2011 Best of Natural Beauty Awards Winners

Cleansers
Weleda Gentle Cleansing Milk

This creamy cleanser gives you a deep clean while leaving your skin soft, thanks to Biodynamic iris root (a rejuvenating and moisturize-retaining herb), jojoba oil, and witch hazel. Great for all skin types.

Organique by Himalaya Neem and Turmeric Face Wash

Especially great for acne and oily skin, this soap-free face wash leaves skin feeling clean and toned. Organic neem and turmeric, a classic herbal combination in India, help soften and clarify the complexion naturally.

Moisturisers
Derma E Vitamin A and Green Tea Advanced Wrinkle Treatment Créme

This luxuriant, thick créme quenches dry skin without feeling greasy. Vitamin A and antioxidant-rich green tea help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and also enhance the skin’s cell renewal.

Home Health Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Cream with Restorative Hydration Complex

Capture the ultra-hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid with this soothing cream that also features green tea extract, grape seed oil, vitamins, and skin-rejuvenating herbs.

Toners and Scrubs
Pangea Organics French Rosemary & Sweet Orange Facial Toner

We love the scent of this hydrating toner, ideal for dry or mature skin. Use in between cleansing and moisturizing for best results.

Emerita Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub

If you haven’t tried Emerita, you (and your skin) are in for a treat. This skin-renewing scrub is made with botanicals, antioxidants, and fragments of shells and minerals.

Serums
Reviva Labs Collagen Serum

This silky serum boasts a hefty amount of soluble collagen that penetrates almost instantly for a soft, smooth complexion. Continued use helps ease fine lines, diminish wrinkles, and improve skin texture.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Apple Brightening Serum

Featuring niacinamide, peptides, and PhytoCellTec Apple Stem Cells—a breakthrough technology that triggers skin’s regeneration process—this unique serum helps reduce age spots, even skin tone, and repair UV damage

Mask
Juice Beauty Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask

Get your glow on with this concoction of natural ingredients including organic lemon and grape juices, olive oil, raw cane sugar, honey, geranium, and carrot seed. Revives dull skin instantly.

Annemarie Borlind Anti-Stress Mask

Fatigue and stress can show on your skin. Revive tired, stressed-out skin with this rejuvenating mask featuring hyaluronic acid and carrot protein. Great for all skin types.

Eye Care
Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Age Defying Eye Cream

This secret behind this hydrating eye cream is sea buckthorn, a berry naturally rich in omega fats and antioxidants. The cream, which also has pumpkin, helps firm skin around the eyes and lessen fine lines.
 
Beauty Without Cruelty Green Tea Nourishing Eye Gel

This light gel feels great going on and revives tired, puffy eyes with the help of green tea, grapeseed, and ginkgo. Designed to help reduce fine lines and protect against signs of aging and perfect for all ages.

Shampoo and Conditioner
Hugo Naturals Vanilla and Sweet Orange Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

Some volumizing products can make your hair dry, but not these. With the dreamy scents of vanilla and sweet orange, this shampoo and conditioner boost volume while leaving hair soft.
 
Nature’s Gate Pomegranate Sunflower Hair Defense Shampoo & Conditioner

Antioxidant power from pomegranate, sunflower, and red tea leaf help keep colored hair vibrant, shiny, moisturized, and fade-resistant. Other nourishing ingredients include panthenol, soy protein, borage flower seed oil, and vitamins C and E.

Hair Care
John Masters Organics Bourbon Vanilla & Tangerine Hair Texturizer

Made with organic ingredients including castor oil, tangerine oil, glycerin, vitamins C and E, and shea butter, this lovely scented texturizer defines and boosts hair’s shine
 
Earth Science Olive & Avocado Conditioning Hair Masque

Feed thirsty, damaged hair with this intensive conditioner. Packed with nourishing ingredients including olive, avocado, soy protein, jojoba oil, and nettle.

Bath
Aura Cacia Heart Song Natural Aromatherapy Bubble Bath

We love the romantic rose scent of this bubble bath, made with 100% essential oils including lavender, rosewood, and geranium.

EO Balance Bath Salts Rose Geranium & Citrus Bath Salts

Soak in the harmonizing effects of rose geranium and revitalizing citrus essential oils—the perfect antidote to stress. Made with mineral-rich Himalayan salt crystals and California sea salts.

