Eve may have pulled off au naturel, but we gals rely on the powers of product to keep us pretty.

At Green Lavender we were thrilled to stumble upon an eden of fabulous face and body care items low on harsh chemicals and high on all natural ingredients. This adorable eco store (and yoga studio) carries bath and body products, natural cleaning supplies and enough soaps, salves and skin-saving items to satisfy any beauty junkie.

We love the aromatic bath salts ($7.99) and handmade soaps ($4.99) from eco-brand KIBO (based in Aurora) and the Face Cakes ($4.99) make a soothing alternative to commercial facial cleansers and use no packaging.

If given a choice, most girls would pick product over apples.

Green Lavender, 2842 Dundas St. W, Toronto, 416 792 2447, www.greenlavender.ca

So you gave up on the cloth diapers, forgot to ditch the PBA bottles and  didn’t splurge for the bamboo crib set.
 
Wait! There’s still a chance to reverse your eco-kid karma.
 
These cheerful Velcro-closure organic cotton snack sacks from Graze Organic are illustrated with water-based dyes and are machine washable, so they can be used again and again.
 
Now just make sure those veggies are local and the bread’s got ancient grains.

US$35 for set of 5. www.grazeorganic.com 

Eco-friendly designers are proving it's more hip than hippie to go green.

Take Urban Tree Salvage, a company that turns every scrap of water-recovered and recycled wood  (sourced within 300 kilometres of their shop in Dwight, Ont.) into something beautiful, lasting and unique.

Like modern day Gepettos, the team at Urban Tree Salvage creates one-of-a-kind beds, tables, consoles, cutting boards and wine racks.

Just think, your dining room table might once have held a woodpecker’s perch.

Urban Tree Salvage, 19a Malley Rd., Scarborough, 647-438-7516, www.urbantreesalvage.com

In this post-plastic era, we seem to have amassed enough eco totes to open up a small shop. And now we’ve got our sights on yet another.

It’s hard to resist a Fluf tote. Hand-cut and sewn right here in Toronto, this gorgeous line of bags is made from the same sustainable, printed fabrics as the company’s chic and comfy cushions.

Our favourite is the Misha ($118) in smoky grey—versatile, stylish and perfect for packing those mini-pumpkins in.

At Heel Boy, 682 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-362-4335, www.heelboy.com

When seasons come and go changes in temperature, humidity and sun exposure play havoc on our skin. As we prep for fall, we asked Donna Bishop, Toronto-based editor of online eco-store Green Beauty, for some transitional tips and products:

• Days may be shorter and cooler but sunscreen is still a must, especially for your face. UV Naturals Baby is a gentle formula that provides SPF 30 protection and nourishment for your skin
• Removing dead skin cells not only keeps skin looking vibrant and feeling soft, it allows your moisturizer to really penetrate and give you maximum benefits. Tashodi Body Polishes and Scrubs give you a spa treatment in the shower, leaving skin feeling silky. Tea and Lemon and Pure Lavender are my favourites.
• As days get cooler our skin needs some additional help staying moisturized. Oliv' Antioxidant Care and Oliv' Face Cream work brilliantly together to keep your beautiful face looking and feeling its best.
• The dog days of summer are hard on nails. Give cuticles some extra moisture by massaging them with your favoutite lip balm—I love the UV Natural Lip Screen. Give feet some intense moisture care with Oliv' Foot Cream. Apply at night and slip on a pair of cotton socks to wake up with feet that look and feel super soft.
• Take a cue from Mad Men and create the perfect pout with Red Zin or Ruby from Hemp Organics.

www.greenbeauty.ca

If a poor sense of direction is one of your quirks may we suggest a vintage-style carry-all ($38) with a silk-screened map of the T-dot on it?

Just one of the many cities featured in this line of eco-friendly totes, the Toronto map features neighbourhoods, city icons and landmarks.

Toronto is one of the latest designs from Brooklyn-based Maptote, joining Montreal, Manhattan and London.

A sure way to stay stylish, green and on track.

At Anthropologie, 80 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, 416-964-9700, www.anthropologie.com and www.maptote.com

Toronto has officially blacklisted plastic bags, but some reusable options are even bigger than Birkins.

Consider the Canadian-made Classic String Market Shopper ($12). Simple, stylish and 100 per cent organic cotton, this mesh bag can easily handle 20 lbs of your shopping. Better still, when empty it’s light as a feather and shrinks to practically nothing. Take it to the market, the library and the beach for the perfect Natalie Portman-esque accessory. 

That is, provided you have nothing to hide.

At Grassroots, 372 Danforth Ave., Toronto, 416-466-2841, www.credobags.com/classicstring.php

This week we caught up with the lovely Vanessa Farquharson, author of Sleeping Naked is Green: How an eco-cynic unplugged her fridge, sold her car and found love in 366 days, for her scoop on enviro-Toronto

You transformed your beauty ritual for the sake of green: who carries your fave products?
The Big Carrot has a bulk cosmetics section so you can refill your bottles of shampoo and conditioner. I love Ecco Bella's moisturizer for sensitive skin. For cosmetics, I head to Whole Foods or Origins.

As an arts reporter you have high fashion expectations: where do you go for stylish, earth-friendly attire?
As pretentious as American Apparel can be, they are one of the few places you can find organic, sweat-shop-free and still sexy underwear. Right now I’m also loving Simple's vegan-approved sneakers, especially these black espadrilles.

You recently bought a new home: what's your top, carbon-friendly, design and decor destination?
Green interior design is tricky. Most of my furniture comes from antique stores—I hit St. Lawrence Market on Sundays and the Toronto chapter of Freecycle has great used items.

What veggie restaurant makes your mouth water?
Rice Bar in Kensington. It's not vegetarian but offers plenty of options, and the meat is grass-fed and free-range. Plus they have some biodynamic wines, and a decent patio. 

You can see why Vanessa’s our favourite eco-aficionado.

Order Sleeping Naked is Green at Chapters.ca ($14.40) and check out her blog at http://greenasathistle.com

For a teeny tiny space, Kensington Market’s Seed Culture sure is packed with goodness.

Open just a couple of weeks, the store’s focus is on wildcrafted, recycled, sustainable products that are made in Canada.

Flora Viva, a line of handmade natural skincare, shares shelf space with organic herbal teas from the Canadian wilderness.

Tasty Toronto-made organic chocolate satisfies a sweet craving, while In the Raw’s fruit packed cereals fill the hungriest of morning appetites.

Pick up a spout kit on your way out and start your own food garden at home.

One seed at a time….

Seed Culture, 64 Oxford St., Toronto, 647-801-0833.

Whether requesting homemade playdough or asking if their fish sticks are Ocean Wise, sometimes even we're surprised by the eco-activism of little ones. 

Humanity clothing line taps into the eco-consciousness of kids with funky tees (from $35) with environmentally approved slogans like "Walk Don't Ride" and "Feed the Hungry."

But just because the message is smart doesn't mean there can't be some youthful silliness as well—just check out the line in collaboration with SpongeBob Square Pants for a tee your Nickelodeon-obsessed tot will love. Or pick them up a wrap-around leather bracelet (from $24) with messages like "Plant Peace" and "Lead the Way." 

They'll be so impressed with your environmentally friendly style that they'll think your cooler than SpongeBob. Well, not quite. 

Shop online or find retailers at www.humanityforall.com