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Archive for the ‘Eco Beauty News & Tips’ Category

Alima Pure is fast becoming my favorite makeup.  I totally dig the huge selection of colors they offer.    I must have 97 samples of their eye shadow and a little goes a long way.    I have fun playing with all of the colors and dressing my eyes up to match my mood.  For me this is big.  I’m a neutral girl at heart and generally pick something up to match my brown eyes.   I’ve been trying to be daring and use more color and thankfully, I don’t have to sacrifice my health in order to do that. All of their makeup is free of chemicals and preservatives and are pigmented with mineral colors.

Now Alima Pure has put out their new spring eyeshadow collection and I have to say, I’m loving it!  It makes me long for warmer spring weather and a cute spring outfit.

Get it: You can get your own samples (which are a great size and are rather inexpensive) directly from AlimaPure.com

BONUS! We’re giving away 3 sample sets of Alima Pure’s “April in Paris” gift collection.   To enter simply send an email to safemama.contestsATgmail.com with the subject “Alima Pure Giveaway“.  In order to qualify we need:

1. Your full name, and address.

2. Your favorite Alima Pure product.  (If you haven’t tried them yet, you can go to AlimaPure.com and pick something you’d like).

Your name and address are only needed so that we can notify you if you win.   LovelyMama does not sell or otherwise use your information in any way.  Contest is open to US residents only and ends at midnight on March 4th. Winners will be chosen at random.  Good Luck!

We’ve been planning a new segment here at LovelyMama.    If you’ve read our sister site, you’re familiar with Dear SafeMama, a weekly “column” where we give you advice and answer your questions regarding just about anything you can think of.     Introducing LovelyMama.   We love all things beauty and we’ve learned a lot about green beauty over the last year and a half and we’d love to share that with you.    From questions about favorite chemical free beauty to advice on what works best, we want to help you achieve eco-gorgeousness.

You can submit your questions via the LovelyMama “Contact Us” page.  Simple choose “Dear LovelyMama” in the drop down box.

Ever since I’ve started the journey into living a “greener” life, I’ve come to the realization that we rely so much on commercial and processed products, if only for the convenience factor. And I’ve also come to realize that it’s so much easier and cost effective to make a lot of these beauty products at home. Look, I’m a total sucker for beauty products. I love my stuff, but after realizing how horrible most of this stuff was for me, I pitched/freecycled everything that I knew I would never use again. And you know what? I’ve gotten along without most of it just fine, for well over a year. But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t still make the attempt to take care of my skin. I don’t mess with it the way that I used to and I find that it looks better (when I’m not pregnant and the wind isn’t whipping my skin raw) than it did when I had a whole ritual of crap I put on it every night.

But there are certain measures you should take to at least do the bare minimum for your skin, to keep it healthy and youthful looking.

One of those things would be clay masks. I love a good clay mask. It makes my skin feel great for days afterward, and helps to draw impurities out of your skin that soap can’t. Clay has been used for eons as a beauty staple, because it’s so multi-purpose. It cleanses, purifies, exfoliates, and the list goes on. There are quite a few different types of clays out there and each one has a different property due to it’s mineral content.

You can go and buy a clay mask at your local drug store on the cheap, but of course, it’ll have a bevy of chemicals and preservatives so that it can sit on that shelf for as long as they’ll let it. Or you can buy one that’s greener and chemical free (ultimately more expensive), but for as often as you use it, will probably be more cost prohibitive, because it’ll have a shelf life. Or you can make one yourself for a fraction of the price, as needed and feel good knowing that it’s two ingredients.

Here’s a basic white clay mask that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin, and is safe enough to use every day:

• 1 tablespoon of white clay
• 1 teaspoon purified water

Combine in a bowl to form a paste and allow to thicken. Spread on your face with your hands and allow to sit for about 20 minutes and then rinse. You can also make this in larger quantities if desired for all over the body. It can be used as an exfoliate or cleanser.

One thing to keep in mind when purchasing dry clay is to make sure that it’s cosmetic grade clay. Regular clay contains very high traces of lead. So don’t go raiding your kids art cupboard. You can purchase cosmetic grade clays online, which are relatively inexpensive. I found a great site that has white clay for about $8 for 8 ounces, which should last awhile. The more you buy, the cheaper it is. They guarantee their product to be lead free.

