Prioritize Living Sustainably With These Great Eco-Conscious Products (As Seen On CBS Austin)

April is Earth Month, so it’s the perfect time to reassess our lifestyles and figure out small and easy ways in which we can live more sustainably. With that in mind, I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” and chatted with hosts Trevor and Chelsea about some of my favorite eco-friendly finds — from skincare products made using upcycled materials to an exciting new biodegradable laundry detergent brand and a groundbreaking ocean-friendly Omega-3 supplement. Visit CBSaustin.com to view the segment and keep reading for details on all these earth-friendly picks!

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Supergrape Youth Renew Serum and Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30

For almost 20 years, Juice Beauty has been offering consumers high-performance, clinically-validated, vegan and cruelty-free skincare and makeup formulated using natural and certified organic ingredients. Juice’s commitment to environmental wellness also extends to championing sustainable practices: the brand relies almost exclusively on solar energy to power its farmhouse, organic farm, and corporate headquarters; it is working to eliminate plastic from any packaging materials, instead converting to bio-resin and glass tubes and jars; and it never uses harmful pesticides and herbicides in it organic farm in California’s Sonoma County. Juice Beauty, then, has spent decades showing how the beauty space can enact more eco-conscious and sustainable practices while still offering luxurious and efficacious products.

If you’re looking for an easier, no-fuss beauty routine this spring, reach for Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Supergrape Youth Renew Serum and the Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30, two nutrient-rich products that work in tandem beautifully.

The Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Supergrape Youth Renew Serum ($65 at JuiceBeauty.com and ULTA) gives skin a bouncier, smoother, more youthful appearance, plus it creates the perfect canvas for makeup by smoothing out fine lines and creating a bouncier and more even surface. This anti-aging serum contains hyaluronic acid, arginine and jojoba esters, and it’s now infused with a rare and antioxidant-rife Sagrantino Supergrape grown and harvested on Juice Beauty’s own organic farm.

One you’ve nourished and primed skin, you can apply the Stem Cellular CC Cream SPF 30 ($39.50 at JuiceBeauty.com and ULTA) to achieve natural-looking coverage with a luminous finish. Available in a range of shades, this CC cream is infused with skin-brightening vitamin C and hydrating hyaluronic acid, plus it offers color correction, neutralizing redness and diminishing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Moreover, it contains mineral zinc SPF 30 protection, which is absolutely crucial — particularly here in central Texas!

Beau Domaine The Fluid Cream and The Cream

Beau Domaine is a luxury genderless and vegan skincare brand that counts environmental activist and A-list actor Brad Pitt as one of its co-founders, so it should come as no surprise that the company prides itself on its commitment to sustainability. Other brands may pride themselves on using natural ingredients or having recyclable packaging, but Beau Domaine has always taken its commitment to sustainability a step further by embracing upcycling practices.

For those who are confused about the difference between recycling and upcycling, here’s a very succinct explanation. Recycling involves taking discarded objects and materials and breaking them down in order to create something new. Take, for instance, footwear brand Rothy’s: the signature thread used to knit its shoes and bags comes from recycled, ocean-bound plastic bottles. In order to create this thread, plastic bottles must be chipped into little flakes that are then pressed into tiny pellets which, in turn, are made into spools of thread that can be dyed and woven as desired. Recycling, then, is a great way to repurpose waste materials, but it does involve the usage of quite a bit of energy and quite a few resources. Like, recycling, upcycling also involves finding new uses for discarded materials, but it doesn’t entail breaking these down into their raw components. Upcycled materials maintain their original form and are simply reinvented to serve a new purpose. As a practice, then, upcycling is the more energy efficient and sustainable method.

Now back to Beau Domaine. The brand was originally envisioned by Marc Perrin, a fifth-generation wine grower from the esteemed Famille Perrin, the leading wine growers in France’s Rhône Valley. The Perrin family wished to upcycle their wine estate’s grape pomace (the skins and seeds left after pressing grapes for their juice) and began searching for possible uses for these materials. Curious about the antioxidant content of different grape varietals and their potential application within the skincare space, Perrin then enlisted the help University of Bordeaux professor Pierre-Louis Teissedre. The latter spent a decade analyzing the grape varietals and isolating the most powerful compounds therein. It soon became clear that these leftover grape seeds and skins had incredibly powerful applications within the skincare space. In fact, Beau Domaine’s patented hero ingredient, GSM10, is an upcycled blend make with Grenache seeds and skins of Syrah and Mourvedre grapes left over from creating Chateau de Beaucastel wines. Similary, the resveratrol in their ProGR3 active is derived from leftover grapevine shoots.

