Pur Minerals 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Foundation with SPF 15

Pur Minerals Pressed Mineral Foundation with SPF is not just a foundation, it's a concealer, powder and sunscreen all in one!  This is the only makeup you'll need for full coverage.  This natural foundation with organic shea butter and vitamin E is actually good for your skin!  Plus, it doesn't contain any harsh chemical dyes, alcohol, fragrance or preservatives. 

My favorite thing about this foundation is the coverage, it looks like my skin has been airbrushed and the Golden Medium matches my skin tone perfectly.  I'm in love!  Plus, it won an Allure Best of Beauty award a few years ago, so you can take the experts' word that it's great.

The company claims that it's good for every skin type, although in my experience if you have very dry skin, this might be a little drying in the winter so just be sure to moisturize before applying. 

I found my Pur Minerals Pressed Foundation at my local Duane Reade, but you can find it at Ulta, Dillard's or online at purminerals.com and dermstore.com for approximately $26.  Totally worth it!

Karma Organics Nail Polish

Do you ever get a headache when you apply nail polish?  Or when you're getting a manicure?  I don't need to tell you that nail polish is extremely toxic - just the smell alone proves it!  Fortunately, there are some healthy alternatives out there that you can use at home and even take to the salon with you (I do).

Over the past few years, there has been a push to remove the top three toxic ingredients in nail polish - formaldehyde, toluene and DBP.  Although it's great that companies are removing these three major offenders, many nail polishes still have loads of chemicals in them, and I personally don't feel like they go far enough to be truly labeled safe.  Thankfully there are a few polishes that I've tried that work well and have a host of colors to choose from, including Karma Organics Nail Polishes, which are safe even for pregnant women and kids.

Karma Organics' Nail Polish is a chip-resistant and durable, long-lasting polish.  There are over 80 shades to choose from, so you can always find the right shade for you.  The formula is non-yellowing, too.  The one thing I did find was that the consistency is a tiny bit thinner than traditional formulas, so you may need to apply a third coat, depending on the color (I found this to be true for the darker shades and the creamy pink/beige shades).  And the best part - this polish has no harsh odors!

The shades I like the best include: Bride to Be (light creamy pink), Two Dozen Roses (rich creamy red) and Venom (super dark plum cream, similar to Essie's Wicked).

I found Karma Organics Nail Polishes at Whole Foods but you can also purchase them at karmaorganicspa.com for approximately $10.

Dr. Bronner's Magic All-One Liquid Soap

Need a new, natural body wash?  How about one for your child?  What about a facial cleanser or shampoo?  Or maybe even a new floor cleaner?  Yep, this one does it all - its Dr. Bronner's Magic All-One Liquid Soap, a pure, organic castile soap that will change your life!

I use this liquid soap daily and I just love the way it leaves my skin feeling super soft and velvety.  It is made from nourishing jojoba, olive and coconut essential oils and Vitamin E.  As a castile soap, the consistency is different from traditional liquid soaps, it seems a bit thin and liquidy when you first pour it out but it lathers quickly and spreads well.  It also might take a tiny bit more effort to rinse but you may not even notice!

This multi-purpose (the company states it has up to 18 uses) liquid soap comes in several natural scents, including Almond, Pepermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Citrus and Lavender.  And if you're like me and want something totally pure and unscented, the Baby Mild is just the ticket (and perfect for your baby's delicate skin, too).  Best of all, it contains no synthetic foaming agents, thickeners or preservatives and truly is all-natural. 

A 16 oz bottle retails for approximately $10 at several retailers nationwide.  If you can get passed the jibberish on the label, try it and you won't regret it, I promise!

Acure Calming Body Lotion with Lavender and Lotus Flower

I've been on the hunt for the perfect body lotion.  Something that moisturizes without being too thick, that has a natural ingredient list, that smells great with no synthetic fragrances and that isn't too expensive.  And by golly, I've found it: Acure's Calming Body Lotion with Lavender and Lotus Flower!

Let's see how it matches my requirements:

1. This lotion goes on nice and light and isn't too thick or greasy
2. The ingredient list is amazing!  Ingredients are either Organic or Fair Trade Organic and there are no parabens, sulfates or artificial fragrances
3. I typically don't go for lavender since fake lavender smells too strong and sweet to me, but this lotion seriously smells like you're standing in a lavender field in Provence.  Absolute heaven.
4. It retails for just $9.99!

In addition to calming lavender, this lotion also has Omega-3 fatty acids and argan oil to nourish and hydrate the skin.  Acure has three other body lotions in their line, including Firming Lemongrass, Energizing Mandarin Orange and Mango, and Ultra-Hydrating Cocoa Butter.  I'm definitely going to be trying them all!

Acure's body lotions are available at Whole Foods Markets or online at www.acureorganics.com.

Josie Maran's Argan Bronzing Powder

I'm channeling Spring today with this gorgeous sunny day in NYC, so I figure I'll feature a fabulous bronzer I found a few weeks ago.

Josie Maran's Argan Bronzing Powder is a great, lightweight bronzer that gives me a soft, sunkissed look.  I like the glow that this bronzer gives me, it looks very natural against my fair to medium skin.  Because it is so light, I don't have the issue of overapplying and looking too tan, which I've run into before.  There is a hint of shimmer that I really like, which - don't worry - is really subtle.  The universal shade was created to complement all complexions and is buildable, meaning you can layer the bronzer to your liking. 

The formula does not include fragrances or parabens, and contains only natural, non-toxic ingredients including hydrating Morrocan Argan Oil, which I featured a few weeks ago.

What's more, the beauty extends to the packaging -- the compact is biodegradable.  How cool is that?

Josie Maran's exclusive retailer is Sephora, but you can also find her Bronzing Powder, which runs for $30, at JosieMaranCosmetics.com.

What You Need to Know About Cosmetics & Chemicals

Check out the link below to a really cool infographic that highlights some of the top offenders in cosmetics and potential health effects, courtesy of CosmetologySchool.org.

Important stuff!

What You Need to Know About Cosmetics Chemicals

Eco Store Lemongrass Bar Soap

Happy Friday!  I'm so happy it's the weekend.  Ok - here is likely the most affordable product I'll ever put on this blog.  It's only $1.80 and something we all use: soap!

It's been hard to find a truly natural soap that is as moisturizing and non-drying as some of the big brand name soaps out there, but I'm really happy with this soap from Eco Store.

Eco Store's products are simple and effective and this soap is no exception.  It's created with pure vegetable oils, natural fragrances, and nothing artificial.  Soothing lemongrass oil leaves a subtle lemony scent, and is just very fresh.  This soap creates a nice, soapy lather in the shower and my skin feels moisturized afterwards.  It's not as 'creamy' as my previous soap, but I'll give a little of that up for a healthier alternative.

Eco Store's products carry a No Nasty Chemicals message, which means:

• NO toxic petrochemicals
• NO lauryl laureth sulfates
• NO propylene glycol
• NO dyes
• NO artificial perfumes
• NO parabens
• NO cocamide DEA
• NO cocomidopropyl betaine

Best of all, Eco Store's products carry a seal of approval from one of my favorite organizations and go-to websites Healthy Child Healthy World.  If you're a mom or soon-to-be-mom, check out their 'Wake Up' video at www.healthychild.org.  Powerful stuff!

I buy Eco Store products at my local drug store, but you can find them on amazon.com or EcoStoreUSA.com.