Tambo del Inca, Peru

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

On-The-Go-Beauty

What's In Your Bag?

Is Your Skin-Care Sustainable?

  On the Organic Trail... London

Stephen Richards’ Xagave Blueberry-Cranberry Granola Bar Muffins

This is not your ordinary, everyday-duffle bag duo. Ella Vickers uses recycled sailcloth in the creation of all of her one-of-a-kind products. We love the Excursion set, made from recycled Tanbark sails—suitable for air and ocean travel. $386, www.ellavickers.com

Rebagz Galaxy Sport Pouch

A unique alternative to the fanny pack, this sport pouch made from recycled rice bags, is an avid traveler’s must-have. $29, www.rebagz.com

Gaiam Yoga On The Go Travel Kit

Although travels tend to knock us a bit off routine, take time for that much needed yoga session. Yoga for those on the go, is made easy with Gaiam’s travel kit that includes a 35-minute DVD, cotton yoga strap, and a set of 6 yoga pose cards with Rodney Yee. $14.98, www.gaiam.com

Pb Travel Eco Friendly Bamboo Travel Set

Pb travel, a unique line of travel accessories for the modern woman, takes an eco-conscious step with this 100 percent bamboo blanket and eye mask set. Rest easy with this super-soft combo in raspberry. $39.99, www.pb-travel.com

Pure Silk Jewelry Roll

Keep your jewelry and other precious items out of sight with this three-zippered, Oeko-tex certified roll—simply elegant in cielo blue with gold lotus brocade. $17, www.americanfamilynaturally.com

Acorn EarthRoamer Clog

There’s no need for our eco-conscious guys to sacrifice fashion for comfort. These suede-trimmed clogs are perfect for the man on the run. The slip-ons have a mesh lining with Agion® for odor and bacteria control and a water-repellent exterior of 50 percent wool and 50 percent recycled PET. Ladies, you’re in luck, they’re also available for women, in Java, Shale, and Wine. $75-80, www.acorn.com

Huiles and Baumes Alpine SOS Balm

Don’t let the size of this little jar fool you. Whether you’re a lone traveler, or a family vacationer, what’s inside will be a lifesaver: A multi-purpose face and body balm aiding in the relief of those unexpected muscle strains, scratches, and all-over body aches. $42, www.huiles-baumes.com, 800-937-4372

Dr. Singha’s Travel Tonic

We’re pretty keen on Dr. Singha’s Natural Therapeutics, especially when it comes to relaxation. If you haven’t put one of these herbal remedies to the test, let the organic extracts of ginger root, eleuthero root, and wild-harvested yogimbe bark in this travel tonic, become your new flight companion. $12.95, www.drsingha.com

Already known for pure products, Eminence has outdone themselves with the new USDA Organic collection of mint-infused products. Conveniently packed in 2-ounce tubes, these three products are ideal for travelers. Choose from Organic Tea Tree & Mint Hand Cleanser, Organic Vanilla Mint Hand Cream, and our favorite, the Organic Shea Butter & Mint Moisture Balm that's a cinch to apply to dry patches. Cleanser, $9; Moisture Balm, $18; Hand Cream, $14. www.eminenceorganics.com

Amrit Organic Eye Serum Roll-on

This handy roll-on serum rejuvenates sleepy eyes with the help of organic jojoba, chamomile, and aloe—a perfect beauty essential for those long family road trips. $18, www.redcherrygroup.com

COOLA Mineral Baby SPF 45

If sand and sun are in store for your next getaway and you’ve got a baby on board, this addition to COOLA’s Mineral Suncare Line should be in your bag. What more could Mom ask for in a 100 percent natural, 80 percent+ certified organic hypoallergenic, chemical-free sunblock? It’s TSA approved, too! $36, www.coolasuncare.com

Frownies Under Eye Gel Patches

Whether you want that extra lift before a fancy night out, or to simply relieve puffiness after a long trip, these patches will do the trick—naturally, of course. $30, www.frownies.com

