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Bella Brand: Sexy Hair Organics

bellasugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:00:42 -0800

Want to have sexy hair? Who doesn't? Sexy Hair hopes to let you do just that — in an ecologically friendly way.

Perhaps best known for its "big red can," a high-volume hair spray, the original Sexy Hair's vampy, in-your-face Pussycat Dolls-esque advertising was never my thing. But now, I'm taking another look due to the introduction of an organic line of sulfate, petrochemical, and paraben-free hair products aptly named Sexy Hair Organics. See what I thought of these new products when you

Try Bergamot on Your Pits

bellasugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:13 -0800

One of my friends is a true follower of all things natural. Food? All organic and local. Clothing? Either recycled or handsewn. Beauty? When it comes to products, nothing of the paraben/synthetic nature remotely touches her body.

So, when I saw her splash a little bergamot oil on her pits one day, I was intrigued. "It's a natural deodorizer," she said. I gave it a whirl. With surprising results, I was practically stink-free. From what I could tell, my underarms smelled rather nice — well, like citrus. She also recommended I dab on a little baking soda if I ever felt a little drippy.

Like playing mad scientist? You can always mix up your own custom scent. Try Aura Cacia Bergamot Essential Oil ($13.59) paired with a complementary aroma such as sandalwood, nutmeg, vetiver, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, or ylang ylang.

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Six Reasons to Love These Bath Fizzers

bellasugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:00:24 -0800

How do I love these Anti-Body Bath Fizzers ($9.95)? Let me count the ways:

They're vegan, paraben-free, and not tested on animals.
They're tucked in a cute farm-themed recyclable carton.
They smell like fresh lemongrass (or lavender or flowers, if you prefer).
You get six for just under $10 — an affordable bit of luxury.
They fizz up, then soften skin with shea butter.
Best of all, the fair-trade shea butter provides jobs for women in Togo.

You might find your own reasons, but these six are a pretty good start.

Bella Brand: Sappho Cosmetics

bellasugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:32 -0700

Talk about lipstick lesbians. Emmy-nominated makeup artist JoAnn Fowler, who works on The L Word, created Sappho Cosmetics after researching the possible health effects of parabens in beauty products. Her mineral-based range is entirely free of "chemical" ingredients, incorporating essential plant oils and juices instead of artificial preservatives.

Actresses Mia Kirshner and Jennifer Beals (Jenny and Bette, respectively, on The L Word) worked with Fowler to come up with eco-friendly cosmetics created without animal testing. The resulting products, some of which are named after the show's actresses, are used on-set. So if these lipsticks make me look anything like the sizzling Kate Moennig, count me in.

Beauty Byte: Legal Drama For Organic Beauty Companies

bellasugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:00:53 -0700

Beloved crunchy beauty brand Dr. Bronner's has gotten the green light to proceed with its lawsuit against other brands that claim to be organic, including Stella McCartney CARE, Jason Natural, Avalon Organics and Nature's Gate Organics. I have to admit, when the news first broke about this I wondered what E.H. Bronner, who would have been 100 this year, would have thought. Beauty nerd that I am, I'm well aware of the founder's complicated past (his parents were killed in the Holocaust, he escaped from a mental institution, and he read a lot of Kipling). But, Bronner was very concerned about morality and it will be interesting to see how his company's claim about "organic noise" in the natural product market will continue to unfold. This Summer the company settled with former defendant Juice Beauty who agreed to reformulate problem products and be petrochemical-free by February 2010.

To read the full press release from the Organic Consumers Association, click here.

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Bookmark It: The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database

bellasugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:00:50 -0700

Wherever you fall on the organic cosmetic-use spectrum, you can never have too much information (wait . . . maybe you can). The Environmental Working Group has a website, The Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, that functions as a directory of products — over 32,000 of them, or a quarter of the market — rated for safety by a number of criteria.

This is also genius for those with allergies, as over 100,000 ingredients are condensed into 7,697 unique chemical ingredients. I am thankful for the section on eye drops because there are so many brands and eyesight is not something I'm ready to part with. Do you think you'll use this site?

