Peace Candles

Valentine's Day is around the corner!
Don't all your sweeties deserve a little sumthin' sumthin'?
Check out these Peace Candles from Kiss My Face.
I already love most of Kiss My Face's products, so when they introduced Peace Soap, it was no surprise that I adored this all natural lather with a conscience.
Well, they've done it again with Peace Candles. Every purchase of the deliciously scented soy candles (Grassy Mint, Lavender Mandarin, Lemongrass Clary Sage and Pomegranate Acai) supports Seeds of Peace, an organization dedicated to "empowering young leaders from areas of conflict all over the world, giving them the opportunity to build leadership skills and friendships that will last a lifetime."
Show your love and your conscience with this great gift!
Purchase online at http://kissmyface.com
(image courtesy of LaForce-Stevens)

Benedetta

Certified Organic Botanicals?
Check.
Holistic Skin Care Philosophy?
Check.
Amazing aroma?
Check.
Multi use product?
Check.
Formulated without the use of Parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulfates, Propylene Glycol or synthetic fragrances?
Check.
Results?
Check.

I discovered Benedetta "Fresh" Aromatherapeutics on a recent jaunt to San Francisco, CA.

Crafted in small batches in Sonoma County, CA, Benedetta has been around since 1996. Benedetta uses "recyclable glass packaging, recycled shipping materials, non-toxic natural cleaners in production and our minimalist business practices, have insured the ethical and practical support of the environment. Our products never have been and never will be tested on animals." (benedetta.com)

Benedetta generously sent me a sampling of their products that included the Facial Sampler, The Deoderant Spray, Sacred Soap, Vibrant Body Lotion, Seaweed Mask and Seaweed Bath.

The most revolutionary and unique product I sampled was their Rosemary and Geranium Creme Cleanser. This creamy product is applied to dry skin and massaged into the skin using the Benedetta technique explained in the accompanying instructions. The cleanser is a triple whammy cleanser, exfoliant and toner all in one step. The cleanser can be left on the skin for an extended period of time for more intense results and used overnight as a spot treatment.
I used the cleanser as detailed for everyday use, massaging it into my skin for 1 - 2minutes and then rinsing with a warm washcloth.
My extremely sensitive skin was left hydrated and much softer and smoother than usual.
I followed the cleanser with the rest of the regimen included in the Facial Sampler and was extremely impressed by the unique, effective products that left a delicious aroma that lingered throughout the day.

Benedetta offers trial sizes of all their products on their website. I highly suggest the extremely well price facial sampler along with a seaweed mask to give the line a try.

Purchase and learn more about Benedetta here: http://benedetta.com

(image from: benedetta.com)

Sheer Organic Shine

I love me a shiny, shimmery lip with a hint of color!

Whether lip gloss is the only make up you wear or the crowning touch on a full face beat down, a great deal of the sparkly goodness is ingested throughout the day.

Which makes me ONLY want to use lip products that are natural, organic and made with ingredients safe for human consumption.

Kiss My Face makes a fabulously, unsticky, moderately shiny, surprisingly long wearing natural mineral lip color call Sheer Organic Shine.

My favorite is the Amethyst, which looks a deep purple in the tube, but on the lips imparts a sheer, soft plum.

See all the colors and shop here: http://www.kissmyface.com/sospages/sospage.html

(image from:kissmyface.com)

John Masters Organics

On my quest to find products that are organic, natural and created without the use of SLS, Parabens and Petroleum products, I couldn't forget about hair styling products. Remember that what you place on your hair migrates onto your skin and can therefore be absorbed systemically.

This is a tricky product arena, as many of us are used to high performance products loaded with synthetic ingredients.
Add to that a mane of curly hair and we have a challenge!

Well, challenge met and expectations exceeded by John Masters Organics.

John Masters is a visionary East Coast hair stylist who opened the first "clean air" salon in the world in 1994. John Masters Organics is the accompanying paraben-free, organic hair care and skin care line.

I inquired with the company about hair styling products that would be safe to use on my sensitized skin, but that would perform exceptionally and tame my curls.

John Masters Organics responded with a package that included the first product John Masters created - The Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer along with a bevy of other samples.

The Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer comes in a glass dropper bottle. Only two or three drops are needed for an entire head of hair. A vibrant marigold color, this ""100% certified organic plant and essential oil blend" has an exquisite aroma and light texture.
Amazingly, this oil based product leaves no greasy residue - just shiny, moisturized, controlled hair.
I have been using two drops after towel drying my hair and then applying my new addiction, the Sweet Orange and Silk Protein Styling gel.

I simply put a nickel sized amount of the gel into my palms and apply to my curls in a scrunching motion. My curls dry silky and separated with modern texture.
Notice, I mentioned nothing about crunchy.

