By Courtney Maum •
March 24, 2009
Oh-là là Organic
Have you ever rolled around in dew-kissed blades of grass in a haute couture ballgown made out of organic muslin with the prince, or princess, of your most intimate dreams? Well, I haven’t either- but I plan to, and when I do, I will be wearing a perfume by Honoré des Prés. Composed of five different scents, each one more evocative than the next, Honoré des Prés is the first 100% natural, organic French perfume to hit the American market.
By Liz Thompson •
February 11, 2009
Roses are abundant this time of year, with many lucky ladies receiving gorgeous bouquets for Valentine’s Day. Roses are loved for their beauty, scent and many can even be eaten. This perfect posy is also a hard working ingredient when used in skin care and beauty products.
Rose hip oil is extracted from the seeds of the rose bush. This vegetable oil contains retinol (Vitamin A) and is high in Vitamin C and omega-3 making it highly effective for diminishing signs of aging, reducing sun damage and softening the skin. It is also used to treat dermatitis, acne and eczema.
Rose oil (rose otto or rose absolute) is the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of roses and is commonly used in perfumes and other beauty products.
By Stuart Stein •
December 16, 2008
File this one in the you’ve got to be kidding me section.
Both The Orange County Register and the Boston Herald pointed out that Burger King, the nation’s No. 2 burger chain (NYSE:BKC), recently debuted “Flame,” a new men’s body spray that’s billed as “the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat.” Yes, this is a legit item the chain is selling online via Ricky’s Halloween Costume Store, for $3.99.
Click on over to the Burger King Flame website, “FireMeetsDesire” and you will find a sexy soul track playing in the background and a Barry White like voice telling you to “come on baby give it a spray.”
By Stuart Stein •
August 21, 2008
Some would be content with just one successful career. Others (myself included) let the type “A” part our brain rule. Enter Ashley Peldon - actor, director, producer, entrepreneur - and all before she turns thirty. Some “stars” use their celebrity strictly for monetary purposes and ethics and commitment be damned.
Not so for Ashley Peldon and her sister Courtney. Started in 2006, Starring…! Fragrances is a cosmetics company with a difference. It combines “the allure of Hollywood glamor with their commitment to health and wellness.” Starring…! products are hand crafted and are a collection of natural, organic, environmentally friendly and paraben free perfumes, body scrubs and 100% soy wax melts. Their lineup includes everything from “playful, dessert-inspired scents to sexy, attention-grabbing florals.”
By Lucille Chi •
June 30, 2008
For over 6000 years aromatherapy, also known as the art of blending natural essential oils, has been in use. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and many other cultures around the globe have used aromatherapy oils and documented their healing properties. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, was known to have used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. In fact, he used aromatic fumigations to help rid Athens of the terrible plague. Perfumes, on the other hand, are synthetic and known to contain toxic chemicals. They were invented less than a century ago and may actually create illness. For example, the acetone found in synthetic fragrance effects the nervous system when inhaled. Research on this topic has shown side effects of possible dizziness, less coordination, nausea, and drowsiness as well as irritating the sinuses, throat, eyes, and skin. Often men’s cologne is strongest and worn with the idea of making women swoon, yet it just may have her falling for the wrong reasons.
While perfumes can alter or mutate our hormones in an unnatural way, the molecules in essential oils act naturally like hormones and form a healthy link with our bodily processes.
The right blend of essential oils will not only strengthen our immune system but also aid in revitalization and regulation of our emotional and physical responses to our changing everyday environment.
By Tiana Griego •
May 22, 2008
I often wonder why our beauty products do not come with warning labels; most of them are filled with toxins harmful to our bodies and our environment. Ingredients such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, germall, coal tar derivatives, urea, phthalates, toluene, formaldehyde, mineral oil, propylene glycol, triclosan, DEA, TEA, MEA, synthetic fragrances, PEG, BHA, and petroleum. Many of these ingredients have been confirmed to cause a wide range of cancers, reproductive concerns, allergies, and a sizeable list of health problems. Furthermore the ingredients which pollute our bodies also pollute the environment.To see the health effects of your current cosmetics check out the Environment Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. In the search field of the website, type your brand of cosmetics, or simply type one of its ingredients. Information will appear using a 1–10 ratio scale; 10 being the most harmful brand or ingredient.Your skin is your largest organ. It is porous; everything you apply on your body seeps into your pores. Therefore, what you put on your body is as important as what you put in it. Why not use beauty products kind to animals, kind to the planet, and kind to you?
What’s the solution?After much research concerning cosmetics which are safe, yet provide the desired results, I’ve found a great website to share: Holistic Beauty.
By Emma Pezzack •
May 19, 2008
It could be that I’ve just returned from a holiday in the tropics but I LOVE these organic & natural Spray Lotion Mists from Ola Hawaii. The sweet, zingy, fresh smell of pineapple + lime is super delish but there are all kinds of scents to choose from if citrus isn’t your thing.
Keep it stashed in your bag during Summer heat to spritz
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