Jessica Alba

[Meghann]

Jessica Alba Talks Eco Living and Swapping Shoes

March 12 12:45 PM

by Faran Krentcil | 0 Comments

Photo: Courtesy of Hannaway Public Relations

Jessica Alba is known for her healthy glow and radiant smile, but that wasn't always the case. "As a kid, I was always sick," said the Hollywood star. "I had pneumonia, I had really severe allergies. And it wasn't until I got older, that I realized some of that was caused by toxins in things like detergent. That made me crazy, because it's supposed to help get things clean."

Enter The Honest Company, a label of all-natural products created by Alba and her business partner, Christopher Gavigan. The team makes everything from lip balm to dishwasher gel, and today they launch their first book, The Honest Life.

"It's about making healthy choices and making eco-friendly choices, but realizing you can't and shouldn't pressure yourself to be perfect," she explained. "I mean, I wish I could grow my own vegetables in a garden. But I'm terrible at keeping plants alive, and besides, I have two very active little kids and a job!"

We met Alba at the Crosby Street Hotel in NYC to talk more about the book, the job, and of course, being a movie star.

ELLE: You're in production for the next Sin City, plus you have a toddler and a baby. And now a book?!

Jessica Alba: I know; things are busy. [The book] is so important, though! I wanted to write it because when I was first trying to figure stuff out—what cleansers were safe around my baby, what makeup didn't have toxic ingredients—there was no all-encompassing guide book to help me make better choices. I felt really overwhelmed.

ELLE: Didn't this all start because of some laundry detergent?

JA: When I had my daughter Honor, my mom told me to buy a certain brand of detergent. It was really expensive, but she swore by it. She said she'd used it when we were kids, and it was the only thing safe enough for babies. But when I tested it, I got huge red welts all over my skin. I panicked, but looking back, that freak out really inspired The Honest Company!

ELLE: The book has a slightly more realistic approach to living healthy—you all understand that you can't make perfect food or product choices 100 percent of the time.

JA: You can't, but I'm really trying to make it easier. I mean, if I can prevent my children from getting cancer, I will do absolutely anything. Part of that is genetic, but part of it is environmental factors. So if I can reduce their cancer risk by using "cleaner" soap—isn't that crazy, that I have to talk about "clean" soap? But if I can keep them healthier by using more natural products, then of course I will, and I'd encourage every parent to do the same.

ELLE: Is that why you started The Honest Company?

JA: You know, there are many eco-friendly and toxin-free products out there, but most of them are so expensive. To me, that was the big issue. You shouldn't have to be in a certain tax bracket just to afford safe household cleanser. That's just wrong. And the book has tons of DIY tips. You can take some avocado and olive oil and make a hair treatment. It takes five minutes and it's all natural!

ELLE: Obviously, you mention lots of eco-friendly projects in the book. But you mention lots of other things, too—like shoes.

JA: I can't call the book The Honest Life and not show my closet! Fashion is such a huge part of my life, and I think you can love clothes and love shopping and still be true to your ideas about eco-friendly living.

ELLE: How?

JA: By taking care of your clothes so they last longer. By picking things you actually like instead of what's trendy, so that every month you're not chasing some new look and throwing out your old one. And I'm a big fan of swapping clothes with your friends, because when you're sick of something, it can still feel like new to someone else. The trick is to find friends who have your sense of style.

ELLE: And who have your shoe size.

JA: Oh, the gold mine is when they also have your body type! Then you don't even need to try things on.

ELLE: Speaking of clothes, do people still ask you about your costumes in Never Been Kissed?

JA: No! But that's such a funny question!

ELLE: Well, it's a classic '90s teen movie. And besides, you had to dress up as Malibu Barbie in one scene.

JA: I totally did! I had to dress up as Barbie for the prom scene, and it was so ridiculous! My outfits in that movie were like…how would someone describe them? I looked like a Spice Girl on crack. They were so outrageous, but you know, the character I played was pretty outrageous, too.

ELLE: Did you secretly love having better costumes than Drew Barrymore?

JA: At the time, I definitely didn't think I had better costumes than anyone. I was so shy about showing my body, and those costumes showed so much of my body—that prom costume especially. I was so uncomfortable at first, but I thought about my character, and how she really believed those clothes were cool. I mean, I was playing a really ridiculous girl! So I just kind of went with it. And by the end of filming, I didn't feel as shy. Actually, I remember it being pretty fun!

Buy Jessica Alba's new book, The Honest Life on her website,honest.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Hannaway Public Relations

http://www.elle.com/...e?click=main_sr

[Meghann]

Jessica Alba Shares the Secret of Her Honest Life and How Her Daughter Ended Up With Rainbow Hair

March 12, 2013

Diapers, check. Cleaning supplies, check. Lip balm, check. Lifestyle book, check. Everything seems to be falling into place for Jessica Alba these days. A year ago, the actress and mom of two — Honor, 4, and Haven, 1 — had just launched The Honest Company as an eco-friendly baby and household cleaning product company. Today, the business has expanded to include lifestyle products, and Jessica's just published The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You, a guide to creating a healthy and chic home for the family. Filled with everything from toxins to avoid in furniture and decor items to Jessica's beauty, decorating, and parenting tips — including crafts and recipes her girls love — the book is a handbook for the hip, modern mom.

