Author Archives: Sally

Ecco Bella On The Air

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It’s always gratifying to see the ways in which Ecco Bella’s message radiates to like-minded communities–namely, those who also focus on organic ingredients, a gluten-free diet, the environment, and veganism. We continue to expand not only because of the reputation of our products but because of partnerships with our wider allies.

Recently I was asked to be interviewed on the Women’s Business Talk Radio Network of blogtalkradio, and I was delighted at this opportunity to deliver our mission directly.

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It was a pleasure to spend time with the wonderful radio hosts (and health-concious vegans) Ginger Burr and Marion Davis, and I want to share the results with you.

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You can access the interview here, and learn more about the reasons for Ecco Bella’s founding and where we’re going. Enjoy it!

Photo Postcard from Sally in Colorado-Spring 2011

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Hi,

My parents told me they ran out of money on the way to California from New Jersey, and so I was born in Colorado. Forever after, I have made an annual trip to experience the natural beauty of Colorado.

In March, while everyone in New Jersey where Ecco Bella is located,  was fed up with the snow, I could not get enough of it and was delighted to return to Colorado. Also, I am a hot springs seeker, having enjoyed Ojo Caliente in New Mexico, Calistoga and Palm Springs in California and Ischia in Italy. On this trip, I added the experience of Dunton Hot Springs, too.

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I hope you enjoy the postcard slideshow of Colorado that I made for you. Please CLICK on the video window below to see the postcard!

Your friend, Sally Malanga, Founder

Meet Oliver–He’s a Natural Beauty! Help him get a nicer house!

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He was the darling of the age back in the ’70′s, thought to be “The Missing Link.”  Purportedly part-human and part-chimpanzee, Oliver could walk upright, and reportedly watched television with his owner–while smoking cigars!

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Unfortunately for Oliver, his seemingly human abilities drew the attention of scientists, who subjected him to years of testing.  Left blind and arthritic, Oliver was eventually released to an animal sanctuary supported by Friends of Animals.

Project Oliver is an online photo series about Oliver’s life, and the efforts by the Primarily Primates sanctuary to build a new home for him.  Oliver’s new habitat (See illustration below) will have a grass area beneath various climbing structures and other elements suitable for a chimpanzee.  Tunnels from other habitats would enable different groups of chimpanzees to take turns enjoying this new environment.  For many of them, including Oliver, this will be the first time in years that they have been able to walk on grass.

Oliver SANCTUARY design

Project Oliver was also created to raise awareness and compassion towards animals who are cast-offs from the biomedical, entertainment and  pet industries.  At Primarily Primates, they have found a loving and caring home.

Check out this heartwarming and captivating film by Andy Cockrum.  It documents how Joshua, an amazing Eagle Scout, designed and built new enrichment features for Oliver’s home at Primarily Primates.

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I know how deeply you care about the planet.  As a board member of Friends of Animals and Primarily Primates, I have arranged for you to become a friend of Oliver and the Sanctuary.  When you order this $20 Ecco Bella Mascara, in brown or black, you will receive a one-year membership in both Primarily Primates and Friends of Animals  (A total value of $65.95.)  You’ll love it!

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Can a Veggie Burger Change the World?

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Here at Ecco Bella, we believe health and beauty go hand in hand. That goes for the health not only of people, but of the planet–and our fellow animals.
That sentiment is shared by the wonderful people at Peace Advocacy Network, who are working to expose and stop cruelty to animals.  They’ve spread this message through partnerships with compassionate companies such as Ecco Bella.  Now they’re launching a revolutionary direct action.
In cities across America, Peace Advocacy is enrolling 30 people to pledge to go vegan for 30 days.  That means no meat, no dairy, no animal products of any kind, giving a break to billions of animals and greatly reducing the vast resources (such as water and oil) required to support factory farms.
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The “Vegan Pledge” program guides people every step of the way, with a personal mentor, care package, and weekly meetings with speakers.  They’ve already enrolled people in Philadelphia and Phoenixville, PA, and are planning Pledges in Baltimore, MD, Bend, OR and Salt Lake City, UT. But you can click here to take the Vegan Pledge–anyplace, anytime–and learn more details of the program. Here’s a picture of some of the Pledge participants in Phoenixville enjoying a veggie lunch:
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Ecco Bella is giving all 90 people taking part in Peace Action Network’s program a complimentary 8 oz. bottle of our luxurious  Vanilla water-free Herbal Body Lotion.  It’s 100% free of preservatives, water and gluten–and it’s vegan!
Here are more views of those who signed up with Peace Advocacy Network’s program to change their lives.

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We hope you, too, will take the Vegan Pledge, even if you just do so on your own.

