Fancy yourself a head turning beauty at any age? Even if you don’t eat raw, drink fresh vegetable juice religiously every day, workout 5 times a week and pop vitamins like candy, Joanna Vargas stridently believes you can be. Long hailed as the genius behind the best naturopathic facial in New York, with a client roster that includes Julianne Moore, Rachel Weiss and numerous beauty editors around town, Vargas has launched an eponymous skincare collection that will leave you wondering how you lived without it…

It would seem the new vanguards of organic & natural beauty have at their core a refreshingly less is more approach, however, these products are anything but simple in how they work. Featuring all the ingredients that Vargas (in her vast experience) believes are the building blocks for great skin, each one of the four products (Daily Serum, Rejuvenating Serum, Vitamin C Face Wash & Enzyme Mask) also contain galactoarabinan, an extract derived from the larch tree that enhances cell turnover, binds moisture, reduces fine lines, and makes skin firmer.

Joanna Vargas prides herself in being able to combine technology with nature, bringing you the most powerful anti aging treatments, with spectacular and visible results immediately. Almost like an instant rebirth of your skin. Don’t sweat it if you’re not one of the lucky who’ve experienced her brilliance firsthand, her new skincare collection is designed to do the same thing. Naturally.

Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com / the best organic beauty products in the world.

Research shows that more than 30% of women believe that choosing skin care is more complicated than filing their taxes. Add to that the fact that there were around 900 (!!), new organic & natural beauty brands launched last year and it’s no wonder you put off embracing a new skincare decision until you absolutely must (much like your taxes, right?). Pioneering 100% waterless organic skincare, One Love Organics is about to change your mind.

A smart alternative to all those ubiquitous brands and mysterious labels, this new capsule collection of only 5 brilliant, multi-tasking products is 100% water-free, so you get more of the ‘good stuff’. To give you some perspective, most beauty products are 85% water, which dilutes efficacy and can actually dry out the skin. The presence of water also requires the use of preservatives to prevent spoilage. Because the One Love Organics products contain no water, they last you on average three times as long as their water-based counterparts. You know what that means? Less consumption, less packaging and less transportation, so you can love the environment as much as you love your skin!

While One Love Organics believe that less is more, the unique ingredients ensure your skin gets everything it needs, nothing it doesn’t. Hand crafted on St. Simons Island, a small barrier island off the coast of Georgia, the products contain only the finest cold-pressed watermelon seed oil, chia seed oil, mango butter, oat extracts, and much more.

The Skin Savior Waterless Multi Balm is brilliant when mixed with mineral powder to create foundation, the Easy Does It Foaming Cleanser does triple duty as a body wash & shampoo, the Love Springs Eternal Youth Preservation Serum will change your skin forever, and the My Best Friend Skin Shammy (yes, just like the thing you use on your car but for your skin), is good for around 200 uses, and besides making sure your skin is really clean after cleansing, will take off daily shine without disturbing makeup, and there’s a deluxe travel set that let’s you try it all. In fact, this savvy collection will do just about everything except your ironing!

For a very limited time you can get 10% off the line + a FREE travel size cleanser simply by using the code: OLO at Futurenatural – only until Friday 12th August.

Turns out you didn’t need those 17 shampoo’s, serums and body products after all.

Writer: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com / the best organic beauty products in the world.

What if I told you, you could cleanse, exfoliate and lightly moisturize your face all by using one 100% vegan cleansing bar? Thought so! While you can’t do that with most cleansers, you can with Wonderbar… Despite being a bar, it’s actually technically not a soap, but a pH-balanced cleanser that is perfectly compatible with the acid mantel of the skin. Not only does the bar cleanse, but as it cleanses the lather exfoliates – not like any exfoliation you’ve ever felt – in fact, you’ll feel nothing, but it IS doing it.

As skin cells start at a neutral pH and then turn to an acidic pH of 5.6 or so. Once the cleanser exfoliates, skin is then ready to accept the natural detox and moisturization that come from its potent and highly lauded ingredients of Deep Moor Clay and Chlorey’nahre, a European product made from algae, (which has long been known to be a rich, natural source of anti-oxidants, vitamins, trace minerals and amino acids, that in turn assist in the production of lipids and glucids. Using nanotechnology along with these ingredients, the bar is excellent at detoxifying and healing skin.

