Filed under: 1 | Tags: amla fruit, amla skin brightening lotion, anokha, anokha skincare, brightening creams, green beauty, natural skincare, organic beauty view, vitamin C Serum
Hardly as obssessive as the Japanese or Michael Jackson when it comes to lightening skin, I am definitely a sucker for anything that promises to ‘brighten’ and even the tone of my not bright, and definitely not even, skin tone. It may sound like a genius marketing ploy but here’s where that old adage that ‘if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is’, actually doesn’t apply. Nature holds a vast treasure trove of spectacularly potent ingredients from plants & fruits that are being discovered and isolated every day. One of the newest to hit the market is the Amla Fruit in the form of a new Skin Brightening Lotion by Anokha. Amla is a small sour fruit that’s native to South Asia, and this little superfruit is being touted as having the highest concentration of Vitamin C, of any fruit found so far. The Amla Skin Brightening Lotion targets, rejuvenates and brightens hyperpigmentation and other skin discolorations. As with any product of this nature you have to allow time for the formulation to work its magic, but work it does! You can check out the whole skincare collection at Anokhaskincare.com. Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
Filed under: 1 | Tags: body cream, cleansing mousse, everyday, futurenatural, Jo Wood, Jo Wood organics, Jolene Hart, natural body products, organic beauty view, rolling stones, salt scrub
Who says organic can’t mean super-luxe as well? Certainly not Jo Wood, former model and wife of Rolling Stones drummer Ronnie Wood. Today Jo uses her high style to curate her own brand of beauty products, Jo Wood Organics. Jo Wood recently launched a line called Everyday that includes a natural cleansing mousse, body cream and salt scrub that you’ll want to use, well… every single day. Undeniably luxurious in its look and feel, the line comes in two sophisticated scents: exotic Tula, fragranced with jasmine, frangipani, sandalwood and anise, and the fresh-smelling Langa, with notes of citrus, vanilla, neroli and cedarwood. It’s difficult to pick out the star of the collection, but it just might be the body cream, packed with essential fatty acids in an apricot and shea butter base. Whether you’re looking for a little luxury in your day-to-day, or you want to trade in your conventional prestige products for organic alternatives, you’ll have to look no further than Jo Wood! Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: alicia silverstone, alicia silverstone & ecotools, cruelty-free makeup brushes, eco-friendly beauty, eco-friendly makeup brushes, ecotools, natural cosmetic brushes, organic beauty view
It’s long been known that Alicia Silverstone is one of our most eco-savvy Hollywood Stars from her vegetarian stance to her green nuptials, so it comes as no surprise that her latest venture shows her walking the talk yet again. Inspired and designed by the natural beauty herself, Ecotools by Alicia Silverstone is a collection featuring environmentally-friendly makeup bags & brushes. The cosmetic bags are made with natural hemp and the floral designs on the bags are printed with non-toxic inks, as are the hangtags which are also printed on tree-free stone paper. The interior is made from a recycled PET lining and the brushes are compiled of earth-friendly materials such as bamboo, recycled plastic, soybean oil and crushed walnuts – with cruelty-free, non-animal bristles. Launching at Walgreens and Target in December, to be honest they’re not exactly my style so I won’t be rushing out to buy the collection, but I celebrate and support these kinds of alliances because they bring awareness to the need for us to be conscious consumers, and show that you can be even on a budget. Starting at $15.99 for a 5-piece brush set and bag, the brushes are amazing value and have the same kind of quality and longevity of use I’ve encountered in much more expensive brands, so do yourself (and the planet) a favor, and check them out! Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
Filed under: 1 | Tags: citrus, dry oil, flowers, futurenatural, hand cream, herbs, hollybeth anderson, hollybeth's natural luxury, Jolene Hart, natural products, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, unicef
