No one sets out to age poorly. Cigarettes are smoked from youthful hands, complexions are baked in an unforgiving sun—40 is forever and a day away, so why worry? Until you turn 40. Or 35. Or in certain parts of the country, at a sprightly 22 after a night of hard drinking.

So, what happens? Women and men start to seek out a little ‘tox there, a little filler here. “It’s just a light touch,” they say. “No one will be able to tell.” And yes, some people are able to pull this off without looking like a wax model. At the same time, others refashion their faces into silicone masks ready to burst forth like a Vegas fountain.

Welcome to aging in the first world. On one end of the spectrum, there are the blissful Botoxers who insist that constant injection of onabotulinumtoxinA into their skin is the best way to look young, God bless. On the opposite end, there are the consumers who insist that wrinkles are a badge of honor and the only moisturizer they need is their great-grandmother’s olive oil dabbed behind their ears at night, thank you very much.

The rest of us? We fall somewhere in between. We spend a lot of time and money flopping around on the spectrum, hoping to find that magical product made entirely by gossamer organic elves who know just what to do. Our faces will be graced with a health glow, not reshaped into funhouse masks.

As a woman approaching the big four one this year, I’m striving to age as gracefully as, say, Naomi Watts, who says she’s avoided the ‘tox and yet still looks like a personal lighting crew travels with her at all times. Personally, my anti-aging regime will never involve injections. But hella if I don’t moisturize. Or tone. Or invest in large crates of safe sunscreen.

Sure, I’m not using a biological weapon to plump up my face, but I’m still trying to slow the progress of an indentured groove that’s taken up residence between my brows. Does this mean I’m not aging gracefully? To some, yes. But that’s okay. I enjoy olive oil too, especially in delicious, delicious lemon cakes.

So for my comrades out there who care about safe ingredients, yet still want to retain a healthy glow—here are five fantastic anti-aging products that won’t kill you in large doses.

1. Complexion Conserve Remedy Reserve Serum by Farmaesthetics ($48.00)
This serum may be better known as youth via glass dropper. Containing certified organic oils and the all-powerful vitamin E, I found it to be one of the most quickly hydrating moisturizers I have ever encountered. If you invest in one new product this year, you can’t go wrong with this one.

2. Pumpkin Enzyme Masque by Shamanuti ($32.00)
Skin that is congested and pavement-radiant inevitably looks dull and tired. Made with pumpkin and bilberry fruit extracts, this organic enzyme face masque offers up the same rejuvenating effects of alpha hydroxyl acids. Shamanuti’s products are specifically formulated with nutrients to nurture your skin, enhancing its natural beauty via vitamin-rich and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

3. Stimulastine Jour and Stimulastine Nuit by Yon-Ka Paris ($110.00 per bottle)
Okay, yes, these products come at prices that are not for the faint of heart. However, this day-and-night duo from long-time botanical giant Yon-Ka promises, among others, to “fight the deterioration of elastin, reduce the span and depth of wrinkles, and smooth skin.” A French company dating back to 1954, this would be the product your fashionable grandmother used to maintain her youthful glow. It is made with 94 percent natural ingredients, including shea butter, coconut oil and good old vitamin E.

4. Supreme Polypeptide Cream by MyChelle Dermaceuticals ($54.00)
This product promises you a world of rejuvenation—and claims to have the science to back it up. Formulated with an ingredient called Proteasly TP Pea Peptide, it promises to improve skin’s elasticity and increase overall firmness by 35 percent in just six weeks. Vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free, it offers up a more “refined” appearance for mature skin.

5. Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner ($9.95)
Sticker shock on the price of natural youth? Check out one of my all-time favorite products, this Whole Foods-available toner from Thayers. Spritz it on your face after every shower and you’ll tone, moisturize, and sooth your complexion, highlighting your natural beauty at any age.

photo credit: LatinaPower2009 via photopin cc

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Simple beauty tips for a balanced budget.

Green beauty has flourished in the past several years, bringing clean ingredients to the masses. And nothing ushers forth an ageless natural beauty like products free of harmful chemicals. But the price of clean beauty can sometimes be more than a green goddess wants to pay. The good news? You can still get age-defying, top-shelf products without composting the innards of your wallet.

Here are ten green beauty products that will brighten your age-less beauty on a budget.

