Alternative Apparel just reached 50,000 Facebook fans (are you one of them?) and to celebrate, they’re offering a full 50% off three of their most popular items!

I bet you want to know exactly what 50% off means, because I certainly do. Here’s the skinny:

The Rocky is regularly $50, so if you use the code FB5050, it’ll only run you $25.  This unisex hoodie is made using organic and non-organic cotton, along with polyester (some of which is recycled) and naturally occuring rayon.

The Weekender, made using 100% cotton and double-washed leather trim, is regularly $118. With the code, it comes to a measly $59. Early autumn rode trip, anyone?

The V-Gan, another unisex option, is made of 100% organic cotton. If you purchase the color Pink Ribbon, Alternative will donate 10% of the wholesale price to Susan G. Komen for the Cure (and they’ll send a guaranteed minimum donation of $25,000 no matter what). Susan G. Komen isn’t my favorite breast cancer charity (they’re more focused on awareness than an actual cure) but it’s still a positive donation toward a good cause, and since they’re donating 10% of the wholesale price, the fact that you’re paying 50% off – $15 instead of $30 – won’t change how much money is donated from your purchase.

The sale does have a catch: Alternative Apparel is only offering 50% off for 50 hours. The sale ends on Friday at noon eastern time. Will you be taking advantage of it?

Some of you may already be vegan, some may be considering trying it out this month, others may just prefer to avoid leather goods as best they can…and you’ll all want to get in on this Matt & Nat sale.

You read that right: MATT & NAT is offering an extra 10% off their sale items (already reduced 30%) with the above code. There are seventy-seven products in their sale section, including handbags, wallets, backpacks and belts, ranging in price from $32 (a cute coin holder, originally $45) to $171 (a checkered laptop bag with faux suede lining, originally $255) – and that’s before the 10% discount.

All MATT & NAT products are vegan and made with recyclable materials, including PET from plastic bottles. They’re also durable and have lasting fashion cred. If you pick something up, please comment and tell us what you got!

Lindsay and I get together to “work” every Saturday. I say “work” because our day mostly consists of drinking too much coffee, shopping and giggling. (More on that in The Ethical Rag, Awakened Aesthetic’s brand new newsletter.) During the “dear god, let’s try to focus for five minutes” part of our day, Lindsay hit the eco jackpot.

Joining Jasmere and Pure Citizen on the eco sample sale bandwagon, LovingEco has managed to beat back our skepticism without so much as a shrug. At first look we saw sales on two of our “favorites we can’t afford at full price” list: Stewart + Brown and Cri de Coeur. This week, Stewart + Brown is back, and joining them is one of our favorite eco-lingerie lines, Eberjey.

Not only does LovingEco solely sell ethical items – check out their “What is Eco?” guide – they also give 3% of the net proceeds from each purchase to a worthy social or environmental cause. For those playing at home, that’s double karma points. (Something else I like: they don’t use “get friends to buy and get a discount” bribery. In a fast fashion, fast purchase economy, that’s pretty brave.)

“LovingEco is about introducing the best and most innovative eco-friendly and healthy products and brands that you can discover without compromising on style. By working closely with the top brands, we bring you amazing discounts through private sales. We recognize that people will continue to consume, but as we change our purchases to products that are better for the environment, healthier for our bodies and committed to doing good, we together will help change the world.”

Added bonus: because LovingEco is new, they’re offering an extra 10% off when you enter DISCOUNT10 at checkout. Do the math, freak out a little, and enjoy!

Though Earth Day doesn’t come until later this month – April 22, to be exact – many companies have adopted celebrating an “Earth Month,” with daily tips, deals and giveaways from the eco-world. (I can’t wait until Earth Month becomes Earth…Year? Earth Life!)

Proxy Apparel, a socially-conscious and eco-friendly company throughout the year, is showing their planetary love with a month-long Earth Day celebration. Last Friday, they began a once-a-day release of brand new products from their Spring Collection, and they’ll keep releasing new products until Earth Day! They started the countdown with four beautiful scarves made by Mayan weavers in Guatemala:

Colonel Mustard Mini Scarf: $20

Midnight Mini Scarf: $20

Pretty in Pink Scarf: $30

Field of Lavender Scarf: $30

That’s not all: they’re also hosting a 2011 Earth Day Gala and Fashion Show on the evening of April 21st in Boston, and for those not on the east coast, they’re offering 20% off their Upcycled Collection through Earth Day! Just enter UPCYCLE at checkout.

