Soraya Jürgen Blog: Earth Day

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Lotus Wei Perfume Review: Earth Month Celebration

Happy Earth Month! Lotus Wei is the fourth and final review of eco-friendly beauty products for the celebration of Earth Month. The Makeup Examiner chose to highlight this particular company because of its all-around philosophies of integrating the plant, planet and beauty.

Katie Hess

In 2000, Katie Hess, flower alchemist and the founder of Lotus Wei, began sharing her custom-blended flower remedies with a few friends. Today, Lotus Wei products can be found in retails stores worldwide and has been featured on OWN and a plethora of media outlets and publications. The Makeup Examiner was very struck by Katie’s personal belief in “transformative actionfor the benefit of all”. It is her belief in the healing power of flower essences and a deep respect for our planet that places Lotus Wei at the top of the list.

Lotus Wei offers Flower Elixirs ($35), Balancing Serums ($50), Energy Mists ($40), and Transformative Perfumes ($45). Each of which are available in varying moods -- Joy Juice, Infinite Love, Pure Energy, Inspired Action, Quiet Mind and Inner Peace -- aimed to help us focus upon a specific issue in our lives by shifting our mood and physiology.

The Makeup Examiner had the opportunity to check out Lotus Wei Infinite Love Perfume, which is a lovely blend of rose, red mandarin, and honey. Infinite Love contains organic essential oils, transformative flower essences, and organic grape alcohol. Delivery is via a spray bottle and it’s free of phthalates, synthetics, and chemicals. Infinite Love’s purpose is to help focus upon unconditional love of you. (Is there a more worthy or important endeavor?).

Aside from producing organic eco-friendly perfumes and elixirs, a visit to the Lotus Wei website offers an abundance of information and helpful guidance about the transformative actions of flowers. From the “Tools +Apps” tab, visitors can print out journal pages to help guide you on your way to wherever you need to go or download the free Lotus Wei app that offers on-the-go info about flower alchemy. For more information about the transformative action of flowers or Lotus Wei products, visit Lotus Wei.

Full Infographic can be found at Lotus Wei

@ypmazzy

Three Simple Eco Tips For The Beautynista

Vitória Régia Water Lily at Pantanal Matogrossense, Brazil - Theo Allofs/Corbis

Being a green beautynista doesn't mean that you have to go full-tilt tree hugger, but you can take a few very simple steps to make your beauty regimen more eco-friendly. So, in honor of Earth Day, today April 22, and our lovely planet, The Makeup Examiner offers up a few tips that can be easily integrated into everyday life.

Bring Your Own Bag - Paper and plastic bags use a tremendous amount of resources and at least 80 percent of them never get recycled! Grab your own tote bag when you’re headed out on a shopping spree to Sephora. To make getting into the habit of using your own bags easier, keep them by the front door. Check out Global Girlfriend for chic totes that are Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly.

Drink Tap Water and Use Your Own Container – Bottled water is so passé. According to TreeHugger, out of the 50 billion bottles of water being bought each year, 80% end up in a landfill. 17 million barrels of oil are used in producing bottled water each year. Bottled water costs 1,000 times more than tap water. Drinking 2 Liters of tap water a day only costs 50 cents per year. Plastic leaches toxins into the water, which have been linked to health problems such as reproductive issues and cancer. A great option is a S’WELL Bottle ($25-$45) made from stainless steel or wood, which keeps drinks hot for 24 hours and cold for 12 hours, plus S’WELL donates to charities around the globe!

Go Green When You Clean – Isn’t it kind of counterproductive to use nasty chemicals to clean your home? You can Google DIY green cleaning products, but if you’re not the DIY type, check out Seventh Generation. Seventh Generation has been producing plant-based cleaners for over 25 years and offers an affordable alternative to toxic cleaners.

So, there you have three of the simplest ways to help improve the state of our planet. Of course I can’t write about green efforts without calling attention to greenwashing. Eco-Friendly, Organic, and Natural have become marketing buzzwords used to entice the consumer into thinking that they’re purchasing a “greener” product. If you truly want to become more eco-conscious, take the time to research brands -- from the products themselves to the processes used. Happy Earth Day Lovelies! Now, go check out one of the Earth Day festivities happening around the globe!

@ypmazzy

jane iredale Review: Earth Month Celebration

Happy Earth Month! jane iredale products are the third review of eco-friendly beauty products for the celebration of Earth Month. First and foremost, The Makeup Examiner chose to review jane iredale, as the brand’s Hydration Sprays have earned ECOCERT’sNatural and Organic Cosmetics certification. In conjunction with earning the aforementioned award from ECOCERT, jane iredale products are made without harsh chemical dyes, talc, parabens, formaldehyde, heavy metals or synthetic preservatives.

