We hope you have a bit of extra beauty cash on hand because Free People now carries natural beauty products.

Yeah, you read that right. Your favorite boho-inspired fashion brand is now selling some pretty impressive beauty brands. We’re particularly fond of the following Free People beauty products.

1. Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant, Lavender and Sage

While we are smitten with almost all of the beauty products Free People is selling, we’re especially excited the site has a section dedicated to vegan beauty products. The product I’m most excited about? Schmidt’s Lavender and Sage deodorant stick. I love, love, love this brand’s jar formula, and can only imagine how great the stick is, too. The deodorant keeps my lady pits dry all day, and also keeps me stink-free. This deodorant is made of all-natural products and is totally vegan. Priced at $10.

2. Dr. Alkaitis Organic Skin Care’s all-natural, Organic Flower Mask for rejuvenating skin

If you’ve noticed that your skin is looking a little dull, you may want to invest in this $60 face mask. The Organic Flower Mask is another all-natural beauty choice. It’s formulated for all skin types—but if you have sensitive skin, you may want to skip this purchase. This mask contains luscious ingredients, including Blue Mallow blossoms, Cornflowers, Roman Chamomile flowers, Marigold blossoms, Rose buds, Elder flowers and Oat buds.

3. Youth to the People’s Moisture Cream for age prevention

I’ve been reading a lot lately about natural skin care, and the one ingredient that everyone seems to think is worth it is hyaluronic acid. This natural moisture cream contains that magic ingredient, cold-pressed superfood extracts, other certified vegan ingredients, as well as kale, spinach, green tea, crosslinked hyaluronic acid, vitamins A-C-E-B5, alfalfa, and chamomile. This face cream is for everyone, but if you have acne, you may want to skip adding it to your cart. Priced at $48.

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Image of woman in bath via Shutterstock

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Cucumber, tomatoes and other produce and herbs from your summertime garden can nourish you both inside and out this summer with these natural beauty recipes.  

Not only is summer produce exceptionally beneficial to your diet, it’s also good for your beauty routine too. Using your summertime produce can move you away from your dependence on store-bought beauty products too, many of which contain really gross ingredients. And that’s not to mention that you can save some money by making your own natural beauty products from your extra produce!

I know you’ve all heard of using cucumber slices to reduce puffiness around your eyes, but there are plenty of uses for produce from your garden that you can incorporate into your beauty routine. Learn about these fruits, herbs, vegetables and even dandelions that serve double duty as food and as natural beauty products.

From facial masks and hand cream to hair rinses and lip scrubs, here are some easy homemade natural beauty recipes utilizing summertime garden plants for your beauty regime.

Natural Beauty Recipes and Uses from the Garden

1. 4 Natural Beauty Products Growing in Your Garden
2. Thyme and Witch Hazel Blemish Control
3. Cold Oil Calendula Infusion and Facial Toner
4. Dandelion Salve for Summer Stressed Skin
5. Parsley Rosemary Hair Tonic
6. Tomato Facial Scrub
7. Skin Brightening Tomato  and Honey Mask
8. Homemade Carrot Face Mask for Oily Skin
9. Apricot and Papaya Face Scrub for Softer Skin
10. Moisturizing Carrot Face Mask
11. Revitalizing Sweet Pumpkin Body Scrub
12. Nourishing Honey, Strawberry and Coconut Oil Hair Mask
13. Cooling Cucumber Skin Toner
14. Cucumber Sunburn Skin Soother
15. Berry Lip Stain
16. Moisturizing Garden Herb Bug Repelling Lotion Bars
17. Homemade Fennel Under-Eye Toner
18. Beet Lip and Cheek Stain
19. Cucumber Face Wash
20. Homemade Rose Water Toner
21. Stimulating Mint Hair Scalp Rinse

Related on EcoSalon

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Homemade Facial Mask image via Shutterstock

The post 21 Natural Beauty Recipes Straight From Your Summer Garden appeared first on EcoSalon.

