Organic Skincare Review -- Bioelements All Things Pure

Bioelements – you know the spa skincare brand? – has come up with a line of natural products called All Things Pure. I must admit, I was skeptical at first. When a conventional (read: not natural) skincare brand comes out with their version of “natural” it is usually a big disappointment. The not-so-natural-ness of it being the disappointing part. But I always keep an open mind and went ahead and gave them a try, and am I ever glad I did.

Before I move on to the actual product reviews, let’s cover packing. That’s right, the packing material was something I’d never before witnessed. So, unique I had to take a picture before delving deeper into the box. Brown paper twists filled the package and looked almost…pretty. Anyway, you be the judge, photo below.

Bioelements kindly sent the entire All Things Pure line (love it when companies do that!) all in elegant white glass pump bottles and jars. The line includes: Cleanser, Scrub, Moisturizer, and Eye Oil.

All Things Pure Cleanser is a clay-based cleanser designed to deep clean the pores. This creamy cleanser does leave skin feeling clean and fresh, but Chamomile and Pomegranate extracts coupled with Jojoba oil make sure it stays soft and supple. No tight, dry after feeling.

Next up, All Things Pure Scrub to remove dry, dead skin cells and reveal healthy skin. This scrub contains Bioelements Chinese Herbology Blend to exfoliate and even skin tone. Dried plants and fruits hold curative properties that bring about a radiant complexion. Evening Primrose oil and Vitamin E provide anti-aging benefits and a boost of hydration. All Things Pure Scrub is super satisfying to use too, with its rich, smooth consistency and yummy smell (kind of like a hot bowl of oatmeal). Very comforting.

Shea butter and pure plant oils lend maximum hydrating benefits to All Things Pure Moisturizer. An exquisitely smooth and creamy moisturizer, a little dab’ll do ya’. Try patting into skin and allowing to soak in. I especially like to use this moisturizer at night and wake up to a soft, refreshed complexion. Can’t wait to try it this winter – dry skin look out!

And then there is All Things Pure Eye Oil. Nothing hydrates the delicate eye area quite like a good eye oil. I have long been a fan of Rosehip oil for the eye area, but this unique blend of oils definitely gets the job done. A luxuriating blend of Evening Primrose, Sesame, Essential and Vitamin E oils combine to deliver maximum hydration gently. No irritation or cloudy eyes. I like to apply a few drops to neck and décolletage for hydration and anti-aging action.

Bioelements All Things Pure line is a pleasure to use and they truly stepped up to the plate with their natural line. No toxins…just pure natural and organic ingredients.

Animal Testing -- Killing Cute & Furries in the Name of Beauty

I recently wrote an article for a client on the subject of animal testing. Animal Testing….pretty straight forward, right? We all know it exists and what it implies – I mean, the name kinda says it all. Tests are performed on animals to make sure a product or ingredient is safe for use by we humans.

In the past when I saw a product with “no animal testing” or “cruelty free” or the little Leaping Bunny logo I thought “Good deal!” But my mind never really crept over to the dark side of what exactly animal testing really entails.

Over the decades animals have helped us confirm the safety of life saving vaccines and surgical procedures that would have been inhumane and unthinkable to experiment with on humans. Obviously, sacrificing small mammals is better than 1) sacrificing people, or 2) not having these inventions.

But in the world of beauty products we are not talking life or death, but more like pretty lips and eyes and fewer fine lines. And we need to put animals through misery and death to see if we can include one more toxic ingredient to the already huuuuuuge list of toxic ingredients used in cosmetics? And, just to be straight, when I say animals we are talking rats, rabbits, monkeys, and dogs. Yes, dogs.

This may seem naïve, but I never before investigated the actual tests being performed on animals to measure an ingredient or product’s toxicity. The only reason I am sharing this here is because it was a real eye-opener for me, and also difficult to read and write about.

One test that I cannot get out of my mind is called the Draize test, which measures the damage done to eye tissue. This is done by dropping amounts of the toxic substance into bunnies eyes and basically seeing how the animal reacts. The bunnies are not anesthetized so that there “real” reaction can be analyzed. Many rabbits break their own necks grappling with their discomfort. You can view a photo here of a bunny undergoing the Draize test.

Another one is the lethal dosage, or LD, test. The LD test measures how much of a substance it takes to kill a certain amount of victims….er, test subjects. It seems to me that if a substance is seemingly toxic enough to garner the LD test, maybe it hadn’t ought to be in cosmetics. Just sayin’….

And these tests are going on right here on US soil. The US presently has no laws governing animal testing, except that there be a licensed veterinarian on site to oversee the well being and handling of the animals. Read into that what you want.

The European Union is stepping up to the plate where animal testing is concerned, setting bans in 2004 and 2009 for laws regarding animal testing on products and ingredients. Read more on this subject here.