And that’s not all! Even Beau Domaine’s packaging speaks to its commitment to sustainability: the hand-carved oak tree caps that seal products are upcycled from the Perrin family’s oak wine barrels.

If you want to try Beau Domaine for yourself, pick up The Fluid Cream, a fast-absorbing and lightweight moisturizer that’s perfect for daytime usage in the hot and sticky days of sprint and summer, along with The Cream, which features a richer, whipped-cream texture that’s excellent for nighttime use. Both are available at BlueMercury.com

Camille Rose Honey Collection Spiked Honey Mousse

If you haven’t heard of Camille Rose just yet, it’s time for you to familiarize yourself with this Black-owned, female-led, natural haircare and skincare brand. The brand’s been amassing legions of fans over the past few years (and for good reason!), but its story dates back over a decade. Back in 2011, beauty entrepreneur Janell Stephens took to her kitchen and began making her own beauty concoctions using all-natural food-grade ingredients — all in the hopes of creating healthier and gentler skincare and haircare products for her children, all of whom struggled with skin sensitivities like eczema and grappled with dry skin and hair. Her gourmet blends worked wonders, and she saw an opportunity to share her creations with the masses, always keeping in mind her belief that we should be as mindful of what we put on our bodies as we are of what we put in them. Fast-forward to 2024 and Camille Rose has evolved into a multi-million dollar company and has earned the trust and devotion of legions of fans (including yours truly!).

If you’re looking for a mousse that’ll give your hairstyle the desired definition and volume without drying out your strands or leaving them feeling stiff and crunchy, run to pick up Camille Rose’s new Honey Collection Spiked Honey Mousse ($11.99 on CamilleRose.com). This 4-in-1 product softens, conditions, gives hair a glossy shine, and adds definition to your style. It’s also suitable for all hair types!

This multi-tasking mousse is crafted with premium honey, a natural humectant that draws moisture from the air and locks it into strands. It also contains nettle root, which promotes shinier and healthier curls. The handcrafted formula is cruelty-free and contains no sulfates, parabens, phthalates or artificial colors — just the sweetest ingredients (like honey!).

SPIbelt’s Eco SPIbelt

If you’re going on a jog, a brisk walk, a hike, or a bike ride, you’re likely well acquainted with the challenge of finding a stylish yet functional belt bag in which to stash your keys, phone, wallet and other essentials. Many belt bag options are needlessly bulky or they simply aren’t engineered for athletic activities and hence they bounce, slip, and fall. Well, Austin-based brand SPIbelt has earned a loyal following thanks to its sleek, fashionable, and bounce-free running belts, which move in harmony with your body (and are marathoner-approved! The brand recently introduced the Eco SPIbelt ($29.99 on spibelt.com), which is made from recycled fishnets discarded in the ocean.

Each Eco SPibelt is made of 80% recycled nylon and 20% recycled spandex. And by removing harmful plastics from the environment, SPIbelt is helping to protect marine life — including endangered species like sea turtles.

YouTheory Ocean-Friendly Omega

When we think of Omega-3 supplements, we tend to think of fish oil, krill oil, or cod liver capsules. And while Omega-3s help to support heart, eye, and brain health, the growing popularity of fish oil supplements is having some dire environmental consequences by disrupting marine ecosystems. According to environmental experts, supplement manufacturers are fishing for tiny marine critters like krill, sardines and anchovies at an alarming rate. These organisms occupy the base of the ocean food chain, and they’re the primary source of sustenance for important species like tuna and whales. If these tiny fish become less available, it poses a risk for many other marine species.

So how can we feed our bodies the necessary nutrients while sustaining ocean habitats? Look to YouTheory’s Ocean-Friendly Omega, a revolutionary, fish-free Omega-3 supplement. Each serving contains 770 mg of algae-derived Omega 3s, offering pure DHA and EPA without the fishy aftertaste and without pollutants like mercury.

This groundbreaking supplement is a great choice for vegan consumers, plus it’s the most eco-conscious choice available. In fact, it even comes packaged in a fully recyclable aluminum bottle!

