First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream

After my post last week about Pure Argan Oil, I got a few questions about traditional face lotions, so here's one I wanted to share: First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream.  Although not 100% natural (full disclosure!), this face cream has a really good set of ingredients, and is free of the worst offenders, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes or fragrances.

FAB's Daily Face Cream is a non-comedogenic, light-weight moisturizer which is infused with a powerful botanical antioxidant blend that works hard to fight free radicals.  I love that it's lightweight and not greasy at all -- it just acts like the perfect face moisturizer should to hydrate and nourish my skin.  FAB claims to improve the skin's natural barrier function and that daily use calms redness and irritation.   This face lotion is best for sensitive, oily and acne-prone skin, but it works really well with my normal/combination skin.  And I love that its fragrance-free, too.  I hate walking around all day smelling my face!

I bought FAB's Daily Face Cream at Sephora for $18.  Worth a try if you're looking to switch to a healthier option!

100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Gloss

There are several lip glosses that I use, so you'll see me post about them over the next few weeks.  Here's one of the most natural ones: 100% Pure's Fruit Pigmented Lip Gloss.  I love the Sheer Strawberry color, it gives my lips a nice, reddish pink shine.  This juicy color will be perfect for when spring arrives, too.

I love that this lip gloss is sheer and not sticky, I wear it a lot during the daytime since it's very low maintenance and isn't irridescent, which I feel is better for night.   It also doubles as a lip moisturizer which is good for me since I'm always looking for something to moisturize my lips throughout the day.  100% Pure's Lip Glosses are made with Vitamin E from organic rice bran and fruit pigments which give them their beautiful colors, naturally.  Vitamin E acts as a powerful anti-aging antioxidant that also drenches your lips with moisture and softens them.  And the natural strawberry also adds to the yummy flavor!

100% Pure's Fruit Pigmented Lip Gloss comes in a bunch of shades, and I purchased it at my local Duane Reade but you can also find it on www.100percentpure.com.  It retails for $13 - not bad!

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

I'm in love with a new facial moisturizer.  It's not what you think, either.  It's not your typical cream or lotion - it's pure argan oil.  I know what you're thinking, an oil for your face??  I had been hearing all the buzz around argan oil and had to try it for myself.  I've been using it for over a month and can positively say I am completely hooked and haven't used my regular daily moisturizer since.

Unlike most lotions, this oil is actually absorbed into my skin instead of sitting on top of it.  It leaves my skin feeling moisturized, velvety and surprisingly, not oily!  At first I thought, no way am I putting oil on my face, it's certainly going to cause me to break out...but no!  It's amazing.  I just love the way my skin feels after using it, and I also like how my skin stays hydrated without needing re-application.  I just use two drops for my face and that's enough for the whole day.  I also apply it after I wash my face at night.  I've noticed you can spread it around a little easier if your face is still damp.  And since I prefer unscented facial lotions, I also like that this has no smell.

Vitamin E and essential fatty acids make this legendary oil work its magical hydration which claims to have healing and antiaging properties as well.  Participants in a study reported a visible reduction in coarse wrinkles and fine lines in the eye area after four weeks of use. 

100% organic, pure Morrocan argan oil is not just for your face, you can also use it anywhere on your body, for split ends, to soften cuticles, to shave and as a bath oil. 

And how cool is it that this product only contains one healthy ingredient?  Can't get more natural than that.   You don't need to buy this particular brand of oil, as long as you purchase pure, organic, first cold pressed argan oil, you can receive these skin hydrating benefits just as well. 

Josie Maran's Pure Argan Oil can be purchased at Sephora or www.amazon.com.  A small .5 fl oz bottle costs $14 if you want to test it out first, and prices go up from there.  I love it and I hope you do too!