Summer heat getting you down? It sounds like you’re in need of a refreshing facial mist. 

It’s so hot outside you feel like you’re melting… and your makeup literally has. What’s a girl to do? Maintain your summer glow by choosing a facial mist as your partner in crime: Not only will it instantly cool your face, it will help hydrate your skin and set your makeup for hours. Go from looking tired and “blah” to bright and dewy with just one spritz.

Here are our top facial mist picks so you can go back to enjoying your summer:

1. Organic Rosewater Facial Mist

Organic Rosewater Facial Mist is a hydrating spray that will leave your skin balanced and refreshed. It’s made of natural rose water, which helps maintain your pH balance while reducing fine lines, wrinkles and skin inflammation. It also helps soothe breakouts and sunburns.

2. Cucumber Mist Organic Facial Toner

This all-natural moisturizing facial mist is infused with pure cucumber hydrosol and organic aloe vera. Cucumbers are known for their soothing and anti-inflammatory effects on the skin – the Cucumber Mist Organic Facial Toner provides your skin with a refreshing pick-me-up while its pure scent will help soothe your mind.

3. Fresh Face Replenishing Spritz

The Fresh Face Replenishing Spritz by bodylish is made with a nourishing pure essential oil blend formulated to encourage new skin cell growth while hydrating and balancing your skin. After a long day, all it’ll take is one spritz to feel like a brand new you!

4. Miracle Mist Hydrate & Set

Miracle Mist Hydrate & Set by Pur Minerals contains more than 70 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids that moisturize, soothe and refresh your skin. Best of all, you can also use it to set your makeup to keep it looking vibrant all day long.

5. Arctic Face Mist

If your face is showing signs of neglect, Arctic Face Mist by Skyn Iceland will help relieve your skin and protect against future damage. It’s been formulated to balance irritated, tired skin while combatting free radicals and environmental stress – and not to brag, but it’s 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free.

6. Balancing Facial Tonic

Boscia’s Balancing Facial Tonic works hard to protect your skin from impurities while guarding against dehydration. It soothes, refreshes, and purifies. It works for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

7. Citrus Face Mister + Pillow Spray

This facial mist is a Jill of all trades: Not only does it balance and replenish your skin without ruining your makeup, you can also use it as an aromatherapy pillow spray. Michael Todd True Organics’ Citrus Face Mister + Pillow Spray is made with soothing organic aloe vera with no added water, alcohol, parabens, sulfates, artificial color or synthetic fragrance.

Check out and shop all of the face mists here: 

Is there a facial mist you can’t live without?

Related on EcoSalon:

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DIY Skincare Guide: 15 Essential Herbs for Natural Beauty

Image: Lisa Widerberg

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In the golden age of mass-produced everything, you’ll be happy to know the apothecary is making its return in the form of small-batch, local, handmade, natural beauty products.

It used to always be this way. Hand-poured soaps and perfumes, creams and lotions. But you don’t need me to explain how the Beauty Industry changed all that–how Walmart and Target shelves are now lined full of exceptionally cheap (even if they’re expensive) and often highly toxic products that we’re encouraged to slather onto our bodies and our hair.

We’re trained to spend less money more often on products that don’t really even work and may be doing more harm than good. But if we were to invest that same amount of money in small batch apothecary-style handmade natural beauty products often made in our very own community, how would that change our beauty regimen? Would our skin and hair look better?

Apothecary-inspired brands offer just that: high quality, small batch produced beauty care products that are sure to inspire you to feel more beautiful about your investment in looking more beautiful, naturally.

Meow Meow Tweet is a Brooklyn-based beauty care line embodying the apothecary style of production. “Besides the soap, lip balm and the deodorant, which we make weekly, if you order something from our website, we make it to order,” says co-founder, Tara Pelletier. Inspired by Tara’s restaurant experience with cooking whole foods, the brand wanted products that reflected that sensibility. “For us, apothecary is like a small-town pharmacy from the 19th century with a garden out back that the pharmacist harvests from to hand-make lozenges, salves and tinctures according to the needs of the people in the town. We see a direct correlation with modern day apothecaries and the slow food movement. People want to know where their skin care is coming from, who is making it and what’s in it. It’s like community-based skin care.”

