Summer heat, humidity and sun present an annual makeup quandary that can either leave us melting into an oily, streaky mess or going uncomfortably bare. Neither option is particularly alluring, and neither embodies that glowing je ne sais quoi that we’re going for.
Best Organic Beauty Products of 2011
2011 was a huge year for organic and natural beauty products. Not only did a whole slew of incredible new products hit the shelves, but many conventional beauty companies came out with their own organic lines that really do meet our stringent standards for quality. Organic Beauty Talk released it’s super comprehensive list of all the best green and natural beauty and grooming products of 2011, and we have to say, we couldn’t even begin to review this many products throughout this crazy year!! After having reviewed the whole list, we are way on board, and super excited to provide this reference to YOU, our fabulous readers.
Skincare
- Best Natural Facial Line for All Skin Types (including sensitive and blemish-prone skin) – OSKIA ($52-$83) & Zum Face ($9.50-$18)
- Best Natural Facial Line for Normal & Dry Skin – Grateful Body ($18-$30)
- Best Natural Facial Line for Sensitive Skin (can also be used on all sky types) – Pai ($35-$50)
- Best Natural Line for Acne/Blemish-Prone Skin (can also be used on all sky types including sensitive) – Dr. Alkaitis ($40-$80)
- Best Natural Facial Cleanser for Acne/Blemish-Prone/Sensitive Skin – Orjene Organics CoQ10 OliveVitale Foaming Face Wash ($6.47)
- Best Natural Facial Line for Aging Skin – Trilogy ($24-$55)
- Best Natural Spa at Home Line for All Skin Types (including sensitive and blemish-prone skin) – Spiezia ($37.50-$85)
- Best Natural Facial Scrub for All Skin Types – OSKIA Micro Exfoliating Balm ($74) & Zum Lemongrass Sugar Facial Scrub ($12)
- Best Natural Facial Exfoliator for All Skin Types – Living Nature Vitalising Exfoliant ($35)
- Best Natural Facial Mask for All Skin Types – Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask ($55), Blissoma Clay Renewal Treatment Mask ($26.75)
- Best Natural Facial Mask for Normal, Dry or Aging Skin – Annmarie Gianni Coconut Honey Mask ($29.95)
- Best Natural Eye Cream – 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream ($19)
- Best Natural Spot Treatment for Blemishes – Living Nature 100% Pure Manuka Oil ($19.95)
- Best Natural Facial Sunscreen – Erbaviva Sunscreen SPF 15 ($22), True Naturals SPF 20 ($17.99) & Alba Botanica Hawaiian Green Tea SPF 45 Sunblock ($4.69)
Makeup
- Best Natural Loose Mineral Foundation – Alima Pure Satin Matte Mineral Foundation ($22)
- Best Natural Pressed Mineral Foundation – Tarte Pressed Mineral Powder ($30)
- Best Natural Liquid Foundation – Organic Glam Luminous Antioxidant Foundation ($59.95)
- Best Natural Bronzer – Alima Pure Mineral Bronzer ($17)
- Best Natural Blush – Alima Pure Mineral Blush ($17)
- Best Natural Eyeshadow – Alima Pure Mineral Eyeshadow ($11)
- Best Natural Eyeliner – Lavera Soft Eyeliner ($14.50)
- Best Natural Inner Rim Eyeliner – Tarte EmphasEYES Natural High Definition Inner Rim Eyeliner ($18)
- Best Natural Mascara – Josie Maran GoGo Instant Volume Argan Mascara ($22) & Lavera Volume Mascara ($20)
- Best Natural Lip Color – Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint ($24) & 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze ($15)
- Best Natural Multi-Tasker – Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm ($34), Vapour Organics Aura Multi-Use Blush ($28), & 100% Pure Fruit Pigment Lip Cheek Tint ($15)
- Best Eco-Friendly Makeup Brushes – Alima Pure ($12-$29) & EcoTools (6.99-$15.99)
- Best Natural Makeup Remover – Desert Essence Jojoba Oil ($5.89)
- Best Eco-Friendly Nail Polish – butter LONDON ($14) & Zoya ($8)
Body
- Best Natural Body Soap – Dr. Bronner’s Soap ($3.99-$16.99), Moksa Organics Bar Soap ($6.50), Zum Bar Soap ($5.75)
- Best Natural Body Oil – Shiffa Soothing Body Oil ($81), Weleda Pomegranate Body Oil ($28) & Moksa Organics Body Oil ($18)
