Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Eco-Beauty Consultant Jessa Blade's Recommendations for Dry Winter Skin

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by Danelle Brown · 01/28/09

During Eco-Chick’s 3rd birthday party last month, I had the chance to meet eco-beauty consultant and make-up artist, Jessa Blades.

Jessa is the founder of Blades Natural Beauty and is a vessel of information regarding all things organic beauty and skincare.  Shortly after learning about the breast cancer and body lotion connection, I had noticed I was almost out of face moisturizer. I had been sampling various brands over the last few months, and since old man winter has stepped up his game, I realized I needed to try a different moisture rich face cream. I contacted Jessa to ask for her expert opinion on the best eco & body friendly facial moisturizers out there for the winter season. Here recommendations are a perfect follow up to my body lotion post last week. 

Mod.Skin Créme Nutri-functional #1 $48.00

This rich and lightly scented cream can either be used during the day or night use. It leaves a moisturized glisten to the skin without feeling heavy. It can be used for all skin types.(Can purchase on-line, specialty beauty stores/section or pick it up at Whole Foods)

Dr. Hauschka Toned Day Cream $39.95

This is Jessa’s favorite. It is a tinted moisturizer that contains therapeutic oils which reduce the appearance of irritation and irregular skin tones for a variety of complexions. It is ideal for normal skin types, but can also be used over-top of a moisturizer in the winter for extra dry skin. Plus, it has a great scent. (Can purchase on-line, specialty beauty stores/section or pick it up at Whole Foods)

Aubrey Organics $16.28

These facial moisturizers come in 5 different varieties according to skin type. The products are available at a wide variety of stores and being that the company was founded in 1967, their heritage is respected within the industry. (Can purchase on-line, at major retailers or pick it up at Whole Foods)

Lip & Skin Balm by makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift $30

Another one of Jessa’s favorite is this dual balm. You can use it on your lips, face or apply it around the eyes at night time. The balm hydrates and protects the skin with food grade, biologically active ingredients and comes in either-Simply Vanilla or Simply Cacao.

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Top 5 Fave Natural Beauty Products for Winter

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by Stephanie Rogers · 01/23/09

During the winter, I use more products than at any other time of year out of pure necessity. In order to avoid dry, scaly skin and lips, I do a lot of scrubbing and moisturizing. This winter, I became even more of a purist (or what some may call a control freak) than ever in terms of the ingredients of the products I’m using – I wanted them all to be super simple, healthy and natural. These 5 products didn’t just live up to my expectations, they were so great I just had to spread the word about them.

Vintage Body Spa Ginger Cardamom Cream Body Bar – This ultra-moisturizing body butter smells absolutely heavenly and it was the only thing that has managed to keep the soles of my feet soft and smooth.  Cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil lightly scented with clove, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, orange and mint.

Mountain Rose Herbs Restorative Skin Oil – For the rest of my body, especially my hands, elbows and legs, this moisturizing and healing skin oil has kept dryness and that unpleasant itchy, tight feeling at bay. Organic calendula oil, rosehip seed oil, vitamin E and a blend of essential oils including Neroli and Helichrysium.

Aubrey Organics Blue Green Algae Rescue Conditioning Mask – Finally, a vegan protein treatment for hair that really works. Aubrey Organics combines blue-green algae and red algae extract with coconut, shea butter, aloe, and lavender water in a deep hair treatment that keeps my hair glossy and healthy looking despite harsh winds and drying indoor heat.

Josie Maran Lipstick in Rumi Joon – This might just be the ultimate flattering nude lipstick shade for practically every skin tone. It’s also ultra-moisturizing, long lasting and free of toxic ingredients, petrochemicals, parabens and artificial fragrances. The tube is recyclable, too.

DIY Brown Sugar Body Scrub – This exfoliating and moisturizing body scrub is so decadent yet incredibly easy to make with stuff you’ve probably already got in your pantry. I scoop about 4 tablespoons of coconut oil into a microwaveable container, nuke it just until it softens and mix in ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. You could literally eat it (and I can attest that it tastes fantastic) and the brown sugar helps to gently buff away scaly skin.

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Eco-Beauty Cage Match: Juice Beauty vs. Alba Moisturizer

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by Stephanie Rogers · 05/16/08

Welcome to round one of Eco Chick’s new monthly feature, the Eco-Beauty Cage Match! Each month I will try out two beauty products and pit them against each other to see how they perform. I’ll be evaluating the ingredients, the manufacturer’s claims, the smell and texture and how well the product works. I’m choosing products that are marketed to consumers as ‘natural’, ‘organic’ or ‘eco-friendly’.

I’ve spent the last two weeks trying out oil free moisturizers with yummy ingredients like papaya extract, green tea and pomegranate juice. While I’ve been a longtime fan of many of Alba’s products, this was my first time experiencing a Juice Beauty product, and I was eager to do so considering the company’s great reputation for gentle, botanical-based beauty.

Alba Aloe and Green Tea Oil Free Moisturizer

Retail Price: $16.95

Alba says: Certified organic aloe vera, green tea antioxidants and oil-free humectants absorb instantly to replenish essential nutrients and protect skin against dehydration for a soft, healthy, luminous complexion. Light and oil-free, this moisturizer is perfect for all skin types, though it’s especially useful for people who have trouble tolerating heavier moisturizers.

Ingredients: The majority of the ingredients are natural and safe (see the list here). The only one that raises a red flag is phenoxyethanol, which is a moderate hazard, but it is included in the product in very, very tiny amounts (it’s the second to last ingredient listed). This product hasn’t yet been evaluated by Skin Deep, the cosmetic safety database.