Celebrating the launch of the book, we sat down to talk with Jessica about her honest life over eco-friendly manicures yesterday.

PopSugar: What is the "honest life" for you?

Jessica Alba: It's functional, it's practical, it's not overly expensive, and it's authentic. It's what works for me. It's not judgmental.

PS: Is green living something you've always tried to do, or is it something you adopted once you became a mom?

JA: I never really knew anything about toxic chemicals or that I needed to look at ingredients until I was pregnant. That's certainly when the moment of awareness of what's in your environment and how it affects your health — this little person that you are all of a sudden responsible for. As I was doing research, it just felt like if you wanted to be eco or if you wanted to be healthier or green, everyone was so extreme — you had to be vegan or you had to do yoga every day and meditate. I believe all of that is great, but it's just so extreme. There had to be an in-between. I can be modern, young, and hip. You can eat meat if you want to, and you can wear makeup. You can live your life, but you can just make better choices.

PS: What was the first thing you changed in your life? Or the first product you threw away?

JA: I threw out pretty much all of my cleaning products. That was the first thing, because I was frustrated with green washing. Then I went to beauty after that. What am I putting on my body, what am I inhaling? That's going directly to my baby. Then, I was putting together my house at the time, so I was looking for the right materials. That was a whole other thing — trying to find what to even stuff your couches with, and how you find fabrics that aren't sprayed with flame-retardants, and wallpaper and paint. I was doing all of it at the same time.

Keep reading to see why Honor came home from school with rainbow hair one day and how Jessica brings the girls into the kitchen.

PS: It's Spring soon, and parents are starting to look into spring cleaning their homes. What would be the first thing you recommend people change to make their homes healthier?

JA: Certainly take your shoes off. That's so easy. Try to keep your windows open. What is inside your home and the air quality in your home . . . all of the off-gassing is actually more toxic than outside. You can spring for a HEPA filter, either in your main air conditioner or free-standing, and that purifies the air. You're not going to switch out all your furniture or throw away all of your rugs, but if you have the option, try to make better choices and know what's coming into your home. I think that's the biggest thing — know what you're purchasing. Opening the windows as much as you can and taking your shoes off at the door. It's crazy what a difference that makes!

PS: You have a school-aged child now. It's a lot of paper, a lot of paint, a lot of mess that they bring home.

JA: When they say it's washable, it is not washable! That stuff is not washable.

PS: All those pretty clothes you send them to school in, they come back a mess.

JA: Ugh, a mess! [Honor's] been wanting rainbow hair, so she painted her hair at school and I was like, "Did you paint your hair?" And she was like, "No. It's only in one section; it's perfect." She totally painted her hair! And she says, "The teacher told me to stop, so I stopped."

PS: Do you go into the school at all and try to convince them to adopt the lifestyle?

JA: There are into it. Nobody wants to expose their kids to toxic chemicals. Nobody is saying, "Yeah, I want my kids to have allergies and put them at risk for diseases." It's not really something you have to convince people of. You just have to give them a high-performance alternative that's affordable. And luckily my products are that.

PS: Anyone who follows your Instagram feed knows . . .

JA: That I like food!

PS: Do you bring the kids into the kitchen?

JA: Oh, yeah. Honor loves cracking eggs and mixing things and pouring things.

PS: Do you try to bring in some of your cultural heritage with your cooking?

JA: I'm American, so it's a mixture of everything I grew up with. I certainly grew up with Mexican American food, and we eat that. But we also eat everything else around the sun. We do have breakfast tacos 90 percent of the time . . . every morning.

PS: You seem to travel a lot with your kids. Any wonderful tips for parents about traveling with kids?

JA: I have many! Hand sanitizer. Wipes. Some sort of device to watch favorite movies or TV shows, or apps, whether it's a tablet or computer. A cozy blanket. I always bring my daughters' sound machines; there's this sleep lamb thing. I bring that. When they're laying down in a foreign environment, they have the sound and they have the smell of their little blankie — it kind of comforts them. That helps for sure!

http://www.lilsugar....e-Book-28498816

[calebrio]

Jessica Alba - "The Honest Life" Book Signing in Pasadena - March 16, 2013 - HQ photos

[Meghann]

• Celebrities Mar 14, 2013 10:00 AM EDT 3
  

Jessica Alba Says "Lame Sauce," Shares Some Honest Conversation

By Vanessa Golembewski

It's no secret that celebs often branch out from their raison d'être in the interest of a well-rounded career. More and more, we're seeing our favorite faces dabble as recording artists and campaign models, while others are taking it even further by creating their own lifestyle brands (hello, Gwennie!).

Another Hollywood darling, Jessica Alba, is gaining newfound attention with The Honest Company, her year-old line of eco-friendly home and baby products. Jessica, who is the proud mama of two gorgeous girls, found a need in the market for safe and affordable products for both moms and children. Her journey is an inspiring one, and along the way, she's also managed to finesse some serious style points.

The multi-hyphenate talked to us about her new book, creating her own company, and what it means to have Honest style.

Tell us about the decision to create your own company.