Bella Brand: Panhandle Girl

bellasugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:00:49 -0700

I love discovering small, made-by-hand bath and body products. The latest find: Panhandle Girl, an operation out of Savannah, Georgia. The vegan-friendly and paraben-free line features soaps, scrubs, creams, and balms, all featuring fragrant essential oils.

The star product of this line is the soap (about $5 to $6.50 each). Each batch is hand-mixed and hand-poured, and the ingredient list features things you'll recognize: olive oil, coconut oil, water, and essential oils. They're incredibly fragrant, but not in a headache-inducing way. My favorite is Doc Love ($6.25), which has a light patchouli scent balanced by orange and lemon essential oils. Plus, $1 from each sale of this variety is donated to animal rescue organizations, a cause that Minou and I can get behind!

Beauty Byte: Dr. Bronner's Lathers Up Some Litigation

bellasugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:17 -0700

Since the term "organic" is loosely defined within the skincare and cosmetics industry, many brands have taken quite a bit of leeway with the term. And one brand is not too happy about it.

Dr. Bronner's, which has voluntarily adopted the FDA standards of "organic" in its product line, is suing a bevy of brands, including Estée Lauder, Kiss My Face, Stella McCartney, and Juice Beauty. Dr. Bronner's claims that these brands use the term organic to sell products that are anything but. The suit also accuses the OASIS standards, which define the term "organic" for 30 top skincare companies, of being too lenient.

We'll see how it all plays out, but no matter whether Dr. Bronner's wins or loses in the courtroom, the company is winning some free press. Do you think the lawsuit has merit, or is the company in no place to dictate how others should run their businesses?

Your Guide to Deciphering Cruelty-Free Beauty

bellasugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:00:19 -0700

When it comes to animal testing, there's really no reason to do it with cosmetics. And it's not just me and PETA who think this way; the European Union has banned all cosmetics-related animal testing, effective next year. It's not only about saving bunnies from having shampoo poured in their eyes — although that seems like a good-enough reason to me. It's about creating new ways to test ingredients, too; for instance, L'Oreal is developing ways to test on in vitro skin tissue, which is not only cruelty-free, it's also more reliable.

But that's the European Union. In the States, animal testing is unregulated, with major cosmetics companies such as Procter & Gamble continuing to test on our furry friends. If you'd like to avoid animal testing, here are some things to look out for.

The Leaping Bunny, shown here. Whenever you see this cute rabbit, you'll know that the product has been developed without any animal testing in any phase of product development by the company, its suppliers, or its outsourced laboratories. Independent audits confirm this, so the seal is trustworthy.
Final product not tested on animals. Pay attention to the wording here. The final product isn't tested on animals, but its ingredients probably were.
This brand does not test on animals. Again, the phrasing is tricky. Maybe Brand X doesn't test on animals, but its supplier does. Or Brand X has a laboratory formulate its products, and some mad scientist is injecting poor little mice with poison.

If you're interested in finding out which companies do and don't test on animals, these lists should help. Keep in mind that most beauty companies are owned by a corporate parent who owns other companies. For instance, Burt's Bees does not test on animals, but Clorox, its parent company, does. So when you shop, you may want to keep that in mind.

Eco-Friendly Beauty Buys

bellasugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:00:34 -0700

In honor of Earth Day, I've rounded up a few of my favorite eco-friendly beauty products. I've personally tried all of these (whew!) and there's something for everybody (and for every budget). Remember, though, the best way to help the environment is to consume less — so if you don't need to buy something, you'll be saving a lot of energy and packaging costs. If, on the other hand, you're looking to replace your old products with something that's good to you and to mother earth, read on.

Doing Drugstore: Physicians Formula New Eco-Friendly Cosmetics

bellasugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Physicians Formula has gone green! The brand has recently launched a line of eco-conscious, animal-friendly cosmetics called Organic wear. The packaging is made from (mostly) recycled paper as opposed to plastic, the brushes are goat hair, and every product is free of parabens, chemicals, preservatives, and fragrance. This is great news for those of you with sensitive skin.

