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

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!

 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!!

An Inclusive Victory

Like many Americans I am thrilled with the historic outcome of this election. Obama has become a national President, capable of unifying Americans across the geographic, gender, generational and racial divides. This is a victory for new America. A testimony to Americans’ capacity for growth and change. As a former expat who lived for 21 years in Europe, I know it will also enable a big boost in America’s international reputation, and an affirmation of the principles upon which the country was founded.

These themes were all echoed in Obama’s acceptance speech – a speech marked by a willingness to be humble in victory, and to reach out and embrace those disgruntled by defeat. His inclusiveness will help people move forward together, tackle tough issues, and get things done in the months ahead.

Inclusiveness is infectious. John McCain, in his concession speech, immediately became a practitioner. Gone was the bitterness, negativity and name-calling of the past few months. In its place was a heartfelt respect, as McCain reclaimed his dignity by asserting his intention to do all he can to help Obama in the days ahead. So much nicer than finger pointing !

And the point is? This inclusiveness, the leadership of change by understanding, inspiring and harnessing hope, by uniting people to work together for a better future, is very effective. It can be applied across many issues we face, both large and small.

Certification: A “Clean” Campaign?

I would love to see it applied to the area of natural and organic beauty care certification. Instead of unity, there seems protectionism and partisanship, according to this recent report from cosmetics design. There’s a new seal and standard every week, it seems, with slightly different criteria, both here and abroad. The still small but growing industry seems caught up in a “my seal is better than your seal” competition, complete with name-calling and lawsuits.

Inspiring? Or Tiring?

When I ask natural and organic beauty companies why they aren’t certified, they often reply that they feel many of today’s seals are “self-serving”, focused more on protecting and perpetuating their own interests than on educating consumers with reliable and truthful information about alternatives to conventional products. Others feel they have to appease multiple seal owners and collect them all like badges of victory. Still others feel unfairly excluded– because although they are making progress, they aren’t perfect yet. They feel eschewed for their imperfections rather than encouraged for their good intentions. If we are not careful, this sentiment could soon spill over to consumers. Confusion, cynicism, and ultimately, apathy could be the result.

“Do an Obama”

Why waste time, energy and money infighting about what is essentially good for everyone. I encourage the leaders of the natural and organic beauty industry to “do an Obama” and embrace the power of inclusive change in the campaign for safe and certified cosmetics. By enabling all “candidates” to work together to establish an achievable and measurable global standard of natural and organic beauty certification, even one with multiple levels, everyone stands to gain.

United we stand, divided we fall. A tired cliche?

Let last night be a lesson.

 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!

 MINERAL MAKE-UP RISE: MASS MARKET MANIA  

Today I spoke with John from Supermarket News (he interviewed me as a “background expert’) about the rise and rise of mineral make-up.  Unlike the Dow, the only way here, it seems, is up!  According to Datamonitor, say my notes from John, there have been 642 new facial and eye makeup cosmetic products launched containing minerals in the last 3 years, an increase of 5-fold over 2005. Of course all the big mass brands are riding this trend, including Cover Girl, Maybelline, L’Oreal and the like.

But why is mineral make-up so popular?   Clearly, claims that it is natural, good for sensitive and blemish-prone skin,  and free from a lot of chemicals and irritants found in conventional make-up help boost popularity with  consumers. And some of those claims seem to have their merits with the medical community– check out this great article on web MD. After all, Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, two common ingredients found in the make-up, have a calming and anti-inflammaotry effect, as well as providing moderate SPF protection. So far, so good!

But- beware the truth behind the mask! Not all mineral make-ups are what they seem! Alas, any make-up that contains minerals as a primary ingredient can label itself as such, even if it contains many other not-so -natural ingredients. Some of the most popular brands DO use the minerals, BUT still combine them with the usual suspects like parabens, synthetic fillers and other chemicals. Again, label-reading is crucial. 

ALL THE GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD: BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE

Many mineral make-ups contain quasi-natural ingredients that can irritate. Bismuth oxychloride is a popular ingredient in many make-ups because it gives a pearly, golden glow. However, it is irritating to many people  and is best avoided.  Bismuth oxychloride can cause itching and rashes, and even acne.

So, how can you get a golden glow that’s safe yet sexy?

Afterglow Mineral Foundation

We recommend Afterglow cosmetics. The skindeep data base rates them among the safest and purest mineral makeups around!! They are 100%  natural,  use only certified organic ingredients whenever possible , and are free from bismuth oxychloride and carmine. Plus, they contain wonderful antioxidents like grapeseed oil which have anti-aging properties.  Founder Kris Adams adds two more points:

1. They come in subtle AND  bold “HD-type” colors that last (this is important as a lot of gals think organic make-up doesn’t last and comes in boring colors- NOT SO!):

Afterglow Eye Shadows

2. They are gluten free- which means you can eat your lipstick all you like with no worries if you’re wheat -intolerant!

Afterglow Lipsticks

 Seems like you can be a safe, sexy golden girl with Afterglow!

What's in the Bottle?

A lovely journalist from Natural Health Magazine asked me recently about the difference between natural and synthetic fragances. Here’s the scoop:

Natural fragrances are based on essential oils which come from plants or animals (we only offer those from plants, of course!). Plant-based oils have been used in perfumes for thousands of years, starting with the Egyptians back in 3500 B.C.; they are also used in many other healing and alternative therapies and in organic beauty products.  It’s important to understand how essential oils are are processed- they should be cold-pressed or steam-distilled, without using any solvents to obtain the essential oils from the plants.

