Those of us in the nontoxic beauty camp rarely bother to look at mainstream beauty brands. We know what we will find, and what we won’t find, once we are in those toxic-heavy aisles. Then a brand like Procter & Gamble goes and sets a new standard on something as huge as ingredient disclosure — and now there’s new reason for a second glance.

The personal care and cleaning product giant, creators of lines like Olay and Pantene, may not be the first brand you run to when shopping for natural beauty products. That doesn’t mean they aren’t part of a larger effort to improve the shopping experience.

Procter & Gamble recently announced its move to disclose fragrance ingredients on all of its products and lines sold in the U.S. and Canada by 2019. P&G is the largest brand of its type to move to this level of detailed ingredient transparency.

Synthetic fragrances are some of the most hazardous ingredients used in beauty products, linked to allergic reaction, skin irritation, headache, hormonal disruption, and impaired fetal development. While all cosmetic products are required under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FP&L Act) to carry a full ingredient listing, fragrance ingredients are protected by a trade secret loophole.

The FP&L Act states that no trade secrets are required to be divulged, and this includes signature scent blends. Basically, a brand can use the terms “perfume” or “fragrance” on a product label to cover all of the fragrance ingredients used in order to protect its secret recipe. Understandable in a capitalist economy. Even some natural brands utilize this loophole but will usually note if those ingredients come from natural sources.

The double whammy of synthetic fragrance ingredients carrying significant health risks and the ability to hide under a trade secret clause is double troubling. This new move to transparency by P&G will prompt other brands to come clean on what they are using as fragrance ingredients and let consumers decide if they want to use the product or not.

“This is a major victory for consumers. It will inevitably push the market towards greater transparency because companies can no longer hide behind the long-used excuse that fragrance disclosure is impossible,” Nneka Leiba, Director of Healthy Living Science at Environmental Working Group (EWG) said in a statement.

And consumer demand is what pushed this move in the first place. “It is clear Procter & Gamble is listening to its customers and consumers overall, who have called for more transparency of ingredients in household products,” added Ken Cook, President of EWG.

Consumers want to know what is in the products they purchase. From the foods they eat, to the items they use to clean their homes, to the products they put on their skin and use on their children. The only true way to judge the safety of a product is by reading the ingredient listing — which makes full disclosure hugely important.

Fragrance ingredients are notoriously hard to identify but there are many ways to disguise less-than-healthy ingredients on a product label. Most ingredients go by many different names, sometimes brands will list ingredients in all caps or otherwise make them difficult to read, or make the ingredient listings themselves difficult to find. No clear and easily accessible ingredient listing is cause for concern.

Now for the big question … does the new transparency initiative mean P&G products will be nontoxic or made without synthetic fragrance? No. Not yet, anyway.

But doing away with the trade secret loophole that many brands use to protect their fragrance blends (and hide nasty ingredients) is an improvement.

If you are curious as to which ingredients make the cut, check this list of fragrance ingredients currently used by P&G, as well as the ones they do not use.

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The last thing you want to do in summer is layer up. Stick to these natural tinted moisturizers to stay flawless and keep your skin protected from the sun all in one hit.

Finding the perfect piece of kit to meet your coverage needs in the natural makeup world can be a challenge, but when pairing it with an SPF it makes matters even more complicated.

Different formulas don’t always gel well together when applied on the skin, and in the summer, piling on multiple creams can get a little sticky. What you want is to feel and look fresh faced while still ticking all the necessary boxes. Meet the natural tinted moisturizers doing just that; with mineral sunscreens like titanium dioxide and zinc, these gems provide broad spectrum UV protection, all the while giving your complexion that extra boost.

5 Ways To Get Sheer Coverage and SPF All-In-One

1. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream

A little different from your typical tinted moisturizer, this color-correcting cream has what at first appears to be a thick texture, but applies beautifully, feeling lightweight and providing just a hint of coverage. The dewy finish dishes out the glow factor promised in the names of the five shades (Natural Glow to Deep Glow) whilst acting as a great primer for any more makeup to follow. Alongside the SPF 30 protection, certified organic juices like apple and aloe, plus skincare superstar hyaluronic acid, help to keep skin hydrated all day long.

2. Ilia Beauty Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer

Although tinted moisturizers don’t need to be the perfect color match when compared to foundations, it’s certainly a bonus to have a few shades to choose from like the six that Ilia has created. With a lotion-like consistency, a little goes a long way, but it also makes it slightly buildable to go from barely-there to light coverage. The final finish is a velvety, semi-matte look; perfect for avoiding any unwanted shine on hot summer days! Touting a rating of SPF 20, it should provide enough sun protection for most skin types with the exception of very fair complexions.

