Love Yourself & Love the Planet This Valentine's Day

Did you know that Valentine's Day is a multi-billion-dollar industry in the US? And our typical Valentine's Day celebrations of roses and chocolates are not the most sustainable things around.

Roses are a durable flower, which is part of their unsustainable footprint. Because they can withstand a considerable amount, they can, and are, transported long distances to make it to the US. And, most of this transportation is done by plane. Plus, they have to be refrigerated throughout transportation. Talk about a MASSIVE carbon footprint!

Chocolate, another V-Day fave, also has a considerable impact on our environment. 58 million pounds of chocolate are consumed during the week of Valentine's Day. Around 70% of this chocolate is grown in West Africa, where small-scale farmers are rushing to not only keep up with demand, but also combat global warming as cocoa is directly impacted by warming temperatures (making it much more difficult to grow in mass). The chocolate industry in this region is responsible for 1) Deforestation, and 2) Child Labor. Socially and environmentally NOT friendly.

But, we're not here to get you down! Here's some ways that you can show love for yourself AND for our planet this February 14th!

Love Yourself

❤️ Welcome to our Valentine's Day shop! ❤️ If you're looking to treat yourself, why not do it with the comfiest, most sustainable clothes around? Soft on your skin, soft on the environment 🌍 

Once you've got a nice and cozy outfit picked out, tend to yourself with some at-home spa time. With these fun, eco-friendly, DIY concoctions, you could spend Saturday prepping, and Sunday spa-ing! 💆 

• DIY Facial Toner for Sensitive Skin – This easy to make recipe is tailored to sensitive skin. It combines easy to find items with personalizable essential oils, to help target your skin’s woes. I’ve been using this recipe for over six months and love the way it’s helped my hormonal breakouts.
• Moisturizing Cleansing Balm – Only two ingredients make this recipe among the easiest on the list. Cleansing Balm helps to replenish moisture, melt away makeup, and restore a youthful appearance. 
• Peel Off Mask – An easy recipe that can be made with ingredients found in your kitchen. This is a great recipe for blackheads and large pores. 

• Lazy Days Skin Serum – Made with just 4 simple ingredients this serum is great for all skin types especially dry or sensitive skin types. Rose Water, aloe and olive oil are all–natural and sure to help perk up dull skin.

• Overnight Turmeric Serum – Perfect for restoring a healthy glow, this serum is anti-inflammatory and will help with redness, inflammation, and blemishes.

Love the Planet

If you are spending this day with a significant other, check out these eco-friendly options!

• Instead of opting for a bouquet of roses, choose living plants or flowers! Leafy Green Creation is a Black-owned plant shop local here in LA, offering an array of plants and planters perfect for any home. Plus, there are so many more health benefits that come with a living plant, than roses that'll only last a few days!
• If chocolate is on the menu, make it sustainable! Dark chocolate has a much lesser environmental footprint than milk chocolate. And, make it fair-trade so you know the farmers that went into making the chocolate are treated ethically.
• Is dessert on the agenda, but you don't want to stick exclusively to chocolate? Support local business! Big Man Bakes is a local place here in LA that offers some of the best cupcakes you'll ever have. Small and Black-owned, exercise the social side of sustainability.
• Give the gift of zero waste! Gifting a zero waste starter kit is a great way to give something than can make a long-term change in both of your lives. Plus, it's definitely something fun to tackle together!
• And, if you are sticking to a more traditional gift-giving route, you can opt for gifts that have no packaging, or zero-waste packaging! 

Happy (Early) Valentine's Day! Check out our Pinterest for more ways to have a sustainable V-Day 💖