In a sea of delightfully emerging all-natural alternatives to previous chemical solutions for home cleaning products, GrabGreen is a standout. Grabgreen has an entire line of biodegradable, recyclable, extremely effective products that do a great job of cleaning – and are scented with amazing aromatherapy scents such as tangerine with lemongrass fragrance – a blend of sweet tangerine, grapefruit and bergamot with lush lemongrass. You can also get unscented if you have sensitivities.

Patricia Spencer developed GrabGreen cleaning products when she realized that the everyday supplies were harmful to her children. Now, MaddieBrit Products LLC is launching Spencer’s line of eco-friendly home cleaning products.

“I didn’t really start off as an eco-conscience person,” Spencer. “I’m just a mom who wants to keep her kids healthy.”

Spencer has two daughters and lives in Southern California. She recently examined the ingredients of her home cleaning products, finding that her laundry detergent and stain removal spray both consist of hazardous materials.

GrabGreen

“Rashes, respiratory problems, massive amounts of un-needed plastic,” Spencer said, explaining the many issues with the store bought cleaners. “I decided I was not going to compromise my kids’ safety or the environment like that, so I started developing detergent myself.”

She began developing the products but they weren’t officially launched until 2008 after she started a handful of other companies related to health and fitness. Then, she gained the assistance of organic chemists who continued perfecting her creation, including the powder detergent made from all natural ingredients and found in a dissolvable “pod” structure. The pods eliminate the need for large and bulky jugs of liquid detergent and reduce up to 98 percent of plastic waste, according to MaddieBrit.

MaddieBrit started after the investment capital was obtained from Michael Edell. MaddieBrit takes its name from Spencer’s two daughters: Maddie and Britney.

Camarillo, Calif.-based GrabGreen has an entire line of home cleaning products like detergents, room and fabric fresheners, glass cleaners, dish soap cleaner, bathroom and kitchen cleaning solutions.

GrabGreen

“The response has been fantastic,” Spencer revealed. “There’s a real need for safe, effective and affordable products and GrabGreen delivers on all three fronts. The positive feedback has been amazing!”

GrabGreen’s product line consists of organic and mineral-based ingredients and contains no dyes. The products also are never tested on animals. The packaging is biodegradable and recyclable, helping the environment too.

For more information and to buy the many products, visit GrabGreen’s official site at www.grabgreenhome.com.

An LA’s The Place 2010 Top Pick!

You may already know that wheatgrass is one of the healthiest products you can eat or drink, but as it turns out, its benefits extend to your skin. Vitale Skin has harnessed the natural properties of wheatgrass for use in their Green Skincare line, where it detoxifies and purifies the skin with loads of natural vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and chlorophyll. The chlorophyll is especially advantageous for your complexion, as it acts like hemoglobin and brings oxygen and nutrients to your skin. Vitale Skin is the brainchild of Shelly Floyd, a licensed aesthetician and a longtime veteran in the skincare industry.

Vitale Skin’s Green Skincare is eco-friendly through and through, from the bottles to the formula to the company’s commitment to the best organic, chemical-free, and cruelty-free ingredients. Even better, Vitale Skin backs up its environmentally friendly pedigree with a unique three-step program that incorporates the natural healing abilities of wheatgrass to revitalize and nourish your skin. If this sounds like a new approach, it is, and it all adds up to a skincare line that gives you a healthy, young-looking face without the toxic elements commonly found in other cleansers.

Shelly Floyd share her line with excited celebs at the 2010 Oscar Gifting Suite.

Vitale’s Green Skincare line includes three products that can be used alone or in combination. Of course, the trio is specially designed to work together, but users should feel free to pick and choose between the items–and to expect fantastic results.

Wheatgrass 3-in-1 Cleanser

Start off with Vitale Skin’s Wheatgrass 3-in-1 Cleanser, which removes makeup, as well as purifies and cleanses the face. It also restores your skin’s pH, no toner necessary. Free of fragrances and mineral oil, it feels silky and doesn’t dry out your skin.

Wheatgrass Foaming Refiner

The second step is Wheatgrass Foaming Refiner, which includes jojoba beads and rice bran wax both to exfoliate your face and to absorb your skin’s oils. Suspended within the deep-cleansing foaming gel, wheatgrass blends with essential oils, adding up to a cleanser that evens out rough skin, yet is delicate enough for use on sensitive skin. You’ll see the difference in a polished, soft complexion.

Ashley Jones from Bold & the Beautiful loves her Vitale Green Skincare.

