Hi There! I hope you are doing well! Here is an overview of my Natural Beauty Favorites from September 2014. I bought all these products myself. Retail prices are listed in USD.
1. Lily Lolo Silk Finishing Powder
Some powders make my face look flat and “made-up” but this one provides great staying powder while providing a slightly dewy finish. I use this powder daily to set my foundation, BB cream and even mineral foundations. A light application of this sheer pale peachy pink powder sets my makeup beautifully and helps it last all day. The packaging is cute and functional (includes a sifter to control spillage and how much gets dispensed). I pour some into the lid, swirl my powder brush around to incorporate the product into the bristles and firmly pat it all over my face. I set it with a light misting of facial toner for extra staying power.
From the Lily Lolo US website: “Our award winning finishing powder is made with pure inert minerals and completely free of nano particles, talc, additives, harsh chemicals, parabens, gluten, bismuth oxychloride, synthetic dyes, fillers, fragrance, preservatives, petroleum based chemicals, and other questionable ingredients. Gluten free, suitable for vegans.” Ingredients: Mica, Iron Oxides $22 for 4.5g in a 40ml sifter jar
2. Benecos Bio Lip Balm
I’ve tried a few natural lip balms and this is the only one I keep coming back to. It has a creamy consistency and glides on easily while depositing a good amount of product. It’s tasteless and fragrance-free. If you’re in the market for a fragrance-free balm, you might to give this one a whirl!
From the Benecos website: “This lip balm heals and restores health to lips with organic plant oils and Vitamin E. BDIH Certified Natural, Cruelty Free, Gluten-Free.” Ingredients: Olive Fruit Oil, Beeswax, Sumax Berry Peel Wax, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Shea Butter*, Carnauba Wax, Vitamin E, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Vitamin C, Sunflower Seed Oil*, Rhus Verniciflua Peel Cera $6.99 for .15 oz/4g
3. John Masters Organics Calendula Hydrating & Toning Mask
I have slightly dry skin and I’m always trying to keep it moisturized and avoid stripping it of its natural oils. Many facial masks include clay which is great for deep cleansing but can be drying. This mask is super rich and spreads over the face like a dream. It doesn’t dry to a stiff dry consistency like many masks and is easy to wipe off.
From the John Masters Organics website: “Weekly mask with powerful hydration for dry and weather-damaged skin. Hydrates the skin with 12 oils and extracts; protects against free radical damage; helps regenerate collagen; balances production of sebum.” Ingredients: Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, arachidyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, arachidyl glucoside, glycerin*, populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract, xylitylglucoside, anhydroxylitol, xylitol, maltooligosyl glucoside/hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, hydrolyzed linseed extract*, malpighia glabra (acerola) fruit extract*, oryza sativa (rice) extract*, spirulina platensis extract*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) nut butter*, olea europaea (olive) leaf extract, calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract*, rosa damascena (rose) flower oil*, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil*, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, sclerotium gum, xanthan gum, p-anisic acid * Certified Organic $26 for 2 oz/57g
4. Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream
As many of you know, I love Pai products. They are very high quality and deliver results with a minimum number of ingredients. This lotion is rich without being greasy, absorbs well and is fragrance-free.
From the Pai website: “An intensely hydrating and therapeutic cream formulated for sensitive or allergy-prone skin. This silky, rich cream is the ultimate multi-tasker for very dry or out of condition skin. Free from alcohol, artificial fragrance, synthetic preservatives and petrochemicals.” Ingredients: aqua, helianthus annuus oil*, olea europa oil*, butyrospermum parkii butter*, cetearyl alcohol, glycerin*, simmondsia chinensis oil*, prunus domestica seed oil*, symphytum spp extract*, calendula officinalis extract*, cetearyl glucoside, echium plantagineum, mixed tocopherols, jasminum grandiflorum* oil, citrus sinensis oil*, sodium levulinate, sodium anisate, lactic acid, sodium laurel lactylate $40 for 6.8 oz/200 ml
5. Real Purity Pure Body Soap Bar
This soap lathers really well, makes me feel clean and refreshed and is reasonably priced.
