Natural Ingredients – Page 5 – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Achieve a Polished Look with LORAC Cosmetics

LORAC Cosmetics was created by celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw to deliver healthy cosmetics that wear flawlessly. Her products are used by celebrity’s on the red carpet as well as normal ladies such as myself!

I have recently tried a few products by LORAC and I have to say that I love the quality and feel of these products. My favorites (so far) are:

Double Feature Paraben-Free Concealer Highlighter ($24.00) – This clever face perfector includes a concealer, a highlighter and hygienic blender ball all in one slim stick. The LORAC website suggests, “Cover under eye circles and hide blemishes with the Full-Coverage, Long-Wearing Concealer Stick and then finish the look with the Blender Ball for a hygienic, natural picture-perfect finish. Use the Moisture-Rich liquid Highlighter to lighten and brighten under eyes, highlight cheekbones and help diffuse fine lines.”

I agree. The concealer stick is very creamy and I like to dot it under eyes, around my nose, over blemishes and then take the roller ball and seamlessly blend the lines. I then use the subtle but shimmery highlighter in the inner corner of my eyes, under my browbone and on the top of my cheek bones to make me seem awake and youthful. I think this product is well worth the price for the variety that you get.

I also love the Natural Performance Foundation ($35.00) – This gentle foundation is oil-free, paraben-free and fragrance-free formula and it contains three soothing natural ingredients for sensitive skin – Xyleine, Premier Olive Leaf Extract, and Vitamin A. The website explains that “Xyleine, the active ingredient that contains Papaya Fruit Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract and Olive Leaf Extract, is loaded with vitamins, flavonoids, soothing polyphenols and natural cell regenerating properties. The Premiere Olive Leaf Extract is rich in Oleanolic Acid, an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant that helps your skin stay healthy and protect itself. It’s also infused with Vitamin A, another antioxidant that helps rejuvenate and improve your skin.”

I love the top of the bottle. You twist the cap and the pump pops up. This keeps the bottle clean, plus it is really cool. The foundation is light and gives skin a lovely glow. I am a liquid foundation girl, haven’t got used to the powder foundations, and this has a light and beautiful formula.

Breakthrough Performance Lipstick SPF 15 ($22.00) is a crazy-good lipstick. Not many lipsticks have an SPF, so it gets my endorsement right there — SPF is everyone’s friend! It is also paraben-free, long wearing, and VERY moisturizing and creamy. it is infused with nourishing and moisturizing antioxidants such as Vitamin E and Olive Fruit Oil. My only suggestion is that LORAC introduces more colors in the collection. Right now, there are seven beautiful colors. I like Premiere, a soft neutral pink for everyday and Vanity, a medium red-pink for going out. Beautiful!

Visit www.loraccosmetics.com to purchase these FABULOUS products!

Borlind System Absolute

Being 40 (-ish), I am always looking for skin care that can slow down the aging process. I am fairly lucky with my skin (not many wrinkles), but I do have red areas and larger pores, which help show that my skin is not as young as it used to be!

Annemarie Linder is a German pioneer of natural cosmetics and co-founder of Borlind cosmetics. She devotes her passion to creating natural beauty products like the System Absolute (advanced skin care for mature skin) that I have recently tested.

Borlind’s System Absolute claims to deliver valuable botanical hydrating ingredients and potent antioxidant vitamins deep into the skin. The products I have tried are:

System Absolute Cleanser ($53.99, 5.07 oz): A creamy emulsion which gently, yet thoroughly, removes dirt, makeup, and other pollutants. This smells great and is refreshing as it cleans.

System Absolute Beauty Fluid ($92.99, 1.7 oz) : A potent antioxidant gel which hydrates and strengthens skin’s resistance to environmental damage. I love this light gel that instantly absorbs into the skin and gives my skin a nice glow.

System Absolute Day Cream ($109.99, 1.7 oz): A rich cream which provides intensive hydration, care, and protection against environmental damage. This cream is nice, but is a bit heavy for me. I have to wait a while after application to put my makeup on.

System Absolute Night Cream ($109.99, 1.7 oz): A luxurious cream which works to smooth, restore suppleness, repair environmental damage, support regeneration, and replenish moisture and oil. The cream is too heavy for me that it borders on greasy. My skin does look good in the morning after use, but I have been breaking out.

After a few weeks of trying these products, I have found that I really like them. I do think they are made for skin a little more mature than mine, but I will continue to use the cleanser and beauty fluid as I enjoy the feeling and results I get with these products.

