The Nature of Beauty Blog

Beauty Tips for your Big Date

2012-02-13T08:08:00.000-08:00

Here's a little secret for you: I was born and raised in Fargo. That's right, the one from the movie. While it was a great place to grow up, I think maybe it is also why I developed...um...let's call it an exaggerated idea of what it meant to get dolled up for a big night out (and no, that is not me on the left, although it probably could have been). The Fargo trifecta of beauty was, quite simply put: Big Hair, Big Makeup, and a Big Fake Tan.

Thankfully, I have come to appreciate the "less is more" approach to looking beautiful. Since launching The Nature of Beauty, I have also had the amazing good fortune to learn from uber-talented makeup artists like Jessa Blades, Christy Coleman, Kristen Arnett, and The Nature of Beauty's own Nina Strommen.

Rather than keep this knowledge all to myself, I thought perhaps on this, the Week of Big Dates, I would share some of my favorite tips with you (and yes, they are great tips even if you don't have any big plans for Valentine's Day).

Say Goodbye to Dry: 5 tips for replenishing winter-ravaged skin

2012-01-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

I love winter, which I realize may lead you to question my sanity. But I find cold air invigorating and refreshing after months of heat and humidity. My skin, however, is far less enthusiastic. Even during record warm winters like this one, I struggle to keep flaky, itchy skin at bay, from my chin to my shins. On the plus side, this year’s long spell of remarkably dry air has given me ample opportunity to experiment on myself, including whipping up a few DIY recipes. I also consulted with my two Minnesota-born–and-bred estheticians, who I knew would have much to offer in the way of dry skin solutions.

After teasing out what worked from what did not, I present to you 5 easy and affordable adjustments you can make to your daily skin care routine when winter attacks:
Read more »

2011 Nature of Beauty Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

2011-12-16T21:03:00.003-08:00

As I mentioned in our last blog post, we carry some excellent products that double as sure-to-please holiday gifts. But those are just a few of the many great gift ideas available at The Nature of Beauty. For the past month, I have been planning on writing a big ol' blog post listing My Favorite Things. Clearly, I kept putting it off.

If it makes you feel better, a Nature of Beauty Gift Guide isn't the only thing I'm guilty of putting off til the last minute: I have yet to purchase a single Christmas gift. For anyone. In the hopes I'm not alone, and you, too, haven't completed (or started) your holiday shopping, above is my Special 2011 Edition Last Minute Nature of Beauty Gift Guide, and below, I tell you a bit about why I think they are so awesome:

The Nature of Beauty's Holiday Gift Picks for 2011

2011-12-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

It's been an insanely busy holiday season for us at The Nature of Beauty. Between new brands, special events, visits from the founders of our favorite brands, and a ton of fabulous new and returning customers, it's been nothing short of impossible for this girl to even find time to sit down and write a blog post!

To make it easier on myself, I asked the Nature of Beauty team to help me out by naming their pick for Best Holiday Gift of 2011. I have to say, I wholeheartedly approve of each and every selection - so here we go!

Why I Love Logona's New Makeup (and think you will, too)

2011-10-12T13:34:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have followed this blog from the beginning know I have always had a stubborn love of Logona. Maybe it's the German in me loving the German in them. Or maybe it's because I have always known Logona to be a consistent producer of reliable and effective beauty products. Problem is, they've never been particularly sexy, nor have they ever spent so much as a minute trying to attract U.S. customers. Nevertheless, Logona has become our best-selling line in the store, as all of us who use it quickly recognized their value.

All that is about to change with the relaunch of their color collection. To say they've improved on their original line is a dramatic understatement; naw, these guys have hit it out of the park with lipsticks that deliver intense shine without glitter, mascara that volumizes without smudging or flaking, and foundation that delivers a flawless, radiant finish.

Intrigued? Let me elaborate:

Pit Potion: A magical cure for the stinkies

2011-09-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

My best friend of over 20 years called me last week, a few hours after we sent our last email blast, announcing the launch of Pit Potion by The Nature of Beauty. "I don't understand," she said, clearly flummoxed, "You made it? I mean, no offense...but you don't make skin care. Do you?"

She had a point. I don't - well, I didn't - make skin care. At least, not for other people. Truth be told, I had been secretly accumulating quite a stash of raw ingredients over the past few years, wanting to understand how they smell, feel, and work when you mix them together. I'm not the kind of person who is content with the What; I need to know the Why and the How (I must have been the most crazy-making 3-year-old ever). Thinking I should keep these Science Geek tendencies to myself, I didn't really share my potions with anyone else. Besides, I hadn't made anything I thought was better than the products I was already selling.

Until I made Pit Potion.

What I'm Wearing (and Using) Today

2011-09-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I shared what I've been puttin' on my face. My beauty routine has changed a bit as of late, and unsolicited customer compliments have been on the rise ever since. So maybe now would be a good time for the latest edition of What I'm Wearing Today!

Read more »

New Makeup, Just In Time For Fall!

2011-09-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure about where you live, but in Minnesota, this summer meant the hottest, most humid weeks we've ever experienced. Even if wearing a full face of makeup looked good in sauna-esque conditions, who would want to wear it? September, though...well, that's a whole different story. Sure, it means winter is around the corner, but it also means primo makeup weather!

With that, we've got some amazing new makeup. Here are just a few of my favorites.

Read more »

The Deal with Samples

2011-08-29T20:11:00.000-07:00

Way back when we first launched Natureofbeauty.com (seems like a million years ago), we created what I thought would be the perfect Samples program: Unlimited samples at 99 cents each.