"It felt like it was out of necessity. When you are growing a person inside of you, and you're like, 'I'm responsible for this little person,' not only keeping her alive, but making sure that she is going to be healthy and happy. So I guess you're just more aware of the things you want to avoid, something as easy and obvious as toxic chemicals. There weren't many great options, so that's why I had to create the company."

It does seem like an obvious lifestyle choice for you. So, what's the hardest part about living what you call "The Honest Life?"

"It's not so hard, actually. I looked around me and saw people who were extremely green, extremely eco, extremely vegan — and I'm not an extreme person. I believe everything in moderation is good. I think you need to cut yourself some slack, and I know that everyone's doing the best they can. Having a little more of a balanced perspective is really what "The Honest Life" is about: The philosophy that you can make healthier and better choices for you and your family. You don't have to live way on one end of the spectrum, so take from it what works for you. Maybe you see three or four little changes that work for you; that's cool."

Your new brand encompasses a lot of aspects of life, similar to what Gwyneth Paltrow has done with GOOP. Do you think this will change women's perspectives on what it means to be glamourous?

"The thing is, nowadays with paparazzi and the access that anyone with a camera has on you and your life, it takes away a lot of the glamour. So, I'm putting gas in my car — what's glamorous about that?! I think it's just being able to filter information and put out what's genuine and authentic to you. I think there are things in the book most people might not know about me. I cook, I come from a family that I care about, I put together my house, I don't have designers and celebrity chef friends, and I'm not buying the most fancy and expensive versions of everything — that's just not how I grew up. I like nice things, absolutely, but it's about choosing quality over quantity, that's kind of my philosophy."

Do you have any mentors that inspired this initiative?

"Martha Stewart is certainly one of my idols as far as what she created. When I was younger I'd think, Oh gosh, it'd be great to be able to make cheese, or have a garden (laughs). I wanted everything to be pretty and Easter-egg colored. I don't know if the expectations are different now. I do think people look at individuals as brands more than ever, but maybe that's because of social media."

Let's talk style for a minute. You obviously advocate for having Honest products in your home, but what about when it comes to clothing? Do you wear designers based on whether they practice sound manufacturing?

"I don't at all; I don't think there's enough out there. I know how difficult it is to find manufacturers who have more sustainable practices — it's nearly impossible, unless you want to invest in that process. And usually people just have a great idea and they're lucky to get that off the ground. I think having Honest style is more about the quality, so you're not constantly disposing of things, and if you do give something a life and you love it and it was your favorite thing, pass it down to a girlfriend and give it another life. So, instead of being wasteful, just be a little more conscientious instead of just consuming for consuming's sake, or just buying up a bunch of a certain trend and jumping from one thing to the next. Figure out what gets you excited about fashion, and how you want to be presented, what looks best on your body, and hone in more on that."

Especially when it comes to being disappointed when a certain piece ends up not looking great on your body type.

"It shouldn't! Not everything should look good on your body. That's what's great about the world, we're all different. If we were all the same it'd be so boring. Whenever my daughter says, 'I really wish I had a trampoline,' I say, 'Isn't it so great that your friend has a trampoline, so that when you go to her house it's really exciting?' That's me breaking it down like a mom, super lame sauce. But that's kind of the way I think now."

In The Honest Life, you discuss your tomboy roots and how, after having two daughters, you feel as sexy and confident as ever. Were there any particular designers that helped you transition into your sense of style?

"Yes! Narciso, Dolce, and Versace. Narciso was the first time I ever wore a tight dress in my life…I didn't even know I could ever look like that or feel like that. I was like, 'Okay, this is what it means to be feminine, chic, and sexy but very classy at the same time.' I think Narciso kind of changed things for me."

Well, you've definitely become a fashion insider as of late. Can we expect you to come out with your own line or collaborate with a designer on a collection?

"I don't know. I don't see that happening any time soon. I really respect artists and what they create with their visions, and I really believe that great designers are artists. I feel like I'm more of a curator and less of someone who's coming up with the art. I can't imagine me doing that, but I would certainly support. My friends just starting designing for Kenzo and it's so fun. It's just such a great brand and I love where they're taking it. To see in one year where it was and where it is now; it's so rad."

http://www.refinery2...nterview?page=2

[Meghann]

How women can have it All-ba & avoid toxic fears: Can real moms meet Jessica Alba’s standards?

Movie actress writes 'The Honest Life,' a guide to 'Living Naturally and True to You'

Comments (42)

By Nicole Lyn Pesce / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Published: Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 7:54 PM

Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 6:00 AM

Fred Lee/ABC

Lara Spencer (l.) greets Jessica Alba as she promotes her new book on 'Good Morning America.'

Jessica Alba wants you to be just as perfect as she is.

The “Fantastic Four” stunner is the latest Hollywood mom dictating the secrets to domestic bliss.

Chemical-free cleaning products, homemade baby food, organic produce and green juices galore are just the beginning.

Her first book, “The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You,” helps parents clean up their act by sharing nontoxic alternatives to everyday products, plus parenting tips like packing the perfect diaper bag.

And don’t think she’s got a massive staff to juice her kale and examine her organic lettuce in the produce aisle at Whole Foods - she swears she does it all herself, without any hired help.

