Organic mineral makeup - stunning results without the toxic overload

Mineral makeup is THE biggest thing in cosmetics right now, and for once, the concept behind these flawless foundations, eyeshadows, lipsticks and even mascaras, seems to be going in the right direction, away from artificially produced chemicals and towards more naturally derived ingredients. Lowering our toxic overload from personal care products must be high on everyone’s beauty agenda right now, as we aim to create a flawless finish without clogging our pores, ingesting carcinogenic ingredients and polluting the environment with manmade chemicals. And what’s the point of spending all that time and effort using organic, toxin-free soaps, shampoos, deodorants and bubble baths when the moment we step out of the shower and get to the mirror, we start loading regular cosmetics onto our faces and nails?

But, don’t just grab your purse in panic and rush down the road to the nearest chemist to buy up stocks of the latest mineral makeup from the shelves! Despite claims of natural, healthy and pure ingredients, even the most cursory of scans of the packaging will prove that even in the so-called pure world of mineral makeup – once again, organic cosmetics stand out on their own not only for safety and consideration for the environment, but for purity and importantly, performance!

Organic mineral makeup products are made from a pure mixture of mica, iron oxide and titanium dioxide as well as a range of different organically extracted essential oils. Many high street brands are loaded with synthetic fillers and preservatives, such as talc, bismuth oxychloride, parabens and phlalates, which as well as being toxic, can irritate the skin and block pores.

Top luxury organic online beauty store buyOrganics tried and tested a number of products before settling on their new makeup range, which we are now delighted to introduce to you. We now stock the organic, vegan makeup range by Inika, which includes a range of twelve different shades of organic mineral foundation which acts as a foundation, concealer and powder, all in one.
We have found that even the most sensitive skins and those with visible facial skin complaints such as redness and rosacea not only benefit from the superior coverage of the Inika organic makeup, to name but one, but also the benefits of leaving pores able to breathe and the natural sun protection factor of the ingredients (iron oxide and titanium oxide are also used in organic sunscreens to provide excellent protection from both UVA and UVB rays). This means that as well as being safe internally, your foundation also has anti-ageing properties. They are so safe for use that they can even be used straight after facial cosmetic surgery.

What we particularly like about using mineral foundations is the ease of application and the fact that one pot will last a very long time, meaning a sharp decrease in packaging and necessity to keep buying the product – making it a true investment! Only the smallest amount is required and once you get the hang of controlling the brush to apply the powder, we guarantee this method of facial coverage will knock minutes off the usual time it would take to use a liquid or pressed foundation.

The real secret with mineral makeup, from foundation to eyeshadows and even lip colours is in the brushwork – you will become an artist in no time! The knack is to use either a flat foundation brush (buyOrganics stock the Inika vegan brushes) or a blusher brush, take up a small amount of the powder knocking it against the pot to rid the brush of any excess, then apply in bold, rounded movements to the face. You can either cover the entire facial area or simply pay attention to areas which need more coverage (which is where a concealer brush, again using the foundation powder under the eye area comes in useful), so one product goes a very long way, making your cosmetic bag light and simple, and less packaging too. Covering blemishes but allowing your natural beauty to shine through to give a healthy, glowing complexion can’t be bad!

Eyeshadows can be applied simply as powder with an eyeshadow brush or for more definition close to the lashes, or for a dramatic evening or party look, wet the brush, take off the excess water and dip into the eyeshadow powder for an effect similar to watercolours, you can build up the colour as you wish. Use a base colour such as Inika’s Bling Bling over the eye lid up to just below the brow line, then fill in the eye socket area with another colour – we love the depth of Inika’s Purple Haze. You can even use the eyeshadow as an eyeliner by dampening an angled brush and using the eyeshadow wet to create perfect lines of any colour you like. If you’re a stickler for your eyeliners though, Inika’s eyeliner pencils come in a range of shades – try Sage with your Purple Haze eyeshadow for a fantastic festive party look – and they come with a handy sharpener on the pencil lid – again cutting down on makeup bag bulge!

