Uncomplicated Complexions
Date: March 17, 2011 | Category: Beauty, Featured, Skin Care
Did you know that preservatives in skin care products have been shown to cause more damage to your skin by over-drying and exacerbating irritation? Thankfully, the blend of botanicals boscia has formulated is designed to “cleanse while it helps purify and refine pores to maintain a clear complexion.” Containing Sasa Kurilensis Water, Willow Bark Extract, and Rosemary Leaf Extract, the Clear Complexion Cleanser’s ($26) trifecta of key ingredients is intended to neutralize blemish-causing bacteria, exfoliate, minimize dark spots left by previous breakouts, and visibly reduce the appearance of pores. As an accompanying treatment, consider the tonic, which can be misted directly onto your face and throat both morning and night (or throughout the day if your skin needs additional clarification--$19-24). For stressful days and rebellious dermis, the choice for natural, calming skin care is clear. *Photo credit: bosciaskincare.com
Safe Ingredients are Sexy
Date: March 3, 2011 | Category: Beauty, Body Care
With the approach of spring comes the first blossom, and with the advent of safe and sustainable personal care products comes Blossom Organics, a company devoted to increasing your pleasure without the propylene glycol or methylparabens (present in other lubricants).
Formulated by a woman who understands the necessity of pH-balance, this water-based product mimics your natural chemistry for “healthy well-being, beautiful intimacy, and blissful pleasure.” We’ve been personally pleased with the Natural Moisturizing Lubricant, which not only moisturizes but also, ahem.... motivates, with only natural and certified organic ingredients (that means no irritation in your innermost areas). For those with discomforting dryness, the Natural Moisturizing Lubricant is safe to use daily. Even if you’re new to natural personal care, with Blossom Organics, there’s no such thing as a late bloomer.
Photo credit: Blossom-Organics.com
Ooh La L’uvalla
Date: February 25, 2011 | Category: Beauty, Skin Care
Who says beauty is only skin deep? L’uvalla’s line of 100% natural and certified organic (there’s a difference between natural and organic — L’uvalla explains it here) personal care products radiate beauty from the inside out.
Appreciative of skin, the Earth, people, and animals all at once, L’uvalla promotes humanely produced synergistic formulas that dynamically interact with your skin, providing short-term results and long-term health, all of which contain the company’s signature ingredient, the Lotus flower.
Some of our faves include the Gentle Foaming Cleanser ($31.99), for combination or oily skin, which produces a light, non-stifling foam that won’t irritate your eyes. We felt like queens after using the pore-minimizing, citrus-scented luxury that is the Orange Toner ($29.99). You can find both of these products in the Age-Defying set (just over $108) if you’re looking for a regime that defies wrinkles without defying the environment—in fact, all products are “sustainably produced from seed to shelf.”
*Photo credit: luvalla.com
Firm Believer
Date: February 2, 2011 | Category: Beauty, Featured
After falling for Weleda's massively moisturizing Skin Food, we were psyched to see the company launch a new line of facial care, specifically for, ahem, mature skin.
Packing a serious pomegranate punch, the firming facial line gets its organic pomegranates from the fertile shores and mountainsides of Turkey, where over 100,000 pomegranates are grown annually (click on the image below for a video of the harvest). The organic seeds are dried and cold pressed to release the potent, antioxidant rich oil - the secret to serious skin renewal.
Complete with a firming day cream ($33), night cream ($37), firming serum ($45), and eye cream ($33), the line's proven results have ecofabulous founder, Zem Joaquin, declaring that "it is the bomb for hydrating and regenerating aging skin."
We've always admired that Weleda is a company deeply dedicated to botanical beauty and minimal packaging, as we saw firsthand on a trip to their biodynamic gardens in Germany. But that's not enough to get us to switch out an entire skincare regime... gorgeous skin is, and the new Pomegranate Firming Facial line has proven results - the eye cream shows a 23% reduction in wrinkles and the night cream shows a reduction in wrinkles by 35% (both after 28 days).
*photo credit: Weleda
Shampooing Made Simple
Date: January 31, 2011 | Category: Beauty, Hair Care
Cleaning your roots and crown may not be a difficult job, but when you consider all the hard-to-pronounce, unknown toxins in your favorite drugstore brand, it’s easy to get tangled up in chemical confusion. That’s why Simply Organic created a line of shampoos, conditioners and styling products made with fewer, pure ingredients designed to address and improve a variety of hairy situations. If you wash and condition daily, we recommend the Everyday Shampoo ($28) and Conditioner ($30), formulated to gently cleanse, repair, and protect all hair types with several certified organic extracts like olive, vanilla, and Japanese honeysuckle. Have your locks gone limp? Try the Volume Treatment ($24) after cleansing for professionally pumped-up results. If winter and wanton flat iron/blow out use can has your tresses dried out, check out the Split Ends Treatment and Bangs and Ends Crème (both $24) to keep your most visibly sultry strands solid. Finish any flirty style with the silicone-free Shine Spray ($26) to maintain long-lasting luster. As hair care woes change, whether color retention or a dry scalp, preening shouldn’t be a complex or painful process. Allow Simply Organics to cover your hair through the thick of it.Whiskey Tips
Date: January 21, 2011 | Category: Beauty, Makeup
It's 5 o'clock somewhere. Beauty geeks and mixologists alike are loving Scotch Naturals, a line of water-based, non-toxic nail polish. Without any of the chemicals found in typical nail polish: toluene, dibutyl phthelate, formaldehyde, acetone, and heavy metals, the polish line has all of the color and quality you crave - plus a sense of humor that we love. The Scotch Naturals collection contains 13 "single scotch" colors from "on the rocks" to "kiltlifter" and "hot toddy," available for $14.99 each or as a bundle of three together in a "cocktail trio" for $47.99. Whiskey tips without the hangover? Yes please!Alpha and Pomega5
Date: December 31, 2010 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Skin Care
What does a sweet tooth and sustainable skin care have in common? We're here to report on an indulgent intersection. For the lemon cake batter aficionada concerned with the health of her skin, body, and environment, Pomega5's Green Tea Mattifying Moisturizer is just the thing. The Mattifying Moisturizer is an opaque yellow cream, which, after just a dollop, transforms your skin into a hydrated, healthy, glowing canvas that smells like a delicious dessert.
