First, I just ordered some new sifters for the foundation and blush containers. They have a turning mechanism that closes off the holes so when you stash powders in your purse the powder stays below the sifter - meaning less mess! They cost me a bit more, but not enough to affect the cost of the product for you, so I think it’s a great improvement! I’ll be slowly phasing them in over the next few months.

Second, I ordered some new ingredients (ones I have been looking for for ages!) to experiment with: Ecomulse (INCI: Glyceryl Stearate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol (and) Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate) and Glyceryl Stearate. They are both emulsifiers that are ECOCERT approved for use in organic cosmetics. Emulsifiers are never really natural, since they must be heavily modified even if they are plant-based, but are necessary in lotions, creams, and mascaras to mix water with oil or wax.  So it’s great to finally have found some that have at least gone through some sort of organic certification process! I also found an ECOCERT approved preservative: Geogard Ultra (INCI: Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate), which is essential for mascara.

So I will be experimenting with new mascara recipes soon! And maybe even some skin creams and lotions now that I have the ingredients!

06/15/2011 Update: I have switched back to the original style of sifters because the new ones were almost impossible to remove, making refills extremely difficult. I still have quite a few turn sifters left, so if you would like one, just request it (foundation or blush or both) when you order and I will include it in your package (you will have to replace it yourself, though).

So where does that leave you as a consumer?

First, you need to define what natural means to you. Does your definition include only plant material? Only plants and minerals? What about poison ivy or lead – those would fit the above definition, but are obviously not healthy for you. Learn as much as you can about the ingredients listed on the products you currently use and write a list for yourself with three categories: Good, Bad, and Not Sure. Your definition of natural is probably different from most companies’ definitions, or even from your friends’ definitions. That’s okay. We all have unique ingredient needs according to what our skin reacts to and what we consider acceptable.

Okay, so you have your list. Then what?

Next, you need to find the products that match your definition of natural as closely as possible. This is where companies need to step up and be more transparent. Many companies make it difficult to find ingredients on their websites or don’t list them at all. You can either ask yourself “What are they hiding?” and move on, or you can send them an email requesting the information.

If all of this sounds like a lot of work to you, you’re right, it is. But it’s worth it. Once you have your list, you can keep it updated and reference it when you shop. And once you find the products that work for you, you can enjoy them without worrying and spend your time looking and feeling fabulous!

photo by Joseph Gray

As the temperature rises, the key to keeping your makeup looking flawless is to embrace the lighter, fresher looks of summer instead of trying to fight the heat. Try these tips to stay beautiful all summer long:

1. Wear less powder and reapply more often.
   Use half as much powder foundation as you normally would and aim for sheer coverage. When your nose starts to get a bit shiny, use blotting papers to wipe off excess oil (eco-friendly option: use small cloths that you can just throw in the wash later). Then apply a fresh (light) layer of powder.
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2. Use loose mineral powders instead of pressed powders.
   Loose mineral powders are more resistant to sweat and oil because they usually don’t contain any oils or waxes.
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3. Skip the eye liner during the day.
   Instead, just wear a light layer of eye shadow (see #4 below) and save the eye liner for evening when the temperature cools down a little.
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4. Keep your eye shadow light, fresh, and natural.
   Skip the heavy colors and opt for a light shade all over your lids in a color that’s close to your skin tone. Bronzers, all-over face colors, and beige eye shadows work really well. And if they start to crease, it won’t be as noticeable.
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5. Swap your lipstick for lip gloss or a tinted lip balm.
   They’re lighter, fresher, and more natural-looking. Plus, lipstick can soften in the heat, leaving you with a broken tube if you press too hard when you apply it. Lip balm holds up to heat better since it’s supported by the tube and lip gloss is already semi-liquid, so it doesn’t matter if it softens a bit.

Do you have any secrets to looking gorgeous during the summer heat? Share them below!

Summertime Linen Bag by Koej

Summertime Linen Bag by Koej

About a month ago, I posted nine of my favorite handmade purses for summer, which included the Summertime Linen Bag by Koej.  After seeing my post, Judith, the creator and owner of Koej, actually made and sent me the bag! It just arrived a few days ago (all the way from the Netherlands) and I absolutely love it! Thank you so much, Judith - you are too kind!