Since that time, our samples program has been through several incarnations. No matter the policy, we regularly receive emails from customers wishing we offered more samples, cheaper samples, unlimited samples, and so on and so forth. Believe me, we understand the limitations of purchasing online; I, for one, hate going to the mall, so the invent of online retail was a godsend, albeit one with drawbacks. You may wonder, then, why companies place limitations on samples, or charge you for what amounts to 1-2 days' worth of product.

Read more »

Couleur Caramel: Questions answered with (way too) close-ups

2011-08-15T19:33:00.000-07:00

The word keeps spreading, because the hype is deserved: Couleur Caramel really does offer the best natural mascara on the market. Coco Eco Magazine, makeup artists Jessa Blades and Christy Coleman and, last week, The Well Daily, have all listed Couleur Caramel mascara as their big fave.

A couple of questions continue to come in, however, from current and potential Couleur customers. The most common one: "So, how well does it wear throughout the day?" followed closely by, "So, what's the deal with 'cils courts' vs. 'cils longs'?"

Today, in fact, I received an email with those very questions. She happened to catch me in the middle of the afternoon, when I was looking for a good excuse to move away from the computer, stretch my legs, and play with makeup. I popped up, took off my existing eye makeup, slapped some cils courts on one eye, cils longs on the other, and snapped a big ol' close-up to send to my mascara-hungry pen pal.

Earlier this evening, I decided it wasn't fair to limit the results of my mascarexperiment to just one lucky customer. I also realized this was an opportunity to take a follow-up photo 6 hours later, providing at least one answer to the wearability question. Before I show you the photos, however, a couple of things:

1) No one should ever post photos of their face this close up without the help of Photoshop. But I did it anyway, because I didn't want the experiment to be tainted by enhanced results. All I ask is that you refrain from judgment, and just focus on the eye lashes.

2) When it comes to the wearability of any mascara, one person's success is another's failure. In other words, this mascara may work flawlessly for even 90% of you, but it could very well be a flop for the other 10, for reasons that have to do with oil on the lids and/or under eye area, allergies, eye-rubbing tendencies, eye shape, and so on. If you're one of the 10%, please email us at info@natureofbeauty.com, as we may have some suggestions that will correct the problem.

First, the cils courts ("short lash") vs. cils courts ("long lash"). The choice, in my opinion, isn't one to spend a great deal of time fretting over. And remember - the difference is in the wand, NOT the formula. See below:

At first, the cils courts felt heavier. I wasn't aware of having anything on the right-side set of lashes (with the cils longs), but was definitely aware that there was mascara on the left. That went away with time, however, and at this point in the day I don't notice any difference. In the mirror, I thought the cils courts lashes looked more dramatic, like a Maybelline Great Lash kind of thing. The cils longs reminded me more of Dior Show - long, dramatic, but not as lush, perhaps, as the lashes with the cils courts.

Here is a photo of my eyes 7 hours after applying the mascara.

As you can see, when it comes to my lashes, this mascara is flawless - no smudging, no smearing, and it's still very much on. I didn't have to clean it up, wipe anything off, or Photoshop away flakes and smudges. Which I think is obvious, because if this were me after Photoshopping, I'd have bigger problems than mascara. So yes, I look exhausted,but my mascara is still awesome.http://www.natureofbeauty.com/couleur-caramel-mascara.html

The Nature of Beauty: Why we're still here

2011-08-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

This past week marked 3 years since we launched Natureofbeauty.com. To be honest, it feels more like 30 years. I won't lie to you: It's been a rough road, filled with corrupted websites, expensive expansions, shuffling personnel, and a recession that seems unwilling to give up the ghost. It's enough to make a girl pack it up and call it a day...if it wasn't for the reason I created The Nature of Beauty in the first place.

To fact is, while there are approximately 9 bajillion more companies selling natural and organic beauty products than just 3 years back, the amount of misinformation has more or less kept pace. As a result, customers have more to choose from, but an even harder time deciphering to what extent brands and products are what they claim to be. As women and men become more motivated to purchase more eco- and people-friendy products, companies are working harder to secure their spending dollars. Because making products that actually contain mostly natural and organic ingredients would cost a lot more money, many businesses choose instead to confuse customers with misleading language, leafy packaging, and a direct line to beauty editors who don't understand and/or don't care to what extent a product that looks and sounds all eco really is.

In the past, I've railed against greenwashers, calling them out for misleading practices, with the hope of inspiring in others the same sense of outrage I felt when I learned of these companies' acts of deception. In response, I usually got an earful from fans, friends, and employees of these companies, calling ME out for beating up on those whom I should be supporting, because "nobody's perfect," and at least their products are better than the majority of what's out there.

My response was, and still is, that my goal when I entered the world of eco-conscious beauty was to provide as many people as possible with accurate information, and to encourage all consumers to think a bit more critically when spending their hard-earned dollars. Beauty manufacturers (especially in the U.S.) have the right to put whatever they want to in their products, and consumers have the right to purchase them. My beef is with their efforts to deceive customers into purchasing one thing, while believing they are purchasing something else. I have no interest in telling anyone what to buy, when to buy it, or what will happen to them if they don't. The challenge is that the vast majority of marketing efforts are spent on doing exactly that, so my job is a challenging one, as a grotesque understatement.

I'm not the least bit comfortable with the knowledge that pregnant women who choose not to use anything but organic skin care could walk into a department store (or, lets be honest, even the local co-op) and be sold a product with the understanding it meets their criteria, only to discover later it contains ingredients implicated in birth defects. Or a breast cancer survivor, determined to rid her body of unnecessary toxins, heading home with a $500 worth of skin care packed full of estrogen-mimicking chemicals. Until I feel confident this won't happen, I can't walk away. The stakes are too high, and progress too slow for anyone to back out now. We are getting sicker as a species, and until i see evidence of that trend being reversed, I'm going to be here, with my little company in tow.