While the application technique may be counter-intuitive (it’s recommended that a lather be applied to a dry face initially), when used regularly, a really really lovely complexion reveals itself. You can also use it as a mask by applying a light film over dry skin and letting it dry, whereupon it pulls impurities to the surface. All the better to bring those comedones out! You may also find that your other skin care products work better as the skin cells may be much more receptive.

What is also great about this product is that as it is a solid, it is great for travel, and in a pinch works extremely well at cleansing the scalp. Wonderbar stresses that this product is super effective–so much so that in clearing one’s skin of embedded impurities, it is not unlikely that a percentage may experience a healing crisis, or a “gets worse before it gets better” phase. (I myself had this experience, but for me, was worth the inconvenience.) STAY INTREPID! This is because several different strains of bacteria and candida live on the skin and as the acid mantle is stabilized, those bacteria may respond until optimum conditions are reached.

It is also possible that one may experience some initial dryness, but that subsides, and skin conditions like acne, rosacea and melasma have been shown to improve if one continues through the phase. Ready to get started? Head to their site or find a retail location here.

Writer :: Brandi D’Amore

Gwyneth calls it “one of our favorite (organic & natural beauty) brands”. While celeb endorsement isn’t the be all and end all of opinion, Ms Paltrow knows her organics and this is one time you can take her word for it. Want to know what all the fuss is about? Read on…

MADARA comes from Latvia, a small country in Northern Europe, in the Baltic region, which has managed to preserve many unblemished and wild places as well as a diversity of flowers and grasses. Northern summers are much shorter and harsher and therefore plants are forced to concentrate all of their energy on the short blossoming period to attract bees and continue their living process during the next summer.

As a result, at the moment of their collection the blossoms and herbs which have grown in these latitudes are especially rich with active substances and extracts that are used in the production of MADARA natural ecocosmetics. With Baltic algae, barley sprouts, plaintain, sea buckthorn, chamomile and more, the products are pure and powerful.

At a time when the word “eco” has become more of a fashion trend, it is easy to forget what it really means – “to live green”, ecologically, caring for nature and environment. In two words – be good! The founders of MADARA walk their talk not only developing an eco-conscious natural and organic beauty brand, but in doing so considering all the impacts of their actions–from small gestures like picking up a dropped paper on the street, taking a cloth bag to the store with you, going somewhere by public transportation now and then or, even better – by bicycle–to the larger statements like harvesting ingredients sustainably, locally, using fair-trade and recycled materials wherever possible, including in their business operations.

Some of my personal faves are the Deep Foaming Cleanser, Regenerating Night Cream and Nourishing Body Cream, but with everything from organic makeup to skincare and baby products, there’s plenty to choose from. NOTE: For the next week only, Futurenatural are giving away deluxe size samples of the Deep Moisture Cream and Regenerating Night Cream with every purchase of from MADARA. Use the code: MAD and your freebies ship automatically!

Sexy, cool, modern, sophisticated; not adjectives often applied to organic and natural beauty products but in case you hadn’t noticed, that’s all changing and Futurenatural heads the vanguard making it happen. An award-winning beauty store, the best way to think of Futurenatural is as a new kind of Sephora for organic beauty product lovers. Everything from cult classics to boutique lines and the most coveted brands such as rms beauty, Kahina Giving Beauty, MADARA (launching May 15th), Strange Invisible Perfumes, Scotch Naturals and more. So what’s the big deal?

Futurenatural are giving away a full-size Mod.Skin firming serum (valued at $40 & seen above), on all orders over $60! You know what than means? Your $60 order only cost you $20! Dealorama!! Full of DMAE, chlorophyll and Klamath blue-green algae, consider this little bottle of brilliance a temporary facelift that will have you firmed and tightened in 20mins flat. Seriously.

Supplies are extremely limited so you’ll have to be quick – it’s first in, first served. Use the code: MOD during checkout. The freebie will ship automatically and will not show up in your cart.

We all know we should use it, but how many of us really understand what SPF actually means and what the safest form of sunblock on the planet is? So before we tell you about the phenomenal new sunscreen called ECO logical that’s a new and improved version of the benchmark (now discontinued!) and legendary Soleo, let’s have a little bit of sunscreen 101 shall we?

