What's Cookin' Good Lookin'? Organic Beauty Products Of Course!

Never have the lyrics of Ms. Britney Spears' song "Toxic" been so true before. Oh, commercial beauty products, don't you know that YOU'RE toxic? Turns out that beauty really is skin deep--at least when it comes to what you put on your face. Using beauty products that are as organic as possible can directly affect how you take care of yourself in all other aspects of life.


 Now, I know you're saying, "Okay, okay, but what does that mean and even better yet, why should I care? Great question, so glad you asked! I don't claim to be an expert on anything, especially when it comes to the chemical properties of make-up and skin care ingredients (between you and I, I barely passed high school chemistry class). So, I got the knowledgeable folks at http://www.saffronrouge.com/ to help me out. As the leading North American retailers of organic cosmetics, they know what's up in the world of natural beauty. They also analyze and review every product's ingredients. In short, they've done their homework, as we're all capable of doing on our own and they've been so kind as to share their wealth of information with us! 


So, without further ado, here are the three reasons why YOU, yes you, should use organic beauty products, according to Saffron Rouge:

Why use organic beauty products?

Three very simple reasons:

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR YOUR SKIN

What you put on your skin eventually ends up in your body. Certified organic products are made with ingredients that are grown free of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified organisms. They also don’t include harmful additives such as petroleum waxes, fillers and artificial chemicals. Simply put, certified organic products are completely healthy and natural, synthetic alternatives are not.

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS WORK BETTER

Think of beauty products like food. In today’s world, there are a lot of synthetic, or “fake” ingredients used in food processing. But if you go to a high-end restaurant, you generally won’t find “fake” ingredients on the menu. Top chefs know that creating a top-quality meal requires top-quality ingredients. They don’t use artificial flavors in their cooking, because real spices and fresh herbs create a finer, more exquisite taste. Producing a beauty product is not much different. Certified organic beauty products work better simply because they are made with superior ingredients.

ORGANIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS ARE BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Organic farming eliminates the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers, all of which have a destructive effect on our water, soil and health. Organic plants are also grown without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as they may pose a significant threat to both human and environmental health. Therefore, through looking out for your own health, you’re also helping to protect our fragile ecosystem. That is what they call a “win-win” situation.

Got that? Great. Before you run out to the store and replace all your beauty products, I want to stress the importance of using what you have right now. 


After all, this blog is meant to be a simple resource on sustainable living and that is what sustainability is people! So, squeeze that last drop out of your bottle of commercial skin care products and then walk your smarty-pants-informed-consumer-self to the nearest seller of organic bliss and get started! 


Here are some suggestions if you don't have a clue where to go. No, they will not leave you penniless and you're friends won't be consoling you with a sympathetic, "Hey! At least you got great skin!",  nor will it look like cottage cheese and smell like feet. They are great, effective products--I even use some of them!--and just as easy to buy as any other brand you could find. Happy Shopping! *Note: These brands can be used by both men and women. Healthy living has no gender discriminations. 

1. Alba Botanica: Get it online at http://www.albabotanica.com/ or in stores like CVS, Harmon, A&P, Shoprite, Whole Foods or at a Health store in your area. They even have a great product/store locater on their website, that helps you track down any Alba product, within 10 miles of you. Cool? Yah. I recommend their Hawaiin line which is fresh, light and smells great. 

2. Kiss My Face:  What a great name, huh? This line is sold in all the stores mentioned above and online at http://www.kissmyfacewebstore.com/index.asp. Very similar to Alba Botanica, they even have a line for children.  

3. Burt's Bees: If you haven't been living under a rock for the past few years then you definitely know about Burt's Bees. Read the story of how Burt's Bees got started on their website: http://www.burtsbees.com/ it's a great, heart-warming story. They also sell some natural products, too. Check it out. 

4. Avalon Organics: An ethical and philosophical brand, Avalon is associated with Alba Botanicas, so you know it's good stuff. http://avalonorganics.com/

5. Yes To Carrots:  Don't worry, no one is going to make you eat vegetables if you don't want to. However, I do recommend putting some on your face! They are an enthusiastic, quirky, organic line of beauty products that have several versions of the product all starting with "Yes To..." so if you happen to spot one in the store you know you're in good hands.




*Don't forget to check out Saffron Rouge for more products!


Peace, Love and Sustainable Beauty ;)