I’ve been loving the MMT face and body oils. They just feel right on my skin. So simple and pure. (Sample sent courtesy of MMT but opinions are all my own.) And I’ve been using the deodorant which actually works. Like, all day. I cannot say that about most other “natural” deodorants available. “Deodorant is a tricky thing; one person’s body chemistry might love our deodorant and for another person, it may not be as effective,” explains Tara. And for customers who have special needs, Meow Meow Tweet will work with you: “We make bespoke recipes for folks based on their sensitivities. We recently met a customer with allergies who was desperate to try our deodorant but couldn’t use the shea butter and coconut oil. We made her a dusting powder that she loved. Perhaps, that’s the difference between us and one of the big guys, we’re small enough that we’re still able to go into the kitchen and cook you up something special.”

How adorable is the company name, too? In case you’re wondering (of course you are) it was inspired by their two cats and co-founder Jeff Kurosaki’s cockatiel (back in his home state of Hawaii).

Want to discover more apothecary style beauty care brands? Here are a few others we adore:

Golden Path Alchemy

King’s Road Apothecary

Moon Valley Organics

Zoe Organics

Are handmade beauty products being produced near you? What are your favorites?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Images courtesy of Meow Meow Tweet

The post The Handmade Natural Beauty Products Revival: Return of the Apothecary appeared first on EcoSalon.

I will admit, when it comes to natural beauty products, I often resort to celebrities for my knowledge fix. While they do have the reputation of promoting not-so-natural beauty techniques (ahem, cosmetic surgery), many stars are staunch advocates of going au naturel. Hence, the following list of finds for the latest and greatest natural beauty products.

1. David Babaii for WildAid

Kate Hudson led me to WildAid. The actress has teamed up with hairstylist David Babaii to create DAVID BABAII FOR WILDAID haircare products and styling tools. The products are free of sulfates, parabens, animal products and animal testing and include exotic ingredients, such as volcanic ash from the Vanuatu Islands in the South Pacific, mango extracts, rosemary leaves, blue algae, wild orchid, cupuacu butter and white ginger. A portion of sales from the products go to benefit the global wildlife conservation non-profit organization WildAid, which seeks to preserve wildlife by working with governments and local communities. The 10-piece set contains shampoos, conditioners, pomades, mousses, hairsprays, hair dryer and flat iron. Products are between $12 and $15, while the tools are about $120 each.

2. RestoreSea

Recently, it was announced that Gwyneth Paltrow would be the face for RestoreSea. The brand’s founder, Patti, creates anti-aging skincare with the use of Aquabeautine XL, a natural enzyme released by salmon into the water at birth that allows them to safely emerge from their eggshells. This enzyme helps to create products that only exfoliate dead skin cells, allowing living cells to thrive. RestoreSea boasts that it is environmentally friendly, because it collects and filters the Aquabeautine XL enzyme from the post-hatching waters of salmon, harming no fish in the process.

3. Éminence

I recently came across Éminence and soon realized I was late to the party. It seems like every celebrity and model has hit up these products at some point (at least according to the website), but for good reason. Éminence proudly derives its products from Hungary, where the company began more than 50 years ago. Like back in the day, Éminence still hand-picks and hand-mixes its ingredients in small batches and combines them with thermal hot spring waters to create potent healing and beautifying products. the company uses sustainable farming practices and creates organic products. It is active in reducing its carbon footprint, from harvest to production to packaging. The company is enlisting wind and solar power energy to make its products and additionally uses recyclable packaging, vegetable-based inks in printing, and FSC certified post-consumer recycled paper. For its Beyond Organic line, Éminence utilizes bio-dynamic farming practices.

