Now that it's getting hotter outside, it's hard not to want tan, glowing skin. But since we're long past the days of dousing ourselves with baby oil and soaking up the sun, we picked out three exceptional sunless tanners that won't leave you orange or blotchy. Check them out in our video now.
Here's a fatty that won't get you in any trouble. I'm talking essential fatty acids, which are nourishing for the skin, and incidentally, found in hemp seed oil, a main ingredient of Nature's Gate Hemp Velvet Moisture Body Wash ($6). Reader Hottpink sung the praises of this moisturizing cleanser, and here's what she had to say:
I was on the hunt for a body wash that was eco- and animal-friendly, and thought I would give this a try after spying it at a Whole Foods Body. Overall, I am really pleased with this body wash. It has a slightly earthy scent which is not overpowering at all, and it really moisturizes my dry skin. Unlike some body washes, this rinses away clean and doesn't leave that "film" feeling. It doesn't suds up as much as bar soap, but I don't mind. I have even used it to shave when I ran out of shaving cream. Another plus: it lasts a long time!
Are you impressed with certain eco-friendly products you've recently tried? We want to know about it, even if the results have been less than stellar. Our Product Reviews section is the place to go for all things beauty. We look forward to reading your opinions each day, and who knows? Perhaps you'll be the next featured reviewer.
I made the switch to all-natural shampoo and conditioner a few years back. Not only do I like the fact that they're made with "a perfectly balanced blend of botanicals," as the bottle states, but I also like that they're made without animal testing. As I was washing my hair the other day, I went to pour some Nature's Gate Herbal Conditioner in my palm, and I saw Quaternium-87 in the list of ingredients. To me that sounds more like a show on the SciFi channel canceled after one episode than a "botanical" ingredient to me.
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Taking care of yourself, watching what you eat and exercising, you might be a little more sensitive about what you put on your body. While the myth that aluminum in deodorant causes breast cancer has been debunked, you might not feel comfortable with using antiperspirants that contain aluminum since they actually prevent you from sweating.
The aluminum in antiperspirants is drawn into the cells of your dermis (the middle layer of your skin), and it squeezes your sweat gland ducts closed, trapping sweat, preventing you from perspiring. It is not the sweat that creates odor, but the bacteria on your skin and the sweat combined. There are some important days when I can't avoid antiperspirants, but other days I like to just use deodorant. It seems more natural.
I have tried many aluminum-free deodorants and here are some that I have liked.
Is there an aluminum free deodorant out there that you like? Let me know in the comment section below.
If you're like me, you can spend hours in a health food store, perusing through the aisles of natural snack foods, fresh produce, and organic dairy products.
Once I get to the beauty section - forget it. I love to look at all the brands of lotions, shampoos, conditioners, lip balms, make-up, and soaps. I read all the labels and smell everything.
The amazingly rich scent is what drew me to Nature's Gate products, and it's what had me going back to try more. My first "taste" was of the Shampoos and Conditioners. The Herbal scent for All Hair Types was a staple in my shower for many years. Then I switched to Chamomile for its unforgettable calming effects.
Since I loved their hair care products, I had to try their lotions too. I'm sorry to say that although the Herbal lotion made with aloe vera and organic jojoba oil smells wonderful, the moisturizing effects didn't last as long as I hoped. I think it might be my personal preference though, like when I buy all-natural crackers and I wish they had more flavor. Everyone's hair and skin have different needs and you may LOVE Nature's Gate lotions.
Nature's Gate also has a newer line of organic hair care, baby care, lotions, soaps, and deodorants. They make anti-aging products, whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, sunscreen, and self-tanners. If you're wondering, they also have a line for acne treatment.
What I love most about Nature's Gate products is that they are ecologically safe, environmentally friendly, and cruelty-free. All their products are packaged in recyclable containers and/or are made out of recycled materials. I know that buying these products supports a company that supports the Earth and all its inhabitants.
Fit's Tips: If you can't find Nature's Gate products at your local health food store, you can order from the Nature's Gate website.
I am something of a lip balm addict, but while I could sing its praises for days on end, there's one thing I don't like about lip balm. Almost all of the standard offerings on the market contain petroleum, which is not only eco-unfriendly but also not something you really want in your mouth. Fortunately, there are plenty of great petroleum-free lip balms on the market nowadays that work just as well using other more natural oils. Here are some of my favorites.
Miessence Jaffa Lip Balm, $8.95, available here. This yummy orange- and vanilla-flavored balm uses cocoa butter, safflower, and avocado oils in an easy-to-squeeze tube.
Hamadi Lip Balm, $10, available here. This classy balm soothes with shea butter, avocado oil, and jojoba oil, while tea tree oil acts as a toner.
Nature's Gate Organics Neroli Orange & Chocolate Mint Lip Balm , $3.50, available here. This cute little tin contains a formula that uses castor seed oil, beeswax, apricot kernel oil, and several other certified organic ingredients.
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