So, why on earth are we doing all of this harm to little furry animals in the name of beauty? You guessed it….money, money, money! Animal testing is big business (more than 100 million animals are killed each year) so, as you can imagine, many arms of the cosmetics industry are against bans on animal testing.

So, are all natural and organic beauty brands cruelty free? No. But most cosmetics manufacturers who are committed to using safe ingredients and manufacturing practices are opposed to animal testing, and/or certified by a body who disallows this practice.

Why did I choose to share all of this with you on a bright and sunny Friday afternoon in June? Because now whenever I see the Leaping Bunny – or a real bunny, for that matter – I think of the horrible Draize test and all of the animals who suffer in the name of cheaper and longer lasting chemical cosmetic ingredients. Ones that we don’t need to be using anyway.

It is one thing to save lives via animal testing. Quite another to destroy creatures only to bring consumers more of a bad thing.

And I promise to bring you something positively light and gorgeous on Monday!

Image:  Inertia Creeps at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

Favorite Blogs & an Online Magazine

Well, I have lots of terrific and exciting product reviews coming your way. But in the mean time, I thought it would be nice to direct you to a little eye candy. Things have been so busy around here lately, and I am dreaming of my chaise, the backyard and a pile of magazines.

Since the tumble of so many great mags over the past couple of years (don’t you miss Domino?) online magazines and blogs have kind of taken their place. Don’t get me wrong – I still love my mags. But the amount of time I can spend in blogland is kinda crazy.

Following is a list of some of my fave blogs at the moment. Not necessarily about green, beauty, or anything in particular... except pure pleasure. Hope you have a few minutes over the weekend to check them out. And please add your favorites to the list by leaving a comment below!

Made by Girl
Cup O Jo
Pure Style Home
Decorology
The Pioneer Woman
Beauty Geeks
Ecorazzi
Sweet as a Candy
Lonny magazine

Image:  philipp.ennemoser at Flickr.com, Creative Commons license.

Organic Skin Care Review -- Soapwalla

~Re-posted from Feelgood Style~

There is something so satisfying about handmade skin care products. So pure and straight-forward – you can almost feel the passion that goes into them. Such is the case with Soapwalla products.

Soapwalla Chef (and yes, she does call herself a chef) Rachel Winard was kind enough to send me a selection of her lovely handmade skin care products. Rachel carefully creates Soapwalla products right in her own Brooklyn-based kitchen. Her inspiration came from her own skin-sensitivity issues, and all Soapwalla products are made with organic, food-grade ingredients, vegan, and toxin-free.

The samples I tried were as follows: Deodorant Cream, Restorative Face Serum, Luxurious Body Oil, Lemongrass & Green Tea and Eucalyptus Soap Bars.

Let’s start with the soap bars. I can always appreciate a good, natural soap bar. They are pretty and smell divine. Though I am not usually very eucalyptus-y, the Eucalyptus Soap is so demure and the smooth lather makes it a pleasure to use. Also, it is solid white which is just so modern and summer-fresh. The Lemongrass & Green Tea Soap also has a clean, fresh scent, and is my kid’s favorite.

Next up, the Deodorant Cream. Now, you do need to use your fingers to rub this in, but it does soak right into skin, leaving behind no white residue. The day I sampled this product was actually my daughter’s recital and the auditorium was so hot and humid, so it was a great test. I stayed freshly scented and the finely ground vegetable powders and clay helped to keep me dry. Not a small feat on that particular outing.

Serums are something I often steer clear of because; a) I have an allergy to aloe and many natural serums use an aloe base, and b) they are not quite moisturizing enough for my dry skin. Restorative Face Serum is actually a combination of nourishing oils and is super hydrating, but soaks right into skin so isn’t at all greasy. Totally love this stuff – perfect for sun and surf dried summer skin.

Ah, and last but not least, the Luxurious Body Oil. You will seriously have dreams about the luscious scent of this moisturizing oil. It sinks into skin, imparting a subtle sheen and the scent ( a mixture of tropical flowers and something green-smelling) is absolutely divine. I can’t wait to get my hands on a big bottle.

You can purchase any of the Soapwalla products on Etsy, where you can view the entire line and complete ingredient listings.

Lip Tint & Shimmer Duo by Badger Balm

Why is it that acquiring a new lip product just never gets old? Thanks to Badger for sending me their latest: Badger Lip Tint & Shimmer. This is a moisturizing lip product with, as you’ve probably guessed by the name, tint and shimmer. And not in just one, but two fabulous shades.

The dual-tipped lip tint has one gloriously natural color at one end and a shimmer at the other. Comes in four stellar color combos, but I am using Rose Tourmaline – a muted pinkish hue perfect for summer. The others are: Red Jasper, Copper, and Garnet.

The cool thing about this two-in-one lip color is that you can use one, the other, or combine the two layering the Opal Shimmer over the color. I have always been a lover of a light shimmery lip for summer, so am avidly using it up.