FAQ: Why does the Nature of Beauty carry sunscreens with Nano Zinc Oxide?

2011-07-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, if I had a nickel for every time someone emailed, called, or stopped by the store asking why we carry sunscreen with nano zinc oxide, I would be writing this blog post from my yacht on Lake Minnetonka.

Of course, I don't get any such reward for taking on these questions, and yet, it seems like a good idea to provide an answer anyway! So I did just that, and once again I published it on Feelgoodstyle.com. I want to say that I am pretty passionate about this one - not about nano zinc oxide in particular, but about drawing a line between fear and thoughtfulness. Truly, I believe the "green beauty" movement is not so much about a fear of chemicals as it is about encouraging us to start thinking again about what we put on and in our bodies. Fear rarely leads to wise, rational decisions. And in the case of nano zinc oxide, it's entirely possible that the "better safe than sorry" option is going nano.

Anyway. Read more about my conclusions here, and please don't hesitate to email me at terri@natureofbeauty.com if you have questions, thoughts, or other feedback on the topic!

Why You Should Own a Clarisonic

2011-07-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

I can count on one hand the number of gadgets I have fallen in love with: the iPhone, my Roku box...and now, the Clarisonic Face & Body System (more commonly referred to as the Clarisonic Mia and the Clarisonic Pro). I love it so much I decided to sing its praises on FeelgoodStyle.com. Rather than duplicate my efforts, here's a link to my review, along with additional information about the Clarisonic. Enjoy!

Click here to read my full piece on the Clarisonic for FeelgoodStyle.com >>

2nd Annual Vacation Essentials Issue (post-surgery edition)

2011-06-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

Last year, I blogged from our family's rented lake cabin in the beautiful north woods of Minnesota. One year later, and we're back in our little corner of paradise, so I thought I should publish an updated piece, since we've added some new products to the store and, consequently, I've brought along some new products
to the cabin!

Another little twist: Two weeks ago, I had major abdominal surgery in Atlanta, GA, far, far away from home, which required me to pack a week's worth of toiletries that would not only travel well, but would promote physical and psychological healing. Given the proximity of the surgery and vacation, I did my best to create a collection that would work for both trips. As I near the end of trip #2, I have to say, I'm quite pleased with my selections:

Eco Logical Sun Screen, Face and Body. In case you're wondering what happened to Soleo, it was essentially replaced in the U.S. by Eco Logical (both made in Australia). It's not an exciting story so I won't go into it. But I must say, Eco Logical is indeed an upgrade. In particular, the Face sunscreen is extremely light - it almost feels "whipped." With no greasy feel or white-ish cast on the skin, it absorbs quickly and easily, making it perfect for under makeup. The Body sunscreen is decidedly heavier. Made with non-nano zinc oxide, it will look slightly white on very dark skin. Extremely water resistant, it does feel somewhat thicker and greasier, but they're not kidding with the water resistant thing. It adheres very well to the skin; my children-turned-fish have remained tan- and burn-free all week (admittedly, it's hard to tell with my youngest, who was born in Ethiopia, but we'll assume she's burn-free since she hasn't said anything).
Intelligent Nutrients Bug Serum and Spray. I'll admit: this one had me skeptical. Few places in the U.S. demand better mosquito protection than Minnesota in the summer time. Especially a wet summer like we've had thus far. But I've been using the serum and spray combo daily, and have yet to find a single bite on me. My youngest daughter, the other recipient of IN bug serum in my little experiment (yes, it's true, I experiment on my family), also remained bug-free. My eldest daughter's feet, on the other hand, which had been sprayed regularly with All Terrain, were victims of a full-on skeeter assault. Now, I should add that she also refused to stay out of the water, so the difference between her feet and mine are likely more due to lack of protection, rather than ineffective protection. In any case, my tentative conclusion, is this stuff really does work. Even if it only works almost as well as the DEET stuff, IN's version smells great, feels amazing on the skin, and is truly a joy to use, rather than the stinky, sticky, obviously toxic alternative (meaning the commercial DEET stuff - I still think All Terrain works just fine out of the water).
Jonathan Green Rootine Shampoo and Conditioner. I had to select hair care that would work for the whole family, and would be gentle on the rustic septic system at the resort. With nothing but natural and organic ingredients, Green Rootine delivers on both performance and environmental friendliness. A no-brainer, really. Check out Fig+Sage's review of Green Rootine, as I completely agree with their assessment.
red flower NATURE skin care travel set. I selected this as my skin care for post-surgical reasons. My body and my psyche were going to be in a rough state, so I wanted something that wouldn't just clean and moisturize my bod, but would soothe and nurture the soul as well. With their NATURE skin care, red flower really has achieved both textures and aromas that pamper.
Vapour Organic Beauty makeup. Hard to look oh-so-pretty faster and easier than with Vapour's stick-based makeup. Swipe and go, really, is all I did to transform myself from post-surgery ghastliness to ready-for-Georgia-tea-and-grits glamour (OK, "glamour" may be pushing it, but hey, going out to eat 2 days after surgery is no small thing!). I quickly rubbed on (with clean fingers) Atmosphere Foundation, Blush in Courtesan, Bronzer in Mirage, shadow in Flash, and lipstick in Tempt, et voila! Out the door and off to the Flying Biscuit with my sis (see pic).
Keys Keys and more Keys. I packed tons of Keys products, for me, my man, and my babies (who are, incidentally, 7 and 4). Wendy Steele and Bob Root, being the lovely and generous people they are, sent me a bottle of MetaCare for my incisions, which I have dutifully, and with wondrous results, applied every day since. I've also used it with great success on my post-hospital blemishes, my mom's extremely inflamed eczema (she said that even if it didn't totally go away, "it's still the softest rash I have ever had"), and a mystery rash my husband acquired from a life jacket. Another can't-live-without Keys items was my RediCare and, seriously, if you don't have a travel sized one of these with you everywhere you go, you are missing the boat on the best all-purpose spray in the universe. That goes double (or triple, quadruple, etc) if you have kids. It's worked miracles on my daughter's mosquito bites, a packing injury sustained by my work-horse hubby, and my dad's sliced finger from an encounter with a bass very much displeased at being caught.