Silver Recycled Tablecloth Necklace: $35
$28 through April 21, 2011 with code UPCYCLED

To keep up with the new Spring Collection, with more new products being released every day, follow Proxy Apparel on Facebook and keep tabs on their online boutique.

Spring is in the air and, as the cherry blossoms begin to bloom and the daffodils stubbornly poke through the still-cold ground, I’m taking my biological and social cues from the rising temperatures: I’m more active, I have this insatiable desire to plant and clean, and I’m feeling a little bit…amorous!

It’s not just me: Spring Fever is a real biological phenomenon. We’re wired to feel happier, more energetic, and more receptive to our preferred sex partners. In my personal experience, all that positive energy makes us feel better about loving ourselves and our planet, too. And as you all know, self-love (for me) is all about clothes – and planet-love is all about buying them sustainably.

I first learned about Lille Boutique when writing about Araks Yeramyan lingerie, then fell in love with their wide-ranging selection of lingerie, bath products, home decor and jewelry. Lille’s owner, Sarah, has a knack for finding truly inventive creations from independent designers, and even lists her own favorites on the website. When she and I connected, we realized we had a golden opportunity to make shopping for ethical lingerie easy – to take the guesswork out of your underpinnings.

Erica Tanov Helena Silk Charmeuse Chemise: $260
$195 with registration

From March 30 through April 6, Lille Boutique is offering its members an exclusive 25% discount on all of its ethical designers’ products – eighty-two in total – under the Awakened Aesthetic collection. Each product is manufactured ethically, by being produced locally in its respective city; using organic, sustainable or recycled materials; and/or being manufactured with the highest regard for humanitarian and environmental considerations.

Better yet, Awakened Aesthetic readers get a sneak peak of the collection – and a chance to purchase before anyone else – today and tomorrow only.

Malia Mills Juliette D/DD Bikini Top: $155 // Erica Tanov Lolita Petal Silk Camisole: $188
$116.25 with registration // $141 with registration

To receive the discount, you must be a member of Lille Boutique. To become one, all you have to do is sign up using your preferred email address. Easy! I promise you won’t get spammed, and Lille is fantastic about keeping their clients’ information private. No risk; just beautiful, ethical lingerie at a discount.

Stephanie Loungewear Poppy Slip Dress: $300 // Red Flower Sento Travel Kit: $60
$225 with registration // $45 with registration

Araks Melinda Bralette: $180 // Unforeseen Circumstances Wooden Chair Shorts: $90
$135 with registration // $67.50 with registration

I’ve listed some of my favorites from the Awakened Aesthetic collection throughout this post. Please contact Sarah or me if you have any questions on material, fit, or anything else, and don’t forget to register to receive the 25% discount through April 6!

This is the first of four posts featuring one of my oft-mentioned favorite brands, Vicarious by Nature.  They surprised me with a very kind offer of a couple of free items if I took a look at their Fall 2010 line (and I’m not stupid).

Vicarious by Nature is now available online at ShopRobertson.com, which is currently offering 35% its entire store with discount code luckybreaks6.  So, right now, VbN’s organic cotton Open Up Tank isn’t $64.  It’s $41.60.

The length, the shape, the way it zips down in front and cuts into a racerback behind – perfection.  I loved mixing it with a menswear feel for this shoot, combining feminine colors and curves with a boyish flats and loose fit.

Don’t forget: 35% off anything at ShopRobertson.com, including everything from Vicarious by Nature.

Top: Open Up Tank by Various by Nature, $64 $41.60 at ShopRobertson.com
Scarf: Photographer’s own
Jeans: Jolt denim leggings, reviewed at Broke & Beautiful (gifted)
Shoes: Wanted, $39.95, available at DSW.com

I love surprises.

