Happy New Year with New Beauty Buys!

Happy New Year!  I don't know about you, but I am so excited about 2013.  I'm just feeling so positive, peaceful and excited about the wonderful things this year will bring.  My apologies that I've been missing in action for the past few months, but I'm back and ready to take on the new year by sharing great new green products with you.  So to make up for my time away, i'm going to feature three products I'm loving right now.

Korres Wild Rose Compact Powder is my current go-to compact powder and I wear it (almost) every day.  It's a brightening compact powder foundation that is enriched with wild rose extract and a proprietary botanical blend gives a luminous finish and a velvety texture.  Its just enough coverage that evens out skin tone and feels nice and light on the face. 

Here's what you can feel good about: there are no parabens, sulgates, petro-chemicals, phthalates, GMOs and triclosan. Nice! $28 at Sephora

I'm just loving Tarte's LipSurgence™ matte lip tint in Fiery, a perfect bold red color that I've been searching for for a while!  These lip tints combine rich, matte color with natural moisturizers to glide on smooth and soften lips. A proprietary blend of plant bio-nutrients, vitamins, and essential oils rich in emollients prevent premature signs of aging, while softening lips.

Full disclosure: this isn't the most natural product out there as it does some non-natural ingredients, but I love the perfect red shade so for the few nights out a month I wear it I feel totally ok about it!  Plus, there are no parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate or synthetic fragrances so it's definitely a healthier choice than your traditional lipstick.  $24 at Sephora.

I'm a lavender lover.  I just love the herbal, grassy aroma which transports me to Provence and leaves me feeling calm and peaceful.  Avalon Organics Nourishing Shampoo with Lavender is a great, cost-affordable shampoo that really delivers.  Its new formulation is better than ever, both in terms of safe ingredients and user experience.  Gentle plant-derived cleansers enriched with Vitamin E, Panthenol, Arginine and Organic Lavender nourish the hair and provides smooth, healthy-looking results. 

And the best part: there are no parabens, harsh preservatives, synthetic colors or fragrances, phthalates or harmful sulfates.

This shampoo leaves my hair feeling super clean, soft and smelling heavenly.  If you're looking to try a new organic shampoo but don't want to pay the price, check this one out.  Approximately $6.50 at vitacost.com.

Enjoy!

Acure Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo & Conditioner

A few months ago, I told you about a favorite body lotion of mine, Acure's Calming Body Lotion in Lavender and Lotus Flower.   Since then I've been experimenting with some of the line's other products and have found my new favorites -  their Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner.  I'm already on my second set, I can't say enough good things about this fantastic duo!

The clarifying shampoo and conditioner are gentle enough for everyday use and is good for all hair types.  My hair is combination/normal and is naturally wavy, and this works really well for me.  Used with the conditioner, my hair feels healthy, clean and super shiny.  The combination of organic argan oil, argan stem cells and CoQ10 help support hair keratin and strengthen the follicle.  Avocado oil provides vitamin B12 and moisture while cocoa butter in the conditioner makes it rich and creamy, leaving my hair nicely conditioned and smooth.

The best part is the experience I have using this shampoo and conditioner  - it just feels like hair products we're used to, without the unnecessary chemicals.  It lathers well, rinses clean and my hair feels silky and manageable while wet, something that those of us who use natural shampoos know is hard to find.  And I love the scent - it's grassy, light and refreshing.

Here's the ingredient lowdown:  these products contain no sulfates, parabens, pthalates, are gluten-free, cruelty-free and vegan!  And even better,  they cost only $10.99 each!   Do you need any more reasons to run out and get them??

Acure's Lemongrass and Argan Stem Cell Shampoo and Conditioner are available at natural food markets such as Whole Foods or www.drugstore.com.

Scotch Naturals WaterColors Nail Polish

I'm excited that I recently received a bottle of Scotch Naturals WaterColors Nail Polish. I've had my eye on this line of nail polish for a while because it's a safe and eco-friendly alternative to "3 free" polishes.  Truth is, these so-called '"safer" polishes still contain many harmful chemicals.  Scotch Naturals is a great alternative to these.