For the past 20 years, the jane iredale brand has been a favorite amongst celebrities and industry professionals, as the brand focuses upon creating uplifting and natural makeup. In order to get a good feel for the brand, The Makeup Examiner tested out the newly reformulated jane iredale Hydration Sprays and Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener. To start, jane iredale POMMIST and D20 Balance Hydration Sprays ($27) are 100 percent natural and 30 percent organic, and the products’ sourcing, manufacturing and packaging have a minimal effect on the environment. Each Hydration Spray quickly refreshes tired skin, plus is fantastic for setting makeup as they conceal pores and fine lines creating a smooth, long-lasting finish! (Hello, love!)

jane iredale Hydration Sprays:

POMMIST - Hydrates, conditions and protects all skin types. Features the added benefit of Pomegranate Extract, a powerful antioxidant and UV protector. Contains organic Pomegranate extract, White tea leaf extract, and Rosemary leaf extract.

D20 - Helps to hydrate and plump skin cells and contains ingredients to calm and protect the skin. Ylang ylang leaves an uplifting scent and has a balancing action on the secretion of sebum. Made with organic Chamomile flower extract and Myrrh extract.

Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener ($48) is this incredible primer that can also be worn alone for a perfect sheer glow. The translucent pink formula is packed with botanicals that have anti-aging properties, brightens and evens skin tone, minimizes the appearance of pores, and controls oil. This may just be the go-to product for summer!

A few more items to note about the jane iredale brand: Certified cruelty-free by PETA, 2013 CEW Eco Beauty Award Finalist and most products are both vegan and gluten-free. Readers can find products online at jane iredale, at spas in over 40 countries, and select retail location throughout the US.

@ypmazzy

Choiselle Artisanal Bath and Body Care Review: Earth Month Celebration

Happy Earth Month! Choiselle bath and body are products are the second review of eco-friendly beauty products for the celebration of Earth Month. First and foremost, The Makeup Examiner chose to review Choiselle because of the brand’s green standards. Choiselle uses organic ingredients selected from small organic farms, which helps increase sustainable living for all involved.

Every good story begins with a good back-story. Nydia Norville, founder of Choiselle, became frustrated when she couldn't find pure products to help alleviate her severely dry skin. Frustration led to action. Remembering her childhood and watching her grandmother mix up skincare and medicinal remedies, using ingredients from Grandma’s backyard garden, Nydia began “cooking” up concoctions in her kitchen.

“I tried everything and nothing really worked, especially in the winter, so I decided to try to make something myself. In the process of researching different ingredients commonly used by existing brands, I noticed that an overwhelming amount of brands mislead their customers by making claims to produce products that are natural or organic but instead, the ingredients listed are mostly fillers and synthetic ingredients that are known to be harmful,” says Nydia. What Nydia is referring to is the common practice of “greenwashing”.

In January, Choiselle launched a line of prestige natural bath and body care products made from certified organic ingredients such as shea butter, sunflower oil, essentials oils and safflower oil. All products are free of parabens, petroleum, and toxins that are known to disrupt the natural balance of the skin. Nydia opted instead to utilize plant-based ingredients that have been used for centuries to soothe and protect the skin.

Choiselle is a small brand in regards to its current offerings, but that is all that is small about the luxurious, skin-nourishing products. Choiselle offers Body Butter ($35), Bath & Body Oil ($25), and Body Lotion ($42) and all formulas are available in three scents -- lavender, lemongrass and ylang ylang. The packing is minimal, yet sophisticated and comes in reusable/recyclable glass.

What’s brilliant about offering body butter, oil and lotion is that our skin needs different levels of moisture at various times. The scents themselves are everything that one expects from true essential oils that add to the transformative experience. The Makeup Examiner wasn’t disappointed with a single product in the line, but her must-have for summer is definitely Choiselle Bath & Body Oil, which you can mist on and go!

So, do the products work? YES! From outside packing to inside product, Choiselle offers a prestige, artisanal line of bath and body products. Choiselle Bath and Body products are available at Choiselle. Choiselle will be expanding its product line with the release of lip balms, shampoos, conditioners and shower gels!

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Birchbox Launches All-Natural Limited Edition Box

Birchbox announced on April 8, the launch of its Limited Edition: Free For All Box and this fits in perfectly with The Makeup Examiner’s Earth Month Celebration! The Limited Edition: Free For All Box ($44) is filled with all-natural products that are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petrochemicals, and GMOs, and features an exclusive pouch by the humanitarian fashion label FEED.

These handpicked best-in-class products rely largely on natural extracts from fruits, flowers and veggies. The Makeup Examiner knows first hand that several of these products are absolute must-try items!

Included in the Limited Edition: Free For All Box:

FEED – FEED 10 Pouch
Jurlique – Purely Bright Radiance Serum
Alima Pure – Lip Tint in Rhubarb
LOV Organic – Assorted Teas
W3LL People – Hypnotist Eyeliner
Shamanuti – Activated Charcoal Cleanser
Karma Organic Spa – Nail Polish Remover with Soybean Oil and Tea Tree Oil
eco-armour – Shave with Benefits Shave Foam with Mint and Eucalyptus (TME Favorite, which you can read all about right HERE!)