It's Back! The Nature of Beauty's Free Gift with Purchase Event (but with a twist)

2011-05-25T22:03:00.000-07:00

As our U.S. customers know all too well, this Spring has been the worst on record for severe weather. Hundreds of families have been left homeless after tornadoes demolished blocks of real estate and obliterated entire towns. Even here in the Twin Cities, a tornado touched down in Minneapolis for the first time in 20 years, destroying over 150 homes in one of the poorest sections of the city.

These families need food and supplies as they figure out how to move forward with their lives. So this year, The Nature of Beauty has decided to add a modest donation request of $5 to qualify for this year's fabulous gift with purchase. All proceeds will go toward the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, providing emergency relief to families affected by the various weather-related disasters throughout the country.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
With your $75 purchase and $5 donation, we will fill a Shiraleah Oversized Cosmetics Bag with samples and travel size items from Jane Iredale, Keys Care, Amal Oils, Logona, Naturopathica, Zum, and more! Online customers use coupon code: DONATION; the bag and $5 donation will automatically be added to your cart. In-store customers, mention this offer when checking out to make your donation and receive your gift.

Sunscreen Examined: Keys Care's Wendy Steele and Bob Root this week on Nature of Beauty Live

2011-05-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, the EWG released their 2011 Sunscreen Guide yesterday. This is truly the must-read of the summer; in my opinion, the annual Sunscreen Guide is their most valuable contribution to the public's health.

In an example of the best timing ever, I want to convey how completely beside myself with delight I am about tomorrow night's Nature of Beauty Live. Not only do I have Keys Care's CEO, Wendy Steele, on board to talk about suncreen, but I also have the other half of Keys, Bob Root, author and Chief Technology Officer, and the genius formulator behind every remarkable product in the line.

This afternoon, I had the unparalleled delight of spending a couple of hours with this husband and wife dynamo duo, as they are in the Twin Cities for a few days, talking with their retailers and just being their awesome selves. I have to say - the two hours I spent with them today rank right up there with my most enjoyable moments of 2011 thus far. Brilliant people, both of them, I was very much aware of being in the presence of greatness: two individuals who hold more knowledge and experience between them than most skin care companies likely have in their entire organization. I'm gushing, I know, but honestly, these guys KNOW their stuff, as a dramatic understatement.

Consequently, it thrills me to no end that they have both agreed to be on tomorrow night's show. Not only that, but they are going to come to The Nature of Beauty boutique, so that we can do this the old-fashioned way: live and "in-studio," together, discussing the questions I know you want answered. What questions are those, you ask? Here are some of the topics on the agenda for tomorrow' show:

How did the two of you get into the business of making sunscreen (hint: is has everything to do with Wendy's personal experience with skin cancer)
What are the primary challenges when it comes to creating the "perfect" sunscreen?
What is the deal with nano zinc oxide? Why the controversy, and to what extent should we be concerned?
Why doesn't Keys make a water resistant/sport/beach version of Solar Rx? (Wendy tells me there is quite the story behind this, which I am dying to hear!)
What is the difference between zinc oxide and titanium dioxide? And what's the issue with Vitamin A?
Why is the Skin Cancer Foundation in EWG's Hall of Shame?

Then, assuming we have some time left over, we're going to talk a bit about the amazing work Keys is doing in the realm of therapeutic skin care, including Bob's thoughts on the causes and remedies for rosacea, eczema, and other common skin disorders.

I cannot over-emphasize how amazing this show is going to be. You will want to listen in live, as this is your chance to ask questions of two of the most knowledgeable experts in the world of non-toxic skin care. Bob is extensively involved with the EWG, and they have a great deal of insider information about this fairly impenetrable organization. So if you have any questions about sunscreen, skin care, or Skin Deep, you will want to not only listen in, but log in so that you can get your questions answered by Wendy Steele and Bob Root - because, c'mon, how often does that opportunity present itself?!

I hope to see you all online, Wednesday May 25th, at 9pm EST, for The Nature of Beauty Live!

27 Known Skin Allergens: Are they in YOUR skin care products?

2011-05-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

On tonight's Nature of Beauty Live show, with Naturopathica's Barbara Close, I learned about the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, and their list of known skin allergens. More importantly, I learned that - ironically enough - many of the ingredients on their list are found in tons of popular (and expensive) skin care products. This is a group not associated with any "alternative" movement, they aren't all pro-organic or donors to EWG or anything like that. The group was created, in their own words:

"...to promote, support, develop and stimulate information about contact dermatitis and occupational skin disease; to provide a forum for the exchanging of this information; to promote the education of physicians by encouraging courses in contact dermatitis, occupational dermatology and other related topics at scientific meetings and dermatology training centers, and to promote investigative research into these fields."

