Red lipstick is hot, in your face, and never goes out of style. It begs for attention yet remains classy and sophisticated. However, red is not created equal for everyone. When choosing a red lipstick color, remember that it’s all about the skin tone.

Cool Skin: you have pink undertones and probably look better in silver jewelry and can only wear certain reds, you are a brunette, bright redhead, or platinum blonde

If you are cool skin, choose reds that have pink undertones: pink tones of red, berry reds, wine and plum reds

Warm Skin: you have yellow or olive undertones and look better in gold jewelry

If you are warm skin, choose orangey reds, tomato reds, brown based reds, golden reds, tawny reds, brick reds

Note that blue toned reds can make your teeth look whiter, and you should never match your lipstick to your red clothing!

We all know how powerful the sun is when it comes to our skin. But did you know that UV rays are actually harder on our hair than chlorine and blow drying?

The sun can damage your hair by depleting the levels of protein - keratin - that keep your hair strong. When keratin is damaged, your hair shafts weaken and can become easily damaged. They then fail to reflect light which makes your hair appear dull. The sun can also suck the moisture and oil out of your hair. Normal moisture levels are around 8%, but sun damage brings it to about 2%. The result is hair with brittle split ends.

You can fight this battle by always wearing a hat when outdoors to protect your locks. Combine the hat with a heavy duty conditioner and your hair is no match for the sun!

This summer, make sure to take care of your hair the proper way, so that it remains strong and healthy.

Ever heard of Argan Oil? Yeah, me either! Turns out it's a well known oil in Morocco, coming from Argan nuts, and was mostly used for cooking until the recent past.

Once people realized that it could be used to keep your skin glowing and wrinkle-free, the cold pressed versions started popping out for people to try. Argan oil is full of fatty acids, Vitamin E and Carotenes. It also doesn't clog pores which makes it a versatile oil for all skin types.

Argan oil is a golden yellow color but doens't boast that great of a smell. If you can tolerate a less than fragrant scent, it is worth the endurance. Also important to note: don't use cooking grade oil for your skin. Cold pressed oil and cooking oils are different grades. Always use cold pressed oils with your skin.

Aging skin is something that no woman wants to deal with, but unfortunately it is inevitable for all of us. When Father Time has got you down, fight back with this walnut and almond facial mask:

1 tsp cold pressed walnut oil
8-10 almonds
1 drop geranium essential oil

Grind the almonds and mix them with the other ingredients until you get a thick paste. Apply on face (avoid eye area) and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Walnuts and almonds are powerhouse nuts; good for the heart, health, and overall wellness. But they also pack quite a bit of Vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids which makes them your skin's best friend. People with aging or dehydrated skin will reap the most benefits from this mask. Use once a week.

We know how hard it is to find time to make your own product and also sometimes its hard to find the organic ingredients so we can make it easy by providing great organic products that will come directly to your door. No muss, no fuss.

Good hair is not just what you put on it, but nourishing it from the inside as well. Below are 3 superfoods that will help give you those shiny, gorgeous locks that everyone desires:

1. Yogurt - loaded with probiotics (healthy bacteria that live in your gut and strengthen your immune system), proteins, calcium, B vitamins and minerals, it restores the moisture and strength back to your hair. Choose plain yogurt with live cultures, and sweeten with honey. Stay away from artificially sweetened ones
2. Salmon - this omega 3 fatty acid rich powerhouse is great for your hair. Paired with high amounts of zinc, it is a potent elixir for skin and hair. It also helps hair growth and hair loss because it is rich in niacin, which increases scalp circulation while healing and nourishing the hair. If you are not a big fish eater, a fish supplement could be another option
3. Egg Yolk - egg yolk is packed with biotin, pantethonic acid, and vitamin A. This is the perfect cocktail combination for your hair. It moisturizes and strengthens brittle hair.

These vitamins must be present in your food if you want healthy hair: A, B, E, C, Iron, Zinc, Folic Acid, and Protein. The foods listed above have a healthy combination of all of these so get to the grocery store and stock up on shiny hair supplies!

Hair loss is a frightening thing in a woman. We spend countless hours and money perfecting our luscious locks. A great deal of our beauty routine is invested in making our hair look its best.

Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. Stress, sickness, environmental pollutants, improper diet and thyroid issues can cause dramatic hair loss. If your hair is falling out at an alarming rate, it is advisable to visit your doctor to have your thyroid tested.

