Learn about how major loopholes in U.S. federal law allow the $50 billion beauty industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing, no monitoring of health effects and inadequate labeling requirements—making cosmetics among the least-regulated consumer products on the market. So take control of your health and that of your loved ones by becoming an educated consumer. Make a point to find out what kinds of ingredients you should avoid in your personal care.

Learn more at The Story Of Stuff.

Bella Floria

Founded by Emelyn Rodriguez, a former print journalist and a practicing attorney, Bella Floria Organics is foremost a consumer service site, offering only approved brands and product lines that are truly organic and natural. With widespread consumer confusion about products claiming to be “organic” and “natural,” (and a recent lawsuit by the California Attorney General against retailers and manufacturers whose “organic and natural products” tested positive for carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane), Emelyn created Bella Floria Organics to provide consumers with a resource that does the important research that an average consumer may find too difficult or time-consuming. Requiring a full ingredient listing from each manufacturer, Emelyn personally tests each product and reviews each ingredient with the cosmetics safety database, and when necessary, she consults independent medical and scientific experts about safety and purity. The site will also soon feature Bella Floria Pure Living Magazine, a source of truthful consumer information, news, and green living tips.

Future Natural

“We’ve become really vigilant about what we put in our bodies – now you can be equally vigilant about what you put on it.” A very powerful statement from Emma Pezzack, founder and owner of Futurenatural. As trained makeup artist who has worked as a part of nearly all facets of the fashion and beauty business, Emma’s experience has taken her through many exciting rolls from fashion editorial, TV commercials and print advertising to marketing and sales for beauty companies such as Max Factor, (now Smashbox), Schwarzkopf and Revlon. After experiencing and working with all that goes into putting a beauty product out into the market and understanding what kinds of ingredients are included in most conventional formulae, she decided it was time to make a difference in beauty. Futurenatural’s goal is to cut through the clutter with a very simple and compelling position that makes it easy for you to purchase organic and natural beauty products. Though not all of Futurenatural products are 100% organic or natural, and not all of them use eco packaging, at Futurenatural they believe that doing something is better than doing nothing, and they support companies that are making the effort to eliminate toxic ingredients and processes.

Organic Beauty Now

Everyone at Organic Beauty Now has always believed in using organic and all-natural beauty products. So, when they made the commitment to carry the best all-natural and organic beauty products at their online store, they also decided to test how they stacked up against conventional brands. It’s just another way to make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for. Lastly, it is pretty obvious how hard it can be to choose things like makeup online. How do you really know if that foundation matches your skin tone or if that shade of lipstick will look right on you? So, whenever possible, Organic Beauty Now will send you samples, color sheets, and product brochures to help you decide. Plus, if you’re ever unsatisfied for any reason with anything you order from Organic Beauty Now, you can return it free, no questions asked.

Saffron Rouge

Founded in 2003 by Kirstin Binder, Saffron Rouge opened its doors in Ontario, Canada specifically for the organically-minded consumer. A true herbalist at heart, Kirstin has enjoyed her studies and background in Phytotherapy (herbal medicine), which she studied at the College of Phytotherapy (a private university in England). After the birth of her 2nd child, Saffron, her knowledge and passion for plants, organics, and the environment led to the creation of Saffron Rouge. With the help of her team of experts, she evaluates every ingredient in every product to make sure they are pure. Kirstin only support companies that promote fair-trade practices, certified organic farming, and biodynamic agriculture.

Spirit Beauty Lounge

Founded by Spirit Demerson, Spirit Beauty Lounge believes that “Beauty Is As Beauty Does”. An artist, activist and beauty school dropout, Spirit Demerson has spent many years testing, mixing, analyzing and searching for effective organic beauty products and ingredients. Frustrated by the less-than-luxurious organic beauty selection available at natural foods markets and misleading labels at drugstores, she became an expert, spending hours obsessively researching ingredients, often mixing up batches of lotions and potions in her kitchen. Reading labels and memorizing an ever growing list of ingredients to avoid can be overwhelming. Spiritbeautylounge.com is a place where you can shop safe, knowing the research has been done for you! All of their organic and sustainable products come from companies who have clearly defined humane, ethical, and environmental policies ensuring the care of our planet and its inhabitants!