You don’t need to possess a green thumb, or even have an actual interest in plants, to appreciate the herbs and flowers that inspire the organic beauty products from HollyBeth’s Natural Luxury. HollyBeth Anderson, who herself has an encyclopedic knowledge of flowers and plants, created the line out of a few family recipes passed down from her grandmother. Today her Georgia-based beauty company is churning out organic products from cleansers to eye creams to soy candles and scrubs. One of my favorite products for the season is HollyBeth’s Wildflower Dry Oil, a blend of evening primrose, pomegranate, rosehip, sunflower, chamomile and lavender oils (among others), each with its own therapeutic property and together a soothing, skin-strengthening powerhouse. It’s perfect to dab onto freshly-cleansed skin or delicate areas of the body- small doses are all that’s needed. In my quest to find the perfect hand crème for the winter, I’ve also kept HollyBeth’s Citrus Body Cream close at hand. It may be for body, but it’s rich enough that a small dab is all I need to alleviate the dryness that I feel after handwashing or spending time in the cool fall weather. As the season progresses, I imagine that I’ll be using it on arms and legs as well! All HollyBeth products are scented with herbs and flowers that give them a subtle earthiness- very pleasant for fall and beyond! You’ll notice that several products in the line support a long list of HollyBeth’s favorite charities. Your purchase of Wildflower Dry Oil contributes to the UNICEF Clean Water initiative. Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: azor, azor razor, eco-friendly razor, eco-friendly shaving, Emma Pezzack, green razor, Hoke2, king of shaves, organic beauty view
I’ve been shaving my legs from the millisecond my mother gave me permission to create the smooth, sleek pins I’d always wanted. I’m not divulging how long that is but let’s just say in my vast experience with razors and creams, mens razors are infinitely more well engineered and perform better than their female counterparts. This latest razor, called ‘Azor’ from the King Of Shaves, is no exception, but what I particularly like about it is the careful consideration for the environment in the manufacture & design. It not only uses less packaging but the plastic is made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic, the ‘one part’ design reduces energy and uses a tool that manufactures leaving no waste, the shape of the razor eliminates the need for secondary packaging, and organic inks are used in the printing process. The wishbone shape of the handle is such that you can clearly see where you’re going and what you’re doing – a huge bonus to anyone who regularly slashes themselves trying to go over knees & ankles (that’d be me). Add to that a super close, smooth shave and I’m sold. Available at Duane Reade & shave.com. Another razor you might want to check out is the Hoke2 – so well-designed it’s earned a permanent place in the Smithsonian collection. Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
Filed under: 1 | Tags: argan oil, argan oil skincare, benefits of argan oil, josie maran argan oil, kahina giving beauty, natural skincare, organic beauty view, skincare oils, sustainable beauty products
You’ve heard the hype by now but maybe have wondered if there’s any substance to the claims being made about Argan Oil? It’s supposedly great for everything from moisturizing your cuticles, to conditioning your hair, to acting as an effective moisturizer - so naturally you think to yourself… yeah right. Listen up, because not only is it true, this extremely rare and precious oil is exceptionally rich in natural tocopherols (vitamin E), rich in phenols and phenolic acid, rich in carotenes, rich in squalene, rich in essential fatty acids, 80% unsaturated fatty acids , and depending on the extraction method, more resistant to oxidation than olive oil. All of these nutrients are essential for healthy skin, hair & nails, and are basically part of the building blocks for the cellular structure of skin, as well as being highly potent antioxidants which neutralize free radicals (the second biggest cause of aging behind sun exposure). Extracted from the nut of the argan (argania spinosa) tree, which grows only in the argan forests in the Southwest of Morocco, the argan forests cover approximately 1.5 million acres at the Northern border of the Sahara and in 1999, the forest was designated a Unesco World Heritage Site. lt takes several days and about 32 kilograms of fruit – roughly one season’s produce from a single tree – to make only one liter of Argan oil, but the good news is, not only is it all sustainably extracted, all argan sold today is produced by a women’s cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing healthcare and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole. Keen to try it? Kahina Giving Beauty and Josie Maran produce some of the best products we’ve seen so far. Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
Filed under: 1 | Tags: natural lubricant, natural personal lubricant, organic beauty view, organic lubricant, organic personal lubricant, yes, yes personal lubricant