The Story of Cosmetics

Here's a neat video from the folks over at Story of Stuff that visually explains the lack of regulation in the cosmetics industry, its implications on consumers and workers, and what we can do to start breaking the cycle.  

http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-cosmetics/

Jane Iredale PurePressed Eye Shadow

It's taken me a long time to find natural eyeshadow that I like.  The most natural ones are the loose, powdery mineral versions, and although healthy, don't have staying power and just kind of fall all over my face. They also don't go on evenly and are hard to blend. 

So I'm excited to tell you about Jane Iredale's PurePressed Eye Shadow.  Although not 100% natural, it's pretty darn close, and I promise you its much, much better for you than the current eye shadow you're wearing these days.

Jane Iredale has luxurious beauty products that perform like the high-end department store makeup products many of us love.  Her products are favorites among dermatologists and estheticians because of the healthy, natural formulas which are developed with no talc or parabens and are great for sensitive skin.

Jane Iredale's PurePressed Eye Shadows come in a variety of great shades, the one I'm using right now is pictured above, the Duo in Oyster (a champagne hue) and Supernova (a metallic purple/brown).  It goes on nice and even, and feels a little creamy for a powder eyeshadow, which helps it stay on my eyelids for long-lasting wear. The only problem with Jane Iredale's products is that they are hard to find in person, but I guarantee you'll love this eyeshadow even if you have to buy it online!

Jane Iredale's PurePressed Eye Shadows come in single colors ($19) Duos and Triples (both for $28).  You can find them at www.DermStore.com, which gives you a description of each color.  If you're not familiar with this website, definitely check it out, they offer free shipping and carry a nice selection of natural brands.  You can also visit www.JaneIredale.com to search for a store near you.  Enjoy!

Lavanilla Healthy Fragrance in Vanilla Grapefruit

In honor of St. Valentine, here's a product for you that your loved one will also enjoy - perfume!

Traditional fragrances are loaded with unhealthy chemicals and unnatural scents.  Check the back of your perfume bottle if you don't believe me!  I spent several years trying to spray perfume only on my clothes to try to avoid direct exposure to the phthalates and parabens that make up most fragrances.  This is why I love Lavanilla Laboratories, they make 100% natural perfumes with the purest of essential oils so you can still smell nice without spraying toxins all over yourself.

Currently I'm into Vanilla Grapefruit, a crisp, invigorating citrus scent with grapefruit, lime, sandalwood and madagascar vanilla.  I'm not typically a vanilla fan, but the combination in this scent is really delicious!

Lavanilla has other fragrance options, including Vanilla Coconut, Pure Vanilla, Vanilla Blossom, Vanilla Passionfruit, Vanilla Blackberry and Vanilla Lavender.  Check them out at a store near you and test them on your skin to see which scent you like the best.  They also have a perfume roller ball, which is small and thin and great for travel or just to throw in your bag.

You can find Lavanilla Healthy Fragrance at Nordstrom and Sephora.  A 1.7oz bottle retails for $58 and the roller ball goes for $19.  Moms - check out their baby products too, they're great.  Look out for more Lavanilla reviews soon, they're a favorite of mine!

Yes to Blueberries Brightening Face Towelettes

These Brightening Facial Towelettes cleanse, remove makeup, and moisturize skin all in one!   They leave my skin feeling clean and refreshed.  These towelettes are part of 'Yes to Blueberries' Age Refresh line, which claims to improve skin firmness, reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles and repair and nourish aging skin.  Um...yes, please!  Blueberries rich in anti-oxidants help fight the formation of free radicals that can damage the skin while apple and lemon work to brighten the skin naturally.

I pop these in my bag for after a workout and for travel, since my current facial wash is too big for my carry-on suitcase and I hate bumbling with those travel refill bottles.   I like that they are not too soapy but contain just the right amount of moisture to clean my face.  I also like the subtle apple/lemon scent which is naturally-derived, an extra bonus.

These 'Yes to Blueberries' Brightening Face Towelettes are 99% natural and free of parabens, phthalates and SLS.  I found them at my local drugstore for $7.99 for a pack of 30.  If you need any more convincing, they've won beauty awards from both Women's Health and Fitness magazines.  Sweet!