The Limited Edition: Free For All Box can be purchased exclusively at Birchbox. For subscribers and customers interested in discovering more clean products, Birchbox has created a new shop category … Ingredient-Conscious Picks. Each product featured in the shop is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, petrochemicals, and GMOs. Happy Earth Month!

Shea Terra Organics Review: Earth Month Celebration

Happy Earth Month! Well … every month is indeed Earth Month, but Earth Day itself is celebrated on April 22^ndand with this, The Makeup Examiner has chosen to spotlight Eco-Friendly products throughout the month. In celebration of Mother Earth, and to bring focus to the fact that we do not have to sacrifice product quality in order to achieve a respect for our planet, TME offers you the first review in The Makeup Examiner’s Earth Month Celebration!

TME has previously reviewed Shea Terra Organics, but this brand was impressive enough to highlight again. To begin, founder Tammie Umbelhas spent the last 15 years working with local communities, in Africa, identifying ingredients linked with ancient beauty traditions and creating skin care products to share with the world. But, it is the way in which Tammie procures these ingredients that set the standard for eco-friendly brands.

By adhering to fair trade practices, Shea Terra Organics directly contributes to the sustainability of local economies. And by using Certified Wildlife Friendly ingredients, the brand produces quality skin care products without harming the Earth or exploiting its resources.

Now that you know a little information about the business practices of Shea Terra Organics, let’s get to a few of the products.

Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Mud-Tox Body Cleanse in Menthe Tea Vanilla ($18) is a luxurious at-home spa treatment that is a perfect avenue to detox and shed that winter skin. Delivered in powder form, Moroccan Mud-Tox Body Cleanse is mixed with water to create a paste. You apply the paste all over for a full detox, or to target areas, and after approximately 10 minutes, rinse to reveal refreshed skin.

Shea Terra Organics Argan & Olive Nourishing 2-n-1 Body Scrub Dark Amber ($18) is a 2-in-1 cream scrub that exfoliates with natural, organic ingredients and moisturizes skin in the process. Dark Amber offers a relaxing scent, reminiscent of what you would experience at the spa. Apply to wet skin, rinse and baby soft skin is revealed.

Shea Terra Organics Jasmine Ylang Ylang Relaxing Bath Oil Drops ($20) is a TME favorite. Add a few droppers full of this exotic fragrance to your bath and let the relaxing scents take effect.

All Shea Terra Organics products are cruelty-free, organic and many products are packaged in glass, which is 100% recyclable. Find Shea Terra Organics at Shea Terra and select retail outlets. Read about other offering from Shea Terra Organics in this TME Review!

Easy Tips For Sustainable Living

Happy Earth Month! The Makeup Examiner isn’t going to tell anyone how to live his or her life. All I’m going to do is simply pass along information that I’ve learned along the way in my personal journey towards being a better global citizen. First, I’d like to take a second to thank my mother for teaching me how to respect the planet … attempt not to recycle something in that woman’s house and you’re likely to end up buried in her compost. Uh … love you mom! I, digress. Moving on …

So you’ve probably heard Recycle, Reuse and Reduce, but what does that really mean and how can you implement these ideas, easily, into everyday life?

Recycling can be a bit confusing because sometimes we’re not sure what is and isn’t recyclable. Check out this recycle chart from One MoreGeneration!

Cost effective and eco-friendly ideas:

Don't heat an empty house - During the winter, turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees when you're home and 55 degrees at night or while you're on vacation.
Clean your refrigerator coils – You’d be surprised how much gross stuff accumulates at the bottom of your fridge. By vacuum out the dust you actually help the fridge work more efficiently, therefore saving money.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins – This might be a really foreign concept at first, but once you get used to it you’ll be pleased with the financial savings and you’ll also save a tree.
Pack your lunch – This saves money, but when you pack your lunch use an insulated lunch bag versus a paper bag. Also, use a refillable bottle versus a plastic one.
Cancel your newspaper subscription and read the news online – Like beauty news, here at The Makeup Examiner! :) Okay, shameless self-promotion aside … catch your news online.

Put your money where your mouth is: There’s a lot of power in your wallet and committing to purchasing eco-friendly products lets companies know that you, the consumer, are in charge.

Shop for eco-friendly beauty products – Throughout the month, TME will be reviewing and highlighting quite a few eco-friendly beauty brands.
Switch to eco-friendly detergents or make your own eco-friendly cleaning products.

Eco-friendly odds and ends:

Collect your dryer lint and put it in the backyard for the birds. Now’s the perfect time, as the birds a building nests.
Donate your magazines - Read them then pass them on to friends or your local hospital.
Organize your errands – by scheduling errands, you’ll save on gas and help the environment. Also, try carpooling.
File your taxes electronically to cut back on paper usage. Heads Up … tax deadline is a just few weeks away.
Take your own canvas bags when shopping – Seriously, do you need to add to your plastic bag collection?
Make a resolution to be even more eco-friendly … starting today!

The tips above are all examples of basic R’s of sustainable living. You can find lots more tips at Tree Hugger.

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