Nature of Beauty Live!

Terri Bly of The Nature of Beauty online natural beauty shop is live online again tommorow night with her new talk show Nature of Beauty Live!  This week Terri will cover natural makeup products with her guests, natural makeup artists Jessa Blades and Nina Strommen.

You can tune in to listen to the tips from these pros, or ask your own questions via live chat or by phone.  Go to Talk Shoe for details on how to connect with Terri.

This show should be a good one as most of us have questions on the topic of natural makeup.  So tune in to Nature of Beauty Live! tomorrow night at 10 pm EDT.  I know I will...

Green Beauty Tip #6

Sun Block & Self Tanners

As you have heard, sun protection is essential in maintaining the beauty and health of your skin and body. What you may not be aware of is that chemical-based sunscreens could be contributing to the rise in malignant melanoma. You heard right, those chemical sun protectors you have been told to slather on over the past decade can actually be doing you more harm than good.

Why? Current research shows that chemical sunscreens protect us from harmful UVA rays for the first 20-30 minutes or so after application. After that they sink into the lower layers of the skin allowing UVA rays to penetrate more deeply.

Let’s briefly cover UV rays. UVB rays are the rays emitted by the sun that affect the top layers of the skin, causing sunburn. UVA rays penetrate more deeply, causing long term damage, like premature aging and cancer.

So how do we protect ourselves from this nasty radiation? We need to start thinking sun block rather than sun screen. Safe natural mineral sun protection products made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide not only are free from toxic cosmetic ingredients, but form a physical barrier on the skin from UV rays.

If you have tried mineral sun block in the past you may have experienced the ghostly white-ness that zinc oxide produces. Probably not the look you are going for, plus it gets on your towels, car seat, etc. Mineral sun blocks have come a long way in recent years, delivering safe sun protection without the white after-glare, and providing protection even after hours in the sun. Zinc used in nanoparticle form leaves behind no white residue. The controversy over nano-technology boils down to whether it is coated with plastic or natural material, and all sun blocks listed below use natural coating nanoparticle zinc.

Now let’s talk Sun Protection Factor (SPF). SPF has been, and often still is, advertised as “the higher the number, the better the protection”. But this is not quite accurate and can give users a false sense of security, leading them to stay out in the sun longer thinking they are adequately protected.

Follow this easy to use guide to determine which SPF is right for you:

• Fair skin – can stay in the sun 10 minutes before burning
• Olive skin – can stay in the sun 15 minutes before burning
• Dark skin – can stay in the sun 20 minutes before burning

Now multiply SPF by the number of minutes you can stay in the sun before burning. For example: (SPF) 20 x 10 (Fair skin) = 200 minutes (amount of time you can stay in the sun before burning if you have Fair skin and use an SPF of 20).

There are many choices when it comes to safe sun protection, but these are cream of the crop:

Lavera sun protection products are made with organic ingredients, super effective and include products for the whole family. Choose from spray, lotion, a sun care product for face with moisturizing and anti-aging benefits and a sun block for the kids. I love the convenience of the spray and it is very kind to sensitive skin.

Soleo Sunscreen goes on easily and is water-resistant for up to 3 hours. This is the one my kids prefer!

You can find more safe sun care at Saffron Rouge, but the two brands listed above are my top choices.

Now for the fun part…Sunless Tanner. It’s true, you can get a tan in a bottle without chemicals. And, bonus, no streaks or orange palms. Lavera makes the best of the best in self tanners and I use them year round. Any body looks better with a little color.

Lavera Self Tan Lotion is as easy to apply as your body lotion and just as moisturizing. Skin is left with a natural glow and the product smells fresh and yummy. I use it on my arms, legs and stomach for a body-confidence booster.

Lavera FACES Summer Glow Self Tan is for the face and gives a subtle, natural-looking hit of color even on pale, sensitive skin. Use every other day to maintain color and can be used in place of your usual day time moisturizer.

New to the list is the Glow & Go Spray Self Tan and I had the opportunity to try it out this week. Works as well as the lotion, but has a lighter consistency and a little bit of glimmer for instant gratification.

I am sure there are other organic self tanners on the market, but I have not looked any further than Lavera because they work so well. You will be more than pleased with these products.

Now that you are safely protected and you’ve got your glow on, get out there and enjoy the springtime weather. And remember, you get vitamin D from the sun which boosts the immune system and cell production, so be sure to get up to 15 minutes unprotected sun exposure each day.