- Best Natural Body Lotion – Jason Vanilla Hand & Body Lotion ($5.47)
- Best Natural Body Butter – Deep Steep Body Butter ($10.95)
- Best Natural Body Scrub – Glowology Exfoliant ($12) & Deep Steep Grapefruit Bergamot Sugar Scrub ($7.25)
- Best Natural Hand Soap – Deep Steep Foaming Hand Wash ($4.37)
- Best Natural Hand Cream – Weleda Pomegranate Hand Cream ($12.50)
- Best Natural Spray Perfume – Tsi-La Organics ($95) & Tallulah Jane Hope Eau De Parfum ($48)
- Best Natural Roll-On Perfume – Tsi-La Organics ($38) & Pacifica ($12)
- Best Natural Solid Perfume – Ituri ($30)
- Best Natural Deodorant – Soapwalla Natural Deodorant Cream ($12) & Blissoma Natural Deodorant Spray ($9.25)
- Best Natural Lip Balm – Organic Indulgence Lip Butter ($2.95)
- Best Natural Body Sunscreen – True Natural SPF 40 ($17.99) & Alba Botanica Hawaiian Green Tea SPF 45 Sunblock ($4.69)
- Best Natural Cure-All – Pratima Healing Neem Oil ($29)
- Best Natural Skincare Oils (for face, body & hair) – Kahina Giving Beauty Organic Argan Oil ($36-$82) & Now Foods/Solutions Oils ($5-$10)
- Best Natural Essential Oils – Mountain Rose Herbs Essential Oils ($1.75-$45)
Hair
- Best Natural Shampoo for All Hair Types (including color treated hair) – Rahua Shampoo ($32) & EO Lavender French Lavender Everyday Shampoo ($8.99)
- Best Natural Conditioner for All Hair Types (including color treated hair) – Rahua Conditioner ($34) & EO Rose Chamomile Protective Conditioner ($8.99)
- Best Natural Leave-In Conditioner for All Hair Types (including color treated hair) – EO Lavender Coconut Style Nourishing Hair Cream ($8.99) & Giovanni Direct Leave-In ($4.71)
- Best Natural Line for Curly Hair (including color treated hair) – SheaMoisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus ($9.99-$14.99)
- Best Eco-Friendly Must-Have Product for Curly Hair – CURL-ease ($19.99)
- Best Natural Hair Mask/Deep Conditioner/Scalp Treatment (including color treated hair) – Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Purification Hair Masque ($9.99)
Men
- Best Natural Facial & Shave Line for Men – Bulldog ($9.99-$13.99)
- Best Ingrown Hair & Bump Preventer – SheaMoisture Tea Tree Herbal Bump Preventer ($9.99)
- Best Natural Fragrance for Men – Tallulah Jane Yiska Natural Eau De Parfum Pour Homme ($48)
Children
- Best Natural Lines for Children/Baby – Erbaviva ($10-$22), Weleda ($7-$17), & SheaMoisture ($9.99)
- Best Natural Sunscreen for Children/Baby – Erbaviva Sunscreen SPF 15 ($22) & Alba Botanica Kids SPF 45 Sunblock ($5.16)
Fashion
- Best Eco-Friendly Shoes for Women – Coclico ($149-$545)
- Best Eco-Friendly Casual Shoes – Toms ($44-$69)
- Best Eco-Friendly Clothing Line for Men – Threads For Thought ($14-$268)
- Best Eco-Friendly Basics for Women – Threads For Thought ($10-$48)
- Best Eco-Friendly Fashion Clothing Line – H&M Conscious Collection ($24.95-$79.95)
- Best Eco-Friendly Jeans – AG Denim ($148-$215)
- Best Eco-Friendly Underwear & Tees – PACT ($10-$30)
- Best Eco-Friendly Jewelry – Kyler ($48-$138)
Home
- Best Natural All-Purpose Cleaner – Method All-Purpose Pink Grapefruit Surface Cleaner ($3.99)
- Best Natural Glass Cleaner – Method Mint Glass + Surface Cleaner ($3.99)
- Best Natural Dishwashing Liquid – Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid ($3.69)
- Best Natural Powder Cleaner – Bon Ami Powder Cleanser ($1.09)
- Best Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Greenworks Toilet Bowl Cleaner ($3.49)
- Best Natural Candles – Aquiesse Soy Candles ($35) & Red Flower Petal Topped Candles ($34)
- Best Natural Air Freshener – Neom Luxury Organic Room Mist ($26) & Pure Citrus Orange Air Freshener ($5.39)
- Best Natural Reed Diffuser – Neom Luxury Organic Reed Diffuser ($56)
- Best Eco Savvy Paper Products – Ecojot ($4.75-$17)
Pet
- Best Natural Line for Pets – Castor & Pollux ($1.99-$40)
- Best Natural Dog Treats – Cloud Star Soft & Chewy Buddy Biscuits ($3.99)
- Best Eco-Friendly Pet Feeding Products – Ore Pet ($7-$25)
- Best Pet Shampoo & Odor Remover – Fresh Wave ($13.99)