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Photo Credit: Boudewijnd Berends

The post 3 Celeb-Endorsed Eco-Friendly Natural Beauty Products Worth the Hype appeared first on EcoSalon.

Want DIY face mask recipes, honest reviews of organic cosmetics, careful scrutiny of potentially toxic ingredients and spotlights on new brands? We’ve already told you about the 10 best green organic beauty blogs (including Eco Chick, Ecouterre and Fig + Sage), and now we’re adding ten more that may be flying under your radar. If you want natural beauty tips and all the inside info of the green-beauty-obsessed, check these 10 best natural beauty blogs out.

Indigo + Canary

Writer and editor Aleigh developed a passion for natural beauty after meeting the owners of online natural and organic beauty shop Beautorium.com. Since then, she’s been devoted to finding the best natural beauty products, DIY beauty recipes and tips for an all-around healthier lifestyle.

Organic Beauty Talk

“I’m passionate about you knowing what’s in your products, caring what goes on your skin, and connecting you with brands that have the best organic, natural and eco-friendly choices,” says Brandie Gilliam, Founder and Editor in Chief of Organic Beauty Talk. Get the facts on the safety of various ingredients, recommendations for trusted brands, and lists of editor favorites.

True Beauty by Nature

Audreiana’s True Beauty by Nature blog is a great source of reviews of all the best natural and organic beauty products, from Scotch Naturals nail polish and soy-based polish remover to a range of pigments from Ilia and RMS Beauty.

The Local Rose

Actress and activist Shiva Rose became dedicated to a healthier life and planet after being diagnosed with an auto-immune condition. Her blog, The Local Rose, is dedicated to celebrating a holistic, healthy, authentic lifestyle without sacrificing taste and glamour. Posts in the ‘Allure’ category include natural beauty tips, green beauty makeovers and looking at the process behind handmade artisan skin care products.

Living Pretty, Naturally

Lucky Mag contributor Kate focuses on combining non-toxic beauty finds and recipes with healthy, holistic living. “I’m a firm believer that true beauty on the outside comes from what is going on in the inside,” says Kate. “It is for this reason I’ll also blog about recipes that are packed with beauty-enhancing nutrients, yoga and other health and wellbeing tips.”

Dragonfly Beauty

Learn the story behind various brands, participate in giveaways and get the scoop on non-toxic products at Dragonfly Beauty, a blog run by natural beauty enthusiast Tiffany.

Pemberley Jones

If you’re looking for really thorough, honest reviews of natural beauty products, or want to discover new products from lines you’ve never heard of, check out Pemberley Jones. She maintains a beautifully designed blog packed with great info that’ll have you wishing you had a much bigger budget for buying beauty products.

Chic & Green

Green blogger, esthetician and makeup artist Karley Ziegler Mott uses her expertise to examine the ingredients used in cosmetics, and whether or not they live up to the hype. She also offers DIY recipes for makeup, skin care, body care, hair care and health.

Green Beauty Team

International makeup artist Kristin Arnett leads a panel of natural beauty and health experts providing advice, a glossary of toxic ingredients, product features and personal consultations for finding just the right non-toxic cosmetics and personal care products for you. Learn how to organize your makeup like a pro, choose cruelty-free brushes and make a homemade antioxidant berry booster for your skin.

The Clean Beauty Blog

Make your own face mask with Manuka honey and Indian healing clay, learn more about controversial ingredients and get info about what to eat to get clearer skin at The Clean Beauty Blog.

All images courtesy their blogs.

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The post 10 Best Natural Beauty Blogs appeared first on EcoSalon.

What can’t you find on Etsy these days? The online marketplace of handmade goods offers everything from the perfect 1940s fashion finds for a Katherine Hepburn look to planters made out of reclaimed shoes, and it’s a great source of lovingly crafted organic beauty products, too. Artisans around the world mix up tinted lip balm, facial oils, perfumes, bath salts and other personal care items using vegan, organic and environmentally friendly ingredients. Here are seven notable natural beauty shops on Etsy.

