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.
Wearable Organic Beauty from Lovely Hunt
It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with all things organic and beautiful (I mean, it’s in our name!). I believe that living the organic beauty life is about so much more than eating beautiful, healthy food, prioritizing self-care, joy, and balance, and living a non-toxic lifestyle (in all meaning of the word). It’s also about adorning your body and home in beautiful things that make you FEEL the way you want to feel. Whether it’s a unique, one-of-a-kind vibe, an earthy goddess sensibility, or a super cool trendsetter feel, surrounding yourself with beauty is such a key element in living a life of joy, ease, and radiance.
So you can imagine how giddy I was when I discovered Lovely Hunt, a beautifully curated online marketplace of handmade jewelry, bags and accessories that are all deliciously covetable and perfectly unique.
Organic Beauty on the 4th
By Callie McBride
Independence Day is here!
Backyard barbequing, boating on the lake, sitting poolside with friends, or marching through a parade; whatever tomorrow’s festivities bring, we have 5 organic beauty tips that will fit right in with all the fun and fireworks.
1. Classic Red Lip
Vapour Organic Beauty’s new Siren Lipstick “Courage 406” is perfect for the 4th. Its made with 70% organic ingredients and 30% of essential vitamins and minerals. $22, www.vapourbeauty.com
2. Electric Blue Nails
Vapour’s Vernissage Nail Laquer is non-toxic, cruelty-free, and paraben-free, boasting only of natural and safe ingredients to give your nails a gorgeous sheen. Try “Ether 524” to add a pop of blue to your look.
3. Festive Hair Accessory
Whether you’re in hot and humid New York, sunny California, or anywhere in between, it’s gonna be a hot one. Ditch the hair straightener/curler, opt for natural wave spray (Josie Maran makes a great organic version), and add in a fun red or blue accessory to beat the heat and stay stylish. We love that this Marc by Marc Jacobs hair pin comes in the two holiday colors, red and blue.
4. Beer Alternative
Not to ruin anyone’s fun, but beer, a widely popular drink on the fourth of July, can often lead to bloating, stomach pains, and general discomfort, especially those that contain gluten. If you plan to sip throughout the day, you may as well do it the right way! Enter Kombucha, the best and most beneficial alternative to beer; its fizzy, delicious, and cleanses your system with each gulp.
5. A Vegan Treat To Share
Possibly the most exciting accessory to your fun fourth, here are some simple ideas for snacks to bring to the party: strawberry + blueberry skewers; raspberry + coconut yogurt parfaits; watermelon slices; red, white, and blue homemade popsicles using crushed berries and soymilk; the list goes on!
Make sure to pack enough water, sunscreen, and snacks for the day. Slap on that red lip, wrap up your healthy treat, and have a safe 4th of July!
Best Organic Beauty Products of 2012
It’s that time of year again! We are so lucky to have been able to try some of the best in organic and natural beauty and self-care products, and we’re thrilled to present the Organic Beauty Talk Best in Green 2012 Award Winners, featuring so many of our favorite brands. A lot of these products and brands are featured in our ebook, Four Steps to Naturalizing Your Life, which you can download for free by signing up for our newsletter!
Using healthy, natural products for your skin, hair, body, and home is just as important as what you eat and how often you work out. And by using the products below, you don’t have to sacrifice effectiveness or ease of use!
Have a favorite from the list below? Leave a comment and let us know!
Face
- Best Natural Facial Line for Problem Skin – S.W. Basics (formerly Sprout Skincare, $24-$32)
- Best Natural Facial Line for Normal & Dry Skin – Grateful Body ($22-$36)
- Best Natural Facial Line for Sensitive Skin (can also be used on all skin types including blemish-prone) – Pai ($35-$55)
- Best Holistic Facial Line for Normal & Dry Skin – Dr. Hauschka ($26.95-$89.95)
- Best Organic Anti-Aging Facial Line – Intelligent Nutrients ($24-$55)
- Best Organic Facial Line (including sensitive and blemish-prone skin) – Spiezia ($37.50-$85)
- Best Natural Value Facial Line – Zum Face ($9.50-$24)
- Best Up & Coming Natural Facial Lines – Sequoia Beauty ($24-$50) & Stark Skincare ($22-$48)
- Best Natural Face Moisturizer – Tata Harper Repairative Moisturizer ($100) & Izlla Fresh Sweet Carrot Facial Day Creme ($29.95)
- Best Organic Facial Scrub – HollyBeth Organics Grits & Honey Scrub ($25)
- Best Natural Facial Mask – La Bella Figura ($60)
- Best Natural Face Serum – Lina Hanson Global Face Serum ($85)