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Moms Against Triclosan

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Dolphins are swimming in waters tainted with germ-killing soaps, but they aren’t getting squeaky clean. Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical found in everyday household products such as soaps, toothpastes and deodorants, is accumulating in the environment and is known to disrupt the growth and development of animals–including us humans.

Our obsession to kill germs is getting the better of us, as such antibacterial products–in use in antibacterial soaps everywhere–cause bacteria to become more resistant.  No wonder triclosan is the focus of a campaign undertaken by a coalition of health and environmental groups, led by Beyond Pesticides.  Their goal is to remove triclosan from the market.

Ecco Bella has never used this ingredient. Now we’re trying to rid it from use everywhere.  We’ve made public comment in support of a petition against triclosan, noting its pervasive use and the EPA’s failure to regulate it.

The EPA is listening to public comments–but only until February 7th, so please click here to write directly to the administrator of the EPA.  Tell her to get this chemical out of our soaps and toys.  Join moms everywhere to help eliminate this harmful pollutant from the planet!

Beauty and the Beast. A Rescue Story.

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Macaque monkeys resized 600Meet Spike and Busby. Just a couple of happy-go-lucky Macaques, who loved sitting up in trees, munching on fruit and nuts, until a selfish research lab got hold of them. But in this case justice was served. The lab went bust and these guys and 23 of their fellow rescues went straight to a good home at Primarily Primates, the Friends of Animals sanctuary outside of San Antonio, Texas.
As a board member of Friends of Animals, I sweat their financials and exalt in their successes. Several years ago, as Primarily Primates was struggling to stay afloat, FoA offered to share resources with them, effectively rescuing the sanctuary.
Check out this heartwarming Macaques rescue video. And don’t miss the last few minutes. It’s a moving testament to the fantastic work the Primarily Primates staff is doing.
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Thank you for inspiring us to continue as an innovator in natural beauty for you, while looking out for animals and the planet.

From one Intelligent Beauty to another,

Sally Malanga
Founder, Ecco Bella

Just Three Words for the New Year 2011

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Hello from the Snow Family,

Snow Family in Montclair

I received an email from a marketing coach named Chris Brogan. I open every 4th email or so that he sends. I never met him and don’t remember how I signed up. I can see he is trying hard to build his on-line reputation and I respect that. Being an iconoclast myself, his comments below made me pause.

“You know we do things differently here. One way is that we don’t do resolutions. Why? Because those get broken about as fast as you try to write them. Instead, we do “three words.”

Pick 3 words that have a lot of meaning and that you can use as guideposts for things you want to do in 2011. For example, my 2010 words were: Ecosystems, Owners, Kings.

My first time with picking 3 words, I did “Ask, Do, Share,” and it was in 2006 and it was one of my best years yet. Until 2007 kicked its butt, and then 2008, then 2009, and now 2010. Why? Because every year, those three words help me keep a focus that resolutions do not.”

I liked Chris’s idea so I picked three words for 2011. They are Balance, Profits, Connectivity.

I chose balance, because my desire to help people, animals and planet, is bigger than the days and hours available to fulfill that desire. So I will fight the fight and give myself permission for a reward and the comfort of breaks to refresh my spirit. These include going to eat a great vegan meal, tickets to a show, or visiting the beautiful places in the world (always while respecting animals and the planet, that never stops!)

I chose profits because Ecco Bella,  founded as an activist beauty company, relies on profits as it’s life source. Profits in compassionate hands create alot of good! With those profits we seek out incredible ingredients and create amazing products for our customers, while giving back to the planet.  That philosophy goes both ways. I am generous towards all and always make sure that anyone who does business with Ecco Bella is making a fair profit, too.

I chose connectivity because as a buddhist I know that you and I are connected to each other and in turn connected to all living and non-living beings. So this year I going to stay aware that I am never going it alone! I will continue to make time to show up for others and be open to all connections in all directions including from non-profits to other green businesses and other green people who contact me.

How about you?  Seems easy enough to pick them, so what are the three words that will guide you in 2011?

Photo Postcard from Sally, New York Christmas 2010

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In New York City, at the holiday season, everyone is a prince and princess!  I took my camera to photograph the natural beauty of New York City’s seasonal twinkle to share with you. I hope you enjoy viewing the treasures I have captured in its windows, streetscapes and magical places. Watching it in full screen mode would be best, as there are many delightful details.

My sincere best wishes to you for your health and prosperity in 2011!

Your friend, Sally Malanga, Founder

PS. If you cannot access YouTube, you can download the slideshow here.

Grinch New Jersey Governor Christie ruins Christmas with bear hunt.

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Here is the Grinch who’s stealing our holiday season, Governor Chris Christie.

