Eco-Friendly – Page 2 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Paint Your Face Beautiful Naturally, with Josie Maran Cosmetics.

I have been wanting to try and to review Josie Maran’s Natural makeup for a while, because it is glamorous as well as great for you and the environment. Josie Maran is a former top model who had a contract with Maybelline that lasted 10 years — which is amazing. She loved learning makeup trips from the artists, but decided to make a cosmetics line that complimented her natural and organic lifestyle. Thus Josie Maran Cosmetics was born!

I have tested ( and love ) the following products:

Mascara ($22.00 USD) — First of all this is a great mascara. It lengthens and defines my lashes without clumping or smearing. Plus it is paraben and fragrance free and contains organic ingredients like Jojoba oil, Argan oil and Beeswax to condition and strengthen. I love the fact that my lashes are being treated as I am wearing one of my favorite types of beauty products (I never leave the house without mascara). Available in Black and Brown.

Eye Shadow ($20.00 USD) — This is beautiful, velvety eye color that glides on and blends so easy. The ingredients are natural plus paraben and fragrance free — and even cooler is the fact that each shade comes in a state-of-the-art biodegradable compact. You can apply the shadows dry, or wet for more intensity. Available in 27 shades. I have Beach (shimmery pale sand), Embrace (shimmery coppery brown), and Divine (matte medium brown). All three shades work together seamlessly to make a natural look or a pretty smoky eye.

Lip Gloss ($18.00 USD) — I love a good, non-sticky lip gloss — and I have found a great one here! Full of natural and organic ingredients, this gloss contains no parabens. Available in 6 shades. I have Confession, which is a coppery gold. It looked very shimmery in the tube and I thought it might be too coppery for me. But it goes on sheer and very pretty.

Visit www.josiemarancosmetics.com to learn more and to purchase these fab natural products.

Calm Your Senses with Buddha Nose Heart Spray

Buddha Nose is a certified organic body care company that believes in inspiring the mind-body-beauty connection.They use only USDA certified organic ingredients when available, and 4 of their 12 products carry the USDA organic seal.

I love natural and organic products, so I was excited to try their Heart Spray ($24.00 USD). This is a soft floral body mist that claims to calm emotions and nurture the spirit. Ingredients include Rose Hydrosol, distilled water and the essential oils of Sandalwood, Sweet Orange, Petitgrain, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang.

The website describes the essence of the scent as:

” The name Heart Spray is inspired by what Yogis identify as the “Heart Center,” an area located in the center of our chest. Many who practice Yoga and Shiatsu believe the “Heart Center” is home to our emotions, our creativity and our spirit. By misting this sweet and gentle spray around your face and body, heartbreak, loss, and anxiety, drift away – making room for love and peacefulness.”

I like to spray it on and all around me, them breathe in deeply, especially when I am working, to alleviate stress. Luckily, I work from home, but the scent is not strong or offensive in any way. It reminds me of sniffing a bouquet of fresh cut wildflowers — it’s a very natural scent.

Visit www.buddhanose.com to learn more and to purchase this and many more natural and organic products that nurture the soul as well as make you pretty!

Beautyblender blender + cleanser duo pack

blender + cleanser duo pack

I love finding cool makeup tools that make application easier. And when its good for the environment? Well, that’s even better! So of course I LOVE the Beautyblender makeup sponge (blender and cleanser is $34.95).

The website explains, “Invented by top Hollywood make up artists Rea Ann Silva and Veronica Lorenz, Beautyblender has been created to leave you with a professional finish and a flawless complexion. Silva and Lorenz know that the key to a perfect face is simple: a perfect blend. So forget your fingers or sharp-edged triangular sponges, these application methods waste make up and can leave visible streaks.”

The pre=”The “>Beautylender is an egg-shaped (elliptical), velvety sponge that because of the shape, blends with out streaking. Stippling it around the face creates a smooth surface and even helps my pores seem smaller. The pointed side is for around eyes, mouth and nose and the base is for broader areas like forehead, cheeks and chin.

The really cool think about this sponge is that it is reusable. Use it, then wash it with the Blendercleanser. This will keep the skin healthy and extend the life of the sponge. “Blendercleanser is a lightly lavender-scented cleanser that’s free of dyes and skin irritants. It’s soothing soy-based, low-suds formula breaks down rapidly, making it earth-friendly and fun to use. Soy has the added benefit of being one of nature’s finest moisturizers, so by all means, clean up with class and do it often.”

I clean it after each use by applying a small amount to the soiled areas of the Beautyblender. I lather, then rinse. When it is wet, it is twice the normal size. I then place it on the pedestal on the top of the cleanser and let it air dry. Even if you use it a little wet, it still works great!

To learn more and to purchase the Beautyblender, visit www.beautyblender.net. Have fun with this great product!

ecoTOOLS Creams Keep Hands and Feet Soft!