3. De Mamiel Exhale Daily Moisturizing Nectar

The sun isn’t the only thing your skin could use protection from! This luxurious tinted moisturizer acts as a daily shield against the elements, not only from UV rays (with SPF 30) but including harsh air pollution, too. Antioxidant-rich oils such as red raspberry seed and rosehip work their magic against free radicals that are an inevitable part of city life, as well as sun exposure, helping keep skin healthy on all levels. The only downside to this botanical beauty is the availability in one shade only, limiting who this can work for.

4. W3ll People Bio Tint Multi-Action Moisturizer

As the newest natural tinted moisturizer on the block, this formula offers up a few perks when compared to other options. The finish hits a nice middle ground that is neither dewy or matte, but rather luminous, which is pretty ideal for an effortless no-makeup look. The airless pump and squeezy tube are other benefits not to miss, as they make this summer essential ideal for slipping into your makeup bag minus ay leakage anxiety! Just choose from the four available shades (all SPF 30) and you’re set.

5. Josh Rosebrook Tinted Nutrient Day Cream SPF 30

Using specifically non-nano zinc oxide, this tinted moisturizer is about as natural and safe as they come. It doesn’t take the job of moisturizing lightly, as this glorious cream comes packed with the likes of certified organic aloe, shea butter, and hemp seed oil (just to name a few). However, all the skin loving oils don’t stop this cream from being ultra lightweight and sinking in fast upon application, leaving only a fresh looking glow behind. Once again, the only downside is that it’s currently only available in one shade.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Ready to embody summer head to toe? Tick off all the senses with a natural floral perfume that differs from the norm. 

There are many things to love about this time of year, but one of the subtle differences is the smell of flowers everywhere. Even in the city, gardens and parks release the scent of summer all around. Wishing you could walk wafting around that perfect summer fragrance yourself?

There are, of course, plenty of floral perfumes out there, but finding one that is contemporary, and both light and fresh as the real thing, can be a challenge. There’s always one flower that steals the show too; we can’t argue with rose’s reputation as the queen of scented flowers, but with so many other gorgeous florals to douse yourself in, it’s time to try something different.

5 Natural Floral Perfumes That Skip Rose, But Smell Just As Sweet

1. Vered Botanicals Blue Violet Perfume

Despite the namesake, this is no one-note wonder. Old-fashioned violet has been updated by pairing it up with mouth-watering jasmine and exotic citrus, yuzu, to create a clean but delicious floral delight. Don’t be surprised if you find the scent tantalizingly coming and going throughout the day, as violets contain a compound that can momentarily switch off your sense of smell!

2. Call Of The Vialed Dream Parfum Pur

This is not your traditional floral. Dream forgoes the usual sweet and heady choices, and instead puts greener smelling flowers of chamomile and yarrow, plus herby lavender, at the center stage. If walking through a meadow on a warm summer’s day is what you want to capture, this is the fragrance to turn to. For a perfume oil, this also lasts an impressive amount of time, while softening and warming the longer it sits on the skin.

3. Strange Invisible Perfumes Epic Gardenia

Know for its exotic, intoxicating fragrance, the perfume world is full of attempts to create the perfect Gardenia scent, which is a challenge as the flower has yet to be successfully made into an essential oil. It is no wonder then, that this illusive scent evokes opulence and glamor. Strange Invisible perfumer, Alexandra Balahoutis, has created her take with layers of headiness, warmth, and wetness to bring the experience of this famous scent straight to your pulse points.

4. Lurk NSTV7 Perfume Oil

No natural floral perfume list could be complete without a nod to the wonderful tuberose. There is nothing airy about this flower, as much like the aforementioned gardenia, its presence is exotic and provocative. Because of that, it can easily be overpowering, but Lurk has interwoven this flower with lotus and citrus notes, lifting it to make it a wonderful summer scent.

5. Leahlani Pua Lei Perfume Oil

Sometimes you want less garden variety florals and more tropical paradise! Hawaiian darlings Leahlani have the answer with Pua Lei, a beautifully sweet mixture of island flowers, including puakenikeni, which is indigenous to Polynesia. Sniff a little harder and you might even smell the ocean.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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The recently introduced Humane Cosmetics Act aims to ban animal testing in the U.S. on personal care and cosmetic products.

Testing on animals has been a common practice in the U.S. for decades, employed by major household brands on products that often contain harsh synthetic chemicals (that even if prove “safe” can still pose long term human health risks such as allergic reactions, endocrine disruption, metabolic disorders, and even cancer).

Testing is routinely conducted on animals including rabbits, mice and guinea pigs, but, says Victoria Katrinak, Program Manager, Animal Research Issues, for the Humane Society of the United States, “there is no way to ascertain the number of companies that continue to use animals in safety assessments and the FDA does not regulate the terms ‘cruelty-free’ or ‘not tested on animals’ so companies are able to use these terms for their brand even if their ingredients continue to be tested on animals.”