You mustn’t forget blusher, giving depth, definition and a healthy glow day or night. The Inika kabuki brush together with their blusher powder (four sensational shades) will complete your healthy look. With such gorgeous products giving fantastic effects and also vegan and organic, why would you choose anything else? It’s a no-brainer really! See the entire range of organic makeup from buyOrganics, including Inika, Miessence, Nvey Eco and just in – non-toxic nail polishes from Zoya – from buyOrganics and get the safest, purest beauty looks around!

Organic Cosmetics & Makeup – The Intelligent Way to look Beautiful! What’s in your makeup – The Facts!

Makeup is important. Pouty lips and luscious eyes make us feel good but - trust me! There’s nothing glamorous about absorbing up to 5lbs of synthetic chemicals into your body every year – formaldehyde, phthalates, synthetic polymers, parabens, chemicals solvents, VOC’s amongst a few. Yet the makeup you buy over the counter that makes you look ‘oh so gorgeous’ is feeding you just that according to a leading biochemist. Each day women apply several different cosmetics to their skin, during which they are exposed to lead, cadmium, and arsenic, which are also incidentally found in shampoo’s deodorants and perfumes.

Whilst you quibble over whether Chanel, L’Oreal or Estee Lauder is best, we’ll take a deeper look into the ingredients of those beloved lipsticks, blushers, mascaras and foundations that grace your cosmetic bag and your skin. It feels good when you open your bag and it’s full of beautifully packaged luxury makeup, don’t get me wrong, I’m not particularly singling out the above brands, just pointing out that when we choose our cosmetics, we are often choosing a brand that says more about our lifestyle than even our clothes - they are expressions of who we want to be and what our priorities are. We choose a brand that represents us.

We buy from places that we feel familiar and comfortable with, where we fit in. This can unfortunately play on our sense of ego and then bypasses our basic rights to being provided with products that are not polluting us. Often the primary factors that govern women’s choice is image, packaging, and price but If you’re going to eat about 6lbs of lipstick in your lifetime, I would say ingredients needs to figure as top of the list -make it sure it’s safe!

Although off the shelf products meet federal and government safety tests, because they tell you the toxin quantities are so small as not to harm you, imagine that you are ingesting this stuff over a whole lifetime, and not just through one product, but all the products you use. There is no evidence to suggest that when combined with other makeup and toiletries, the chemical concoction will not cause you harm. Also the chemicals that are ingested and absorbed through the skin can build up in our body and be stored in our fat cells only to be released later in life. No wonder certain cancers are on the increase!!

Here’s a quick heads-up on the chemicals that plague your cosmetics and what you need to avoid:

Phthalates:

Some side effects reported of exposure to phthalates are damage to various organs such as the kidneys, liver and lungs. These are used as plastic softeners in nail polish, hair sprays and many other toiletries. They also help the fragrance in your product last longer. Research has found that phthalates may have a disruptive effect on human hormones, possibly causing birth defects and liver damage. Both DEHP and DBP (the later is often present in nail varnish) are classified as class 2 compounds, toxic to reproduction, but are still present in many cosmetics

Parabens:

In a nutshell, parabens are used as preservatives in most cosmetics and skincare products, including foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner and hairspray. There are several types of parabens that exist in common formulations; Methylparaben, propylparaben, butyleparaben and ethylparaben. As well as being linked to hormone disruption and various cancers, they can irritate the skin. They have been detected in human breast tissue as they can even act as oestrogen mimics -increased oestrogen levels are linked to cancer.
One, propyl paraben, has been shown to adversely affect male reproductive functions; at the “daily intake level” currently acceptable under EC law, it decreased daily sperm production. (Oishi, S., ‘Effects of propyl paraben on the male reproductive system’; Food and Chemical Toxicology, 40: 1807-1813 (2002))

VOC’s

A lot of makeup contains VOC’s, such as formaldehyde and ethanol. These have be shown to cause eye, nose and throat irritation, difficulty breathing, allergy symptoms and headaches. Formaldehyde is considered a probable carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the formaldehyde in your lipstick gets ingested. We probably eat about 6lbs of lipstick in our lifetimes – not so yummy!