Shower Gel
Sonoma Soap Company First Crush Bath & Shower Gel

Escape to the vineyards of Sonoma in your shower with the intoxicating scent of this moisturizing body wash. Features organic grape seed, red raspberry, and green apple extracts. Leaves skin feeling soft and nourished.

Earthly Elements Hydrating Body Wash in Moroccan Vanilla

Pre- and probiotics, along with hydrating extracts and omega-3 fats, give this revitalizing body wash an edge. The exotic vanilla scent and rich lather leave you feeling pampered. A keepsake charm adorns each bottle.

Bodycare
Jason Apricot Pure & Natural Hand & Body Lotion

Protect and soften your skin the natural way with this soothing hand and body lotion. The delicate scents of apricot and almond do not compete with other scents or perfumes you may be wearing.

Desert Essence Organics Bulgarian Lavender Hand & Body Lotion

Deeply moisturizing, this rich, nongreasy lotion is perfect for everyday use. The lavender scent is uplifting during the day and relaxing at night. Perfect for extra-dry skin.

Toothpaste
Burt’s Bees Multicare Toothpaste (with Fluoride)

We love the fresh taste and deep-clean feel of this toothpaste. It also boasts the addition of cranberry, which has been shown to help prevent bacteria from sticking to teeth so they can’t cause gingivitis.

Tom’s of Maine Fluoride-Free Sensitive Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth

The mineral potassium nitrate is added to help protect sensitive teeth from pain from a variety of causes, including hot or cold. Continued use helps strengthen teeth and provides even more protection against sensitivity.

Source : Better Nutrition

Review : Face Q Eye Mask with Ear Lobes

Product Description
Eye mask that helps to hydrate and moisturise tender skin around eye zone. Reduces fine lines and has lifting effect with attached ear lobes.
FaceQ Elasticity-boost Eye Mask is a multi-functional mask which offers the users the greatest moisturizing power. You may feel the enhanced elasticity and moist content of the skin of the eye area on which the wrinkles will be faded and the skin will be tightened after a long application.

The multi-functional eye mask would never neglect the skin area between the eyes and nose. It leaves your skin a radiant, shining and refreshed condition. You can boast a pair of appealing eyes afterwards.

Once in a while, products that are ingenious get a nod of approval from me. This FaceQ eye mask falls into this category. I like everything about it, from the kawaii packaging, to the thoughtfulness of the inventor of having something that covers all around the eyes. The whole experience of using it has been pampering.

It comes in 5 individual sheets in a box which I got in Taiwan. Face Q is just such a cute brand, don't you find the girl who winks, so adorable? It reminds me vaguely of the female lead in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, a Korean drama that I have been watching recently.

The material is thin and cotton-like and feels soft and comfortable. Exactly like what the packaging shows, its a patch with beautiful feminine cutting around it that covers the sides of the eyes (where crow feets usually gather ), the eyelids ( where puffiness usually occurs ) and inbetween the eyes.
The inventor thought of everything around the eyes. And it comes with ear hooks! So hook it up, and you can lie on the bed comfortably like doing an eye mask spa. Even with the ear hooks on, it does not feel awkward, tight or uncomfortable, mainly due to the soft material, unlike the Lovemore masks, where you feel that you are stretching the mask to its peak.
However, this FaceQ eye mask has a floral perfume scent which I rather do without.

The eye area feels rested and comfortable after each session but it did nothing much to my undereye circles or eyebags.

Source : koreabb , Sasa

Review : FaceQ Red Pomegranate + Co Q10 Mask

Product Description
Face Q Red Pomergranate + Co Q10 Mask Mask is made from 100% wood pulp with silk, it fits your facial contour twice as best as normal paper mask and rapidly infiltrate nourishment for your skin.
Red pomegranate and Anthocyanin are two powerful anti-oxidant ingredients. It fights against dullness and dehydration. Camomile extracts is also added to avoid further dark pigment formulation, helping skin to restore its natural glow.
After application your skin will become supple, smooth. Its mild and gentle nature makes it suitable even after sun bathing, it will soothe and calm the redness due to long sun exposure.

