This Summer's Top Eco-Friendly Beauty Trends and Where To Find Them

In the world of makeup and skincare, the 2020s have been defined by little to no visible product on the face. “Clean girl” minimalism and the “no make-up make-up look” have long lapped the 2010s passion for big, blocky eyebrows, cut creases with thick eyeliner, blinding highlighter and overdrawn lips. As someone who began her makeup journey during that heavy, colorful era, I yearn for the days when people wanted to go outside wearing more than the latest in an endless parade of lip oils.

SWAC: Beauty, zIssue 58.2Olivia WeberAugust 10, 2026olivia weber, beauty, makeup, sustainable, trends, style, summer, vegan, eco-friendlyComment

The Best Sustainable Summer Fashion Trends You Might Be Missing Out On

Fashion means the world to me, and nothing gets me more excited to leave the house than the chance to style a new outfit for whatever my plans may be for the day. I love layering, I love accessorizing, I love creating new combinations and I just love my closet. However, eventually, the months speed by and the seasons catch up to me and I realize that summer has arrived, and, wow, do I hate summer clothes.

SWAC: Fashion, zIssue 58.2Olivia WeberAugust 7, 2026olivia weber, fashion, fashion sustainability, ecofriendly, environmental, style, summer, 2026, trendyComment

Sway - Vegan Pole Wear That Can Handle All The Tricks!

Agata Jurago-Pach is a vegan environmentally aware sexy as hell pole dancer, who decided to create her own epic vegan eco-friendly pole wear brand, Sway! Naturally, as I am a vegan sustainable minded pole dancer myself, we became quick friends! Agata had always dreamed of being a fashion designer so when she found her way to pole and the options were limited there it was an obvious decision to make pole wear. But pole wear isn’t so easy to make. Pole dancers are strong, opinionated, super flexible, do crazy tricks, and need their skin to stick to the pole! One can’t just throw anything on them and call it a day! They need looks that will stay in place no matter what while slaying! We are also a pretty conscientious. This is where Sway comes in! Super sexy vegan conscientious pole wear that can handle everything we throw at it! Read on to learn more about Agata Jurago-Pach and her inspiring pole brand, Sway!

The Price of Breathing Between Borders

A comparison between the healthcare services around the US and Mexico, is it possible that these bordersharing countries could be experiencing a very similar healthcare crisis?

Articles, zIssue 58.2María Paula CastroAugust 3, 2026medical aid, medicine, healthcare, universal healthcare, Mexico, usaComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Juliana Bennett, Wisconsin State Assembly, District 76

Juliana Bennett (she/her), is running for Wisconsin State assembly. A Black pansexual Gen-Z woman, Juliana is heavily keyed in to her hometown of Madison, the capital city, as a former member of the city council, with experience in expanding housing. She is passionate about defending protesters, getting ICE out of Wisconsin, and sustaining immigrant communities across the state.

Alexandros Hanou, CEO of Crate 61 Organics, on Craft, Sustainability and Building Something Real

CEO of Crate 61 Organics Alexandros Hanou knows that sustainable skincare is not only a possibility we can aim for, but a standard we must strive for. He shared his insights into top-notch, sustainable ingredients, production and shipping methods and even marketing tactics. Crate 61 Organics provides customers with satisfying soaps and other products without any bells and whistles regarding scent, plastic usage in their packaging and other stereotypes that plague the skincare industry.

New Music From Lynn Hollyfield Spreads Awareness About Grief and Addiction

Lynn Hollyfield has been releasing contemporary folk music on Spotify since 2011 with messages ranging from grief, mental health, addiction and how we as a nation could use a lot more unity. She is passionate about songwriting and playing the guitar as well as her work with PEO, an organization that promotes and encourages all women to receive the education they deserve. She speaks about the relationship between art and politics and how music has the ability to cause positive change. Her new album, “Diving In” will release July 24 (today!) and will cover all of the emotions that make us human and whole.

Art, zIssue 58.2Olivia WeberJuly 24, 2026olivia weber, lynn hollyfield, folk music, songwriting, mental health, womens rights, education, AwarenessComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Brendan Trachsel, Arizona House of Representatives District 6

In Arizona, Brendan Trachsel (he/him/his) is running on the Green Party ticket for one of two seats that makes up the Arizona House of Representatives’ 6th District. This young activist and Quaker is running to be the first Gen Z elected official at the state level in Arizona. Brendan is passionate about securing abortion access in the state, fighting against Flock cameras, and increasing Arizona’s access to higher education.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 58.2Andrew FJuly 23, 2026gen-z, Green, green party, go green, election 2026, politics, Politics, #politicsComment

Hila The Earth Helps Us Connect With The Earth On A Deeper Level While Having Fun!

Hila the Earth is not your everyday performer. A Brooklyn girl with heart, Hila grew up with hip hop and drag queens, and has been freestyling for a long time. The big turning point in her live was when she fell in love with nature and the Earth. This was a game changer! New York City is not known for its green spaces. But Hila, now dressed as the Earth, fully embodies the Earth wherever she goes and performs. With songs like “WAP — Wet Ass Planet” and “Go Parks” you will quickly fall in love with her fervor and wit as she raps and freestyles you into caring about the environment! Read on to learn more about this insanely talented woman and the Earth we all love!

