A Few Favorite Beauty Essentials

I'm not sure who actually came up with the original phrases "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" or "Beauty is only skin deep", but while these words may have rang true for me growing up, today I feel quite different.

Growing up in Hollywood, I have witnessed first hand the damaging and unhealthful consequences one can endure from the repeated use of toxic skincare and cosmetics that are routinely used to garner the industries picture perfect illusion of beauty. However, on the flip side, when ones inner beauty is nourished with the knowledge of the mind-body connection, and fortified with natural products - both internally and externally, only one thing can happen - they will resonate with their true spirit and essence - and magical, youthful things will happen, no matter what age you are.

Below are some of my favorite products that are free of toxic ingredients (free of sulfates, parabens, petroleum, pthalates, animal cruelty, etc.), which allow me to look my best outwardly, while feeling great inwardly – mind, body and spirit – feeling naturally beautiful.

Skin Care

Zatik (ladybug) Natural - Throughout time, the ‘Zatik’ (Ladybug) has represented a wide variety of positive beliefs – protection, love, spring beauty, regeneration and good fortune. Zatik Beauty Essentials generates all of these positive attributes for all those who want to nourish their body.

Co-owner and scientist Garik Mkrtumyan and his wife Ovsanna, have created a truly all-natural line of food-grade, nutrient dense, vegan personal care – skin, hair, bath and body products (facial, shampoo/conditioners, deodorant, soaps, etc.).

Zatik’s products are all made with USDA certified organic and non-GMO ingredients. The products are crafted in small batches using fresh raw ingredients and are produced at room temperature to retain the integrity of the nutrients, and essential minerals that exist in raw organic oils and botanical extracts.

While Zatik has been around since 2005, 2014 marked a milestone for them with a booth at the Natural Products Expo West, where they featured three new additions to the line – an African Body Oil (Baobab, Shea, Argan & more), Hair Food (oil blend to help condition frizzy hair, add shine and hydrate) and one of my favorites, a Face and Eye Serum, featuring Rosehips and Black Seed oil.

A few of my other favorite Zatik products include their Dragon’s Blood cleansing gel (full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties), which is great for acne/blemishes; Gingko and Pumpkin firming and balancing cream (herbs, phytonutrients-rich plant extracts, bio-minerals, oils and floral essential oils) that helps to hydrate and tighten maturing skin, and of course all of their handmade soaps – each one I try, I love.

All of Zatik’s products are certified organic, 100% vegan and produced at room temperature to ensure the highest quality ingredients by retaining the integrity of their inherent healing and nutritional benefits.

For more info visit: www.zatiknatural.com

Acure Organics – We also wanted to give a shout out once again to Acure organic skincare for another great product we discovered this past year – Sensitive Facial Cream with Argan oil and probiotics.

A few years ago a small discoloration mysteriously appeared on my face just under one eye. I had tried several different natural products, but hadn’t seen any real improvement. After using the Sensitive Facial Cream for a few months, I’m happy to report that now instead of friends and family trying to wipe away the small yellow spot – today no one even notices it. One of the other improvements I’ve noticed is that my skin has become much more robust.  Thanks Acure, I love it!

For more info visit: www.acureorganics.com

Make-up Essentials  

ZAO Make-Up - While one of our goals here at Eco Family News is to review products made in America, there are some lovely natural cosmetic lines made in different regions of the world as well. ZAO caught our eye with not only their organic ingredient list, but also with their attractive sustainable refillable bamboo containers, so we thought we would give this European company some love.

The first thing that charmed us into their booth was their beautiful bamboo product outer shell that is totally reusable/refillable. Imagine that … you purchase the product once and then moving forward, just buy the refill make-up that drops right into the bamboo case – powdered foundation, lipstick, eye-shadow, eye liner, etc.

This makes for a very sustainable footprint for the company.

Two key ingredients that are found in most of ZAO’s products – that offer unique benefits – are organic silica (an essential mineral that aids in the absorption and assimilation of other nutrients) and micronized silver powder (used as a natural preservative, as well as an antiseptic and antibacterial, protecting the skin and mucous membranes)

I’ve used their foundation powder and eyeliner pencil – both of which, look so natural and feel great. ZAO won two stars at the 2014 Slow Cosmetic Awards (best ranking for a makeup brand). I’ve had many compliments on my skin this past year.