- Best Natural Dog Spritzer & Deodorizer – Cloud Star Buddy Splash ($5.95)
{Source: Organic Beauty Talk}
The Sephora of the Organic Beauty World
Ok… This is a little embarrassing. I literally JUST stumbled upon a site that is going to change my life! (And hopefully the lives of my lovely readers) It’s no secret that there is a huge shortage of quality online stores that carry a wide variety of all-natural and organic beauty products that have been carefully edited to exclude harmful ingredients. Enter: Spirit Beauty Lounge! Kind of like a Sephora for Organic Beauties, they carry a wide range of organic and/or natural products that adhere to a strict list of do’s and don’ts (including NO harmful chemicals, no animal testing, recyclable and/or biodegradable packaging, and actual potency of the product), and they carry some of my favorite brands! Check out great beauty gear by SkinnySkinny, RMS Beauty, Priti, and Pangea Organics.
Just from my initial, super excited sweep of the site, here are some of my top picks:
RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek has been one of my favorite products since I got one in a gift bag from the release party for Pure Food & Wine’s latest cookbook. It comes in a great palette of colors that look great on lips AND cheeks, and the ingredients are organic and super potent.
RMS also makes this amazing and versatile Raw Coconut Butter, which serves as a great moisturizer for face and body, a super nourishingleave-in product for hair (great for dry ends!), and an easy makeup remover. Coconut oil is deeply moisturizing, and has anti-aging, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties.
In addition to all of their awesome, non-toxic nail polishes, in all the best seasonal colors, this Soy Nail Polish Remover by Priti is an absolute must-have. It is totally green, with no formaldehyde
Intelligent Nutrients Organic Volumizing Spray is another great, organic, multi-functional beauty bad-ass. It embodiesthe hair with tons of volume, activates curls, and is great to use between showers as a water-free hair refreshing tonic! Plus it won awards from everyone that matters, like Elle Mag and Fig+Sage. A+
Affordable Organic Makeup!
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Organic wear 100% Natural Origin Pressed Powder$13.95
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This is for all you readers out there that living the organic life is prohibitively expensive… It’s just not true! There are SO many all- (or mostly-) natural and organic beauty products out there that are available at your local pharmacy and won’t break the bank. All it takes is reading your ingredients! One of my latest faves is the Organic Wear line by Physician’s Formula, which I stocked up on the other day when a bunch of my makeup products ran out once, and I couldn’t wait long enough to order my stand-bys online. I had used their pressed powder and Jumbo Lash mascara before and was impressed by the quality of the products, and the more or less decent ingredient list (the powder does contain mica, but in a pressed powder that is not inhaled, it is much less dangerous). The entire line is free from harsh chemicals, parabens, GMOs, and synthetic preservatives, which, along with being 100% natural origin and anywhere between 15-45% certified organic, already puts them miles ahead of any other products sold at conventional stores. And they are totally affordable!
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Organic wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara$9.95 |
On my last trip, I purchased the bronzer, the regular mascara (I found the Jumbo Lash to be a little too clumpy, but the regular version is great), and the eyeliner, all of which I was super happy with. In a pinch, even the regular Physician’s Formula line is still a decent choice, in the absence of other options, with no parabens, and a lot less toxic chemicals than most conventional makeup lines.