“I absolutely do these things. That’s why I wrote the book,” the 31-year-old mother of two, tells the Daily News. “There’s lots of options, like delivery services for fresh produce that is organic, if people just want to do a couple of things in the book that are supereasy.”

Photo credit: Justin Coit

'The Honest Life:Living Naturally and True to You,' a handbook for healthy, sustainable living by actress Jessica Alba.

She argues her guide is more relatable than Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop.com or Alicia Silverstone’s kindlife.com. “Alicia Silverstone is a vegan, so she’s the extreme side of it,” she says. “Gwyneth Paltrow probably lives a very similar lifestyle, but I didn’t grow up with a bunch of money, so my tips are much more grounded: Repurposing things and making things at home.”

Alba’s clean-living philosophy centers on nixing all toxins, particularly harmful chemicals found in many plastics, mattresses and cleaning supplies. She admits she once banned a baby-shower gift from her house because it was made of plastic. She suggests leaving plastics outside for a few days to off-gas the worst of their chemicals.

“Many people don’t even realize that there is lead in their lipstick, or that petrochemicals in your laundry detergent could be making you sick,” she says.

While Alba maintains that she’s just like every other mom, her book paints the “Sin City” star as a superwoman that everyday working mothers just can’t live up to.

“You can take what you want from the book,” she says, insisting that not everyone has to do everything she does.

CAD/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES

Jessica Alba (l.) and Cash Warren enjoy 'The Honest Life' with their daughters, Honor and Haven.

Glossy photos showcase her manically organized closet (shoes are obsessively arranged with one heel facing out and another in to save space), pictured with a label maker - she loves a label! - and her 4-year-old picking fresh herbs from the kitchen’s vertical garden.

And the actress always looks fabulous, whether wiping the kitchen counters with her eco-friendly Honest Company line of cleaning supplies, or playing with her daughters in the backyard pirate ship, coated with nontoxic paint, of course. There are even recipes for her favorite DIY scrubs and hair rinses made with everyday ingredients like full fat Greek yogurt, coffee grinds and raw cane sugar.

Many New York women gripe that Alba’s well-meaning advice is impractical.

Samantha Willner, 22, from Astoria, scoffs at making baby food. “Who, especially in New York, has time for something like that?” she asks. “I don’t think anyone who’s an average person has any of the resources: Time, money or, quite frankly, the patience.”

Frances Cabrera, 26, a Brooklynite working in environmental sustainability, says Alba is overreacting by leaving plastics outside to “off gas” any harmful chemicals. “Plastics are just not off-gassing that way,” she says. “It’s not something a normal person would have to worry about.”

Josh Grant/Splash News

Jessica Alba grocery shopping at Trader Joe's market in Westwood, Los Angeles.

With Leah Li

LIVING LIKE JESSICA ALBA

“Fantastic Four’s” Invisible Woman sure knows how to make a day disappear!

7 a.m.: Feed your tot the homemade baby food you made over the weekend by puréeing a pound of peeled veggies with chicken stock, a clove of garlic, fresh ginger and sea salt. Serve yourself a green smoothie by blending cucumber, kale, celery, apples, ginger and lemon juice.

Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Jessica Alba attends the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards nominations announcement held at The Beverly Hilton on Dec. 13, 2012 in Los Angeles.

8 a.m.: Put your best face forward by whipping up a quick coffee scrub, stirring a tablespoon of finely ground java with a 1/2 cup of full-fat Greek yogurt, and a dash of lemon juice if your skin is oily, or coconut oil for dry skin.

9 a.m.: Dressing is a snap since your closet is so organized - labels are a must! And with all your wardrobe staples (a fitted blazer, the perfect jeans and playful scarves), there’s always something to wear.

Noon: You’re planning a dinner party tonight, so hit your local greenmarket or specialty store during lunch for fresh organic ingredients.

5 p.m.: Get back to your pre-pregnancy weight by working out with a friend or chasing your three-year-old around. A chiropractor and prenatal yoga teacher are godsends for mommies-to-be.

6 p.m. Prep the dinner party while readying your kids for bed. Roast two chickens in the oven while the little ones take their bath.

7 p.m. Put the kids to bed; setting an early bedtime makes time for you and your hubby later in the evening.

8 p.m.: Party time! Serve the roasts with premade nuts, cheese and olives, and have the guests bring the wine and dessert.

http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.1286801

[Meghann]

Posted on Wednesday, 03.13.13

La vida local

Jessica Alba coming to town for book, ‘The Honest Life’

Alba

Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

By Madeleine Marr

[email protected]

Jessica Alba is all about good, clean living. In her first book, The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You (Rodale, $22.99), the actress talks about how becoming a mom to Honor, 4, and Haven, who turns 2 in August, changed her outlook on, well, everything.

As a new parent, Alba (along with husband Cash Warren) was determined to make their home as toxic-free as possible.

Frustrated by the chemical-filled stuff she found at the supermarket and beyond, she launched The Honest Company — eco-friendly family products like cleansers, toys, soaps, even diapers. In the book, the 31-year-old Spy Kids star offers suggestions on how to be a fabulous mom and includes tips on everything from DIY baby food to closet essentials.