Katrinak says many companies continue their animal testing procedures “simply because that is the way it has always been done.” Mandatory animal testing on personal care products is required by China, which influences brands outside of the country that export to the booming Asian nation.

Despite its prevalence, the practice of testing on animals continues to lose credibility, says Katrinak.

“Animal tests have scientific limitations because different species can respond differently when exposed to the same chemicals. Consequently, results from animal tests may not be relevant to humans, under- or over-estimating real-world hazards to people,” Katrinak explains. “In addition, results from animal tests can be quite variable and difficult to interpret. Unreliable and ineffective animal tests mean consumer safety cannot be guaranteed. In contrast, non-animal alternatives can combine human cell-based tests and sophisticated computer models to deliver human-relevant results in hours or days, unlike some animal tests that can take months or years.”

With millennials pushing brands to offer more natural products and transparent business practices, there’s been a sea change in the personal care industry, with small-batch producers on the rise, slowly taking market share away from the major household brands.

“Over the last 20 years, cosmetic companies have significantly reduced their use of animals for testing in favor of alternatives, which are more relevant to public health and cost-effective,”  says Katrinak. “Thousands of existing ingredients have already been proven safe for use from which cosmetic companies can create new products without the need for animal testing.”

For new ingredients, Katrinak explains that animal tests are increasingly “being replaced with quicker, cheaper, and more reliable non-animal methods. For example, three dimensional skin models are made from donated human skin (after surgery) and better predict skin irritation in humans than the cruel rabbit test they replace. Proven non-animal methods are also available for eye irritation, skin allergy, and other safety tests.”

The Humane Cosmetics Act was introduced to Congress earlier this week, with support from numerous representatives, including Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.),  Frank LoBiondo (D-N.J.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

If passed, the ban on animal testing would go into effect within one year, and the prohibition on sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics would take effect three years after enactment.

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Things are looking lighter for summer, and we’re not just talking about longer days. Pastel lipstick is the way to go this season for an edgy but fresh look.

Fashion’s obsession with all things pastel doesn’t look like it’s going to die down anytime soon, and now beauty mavens are hoping on board, too. After all, you need to match your lipstick to your outfit, right?

Swap out the usual bright lips for spring, and give this softer but equally as bold look a whirl this summer with these naturally gorgeous lippies.

6 Ways To Achieve The Perfect Pastel Pout

1. Ilia Beauty Lipstick – Pink Kashmir

If fun came in a lipstick, this would be it. A pink that’s cooler than cool and has a bit of pop, it’s on the brighter side of the pastel spectrum, so great for those who aren’t afraid to sport a barbie worthy lip.

2. Rituel De Fille Forbidden Lipstick – Hex

If you’re looking for a lip color with a difference, Rituel De Fille are always there to provide. In amongst the array of vampy, bold, and pigmented, shades available is this cool lilac which verges on gray. If the warm juicy colors which typically populate summer aren’t your jam, then Hex will still give you the statement you crave without going bright or dark.

3. Axiology Beauty Lipstick – Philosophy

Spring, summer, winter, whenever! This is the perfect lippy for an all year round pastel fix. Although, let’s not pretend it doesn’t look great with a tan. Perhaps the most subtle and natural-looking pastel on the list, the peachy pink tones will suit most complexions and looks just as good with a smokey eye as it does with a bare, fresh summer face.

4. Kjaer Weis Lip Tint – Amazed

Soft and pretty, if you’ve ever wanted to try a purple lip but felt intimidated by the thought, start here. This light pinky lilac is easy to wear, and the buttery balm texture means you don’t have to make the full commitment of an opaque lipstick. But, don’t be fooled by the name tint. The pigment payoff is still enough to build it up from stain to full pastel.

5. Lily Lolo Lipstick – Demure

Most pastel lipsticks out there fall under pink and purple, but Demure means you can rock this trend with a sixties inspired peachy nude. Unlike most light nudes, this won’t give you that dull foundation-lips look. The effect is warm and effortless, with a creamy finish.

6. Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick – Souffle

Don’t want to settle for anything less than a truly untouchable pastel? Meet your match. Opaque and matte, but still creamy in Bite Beauty style, Souffle is what pastel-obsessed Instagrammers dream about. If you have naturally pigmented lips it can be difficult to wear light lipstick shades without serious prep, but not here. Just apply straight from the bullet and your pout will be perfectly pastelicious.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Do you ever wonder how your lotions and potions are made, or who made them? We delve into the natural beauty staple, flower water, to get a glimpse into the world of distillation. 

