Standards for beauty products in the US are significantly lower than European standards resulting in potentially harmful substances making their way into products. The Oakland-based Environmental Working Group publishes a report called Skin Deep and has a database to search for your products at cosmeticsdatabase.org.

Artisan fairs are a great place to support fellow locals and find unique items. The Oakland Artisan Marketplace has a large variety of offerings in two locations: Friday 11-4pm at Frank Ogawa Plaza, and at Jack London Square Saturday 11-6pm and Sunday 10-4pm (Sunday is the bigger market). Every second Saturday from 12-5pm the Maven Craft Fair features women artisans with a special emphasis on African-American women crafters (1700 Dwight and McGee in Berkeley).