BellaSugar

Reader Review of the Day: Organic Root Stimulator Fertilizing Serum Herbal Scalp Formula

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:00:35 -0800

Whether you're male or female, hair loss is quite common. My sister has had recurring problems with alopecia areata for years, and through finding the right combination of products to treat it, she's pretty much alopecia-free. But in case it sneaks back into her life, I'll have to tell her about Organic Root Stimulator Fertilizing Serum Herbal Scalp Formula ($13), a relatively inexpensive treatment recommended by Bruce from Virginia. Take it away, Bruce:

"I have tried several products down to having the barber cut my hair very close to try and hide the receding hair. I puchased [this] product two weeks ago and my wife and my co-workers are telling me that they are starting to see new hair growing in the front and back of my balding spots. At first I thought that they were being kind, but I looked in the mirror, and for sure my bald spots are showing new growth. I wish I had taken pictures before I stated using [this] product."

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Beauty Byte: Dr. Bronner's Lathers Up Some Litigation

BellaSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:17 -0700

Since the term "organic" is loosely defined within the skincare and cosmetics industry, many brands have taken quite a bit of leeway with the term. And one brand is not too happy about it.

Dr. Bronner's, which has voluntarily adopted the FDA standards of "organic" in its product line, is suing a bevy of brands, including Estée Lauder, Kiss My Face, Stella McCartney, and Juice Beauty. Dr. Bronner's claims that these brands use the term organic to sell products that are anything but. The suit also accuses the OASIS standards, which define the term "organic" for 30 top skincare companies, of being too lenient.

We'll see how it all plays out, but no matter whether Dr. Bronner's wins or loses in the courtroom, the company is winning some free press. Do you think the lawsuit has merit, or is the company in no place to dictate how others should run their businesses?

Doing Drugstore: Physicians Formula New Eco-Friendly Cosmetics

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Physicians Formula has gone green! The brand has recently launched a line of eco-conscious, animal-friendly cosmetics called Organic wear. The packaging is made from (mostly) recycled paper as opposed to plastic, the brushes are goat hair, and every product is free of parabens, chemicals, preservatives, and fragrance. This is great news for those of you with sensitive skin.

Organic wear products are made from internationally certified organic ingredients that have been EcoCert-approved. I've tried several of the items and what I love the most is that they are natural-looking, build-able, and mattifying. I say if you have the option to indulge in something that is good for your skin and good for the environment, then why not make a choice that can help preserve our planet?

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I also love the goofy model, who reminds me of Cabbage Head. For the scoop on each of the products, read more.

Concealer ($6.95) is a creamy and smooth concealer that helps reduce the appearance of blemishes, under-eye circles and blotchiness. It is available in four shades including green and yellow for color correction.
Liquid Bronzer ($10.95) is a hydrating bronzer that creates a sheer, sun-kissed glow. Available in three shades: fair, medium and light.
Powder Bronzer ($13.95) is dual-shaded matte bronzer made from Italian powder that comes with a mirror and brush. Available in six shades.
Powder Blush ($11.95) contains a lighter and a darker shade to create a natural and matte flush. It comes with a mirror and brush and is available in six shades.
Face Powder ($13.95) is dual shaded mattifying pressed powder. It comes with a mirror and brush and is available in nine shades.
Loose Powder ($13.95) is a mattifying loose powder that comes with a mirror, kabuki brush and a sift lid for mess-free application. Available in six shades.
Tinted Moisturizer ($9.95) is a sheer and moisturizing base that helps even out the tone of the skin. Available in four shades.
Matte Finishing & Bronzing Veils ($13.95) helps create a matte, soft-focus finish on the skin. It absorbs oil, comes with a mirror on the cap, and is available in four shades.

Organic: Not Always A Safe Bet

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:53 -0700

If you think that by selecting beauty products that are labeled "organic," you're avoiding all potentially toxic, even carcinogenic additives, you might want to check the labels a little more closely next time. A study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association, found the surprising presence of the compound 1,4-Dioxane in some of the most well-known "organic" and "natural" beauty brands.

So why is this something to be concerned about? The petroleum byproduct is added to some beauty products to provide mildness to harsh ingredients. It has been declared a known carcinogen by the state of California, and it is suspected as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant, among others. Yikes!

