Filed under: 1 | Tags: bethesda skincare, eco-friendly beauty, farmaesthetics, felted soap, futurenatural.com, green beauty, Jolene Hart, natural skincare, organic beauty view, organic cream wash bars, organic real cocoa soap, organic skincare, organic soap, panpuri, rainwater soap, skinnyskinny, sunscreen soap, valley of the roses, www.organicbeautyview.com
These days, soap just doesn’t receive the high esteem of other, more glamorous beauty products. It’s certainly not about to incite a frenzy like some cult beauty buys of the moment. But soap just may take the prize in the utilitarian and economical categories. If you’re looking to save a few cents this year, swapping your liquid soap for a good ol’ bar is one way to go. Last time I checked, I could buy a year’s supply of soap for the cost of one ‘miracle’ eye cream. And now that I have a new list of favorite soaps that are pretty, covetable and natural, my bathroom sink will always hold a bar. Read on to find your own new favorite…
The one bar that you won’t want to be without this summer is Bethesda Skincare’s Sunscreen Soap. As the name suggests, the suds from this non-greasy, lightly scented bar do more than just clean- they leave behind protective layer of SPF 10, a number tested and rated by the FDA. I can’t think of an easier way to boost your sun protection (while you bathe)! Your skin will also benefit from this organic soap’s high concentration of antioxidants and vitamins, including A, E, C, selenium and zinc (a full third of the bar is a high-potency vitamin and mineral blend). I’m using this as my first layer of sun protection everywhere I go this summer. Another soap find that I’m excited to share is Felted Soap from Valley of the Roses. The colorful felt pouch around each natural soap bar makes it easy to work up an herbal-scented lather (check out fragrance blends like Calendula Citrus and Rose Geranium). And the felt can be cut open and reused for your next bar! What should that next bar be? How about Rainwater Soap from Farmaesthetics, made with melted snow and olive, palm and coconut oils? Sweet Orange & Rosepetals is my favorite fresh, delicate scent. And a perfect eco-conscious buy- certified organic, 100% carbon neutral and packaged with recycled, reclaimed or biodegradable materials- is a bar of soap from skinnyskinny. You’ll love its pretty wrapping as much as you enjoy catching a whiff of the yummy Organic Real Cocoa Soap on your countertop. For one last natural soap pick, check out our earlier review of Panpuri’s Organic Cream Wash Bars. I’d love to hear about your own natural soap favorites as well- leave us a comment! Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: alpha-hydroxy, cellulite, exfoliation, Jolene Hart, lotion, lymphatic flow, massage, natural skincare, Nude skincare, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, organic body products, organic skincare, organics by noah's naturals, Ren skincare
Those of you heading to the beach for the holiday weekend, take note. We’re running through a last-minute natural beauty regimen that will tackle the dull skin, rough patches and cellulite that you’ve been hiding since winter. It’ll take ten minutes- fifteen at most- and deliver substantial, albeit temporary, results (we all know that we’re not getting rid of our cellulite, right?). So, let’s begin. Our skin below the waist is the most likely to give us problems, so we need to knock it back into shape with a one-two punch of natural exfoliation and moisturizing massage. The result? Temporary glow and toning worthy of those high-priced spa treatments. Your regular natural body scrub will suffice as an exfoliant, increasing circulation and stimulating lymphatic flow as you deeply massage (toward your heart works best). If you’re looking for a new scrub on the cheap, go for the deliciously tropical Coconut Vanilla Sugar Scrub from Organics by Noah’s Naturals. If you’ve ever been swayed, even the tiniest bit, by a warm vanilla scent, you will fall over for this one! As a bonus, it contains Vitamin A to increase cell turnover. Follow with a lotion that boosts collagen to gradually thicken the epidermis of your skin, creating a buffer. REN’s Wild Yam Omega 7 Firming Body Repair Crème works (natural) wonders with lipid-boosting seabuckthorn berry oil and collagen-improving wild yam. And my personal favorite duo, for skin that’s silkier than you ever thought possible, is Nude’s Moisturizing Body Polish and Smoothing Body Refiner. The polish is made with sugar and hibiscus-infused monoi coconut oil (as luxurious as it sounds) and is applied directly to dry skin for serious sloughing. Follow this with the alpha-hydroxy Smoothing Body Refiner, a cult favorite for its fig and organic mountain ash that both slim and detoxify. Incredibly, testers who used this lotion twice daily for three months lost about six pounds! Who says natural beauty doesn’t work wonders? And if you’re still a bit self-conscious about skin exposure, nothing lends the appearance of slimming and toning quicker than a little self-tanner (check out our picks here). Happy 4th! Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: eco-beautiful, eco-beauty, green beauty, Jolene Hart, Josie Maran, lina hanson, natural makeup, natural skincare, organic & natural beauty products, organic beauty view, organic skincare