You may think for e.g. that when a sunscreen is listed as SPF 100, that you’re getting 60 times more the protection of something SPF 40 – not true; or that all sunscreens are created equal – also not true – you need to make sure you get something that offers protection against both UVA + UVB rays. Chemical sunscreens absorb radiation and then dissipate it, while physical sunscreens actually block and reflect radiation from entering the skin at all. I know which I prefer, how about you?

The safest form of sunscreen is widely considered to be zinc oxide and when you combine it with a slew of powerful, natural, antioxidant ingredients you get a sunscreen like ECO logical. Something that not only protects you from the sun, but it works overtime to neutralize damaging free radicals that cause signs of aging. The ECO logical face sunscreen (SPF30) has been designed to absorb beautifully under makeup leaving no white residue or greasy aftermath, and the body versions are liberally loaded with organic & natural botanicals. If you’re looking for new ‘gold standard’ sunscreen this summer, you just found it.

Oh, and for a seriously good deal, head over to No More Dirty Looks to get yourself a FREE, full-size tube – only while stocks last so be quick!

Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com: the best organic beauty products in the world.

I love things that provide an immediate result, and in that vein, I love the amazing Japanese invention of Biore‘ strips. Put one on, and 15 minutes later, the grotesquely fascinating comedone extraction evidence is there right in front of you. Besides experiencing the thrill of peeling things off the skin – I’m sure there is a technical/medical term for this – it works! However, recently I was hit with a pang of guilt when I tried to figure out if the strips biodegrade or not, and whether or not the adhesive was toxic; thus I decided to find other methods that proved to be just as effective but more environmentally sound. This yielded three courses of action:

1) The Frugalista Method: This will appeal to the crafty types who like to make things themselves. In this case, you will be making your own “strips” from a concoction of plain gelatin and milk heated in a microwave, that after being heated, forms a pasty goo that can be spread, dried and then removed. It is not elegant, may require a few tries to get the consistency and temperature just right (don’t put on when TOO hot), but it is effective, though not for very serious vegans. 

2) The Spa Method:  If you want a spa experience, after drying your skin, apply a generous even layer of the darkly glamorous jet-black Boscia Luminizing Black Mask on just your nose or full face. (Even, full spreading of product is key on larger areas to be able to create a sheeting action for best results.) Boscia is known for its effective and environmentally conscious products, and this is no exception.  Full of minerals (but with no parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes or fragrances, GMO’s, petrochemicals, triclosan, or phthalates), this mask not only exfoliates, detoxifies and brightens the skin, it effectively extracts shallow blackheads. Like a facial in a tube, it contains antioxidants to reduce inflammation and with regular use has proven to be a great reducer of pore size. Boscia also has created Pore Purifying Black Strips (6 strips to a box/$15), a convenient and eco-friendy version of the strips for when you want a quick “rip and strip.”

3) The High-Tech Method:  Some girls like new-fangled gadgets and appliances. Well-made appliances that require minimal power to stay charged are an excellent eco-option as they are not disposable (so won’t be filling up any landfills), will last for years and require negligible power to maintain a charge. One such appliance is the truly innovative Bliss Pore-Fector Gadget.  This device, which has an angled metal plane that vibrates, uses sonic vibrations at a rate of 27,000 PER SECOND, which shakes the detritus up so that the plane can then push it out of the skin.  (The gadget is ingenious – flip it over, and you can use the vibrations to massage moisturizers and serums deeper into the skin, too.)  Repeated use of this product results not only needing less of other products to keep the skin clean or to treat blemishes, if you are a regular facial girl, you may find you need less trips to the esthetician (which means less gas and less money spent!).  Though it is an investment upon purchase, its cost-per-use and years of service more than make up for it.

Which kind of girl are you?

Writer :: Brandi D’Amore

About eighteen months ago, I was lucky enough to be on wacation (where you travel for work in a place where you can also play) at a true resort, El Conquistador, in Puerto Rico.  Due to a colossal error made upon check-in, we were awarded free passes to the on-site spa, the Golden Door.  While there there I discovered an amazing spa line called PURE FIJI , whose tag line is “Bring Paradise Home” – and they’re not kidding. Unfortunately “paradise” in the States has been really difficult to procur, until now…

Though it’s officially Spring the weather seems to have been ‘anything but’, so when I need to feel a little sense of warmer climes, one pure whiff (nothing cloying or sugary about it) of the PURE FIJI Nourishing Exotic Oil (Coconut Infusion) brings me right back to the balmy days of aleli-scented Puerto Rico.

