Certain beauty trends don’t see a sad farewell when they go. Most natural beauty gals aren’t terribly heartbroken over the waning popularity of contouring, for one. Think it’s truly on the way out? A new beauty trend called “non-touring” has made the scene, so we’re thinking it may be safe to say buh-bye to that high maintenance look.

Contouring not only takes a lot of makeup and time to construct, it isn’t so easy to maintain. High temps and humidity can ruin the look pretty quickly. Obviously, time spent near a pool or beach is not an option.

Summer is the perfect time for a lighter makeup look. Quick and easy doesn’t hurt either. And you also want something that will endure a day of heat and possible moisture. Who wants to be powdering their nose all afternoon when they could be sipping margs poolside?

If you are not the type to go completely bare faced or simply want to radiate as much inner glow as humanly possible, non-touring is for you. Yes, another somewhat funky makeup technique name (stripping and blurring, anyone?), but this one has true merit in the natural beauty world.

What is it, already? Non-touring is a makeup look much like strobing. Only less … intense. The point of strobing is to use highlighter to define and sort of contour, in a sense, the appearance of face shape and features. Non-touring, on the other hand, is supposed to look like your own skin. If you ate only raw veggies, drank gallons of filtered spring water, and meditated 8 hours a day. Every day.

Since none of us do all those things (at least not every day), here is how non-touring works.

3 Steps to a Non-Touring Look (You Won’t Believe How Easy It Is!)

1. You want skin to shine through, and look fresh and healthy. So rather than thick foundation, try using a tinted moisturizer. Feel naked with no foundation? A primer applied first will help the tinted moisturizer to stay in place and will give the complexion a more refined look. ILIA Beauty Sheer Vivid Tinted Moisturizer comes in 6 natural shades and provides semi-matte coverage, so won’t compete with the highlighter.

2. Next up is highlighter. A light touch is required here so that you don’t really notice it. You are going for a naturally lit-from-within look. Using a highlighter that is close in color to your natural skin tone is best with non-touring. Apply a bit to areas of face that the light hits naturally – tops of cheekbones just under eyes, bridge of nose, brow bone, and cupid’s bow of lips. RMS Beauty Master Mixer is a rose gold tone that has the unique ability to bring out the best in any complexion. A summer must-have.

3. A very light dusting of facial powder will take the glare off. Be sure not to overdo this step, as you don’t want to cover up the glow factor. RMS Beauty “Un” Powder goes on light and disappears into skin, taking the look of shine with it.

Sound way too simple? That’s because it is! Don’t overthink this whole non-touring thing. Just bask in the compliments you’ll receive on your super healthy, natural-looking, ultra-radiant skin.

*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 Non-Touring is the New Way to Strobe (and You’ll Love It!) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ok. We are not talking putting placenta or urine on your face, here. But there are some pretty strange cosmetic ingredients out there. Find out which are worth it and where to save your hard earned cash.

Some women (and men, for that matter) would do almost anything to stay young looking and gorgeous. But how far down on the weird ingredient scale are you willing to go for great skin?

5 Weird (but Wonderful) Cosmetic Ingredients for Healthy Skin

1. Charcoal: Not new to the beauty scene, but some may still have trouble seeing it as part of their skincare routine. Activated charcoal (charcoal infused with oxygen) is the type used in skincare. It is super absorbent and very good at drawing impurities out of the skin, making it an ideal choice for those dealing with acne. It also tightens skin and reduces inflammation, which is why you’ll see it in anti-aging products. Osmia Organics Detox Exfoliating Mask, One Love Organics The Cleansing Sponge: Bamboo Charcoal Heart, May Lindstrom Skin The Problem Solver

2. Fermented ingredients: Yes, probiotics are all the rage right about now. And for good reason. They tone down inflammation and have antibacterial properties. They’ve also been shown to create a barrier on skin that blocks dirt and bacteria, helping to prevent breakouts. Obvi, these ingredients are great for acne and premature aging. The Beauty Chef Probiotic Skin Refiner, One Love Organics Oh Mega Calming Chia Oil, Marie Veronique Redness Relief Serum, Marie Veronique Pre + Probiotic Daily Mist

3. Bamboo: Why on earth would you ever need bamboo in cosmetics? Bamboo extract and powder are ultra-absorbent, and often added to natural deodorants and facial powders to help soak up wetness. These fibers also work in haircare to help pump up the volume. Briogeo Hair Care Be Gentle, Be Kind Sulfate Free Shampoo, One Love Organics Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo Powder, ILIA Beauty Fade Into You Finishing Powder

4. Dead Sea Mud: Mud is just mud, right? Nope. Mud from the Dead Sea is high in minerals and vital nutrients that carry oxygen to skin cells, improving tone and elasticity, promoting a youthful appearance. It is also excellent for drawing toxins out of the skin, and calms acne and other irritated skin conditions. Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap, B Leaf Botanics Revive Dead Sea Mud Mask

5. Salt: We may use it most days, but on our skin? Yep. Sea salt is rejuvenating, toning down inflammation and softening dry or rough skin. It is also another skin detoxifier and boosts circulation, boosting glow factor. Aster & Bay Bathing Salts Clary Sage + Grapefruit, Earth Tu Face Dead Sea Salt Scrub, Earth Tu Face Rosemary + Salt Lotion

*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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You know how the right Instagram filter can make your skin look picture perfect? C’mon, we’ve all done a bit of selfie enhancing at one point or another. What if you could walk around IRL looking like your complexion had undergone your favorite Instagram filter? You can! And it’s called “blurring”.