I had no idea Alternative Apparel had put their Alternative Earth collection (which features organic cotton, recycled polyester and non-toxic dyes) on sale until I logged into their website this morning looking for a new pair of shorts. (These ones are adorable.) If you’re not inclined to read the above text from Alternative Apparel’s webiste, here’s the gist:

1. Until May 3, type CEARTH into the “discount code” box at checkout.
2. Get 15% off everything in Alternative Apparel’s “Earth” collection.

So, these “Roller Derby” shorts aren’t $25.  They’re $21.25.
(They also come in black.)

MINE.

Along with…

Organic Scoop Neck Tee: $28 $23.80
(It comes in twelve colors.)

The Slouchy Eco-Heather Pullover: $38 $32.30
(This one comes in five colors. This lilac is gorgeous.)

Eco-Heather Crop Pant: $35 $29.75
(Five colors for this one, too.)

If you need an excuse to buy, use Earth Day.  That’s my plan, anyway.

As I recover from a brief medical emergency – seven-day migraines are no fun – I’ll be around a little less than usual.  However, it’s fashion week in New York city, so I’m sure that all of you intrepid internet readers have lots of other eye candy to keep you busy while I’m recuperating.

It can all be so tempting, though: the thousand-dollar tank tops, the unattainable gowns…hell, can we even afford the nail polish the runway models are wearing?

Apparently, we can.  I got this email from Zoya (maker of long-lasting three-free nail polish) this morning:

“Extended though Sunday 2/21/2010. In honor of NYFW (New York Fashion Week) Zoya, The New Color of Fashion, wants to give a “Fashion Reward” to all our followers and fans.

Place any Zoya or Qtica order of $10 (on http://www.zoya.com, http://www.qtica.com or http://www.artofbeauty.com/) and get any 2 Zoya Nail Polish shades (0.5oz bottles) as our Free gift to you.
Simply add all the items that you want to purchase online to your shopping cart.
Enter the code NYFW in the “code” field and press the “update” button.
A $14 discount will appear in the shopping cart for the value of the 2 Zoya Nail Polishes.

Offer valid [through] Sunday, 2/21/2010, at 5PM ET. Standard shipping charges apply.
Offer valid for consumer online orders only. Free ground shipping for orders over $55 in Continental USA only.
Not valid with any other coupon code or offer.”

In short: grab a couple of your favorite polishes (or remover, or makeup, or whatever) and get two more polishes absolutely free.  My current favorite is still Gwin (from the Spring 2010 Reverie collection, pictured below).

So, instead of dressing up and going out for fashion week, I’m going to lay a little lower…and strap on a pair of heels so I can have my own runway show.  (I don’t care if it sounds tacky.  The cat loves it.)

Organic denim is wicked expensive – so expensive that I don’t actually own any organic denim, because I just plain can’t afford it unless it goes on sale.

So, of course, just after I start to dig myself out of the hole from moving to a new house, taking the dog to the vet, paying all of my domain name fees…Tobi has a sale on all of their regularly-priced jeans.  Including their organic stuff.

Thanks, Tobi, for having a sale at the exact moment that I have just enough money, but really should save it for a(nother) rainy day.  (Damn it.)

Here are the details: Today and tomorrow, you can use the code BOTTOMSUP, to take 20% off any regular-priced designer denim at Tobi.com.  Since sustainable denim - selvedge jeans, organic cotton, raw denim - can be incredibly expensive, this is a great chance for those of you that, like me, haven’t had the funds to pick up a pair of $200 jeans.  (It’s also a good time to get those non-organic “denim leggings” that seem to be all over the fashion world, since all of Tobi’s denim is on sale, not just the eco-friendly stuff.)

If I could justify the purchase, here’s what I’d get:

Loomstate Kharma Bootcut Jeans in Basin: $161
$128.80 with code BOTTOMSUP

Bootcut is coming back.  Seriously.  I predict that this spring and summer will be the resurgence of this figure-flattering trend – which is awesome, because it’s my favorite cut of all time – and if I could only get one pair of jeans from this sale, these would be it.  A dark wash can be dressed up with heels or down with Converse, and the even wash is perfect for almost any style.

