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3 Free Natural Beauty Smartphone Apps

For the most part, the natural beauty world is pretty low-tech. But I’ve been keeping an eye out for some share-worthy smartphone apps, and today I have three to share! Do you have a go-to smartphone app for natural and organic beauty? —Aleigh

O&N Collective

In addition to a bunch of other features (like an in-app store that’s supposed to launch soon), this brand new app’s Toxins List tool offers a pretty comprehensive list of ingredients to avoid in both personal care products and household products. Overwhelmed by trying to keep track of the icky ingredients you want to stay away from? Just break out your smartphone and check the Toxins List. You’ll find common uses for each ingredient and their related concerns—making it much easier for you to decide on the spot if a product contains ingredients you can live with, or if you should leave it on the shelf. Available for iPhone or Android.

Organic Spa Skin Guide

The app from Organic Spa magazine, this Skin Guide offers a massive list of natural and organic cosmetics companies. It hasn’t been updated for 2012, but it’s still a great way to discover new natural and organic companies and their product lines. You can also mark your favorites for easy reference. This one seems to only be available for iPhone.

Organic Beauty

If you’re a DIYer, snap up this app for tons of skincare recipes, and even a few health remedies, like a headache fix with ginger juice—straight from your smartphone. Recipes are easy to share via email, Facebook, and Twitter. Download for iPhone.

This post was shared May 17, 2012 under Baby, Body, Hair, Makeup, Men, Skin, tagged , , , and has 1 comment

Beauty Obsession: SkinnySkinny Dry Shampoo

I have a love/hate relationship with dry shampoo. I love it for its practicality (it helps me follow Julie’s rule to wash my hair only twice or three times a week), and because it’s awesome for travel. But I’ve had a hard time finding a dry shampoo that doesn’t smell too floral or like baby powder (blech!).

Until, that is, I found the organic dry shampoos from SkinnySkinny. When I discovered that the packaging is entirely eco-friendly (the labels are biodegradable, the paper tubes are recyclable, and SkinnySkinny is a 100% carbon-neutral company), I couldn’t wait to give it a try.

What I tried: Black Pepper & Rose Organic Dry Shampoo by SkinnySkinny, $32*

First impressions: It smells delicious, in a unisex way. Slightly peppery (in a great way), only a little bit rose-y. SkinnySkinny also has Grapefruit & Cardamom, Lavender & Rosemary, and Jasmine versions—all scents I think I’d enjoy. And the ingredients list makes me happy:

Cornstarch*, brown rice powder*, white clay, horsetail powder*, baking soda, orris root powder*, essential oils *certified organic 100% Vegan

What caught me by surprise: Before I switched to natural shampoo and conditioner, I had a big problem with oily hair. I had to wash my hair every day to avoid a mess of greasy strands on my head. What I discovered when I switched was that my scalp had been over-producing oil to compensate for being stripped of moisture by my harsh synthetic shampoos. Now that my scalp has settled into a natural routine, I can go a lot longer in between shampoos—but I still have a tendency to greasy hair on my non-washing days. Just a tiny bit of this dry shampoo at my roots gives me a bit of volume and keeps my hair fresh—it really doesn’t take much.

Bonus: Without fail, people tell me I smell good when I use it. That’s never happened with any other dry shampoo I’ve tried.

What do you look for in a dry shampoo? Do you have a favorite?

—Aleigh

*Disclosure: This sample was sent to me for review, but I only write about the products that I think are truly worthy of being shared with you. View my full disclosure here.

(Image via SkinnySkinny)

This post was shared April 25, 2012 under Hair, Men, tagged , , , , and has no comments

Sustainable (and natural) Beauty

My latest story for Breathe magazine is out, and it features six natural beauty companies that take their commitment to Mother Nature very seriously. (Of course, I love that.)

Here’s a little nugget from the story: Did you know the founder of Aveda sold the company to Estee Lauder and created a new, ultra-sustainable beauty company? Read the story to find out which one. —Aleigh

This post was shared March 26, 2012 under Body, Hair, Makeup, Men, Skin, tagged , , and has no comments

Link Love Friday: You Rock

This week, I had a blast answering your questions about laser hair removal! I’d love to turn this “Your Questions Answered” idea into a regular feature, so if you’ve got questions about other things, ask away! Facials? Natural mani/pedis? Hair treatments? What do you want to know? (And by the way, I’ve had this image from Lululemon bookmarked for months, waiting for just the right post…and I think a Friday post is perfect. Isn’t it awesome?)

Here’s what I’m reading+enjoying this week:

Happy Friday! What have you been reading+enjoying this week? —Aleigh

(Image via Lululemon)

This post was shared March 23, 2012 under Baby, Body, Hair, Makeup, Men, Skin, 1 comment

The Beauty of Spring Flower Power

Evidence of spring is all around in Charlotte—my daffodils have been blooming for weeks! But all of those newly-blooming flowers are so much more powerful than just eye candy. They’ve also been distilled into ingredients for your skincare products. Here’s a breakdown of the flowers that end up in your natural cosmetics…and where you can find them.

Honeysuckle. Widely used for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, honeysuckle heals blemishes and soothes skin, but it also smells great and works as a natural preservative. Find it in: John Masters Evening Primrose Shampoo ($16), Kimberly Sayer Contouring & Slimming Body Lotion ($36)

Marigold. Also known as calendula, marigold has healing, soothing properties, and it’s a great addition to a gentle cleanser. Find it in: Pangea Organics Egyptian Calendula and Blood Orange Cleanser ($28), Pai Comfrey & Calendula Calming Body Cream ($38)

Geranium. With its invigorating freshness, geranium helps boost circulation and improve skin’s elasticity. Find it in: Kahina Giving Beauty Antioxidant Mask ($62), Patyka Absolis Geranium Body Cream ($60)

Evening Primrose. Calming and moisturizing, evening primrose is a favorite for its fatty acids, which encourage cell renewal and help prevent aging. Find it in: Nordic Naturals Omega Woman Evening Primrose Blend ($24.95), Acure Organics Radical Age Reversal Cream ($29.99)

Hibiscus. The huge flowers of the hibiscus are gorgeous (and a true sign of warmer weather), but their essential oils also make a great moisturizer and help maintain a healthy scalp. Find it in: Suki Eye Lift Cellular Renewal Cream ($60.95), Pure & True Passion Fruit & Hibiscus Masque & Scrub ($38)

Linden Blossom. The linden flower’s delicate blooms are great skin soothers and make for soft, touchable skin. Find it in: ilike Linden & Marigold Rejuvenating Treatment ($64), Tata Harper Rebuilding Moisturizer ($100)

Happy almost spring! —Aleigh

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This post was shared March 6, 2012 under Baby, Body, Hair, Makeup, Men, Skin, tagged , , and has no comments