Flower waters come in various forms, and while a floral scented water appears simple, the process to create them is not. Long and highly precise, it takes a delicate touch, plenty of experience, and a patient mind to craft floral waters by hand (the best way, of course), and Amanda Saurin, founder of A.S Apothecary, certainly possesses all those qualities.

A master of her craft, Amanda knows flowers and herbs inside-out when it comes to their therapeutic properties, and exactly how to extract them. We chatted to her to find out more about life at her very own distillery in the beautiful English countryside, and how the finest floral waters are forged all the way from the ground to the bottle.

EcoSalon: Most of us have heard of flower waters, but can you explain exactly what they are?
Amanda Saurin: Flower waters are quite magical – they are the gentler relative of essential oil. In artisanal production, when a plant is distilled, it either sits in or above the water in the retort (the big copper pot). As the water heats, the oil glands break open releasing the essential oil into the water. The oil and water soluble elements of the plant become steam in the heat of the Alembic (distilling apparatus) rising through the onion top, along the swan neck and finally into the condenser. The condenser is cold and so as the steam meets the cold coils it turns back into a liquid. The liquid exits the condenser into a separator. This liquid is a mix of both flower water and essential oil. Generally, essential oil is lighter than the flower water so it slowly comes to rest on top. The flower water contains some of the essential oil that have remained in solution and other aromatics from the plant itself.

ES: How have they been traditionally used in health and beauty?
AS: Flower waters have been used in health and beauty for as long as there have been Alembics. They are intensely therapeutic. Of a few of the plants I distil I use Clary Sage to speed along births and to aid concentration, Orange Blossom as a mood lifting slightly astringent spritz, Lavender to calm and relax as well as for its antiseptic properties, Rose to cool the skin and heal the spirit and Pink Pepper to refresh and brighten the skin and as an amazing flavor enhancer in gin. We probably sell most Geranium for its phenomenal effects on skin prone to hormonal change. It is such a precious plant. Flower Waters are incredibly versatile. Scent is utterly evocative, a spritz of a familiar plant can transport you back to a time or place, it is powerful indeed.

ES: At your distillery, what is the process to create a floral water from the plant right to the end?
AS: We are unique in that we go to the plants rather expecting them to come to us. We grow 200+ Roses and Lavender, Clary Sage, Chamomile, Calendula and many other plants. We travel to Cyprus to pick and distill Orange Blossom, Pink Pepper and Geranium. At the farm, we grow organically, tend, pick and distill our plants at exactly the right moment. They are fresh, they haven’t had to travel for miles and they are all picked by hand. This gives us the very best quality flower water. For the plants in Cyprus we keep a large Alembic a few minutes from where we pick.

Our distillations are very slow and careful, we distill for flower waters and essential oils separately so that we can keep the essential oils in suspension in the flower water – the therapeutics are so much greater that way. This is never done commercially because it is time-consuming and the most commercially valuable part of a plant is the essential oil. We like to think about it differently – in therapeutics rather than profit.

At the end of a distillation, we give the remaining water in the Alembic to a friend to use as a dye and the spent plant matter is composted and used to feed the new plants. Nothing is wasted.

ES: What led you to set up your own distillery and create AS Apothecary?
AS: I set up my own distillery because I come from a therapeutic background and I wanted my patients to have access to the best quality products. I didn’t seek out distilling in the first place, I was living in Cyprus and met a wonderful woman, Mariam Khan, who introduced me to this amazing art. I was immediately hooked, making my own aromatics was such a brilliant contrast to smelling adulterated or poor quality essential oils and flower waters. Also with 30 years of working with plants, I really felt that I understood how to get the best out of every plant I used.

A.S APOTHECARY is an extension of my work as a Homeopath and Herbalist, it has allowed me to offer products into the beauty industry that are uncompromising, absolutely beautiful, made by hand and with as much care as a therapeutic preparation for a patient. The beauty industry is built on making women feel dissatisfied with themselves, on producing ever more products, but most of all it is driven by huge profits. This means that most companies look for a palatable part of their process creating a whole story around it but failing to reveal most of the process. We wanted to offer something different, products that work well, are gentle and effective. We also wanted our methods and ingredient production to be transparent. Having the distillery means that we can invite customers into our world, they can chat with us, volunteer to pick or plant and really understand what we are doing.

ES: How does the art of distilling, and using the final product, tie into mindfulness?
AS: The way I distill is to listen. I’m often asked about the temperature of the water, length of distillation, temperature of the condenser and so many other questions. In the end, it comes down to listening and understanding the needs of each plant. I load the Still grateful for the harvest and then slowly seal the joints before lighting the burner. Loading the Still is wonderful – there is total joy in putting handful after handful of flowers into the water and becoming immersed in the scent and process. Once the Still is lit I listen to the sound, I know exactly the sound of the plants moving in the water that will yield the best flower water and essential oil. I turn the heat up or down until it is exactly right. I feel the vibration of the moving water through the swan neck. It is both mesmeric and deeply soothing.

