Leading Swiss and German brands Weleda, Dr. Hauschka and others, representing 2/3 of Europe’s natural cosmetics sales, joined together in 2008 in response to slow progress on the pan-European Cosmos standard and formed rival non-profit association Natrue in an effort to set an industry-specific European cosmetics standard. Now the standard is live, has published its first certified products, and, according to a recent report,  is attempting to build a global bridge by partnering with respected US organic certification agency QAI.

NaTrue aims to provide a comprehensive labeling system for natural and organic cosmetics. The label uses a three star system and rates both natural and organic products under the same seal- a welcome first! A product gets one star for natural, two stars for natural with 70% organic criteria, and three stars for natural with organic ingredients at the 95% level.

Some nature identical preservatives and biodegradable surfactants are permitted in small limited quantities and acceptable ingredients vary by product class. Manufacturing processes and packaging are also scrutinized.

NaTrue draws heavily on the years of natural cosmetics experience prevalent in Germany in setting its standards and is very rigorous and precise.

Confused? You’re not alone! Check out this simple chart explaining certified
natural and organic labels at beautorium

Spring is a time of renewal and rediscovery, rebirth and re-energizing. So it’s not surprising that many of our favorite flowers also play a starring  role in natural skincare and organic cosmetics. Here are just a few of our favorites, along with a summary of their relevant powers and a couple of popular products that use them.  See if you can spot your favorite blooms, and try some Flower Power today!

Marigold:

The bright yellow blossoms,  known as Calendula, are rich in flavenoids. Their healing, soothing properties  make them a popular choice for gentle cleansing and care. Found in:  Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk,  and Pangea Egyptian Calendula and Blood Orange Facial Cleanser

Geranium:

An invigorator, geranium oil helps boost circulation and improve skin’s elasticity. Found in  redflower japan hinoki mint mineral bath soak  and  Saaf Organic Hydrating Face and Lip Balm

Frangipani:

This charming tropical flower has a long-lasting, sensual fragrance that calms mind and body. Found in  Farfalla Frangipani Eau Fraiche and Shower Cream

Witch Hazel: 

The bark of this spiky-flowered plant is a natural astringent that helps reduce redness. Found in  Dr. Hauschka Bronzing Powder and Logona Age Protection Lifting Serum 

Evening Primrose:

These plants calm and moisturize skin, while fatty acids also encourage cell renewal and help prevent aging. Found in Cattier Moisturizing, Firming Body Milk, and  John Master’s Evening Prmrose Shampoo

courtesy ocean resort key west

It’s Valentine’s Day and why not have some good clean fun! Here’s a simple way to spend time together, getting green and clean.

The Get Green and Clean Together Kit

1.      Sharing a bath is both greener and sexier. Set the mood by lighting a redflower italian blood orange candle to get things glowing and lightly scented

 2.      Farfalla Gemstones Oils :The Feel Good Set – Cleopatra used gemstones to build her beauty aura.  This kit contains seven different 100% certified natural, biodynamic oils to suit every possible mood – each features its own semi-precious stone and essential oils combo to banish stress and negative thoughts and bring balance and harmony. Each can be used as bath or massage oil. Start your soak with a couple of drops of  “Positive Flow” oil ( with Cleopatra’s favorite peridot gem)  to keep things moving in the right direction….  

3.      Pangea Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai and Goji Berry Mask : This mask is green in every sense of the word!  Have fun applying the gooey green mask to each other’s faces and laughing as you remind yourselves what fun it is to finger paint. The best surprise of all comes once you rinse off to reveal fabulous, glowing, nourished skin- visibly smoother and sexier. 

4.      More massage, this time with another of the Feel-Good Gemstone Oils.  Get close safely  by choosing “Security”….

 5.      Lip Therapy- make sure yours are ready for kissing with Juice Beauty’s SPF8 Lip Trio, made with USDA certified organic ingredients. With a rosy tint or plain.

  6.      The Morning After: have all you need to get spruced up and squeaky clean for work with the convenient  Dr. Hauschka  Daily Body Care Kit- contains travel-sized body washes and body creams for both of you. Choose rose body cream to bask in your last nights rosy glow! 

