A Gift Guide for The Conscious Consumer

1- Natural Wine

 In order to maximize profit, many commercial vineyards operate on the principle of mass production, which almost always involves using harmful pesticides and other toxic chemicals. The growing community of "natural" winemakers are taking this ancient process back to its roots. Their goal is to intervene in the process as minimally as possible. They add no yeast, sulfur dioxide, oak chips, enzymes or concentrates in the cellar, and no chemicals, fertilizers or tillage in their vineyards. One of our favorite natural winemakers is La Clarine Farm in California. Hank's delicious wines sell out fast, so move quickly to grab whatever they have on offer at the moment. Our personal favorite is the 2016 Piedi Grandi sold online at Domaine LA.

2- Cariuma Sneakers 

These sneakers are a great gift for both men and women. Made from fair-trade cotton, Caruma is committed to a manufacturing process that minimizes harmful environmental impact and maximizes efficient water consumption. Their sustainability action demands that 100% of the water that is used in the leather process is reused and treated with zero chemical waste output. They use solar panels as their primary source of energy, plus they produce electricity from hydro-generated and thermal energy, both of which are renewable sources.

3- Astrology Skype Session

This zero-waste gift is perfect for the friend who has it all!  Danielle Beinstein, a Los Angeles-based astrologer, provides a number of different offerings that can help us to harness our direction and purpose. It is the gift that keeps on giving. 

4- Imperfect Foods 

For most of us, the holidays are a time when we gather with friends and family and EAT! Unfortunately, holiday meals usually end with a lot of leftovers that turn into waste. We love Imperfect Foods, a subscription-based service that delivers produce which lack the visual aesthetic grocery stores require. In other words, it is perfectly good food that would have gone to waste simply because it doesn’t look perfect! This healthy gift makes a positive impact on the planet by reducing waste while also making sure your loved one is always stocked up with healthy options. 

5- Malibu Made Body Scrub

You can't go wrong with a jar of our Malibu Made Body Scrub. It comes in three different sizes and is loved by both men and women. We package and ship plastic-free and encourage shoppers to up-cycle their jar after use. Made with brown sugar, organic botanicals and food-grade vanilla, Malibu Made Body Scrub smells like a snickerdoodle and is a healthy indulgence for your skin. 

6 - Rosie Salt

These luxurious face and body oils are made with organic & non-GMO essential oils, plus they smell divine. They are packaged in glass with a bamboo lid and a reusable crystal roller. 

7- Christy Dawn Piper Dress 

There are few better feelings than discovering your favorite dress is sustainably made. Buying Christy Dawn’s perfect designs takes the guilt out of shopping. They use dead-stock fabric to minimize their environmental footprint, and, instead of creating thousands of garments at a time, they sew a limited number of pieces, numbering every dress they make. 

8- Fullest Saffron Latte 

We recently featured The Saffron Latte as a favorite holiday recipe. We just can't get enough! This plastic-free product lives in a reusable tin jar and is made with organic ingredients. Plus, we love the female founder and what she does to promote healthy conversations with her brand, The Fullest.

9- Wild Idea Subscription

 We all know that the meat industry is a huge cause for concern when it comes to carbon emissions, antibiotic usage and inhumane conditions for animals. It is a flawed system that heavily contributes to our environmental burden. That said, there are ways to enjoy animal protein while offsetting the impact of climate change. Purchasing prairie-raised bison through The Wild Idea Buffalo Company contributes to the restoration of the Great Plains prairie. Wild Ideas is now affiliated with other like-minded ranchers, including Native American ranchers and Nature Conservancy herds, positively impacting over 150,000 acres of grasslands. 

10- Bāeo Gift Box 

Bāeo is a brand for mothers, founded by mothers. This line of natural skincare is a great gift for any mama! Although it is marketed as skincare for babies, their goodies are a nourishing gift for the whole family. Let's face it, we should all be treating our skin with the gentleness and thoughtfulness that we would a child’s.