I love the ecoTools’s Bath and Body collection. Not only are all of the products 98% natural and paraben, phthalate and cruelty free; they also are packaged in recyclable bottles and the ingredients are biodegradable and dermatologist, allergy and clinically tested.

I have recently tried a couple more of these products including the One Hand Helps the Other Intensive Hand Cream ($7.99). This jojoba oil formula, not only makes my dry hands incredibly soft, I think it smells fantastic! The scent is a bit strong, so if there is someone in the next cubicle to you at work who is scent sensitive — leave it at home!

The Love Heels All Intensive Heel Cream ($7.99) is also very nice, but it is a thicker formula than the hand cream. This is very moisturizing and will help cracked winter feet. This scent is minty and also very nice. This cream contains repairing natural butters to soften dry feet and hands.

Visit www.parispresents.com/EcoTools to learn more and to find a store near you!

Be Good to Your Nails, Try Organic Priti Nail Polish

Wow, I just realized that my blog has been around for a year now! Amazing. And I am still finding great new products to review!

In the year I have been beauty blogging, I have become more aware of the natural and organic products for review. I think that the number of natural and orgainc brands and product lines will only grow in the future, which is both great for our bodies and the planet.

I have recently discovered Priti, an organic nail and skin care company. The complete product line is non-toxic and derived of organically grown products.

I have been wearing their nail polish ($12.50, 0.43 fl. oz.), which is contained in a bottle that is completely recyclable. The website states, “they are fast drying, chip resistant, non-yellowing, contains a UV inhibitor, and are super durable and glossy”.

I have been wearing a peacock blue color called Tulip Tree for the past week, and it is just beginning to chip, which is amazing for a nail polish. I usually touch up my polish during the week, but this week I haven’t had to. And I have had compliments on the gorgeous color, which has stayed glossy all week. This is a pretty pricy polish, but it is well worth it for the wear and for the fact that it is non-toxic and organic!

Visit www.pritinyc.3dcartstores.com to learn more and to purchase these great polishes, which come in a large variety of colors.

Green By Nature

Looking for an affordable natural product line? I love finding new “green” products because not only are they good for the environment and our bodies, the potent scents are usually pretty fantastic!

Green by Nature is an all natural bath and body care line. All products are 95% plus natural, and free of parabens, sulfates, DEA, petroleum, propylene glycol, sacchrine, dioxin and phthalates.

Each Green by Nature Product contanins a beldn of six bio-renewable ingredients: grapeseed extract, shea butter, pistachio oil, aloe leaf extract, rosehip oil and beeswax. Infused with all natural antioxidants, emollients, conditioners and vitamins to benefit the skin and provide protection from the environment.

I really love the Banana Shea Body Lotion ($9.99 7.4 oz). It also comes in Almond Cocoa and Mint Green Tea fragrances. The Banana Shea smells like fresh bananas and my kids think it smells so yummy! I don’t have to worry about them using it because it is 96.6% natural.

The lip butters are so affordable (only $2.99 USD) and taste and smell wonderful. They are available in 10 flavors and are very moisturizing.

The Lemon Verbena Cuticle Cream ($6.50 USD) is good for dry and cracked cuticles. I like to rub it on my fingertips at night and let it soak it. And like the other products, it is very fresh smelling.

You can purchase these products on line at www.greenbynaturebeauty.com or check out your local Target.

Nvey Eco

: NVEY ECO Organic Eye Shadow

There are many organic hair, face and body care products on the market today. I have reviewed some here, but have found it is difficult to find organic color cosmetics.

The Australian cosmetic house NVEY Le Maquillage has recently debuted their organic collection of make-up in the United States in 2006. The brand is named NVEY ECO, and it is one of the few organic makeup collections to hit the U.S market. The NVEY ECO website states, “A pioneer in the industry, NVEY ECO is a luxurious and comprehensive collection of makeup colors suited for all skin types and ages and the only cosmetic brand to be certified organic by the Organic Food Chain.”

The cosmetics contain a blend of natural botanics and powerful antioxidants such as safflower oil, Vitamins C, A, B5 and E, chamomile and jojoba oil. These ingredients are gentle on the skin and make for a healthy and glowing complexion.

My favorite product that I have tried is the Organic Eye Shadow — ($24.00) The website states the shadow is , “finely milled with an extra soft base of Corn Silk and Jojoba Oil, NVEY ECO, Organic Eye Shadows can be used in combination to enhance and contour the eye or individually for a flush of color. Chamomile and Vitamins A, C, and E make for a smooth and soft formula excellent for dry and sensitive skin. “

The shadows are very soft and easily blendable. They also have very nice pigments and stay on all day. I really like #268, which is a pearl taupe shimmer. I sweep it all over myeye lid for a neutral color base and then add a little highlighter under the brow and a darker color in the crease. Very pretty.