The Nature Of Beauty

Terri Bly is the founder and president of The Nature of Beauty, LTD, a premier retailer of the top natural and organic beauty products from around the world. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and the mother of two gorgeous little girls. Currently, she resides with her family in Minnesota, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of ingredients and a knack for sourcing incredible products that actually work. The Nature of Beauty was created out of a desire to educate the consumer about the realities of the beauty and personal care products industry, and to provide the consumer with healthy, beautiful, high-performing alternatives. Terri is always sure to read every label, research every ingredient, and maintain regular contact with the manufacturers to ensure their business practices and values are fully aligned with The Nature of Beauty’s standards.

Here are some of my favorites for Spring that I know you will love:

ZOYA has a new 2010 spring collection! REVERIE is certainly a crowd pleaser! These super fun metallic shades give your nails a boost of color while showing off a hot metallic finish.

PRITI NYC is sure to make you and your nails pop with a serious splash of color. Have fun with Priti’s new Spring collection with colors like (Match image from left to right) Fishbone Cactus, Festival Gitana, Bristol Beauty, Kingfisher Daisy, Devil’s Fig, and Snapdragon.

SPARITUAL nail colors have some gorgeous shades that are a bit deeper and make for a great neutral palette. Two of my absolute favorites are Mystic and Hypnotic.

Zoya Nail Color
Known for their dramatic selection of colors, Zoya has some amazing neon lacquers that are a must for any teenager or adult. Sticking with with the eighties trend, these colors have the ability to energize your winter look.

SPARITUAL
Mystic by SPARITUAL is one of my new favorite shades, a greyish putty with a lavendar undertone. Another new favorite shown here is Hypnotic, a rich metallic brown black that really catches the eye. I just used this color for a spring fashion shoot for Marie Claire Magazine. The photographer and editor were in LOVE with this color.

Priti NYC
Matte colors are a new trend that is becoming all the rage. Japanese Rose is a fantastic red that has a lot of depth that offers a chic look with a punch.

Sheswai Lacquer
Beautiful packaging and extraordinary colors, Sheswai has created my favorite all around nude appropriately named “Nice”. The name says it all.

Nail colors are always fun, so have a blast shopping these incredible brands and colors!

FACE – Be sure to exfoliate twice a week to keep the skin glowing, refreshed and clean from dead skin cells that can leave the skin congested and dull. By exfoliating on a regular basis, you are preparing your skin for effective absorption of the serums and moisturizers that you like to use.

An amazing product that does double duty when is comes to cleansing and exfoliating the skin is The Organic Pharmacy Flower Petal Deep Cleanser & Exfoliating Mask. Oats and milk (rich in lactic acid) gently exfoliate without abrasion whilst Lavender and Chamomile soothe inflamed skin. Oats and Clay bind with impurities and remove them deep from within the pores, while Rose works to calm and purify the skin.

To give your skin an extra boost of moisture during the cold and dry months of the year, add 2 -3 drops of Primavera Organic Rosehip Oil to your moisturizer. One of the best anti-aging oils, Rose Hip Oil reduces fine lines by promoting the regeneration and restructuring of skin cells. It reduces scarring by softening the skin and diminishes the appearance of broken capillaries.

Another important tip to remember is that the sun doesn’t go away just because the season has changed! The sun combined with cold, windy and dry weather takes its toll on our skin, so don’t forget to keep sunscreen as part of your daily beauty routine. After you have applied your moisturizer, apply a think layer of Marie-Veronique Organics Crème de Jour, SPF 30 to keep your skin hydrated, healthy and protected.

BODY – Slough off dead skin cells and reveal skin that is ready to drink up much needed moisture with a DIY body scrub that you can mix and enjoy at home.

Once a week you can jump in the shower with your own DIY Body Scrub: Mix 2 cups of raw natural sugar with 1/4 of a cup of whipped honey and a 1/2 cup of either Olive or Jojoba oil. If you would like to add a bit of aroma to your scrub you can add 2 to 3 drops of your favorite organic aromatherapy oil – One of my favorites is Geranium…

Once your skin is scrubbed clean and rinsed, lock in moisture by applying Kaeline 100% Pure Argan Oil to damp skin that has been pat dry with a towel. Argan oil contains an unusually high concentration of essential fatty acids and vitamin E. Maintaining the hydration of the skin, these two important components are what keep skin hydrated and protected from future moisture loss and helps to prevent wrinkles and premature aging.

HANDS – After a warm shower I like to apply Organic Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to my hands and cuticles and let it soak in before I apply a protective hand cream. This will keep your skin deeply hydrated and cuticles soft.