Once the sound and vibration are right, I wait and wait for the moment when there is a little puff of vapor from the exit to the condenser. It is called the angel’s breath, the moment that precedes the flow of flower water when the vapor captures the very essence of the plant. It still delights me, even after hundreds of distillations.

I love the idea that our products are used to create a ritual of self-care – an opportunity to engage fully with ourselves. Many women use our Cleansing Oil as a transition between work and home. They get home, go to their bathroom and slowly allow a few drops to fall onto their fingers before massaging it onto their skin to wipe away not only make up but also the day’s events that precede it. It is transformative. The scent is enveloping, comforting and intensely soothing. The process of massaging it into the skin and rinsing with warm water to remove the grime of the day is cathartic, healing both for skin and spirit. When products are made with such care, they are so much more than the sum of their parts, each little pot is imbued with our care and positivity. Human scale production makes such a difference.

ES: Are there any kinds of plants and flowers that are better for distilling than others?
AS: There are plants that will fairly easily give up their treasure like Lavender for example. It is a plant that is full of oil and tough. Other plants such as Orange Blossom are much harder – it’s easy to get a flower water but very difficult to capture the scent without undesirable notes. Equally with Roses. I have smelled some horrid flower waters of both Neroli and Rose where I can smell that the petals have been overheated or the process has been too violent. Some plants just won’t distill well – Lilac is a good example. Within seconds it smells of cabbage, not nice at all. Sometimes I’ve thought that a plant was impossible only to realize that actually I was too impatient or picking it at the wrong part of the season. What many people don’t realize is that plants change scent during a flowering season – early Lavender is green smelling, sharp and bright. At the end of the season, it is so much richer, rounder, fuller. These are the things you learn as you experiment. Equally, depending on the rainfall, sunlight, soil conditions, a plant will produce a very different scent – every year is an adventure.

ES: What are some of the more unusual flowers you’ve managed to create a water from?
AS: I have distilled Ladies Bedstraw (Galium verum) which smells of honey and dry meadow hay, Heather (Caluna vulgaris) which reminds me of creamy butter, Cistus which captures some of the glorious Labdanum resin, Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) full of nutty sweetness and so many more. Being a plantswoman and a distiller is dangerous indeed – I’m constantly thinking of things to experiment with.

ES: If you’re introducing a floral water into your skincare regime for the first time, what are some of the best botanicals to start with and their benefits?
AS: There are four flower waters to always have on hand – Rose to cool, soothe redness and refresh sensitive skin, Orange Blossom to very gently tone and treat the skin and Lavender to calm the mind and aid restful sleep, to help prevent infected breakouts and treat any kind of minor burn or sting. Finally, Geranium which is the most glorious hormone balancer and treatment for spots.

ES: Could someone potentially create a floral water at home using the distillation method?
AS: Yes, you can make flower waters at home using a very big pan. Put the pan on the cooker, put a brick inside and stand a bowl on top. Put plant matter around the outside of the bowl in the pan until it’s level or just above the height of the brick. Add water to the pan but be careful not to splash it into the bowl. Fill it until it is just below the top of the brick. Put the pan lid on upside down so that there is an inverted apex and fill the outside of the pan lid with ice. Turn on the cooker and heat it until steam starts to form. The steam will rise in the pan, hit the cold lid and then run into the apex finally dripping into the bowl. It’s not sophisticated but it does work.

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Clean beauty is all about finding power in nature, but there aren’t many people within the world of natural skincare that connect with the ocean in the same way as the brains behind OSEA Malibu.

Born from a love of the sea, this range of skin loving concoctions harnesses the unique benefits of marine botanicals, alongside the usual plant-based beauty heroes. This is no brand hopping onto a trend; OSEA has been in the game for more than twenty years and counting, and hasn’t stopped making waves the whole time.

Sustainability is also high on the priority list at OSEA, which is oh-so-important when you’re working with ingredients from such a fragile source. We chatted with founder Jenefer Palmer to find out more about the story behind the products, how our beauty regimes affect the ocean, and why there’s more to seaweed than meets the eye.

EcoSalon: Where did your personal connection with the ocean begin, and why was it important to you that it was core to OSEA’s ethos?

Jenefer Palmer: I’ve always been drawn to the ocean. I come from a long line of women connected to the sea. My grandmother, Elsa Reuschle, one of the first female chiropractors in the U.S., swam daily in the frigid Long Island Sound (outside of NYC) until her mid-nineties. Through her mentorship, I learned about the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and trace elements present in seaweed and the incredible healing benefits they have on skin.