Naked Eye Beauty

Totally vegan, handcrafted in small batches and made with eco-friendly and organically sourced ingredients, Naked Eye Beauty’s beautiful selection of personal care products includes bath soaks, lip balm, facial cleansers, mineral makeup and more. Try three of Naked Eye’s most popular products with the ‘Best of NEB Bundle,’ which includes hair powder in your choice of color, rose tinted lip balm and herbal deodorant cream.

Herbivore Botanicals

Herbivore Botanicals offers a range of 100% natural, vegan bath and beauty products hand-crafted in small batches using no artificial colors or fragrances, animal products, parabens, SLS or chemical preservatives. Bamboo charcoal soap, rose lip balm, pink clay floral face mask, sea salt hair spray and coconut milk bath soak are among the goodies you can get from this Seattle-based business.

Crush Cosmetics

With a wide range of rich and dramatic colors, Crush Cosmetics is a great source of mineral makeup on Etsy. Their products are free of parabens, silicones, fragrances and phthalates, with no nano or micronized ingredients. Many items are vegan-friendly.

Phoenix Botanicals

Phoenix Botanicals is a Brooklyn-based shop selling wildcrafted herbal balms and remedies as well as botanical perfumes. ‘Faerie Balm’ is a natural liden-infused moisturizing salve for the lips, face and other sensitive areas, while Sweet Birch Balm offers cooling anti-itch properties.

Borne Cosmetics

Borne Cosmetics creates organic mineral makeup formulated with antioxidants, jojoba oil, kaolin clay and crushed pearl. For a limited time, you can get sample baggies of mineral silk foundation (about two months’ worth) for just $4.99, making it easy to try out a few things. Other products include blush, eyeshadow, facial cleanser and anti-aging face cream.

The Pure Apothecary

Simple, natural and local: The Pure Apothecary’s organic beauty products are made with the environment and health in mind. Try the organic pumpkin flavor lip balm, which is only available seasonally, or the invigorating Peppermint Eucalyptus essential oil body lotion.

French Girl Organics

Inspired by the effortless, chic beauty of French girls, French Girl Organics is a handmade collection of organic, vegan bath and beauty products made with no animal testing. Facial care, lip tint and solid perfumes are infused with ingredients like activated charcoal, neroli, wildcrafted rose hip seed and organic white tea extract.

Images courtesy the brands

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The post Indy Organic Beauty Products: 7 Etsy Shops for Natural Makeup & Body Care appeared first on EcoSalon.

“Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.” – Marilyn Monroe

In 2013, we’re a lot more aware of where diamonds come from, and the dumb blonde act isn’t so cute anymore—but we still can’t resist the charms of Marilyn Monroe. In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, one of her most iconic roles, Marilyn played Lorelei Lee, a woman with a passion for diamonds who saw bagging a rich guy as the only way a woman could succeed in the ’50s. Aside from Marilyn’s breathy sex appeal and comic chops, what we remember most about this film is her glamour: that perfect platinum coif, her flawless red lips and the figure-hugging costumes that are still mimicked all these years later. Here’s how to copy  Marilyn Monroe’s vintage glam look with natural beauty products.

Marilyn Monroe Makeup: Red Lips and Illuminated Skin

Winged eyeliner, perfectly arched brows, scarlet lips and radiant skin came together into one trademark look that defines Hollywood glamour to this day. Marilyn always looked like she was glowing from within, yet there was never a flaw visible: no red spots, no undereye circles, no blemishes. Most of us aren’t starting with a perfect canvas, but we can fake it. Apply a light moisturizer to eliminate any dry spots and ensure an even application of foundation, and then cover any imperfections with a concealer like Josie Maran’s Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon or Jane Iredale’s Circle/Delete concealer, making sure to blend well.