NVEY ECO has a full range of products on their website www.econveybeauty.com. Check it out if you are looking for quality organic color!

Intelligent Nutrients Creates Fab Natural and Organic Products

Looking for a natural and organic way to groom? These days there are many brands and lines to choose from. Intelligent Nutrients is a health and beauty product company, utilizing 100% food-based and organic certified ingredients. They have a wide range of products including skin care, hair care, aromatics and supplements.

Trying some of the companies products I fell in love with two cleansers; the Certified Organic Anti-Aging Cleanser for the face and the 70% Organic Hair Cleanser. Both of theses cleansers moisturize as they clean and feel and smell great! The descriptions on the website are:

Certified Organic Anti-Aging Cleanser ($45.00 USD) — Gently remove dirt, makeup and impurities while nurturing skin with this non-foaming cleanser. The USDA Certified Organic formula restores and protects with antioxidants, plant sterols, fatty acids and essential oils to help prevent aging and inflammation. A pure combination of the brand’s signature Intellimune Seed Oil Complex along with Argan and Acai help maintain a harmonious balance of moisture for radiant, healthy skin. Suitable for all skin types including mature, dry, sensitive and oily skin.

70% Organic Hair Cleanser ($29.00 USD) — Safe enough for the whole family, this delicate shampoo nourishes with a pure, plant-based formula. Certified organic by the UK’s Soil Association, the light suds rinse clean and leave a soft scent. Formulated with Apple water, Coffee Seed oil and 100% non-toxic plant-based cleansers the gentle blend also nourishes with the antioxidant-rich Intellimune Seed Oil Complex. Safe for color-treated hair.

Like many organic and natural products on the market today, these cleansers have a strong, earthy scent. If you do not like fragrance in your products these are not for you. I really enjoy them and recommend them as well as trying their other products.

Visit the website at www.intelligentnutrients.com to learn more about and purchase these great-for-you products.

Lavanila The Healthy Body Butter in Vanilla Lavender

Lavanila The Healthy Body Butter in Vanila Lavender — Lavanila The Healthy Body Butter in Vanilla Lavender

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

Lavanila’s mission is to create healthy skincare by using natural ingredients. They are proud that their products also contain vitamin-rich antioxidants & pure essential oils and are non-toxic. Lavanila products are eco-friendly and they don’t test on our furry friends!

I have tried The Healthy Body Butter in Vanilla Lavender ($25.00 for 8.5 oz). Vanilla Lavender is their newest scent. It is a blend of Spanish lavender, rose absolute, violet leaf and Madagascar vanilla. I love the scent of lavender and vanilla, but wasn’t sure how they would smell together. Luckily, I really like it. The scent is very warm and comforting. The lavender is dominant when I first apply the lotion, then the vanilla softly comes through.

The lotion itself contains 100% pure shea & cocoa butters and protects with the antioxidants goji berry and kakadu plum. It is a thick cream and it leaves the skin soft and very moisturized.

Visit the website at www.lavanila.com to learn more about this great brand and find a retailer near you.

My 5 Top Finds in 2009 — So Far…

I am so excited, as this is my 100th blog post! I started my blog in September 2008. But since January, I have received lots of fantastic products from fab companies to sample and review. I have looked back and found my 5 very favorite products or companies. These items are so good, I would definitely purchase them!

1. Lipstick Queen Big Bang Illusion Gloss ($20.00 USD www.lipstickqueen.com) — is probably the best gloss I have tried. Its light reflecting particles create the illusion of fuller lips without irritating ingredients. And it is creamy, not sticky. FAB!

2. Anything from Kenzo (www.kenzousa.com)! From their fragrances to their skincare items, Kenzo is all about quality and just plain fabulosity! Their scents are very subtle and fresh, like the Eau de Fleur de The – Tea (1.7 oz , $55.00 USD).

3. EcoTools (www.parispresents.com/EcoTools_s/36.htm) Makes the most wonderful — and affordable — makeup brushes and tools and are created from recycled and sustainable materials. I’m really digging the Foundation Brush ($5.99 USD) and the Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki Brush ($7.99 USD) right now, but their are so many to choose from!

4. Tigi Love, Peace & The Planet line is a really fantastic eco-friendly line for your hair. The Eco Awesome Cranberry Orange Mint Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner($19.95 each USD) smells out of this world! It’s not up on the TIGI Website yet, but it should be soon.

5. LUSH (www.lushusa.com) makes lovely fresh handmade bath and beauty items. I really love their bath bombs! What a fun treat. But they also make quality skincare and haircare.

These are just a few of my favorite products that I have tried. I have been so lucky to love almost everything that I have received. You are welcome to peruse my blog for other awesome items that you haven’t tried yet!