Natural products for your face and skin

Eating organically and as chemically free as possible has been around for years but it’s only recently that the beauty market has turned its attentions to chemical free products. With many beauty products ingredients lists reading like a science experiment, there is a wave of natural and organic products sweeping the market. Belle set out to find the best organic and natural replacements for everyday beauty.

MAKE UP

Many people are seeing the benefits of mineral foundation; my favourite is Rock Face Minerals (£13). Free from parabens, bismuth and petroleum they are just simply made from crushed minerals and mica, preventing clogging pores and breakouts. It feels much lighter on your skin than regular foundation whilst giving a flawless finish. The eyeshadows from Rock Face were highly commended in the Natural Health magazine beauty awards 2010 with 25 colours to choose from.

To add some colour to cheeks with Bare Escentuals mineral blush (£17) available in 14 different shades adding a soft radiant glow for any skin colours. They look natural on the skin, last all day and are extremely easy to apply.

For eyes you can’t go wrong with Green People certified organic mascara (£13.99). Made without mercury, formaldehyde, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates or synthetic colorants it’s the purest mascara you can find.

Suitable for even the most sensitive eyes Natorigin’s pencil eyeliner (£6.75) recently won the award for best new natural beauty product at the Natural and Organic Awards 2010. All you would expect from a high quality pencil eyeliner with the added bonus of containing shea butter that has natural soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

SKIN CARE

Soil Association Certified, Essential Care Lemon and Tea Tree Facial Wash (£14) is another award winner, 70% organic and free from toxic chemicals, artificial fragrance and colour. Great for oily or combination skin and the treatment of ache it has mild antiseptic properties.

Angela Langford’s Perfect Pores (£26.55) is a complete wonder product for improving the look of your skin. It plumps with the help of flower extracts, reduces pores with rose petals and juniper and protects skin from wrinkles with rosehip and kiwi; all whilst being  natural and homemade.

Paraben, fragrance and preservative free All Day Protection Cream by Art Deco (£36.70) is packed full of essential oils to nourish and protect, combats the signs of premature skin aging and improves elasticity.

Enriched with certified organic Amazon rainforest ingredients AmaZene mango and murumuru body scrub (£11.95) smells so fruity you almost want to drink it.

We all know that the sun can be damaging but a fake tan doesn’t have to be. BeauBronz is a luxurious paraben-free tanning solution that contains organic and  natural ingredients. Not only is it free from chemicals but also the horrible smell associated with fake tan. The Advanced Medium Bronzing Tanning Cream 4 (£27) will give you a gorgeous colour, streak-free!

Melvita organically certified extra rich hand cream (£15) is luxuriously smooth and creamy, relieving the driest and most damaged hands.

For the ultimate in relaxing baths try Abahna Exquisite Bathing Set (£150) containing unscented bath foam, Himalyan bath salts and bath massage oil ready to be mixed with any of the eight essential oils made from the finest essential extracts included in the set. Create a scent to fit your mood using bergamot, cedarwood, eucalyptus, fennel, geranium, grapefruit, lavender and sweet orange.

HAIR

A natural alternative to shaving or waxing, wax sugaring is said to be less painful than waxing, less keep up than shaving and lasts for up to eight weeks. Moom organic sugaring introductory kit (£14.99) contains everything you need to start naturally removing hair and natural ingredients condition the skin while you remove unwanted hair.

Daniel Field develops the worlds first long lasting hair colouring range with no peroxide or ammonia. His range of natural water colours (£7.25) are available in over 30 shades, won’t damage your hair like regular hair dyes but will give your hair glorious colour and shine.

Madara have a range of Eco certified shampoo and conditioners (£9.90 each) that nourish, protect and prevents breaking. Enriched with all natural goodness they will leave you hair smelling fresh like newly cut grass.

by Rachel Gardner

[picture credits: paulcoxphotography; Evan Romine]