Organic wear products are made from internationally certified organic ingredients that have been EcoCert-approved. I've tried several of the items and what I love the most is that they are natural-looking, build-able, and mattifying. I say if you have the option to indulge in something that is good for your skin and good for the environment, then why not make a choice that can help preserve our planet?

I also love the goofy model, who reminds me of Cabbage Head. For the scoop on each of the products,

Organic: Not Always A Safe Bet

bellasugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:00:53 -0700

If you think that by selecting beauty products that are labeled "organic," you're avoiding all potentially toxic, even carcinogenic additives, you might want to check the labels a little more closely next time. A study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association, found the surprising presence of the compound 1,4-Dioxane in some of the most well-known "organic" and "natural" beauty brands.

So why is this something to be concerned about? The petroleum byproduct is added to some beauty products to provide mildness to harsh ingredients. It has been declared a known carcinogen by the state of California, and it is suspected as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant, among others. Yikes!

Popular brands such as JASON Pure Natural & Organic, Kiss My Face, and Nature's Gate Organics did not fare so well in the OCA testing, whereas Dr. Bronner's, Sensibility Soaps, Terressentials, Aubrey Organics, and Dr. Hauschka came up clean. The full results of the study can be found here. To find out how you can avoid this toxic additive,

What's in Vegan Lip Balm? None of Your Beeswax. (No, Really.)

bellasugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:00:27 -0700

Varieties of vegetarians can be confusing to some people. Whereas many vegetarians, such as yours truly, will eat cheese and eggs, vegans don't eat any animal-based foods — that means no dairy, no honey, and no marshmallows.
Of course, vegans they also avoid beauty products made with any animal-based ingredients, and most won't use anything that's been tested on animals.

Fortunately, finding animal-friendly beauty is just as easy as cooking an amazing veggie meal. (Need proof? Check out Yum's recipes.) The really good news is that vegan products are almost always all-natural, since the synthetic ingredients in beauty products are often the ones that use animal testing in the first place.

So if you're interested in trying some vegan-friendly lip treatments, I've put together a few suggestions of lip-saving balms and pretty glosses worth checking out. Have a look!

OASIS Sets Standard for Organic Beauty Products

bellasugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:17:43 -0700

With little regulation in the organic beauty industry, brands have been getting away making false or exaggerated claims about their products. But all of that is about to change with the creation of OASIS, the first U.S. industry standard for certifying organic beauty products.

The OASIS standard was created by L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, and Aveda, among other cosmetics-industry giants. An OASIS certification will require the product to be 85% organic, climbing to 95% in the next few years. As of now, the standards only pertain to the product itself, but will eventually expand to include the packaging as well.

In order to avoid a conflict of interest, a product's certification will be awarded by an independent third-party consultant. Expect to see the OASIS seal showing up on some of your favorite products in about a year!

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Bella Brand: Tsi~La Organics

bellasugar — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:00:38 -0800

I've just learned about a relatively new, natural, and organic fragrance brand called Tsi~La Organics (pronounced chee-la). Founders Annie Morton and Natalie Szapowalo have a background in beauty, an education in natural health sciences and aromatherapy, and a love for fragrances. This foundation is what inspired them to create a line of good-for-you products made from essential oils, botanicals, and exotic butters that won't harm your body when they are absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream.

The product line includes six eaux de parfum ($45–$85), and the duo is about to launch a hair perfume and a skin-care line. My favorite scent is Fleur Sauvage, a sexy and feminine blend of tuberose and jasmine.