There are 3 aromatherapy oils that play an important role in hair loss recovery:

1. Rosemary
2. Cedarwood
3. Lavender

Combining these three oils will reduce your hair loss and make your hair stronger and healthier. To make a blend for your hair, combine 20 oz of jojoba oil in a glass jar, then add 3 drops of each of the oils and shake well. Massage your scalp with this oil for 5 minutes, then leave on for an hour to set. Shampoo.

Has anyone tried this formula for hair loss? We'd love to hear your comments!

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has a mission to promote and protect organic trade in North America. This is to benefit the environment, farmers and consumers. OTA's goal is to make organic products a common part of every day life which will enhance our quality of life and protect the environment.

OTA is key in regulating the market where these organic products are sold. They accomplish this goal through a variety of means:

1. Advancing Organic Standards: OTA advocates maintaining rigid standards for organic products which ensures consumer confidence in what is purchased. This is done through monitoring government agencies, being active in legislation that involves organic agriculture, and representing the industry globally.
2. Promoting Transition: OTA is committed to increasing the amount of organic crops. They have many resources set up on their webiste to support this transition for farmers or businesses wanting to go organic.
3. Public Awareness: OTA keeps the public informed through various media outlets - press releases, up to date website content, and various events. OTA has become known as an expert on fact-based knowledge in the organic industry.

OTA is global and provides seminars, conferences and workshops world wide. Visit their website to see how you can be a part of spurring this change.

One of the best parts about being a girl is all the makeup we have at our fingertips, and the wide variety of looks that we can create from the same palette.

This exotic look is inspired by feathery, sweeping brush strokes and jewel-toned colors. I absolutely love it. It's unique and beautiful and bold, yet soft and lovely. I haven't tried it yet, but if you manage to pull it off let me know!!! It would be perfect makeup for a dressy gala or fancy event.

Have you ever read the labels on your shampoo bottles? Aside from most ingredients that you won't be able to pronounce, I am sure you will see sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium benzoate amidst the crowd. These harmful chemicals are found in almost all shampoos that you buy off the shelves. They are credited with hair follicle damage, eye damage, and liver toxicity.

Shampoo usage over the years only means that your body is constantly exposed to these chemicals. To decrease toxicity in your body, use natural shampoo and hair products to ensure your hair and skin will only absorb what is pure and from the earth. It's much better to choose a bottle whose label reads like this: purified water, aloe vera extract, coconut oil, fruit and herbal extracts (rosemary, birchleaf, chamomile, sage, yarrow, parsley nettle, cherry bark) vitamin E, vitamin B1, grapefruit seed extract, citric acid, soy panthenol.

Pick up a sample of a great natural shampoo here. It has a fruity-herby scent that will make your hair smell wonderfully exotic!

Our skin is the largest organ we have in our body, not to mention our first layer of protection against the elements. I just read a statistic that over a lifetime, we absorb about 30 pounds of what we put on our skin. That includes cosmetics, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc. 30 pounds!!! Where do you think this goes?

Organic cosmetics are, by nature, hypoallergenic. This means no more irritating skin rashes, red bumps, or other awful maladies. Over time, the stress your skin is put under by dealing with harsh chemicals and preservatives will start to show. You will lose any healthy glow you once had as your skin becomes dull and tired from protecting itself against harmful chemicals. Switching to organic means you give your skin a break from constantly fighting against something it was never supposed to have on in the first place.

But it doesn't stop with the skin. Once products are absorbed by the skin, they then travel through the blood stream and have to be filtered out through the liver and kidneys. Since our bodies were not designed to come into contact with so many harsh substances, most of our kidneys and livers are overworked at trying to detoxify our bodies. And the process is never ending, since most of us use these harmful products every day.

Let's give our bodies a well deserved break ladies!

Wearing false lashes is a fun way to make your eyes stand out and command attention in a dramatic way. But putting them on can be quite a tricky process. Check out this video by one of my favorite makeup bloggers as she shows you an easy way to get those lashes to stick and look great.

http://www.organiccosmeticsonline.com

I wrote an earlier post several weeks back about how to make your lipstick last longer. I have
discovered that if I use lip liner and high quality organic lipstick my "look" will last for hours
longer than regular lipstick. Adding some mineral pegment to the lip can also help you lipstick
stay fresh and alive. Let me know if you have tried the powder step before.