Yet another Korean beauty trick in the books. This one goes by the name of “blurring” and it is the art of diminishing flaws, in a natural looking way, with a few makeup tricks.

Gone are the days of thick layers of foundation and highlighter used to mask pimples, spots, large pores, and redness. This cool procedure utilizes makeup and skincare products applied with a light touch, to sort of blur imperfections out of sight. Think: Taking the spotlight off of zits, wrinkles, and redness, rather than completely covering them up.

Originating in Korea (where beauty geniuses are born, apparently), the makeup trick has made its way stateside in a big way. If you walk by department store beauty counters you’ll likely encounter several blurring products. Try one on the back of your hand and you’ll see it creates sort of an air brushed effect that is super soft and smooths skin tone.

If you want to try blurring without the synthetic junk ingredients, and we know you do, here are some natural products for achieving the blurred look.

The Korean Beauty Blurring Technique in 5 Steps

1. Start with clean, moisturized skin. Soft and supple creates the ideal canvas for this look. Juara Sweet Black Tea & Rice Moisturizer

2. Primer will create a smooth finish and give skin a luminous look, and help makeup to stay put. Vapour Organic Beauty Stratus Soft Focus Instant Skin Perfector

3. Choose a foundation that creates a dewy look rather than a matte surface. The key to blurring is patting makeup onto skin instead of swiping. ILIA Beauty Vivid Foundation

4. Now, before makeup has completely soaked into skin, go over with a soft brush. This will give the complexion that blurred look. RMS Beauty Skin2Skin Foundation Brush

5. Skip the powder. It can make skin look dry, and draw attention to wrinkles and imperfections. We are going for bright and glowing, here.

That’s it! Five steps to your best-looking skin. No filter needed.

*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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You may have perfected the cat eye, but is your eye makeup barely making it past lunch? 

Eye makeup is serious business to makeup lovers. It sort of seals the deal. That is, unless it evaporates by midday.

You’ve chosen the perfect eyeliner and mascara. Watched many a tutorial on getting the perfect winged liner or smoky eye. You’ve got this eye makeup thing down. Then it all seems to disappear in a matter of hours.

How hard can it be to get eye makeup to stay put for a while? A few tricks can help your look go the extra mile.

5 Tips On Making Eye Makeup Last All Day

1. Providing a decent base for eye makeup is key to making it hold. You’ve likely heard of makeup primers for foundation. Well guess what, they make primers for eyes too. Faerie Organic Forty Winks Eye Primer is a cream to powder product that ups your shadow wear time.

2. The number one reason makeup slides off of lids is due to oiliness. If your lids are even slightly oily, shadow and liner melt. This can also cause mascara to leave those teeny dots along upper lids. The best way to ramp up the power of that primer you just applied is with a light dusting of powder. RMS Beauty Un Powder is so weightless it won’t get in the way of your color.

3. Moving on to that color. When applying eye shadow use a pressing, rather than swiping, motion. This goes for both powder and cream. Or double up and use both. A layer of cream shadow under powder shadow in a coordinating hue makes your shadow more intense and longer lasting. If you are using powder shadow alone, applying with a damp brush will make it stick. A fab combo: RMS Beauty Eye Polish in Solar with Kjaer Weis Eye Shadow in Magnetic.

4. You can also use the double up approach with eyeliner. Go over pencil with a liquid liner to keep it in place. Not a fan of the liquid liner look? Try tracing over pencil with a brown or black shadow to help it stay put. Try Ilia Beauty Pure Eyeliner and Benecos Natural Liquid Eyeliner.

5. As for mascara, go for black if you want the look to endure a long day. Another tip: be sure to let dry in between layers. This gives mascara sticking power. For a mascara that works for you, check out this handy guide.

Now, barring rain or a good cry, your eye makeup should last you straight through to bedtime. Don’t forget to remove before your head hits the pillow.

*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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So, you may not use your hands to pay the bills. That doesn’t mean you don’t want them looking their best at all times, right? Here are simple ways to model-worthy mitts.

Feel you don’t have time for yet another skincare regimen? This hand-friendly routine will keep your digits and nails lovely, and doesn’t take up a lot of time. Promise.

All you need are the right products and tools. Plus, a little discipline. Let’s get your fingers primed.

7 Hand Model-Worthy Hand and Nail Care Tips

1. Moisturizer. Ah, yes. It seems many a skincare dilemma boils down to increased moisturization. Ever wonder why lotion alone seems to do nothing for dry hands? A water-based lotion does not hold moisture into skin as well as an oil-based product, and can even further dryness. Try a rich cream made with plant butters and oils, like Odacite Intensive Hand & Heel Therapy. And don’t forget to rub into nails too.

2. Exfoliate. You do it to your face and body, don’t forget to exfoliate hands too. Removing dead skin cells means moisturizer can more easily soak into skin. It also makes skin smoother and younger looking. Indie Lee Coconut Citrus Body Scrub uses sugar to slough away dry skin, while coconut and jojoba oils soften. And the scrumptious summery smell makes it a true treat.

