1. Patagonia.
Patagonia is perfect for the “conscious consumer.” Their slogan might as well become: reduce, reuse, recycle. They do everything as a company to reduce their impact on the environment and to delay the harmful effects that industrial work can inevitably cause. The company uses nonrenewable fossil fuels and solar panels to produce electricity and heat for both their factories and their stores.
Patagonia is also fair-trade. They employ citizens looking for jobs in Sri Lanka, providing them with multiple job benefits including day care for their worker's children, store vouchers to buy food, medicine, toiletries and other personal items. If that was not enough, many of their clothes are also organic, meaning they do not use pesticide-ridden cottons that many other brands tend to settle for. Patagonia workers also get an additional $430,000 a year by participating in the fair-trade program, which they allocate to causes worldwide.
Despite the Patagonia price tag, when you make the investment, it pays off. Patagonia has a policy where they will repair any damage to any item of their clothing throughout the garment’s lifetime. The only fee you would have to pay is a $5 shipping label, which you can print at home, for the return/repair.
As for my suggestion? Their jackets, fleeces and vests are worth the splurge.
2. erin condren.
The LifePlanner™, “the stylized organizer” created by erin condren, has become my dream and savior — especially during the busy school year. I can keep track of everything in this thing. Need a full calendar for each month? Got that. Need lots of space to write all of the things you need to accomplish in one day? You bet. Need tons of fun stickers to decorate your planner with? Got it. Need two white boards on the go? You will find all of these features and more are included with erin condren’s LifePlanner™.
This planner also includes many empty pages where you can write whatever you would like. As a writer, I really love this feature. I use many of these blank spaces as the location for my personal, professional, and gratitude journals. The brand specializes in organizational tools and accessories, however, they also have a super cute and trendy home collection worth checking out as well!
3. BH Cosmetics.
Do you like highly-pigmented and long-lasting eyeshadows? If you do, you will adore BH Cosmetics' lineup of shadows, which come in a wide variety of colors from natural to electric and anything in between.
This brand was inspired by the wide variety of styles, trends, cultures and ethnicities that can be found within the city of Los Angeles, California. You can blend these shadows with ease, which can be difficult with other palettes. Their signature buttery formula exists to please. The makeup that this brand produces is very high quality and incredibly affordable in comparison to other overpriced palettes. The Bh Cosmetics 120 color eyeshadow palette retails for just $16.
4. Clarisonic.
This skincare brand has been around for ages and many people have probably heard of it a bit too much; however, their cleansing system is gentle and takes off makeup six times more effectively than your hands alone. You can bring this cleansing system with you into the shower for fast and easy use, reducing the size of pores and firming the skin. Using this deep cleansing system promises glowing and healthier looking skin by removing impurities caused by excess skin oil, debris, makeup and environmental pollutants.
5. L.L. Bean.
This brand is classic and has a fantastic reputation. They provide free shipping for all purchases and produce clothes, shoes and other apparel that are guaranteed to last. For those who are not the biggest fan of “slip on” shoes for hanging around the house, the Wicked Good® Lodge Boots in Leather are fantastic for keeping your feet toasty warm during the cold winter months — and as an added bonus, they are super cute! L.L. Bean truly wants you to be 100 percent satisfied, encouraging customers to return any product at any time if their purchase is not so.
6. Subaru.
The ultimate family car. These cars are built to last--going through some families for generations. All of their models are designed to be safe, sturdy and reliable at a reasonable cost. These vehicles have excellent handling in the snow, which is ideal for those who live in New England or any other snowy area. Furthermore, Subaru has recently made improvements to their newest vehicles by updating interior quality, upping technology and providing power seats in the new WRX STI model. For those of you who enjoy going fast in a comfortable and safe vehicle, the WRX STI could be worth checking out!
7. RoC®.
This skincare brand is worth checking out for women (and men) who are aging and experiencing fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Lissarrague was the first to successfully incorporate the active ingredient Retinol into his products for daily use. These products mean serious business. Retinol is a fast-acting ingredient that not only helps aging skin, but also helps those who are experiencing dry, textured and dull-looking skin. Every product put on the consumer market by this brand will improve your skin guaranteed.
8. Breville.
Foodies will appreciate this brand for their reliable and long-lasting kitchen appliances. They offer a variety of high quality common household appliances such as blenders, coffee makers, mixers, food processors, panini presses and waffle makers. All products also include a one-year warranty on the off-chance that something happens to one of your appliances. I personally love my panini press from Breville!
