CLEAN PRETTY IS BETTER PRETTY - The Budget & Drugstore Edition

High quality natural ingredients, organic certifications, ecologically safe packaging, fair-trade practices and effective "good for you" formula's should not only be accessible to those whose budget allows a little more room for personal care than the average person. Lets face it, most of us cannot afford the astronomical prices attached to a lot of the natural or organic cosmetics no matter how much we try and budget for such necessities. While I|am willing to pay a little more for the "cleaner" versions of my staple products there are times when I am simply not able to splurge on a $100 moisturizer, no matter how great it might sound.

In the first two installments of the "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty" project I featured various exceptional natural brands, whose formulations were groundbreaking and productive but a few of them came with price tags that were bound to make me nervous at checkout time. It got me wondering if "good" nature inspired cosmetics had to be so expensive in order to work out?

I am happy to report that after some research on the topic itself and a lot of testing, accompanied with trial & error, I discovered much more attainable brands that were wallet-friendly, had the same natural "actives" and preformed just as good as some their more expensive counterparts. If you know what to look for and do your homework, your local drugstore or various low-key websites are full of hidden, under-appreciated products that will make you and your bank account very happy.

Physician's Formula is one of those brands that I have always been aware of but never seriously considered until I noticed their Organic Wear collection. In fact Organic Wear is the first ECOCERT®Certified Organic Line of Makeup in the U.S. and said to contain 100% certified organic ingredients. All the products in this line up are free of harsh chemicals, synthetic preservatives, synthetic fragrances, silicone's and are certified cruelty free. Having played with a few Physician's Formula products in the past few weeks I am happy to report that these "gems" are not just full of skin-loving properties but are also completely effective when it comes to both preformance and wear time.
My favorites include - Organic wear 100% Natural Origin 2-in-1 Bronzer & Blush ($13.95) and Organic wear 100% Natural Lash Boosting Mascara ($9.95)


Aubrey Organics is a natural hair care, natural skin care and natural body care brand that is almost considered a staple in our household, so much so that I sometimes take its presence for granted. This company uses only the best herbal and plant extracts, with no synthetic additives, petrochemicals or chemical preservatives. In addition they have been historically committed to sourcing all of their ingredients from fair trade sources with product quality and environmental protection coming way ahead of profit margins. They are also true industry leaders with a number of seriously impressive "firsts" which you can view here.
Their motto says it all really "Protect the Earth...Promote the Well Being of People...Nourish the Spirit".
My favorite repurchases are: Collagen & Almond Enriching Moisturizing Lotion ($12.48 for 8 oz), Sparkling Glacier Complexion Mist ($7.98 for 3.4 oz) and Organic Evening Primrose Oil ($16.48 for 1 oz.)


Dr. Bronner's Magic All-in-One is one of the pioneers of today's "green" cosmetic industry and its founder Dr.Bronner might be one of the most colorful and unique CEO's you can imagine. The history of him, his family and his soap company is truly a testament of the preserverence and strength of the human spirit. I highly encourage you to read his timeline for a glimpse of what steadfast dedication and commitment can accomplish in the face of so much adversity. Seriously it will amaze you!

Dr.Bronners Magic Pure Castile Soaps are vegetable based, preservative-free, paraben-free and contain absolutely no artificial thickeners. The formula uses only organic essential oils and makes sure to follow all fair trade requirements.
On par with their "green" philosophy, the company also minimizes their ecological footprint by making everything 100% biodegradable and using only post-consumer recycled bottles and paper labels.
How can you not get behind them? 

My favorite Dr.Bronner's repurchases include: Lavender Liquid Soap ($10.95 for 16 oz), Peppermint Bar Soap ($4.49) and Lavender Coconut Organic Lotion ($9.99 for 8 oz)

Granted 100% Pure Cosmetics is not a typical drugstore brand but I wanted to include it in the "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty" because their prices are somewhat affordable and every product I tried from their skincare and makeup range has blown my mind. Keeping with the "natural brand" label 100% Pure Cosmetics does not use synthetic chemicals, artificial colors or fragrances, sulfates, petrochemicals, detergents or chemical preservatives. 