3. Cuticle maintenance. You’ve probably heard it a million times. Healthy cuticles equal healthy nails. Believe it! Keep those little suckers wrangled before they are out of hand by pushing them back gently with a cuticle pusher or orange stick. A cuticle oil, like Vapour Organic Beauty Replenish Organic Nail and Cuticle Oil, helps to soften them and make them easier to push. Carefully trim away any excess with nippers. Note: Don’t go too nuts on the trimming or you’ll end up with sore cuticles. I speak from experience.

4. Glass file. It really does make a difference. Those gravely emery boards can tear and split nails. A glass file is much gentler on nails and especially beneficial if your nails tend to split or are weak. Use Priti Crystal Glass Nail File. Note: The pointy tip makes a great cuticle pusher, too.

5. Wear gloves. Winter is over. But we are talking wearing gloves indoors, here. If you are cleaning your bathroom, washing dishes, or doing some other task where your hands will be in water, throw on a pair of work gloves. If You Care Cotton-Lined Household Gloves are made with natural, renewable latex and are chemical-free. Your hands and nails will thank you.

6. Nail brush. You can only imagine the gunk and bacteria that grow under nails. Not trying to freak you out, just pointing out the importance of a regular scrubbing. Plus, this move makes nails look healthy and whitens tips. Use Swissco Wooden Nail Brush Natural Bristle.

7. Use 5-free polish. Now for the fun part. Showing off those gorgeous hands. Choose a fresh color (or two) for spring in a 5-free polish. 5-free are made without the most harmful polish ingredients, so they not only keep nails from drying out and breaking, but are healthier for you too.

*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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‘Tis the seaon of pumpkin spice. Lattes, cookies, gum, candles… You name it, there seems to be a #PSL version of it. The trend has even gone to our heads. Literally.

That’s right, pumpkin spice hair color is happening. And it is not as weird as it sounds.

Okay, so the name might make this trend seem a bit out of hand. But pumpkin spice hair color is a warm shade of coppery auburn that most women can pull off. The pink, purple, green, and blue hair turning up everywhere these days makes pumpkin spice hair seem sort of demure. Starbucks’ world takeover has officially hit salons.

So yes, if you wish to adorn your locks with the hair version of a #PSL, you will have to go in for chemical coloring. Not so into the idea? There are other options to pumpkin spice up your beauty routine that will cost you far less in toxins and dollars.

Pumpkin Spice Up Your Beauty

Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Above and Beyond is brand new for the season. Just got my hands on this beauty yesterday and it is a new beauty staple. Because of the KJ sheerness, you can go either lightly warmed up or bright pop of color with this beautiful blush.

Kjaer Weis Lip Tint in Captivate is another new hue this fall. A pumpkin spice tone with a hint of gold.

W3LL People Elitist Shimmer Mineral Shadow in Luminous Copper gives that fall feeling to eyes. Add the powder to hair gel or moisturizer for a hit of glowy-ness.

Prtty Peaushun Skin Tight Body Lotion comes in several light reflecting, skin tightening shades. Add some warmth to your bod with this celeb favorite.

RMS Beauty now makes 5-free nail polish to match its lip and cheek tints! Curious is perfect for sporting your #PSL.

Still see yourself going with pumpkin spice hair color? Sally Hershberger Salons in West Hollywood and NYC both offer the color. Next best, take a pic along to your stylist.

*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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You no longer have to sacrifice performance in the name of healthier products. Still, shopping for natural cosmetics can seem daunting. There are so many natural beauty brands around these days. How can you tell which are the best organic makeup brands?

We’ve evaluated many natural cosmetics lines, zeroed in on the cream of the crop, and comprised this guide to help you get started. Everything you need to know about choosing the best organic makeup brands for you.

We skip straight over the greenwashed, pseudo eco, barely natural stuff and get straight to what’s best in organic makeup. Top brands, quality ingredients, and high performance design. We put each brand through our safety criteria so you can be sure everything here is made with natural and organic ingredients, and free from harmful chemicals. We have also noted any pertinent certification and commitments in each brand summary, such as BDIH or NaTRUE certified, cruelty-free, gluten-free, or vegan.

Want a real life opinion on these products? Of course you do! Professional makeup artist, Kelly DeMauro, has tried them and gives her honest evaluation to help you make better buying choices. Like going shopping with a girlfriend who has a whole lot of experience.

Here’s what we look for in a safe cosmetic product:

Safe ingredients – The first step in identifying a safe cosmetic is to take a look at what it’s made of. This means reading the ingredient listing. Cosmetic ingredients go by many names and can be difficult to decipher. Use our handy Dirty 13: Most Harmful Ingredients to Avoid in Cosmetics list to help ID toxins in beauty products. Find an ingredient you are unsure of not on our list? Search The Environmental Working Group Skin Deep database.

Clear ingredient listings – Truly natural cosmetic manufacturers are proud to display the healthy ingredients they use. If a product does not include a clear ingredient listing, assume it is not safe until you can find more information.

Brands we can trust – Cosmetics brands with a clear ingredient and manufacturing commitment are worth following. Brand websites usually include a page on safety criteria. If a conventional product line begins carrying a “green” product or two, best to investigate before purchasing.

High performance – It is not worth buying a safe product if it doesn’t perform well too. All products and brands we recommend behave like conventional products, or better.

