Kitchen Beauty

This week, I decided to write about products found in the kitchen. In many cases, the following items act as excellent substitutes and often surpass anything from a drugstore. Another advantage, you probably own most of these items – no extra purchase necessary! Enjoy, and go raid your cabinets!

Kitchen Beauty

Virgin Coconut Oil
Personally known as the multifaceted moisturizer, Virgin Coconut Oil is a hair conditioner, face lotion, and body moisturizer. The pure coconut scent intoxicates while the natural oil seeps into skin and hair. If using as a conditioner, know that coconut oil tends to weigh down hair – a small amount should suffice. Rinse completely and follow with a light shampoo if necessary. As a body moisturizer, coconut oil is best for legs. Quickly penetrating skin and giving legs a sexy glow, the oil is a choice accessory for short skirts.
Spectrumorganics.com, $10.99

Olive Oil
Good fats do wonders for skin – soothing, healing and protecting. Aside from cooking with olive oil, add olive oil to your beauty routine. Nourish skin nightly: Use a cotton ball to apply a thin layer to face and neck, avoiding eyelids. Dry lips? Spread oil over mouth and admire the radiant luster.
Spectrumorganics.com, $9.99

More kitchen beauty to come, stay tuned!

Hard as Nails

I have always had a strong love for nail polish. I discontinued using it about seven months ago and began researching the best natural products to create an impeccable finish. Acquarella first caught my eye for their low score on cosmeticdatabse.com – 0 and 1. Nail polishes consist of three ingredients and color nails without toxic FD&C colorants. I was immediately intrigued, as polished nails elevate wardrobe and increase femininity. I purchased one polish, polish remover, conditioner, and received a bonus nail buffer kit.

Nail Polish

Acquarella Nail Polish
Produce the perfect pedicure with Acquarella Nail Polish. With proper preparation, color lasts at least three weeks with great color and shine. Hassle free – no top or bottom coat – and fragrance free, the polishes dry in less than 10 minutes. For a flawless set, apply before bed to allow polish to settle. Nail polish lasts flawlessly on finger nails for about two days. Soap and lotion strip away thin layers, removing color and shine. However, the polish is stunning for a special occasion and comes in 20 brilliant colors. Color lasts longer and remains stronger when application directions are followed. Total time: 15 minutes.
Application tip: use three coats for a deeper color.
Acquarellapolish.com, $18

Acquarella Conditioner
Ideal for dry or brittle nails, Acquarella Conditioner applies like any nail polish and creates an ultra chic sheen. Prepare nails and apply two thin coats. Conditioner dries quickly, making it incredibly easy to use anywhere and anytime. Depending on soap and lotion use, the conditioner lasts about three days.
Acquarellapolish.com, $18

Lips

Stained, tinted, or glossed, perfect lips are a necessity. Thus, my search began. I discovered two of the best lip products I have ever worn. Many lip treatments tend to dry lips, causing them to peel. However, both recommendations below do not dehydrate. Read on to find the products for some sexy lips.

Lips Lips Lips

Hemp Organics Lip Tints
A true triple threat in lip color, Hemp Organics Lip Tints are outstandingly moisturizing, colorful, and shiny. Hemp Organics also includes SPF 15 to protect the delicate and deserving area. Smoothly apply the tint to find a superior lip color. Choose from eight colors, which are far less sheer than the Web site describes – far more fabulous looking as well!
Whole Foods Market, $5.99 colorganics.net

Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss
The convenience of Burt’s Bees is currently unmatchable. An accessible, marvelous product certainly receives The Cheeky Peach™ stamp of approval. Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss comes in four great colors, complimentary to any skin tone. An entirely hydrating and colorful experience, the gloss completes any look – day or night. Remember, gloss makes lips appear fuller and larger. Find packages of three for a special size and price.
Bonus: drugstore find!
Burtsbees.com, $7

Sudsy Soaps

Hello there! For this week’s installment, I thought I would introduce an important aspect of beauty that is so often overlooked. Soap is one product used throughout the day – besides cosmetics. With recent studies showing the negative effects of anti-bacterial soaps, I thought the following two recommendations were perfect additions to The Cheeky Peach.

Crossover Bar 100% Cold Pressed Olive Oil Soap
Naturally sudsy, this cleansing bar is gentle enough for the face and strong enough for the body. The Crossover Bar truly is the ultimate head-to-toe beauty bar. The olive oil soap doubles as a shampoo and is great for any scalp problems. It marvelously helps clear dandruff, allowing for a healthy scalp. The soap has a highly concentrated olive oil scent, which might not appeal to many. However, the Crossover Bar is one of the purest soaps on the market.
Application tip: scrub soap on head only, not in the length of hair. Rinse and follow application with shampoo and conditioner, preferably Earthly Delight. The Crossover Bar can act as the only shampoo, but hair gets so clean that it becomes "sticky."
Homerowen.com, $12 for three bars

Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Organic Bar Soap
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps have cleaned generations for years, over 150 years in fact. They must be doing something right! Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Organic Bar Soap leaves skin feeling soft and clean. Squeaky clean, really. Other scents are available, but the peppermint is light and refreshing – and the most popular. Lather a loofah and scrub away dirt to reveal healthy, glowing skin. Keep an extra bar next to your bathroom or kitchen sink and smell fresh peppermint all day long. Find Dr. Bronner’s products in most health-food stores.
Drbronner.com, $4.19

Physicians Formula Organic Wear

So, Physicians Formula put out a line of all-natural, organic makeup: Organic Wear. The makeup line – found in drugstores! – is the first ECOCERT certified makeup in the U.S. Most ECOCERT products are found in Europe, as European countries have higher standards for ingredients used in beauty items.