Here's their list of the 27 most common allergens. As a side note: after undergoing the most comprehensive allergy testing process ever, it was determined that my husband was allergic to pretty much all 27. Anyway, take a look at the list below. Then look at your skin care (and your partner's, and your kids', etc), where you'll almost certainly find some of the following ingredients listed:

1. Balsam of Peru: Perfume

2. Neomycin: Broad Spectrum anti-biotic

3. Fragrance Mix: Perfume for household products, flavors, toothpaste, sweets, softdrinks, cakes, Chinese Cinnamon oils, any food with essence flavors

4. Thimerosal: Mercury-Metals (Ammoniated Mercury, Nickel, Potasium Dichromate) e.g. Cement, leather, matches, paints, photography, electroplating, anti-corrosives, glues, adhesives, textile dyes and detergents, earrings, watches, rings, coins, dentures, kitchen wares, spectacle frames, keys, scissors, canned food

5. Formaldehyde: Preservatives used in shampoos, detergents, lotions, hair conditioners, creams, deodorants

6. Quaternium 15: Preservatives

7. Cobalt Chloride: Laboratory Reagent

8. Euxyl K400: Sensitizer in skin products: 0.4% methyldibormoglutaronitrile (MDGN) & 1.6% Phenoxyethanol (PE) in 2% Petrolatum

9. PPDA (p-Phenylenediamine): Tar Dyes e.g. Hair dyes, leather processing, printers ink, x-ray fluids

10. Propylene Glycol: Vehicle in pharmaceutical and cosmetic bases, cooling fluids, brake fluids and solvents

11. Cinnamic Aldehyde: Perfume

12. Amidoamine: Curing Agent, Epoxy

13. Bronopol: Preservatives

14. Diazolidinyl Urea: Preservatives

15. MCI/MI: Methyl-chloro-isothiazolinone/Methyl-isothiazoline, most potent allergens on the consumer market, very effective preservatives

16. Colophony/Rosin: Varnishes, printing ink, adhesives, waxpaper, cardboard oils

17. Ethylene-diamine dihydrochloride: Medicated creams, nose and eye solutions, steroids, neomycin, rubber latex, some expectorants

18. Imidazolidinyl Urea: Preservatives

19. Lanolin: Wool-alcohols, ointment base in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, furniture polish, leather, textile and numerous industrial finishes, shoe polish, printing ink, grease waxes and soaps

20. DMDM Hydantoin: Dimethylol, dimethyl ingredient in lotions, body wash, bubble bath, massage oil and body scrubs

21. Glyceryl Thioglycolate: Hairdressing Agent

22. Ethyl Acrlate: High volume chemical

23. N-isophryl N-Phenyl Paraphenylenediamine: Sensitizer, anti-degrant in natural rubber

24. Paraben Mix: Preservatives

25. Chloryxylenol (PCMX): Anti-microbial agent used in treatment shampoos and antiseptic lotions

26. Benzophenone: Ingredient in sunscreen tanning oil, lip balm treatment, facial moisturiser, conditioner, foundation, and other skin care products

27. Iodopropyl Carbamate: Ingredient in solutions for deep facial lines

As a final thought: Because my husband has a ton of contact allergies, I can tell you that many of the above ingredients won't be listed on the label, because no one is making companies list them, including (but hardly limited to) Balsam of Peru, Thimerisol, Fragrance Mix, and Formaldehyde.

Be A Part Of The Nature of Beauty Live Tonight! (here's how)

2011-05-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

Did you know you can ask questions during The Nature of Beauty Live? Starting about 15 minutes before 9pm EST (when the show begins), simply go to our Nature of Beauty Live page, and click on Join In! You will see a chat box show up where you can type in your questions while listening to the show. I will be monitoring the chat room, to ensure all questions are addressed live on the air! You don't need to register with Talkshoe, or give them any personal information to participate.

With that in mind, don't forget that tonight's guest is Barbara Close, CEO and founder of Naturopathica. This is an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the healing properties found in nature, including their much bally-hooed Plant Stem Cell Serum. Not one to shy away from the controversial, however, I will also be asking Barbara to discuss some of the more controversial ingredients in her product line, particularly those getting higher hazard scores on Skin Deep. Naturopathica is a signer of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and Close has agree to briefly discuss Skin Deep in general, including her opinions regarding its strengths and weaknesses.

What do you think about Naturopathica? What have you heard about this product line? Would you use it? Why or why not? Join us tonight, download the show to iTunes starting tomorrow, or listen to this and all past shows from the dropdown menu in the Nature of Beauty Live box on the right-hand side of our blog.

My Post-Facial Face! (In Honor of this Wednesday's Show with Naturopathica's Barbara Close)

2011-05-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

As you might imagine, getting the occasional massage facial is pretty much the best perk ever when you own a spa. And when your spa relies primarily on Naturopathica to deliver results, well, you're super crazy lucky (or maybe just smart). I was reminded of that today when I caught a glimpse of my mug in the mirror this afternoon, just a few hours after my facial. I was so pleased with how my skin looked, I decided to take a picture of it, in natural light, with my iPhone and throw it up on the blog for all to see - no touch-ups, Photoshopping, or other alterations whatsoever! And doing that, my friends, is a true testament to how happy I am with my post-facial face.

This face (hey, I didn't say I took a good picture of myself) has been brought to you by:

Naturopathica Sweet Lupine Cleansing Cream
Naturopathica Lavender Honey Balancing Mist
Naturopathica Pumpkin Enzyme Peel
Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel
Naturopathica Seaweed Recovery Mask
Naturopathica Cassis Ultra Replenishing Cream
Dr. Alkaitis Eye Cream
Intelligent Nutrients Lip Delivery Nutrition

If you're in the Twin Cities, do come in for one of these magical hours of skin love. I cannot recommend it enough!