It’s rare that a day will pass when you won’t find me googling answers to my organic beauty questions, ripping out magazine pages with beauty tips to remember and scribbling down natural beauty recipes. So when I picked up makeup artist Lina Hanson’s new book, Eco-Beautiful, it felt like I was looking through my own beauty editor notes, albeit in a more comprehensive, organized fashion, and packed with big, beautiful photographs. Eco-Beautiful is a guide to making your beauty regimen natural and eco-friendly, and even includes a section for ‘green’ guys! It’s an ideal beauty reference for Organic Beauty View readers and would be a perfect gift for a friend who is interested in switching to natural beauty products but doesn’t know where to begin. Lina, makeup artist to celebs like Mandy Moore, Adrian Grenier and Zac Efron, talks about the improvement that she saw in her own skin when she switched to natural makeup, and the lifestyle overhaul that she underwent after moving to California. The book includes an excellent section on eating for beautiful skin, complete with recipes and food lists. I love the professional tips in Eco-Beautiful’s ‘before and after’ natural beauty transformations and its step-by-step natural makeup looks for any occasion. Lina’s ideas are inspiration for anyone who loves beauty. And if you’ve pledged to go green and natural with your makeup and skincare, Eco-Beautiful will be one book that you’ll read cover to cover and back again! Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: 100 percent pure, futurenatural, Jolene Hart, kimberly sayer, natural eye gel, naturopathica, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, organic eye cream, organic skincare, www.futurenatural.com, yes to carrots
June has been a swampy, rainy month on the East Coast. I found out the hard way that the rampant mold and mildew, caused by more days of rain than sun, are enough to set me on a sneezy, itchy-eye, allergic rampage. And when I realized that awakening to puffy eyes was going to be this month’s trend, I took control of the situation by finding a de-puffing eye cream that returns me to normal. In case you also share my need for antihistamines, I thought I’d share. So you’re aware, I am of the opinion that a cooling gel gets it done faster than a crème when de-puffing is the task. Yes to Carrots Eye Love Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel is the perfect example. This cool-to-the-touch, slightly tightening gel formula combines extracts of cucumbers, chamomile, aloe and other surprising veggies (broccoli and green pepper!). If this counted as a serving of vegetables, I’d have no problem with five-a-day. The only other natural soothers that come close to giving these results are chilled cucumber slices or tea bags. I also love Kimberly Sayer Organic Cellular Extract Eye Lift Gel for its great moisturizing/tightening balance- it’s best straight from the fridge. And I do stand behind 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream, also chilled. Its green tea and coffee are great at reducing swelling. Next on my to-try list is Naturopathica Vitamin K Eye Cream, with grapeseed (effective at naturally reducing swelling), though it’s definitely a splurge at $72 for 1/2 oz! But if this season continues as is, I’ll need all the help I can get with damage control. Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: futurenatural, horst rechelbacher, intelligent nutrients, intelligent nutrients skincare, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, organic hair care, organic skincare, www.futurenatural.com
Many of us are applying up to 20 personal care products daily that contain harmful or suspect ingredients. Doesn’t it make sense we put on our bodies what’s safe to put in them? We think so, and so do Intelligent Nutrients. Intelligent Nutrients is a certified USDA organic collection of skincare, hair care and aromatic scents. Conceived by Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of Aveda, and made with 100% Intelligent Nutrients, this modern line is dedicated to superior anti-aging performance using only organic food grade ingredients, certified to the highest standards. Every Intelligent Nutrients product contains the super-anti-oxidant Intelllimune Seed Oil Complex – an anti-aging, synergistic blend of black cumin, pumpkin, red grape, red raspberry and cranberry seed oils. Created to help prevent premature aging caused by environmental aggressors and boost immunity, just one to two teaspoons of this supplemental oil delivers the same number of antioxidants & EFA’s as eating seeds from 10 pounds of grapes. The collection includes skincare, hair care, aromatics and supplements – everything you need to update your beauty arsenal and create a phenomenal beauty routine. Organic beauty MEGA-store Futurenatural, is offering 20% off this amazing line for OBV readers only – simply use the code: OBV at checkout, and your discount will be applied during processing.
Filed under: 1 | Tags: Aveda, Aveda 16hr defense hair care, aveda sun defense, aveda suncare products, natural hair care, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, sun hair care
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t enjoy summer & warmth, but while we’re soaking up the sunshine and relaxing there are some extra preventative measures that need to be taken to ensure our skin, hair & bodies are given the right TLC during these lazy, hazy days. Whether you’re at the beach or pool, UV Rays, salt, sun & chlorine all wreak havoc on skin & hair, but while most of us understand the need for sunscreen & moisturizers, almost all of us forget to take care of our tresses! Aveda have just launched a new hair care collection called the 16hr UV Defense & Recovery System that protects & restores for, well… up to 16hrs. There are three products in the line-up; the Suncare Hair & Body Cleanser which removes chlorine, salt & product build-up; the Suncare After Sun Hair Mask which restores sun exposed hair & moisturizes; and the Suncare Protective Hair Veil, a leave-in treatment that helps repair sun damage, stops color fade and hydrates (Shape Magazine just voted the hair veil a favorite pick in their Sun Smart Awards). The whole line is infused with carefully selected botanicals to address the specific challenges of summer and smells like a light tropical holiday!
