TreeHugger.com (by Jasmin Malik Chua)                                                                                     

1. Badger Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Pucker up for your daily java fix with this extra-creamy balm made from organic cocoa butter, organic extra-virgin olive oil, and golden yellow beeswax, as well as extracts of organic dark roasted Arabica coffee beans, rose hip, and seabuckthorn berry. Organic aloe vera melts away cold-weather dryness with lipsmacking aplomb. ($5, Badger Balm)

2. Perfect Organics Hazelnut Coffee Ultimate Body Scrub
For an invigorating, skin-toning buzz, slough away with this heady brew of finely ground coffee beans, moisturizing organic plant oils, and gentle botanical extracts. Allow to percolate on skin before rinsing for best results. ($24.99, Perfect Organics)

3. BodyCoffee Energizing Body Bar
Supercharged, silky smooth skin is just a lather away with this sense-stimulating body bar that exfoliates while it cleanses. Ground Coffea Arabica—with a touch of peppermint extract—gets circulation pumping for that natural glow, while moisture-locking hemp and olive oils relieve parched winter skin. ($8, BodyCoffee)

4. Three Ravens Atomic Cafe Amaretto Bath Salts
Scoop a few spoonfuls of these Cafe Amaretto-inspired salts into your bathtub for a pampering, espresso-infused pick-me-up. With a cuppa that is both organic and fair trade, social responsibility has never felt this indulgent. (From $3, Etsy)

ARS.com

You’ve heard of Soy Dream, but have you heard of SoyScreen?  For you "greenies" out there this new soy-based sunscreen technology, is a natural alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens.  The company responsible for the new soy bean screen is iSoy.  No, it’s not sold at your local Apple store; however, the company’s ferulic soy glycerides (FSG33) a new soy-based anti-aging ingredient recently made its debut in New York City marketed by a major cosmetics company.

"When Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemists Joe Laszlo and Dave Compton originally developed SoyScreen, they envisioned outdoor enthusiasts and other consumers using their invention as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based sunscreens.

Instead, SoyScreen—and the patented ARS method of producing it—became the technological platform from which iSoy Technologies Corporation of Cary, Ill., began launching a novel class of cosmetic ingredients called "skincare bio-lipid actives."

In February 2007, a variation of SoyScreen formulated by iSoy—ferulic soy glycerides (FSG33)—made its commercial debut as a key active ingredient in a wrinkle-prevention skincare product marketed by a major cosmetics company in New York City.

FSG33’s burgeoning commercial roots began with bio-lipid reaction experiments that Laszlo and Compton conducted in 1998 at ARS’ National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill.  There, they devised an enzyme-based method to make an all-natural sunscreen from soy oil and ferulic acid, a natural antioxidant that filters out UVA and UVB sunlight."  Read More

TreeHugger.com

We’re on quite a roll here with news about natural beauty products, last week we told you about the UK brand Nude Skincare and the US brand Suki, now we’ve hopped back over the pond again to look at Laidbare, another UK brand. Sarah Silvester only started creating her own line of natural beauty products at the beginning of 2006, but has already developed a wide range of products using fresh ingredients, organic extracts and vitamins. We think her brand is notable for creating products for men as well as women. We haven’t seen many natural skincare products for men and there were audible outcries in the comments section of the How To Green Women’s Personal Care guide about the sexism of the post, so here you go boys. The Laidback range includes green tea face + body wash, aloe vera shaving cream, red clover face + body moisturiser and walnut shell face + body scrub, all are fragranced with the essential oils of lemon and black pepper.  Read More

TreeHugger.com

Though we may not like the idea, there’s a good chance that we’ve all been the beneficiaries of animal testing at some point in our lives.  Nowhere is this more true than in the world of cosmetics, chemicals and drugs where it is common for tens of thousands of various animals to undergo lab trials each and every year.