And don't forget: This Wednesday, at 10pm Eastern, I interview Barbara Close, Naturopathica founder and CEO. I will be asking her how she makes such high performing skin care products without all the nasty face-frying chemicals, and what the science is behind her approach to anti aging items like the Plant Stem Cell Serum, in addition to the products used to make my face look and feel clean, bright, and healthy. For those of you with questions about ingredient choices, questionable ratings on Skin Deep, and so forth, no worries: I will be asking her the though questions, too! You can also submit them yourself, live! Just head to the Nature of Beauty Live page to learn more. I hope to see you there!

Why The Nature of Beauty Loves Shea Radiance

2011-05-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

Shea Radiance. Ever heard of it? Yeah, neither had we. But then I was browsing the Internet one evening, searching for the perfect brand of body lotion for the spa, and I happened upon Viva Woman's review of Shea Radiance. Sure, the review was from 2007, but her description of this "pure whipped shea butter delight" certainly sounded like what my estheticians were asking for. A week later, a box of Shea Radiance (complete with updated, sleek-yet-simple packaging) arrived at The Nature of Beauty. Within minutes, we each had our stash (well, after a bit of arm-wrestling over the lavender whipped shea butter and vanilla sugar body scrub). The testing began.

I should add that during this same period of time, I had ordered about a half dozen brands for my estheticians to try, ranging from the generic, budget variety, to the highest of high-end luxury creams. Miracle of miracles, The Nature of Beauty estheticians were united in their vote: Shea Radiance was the winner.

I'll admit, I was secretly pulling for Shea Radiance myself, if for no other reason than as an excuse to sell the Sweet Vanilla Sugar Scrub. I have tried many, many body scrubs over the past several years: sugar scrubs, salt polishes, beads, beans, brushes, you name it. Nothing, I tell you, nothing compares to Shea Radiance's indulgent, intoxicating, creamy exfoliation creation. Made with unrefined shea butter, organic cane sugar, and ground vanilla beans, my skin is smooth and moisturized before I've left the shower. I know lots of body cleansers say they're a soap and moisturizer in one, but I honestly didn't believe it was possible until I rubbed this stuff all over myself.

Founded by a West African couple living in the U.S., Shea Radiance incorporates unrefined Shea Butter - known for its miraculous benefits to the skin, including the ability to reduce inflammation, heal wounds, even help with stretch marks and scarring - into all products. They also work directly with communities in Northern Nigeria, where women process the shea nuts into shea butter locally, and have partnered with a third-party NGO to ensure fair wages and ethical work practices are maintained, maximizing the income and benefits to the workers and the community.

What sets Shea Radiance apart from the competition, however, is the products' performance. Specifically: they have achieved true perfection with textures and aroma. My estheticians voted for Shea Radiance for its rare combination of texture and absorbency: it leaves the skin noticeably soft but not the least bit greasy, allowing them to treat their clients to a luxurious massage without feeling the need to wipe them down afterwards. Indeed, the Whipped Shea Butter is one of the softest creams I have ever encountered, and my kids look for excuses to use the super-rich, delicious-smelling Chocolate Truffle Body Cream as often as possible. The sugar scrub, as I mentioned, is an impossible combination of exfoliation and moisturization (yes, I know, that's not a word, but it works). And I give the Lavender Whipped Shea Butter as a gift to every pregnant woman I know. The pure lavender essential oil, combined with the silky-soft texture, makes it the perfect balm for every growing belly.

As ridiculous as this may sound, I think the only mistake they have made at Shea Radiance is not charging enough for their products. At $17 for a 4 oz. vat of the whipped shea, it seems impossible that what you are getting is top-quality, 100% natural, spa-ready skin luxury. This should be a high-end skin care line, so consider the ridiculously affordable price a gift from us to you, and buy a jar for yourself and someone you love. That is, if you can wrestle it away from my estheticians (they're very strong).

The Nature of Beauty Live Announces their Spring 2011 Lineup: The Best Yet!

2011-05-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

If you have yet to discover The Nature of Beauty's one-of-a-kind show, Nature of Beauty Live, now is definitely the time to get on board.

This past Wednesday, Alima Pure founder Kate O'Brian and I had a fabulous conversation about Mineral Makeup: the myths, the controversies, and why everyone is going gaga for the buff and swirl approach to complexion perfection. I strongly encourage you to listen to the show, as I'm sure you will learn at least a thing or two (I know I did!) and maybe even get a few questions answered that have been prancing about in your head regarding the miracle of mineral!

You can listen right now by clicking on "past episodes" on the right-hand side of this here blog, in the Nature of Beauty Live box, or by going to our Nature of Beauty Live page, where you can download it to iTunes, subscribe to the RSS Feed, and more.

Don't forget - next week we have Barbara Close, founder and CEO of Naturopathica. It's going to be an amazing, one-of-a-kind discussion that you do not want to miss!

Green Rootine - A story of successful collaboration, with impressive results

2011-04-25T11:37:00.000-07:00

From time to time, I'll hear from individuals who only support small companies making nothing but natural and organic products. They argue that until the larger companies stop using potentially hazardous ingredients in the rest of their line, they aren't interested in supporting them by purchasing the few natural, organic, and/or non-toxic items they make.

The other side of the coin is that larger companies have more money to invest in the latest green technology, beautiful yet sophisticated packaging, PR, and marketing. They have the potential to reach more customers, and to make more products at a time, thus keeping costs to the consumer relatively low. But until more customers get on board the Green Train, it's business suicide to get rid of the items that, at the moment anyway, financially support the company.