Votre Vu Men’s Formule 1 3-in-1 Wash

Men’s skincare convenience at its finest! This 3-ounce bottle packs a gentle enough punch to cleanse your hair, body and face. 2 pack, $38, www.votrevu.com

Burt’s Bees Head to Toe Starter Kit

For Burt’s lovers who haven’t found a favorite, enjoy sampling this kit while you travel: Pomegranate Lip Balm, Peppermint Foot Lotion, Hand Salve, Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo and Conditioner, plus some! Happy travels—and sampling! $15, www.burtsbees.com

Pure Living Lucia Guest Assorted Soap Gift Box

Now we know you won’t need all eight bars of this handmade, 100 percent organic shea butter for travels, so pack two of your favorite scents and try the rest when you get home. $15.50, www.massageelements.com

Pharmacopia Go. Relax. Gift Set

Travels rarely come without stress, so come prepared with this Organic Lavender trio: body wash, body lotion and shea butter cream. $20, www.skinbotanica.com

Nature by Red Flower Radiant Skin Set

Introducing the skincare set packed with omega-3s and antioxidants that’s pure enough for your body and face; travel-sized and packaged in an eco-friendly reusable bag. $42, www.redflower.com

Suki head-to-toe essentials travel kit

You’ll like the 100% organic cotton sateen zip case, but chances are, you’ll favor what’s inside: daily revitalizing shampoo & conditioner, exfoliate foaming cleanser and velvet moisturizing cream; a pure set of basic skincare needs. $35, www.sukiskincare.com

Uspa uskincare travel essentials beaded bag

We love the simple, yet effective ingredients in uspa’s skincare products. This shiny number includes: damask rose hydrosol, moisture control lotion with Vitamin C, nourish milk cleanser, and more. $150, www.uspa-usa.com

Deserving Thyme Jet Setter Travel Companion

This kit is designed to nourish the entire body with each product’s pure essential oils, from Rosemary to Lavender, to Clementine. Good things do come in small packages: Hand & Body Lotion, Shower & Bath Gel, Lip Balm, Foot Cream, and Pillow Spray. $45, www.deservingthyme.com

EATS

Acorn House

I started fetching lattes en route to class in Acorn House’s recyclable cups or bottles of Belu water—sourced in Shropshire, carbon-neutral, and with all proceeds going to fund water projects in drought-afflicted areas. Then a couple of friends took me to Acorn House for a celebratory birthday dinner and I was hooked. The visible kitchen gets you excited for what’s about to hit your table— starters include a scrumptious Jerusalem artichoke prepared with kale, chili, almonds and goat cheese while entrees like Bhachu vegetable curry will not disappoint. Dessert might be prune and honey cake with almond ice cream or British cheese with seasonal chutne—yum. The entire menu is, in fact, seasonal and the restaurant is sustainable in more ways than you can imagine. The structure itself is built from recycled materials, the staff composts 100% of its waste, the kitchen demands positive animal husbandry and avoids industrial farms, and green electricity is also in use. And Acorn House further demonstrates its commitment to the local community with Blue Marble Training, a school set up to train aspiring eco-chefs for the restaurant under the guidance of more experienced chefs.

“Acorn House aims to take one small step towards creating a city capable of sustaining itself” chimes the restaurant’s website – and so it has. Once I’d experienced Acorn House, I began opening my eyes to London’s other eco-friendly choices and found that there were more than would fit into my recyclable i-Pod! Even the London Eye is being upgraded with improved heating in its capsules to make the ride more energy efficient – who knew? www.acornhouserestaurant.com

Daylesford Organic

Stroll though any Daylesford Organic and it will transport you back in time with its row upon row of smiling produce and land-to-consumer ethos. Though Daylesford recently experienced a bout of bad publicity for lax safety measures on one of its farms, the handful of café-cum-farmstands (and one now in Munich) are much-loved by London’s health-conscious who faithfully flock to the Pimlico and Notting Hill locations for soups and salads made with vegetables grown on organic estates throughout Gloucestershire and Staffordshire. Daylesford even produces its own wine on a chateau in Provence. Of course this is all thanks to Lady Carole Bamford, wife of multimillionaire Sir Anthony Bamford, whose impressive empire now includes a gardening shop, natural health spa, yoga studio and Chinese tea house. www.daylesfordorganic.com