Hear all about her impressive juggling act in Hollywood at a 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Books & Books event at the Coral Gables Congregational Church. We chatted before her visit:

What is a typical day like for you?

I start work the moment I wake up — checking emails, my daily schedule and appointments. I like to have everything organized before I head out the door. It’s the only way I can make it somewhere on time with two toddlers. So I pick out my outfit the night before and do the same for Honor and Haven.

I read you had allergies as a child. Do you still?

I have sensitivities to certain things, especially during peak allergy seasons. It’s no secret that I have very sensitive skin. A severe allergic reaction to conventional laundry detergent inspired my journey to found my company.

What stages are your girls in now?

Honor loves being the big sister. She’s a little sidekick to me, helping me take care of Haven. She’s also really becoming interested in cooking and creating things in the kitchen. Haven is such a bright light and so sweet natured. It is amazing how fast time flies as a mom.

Do they know what you do for a living?

Haven’s a bit young still, but Honor definitely has an understanding of what I do and where I go each day. She’s also visited me several times while I’m working at Honest, so she can get a better sense of what I do when I’m away from home.

How do you find time to juggle it all?

If I can stay organized, then I have more time to spend with my family and friends. For example, I make Haven’s meals on the weekend so that she has something homemade to eat all week long. Grains are especially easy to make on a Sunday and use in various and creative ways throughout the week. Getting ready in the morning has become a cinch now that I’ve identified my favorite makeup products, and I’ve found a way to label and organize them. Now that I’ve made an “honest living” routine, I’m no longer worrying about the health and safety ramifications of the lipstick I use or the meal I give my kids. It frees up a lot of time. At the end of the day, as long as my girls are happy and healthy I don’t mind if something doesn’t get checked off my to-do list.

What is your latest acting project?

I play the nemesis in Escape From Planet Earth, in theaters now. It was really fun to play that role because it’s one I don’t often get to explore, and the style of acting for an animated film is much more over-the-top. I’m especially excited that it’s a movie my girls can watch because it’s a really sweet story. Coming up, I have a part in A.C.O.D (Adult Children of Divorce), which recently premiered at Sundance. It’s about the effects that divorce can have on children after they’ve reached adulthood.

Any plans while you’re in town?

Unfortunately, there’s no time on the busy book tour, but usually I can’t wait to eat at Mr. Chow.

http://www.miamihera...o-town-for.html

[egluze]

out in Beverly Hills 3/17/13

[Meghann]

Jessica Alba Opens Up About Her Honest Life

Elizabeth Street interviews Jessica Alba about her new book, raising kids, and her business, The Honest Company.

Jessica Alba may be best-known for her onscreen roles as cool and sexy action heroines, but we’re more interested in the incredible work she’s done with her business, The Honest Company, which makes cleaning, beauty, and baby products without toxic chemicals.

For Alba, honesty doesn’t just have to do with her company—it’s how she lives every aspect of her life, and it’s exactly what she talks about in her new book, The Honest Life. The book contains everything from important information about what to look for and what to avoid on labels, to great style and entertaining tips. Just before her book launch, we sat down with Alba about the book and her philosophy. —Hally Wolhandler

Elizabeth Street: Did you have an “aha” moment when it came to reading labels for dubious ingredients?

Jessica Alba: When I became a mom, when I was pregnant, I was like, “Okay, now I’m responsible for this little person and I obviously want her to be as healthy as possible.” As soon as I was responsible for someone besides myself, I started researching these things and learning about the harmful side effects of toxic exposure. More and more of my girlfriends are having a hard time getting pregnant and having cysts and having fibroids and I was thinking, “What is going on?”… That’s really where it started. And it’s a process. The first thing was my child’s environment. It was all about: I’m putting together a nursery, I’m cleaning my house, what am I putting on my skin, does that go into my bloodstream? I targeted anything that I was kind of getting obsessed with at that moment and then I really dove into what to avoid and what was okay.

ES: What was the process of making your life “honest”? Did it happen slowly, or all at once?

JA: It was a process. As I educated myself, I started making different choices. I really wanted to put all the information I have in the book for people to take what they want from it. If you’re looking at your beauty routine and thinking, oh, if I eliminate a couple things, then I’m probably better off health-wise, if that’s your thing. Or, if you don’t care about any of that stuff at all and you just really want to hone in on personal style—maybe you’re thinking, “I feel like I’m always a slave to trends and it never works for my body.” So my girlfriends at Who What Wear put together a really simple guide on how to hone in on that, find that. So my book is really for anyone.

ES: How do you teach your kids about the honest life?

JA: Well, the honest life is about not being perfect. It’s about being authentic, it’s not about extremes. It’s not judgmental. It’s kind of a daily thing. It’s just the way that I live my life. And I think the best way to teach kids is to lead by example.

ES: How do you prepare them for when they’re out in the world and you can’t influence what products they eat and use?

JA: I’m not that extreme, and neither is my book. Of course they’re going to have birthday cake and eat whatever when they’re at grandma and grandpa’s house or when they’re out having fast food. I’m not freaking out about that. The majority of the time I want them to have nutritious, whole foods. And I want to go to a restaurant and have my kids be civilized. I don’t want to have them freaking out. And I want to travel with them. The more diverse their palate is, the easier it is to expose them to things, the easier it is to bring them with me. I don’t want to leave my kids at home. I just took Honor to Paris, and I took them to Tokyo and Kyoto and Seoul. So they travel really well.