In the late ’80s, as a spa director in southern California, it was nearly impossible to find skin care for our clients that weren’t loaded with toxic synthetic chemicals. OSEA was born in 1996 from my desire to create natural luxury seaweed-based skin care. Products that not only were free of toxic synthetic ingredients but actually delivered powerful, age-defying results. As my grandmother taught me and chemistry confirmed, seaweed is a nutrient-dense superfood. Seaweed, the star ingredient in OSEA products, contains powerful bioavailable nutrients that are readily absorbed to rejuvenate the skin.

ES: OSEA has been around for over twenty years! How have your products and the natural beauty changed in that time?

JP: OSEA was definitely a pioneer in the natural luxury skin care world. Back in the ’90s, Aveda was one of the only other truly natural brands available. It’s so inspiring to see now in 2017 how the personal care landscape is changing—there are so many more natural options. Natural retail stores such as Credo Beauty, Follain, and The Detox Market are really leading the way. Even with OSEA’s immense growth over the past 21 years, I’m proud to say that we continue to use only the highest quality and most effective plant-based ingredients.

ES: Your formulations feature some beautiful marine ingredients. Can you tell us a bit about them and their unique benefits to skin?

JP:  USDA certified organic Gigartina, Undaria and Macrocystis marine algae are rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, trace elements, and essential fatty acids.

Our seaweed contains bioavailable ingredients, meaning that the active, nutrient-rich compounds are more readily absorbed by your body. Greater absorption of nutrients means better results for your skin! Our seaweed extracts deliver results. They visibly minimize fine lines and wrinkles, plus address hyperpigmentation. Seaweed concentrates also naturally brighten skin, deeply hydrate plus reduce the look and frequency of blemishes, breakouts and that good old “oily shine”.

ES: How do you go about sourcing your ingredients from the ocean sustainably without upsetting the delicate ecosystem?

JP: We source our USDA certified organic seaweed from the Sea of Patagonia, some of the most pristine waters in the world. Many companies pollute the ocean by venturing out on industrial diesel-powered boats to harvest seaweed using invasive methods that damage marine life and the ocean floor. OSEA’s seaweed is eco-responsibly hand-foraged in small batches. Oddly enough, we are actually helping to balance the delicate ecosystem by harvesting Undaria algae, as it is globally one of the most invasive (albeit incredible) species.

ES: What inspires you when it comes to creating new formulations?

JP: I find inspiration to create new formulations in many places: the Malibu farmers market, Zuma beach, my garden, places I travel to and even cookbooks. It’s hard not to be inspired by the transformational power of plants. Some of my best inspiration comes in the kitchen. I love to cook. I love to eat. I find myself thinking, how can I incorporate that persimmon into a product? Pesto body polish anyone?

ES: You also manage to keep your products completely vegan! Has keeping animal ingredients out of your products been a challenge?

JP: There are so many vegan ingredients available now that it’s really very simple to formulate without animal by-products. What’s more challenging, however, is being a plant-based vegan company. A lot of skin care is technically vegan but loaded with toxic synthetic chemicals. Being plant-based vegan takes more thought and creativity.

ES: What is some of the most positive feedback you’ve ever gotten from an OSEA convert?

JP: Our Blemish Balm has frequently been called the “Holy Grail” of lightweight moisturizers for treating blemish-prone skin. Can’t really top that!

ES: Are there any ways conventional beauty products damage the ocean that you think most people are unaware of?

JP: If you live in a coastal region, everything you rinse off your body, i.e. soap, creams, shampoo, etc. ends up going down the drain and into our oceans. So when you apply that toxic petrochemical-laden lotion, you’re not only harming yourself, you’re also polluting our oceans. Oxybenzone, a common ingredient in sunscreen has been directly linked to the death of the coral reefs. This happens when swimmers wear sunscreen! Plastic packaging, especially the soft plastic of your favorite beauty cream continues to clog our oceans, disrupting the delicate ecosystem. Always, always opt for beauty products packaged in glass or hard plastic. Refill items such as soap or shampoo, or better yet, make your own! Ocean health is interconnected to human health.

ES: If you had to pack for a beach vacation, which OSEA products would be a must have for you?

JP: Sea Minerals Mist and Essential Hydrating Oil for serious hydration and soothing after-sun care.

ES: What would your dream sea adventure be?

JP: To be on a small research vessel in Antarctica with scientists working to study and prevent climate change.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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The post OSEA Malibu is Bringing the Sea to Your Beauty Cabinet (Sustainably!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Matcha lattes are all the rage now, but there’s more to the antioxidant powerhouse than its Instagram feed pervasiveness. You can benefit from the silty green tea powder’s potent antioxidants catechins by topically applying matcha to your face and body. But don’t stop reading here and go rogue on me. Instead, do it right by planning ahead with these three matcha green tea beauty recipes, which include a lip moisturizer, a body scrub, and a facemask.