It’s been a while – almost one month, to be exact, since my last post. I have been preoccupied by various family issues, notably a very ill father, but am now back on the blog, so to speak. Several things happened in the interim: New Year, New President; The Inauguration ; New Organic Beauty Magazine – just to mention a few. Here’s an update on a couple of historic happenings.

Cherie’s Natural History:

Tomorrow night my old acquaintance Cherie Blair is speaking here at the Charlotte History Museum. I know her from my days as an Exec at Boots PLC in the UK – she’ s a fabulous supporter of Breast Cancer Research, one of Boots’ lead charities, and a wonderful woman in her own right. Five years ago, when she was still at Downing Street, we spent a lunch discussing (among other topics) the relative merits of organic cranberries and other natural trends. She recommended green tea as an energy and concentration booster in the mid-afternoon. I plan to remind her of that conversation tomorrow and seek an update on her latest green tips.

Green Cinderella:

I wasn’t invited to either of the green inaugural balls (sniff!) BUT my friends from Greenopia were there at Planet Green’s soiree in all their eco-finery – and by all accounts had a fabulous time.
Founder Gay Browne was a featured speaker and Greenopia VP of Strategic Alliances Elizabeth Harrington looked divine as she smiled for the camera and even took a turn behind it for some of the photos. Nothing like start-up mulititasking…! Also, Elizabeth planned on doing her own green “Cinderella” – complete with makeover  – and I gave her my last-minute top-to-toe tips for going gorgeous and green.

Here they are for anyone who ’s interested – with Valentine’s day just around the corner, no doubt there will be more glamorous occassions!

Beautorium’s Ball Menu:

Body:

• Bathe in Dr.Hauschka Lemon Bath Oil to refresh you and “get juices flowing” for the big night ahead.
• For something really unique, try Farfalla’s Gemstone Oils with real semi-precious stones – go for Joy of Life to mark the spectacular and celebratory occasion.
• Moisturize with redflower’s wonderful cardamom amber oil -will leave you with a slightly spicy, warm and sultry natural scent rich in global traditions.

Hair:

• Wash and condition hair with Trilogy gentle moisturizing shampoo and deep conditioning masque
  
• Style with John Master’s Shine On – gives soft natural shine and highlights for the big night
• Use John Masters Pomade – to hold elegant up-do in place…

Face:

• Prep using Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Antioxidant Serum
• Follow with Trilogy Vital Moisturizing Cream, perfect under make-up.
• Blend in Dr.HauschkaTranslucent Make-up in medium for healthy moisturizing glow.
• Finish with suki pure cream stain for cheeks and lips in Dahlia

Eyes:

• Apply suki liquid concealer to hide any imperfections or circles
• Brush on Logona Eyeshadow Duo in silver/gold.
• Carefully line with Dr.Hauschka liquid eyeliner in Black
• Get lush lashes with Afterglow Pure Soul Mascara in Mink.

Voila! And yes, glass slippers are sustainable, so feel free to lose yours!

Beauty and the (News) Beat:

Organic Beauty Debut

Organic Beauty seems a good title – very well written and researched, and I like the way the debut issue leaps out at you at the news-stand. (It’s the close -up cover photo of Olivia Wilde that helps it to stand out, together with the darker background).

I am pleased to have been consulted as an expert in the premiere issue for the article on sulfate free shampoos – you can read more about that here. They seem to be off to a good start, and as it’s tricky to launch anything in these times, I applaud them for trying and wish them much success!

One  of the  big beauty trends  set to continue in 2009 is the cross-over of ingredients from food to skincare, says Mintel, a big research agency that’s up on such things.  Funny that should be considered a trend, as it was also very prevalent in ancient times. People tended to use the same ingredients  on their tables and in their ablutions, as they didn’t have myriad other choices to consider. They also tended to use locally grown  ingredients, more out of out of necessity than convenience or conscious choice.   Again, locally-grown ingredients in food are a next-year’s trend worth mentioning in treehugger.  Maybe, as some of the  elaborate and excessive rituals of recent years disappoint,  we respond by  embracing practices centuries old, becoming more biblical in our behavior. 

There is much to celebrate for your feet and face on the holiday table. Many  festive favorites  work wonders inside as well as out. My top six follow, along with  product recommendations to help get you glowing. …And you can rejoice in knowing you’re as on trend  in 2009 as you would have been 2009 years ago. Talk about Timeless!

