Green Beauty Abroad

I just got back from a trip to Vancouver and I must say, those Canadiennes sure know how to stock a drug store. It was like a beauty freak's holy grail - they had so many things there that we don't have in the states! They had a makeup counter just like a department store! And so much more of the product is green! I swear, I must have hit a drug store at least once a day. There were so many things I wanted to bring home, but alas, my 1 quart bag was already packed to the gills! Lucky for me, one of the drug stores I visited has a website where you can shop online - enjoy!

London Drug

It makes me wish that the USA was as "on the boat" with the green movement as some other countries, but I am thankful for the strides we have taken. And I am especially proud that my home state (California love!!!) is one of the United States at the forefront of all things eco-friendly.

I guess we'll see how things pan out...in time!

For anyone interested

How green is your country/state/city?

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Eye Makeup Remover Fluid

In two words this product is: cheap, easy (who doesn't like that ;) ). If I can have one more word, this product is: super-green! Most of the ingredients are produced from organic, eco-conscious farming; earning the product an ECO CERT seal; and the metal packaging is recyclable.

A few months ago I bought two 4fl oz. (120mL) bottles of this stuff at Target for $6.97 each (one bottle for the boyfriend's place, one bottle for mine). I still haven't finished either. You can either buy a bottle of the fluid (which I've recently seen with a pump on top for easy dispensing) or a tin of thin cotton rounds pre-moistened with product. The big pro about the tin of rounds is that it has a screw-on top, so it doesn't dry out like many packaged wipes can.

This eye makeup remover is one of those products you can find at the drug store, most value stores, and even some natural food or grocery stores with beauty sections. It smells like a field of blooming lavender. Sometimes for kicks I use it as a toner.

Anyway...It's hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive eyes, so contact wearers / itchy eye people take note! Its mix of water (seriously, first ingredient), natural extracts, essential oils, and aloe juice magically remove the remnants of eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara that hang around after I wash my face. I do find that if I'm removing makeup after a night out on the town, I might need to make a couple go's before all of my eye paint is gone.

I should say- I haven't used this remover on any long wear makeup, other than Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, which it seems to remove. I doubt it would be able to remove waterproof mascara or say, that Maybelline concealer that is supposed to stay put for 24 hours (?!!). So for girls that prefer long wear makeup, you might stick with a remover that packs a bigger punch. For girls like me, that wear a medium amount of non-long wear makeup from day to day, this product is a must!

As stated on the packaging, this product is:

-100% Free of Harsh Chemicals
-100% Free of Synthetic Preservatives
-100% Free of Parabens
-100% Free of GMO's (Geneticall Modified Organisms, like genetically-engineered plant strains)
-100% Free of Synthetic Colors
-100% Free of Synthetic Fragrances
-100% Cruelty Free

Green Beauty Blog Rating: A+ against regular wear makeup
Eco-Friendly Rating: A+

Avalon Organics Vitam C Vitality Facial Serum

I am in my early 20s, on the pale end of the spectrum, and prone to redness in the nose and cheek area. I like this product because:

1) It fades acne scars from the zits I deal with from time to time,
2) It claims to reverse signs of aging due to sun damage, and
3) It calms down skin irritation.

The last tidbit suprises me, because for some reason I expected the antioxidant ingredients to be slightly irritating. But with ingredients like lavender, chamomile, white tea, and aloe barbadensis extracts, this magic potion from Avalon Organics seriously calms my complexion.

The shining stars in this serum, however, are magnesium ascorbyl phosphate - a stabilized form of Vitamin C - and tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E). Vitamin C plays a big role in the body's process of generating collagen and elastin, which provide skin with the appearance of fullness and maintain skin's elasticity, respectively. Vitamin E protects cells membranes from damage.

Experts are still uncertain whether topical antioxidant treatments may measurably reverse signs of aging or improve skin's appearance, but for the girls on the frontlines - go ahead and give this product a try! I've been using it for a few months and I feel I've seen results - my skin tone seems more even and my skin seems softer and brighter.