Image:  kirikiri at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

Earth Day--What You Can Do

Earth Day is a great day for re-evaluating your eco priorities and setting some new goals.  Everything you do on Earth Day, or any day for that matter, from picking up trash to unplugging electronics helps the earth.

One perfect way to spend a part of your day today is to look at what you are doing to help out the Earth and choose a few new eco-friendlies that fit nicely into your lifestyle.  Have you been putting off recycyling?  Most curb-side recycling programs are very economical and a weekly pick-up does alot to motivate you to throw items in the recycle bin rather than the trash.  Get the kids involved and learn together which items can be recycled and which can not.  Your recycling company can give you a list of what they will take.  This can be a fun learning experience for your family.

Another way to get the kids involved and aware that is super simple?  Shutting off lights, appliances, games and electronics that are not currently being used.  I can not tell you how many times I walked into my son's room and found his fully charged cell phone still plugged in.  But they don't know it is needlessly using electricity if you don't tell them.  We have also made "shut off your bedroom light" part of the morning routine, right after "make your bed".

These types of little changes are very simple to incorporate into our daily lives and are great learning opportunities for our children.  I have found that my kids really get in to helping the environment and making their lives healthier.

Now, you knew I couldn't let Earth Day go by without talking green beauty, right?  Lavera is offering 20% off + free shipping when you order $75 worth of Trend makeup products.  My faves from this line are the Berry lip gloss, Mineral Finish Powder and Volume Mascara in black.  These should brighten up your Earth Day and spring too!

Have yet to try natural makeup products?  Maybe you are afraid they won't work like conventional makeup products, or simply don't know where to begin.  Well, natural makeup has come a long way with gorgeous colors, long-lasting and natural-looking foundations and stay-put eye shadows, liners and mascara.  And since these are products that most of us wear daily (and leave on for most of the day) it is important that they be free from lead, petroleum and other harmful ingredients.

If you have questions about natural makeup (and I think most of us do) submit your question and get it answered (possibly live online by a green beauty makeup artist!) and get entered to win a fabulous gift from the Nature of Beauty.

Happy Earth Day!

Get Your Natural Makeup Questions Answered and Enter to Win

Natural makeup products can be a bit different to use than conventional makeup products.  To ask your natural makeup questions (and get them answered) and enter to win a special gift from the Nature of Beauty head on over to OBS Giveaways section for the details.

Lavera Glow & Go Spray Self Tanner Gets You Glowing

Re-posted from Feelgood Style

Self tanner has come a long way in terms of looking natural and ease of application. And the best part, you don’t have to compromise safety for a summer glow.

We have talked sunless tanner here before and my favorite are those by Lavera. They go on easily, deliver a super natural-looking tan and moisturize skin to boot. What could be simpler?

Try Lavera’s latest addition: Glow & Go Spray Self Tanner. This product was designed to make glow on the go that much quicker and easier. Simply spritz onto legs, arms and body, massage in evenly and in a few hours your pasty whiteness will be replaced with a hint of color. For those of us whose patience is constantly tested, the mineral shimmer offers instant gratification. Use a few days in a row to build on color, or make it an every-other-day routine.

It really is difficult to go wrong with Lavera sunless tanners, no orange palms or weird streaks. But I will pass along a few tips to help you achieve your summery-est best.

Exfoliate – Exfoliate arms and body (and shave legs) with a mild exfoliating cleanser prior to use. This will provide a smooth canvas for an even tan.

Even application – Massage into skin in a smooth fluid motion, making sure not to miss any spots and using a thinner layer of product on ankles, knees and elbows.

Allow to dry – Let the product set for 5 minutes or so before dressing. Unlike bronzer, sunless tanner will not rub off on clothing once completely dry.

All Lavera sunless tanners are made with organic ingredients, are nontoxic, and use 100% plant and sugar-based tanning agents. Applying Glow & Go Spray Self Tanner is as easy as putting on your daily moisturizer and will have you glowing in a snap.

 

OBS on Live Talk Show Tonight with Nature of Beauty

Terri Bly of the Nature of Beauty is hosting a live online talk show on the subject of organic beauty and her first episode is tonight at 6pm central/7pm eastern.  And guess what?  I am a guest speaker along with Stancie Wilson of Fig+Sage.

You can listen in or join the live chat either by computer or phone and ask us your green beauty questions.  Head on over to Talk Shoe to register and look around a bit if you plan to join us this evening.  This is your opportunity to ask those questions you've been wanting answered or to just listen in.

