While Westport is widely known for its artistic and educational edge, what many might overlook is the municipality’s formidable organic bounty. Don’t believe us? Take at look yourself. Here are 10 cosmetic venues that don natural beauty services and products.
Salons
K.C Salon & Company
Opened in 2011 by four stylists who had long dreamed of opening their own salon together, K.C Salon has quickly become a trusted beauty fixture. The salon’s secret lies in expertise – with stylists that all don at least 13 of experience, K.C excels in bringing fresh, customized to clients. Organic hair relaxers (made with soy, olive oil, and other low pH, natural products) and organic single process color make this salon equally eco-friendly. Besides this, the venue offers haircuts, color, highlights and low lights, glazes, Brazilian blowouts, and special occasion "up do's.
Fringe 125
From natural hair care products to energy-efficient lighting and reclaimed wood floors, this chic boutique leaves no environmental box unchecked. The salon, which offers hair services, skin care (including botox and fillers), brow tinting and body waxing, prefers natural hair care lines such as Davines (made from Amazonian rainforest ingredients). Walk into the salon and you’ll drool over the sleek black floors and mod white chairs. Plus, the store offers free bang trims. Sweet.
Zen Bronze
Ditch the tanning oil and opt for the spray. At Zen Bronze in Westport, it’s never been more possible to get a glow that is both healthy and sleek. With water-based tanning products made with ingredients such as olive oil and coffee beans, the studio promises to use solution and equipment that will result in the best tan (aka, no orange, the salon resolutely promises). Best of all, the prices are top-notch. Need a quick face and neck tan? Run over to ZB and get one for $10.
Spas
Aroma Beauty & Wellness Spa
For those who prefer the peace of a small community spa, you’ll find your home at this tranquil Wilton oasis. Owner Melissa Wasik, the salon’s personable face and main practitioner, has cultivated a solid reputation as a reliable professional worthy of telling your friends about. Namely, the expert not only gives deeply therapeutic, salon-educated massages, but also keeps health on the mind with trusted, natural products. Most recently, she’s added eyelash extensions to the salon’s repertoire, which has been a huge hit.
URA The Spa
URA is more than a spa; it’s a venue of complete body and spiritual relaxation. URA’s philosophy is to “cleanse and heal through the art of massage and expert skincare,” an aim the spa meets through a range of customized therapeutic services. From alternative therapies such as Reiki, microdermabrasion and reflexology to traditional facials and massages, the venue oozes healing. For organic lovers, look out for the spa’s Organic Facial, which couples “all the benefits of our traditional facials while incorporating the most natural and organic products.”
Shops
Blue Mercury
Located in the middle of downtown Westport, Blue Mercury has been the town’s go-to cosmetic sanctuary for years. While many products in the store are not organic, the retailer’s stock of several well-known natural beauty brands keeps it up to speed. Organic skincare line Darphin, which uses botanical ingredients to brighten complexion, is one name, as is Juice Beauty. We personally like the Juice Beauty’s Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil, which contains organic fruit acids and helps to clear all skin types.
l'occitane
Bringing Southern France’s finest scents since 1976, l'occitane en Provence has become a worldwide phenomenon – and now sells body, face and home products based in essential oils and natural ingredients to 90 countries. The popularity of the elegant chain has to do with its naturalistic philosophy – by infusing products with 200 botanical ingredients such as organic immortelle, verdon and, of course, lavender, the beauty shop creates products that appeal to all. l'occitane’s “life-changing” Shea butter Hand Cream is a sure bet, as are likely any of the chain’s best sellers.
Green Maid Organics
Opened in March, Green Maid proves that organic beauty is not simply a consumer-driven trend but a true science. Founded by Chantal Gaasrud, who spent five years formulating beauty solutions, the store brings together two impressive things – the state’s first organic beauty lab and Gaasarud’s all-organic cosmetics line La Pomme. Walk into the store and not only can you buy her botanical, oil-based products but you can see them being made. Safe to say you’ll see chemistry in action.
Whole Foods
You already know Whole Foods for its organic eats, but did you know the grocery chain is also home to a bounty of natural beauty care? As no FDA guidelines exist for organic beauty products, the grocer has taken quality control matters into their own hands: namely, according to the store’s Organic Body Care Standards, only products that are at least 70 percent organic and have NSF/ANSI 305 (or USDA National Organic Standards) certification can use the word “organic” on their packaging. Brands that fit this label include John Masters, Avalon, Honey Girl and Nourish. For a full listing of Westport Whole Food’s organic beauty products, click here.
Catch-All
Renaissance Beauty
Need a few beauty supplies but also want a quick spray tan, too? Head on down to Renaissance Beauty in Wilton – the hip studio offers a number of beauty services and sells every cosmetic product, from makeup to men’s personal care products, you could want. A registered nurse, owner Marissa Caruso hopes to help clients make “better educated choices in personal care.” This means the purchase of essential oils and natural bronze in addition to cosmetic services performed by qualified medical professionals. The salon is now DBA with Wilton Aesthetic Center and Medical Director Dr. Elan Singer.