For a description of each of the natural fragrances from TSI~LA ,

Get the Facts Behind Organic Beauty

bellasugar — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:00:32 -0800

Beauty and skincare lines have been jumping on the organic bandwagon in droves. Last year, sales of organic and natural cosmetics exceeded $7 billion. But does "organic" mean what you think it means? Time reports on a few things you should know about "organic" beauty products:

The USDA is the only organization that can certify something as organic, and they will only do so if all the ingredients, packaging, and production meet the same stringent standards required for organic food.
A USDA certified organic product is still allowed to have 5% non-organic ingredients. If a product is even 70% organic, it can claim to be made with "organic ingredients.
It's important to check labels carefully, and if the USDA seal is missing, it might not actually be organic at all.
Organic products are not necessarily more gentle. In fact, many can irritate sensitive skin because they use pure oils as preservatives.

The bottom line is that while anything organic is better for the environment, organic beauty products are not necessarily better for your skin.

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Stella McCartney gets Organic for Night & Day

bellasugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:00:48 -0800

Since organic food and beauty is so popular these days, I thought I'd tell you more about the most recent product launch from Stella McCartney, Nourishing Night & Day Cream ($80).

This face moisturizer has been developed to help revive all types of dry and dehydrated skin. Made with organic vegetable extracts, cupuacu butter, black-currant buds and brazil nut oil, it creates a mineral- and vitamin-enriched protective layer over your skin. I haven't tried the cream yet, but I'm a sucker for all things vegan, organic, and luxurious—so it's only a matter of time.

Beauty Byte: Target Prepares to Go Green

bellasugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:00:13 -0800

Oh, Target. You are my favorite cheap-chic stop for everything from bed linens to blenders. And as the popularity of natural beauty segues from fad to mainstream, Target is jumping on the bandwagon. As soon as March, you can expect to see a bevy of natural brands lining shelves.

Adding to my already deep and unconditional love of the chain, Target is taking the guesswork out of going green, and has preselected only products that are free of parabens, phthalates and sodium lauryl sulfates. What's more, nothing has been tested on animals. Some of the lines that we'll be seeing are already favorites of mine, such as Burt's Bees, Dr. Bronner's, Kiss My Face, and Alba, among many others.

The best part is that we can get our product fix without breaking the bank. Prices for the lines start at $2.99 and top out at $29.99. As if we needed one more reason to schedule a Target run in the near future!

Origins Skin Care Goes Green

bellasugar — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 08:00:46 -0800

You'll be green with envy when you see Origins' latest skin care line, Origins Organics. Although the line launched in late fall, the products are intended to soothe dry, winter skin and hair.

All of the products are certified organic by the USDA, which is a huge step for a beauty company. Now, this doesn't mean that the products are 100% organic; it means that a large part of the products are made with certified-organic ingredients. Make sense?

To find out the highlights and prices of each of the nine products,

BellaSugar's Gift Guide: Nature Girl

bellasugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:09:44 -0800

This week, all of the gift guides are for your best girlfriends. Yesterday's ideas were for the glamour girl, and today's is totally different—it's the nature girl. You know the type: The girl who always composts her leftovers, uses animal-friendly cosmetics, and who thinks about how her choices affect Mother Earth. For my gift suggestions, just browse this widget:

Go Green with Paul Mitchell

bellasugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 07:00:38 -0800

It's not often that you can use products that allow you to look good, feel good, and do good all at the same time. So when the opportunity arises, you know Bella has to give you the scoop, especially when it involves free swag (that's the feel good part). From now until December 10, you can enter to win an Eco Friendly From Head to Toe Wardrobe including Paul Mitchell hair care, CARE by Stella McCartney skin care, and other equally green-friendly clothing items (like Edun denim)! In addition, if you spend more than $25 on Paul Mitchell products, you'll receive a Fabworthy gold clutch! So go ahead go green and go gold!

Thanks to Lucky Magazine for sponsoring this post.

Bella Quiz: Are You Green With Beauty?

bellasugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:00:00 -0800

Many people, myself included, don't necessarily realize how wasteful they are in the course of a day and how much damage their oblivion causes the environment. For example, I do some of my best thinking while I'm washing my hair, but before I realize it, I've been in the shower for nearly 20 minutes. That's a real waste—and that's just the beginning. There are always more ways to go green, so I wanted to take this opportunity to get you thinking about just how eco-friendly your beauty habits are. Take this quiz to find out where you sit with Mother Earth.