My favorite pics from their selection are 100% Pure Pineapple Enzyme Facial Peel Mask ($22.00 for 2.9 oz), 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Butter in Peach ($16) and 100% Pure Coconut Nourishing Body Cream ($19 for 8 oz). 

Kiss My Face is a veteran natural brand, having been around for over 30 years and was actually one of the first brands to offer the organic-natural option to the mass consumer. They strive to combine natural and organic botanicals, plant vitamins and essential oils with the latest scientific innovations in order to deliver a product that is good for you, harmless to the environment but also powerful enough to yield the promised results. I like the fact that Kiss My Face doesn't only consider what  goes into their lovely bottles but also how the packaging of the product will affect the ecosystem as a whole. Their motto "Our goal is to walk gently and respectfully with the earth" is more than commendable and something other brands "natural or 
not" should pay attention to.
My favorite Kiss My Face products are Lavender & Shea Moisture Shave ($4.90 for 3.4 oz), Coconut Body Moisturizer ($11.95 for 16 oz) and Miss Treated Shampoo ($7.95 for 11 oz).

Since our skin absorbs 60% of whatever we apply to the surface, it is more than important to try and find products that will benefit the complexion and the body at the same time. It is my hope that the "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty"series introduces you to a few more options to consider. 

I hope you join me in Part 2 

What is your favorite natural or organic drugstore brand?

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-) 

CLEAN PRETTY IS BETTER PRETTY - PART 2

I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty" and found some inspiration to try and "clean" out your beauty routines. The entire process is very overwhelming so I recommend trying to change one area at a time - tackle skincare first and then move on to the rest in order to stay motivated.
On the plus side, if you are a cosmetics connoisseur like me, discovery and trialing new products that are actually good for you and your life can even become justifiable fun. We can all appreciate that!


Tata Harper  products are unique in the sense that they are always "100% Natural & Non-Toxic Ingredients 100% of the time" and even more exciting, their founder own the farm where their skin-care ingredients are actually grown. It really doesn't get any fresher than that! Tata Harper formulations do not have any filler ingredients and everything that is included in the product is there for a specific purpose, which is a concept that may sound simple but very few companies actually follow it. This natural company takes advantage of the innovations and knowledge offered by chemists, biologists, botanists and even medical practitioners, in order to ensure up-to-date natural discoveries, extraction techniques and preservation methods, all in their attempt to make the most effective combinations in the skincare industry.
My favorite recommendations from Tata Harper are: Resurfacing Mask ($55), Repairative Moisturizer ($100) and the amazing Revitalizing Body Oil ($90)

Neal's Yard Remedies is one of the oldest natural-organic skincare companies but it is their amazing dedication to creating "clean" products and being "clean" themselves that really makes them stand out! The natural formulations concocted by their brilliant skincare experts are literally made in their own "eco factory" using locally-grown organic ingredients whenever possible. The Neal's Yard Remedies "eco-factory" actually has a CarbonNeutral status which in turn lowers theirs and in a sense your own carbon footprint. The founder Peter Kinderslay is obviously passionate about his products and the ingredients they use because for him organic is the only way to go - "We love organic because no ingredient contains higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients than those which have been organically grown.” 
That kind of talk and my own slight obsessions with anything sporting roses as the main ingredient led me to Wild Rose Beauty Balm ($58) and Wild Rose Beauty Elixir ($70). These two formulas stay true to their name and have a real rose scent which is something so many other companies try to emulate only to end up with a cloying, artifical and watered down flowery fragrance. The real roses used in the Wild Rose line up probably have a lot to do with it.  

Apivita is a apothecary based greek company founded in 1979 by two "real-life" pharmacists Nikos & Niki Koutsianas who shared the same passion for natural-holistic approach to skincare and wanted to create a line featuring bee products and local Greek herbs. Fascinated and obviously inspired by the bee life-cycle (Apivita) they used the same philosophy to create a company developmental model featuring organization, productivity and mutual co-operation. The bee-inspired skincare, bodycare, haircare and aromatherapy features both natural local herbs as well as all forms of bee related by-products, which are harvested at their very own bee farm. There is no better way to control what and how something goes into your product, than growing it yourself!
My favourite Apivita products are Beauty Twins: Hydration + Radiance ($56), Natural Chamomile Oil ($20) and Organic Laurel Oil ($20), which is a hair treatment.