I took my new bottle of Scotch Naturals in Kiltlifter to my salon for a pedicure.  The color is a rich classic red creme with a hint of orange, and is just perfect for summer.  It went on in two coats and has lasted all week with no chipping or peeling.  The one thing I need to point out is that there are very specific instructions that come along with this polish, including the need to buff and clean the nails before applying in addition to a base and top coat.  In order to get the results you definitely need to adhere to these instructions, but if you take your polish to a salon as I do, they do all that anyway so it's no big deal.  If you try to apply this polish by itself with no top coat, it goes on very dull.  So you do need the top coat for that boost of shine.

I'm definitely going to be purchasing more bottles of this nail polish, and although it's a little more expensive than your traditional polish, it's definitely worth it.  Plus, they have more than 30 beautiful colors to choose from.  And for those of us who are familiar with what's out there, you know it's not easy to find salon-quality colors in natural nail polish lines!

And here's the best part:  Scotch Naturals contains none of the chemicals found in typical nail polish: toluene, dibutyl phthelate, formaldehyde, acetone, and heavy metals. 

Scotch Naturals is available for $14.95 at www.NaturesBasin.com, an online retailer of natural products I recently became aware of.  Check them out, they carry loads of organic and natural products and offer free shipping on orders over $49.

Please note: I was provided this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Juice Beauty Daily Essentials Regimen

Hi green beauty gals, I've been away for a little while trying out some new products.  Recently, I've been using a few combo products from Juice Beauty that I wanted to share with you.  I've always been interested in Juice Beauty and I found it at my local Whole Foods so I decided to test them out.

Juice Beauty products contain 98% organic ingredients and have great, natural ingredient lists.  I've been using the Daily Essentials Regimen which includes their Cleansing Milk, Hydrating Mist and Nutrient Moisturizer.  The company claims these products are for all skin types, and after using them, I think that is true except for the Nutrient Moisturizer, which I feel is best for skin that is more on the dry side.

Juice Beauty's Cleansing Milk is a creamy cleanser that also doubles as a make-up remover.  I actually liked it better as a make-up remover than a cleanser but that's because I typically like refreshing gel-like cleansers best.  Although this cleanser doesn't lather very much, it does do the trick, and it doesn't dry out your skin; it's very moisturizing.  I hate it when you wash your face and it feels dry and tight, this doesn't happen with this cleanser.

Juice Beauty's Hydrating Mist is a toner, and I love it!  It comes in a spray bottle, and is refreshing and smells great.  Antioxidant-rich grape juice, aloe vera and other nourishing oils combine to make a great toner that balances and hydrates your skin.  Best of all, it doesn't contain harsh alcohols or anything that dries out your skin or smells obnoxious.  Awesome!

Finally, Juice Beauty's Nutrient Moisturizer is a rich moisturizing lotion. I really liked this product.  As I mentioned above, all of the brand's Daily Essential products are made for all skin types but I believe this moisturizer is best for dry and mature skin.  Having said that, it doesn't feel too heavy or greasy on, and it melts into the skin.  I think it's also great as a night cream and like that it is has a light, almost unnoticeable scent.  It's a little more expensive, but a little goes a long way so this will last you for a while.

Overall, I really like this Juice Beauty's skin regimen.  It gave me a youthful glow, and my skin feels cleansed, refreshed and nourished. The Cleansing Milk and Hydrating Mist retails for $22, and the Nutrient Moisturizer is $36.  You can also purchase a trial pack, called 'Organics to Go' that includes smaller sizes of these three products plus a few other ones, for $29.  It's a great way to test them out without shelling out the big bucks right off the bat!

Juice Beauty is available at Whole Foods, www.amazon.com or www.dermstore.com.

Andalou Naturals Healthy Shine Shampoo Sunflower and Citrus

I've been using this shampoo for the past few weeks and wanted to tell you about it.  I love the lather and the citrus smell, which is derived from natural sources.  Washing my hair with this shampoo is very close to using traditional shampoos, so it's a great natural alternative for those not wanting to compromise on the richness of the lather.

The company's focused on their 'Advanced Fruit Stem Cell Science' which claims to improve hair follicle longevity and vitality for healthy hair.  Citrus gently clarifies and brightens while the sunflower, rich in Vitamin E, nourishes and conditions the hair.  I certainly saw the results myself, my hair was shiny and looked really healthy!