Berries:

From Acai to Goji, with Cranberies and Currants in-between, berries are super-fruit antioxidents. The darker the berry’s skin  the higher the  antioxident  index that’s effective against free radicals, according to a report in the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph. For a berry merry holiday glow, try Pangea’s  Cranberry Facial Scrub  followed by their fab Acai and Goji Berry Mask! 

Clove:

Clove oil warms the skin and improves circulation, like basking in the glow of a holiday fire. Add warmth and comfort to cold, chapped holiday skin with  Saaf Organic Super Hydrating Body Balm ; for  sensual, spicy and glowing skin, try red flower hamman cardamon and amber oil  

Olives:

One of nature’s finest foodie gifts to the world!No table would be complete without olives or olive oil! Nor would any skincare regime! Olives are a cradle to grave necessity in both food and skincare. Found in over 100 of beautorium’s products, they hydrate, protect, and prolong for young , old, and in-between.  Proof in point: Martina Gebhardt Baby Calendula Cream, Martina Gebhardt Happy Aging Cream and  Trilogy Everything Balm. 

Myrrh:

The rich royal resin with the slight vanilla fragrance so popular in incense also stimulates circulation and has lifting effects. Found in Logona’s Age Protection Lifting Serum and Farfalla’s Regeneration Gemstone oil. 

Pomegranate:

Pomegranate oil is a great anti-ager by dint of its antioxidant qualities, which run at  2-3x the level of green tea …it also boosts elasticity and contains natural estrogen,  making it a perfect choice for post-menpausal women. Add some TLC to your fireside look  with  Juice Beauty’s Oil-Free Moisturizer and After Glow’s  Organic Lip Love.  

Rosemary:

One of the first and best ingredients for rejuvenating skin and hair. Helps with dermatitis and dandruff; boosts circulation, simulates hair growth, adds shine.  Try Dr. Hauschka  Rosemary Foot Balm and John Masters Organic Lavender and Rosemary shampoo.

So this holiday season, treat yourself to these natural food and skin care traditions and who knows? A miracle might just happen!

William Safire I ‘ain’t, although I have long admired his On Language column in the Sunday Times Magazine. There’s something almost blog-like about Safire’s style, which makes him prescient,  if not iconic, as he pre-dates the rise of blogging as our new national obsession. Safire stays current – as all good linguists must- and has a wonderful nose for the “smell of the place” — meaning he can sniff out what’s linguistically intoxicating as well as culturally in touch.  Recently, he passed on Oxford Press’s stodgy choice for word of the year (the dull “hypermiling”) in favor of something far more captivating: “Frugalista”! 

What a word! As Safire points out, it derives in part from the word “fruit”, as fruits were cheap in Shakespeare’s day. Which makes it a great choice for green savers everywhere, since fruit and veg, and botanics generally,  are what we like to put onto our bodies and into ourselves. 

This holiday season, we are featuring a lot of savings for people. We are Green Frugalista’s! Even at the best of times (aka: normal prices) our products are not outrageously expensive, overtly packaged or couture.   That seems so, so over. In with the new reasonableness! Our average price point is under $30 and we have many great gifts under $50. You can check more of them out here.  

In fact,I  have noticed a new emphasis on being a Green Frugalista in almost every environmental email and ezine – from Daily Green to Ideal Bite to Vital Juice Daily. The  Treehugger on Sustainlane in  Greenopia agrees:  Conserve your Cash , Conserve your Health and Conserve your Planet! What a winning combination!  

Go Forth and Green, Frugalista! 

And get in touch with the Oxford Press, demanding a referendum vote on that word of the year.  Tell them Will Safire sent you…..And don’t forget– you can save 20% off everything beautorium  at people.com!

 Last week I had dinner in New York with an old friend who is a Global MD for a well-known ad agency. When I asked her how she was doing, she gave a relieved grin and said she was fine: her clients sold mostly  comfort food, and that was continuing to do well in these troubled times. People are seeking solace in mac- n-cheese. 