Matcha has been consumed for centuries in Japan and has only recently become a trendy superfood in the West. Matcha powder is derived from nutrient-rich young tea leaves picked from the tips of shade-grown Camellia sinensis tea plants. The leaves are steamed, stemmed, and de-vined before being pulverized. The resulting matcha green tea powder is stored away from oxygen and light in order to preserve its vibrant green color and retain its antioxidant properties.

The concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) available from drinking matcha tea is 137 times higher than the amount available from drinking regular green tea. According to research, EGCG prevents cancer and is effective in promoting heart and metabolic health. But the benefits don’t stop there. Antioxidants are key in promoting skin’s youth by fighting free-radical damage, wrinkles, dullness, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. And what better place to get your dose of topical antioxidants than from the powerhouse itself? Matcha also contains detoxifying chlorophyll and protects the skin from UV damage.

These three matcha beauty recipes maximize the anti-aging effects of matcha green tea on your skin as well as bring more ease and joy to your beauty routine.

Before you get started, be sure to purchase the highest quality matcha powder you can find. Some of my favorite brands include: Encha Matcha, Grace Matcha, and Midori Matcha.

3 Matcha Green Tea Beauty Recipes

1. Matcha Lip Balm

Makes one lip balm

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon shea butter
• 1 teaspoon Beeswax pellets
• 2 teaspoons almond oil
• 1/2 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
• 2 to 3 drops essential oil (lavender, peppermint, or any of your choice)

Directions

In a double boiler over high heat, melt the shea butter, beeswax and almond oil together. Stir until smooth. Once melted, immediately remove the pot from the heat and stir in the matcha powder and essential oil. Once mixed, transfer the mixture to a glass lip balm-sized jar and let it sit at room temperature until it cools and hardens. Once the lip balm has cooled, seal the container closed and toss it into your purse for all your glossy lip needs.

2. Matcha Body Scrub

Makes 1/2 cup

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 2 tablespoons matcha green tea powder

Directions

Add all of the ingredients into a bowl and stir until well combined. Transfer the mixture into a glass jar and seal closed. Rub the scrub all over the body and face once per week before rinsing clean.

3. Matcha Mask

Good for one use

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Directions

Mix the matcha and honey together in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over cleansed facial skin. Massage into the skin. Let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing clean.

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Is lip gloss a thing of the past in your makeup bag? We don’t blame you. Hair sticking to your mouth just isn’t practical, and let’s not even start with the glitter. If you still crave a slick of shine once in a while though, then a natural lip gloss may be the answer to your beauty prayers. 

For many of us makeup enthusiasts, lip gloss was a first love. Not quite as scary as a full coverage lipstick, it was like a gateway into the world of cosmetics that was easy to apply, and wear, with just a hint of color.

The warm nostalgia is real, but the array of lip products out there has left many beauty aficionados pushing their glosses to one side in favor of sheer lipsticks or tinted balms. However, thanks to the green beauty world, lip gloss is making a comeback in a way worth noting. Sans stickiness and strange plastic-like ingredients, of course.

5 Natural Lip Glosses That Are Totally Lickable

1. RMS Beauty Lip Shine
   Looking for fashion forward shades and lots of pigment? From the nineties brown Moment – created for none other than Gisele Bündchen – to eye-popping lilac Royal, you won’t be missing out on color options just because of the natural ingredients. Staying power is fantastic, and you can even layer it up from a subtle sheen to a bolder look. Finish wise, the shine is more subtle than most glosses, so perfect for those who are usually lip gloss shy.

2. Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments™ Liquid Lip
Somewhere between a lip gloss and a lipstick, with this tube of natural goodness Juice Beauty offers up the staying power of your favorite bullet, but with a gorgeous juicy finish. Most liquid lipsticks gain their long wearing street cred with drying formulas; not here. You’ll find nothing but hydrating ingredients like glycerin and moisture retaining phospholipids and jojoba oil. Who said you need to compromise?

3. Kari Gran Lip Whip
Luxury isn’t just about looks (which Kari Gran just happens to nail anyway with these beautiful miron glass pots), but what’s inside, too. Packed with organic beeswax and equally organic plant oils including castor, avocado, and camellia seed, your lips will be left more nourished with every application. There are plenty of flattering shades to choose from but start with Peppermint Naked to add sheen to any lippy, or double up as an overnight treatment for plump, softened lips.

4. Vapour Organic Beauty Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss
Traditional gloss lovers, this one’s for you. Vapour’s natural take on this makeup staple is one everyone can get on board with. There are twenty wearable shades to choose from, such as the likes of pretty pink Tickle and vampy cherry number, Bitten. The finish is sheer with glass like shine. Paired on a night out with a smokey eye or alone to dress up a t-shirt and jeans day? Très chic.