Yet help is on the way: a team of researchers at L’Orèal have just invented an artificial skin, dubbed "Episkin," that may soon take the place of all those beleaguered creatures in future trials.  Grown from cells obtained from the top layer of pieces of skin, Episkin can be manipulated and adapted based on the tester’s needs: it can be made to resemble older skin, can be made to tan and, by using donor cells from women of different ethnicities, can assess the efficiency of sunscreen for various skin tones.  Read More

TreeHugger.com

 
The purity of Nude Skincare is displayed not only in its branding and natural ingredients, but also in its pedigree; Nude has been raised in a very well connected stable indeed.  This new beauty range has been created by Bryan Meehan, the co-founder of the British organics store Fresh + Wild, who after selling to Whole Foods for a cool $38 million in 2004 decided to look for a new eco-friendly business challenge.  The fact that Nude spelled backwards is Edun should give you some indication of Meehan’s high profile connections.  He says in a recent interview with The Evening Standard Magazine, "Ali Hewson and I were discussing her ethical clothing range Edun.  When I told her I wanted to get into natural skincare, she suggested using the name Nude. She and Bono are now my investors."  Just when we thought Bono couldn’t possibly fit in any more planet saving activities we discover the man is helping to bring us organic moisturiser!  Read More 

PioneerThinking.com
Organic skin care is becoming big business.  When you are choosing skin care, personal care and cosmetic products, you should become a label detective.  This is the only way to ensure you purchase honest and truly natural and organic skin care products.

# 1: Learn To Read Product Labels

Be aware of the Rule Of Thirds:  The top third of the ingredients label generally lists the ingredients that comprise around 90-98% of the product. Most of this is usually water. Read on to find out why this matters!  The middle third generally represents approximately 5-8% of the product.  The bottom third represents around 1-3%.

# 2: ‘Natural’ skin care is not always natural.

There are two definitions of the world natural.  The dictionary definition: “Existing in or, formed by, nature”. The cosmetic industry definition: “Any ingredient derived from a natural substance”.  Manufacturers commonly use the world ‘natural’ on labels to deceive consumers. For example, “Cocamide-DEA derived from coconut oil”.  Cocamide-DEA may well be from coconut oil, but a synthetic chemical called diethanolamine is used in the extraction process.  It is known to cause cancer.  An ingredient is not really natural if it has been processed in this way.  Read More

BalmBalm is skin care line perfect for the "green girl" on the go.  The 100% organic, fragrance free product line brings new meaning to the term all-in-one.  This is a six-in-one product is seriously multi-purpose!  BalmBalms all natural ingredients are perfect for sensitive skin, they can even be used on your baby.   BalmBalm suggests the product under makeup or lipstick for extra moisture and a dewy glow.  The product is also used for cracked cuticles, heels, elbows, unruly eyebrows, hair or even as perfume!  For only $6 bucks, how can you deny this sort of deal?

[ Via KissAndMakeup.com ]
 

Ah…to be beautiful and save the world!  No, I’m not talking about “Brangelina.”
You can save the world and look fabulous too!  Cargo Cosmetics PlantLove, is a collection of 12 lipsticks, in eco-friendly packaging and 100% botanical ingredients such as; vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba, the lipsticks contain absolutely no mineral oil or petroleum.

The tube is actually made of corn (yes, like the corn you eat) which makes it 100% biodegradable.   And not only are you getting a great lipstick but you’re getting a garden of wild flowers – the outer box is made of flower paper and real flower seeds.  Just add water and flowers will bloom – seriously!

In my pursuit to be a responsible beauty junkie, I feel the duty to support sustainable cosmetics.  Mother Earth needs our help looking beautiful too!  Also, CARGO is donating two dollars from the $20 sale of every shade to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Let’s help save the planet and provide a brighter future for our children, one lipstick at a time!

Bonus: Five of the gorgeous lipsticks were designed by and named after some of your favorite celebrities:  Evangeline for Evangeline Lily, Lindsay for Lindsay Lohan, Maria for Maria Menounos, Mariska for Mariska Hargitay  and Sarah for Sarah Chalke