Chemical Solvents

Amongst this nasty bunch of chemicals is acetone, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate and alcohol. They have been linked to many different health problems from headaches to liver damage whilst also causing harm to the environment.

Synthetic Polymers

Synthtic Polymers are ingredients such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). These synthetic substances are derived from petrochemicals and used in mascaras, eyeliners and hairsprays to ‘fix’ the product to your skin or lashes. Watch out for them in natural and eco-friendly hairsprays too; they have been linked to headaches, dizziness and allergic reactions.

buyOrganics founder Sonia recommends some Natural alternatives in Organic Cosmetics and Makeup to keep you looking a million dollars!

The Phthalate DBP and toluene, another toxic chemical is found in nail polish. This compound is flammable and can make the nails dry and brittle. Instead of using the chemical based polishes found on the market, you could use a natural water based polish, but these do not last long and have to be removed quickly otherwise they become impossible to remove!

I love Zoya Nail Polishes for totally natural nails because they are long lasting, don’t have to be removed quickly and come in over 300 shades, we stock around 80! Worn by the stars!

Choose mineral based eyeshadows such as Nvey Eco or Inika as eyeshadows traditionally contain a chemical called polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). This compound has been shown to cause an allergic reaction in some people. It is important to read all product labels before purchasing any brand of eye shadow and avoid those that contain PVP. Both Inika Eyeshadow and Nvey Eco Eyeshadows are totally natural and don’t contain synthetic fillers such as Talc or Bismuth oxyclorane or PVP either.

Lipsticks traditionally contain petroleum, chemical fragrances or FD&C colours and can contain formaldehyde, lipsticks containing lead and heavy metals can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. Children exposed to lead have been shown to have impaired school performance and lower IQ compared to children un exposed. Always choose natural organic lipsticks that do not contain synthetic colours or preservatives. I love Nvey Eco and Inika natural organic lipsticks, which come in a great range of natural colours without synthetic colours and toxins. Miessence has been cited by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to be one of the purest ranges on the market.

When choosing a loose or powder foundation, its best to choose organic as the organic cosmetics do not contain talc which has been linked to cancer. No-talc powders instead use bentonite and/or kaolin as well as essential oils which have been extracted from plants that have not been treated with pesticides and herbicides. Organic foundations also do not contain paraben preservatives such as methyl parabens or propyl parabens. I love Miessence and Nvey Eco crème and liquid Foundations – the same mineral formulations in a cream format for people who like a cream rather than a powder. Inika Mineral foundations give such fantastic coverage that they can even cover skin problems such as acne, rosacea and scarring completely naturally.

Icecream and hot chocolate – Sophie and Chloe’s inspiration behind the new autumn range of bamboo babies and children’s clothes stocked by buyOrganics

Summer visions of strawberry, chocolate and pistachio icecream are still be on the menu despite the chilly autumn with a beautiful new autumn range of co-ordinated organic outfits for baby and toddler boys and girls from Bamboo Baby, available online at buyOrganics

Organic children’s clothing fashioned from bamboo fleece is becoming increasingly more popular on the designer circuit, and to reflect this growing trend, buyOrganics has just added this new autumn range of beautiful new colours and designs to their stock.

Girls will be in neopolitan heaven with soft and snug pink and chocolate knit dresses, and boys – will revel in pistachio warmth with khaki combats and chocolate pullovers. Team the outfits with buyOrganics’ range of baby and children’s bamboo T-shirts, bodysuits, vests and socks for the warmest, softest look this autumn. The range from Bamboo Baby, was inspired by sisters Sophie and Chloe, who wanted their new knitwear range to be both comfy and snuggly as well as unisex. Their visions of hot chocolate in front of a roaring winter fire has created this beautiful selection of jumpers, combats and dresses. Sophie originally studied fashion design at Kingston University and went into business with her sister Chloe. They both knew that they wanted to do something eco –friendly.

Bamboo children’s clothing is not only luxurious to wear and 100% organic, but probably the most sustainable, ethical material currently available. So your kids won’t just look good – they’ll be helping save the planet! Plus it’s durable for all that indoor and outdoor toddling, climbing and tripping over!