Using a foundation brush (Eco Tools and Tarte offer cruelty-free options), apply a layer of light foundation. Then, use a highlighter stick along the tops of your cheekbones, down the center of your nose, and just below the arch of your eyebrows. Some quality organic options include W3LL People’s Universalist 2 Color Stick and Ilia Beauty’s Illuminator.

Winged eyeliner can be a little tricky if you’re not used to doing it, so follow along with a YouTube tutorial or two to practice. A swipe of red lipstick finishes off the look – check out our red-lip recommendations and tips.

Iconic Blond Curls: Recreating Marilyn’s Hair

Not everyone can achieve or pull off Marilyn’s pale platinum, but you can get the general effect with some rollers and volumizing products. You can try the pin curl method, which is what Marilyn did herself, as illustrated at Va-Voom Vintage Blog, or use the quicker modern method offered by XO Jane. To boost volume at the roots, try Intelligent Nutrients Organic Volumizing Spray, or Aveda’s Volumizing Tonic.

Forget Diamonds: The Finishing Touches

While there are plenty of ethical alternatives to blood diamonds, you don’t need anything that expensive to get Marilyn’s sparkly look. Raid thrift stores, vintage boutiques, Etsy and eBay for pre-loved costume jewelry – the hunt is part of the fun! The same goes for opera-length gloves.

Marilyn’s costumes in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes were so racy for the times, one particular deep-plunging gold dress didn’t make it past the censors. They were all designed to cling to her body in all the right places, showing off her curves. Look for vintage or vintage-style dresses with halter-style tops, nipped waists and flowing skirts that skim the hips.

Related on Ecosalon:

Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday: Get this Hollywood Look with Natural Products

Shackled: The Myth of Marilyn Monroe

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Quick! You have 20 seconds to decide which natural beauty products you can’t live without. What would they be?

You’re sailing on the South Pacific, sunning yourself on deck while Charlie Hunnam/Kerry Washington/similarly beautiful person periodically spritzes your face with purified water. Suddenly, Melville ahoy! A whale mistakes your cruiser for a play toy and you’re being flipped around deck like wind chimes in a tornado.

Charlie, regretting nothing, sacrifices himself for your safety, but not before tossing your beloved makeup bag into your arms. Just as the ship is smashed to pieces, you grasp the bag to your chest and swim to a nearby desert island. 

Collapsing onto the white sands, you open the bag and contemplate your incredible foresight in packing your essential beauty products. You’re so thrilled with yourself that you completely miss Charlie staggering to shore in a bare-chested glory.

Charlie Hunnam is psyched about your beauty products.

But back to the bag! What would you pack if you could only take a few natural beauty products with you from here to eternity? Still thinking? Here are seven products we suggest for the cut.

1. Hair Ties from Di Hair Tie ($8.99)

Your hair may be straight, curly, kinky, thick, or fine. But if it is longer than two inches, it is going to need wrangling. My fine, straight hair starts looking like something a cat slept in if I go longer than a few days without washing. The only thing to wrestle it into place? A hair elastic.

I’m a fan of the Scunci Soft No Damage Elastics, which can usually be found dangling around my wrist at all hours. Want an eco-friendly version? Check out these hair ties (pictured above) from Di Hair Tie, which are made with plant-based dyes.

2. Thayer’s Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel ($9.95)

This product from Thayer has longed reigned at the top of my beauty regime. Besides sun block, it’s usually the only product I use on my face in the summer months. It moisturizes without leaving my face feeling greasier than it needs to feel in the heat and humidity. Throw some into a small spritzing bottle and mist your face after each shower. Your skin tone will thank you, usually by glowing.

3. EO Organics Deodorant ($5.99)

Made with certified organic ingredients, this product is free of aluminum salts, zinc, and propylene glycol, all questionable ingredients found in common deodorants. I’ve used it for five years now and would probably be my first line of defense in a zombie apocalypse—both for the odor emanating from myself and the undead.