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Myrna Munoz, Oregon State Senate District 15

Myrna Munoz (she/her/ella/they), ran on a platform of opposition to data centers and ICE. This Mexican-American teacher and gamer has generated wide support in her race, including from the Democratic Socialists of America. Myrna identifies as a “justice seeker” and advocates for people and the environment over corporate profits, for gun control, for organized labor, and for Black & Brown communities.

8 Ways You Can Sustainably Beat The Heat In NYC

As we officially enter the month of July, New York City temperatures have already hit the 100 degree mark. Trying to stay cool can seem impossible when faced with numbers that extreme, but I promise you can avoid a sunburn this summer, and even healthily take care of your environment in the process. Here are the best ways to keep yourself, and the planet, cool and cared for.

Articles, zIssue 58.2Olivia WeberJuly 20, 2026olivia weber, new york city, summer, heatwave, Sustainability, enviornment, greenliving, #summertime, nycComment

How You Can Help in the Aftermath of the Venezuela Earthquakes

On June 24 at around 6 p.m., the country of Venezuela was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake along their coastal areas, followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude tremor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), (ABC News). Primary damage was found in Caracas with ripples and tremors felt through the country and even in Colombia. These dual earthquakes were the biggest to hit Venezuela in a century, leading to immense destruction and death across the city of Caracas, which over 2 million people call home.

Articles, zIssue 58.2Olivia WeberJuly 17, 2026olivia weber, earthquake, venezuela, news, world, global, world issues, climate change, donation, advocacy, AwarenessComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Alexis Simmons, Kansas House of Representatives District 58

One of Topeka’s state representatives, Alexis Simmons (she/her), is an agnostic, bisexual Democrat. Born at the end of the millennial generation, she identifies as a “childless cat lady” and is a government professor at Washburn University. What drove Alexis to teach government was a belief that people should feel empowered to engage with government, and not be intimidated by the complexity of it. Alexis is passionate about defending the US Constitution from attacks on freedom of speech, freedom to worship freely (or to not worship not at all), and basic privacy.

The Neighborhood Bills - The Housing Crisis In The USA and Mexico

One thing that’s for sure in this modern era is that a nations problem is a global problem. Modern individualism has trapped us in ourselves, our city, our country, and this has clouded our empathy for the outside world, making us lose sight of how similar the problems are that very different countries are facing: a problem that doesn’t develop the same way everywhere, but undoubtedly stems from the same root: the housing crisis in the United States and Mexico.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Sarah Stalker, Kentucky House of Representatives District 34

Kentucky is known as a very conservative state, but we discovered two years ago that even progressives represent constituencies in so-called “red” states! Most conservative states have cities that are heavily progressive, particularly the largest city in each state. In Kentucky, that city is Louisville. Sarah Stalker (she/her), is a representative from Louisville to the Kentucky House of Representatives. First elected in 2022, she won re-election in 2024 and is running again in 2026. Sarah believes in putting the environment and the working class over profits and capital gains, to the point that she encourages mutual aid, trading and bartering, and thrifting as much as possible for environmental reasons, cost effectiveness and to avoid participating in capitalism. She is also a huge proponent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

zIssue 58.2, SWAC: InfluencerAndrew FJuly 14, 2026diversity, female empowerment, women, politics, politician, election 2026Comment

Staying Clean and Green in the Busiest City in The World

Since moving to New York City for the summer at the beginning of the month, I have reveled in all the new freedoms and opportunities the city has to offer. Of course, this city’s reputation for being overcrowded, humid and, at times, a little dirty precedes it, and staying sustainable and clean can seem like a challenge.

Art-Pop Singer-Songwriter Freya Everest on Storytelling, Womanhood, and Freedom

Freya Everest is a London-born musician with strong electronic and folk influences that are inspired by other lyrically-focused women like Florence Welch, Lily Allen and Joni Mitchell. She advocates passionately for women’s rights, trans protection, mental health awareness, and the promotion of he Green Party. Her music career is just officially getting off the ground, but her storytelling abilities shine through her debut single “Monique” that dropped in May.

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2026 - Diana Loya, Texas House of Representatives, District 87

Luckily, a crop of progressive women are challenging the status quo in Texas. One such candidate is Diana Loya (she/her), a Latina millennial educator and mother in the rural Texas Panhandle. As a public school teacher, education is one of the foundations of her campaign, along with a level economic playing field, where government supports the needs of the working class, and not the 1%, and where taxpayer dollars go towards building infrastructure that benefits the people, and not right back into billionaires’ pockets.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 58.2Andrew FJuly 8, 2026Texas, election, election 2026, #election, latina, latinx, Hispanic, mother, motherhood, teachers, educationComment

"Chicago Country" Singer-Songwriter Lauren Gottshall Lifts Up Her Community

Lauren Gottshall is a “true Chicago girl at heart.” and knows the value of working hard to give back to the communities that made her the artist she is today. Her songs uniquely reflect her experiences and stories and she wants to find topics with every one she writes. She has dedicated her time and effort towards fights for literacy and cancer research and believes positivity is key to success.

Integra Pink Blends Political Activism With 'Mixtape Music'

Integra Pink is a Southern California-based band that specializes in delivering the unexpected. Whether that means playing with all different genres from punk to disco, or constantly raising the bar for immigration advocacy, they know exactly who they are as musicians and advocates. Their work with immigration rights organizations like CHIRLA is inspired and their music makes people believe in a more optimistic future.

zIssue 58.2, SWAC: InfluencerOlivia WeberJuly 6, 2026integra pink, olivia weber, Immigration, music, ICE awareness, california, punk, songwriting, bandComment