The new autumn chocolates range, which is organically certified by OCIA, is the perfect solution for keeping baby and child warm and trendy during the cold winter months – as well as its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, bamboo fleece is temperature regulating, making it soft and cosy in the cold. It also wicks away moisture from the body naturally, meaning no sweatiness when you come in out of the cold into a warm room or shop.

Bamboo is one of the most sustainable plants on the planet – like hemp it grows prolifically and has a short cultivation cycle, meaning the moment you cut it down, up it shoots again! It absorbs absolutely loads of carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere and is so naturally hardy that absolutely no chemicals are required for growth and, more importantly, requires minimal precious water.

So start baby as they mean to go on this autumn – healthy, well-dressed and environmentally friendly!

Little Things Can Make a Difference - Or How I Learned to Love Organic Skincare

"If I were to say I have always been an eco-friendly or green person (or as my ‘funny friends’ call me a tree hugger), I’d be lying.

Sure I’ve always had a love of nature, I would spend hours watching documentaries on wildlife (especially rainforests and anything to do with aquatic life) with my dad as a kid; but that was about it.

So what changed? Well as a student I finally fulfilled a dream and visit a rainforest myself. It was breathtaking, and just what my imagination had always led me to believe… well at least it was at first.

It was after I was show the devastation that had been made due to deforestation, and the effects it had on the wildlife that began to change my life (just look at the picture above, it saddens the heart). Since then my lifestyle has swayed greatly over the years to living it in an ecologically friendly way. It’s a cliché I know, that one person can’t make a difference, so why bother? Well because if everyone did bother then it would make a difference, and every small step, even from one person, is a move in the right direction.

Of course it’s not been easy. Where I live recycling has only just become a mandatory thing in regards to weekly waste collection (before that it was a trip to the recycling centre once a week) and the selection of organics products has been pretty poor, with the exception of organic food, which most supermarkets stock a selection of.

However food and recycling is only a small part of it and as a woman I wanted to see if I could go green on one of our biggest failings, skincare, cosmetics and toiletries. These items in normal life are so full of toxins and unnatural ingredients it’s surprising us girls aren’t responsible for melting the icecaps on our own.

Where to start? I mean organic skin care and organic toiletries? Where the heck do you get these things? Yes we know there are places that don’t test these on animals, but that’s not the same thing (though something I do applaud). My search took me online, and it was there I found that you can get almost anything you need for day to day life, all wrapped up in an organic, natural and eco-friendly little package (figuratively and literally).

The ranges of organic skincare on offer are huge with brands such as Eselle, Spieza, Miessence and much more beyond all doing facial skincare products such as moisturiser to facial cleanser and face wash to lip balm (yep something as simple as that has an eco alternative).Then there is body skin care, such as hand creams and lotions, body moisturisers and soaps and body washes all of which have “green” counterparts.

Toiletries and cosmetics are another must for us girls and we aren’t failed here either. Organics lipstick, eyeshadow, mascara and even foundation are readily available online. Organic toiletries are taken care of with organic deodorants, body powders, organic perfumes and more; the even have organic panty liners, towels and tampons in case you’re not sure.

Now the point is that these aren’t just good for the environment though. These things are all good for YOU. Many of the skincare and toiletry products we use, as well as cosmetics and make-up we apply are so full of chemicals and toxins you’d not be surprised about my statement that a women getting ready for a night out could kill half a rainforest on her own, and if it does that much damage to the environment, then what bout the toll it takes on you.

So come one girls, give it a try. It is true one person won’t make a difference, but if we all try to help the planet (and help ourselves and our bodies as well) even with just a few things where we can such as an organic skincare alternative, or some organic deodorant, or even organic cosmetics… then that is a start to making a difference."

Article by Kim Walsh
Self confessed 'Tree Hugger' and proud of it!

Visit our other blog at http://buyorganics.vox.com

The buyOrganics Guide to Safe, Organic Beauty on a Budget

Twelve natural, healthy budget buys to beat the credit crunch!

