All stories about "Organic"

France is the largest cosmetics-producing country in the world. The market for organic cosmetics is estimated at around €150 million, and just about everybody is trying to get in on the action. You can find organic and all-natural cosmetics from around the world scattered all over town. We've told you where to go for organic salon treatments, but for all your at-home beauty needs, why not make it easy on yourself and check out the following list of top addresses for beauty buys that are 100% naturel.

When you're on the road, worrying about reading maps, the horrible exchange rate, and not getting caught in an unforeseen tourist trap can cause you to leave your progressive habits at home. If you are one of those people who likes to eat, shop, and otherwise consume in an organic-when-possible manner, there's no reason to throw your conviction to the wind in London, where organic options abound. Here is a sampling of London's best, from a delicious dinner spot to a new eco lifestyle store from actor Colin Firth to a beauty treatment that involves the application of organic bull sperm to your very own scalp. For more information on how to stay organic in London, go here.

The Parisian in-crowd has decided it's glamorous to be earth-friendly. Notorious for their crusade against generically modified food, the French have increasingly lent their inimitable style and panache to the pursuit of an organic lifestyle. Over here this sort of thing is called bio, and it's pronounced bee-oh, like what happens when you don't wear enough organic deodorant.

This week, Paris will host its first exposition entirely dedicated to sustainable consumption and all that that entails: Planète Durable runs from April 10-13 at the Porte de Versaille (Hall 4). 1€ of each entrance fee will be donated to the NGP Planete Urgence, an initiative based in Indonesia, where a tree will be planted for each euro they receive, in order to reduce global warming. The Salon will feature a "green dance floor" -- where dancers stomp on the floor to create energy which will then be transformed into electricity to provide music and light.

Yuppies across the District are embracing the green movement faster than Republican sycophants are moving to endorse newly-crowned party king John McCain. Otherwise known as the Whole Foods mafia, DC's organic-eating, nature-loving, yoga-practicing set is fueling the city's booming, eco-friendly retail market. Where can you find these environmentally conscious citizens? For a roadmap of their whereabouts, check out the following locations. Suggestions of further crunchy hippie hangouts welcome via the comments or tips.

There's always that jumpstart at the beginning of the New Year to get healthy -- runs to the gym, veggie-packed meals and lots of thoughtful discretion. Of course as the weeks roll on, the resolution to get healthy becomes somewhat impaired. If you're anything like me, your resolution invariably includes lots of booze, and why not? It's stressful getting healthy, and it's important to indulge. As you're indulging, do your body some good and go organic. With all the deliciously organic offerings at these Chicago spots, once you stumble into the morning after, you can still claim your resolutions are (somewhat) intact.

Healthy living may not come to mind when thinking of Berlin and its nonstop nightlife, but bio (pronounced bee-o) läden -- i.e. organic locales -- are sprouting up like daisies in the hauptstadt. Berlin hosted the first carbon neutral World Cup two summers ago, proving its dedication to saving the planet one soccer game at a time, and this year the organic directory lists 700,000 bio businesses in Berlin and its surrounding Brandenburg region. In fact, Berliners are so eco-friendly, it's borderline scary. In this city, carpooling means piling toddlers onto the back of a bicycle, and mixing brown and green glass is a major faux pas. Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin's answer to Park Slope, has seen quite a bit of green growth recently, mostly due to young mothers needing to replace their former techno lifestyle with a healthier alternative. And that's to be encouraged, since there's nothing more disturbing than seeing someone breastfeeding at a rave. Here are some of the best bio cafes and markets in P-Berg and Mitte, but bring your own grocery bags (you've been warned!).

If you're looking for an organic beauty treatment in Paris, the first thing you should know is that the word organique is a faux ami. The buzzword here is bio -- short for biologique -- and Paris is full of options for the eco-conscious girl who takes care of her looks. From all-natural haircolor to full body treatments, there's nothing crunchy about Paris' leading bio-chic beauty establishments.

From fine dining to salad bars, more and more Los Angeles restaurants are using locally grown produce from farmer's markets, farm stands, and organic gardens. Environmentalists love local cuisine because it's better for the earth, and serious foodies appreciate the enhanced flavor and freshness of produce that doesn't require a passport. The following 10 Los Angeles restaurants are a sampling of a growing number of locally and seasonally inspired LA eateries.

The health craze of the developed world that spurns tasty and processed cuisine has not been lost on Sydney, with food stores that promise a cleaner lifestyle popping up all over. Whether a guilt-free lunch of tofu and barley gives rise to justification of a milky, sugary afternoon tea, one can't be sure. But one thing's for certain -- there are always people who'll pay lots of money to convince themselves their health is better off, even if their tastebuds will suffer. When visiting Sydney, get your fill at one of these organic destinations to undo the dire effects of plane food.