You can find YouTheory’s Ocean-Friendly Omega on Amazon and at Costco stores. For more info, visit YouTheory.com

BareOrganics Energy & Stamina Blend Powder and Focus Coffee with Superfoods

BareOrganics specializes in superfoods that are USDA certified organic, non-GMO, and made with the highest quality ingredients. All Bare Organics products are minimally processed using processes like freeze-drying, low temperatures and cold milling that ensure ingredients retain their integrity and nutritional value. All offerings are also gluten-free, keto- and paleo-friendly, and free of preservatives, fillers and artificial ingredients. Plus they feature sustainable packaging!

As if that’s not enough to make you love BareOrganics, here’s yet another reason to support the brand: it’s now woman-owned! Former supermodel Angie Everhart is the new CEO and industry veteran Renee Niles is the company president.

If you’ve got a busy spring season ahead and you’re looking for nutrient-dense solutions to spike your energy levels and boost your concentration, BareOrganics has plenty of options for you! One of my favorites is the Energy & Stamina Blend Powder, a mix of cacao, beet, maca root, ginger root and apple that’s lightly sweetened with natural stevia and coconut sugar. You can mix the powder with still or sparkling water, add it to your favorite smoothie, blend into your overnight oats, sprinkle atop your yogurt or incorporate into a baked good. Not only is this wholesome blend nutritious and delicious, but it comes in a BPA-free recyclable and reusable jar.

And if you need a pick-me-up in the morning (or mid-afternoon), check out BareOrganics’ array of superfood-infused coffees. Their Focus Coffee with Superfoods, which won Product of the Year in 2024, is a low-acidity, medium roast coffee is infused with adaptogens like ashwagandha and lion’s mane mushrooms, as well as probiotics that support digestive health. It’s available in a ground coffee format or in single-serving cups compatible with most single-serve and Keurig K-cup brewing systems. These single serving cups are recyclable and contain biodegradable filters.

You can shop these and other BareOrganics superfoods at H-E-B and on BareOrganics.com

Dirty Labs Bio-Based Laundry Detergent

Many of us have purchased “green” laundry detergents only to find out that they couldn’t remove stubborn stains and strong odors — or, even more disappointing, to learn that they weren’t as eco-friendly as we’d believed. But eco-conscious consumers know that the cleaning industry needs to be, well, cleaned up. In the US alone, 40 billion loads of laundry detergent go down the drain, ending up in our water systems and our soil. Many of these detergents contain petrochemicals that can have adverse effects on both our skin and the environment. That’s why Dirty Labs has set out to make petrochemical-based cleaning obsolete, formulating laundry solutions that are bio-based, biodegradable, non-toxic, plastic-free and effective. Its next-generation enzyme cleaning technology has wowed even the most discerning consumers and cleaning experts — in fact, Dirty Labs was recently featured in Wirecutter’s list of Best Laundry Detergents, and it was the only eco-friendly brand on the list.

Dirty Laundry’s formulas are free of known toxins, carcinogens, irritants, and hormone disruptors, and they’re packaged in recyclable aluminum bottles.

To experience the future of laundry, pick up the Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Detergent ($15 for 32 loads), available in a Signature scent featuring notes of magnolia, bergamot and cedar; a Murasaki scent that combines jasmine, matcha and vetiver; or a Free & Clear unscented option. When tackling particularly smelly and dirty clothes, add the Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster ($18 for 48 loads) along with your detergent for the most powerful results.

You can find Dirty Labs on DirtyLabs.com, Amazon and at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.

RevSquared Residential Hand Dryer

Do you reach for a paper towel after washing your hands? If so, it’s time to find a better solution. Globally, discarded paper towels account for 254 million tons of trash, all of which ends up in landfills. Not only are they a huge source of waste but, once in these landfills, paper towels produce ethanol, a harmful greenhouse gas. One great way to reduce your paper towel usage is by investing in a RevSquared residential hand dryer. This powerful device features the same performance as its commercial counterparts, but in a much quieter, sleeker, and more compact design.

RevSquared can be plugged into an outlet or hardwired, and you can sit the unit atop its stand or mount it onto your wall. Either way, this cutting-edge, touch-free, fast-acting hand dryer is the most efficient, easy and eco-friendly way to dry your hands. Over the course of three years, you can save 9 trees and conserve almost 11,000 gallons of water simply by switching to this residential hand dryer.

For details, visit Rev-Squared.com