I actually hesitated to use this product at first because it brought up memorizes of crispy, shellacked ringlets. Not with this product!! Not at all!
I mean, who ever heard of a non-crunchy gel? Well, you have now! Plus, there are none of the crackly by products like flaky white chunks.
I don't know how they did it, but I want John Masters to keep on doing it. I will keep the Sweet Orange and Silk Protein Styling gel on hand by the gallon.
Oh - and it smells divine as well.

Learn more about the entire John Masters Hair and Skin Care line and purchase here:
http://www.johnmasters.com/

(image from johnmasters.com)

Griffin Remedy

Have you ever leered at the labels on your personal care items and pondered whether knowing an alien language was a requirement for understanding exactly WHAT is in the products we put on our bodies?

I've become extremely conscious of this recently and even as a person who strives to buy mostly natural items, has been shocked at what gets sneaked into some of our products.

On a trip to South Lake Tahoe, CA I stopped into the lovely Grass Roots Natural Foods, where I not only got some great deals on healthy groceries, but discovered Griffin Remedy Products.

"GRIFFIN REMEDY offers Body Lotions, Shower Gels and Foaming Hand Soaps formulated to be pure and clean, NO parabens, NO sodium lauryl sulfates and NO petro-chemical derived ingredients." (griffinremedy.com)

I'll say YES to that!

Made in San Francisco, CA - they are almost local to me as well!

I bought their shampoo and conditioner enticed by the totally sensible price point, sensible packaging, attractive labeling and their discriminating ingredients.

My test drive of these products has generated pleasantly scented, shiny, soft, healthy hair with no residue or compromise of my color!

Learn more and purchase here: http://www.griffinremedy.com/

(image from: griffinremedy.com)

From Nature With Love

From Nature With Love (fromnaturewithlove.com) is a website, web store, informational powerhouse and resource so vast and valuable, I almost considered keeping it my little secret.

But, alas I cannot keep my mouth shut or my fingers quiet enough NOT to share this wonderful site with you!

From Nature with Love is a web store that retails all natural ingredients for skin care, aromatherapy, spa and craft industries.

The beautiful site is incredibly user friendly and inspires the creation of an all natural skin care regimen after browsing the site.

After all, the skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs whatever products we place externally on it. From Nature with Love is about chemical free, "green," all natural ingredients that are safe, therapeutic and non-toxic.

In addition to retail, the site offers a resource center that includes a recipe database, an information library, a soap making calculator and more!

My favorite feature is their blog, "The Natural Beauty Workshop."
http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/

Here you can find almost daily, detailed recipes for natural skin care.

I would love to get my hands on their warehouse and learn from the author of the blog Emmy Gabriel.

Click here to be inspired, learn and shop From Nature with Love:
http://fromnaturewithlove.com
And read the daily blog here: http://naturalbeautyworkshop.com

(image from: fromnaturewithlove.com)

Egyptian Magic

I love me an all purpose balm.

I especially adore one made from all natural ingredients: olive oil, beeswax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, bee propolis and divine love.

That's it. That is all that makes up Egyptian Magic.

Endorsed by celebrities ranging from Madonna to Brooke Shields to Rachel Zoe, I gave in and finally bought a jar of the "magical cream." By the way, they had me at Madonna; I'll try anything she does!

According to the website (http://egyptianmagic.com) the cream can be used as a, "natural anti-wrinkle skin cream, and for treatment of rashes, scars, burns, eczema, abrasions and other problems." One testimonial on the website even touts it's use for frizzy hair!

Egyptian Magic retails for around $30, so it's not an el-cheapola drugstore product.

I have been using it for everything from dry cuticles and cracked hands to a rich under eye cream and let me tell ya - it's worth every penny. Plus, you just feel great putting something so natural and simple on your body.

You can find out more, search retailers and buy Egyptian Magic here: http://egyptianmagic.com The website even offers a money back guarantee!

(image from: egyptianmagic.com)

Natural Deodorant Option

Hold your noses ... I haven't used a commercial deoderant/antiperspirant in about seven years.

Good hygiene, diet and keeping the body hair free helps to control natural body odor. But, for those of you who must put something under your arms to be "sure..."

Try using a few drops of tea tree oil mixed with a few drops of lavender oil.

I drop both oils into the palms of my hands, rub together and apply under my arms.

The tea tree oil is antiseptic while the lavender is soothing for the skin (bye bye razor bumps!)

I like using Dessert Essence 100% Tea Tree Oil (http://www.desertessence.com/special-oils/organic-tea-tree-oil) and Aura Cacia Lavender Oil (http://www.auracacia.com/dspCmnPrd.php?p=t&cn=Lavender&ct=anpceoeo&i=y&br=Aura Cacia.

The combo of the oils creates a pleasing, comforting, clean scent that lasts all day.

Make up your own combination of scents and benefits that suits your needs.

Just try it!!

(picture from: ayushveda.com)