Just like all of the Badger line, these lip colors are made with only natural and nontoxic ingredients. The Olive oil and Cocoa butter keep lips soft, and Sea buckthorn and Rosehip oil provide anti-aging beni-s.  The color tints come from pure natural minerals and stay on a good long time.

Gorgeous color, all natural/nontoxic ingredients, and guess what?...a mere $6.50 a pop! At that price you can definitely add another lip product to your collection.

Mineral Sunscreens for UVA Protection

Warm, sunny days.  Kids out of school.  Pools are open.  Time for fun in the sun.  But is your sunscreen providing the protection it should?

We have come to rely on SPF ratings here in the US, thinking more is better.  Sun Protection Factor (SPF) indicates the amount of sun protection from UVB rays a sunscreen will provide an average user when used correctly. But what about UVA rays?

UVB rays only work on the top layers of skin, the culprit of sunburn.  UVA rays penetrate to the lower layers of skin, causing long term damage -- sun tan, premature aging, and skin cancer.

To protect your skin from damaging UVA rays you must use a sunscreen capable of blocking both types of rays.  Last year the European Union Cosmetics Directive set up new regulations for sunscreen manufactured in Europe, requiring 1/3 of a product's SPF rating to be UVA protection.  The FDA is said to be working on a new UVA rating system for US labels reported to come out next fall.

So what are these companies using to provide protection from UVA?

Mineral sunscreens, like zinc oxide, are the safest and most effective sunscreen ingredient, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays.  You may picture the bright white lifeguard's nose when you hear the word "zinc", but this mineral has come a long way, baby.

Many natural skincare manufacturers are now using nanoparticle zinc, where the zinc particles are shrunken to render them clear and more effective at blocking UV rays.  There has been some concern that nanoparticles are absorbed by our bodies and, if so, what will happen if they accumulate over a period of time.  Evidence, at this point, is varied and inconclusive.

Where we stand right now with nanoparticle zinc is this:  It provides better protection from damaging radiation than either chemical sunscreens or un-protected sun exposure.  Also, the harmful ingredients found in chemical sunscreens are not being absorbed into your body.  For now, nanoparticle zinc sunscreen is the safest choice.

Zinc is so powerful in protecting our skin from damage because, unlike chemical sunscreens which sink into skin and allow UVA rays to reach the lower layers, it forms a physical barrier on top of the skin, reflecting the sun's rays.  And since it works via the barrier effect, its protection is immediate.

So what's up with SPF?  If 30 is good, 60 has to be twice as protective, right? Wrong.  The EPA states, “When properly used, an SPF of 15 protects the skin from 93 percent of UVB radiation, and an SPF 30 sunscreen provides 97 percent protection.”

Use these guidelines 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).

When it comes to using a sunscreen correctly, the EPA advises a 1 ounce application every 2 hours, more is you are swimming or sweating it off.  And don't miss those often forgetten areas, like ears and lips, back of neck, tops of feet, and backs of hands.

Here is my list of the best natural sunscreen products for the season:

Lavera makes mineral-based, 100% nontoxic sunscreen products with zinc and titanium dioxide.  The zinc is nano-scale in these products and, because Lavera products are made in Germany and BDIH certified, the SPF rating falls under the EU requirements.  I like the Sunscreen Spray for our bodies and use the Anti-aging Facial Sunscreen on my face.  For daily (not going to the pool or sitting at a game) use, Lavere Intensive Day Cream SPF 5 is perfect.  Buy now and save 10% on regular and clearance sunscreen products.

Soleo Sunscreen is nontoxic, water-resistant sunscreen that is awesome for use on the kids at the pool.  It is a little on the greasy side at first (which is why I apply it at the pool and not prior to) but does soak in after a few minutes.

Vivesana is a great nontoxic choice with maximum protection for baby. 

If you have any questions on UVA rays or mineral sunscreens, or would like to add you fave mineral sunscreen to the list, please leave your comment below. 

Happy safe sunning!

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

Best Toner for Summer

Since toners are not as essential to a lovely complexion (though some may disagree) as a great moisturizer or eye cream, it is often overlooked.  My personal favorite after-cleansing "product" has long been green tea.  Brew a strong cup and apply the chilled tea directly to skin with a cotton pad.  Keeps for a couple of weeks in the fridge.

Really, I always skipped this step until a couple of years ago when I noticed how much perkier and more refined my complexion looked after using the chilled treatment.  And it doubles as a light morning cleanser on days when skin isn't actually dirty.

Last week when I was out of green tea and in a hurry, I grabbed an ice cube out of the freezer and ran it over my face and eyelids.  After patting my skin dry, I applied my moisturizer as usual.  The ice cube trick had the same effect as the tea (sans antioxidants) and felt sooooo good in this warm/humid weather.  And my sensitive skin seems to love this.

Have any cooling summer-time skincare tricks of your own?  Please share them with us!

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