Wheatgrass Oil Free Hydrator

Finish up with Wheatgrass Oil Free Hydrator to help your skin stay dewy and moist without oil, which can clog your pores and lead to blemishes. Vitale Skin’s moisturizer reaches down into the depths of your epidermal layer; the hydration comes from the inside out, and the final product is a healthy, balanced glow to your skin. You should be able to see results in the form of soft, energized skin in your first day using Vitale’s Green Skincare. With repeated use, acne, oiliness, and redness will decrease as well.

Tionne Williams, the grammy-nominated Universal Music Recording Artist and Actor.

Vitale Skin teams up wheatgrass with a whole roster of natural ingredients that have been long known for their beneficial properties, including wild mint, lavender, eucalyptus, ylang ylang, lemon peel, orange peel, cucumber, green tea, and other valuable botanicals. These pure products provide the antioxidants that are so important in fighting free radical damage, which often leads to health problems and increased signs of aging. Vitale Skin combines these ingredients for a formula that’s more than 75 percent active, compared to over-the-counter items that are typically between 10 and 25 percent active and padded with oil and water. Seeing the results of fast-acting Green Skincare is all you’ll need to understand how Vitale Skin’s revolutionary mix improves on those old, inert concoctions.

Patrick Kirpatrick of Minority Report.

Shelly Floyds aim was to create a green product that could nourish, cleanse, and refresh the skin, but not dry out or deprive it of its natural properties. As a result, Shelly crafted the Green Skincare line. In addition to its use of natural ingredients, Green Skincare is wholly derived from plants and minerals, as well as free of parabens, sulfates, and animal products. The Green Skincare line is not tested on animals, and the bottles are recyclable.

LA’s the Place caught up with Shelly Floyd of Vitale Skin GREEN Skincare to find out about her innovative skincare line.

LA’s the Place: Tell us a little bit about what makes Vitale Skin’s GREEN Skincare so unique.

Shelly Floyd: Vitale’s Skin’s Green Skincare is unique because it is the first and only skincare line on the market to harness wheatgrass in a simple to use 3 step process! Green Skincare targets oily, Acneic, combination, congested, sensitive and normal skin types. It is paraben free, sulfate free, cruelty free and plant/mineral derived.  We even donate a portion of the proceeds to the ASPCA to help fight animal cruelty!

LATP: Why specifically did you choose to use wheatgrass in your product?

SF: I chose to use wheatgrass in my products because wheatgrass is very detoxifying, purifying and loaded with vitamins, minerals and amino acids.  It is also 70% chlorophyll. Chlorophyll acts like hemoglobin (our red blood cells).  It brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin.

LATP: What other natural and organic ingredients are used in the product?

SF: The other natural ingredients in Green Skincare are wild mint, lavender, eucalyptus, ylang ylang, lemon peel, orange peel, cucumber, green tea and other soothing botanicals.

LATP: What are some benefits of using a skincare product with natural ingredients as opposed to chemicals?

SF: The benefits of using natural ingredients are that you get all the great antioxidants from them!  When you are talking about healthy skin and anti-aging….you have to talk about antioxidants.  Antioxidants fight free radical damage. Free radicals are scavengers that are missing an oxygenated molecule. When a free radical attaches itself to your cells, it takes the oxygen molecule from it. The cell still divides….causing it to divide deformed and unhealthy. This is what causes cancer, immune problems and disease.  When you use antioxidants…the free radicals attach themselves to the antioxidant instead, leaving your cells untouched and healthy. When you use chemical products, you are contributing to free radical damage.

LATP: What inspired you to create a different kind of skincare line?

SF: I was inspired by my healthy eating. I eat organic and fresh as much as I can, so I started to do a lot of research on wheatgrass and its benefits.  It did not take me very long to understand that wheatgrass is a super food.  I literally woke up in the middle of the night, after praying, with the thought of a wheatgrass skincare line! I knew in my heart that this was a healthy approach to healthy skin!

LATP: How is GREEN Skincare different from you average skincare product?

SF: The average skincare product is not a professional line that has a high activity.  Over the counter products are anywhere from 10-25% active…the rest of the ingredients are either oil or water.  Green Skincare is more than 75% active.  That means that Green Skincare works….. and works fast! Plus, there is not another skincare line that offers wheatgrass as a purifier and healer in a cleanser, refiner and hydrator!

LATP: Explain how each of the 3 wheatgrass skin products treats and benefits the skin.

