Designers Wan Xuan Lim and Tang Xueling Jane’s award winning Eco-Leaf Curtain/Light is envisioned as a next generation window treatment that reduces energy use during the day and serves as an energy efficient light source after dark.

During the day the product conserves energy by providing shade and allowing for the passage of ambient daylight and cooling fresh air. The curtain captures daytime solar energy with its flexible, integrated solar panels. A small on-board battery can then utilize the stored solar power to transform the curtain into an energy efficient lighting fixture after sundown. The curtain can roll-up like a conventional window shade if desired.

Related: more green gadgets on The Alternative Consumer

Winter, with all its associated muck, grime, salt and snow, is now officially upon us. The first line of defense against this full-on assault on our foyers, floors and carpeting should be a good, durable doormat. No need to rush out to the local big box store and buy some plastic emissions generating rug or doormat – our good friends at Hipcycle just happen to be featuring a 20% off sale on their full line of eco-friendly doormats created from upcycled materials, like the one made of upcycled woven tires pictured above.

All of Hipcycle’s mats are made of upcycled and recycled materials like rubber tires, nylon rope and old flip flops (photos in order above). The sale runs the entire month of January.

Check out the full line of doormats and a plethora of other great upcycled products @ hipcycle.com

Related: more eco home decor discoveries on The Alternative Consumer

Make-up has been around for over 5000 years. Think about the ancient Egyptians, Native American Indians and African cultures and their use of body and face paints-to name a few. In our very modern world we have acquired a collective knowledge and scientific sophistication. One would imagine that living here in the USA we would not unknowingly be applying poisons to our skin.

We all want to look great but at what cost? There are many products that promise to make us look healthier, younger and better. Massive advertising campaigns for large cosmetic companies use words like pure, natural, organic and even hypoallergenic to give us a false sense of security so we will purchase their products – I call it “safe-washing.” We buy these items because we are fooled into thinking that they are safe and even good for us but have you read the labels? Why not look healthier because you are healthier-using products that nourish instead of poison you? If you are like most, reading the label means nothing because you don’t know what to look for.

The European Union has already banned most of the following ingredients from the cosmetic industry but the United States falls way behind in this area. According to www.PreventCancer.com: “A U. S. General Accounting Office report notes that the FDA has committed no resources for assessing the safety problems of those chemicals which have been found to cause genetic damage, biological mutations, and cancer.”

What we put on our skin goes into our body, so in an effort to get you on track for a healthier life, here is a list of 10 chemicals to avoid in your cosmetic and personal care items:

1. Mercury
2. Lead Acetate
3. Formaldehyde
4. Parabens
5. Toluene
6.  Petroleum Distillates
7.  Diethanolamine (DEA)
8.  Triethanolamine (TEA)
9.  Ethoxylated Alcohols
10. Polysorbates

Enjoy a feast for your senses at Terre d’Oc, 55 West 49th Street in Manhattan. I love the Moroccan anti-aging Elixir made with argan, prickly pear, dates and flower extract. Explore… we have more healthful choices than ever.

The days when the cosmetic industry can pull the wool over our eyes is over. Unless of course, it is 100% certified organic wool!

Debra Duneier is an accredited LEED® Green Associate, Certified Eco-Designer, Feng Shui Master Practitioner and Author of EcoChi: Designing The Human Experience. For more about EcoChi and Debra visit www.ecochi.com

photo credit: woman in mirror via shutterstock.com