Bare Escentuals 100% Natural Lip Color

Hey green beauty gals!  I recently discovered a new lipstick I wanted to share with you that I think you're going to love: it's Bare Escentuals' 100% Natural Lip Color.  I love this lipstick because while its formulation is natural it feels like a traditional lipstick, which is hard to find.  It's creamy, leaves my lips conditioned and is long-lasting.  Plus, it's easy to find and not that expensive at $15 a pop.  And with a recent report that lead (among other toxins) is still prevalent in mass lipstick brands just cements the fact that natural is the way to go.  It's difficult to find natural lipsticks in person and makeup is something you just need to try to ensure the color works for you.  Several natural lipsticks are only available online or in specialty stores and I want to make sure the products I'm recommending aren't impossible to find! 

Bare Escentuals in itself isn't a natural brand, but they have some new products - including their 100% natural lip color - that are made without chemicals (yay!).  That means no artificial dyes, preservatives or irritants whatsoever.  The nourishing blend combines pure minerals, exotic oils, natural waxes and conditioning plant extracts.  So it seems like at least some mainstream companies are listening and making some formulation changes, which is great news.

Sephora carries Bare Escentuals' 100% Natural Lip Color in only eight colors but many other colors are available at department stores like Nordstrom's and Macy's.  My favorites are Rock Candy (a soft, primrose pink), Parfait (a neutral pink shade) and Black Currant (a ripe blackberry shade).  I like to layer a gloss on top of the lipstick for just the right amount of shine.  I plan on testing out Bare Escentual's other 100% natural products soon, so stay tuned!

eos sweet mint lip balm

For the third installment of this week's dry winter skin remedies, here is a favorite one of mine: eos lip balm!

How much do I love eos lip balm?  Let me count the ways:

1. it's super smooth
2. it's really moisturizing with soothing shea butter and jojoba oil
3. the sweet mint makes my lips feel fresh and tingly
4. the smell is yummy
5. the packaging looks sooo cool
6. it's 95% organic, 100% natural, paraben and petrolatum free
7. you can find it pretty much everywhere for approx. $3
8. it makes me smile!

John Masters Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo and Lavender Avocado Conditioner

Go figure the week I decide to blog about products for a cold, dry winter, it turns out to be 60 degrees!  Oh well, will continue as planned...

Today I'll be featuring two products from one of my favorite brands, John Masters Organics.  John Masters is a hairstylist with an amazing salon in NY and a celebrity following for his products.  Twenty years ago, seeing the need for healthier hair products with unnecessary chemicals, he began the first certified organic haircare line.   Today, his products include not only haircare but skincare and bodycare as well.  His products are natural, luxurious and work great.

I've recently been using two of his hair products together, the first of which is his Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair.  This shampoo is made with evening primrose oil, which strengthens the hair and adds moisture.  It also includes a combination of amino acids and proteins for comb-through and shine, and certified organic plant oils and natural extracts to hydrate and soften hair.  And the smell is great - a soft herbal smell, reminiscent of Aveda's Shampure.

I paired John Master's Shampoo with his Lavender and Avocado Intensive Conditioner, which includes 10 certified-organic plans extracts and oils to bring intense moisture and vitality to dry hair.  The one thing I noticed is that when wet, my hair didn't seem quite as conditioned compared to traditional conditioners, but once I started brushing I noticed it was super silky!  My hair was left shiny, soft and with a nice light lavender scent.   It didn't clash with the shampoo either, it left a clean, herbal smell.

Both the Evening Primrose Shampoo ($16) and the Lavender and Avocado Intensive Conditioner ($22) are safe for color-treated hair and available at many retailers, including Whole Foods and www.drugstore.com.  Best of all, they don't contain any parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, petro-chemicals, GMO's, artificial colors, dyes or fragrances.  Sweet!