Visit www.borlind.com to learn more and to purchase these products or items from their other skin care collections. Enjoy!

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!

Juara — Natural Indonesian Skin Care

Looking for a different type of skin care company? Juara skin care is a fusion active botanicals of Indonesian herbal recipes and Western science to create products that represent the best the east and west. They combine active botanicals such as rice, tamarind, turmeric, candlenut oil, healing teas and red sandalwood with modern technology and innovation to deliver quality treatments.

I recommend the following products from the line:

Rice Facial Cleanser ($25.00) — This gentle cleanser contains rice starch to remove make-up and also condition the skin. Rice starch also contains soothing and softening properties and is rich in amino acids and protein. I enjoy a good cleanser, I believe that it sets the stage for a good skin care regimen. I really love that my skin feels clean but not dry after this cleanser and is ready for my moisturizer!

Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer (oil-free) ($48.00) — My skin is combination and can get a little oily throughout the day. The website describes that, “this light gel-creme combines the age-defying benefits of fermented sweet black tea with the shine-reducing and purifying properties of ginger for a luminous matte finish. Completely oil-free and specially formulated for oily skin, it immediately reduces shine while at the same time helping delay and reverse signs of aging.” I have used other mattefying moisturizers that dry out my combination skin, but this lotion is so moisturizing — just not greasy! It is also paraben-free, alcohol-free, unfragranced and oil-free.

Candlenut Lip Balm SPF 20 ($18.00) — It’s lip balm season! At least for me it is — my lips can really feel the cold air and they are already becoming dry. This protective lip balm arrives in a very lovely mirror compact plus it relieves dry and chapped lips. With a great SPF 20, it will protect your lips from UVA and UVB rays of the sun with effective broad-spectrum sunscreens to help prevent aging and skin cancer. It contains candlenut, jojoba and olive oils and is scented with Indonesian citrus fruits. Very nice!

Visit juaraskincare.com to purchase these wonderful products. Enjoy!

LaNatura Natural and Organic Skin Care

It’s wonderful how the beauty industry is evolving and that there are more and more choices for women who want to use natural and organic ingredients.

LaNatura is a body, skin and hair care company that pride themselves on using ingredients that are good for us. LaNatura’s mission is “to use only the finest and purest ingredients in their products, combining healing, mood-enhancing, and relaxing essential oils with highly active certified organic botanicals, vitamins and minerals to balance the skin’s functions, reduce stress, and promote an overall feeling of well-being.”

Matcha Green Tea 100% Vegan Pure Body Butter ($30.00) Matcha Green Tea Leaf Powder is a powerful anti-oxidant This product claims to be anti-aging, fighting free radicals that damage and age the skin. Contains vitamins, Minerals and Amino Acids. This is a very rich body butter that smells very fresh. My skin is very smooth after use, but resist the urge to use it as a hand cream as it can be a bit greasy.

Anti-Stress Therapy roll-on ($12.00) claims to, “calm the senses while it gently restores circulation. This exceptionally soothing formula glides onto neck, temples, and pulse points to help relieve tension and everyday stresses. Infused with essential oils of basil, rosemary, eucalyptus, menthol, and peppermint, Anti-Stress Therapy is the ultimate solution for replenishing precious energy.” This smells and feels wonderful on! And I do feel calmer after using it. I recommend getting a few of these; one for the home, one for your purse, and most important — one for work! This has helped me through a few stressful work days.

My favorite of the products I have tried is the Shea Butter Lip Balm ($8.00). This extremely moisturizing balm is available in 21 flavors — there is something for everyone. I really like the Cocovanilla flavor. It is so yummy!

Visit www.lanatura.com to learn more and to purchase these products.

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.

LUSH’s Fab Face Masks

LUSH makes wonderful, fresh beauty products for skin, hair, and bath time. I recently tried a couple of their fresh masks.

Oatfix Fresh Face Mask – This mask is described as “a delicious blend of banana, vanilla and oats to cleanse, soften and moisturize dry and sensitive skin.” This smells really yummy, like a dessert. It is a very gentle mask that does not irritate at all and softens the skin nicely. This is great if your skin can’t take harsh mud masks. It also makes a gentle scrub when you are in a hurry.

Love Lettuce Fresh Face Mask – “An effective, exfoliating face mask wich gives normal to oily skin a softened smoothed and radiant glow. Polishing almond shell is balanced by the skin softening qualities of almond oil and seaweed gel.” This is a great scrubby mask that will leave skin glowing. I like to leave it on for 5-10 minutes, then scrub it off with water for an extra bit of exfoliation. This smells like lavender, which is another ingredient, and is very green!