One of the major causes of our skin looking aged and weary is the loss of collagen in our face. When our cells aren't functioning properly, they lose their ability to regenerate collagen, and therefore our skin suffers because of it.

Antioxidant Facial Oil Mukti is a really great product to reverse those signs of aging. The oils are nourishing and increases your skin's elasticity because of ingredients like pomegranate and evening primrose. With its moisture retention properties, it can be a great tool for fighting wrinkles and maintaining a supple and fresh appearance.

To use, apply in the evening after cleansing and toning. Squeeze a few drops onto your fingertips and gently press into your face and neck. Also great to use for facial massages and to remove eye makeup. It's best to use at night because of the lavender and sandalwood oils, which will calm your skin and relax your muscles.

Let me know how you like this product if you decide to try it out! I'm especially interested in the eye makeup remover part, as I can never seem to fully remove my waterproof mascara.

Synthetic fragrances can have up to 200 ingredients, just contained in that one label. There is no way to know what exactly they are either, since by law the manufacturer does not have to specify.

However this seemingly innocent word can cause a host of problems physically: vomiting, dizziness, nausea and skin irritations to name a few. These petrochemicals have also been known to trigger asthma.

This can turn into a huge problem if you work in an enclosed office space with multiple women who wear synthetic fragrances. Often the only way to remedy the situation is to step outside for some fresh air. If you find yourself in this situation, discuss with your colleagues the option of switching to essential oils as a fragrance staple.

Sometimes we just have days where we are low on energy and every single task seems to take everything we've got. It's during moments like this that it's important to have solutions at your fingertips that will perk you up and get a smile on your face.

Aromatherapy is renowned for many things, and being used as an energy booster is just one of the many great things it offers. There are 6 scents noted for their energizing effects:

• Lemon/Orange - uplifting and mood-elevating
• Peppermint - mental stimulant
• Balsam Pine - vitality promoting
• Rosemary - invigorating
• Thyme - refreshing

A good way to make use of these scents is to place some drops of oil on a light bulb, and as the bulb burns the oil will release its scent. You can also boil a pot of water filled with thyme and rosemary, and your house will be filled with an upbeat energy. Also, purchase peppermint scented candles and burn when you are feeling sluggish.

It's much better for your body if you reach for an herb or essential oil than a cup of coffee to wake up your senses! Live well and be well my friends. 

Let's talk deodorant. If you have been a "member" of the organic world for some time now, then I'm sure you are privy to the harmful effects of aluminum in anti-perspirant. This nasty metal has been linked to breast cancer and lymphoma in women. Considering the area of application and the frequency, this doesn't really come as a surprise to me. The purpose of an anti-perspirant is exactly that: to prevent you from perspiring. So what that means is that harmful toxins in your body normally eliminated via sweat no longer get eliminated. So the toxins stay in your body. Not a great thought.

But there is another option! You can choose natural deodorant, which will allow you to perspire, but masks the less than rosy scent while you do so. Using natural deodorant means you stay away from harmful chemicals, and it is also easier on those of you with sensitive skin or skin allergies. Click here to find a good list of organic products.

So, you have eyes like rich emeralds and want to play them up even more? No problem. All you need is the right color combination to make them even more fierce.

The best colors for enhancing green eyes are purple, coppery browns, gold and chocolate. The best choices in color can be found here in our Loose Powder Eye Shadow Earths Beauty line. Purple is on the opposite side of the spectrum wheel from green which is why they are such complimentary colors.

The first step is to cover your entire lid with a muted brown as a base. Then smudge a vibrant lilac or amethyst colored purple along your lid but not going above the crease. Take you your coppery brown or chocolate color (depending on how dramatic you want the look to be) and use that color to fill your crease. Be sure to not layer over the purple shadow however as it is key to making your green eyes pop. Blend any harsh lines so that you have a smooth, pulled together look. 

With your eye liner brush, dip it into a deep plum color and line the lower half of your lashes with this color. Finish off with mascara and admire your bold green eyes!

Let's face it - one of the best parts about being a woman is the makeup. With the proper tools at hand, we can experiment, play, disguise or seduce. Our options are endless! No color off limits, no shade too dark. And what better way to experiment than with the wide array of organic eye shadow colors we have on our site. Come explore, and coax your inner wild side out for once. Pick a color that makes you a bit edgy, a bit unsure. From Bright Blue, to Charcoal to Plum, you are bound to find a color that gives you an extra pop of sassiness.

Don't forget to check here for other natural makeup options!