Patted on right after the shower, it is almost immediately absorbed (partially due to the oils’ hydrophilic properties and compatibility with natural body oils) yielding a silky texture.  Massaged into damp hair and scalp pre-shampoo, it is an amazing repair treatment, while a little used sparingly on the ends is great for a leave-in treat.  In a pinch, it makes a great makeup remover if followed by a cleanser.  On drier days, one would also love the Hydrating Lotion (also in Coconut Infusion) which has a mouthwatering frosting texture and aroma that melts and absorbs as quickly on dry skin as moist with no stickiness.

In order to reduce irrigation and carbon footprint, this oil is made from wild-harvested, certified organic cold-pressed nut oils of virgin coconut (also known as kukui) and dilo.  Used for centuries by the women of the South Pacific to moisturize their skin and hair, WAY before science has been able to explain why these oils form a bio-network, they are effective at providing hydration and conditioning, cellular renewal, and environmental protection.

PURE FIJI has the GREEN EARTH stamp and its mission is to create a product that is sustainable using less waste, biofuels (from unrefined coconut oil), solar dryers and supporting local culture & businesses. I don’t know, but I feel so much better when I can use a product that feels ridiculously indulgent but somehow is helping make the world a better place, you know?

To purchase you can go to the PURE FIJI site or visit locations like Beauty Collection to find which of the nine infusions (including the Coconut), speaks to your inner wahine (island girl). BULA!

Writer :: Brandi D’Amore

With names like Willpower, The Change, Abstain and 21st Century Survival, it’s clear that 21 Drops is no ordinary aromatherapy collection; one glance at the ultra-modern and simple packaging confirms it. Office politics driving you crazy? Kids doing your head in? Cravings for chocolate getting out of control? Feeling lackluster around 3pm?

With the aim of addressing the root of your problem while treating the symptoms, consider these clever aromatherapy blends as essential as your lipstick for anytime you need them, anywhere.

The 21 therapeutic blends form a unique palette of wild-harvested, organic and 100% natural oils, that consist of by-no-means-average ingredients like Black Pepper, Rosewood and Juniper Berry. Sourced from artisan distillers around the globe, the blends combine hard working adaptogens with more targeted and delicate plant species for specific effects.

In case you’d always wondered, how exactly does aromatherapy work? 21 Drops explains it this way: “Aromatic molecules are carried through the lining of the nasal cavity via tiny olfactory nerves, located in the roof of the inner nose, to the part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system in turn influences the endocrine system and the nervous system”, affecting not just your mood, but your physical well being.

Why 21? This seems to be the number of ailments that we complain about most often so a blend for each was developed, and because 21 Drops believe that where the mind goes the body follows, each blend is accompanied by an affirmation or ‘statement of intention’, specific to each combination.

Instead of reaching for tequila when life hands you lemons, why not try 21 Drops instead?

Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com: the best organic beauty products in the world.

Lead in your lipstick? Phthalates in your fragrance? Petrochemicals in your body wash? Not if Stacy Malkan has anything to do with it. Author of ‘Not Just A Pretty Face‘, Co-Founder of the National Campaign For Safe Cosmetics, and all round champion of clean, safe and healthy personal care products, Stacy Malkan is a tireless advocate on your behalf, pushing to legislate a mostly unregulated beauty industry that continuously foists toxic chemicals upon us without us even realizing…

If you haven’t already heard her speak, join her and leading national experts discuss the latest research on toxic chemicals in personal care products and how to find safer alternatives. “Make-Up’s Deadly Cover Up,” is a free seminar happening Sunday, March 27 in Austin, Texas; 2-4 p.m. at the University of Texas; reception following from 5-7 at W3LL PEOPLE in Austin. Monday, March 28 in Houston, Texas; 6-8 p.m. at One Green Street

Once you understand that a huge amount of what you apply to your skin is absorbed into your body and your beauty products could be killing you, it becomes critical to arm yourself with the knowledge to make savvy choices about what you use on you, and your family. This is a don’t miss event so if you’re in either of these towns – make it a MUST.

Writer :: Emma Pezzack – www.futurenatural.com: the best organic beauty products in the world.