Synthetic fragrances are chemically synthesized. They were discovered in 1874; the first synthetic fragrance was marketed shortly thereafter.  In a 1986 study, the National Academy of Sciences determined that up to 95% of chemicals used to obtain synthetic fragrances were derived from petroleum, including many known toxins that are capable of causing cancer, birth defects and allergic reactions. Some of the toxins in synthetic fragrances that have been identified include phthalaltes, linked to birth defects and male infertility, and musk, which has been know to cause cancer in animals.

In the USA, you can simply label products as containing “fragrance”, without identifying the actual ingredients in the products. This means that you often do not know what chemcials are in something containing artificial fragrance. The Skin Deep database lists 13,000 products containing fragrance, and rates them with a red 8 (on a scale 0-10, with 0 being safest). This is in part due to the lack of transparency in knowing what exactly is in these synthetics. 

Natural fragrances are difficult to produce and require large quantities of plants to obtain the oils. For  example- it takes 1000 pounds of rose petals to produce just one ounce of rose essential oil. It’s not surprising that  they are also expensive- much more expensive than synthetic fragrances. An ounce of synthetic jasmine for example, can cost $35, compared to $1500 for the real deal.

One natural perfumer likens the difference between natural and synthetic to playing a piano. Natural fragrance would be like an old Steinway- rich, reverberating, full of subtle harmony and complexity; while  synthetic would be more like an electric piano- consistent, clean, perfect notes in tone and pitch,  but lacking in depth.

So which smell nicer: how do the notes play out? Click here for some wonderful natural fragrances to try. My personal favorite: redflower– the scents are rich, addictive & amazing! !

If you’re not sure, Farfalla, Switzerland’s oldest natural parfumeur,  offers a fabulous  trial set with four different scents for women or for men:

Farfalla Natural Perfume Trial Set

 The following have been used as sources for this post (thank you!):

http://www.naturalingredient.org/syntheticfragrances.htm

http://www.naturalmagicsoaps.com/indulge/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=41

http://www.purrfumery.com/store/HTML_pages/natural.html

You may also wish to consult: www. naturalperfumersguild.com.

Thanks to Margaret for pointing this out.

Let’s face it. The last few days have been stressful no matter which political fence you sit on or  economic field you plow. Congress confabulates.  Dow dives. Leaders lose it. And mean while credit goes crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, all the way home!

So- time to seek refuge. Where Green meets Green- hmmm- the color of money is also the color of relaxation.  So a bit of lavender in the bath tub- and you, too, could conjure up  your next lucrative yet environmentally responsible idea. But you need to relax a bit first.

 My Top 5 Green Relaxers are:

 1. Sip Green Tea.

You can do this anytime, anywhere.  AND it’s great for skin. Full of antioxidants 20x more powerful than vitamin C. Tastes calming. Sip some green tea, and try John Masters Organics green tea & rose  serum for skin.

2.   Walk your Dog in the Woods.

It’s scientifically proven that pets reduce stress levels. Our dog Roscoe (pictured above) loves our nearby woods and they are full of fragrant wild herbs like rosemary. Gather some to take home and sprinkle on top of salmon steaks with some chopped green or red chillies. Grill at 400 F  for 20 minutes. Delicious, as well as healthy, and relaxing. Plus, it clears the sinuses,  the lungs, and the mind.

3. Get a Massage with Gemstone oils.

Gemstone oils plus essential oils are a potent combination. Use them wisely. Farfalla does the most exquisite Feel-Good Set of 7 miniature Gemstone Oils.  You can help shape your mood and choose fom Joie de Vivre, Positive Flow, Anti-Stress, Security  through to Serenity.   My massage therapist Rita of Lifekneads is a big fan. Her favorite in these uncertain times: Security! Also, more visitors view Security gemstone oil than any other product on our site. That says something about the current collective state of mind!

4. Perform a Ritual.

Rituals provide solace as you focus in on the beauty of the moment. redflower has wonderful rituals based on the bathhouse traditions of Japan and Turkey. Try the new redflower Hamman ritual for deep, intense relaxation– Hamman means “spreader of warmth”.  Follow the six steps of purify, scrub, polish,mist,enrich and relax using natural earthy elements like mint tea,  coffee, black olive, and cardamon.

5. Try Lavender at Bedtime. 

It’s true. Put on your wrists, your chest, and sprinkle a few drops on your pillow. Breathe Deeply. You will doze off and dream peacefully. Dr. Hauschka Lavender Body Oil is perfect for this purpose.

Hello all,

In a week where la Palina topped every poll imaginable, and then some, we are left wondering how we can legitimately work her name into our title. Suddenly we see: she’s over 40 and therefore fair fodder for this week’s topic — chosen well before Palin took the floor…Anti-aging! Perfect!

Politics is so often stressful, as  candidates are constantly forced to take stands for and against- it must be tough on skin…why not take a united stand against wrinkles and rosacea?  Surely Sarah can relate to that. And we’ll do so naturally, without resorting to killing wildlife.

So, although squalane, one of this weeks top natural anti-aging busters, can come from shark liver– or was that barracuda?– the good news is it can also come from good old democratic olives. To find out more about reducing wrinkes naturally,  check out the guide below and visit oil, gas, moose and barracuda -free beautorium! 

 REDUCING WRINKLES NATURALLY

Mature Skin, Antiaging...Palin