ES: What would you say to people who say that natural products don’t work?

JA: I totally thought that as well. And then I did a ton of research and I tried everything and I have it all in the book. It is as effective. It’s about finding really cool boutique companies that challenge the process and make it better. At the end of the day, it’s higher quality ingredients anyway because it’s not just a bunch of cheap fillers and fragrances they’re slapping on top of stuff. It’s all high performance. If it doesn’t work, you shouldn’t use it, and if there isn’t an alternative… I am realistic and balanced. I’m not a vegan. I wear leather. I’m a normal person.

ES: What’s your one must-have beauty essential?

JA: Water. Water, drink a lot of water. And sleep! It’s really basic.

http://www.elizabeth...her-honest-life

[Meghann]

THE ONE-ON-ONE: Jessica (Freaking!) Alba

Getting honest with the actor-turned-entrepreneur-turned author about The Goonies, her guilty pleasure reality shows and her teenage/adult crush on NKOB's Joey McIntyre. Honestly, we can't make this stuff up.

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Getting honest with the actor-turned-entrepreneur-turned author about The Goonies, her guilty pleasure reality shows and her teenage/adult crush on NKOB's Joey McIntyre. Honestly, we can't make this stuff up.

We’ve pretty much targeted L.A.’s best dressed crew (Hilary Kerr, Katherine Power, Rachel Zoe, Kelly Sawyer, Katie Nehra, Simone Harouche, Hedi Gores, etc.) but there’s one we’ve been trying to pin down for a while. Cue: Jessica Alba. While many know Alba for her acting (she’ll be reprising her role in Sin City in October 2013!), we find it’s Alba’s philanthropic and entrepreneurial endeavors that are really inspiring.

The actress-turned-entrepreneur launched The Honest Company as a way to educate people to know what they’re buying… sans all that toxic stuff that many of us don’t even know exists in our everyday products. Her clear-conscious turned her vegan at age 12 (!!!) and eventually shifted that attitude towards creating a healthy environment for her family. On a mission to simplify the whole healthy living lifestyle, Alba penned her book, The Honest Life, as a way to easily digest those crazy ingredients with an obscurely long name that you can’t pronounce and guide you on what’s out there (and better) in the marketplace.

We sat down with Alba over cupcakes and champagne to chat about her new book, her favorite movie to watch when she’s sick, her guilty pleasure reality shows (it’s going to shock you!), her crime scene investigator dream job and her Joey McIntyre teenage girl-crush that she hasn’t quite lost.

The Coveteur: What was the first designer piece you bought with your own money? Think way back…

Jessica Alba: I am thinking way back… I sort of did it all in one summer. I was living only in hotels and I didn’t have a car or anything. I was living in Canada. I had nothing to spend my money on, and I never did anything, and I didn’t have friends, and I was working all the time. And I lived in this hotel that was connected to Holt Renfrew. I got this big knit by Alber Elbaz for Lanvin. It was like cashmere wooley thing with gold thread and giant cable. I still have it and it is massive. And I just can’t part with it because it was the most expensive thing I had ever seen in my life. It was so cozy. It rained for like ten months a year, and we were shooting in the dark most of the time. To have that cozy sweater, it was like the best thing ever. I will let them [my daughters] borrow it… I don’t know if I will give it to them. I also bought these like weird flower-like yellow Céline kitten heels from their resort collection. I don’t know what I was thinking. And a Prada bag when they did that bowler series. I am so dating myself.

TC: What is your favorite movie to watch when you are sick?

JA: I really like Overboard a lot. I think that’s always a good movie to watch. The Little Mermaid, Goonies…

TC: Best beauty advice?

JA: I have a few. Drink water, try to sleep—I mean especially after you are 26, there is nothing like sleep. Try to wash your face if you can every night. I use different products: SuzieBeauty makes a good one; 100% Pure makes a good cleanser, Dr. Bronner’s soap is a basic. I use the Honest bubble bath. I just put a little bit of tea tree oil when I’m breaking out and that’s a natural anti-bacterial agent. Oh, I have pores, but I have a good facialist. Her name is Shawnie; she hooks this mug up because she was not cute when she was pregnant. I was a disaster and she fixed me. Now it’s maintenance mostly. I should go more because I am a little dehydrated right now.

TC: Your guilty pleasure reality show?

JA: I Survived, and The First 48 are like crazy. The First 48 [is about the time] after a murder and then you have to figure it out. I’m for sure a crime scene investigator… like, that’s my job. I’d survive if someone wanted to kill me—I know that I could survive; I know like every way to get out of the house. I’m going to go for the esophagus; I know all the things I’m going to do! Even in my sleep I know I’m going to be able to hear it and I know I can just like get a pencil and do some damage.

TC: The first concert you went to? What did you wear?

