Eco-Friendly Fashion

If you've ever fantasized about nail polish remover that doesn't make you nauseous with its toxic smell, then your nose (and nails!) will love Karma Organic Nail Polish Remover. Recently the New Jersey-based Karma Organic Spa, which has its own line of organic products, sent me two complimentary bottles of their nail polish remover to test and review. Not only do these nail polish removers smell great, they actually work too! I couldn't believe my nose. Or my eyes.


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Outside my window, snowflakes drift silently to the ground, but online, H&M's Garden Collection lookbook brings a burst of color and sunshine to my desktop. While I'm not in a hurry for spring to arrive, this romantic collection inspired by "chlorophyll-green gardens, sundrenched landscapes and even 70s hippie chic flower-power" has me swooning.

What's more, the line is eco-friendly: Made using organic and recycled materials, all the garments have been produced using sustainable materials or using recycled PET bottles or textile waste. And it's inexpensive! The collection, which includes breezy blouses, rosette embellished frocks and airy tanks, tops out at $60 with most items falling between $15 and $30. Can't wait for this line to drop at the end of March!

For complete details on the collection, click here.

Images courtesy of hm.com.

This week's Etsy artist of the week feature also serves to answer a common question that I receive, namely, "Where can I buy genuine leather boots under $50?" The answer: Go vintage. Check your neighborhood vintage boutique, thrift or secondhand store to uncover fashion gems from days gone by. Or, let someone with an expert eye do the work for you, like the owners of Annie Haul Vintage. The selection is limited, but if you're lucky you will come away with one-of-a-kind real leather boots at a fraction of the cost you'd pay elsewhere. All the boots shown above, currently in stock, cost between $35 and $55. Don't see your size? Expand your search to other great vintage shops on etsy or Ebay.com.

I dropped the ball on my whole "Etsy Artist of the Week" feature for the past two weeks, so now I'm playing catch-up by presenting 3 amazing artists I'm loving right now. Thanks to my followers on Twitter (@budgetbabe) for tweeting about your fave etsy artists (that's how I found out about Bethany Lorelle, featured below). Feel free to add more suggestions in the comments!

Bethany Lorelle
bethanylorelle.etsy.com

This shop sells fun yet sophisticated hair accessories and handmade headbands for big girls who like to dress up.


Amanda Atkins in a Canary Forest
amandaatkins.etsy.com

I'm in love with this Boston-based artist's prints of mesmerizing heroines who are at once beautifully flawed and flawlessly beautiful.


Savage Salvage
savagesalvage.etsy.com

Each one-of-a-kind piece of recycled jewelry in this collection is a conversation starter that's also easy enough to wear every day.

The Budget Babe's resident product-tester-extraordinaire Kiki Bella (an alias) reviews some seriously smart skincare solutions. —BB



by Kiki Bella
Recently I was asked to review some products by a line known as Smart Girls Who Surf. Smart Girls Who Surf makes products that relate primarily to protection from the damaging rays of the sun, in addition to some soaps and other cute accessories. I am a smart girl but I don't surf, so how could these products apply to me? Well, for starters this company gets top marks right off the bat for being into protecting our planet, its waters and its people by making products that aren't full of icky chemicals. Some are even organic (major points there). The truth of the matter is that these products are awesome for any smart girl who finds herself doing anything in the sun. The products are fantastic, and I really am hooked on them.

In order to properly test these products out myself I took the Smart Girls Who Surf Grab-N-Go Kit ($24.99) on vacation with me diamond prospecting (yes, you read correctly—I spent one week in the middle of Arkansas in a 115 degree volcanic crater digging for diamonds—its hard work, and my boyfriend almost left me a few times, but I loved every second of it!). (continued below)

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