SF: The three wheatgrass products can work individually or combined.  It is best if you use all three products, but if you choose to use just one or two of the line, it will still give you amazing results!
The Wheatgrass 3-in-1 Cleanser removes makeup, purifies, cleanses and restores the PH of the skin, so you do not need a toner.  It is fragrance free, mineral oil free and has a silky feel to it without over drying or dehydrating the skin.
The Wheatgrass Foaming Refiner uses jojoba beads and rice bran wax to exfoliate and absorb oil from the skin.  This refiner smells and feels heavenly! It does not have any fragrance; the smell comes from the essential oils!
The Wheatgrass Oil Free Hydrator is a serum and moisturizer in one!  This hydrator actually penetrates to the inner layers of the epidermis. So it hydrates from the inside out!

LATP: How can products with harsh chemicals and ingredients adversely affect our skin?

SF: There have been multiple studies that point to harsh ingredients and chemicals to the main cause of irritation in the skin.  The more you irritate the skin, the worse your skin will look in the long run. Irritation can cause acne, redness, aging, crepiness and a multitude of other problems.

LATP: What kind of testing and approval procedures do you use for your products?

SF: We DO NOT test on animals!  The only animals we test on are HUMANS! We have professional dermatologist and ophthalmologist testing as well as efficacy and stability testing.

LATP: How carefully do you monitor and examine the ingredients that go into your products?

SF: We monitor and examine our ingredients very carefully.  If it is not up to our high standards, we do not put them in our products.  We have one of the leading ingredient gurus in the world on hand to determine what will and will not go into our products!

LATP: What is some of the feedback you’ve gotten from your customers about the product?

SF: Our customers love every single one of our products!  We have some of the best customers in the world!  Most of the feedbacks are about how beautiful their skin looks and how much better they feel because our products have given them back their self confidence to face the world with better skin!  I especially love when a customer tells me about using our products for things we did not intend.  For example, I have a customer that used the Oil Free Hydrator for her sunburn!  She said within a few days, her sunburn was gone and she did not peel!  Wheatgrass is very healing.

Tristen's results with Vitale Skincare.

LATP: How affective is GREEN Skincare in treating problems like acne and rosacea?

SF: Green Skincare is VERY effective in treating acne and rosacea and even problems like eczema and combination skin types! Wheatgrass is the key ingredient for treating these problems safely and fast!

LATP: Where can people get GREEN skincare?

SF: You can buy Green Skincare on line at: www.vitaleskincare.com or if you want to sell Green Skincare you can email us at info@vitaleskincare.com!

LATP: Are there any other products out there that are comparable to GREEN Skincare?

SF: No! Green Skincare is the only product out on the market to date that harnesses wheatgrass in a cleanser, refiner and hydrator!

LATP: What makes your product “green” besides its name and color?

SF: Green Skincare is “green” because we are paraben free, sulfate free, cruelty free, plant and mineral derived and the bottles are recyclable!  We also wanted Green Skincare to be “green” on the pocket book as well by offering the whole line at a terrific price point! www.vitaleskincare.com

We, here at LA’s The Place found Vitale Skin’s Green Skincare exemplary on every level and has awarded it an LA’s The Place Top Pick for 2010!

LA’s the Place

Say Goodbye to Allergies this Christmas

Artificial plants are not only an art but could be lifesaver in reducing allergies.  Studies have shown that Christmas trees can produce mold that triggers seasonal allergies.  No more sniffling and sneezing when spring or the holiday season comes around because Earthflora can provide all your greenery needs without the annoying side effects of allergies. And with live Christmas trees more expensive than ever, a beautiful artificial Christmas tree will help with that Christmas budget year after year.

Gorgeous authentic-looking faux Christmas trees help preservee the environment!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Celebrate the holiday Christmas season in style with Earthflora’s luminous Christmas trees, wreaths & garlands! Earthflora offers ‘everlasting joy’ to your home or office. Their fine selection of holiday accents will welcome and warm your guests all season long. Earthflora offers artificial Christmas trees of all styles and sizes from frosted, flocked, white, purple, aqua, pink and many other creatively colored trees. For a Southwest themed holiday, try their Cactus Christmas tree! Too busy to decorate your tree? Don’t worry, their artificial pre-lit Christmas tree is perfect for celebrating Christmas festivities without the hassle of decorating it.

Preserved plants from Earthflora.com

Preserved “Once-Live” Plants

Even if you prefer real plants but don’t have the environment or the time to maintain them, Earthflora has the answer - preserved plants. Preserved plants are real plants that took years to grow. They were alive when the preservation process was started, but are no longer growing. During the preservation process, each harvested plant absorbs a special natural preservation solution and then the plants are placed in a special chamber that controls temperature, airflow and humidity to make the preservation complete. They do not require maintenance and most are mounted in foam or a plaster base. Soil and water are NOT needed! Preserved plants are very much in demand along with artificial indoor trees and plants. They can enhance any room décor as much as artificial indoor plants can do. Keep them indoors as they will fade and rot outside.