I get both arguments, truly I do. After all, The Nature of Beauty is a small business, and even though everything we sell is, in theory, as healthy as it gets, we can't possibly compete with the Sephora's of the world, who talk out of both sides of their mouths, selling big but toxic crap on the one hand, while promoting their "green" lines on Earth Day. That being said, how cool would it be if we did have that kind of reach? And let's be honest - the best way to get companies to make more of the sustainable, healthy products is to spend our money on those they do make.

All of this is to say that when I heard Bob Root, the genius behind Keys simple-yet-brilliant line of skin care (and one of our top-selling product lines), had partnered up with hair guru and star of Bravo TV's "Blowout," Jonathan Altin, I was intrigued. Root had been approached by Jonathan to translate some of his top-selling commercial products to a completely natural line of hair care. Here was a completely unheard of collaboration between the purest or pure brands and one that, up til now, really didn't seem particularly concerned with ingredients (other than finding ones that worked, like for his widely popular Dirt styling cream). And that is how Green Rootine came into being.

Let's cut to the chase now, shall we? I tried Green Rootine, loved it, my team tried it, loved it. So now we sell Green Rootine. Better yet, unless I'm mistaken, we are the first eco-beauty online retailer to do so!

To be honest, if Keys wasn't so closely involved with Green Rootine, I'm not even sure I would believe the ingredients are accurate. The shampoo, for example, has ten ingredients, none of the typical surfectants, and no preservative system. It uses a foaming top (which I think is perhaps the best thing to happen to natural beauty products since nature itself), and stays foamy after putting it on your head. My hair feels genuinely clean - not just mostly, kinda, if-I-had-to-choose-between-nuclear-waste-and-this clean. The conditioner is also weirdly simple, with none of the usual conditioning agents, thus shattering all conventional wisdom around what you need to look for in a good conditioner. Nonetheless, my thick, crazy hair is left feeling smooth, soft, and decidedly conditioned. The Pure Paste Styler got top reviews from our store manager's fiance, who is apparently quite the styling creme/pomade/paste snob, claiming it's the best one he's ever used.

So there you have it. Rave reviews for a line that is as clean as it is effective, the by-product of what I hope will be a beautiful and long-lasting partnership between a hair snob and an ingredient purist of the highest order.

Find the entire line of Jonathan Green Rootine here.

Meet Jennifer, Esthetician and Skin Specialist Extraordinaire

2011-03-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Flashback to the end of 2009. OK, that might not seem that long ago to most of you, but to me, it feels like a lifetime has passed since I first meet Jennifer Baskin. She came to The Nature of Beauty pretending to be interested in a retail position that was up for grabs, but a few short minutes into the conversation, and it was clear to me she was painfully overqualified. She agreed, so the conversation shifted to a discussion about a potential spa expansion.

Months passed, things happened, and in October of 2010, Jennifer became the first official Nature of Beauty esthetician. Without her expertise, we would not have a spa today. With that in mind, I wanted to formally introduce her to all of you. I also wanted to give her an opportunity to talk about her amazingly effective, targeted skin treatments to our local customers, as well as share her top tips for fabulous skin (which she has, by the way).

1. Tell us a bit about the targeted treatments you offer. Who do they benefit most and why?

My treatments are focused more on correction than relaxation. Although the treatments are pleasant and much like a facial, I do medical esthetic treatments that can correct irregularities. Dermablading is a procedure that I perform in conjunction with skin treatments as well as alone. It is a gentle exfoliation technique that removes any loose, dead skin without irritation and it also removes peach fuzz. This part of the treatment is everyone's favorite part! I also incorporate a customized "peel" that can range from very mild to very aggressive depending on the level of correction required and lifestyle (whether a person can spare a few days of sloughing).

These treatments benefit those with excess brown pigmentation to the skin, acne, fine lines and wrinkles or other issues that persist. Facials are wonderful, relaxing and can benefit people in many ways, but they are not geared towards correcting these stubborn problems. Many people who are used to traditional massage facials ask if they should continue getting them. I always say that a safe timeframe for my corrective treatments is 4 to 8 weeks so many people will alternate monthly with facials and corrective treatments.

2. How long have you been an esthetician? What attracted you to these more specialized treatment offerings?

6 years. I always knew that I wanted to help people as well as help them feel good. I have had many dermatological issues with my skin over the years and realized quickly that drug store and department store products weren't working to correct any of these problems and many times made them worse. My nature is to research, research, research! Which led me to esthetic school later in life and into the more "technical" side of esthetics. I was aware immediately that the massage portion of esthetics is not my forte and went in more of a medical direction. I have worked for a doctor's office for many years and also enjoy doing permanent makeup, advanced laser treatments, laser hair removal and spray tans.

3. Briefly, what are your “Keys to Good Skin” tips?

My recommendation for everyone regardless of their skin type or issues is what I like to call the "BIG 5" - these are listed in order of importance:

proper sunscreen EVERY DAY with zinc (try Keys Solar Rx)
antioxidants every morning (like topical vitamin C; Naturopathica's Vitamin C Revitalizing Complex)
pH balanced cleansing
exfoliation (like alpha hydroxy acids or scrubs, such as Naturopathica Glycolic Peel or Zum Face Scrub)
correction (like retinols or peptides; try Naturopathica Botanical Skin Brightener)

Each product is customized for your particular skin type but these are the basic categories for everyone. I like to call this home regimen your "SKIN DIET" and the treatments you receive from me are your "SKIN EXERCISE". They both work well together to keep your skin on its toes and turning over healthy new skin cells at a faster rate like when you were young.