Of course, price factors in to buying decisions too. We get that! Which is why we’ve included a handy pricing code for each of the brands in our Best Organic Makeup Guide, ranging from least expensive ($ from $9-35 ), moderately priced ($$ from $12-50)  to higher in price ($$$ from $15-150). Scroll to bottom for a complete pricing breakdown of brands at a glance.

Ready to learn more about the best organic makeup brands? Let’s go!

1. 100% PURE *Antioxidant Rich* $$

Brand Highlights: Fruit dyes give these makeup items their vibrant hues, including products for face, cheeks, lips, eyes, and even a skin luminizer. Antioxidant rich, 100% Pure cosmetics help to protect from environmental damage and premature aging.

Vegan, nano- and cruelty-free, produced using solar power, biodegradable and recycled packaging. Read more about 100% Pure’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: 100% Pure uses real fruit pigments to color its makeup products. Acai berry Eye Liner? Blackberry Mascara? Peach Cheek Tint? Delicious!

Who’s Wearing: Jessica Alba loves the Tinted Moisturizer with SPF.

2. ALIMA PURE *Good for Rosacea/CIS* $$

Brand Highlights: The finest grade minerals are used to create these makeup products. Collection includes mineral powder foundations, concealer, highlighter, bronzer, blusher, and eyeshadow in a wide range of rich colors, plus mascara, eyeliner pencils, and six lipstick hues. To go with the mineral powders, Alima Pure offers the most extensive range of makeup brushes we’ve seen yet. A makeup artist’s, or any gal’s, dream.

Nano-, gluten-, and cruelty-free, enviro-friendly packaging, and BDIH certified. Read more about Alima Pure’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Alima Pure wants you to love their makeup as much as they do. So, they’ve come up with several application tutorials, plus a cool foundation color selection tool.

Best For: These mineral makeup products work well on all skin types, from acne to dry, and even sensitive. They are gentle, breathable, and beneficial to those with rosacea or Cosmetic Intolerance Syndrome (CIS), and are bismuth oxychloride (BOC) free. Added bonus: The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide included in the foundation provide some SPF protection for incidental sun exposure.

3. BENECOS *Super Affordable* $

Brand Highlights: The Maybelline of natural makeup. Ok, here’s what we mean. Benecos is free from toxins, high performance, budget friendly, and everyone loves it. This well rounded line up includes everything you need to stock your makeup kit.

German made, BDIH certified, fair trade, cruelty-free, biodegradable, recycled packaging. Read more about Benecos’ commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Benecos makes a BB Cream that a) is free from harmful ingredients, and b) actually works. It also helps to calm redness and irritation. Win!

Best For: Women or makeup artists who are looking to stock a natural makeup kit sans the sticker shock.

Kelly says…

Benecos Lipstick: Very nice! Definitely hydrates. Application: Use a liner underneath for long lasting color.

Benecos Eyeshadow Quad: Well-milled, almost creamy texture which makes application a breeze. With these four staples it is easy to mix and match from day to night and since the colors are already picked out for you, you don’t have to worry that they won’t go together. Application: Use with primer for longer lasting color.

Benecos Mascara: I liked the application and the natural fullness it gave my lashes, this isn’t a product to use for a dramatic look but as a simple everyday look I think it’s great.

4. DR. HAUSCHKA  *Best Mascara* $$

Brand Highlights: One of the first natural beauty brands, Dr. Rudolf Hauschka started the company in 1935 in Germany as an avant-garde natural medicines line. Dr. Hauschka’s medicinal creations sans alcohol for preservation caught the attention of many anthroposophic doctors of the time. It also caught the attention of the Nazi Party, resulting in the ban of these medicines and imprisonment of Dr. Hauschka.

Dr. Hauschka teamed with esthetician, Elisabeth Sigmund, in 1960 and began creating healthy skincare. Stable cream bases that required no chemical preservation and natural essential oils were the basis for the line. The rebel brand continues to serve up high quality beauty products today. Truly the pioneers of natural beauty.

The brand utilizes only the best quality ingredients, many of which are grown organically and biodynamically in its own gardens. Dr. Hauschka products are certified natural by NATRUE and BDIH. The Dr. Hauschka makeup line includes essentials for face, eyes, and lips. Read more about Dr. Hauschka’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Has to be the mascara. You know how you’ve tried natural mascara after natural mascara only to be let down time and again? All you want is a mascara that offers color, length, and volume, along with no smudging or running. It’s enough to make you run back to the synthetic stuff, right? Wait! If you have yet to try this gem you are in for a treat. This is not only a great mascara, it is the natural mascara.

Who’s Wearing: Used in Hollywood in film and TV, and Broadway. Just check out the long list of places Dr. Hauschka has starred.

5. HAUT COSMETICS *Sample Sizes* $$$

Brand Highlights: Haut may mean skin in German, but to us it means these natural cosmetics are…hot, hot, HOT! Super clean and totally modern with a unique twist. This range covers the beauty gamut with mineral pigments and creams for face, cheek tints and balms, lip gloss and tints, and eye colors and brighteners.

Mascara?, you ask. Nope, Haut Cosmetics takes a different route with lashes. As in faux lashes. It’s true, the most lush and fluttery lashes made from sanitized human hair. For real. Quell your mascara melancholy and get your fabulous fringe on.

Vegan, gluten- and cruelty-free. Read more about Haut Cosmetics’ commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: The step by step guide to creating your own custom color, with options that address your skin issues, wants, and coverage concerns.