SPAS

The Berkeley Health Club and Spa

With its stunning location on the 7th floor of the Berkeley Hotel overlooking Hyde Park, the Berkeley Spa and Health Club is a favorite of shoppers seeking a break from pounding the Knightsbridge pavement in their Jimmy Choos. The glass-walled pool is a highlight, as is an extensive menu of organic treatments by Comfort Zone, an Italian skincare line with products formulated according to the European organic certification organization Ecocert. My own massage, called “Sacred Space at Hyde Park,” is an hour-long full body massage using oil taken from the Brazilian palm tree, a cleansing milk made from shea butter, and finally, a jojoba-based scrub. All of these also contain extract of butterfly bush which is meant to hold powerful anti-aging properties. At the end of the hour, I find myself sipping chamomile tea in a candle-lit room and thanking my massage therapist Ellie for making my jetlag magically disappear. www.the-berkeley.co.uk/health_beauty.aspx

The Organic Pharmacy

Entering The Organic Pharmacy on Great Marlborough Street seems like something akin to Alice falling down the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. As soon as I pass through the door, Nadia, my treatment therapist, ushers me downstairs and into an all-white underground treatment chamber where she proceeds with the Organic Pharmacy Signature Facial, the 60-minute Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial. The facial uses techniques including deep cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, acupressure massage, and lymphatic massage with rose crystals. The products Nadia uses on my face include carrot butter cleanser, flower petal mask, rose and bilberry toning gel, seaweed clay mask, and honey and jasmine mask. Nadia also gives me a personal skin analysis after examining my face under a microscope. When the treatment is over, I feel so relaxed I have to gather myself for 15 minutes before reentering the pedestrian flow. www.theorganicpharmacy.com

SHOPPING

F&M Bag for Life

Even the venerable Queen’s grocer, Fortnum & Mason, is getting on the sustainable bandwagon with its very own Bag for Life, an environmentally-friendly jute shopping bag made by villagers in Eastern India and Bangladesh with biodegradable, plant-based fibers. The bag has the signature F&M aqua green handles and bears the F&M logo in black. At a mere $6, this roomy tote is perfect for traipsing through farmer’s markets or even through Heathrow with all of your “green London” gifts! www.fortnumandmason.com

Eco-Age

In writing a piece on “green London,” I would be remiss not to mention Eco-Age, an inventive boutique run by Livia Firth (wife of Colin). Though a bit off-the-beaten track in the far West London neighborhood of Chiswick (about a half hour tube ride from the center), Eco-Age will enliven your inner green with its array of eco-friendly gifts and sundries from recycled wrapping paper to fair trade trilby hats. You can also hire a consulting team from the shop to turn your entire home green! www.eco-age.com

Komodo

Not only are these clothes made with eco-friendly materials by people who are paid a fair wage in developing countries – they are gorgeous! Joe Komodo knew what he was doing back in 1988 when he started this clothing line, which is now sold worldwide and also in its own shop in Covent Garden. Comfy cotton dresses and caftans in bright blues and pinks as well as organic t-shirts with pithy graphics and phrases make this shop hip as well as just. It’s worth noting, too, that Komodo’s factory in Kathmandu was just awarded the SA8000 certification for human rights in the workplace, making it the only factory of its kind in Nepal. www.komodo.co.uk