Popular brands such as JASON Pure Natural & Organic, Kiss My Face, and Nature's Gate Organics did not fare so well in the OCA testing, whereas Dr. Bronner's, Sensibility Soaps, Terressentials, Aubrey Organics, and Dr. Hauschka came up clean. The full results of the study can be found here. To find out how you can avoid this toxic additive, read more.

Avoid products with ingredients containing "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "eth," "PEG," "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol."
Unless a product has been USDA Certified Organic, its ingredients and claims are completely unregulated.
When in doubt, if you can pronounce all the ingredients on the label, it's most likely free from any harmful additives or ingredients.

Source

Get the Facts Behind Organic Beauty

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:32 -0800

Beauty and skincare lines have been jumping on the organic bandwagon in droves. Last year, sales of organic and natural cosmetics exceeded $7 billion. But does "organic" mean what you think it means? Time reports on a few things you should know about "organic" beauty products:

The USDA is the only organization that can certify something as organic, and they will only do so if all the ingredients, packaging, and production meet the same stringent standards required for organic food.
A USDA certified organic product is still allowed to have 5% non-organic ingredients. If a product is even 70% organic, it can claim to be made with "organic ingredients.
It's important to check labels carefully, and if the USDA seal is missing, it might not actually be organic at all.
Organic products are not necessarily more gentle. In fact, many can irritate sensitive skin because they use pure oils as preservatives.

The bottom line is that while anything organic is better for the environment, organic beauty products are not necessarily better for your skin.

Source

Stella McCartney gets Organic for Night & Day

BellaSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:00:48 -0800

Since organic food and beauty is so popular these days, I thought I'd tell you more about the most recent product launch from Stella McCartney, Nourishing Night & Day Cream ($80).

This face moisturizer has been developed to help revive all types of dry and dehydrated skin. Made with organic vegetable extracts, cupuacu butter, black-currant buds and brazil nut oil, it creates a mineral- and vitamin-enriched protective layer over your skin. I haven't tried the cream yet, but I'm a sucker for all things vegan, organic, and luxurious-so it's only a matter of time.

Origins Skin Care Goes Green

BellaSugar — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 08:00:46 -0800

You'll be green with envy when you see Origins' latest skin care line, Origins Organics. Although the line launched in late fall, the products are intended to soothe dry, winter skin and hair.

All of the products are certified organic by the USDA, which is a huge step for a beauty company. Now, this doesn't mean that the products are 100% organic; it means that a large part of the products are made with certified-organic ingredients. Make sense?

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To find out the highlights and prices of each of the nine products, read more

Foaming Face Wash ($25) is made with 73% organic ingredients. It's made with aloe to moisturize, soothe and calm as well as organic olive oil, clove, rose, lavender, patchouli and red thyme essential oils to smooth and purify the skin.
Purifying Tonic ($25) is a face toner made with 95% organic ingredients. It is made with willow bark, salicylic acid, and organic vinegar to get rid of bacteria and dead skin.
Nourishing Face Lotion ($42.50) is made with 95% organic ingredients. It contains shea butter, karite nuts and organic cocoa butter to soothe dry skin as well as organic glycerin, linoleic acid-rich organic sunflower oil and organic coconut oil to prevent dehydration.
Soothing Lip Balm ($15) is made with 97% organic ingredients. It's a fabulous vanilla balm that smoothes, softens and conditions dry lips. It contains organic shea and cocoa butter as well as organic sunflower, safflower, and palm oils.
Hydrating Body Lotion ($35) is made from 87% organic ingredients. It is made with sunflower oil to strengthen the skin's barrier as well as organic glycerin, soy lecithin, coconut and palm oils to moisturize, hydrate and revive the skin.
Cleansing Body Bar ($15) is made from 90% organic ingredients. This bar removes tough surface debris and environmental impurities while keeping your skin smooth and moisturized. It contains organic coconut oil, pure organic palm oil, organic clove, rose, lavender, patchouli and red thyme essential oils which generate a fabulous smell.
Silkening Body Spritz ($25) is made from 95% organic ingredients. It is made from organic soy lecithin and organic sunflower oil to hydrate and soften the skin. The 360-degree pump is cool because it allows you to turn the bottle upside down to mist hard-to-reach areas with ease.
Body Pampering Massage Oil ($30 ) is made from 95% organic ingredients. Not only does this smell great, it also deeply moisturizes, protects and soothes the skin without any gross, greasy after-effects. It is made from organic jojoba oil, organic fennel, organic chamomile and organic clary sage rejuvenate and soften the skin.
Conditioning Hair Oil ($22.50) is made from 98% organic ingredients such as organic sesame seed oil, organic sunflower oil and organic olive oil to hydrate, protect, condition and nourish the hair without causing build up to weigh hair down.