The next brand that took me by surprise is Betty Hula, which is a very affordable UK natural brand that uses Hawaii-Inspired scents to bring that luxurious pampering feel to women who are passionate about "clean" ingredients, handmade beauty and fair trade. What we have here is a nature-inspired brand with a conscience that understands the difference "green" formulas can make in today's busy polluted world. The charming vintage packaging just adds to its appeal and may have influenced my purchase a little bit (ok a lot!). The entire Betty range is hand made, free of any "questionable" additives and only contains minimal preservatives to increase the product longevity and freshness and thereby ensure optimum efficiency once it reaches its clients.
Betty Hoola that inspired me are Secret Wonder Oil ($25) and Champagne & Spice Body Butter ($23).

One of my favorite mid-price discoveries in the "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty" mission is the amazing German brand Lavera that specializes in both natural makeup and organic skincare. When these guys say they are serious about organic ingredients and clean formulas, they really mean it. In fact they regularly welcome and encourage independent scrutiny when it comes to their products and aim to stay transparent in light of the many certifications companies with "natural" claims require to go through. I was beyond impressed after viewing their ingredient policy and award page. There are so many companies (natural or not) that will go to great lengths to cover things up about ingredients or methods they use, so a brand like Lavera is so refreshing to see.
I will be doing a complete separate feature on Lavera and these are my favorites: Revitalizing Face Mask in Organic Wild Rose ($5.76), Intensive Care Liposome Cream in Organic Wild Rose ($40.32) and Body Lotion in Vanilla Coconut ($19.90).

The last brand I want to include in today's "Clean Pretty Is Better Pretty" installment is the one and only Suki, which is likely the one I am most excited about. Suki is one of those companies whose mission statement, humble beginning, commitment to ingredients, scientific research implemented and results; are all so perfect that if they wanted me to be a spokesperson I would probably do it for free. They are the first skin care line that produced visible results during a consumer clinical study and they actually take fuel-cost into consideration when sourcing ingredients and manufacturing locations. Can you believe that there is almost no carbon output from their processing procedures? It really couldnt be more perfect for my "clean" project!
My favorite Suki picks for now are: Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser ($32.95) and Renewal Bio-Resurfacing Facial Peel ($82.95) but that list will hopefully expand very soon.

I hope this was helpful! See you lovelies in Part 3!

What is your favorite natural brand?

XOXO


ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-)

CLEAN PRETTY IS BETTER PRETTY - Project PART 1

I am about to share a quote with you that scared me a little more than I'd like to admit but I am hoping that it will at least inspire me to make some more significant changes in my personal quest for "cleaner living". 

According to the Environmental Working Group "one third of personal care products contain at least one chemical linked to cancer" and the main offenders such as parabens, preservatives or phthalates have been proven to do everything from degrading cell DNA to lowering weakened immune systems. 

Its findings and realizations like this motivate me to up my game even more when it comes to choosing better products for both personal and household use. After all ingredients I can pronounce and recognize such as pomegranate, mushrooms, green tea, coconut oil, cocoa, almonds, brown sugar...are so much more pleasant to use and today's natural companies have more than perfected their formulas so you can be assured that they will be effective and safe. 

As a beauty blogger, scientist and just an all-around curious person I already really enjoy trying new products, discovering up-and-coming brands and even just researching unusual ingredients. My humble clean-living mission started out just like that - personal research, company communication and a ton of samples and mini bottles. The journey made it very clear to me that replacing everything I use and consume with a healthier choice can be ridiculously overwhelming and frustrating but the benefits gained can not only be life-changing for me but also for the environment and my immidiate community. 

My "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty" project is nowhere near finished and continues to be and probably always will be a work in progress but I wanted to share some of my findings with you my lovely readers and introduce you to some of my favorite discoveries.