You can only buy the masks at LUSH stores. Since they are made fresh daily, they can’t be shipped. So visit your nearest LUSH store and enjoy!

White Sands Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner

As we become more eco-conscious, more companies are releasing natural, organic and even vegan products. Not only are these types of products great for the environment, they are healthy and nourishing for our bodies!

White Sands has recently created 100% vegan products, their Hydrating Shampoo ($12.00 7.6 oz) and Conditioner ($15.00 7.6 oz). These products are all natural, sulfate, silicone, and cruelty free. Both products contain wheat and silk amino acids to moisturize dry and damaged hair, while providing hair color protection.

The claim is, “by correcting the hair’s internal moisture balance, White Sands Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner create a guard against humidity, creating the foundation for the perfect frizz free style. To further the pairs’ amazing results, Wheat Amino Acids promote moisture when applying hot tools, while Silk Amino Acids’ cationic and anionic properties create a positive charge to damaged hair fibers in order to polish tresses for high shine.”

I like this hair care duo. The scent is sultry with a hint of musk– but its not too strong, which is good. It will be very nice for the fall and winter. The conditioner is my favorite because it is very rich. My hair needs a thick conditioner because it gets very dry and frizzy. And although it is a thick moisturizer, the conditioner doesn’t weigh my hair down. I have found my hair is less frizzy after use.

Visit the website at www.whitesandsproducts.com to learn more about these vegan products and the other products in their lines. Enjoy!

Neil George Hair Care

The Neil George salon in Beverly Hills was founded in April 2005 by hairstylists Amanda George and Neil Weisberg. Their line of hair care products were created to keep hair healthy and shiny, by using natural ingredients.

I was lucky to try three of these great products:

Intense Illuminating Shampoo ($22.00) — This shampoo is designed to hydrate dry, dehydrated and chemically treated hair. It contains Indian Gooseberry, a plant extract that has an antioxidant capacity higher than most fruits, which is touted to strengthen and repair the hair shaft from root to ends. The shampoo (and conditioner) are paraben free. I really enjoy the grapefruit sage scent and the fact that the shampoo is very moisturizing and does not strip my hair.

Intense Illuminating Conditioner ($24.00) — This conditioner claims to restore the brilliance to color treated and under-nourished hair. Indian Gooseberry helps to strengthen and repair the hair shaft and deeply moisturize the hair leaving it smooth, luxurious, and tangle free. I comb the conditioner through my hair and leave it in for a few minutes. The result is silky, shiny hair.

Indian G0oseberry Treatment Oil ($42.00) This treatment is touted to calm frizz and ease styling, leaving hair smooth and healthy. I comb this through damp hair and style as usual. I love the shine this gives and how healthy my hair looks after using all three of the products. I’m pretty much sold on the Indian Gooseberry as a hair care ingredient. This system is one of the best I’ve tried all summer that really keeps the frizzies at bay!

Visit the website at www.neilgeorgesalon.com to purchase the products and to learn more about them.

THEFACESHOP — Cool Korean Beauty Products

THEFACESHOP is Korean skincare and cosmetic brand that has arrived in the United States in the last few years. The brand is inspired by nature and many of their products reflect this.

There is a vast array of skincare products by THEFACESHOP. One of my favorites in their Mask Sheets. This is a sheet made from natural pulp that you apply to the face to do such things as revitalize, soften, firm, or tone the skin. I really like the Fresh Fruit Aloe Mask Sheet, because it is very cooling on stressed out or sun-burnt skin. I also like the Pomegranate Mask Sheet, because it smells great and the Ceramide Mask Sheet because it is so moisturizing. At $2.00 each, they are a steal! As wonderful as the masks are, it is a little disconcerting to see yourself with it on (have you ever seen Halloween?)! A very fun product to give to friends!

I also love their Herb Day Cleansers — especially the Purifying Lemon and the Green Leaf Bubble Foam Cleansers. They both are very light and refreshing and do not strip the skin and dry it out.

You can purchase the products at Walgreens, but THEFACESHOP launched their online US store on August 15th. Visit www.thefaceshop.com to shop the brand’s extensive collections. For orders over $25, you’ll receive a free Mask Sheet and for orders over $50, you’ll get free shipping and a Nature Garden Cleansing Bar for Face & Body.