from New York University to focus all of her attention on the label, taking the leading role so Mary-Kate can focus on her acting career. As Rae Miles, The Row's commercial director stated, "Ashley is there full time, every day. She's in all the fittings, picking all the fabrics and making the final decisions." Sounds like devotion!

To see a couple more looks from the Fall collection, read more

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PHYTO Phytoneutre Rebalancing Cream Shampoo

FabSugar — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 13:47:32 -0800

If your are taking this week to wipe the slate clean, then what better place to start then with the top of your head! Cleanse away all of that 2006 shampoo and product buildup with just one wash of PHYTO Phytoneutre Rebalancing Cream Shampoo, $20.

This shampoo is formulated to deeply cleanse, balance and neutralize both your hair and scalp. It has been specially created to remove all of the impurities and grimy residue that's been left there from: pollutants, over shampooing and the use of daily styling products.

Since it is made from extremely gentle and natural ingredients such as coconut oil derivatives, extracts of ferula, chamomile and sage, St. Johns wort, eucalyptus and witch hazel, it will in no way change the composition of your delicate hair.

It is also mild enough to use daily and is perfectly safe for use on hair that is color or chemically treated. Simply shampoo twice and leave it on two-five minutes in the second round. Lastly, rinse and style as usual. Enjoy the newness of your clean product-free locks!

Nina Garcia Answers Our Fab Questions, Part V

FabSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:00:22 -0800

Alas, all good things come to an end. I just want to extend a big thank you to Nina Garcia for answering all our Fab questions. Hopefully you've found them helpful and insightful. Here's the last batch of answers from the ELLE fashion director and Project Runway judge. Enjoy!

How can I look trendy, but still appropriate for my size?

The best way to look trendy but still appropriate is to play up accessories while keeping your wardrobe classic and what looks good on you. Incorporate a colorful statement necklace, like from Tory Burch or J.Crew, or a cocktail ring or decorative cuff to play with trends. Chandelier earrings and a vibrant scarf are also great accents on any shape or size.

Are there any ways to predict a trends longevity?

Trends are often fleeting no matter how long they remain in fashion. But when there is a design or silhouette that favors a broader scope of women that will help ensure a longer presence in fashion.

To see the rest, read more

What, in your opinion, is the most fashionable city? Where should I go for the best fashion inspiration and the best shopping?

Personally, I think Paris is the most inspiring city for fashion because it combines a great progressive street culture with a historically preserved backdrop, offering endless options for culture and style. I also could not forget my home, New York.

Often magazines will profile new designers or mention either clothes or accessories that they really like, how does an aspiring designer get mentions magazines?

In a celebrity driven culture, I think an excellent way for a designer to garner exposure that would capture the attention of ELLE would be for them to align themselves with an It girl who can wear their clothes for press junkets, premiers and other events. These girls are tastemakers that our readers are interested in so when we see these young ingénues wearing an underground designer we take notice. I get an extraordinary amount of mail daily; mostly lookbooks from young designers. When going through them, I find that the ones that stand out the most to me are not ones that are overly styled and artistically photographed but clean, straight forward photographs where you can see the product and the design speaks for itself.

I am a short and athletic, 5'3" and a size 4 to be exact. Is there a way I could create a look that would make me appear taller during the day without wearing high heels?

Try to keep you silhouette very lean and tailored to create the illusion of height without the aid of heels. Also, make sure to stick to one color.

What are your thoughts on celebrity fashion lines?

I think celebrity fashion lines are incredible and have proven themselves to be a legitimate force in the fashion industry. I particularly love Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line. SJP is a lover of fashion and saw the need for a great line of classic pieces that were affordable to all.

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Cheap and Chic Shampoo

FabSugar — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:45:55 -0700

For some beauty essentials-including foundation, hair styling products, and eye makeup-it's worth splurging on the fancy stuff. But when it comes to shampoo, there's really not much difference between high-end brands and drugstore products. Unless you have extremely color-treated or damaged hair, save your money for the big beauty spends and go with one of these great, tried-and-true drugstore shampoos. Here are my top picks.

