Taking good care of my skin has ranked high on my priority list for most of my adult life. I had the good fortune to learn a lot about safer, natural and organic ingredients when I worked as a buyer for a local bath and body care company years ago. My luck continued when I started this blog and skin care companies started pitching me to review their brands. Yes, I'm a bit spoiled and my skin is very happy about it!
Out of a slew of products I've either purchased myself of been sent for review, here are a few that rose to the top:
1. Facial Cleanser
AnnMarie Gianni Aloe Herb Facial Cleanser - Having heard good things about the AnnMarie Gianni line of skin care products, I took a chance and purchased this cleanser and I have not been disappointed. The creamy formula is good for my dry skin and I love that it contains antioxidants to prevent and repair free radical damage. $24 for 50 ml
Brownie Points - Love that this line is packaged in glass instead of plastic.
2. Facial Mask
Naturopathica White Tea Antioxidant Mask - After slathering this creamy mask all over my face and leaving it on for 10 minutes, my skin feels incredibly nourished. White tea, borage oil and rosemary extract are the featured ingredients, containing phytochemicals and antioxidants that help firm aging skin. $48 for 1.7 oz
Brownie Points - Leave a thin layer on overnight, like a modern day cold cream.
3. Facial Scrub
Arcona Golden Grain Gommage - The Arcona brand was not even on my radar until I went in for a massage to my local Spot Spa. WOW what an incredible line of skin care products! This scrub has the perfect texture - not harsh in any way but just enough exfoliant to feel like it's really working. $42 for 100 ml
Brownie Points: Ingredients are cold processed, keeping the enzymes, antioxidants and amino acids active, which makes them more effective.
4. Face Cream with SPF
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream - The ultimate in multi-tasking beauty products, this cream not only sports a chemical-free SPF 30, it provides color correcting benefits, firms skin, repairs fine lines and a whole host of other good stuff. $39 for 1.7 oz
Brownie Points - The COPA (California Organic Products Association) seal ensures that the product contains a minimum of 70% organic content.
5. Face Moisturizer
Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Ultra Firm and Lift Cream - After using this cream for a couple weeks, I really do think my skin is a bit firmer and those fine lines (OK, wrinkles) are a bit less defined. Made with plant based amino acids that act to firm, strengthen and moisturize the skin. Yes, it's expensive but a little bit goes a long way. $70 for 1.7 oz
Brownie Points - There's a whole line of Purely Age-Defying products to complement this one.
6. Eye Cream
Naturopathica Primrose Eye & Upper Lip Treatment Cream - This rich but lightweight cream smooths on easily over the skin around my eyes and upper lip area. Contains evening primrose and acai extract to soothe and hydrate. $48 for .5 oz
Brownie Points - The glass pump bottle squirts out just the right amount.
7. Body Lotion
Weleda Pomegranate Replenishing Body Lotion - Rich with nourishing oils, Weleda's body lotions leave my skin baby soft and unlike some lotions that take forever to rub in, these absorbs quickly with no white residue left behind. The Pomegranate formula for mature skin is my personal fav (the scent is to die for!) but choose one of 4 blends depending on your skin type. $16.50 for 6.8 oz
Brownie Points - Weleda uses a high percentage of organic and biodynamic ingredients and the company partners with Fair Trade farms around the world.
8. Multipurpose Product
Andalou Naturals Argan + Omega Natural Glow - You know I love multi-tasking products and this rockstar product hits 3 in 1!! Adds moisture and a healthy glow to my face and neck area, works to control frizz and nourish my dry hair, and conditions and softens my nails and cuticles. $24.95 for 1.9 oz
Brownie Points: Organic Argan oil is rich in omega 3-6-9 fatty acids that help slow cellular damage and accelerate healthy cell renewal.
What are your favorite natural skin care products?
P.S. I've been playing around with The Inspiration Board. What do you think of my photo collage? Be careful, this new free app is totally addicting!
(Disclosure: I received free samples of some of these products in exchange for my honest opinion. There are a couple affiliate links in this post. Any purchace you make helps keep this blog in business. Thank you!)
Toothpaste: Nature's Gate, Burt's Bees, or Tom's of Maine. I will never go back to synthetic toothpaste.
Shampoo/Conditioner: I've recently been gifted with both a shampoo and conditioner from Intelligent Nutrients, and wish I could afford to use this product regularly. My normal hair products are from Nature's Gate.
Facial soaps: a creamy cleanser from Burt's Bees for occasional use, and I regularly use Dr Bronners soaps on my face as well. Nothing (and I mean nothing) dissolves make-up quite so well as Dr Bronners. We also use Dr Bronners in our hand soap dispensers at the sinks, and as body wash in the shower. I refill the bottles at the co-op and use a 50-50 mix with water in order to make them last longer.
Skin moisturizers: Burt's Bees. Normally I use their Naturally Ageless line, but this winter I picked up the Intense Moisturizing line and it has been phenomenal on my face through cold weather.
Lip products and general moisturizers both come from Burt's Bees as well.
Posted by: Kate | February 12, 2013 at 02:15 PM
I've used a lot of Burt's Bees and Nature's Gate products over the years as well Kate. And Dr. Bronners is such a classic! I met him at a trade show once - what a trip!!
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