HOTELS

One Aldwych

I can’t say enough about this uber-stylish luxury hotel in the heart of the West End. One Aldwych first caught my eye on my weekly walk from Russell Square to King’s College on the Strand. Giant windows displaying a flawlessly-designed lobby and a smattering of the hotel’s 400-piece modern art collection stopped me in my tracks as I popped into the lobby like a stalker then later returned for a closer look. Housed in a traditional Edwardian building, the 105 rooms here are designed with mod touches and include Frette linens, plush carpets, bathrooms with mini-TV’s, and all-natural British bath amenities by REN. The health club includes a pool with underwater music and Axis, the hotel’s buzzy restaurant, offers guests seasonal tasting menus sourced from local suppliers with a chef who supports free range meats and sustainable fishing methods. Details such as water-saving toilets and the donation of unused bathroom amenities to nearby homeless charity Centrepoint make One Aldwych the ultimate hotel for ethical chic. www.campbellgrayhotels.com

The Cavendish

On Jermyn Street in exclusive Mayfair, the recently-redesigned, 4-star Cavendish is known for its central location and brilliant views of the London skyline. Within walking distance of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and The London Eye, the 15-floor hotel is also surrounded by the boutiques of Seville Row (with Fortnum & Mason directly across the street.) Though the hotel has been around since Edwardian times, it has adopted modern measures such as using Gilchrist & Soames “Beekind” bathroom amenities kept in paper bottles instead of plastic and regular “green” training for the staff. A new low water volume dishwasher has recently been installed and plans are in the works to replace the current elevator system with an energy efficient one. Environmentally-friendly vehicles also receive a 50% discount in the hotel’s car park. www.thecavendish-london.co.uk

TRANSPORT

Climate Cars and GoGreenCar

Of course walking, cycling, or rickshaws are the most eco-friendly ways to go if you’re not in a rush, but if you want to get somewhere fast and have the foresight to pre-book, I suggest either Climate Cars or GoGreenCar. Their cars emit 60% less carbon dioxide than other taxis and produce 98% less nitrogen oxide than the average Hackney Cab. Both companies use the Toyota Prius, however, GoGreenCar only uses the Mark2 Prius and Climate Cars has only 15 Mark3 Priuses in its fleet (the model recalled by Toyota - and Climate Cars assures me they are now updating the braking software on those 15 cars.) I used each of these carbon-neutral car services during my recent visit and had equally positive experiences. Climate Cars offered me a complimentary newspaper while my driver from GoGreenCar even inquired as to my preferred route – something a London cab driver would never do! www.climatecars.com and www.gogreencar.co.uk

British Airways

Though British Airways has received more attention lately for its striking staff than for its efforts towards sustainability, the largest airline in the UK announced in February that it has partnered with the Washington DC-based bio fuel company Solena Group to establish Europe’s first sustainable jet fuel plant. Based in East London, the plant will produce 16 million gallons of low-carbon fuel from 500,000 tons of waste which will be used to power a selection of BA’s planes starting in 2014. The process that converts the waste into “green” fuel reportedly saves 95% of greenhouse gases as compared to fuel derived from kerosene. BA has also upgraded its carbon offset scheme which uses UN-certified emissions reductions to help finance clean energy projects in developing countries. Customers who choose to offset their flight emissions will be supporting a new windfarm in one of the poorest provinces of China as well as hydro-electric plants in Brazil. The new scheme is designed to be more user-friendly, enabling customers to buy their offset in the same transaction as their flight purchase at www.ba.com. www.britishairways.com

While there are certainly skin-care companies that genuinely care about sustainability and the effect they have on the environment and people’s health, many others are simply chasing the trend, and in their case the cart is clearly leading the horse. This can be seen in their “outside-in” approach to sustainability. In other words, the most immediate changes we have seen have been external to the actual product: recyclable and biodegradable packaging, non-virgin shipping materials, charitable donations, forestry stewardship programs. And while any step toward a safer, greener future is a positive one, the real change needs to happen in the bottle, by fundamentally changing the way products are formulated and how the raw ingredients are grown. Bottom line, a product cannot merely be “green by association.” True sustainability happens on the farm.