Price Guarantee

Earthflora will not be undersold. They will gladly honor any other offer on the internet. They offer discounts on volume orders and wholesale orders. Also, with your order of  $99 or more, shipping is free within the inland USA.

EarthFlora Speaks Up

LATP got a chance to catch up with Rossano Porcelli, CEO of Earthflora.com before the busy holiday season…

LA’s The Place: Besides Christmas trees, what are some of your top selling items?

Rossano Porcelli: Our custom made to order trees & palm trees are always a big favorite since they are made from natural wood and coconut palm trunk aloe for ultimate realism. Our preserved topiary and bonsai line is another; you can’t get closer to “real”. Our polyblend outdoor line is a huge year-round hit for hard-to-grow areas.

LATP:  Speaking of Christmas trees, what exotic colors can one order a Christmas tree in?

RP: We can create christmas trees from the following spectrum of following colors: Metallic Champagne, silver, Gold, Orange, Purple, Lavender, Light Pink, Cerise, Red, Teal, Green, Light Blue, Blue, Black, Purple/Black, Orange/Black. Or Choose from Metallic Silver/Chartreuse, Silver/ Clear irridescent, silver, Gold, Cerise, Red, Fucshia, Purple, Apple Green, Hunter Green, Aqua, Blue.

LATP: Have you seen an increase in your business due to customers becoming more ‘green’ and buying plants that don’t take our precious water resources?

RP: Yes, we have found a major increase especially in places in like Arizona and Las Vegas where the water resources must be reserved. In addition our products save customers time, worry and are a great solution for allergy sufferers sensitive to mold & pollens.

LATP: How long can one expect outdoor artificial grass or shrubbery to look vibrant?

RP: It really depends what part of the country you are located. Southern states with intense sunlight can expect a shorter lifespan up to 5 years before noticeable fading occurs and Northern states with less intense sunlight can last up to 10 years before noticeable fading occurs.

LATP: It says in your mission statement that you customize your plants to the needs of customer? Can you give an example of that?

RP:  We have customized trees using the many variety branches we sell to the height and width that the customer requests. We have made fall trees, flowering trees, exotic palm trees, Christmas ice trees, any tree you can think of in nature, if we carry the branch we can customize it to your specification up to 30 feet tall. We cater to both commercial & residential clients.

LATP: Anything else you’d like to add about Earthflora?

RP: We take pride in our business, our dedication is to design with our customer in mind. We are proud to bring our clients only the very finest faux botanicals available in the market. We understand their desire for only the very best for your home and office, that’s why we make every effort to carefully select the most authentic looking foliages as a reflection of nature. Virtually maintenance free, our faux accents are made to simplify lives. To accommodate the unique in every individual, we customize our trees, palm trees and topiaries upon request. We want to be apart of the Joy and celebration of every season in your home. We offer selections for each and every season. Please tell us how we can help your reinvent your living space to inspire a tradition that your family can share throughout the seasons.

Authentic, gorgeous faux palms from Earthflora.com

Need Green?

If you love the look of plants or greenery, EarthFlora has thousands of products for your every flora and fauna whim. Here are just a few of the fabulous products Earthflora offers: Artificial Palm Trees & Plants, Thatch Collection, Birds, Artificial Trees, Topiary & Bonsai, All Weather Artificial Outdoor Palms, Trees, Topiary, Plants & More Grasses, Grass Mats, Bark, Stone Ground cover, Artificial Flowering Plants & Stems Plastic Boxwood Hedges, Plastic Cactus & Succulent, Greenery Artificial Plants, Garlands, Vines & Table Top Home Accents, Artificial Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Seasonal, Artificial Fruit Vegetables, Corn Stalks, Theatrical Props, Canvas Palms & Plants, Peace of Mind Fountains, Preserved “Once Live ” Foliage, Silk Plant Cleaner & Moss planter toppers, Palm, Tree & Twig Branches, Urns & Planters, and Halloween Decorations.

Unleash your inner landscaper and start ‘sprucing’ up your life and home by visiting their website: www.earthflora.com or call them Toll Free (877)252-1675 or Local & International Calls (440)899-4947. Or if you’re in Cleveland, they have two showrooms for you to shop at:  Christmas and their regular tree lines.

You can add a gorgeous lush hedge anywhere in an instant, no muss, no fuss!

Read our latest editorial on Earthflora.com here…

Stay tuned for LAsThePlace.com Product Showcase!