Favorite Organic/Natural Beauty Products?

[GlassCannon]

Hi ladies!

I joined PL just recently, and although I've replied to a couple of forum threads, this is the first I've started myself, so I thought I'd throw a little introduction in here too.  I'm Samantha, I live in southern California just a bit south of LA, I'm 30, married eight years, one cat, no kids.  I've been sewing for most of my life, and more seriously since my high school years, since I have an unusual shape that's more than a bit difficult to fit with anything off the rack.  Mostly dresses and costumes, but in the last year or two I've been trending more and more retro in my everyday wear.  Found this site while looking for retro hair style ideas, and here I am!  I'm looking forward to getting to know more of you!

Anyway, on to the topic.  About two years ago I went on a crusade to switch as much of the stuff I use to more organic/natural products.  This included my makeup and hair routine.  I'm pretty happy with the products I'm using now, but I'd love to hear if any of you have favorite organic/natural products?  I figure I can't be the only "green" pinup gal out there!

I haven't been able to find anything I'm happy with for hairspray or nail polish, but other than that I feel like I've been able to achieve the sort of retro/pinup look I'm going for, while sticking with more organic and/or natural products.  I'll post a reply with the products I use, in case anyone is interested, but I'd love to hear what you ladies have found!

-Samantha/GlassCannon

[GlassCannon]

When I first decided to switch my makeup over to organic products, I did a bit of research into mineral makeup, and decided I wanted something without Bismuth Oxychloride, which rules out most of the big-name mineral makeups.  I ended up going with a little company called Faerie Organic, and over the past two years I've been very happy with their products.

For my every-day look (as seen in my profile picture, though that's a bad camera phone pic, hehe), here's my lineup, all from Faerie Organic:

-Flawless Concealer, in fair

-Flower Child Face Primer I've found this works better for me than foundation, but they do have some great foundations too, I just prefer this more sheer coverage.

-Forty Winks Eye Primer This stuff keeps my eyeliner in place all day long, just started using it.

-Love Letter Blush

-Knight Eyeshadow, used as liner.  I mix it with a drop or two of contact rewetting drops, then apply with an angle brush

-Sheer Veil to set everything

-Bambi Eyes Mascara

For a special occasion I might add a bit of Faery Glow Highlighter or a bit of eyeshadow, and some days I'll skip the Sheer Veil, but that routine is pretty much me, these days.

But as much as I love Faerie Organic, they don't have a lipstick line at all, only lipgloss.  And what good pinup is ever without red lips?  So it was back to researching ingredients and looking for companies with both a good product and a real, true red.  

I found the Cosmetics Database to be extremely helpful, since it gives a rundown of all the ingredients in just about any beauty product, no matter how small the brand, and then lists the dangers that have been found in testing for each of those ingredients, and gives the product an over all score from 0 (low concern) to 10 (extremely high concern).  It also says if the company is known to test on animals or is certified as not testing on animals, and other useful info.

So after a bunch of reading and looking around, I finally decided to take the plunge with Afterglow Cosmetic's Lip Love in Courage, and thankfully it didn't disappoint!  It's a nice true red (more fire engine and less wine than it looks in my profile pic) with a great texture.  One of the things I love about it is that depending on how I apply it, I can actually get a bunch of different colors out of the one tube.  If I put face primer on my lips, I'll get a really bright, true red.  If I skip the primer and then put lip balm (I like Dr Bronner's and Burt's Bees) over the lip stick, I can get a softer, sheer red, and if I put the lip balm on first, then the lipstick, and I get some really nice pink colors, depending on how much lipstick I add.  It doesn't have that last-all-day power that a lot of lipsticks advertise these days, but that's a trade off for the ingredients, IMO.  Also, I think there's something rather sexy about re-applying red lipstick after a meal! ;)

For my hair I use Hugo Naturals shampoo and conditioner (I use their body lotion and bath salts too).  I haven't found a good hairspray yet so at the moment I'm doing without.  But I'm hoping one of you ladies will have a suggestion!

For my face, I just wash with warm water at night to get everything off, and moisturize with jojoba oil (which is also a great eye makeup remover, for that last bit of liner and mascara that the water didn't remove), and treat blemishes with 100% Vitamin E.  I also do a facial scrub with plain old baking soda in the shower once a week.

Fingernail polish is the one other thing I haven't yet found a good organic option for, so at the moment I'm just using Sally Hansen in Cherry Red, only very rarely, and just go naked nails the rest of the time.

Well, that's me.  Can't wait to hear what you girls use and love!

-GC

[Cupcake Terror]

I love the fact that you are a "green" pin up gal. Too cute! While I think this is great, I don't feel I could ever give up my Lancome foundation and fabulous MAC eye colors. I have yet to find great pigments in the natural products area. ^_^

 

Great first post! I'm sure that some of the dolls here will eat up your info. :)

[GlassCannon]

Thanks for the replies, ladies! I'll have to check out some of those brands. I don't often use high-pigment eyeshadows (give me black liner and red lips and I'm set, lol), but I have been curious to try to Faerie Organic's new high-pigment line.  If/when I get to try it out, I'll report back with photos and let you guys know what I think. ;)

 

For hairspray I finally, finally found the tiny corner where my health food store was hiding their hairspray, checked out what brands they have, then double checked those brands against the Cosmetics Database I linked earlier.  I ended up going with Alba Botanica medium hold hairspray, based on reviews I was able to find and the fact that it has a score of 2 (very low hazard) on the Cosmetics Database.  Just picked it up yesterday and haven't taken my hair down from the rag curls I slept in yet, so I haven't used it yet, but I'll let you guys know how well it works.

 

I also picked up some Nomiss nail polish yesterday, just about to put it on.  It's not quite as natural as I would like, but it's the only nail polish my health food store carries, so I figure it's a step up from drugstore brands.  And there's just nothing quite like having red nails. ;)

[Naughty Nymphadora]

I love Arbonne's re9 skin care line. I can really tell a difference if I'm using it or not. And I love their make-up primer. I've just started playing with some  of their cosmetic line as well, ordering a bit each month when I place my customers orders for fizz-tabs and chocolate chews lol.

[Stephanie]

Look into Onesta Hair Care, it is the line that I use & sell at my salon. I absolutely love these products! These products are plant based, sulfate & paraben free, sodium lauryl sulfate & sodium laureth sulfate free, DEA & TEA free, no dyes or coloring, cruelty free & PETA approved! Your hair will look and feel amazing!

 

I also use Organic Color Systems hair color at my salon. This is incredible color! All color is ammonia & chemical free. Contains certified organic ingredients. Cruelty free & PETA approved. This is NOT a henna....this is fabulous professional hair color that is long lasting and safe!