The first brand I looked into that focused on both personal and household products that are clean, eco-friendly, organic and just overall plain-awesome is the now already famous Honest Company. Everything I read and inquired about when it came to their products, philosophy and customer service was beyond impressive that I now can't wait for their expansion to Canada (check their facebook page for updates). I will be placing an order for their Essentials Bundle on day one :-)

They offer everything from household necessities (laundry, dishwasher detergents), personal care products (shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath etc), baby essentials (wipes, diapers etc) and family staples (sunscreen, bug spray). After sampling a few of their creations I am definitively a huge fan!

Aesop is an Australian natural company that covers all the products one can possibly need - skincare, body care, hair care, fragrance and even some unique home based items. This already holds a cult position among the environmentally passionate and responsible individuals and is one of those brands that really never required hype to be successful. The luxurious and charming apothecary style bottles, fresh unconventional
scents and pure but effective formulations are just some of the reasons I was all over their stuff. Their low-key (realistic) promises, research dedication and use of only the best natural concoctions in the Aesop laboratories means that their products will stay true to what they say and there is no worry about any "nasties" causing havoc on your face or body. I had used their appropriately named Amazing Face Cleanser ($33 for 3.4 oz) before and loved it more than I like to admit, along with the Damascan Rose Facial Treatment ($73.00 for 0.9 oz), which is probably one of my favorite products of all time. 

REN Skincare is all over my blog as it is so my love for their products is well-documented (see here!) but I couldn't resist mentioning them. Their "clean skincare" approach was ground-breaking when they first started and the most recent addition to their collection, Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser ($22 for 150 ml) only renewed my obsession with REN. For those unfamiliar with the brand, you need to know that REN skincare does not use parabens, sulfates, petrolatum, glycol, silicone or artificial colors and preservatives in their innovative formulas which means you are getting a product chock-full of natural essential oils, antioxidants and replenishing phytohormones. To me REN is the best example that combining science and nature can result in a product that is effective but doesn't have to be harmful to fulfill its purpose. 

Tammy Fender skincare brand is one of my most recent discoveries and their claim to fame seems to be focused on products based on ancient practices of holistic medicine and custom blended formulations. Basically their approach is centered on creating personalized product lines that deal with the individuals specific skin problems and concerns as companies seem to have finally realized that just because only a few "skin-types" have been established that doesn't mean that all skin should be boxed into such narrow categories. My favorite part of their philosophy and ultimately the reason I placed an order was their stance "everything put onto the skin enters into the body and becomes one with the person". Do we really want cancer-related and cell-destroying substances to become one with our bodies?

The product that wowed me (full review to come!) is the Capillary Strengthening Blend Formula No.CB-459 ($80 for 1 oz), which is a form of serum-oil designed for sensitive skins prone to redness (rosacia). I am so excited about trying more of Tammy's skincare especially since their mission fits most perfectly in the "Clean Pretty is Better Pretty" project!

The Intelligent Nutrients brand may be familiar to long-time Aveda  fans because they were both started by the same person. This brand however is certified organic and makes a seemingly endless number of products in each category - skin, body, hair and even a variety of nutritional supplements. Fun fact about the founder, Horst Rechelbacher - it is said that in 2008 during the launch of Intelligent Nutrients he demonstrated the brands commitment to purity and clean ingredients by actually drinking their new hair spray! I can't think of a better way to make a point about the safety of what you are trying to sell! 

My favorite product from Intelligent Nutrients is the Plant Stem Cell Science Renewal Eye Gel ($48 for .5 oz), which claims to reduce fine lines around the eyes in a mere 20 days of religious use! I don't have a whole lot of lines yet (phew!) but I can definitively vouch for the hydration and plumping factor of the eye gel. The delicate skin not just feels better after I use this but it also looks brighter, hydrated and rested. Its a keeper for sure :-)

I hope you enjoyed this little guide and discovered a new "clean" brand to try. 

Please join me in the upcoming installments for more products that are guaranteed not to make you sick :-)

Do you have a favorite natural or organic brand?

XOXO

ANJA

P.S. If you enjoyed this post and want some more Princeza Beauty Musings, please consider following me through GFC, Bloglovin, Pinterest or Twitter! Insert "happy dance" here :-)