A great protective and repairing hand cream that I like to use is Weleda Sea Buckhorn Hand Cream. This fast absorbing formula heals chapped hands and dry nails, leaving them silky soft, not oily or greasy.

Hair – Take the time to give your hair a weekly deep treatment. Weather you apply a deep conditioner or repairing oil, be sure to monitor the moisture in your hair to safe guard your hair from breakage, frizz and fly-aways.

Apply Rare Elements El’ Serum as an overnight leave in treatment for hair. Rare Elements El’ Serum has been called the “miracle” serum due to its ability to instantly repair the condition and SHINE of dull, lifeless hair. Every drop holds the secret to rebuilding and promoting stronger, healthier hair growth, dramatically improving the integrity of each strand by replenishing vital nutrients and moisture that are lost to everyday styling and chemical treatments.

During the Fall and Winter seasons I like to make sure that I am getting good nourishment from a balanced diet, and consuming daily doses of Flaxseed Oil to keep my body moisturized from the inside out. Be sure to drink lots of water and enjoy at least two to three cups of organic green tea each day. Cheers to looking and feeling gorgeous during the Fall and Winter Seasons!

One of my favorite maintenance rituals is applying raw organic coconut oil to my hands after I shower everyday. This amazing oil absorbs readily into the skin and works to heal, repair and protect by delivering intense hydration and preventing free-radical damage, limiting sun spots and premature aging that excessive sun exposure can cause.

In terms of hand creams I tend to like a more oilier version such as Weleda’s Skin Food for use during my personal time, however when working I need to use a cream that is a bit lighter so I won’t have my brushes slipping through my hands. For this use I like Suzanne Aux Bains Nourishing Hand Cream.

A few other favorites are Amala Jasmine Hydrating Hand Cream, and Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream.

TOLUENE causes rapid, shallow breathing, chemical pneumonia, blurred vision, dry, cracked skin, and drowsiness. Also effects the kidneys and the nervous system, and may also cause an exaggerated feeling of well-being, headache, staggering tremors, and convulsions.

FORMALDEHYDE is a strong allergen and irritant and is also a known carcinogen. It increases airway resistance when inhaled, probably because of local irritation and release of inflammatory mediators. Additionally, formaldehyde is a strong contact allergen.

DIBUTYL PHTHALATE (DBP) is linked to reproduction system problems and underdeveloped genitals in newborn boys.

The following are some of the safest nail polish brands on the market that are all free from Toluene, DBP and Formaldehyde, and will make you definitely want to BYOP – Bringing Your Own Polish the next time you head to the nail salon:

ZOYA

ZOYA Nail Polish has been awarded as the longest wearing natural nail polish by an independent panel in Women’s Health Magazine, and offers over 300 gorgeous nail polish colors to choose from, plus 4 seasonal collections of nail polish every year.

SPARITUAL

SPARITUAL nail lacquers feature vegan ingredients from around the world, these formulas include many specially sourced and selected plant essences that are wildcrafted OR organic. The formulations are naturally colored and free of synthetic dyes. I love SpaRitual because they are constantly monitoring sustainability issues as they strive to be on the cutting edge of environmental awareness.

Priti Nail Laquer

Priti polish is fast drying, chip resistant, and has been around since 2005. This brand also manufactures their own completely biodegradable soy nail polish remover, making manicure and pedicures safe for women, girls and expecting mothers.

Peacekeeper

Peacekeeper nail polish has been evaluated by the Environmental Working Group as the Safest Paint-Based Natural Nail Polish. These vegan formulas are long lasting, nontoxic, and made with natural ingredients. Nearly all polishes feature Botanical Argan Oil which is rich in amino acids.

Suncoat Nail Polish

Suncoat’s water-based nail polish has been recognized and honored for the second consecutive year at the Canadian Health Food Association Expo, winning the Silver medals of Alive Awards of Excellence in 2004 and 2005.

Dr.’s Remedy Enriched Nail Polish

Dr. Remedy nail polish is the only over the counter enriched polish, created by doctors, designed to be free from harmful toxins. These polishes are uniquely infused with ingredients, such as tea tree oil and garlic bulb extract, which are naturally occurring anti-fungal, antibacterial, and healthier for the nail.

Sula Nail Colour

Sula has four vibrant and playful water-based nail colors that are great for both short-term wear (you can peel it off very easily without any harm to your nails) and long-term wear (all you have to do is add a top coat for longer lasting color).