Loomstate Lover Boyfriend Straight Leg Jeans in Deluca: $154
$123.20 with code BOTTOMSUP

Okay, these are just cute.  I don’t normally like the Boyfriend jean, but the extra-long cuff and baggy sillouette are perfect for menswear-inspired outfits.  (Think a tight, fitted button-up and blazer with sky-high heels.)

Loomstate Flux Slim Tapered Leg Jeans in Fossil: $168
$134.40 with code BOTTOMSUP

Slim, but not too slim.  I feel like these could last longer in my closet than most skinnies because the wash and five-pocket design are so classy.

Loomstate Maiden Wide Leg Jeans in Trace: $180
$144 with code BOTTOMSUP

Every girl needs a wide-leg pant.  No, don’t argue; just buy them.  You’ll thank me.  Seriously.  (A side note: today I wore a long, belted funnel-neck jacket with wide-leg trousers, and I felt like a movie star as I was walking down the street to the office.  The flow of the pants, the length of my body in my trench…Seriously, I cannot live without a couple of pairs of wide-leg pants.)

And yes, I have some for the men, too. — Actually, this is the part of the sale I was really looking forward to: the boyfriend is in desparate need of a few pairs of good jeans. Right now he only wears two pairs – both designer, ahem - and I am so sick of having to wash them twice a week!

Nudie Jeans Bootcut Barry Jeans in Dry Old Organic: $199
$159.20 with code BOTTOMSUP

Really, you don’t even have to look at anything else.  These jeans are insanely sexy.  Sadly, my guy is 6’5″, and wears a whopping 36″ inseam.  These only go up to a 34″.  FRICK.  (In other words: temptation averted.)

Loomstate Mission Relaxed Straight Leg Jeans in Seneca $185
$148 with code BOTTOMSUP

I love these as a “casual jean” for guys that don’t like to get too dressed up, or want to do the deconstructed look without buying jeans with pre-made holes.  (Note: I think pre-made holes are stupid.  End note.)  However, they also come in Salton, for those that love this cut but would prefer a darker wash.

Loomstate Revival Bootcut Jeans in Fossil: $168
$134.40 with code BOTTOMSUP

GO LOOK AT THE SIDE VIEW, PLEASE.  Oh my booty.  (Translation: these are good “butt jeans.”  Take note, guys.)

Bottoms up, indeed.

Naked & Famous Denim WeirdGuy Natural Organic Selvedge in Indigo: $220
$176 with code BOTTOMSUP

Yes, yes yes: some guys like the tapered jean.  Please note that this cut is called the “WeirdGuy,” and I approve of that phrasing.  Also note that I am the rare girl that doesn’t adore the tapered jean on men right now, so my opinion on this matter should be all but ignored.  (Naked & Famous is a kick-ass brand, though, so if you do like the cut, you can’t go wrong picking up this pair.)

Tobi doesn’t list everything sustainable in their eco-friendly section, so for more eco-friendly options you can search their site for “selvedge” (a process that uses more fabric and creates less waste) or the designer Rogan, which uses eco-friendly fabrics.  Or just browse…and keep your eye out!

Remember: this sale ends tomorrow at midnight, so if you want the savings – which, on sustainable denim, are rare – you have to shop now.  (Please hold me back.)

Finally: after much trepidation and a little help from my friends at Nature of Beauty, I got the chance to try all natural makeup.

As most of you know, I have rosacea, which means that along with all the usual makeup issues – clumping mascara, smearing eyeshadow, lipstick in the “I’m almost thirty” creases around my lips – I also have to make sure my base (or foundation) gives me decent coverage without being cakey or thick.  I also like to keep my daytime makeup as natural-looking as possible (or, if I can manage it, not wear makeup at all) but with a day job is at a “professional office” and a penchant for lookin’ extra pretty, I like to wear something on a day-to-day basis.

The good people over at the Nature of Beauty heard about my natural makeup concerns and decided to make the process easier by sending me some free samples of three of their products: Logona Tinted Day Cream, Couleur Caramel Mascara, and Couleur Caramel Eyeshadow.

First thing’s first: these three products are the only things I’m wearing in this photo (and the one below). No concealer, no powder, no eye liner, no lipstick.  (Okay, Burts Bees chapstick, but that’s it.)  The only editing I’ve done is to fix the general lighting; I haven’t removed a single blemish or stray hair, or gone crazy with the contrast.  Just me and the makeup.

