happy earth day: it's easy being green

You want to expose your kids to stuff that's good for them--think products that are clean, natural and environmentally friendly. Your one-stop shopping spot: Vert. This Los Angeles-based eco-chic boutique offers high-end chemical-free and organic products for you, your kids and your home. Prompted by her doctor to eliminate chemicals from her surroundings, owner and makeup artist Renata Helfman decided to change her lifestyle and use only green products. Now she shares her philosophy with fellow Angelenos in her hip beauty shop located in Venice, CA. The shop features eco-friendly beauty lines like Naturopathica, Josie Maran Cosmetics and Me & Ro. Among the offerings are several lines for babies, including Epicuren, Coyuchi and Erbaviva. Try Erbaviva's Diaper Cream ($19) with organic echinacea and chamomile to heal and protect, Organic Baby Lip and Cheek Balm ($10) with calendula, lavender and chamomile, and Sunscreen for babies and adults, featuring the highest SPF possible without using synthetic materials. For more info, check out www.vertla.com.

got milk?

Kids' shampoos don't always live up to their promises for being non-irritating and soothing for sensitive skin. So I keep trying different brands. This one is designed for moms and kids to share. The Soft & Beautiful Just for Me! Hair Milk Collection (each product costs only $4.99!) is formulated with vitamins C, E and calcium so it's healthy and deeply moisturizing. Your kids will love the fact that it keeps their hair tangle-free. You'll love the Stylist Creme for sculpting and shaping and the Straightening Mist for protecting hair from heat damage. The best part: the fresh, coconut-y scent. I used it on my kids tonight. Their hair felt instantly smoother while still in the bath and dried to a soft, silky finish. Of course, that didn't stop them from messing up their freshly brushed styles as soon as they had the chance! I love the fact that I can use it too--that's two fewer bottles on the shower shelf! Visit any Walgreens, CVS, Target or Wal-Mart to make your purchase.