Another sheet from the same box, which I used recently. This Pomegranate and Q10 combination boasts of antioxidant benefits which is just perfect for me at my age.
I personally like this better as compared with Luffa + Adlay sheet mask as it provides better moisture and adds a subtle glow to my skin. My skin feels softer after application.

The texture of the sheet mask is thin but comfortable and adheres to the skin well, except that I wish that the cut-out for the lips can be slightly bigger. It has a fruity scent which does not linger long.

Source : Sasa , Beautykat

5 super foods for great skin

Cherries and berries
Cherries and berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, are among the highest antioxidant-containing fruits. Antioxidants help to prevent premature skin ageing by reducing the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are toxins produced by the body or found in the environment. Excessive amounts of free radicals result in cell damage and over time hasten the skin ageing process.

Oily fish
Oily fishes such as tuna, salmon and sardines are rich in essential fatty acids. These essential fatty acids help to repair cell membranes, thereby supporting skin's elasticity. The presence of essential fatty acids also aids in the production of collagen. As the key component of connective tissue, collagen promotes healthy and resilient skin.
Should you go straight for collagen-rich foods? This is controversial, says Ang. To date, no strong evidence has shown that collagen-rich food such as gelatin, shark fins or chicken feet have additional benefits in promoting beautiful skin compared to protein-rich foods such as meat. That's because collagen is broken down to amino acids in the body, just like protein.

Avocado
Avocado is a fruit rich in vitamin C and vitamin E. Both these vitamins are known for their antioxidant properties. In particular, vitamin C helps to reduce skin inflammation and to optimise the production of collagen. This in turn improves skin tone and reduces wrinkles.
Don't be put off by the avocado's high fat content. It mostly consists of mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which help in reducing "bad" cholesterol.
Apart from direct food consumption, you can consider using skin products containing avocado oil extract, which has also been shown to promote skin hydration, elasticity and smoothness.

Tomato
Lycopene, another powerful antioxidant, gives tomatoes their bright red colour. Studies have found that lycopene can protect the skin against the sun's harmful UV rays, a major cause of wrinkles. Unlike most fruits that are best eaten raw to minimise nutrient loss, tomatoes acquire their maximum antioxidant effect when exposed to heat during cooking.
Tomatoes are also high in beta-carotene. In the body, beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A, which plays a key role in skin regulation.

Green tea
Fluid is important in keeping cells well hydrated. Good hydration helps nutrients and vitamins to penetrate cells and, conversely, toxins to be flushed out of the body. The usual recommendation is to drink at least 8 cups of fluid per day. The fluid should ideally be low in calories, with no added sugar, to avoid unnecessary weight gain.

Apart from water, an excellent option is green tea. Recently, studies have shown that green tea can promote good skin, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Some of these antioxidants, called polyphenols, have well-documented benefits with regards to sun protection.

Source : Yahoo

Review : Love + Toast Paper Flower Hand Cream

Product Description
A playful new skincare range by Margot Elena. Lovely colourful packaging with gorgeous embossed illustrations.
Created to quench thirsty skin, moisture rich natural ingredients absorb quickly forming invisible protection. Natural super softeners Shea Butter, Macadamia Nut and Olive Fruits, Avocado and Sunflower Oils. A lightweight luxurious lotion with no animal ingredients or artificial colours.

Key Ingredients
Shea butter, Macadamia nut, Olive fruits, Avocado & Sunflower oil, love and toast's "can't live without it" botanical perfume blend

This is the last flavour of the 5 different flavours which I bought some time back and is my favourite of all.
Love and Toast products are Paraben free, Phthalate free, Never animal tested, No animal ingredients and No artificial colors.

Containing notes of water lily, dewberry rose and ylang ylang, it smells the nicest among all as its not too sweet. I enjoyed slathering this light textured smooth beige cream onto my hands though it did not quite hydrate my dry hands well. In fact, all Love and Toast hand creams just do not cut the mark with my hands. Its too mild and not moisturising enough.

Ingredients
Extracts of Pomegranate and Green Tea in Purified Water, cyclopentasiloxane, stearic acid, isopropyl myristate, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), persea gratissima (avocado) Oil, tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, ceteareth-20, carbomer, tetrasodium EDTA, tocopheryl acetate, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, hexylene glycol, triethanolamine, love and toast botanical perfume blend.

Source : LoveandToast , Pod , Amazon