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Moisturizing Shampoo, $6.49 for an 8.45-ounce bottle, available along with brunette and redhead formulations here.

Pantene Pro-V Shampoo Classically Clean, $7 for a 25.4-ounce bottle, available here. (Bonus: Pantene is also supporting a great cause.)

Neutrogena Clean Volume Body Enhancing Shampoo, $4.49 for a 10.1-ounce bottle, available here.

To see the rest, read more

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo, $3.99 for a 13-ounce bottle, available for a number of different hair types here.

Dove Weightless Moisturizers Moisture Rich Color Shampoo, $3.99 for a 12-ounce bottle, available here.

L'Oreal Vive Pro Style & Body Infusing Shampoo, $4.99 for a 13-ounce bottle, available here.

Fab Site: TheLaundress.com

FabSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 05:03:33 -0700

No one in their right mind would say that they love to do laundry. Oh wait - didn't Type A Monica Geller on Friends? Anywho, those not in TV land would be silly to not use top-notch products to wash our clothes; without our wide-leg jeans and metallic accessories, we'd be nothing (okay, we wouldn't exactly be nothing, but we'd be naked!). But I digress. The Laundress, a luxury fabric care and specialty detergent line founded in 2004, has the solution to making laundry more delightful. All the scents used: Cedar, Baby, Lady and Classic, have been custom made by founders Lindsey Wieber and Gwen Whiting for your olfactory enjoyment.

These fashionable laundering ladies bring you goodies like Baby Detergent, $5-$16, Delicate Wash, $14-$18, Swimwear Care, $8-$18, Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, $8-$18 and more. They also provide laundry tips and what products to use in case of a cleaning dilemma. So don't be ashamed the next time you find yourself wanting to do laundry over catching a flick - the Laundress tends to do that to clothes-loving people.

Shampoo Without a Shower

FabSugar — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:54:56 -0700

Even when it's been shampooed that very morning, hair can often end up greasy and limp by the end of a long day. But if you need to freshen up for a night out on the town, you might not want to put your hair through another shampoo. For a quick pick-me-up, try spraying your 'do with Klorane Extra Gentle Dry Shampoo. The tonic feels and works very much like hairspray. You just spritz a little bit on the area you want to clean, leaving a sort of powdery layer on your hair. After letting the shampoo set for a couple of minutes, shake out the hair with your fingers or run through it with a good hairbrush. I used the product to spot-clean my bangs the other night before heading out to a bar: Not only did the greasy, lifeless look instantly disappear, but my hair looked clean and bouncy for hours. Buy a can for $15.95 here.

The Lush Life

FabSugar — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 10:13:01 -0700

Every girl knows that soothing baths are the bomb, and no brand understands this better than Lush. I first fell head over heels for Lush on a trip through London's Covent Garden almost ten years ago. As anyone who has visited one of their retail stores (located in more than 27 countries) can attest, Lush's counters of fresh, handmade cosmetics bear more resemblance to farmer's markets than makeup stores. At the heart of Lush's beauty philosophy are organic fruits and vegetables, essential oils, and non-animal tested products. Here are some of my favorite Lush products.

Lush's number-one best-seller is the hot-pink Sex Bomb. Scented with jasmine, ylang ylang, and sage oil, this bath bomb is guaranteed to give you a "balanced viewpoint and a clear mind" before your crazy night on the town. Buy one for $4.95 here.

To see the rest, read more

Lush's Honey I Washed the Kids Soap uses real honey and beeswax for a wonderfully sweet-smelling concoction. Buy a big bar here for $7.15.

The Tisty Toasty bath bomb, available for $4.85 here, contains a bouquet of seven real rosebuds encased in a rose-scented, heart shaped body. When the bath bomb fizzes, the petals float to the surface.

Not only are Lush's products affordable, but they also make a perfect gift for the girl who has everything! Who doesn't love to be clean?