Best of all, it's made naturally without sulfates, GMO, petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, colors or preservatives. It's also pH Balanced & Hypo-Allergenic for those with sensitive skin.

Andalou Naturals Shampoo can be purchased for approximately $10 at natural food stores or online at www.Amazon.com Andalou Sunflower and Citrus Shampoo.

My Top Picks for Kids

Many of my mom friends have been emailing me for recommendations on baby/kid products, so I've compiled a list of my favorite ones below.  I have lots of other recommendations on baby products beyond this so if anyone has any questions, please let me know.  Hope it's helpful!

Baby Shampoo/Bodywash
For infants, I love Angel Baby Shampoo & Bodywash since it's really natural.  California Baby Calming Shampoo has also been a favorite and is great for toddlers.

Baby Lotion
I don't believe in applying moisturizer for the sake of it.  But when we have needed it, we like Erbaviva's Baby Lotion, a light and fresh lotion with an herbal scent.  For something more heavy-duty, we like California Baby's Calendula Cream for dry/red spots; it clears any rash right up. 


Diaper Rash Cream
Burt's Bees Diaper Ointment is a zinc-based, healthy diaper rash cream that really works.  It's also good for other dry skin issues.  Another favorite of mine is Arbonne's Diaper Rash Cream.

Sunscreen
We've used California Baby No Fragrance SPF 30 Sunscreen for a few years now. The reformulated product is a bit runnier, but I prefer that to the thick mineral sunscreens on the market that are hard to spread.


Diapers
Earth's Best Diapers diapers were the best in terms of wetness protection for us, even compared to regular brands.  For overnight, we now use Seventh Generation Overnight Diapers since they came on the scene last year. 


Wipes
Whole Foods 360 Unscented Wipes are my favorite baby wipes, they don't have a scent or strange smell (which I experienced with a few natural wipe brands) and are safe enough for little faces.  They are a little bit soapier than traditional wipes but this has never bothered me.

Cleansers
I use Dapple's Surface Cleaner for Highchairs, Toys & More for my son's highchair and tray and use it multiple times a day.  It acts like a soap and water wash and thoroughly cleans safely and effectively.  I also used Dapple's Baby Bottle and Dish Liquid for the first two years of my son's life to wash bottles, dishes, utensils, pump parts, pacifiers, everything!  Now we use Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid for all our dishes.

Laundry Detergent
You don't need a specific 'baby' laundry detergent, just a safe and gentle one with no artificial fragrances, such as Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent.  For stubborn stains, a friend and fellow green mom recommends pre-treating the stain with dish liquid or/vinegar and baking soda prior to washing.

Kiss My Face Potent & Pure Eye Repair Creme

I've been using Kiss My Face's Eye Repair Creme for a few months now and can tell you I'm a fan!  It's a lightweight moisturizer with a subtle smell that goes on smooth and easy.  I like that it's not heavy and greasy like many eye creams out there.  I don't have deep-set eye wrinkles but I do have my share of fine lines so I put it to the test. To be clear, we are talking about a natural product here but I'm actually pretty impressed with what its been able to do.

I dot the lotion (I'll call it lotion since it feels more like a lotion than a cream to me) around each eye and rub it in lightly in a circular motion to make sure I'm not pulling my skin.  Since using it, I've definitely noticed that my fine lines are reduced.  It also helps with puffiness in the morning if I don't get enough zz's and gives the skin around my eyes a brighter appearance in general.  I don't believe it works for dark circles, so if you have that as an issue, tune in as I'll be testing out some other products specifically for dark under-eye circles.

I like that this new product has healthy, organic ingredients and with no pthlalates, parabens, artificial dyes or fragrances and limited preservatives.  It seems that many natural brands are listening to their consumers and changing their formulations to exclude artificial fragrances (parabens) and other chemicals from their products to ensure they are as healthy as possible without compromising efficacy.

You can purchase Kiss My Face Potent & Pure Eye Repair Creme for $19 at natural food markets such as Whole Foods, or on www.drugstore.com or www.amazon.com.

Hope it works for you too!