4. Aubrey Organics Lip Balm ($2.95)

Have you ever checked out the beauty section at Whole Foods? It’s like the natural industry decided that lip balms must be as prolific as rabbits and just as diverse. The offering from Aubrey Organics is consistently as top balm. Available in an assortment of flavors, it is USDA organic. And more to the point, it works like a charm, leaving your lips moisturized and soothed.

5. Mineral Fusion Brush On Sun Defense ($24.99)

I have to wear sun block. (And here’s what I always wear.) Hats are key to existence. (Check out this ethical one from Pachacuti.)

But despite sun block and hats, I still can’t step outside for more than a few minutes without any exposed skin starting to burn. I’m not alone; regardless of skin hue, sun protection is key in our ozone-depleted world.

This is why the Mineral Fusion Brush On Sun Defense permanently lives in my bag. Usually an hour or two into my day, I’ll sweep it across my face for added protection. And the best part? It’s in powder form, so it helps with sweat and oil. Free of parabens, SLS, phthalates, artificial colors and synthetic fragrances, it is also gluten-free.

6. Skinny Skinny Rose and Black Pepper Dry Shampoo ($32.00)

Many of us don’t like to wash our hair daily. Between the excessive water use and the dubious products out there, it’s enough to make you want to shave your head and invest in the best hat collection this side of Kensington Palace. (Your move, Kate Middleton.)

This is why dry shampoo is a great alternative to daily washings—it picks up the dirt and oils in your hair, leaving you to wash another day. This vegan product from Skinny Skinny is simply made with certified organic ingredients like brown rice powder, white clay, and rose and black pepper essential oils.

7. Strawberry Hedgehog Whipped Body Crème ($22.00)

Be it the height of a humid summer or the depths of a frigid winter, moisturizer is a skin’s best friend. This vegan organic whipped body crème offers up some of the purest hydration your body can ask for. Made with ingredients like organic aloe vera juice and organic fair trade unrefined shea butter infused with herbs, it’s like buttering your skin.

Best of all, it goes on lightly without leaving a greasy residue. Which will come in handy when you’re rolling in the sand on your desert island, tearfully thanking Charlie for saving your life—and your natural beauty products.

Lest we forget.

photo credit: Andrew Bartram (WarboysSnapper) via photopin cc

Charlie Hunnam photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

For Further Reading:

Toner: Why Do We Use It?

EcoSalon Approved Beauty Guide: Bath and Body

The post 7 Natural Beauty Products To Take to a Desert Island: From Dry Shampoo to Balms and Creams appeared first on EcoSalon.

Labeling in the natural beauty world is a lawless society.

The world of safe cosmetics is like a modern wild west, filled with outlawed ingredients, determined settlers, and wild, crazed shoot-outs. (See: the comment sections of any controversial beauty item.) And the new sheriff in town who is going to make everything right in the land? Cue dramatic music: there is no sheriff.

Call a product natural, and you’ll soon find evidence it’s not. Find something proclaiming itself organic, and maybe only 10 percent of the ingredients actually are organic. A product says it’s chemical-free? Then why are chemicals listed on the label?

It’s enough to make you want to hang up your sunbonnet (best chemical-free sun protection ever) and hide behind the skirts of your favorite schoolmarm.

Why the confusion? There are few to virtually no regulations on the ingredients we put in beauty products. In 2011, the Safe Cosmetics Bill was introduced to update the existing law on beauty regulation, which has not been revised since 1938. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill, introduced the bill, noting “manufacturers are not required to disclose all their ingredients on labels, and the FDA has no power to supervise the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.”

So until this bill is passed, it’s up to us, the consumer, to figure out what to buy. It’s up to us to determine our own comfort level with ingredients. And foremost, it’s our decision on how natural we want to go with our products—since often times, products which proclaim themselves natural really aren’t.

Mia Davis, Vice President of Health and Safety for Beautycounter

I asked nationally-renown safe beauty expert Mia Davis to weigh in. Davis is the former Co-Director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and current Vice President of Health and Safety for Beautycounter, a new beauty and skincare line. Recently, she shared her thoughts on natural beauty, safe cosmetics, and aging gracefully in a natural world.