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New Product Alert: Korres Color Cosmetics

bellasugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:00:46 -0800

Korres, the Greek line of body and skincare products, has just launched a color cosmetics collection. (I don't know how to say huzzah! in Greek, but you'll just have to imagine it.)

Like Korres skincare products, the homeopathic cosmetics are made with botanical ingredients such as cherry oil, passion fruit oil, shea butter, green tea, and vitamin E and C. The products are free of petroleum derivatives such as mineral oil and propylene glycol, and there are minimal parabens and silicone compounds — which is good news for eco-conscious makeup fiends.

A few of these items are going straight to the top of my shopping list. (Mango butter lipstick, anyone?) For more about the Korres line, just

User Review: Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control

bellasugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:00:01 -0700

My pal Sassy Me has beautiful curly hair, and when I told her about Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control ($20), she absolutely had to try it. Specifically made for curly hair, the styling product uses organic shea butter and orange oil to fight frizz and keep hair healthy and bouncy. It smells amazingly fresh and clean, but Sassy Me loves it for more than just that reason. Check out her review:

"As a curly-haired gal, I always tell people how low-maintenance my hair is because I can shower, put product, and go. Well, I'm only telling half the truth. The finding-the-right-product part is actually really difficult, and that's why I was shocked when Quiet Calm Curl Control worked so well on my curls. I typically combine two products, a leave-in conditioner and a gel, to get the perfect curls and though I've gotten used to it, using one product will be much less time-consuming. I am definitely going to use this product again (and again, and again!) because it really defined my curls without making them sticky and rigid. And getting rid of frizz is no easy feat, so any product that does it is my best friend!"

If you're a similarly curly girl and you'd like to try this stuff, shop now because there's a 20% discount for first-time shoppers. Just enter the code lovemycurls at checkout!

New Product Alert: La Bella Donna Dark Earth Mineral Mascara

bellasugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 09:00:34 -0700

Calling all fair-skinned, environmentally friendly Bella Donnas! The cosmetics company La Bella Donna has just come out with a fabulous new Dark Earth Mineral Mascara ($22).

Not only is it a warmer shade than black (which often is too severe on those with fair skin), but the rich, deep brown color is to die for! It's made from eco-friendly mineral pigments that have been formulated with tubular polymers and Ceramide 2 to volumize, lift, condition, lengthen and curl.

Also, due to the natural brown shade, it can double as a brow enhancer. Simply lay the brush off to the side and stroke outwards to enhance, fill and set your brows. Want to see how this technique looks? Come back in about an hour—I've got a special treat for you!

Bellissima! Giovanni Biodegradable Organic Towelettes

bellasugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 11:00:29 -0700

Just in the nick of time for the end-of-summer heat waves are the new all-natural Giovanni Cosmetics Biodegradable Organic Towelettes ($11.95) These little wipes come in handy during the oddest of times. For example, have you ever driven to an interview and had a nasty garlic smell on your hands? Or how about when your feet won't stop sweating and you need a quick fix to dry them off and keep them cool? I swear, once you try the wipes, you'll wonder how you ever survived without them!

Not only are they sanitizing, but they also kill unwanted odors and they hydrate your face and body for optimum refreshment.

They come folded in a tiny square and are packaged in a rice paper pouch containing 20 wipes. Just unfold the square which has been soaked in a spa scented solution, take a deep breath and rejoice!

Although Giovanni products aren't sold online, they are available at select chain drug and natural product stores nationwide in three botanical fragrances:

Lavender Calm: a calming and cleansing effect.

Grapefruit Splash: a fun, fresh, citrus feeling.

Peppermint Surge: a minty tingling sensation.

And because they're organic and biodegradable, you'll be an eco-savvy shopper to boot!