For more info: www.ZAOmakeup.com

Zuzu Luxe is a division of Gabriel Cosmetics, who was one of the earlier companies providing natural make-up to the marketplace. I’ve actually used some of their products for over two decades. It wasn’t until last year after a make-up artist graced my eyes with a toxic-liquid-eyeliner (and they rebelled), that I came across ZuZu’s gentle and efficient liquid natural eyeliner. Most of the natural eyeliner pencils work well, but they seem to come off my eyes fairly quickly, and there are simply those times when one needs that all day lasting look. This product is one of the few that I have found that works well for my body. I sport the black pearl, rather than the plain black – just personal preference. Both lines – Zuzu Luxe and Gabriel Cosmetics – are made in the USA.

For more info: www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com

Hair Rescue

Generation Klean’s Gray Disappear – Generation Klean was created by Co-Founders, Jasmine Abedi and JD Larson as a result of a personal cancer scare and a void of being able to find natural (non-toxic) and effective cosmetic and hair products. They wanted to offer the consumer a chic and trendy line that was also non-toxic and efficient.

They have done just that ladies (and gents) of the (pre) mature gray society (made up society), Gray Disappear is like having a magic wand in your back pocket for those in-between weeks … you know what I talking about … that untimely root appearance happening before your next hair appointment. Gray Disappear definitely has you covered.

I came across this all-natural hair mascara, while visiting a friend’s eco salon in Encino, CA (Nori’s Eco Salon) and quickly bought up a bunch of them to give as holiday gifts to all my girlfriends. Everyone loved it!

For more info visit: www.generationklean.com

The Pampering Room

AromaMist™ model

SpaRoom™’ offers several different types of diffusers – AromaHarmony, which combines, aroma therapy, light and music (through a wireless Bluetooth capability)/$80; Aromalizer, which has a unique system that breaks down essential oil into small particles, creating a strong, longer lasting aroma experience - combined with a cold water mist that is then absorbed more effectively/$70; Aromafier/small portable/$14; and my personal office favorite, the AromaMist, which humidifies the air with a cool mist, colored lighting (optional) and aroma therapy. I totally enjoy being pampered while I am working, and appreciate the humidity during the winter months (when the heat is on). This unit would also be great in any environment for both, pampering or medicinal benefits (child or adult). One water fill lasts up to three hours and the diffuser has a built-in safety shut off in the event one forgets to turn it off. While I have last year’s model, I’m told that all new orders of the AromaMist will have two option settings – the 3-hour continuous dispersing, or a 6-hour intermittent dispersing feature.

Other fun products found at the SpaRoom™ are a personal aromatherapy pen, a small selection of organic/wild grown 100% essential oils and iScentials, which are six specially-blended essential oil roll-on sticks – calming, refreshing, breathe, flex and rest.

For more info visit: www.sparoom.com

Spark Naturals – Spark Naturals’ Essential Oil product line is made up of oils from just about every corner of the world. Their lavender comes from France, Eucalyptus from Australia, Lemon oil is sourced from Italy, and their Wild Orange is harvested in the Dominican Republic – to name just a few. Spark’s citrus fruit essential oils are 100% cold pressed, while their other essential oils are typically 100% steam distilled and they have developed exclusive agreements with the farmers, distilleries and cold press houses to insure the highest quality of raw material (at affordable prices).

Spark Naturals offers 100% pure essential oils, blends of oils, accessories to create your own roll-on blends (in glass bottles), droppers, beeswax (for candles), gel caps for internal use, as well as an assortment of unique diffusers, including some of my favorite SpaRoom™ models.

For more info visit: www.sparknaturals.com

For more information about the toxic effects of body and skin care visit Environmental Working Group (EWG - a non-profit organization) who created a Skin Deep database as a way to combat the serious deficiencies in cosmetics regulation - learn more about Top Tips for Safer Products at www.ewg.org.

We discovered some of the products reviewed above at the Natural Products Expo 2014.