Natural Beauty

Last month I listened to this podcast episode on a study that showed teen girls who changed the beauty products they used for just three days had lower levels of hormone disrupting chemicals. One of the things I really loved about the study and the coverage of it was that it focused on the active participation of young women in Salinas. By design they were involved not just in participating in the study, but

Earthship: Earth Tu Face

This weekend I visited newly opened Oakland shop Earthship, the brick and mortar location for natural skincare line Earth Tu Face. Created by two local herbalists, Earth Tu Face's products are made of food grade, plant-based ingredients, but still have a luxury vibe to them (they're inspired by Alice Waters and available at Net-a-Porter, to give you an idea). Earthship showcases the line's serums, scrubs, balms and cleansers and more.

They also carry beauty products by other brands, like nail polishes by Floss Gloss (started in Oakland and now based in Brooklyn — their polishes have great names) and fragrances by Regime des Fleurs. Plus there's a small, curated collections of clothing, homewares, art and jewelry.

I chatted with the retail manager, Madeline, who told me they plan to hold workshops and events in the space adjoining the shop where they make the products — it's like a magical apothecary workshop in a charming old carriage house garage, where the shelves are lined with their organic ingredients and the ceiling is strung with lights and beautiful dried plants. She said she planned to post the schedule on the door outside, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and check it out!