Smell & Texture: This moisturizer has a light fragrance – sort of tropical. It’s not noticeable once you apply it. The consistency is thick and creamy, but not too heavy. A little goes a long way; a dime-sized amount will cover your whole face and neck. Surprisingly, it’s very light and seeps right in. After 5 minutes, I can’t even tell I applied anything.

Performance: After the first day, I noticed that I didn’t have any dry, scaly patches. My skin felt soft, but never got oily. After seven days, the texture of my skin appeared slightly softer and I had no remaining dry patches, even late in the day 12 hours after applying it. It didn’t seem to affect my makeup at all compared to its usual performance without moisturizer. I didn’t notice any more breakouts than usual while using it.

Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer

Retail Price: $28.99

Juice Beauty says: This lightweight organic oil-free moisturizer blends certified organic white grape and pomegranate juice with soothing aloe vera, vitamin antioxidants and nutrient-rich sea algae to hydrate and quench skin’s natural moisture balance for a beautiful matte finish.

Ingredients: Most of the ingredients are lovely botanical essences, but the red flags are the previously mentioned phenoxyethanol along with sodium hydroxide (moderate hazard), limonene (moderate hazard) and linalool (moderate hazard). They’re present in very small amounts, but Skin Deep has given this product a rating of 4 (moderate hazard).

Smell & Texture: It has a light, pleasant apple smell and a very sheer, light consistency – about what you’d expect from an oil-free product. It’s a bit slippery and very easy to apply. One little pump covers the whole face and neck. It does feel bit sticky on the skin. I was very aware that it was there, and that feeling never really went away during the day. I would describe it as a ‘film’.

Performance: After a few hours of normal activity (i.e., sitting in front of the computer mostly) I felt my skin starting to get oily. The next day, the same thing happened – and every day for the rest of the trial. My makeup stayed on beautifully for the first few hours but started to slide off once I got the oily feeling. I didn’t have any dry patches, but did have a whole lot of oil. I didn’t seem to break out any more than normal, though.

AND THE WINNER IS… ding ding ding! Alba Aloe and Green Tea Moisturizer! Cheaper and more effective, and it contains less ‘red flag’ ingredients. Works for me. This stuff has a lot going for it and will be great for those extra scaly days.

I think that the Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer will probably work better for people with combination skin who need more moisture than I do. If your skin borders on dry in some areas, but you’re still prone to breakouts, this might just be the stuff for you.

As far as the ingredients go – you can read Juice Beauty’s claims about the content of their products yourself here. It’s important to realize that conventional beauty products have much higher concentrations of questionable substances in them than those made by companies like Juice Beauty, who have made a commitment to safer ingredients. But, whether or not you consider a ‘moderate hazard’ to be acceptable is for you to decide.

Alba, Eco Beauty, Eco Beauty Cage Match, Juice Beauty, Moisturizer

Virgin Coconut Oil – Moisturizing Beauty Panacea

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by Stephanie Rogers · 04/24/08

I’m a huge fan of using virgin coconut oil for a variety of beauty-related purposes. It’s cheap, it’s ultra moisturizing and the smell just instantly puts me in a good mood (maybe it’s the similarity to delicious tropical frozen cocktails on the beach… mmm….rum and coconut…drool). Anyway! On to the point, lest I get distracted daydreaming about hammocks and palm trees.

Unfortunately, many conventional beauty products are loaded with chemicals and are usually petroleum based. This isn’t just a health issue (because we really don’t know the long term effects of these ingredients – not to mention pthalates, parabens, etc.), it’s also a matter of petroleum usage, something we all know we need to cut back on.

Virgin coconut oil is loaded with antioxidants, protects against free radical damage and keeps the skin smooth and supple. I use it for all of the following:

• All-over body moisturizer
• Hot oil hair treatment, combined with equal parts extra virgin olive oil
• Cuticle oil
• Eye makeup remover (even works for waterproof mascara!)
• Body scrub, mixed with brown sugar or sea salt
• Overnight foot treatment (slather it on & put on some cotton socks)

If you’re prone to breakouts like I am you might think that putting coconut oil on your skin would make it even worse. I’ve found the opposite to be true. I mix it with a little raw honey (for its antibacterial properties) and use it as a face mask every now and then, and my skin ends up clear and soft.

Another bonus is that using a single jar of coconut oil for all of these things cuts back on the amount of product packaging you’re throwing away. Just keep in mind, if you want to divvy it up between different reusable containers for various uses, that coconut oil solidifies at temperatures below 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

One thing that’s important is to make sure the company you’re buying from uses sustainable growing practices. I purchase Spectrum Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil, mostly because it’s great quality but also because I know they put a lot of effort into making sure their organic farming practices are sustainable, protect the water supplies and soil and also protect us against harmful chemicals.

Coconut Oil, Moisturizer, Natural Beauty, Spectrum Organics

BABYBEARSHOP

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by Kimberly Jordan Allen · 11/22/06

Inspired by a lack of hip, organic baby products on the market, Diana Lussenden Stewart founded the BABYBEARSHOP line of organically derived oils and butters for mama and baby. In an effort to create a body line that is free of parabens, phthalates, and other known toxins, Diana has succeeded in developing a yummy line of natural treats for the body, whether pregnant or not. I highly recommend the “All The Better to Kiss You With” lip balm that comes in Lavender Vanilla, Chai Mandarin, and Pepperminty flavors. Being a lip balm junky, I can officially say this is one of the best. Some “organic” lip balms I have tried are too dry, or cakey, or just don’t work very well, but this one is awesome and they all smell delicious. The Mama Belly Oil uses essential oils of lavender, chamomile and red mandarin to protect against stretch marks and induce relaxation in mamas-to-be, but this oil could most definitely be used on baby’s dry skin or as a nice after-shower moisturizer for anyone. All of the ingredients in the BABYBEAR line are listed on the website, instilling confidence in the holistically minded, and the funky packaging makes these items great gifts.

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