Like all Pomega5 products, the moisturizer contains the essential oil of the pomegranate seed, as well as other powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients like green tea extract, a personal favorite of Pomega5 founder, Tzeira. Green tea extract helps to unclog pores, as well as reduce wrinkles, sun damage and redness. One of it's most redeeming qualities, however, especially for ladies with skin prone to oiliness, is its "mattifying" effect - once your skin absorbs the moisturizer (which happens speedily thanks to the extra skin-compatible Omega 5 fatty acid) you can apply powder foundation without it looking dry or cakey - great for eco girls on the go!
Pomega5 has our attention well beyond their mattifying moisturizer (and amazing travel-friendly cleansing bars). The company's history began with the same heartfelt and meticulous approach as a meal's preparation. Wanting to not only provide a product that was good for the skin, Pomega5's mission is also to create one that nourishes the body from the outside in, one that uses biodynamic and organic ingredients (90-98% actually coming from biodynamic soil) that have naturally restorative and sensory qualities that give you a whole new perspective on how connected to the earth you can feel while performing your daily cosmetic routine.
Sweet Perfection
Date: December 27, 2010 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Skin Care
Stimulate senses and renew the skin with all-natural, vitamin-enriched skincare line, Perfect Organics. The cosmetic and body care company produces organic and vegan creams, washes and cosmetics to stimulate and renew skin through all-natural, vitamin-enriched ingredients like shea butter and essential oils. A bit like the all-in-one Dr. Bronner's products, Perfect Organics aims to supply products that can be used in a multitude of ways - like the Ultimate Body Wash. This cross-functional, botanical and citrus oil confection can be used to freshen up a sweaty bod, unwind in a relaxing bath soak, or shave your stems without the worry of unknown, potentially harmful effects from parabens. 8 oz. bottles are available in five stimulating scents for $13.99, and since it's super concentrated, a little goes a long way! For pocketed perfection on the go, we're equally impressed with the cute shea butter lip balms ($3.99). Healing ingredients like sweet almond and hazelnut oil will make you want to buy the entire 3-pack to prep for chapped-lip season. We love the sweet, shiny glaze of Vanilla Twist (like icing for the lips!), but carry Fresh Mint for a quick breath fix en lieu of gum. If a little color on your kisser is more your style, check out the vegan Lip and Cheek Shimmers, naturally scented tubes of complimentary shades (frosted pink to vibrant coral) that instantly brighten and beautify your most flirtatious bits. What's next for Perfect Organics? A kids line! Be on the lookout for Hippo & Turtle, a gently nourishing, completely sustainable line for little ones.Face It, Natural Is Better.
Date: December 21, 2010 | Category: Beauty, Fragrance
A human nose can distinguish among hundreds of different scents, even in minute amounts. When our tongues can only recognize five distinct tastes, it’s no wonder that people are obsessed with smell. Every morning you may spritz an orgasmic Eau de Toilette, without realizing that the substances that make that perfume smell divine are similar to those that send addicts on their chemical trips. Thankfully there are people (like the lovely Stacey Bresnahan) who know that natural ingredients are better than synthetic. FACE IT offers organic perfumes with delicate scents that contain ingredients that are actually beneficial to your skin. If you haven’t heard, 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your blood stream, and "fragrance" which normally means "synthetically derived" is not offering your blood stream anything beneficial. FACE IT uses ingredients like botanicals, antioxidants, Vitamin A, C, and E - all made fresh in small batches with only natural preservatives. This company has mastered essential oils that both women and men can enjoy (don’t let the word perfume deter you gentlemen). Not only are their scents amazing but the precision you get with the roll-on application means you get the scent where you want it, and it makes for quick and easy touch ups while traveling.Epicurious Meet Epidermis
Date: December 14, 2010 | Category: Beauty, Body Care, Skin Care
A visit to Weleda Naturals this summer left us dreaming of hot garden walks and the sweet smell of lavender, but it's during the winter months that we keep our all-time favorite Weleda product close by.
A savior for dry, rough skin, Weleda's Skin Food is just that - nourishing sustenance for elbows, hands, feet, or anywhere else you're feeling patchy. Designed to calm dry irritation and leave skin nourished and calm, organic sunflower seed oil, pansy, rosemary and calendula make this a perfect recipe for hydrated, healthy, glowing skin. You know it's good when you're body starts craving delicacies that don't go in the mouth!