4. What are 3 of your favorite Nature of Beauty skin care products right now? Why do you like them?

Naturopathica Rosemary Oil Reducing Moisturizer - because I am combination skin but this gives me enough moisture as well as keeps me matte.
Max Green Alchemy Body Wash - LOVE the smell of this and doesn't dry the skin
Naturopathica Vitamin K Eye Cream - this is the silkiest eye cream I have ever tried! Even after I put my makeup on I keep feeling it all day! The vitamin K helps dark under eye circles by moving the pooled blood away from the inner corner of they eye and with my pale skin I definitely need this.

Toners - Who Needs Em? Turns out, you do!

2011-02-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

Recently, The Nature of Beauty welcomed two fabulously talented estheticians to our family. Over the next few weeks or so, I will be introducing them to you, as well as passing along tidbits from their vast storehouse of knowledge. My plan is to focus on the most frequently asked questions we get from our customers - so if you have any burning questions they might be able to answer, please email us at info@natureofbeauty.com!

In the meantime, meet Le Joy.

You'll be able to read a bit about her philosophy and background in a future post, but today I wanted to share her extremely informative response to one of the questions I wanted answered: Do we need toner? As it turns out, in addition to her ability to work skin magic, Le Joy is an avid write and published author. Here is what she had to say!

There's an alarming notion going around that, oh I can hardly allow my fingers to type this... we don't need facial toner. Yep, that was just as hard to type as I thought it would be. You see, facial toner is not just another step that skin care companies hatched up to coerce consumers into spending more money. It’s actually a big deal and should never be missed. EVER.

Maybe you’ve never thought of this before, but we all have dirty facial skin. Everyone has natural oil (called sebum) and dirt that accumulates on the skin as we exist throughout the day. Those two combine to form a lovely sludge that can clog pores. Couple that nasty little thought with the statistic that shows the average person touches their face in some way 300 times an hour! Think about the craziness of that for just a moment. You went to the store, the bathroom, the copy machine, the coffee pot, the water cooler, held the delivery person’s pen, pushed a grocery cart, etc. There are potentially hundreds of germ-infested things you touch each day. Do you really want to those germs hanging out on your face longer than they have to? Yeck!

Right, so on with it. Let us pretend for a moment that all who read this have oily skin. So you march your oily self into the bathroom or shower to wash your face. You only wash it once, because that's what we all do. (Do you know anyone who washes their face twice in row? Do you know anyone who washes their face for 3 - 5 minutes, twice in a row? Probably not.) So, you do your speedy wash then you take a handful of water and rinse your face a couple of times, which is not enough. After you dry your face, you're done, right? Your face is clean and that's all you need, right?

WRONG! You’re skipping a crucial step in the caring of your skin; facial toner. Let me be clear, we are not talking about the alcohol-based astringents of yesteryear that can be harsh, painful and are likely full of synthetic chemicals. The right facial toner for your skin type can: 1.) Help remove residual facial cleanser and excess oil and dirt from the skin - please don't be fooled by what you read about this step. Yes, a good cleanser has the potential to do that too, but no one uses them thoroughly enough fashion. 2.) Deposit excellent ingredients for the benefit of your skin, such as witch hazel, calendula, rose water, aloe, etc. 3.) BALANCE the pH of the skin.

What do I mean by balance the pH? When the skin type mentioned above (oily) uses a facial cleanser for oily or combination to oily skin, then promptly skips the toner, the skin goes through a series of ridiculous stages which include feeling squeaky clean and uncomfortably tight when it dries, like it just sucked on a lemon. These stages seem normal to those of you who don’t use toner, or for whom “toner” means fragranced alcohol, but it is a sign that your skin is out of balance. The result is that your skin to go into over-production of oil and can cause acne. Since I imagine cleansing your face is in part to avoid blemishes, to go through this whole process without a toner becomes an exercise in self-defeat.

Fortunately for you, The Nature of Beauty has some pretty fabulous toners, including (but hardly limited to) Dr. Alkaitis (a top-seller, great for all skin types), Logona Wild Rose Toner (for sensitive and/or dry skin), Zum Face Toner (for combination/blemished skin), and Naturopathica’s Lavender Honey Balancing Mist (for all skin types). Click here to see our entire selection.

butter LONDON Has Taken Over New York Fashion Week!

2011-02-18T15:22:00.000-08:00

Nonie Creme, aside from having the coolest name in the beauty industry, is also one of the hippest, nicest, most interesting people to invade the world of glamour and fashion. Given her ubiquitous presence at this spring's Fashion Week in NYC, I'm clearly not the only one who thinks so. But rather than taking my word for it, check it out for yourself, as butter LONDON has done a great job staying on top of Creme's whereabouts making lovely little videos for YouTube for each designer Nonie worked with. Get a glimpse backstage at New York Fashion Week, as well as some fabulously unique ways to use butter LONDON 3-Free Nail Lacquer! Here are just a few of our favorites:

Victoria Beckham
Date: February 13th, 2011
Highlight: Nail Makeup
Colours: Yummy Mummy, Fash Pack, Tea With The Queen, Cream Tea, Tramp, Royal Navy, Union Jack Black
Specifics: Custom blending "nail makeup" to match skin tone and high shine topcoat creating an uber-perfect, very ethereal, smooth nail.

Alexander Wang
Date: February 12th, 2011
Highlight: Black Veil, The Evolution of the Alexander Wang Nail
Colours: Nail Foundation, Hardware Topcoat, Union Jack Black, Royal Navy, Matte Finish Topcoat
Specifics: Light black without looking "dirty", more of a dark film, cold, blue skin, looks like you were outside in the cold

Vena Cava

Date: February 10th, 2011

Highlight: Finger Bands

Colours: Royal Navy, Union Jack Black, Scoundrel, Tramp Stamp, Custom Flouro Orange hand mixed for Vena Cava

Specifics: One band per finger; double or a single, Two fingers per hand, nail is nude.