 

The purse is so well-made with perfectly lined-up stitches (I sew occasionally, so I notice these things) and sturdy construction. And it has cute yet practical little pockets inside and an attached key chain so you don’t have to spend an eternity fishing for your keys at the bottom of your purse! I absolutely love the combo of casual linen with contrasting cotton print – it has such a laid-back peasant/boho vibe to it that’s perfect for summer.

 

So if you’re looking for a unique handmade summer purse, check out Koej!

All-Over Glow: Everyone loved this one! So it’s now available on the website here.

All-Over Glow

Beach Babe Bronzer

 Bronzers: The general consensus was that they looked good on, but were a bit too intense-looking in the jar. So I’ve tweaked the recipes a bit and toned them down without changing too much. I also changed the names to Sun Kissed and Beach Babe. The new and improved versions are now available here.

Illuminating Veil

Veil: The reviews for the veil were very mixed – it seems like everyone is looking for something different in a veil. Some of you like them matte and others like them more shimmery, some of you want oil control and others want a bit of coverage. So I decided to make two brand new veils: one is semi-matte and oil-controlling with some light coverage, and the other is a sheer and shimmery illuminating veil. I added Kaolin Clay to the mix to help with oil control. Check out the new veils here.

All of these products were developed because of your requests, so keep them coming! I love to hear your suggestions!

So to test it out, I decided to try something new. I made a batch of lip balm and added a bit of color to it, about half as much as the concentration in the lip glosses, for just a sheer tint. I decided to try out a new flavor too – vanilla orange – and now I’m completely addicted!

I’m so excited about this lip tint since I’m a total lip balm junkie. I have a tube in almost every purse and jacket I own, and it’s nice to have a sheer and natural tint to stash in my purse that I can apply without a mirror. This one’s going to be a permanent fixture in my beach bag this summer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do because I’m already planning more colors to add!

Check out the lip tint here!

P.S. The results of the product testing for the all-over glow, bronzers, and veil will be posted soon! I’m just waiting for one or two more testers.

1. Dogwood Ruffle Bag - lemongrass by Sweetgum Handbags $55

2. Nagy in Purple – medium by bayan hippo $35

3. The Honeycomb in Bubblegum by Minus $83

4. Bamboo bag – green flowers on linen by oktak $98

5. Copenhagen Leaves in Black and White by Ikabags $44

6. Orange Sorbet by Paco + Lupe $83

7. Summertime Linen Bag by koej $38

8. Cannelle Bag – Burlap in Celery by Ira Grant Eco $83

9. QT Canvas Tote in Dark Teal  by Kinies $42

I made this recipe for the Mountain Rose Herbs Recipe Contest, and not only is it a wonderfully smooth and light lotion, it smells delicious! Most of the ingredients can be found at Mountain Rose Herbs.

Chai Tea Latte Organic Body Lotion

Ingredients:

• 150 ml (3/5 cup) Distilled Water
• 1 tsp Organic Firefly Chai Loose Tea (a rooibos blend)
• 1.2 g (0.04 oz) Potassium Sorbate (natural preservative – if you omit this, make sure you keep your lotion in the fridge and use within a week)
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• 15 g (1/2 oz) Lanette N Wax (a vegetable-derived emulsifying wax)
• 20 ml (1 tbsp + 1 tsp) Organic Sweet Almond Oil
• 3 g (0.1 oz) Organic Cocoa Butter
• 10 drops Vitamin E
• 25 drops Organic Balsam Tolu (an essential oil that smells a lot like vanilla)

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Instructions:

Step 1: Brew tea! Boil water and add loose chai tea. Steep for 5-6 minutes, then strain.

Step 2: Add potassium sorbate to tea and stir to dissolve. Keep mixture warm on medium heat.

Step 3: Put lanette wax, cocoa butter, and sweet almond oil into a small stainless steel bowl and place over a pot half full of water (or use a double boiler, if you have one). Place on stove top at medium heat until melted. Stir occasionally.

Step 4: Add vitamin e to wax and oil mixture.

Step 5: Pour a spoonful of the tea mixture into the oil mixture and stir continuously. Continue adding tea mixture slowly to oil mixture, stirring, until completely mixed. Don’t stop stirring!

Step 6: Remove mixture from heat and keep stirring until mixture has cooled completely. This part can get very boring. If you want to speed it up, place bowl in an ice bath.

Step 7: Add balsam tolu essential oil and stir.

Bottle and enjoy!

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