When we think “farm,” many of us imagine an idyllic landscape akin to the farms of author E.B. White’s classic tale Charlotte’s Web. Rolling hills changing with the seasons under the care of capable, intuitive hands that not only work upon the land but with the land to produce the bounty of the earth. Of course, the reality of modern agriculture more resembles a factory—mechanical, chemical, and cash-oriented. The benefits of industrial farming have been tremendous:

• Massive crop yields

• Genetically modified pest-resistant plants

• Highly effective pesticides

• Tremendous flexibility of growing regions

• Ability to grow the same crops continually without letting the earth “fallow”

The cons, unfortunately, are far greater, and essentially all come down to the use (or lack of use) of chemicals to enhance growth. After all, even products that are plant-based often require chemicals to produce. Some of the many negatives to conventional growing include:

• The petro-chemical-based fertilizers, pesticides, and other inputs are in finite supply.

• They damage ecosystems even as they boost them.

• Industrial farming displaces the farming communities that are rooted in traditional farming and their expertise is lost.

• Waste runoff from agriculture is the single largest source of water pollutants.

• Overuse of irrigation causes water scarcity, an increasingly alarming global issue.

When faced with a choice between long-term and short-term goals, most people and companies will make the expedient choice. However, as public awareness and interest in the social and health benefits of organic products has skyrocketed, we’ve shifted toward an economic environment that encourages the use of better methods of production, including:

• Sustain the economic viability of farming communities and enhance quality of life.

• Enhance environmental quality through long-term nurturing of the land rather than short-term exploitation.

• Maximize plant efficacy and crop yields through a better understanding of ideal growing regions and conditions.

• Find natural ways to address fertilization and pest-control.

• Utilize scientific advances and studies to partner with the earth and its farming communities rather than pushing them beyond their sustainable capacity.

The great news is that we have already done ourselves a tremendous service as a culture by voting for organic and natural products with our dollars. But if we are to succeed at reversing the trend of unsustainable farming, we will only do so by continually demanding that companies raise their standards, and by choosing their products when they do. We also need to apply these same standards to the entire life cycle of the product, from production to packaging to delivery to consumer to recycling. Because when we choose to invest in truly sustainable products, we invest in a truly sustainable future.

Halfway between the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley is a beautiful and remarkably unspoiled area known for its vast patchwork of agricultural fields and green terraced slopes framed by the peaks of the Andes. Slicing through the valley is the Urubamba River, which the Incas believed symbolized the flow of life from the heavens to the earth. And Tambo del Inka, which opened this past spring, sits in an idyllic spot on the riverbank. And while it is certainly an upscale hotel with all the high-tech amenities you’d expect as a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, it is also a green-inspired property very much in synch with its natural surroundings (it’s currently in the process of becoming LEED-certified, making it one of the first Peruvian properties to do so).

The hotel’s exteriors, including its tiled roof, reflect a typical Andean home, while the 128 rooms and the dramatic lobby, in earthy tones like caramel and crimson, feature local granite and chihuahuco wood from certified Peruvian forests. Incan-style textiles with bold geometric patterns and colorfully painted decorative paper mache masks add to the traditional and indigenous décor. When recycling, the hotel uses sustainable practices (separating organic from inorganic materials) and the air-conditioning and refrigeration uses eco-friendly coolants.

These design and environmental elements are a first for the valley, as is a spa of this caliber. The 5,500 square foot bi-level wood-paneled space with 12 treatment rooms incorporates native ingredients in its Incan-inspired treatment menu. In addition to the Misti Mud Therapy, there’s also a facial using quinoa, an Andean grain rich in Vitamin E and B complex, an exfoliating scrub made from cocoa leaves and a hydrating wrap/massage incorporating maracuya (passion fruit) and honey. The signature treatment, Gold from the Gods, is a 150-minute therapy that pays homage to the precious metal so revered by the Incas—legend says that Inca princesses used gold as a secret ingredient to keep their skin smooth and supple. Therapists at Tambo use a gold dust cream combined with rosehip, jojoba, and green tea oils in a cleansing wrap, followed by a soothing massage, meant to give skin that, ahem, golden glow. And paying tribute to the Urubamba, which is in fact, a headwater of the Amazon, is a hydrotherapy circuit complete with hot and cold cobalt blue-tiled plunge pools, an aromatherapy hamman with color therapy, a Vichy shower, and an outdoor deck facing the fast-flowing river.

