Pamper Yourself

Every March, the Natural Products Expo West hits California’s Anaheim Convention Center, bringing with it 3,000 booths showcasing the latest in all-natural food,supplements and personal care. Walking its mazelike aisles means tasting, testing and touching an overwhelming number of products. This year we got so excited by some of the new beauty items that we just had to share them with you. These are the ones you absolutely gotta go get.

Almost Good Enough to Eat
Ever been tempted to drizzle your shampoo on a pile of pancakes? Yeah, neither have we. But with these products, well, the idea is less far-fetched.

	Sinful Soap It may look like a slab of chocolate fudge, but it’s strictly for shower use—and a lot less fattening. Coco Zum Goats Milk Chocolate Soap contains organic cocoa butter and cocoa powder. $5.30/ oz. 800.361.5686 indigowild.com
	Berry Good Blueberries are among the world’s healthiest foods, so it’s likely something that good for your insides will be good for your outsides too. MyChelle’s Blueberry Antioxidant Mask contains actual blueberry pulp, along with other natural antioxidants (green tea and grape seed extract) to rejuvenate and hydrate skin. $25/1 oz. 800.447.2076 mychelleusa.com
	An Apple a Day Keep dermatologists away with a Green Apple Peel every seven days to smooth and hydrate your skin. Juice Beauty uses certified-organic fruit juices as the base (most cosmetics have a water base) to boost its products’ antioxidant effects. Used weekly, the peel will get rid of dead skin cells and diminish fine lines. $39/2 oz. 415.457.4600 juicebeauty.com

Set the mood
Work is tough, the kids drive you bonkers and the phone won’t stop ringing. Grating times call for great products designed to calm, quiet and compose.

	Coming Up Roses Aromatherapists know that the smell of roses is relaxing, soothing and something of an aphrodisiac. Home Health’s Rose Water Body Splash and Hair Rinse has only two ingredients: purified water and aromatic oil of rose. Pour into a bath, mist on your hair as it dries, or spritz on your bedsheets, and see what it does for you. $6/8 oz. 800.445.7137 homehealthus.com
	Light Up Nothing goes better together than candlelight and massages, and we’re kicking ourselves for not thinking of this first. Light the Skcandle’s hemp wick and, as it burns, the candle (made of eco- and skin-friendly palm kernel oil, soybean oil and shea butter) melts into a warm, fragrant massage oil that you pour into your hand. Each one creates enough oil for 20 full-body massages. $25/8 oz. 866.531.9916 skcandle.com
	Island Delight On any given day, we’d much rather be lounging on a tropical island than stuck in our daily grind. Ideal for even a quick shower getaway, TerraNova’s Tuberose Hydrating Body Wash contains lemongrass, ginkgo, green tea and a tantalizing scent that leaves you feeling silky, smooth and transported. $13/8.5 oz. 800.966.3457 terranovabody.com

Head-to-toe beauty
From follicles to feet, these products will have you looking your best.

	Tame That Mane Finally, Jason has whipped up salon styling products, each overflowing with fruit extracts and natural oils to boost moisture and keep hair healthy. And there’s not a drop of alcohol or a hint of parabens to be found. We’re big fans of the Aloe Vera & Bergamot Shine Spray because it drives frizz away and makes locks shiny. $8/3.3 oz. 800.434.4246 jason-natural.com
	Feet First Don’t forget your tootsies! For hot-footed folk (e.g., anyone who’s on her feet all day), Little Moon Essentials offers cooling Fresh Peppermint Foot Bath and Lotion (the scent also soothes hot tempers). For those whose feet are always freezing, Warming Ginger- Cayenne will boost circulation. Foot baths, $11/9 oz. Foot lotions, $9.50/2 oz. 888.273.0683 littlemoonessentials.com
	Southern Hemisphere Secrets From Australia comes certified-organic oral care. Miessence’s toothpaste is free of fluoride, aluminum, artificial sweeteners and detergents. And their mouthwash is herbal, all-natural, alcohol-free and tastes minty. Toothpaste, $7/4.9 oz. Mouthwash, $11/8.5 oz. 510.882.4703 greenlifeorganics.com

Out on the town
Even the most natural Earth girl occasionally feels the call of glitz and glamor. When it’s your time, these products will gussy you up for a night out.

	Simply Mineral People with super-sensitive skin—or who are sensitive about cosmetics’ effect on the environment—know that mineral makeup is the way to go. Alima Cosmetics makes pure mineral makeups (think everything from matte foundation, shimmer powder and bronzer to eyeliner and lip balm) and donates 5% of profits to organizations that promote the health and well-being of women. Eyeshadow, $8.50/2.5g. 503.659.0033 alimacosmetics.com
	Wake up Bright-Eyed After the fun’s done and the party’s over, there’s one more important skin-care step before bed. Earth Science’s Chamomile & Green Tea Eye Makeup Remover is extra gentle, with no fragrances or artificial colors. Chamomile and green tea provide an antioxidant boost, and vitamin E promotes healthy skin. $6.50/4 oz. 800.347.5211 earthessentials.com
	Perfect Perfume All perfumes use alcohol as their base, but only Nature’s Gate’s Fragranza uses 100% certified-organic alcohol. That would be newsworthy enough for us, but we’re too busy swooning over the fragrances: all flower, fruit and plant essences. $40/1.5 oz. 866.972.6879 natures-gate.com

Problem Solved
Let’s face it, we all have problems. Fortunately, this slew of new products is really good at solving some of the most vexing beauty ones.

	Smooth Out Reduce the signs of the times with Radiance Restoragen’s Collagen Rejuvenating Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. Collagen is the protein that gives skin its youthful fullness, and this balm gives collagen new reason to rally. $50/1.7 oz. 800.951.7395 radiancerestoragen.com
	Boys’ Room Men, are you paying attention? Because we’ve finally found an all-natural cruelty-free line just for you. That’s a good thing because men’s cheeks are more likely than women’s to get oily and irritated. Aubrey’s Men’s Stock After Shave Balm contains aloe and flaxseed lignans to target that post-shave irritation. $11/4 oz. 800.282.7394 aubreyorganics.com
	Face Off Ready to renew your complexion? Zia’s Natural Microdermabrasion System lets you do just that at home. The kit has three components: a scrub to get rid of dead skin cells, a tonic to calm and a serum to moisturize. Making it even more Earth-friendly is a box made from 75% recycled paper and printed with soy ink. $80/2.5 oz. 800.334.7546 zianatural.com

For more eco-friendly beauty products, read the full article in the July/August '06 issue of Vegetarian Times.