Raw Sugar Scrub by Strawberry Hedgehog ($20.00)
For a youthful glow, toner and moisturizer are your best friends. But a good body scrub is your wise, cool auntie who can talk about the days of Woodstock yet still crack you up on Twitter. The key to skin renewal is to make dead skin the enemy, and this organic Raw Sugar Scrub from vegan experts Strawberry Hedgehog does just that. Made with organic sweet almond and apricot kernel oils, vegan sugar, and pure essential oils, this sweet but simple products offers up an excellent exfoliation.

Not to mention it’s in a mason jar.

Sensitive Care Lotion, Chamomile, by Seventh Generation ($7.99)
Dry, flaky skin is the bane of aging—seriously, it should be wearing a cape and twirling a moustache, it’s so evil. But even the most supple-skinned maiden knows to reach for a daily moisturizer to maintain her dewy hue. Green product giant Seventh Generation offers up this gentle, 95% plant-based product which provides deep moisture with a light application.

Bearberry Oily Skin Balancing & Toning Mist by John Masters Organics ($20.00)
Toner is like the available nice guy we’re supposed to live happily ever after with at the end of the romantic comedy. We ignore toner when, the entire time, the answer is right there in front of our face. One of the best ways to maintain and brighten your complexion, toners can restore your skin’s natural pH levels while protecting your skin against stress and pollutants. This offer from organic skin experts John Masters Organics provides a moisturizing coverage made up of certified organic ingredients.

Apple Brightening Cleanser by MyChelle Dermaceuticals ($13.39)
As we age, our skin can take on a dull tone which only works to add years to our complexion. This product from MyChelle Dermaceuticals promises to gently cleanse away the look of discoloration and sun damage, all the while offering up a fun, fruity scent. It is free of sulfates and gluten and is vegetarian-friendly.

Organic Coffee Bean Eye Cream by 100% Pure ($19.00)
Nothing ages you more than puffy, dark-rimmed eyes that look like they just dragged themselves through the sewer after a night of partying. (Or sitting up with a baby, without the sewer part.) This Coffee Bean Eye Cream from 100% Pure offers up anti-inflammatory, caffeine-rich green tea, great for reducing puffiness and increasing circulation. It is 100% natural, 100% vegan, and gluten-free.

Certified Organic Leave-In Conditioner by Intelligent Nutrients (Travel Size—$12.00)
Dry, brittle tresses do nothing for a youthful visage, so it’s important to keep locks feeling hydrated and healthy. From eco-beauty giant Horst Rechelbacher (founder of Aveda) comes this fantastic conditioner from Intelligent Nutrients. Certified USDA Organic, this conditioner offers the mysterious Intellimune ingredient, described as a “blend of nature’s powerhouse antioxidants.”  It is vegan and gluten-free.

Baking Soda and Lemon Teeth Whiteners (Less than $5)
Bright pearly whites are a key indication of youth, but who wants to use the harsh, chemical whiteners gracing our drug store shelves? Try lemon juice and baking soda as a simple, home remedy to freshen up your choppers. In a small bowl, mix together the juice of one freshly-squeezed organic lemon with a small amount of baking soda. After using a tissue to wipe excess salvia from your teeth, apply the mixture. Leave it on for one minute before brushing it off with your toothbrush. (Note: Do not exceed the one minute mark. You don’t want the lemon acid to damage your tooth enamel.)

Bronzer by Alima Pure ($20.00)
Sun-kissed skin is seen as the signal of health and youth in our culture. However, some bronzers can make you look more Snooki than siren. This bronzer from Alima Pure offers a light color in multiple shades to produce just the right hint of health. Alima Pure is a preservative-free line with a BDIH natural cosmetics certification, putting it on standard with European brands.

Fingerless Gloves by Coolibar ($19.00)
Did you spend your youth, like most of us, waving your hands in direct sunlight with nary a sun block smudge to be had? These fingerless gloves from Coolibar can help halt the march of time across your hands. With a UPF rating of 50+, they keep your hands sunshine-free and, while driving, offer up a nice grip on the steering wheel. Not to mention, they serve as a great visual reminder to keep the sun block flowing. (Here are our picks for green sun blocks.)

Correcting Concealer by Juice Beauty ($18.00)
Dark spots from sun damage are the enemy of the clear, even skin many of us covet. But mainstream lightening products can contain chemicals such as hydroquinone, which is so toxic that the FDA has proposed banning it. Instead, consider this correcting concealer from Juice Beauty, which offers up coverage with certified organic and natural ingredients.

Image: pedrosimoes7
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