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The Grinch of New Jersey- Governor Chris Christie

Once upon a time, the hills of northern New Jersey were alive with over 3,400 bears. Living quietly in their dens, taking strolls in the countryside with their families, they kept to themselves, eating a vegetarian diet.

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Then a mean-spirited man and a group of like-minded people armed with 30 caliber weapons sought to change all that by conducting a trophy hunt of these defenseless animals.

Beauty and the beast redux
Ecco Bella supports Friends of Animals and the rights of our four-legged friends. But leave it to New Jersey Governor Christie to ruin Christmas for thousands of animal lovers. As photos of dead bears flood New Jersey newspapers, thousands of people have had their holiday spirit taken from them. “I cannot see voters re-electing Governor Christie. He may have curried favor with conservatives by giving trophy-hunters access to New Jersey’s bears, but the majority of state residents say they disagree with this hunt, and side with the bears,” said Ecco Bella founder Sally Malanga, a board member of Friends of Animals and a resident of north Jersey. “Christmas is a holiday of peace, yet Governor Christie has made people all over the state feel angry.”

No laughing matter
Angie Metler from the Animal Protection League of New Jersey  is just as vocal. “Since the Governor has made it very clear he finds humane and enlightened black bear policy ‘laughable,’ we must bring our outrage elsewhere. In addition to calling the Governor, please call NJ state legislators today and every day. You can locate their numbers at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us. Tell them to push for permanent protection of bears. This hunt is a disgrace to our state and represents sham science. Hunters are flying in from Alaska and elsewhere to kill our bears.”

Garbage, not guns  is how to manage our bears
According to the group Save NJ Bears the only proven way to manage black bears is by proper garbage storage. In New Jersey, that’s already the law–but the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife refuses to enforce it. Instead of ticketing negligent property owners, they allow bears to be lured into human environments by the smell of garbage, and then use these incidents to justify bear hunting. Why? Because the Division profits from selling hunting licenses and they exist solely to manage sport hunting. They have no plan to help bears and humans co-exist.

Over 70% of NJ residents oppose the trophy hunt!
On Saturday, Dec 11, protest the hunt. Go to Save NJ Bears for times and ways to voice your concern. Please get out in public and let Governor Christie know that bears deserve to live in peace. Governor Christie: tel # 609-292-6000   fax # 609-292-3454

Ecco Bella, my natural beauty company, propounds a deep connection to nature, and advocates for the peaceful co-existence of all living beings. I am sure you do too.

Gorgeous and Green for the Holidays

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describe the image                        Annabella Asvik

Our kindred spirit Annabella Asvik—environmentalist, vegan, TV producer and fashion model—set out to prove you can look beautiful with natural makeup products that work their magic without petrochemicals—and without any testing on animals. She invited us to a session where she teamed up with Ecco Bella consultant Tara Capriglione and fashion photographer Akos Simon to recreate classic looks, using nothing but Ecco Bella Products.

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Just in time for holiday parties, you can share in the results, as we go behind the scenes for a professional fashion shoot.

You can watch Annabella and Tara on video as they take you step-by-step through the process. First watch here as Annabella explains her reasons for using organic and vegan cosmetics. (One of the most interesting things I learned was that natural makeup is able to be used in places on the face that would be impossible with mainstream products.)

Click here to watch them create the Bright Berry Lips look:

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and click here to watch the Shimmery, Smoky Brown Look video.

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You can learn more about AnnaBella and her wonderful efforts on behalf of the planet at EthicalBella.com.

Enjoy this peek at the photo shoot, which proved you can be glamorous and green! Keep in mind, the final close-up’s of Annabella are the raw files from Akos—no retouching!

Thanks to Annabella, Tara and Akos for sharing their work.

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    Annabella and Tara begin with make-up as photographer Akos Simon sets up lights and camera.

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    Tara choosing from her array of Ecco Bella FlowerColor natural cosmetics.

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    Annabella adds a touch of her own.

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Annabella lets Tara know how much she loves Tara’s results.

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Akos gives direction to Tara as she touches up Annabella’s hair.

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Looking over the photographer’s shoulder…

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Annabella likes what she sees!

Would you like to give these colors a try? Annabella prepared handy printable guides for you– Bright Berry Lips look and the Shimmery, Smoky, Brown look.  We’ve made you a special price for both kits!

We’re here to help! You can sign up for your own personal beauty consultation with the Natural Beauty Gurus.

Best Holiday wishes, from your intrepid reporter,

Michael Jay, Campaigns Director here at Ecco Bella.

Final close-up photos of Annabella by Akos Simon. Behind-the-scenes shots by Michael Jay.