I totally realize we all can’t afford the fancy 100% organic and natural beauty products out there, but as the beauty industry catches on to the huge demand for more natural and safe products, we have so many more options available to us beyond the more mainstream Revlons and Clairols of the world. Every purchase we make, regardless of our budget, is a statement. Do we want to support companies that test on animals and continue to use toxic, carcinogenic chemicals and sub-par ingredients just because they are legal? Or do we want to make it clear to the beauty industry that we have smartened up, and we won’t settle for products that are harmful to our bodies, animals, or the environment? Even on a tight budget, I think the choice is clear!
Step Three: Revolutionize Your Beauty Routine
Tossing all your old, chemical-laden makeup, skin- and haircare supplies can be incredibly scarring. Some women use the same mascara for decades… the very prospect of switching brands can be like betraying an old friend. But with all the recent popularity of all things green and organic, there has never been a better time to switch to organic and/or natural products. There are great products for problem skin, aging skin, great makeup, even sunscreen! All without harmful chemicals and carcinogenic additives. Want to browse the options? Future Natural is a great site for organic skin- and haircare, featuring great brands such as Juice Beauty, Mod.Skin Labs, John Masters, and Farmaesthetics. Those of us who are incurable Sephora addicts can get a fix with Sephora’s Natural and Organic section, where you can stock up on all the best organic brands, like Boscia, Bare Escentuals, Josie Maran, Pangea, Korres, and Tarte.
Natural vs. Organic
In selecting your new beauty products, keep the following in mind: “Natural” and “Organic” are not the same thing. Though using products labeled natural is still preferable to the pharmacy-bought, chemical brands, you may still be using products that have dangerous pesticides and repellents in them. Organic ingredients are grown or processed in accordance with strict regulations, without the use of these carcinogenic chemicals. In an ideal world, we would all only put organic products in and on our bodies. However, affordability and availability are issues for some people, but that shouldn’t prevent every one of us from making better choices. Start by eliminating the most dangerous elements (see Step One) and go from there! Or, if you’re ready to dive in 100%, check out The Coming Clean Campaign for a list of USDA certified organic brands.
Great Organic and All-Natural Products to Try:
Hair:
Intelligent Nutrients Haircare is a really great line of products, certified organic by the UK Organic Soil Association. I particularly like the Harmony line, featuring great anti-aging, revitalizing, volumizing shampoos and conditioners chock full of antioxidants. Another good line, though not all organic (despite the name!), is John Masters Organics. My favorite of their products are the Sea Salt and Lavender Hair Mist and Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer, and both happen to be USDA certified organic!
Desert Essence Organics also features mostly certified organic ingredients in a bunch of really great haircare products for all types of hair. I particularly like the Organic Coconut Oil Shampoo and Conditioner.. perfect for dry hair.
Face:
Simply Divine Botanicals has an amazing line of natural skincare products, with some certified organic ingredients. My absolute favorite face wash is called Black Velvet, and it is perfect for all skin types, from acne prone to dry and sensitive. Of the 100% organic brands, Miessence is one of my absolute favorites. I particularly like their Purifying skincare line, which is great for problem skin, and uses ingredients such as organic echinacea and thyme. They also have an organic glycolic peel!
One of my all-time favorite moisturizers is the Sweet Black Tea and Rice Facial Moisterizer from Juara, a natural, Indonesian skincare company. They use great ingredients like Kombucha, avocado, and rice bran oil that make for radiant, amazing skin.
Makeup:
Bare Escentuals makes a great line of pure mineral makeup, that is actually pretty healthy for your skin. I like the mineral foundation (with SPF 15!) and the mineral veil. For slightly heavier coverage, I love Juice Beauty Tinted Moisturizer with SPF. It provides a lovely glow and blended color with tons of nutrients that prevent aging and promote skin health.
There are actually quite a few new organic mascaras coming on the market, and it’s about time! The delicate skin around your eyes is a really easy way for harmful chemicals to get into your bloodstream, so its really important to use quality ingredients on those peepers. One of my favorite mascaras is Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara from Physician’s Formula. Its a really thick formula with a finely bristled brush that gives a super voluminous look, and the ingredients are mostly organic, and almost ALL natural. Miessence also makes a great mascara, and is 87% organic.