Best For: Women looking for customizable makeup products or who have trouble matching foundation.

6. ILIA BEAUTY *Pure Modern* $$

Brand Highlights: You know the saying, it’s what’s on the inside that counts? This goes for beauty products as well as humans. Still, Ilia Beauty products are just as gorgeous on the outside. You certainly won’t be afraid to keep these beauties on your bathroom shelf. Nor will the quality of these high performance makeup items disappoint. A celeb favorite, Ilia lipsticks and products for face have made many a star appearance. Gorgeous modern colors in high performance formulations.

Cruelty-, gluten- and dairy-free. Read more about Ilia Beauty’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Let’s just say, we don’t hate the wide array of glorious lipstick shades and blogger collabs.

Best For: Anyone who likes their eco makeup with a modern edge.

7. KARI GRAN *Minimalist Beauty* $$

Brand Highlights: Small but mighty. This label may not carry a huge selection of makeup items, but a well edited crop of lovely must haves. Customizable mineral makeups and tempting Lip Whips are the staples of Kari Gran.

Wild harvested, non-GMO, cruelty-free. Read more about Kari Gran’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: A new way to customize foundation. You choose your mineral foundation color and mix with a pump of Kari Gran Essential Serum. Lightweight hydration with the light reflecting benefits of mineral powder.

Best For: Those who feel a healthy lifestyle and skincare regimen is the basis of their beauty kit.

Kelly says…

Kari Gran Essential Foundation: Very happy with the color, a little really and truly goes a very long way. Application: Use as a cream for easy application.

Kari Gran Mineral Eyeshadow: Suitable for a wide range of skin tones. Application: May be used wet or dry, use primer to avoid creasing.

Kari Gran Concealer: Don’t need to use a great deal of product to achieve results. Color stays true all day. Application: May be applied wet or dry with brush, sponge, or fingers.

Kari Gran Setting Powder: Gives a nice finish. I did not experience a cast at all.

Kari Gran Lip Whips: Sinks into your skin effortlessly and truly hydrates. Definitely a staple.

8. KJAER WEIS *Luxe* $$$

Brand Highlights: Dream formulas in killer packaging. That’s Kjaer Weis in a nutshell. Super creamy makeup in brilliant hues shape this line of products for face, eyes, and lips. Apply with fingertips or a brush for a natural look, only better. Layer for more intensity.

The Intelligent Refill system means you buy the uber cool compact once and replace with refills. Reduces waste and makes trying out new colors more affordable.

Cruelty- and gluten-free. Read more about Kjaer Weis’ commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: The sheer, dreamy colors win all women over. But the signature red Kjaer Weis box with jewel-like compact contents is the Tiffany’s makeup equivalent.

Best For: Those who love sheer, buildable color.

9. LA BELLA FIGURA *Exotic* $$

Brand Highlights: The women of La Bella Figura have taken what they know about skincare and created equally supreme makeup products. LBF creates extracts from herbs they grow themselves. And in community gardens of Chicago, no less. Now that’s dedication to the craft.

The La Bella Figura makeup line includes exotically hued cream blush and lip colors, plus a corrective highlighter, coming soon.

Vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Read more about La Bella Figura’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: With the Seed to Skin program, La Bella Figura seeks the “most sustainable, unrefined and potent ingredients” to use in its products.

Best For: Sensitive and congested skin types.

10. LAVERA *Non-Allergenic* $

Brand Highlights: A straight forward cosmetics line that behaves like conventional makeup, only no harmful or harsh ingredients. Lavera offers beauty must haves for the essential makeup kit. Items for face, eyes, and lips, and even a BB Cream.

Lavera was originally created as a solution to reactive skin conditions. All products, including makeup, are super gentle on skin and eyes.

Vegan, NATRUE Certified Natural, cruelty- and gluten-free. Read more about Lavera’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Celebrity makeup artists, models, and actresses love Lavera makeup. Debra Messing, Jerry Hall, and Suzy Amis, to name a few.

Best For: Those with very sensitive or reactive skin, allergies, or women undergoing chemotherapy.

Kelly says…

Lavera Foundation: Matched very well. One of the best matches I’ve had in any cosmetic line. I love that it enhanced my natural skin tone while subtly reducing any redness, and would recommend this to those looking for something similar to a BB cream. Application: Best results with fingers.

11. RMS BEAUTY *Cult Classic* $$$

Brand Highlights: Organic beauty darling, this tried and trusted brand has been seen on many a runway and fashion mag. Created by celeb makeup artist, Rose-Marie Swift, as a means to dealing with the toxic build up in her blood stream from years of using mainstream cosmetics in her work. The result? The clean, high performance cosmetics Swift uses on her clients (and herself!) today.

A coconut cream base gives RMS Beauty cosmetics for face, eyes, and lips a rich glossy texture. Never drying or dulling, these products give brilliant color and a youthful appearance. The range also includes mascara and facial powder.

Gluten-, soy-, nano-, and cruelty-free. Read more about RMS Beauty’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Cult beauty hit RMS Beauty Living Luminizer is the best known highlighter for good reason. Nothing offers instantly glowing, radiant skin quite like it. Use on face, eyes, collarbones, even lips.

Best For: A dream for dry and mature skin, but women of all skin types love these cosmetics. A GOOP favorite.