One drawback about this serum is that it has a limited shelf-life and can be a little high maintenance. Antioxidants can oxidize and degrade quickly, so most beauty experts give antioxidant serums a six-month lease on life. After that, they're tossers. You can prolong the life of your serum by sticking it in the fridge or keeping it in a cool, dark environment. To determine if your antioxidant serum is still good, check for a yellowish tint or take a sniff (oxidized serums may have an "off" scent).

Another drawback - this baby ain't cheap. I picked up my 1.0 oz (30mL) bottle of serum from CVS for around $22.50 - Avalon Organics sells the same product from their website for $23.95 (follow the list for full ingredients list, too). Recent college graduates like me might consider buying their time and saving the $$$ to move out :P

I would recommend this product to:

-women in their 30s and 40s hoping to reverse signs of aging
-women in their 20s with a little extra moolah hoping to slow the clock

Green Beauty Blog Rating: B
Eco-Conscious Rating: A

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss

How many of my girls out there like their lip gloss? I'm raising my hand with you :) When I was a kid I was obsessed with BonneBell lip balms (and Rainbow Brite - ya feel me, '90s girls?). As I grew older I moved on to Urban Decay's lip gunk and now I'm loving Korres' lip glosses...but back to the product at hand!

In the past few years, Burt's Bees has expanded its product line to include glorious, glorious lip gloss. For those who are just hopping on the "green" train, I would recommend Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss as a good product to start with. It has a non-sticky consistency, sheer tint, lots of shimmer, and a nice citrus-y scent.

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lip Gloss in Sweet Pink

Rather than synthetic or petroleum-derived emollients, this lip gloss contains moisturizing castor seed oil, sunflower seed oil, acacia decurrens wax, and sweet almond oil. These ingredients contribute to the slippery texture, which doesn't catch hair in the wind and keeps lips feeling smooth, not tacky. They also help to make it 100% natural.

You can find this lip gloss at virtually every drug store, Target, Walmart, and natural food store with beauty section - usually at $7 or under. It also comes in six colors from clear to spicy red. To buy online, visit http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/lips-lip-shimmer-gloss/super-shiny-lip-gloss.html.

Green Beauty Blog Rating: A
Eco-friendly Rating: A!

Has anyone else tried this gloss? What did you think?

Here's the wrinkle....

The semantics involved in the green beauty industry can be pretty hairy sometimes. While my goal, along with many other conscientious consumers, is to use more natural and organic products, it can sometimes be difficult to determine what you're really getting from a product labeled "natural" or "organic". Add to that ingredient lists that can read like the Magna Carta, and the waters get even murkier.

I'll do my best here to provide some information regarding the terms "natural" and "organic" as defined by US agencies. We'll get to the trick ingredient lists later. Feel free to keep this information in mind next time you hit Sephora or the drug store :)

Natural: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet defined the term "natural" or put regulations in place to govern the use of the term "natural". So, any manufacturer may use the term "natural" to describe their product regardless of what the product contains. If you run across a product that is represented as "natural", do your homework and consult the list of ingredients. If you feel comfortable with what's listed there, then by all means, go for it! But be aware that many products which claim to be "natural" may contain potentially harmful preservatives and synthetic ingredients.

Organic: In accordance with the Organic Foods Protection Act of 1990 (OFPA), The U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented the National Organic Program, through which farmers may certify their crops as "organic". Some certified organic crops are processed and used in the production of consumer personal care products. Consumers will find the USDA seal on products where 95-100% of the ingredients are organic. Manufacturers may also use the following labels to represent their products, depending on the percentage of organic ingredients their products contain:

• 100% Organic
  
• Organic - 95% or more of ingredients are organic
• Made with Organic Ingredients - 70% or more of ingredients are organic
• Less than 70% Organic Ingredients - Organic Ingredients denoted in ingredients list only

Outside the U.S., many international bodies have established standards for what products may be considered natural or organic. For information regarding standards bodies in your area, contact your local or national agriculture agency.

I hope these tidbits of information make your next shopping trip easier. Please feel free to post any additional information you feel is relevant!