Health and Beauty - Green Goddess - Beauty Tips with Armand
Green Goddess - Beauty Tips with Armand
BEAUTY PRESENTER AND INTERNATIONAL MAKEUP ARTIST
Recently there has been a lot of publicity highlighting our so-called “toxic lifestyles”, from the food we eat to the air we breath – and now the cosmetics that we use are apparently littered with pollutants, additives and toxins.
On the whole this publicity has been good even though some critics have called it “scare mongering”. However, it’s certainly made me look at the labels in supermarkets to cut down on the E numbers and recycle more. I’ve also tried to eat more organic food, which is becoming increasingly popular and more widely available although you do not have as much variation when it comes to organic and green cosmetics.
A few years ago Marks and Spencer produced a fantastic organic skincare range which I think was ahead of its time. Unfortunately, as it was launched when botox fillers and cosmetic surgery were booming, it didn’t survive. However, M&S have now launched their Natural Beauty range which has no synthetic preservatives, no harsh detergents, no mineral oils and no artificial colours. Each product also contains a percentage of organic ingredients which have been ethically sourced from all corners of the globe, including bamboo scrub granules from Indian mountain forests and organic cocoa butter from Ghana; while not forgetting organic Roman chamomile from England, or try the energising body wash for an amazing early morning wakeup call.
The Organic Pharmacy have been making waves in celebrity circles for some time now and pride themselves on being free from petrochemicals, pesticides and animal testing. Their Carrot Butter cleanser is a perfect night-time cleanser for dryer skins and only a small amount of the balm is needed to dissolve all make-up, even a tricky waterproof mascara. If you prefer something a little more invigorating then try their Peppermint facial wash, which contains eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree to help keep skin pure and clear.
For more information log onto www.theorganicpharmacy.com
Korres is a Greek company specialising in natural products with their roots in the first homeopathic pharmacy of Athens. The first Korres product was an aromatic herbal syrup with honey and aniseed but the now company offers a complete skin, sun and haircare range which are mineral oil, additive and silicone free, and have no artificial colourings. In August 2007 Korres launched their full makeup range, which adheres to their concept of natural, yet simplistic, cosmetics. The Arcticium Lappa (Burdock) vitamin foundation is available in 12 shades which contain burdock leaf extract to help even out skin tone. Also worth a look is their Lip Pen (available in 11 shades), which is an instant lip colour packed full of apricot and rice bran oil to help condition the lips.
Most companies are beginning to introduce products which have some organic ingredients, such as Sisely with their Express Flower Gel Mask – a quick-fix beauty booster, which intensely re-hydrates and re-plumps the skin in just three minutes using the firming properties of sesame while iris locks in moisture. Origins have a reputation of producing great skincare and makeup while still respecting the planet. It’s worth noting that all their stationery and packaging is made with recycled paper.
Dr Weil’s range includes some organic ingredients. Dr Andrew Weil is one of the foremost authorities on integrative health (and he looks like the love child Captain Birds’ Eye and Brian Blessed). The Mega Mushroom range contains a highly effective blend of cordyceps, hypsizygus, ulmarius and reishi mushrooms as well as other natural substances – great for calming redness, relieving dryness and softening lines. The Mega Mushroom eye makeup remover pads are pre-soaked with a comforting formula to quickly dissolve makeup while soothing the delicate eye area. They are efficient, convenient and have a permanent home in my kit.
If all this talk of green and organic goodies has got you curious to find out more, then why not visit www.lovelula.com – a one-stop shop for anyone who is interested in an natural and organic lifestyle. With over 750 products available, founder Lula Lewis has scoured the globe to find gorgeous goodies which are not only good for you but great for the planet. Especially worth checking out now that the cosmetics we use are apparently littered with pollutants, additives and toxins.
