the truth serum

Laura, our head of marketing, is a busy mom and like many, she is managing work, constant household duties and virtual schooling. After taking a hiatus from cooking for the month of September (her family lived on take-out, mac and cheese and sandwiches) she is ready to cook again.  This is one of her favorite weekday meals and always feels fancier than what it is. It’s also quick and great for kids.  An added bonus is clean-up is pretty easy. Enjoy!   GNOCCHI WITH SAUSAGE AND SPINACH    INGREDIENTS: 2 9-ounce packages refrigerated gnocchi or 17.5-ounce package shelf-stable gnocchi. 2...

Almost immediately upon hearing the words “Congratulations, you’re pregnant” a newly designated mom-to-be is flooded with advice on everything —from what to eat, how to exercise, to the best car seat.  Yep, there’s advice galore out there, but most of it is focused on the little newbie human you’re growing. We say:  pregnant women deserve lots of care and pampering, too! One thing all pregnant women can appreciate is keeping things simple. The world of clean beauty may sound complicated, but with a little guidance from some experts, you can find the right products that are safe, effective and feel...

What do all the clean beauty terms mean?  To help understand them, we’ve pulled together a quick list of terms and meanings.   Blue Beauty This is a new term in the industry. It's about limiting our water waste, plastic waste, and making it easier for us to recycle and protect our oceans from chemicals found in beauty products (like sunscreens). Yes, it's very similar to Green Beauty but the emphasis is on our plastic crisis and oceans.    Clean Beauty Simply put, clean beauty or clean skincare is the idea that we shouldn’t have to worry about what’s in...

Laura, our Head of Marketing, was looking for something that was easy to make and easy to pack for a picnic. She wanted something healthy yet filling and "summery".  She turned to "Plant Power Bowls" by Sapana Chandra for some inspiration. The KG team met Sapana last year and everyone fell in love with her and this book. Laura instantly became a huge fan of this and wanted to share. Note that she didn't make the cashew dressing but instead just used some good olive oil and lemon.    Watermelon and Arugula Bowl Ingredients: 2 Big Handfuls of Arugula  2 cups cooked...

Have you noticed that Vitamin C has become the darling of skincare recently? A glance at any beauty magazine and you'll likely see a new serum, moisturizer or toner with Vitamin C as its headline ingredient. It's been around for years, and it's one of the most research-proven ingredients in skincare. So why is everyone buzzing about Vitamin C now? Because it’s genuinely effective!   What is Vitamin C?   First and foremost, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant protecting skin against free radical damage.  Free radicals are all around us: UV light, smog, cigarette smoke, and stress, and they...

You could call glycerin the “always the bridesmaid” ingredient in skin care, especially organic skin care products.  It doesn’t really get the credit it deserves, considering what a superstar it is when it comes to moisturizing.  It’s also one of the most common ingredients, ranking #3, right after water and fragrance.   What Is Glycerin?   Glycerin (aka glycerine or glycerol) is a natural component of healthy skin.  Glycerin is essentially a sugar molecule. It’s a clear, colorless, and odorless liquid that feels slightly syrupy and comes from plant or animal oils. Most glycerin is actually a blend of oils,...

Here at Kari Gran we believe the question of what makes a clean sunscreen comes down to two fundamentals.  First, what kind of UV filter (or active ingredient) does it have?  Secondly, what other ingredients are in it, and are they good for you and your skin? Our definition of clean sunscreen is one that uses zinc oxide as its UV filter. Zinc oxide is the only UV filter that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays (aka broad-spectrum sunscreen).  All other UV filters with either mineral or chemical active ingredients need to be used in combination to...

“It’s so beautiful, it’s ridiculous.”   Georgia O’Keeffe Georgia O'Keeffe, one of the world’s most celebrated and influential artists, wrote these words to a friend after discovering Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. She spent 50 summers there, painting her iconic images of the high desert and enormous flowers.  Kari made a memorable trip to Ghost Ranch last year, where she, too, fell under its spell. Cue her internal color wheel spinning, and soon a brand-new lip whip color was born. Meet Georgia, inspired by the beautiful pinks and violets of the cliffs overlooking Ghost Ranch. This lip whip is our take...

When Laura, our Head of Marketing, learned we were doing a lip whip named after Georgia O’Keeffe, she was happy. One, because she loves Georgia O’Keeffe and two because she is a native New Mexican. In fact, when Kari made her trip to New Mexico last year, Laura gave her a list of “don’t miss” foods and restaurants to keep Kari and her husband full and happy for days.   During these recent weeks of staying safe at home, Laura’s revisited her New Mexican roots by making Posole, one of her favorite dishes.  Posole is a spicy corn stew traditionally made...

Living in Seattle, we feel a deep connection to our surrounding mountains, lakes, forests, and Puget Sound. After all, Seattle's known as the Emerald City in Washington, the Evergreen State. That's a lot of green. So perhaps being conscious stewards of our environment is simply part of our DNA.   We at Kari Gran wholeheartedly embrace the idea of "eco-luxe." We aspire to be as kind to our planet as we are to our skin. We were championing Green Beauty long before it became the latest buzzword in the beauty industry. From the first cup of (sustainable) coffee in the morning to...