Tonight we will cover why it is important to use organic cosmetics, how they perform vs. conventional products, what's happening in the green beauty industry and more.  Please join us and tell your friends!

For more information and to join us tonight go to TalkShoe.com.

Hope to hear from you tonight!

And don't forget to sign up for this week's giveaway from Belletaré...

Belletaré Giveaway

That was so much fun let's do it again.  You came up with some great ideas in last week's Love Lula Giveaway, so I thought we would continue on with more of the same.

This week Belletaré is so kindly giving one lucky visitor a gift set containing their luscious body products, including the fabulous body scrub.  You may have read my post on Belletaré a couple of weeks ago and now is your chance to try them for yourself.

My feet are looking pretty shabby these days after months of hiding in socks and being neglected.  But I have been using the Belletaré scrub on them and they are smoothing out and looking a little more flip-flop worthy.  A couple of scrubbings a week should do the trick nicely through warm weather months and it is a nice, relaxing treat.

To enter to win the Belletaré gift set you'll need to be signed-up for my weekly email tips and then leave a comment below letting me know what you'd like to see more of on Organic Beauty Source.  Last week's participants gave me a lot to write about so go to Organic Beauty Rap and see what I am writing about over there.

I will randomly choose one winner next Monday.   Good Luck!

Update:  Jodaycraf is the lucky winner of the Belletare Gift Set.  Congratulations!

Ok, I Give

Last week I wrecked my bike and broke my collar bone.  The first day I spent on the couch, but the following days I have tried to work and pack in as much as physically possible, only to be left with more soreness.

Well, yesterday I re-injured my injury and have decided that this week there will be no Green Beauty Tip, review or anything else.  So sorry for the lapse, but plan to be back next week in (almost) full force.

Aside from the pain one of the worst things about this whole ordeal is not being able to put my hair up.  Ah, the little things...

It's Here...the First OBS Giveaway

Head on over to the brand new Giveaways & Specials section of Organic Beauty Source and enter to win yourself a goodie bag of organic beauty product from the lovely ...Love Lula of London.

Green Beauty Tip #4

Start Shopping

Now that you know why you want to use green beauty products, how to go about making the switch from conventional products, and even have a few diy beauty remedies in your plan of attack, it is time to learn where to shop for the safest and most effective natural beauty brands.

Below are my favorite green beauty stops:

Saffron Rouge – Known as the Sephora of organic beauty, Saffron Rouge is a one-stop-shop for organic skin, body and hair care. They carry top organic brands and hold to strict standards. Chat live with a customer service rep to help with any questions and choose free samples with every order. A favorite at Saffron Rouge: Primavera Skin Care.

The Nature of Beauty – Carrying a wide variety of natural and organic beauty brands, The Nature of Beauty even has a section of natural clothing and offers samples for a tiny price ($.01). A favorite at NOB: Rare El’ements Hair Care.

Caren Online – Caren carries the purest of the pure in skin care, with products from several trusted brands. Not sure which products are for you? No problem, Caren offer Try Me! Sizes at an economical price that last longer than your usual sample size so you can try a few and make your choice. A favorite at Caren: Soleo Organics Sunscreen.

Bubble & Bee – This cute as a button shop offers their own brand of natural, hand-made products. Yummy lip balms, super hydrating Body Butta and the cutest labeling you’ve ever seen. A favorite at Bubble & Bee: Pit Putty in Geranium Lime Deodorant.

Lavera -- What can I say about this brand but “I Love It!” Safe, natural products that work and smell just like conventional products. A favorite at Lavera: Sunless Tanner.

This should help get you started shopping. Stay tuned next week when we will talk budget beauty vs. luxury.

Something new at OBS

Visitors often write in asking questions about a product, brand, ingredient or other green beauty matter which I answer by email and sometimes add to my blog. Well, as of this week, these questions and answers have a home of their very own. Go to Organic Beauty Rap, ask your question by clicking the link on the top right-hand side and I will post the answer. Or maybe you have a bit of advice of your own, so go ahead and post your comment to any question. My intention is that this q&a forum will become a place for us to share our knowledge. Check it out and let me know what you think.

It’s Give-Away Time

That’s right, I will begin running weekly give-aways and specials on OBS. Be sure to check in each week and see what we have going on!




I am starting a Green Beauty Tips post that will appear each Friday. If you would like to receive these weekly tips by email, please sign up here.





Images:  David Blackwell Dilettante, kharied, Jill Clardy at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.