12. TATA HARPER *Upscale Homegrown* $$$

Brand Highlights: Growing and harvesting ingredients, designing and developing natural products, on site small batch production. Sound too good to be true? This is how Tata Harper cosmetics are made. The idyllic Vermont setting and home grown feel of these beautiful products are tempting. The fact that they are also super luxe and perform like a dream is the crowning glory.

Tata Harper cream based cosmetics for lips and cheeks are suffused with natural pigments. Soften and moisturize the skin while offering sheer, vibrant color.

Vegetarian, EcoCert Certified Natural Cosmetics, gluten- and cruelty-free, recycled and recyclable materials. Read more about Tata Harper’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Tata Harper cosmetics are produced in cow powered facilities. Learn more about how it uses sustainable energy from recycled methane gas.

Who’s Wearing: Gwyneth Paltrow, Christy Turlington, and Julianne Moore are Tata devotees.

Kelly says…

Tata Harper Limited Edition Honey Resurfacing Mask: Loved using this gentle resurfacing mask! Used the mask shortly before bed and found my skin looking plump, hydrated, and fresh the following morning.

13. VAPOUR ORGANIC BEAUTY *Celeb Fave* $$

Brand Highlights: Designers behind this brand are natural cosmetics product formulators and a former Kevyn Aucion Beauty president. To say they know beauty is an understatement. The outcome is Vapour Organic Beauty, an extensive line of pure makeup products.

Foundation and skin perfectors, lip colors and plumpers, eye color, blushers, bronzers, and highlighters. Everything you need for the well rounded beauty kit.

Cruelty- and nano-free, recycled packaging. Read more about Vapour Organic Beauty’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Vapour offers a sample program of 5 samples for $15. Great way to try before you invest in full sized products.

Who’s Wearing: The list of celebs and bloggers who love Vapour Organic Beauty is long. They’ve even collaborated with health gurus Kimberly Snyder and Gwyneth Paltrow on curated collections.

Kelly says…

Vapour Concealer: Neutralizes darkness without heavy coverage or a finish that is too matte and opaque. I actually look very well rested!

Vapour Multi-Use Stick: Sheer but noticeable color.

14. W3LL PEOPLE *Funky Chic* $

Brand Highlights: Funky name at the forefront with a unique founding crew behind this brand of healthy cosmetics. Designed by an “elite makeup artist, cosmetic dermatologist and treehugging entrepreneur”, W3LL People is minimalist makeup that’s max on style.

The line may be paired down in quantity but over delivers on color and quality. Choose from items for face, lips, cheeks, and eyes.

Cruelty-free. Read more about W3LL People’s commitment to safety.

Why We Love It: Foundation and concealer stick in one. Who doesn’t love a good multi use product? And the powder mineral eye colors are earthy perfection.

Best For: The urban minimalist with mad style.

Kelly says…

W3LL People Foundation: New best friend? Maybe. Evens out everything just enough to look natural and healthy. Stays on all day without much need for touchups.

W3LL People Mineral Blush: Gorgeous natural “lit from within” look. One of my favorite powder blushes I’ve used in ages. I’ve also been using it to matte my lipsticks for extra staying power with a bit of a pink flush.

PRICE RANGE BREAKDOWN OF BRANDS

$ From $9-35: Benecos, Lavera, W3LL People

$$ From $12-50: 100% Pure, Alima Pure, Dr. Hauschka, Ilia Beauty, Kari Gran, La Bella Figura, Vapour Organic Beauty

$$$ From $15-150: Haut Cosmetics, Kjaer Weis, RMS Beauty, Tata Harper

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The post The Best Organic Makeup Brands | Consumer Guide appeared first on EcoSalon.

Natural. Organic. Green. We are familiar with these monikers. But when searching for safe cosmetics, how do you truly know what is safe and what is not? By learning to identify which cosmetic ingredients to avoid.

Ignore what may be on the front of a product label and get to the real information. The ingredient listing. Even products that say “Natural” or “Organic” sometimes contain nasty toxins detrimental to our health.

Below are the ingredients best avoided in cosmetics and how to easily identify them on a product ingredient listing. Bookmark and save this list so you can refer to it while shopping. And remember, no clear or readily available ingredient listing on the label? Back away from the product.

1. 1,4 Dioxane

Usage: A chemical by-product of ethoxylation, an ingredient processing method used to make petro-ingredients less irritating to skin

Toxicity: Carcinogenic, suspected cardiovascular and blood toxicant, gastrointestinal toxicant, immunotoxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, skin toxicant

Found In: Shampoo, facial cleansers, body wash, bubble bath, baby bath, liquid soap

How to ID: Because 1,4 Dioxane is a contaminant produced during the manufacturing process, FDA does not require it to be listed on a product ingredient listing. EWG.org recommends looking for common ingredients which may contain the impurity, identifiable by the prefix or designations of ‘PEG,’ ‘–eth–,’ ‘Polyethylene,’ ‘Polyethylene glycol’ ‘Polyoxyethylene,’ or ‘–oxynol–’ (FDA 2007)

2. DEA, TEA

Usage: Foaming agent

Toxicity: Skin sensitizer, can form carcinogenic compounds when mixed with certain cosmetic ingredients

Found In: Makeup, body wash, shampoo, skincare

How to ID: DEA or Diethanolimine, TEA or Triethanolamine, Cocamide DEA or Cocamide Diethanolimine, Lauramide DEA or Lauramide Diethanolimine, DEA Lauryl Sulphate or Diethanolimine Sulfate, Linoleaide DEA or Linoleaide Diethanolimine, Oleamide DEA or Oleamide Diethanolimine