I’m beginning to think that our ancestors got it right the first time.

Valentine’s Extravaganza Week continues with massage oils!  Granted, there isn’t a whole lot of massaging going on around my house considering I’m pregnant.  However, making a point to put each other first is important in any relationship! Typically, massage oils are made with mineral oils that use up valuable resources that are taxing on the environment.  Plus, wouldn’t you rather put a natural unprocessed oil on your body rather than some refined petroleum?  Me too.

There are a few store bought brands that use natural ingredients if you’re looking for a nicer gift… or you can stick to the tried and true at-home ingredients that are both affordable, multipurpose and make your skin feel great.

Massage Products We Love

Mountain Rose Herbs Massage Oils: These oils contain only blends of natural essential and organic oils like organic olive oil and organic almond oils and vitamin E.  They offer a range of scents, scented with rose, chamomile, and lavender and come in 4oz pumps and 1oz sample kits!

Weleda Massage Oil: This is a great massage oil for those of you with active lives… whether you’re chasing kids or a workout king – this oil helps restore tired, aching muscles before and after physical activity.  Weleda is one of our favorite lines using only natural and organic ingredients.

AuraCacia Massage Cream in Tangerine Grapefruit: A cream instead of an oil this might be a little less messy.  Based with grapeseed oil and scented with oils like tangerine and grapefruit this sweet smelling citrus rub down will refresh and awaken the senses for a fun night out. Rawr!

DIY At Home Massage Treatments

Pure Coconut Oil: Available at your local health food store or aisle, this ingredient is great for your skin.  Use it to moisturize after a shower, soften cuticles or massage your muscles.  Better yet, you can cook dinner with it too. Add it to a romantic meal with stir fried veggies and shrimp to add a full flavor.  Also, we hear it makes a good personal lubricant. *Tee Hee*

Make Your Own: You can make any kind of massage oil concoction that suits you with a few simple ingredients from the health food store.  Pick up organic vegetable and nut oils, such as olive (great for skin and hair), sweet almond, jojoba, avocado and some vitamin E to make your own sexy combination’s.  Add drops of your favorite essential oils like lavender, orange, or arnica to spice it up.

I think Valentine’s Day is one of those days you’re either fond of or you’re not. In general, I’m not a fan of the commercial aspect, and on another level, I feel that you can tell someone you love them any day of the week. BUT, that doesn’t mean that we’re going to hide our really cool Valentines Day finds from you. Afterall, even if you aren’t into the commercialism aspect, you’re still into being eco-conscious, sexy AND green all year ’round. Right?

We’re starting off the week with candles. Who doesn’t love candles? They’re great for romance. They’re great home accents, and they’re great when you just want a refreshing pick me up in the form of a pleasant scent. I absolutely LOVE getting candles as a gift. For the home, it always makes a great gift, and from that special someone with a little nudge nudge wink wink, it takes on a whole different meaning. And it’s also something that lasts a while, unlike candy and flowers (although, I still LOVE getting candy and flowers. *hinthint*).

But you don’t want to just go out and get any kind of candle.   You want to find a candle that is phthalate free AND made of soy.

A lot of conventional candles are made from artificial fragrances that are impossible to create from nature.   Therefore, they’re made with parfums, which are made with phthalates.   Like we need more of those in our house than are already floating around.   Stick with candles that are made from natural essential oils.   This limits your choices, of course, but you still find some really great scents.

Why soy?  Soy is a cleaner burning wax that, because of its organic nature, doesn’t emit toxins into the air when burning, unlike paraffin, which often has petroleum based ingredients in it.  Soy also burns cooler and lasts longer than regular paraffin.  Another bonus to soy is that it cleans up much easier with soap and water.   The benefits of soy wax are just all around better.

Soy candles are becoming increasingly popular, but it’s a little harder to find them without phthalates.

Our top picks!

Timothy Han candles are beautifully simple.   They’re completely unobtusive and fit in well with any type of decor.   I really love the plain design of these candles.  They are a bit expensive at about $50 US dollars, but they’re about 6.5 ounces and provide about 50 hours of burn time.   Try saying that about any phthalate laden paraffin candle!