As I dine on contemporary Peruvian cuisine from executive chef Rafael Cassin (the majority of the menu’s organic ingredients are supplied by local farmers) in the Hawa restaurant with its double-sided granite fireplace and massive columns resembling mahogany trees, I map out a plan for the next day. I could check out the Awanakancha weaving center or explore other important archeological sites like Ollantaytambo, but I opt to go kayaking on nearby Lake Piuray. I suspect it will be a physically challenging few hours, so naturally, I’ll reward myself with a relaxing stretch in the spa upon my return. www.luxurycollection.com

Happily, it is—and in lots of unique ways. In terms of the big picture, only 15 percent of the JW's land has been developed; the remaining 85 percent will remain a nature and bird reserve featuring a sanctuary for the endangered Golden Cheek Warbler. The resort's LEED-certified buildings were constructed using local materials (including the same limestone found at The Alamo), and interior walls are supported by recycled steel studs instead of wooden ones. Seventy percent of the hotel's power needs are met with "windtricity,” the golf courses use a closed-loop water recycling system, and the guest rooms boast smart air-conditioners, biodegradable pens, and low-flow showerheads and toilets. From the restaurants to the gift shop, there is a strong commitment to using products grown or made within 150 miles of the resort, and to supporting small businesses and producers. There are some fun green touches, too: electric car drivers enjoy special parking (complete with outlets for plugging-in), and the soft gray blazers worn by managers are made from recycled plastic.

The Lantana Spa, as well, is committed to offering the most indigenous, natural experience possible. Past a limestone rotunda, the 26,000 square-foot standalone sanctuary—done-up in a stylish, warm palette of greens and browns—features over two dozen treatment rooms, plus a hydrotherapy tub, gym with yoga and Pilates studios, outdoor swimming pool, and an aromatherapy inhalation lounge scented with lavender and cedar wood. (There's also an excellent gift shop stocking a well-curated selection of home, beauty, and lifestyle items.) While waiting in the cushy relaxation area, guests are encouraged to partake in a "knot ritual,” during which they tie seven knots into a piece of ribbon—each one representing a worry to be discarded—before placing it in a communal bowl. It's a thoughtful way to begin the experience, and a fitting lead-in to the spa's ritual-based, relaxation-oriented treatments.

Along with JW Marriott signatures like the Active Organic Facial (using Naturopathica products), Restorative Organic Massage (which includes a foot scrub and scalp rub), and Kerstin Florian skin treatments, the menu includes services that reflect the area's rich Mexican-American heritage and that use native Hill Country herbs. Among the most popular—and most nourishing—offerings is the Spirit of the Curanderos Energy Spa Journey, a 105-minute homage to the curandero, or traditional shaman. After a quick exfoliation with herb-infused mineral salts, clients are treated to a tension-releasing body massage incorporating wild-crafted, organic lavender oil and heated stones, followed by warming body wrap and scalp massage. It's a simple service—the components are pretty straightforward, and it all takes place in one room—but one that definitely leaves guests feeling mellow. Luckily, the property is strewn with daybeds and rocking chairs just made for post-spa contemplation (or naps). www.jwsanantonio.com

As the demand for natural and organic products grew, so did the number of brands, manufacturers, and suppliers, which led to an increasingly complex, less accountable marketplace. Today, ingredients are sourced from multiple manufacturers, in multiple countries with multiple standards, making a third party regulatory standard body essential. Third-party certification standards level the playing field by ensuring products are what they say they are, and that the language communicating claims is clear, consistent, and correct.

