Reminding Dita Von Teese that she's an eco-icon and interviewing Rachelle Carson Begley about what it's really like to live with Ed are some of the perks of editing an eco-fashion online magazine. But Amy Smart really made me work to get this piece.
Amy Smart gets her hands dirty for a good cause. Photo by Alexandra Wyman, WireImage
I get it: The girl's got two movies out this summer, including the blockbuster "Crank: High Voltage," and my interest in her eco-friendliness was probably not at the top of her publicist's priority list. But by being a bit of a stalker (in a nice way), I finally got a chance to talk with Amy last week and was surprised at what I found out.
First off, for a total down-to-earth girl, she's a bit of a sex symbol -- making not one, not two, but three "sexiest woman in the world"-ish lists. Yowza!
Second, she's more interested in volunteering for non-profits like The Humane Society and Heal the Bay than she is in any of that superficial stuff. She started volunteering for environmentally- and socially-conscious organizations as a teenager, where she began making the connection between chemical cleaning projects and environmental damage.
In May, Amy showed up to plant an organic garden (picture above) alongside her good friend Anna Getty and Nicole Ritchie (both sporting adorable baby bumps) to kick off a Los Angeles public schools' organic garden project created by the Environmental Media Association and the Yes to Carrots Seed Fund.
"The more I am aware of what is happening environmentally, the more responsible I feel to make changes," Amy said. "I actually find real happiness making conscious choices, knowing that each little change matters."
Amy's little changes mean eating organic food, always carrying a reusable bag and water bottle (she loves Chico Bags and Klean Kanteens, respectively), as well as choosing eco-friendly fashions both on and off the red carpet to support designers like Viridis Luxe, Alternative, Linda Loudermilk, Leila Hafzi, Loomstate, Eco-skin, Blue Canoe and Beau Soleil. And, like Dita, Amy confessed that she "love[s] buying secondhand clothes, and that is very eco friendly." Indeed, it is!
But although Amy adores Josie Maran Cosmetics paraben-free Cream Blush, touluene-, DBP- and formaldehyde-free Zoya nail polish, and is devoted to Dr. Mercola's eco-friendly skin care, she confessed to one eco-sin. "I still use some makeup that is not eco friendly," she said. "I just love the way it looks!" With that said, she's still one of our favorite eco-idols.
Who is Amy's eco-idol? Give you a hint: She has two and they're both listed in this article. Connect the dots or read the whole interview at ecostiletto.com
We highly recommend the later!