There is NOTHING you can’t find on Etsy.   I stumbled across these really great soy candles that are contained in a hand cut recycled wine container.  I don’t know about you, but I love anything that features recycled goods.   There are many scents to choose from, and while not all of them are phthalate free, a great deal of them are and are noted as such.     The jar also features a hand etched design of your choice.   For $28 dollars, this is an absolute steal!

Do it yourself!

It’s also really easy to make your own soy candles.   There are really great directions on ehow and you can find soy wax at just about any craft store.  The beauty of making your own is that you can be really creative in the scents you choose as well as your container.   It’s a great way to recycle old candle containers, instead of throwing them out.  You can use an old glass, a mason jar, or find something eclectic looking at a yard sale.   It’s a a great thing to do with older children.   And an inexpensive way to give a gift.    Nothing says love like a homemade gift!

I’m a sucker for bath products.  I mean, tell me what girl doesn’t love a good pampering spa day?   I know that’s where my love of all things bath for the home, stems from.   Of course, it’s a little harder now that I don’t have:  a.) dispensable income and b.) limited choices in the name of greener beauty.   But that’s OK, because there are a lot of things you can make for a nice luxurious spa like bath for a way smaller price tag.   Of course you have to listen to the hum of a monitor with your martini (organic vodka, of course), instead of that new agey soothing music, but hey, it’s a little time for Mama, and that’s what really counts, right?

Let’s talk about milk baths.   Milk baths are popular at swanky spas and resorts.  Why?  Because they’re great for the skin.  They’re great for nourishing really dry skin, because the lactic acid helps to loosen dead skin cells.  Milk baths date back to the days of Cleopatra, who swore by milks beautifying properties.   The best thing is,  you can make a nice milk bath from products you probably already have.   I found one in a book, that’s really quick and easy, and also easy to alter based on your needs.  You’ll need:

1 cup of heavy-cream, half and half, or regular milk.

1/2 cup raw honey.

That’s it.   Just blend together,  add to your running bath and swish.   If want a little more luxurious, add some of your favorite essential oil.   If your skin is extra itchy, blend a cup of oats in a blender or food processor and add to the mix.   If you’re lactose intolerant, you can try goats milk.   One of the other great things about this recipe, is that you know exactly what’s in it.  No hidden ingredients like you might find in the overly processed, high priced “milk baths” out there at a beauty store.

I have heard that the thicker dairy products might leave your skin feeling a little oily afterwards, which makes sense, since you’re basically soaking in milk fat.  You could also use lower fat milk to acheive the same effects.   I’d stick with at least whole milk at the very least, if your skin is really dry.

One of the last things I ever really thought to replace in my “beauty” cabinet was personal lubricant.  I’ll venture to guess that it may not have crossed your mind either.  But let’s face it, we all have sex and we’ve all used lubricant.  I’m actually somewhat surprised that I didn’t find this stuff sooner as my, err, girly parts tend to be extra sensitive, so I sought out long ago to find something that was less harsh on my skin.   When I look at the ingredients on something conventional, I’m aghast.  “They expect people to put that WHERE?”

Propylene Glycol, parabens, ALCOHOL.  No wonder this stuff was giving me an adverse reaction, because there’s just nothing natural about that stuff.  Gross.   So as a joke, Kathy and I like to find the most ludicrous thing we can think of and see if they make it in an organic version.   And that’s how I stumbled upon Firefly Organics.  I wish I would have found this stuff years ago.   While the name says organics, the product itself is technically not organic, BUT, all the ingredients are completely all natural and preservative free.  There is nary a paraben nor polymer to be found in this bottle.  In fact, Firefly is so safe, that you don’t even have to wash it off if you don’t want to (and really, have you ever tried to wash off conventional lube?  Forget it).

What can I say about this stuff?  I love it.  When I first opened the bottle it reminded me a lot of olive oil.  The feel of it isn’t at all sticky or overly greasy.  A little goes a long way and unlike conventional lubricants, it doesn’t get tacky over time, so you never need more.  The aloe vera soothes so there’s no burning afterward.   This is just an all around great product.   I’ll never use anything else.  And dare I say that it makes me want to get randy more often.  And being pregnant while chasing around a toddler, that’s saying something.

Get it: You can order Firefly Organics directly from their website.  A bottle retails for $18.95, but it’s a big bottle and it should last you a long time.  Unless of course, you party like a rock star.  In which case, better get a few bottles.