Another friend hosted a wonderful party and I gave her the rich and luxurious  Saaf Super Hydrating Organic Body Balm as a hostess gift. She rang me the next day to say how of all the wonderful packages she’d received,  ours was the only one she’d opened that night. Slathering it on before bedtime, she said, had become her new  guilty pleasure. She especially loved the home-for the-holidays scent of clove, patchouli  and mandarin orange.

Saaf Organic Super Hydrating Body Balm

 That got me thinking- Is balm beauty’s equivalent of comfort food? Do we apply a thick layer of balm as we would spread cream cheese on our toasted bagel, or pile our plates high with mac n cheese?

There is definitelysomething rich and comforting about balm. Even the word sounds soothing. And the formula is totally traditional. According to the etymology from Merriam- Webster’s Dictionary, below, balm’s been with us since the 13th century:

 Pronunciation:

\ˈbä(l)m\

 History

The history of balm is almost as rich as the substance itself. Greek philosophers extolled its  wonderful healing properties. Chinese emperors commissioned bespoke versions and safeguarded the ingredients. Elizabethan England’s well-heeled establishment kept balm in the cupboard as a reliable cure for colds and fevers. 

Today, as we seek comfort and warmth from the dark days of winter and the darker days of the economy, slathering on balm after a nice, hot bath (or shower) is a great way to indulge and restore the senses as well as to soften, nourish  and protect dry skin. 

 Comfort food or guilty pleasure? You decide!

They say that Lipstick is a key economic indicator, and that every time the the unemployment rate rises 1%, lipstick sales increase by $25m. Don’t just take my word for it- here’s the source:

 If the unemployment rate rises, one would expect demand for all goods and services to decrease, but in fact, the opposite is true for lipstick,”said Lim.Burrowing into the data shows for instance that for every one percent increase in the unemployment rate, women buy $25m worth more of lipstick, according to Kline.

 So given that unemployment rose to its highest levels in October, lipstick sales should be soaring! But does the same apply to green lipstick? One would think that trend multipliers would kick in and we’d all be rolling in organic lip gloss….

Yet recently the venerable New York Times ran an article hinting that organic was going the way of the trip to the luxury store. Although they did say they felt consumers would still spend on kids, the article concluded that organic was a dispensable luxury in most cases. In other words, green lipstick would dip into the red…. I wonder if this is true. After all, as long as you can choose nice feeling, cheerful and colorful lipsticks that are lead , paraben and toxin -free, why wouldn’t  you? Especially now that there are many value-priced choices- like Logona,  Afterglow, Juice Beauty, Dr. Hauschka and Pangea. 

So go on, do your bit! Shop for green lipstick in the red economy. It’s positively patriotic! And it will cheer you up!!

 With the election in full swing wherever we look, we couldn’t resist jumping on the bandwagon with this week’s theme. Although the theme is tongue in cheek, the underlying message isn’t! Choosing safe cosmetics is important- as the green scene gains in popularity, greenwashing becomes more commonplace.

 With that in mind, we recently shot a documentary segment on safe cosmetics. It will be aired on national news networks and public TV  stations starting December. You can preview it here- and please feel free to share it with your friends.  

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCn-VyVSgLs]

One of the most compelling  observations from green researchers  is that the the average woman, using up to 20 personal care products per day, can absorb up to 5 lbs of chemicals per year. Not all of them are 100% safe. That’s why we choose our brands carefully. We believe you deserve products that work AND that are safe to use.  No Trade-offs. At Beautorium, we choose brands that are either certified natural and organic by trusted third parties like BDIH, Soil Association or USDA, or have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.  We’re delighted that leading bloggers like eco-chick recognize us for that. 

To celebrate new beginnings in America, and encourage new beginnings for you, we are also offering Everyone 20% off Everything this week- now through Election Day. It’s our way of making it easier to Vote for Safe Cosmetics! Just type in “VOTESAFE” at check-out!

Last weekend I went to Boston to catch the last couple of days of Natural Expo East, the East coast leg of the world’s largest organic trade fair. (Natural Expo West, in LA, is the West coast version and BioFach, Germany, is the International one.)