Products such as organic skincare, organic bodycare, food and organic clothing are often unfortunate casualties of the lessening of our disposable incomes, but in fact, natural, healthy beauty can still be achieved on a budget!

Leading on-line organic lifestyle store buyOrganics (www.buyorganics.co.uk) offers their pick of the best quality, low budget organic skincare products to keep you beautiful and healthy through these tight times….

Facial cleansers which are not only organic and natural but cleanse the skin deeply without the use of synthetic chemicals and preservatives, include:

Essential Care Lemon & Tea Tree Organic Face Wash Cleanser £12
Includes balancing organic essential oils of lavender and tea tree together with extra virgin olive oil and aloe juice for clean, fresh skin. This vegan product is also Soil Association certified.

Raw Gaia Living Facial Cleanser £12.50
Made with cold-pressed oils of jojoba and wheatgerm, organic essential oils of sweet orange, eucalyptus and lemon plus organic floral waters of witch hazel, tea tree and juniper, this is a refreshing, purifying cleanser made with the purest ingredients.

Earthbound Organics Face Cleanser Cream £7.54
Combining rosewater, calendula, sunflower oil, carrot oil and beeswax.

Moisturising the skin after cleansing is essential for maintaining healthy skin:

The Earthbound Organics skincare range of five different face creams for different skin types are a real beauty bargain – just £8.89 and all beautifully formulated from organic ingredients and essential oils. A little really does go a long way, making your precious pounds last longer. Try from the range according to your skin: Nutritive Cream, Rejuvenating Cream, Jojoba & Vitamin E Cream, Carrot Cream as well as their ultra-moisturising Avocado Night Cream.

Other fantastic bargain moisturisers include the fantastic:

Raw Gaia’s For Her Daughters Moisturiser £10.80
Weirdly named but highly nutritive, this special female formulation contains 100% organic rosehip, evening primrose, Palma Rosa and fair trade cocoa butter.

Raw Gaia MSM Beauty Cream £10.80
Containing nutritive sulphur especially for mature and damaged skin, this is an incredible healing skin care preparation perfect for daily moisturising.

For a special pamper, a face mask and a scrub can provide the perfect pick-me-up:

Raw Gaia Chocolate Face Mask £8.20
Probably the most perfect face mask ever invented – great for skin and smells amazing. This living food for the skin contains detoxifying raw chocolate powder, sundried red clay, organic turmeric and organic amia fruit powder to nourish the pores.

Earthbound Organics Facial Scrub £6.54
With organic lavender, oatmeal and aduki beans for a natural, healthy organic skincare scrub.

Must-have items for skin repair and probably the most cost-effective anti-cellulite remedy on earth!:

Essential Care Baby Repair Lotion Natural Eczema Cream £8.94
Not just for babies but good for adults too – soothes and protects skin complaints such as eczema and dermatitis.

Earthbound Organics Anti Cellulite Oil £7.95
What a bargain – not only a snip price-wise but this skin care product full of organic essential oils such as geranium, rosemary, fennel and juniper, plus organic sunflower oil, ivy and vitamin E, to help stimulate the circulatory system, balance hormones and detoxify the skin.

Keep your body clean and fresh the natural way too:

Essential Care Aloe Vera Bodywash £7.99
Using corn sugar to mildly cleanse, this body wash is fragrance-free for extra care but amazingly moisturising and containing 100% natural ingredients.

Essential Care Deodorant Stone £5.95
With the health risks of aluminium chlorohydrate still proving controversial, this purse-friendly alternative contains naturally formed crystals of non-toxic potassium alum ensures no pore blockage or staining. Simply moisten the stone and apply to anywhere on the body – the stone lasts for up to 9 months making it true value for money.

All organic skincare products available at www.buyOrganics.co.uk

buyOrganics also stocks the Green People range of organic, parabens and synthetic preservative-free skin care products, with prices ranging from £3.24 to £14.99 including facial skin care, suncare, babies, men’s and bodycare products.

Performance quality makeup from Nvey Eco is also organic, paraben-free, cruelty-free with foundations, blushers, lipsticks, glosses, mascaras and eyeshadows in a wide range of shades and colours from £13 to £28 – the perfect healthy addition to any make up bag.