Certification standards are a way to cut through the vague terminology open to marketing spin and equivocation. Without standards, it’s easy to misrepresent the facts. Imagine purchasing a Toyota Prius, only to wonder if it’s actually a hybrid. Imagine purchasing an expensive diamond and later discovering it’s cubic zirconium. To ensure that doesn’t happen, the GIA certifies diamonds’ origins, and the certification allows consumers to buy with confidence by bringing expert oversight to the market.

It’s clear how certification benefits consumers, but it’s equally important to manufacturers and retailers. If consumers can’t buy with confidence, they’ll choose to shop elsewhere or align themselves with a different brand. Certification provides the transparency and trust the consumer needs to make the purchase. For example, Natrue Certification standard provides complete transparency by allowing consumers to search the individual products they have certified online. www.natrue-label.com

Major Certification Organizations and their Standards

There are seven major international organizations with certification standards. It’s important to understand where each one is located and what their standards represent, as they all have different standards with different requirements. A solid understanding of each one makes consumer choices easier.

USDA NOP

www.ams.usda.gov Certification Type: 100% Organic, Organic, and Made with Organic

USDA NOP is a food standard for organic and made with organic ingredients. “100 percent organic” must contain only organically produced ingredients. “Organic” must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. “Made with Organic Ingredients” must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Limited amounts of synthetics are allowed in the “Organic” and “Made with Organic” standard. Excludes water and salt in calculation of organic content. Country of Origin: USA Business Type: Government

NATRUE

www.natrue.org Certification Type: Natural, Organic, and Natural with organic portion

NATRUE is a cosmetic standard that requires 100 percent certified pure natural and derived natural (natural origin) ingredients. "Organic cosmetics" guarantees at least 95 percent of the natural ingredients stem from controlled organic production. “Natural with organic portion” guarantees at least 70 percent of the natural ingredients stem from organic production. Excludes water and salt in calculation of natural and organic content. NATRUE has an equivalency agreement / recognition with NSF/ANSI 305. Country of Origin: Brussels, International Business Type: Non-Profit

NSF/ANSI 305

www.nsf.org, www.ansi.org, www.qai-inc.com Certification Type: Contains Organic

NSF ANSI 305 standard requires 70 percent organic ingredients to comply with the “contains organic” standard. Limited amounts of synthetics are allowed. Excludes water and salt in calculation of organic content. Country of Origin: USA, International Business Type: Non-Profit

Soil Association

www.soilassociation.org Certification Type: Organic, and made with Organic ingredients

Soil Association is a standard for organic and made with organic ingredients. “Organic” must contain at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. “Made with Organic Ingredients” must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Limited amounts of synthetic preservatives and ingredients are allowed. Excludes water in calculation of organic content. Country of Origin: UK Business Type: Non-Profit

EcoCert

www.ecocert.com Certification Type: Natural and Natural/ Organic

EcoCert requires a minimum of 95 percent natural origin as a baseline entry and a minimum of 5 percent organic content for the “Natural” standard, and a minimum of 10 percent organic content for the “Natural / Organic” standard. Up to 5 percent of ingredients can be synthetic. Limited synthetic preservatives are allowed. Water can be included in its calculation of organic content. Country of Origin: France Business Type: Profit

BDIH

www.bdih.org Certification Type: Natural

BDIH requires 100 percent natural origin/ nature identical* to gain the “natural” standard. Does not have a standard for organic certification. Country of Origin: Germany Business Type: Profit. Membership required.

NPA

www.npainfo.org Certification Type: Natural

NPA requires a minimum of 95 percent natural origin for the “Natural” standard. Limited amounts of synthetics are allowed. Does not have a standard for organic certification. Country of Origin: USA Business Type: Non-Profit. Membership required.

*Nature identical ingredients are those that are 100 percent identical in composition to their counterparts in nature, but are created in the laboratory to ensure stability, safety, and sustainability. Nature-identical substances may only be used when natural substances cannot be recovered from nature using reasonable technical effort.

The Future of Certification Standards

Consumers are placing more pressure on companies to raise the bar. They’re demanding that natural and organic claims be supported by the brand’s willingness to exhibit the transparency and traceability that certification standards offer. But certification is only a means to an end. The ultimate goal is a market where honesty, traceability, and transparency is expected of the producers of the products we put on our skin, our bodies, and of course into the environment as well.