3. Formaldehyde

Usage: An impurity released by some chemical preservatives

Toxicity: Carcinogenic, skin and lung irritant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant and neurotoxin

Found In: Nail polish, deodorant, shampoo

How to ID: Formaldehyde, Formalin, Urea, Diazolidinyl urea, Imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, Quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and Sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate

4. Heavy Metals (Metalloestrogens)

Usage: Sweat blocker, colorant, whitener, lightener

Toxicity: Possible carcinogen, developmental and reproductive toxicant, organ system toxicant, allergies and immunotoxicant, bioaccumulation

Found In: Lip products, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner, nail color, foundations, sunscreens, eye shadows, blush, concealer, moisturizers, eye drops

How to ID: Aluminum, Aluminium flake, Aluminum, LB Pigment 5; Pigment metal 1; A 00; A 95; A 995; A 999; AA 1099; AA1199, Lead acetate, Lead flake, Chromium, Thimerosal, Hydrogenated cotton seed oil, Sodium hexametaphosphate

5. Methylisothiazolinone (MIT)

Usage: Preservative

Toxicity: Possible neurotoxin, possible health risks to unborn babies, allergic reactions

Found In: Hair care, body wash, sunscreen, skin care

How to ID: > 3 (2h) -Isothiazolone, 2-Methyl-; Methylchloroisothiazolinone225methylisothiazolinone Solution; 2-Methyl-3 (2h) -Isothiazolone; 2-Methyl-4-Isothiazolin-3-One; 2-Methyl- 3 (2h) -Isothiazolone; 2-Methyl-2h-Isothiazol-3-One; 3 (2h) Isothiazolone, 2methyl; 2-Methyl-3 (2h) -Isothiazolone; 2-Methyl-4-Isothiazolin-3-One

6. Parabens

Usage: Preservative

Toxicity: Found in breast tissue, acts like estrogen in the body, could lead to impaired fertility or fetal development

Found In: Soap, skincare, body care, hair care, toothpaste, deodorant

How to ID: Alkyl parahydroxybenzoate, butylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparabens

7. Petrolatum

Usage: Emollient or lubricant

Toxicity: Commonly contains impurities linked to cancer

Found In: Skincare, body care, lip balm, makeup

How to ID: Petrolatum, petroleum jelly, mineral oil

8. Phthalates

Usage: Often used as a carrier for synthetic fragrance

Toxicity: Can negatively affect fertility and fetal development, considered a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organizaiton

Found In: Hair spray, lipstick, perfume and nail polish

How to ID: Benzylbutyl phthalate (BzBP), Di-n-butyl phthalate or Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP), and sometimes Fragrance (though even nontoxic product makers use the term “fragrance” to protect trade formulas)

9. Propylene Glycol

Usage: Helps a product to retain moisture

Toxicity: Penetration enhancer (alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to more easily enter the system)

Found In: Skincare, hair care, body care, makeup, baby care products, contact lens cleaner

How to ID: Propylene Glycol, Proptylene Glycol, 1,2-Propanediol. Related synthetics: PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol)

10. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate

Usage: Makes a product foamy

Toxicity: Penetration enhancer (alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to more easily enter the system)

Found In: Shampoo, facial cleansers, body wash, bubble bath, baby bath, toothpaste

How to ID: Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Anhydrous Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Irium

11. Synthetic Colorants (FD&C colors)

Usage: Coal tar (petroleum) derived and commonly tested on animals due to their carcinogenic properties, used to artificially color a cosmetic product

Toxicity: Can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions

Found In: Shampoo, facial cleansers, body wash, skincare, baby care products, hair care, makeup

How to ID: FD&C or D&C followed by a name and number (FD&C RED NO. 40)

12. Synthetic Fragrances

Usage: Combination of chemical ingredients used to artificially scent a cosmetic product

Toxicity: Can cause allergic reactions, headache, dizziness, and rash (children tend to be particularly sensitive), respiratory distress, and possible effects to reproductive system

Found In: Hair care, skin care, makeup, body care, perfume

How to ID: Fragrance, parfum (It is important to note that the terms “fragrance” or “parfum” sometimes occur on an ingredient listing which contains natural fragrance ingredients and no chemical ingredients. This is most often due to manufacturer trade secret and should be disclosed on the label.)

13. Synthetic Sunscreens

Usage: Provide sun protection

Toxicity: Have been found to mimic estrogen in the body potentially causing hormonal disruption, can also cause skin irritation and easily absorb in to the skin

Found In: Sunscreens, facial moisturizer, lip protection

How to ID: 4-Methyl-Benzylidencamphor (4-MBC), Oxybenzone Benzophenone-3, Octyl-methoyl-cinnamates (OMC), Octyl-Dimethyl-Para-Amino-Benzoic Acid (OD-PABA), Homosalate(HMS)

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H&M could definitely be called the mover and shaker of fast fashion. These guys must offer energy drink mainlining in the breakroom. And with H&M Conscious Beauty soon to launch, they do not appear to be slowing down any time soon.

What began is a little Swedish women’s clothing shop in the ’40s has grown to include store locations worldwide, major designer collabs, controversial red carpet appearances (like the recent SJP Met Gala appearance), and huge online retail sales. Why did we not see H&M beauty coming?

