G is for Green Tea Extract:

Topical Green Tea Extract is anti-bacterial and anti-aging, contains high levels of polyphenols and is a rich source of EGCG (an antioxidant) helpful in fighting free radicals and peroxidation. 

H is for Hyaluronic Acid and Honey:

Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to 1,000 times its own weight in water and acts as a humectant, which means that it draws moisture from the air and into your skin... and keeps it there. It's often derived from rooster combs, so consider your source if you're a vegetarian. Honey is naturally anti-bacterial and moisturizing and has been shown to be a helpful wound healer, especially for burns and even diabetic ulcers.

I is for Iron Oxides:

Iron oxides are one of the most commonly used coloring agents for cosmetics. Manufacturing iron oxides as a coloring agent for cosmetics began around 1900. These natural minerals have also been used for religious ceremonies and skin protection. Iron oxides have various colors which are classified into three major color groups: the yellow iron oxide (yellow), colcothar (red), black iron oxide (black).

J is for Jojoba:

Jojoba liquid wax esters closely resemble our body's own natural oils (sebum) and are highly absorbable. Look for products produced from organically grown, pesticide free plants.

Last month, she was one of three artists including Yoko Ono and Alex Katz, whose work adorned the tops of New York City cabs (instead of the usual advertising). For her contribution, the tops displayed on one side, the poetry of Forough Farokhzad, I Feel Sorry for the Garden, written out in Persian calligraphy in the white of an eye. On the other side, an illustration of a handshake, the artist’s symbol of unity and solidarity. Other recent work includes a narrative short film, Zarin. Also receiving attention at the 66th Annual Venice Film Festival is her first feature-length film, Women Without Men, adapted from a novella by Iranian author Sharnush Parsipur. The movie tells the story of three women from different social classes as their lives unfold against the backdrop of the 1953 CIA-led coup to reinstall the Shah.

The artist Shirin Neshat and her signature kohl eyes.

*Of course, I don't have to tell you this: As with any dietary or herbal supplement, you should advise your health care practitioner of the use of this product. If you are nursing, pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should consult your health care practitioner prior to using this product. Right?

Their formulas range from multi vitamins, like Every Man, to probiotics, fish oil & more.

Andy Goldsworthy, Icicle Star

In his own words: "Movement, change, light, growth and decay are the lifeblood of nature, the energies that I try to tap through my work. I need the shock of touch, the resistance of place, materials and weather, the earth as my source. Nature is in a state of change and that change is the key to understanding. I want my art to be sensitive and alert to changes in material, season and weather. Each work grows, stays, decays. Process and decay are implicit. Transience in my work reflects what I find in nature."

The Theme Building restaurant, Los Angeles International Airport.

Anyone who has flown into LA knows it well. Hovering like a Space Age spider, it was built by a team of engineers and architects in 1961. One of the men behind the building is Paul R. Williams (1894-1980). He designed and contributed to several noted public buildings in LA and the Southern California area. He served on the first Los Angeles Planning Commission in 1920, and became an architect in 1921, the first certified African American architect west of the Mississippi. He opened his own office at age 28, and was known as an outstanding draughtsman. He perfected the skill of rendering drawings upside down. He developed this skill so that his clients, who may have been uncomfortable sitting next to a “black” architect, would see the drawings rendered right side up across the table from him. Though his client list reads like a Who's Who in Hollywood (including Frank Sinatra, William S. Paley and Lucille Ball) Williams once famously remarked upon the bitter irony of the fact that most of the homes he designed, and whose construction he oversaw, were on parcels whose deeds included segregation covenants barring blacks from purchasing them.

This mid-century modern style, sometimes called Googie or Populuxe, is apparent in our own Seattle, WA landmark, the Space Needle. It was developed after the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles of the 1930s and seen in the signs of drive-thru diners & hotels of the period. It also heavily influenced the retro-futurism style, exemplified in the cartoonish designs of the Incredibles. Unfortunately, like many architectural styles that go out of vogue, many buildings have been destroyed.

Kevin is part of a new group here in town, Mid-Century Modern Olympia, that is organizing a great show for Art Walk in the Spring at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. It will feature a martini bar, a re-created mid-century living room, a collection of Eames short films and will air commercials from the 50's-60's. There may be a home tour in the works as well. Click on the link above to check out their facebook page & get the particulars on the event.

D is for D2O:

D2O, Deuteronium Oxide or Heavy Water is 10% heavier than regular water so that means that it doesn't evaporate as quickly from the skin. It helps protect DNA from the damaging effects of free radicals and ionizing radiation. Calming, protective, and provides hydration in moisturizers, masques, serums and mists.

E is for Epidermal Growth Factor:

Not to be confused with Human Growth Factor (HGF). Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is used in topical applications to stimulate collagen production, repair cells and as a wound healer that assists in skin renewal. Sircuit Skin formulas use EGF derived from yeast in its dreamweaver moisturizer and the super serum, omg.

F is for Facials, of course and... Formaldehyde, yuck:

Skin care treatments, such as facials, are a great way to keep your skin in healthy shape. Think of it like a personal trainer session at the gym. We use professional strength formulas that give your skin a boost in exfoliation, address clogged pores or other issues such as hyper-pigmentation. This leaves your skin in better shape and ready to accept the topical home care products that you use.

Formaldehyde has a long list of adverse health effects, including immune-system toxicity, respiratory irritation and cancer in humans. Yet it still turns up in baby bath soap, nail polish, eyelash adhesive and hair dyes as a contaminant or break-down product of diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium compounds. Spa Ritual is a brand that makes vegan products including nail laquers that contain no formaldeyde (or toluene and dibutyl phthalate, DBP for that matter).

I recommend the Liquid Crystal shampoo and Crystal Creme conditioner from Sircuit Skin. They contain ingredients such as shea butter and chirally correct D-Panthenol (Vitamin B5) and D-Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E) and are great for color treated locks and children alike. Uspa is a natural line that involves no animal testing or animal ingredients and their products are free of artificial fragrance and color. I love their Neem Seed formulas, they're so hydrating. Developed by an Australian fashion hair stylist, Kevin Murphy, has moved production to the US to reduce emissions from shipping and is packaged in post consumer recycled bottles. Their website has a great product finder by hair type, but you can find them locally at my friend Mare's salon, Envy Hair Studio.

Liquid Crystal shampoo from Sircuit Skin.

Band, 2006, Sculpture by Richard Serra