Bonus! LovelyMama has one bottle of Firefly Organics to giveaway.   Here’s how to enter:

Send an email to safemama.contestsATgmail.com with the subject “Firefly Giveaway” and include the following:

1. Include in your email, your full name AND address.

2. Tell us what you’re currently using and what you like or don’t like about it.

You must complete BOTH steps in order to qualify.  Don’t worry, we don’t sell or give your information to anyone.  Only to contact you if you are the winner.  One winner will be chosen at random.  We’ll accept drawings until Midnight, December 1st. Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents only.   Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of goods as we’re getting close to holiday crunch time.

Our friends at Fig+Sage are doing a great giveaway of two gorgeous sets of the new Alima Pure Gift Sets they just released for the holidays.  There are 3 sets in total and they all have really beautiful color palettes.  We reviewed Alima Pure not too long ago and we were both really pleased with the products and the natural feel of this line.  Alima released 3 Holiday Gift Sets that are beautifully complimentary without being overly bright.  Very subtle rich colors.

Head on over to Fig+Sage to enter to win two sets: Fig+Sage

Ok ladies.  I have a new *must have* line of products for you.  In a late night search I found LuSa Organics.  I immediately started drooling over their products.  Since I first tried a few delectable items I jumped back online and ordered $80 more.  LuSa Organics is a family run business, a very cute family with 2 adorable little kids and a whole slew of inspired and luxurious bath goodies that cater to women, mom and baby.

I am seriously addicted, and it’s been a while since I found a line that I really truly loved in that “buy my self a girly treat” sort of way.  First, I am totally committed to their unbelievable Organic Sugar Scrubs.  I tend to prefer sugar scrubs in general but this one is really amazing because it’s not a big sloppy scrub which I find doesn’t have as much “scrub” and more “goop”.  This one though is a tin packed with organic sugar so you really get your scrubs worth on one scoop.  They smell good, they scrub great and moisturize the toughest spots.  I attribute my now smooth arms and legs to this scrub.  Seriously, even my husband commented on my softness. I.  Love.  It.  The Mint scrub leaves you feeling clean and sparkly and the Lavender scrub is a soothing treat for the skin. This is my must-have bath treat.

Also? Lotion Bars. I have never used a lotion bar before but I was dying to try it.  I don’t know if this is the right way to use one but I take the whole thing out of its pretty tin and rub it all over feet and hands before bed.  I swear, he next morning I wake up with the softest feet and hands.  My lavender Lotion Bar is now a permanent fixture on my night stand.  These are great for traveling too, no trying to drag a big silly pump in your travel bag or risking a tube opening up accidentally.  Lotion Bar is my new staple beauty item.

Their fresh goats milk handcrafted soaps are all unbelievably fresh smelling.  I have a bar of Ylang Ylang and Lavender in my shower and I reach for it over all the others. It lathers perfectly and the smell… oh heaven.

I could go on for eternity, but I assure you all their products are divine.  They carry Belly Balms, Diaper Balms, Essential Oils… I promise you, you will not be disappointed.  LuSa Organics has a cool Soap of the Month Club too which would make a great gift (HINT HINT) and they have some lovely Gift Collections for New Mom and Baby.

Lovely SafeMama Winner! Ok not only do I absolutely adore this company and their products but everything they carry is totally natural, organic when possible and they use sustainable and local ingredients to craft their wonderful goodies. They also donate 10% of their profits to organizations generating positive global change.

Get it: LuSa Organics has so graciously offered our readers a special promotion.  When ordering from their website enter “LovelySafeMama Freebie” in the comments field on checkout (not the coupon box, comments field) and they’ll toss in a free gift with your order.  Thank you LuSa Organics!

The lovely ladies at one of our favorite organic beauty blogs Fig+Sage are doing a really great giveaway of Earth Mama Angel Baby Breastfeeding Support Kit. We’ve been long time lovers of all the Earth Mama Angel Baby products and their commitment to providing safe products to treat mom and baby. The Breastfeeding Kit they are giving away (in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!) contains Milkmaid Tea , Natural Nipple Butter, Booby Tubes, and Bosom Buddies (a $45 value of products!). You can enter until October 29th, 2008, check out how on their blog Fig+Sage.

Further, if you haven’t seen Fig+Sage yet it’s a great resource and full of eco-fabulous finds!

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