While most of these reasons are based on vanity (breakouts are a bit more complicated because they’re often caused by an allergic reaction to chemical sunscreen filters or sun exposure itself), new substantive scientific studies and ingredient assessments conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are showing that sunscreens, which we use to protect against cancer, might play a role in causing it.

One study targets a chemical sunscreen ingredient called oxybenzone, suggesting it may be a hormone disruptor. An even more surprising finding: Sunscreens containing antioxidant vitamin A in their formulations “may hasten the development of skin damage and tumors.” Ironic, since vitamin A (retinol or retinyl palmitate in the label) is an incredibly sophisticated antioxidant that’s often used to treat sun damage or precancerous cells.

Before you think that all sunscreens are dangerous and consider skipping them, it’s good to take a long view of the daily protection they offer, like toothpaste and seatbelts. One in four Americans is diagnosed with skin cancer due to sun exposure. And because effective sunscreens still prevent far more skin damage and health issues than they cause—this is according to the EWG and probably every dermatologist—our health is best served by wearing them when staying out of the sun isn’t possible.

Here are some tips on navigating the sunscreen aisle, how to look for a low or non-toxic sunscreen, and information on making a healthy choice.

• SPF 30 is plenty. The Sun Protection Factor is math misleading. There’s actually very little difference in an SPF 15, which filters 93 percent of UVB rays and SPF 25, which filters 96 percent. The FDA discourages companies from flaunting numbers like SPF 50 or 100, because they cause a false sense of protection in wearers who may feel tempted to stay out in the sun longer. But many companies still market their products this way.
•  Consider UVA protection. The SPF number on your sunscreen only applies to UVB rays that cause sunburn. UVA rays cause skin damage too, only without burning the skin, so you don’t know it’s happening. Futhermore, these longer rays can penetrate glass and way down into the skin, damaging skin proteins like collagen and elastin. Two ingredients—zinc and Mexoryl—offer the broadest UVA protection.
• Sunscreen must be reapplied every 90 minutes to offer the UVA or UVB protection stated on the bottle. And that’s only if you apply enough of it. A quarter-size dollop for the face; two shot-glasses worth on the body. There is no such thing as a long-lasting sunscreen.
• Reach for a mineral-based sunscreen. Of the dozen FDA-approved sunscreen filters permitted for use in beauty products, only two are not chemicals: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Look for these minerals in the Drug Facts section at the top of the ingredients list. Mineral-based sunscreens defend against UV rays on the skin’s surface. Zinc is the better of the two, because it blocks a broader spectrum of UV light. Whispers about the possible dangers of titanium dioxide and its microscopic size have not been conclusively verified by studies.
• Consider Mexoryl. This is a chemical sunscreen, but Mexoryl’s advantage is that it defends against a range of UVA light that no other filters do. It’s usually paired with another chemical sunscreen like avobenzone and octocrylene for really broad coverage. Even so, the EWG gave La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 Sunscreen Cream a score of 2 out of 10 on the toxicity scale (10 being most toxic).
• Use zinc, if sunscreen makes you breakout. To work, chemical sunscreens must be absorbed into the skin where they convert ultraviolet light energy into heat energy in the skin, which is then released. This is the process that can cause breakouts in some people. Not only is zinc a pretty good UVA and UVB sunscreen, it’s also an anti-inflammatory, hence it’s role in diaper rash cream.

A New Way to Glow

You can have golden skin without the harsh chemicals or the fear of cancer-causing rays. Esthetician Molly Walsh has mastered an all-natural, odorless, non-streaking spray tan, with the lead ingredient, dihydroxyacetone, certified by EcoCert. Find a local spa near you or visit Molly's own Skin Care Boutique for a safe alternative to a sun-kissed glow. www.organictan.org or www.mollysskincare.com; $45, One spray tan. – T.M