Filed under: 1 | Tags: Jolene Hart, juice beauty, juice beauty skincare, juice beauty sun protection, juice beauty sunscreen, organic beauty view, organic sun protection, organic sunscreen, organic sunscreen lotion
Keeping up with head-to-toe sun protection is something that I’d like to master, but it’s not often on my mind as I run out the door to check off errands or drive to my next meeting. I’m the first to recognize that those chunks of unprotected sun exposure could come back to haunt me, since a few minutes here and there easily add up to hours. And pale-skinned girls like me carry the greatest risk of developing skin cancer. So I’m taking action this year. I’ve switched my body lotion to Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Antioxidant moisturizer with SPF 20 (a chemical-free, titanium dioxide blocker). No extra steps to add to my beauty routine. No thick, greasy sunscreen formula. Just a bright-smelling lotion that gives me soft, tank-top-worthy skin and a hefty dose of peace of mind. I was also thrilled to hear that, after a recent round of testing, this particular moisturizer was shown to reduce free radical damage by 50% as a result of its mega-dose of antioxidants. Add that to a USDA certified organic formula and its fine line-smoothing fruit acids and I’m 100% happy with my choice. And since those pesky, skin-aging UVA rays are a year-round threat (not just a summertime problem), I’ll be wise to stick with this lotion come rain or shine. Writer :: Jolene Hart
Filed under: 1 | Tags: alima cosmetics, Aveda, facial cleansing wipes, futurenatural, kaia bamboo cloths, makeup multitaskers, natural beauty products, natural cleansing cloths, natural makeup, organic beauty products, organic beauty view, organic makeup, revolution organics, rms beauty
Multi-taskers for me are as essential as a great cup of coffee, time with nature, getting together with good friends, having at least one screwdriver in the house… you get the picture – not critical to survival but wouldn’t want to live without them. Being a beauty editor means my makeup & skincare arsenal is in constant overload but part of the challenge is to brutally edit the good from the bad, the gorgeous from the, well… not so much. And when it’s hot, all I want to do is strip back my routine to one that involves the least path of resistance with nothing but the essentials – even more so if I’m traveling or going on holiday. These brilliant products perform more than one function and do all of them equally well, so for now, ignore your beauty product stash that’s starting to resemble the size of a Louis Vuitton travel trunk and lighten the load! When it comes to makeup & travel, all you’ll need is… (more…)
Filed under: 1 | Tags: bronzing shimmer oil, lucy b at Futurenatural, lucy b cosmetics, lucy b franjipani oil, natural bronzer, organic beauty view, organic bronzer, organic bronzing oil, www.futurenatural.com
Summer is here and it’s time to treat your body, face and hair to a sun-kissed Australian beach holiday with the Lucy B Frangipani Bronzing Shimmer Oil! Made with organic coconut, jojoba & sunflower oils for ultra skin hydration and infused with signature Australian Bush Flower Essences, this shimmer oil is great for achieving a gorgeous, subtle glow all over your body, on décolletage, scrunched into hair – anywhere you want to add moisture and shine. Rather than create a full-on bronze goddess look, it’s beautifully light in finish to give your skin a soft sheen. Ancient healing lore & plant wisdom fuse with modern technology, organic ingredients and hip, slightly old-world packaging to produce a product that’s like no other. All the color & shimmer comes from mica & minerals to give your skin a beautiful, healthy radiance. The scent, consisting of franjipani & coconut, transports me sweetly & deliciously to a tropical island, without being overwhelming… YUM! Lucy b Franjipani Bronzing Shimmer Oil is a must-have for summer…
Filed under: 1 | Tags: Alasta, firming skincare, green beauty, natural skincare, organic beauty view, organic skincare, sustainable beauty, Sustainable Youth, sustainable youth skincare
There was a time when conversations surrounding elasticity, loss of collagen, sagging and lack of tone, were for me like hearing someone speak in a foreign language. Convinced I’d somehow and miraculously been blessed with ever youthful skin, I never paid much attention – until now that is. Whether you’re there already or you think this is something that doesn’t apply to you, it’s never too early or late to start using skincare that addresses these very issues. Now, let it be said I’m a total skeptic (and more than a little jaded) when it comes to product claims, having worked with and tried just about everything. My latest discovery however, more than lives up to its rep and having used it for the last six wks, I can verify that my skin feels noticeably smoother, firmer and more radiant. Sustainable Youth Skincare is comprised of three products in the collection, Revitalizing Serum, Elasticity Cream, and supplement capsules. Each product contains Alasta™, a 100% organic, bioactive ingredient derived from the aloe plant, which in clinical studies has shown to reduce inflammation, and improve skin elasticity and firmness. Lest you think that the product claims are a little grandiose and there’s no way a 99% organic & natural product could possibly have the same amazing effects as its chemically engineered counterparts, get this… the clinical studies prove conclusively that you’ll see improvement of 61% in only 12 weeks of use when taken orally, and 72% in only 8 weeks of use when used topically. Got your attention?
