Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/148971
Clarins Double Serum has us believing in the power of Mother Nature. The Parisian beauty house must-have is green. Powered by 20 plant extracts from macadamia and banana to musk rose, it reactivates skin's five vital functions: hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, protection and regeneration. Minimizing the product's ecological footprint, the innovative packaging contains no loose paper; instead, all information is printed on the box's interior. But wait, it gets greener: Clarins has partnered with Lauren Bush Lauren's FEED, providing millions of meals to the hungry. $85, at Four Seasons Spa, Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora. Megan Pruitt Winder CHEST of PLENTY This 20-drawer chest of wonders is made from salvaged bits and pieces of wood from old houses and temples. $1,999 at Arhaus. IN THE BAG COURTESY TIFFANY CINTRON Au NATURAL A NEARBY Green Respite Deer Lake Lodge W hat once required hoofing it all the way to La Jolla (bad carbon footprints) is now in our own backyard thanks to Deer Lake Lodge, an environmentally obsessed health resort on 50 acres in Montgomery, a mere 45 minutes north of Houston. Deer Lake Lodge rejuvenates body, mind and spirit through fasting, organic nutrition and elimination via exercise, spa treatments and (optional!) colonics. A typical day consists of yoga, nutrition classes, breath work and meditation; visits to the infrared sauna or saltwater pool; and optional à la carte body scrubs, magnesium wraps and floral massage using natural, paraben-free Natura Bissé products. The Lodge itself champions solar panels, LED lights, biocompatible cleaning products and rain-harvesting barrels, with a rustic design aesthetic, that's definitely not roughing it. Owners/ sisters Tracy Boulware and T.C. Hughes have stocked the suites with queen-sized beds, cabins with private porches and a complimentary, take-home organic robe and slippers. From two to seven nights, starting at $1,500. 10500 Deer Lake Lodge Road, Montgomery, 936.647.1383; deerlakelodge.com. Caroline Starry LeBlanc Bobbin Birdie Dip Dye bicycle Houston is usually measured in terms of building height, occupancy rates and freeway systems. But a growing number of green-minded (and literally groundbreaking) innovators are working to change that. Now the numbers on everyone's lips involve the city's bayous — specifically, 150 continuous miles of hiking and biking trails geared at getting Houstonians out of their cars and back to nature. The Houston Parks Board's signature project, Bayou Greenways 2020, starts construction this month on a section of Brays Bayou Greenway that meanders from the Ship Channel to Old Spanish Trail, with many more pathways to follow. Itching to hit the pavement sooner? Another major project, Buffalo Bayou Park — Shepherd to Sabine, rolls out a series of trails funded by the Texas Department of Transportation this summer, including the 4.5-mile Sandy Reed Memorial concrete trail, which loops from Shepherd to Sabine. Also changing the hike-and-bike landscape are the Jackson Hill and Police Memorial bridges, both opening to the public in early fall as part of the Buffalo Buffalo Bayou Park — Shepherd to Sabine Bayou Park Partnership's $58 million project. And that's only the beginning. Over the next few years, look for kayak and bike rentals, more benches, a picnic pavilion, artful lighting and the reintroduction of native plants and landscaping. Does all this sound revolutionary for our famously urban environment? Think again: The idea of a park system integrated with the city's bayous was first proposed way back in 1912. buffalobayouparks.org; houstonparksboard.org. Sharon L. Taylor BRENT BRUNI COMISKEY COURTESY BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP Down on the BAYOU Fixings in the fridge at Juicy in the Sky Rubber SOUL Unintentionally translucent gift wrap, third-tier magazine subscriptions, jumbosized candy bars — all are items of dubious worth I've purchased in the name of a commendable cause. Dallasites and husbandand-wife team Lila and Jeremy Stewart, however, ensure the accrual of good karma without forfeiting style or quality. Their Hari Mari flip-flops have gained serious traction in terms of philanthropy and national distribution since last year's launch. Every $60 pair sold results in $3 given to support kids battling cancer, but that's not the only thing making fans flip out. Hemp footbeds with actual arch support, memory foam-lined toe posts and sturdy nylon straps in contrasting color combos reminiscent of a Peter Max poster let you walk proud; the Stewarts' insistence on using recyclable rubber means you don't have to compromise your eco-ethos, either. At Luke's Locker, Sam & Lilli, Vincent Ford; harimari.com. Amy Adams Re-Defining FOOD Houston fitness oasis Define, founded by Adonis Henry Richardson, advances its commitment to health via Define Foods. Exclusively at the West University location, co-owner and natural foods chef Erin Stewart offers enlightening classes on seasonal food preparation and how to shop for organic and local goods at farmer's markets. Alice Waters, watch your back. Sign up at 713.526.1800 or definebody.com. Megan Pruitt Winder Define Natural Foods chef Erin Stewart Sole GOOD JUICY Couture Our fave recently minted drinkery in the Heights bears the memorable moniker Juicy in the Sky … with Vitamins. Tucked into the charming Corridor Shops along 19th Street, Juicy has developed a devoted following since it opened in Spring 2012. Owner/artist/architect Deborah Morris discovered the merits of juicing after husband, Bernie Rogers, was diagnosed with prostate cancer; a rigorous juice regime resulted in a cancer-free diagnosis. Now Morris holds court at this down-home boîte, where natural, locally sourced fruits and veggies power drinks such as the breezy Zephyr (apple, celery, lemon, ginger and mint) or the bracing Katmandu (a potent potion of kale, apple, turmeric, cucumber, yam and lime). Stay tuned for a second location (Montrose, perhaps?) coming 2014, which promises to add light bites to the healthy Juicy in the Sky empire. 238 W. 19th St., 713.864.0908; juicyinthesky. com. Catherine D. Anspon Wayuu mochila Tango bag, $140 Iranian-raised Houstonian Sarrah Zedah had empowerment in mind when she founded LaMochi, a fair-trade outlet for artisans around the globe. To spotlight a variety of international crafts, she rotates her featured tradespeople, and right now the focus is on Wayuu mochila bags from Colombia. Each is designed and handmade by an indigenous Wayuu craftswoman from the Guajira Peninsula. No two are alike, and each bag takes roughly three weeks to complete. What's not to love? $125 to $140, at lamochi.com. Megan Pruitt Winder John Kennedy and Francesca Kennedy Siblings Francesca and John Kennedy witnessed a shocking need for clean drinking water while traveling in Guatemala. Driven to make a difference, they created Ix Style huarache sandals, with a portion of sales earmarked to help Charity:Water develop clean water projects for communities in need. The Ix name, pronounced "eeks," is a nod to the Mayan calendar day meaning "water." The huaraches themselves are just as refreshing — lovingly, locally crafted with vibrant hand-woven Mayan textiles. $89, at ix-style.com. Megan Pruitt Winder