- Best Natural Eye Cream – 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream ($19) & Tata Harper Restorative Eye Treatment ($90)
- Best Natural Facial Sunscreen – Erbaviva Sunscreen SPF 30 ($22)
Makeup
- Best Natural Mineral Makeup Line – Alima Pure ($11-$22)
- Best Natural Liquid Foundation – Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation ($48)
- Best Natural Luxury Makeup Line – Kjaer Weis ($44-$54)
- Best Natural Tinted Moisturizer – 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer ($32)
- Best Natural Bronzer – 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Bronzer ($25)
- Best Natural Creme Blush – Youngblood Luminous Creme Blush ($27)
- Best Natural Eyeliner – Lavera Soft Eyeliner ($14.50)
- Best Natural Mascara – Josie Maran GoGo Instant Volume Argan Mascara ($22)
- Best Natural Lip Color – 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Glaze ($15) & Ilia Beauty ($24)
- Best Organic Lip Gloss – Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Lip Delivery Antioxidant Gloss ($24)
- Best Natural Lip Exfoliator – Ilia Beauty Balmy Nights ($24)
- Best Natural Multi-Stick – Ilia Beauty ($34)
- Best Eco-Friendly Makeup Brushes – EcoTools (6.99-$15.99)
- Best Natural Makeup Remover – Desert Essence Jojoba Oil ($5.89)
- Best Eco-Friendly Nail Polish – butter LONDON ($14) & Priti NYC ($13.50)
Body
- Best Organic Body Bar Soap – Dr. Bronner’s Soap ($3.99)
- Best Organic Luxury Body Bar Soap – Osmia Organics Handmade Bar Soap ($12)
- Best Natural Body Wash – Patyka Absolis Body Wash ($45)
- Best Natural Body Oil – Indie Lee Moisturizing Oil ($34)
- Best Natural Body Lotion – HollyBeth Organics Geranium Jasmine Lavender Body Lotion ($37)
- Best Natural Value Hand & Body Lotion – Jason Vanilla Hand & Body Lotion ($5.79)
- Best Natural Body Butter – Moksa Organics Body Butter ($16)
- Best Natural Body Scrub – Indie Lee Coconut Citrus Body Scrub ($42)
- Best Natural Hand Soap – Avalon Organics Glycerin Liquid Hand Soap ($4.89)
- Best Natural Hand Cream – Weleda Pomegranate Hand Cream ($12.50)
- Best Natural Value Body Care Line – Deep Steep ($6.95-$10.95)
- Best Spa Private Label Line – St. Julien Spa
- Best Natural Perfume – Tsi-La Organics ($38-$95)
- Best Natural Solid Perfume – Ituri ($30)
- Best Natural Deodorant Cream – Soapwalla Natural Deodorant Cream ($12)
- Best Natural Deodorant Spray – Blissoma Natural Deodorant Spray ($10.99)
- Best Natural Sunscreen – Soleil Organique ($18-$55)
- Best Natural Cure-All – Pratima Healing Neem Oil ($29)
- Best Natural Essential Oils – Mountain Rose Herbs Essential Oils ($1.75-$45)
Hair
- Best Natural Shampoo & Conditioner – Acure Organics ($10)
- Best Natural Hair Styling Products – Intelligent Nutrients ($12-29)
- Best Natural Styling Products for Kinky, Curly & Wavy Hair (including color treated hair) – Shea Radiance ($16-$18)
- Best Eco-Friendly Must-Have Product for Curly Hair – CURL-ease ($19.99)
Men
- Best Natural Facial & Shave Line for Men – John Masters Organics Men ($22-$28) & Ursa Major ($24-$36)
- Best Holistic Organic Line for Men – Dr. Alkaitis ($40-$80)
- 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)
- Best Natural Line for Ethnically Diverse Children – Cara B Naturally ($8-$10)
- Best Natural Sunscreen for Children/Baby – Erbaviva Sunscreen SPF 15 ($22) & Alba Botanica Kids SPF 45 Sunblock ($5.16)
Fashion
- 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 Fast Fashion Clothing Line – H&M Conscious Collection (prices vary)
- Best Eco-Friendly Jeans – AG Denim ($148-$215)
- Best Organic Work Dress – Elsa & Me ($240)
- Best Eco-Friendly Casual Shoes – Toms ($44-$69)
- Best Eco-Friendly Women’s Boots – Naya Shoes ($200-$265)
- Best Eco-Friendly Underwear, Tees & Socks – PACT ($10-$30)
- Best Eco-Friendly Jewelry – Kyler ($48-$138)
Home
- Best Natural All-Purpose Cleaner (even cleans tough grime in bathtubs & can be used as a laundry detergent) – Savon Noir 100% Natural All-Purpose Olive Oil Soap ($20)
- Best Natural Homecare Line – Seventh Generation ($3.99-$22)
- Best Natural Aromatherapeutic Household Cleaning Line – Mrs. Meyers ($3.99-$15.99)
- Best Natural Candles – Red Flower Petal Topped Candles ($34)
- Best Natural Air Freshener – Intelligent Nutrients ($40-$68) & Neom Luxury Organic Room Mist ($26)
- Best Natural Value Air Freshener – Pure Citrus Air Freshener ($4.97)
- Best Natural Reed Diffuser – Neom Luxury Organic Reed Diffuser ($56)
- Best Eco Savvy Paper Products – Ecojot ($4.75-$17)
Pet
- Best Natural Pet Shampoo & Conditioner – John Masters Organics Lemongrass & Flaxseed Pet Shampoo and Conditioner ($20)
- Best Natural Dog Spritzer & Deodorizer – Cloud Star Buddy Splash ($5.95)
- Best Natural Dog Treats – Cloud Star Soft & Chewy Buddy Biscuits ($3.99)