Beth Ditto Gossips About Eco-Friendly Beauty Advice

bellasugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:05:04 -0700

Beth Ditto is the lead singer of The Gossip, a Portland-based band that fuses punk and soul. (The girl can sing.) In Britain, she's so popular that she has her own column in The Guardian called What Would Beth Ditto Do? She's an outspoken feminist who happens to love hair and makeup. "To me, a day without makeup and a bouffant to match is a day wasted," she's said.

In a recent column, she tackled the dilemma of being a huge beauty junkie who wants to be eco-conscious. Her straightforward tips are easy to incorporate into your shopping routine. Take a look:

Find out which companies have a recycling program. Ditto points out MAC's excellent one, which gives you a free lipstick or lip gloss if you return six containers. I agree with her when she says it's a good time to try an unusual color. "If you are anything like me—unwilling to take risks and spend £10 on a crazy bright orange or electric pink—it's all gravy," she says.

For more of Beth's advice,

New Details on the Josie Maran Cosmetics Line

bellasugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:16:37 -0700

Remember when I told you that model Josie Maran is launching a natural cosmetics line this fall? Well, I've found some more information, and now I'm looking forward to trying it even more than I already was. According to WWD, the 70-piece line will range in price from $16 to $42, and every product is free of parabens, toxins and petrochemicals:

"As a result, the final ingredients list reads almost like a baking recipe. Products contain various combinations of corn starch, cocoa butter, pomegranate oil, jojoba, avocado oil, olive oil, coconut and soybean, to name a few."

Now, I know a few of you are thinking, "That's all fine, Bella, but will I actually want to buy the stuff?" Fair enough! To find out about the color cosmetics, just

Product Review: Lush Brazened Honey Face Mask

bellasugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 09:00:14 -0700

If you're a fanatic about getting a smooth, clear complexion, I have two words for you: Brazened Honey. It's not an exaggeration to call this face mask the best secret in natural skin care—it's the only thing that consistently unclogs my blackheads, softens my skin and gives me a healthy, I-just-ran-five-miles glow. Lush says this detoxifying mask is for "when you're thoroughly ashamed of what you've done to your skin," but I think it's the secret to unlocking the kind of complexion you never knew you had. To find out what makes it work so well,

Coming Soon: Josie Maran Cosmetics

bellasugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:37:42 -0700

If you've seen a Maybelline ad during the past decade, chances are it probably starred Josie Maran, who represented the makeup giant for nearly ten years. The 29-year-old is now entering a different part of the cosmetics business with Josie Maran Cosmetics, a line of eco-friendly, toxin-free luxury makeup. It incorporates tricks she learned from makeup artists over the years, says Josie on her website:

"What most women don't realize is that when models and actresses look fresh-faced and makeup-free, it's because they know exactly how to apply their makeup to make it look that way."

Josie Maran Cosmetics will be available at Barneys New York stores in September. To check out what the biodegradable packaging looks like (it's super-cute!), just

Kate Hudson's Animal-Friendly Haircare Collection

bellasugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 05:00:07 -0700

Oscar-nominated actress, Hollywood mom and all-around cute lady Kate Hudson is about to add one more title to her resume: Co-creator of a haircare line. She's teaming up with stylist David Babaii to develop David Babaii for Wildaid, a forthcoming eco-friendly haircare collection free of sulfates, parabens, animal products and animal testing. Slated to feature shampoos, conditioners and styling tools, it should hit stores later this year. According to the press release, part of the revenue will go to wildlife-protection group Wildaid, which means your purchase will help protect endangered animals such as sea turtles and tigers.

Here's what Kate has to say about the collaboration:

"I've been asked to do a lot of campaigns in the past and this feels like the perfect fit for me. David is the best at what he does and he's put so much of himself into the development of this line. And the fact that we can do it in an ecologically responsible and animal-friendly manner that can help preserve wildlife is what makes this truly special."

If this line is able to replicate Kate's locks and help animals, what's not to like? Thanks to mmooney7 for pointing this out!