Top 5 Fave Eco Beauty Products for Spring 2010

I’m one of those people that starts getting antsy by the end of winter, wishing and hoping to see a peek of green poking up out of the snow. It’s been a particularly cold one here and I’m ready to get out and enjoy the sunshine (and rainy days, grumble grumble) of spring – hence my collection of new favorite spring products, all lined up on my counter just waiting for warmer days. Maybe some of these 5 fantastic lotions, perfumes, makeup palettes and hair creams will become your favorites, too.

Josie Maran Natural Wonder Powders Palette

I mentioned this colorful palette back in January when I interviewed the gracious and gorgeous Josie Maran, and its sweet spring shades were so enticing I just had to try it for myself. It’s packed with the season’s trendiest colors including five eyeshadows, two shades of blush and bronzing powder. Super versatile and a steal at just $35 – find it at your nearest Sephora.

Nostalgia Organics Aroma Balm – Ruffles

This little tin of fragrance wins huge points with me for a number of reasons: it’s packed with three of my favorite scents (bergamot, blood orange and jasmine), it provides stress relief, it’s portable and best of all, it only costs $10 at Spirit Beauty Lounge. Nostalgia is dedicated to quality ingredients, fair trade working conditions and wages and earth-friendly practices and they donate a portion of every sale to the Beautiful Survivor program, which benefits women recovering from cancer.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel – Sensitive Formula

If there’s one thing that we all need to rejuvenate for spring, it’s our skin – most of us are feeling pretty scaly by now. Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel uses a natural hydroxy-acid complex from fruits and sugar to shed dull, rough skin cells for a glowing complexion. Now, I tried a sample of the full-strength formula a while back and hated the way it stung my skin, but the sensitive formula is a fit. Get it at Beautorium for $39, or try a sample size for just $5.

Pacifica Lotus Garden Body Lotion

During the winter I tend to favor heavier body creams with spicy scents like sandalwood and vetiver, but by spring I’m craving lighter lotions with greener, more floral fragrances. Pacifica is one of my favorite brands and this non-greasy moisturizer smells like an absolutely heavenly combination of lotus blossom, cassis, green violet leaf, and pink pepper. $22 at PacificaPerfume.com.

Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm To Go

With spring comes rain, rain and more rain – great for the garden, not so great for maintaining a sleek hairstyle. My naturally wavy hair goes totally bonkers in high humidity, but a great de-frizzing product by Phyto keeps it under control. Just a pea-sized amount keeps my hair from puffing up nearly all day, so the travel size – available at Sephora for $12 – lasts the whole season.