JA: New Kids on the Block! And I wore a hyper color New Kids on the Block shirt and I had a cast (because I had a broken thumb), which was florescent orange; it matched my New Kids on the Block hyper color skirt. And we were in the nosebleeds, and I cried. I actually saw Joey McIntyre in real life and I wanted to say something to him, but his wife was there and I don’t think she would have appreciated it. Joey Macintyre, he’s the man. He was a boy; he was THE boy! I was like 11 or 10...

PS: Makeup by (the one and only!) Lauren Andersen.

http://www.thecoveteur.com/the-edit/jessica-freaking-alba

[Meghann]

[Meghann]

Mon, March 18, 2013

Photograph by Dominique Charriau/GettyImages

The actress, mother-of-two and entrepreneur behind The Honest Company line of eco baby and home products opens up about her new book and motherhood.

What kick-started The Honest Company?

I had an allergic reaction to this expensive baby laundry detergent. I was, like, why do I have to get this? There’s no way this is safe for babies. I Googled the ingredients and found out that there were a lot of toxic chemicals — in that and everything from dishwashing liquids to baby shampoo. I learned about off-gassing and petrochemicals, the rise of allergies, asthma and all these health illnesses…. It was so overwhelming and hard to shop around the problem. I thought there should be one place for products that actually work, smell good and aren’t crazy expensive.

And The Honest Life book?

It’s about having a more balanced perspective about this lifestyle. It doesn’t have to be extreme. I’m not a vegan. I don’t wear hemp every day. You can make healthier choices that are realistic and inexpensive.

Tips for beginners making the switch to The Honest Life?

Read labels. Know what you’re bringing into your house and what you’re putting on your skin. I think that was the biggest eye-opener for me. You’re not going to do everything right away, but understanding it and knowing that you have the power to make better choices — it’s going to shift the marketplace.

Best advice you’ve received from another mother?

My girlfriend Kelly Sawyer, who’s in the book, is the president of the nonprofit Baby2Baby and designs the private label for Satine. She taught me about putting your kid on a schedule — don’t let them run you. And she told me to always have a night out. It’s necessary not just for your sanity, but you get to feel like a grown-up. Be a woman with your husband, have dinner or whatever. That really changed things for me.

How were you as a child?

Crazy. I was completely insane. I was a precocious little stinker and challenged authority left and right.

And your daughters now?

They’re both pretty strong willed in their own ways. I grew up in an environment where kids are seen, not heard, and I don’t really do that with them. I bring [my older daughter] Honor into our environment, have her travel with us and expose her to a lot of different cultures and experiences. When I was younger, my parents didn’t necessarily do that. I did it on my own by choosing to be an actor at a young age.

On the weekends, where can we find you and the family?

One day we’ll have breakfast at home and one day we’ll go have breakfast somewhere. We’ll let Honor choose. Then we go to the park, go hiking, feed the ducks, go to the playground, things like that.

Honor’s favorite breakfast spots?

Le Pain Quotidien — she likes the spicy chorizo and eggs. Or we go to this other place and she gets the matzah ball soup and pancakes, eggs and bacon. She eats like a champ. Because she’s the big sister, she can make those choices so it’s cool to let her do that.

And at home?

Cash usually takes over and does waffles or pancakes.

Top three mom essentials?

Hand sanitizer. And from a fashion point of view, a blazer and a ballet flat — Tory has nice ones for both of those!

As a mom, what’s your de-stressing secret?

A bath. Put the kids to bed and get in the bath — it’s so good. Or maybe a glass of wine, if you’re feeling like that. Or Both.

http://www.toryburch.com/blog-post/blog-post,default,pg.html?bpid=78041

[Meghann]

Jessica Alba: The Honest Life

You know those frustratingly “together” Mothers you see every now and then – looking gorgeous donning a stroller in one hand and an irresistible tote in the other? After interviewing Jessica Alba we realized that, on top of her amazing acting career, she’s most definitely one of those Moms.

For Alba, co-founder of The Honest Company, when it comes to her kids, food isn’t just food; it’s medicine. We love her wholesome outlook on everything food – something her new book The Honest Life covers extensively. The book touches on all aspects of healthy, stylish living – eating included of course.

Donning a pair of Jenni Kayne floral pants and on-trend white stilettos, the beautiful Alba sat with us at the Crosby Street Hotel to give us all of the details on The Honest Life. She also let us in on a few things we couldn’t help but be curious about: her daily breakfast, her ideal dinner party, and even the message she’d like to get across to every Mom in America. Personally, we’re not sure of the one thing we’d want to get across to America, but one thing is for sure: Our homepage is looking ten times better this week with Jessica Alba on the cover…yeah, we said it.

What would be your ideal food day?

Breakfast tacos. I like egg tacos with corn tortillas, salsa and hot sauce. Maybe some soy chorizo in there. We have them almost everyday. Lunch would be some kind of hearty salad. Then for dinner, maybe sushi…it just depends what the weather is! It could be a hearty stew or Cornish game hen – which is my favorite – or maybe lasagna.

How does food play into your new book?

I love to cook. [The book] gives information about the GMOs, pesticides and the industrialization of food and how that has affected our health. It’s also about how to make simple choices. The food industry got complicated, you know? We should just get back to the basics. So farm-to-table; support your local farms as much as possible and eat as seasonally as you can. You don’t have to be a nut about it. If you have the choice, get that certain thing that you wouldn’t normally get, or that you don’t cook that much. Try it. Who knows? You may like artichoke! Just be open.