What strikes you is how mainstream green is becoming when you meander among the 2,100 exhibitor booths and ponder the relative merits of everything from organic morning-sickness tea to disposable dinner plates (from pressed palm leaves), to waterless car care, 100-calorie organic muffins and even organic fro-yo for dogs (no, I didn’t make that up. It’s called Yoeghund……)

Busy Green Street Scene

The green scene is still relatively recession proof, as well as sometimes achingly innovative (see above.) According to the organizers, New Hope Natural Media, Expo East attendance was up this year vs. last to 26,000 vs. 25,000. However, it was the first year the show was held in Boston, not Baltimore, and no offense to Hairspray but Beantown is a more popular tourist destination. But the American natural market continues to grow. The organizers cite 2007 figures putting the natural market at a total of $62 billion, an increase of 9.8% over 2006. Still, it’s less than 10% of the bailout plan for banks, so there’s a lot of runway left before it becomes the true fabric of society. 

As I strolled along the aisles, I also noticed how polished and professional these companies are becoming, rather than homespun and hit-or-miss. Beautiful booths, powerful branding, polished packaging, sophisticated marketing techniques and claims. The stuff even looks and tastes tastes good! Has chic style, contemporary color!! Why, it might even deliver against its performance promises!!! As one very successful  green entrepreneur and spokesperson put it – if all else is equal, why would you NOT go green?

On that happy call to action, let me share with you my top four personal stand outs from across the categories excluding beauty care (yes, there were several interesting beauty & personal care brands present – and we are following up with a few – but more on that later! Maybe we’ll ask you to cast your votes on election day!) Meanwhile:

Everyday Houshold Item: NEW LEAF PAPER

New Leaf's New Metric

I loved the positioning, product design and people at NEW LEAF PAPER. Pretty notebooks, cards, dividers and post-its made from 38-100% post-consumer recycled waste. Their real edge is their brand positioning and product communication. The sustainability metric and graphic is simple, relevant and compelling. It creates a meaningful, tangible, trackable perspective about what it means to go green. Making the ordinary extraordinary is a true art . Brilliant! (As the Brits would say).

Clothing: UNDER THE CANOPY

Elegant EcoWear

Intriguing name, elegant style. Pared down, sophisticated collection of “just enough’. Tees that exhort you to vote. Three piece lounging and travel sets, relaxed yet perfectly tailored in this season’s aubergine. Simple, soft robes, beautifully presented. Truly useful spa accessories. And account execs to die for, as they engagingly and effectively interpreted who you were and what you were interested in and edited their pitch accordingly. Thanks, Porscha!  And ah, the booth, a wonderfully tactile ”at home” set  with bed and boudoir decor – like Jo Malone, but real! Founder Marci Zaroff is an original practitioner of the ”if all else is equal, why NOT go green?” philosophy. She’s made that choice easy!  

Food & Energy Drinks: GOOD BELLY

From the endless procession of  food, drink and pro-biotics, GOODBELLY. Funny name, already conceived campaign slogan (“have you had your goodbelly today?”) which the sampling staff all knew, so good training. Packs in a 100% daily requirement of 9 vitamins, bolsters immunity and gives women everything they want: bloat-free regularity, no Wheat or Dairy, 50 calories. 21-day money back guarantee. (Boy, did that work for Danone!!). Oi, all this and did I mention? It’s DELICIOUS!! So stomach that!

Green Clean: SEVENTH GENERATION:

As one of the first and most successful green brands, Seventh Generation could be getting it badly wrong by now. Instead, they stand out as a beacon of authenticity in an increasingly crowded and cynical world. It’s the cleaning equivalent of comfort food. Their booth was simple, smack in the center, a landmark. It actually welcomed you in! (Sometimes going professional and scaling up really dials down the homespun and inviting – but not here!) Made everyone feel like stopping by and turned the brand into a lively meeting place. And meet they did: I met my Dr. Hauschka partner here and chatted with a couple of very switched on company staffers who weren’t the least bit bothered that I wasn’t going to place a big supermarket order, or even order at all. For 360 degree branding brought alive through every touch point, it was hard to beat. And by the way - I don’t even use the products! But I will NOW!!!

So, across the board a few observations. Authenticity. Flair. Efficacy. Accessible Information. Branding Brought Alive. And Walking in the Customer’s Shoes. That’s what each of these companies did well. And it’s what we aspire to deliver as we build beautorium. Walking among these “green giants” served as an inspiring reminder.