Katherine Butler: Natural, organic, eco-friendly, green, and safe are all labels manufacturers use to sell their products. They all imply a level of cleanliness. What does it really mean for a product to say it is clean?

Mia Davis: A lot of time people are confused about that. They think “natural” and “organic” equals “clean” and “safe.” Many times, that’s the case. But to me, “clean” means safe—as in it’s not loaded with carcinogenic ingredients or petrochemicals that are harmful. Also, “natural” and “safe” are not mutually exclusive. I mean, poison ivy is organic and natural, as is lead.

KB: Good point. A lot of the unsafe ingredients are sometimes the ones that help a product perform. Do you have to sacrifice performance for clean ingredients?

MD: As a company, I think you have to work really hard to make sure that you are asking all the right questions to ensure that [your ingredients] are clean and safe—and performing. There’s another layer of complexity in formulating these products. As a consumer, you just really have to do your research and determine your own comfort level.

KB: Can’t we just trust that companies are telling the truth about their labeling?

MD: It’s really unfortunate how many companies are not fully disclosing their ingredients. When I was co-running the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, I heard from a lot of companies reporting on others that simply weren’t telling the truth, like “so and so are using hidden preservatives.” I wasn’t the cosmetics police, so there wasn’t much I could do. But as a consumer, I was horrified.

Now that I’m actually formulating products with a team of chemists for Beautycounter, I am shocked to learn how many chemicals have no safety data. I won’t name names, but there are several companies out there who are really marketing themselves on natural and organic products, and I would be willing to bet the farm that they are sourcing raw ingredients that are preloaded with petrochemical ingredients. Some aren’t harmful from a safety perspective. But from the consumer right-to-know perspective, it does worry me. They are marketing on something that isn’t true.

KB: What’s your take on more chemical-laden products like hair color and nail polish? Can you love doing your nails and still be committed to using natural products?

MD: I think it’s a spectrum. Hair color and nail polish are two of the products that tend to be the most chemically-laden and often hard to find a “natural” version. I prefer to say “less toxic” than chemical-free.

I think you just have to choose your battles and do what makes you feel good. I always push companies to make their products as least toxic as possible. I screen chemicals for safety, be they natural or synthetic. I want to be sure the ingredients in the products I use and promote are all okay for humans.

KB: So can you really fight fine lines, sunspots, without Botox or retinol?

MD: Well, you can prevent and minimize the look of fine lines—not permanently, but with makeup. That’s a version of fighting.

Can you fight these things with Botox or retinol? Yes, and people need to make their own decisions. But if you’re using something that is by definition toxic to fight an aesthetic result that you don’t like, you have to think about the long haul. Are you going to look better in the end by using a toxic chemical? We don’t know. You just have to do what you’re comfortable doing.

Plus, there are plant-based ways to help age gracefully. Vitamins E and C are really good for you. Seed oils are very nourishing and are great for prevention.

If you’re much older and have wrinkled skin, you probably won’t see a reversal. But that’s okay; shouldn’t we be more focused on aging gracefully?

KB: Hear hear! So how should the consumer keep herself informed in the lawless world of natural beauty?

MD: In the end, remember that “natural” could mean anything or nothing. Most people assume that the FDA or some other agency is backing up these claims, but none are.

In the food industry, companies get in trouble for calling something organic if it isn’t. This is not the case in beauty. So go out there and vote with your dollars. And ultimately, know we have to pass legislation so we don’t have to be so vigilant about labels. This industry hasn’t been regulated since 1938—it is high time we’ve do something, so we don’t have to have these conversations.

What can you do to determine your level of natural beauty? Check out this article on seven important beauty ingredients to avoid. Go to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to learn more. And be sure to consult the Environmental Working Group’s database for individual ingredients and product safety, Skin Deep.

Image: Mr.nomind via photopin cc

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