New Details on the Josie Maran Cosmetics Line

BellaSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:16:37 -0700

Remember when I told you that model Josie Maran is launching a natural cosmetics line this fall? Well, I've found some more information, and now I'm looking forward to trying it even more than I already was. According to WWD, the 70-piece line will range in price from $16 to $42, and every product is free of parabens, toxins and petrochemicals:

"As a result, the final ingredients list reads almost like a baking recipe. Products contain various combinations of corn starch, cocoa butter, pomegranate oil, jojoba, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut and soybean, to name a few."

Now, I know a few of you are thinking, "That's all fine, Bella, but will I actually want to buy the stuff?" Fair enough! To find out about the color cosmetics, just read more

Like fellow model Jemma Kidd's makeup line, Josie Maran Cosmetics is a full collection, not just a few products. Look for cream and pressed blush, pressed powder, stick concealer, three eyeliners and 23 colors of eye shadow. There's also a 60% organic plumping lip gloss, and Finger Paints, an allover color palette that I'm looking forward to trying.

The line debuts in September at Barneys New York, but according to the WWD story, it'll be only at the New York and San Francisco stores. Why San Francisco? Possibly because Ms. Maran is from Northern California. If you don't live on the coasts, you'll be able to shop shop online. Source

Are You Absorbing Five Pounds of Makeup This Year?

BellaSugar — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:21:17 -0700

FabSugar just sent me a news article claiming that the body absorbs almost five pounds of makeup per year. Yikes! Here's more from the story:

Many [women] use more than 20 different beauty products a day striving to look their best while nine out of 10 apply make-up which is past its use by date.

Dependence on cosmetics and toiletries means that a cocktail of 4lb 6oz of chemicals a year is absorbed into the body through the skin.

I can't wrap my head around the notion of absorbing five pounds' worth of cosmetics. My medicine cabinet is overflowing with products, but I'm trying to figure out if it's even possible that I apply five pounds of makeup each year. It seems like a lot, doesn't it? For more about this statistic-and to find out why I'm not entirely convinced of its accuracy-read more

Seems like I'm not the only one who thought the five-pound statistic was odd. A little sleuthing suggests that the researcher who made this claim is also the founder of an site selling chemical-free, organic cosmetics. Some people might say that's a coincidence, while cynics might say that the research is biased. I fall in the latter category; while I'm no cheerleader for chemicals, I'm not sure about these claims. Still, the story was a good reminder that natural products are often just as lovely as traditional ones.

What do you think about this story and the five-pound claim? Are you concerned about chemicals in the products you use, or do you not worry about it?

Fragrance Review: L'Eau de Jatamansi

BellaSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:00:00 -0700

If you think eating organic is good, wait until you smell it. French fragrance house L'Artisan Parfumeur has released Jatamansi, a light and summery scent. Named after the Sanskrit word for Himalayan nard (a flowering plant), the certified-organic fragrance includes grapefruit, ylang ylang, rose, cardamom and other unusual plants.

The official description of L'Eau de Jatamansi ($145) says that it smells like iced tea. In a way it does, but the scent is far more complex than a simple Lipton blend. The relaxing notes of Jatamansi evoke a leisurely summer day, so it's perfect for warm weather. I generally can't stand the taste of iced tea, but after smelling this light, clean fragrance, I may have to rethink that! To find out the only drawback about this scent, read more

Unfortunately, L'Eau de Jatamansi is so light that it doesn't last all day. I needed to refresh every three or four hours, which means the $145 bottle might not last for more than three or four months. Then again, this summery scent is best for June, July and August-so when Autumn rolls around, it'll be time for a richer, darker scent anyway.