Logona Tinted Day Cream

Because I’m prone to oiliness, Nature of Beauty sent me the matte version of their Logona Tinted Day Cream, which comes in both Beige Gold and and Golden Bronze.  (Girls with dry or combination skin should go for the non-matte version.)  It freaked me out at first, because it smells nothing like normal tinted moisturizers, but that’s because it’s completely natural: almond oil, jojoba, and cocoa butter keep it smooth, calendula extract balances the skin, and natural Vitamin E heals and protects.  (Even the perfumes are all natural essential oils.)

Logona Tinted Day Cream: $16 for 30ml.
Old product: Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint: $27 for 40ml…and NOT natural.
Verdict: Logona is all natural and cheaper, even with shipping.  Win-win.

Couleur Caramel Eyeshadow

Okay, bloggers, help me out here: how the hell do you photograph eyeshadow accurately? I didn’t skimp with this, and yet the photographs I took don’t do it a bit of justice.  Nature of Beauty sent me four of the above shades: Pearly Golden Sand, Pearly Coppered Brown, Pearly Red Brown and Matte Intense Brown.  That’s three shimmery colors and a matte, all of which glide on really smoothly and blend surprisingly well, even with those tough-to-use sponge brushes that come in a typical compact.  (However, I recommend you pick up an all-natural brush instead.)

I used the Matte Intense Brown to give my sparse eyebrows a little pop, and the color stuck like glue: no running, no creases (even in the fold of my lid) and no irritation.

Couleur Caramel Eyeshadow: $13.99 per shadow.
Old product: MAC: $14.50 each.
Verdict: All natural, no smudging, no holier-than-thou salesgirls pressuring me into buying brushes. Ahem.

Couleur Caramel Mascara

Out of everything Nature of Beauty sent me, my favorite is the Couleur Caramel Mascara. I got a clear snap of my lashes in the photo below, so you can see the application in as much detail as possible.  It’s also the better shot of the Couleur Caramel eyeshadows, which are natural and subdued, but still sparkly, but the mascara is my real favorite here. Along with the aesthetic benefits (a thick first application without clumps or “spider lashes”), Couleur Caramel’s mascara made me realize that my old mascara (Maybeline Great Lash, “America’s #1 Mascara”) was causing my eyelashes to break off, and I didn’t even know it.

I didn’t realize the connection until I’d been using it for a week or so: not only had I gotten used to finding a tan mascara tube instead of the usual green and pink, as well as the thinner brush with tightly-packed bristles, but I’d also gotten used to seeing longer lashes in the mirror every morning.

That’s because non-natural mascaras can keep lashes from “breathing,” and cause them to dry out.  Dry lashes equals brittle lashes, which equals broken lashes. (This is yet another reason to not leave your makeup on all night: the longer you wear mascara, the more likely your lashes are to break.)  Though I can’t be certain my lashes are more durable than they were before – I didn’t measure them or anything – I do know that they appear longer, fuller and smoother than they did a month ago.

Couleur Caramel Mascara: $22.49.
Old product: Maybeline Great Lash Conditioning Mascara: $6.99.
Verdict: My lashes are longer and prettier, and I’m creeped out that I didn’t even notice them breaking. What do you think I’m going to use from now on?  Price be damned.

Conclusion: Natural Makeup Is Awesome…and 15% Off.

So there you have it.  I was really impressed with all three of these samples, and wanted to thank Nature of Beauty for their generosity, so I emailed them.  It was at that point that Nature of Beauty got even more generous and offered to give my readers (that would be all of you) a 15% discount on anything in their store.* Not just the things I tried – though I highly recommend them – but anything, including makeup, skin care, hair care, men’s products, mom and baby products (including my favorite lotion and milk and oat bath by Erba Organics [review here]).

Just type AESTHETIC15 in the coupon section at checkout, and a 15% discount will be applied to your entire order.

…and don’t forget to make use of the “sample” section, while you’re at it.

*There’s one exception: Jane Iredale.  Other than that, the discount is site-wide.