So splash it all on without splashing out, keep yourself healthy, beautiful and in the money with buyOrganics’ beauty budget know-how!

Organic Fortnight, Living the High Life despite the Credit Crunch

Here we are, half-way through organic fortnight and most people are thinking about their pockets instead of their health. During the credit crunch our pockets will be squeezed, our minds will be wrangled and our nerves may be shot, but it is the ideal time for creativity to flow.

The past shows us that during the hardest times, people become highly creative, which can mean cutting corners in all sorts of ways, but it doesn’t necessarily mean losing site of quality.

Food is the main expenditure. But this is where creativity is really needed. By being clever we can create several meals from a few bare essentials. For example buying an organic chicken will cost you £8 and can be roasted with the leftovers being curried, put in a sandwich, or a risotto and made into a soup too. Veggies can make several meals from one bag of lentils (about £1) – and with organic lentils only about 15 to 20 pence more than regular lentils, it’s worth paying that bit extra to ensure you and the planet is healthy. Lentils can be used in place of meat in Bolognese sauces, curries, soup, shepherd’s pie and mashed with potato and cheese and baked in the oven for a loaf which is delicious hot or cold.

The main thing is to avoid heavily packaged food, go for more seasonal local vegetables which are cheaper as they have done less travelling. Integrate more pulses and grains and vegetables into your diet, which is not only better on your health but also on your pocket too. Be creative with salads and as Jamie Oliver is campaigning – get Britain cooking again. Too much of our money goes into quick, easy, over processed and heavily packaged food. By going back to basics, we help ourselves, farmers, animals and wildlife. Clear a small space in your garden or even a window box for fresh salad leaves and herbs, tomatoes can be grown in windowsill pots and all these home grown foods are pure and healthy as you won’t be adding nasty pesticides yourself of course! Buying fruit and veg in the supermarket is cheaper if you go seasonal – Swedes are just appearing on the shelves and root vegetables such as parsnips and celeriac are delicious roasted, mashed or grated in salads and a little goes a long way, as well as upping your five-a-day of fruit & veg. Winter is the perfect time for making homemade soups out of just about any vegetables you can get your hands on – top tips for increasing the thickness and nutritional value at little cost is to add a tin of organic butter or kidney beans or chickpeas.

Following food is our household expenditure. By being economical on the energy we use, we can drastically reduce our energy bills. Simple measures are good for your pocket and the environment. Start with turning off all appliances at the plug when they are not in use, switch off lights in rooms when you leave them and switch to energy saving bulbs. Make sure you have thick curtains for the winter and seal up drafts. Walking around at home without the need for a sweater in the cooler months is a good indication that your heating is too high!

Buying natural and organic goods for the home is not always the expensive alternative we might think it is. Bio-D cleaning products are very economically priced so that you can get your home clean and still be chemical free. The products range from between about £1.50 and £4 and include laundry products, polish, cleaning sprays and window cleaner. When we think of all the allergies and illnesses that are triggered by household chemicals this switch is a simple cost effective one, and is particularly good for adults and children suffering from eczema and asthma.

Organic Bedding is obviously a high quality luxury bedding option, and you may be tempted to go for something cheaper in the sale to get you through the difficult times. But if you stop and think, the difficult times may only last 6 months or so and your mattress or bedding may be with you for years to come. If you have had to put off the purchase of a much needed quality mattress then last a bit longer with an organic mattress topper, buy one or two bamboo sheets instead of a whole set, that way you can build up your purchases slowly without compromising on quality.

Now life doesn’t stop just because of the credit crunch and one of the things that doesn’t get returned is the new baby. Babies are still born whether it’s convenient or not and they still need caring for with the safest products. Their health does not warrant being compromised. You still need to use reasonably priced quality skincare but it is possible to have healthy, organic skincare and beauty products on a budget such as Green People products which are concentrated and effective. We’ve got loads more tips coming your way on skincare and cosmetics in our beauty on a budget blog next week. Until then, remember that attitude is the key to whether you live in abundance or poverty.