As we destroy our natural ozone we will need to be more aware of how the sun affects our skin and health. There has been great concern by day care centers, schools and others groups who are responsible for child safety. They have been the thrust of the need to use sunscreen in an effort to protect the children and avoid law suits. Even to the point that they have told parents in no uncertain terms that they would be looked upon as irresponsible parents if they do not apply and supply sunscreen for their child each and every day.

I agree, but only in principle. I am not pointing a finger at the day care providers for they can only work within the regulations and the parent’s wishes. My daughter and I have had many children in our daycare and after school programs that we encouraged to apply sunscreen (often using the daycare’s sunscreen) so that we were compliant and didn’t have sunburned children. The problem is that although you must protect the child from getting sun burned, the means for accomplishing that can be as harmful as the suns rays. Dare I say most sunscreens contain toxic chemicals? It would be a shock if you thought you are doing the right thing for everyone involved and then found out years later you had not been properly informed and found the toxins where effecting peoples health. You may be wondering how your good intentions could have gone so wrong. How was this was allowed to happen?

The Environmental Working Group’s Executive Director, Richard Wiles, issued the following statement:
“FDA’s been dragging its feet on sunscreen safety standards for more than 30 years. Meanwhile, most Americans are not adequately protected: A recent EWG study found that 85% of sunscreens we tested do not offer enough protection from UV rays, are made with potentially harmful ingredients, or have not been tested for safety. We applaud Sen. Dodd, but Congress shouldn’t have to force FDA to do its job.” I want to support the companies that have gone the extra mile to give us products that were good for us from the beginning. Companies that produce a superior sunscreen without waiting for law suits or consumer pressure to take chemicals out of the products. They knew that additives were not benefiting our health. Statistics state that 3 of 5 brand-name sunscreens either don’t protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals — or both.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) are constantly testing and lobbying for accountability in product creation. They have a great website that shows all sunscreen products tested (1,625 of them) and you can find out how your sunscreen scores. Many products I thought were safe are shown to be harmful. The one that really surprised me with a bad score was baby sunscreen called Huggies Little Swimmers. Get informed and take charge of your purchasing power while improving your health at the same time.

 

Who knew?

Several natural skin care companies knew, Environmental Working Group knew, and even the companies that put the toxins in their sunscreen knew. It’s hard not to trust Huggies or L’Oreal just a little when they say you are safe and protected. Who doesn’t want to hear that? Marketing corporation with large budgets are not given lie detector tests when they create ads and labels. Corporate America is not covering your back.

How do I know that these companies have some understanding of the toxic side effects of their products? Because they are now modifying their formulas in an effort to secure their hold on market shares. They will modify the sunscreen just enough so they can put “natural” or “new improved” on the labels in the hope that you will continue to use the brands you have trusted for years. But awareness is rising and we just won’t buy the products that are not safe with blind confidence like we did in the past. Your dollars do talk and our power lies in the fact that we can decide who to support.

 

I will give a vote of support and confidence to people with awareness and ability to create beneficial products for me and the environment. The time to act is now and we are primed to redirect our attention toward our health and that of the planet. Organic products are a future we can all live with.

Well things have been very interesting and busy around here putting up a new site and researching like I was about to write a Pulitzer. The one thing that kept coming up big and bold is the important of "ORGANIC" sunscreen. I hear mothers talk about not letting their children go out without sunscreen. Parents of little ones are asked to make sure there is a tube of sunscreen in their childs back pack if they go to day care. Well I have been researching - what else - Skin... Some interesting facts: the deep layers of skin move the skin cells to the top where they are finally shed. We loose tens of thousand of skin cells each day and of course the old dead cells that fall off are a large contributor to what we call house dust. It's a great idea to keep you skin soft and healthy and free of toxins because your skin breaths like your lungs do. Well back to the importance of organic sunscreen! Can you just imagine what the skin has to go through to move the toxins away from the skin and into the blood stream for storage or elimination. I shutter to think of all those little children being smothered in sunscreen lotion with the idea that their little bodies are being protected from the dangerous sun rays and all the while we are adding to the chemical load of their little systems. I have even seen a mother chastised with accusations of neglect when her child was let outside without the "safety" of sunscreen. It's important to protect the skin - don't get me wrong. There is a better way - an organic way - that can give you and your children the best of both worlds - protection from the burning sun and non toxic - waterproof UV 30 sunscreen. For adult and children alike - Take a look.