About ECOCERT:

"To ensure that Organic wear® holds the highest of eco-standards, most Organic wear® products are ECOCERT® certified organic. ECOCERT® is an internationally recognized organic certification that guarantees the genuine practice of environmental respect throughout the formulation and manufacturing of the product. The certification ensures that 100% of the total ingredients are of a natural origin. ECOCERT® is the leading European authority on organic certification, and the standards used by prestige organic brands" (organicwearmakeup.com).

"What are the standards of ECOCERT®?:

• No pre-treatment used in any of the raw materials found in organic formulas
  
• All suppliers must pass an extensive review before their raw materials are approved.
  
• All manufacturing and packaging facilities undergo a rigorous inspection
  
• All packaging must be recyclable." (organicwearmakeup.com)
  

This is very exciting news and a great step toward the standard of safer beauty products. Now, my first makeup duo recommendation.

Face Makeup

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Concealer Stick
Light and strong, this concealer brilliantly covers dark circles and blemishes. Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Concealer Stick rivals many of its competitors. The stick applies smoothly and provides maximum coverage with an amazingly genuine effect. In fact, the true purpose of makeup is to enhance features and appear unnoticed. Mission accomplished Organic Wear. Application tip: follow application to eyes with a loose powder to set – this concealer is a little on the oily side. Do not set blemishes with powder. This tends to have an adverse effect and enhances any swelling. Bonus: drugstore find!
This product contains glyceryl caprylate, a controversial ingredient with a low score according to comsmeticdatabse.com.
physiciansformula.com, $6.95

Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Loose Powder
A perfect loose powder to wear alone or over makeup. Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Loose Powder hides skin discoloration. The weightless powder effortlessly glides onto skin and successfully avoids creating the "makeup mask." Packaging features a built-in mirror and brush, enabling touchups on the go. Application tip: use fourth finger to apply concentrated amounts to the sensitive eye area. Bonus: drugstore find!
This product contains glyceryl caprylate, a controversial ingredient with a low score according to comsmeticdatabse.com.
physiciansformula.com, $13.95

If you have tried any of the products I suggested, please feel free to comment or e-mail your thoughts to me. Have a beautiful week!

Eye Creams

Big news for The Cheeky Peach: an official Web site has been launched! Now, navigate through thecheekypeach.com to easily find natural and organic beauty recommendations. Along with updates to the site, I will continue sending weekly e-mails with beauty suggestions. Be sure to check out the Tips and Tricks section for shopping and money saving tips!

Eye Creams

100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream
More often than not, this cheeky peach wakes up with puffy eyes. 100% Pure Organic Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream to the rescue. Making tired eyes bright and reducing darkness and inflammation, this cream is the perfect addition to your morning coffee.
Application tip: use your fourth finger to gently tap on cream. This increases blood flow to your eye area.
100percentpure.com, $19.

Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Cream
This eye cream penetrates deep into skin, causing an immediate soothing feeling. Burt's Bees Radiance Eye Cream is made with Royal Jelly – super nourishing and packed with vitamins to help your sensitive eye area remain beautiful and wrinkle free.
Application tip: use only a small amount and pat some extra between your eyebrows.
Bonus: drugstore find!
Burtsbees.com, $18.

Moisture

Hey there! A few months ago, I started researching organic and natural products. This has become a bit of a hobby and would love to share my finds with you. If you would like more information about an organic, natural lifestyle, please let me know. I would love to answer any questions you have.

I decided to write a weekly e-mail recommending natural beauty items that I currently use or have used. I had been suggesting the same products to many friends on a regular basis. Realizing my strong interest in natural beauty and a growing interest in friends', I thought this would be a great way to thoroughly explain my picks. I am not selling any products and certainly do not have a contract with any retailer.

I won't scare you into natural beauty – so don't throw out every product you own. Rather, research and familiarize yourself with pure products that have short ingredient lists! Check out http://100percentpure.com/ingredients_2.html and http://www.sukipure.com/v2/pages/ingredients+to+avoid for lists of ingredients to avoid. Using those lists and cosmeticdatabase.com, determine which items are more toxic or hazardous. Discard any high-rated product and finish any remaining items. A natural lifestyle also requires awareness of environmental waste – and wallet waste. I have found that many of these products are so wonderful and so pure that I don't require as many – i.e. hair products. In some sense, natural beauty is less expensive.

Moisturizers

100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Facial Cream
Who doesn't want an antioxidant facial cream? With evidence detailing the power of acai berry, the 100% Pure Organic Acai Berry Antioxidant Facial Cream takes first as my new favorite facial moisturizer. Noncomedogenic and light, this cream creates a long-lasting, fresh-faced feel. The lotion works well for all skin types and never creates shine. Plus, it smells good enough to eat. Application tip: pat on damp skin to lock in moisture.
100percentpure.com, $32.

Noodle & Boo Glowology Lovely Body Lotion
A soothing moisturizer with a soft scent of coconut, Noodle & Boo Glowology Lovely Body Lotion quenches thirsty skin. A quickly evaporating formula allows for immediate action. Application tip: apply more than one layer to create a stronger barrier against free radicals.
noodleandboo.com, $26.