We’ve sung the praises (and done the homework if you must know) on Yes Organic Personal Lubricants before, but the UK company have just turned your intimate forays into an easier slide & glide! With the launch of the new Yes Organic Personal Lubricant Applicator Pack, our favorite natural lubricant now comes in a box of six pre-filled applicators for single use, providing realistic lubrication that is almost nature identical. The discreet & convenient way to deliver deep lubrication and hydration in just the right amount, to the right place! With 70% market share dominated by petro-chem filled KY Jelly, Yes is the only sensible choice for between the sheets. Stylish in look, superior in formulation, uncompromising in purity, and exceptional in performance. Completely free of parabens, glycerin, hormones, silicones and petroleum products, Yes has all the reassurance of a certified organic lubricant with the premium performance of a synthetic one, and, it’s latex, silicone and condom compatible. Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
Filed under: 1 | Tags: matte velvet nail polish from Zoya, natural nail polish, non-toxic nail polish, organic beauty view, toxin-free nail polish, zoya, zoya natural nail polish
Call me a magpie if you must but I’m a big fan of shine & shimmer. Sure, I’ve long given up those eighties skintight silver leggings worn with a matching silver & gold headband (which I proudly – at the time – made), but whether it’s sequins, glitter or a simple sheen, I’m often overheard oooing and ahhhing over just about anything with luminosity. Kind of unusual then that I’m newly smitten with the new Matte Velvet Nail Polish from Zoya, but they seem just right for the winter/fall season ahead. All the color, none of the shine and a deep, velvet finish that’s completely new (and fashionable) – what’s not to love! We’ve featured Zoya Nail Polish here before but in case you haven’t heard, this non-toxic and natural nail polish allows you to go a little more green with your nail care products, without giving up your glam. Sure, they still contain some chemicals, but until someone develops a nail polish with organic ingredients (won’t that be a great day?), having a nail polish option that is formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl pthalate free is a fabulous step in the right direction. Veruschka is a beautiful deep green, Savita is a lush lilac purple and Harlow is a plummy shade of purple. A note about how to apply these great new nail colors: make sure you clean the nail surface first and don’t use any topcoat, basecoat or any other glossy nail treatment, or you’ll ruin the lush velvety finish that this Matte Velvet Nail Polish is designed to have. Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
Filed under: 1 | Tags: Aveda, backstage beauty, hair, john patrick, john patrick organic, Jolene Hart, mindbodygreen, natural beauty, natural hair care, Odile Gilbert, organic, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, sustainable
We’ve professed our love of John Patrick Organic clothes before (we know, this blog isn’t Organic Fashion View, but can you blame us?) The line’s chic yet comfy designs are definitely a splurge, but in our minds they define splurge-worthy, as they’re organic, sustainably-sourced and produced by a fair trade farming collective in Peru. We found the above step-by step video of the Aveda team creating the glam 20’s hair at the John Patrick Organic show last month and had to share (it’s also a fun sneak peek backstage). And (timing is everything) we just read a great new interview with John Patrick, which takes a look at his love of organic fabric, dark chocolate and, of course, Aveda. So, as you count down the hours to the weekend, why not give both a look? It could spark new ideas for your holiday hairstyles and inspire you to live a little greener this weekend! Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: coco eco magazine, eco-friendly hair care, green rootine, green rootine hair powder, jonathan hair care, jonathan hair products, natural hair care, natural hair products, organic beauty view
As a mother to new twin boys, CEO of a company, Beauty Director for Coco Eco Magazine, and Editor of Organic Beauty View, I’m newly obsessed with finding ways to pare back everything and simplify my existence! Any product that multi-tasks or gives me extra mileage out of my beauty routine is a godsend at this point, which is why I love this new Green Rootine Hair Powder from Jonathan. A hair powder that cleanses and refreshes the hair and scalp without the use of water. Tick! A portable brush that makes applying the powder simple and convenient. Tick! Extends the life of a blowout. Tick! Increases volume at the roots. Tick! All natural ingredients. Tick! Rids the scalp of dirt pollutants and build-up. Tick!! Oh, and it comes in two different colors, one for blonds and one for brunettes so there’s no crazy color stripe at your roots or weird white skunk strip. Free of petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, parabens, phthalates and silicone, if your life looks something like mine – or even if it doesn’t – do yourself a favor and check it out. Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com