For eyeshadow, blush, and everything else fabulous, I have a few go-to lines. Bare Escentuals, Korres, and Josie Maran are all good places to start. Tarte also makes some amazing natural (though not organic) products; my faves are the Natural Cheek Stain (so good for more dramatic fall looks) and the Lipsurgence Natural Lip Stain, both formulated with plant-based ingredients that are rich with antioxidants, and both are paraben, SLS, pthalate, and mineral oil free! For 100% certified organic ingredients, my favorite lines are Vapour Organics (try their awesome, antioxidant rich Siren Lipstick), with color derived from natural fruit pigments), and Nvey Organics, whose line of vitamin-infused eyeshadows in 24 different colors are formulated with sensitive skin around the eyes in mind.
Nails:
The products we use on our nails are perhaps the most toxic aspects of our beauty regiments. Almost all commercial nail polish brands have heaping amounts of terrifying chemicals in them (formaldehyde, toluene, DBP) which cause a whole mess of health problems, including (but not limited to!) respiratory problems, reproductive complications, liver and kidney toxicity, headaches, fatigue, and yes, even cancer. There’s a reason why manicurists wear surgical masks! The good news is that we now have options… Priti NYC is my absolute favorite. They have pretty much every color under the sun, have NONE of the carcinogenic toxins listed above, and even have some organic ingredients! They even make a completely non-toxic, soy based nail polish remover, which actually works (believe it or not!).
See?? No need to panic about throwing away your trusted Maybelline’s and Neutrogena’s, there are much better, healthier, and even more effective products out there that won’t harm your body! If you have some favorite organic or natural products, feel free to comment and share them!
Click here for Step Four to learn how to clean up and detoxify your eating!
Organic Makeup: Wave of the Future or Marketing Ploy?
The organic craze has long since reached the world of beauty, with all-natural and organic skin- and hair-care lines being touted by celebrities and naturalists alike as the next big thing. There is no doubt that plant extracts and natural bases are far healthier for the body–as well as the environment–than chemicals and artificial additives, but can organic really do the trick with makeup? Will all-natural foundations, eye shadows and lipsticks ever be able to compete with industry standbys such as L’Oreal and M.A.C.? And are they really all that different?
Mineral makeup brands such as Bare Escentuals and Sheer Cover have become omnipresent as alternatives to pore-clogging foundations, and it was only a matter of time before mainstream drugstore brands such as Neutrogena and Almay came out with their own takes on the concept. But is their mineral makeup really natural? Whereas the ingredients of Bare Escentuals mineral makeup are simple and legitimately all-natural (Mica, Bismuth Oxychloride, Iron Oxide), a close look at the contents of Neutrogena’s mineral powder reveals a slew of chemical and synthetic ingredients (including, but unfortunately not limited to, Titanium Dioxide, Polymethyl Methacrylate, and Methylparaben) that have been linked to various cancers. In fact, comparing Neutrogena’s mineral powder with its regular powder makeup reveals that the products are really not that different at all.
As is the case with all products claiming to be organic or all-natural, one must proceed with caution. Always look for the words “Certified Organic,” and if all else fails, examine the list of ingredients. Anything that sounds like a chemical most likely is; a great rule of thumb is the shorter the ingredient list, the better. Take for example Boots Botanics, a British-based company that recently hit the shelves of Target and other box stores. Despite their name and their claim of using “90% Organic Ingredients,” a look at what goes into their makeup makes even Neutrogena’s ingredients seem natural.
Despite their potentially harmful long-term effects, chemical and synthetic ingredients are added to makeup for a reason. Synthetic products have a longer shelf life, can eliminate the need for frequent reapplication, and can have brighter, shinier colors. But at what cost? It comes down to a choice everyone must make for themselves. Organic makeup is still more expensive and less long-lasting than its chemical counterpart. Until big cosmetic companies allocate as much research and funding into organic and all-natural products as they do their chemical ones, there will remain some conveniences that organic makeup just won’t be able to supply. On the other hand, organic makeup might give us healthier skin and a healthier body. Once the demand for all-natural makeup is as great as the demand for, say, “All-Day Lip Color,” we can expect the market to deliver products that rival the convenience of chemicals and synthetics without the harm to ourselves and our environment.
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Some organic makeups to try: Physician’s Formula Organic Wear (stay tuned for a review of their makeup), Miessence Makeup, and Burts Bees.
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