Check out Luke Wilson and Seth Green here. Both intriguing, quirky actors whom I like very much. Luke Wilson is a total hottie with a penchant for goofy comedy, and Seth Green has an amazing resume (Buffy, Austin Powers, Family Guy, Robot Chicken…). So why are they wandering around town looking all skeezy? Ick. Unless you’re Tom Selleck (and hey, I love Las Vegas, but that guy is clearly a gun-toting lunatic) or Val Kilmer in Tombstone (yum), just don’t.

Some of Hollywood’s lovely ladies are joining us on the green bandwagon, and I think it’s great. I was reading the January 2008 issue of Vogue the other day and the article about Kate Hudson mentioned that she is launching her own natural hair care line. Apparently when a friend of hers was diagnosed with breast cancer and consequently concerned about the chemical load in her beauty products, Kate cleaned out her bathroom and removed products that were made with chemicals and animal testing. On her quest for more natural products, she discovered that there is a hole in the market for natural shampoos, so she teamed up with her hairstylist, and David Babaii for Wild Aid was born. The line is set to launch in March, and not only is it all natural, but a percent of the profits go to the Wild Aid animal charity.

According to the website:

Today, I picked up the latest issue of Fitness magazine and discovered that cover model Josie Maran has her own natural cosmetics line, Josie Maran Cosmetics. The website says:

Over time, Josie noticed a hole in the market. It was hard to find products that matched her approach to life – products that are pure and gentle, that contain no toxins or ingredients that damage the planet. The few earth-friendly products she found were lacking the sophistication and the level of luxury she craved.

Josie knew that if she wanted products that met these high standards, other women would want them too. So in 2006 Josie set out to create her own makeup line.

Josie Maran Cosmetics is arriving at the perfect time. Today’s woman is discriminating and asks a lot of the products she buys. She’s unwilling to compromise style, beauty, quality or caring for the planet. Now she can have all of these things and have her makeup, too.

The philosophy of Josie Maran Cosmetics comes from Josie herself. It’s a balance of her low maintenance, go-with-the-flow attitude and her refined, worldly taste. “I know exactly what I like. My tastes are very specific,” Josie says. “I crave quality, whether it’s the best fabric, the best food, or the best makeup. I try to surround myself with the best of everything.” Josie’s passion for everything she does is evident in the line. Every element, from the packaging to the makeup shades, is a reflection of her unique sensibility.

Josie Maran isn’t the only eco-conscious model. Supermodel Angela Lindvall is the founder of the Collage Foundation, which promotes change by being socially and environmentally active and responsible. It provides sort of a network for change, by informing people about various events and causes in which they can participate.

It’s nice to know that Hollywood isn’t all train wrecks and rehab, and that there are socially and environmentally conscious celebrities who are using their fame to bring about change.

Several years ago, my husband and I switched from regular margarine to Smart Balance (although we do occasionally use butter in some things). We like Smart Balance because it has a nice buttery taste, but is free from hydrogenated oils (i.e. trans fats) and you can purchase a light version, one with extra Omega-3s, one with flax, etc. Smart Balance also makes more than just butter substiutes. According to the website, they also produce sprays and cooking oil (which I use), popcorn, cheese, mayonnaise, peanut butter, and cream cheese.

All of this is great, but for me, a vegetarian with vegan leanings (I’m trying to give up dairy, but I love cheese), I was thrilled to discover a Smart Balance offshoot called Earth Balance. Earth Balance makes a variety of butter and shortening substitutes that are kosher* and vegan! What a fantastic find. The next time I’m at Whole Foods, I’m definitely going to look for these products!

*Since I’m not Jewish, the Kosher aspect doesn’t really apply to me, but it’s nice to know that the option is out there for people who want it.

My friend Mia just introduced me to a fascinating website: Cosmetics Database. The Environmental Working Group’s cosmetic safety database, the site allows you to search for beauty products, and then gives you the lowdown: what diseases and conditions are linked to ingredients in the product, does it test on animals, and overall how well it ranks in both safety and greenness.

I was a little concerned, because I had suspicions that my facial care products were going to rate poorly. I like to use Olay Daily Facials on a regular basis, since they are gentle and really get your skin clean, and I occasionally supplement that with Neutrogena’s Oil Free Acne Wash, when I’m fighting a breakout. Unfortunately, my fears were valid:

Not only do the products rank higher than I’d like on the danger scale, they both conduct animal testing. No matter how well they work, I don’t want to support cruel practices and pollute my skin. Fortunately, I was also able to use the site to find a cleanser with a healthy rating that’s also totally animal-free: Kiss My Face Start Up Exfoliating Face Wash!

Avoid the whole issue by drinking soy, rice, or almond milk instead!

In his book Integrative Nutrition, Joshua Rosenthal discusses at length the connection between the U.S. government and the farming industry. Essentially, it is the government’s job (primarily the USDA) to support healthy eating by regulating the food supply and creating the food pyramid, which is supposed to help us consume a healthy, balanced diet. Unfortunately, because the meat, dairy and sugar industries are so powerful and wealthy, and can therefore donate to politicians’ campaigns, the issue is a little sticky. On one hand, members of Congress should be voting in the best interests of their constituents. On the other, the senators and representatives can’t afford to alienate the powerful supporters (and financial contributors) in these food industries. Which brings me to the latest outrage in the fight between health vs. politics/big industry.

Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Agriculture, Dennis Wolff, has just led a successful ban on the labeling of hormone free milk. According to an article in the New York Times:

Late last month, Mr. Wolff announced a crackdown on “absence labeling” on milk, meaning labels that tell consumers what isn’t in a product rather than what is.

He argues that “hormone free” labels are misleading because cows produce hormones naturally. Even labels that are more carefully worded, such as “contains no artificial hormones” will soon be verboten in Pennsylvania because Mr. Wolff said that there were no scientific tests to prove the truth of such a claim.

His ban also extends to phrases like “pesticide free” and “antibiotic free,” which he maintains are confusing for consumers because they suggest that milk without those labels contains pesticides or antibiotics. In fact, he said, processed milk is tested repeatedly in Pennsylvania to make sure that it doesn’t contain those substances.

“It confuses them,” he said. “It seems to imply there is a safe, nonsafe dimension.”

A former dairy farmer, Mr. Wolff said he decided to look into the issue after he received calls from farmers complaining that they were being forced to stop using bovine growth hormone if they wanted to continue selling their milk to certain dairies. He also said his office had received many calls from confused consumers.

Mr. Wolff’s office could not provide surveys or research showing that consumers were confused by the issue, and was unable to come up with even one name of a consumer who had complained.

This is outrageous. Rather than letting consumers make informed decisions based on additives in food, the government has opted to remove the labels so that consumers must guess as to whether their milk has added hormones. What’s next? Removing the sugar content from candy bars so as not to offend the precious sugar industry?

For more info on the article, the effects of these hormones (both on people and the poor cattle upon which the drugs are inflicted), whether your state may be next in line to adopt these measures, and what you can do, click here.