I‘m also about convenience, so the book is all about those twenty-minute meals. That’s my thing – being able to throw together whatever is in your pantry. Also, certainly for my kid’s meals, being able to reuse [leftovers] and turn them into something else.

If you could get one thing across to moms in America, what would it be?

Try to eliminate packaged food and have as many whole foods as possible. For little kids, think of their food as their medicine. They’re growing; their brains are developing. If you just give them processed, fake food or food-like substances, you’re not really giving them anything to hold onto or to really thrive on. So as much as you can, giving them whole foods is just better.

How do you eat out smart?

We try to do as much farm-to-table as possible or eat the organic choices at restaurants if they’re available. We don’t eat at a lot of chains. We try to go as local as possible. Usually when it’s a chain, it’s not the best quality. Not all the time – we have Urth Caffe at home [in LA] and Le Pain Quotidien, and both have really nice, high-quality food - but much of the time it’s mass produced.

What’s a food trend that’s starting to grow on you? What’s one that you don’t get?

Gluten-free pasta [is starting to grow on me]. I didn’t really know about it. I’ve had rice noodles in Asian dishes, and that was kind of it. It’s a great way to add protein to a more traditionally starchy dish for my kids. I like having more gluten-free options and more organic options. It seems like even in the last five years there are so many more options, so that’s great.

And what food trend am I not jumping on board with? The whole 100 calorie pack thing. It’s just like, “Oh I’m just eating a bunch of chemicals.” I’m not into those.

What’s your go-to breakfast? How do you start your day?

I don’t always eat breakfast; I should. I always have coffee, but I try to have yogurt and fruit or yogurt and granola – or breakfast tacos. This morning I had some fruit because I had a really late night last night with the homies and we ate a lot! We ate a lot…

Did you go anywhere good last night [in NYC]?

The Smile. It was awesome. So cozy.

Do you have other restaurants in New York that you really like?

Yes, so many! There’s this Japanese restaurant I’m obsessed with in the West Village. EN Brasserie. I love that place! There are a lot of beautiful restaurants here in New York. You guys are so lucky.

In LA what are your favorite spots?

We do have our usual suspects. I’m really liking Spago right now; it just reopened. It’s a lot of farm-to-table stuff; it’s seasonal, smaller portions and always changing, so you can try different things. I love trying as many things as humanly possible. I don’t like getting a giant dish but rather a bunch of little ones to share.

Animal is really fun. And the other restaurant that the Animal owners have, Son of a Gun. There’s this chicken sandwich there that is out of this world. It’s so good.

If you could host a dinner party, with any five guests, living or dead, who would be there and what would you cook?

Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Diane Sawyer (because I feel like she would ask really good questions) and Bono!

I would cook whatever they wanted me to! Maybe I would do a good rib dish, hot wings, and then I would have some nice veggies and vegan alternatives – you never know. I don’t usually have a lot of gluten, but I’d probably have to have cheese and bread out. French bread would be perfect.

*To see Jessica’s recipe for Homeade Ice Pops, Click Here

*Jessica Alba, photographed by Danielle Kosann at the Crosby Street Hotel in New York City

*Buy Jessica’s new book, The Honest Life, Here

http://www.thenewpotato.com/2013/03/18/jessica-alba-the-honest-life/

[egluze]

26th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in LA 3/23/13

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[Max]

I don't like the hairstyle but Jessica looks fantastic nonetheless

[Meghann]

[Meghann]

Jessica Alba was 'completely insane'

Jessica Alba admits she was a ''completely insane'' child.

The 'Sin City' star - who has two daughters, Honor, four, and Haven, 20 months, with her husband Cash Warren - claims she was a very naughty child and never listened to authority.

Asked what she was like as a child, the 31-year-old actress told designer clothing website ToryBurch.com: ''Crazy. I was completely insane. I was a precocious little stinker and challenged authority left and right.''

The budding entrepreneur, who recently launched her own lifestyle brand and book 'The Honest Life' with tips for healthy eating and parenting, revealed that her own children are also extremely ''strong willed''.

She said: ''They're both pretty strong willed in their own ways. I grew up in an environment where kids are seen, not heard, and I don't really do that with them. I bring [my older daughter] Honor into our environment, have her travel with us and expose her to a lot of different cultures and experiences. When I was younger, my parents didn't necessarily do that. I did it on my own by choosing to be an actor at a young age.''

Jessica recently admitted that she didn't always ''make the right choices'' in Hollywood but launching her own eco-friendly lifestyle company has given her a new self-confidence in her abilities.

She said: ''Honest Company has weirdly allowed me to be more creative in my roles, and really work with people I love and appreciate and want to learn from. This is where my work is now.

''For me, acting was a lot about making the right choices and trusting my instincts. I didn't always listen to my gut and make the right choice.''

http://www.tv3.ie/en...0&article=98931

[FashionDream]

GLAMOUR UK MAY 2013

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[egluze]

GLAMOUR UK MAY 2013

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[egluze]

out in LA 3/28/13