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.

 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.

A thank you kindly to the folks at Sprig.com for rating us second overall out  of all the eco-beauty sites and first overall for most informative! At Beautorium, we try to educate and inform without overwhelming. We think Sprig’s article  picked up our positioning perfectly.   We also applaud all our competitors on their various placements. Plus, you know what they say about coming in second: we try harder!

More recently, consider 40-plus Olympic swimmer Dara Torres.

Dara and Daughter

She won Silver, not Gold, but this only made her more  sympathic and approachable. As her manager remarked,  everyone can relate to someone who tries  really hard to win something, doesn’t quite get there,  but still gives their all and carries on!

 Go Dora, we think you are amazing! And for  water-logged, skin, or any skin exposed to the elements, we recommend  Saaf Organic Super-Hydrating Body Balm.  Works wonders for dry knees, elbows, legs — anything and everything dry! Forms a protective film that locks in moisture– particularly important as  winds turn chill. 

Saaf Saves Dry Skin!

And as for Beautorium, we’ll keep infoming you, updating you, and bringing you ” a careful edit of the world’s most ethical and effective beauty brands”  (thanks WSJ.com!)

We’ve got a super - safe cosmetics documentary coming out soon…watch this space!