Organic Lotions and Potions
We are raising our children organically, we are eating organic food, and our homes are becoming organic and green. So the next logical step is skincare. Use organic lotions and potions of course.

"The First Criteria for Organic Lotions and Potions"
No parabens should be the first plus in choosing any organic skincare line. Parabens are chemical preservatives used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Research work on parabens - "Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumors by P.D. Darbre, A. Alijarrah, W.R. Miller, N.G. Coldham, M.J. Sauer and G.S. Pope appeared in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24, 5-13 (2004).

"Just Saying Natural Doesn't Cut It"
Learn to read labels carefully! Some cosmetics promote themselves as being natural but in reality they are full of harmful chemicals, parabens, phthalates (say that three times real fast), etc. A good rule of thumb is to look for USDA Certified Organic ingredients. There are many ethical and truly organic companies; you just have to be diligent in perusing the labels.

Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castile Soaps are unlike any you’ve ever used. A combination of organic extra virgin coconut, olive, jojoba and hemp oils, together with pure essential oils, creates a unique soap that cleans effectively without being aggressive and produces a velvety-lather that leaves the skin silky-smooth and refreshed. Not only are Dr. Bronner products USDA Certified Organic but it is also a certified Fair Trade company.

A great online store is MotherNature.com. It has a full array of organic products including Dr. Bronner products, and the prices are some of the best I have found to date!

To my delight, while searching online the other day, I ran across Love Lula the organic apothecary. What a lovely site from the UK! LoveLula.com is certified by the Soil Association, the UK's organic body. It brings you a hand picked collection of some of the world's finest and purest natural beauty & organic products. When you check out Love Lula, make sure you have time to really scrutinize the whole site, especially the About Us, and to keep up to date with news and product reviews be sure to sign up for the newsletter and visit the blog!

Organic skincare should include your makeup and glamour products as well as soaps and lotions. Make sure you include organic and paraben free foundation,  eye makeup and  remember to pamper your lips. I am fond of the bareMinerals makeup by Bare Escentuals, Burt's Bees and Ecolips products.