From the Real Purity website: “Seaweed and Aloe Vera Gel work together to calm and moisturize the skin. Sandalwood Oil softens and tones skin, allowing it to retain increased amounts of moisture while clearing away blemishes and scar. Grapefruit Oil brightens skin and removes toxins. Alcohol and paraben-free, this product is formulated with all natural ingredients.” Ingredients:Purified Aqua (Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Gel*, Focus Vesiculosis (Seaweed), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit Seed) Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, Vitamin E*, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil* *Organic and/or All Natural Ingredients $8.00 for 4.5 oz
6. The Organic Pharmacy Carrot Butter Cleanser
Makeup Artist Lisa Eldridge whom I absolutely adore mentioned this product in her Cleansing Balm Review so I decided to give it a try. I enjoy giving myself a good facial massage at the end of the day using this product. This is probably the best mascara remover I’ve tried. When I have a full face of makeup, I lean on this product to quickly dissolve the products on my face. I remove the product with a muslin cloth soaked in very warm water or large cotton pads moistened with warm water. It’s worth noting that your face will need a separate cleansing after using this product (unlike Pai’s Camellia and Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser). After I received the product, I reviewed the ingredient list on the package and found items listed at the end that weren’t on the website. Those ingredients are Parfum (essential oils), Linalool and Limonene. I was pretty annoyed to discover these ingredients but I do like how the product performs.
From the Organic Pharmacy Website “Our ultimate best selling cleanser effortlessly removes grime, dirt, dead skin and make-up including eye make-up. Infused with Rosemary, Carrot and Shea Butter, the skin is left comfortable, incredibly soft and radiant. Chamomile and Lavender soothe and calm both skin and mind. Excellent for all skin types.” Ingredients: Sunflower Oil(Helianthus Annus), Jojoba Oil(Simmondsia Chinensis)*, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii)*, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Sesame Seed Oil (Sesamum Indicum), Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao), Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera)*, Marigold (Calendula Officinalis) Extract*, Carrot (Daucus Carrota) , Virgin Olive Oil (Olea europea)*, St Johns Wort (Hypericum Perforatum)*, Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Rosemary (Rosamarium Officinale), Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis), Lavender (Lavandula Officinalis)” $74 for 70 ml
7. Real Purity Mascara
I’ve been trying out natural mascaras the past few months and this one is my favorite so far. The product is a nice consistency and doesn’t clump during application. The brush feels just right and it coats pretty well with the first application. The formula is a good balance of thickening and lengthening and it’s a nice black color. I haven’t found a natural mascara that doesn’t smudge a little under the eyes after about 5 hours but this product has pretty good staying power. It come in a great range of colors: Clear, Emerald Green, Violet, Black, Sable Brown, Navy, Black and Brown. The mascara needs a good makeup remover and the packaging is pretty basic but it’s a great product for the price.
From the Real Purity website: “All of Real Purity’s mascaras are micronized (not nano-sized) and are then coated in Pycnogenol, a premiere anti-oxidant that goes one step further to protect your eyelashes from harsh chemicals.” Ingredients: Purified Water, Beeswax, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Candellila, Cellulose, Pure Plant Extracts, Iron Oxide $15 for .50cc
8. Pai Echium & Macadamia Replenishing Day Cream
Another winner from Pai, this moisturizer is great for day or night. The pump is convenient and the packaging is elegant. It was a tad heavy for daytime use during the summer but it will be great now that Fall is upon us.
From the Pai website: “Breakthrough organic extracts to revitalize sensitive skin as it ages. Rich in deeply replenishing actives, it absorbs beautifully to optimize both hydration and regeneration for a smooth, supple complexion. Accelerates skin cell regeneration to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Deep conditions and repairs skin at a cellular level. Anti-inflammatory properties keep sensitive skin types clear and calm.Suitable for Vegans. Not tested on animals.” Ingredients: Echium, Macademia, Rose, Aqua, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil* (Apricot Kernel Oil), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil* (Macadamia Oil), Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil* (Thistle Oil), Cetearyl Alcohol (Coconut-derived Emulsifier), Butyrospermum Parkii Butter* (Shea Butter), Glycerin* (Vegetable Glycerine), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil* (Borage Oil), Lactobacillus Ferment (From Biotechnology), Prunus Domestica Seed Oil* (Plum Kernel Oil), Glyceryl Stearate Citrate (From Sustainable Palm Oil), Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil (Echium Extract), Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract (Black Elder Extract), Rosa Damascena Oil* (Damask Rose Otto Oil), Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Cetearyl Alcohol (Coconut-derived Emulsifier), Cetearyl Glucoside (Corn-derived Emulsifier), Sodium Anisate (Basil Extract), Glyceryl Caprylate (From Coconut Oil), Pelargonium Graveolens Oil* (Rose Geranium Oil), Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract (Rosemary Extract), Sodium Levulinate (Corn Extract), Citrus Grandis Peel Oil* (Grapefruit Peel Oil), Lactic Acid (From Sugar Beet) , *Certified Organic by the Soil Association $70 for 1.7 fl oz/50 ml
Have you tried any of these products? What are your current go-to natural beauty products?