Green Options

I’m a believer in voting with our dollars to send companies a message about what we, as consumers, want and that message is ringing through loud and clear. Consumer demand guides retail decisions - plain and simple.  With organic beauty brands popping up at what seems to be lightning fast speeds these days, its evident consumers are speaking and companies are listening.  It’s undoubtedly exciting there are more organic options popping up on the scene at a steady pace, but it can also be very confusing and overwhelming for consumers to distinguish a truly organic brand from one that isn’t when labels and price points can be similar.

It’s all about ingredients.  But how can we decide when we can’t locate the ingredients and when we finally do, are they really organic? 

Terri Bly, president of The Nature of Beauty (www.natureofbeauty.com), announces the arrival of Intelligent Nutrients’ new USDA certified organic anti-aging skin care line, as well as Natureofbeauty.com’s special offer of $30 off the entire line when pre-ordered by April 5.

Its safe to say most of us are cluching our wallets tighter these days and for those of us who refuse to compromise quality and purity in our beauty products despite these economic times, there is hope!  Follow one or all of these tips below to avoid falling victim to cheap and toxic beauty buys in the name of saving a buck.  

1). Open Your Cupboard

Keep it simple and affordable by getting back to the basics.  Know exactly what you’re putting on your skin and you’ll save some dough in the process:

Many of you visit to find the latest, best and most effective natural and organic beauty brands amongst other things. Organic beauty is one of my favorite topics and one I’m passionate about.  And I don’t know about you, but I value honest recommendations from fellow consumers much more than I do when it comes from an owner or employee of a business.  And I know I’m not alone, otherwise Googling “review of X product” would not be the common pastime that it is.  So with that in mind, I’m bringing you the real deal about NatureOfBeauty.com. I’ll clue you in on which products I’m loving right now, the scoop on two hot brands they just launched, share my Christmas gift ideas and divulge how to get free shipping and 15% off your order.

As if to outdo themselves, the already fabulous Suki skincare line has just turned it up a notch.  Launched at ISPA this past weekend and online today, the brand-new bioengineered cosmeceutical grade skin prescriptions “spa line” boasts the culmination of breakthrough scientific advancements with pure organic botanicals, creating a high-powered line of potent & pure skin care.  After years of research & development, Suki Kramer continues to challenge industry standards of purity and efficacy.  Designed to target some of the most stubborn of skin issues with high doses of cutting edge actives, this line will combine the same philosophy of suki advanced. organic. science.™ with even more advanced cutting edge ingredients.  The six new sukispa™ products include:

Gracing the covers of over 700 magazines, posters, calendars and videos, Carol Alt has been referred to as “The Face” by Life Magazine and named “The model that started the supermodel trend” by John Casablanca, owner of Elite Models.  Ten years ago her health began to decline.  Carol explains: “Ten years ago, I was feeling bad…really bad.  I had chronic headaches, sinusitis, stomach ailments; I was tired and listless.   Eventually, I got very sick and tired… and tired of being sick and tired. I searched for a real solution…not just a band aid. That’s when I started eating raw - and it changed my life - FOREVER. Over the last decade, I’ve spent countless hours studying health and nutrition from the best doctors…on my own quest towards true, lasting health and vitality.”

Have I mentioned I’m a lip balm addict??? Yes, I do confess.  I have more lip balms than I can count on two hands, but you won’t find me recommending every lip product on the planet. Because frankly, I do have my standards.  They must not be greasy, disappear in a few minutes or be filled to the brim (or at all) with any petrochem nasties, artificial color or flavor. 

But this is not a balm or gloss, it’s a lip conditioner perfect when in need of a little (or a lot) on-the-go pampering!  When you’re in a suit or a cocktail dress, do you really want to be seen pulling out your ninety-nine cents tube of (hopefully not petroletum filled) lip balm? I didn’t think so.  Why?

Making it’s debut at the All Things Organic Expo comes Revolution Organics, a brand new USDA Certified Organic skin/body line fresh out of Canada. “We really wanted to make our products look chic while still maintaining the highest level of organic integrity” says Co-Founder, Melissa Shabinsky. All plastic containers are recyclable and the packaging is made from post consumer recycled content. Their first products including a 22+ uses All Over Body Balm, Skin Creme and Lip Balm are scheduled to launch on Beauty.com October 1st. And that’s not all! Plans to roll out a color collection as well as a bath and body line are in the works and expected to be available later this year through early ‘09.

In April, Macy’s launched their Turning Over A New Leaf campaign and this Fall they plan to expand their natural/organic beauty departments starting on the East Coast.  One line they are adding is Pangea Organics, known for their pure formulations, sustainability efforts and cool (biodegradable/compostable) packaging.  It’s such great news that the demand for organic beauty products is becoming so great that large retailers cannot ignore it, in turn making it more accessible to everyday consumers.  Macy’s is currently accepting applications for Organic Cosmetics Beauty Advisors & Organic Cosmetics Shop Managers positions in the following areas: Herald Square (NY), Philadelphia Center City (PA), Downtown Boston (MA), Roosevelt Field (NY) and Paramus Garden State Plaza (NJ). 

Just launched in February ‘08, Saaf Pure Skincare is a British beauty brand that’s scientifically-researched, carefully formulated and one of the most certified skincare ranges in the world.  Accreditations include organic certification from the Soil Association (one of the most stringest certification agencies in the world), certified 100% Vegetarian by the Vegetarian Society, Vegan Society registered, Halal certified (no GMOs, alcohol or irradition) and cruelty-free certified by Naturewatch.   From rave reviews of beauty editors and bloggers, to a ”Best Organic Facial Skincare Product“ nomination, to it’s founder honored for her work at Buckingham Palace; this line boasts pure cold-pressed ingredients from a company whose ethos is founded on integrity.