5. 100% Pure Gemmed Lip Gloss
Sometimes with shine, you have to have a little sparkle, too. We’re not talking the glittery lip glosses you ditched in your teens though! 100% Pure have revamped the look with by adding natural mineral stones into the mix, creating a shine that’s multi-dimensional and all-grown-up. Plus, doesn’t the idea of opals in your lip gloss make you feel all kinds of opulent? And of course, it wouldn’t be 100% Pure without the brands signature fruit pigments such as cranberry and cherry. Finally, a fruity lip gloss that’s the real deal.

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The post 5 Natural Lip Glosses All About That Shine (Sans Stickiness!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Craving a tan? Don’t cave into the usual brands before trying these natural self-tanners, because yes, they do exist!

Fake tan isn’t known for being natural. In fact, as far as beauty products go, it can be one of the worst offenders for touting questionable ingredients. Many will use synthetic dyes to add to the tanned effect, and buckets of fragrance to mask the smell. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

The main ingredient in self-tan that gives you a golden glow is DHA, which reacts with your skin to turn it a darker hue, and it turns out that it can be naturally derived from sugar beets with a cinch.

The result? Natural self-tanners without the guilt, nasties or dreaded oompa loompa/President of the U.S. effect. Paired with a few simple tips, you’ll have a natural looking tan in no time.

Get Scrubbing

When it comes to getting an even tan, the key is to scrub up. Any dry flaky areas will absorb more product and lead to a patchy tan. While we all love a good natural body scrub brimming with oils, you’ll want to avoid those to exfoliate with as they leave any oily residue on the skin (usually a good thing). Instead, stick to a good exfoliating glove and use some elbow grease!

Elbows, Knees and Toes

We’ve all learned this one the hard way after sporting a pair of uber bronzed knees. Yep, not the most natural look. The skin on your elbow, knees. and feet is drier than most other areas of the body, so to stop them from soaking up extra tan and having all the fun, prepare them with a dose of moisturizer or balm.

Put Away the Moisturizer

While you want to moisturize the above, avoid the rest of your body. Your skin just won’t take to the self-tan as well, so it’s better to be smooth and dry. Don’t fret about thirsty skin though, because the below list of natural and organic self-tanners will tick that box with no extra effort needed.

No Waxing

You’re prepping for a special event or big night out, so you’re doing the works; hair, wax and tan. Here’s the thing, waxing and self-tan aren’t the best of friends. Waxing leaves the skin irritated (even if it’s natural, yanking out hair by the root sure goes against nature) and opens up pores, so wait until the following day until you apply self-tan. You also shouldn’t go for a wax post-tanning, and you’ll be stripping the top layer of your skin, aka the tan, right off along with your hair.

Keep Your Shower Cool

Most of us will shower as prep before tanning. It makes sense right? Plus, way easier to get your exfoliating game on. Just try to avoid a shower that is too hot. Again, this will open up your pores which could lead to self-tanner gathering in them for a slightly dotty look. If you want to be on the safe side, give yourself a nice cold blast before stepping out to ensure your pores are closed. Brrr!

Never Skip the Mitt!

It should go without saying, but always, always use a tanning mitt. Bare hands plus self-tan will always equal orange palms, no matter how quick you are at washing it off. Using a mitt will also help you to avoid any streakiness. Just apply your tan to the mitt first, and then rub into skin in circular motions and you’re on the way to a golden glow.

4 Self-Tanners for an All-Natural Glow

1. Eco Tan Invisible Tan
If there’s one thing Aussies know, it’s how to make a great fake tan. The creamy formula will give your body a botanical moisture boost with the likes of aloe vera and oils of avocado and macadamia. The finish is a deep natural looking bronze which will develop over eight hours.

2. Chocolate Sun Organic Self Tanner-Cocoa Lite Enhancer
Not into going too dark? Then this will be your bag. The scent actually lives up to the name, so you can forget about that tell-tale fake tan smell, too. Coconut and sweet almond oils will leave your skin feeling super soft along with your subtle, healthy glow. Feeling braver after the first application and want to go a little darker? Just apply another round!

3. Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse
For the most fuss-free application, mousses are the way to go. Unlike many conventional offerings which are full of synthetic fragrances and dyes, this natural self-tanner provides all the perks without the nasties. The best part? After all that hard work you can reap the rewards with a tan that will last and fade evenly over two to three weeks.

4. Luna Bronze Gradual Self Tanning Moisturizer 

Sometimes all you want is a quick daily pick me up without the commitment, or the time intensive prep. The Aussies have your back again! A whopping 96% of the ingredients in this formula are certified organic, including aloe vera and rosehip seed oil. All that natural nourishment, plus a little tanning boost, will leave skin looking healthy and glowy, naturally.

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