In Greek mythology, the Gods of Olympus would consume honey as a drink or nectar to achieve immortality. For the rest of us mortals, honey is a fantastic product to feed our body and soul, and a wonderful gift in this festive season. Buying responsible honey products can also help save dwindling populations of honeybees, … Continue reading
Every now and then, we all need to recharge our batteries and the best way for me to do it is to indulge in a spa treatment by the sea. This year, I chose the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth, which offers a cornucopia of natural remedies for body and soul. As the … Continue reading
As we are getting ready to ring in the new year, it is time to look back at 2013. Despite its fair share of depressing news, chief among them the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh, this year also saw some promising developments and auspicious announcements in the area of sustainable luxury: from zero-deforestation luxury eco-bags … Continue reading
As the weather gets colder and the holiday season draws nearer, it is time to get pampered with some wholesome beauty treatments and products. One of my little indulgences is to treat myself to one of Switzerland’s amazing outdoor spas heated by underground hot water springs. The experience of getting a hydromassage in a steaming … Continue reading
Once a delicacy of choice of French kings, Russian tzars and Persian shahs alike, wild sturgeon caviar today has all but vanished from the world’s finest tables. The reason? Sturgeons from the Caspian Sea are today the most threatened group of animals in the world – all because of our insatiable appetite for their unfertilized … Continue reading
It’s sizzling hot here in Switzerland and soon we will be joining other holiday-makers in making our way to the Mediterranean coast. This means it’s time to pack the bags! Anyone growing up in Australia in the 1980s would be familiar with Slip-Slop-Slap, the iconic sun protection campaign launched by Cancer Council. It has since been … Continue reading
With this week’s letter being “O”, it is hard to avoid talking about all things organic. Since a lot has already been written on this topic, I have chosen to look at the kind of lessons the beauty & fashion industry can learn from the organic food movement, at the same time separating facts from … Continue reading
It is Valentine’s Day and chances are that somewhere tonight some lover would pop the question – and back up the proposal by a little something that sparkles. If you live in the United States, that little something has four out of five chances of being a diamond, largely thanks to the timeless and ingenius … Continue reading
Ever since ancient Egyptians mixed up soot and lead to produce kohl for their characteristic cat-eye makeup, chemicals and cosmetics have enjoyed a long and close relationship. Throughout history, human desire to improve our complexions, facial expressions and coiffures prompted men and women alike to use highly dangerous substances such as mercury, lead and aluminium. … Continue reading
We eat it and drink it. We use it as jet fuel and fertiliser. We slap it on our faces. And now we can also wear it! I am talking of algae — or, simply put, seaweed — one of the most diverse groups of organisms on earth, which are responsible for the oxygen in … Continue reading
green stilettos 