What is the best product to use for beauty purposes that is great and safe for both you and the environment?

Aveda combines all-natural ingredients to produce their product which, along with eastern philosphies, helps to keep the company environmentally conscious and safe.

“Our mission at Aveda is to care for the world we live in, from the products we make, to the ways in which we give back to society,” stated Horst M. Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda, on their Web site. “At Aveda, we strive to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility, not just in the world of beauty, but around the world.”

An example of a way that Aveda helps to protect and conserve the environment is by using uruku, a red pigment used to produce the unique color of lip, eye and cheek makeup.

According to Jean Little, manager of Olympus Hair Designs, an Aveda Concepts Salon, instead of buying the tree for the pigments, or creating the pigment synthetically, Aveda partnered with the Yawanawa tribe in the Amazon to organically grow the tree -- without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers -- as a way to foster community, economic independence and cultural survival.

According to the Web site (www.Aveda.com), the idea for the Uruku makeup came from the Yanawanaw tribe with their ceremonial rituals.

All Uruku makeup products are packaged in clamshells made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled newsprint.

Using recycled newspapers instead of virgin paper reduces air pollution by 73 percent and uses 71 percent less energy and 61 percent less water.

All Aveda products are created similarly to the Uruku products.

There aren’t any synthetic colors, ingredients,or anything considered harmful to the environment included in Aveda products.

Aveda not only cares about its company, but also does a lot of work with other organizations, such as Locks of Love and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Today, the Aveda company is owned by the Estee Lauder company, but Aveda still has many regulations that it enforces in order to uphold its values and beliefs.

In order for a hair salon to become an Aveda Concepts Salon, a vigirous evaluation must be performed on the salon’s techniques and styles.

Once a salon becomes an Aveda Concepts Salon, the salon must sign contracts and abide by regulations to be able to offer Aveda treatments and products.

To find Aveda products in the northwest Tennessee area (Aveda products are only offered in Aveda Concept Salons), please visit Olympus Hair Designs (located on the 43 Bypass in Martin) or call them at 587-4741.

Olympus is a licensed Aveda Concepts Salon offering massages, spa treatment (manicures, pedicures, waxes) and hair care. Olympus also offers many Aveda products that are great gift ideas for the holiday season.

For more information about this product, please visit their Web site at www.Aveda.com or visit your nearest Aveda Concepts Salon (location can also be found at the Web site).