That’s right, the brand is set to launch a massive 700 product beauty line next fall, including makeup, skincare, and hair care. True to its anyone-can-have-this image, products will range from $2.99 to $24.99.

Now, I know what you are thinking. How clean can these H&M cosmetics be? The brand’s concept designer, Sara Wallander, calls the line “fashion for the face.” But are we talking fast fashion, here?

Included in the collection are products aligned with the company’s Conscious collection, called Conscious Beauty. Terms like “organic”, “eco-friendly”, and “sustainable” are being used, and products are to be Ecocert-certified.

The French certification body requires the use of substantial amounts of natural and organic ingredients, environmentally-friendly processes, and prohibits the use of many synthetic ingredients. There are two Ecocert certifications, ECOCERT Natural (a minimum of 50 percent of all plant-based ingredients and a minimum of 5 percent of all ingredients by weight must be organically produced) and ECOCERT Natural and Organic (A minimum of 95 percent of the total product ingredients must be naturally derived and a minimum of 10 percent of all ingredients by weight (includes water) must be organically produced). A press release from the brand stated the beauty products will be “Ecocert-approved sustainable products.”

H&M has said that products from the Conscious Beauty line will be paraben-, silicone-, GMO-, synthetic fragrance-, and dye-free. As always, we will have to wait and read the labels to actually know what is in them. Fingers crossed, H&M’s website will include full ingredient listings.

What do think? Excited to see what the H&M Conscious Beauty line is all about? Or would you rather not support the brand even if the products are safe?

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The post H&M Conscious Beauty Line Fast Cosmetics? appeared first on EcoSalon.

There are many more safe cosmetic brands on the market compared to a decade ago. But label reading has not gotten any easier. Time to up your cosmetic ingredient listing translation skills.

“I just love this skincare line, and it’s natural!” How often do you hear this said these days? It is great that more and more people are interested in healthy products. But the sad reality is, many “green” products really aren’t all that healthy. The labels may say it is natural, it may have a few plant ingredients and the name may sound natural, but these things do not mean a product is safe.

That is what we are truly after here. Safe products. Forget natural, even organic. Think healthy, good for you cosmetics. And there is only one way to identify safe products for sure. Read the ingredient listings.

You’ve heard it before, it is important to know what is in your products. But are you often stumped by hard to decipher cosmetics ingredients? They can be difficult to read and some not so clean manufacturers even go out of their way to make harmful ingredients less identifiable. All caps, bold print, and no readily apparent listings are just some of the ways conventional brands make ID-ing nasty ingredients tougher.

It doesn’t have to be that way. You can learn to read ingredient listings, simply and effectively. All you need is a few hot tips and one helpful crib sheet.

7 Steps to Reading Cosmetic Ingredients Listings Like a Pro

1. Like I said above, the terms on the front of a product label often mean very little. Reputable nontoxic brands mean what they say. But you will see everything from “Natural” to “Organic” to “Pure” on products that contain synthetic ingredients. Ignore the front of a product label and turn to the back (or the packaging) and look for an ingredient listing. No listing on the packaging or product? A brand website will sometimes carry ingredient listings. Still can’t find one? Consider it not worth your time and move on.

2. Speaking of ingredient listings on brand websites. Have you ever been searching products and notice all ingredient listings say “Key Ingredients”? Bet they are all healthy looking too, right? Many toxic brands who market themselves as clean will use this tactic to showcase the healthy ingredients they use. The problem is, they are not disclosing all ingredients, so we can’t be sure if it is safe or not. This is always a red flag to me and I assume they are using ingredients they don’t want us to know about.

3. When you do find an ingredient listing, it is important to know how to decode it. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration, from greatest to least. So say a product is aloe based (aloe making up the greatest portion of the product), aloe would be first on the ingredient listing. And so on.

4. Feel like you are reading Greek? Sometimes even natural ingredient names look chemical. Brands who follow the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) labeling standard are required to list ingredients using scientific names. For instance, Jojoba oil would be listed as “Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil”. This can make an ingredient listing look crazy long and hard to read. INCI also requires fragrance from essential oils be listed as “Fragrance” or “Parfum”, which both sound synthetic. Brands using essential oils for fragrance usually note this under the ingredient listing.

5. Of course, you are going to come across indecipherable ingredient names that are not healthy. Take a look at our 11 Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid for help in identifying toxins. Bookmark for handy access while shopping.

6. We don’t always have time to peruse each and every label. When in a rush try this tip: Check the first five and last five ingredients on a listing. The first five make up most of the product, the last five are usually fragrance and preservatives. Not foolproof, but if these look clean, it is a fair bet that the product is safe.

7. Organically produced ingredients are healthier than the rest. But the most important first steps are to make sure a product is free from harmful ingredients. A product made with a few organic ingredients can still contain synthetics. Organic labeling for cosmetics is the same as for food: “100% Organic” means a product contains only organically produced ingredients, “Certified Organic” means the product is made of at least 95% organically produced ingredients, “Made with Organic Ingredients” means the product contains at least 70% organically produced ingredients. The remaining 5-30% is what you need to check out.

The long and short of ingredient listing reading is this: Don’t get fooled by natural or organic claims, know what you don’t want in your products, and do your own research. Your health will benefit from it.

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