The Green Beauty Guide

Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial agent rich in flavonoids, vitamins C and E, citric acid, and various minerals. As a substance, it is clear and nearly odorless. I found that it blends well with most creams, lotions, and foaming cleansers for face and body.

I frequently use grapefruit seed extract in my [...]

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Musk, a popular perfume fixative since ancient times, was traditionally obtained from the gland of the male musk deer, Moschus moschiferus. The animal was usually killed in the process.

Between thirty and fifty deer would die to provide two pounds of musk grains. Due to the high demand of musk and indiscriminate hunting, populations of musk [...]

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I am bombarded by the demands to review a new “green” skincare line. Sometimes (quite rarely) these lines are truly spectacular and really green, and I rave and urge you to give them a try.
Sometimes these lines are overpriced and often contain hazardous ingredients that you must beware of.
One of such lines is Luvalla (L’Uvalla? [...]

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Sometimes it’s tempting to ditch the no-paraben rule, especially if that pretty pink lip gloss is just what’s doctor ordered on a gloomy day. But even if the gloss is pretty, parabens themselves are perhaps the ugliest ingredients out there.

It was once believed that parabens, known as esters of para-hydroxybenzoic acid, are not stored in [...]

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               In winter time, our skin requires gentle cleansing, and that’s when plant-based, low foaming cleansers come handy.

                All cleansing products, whether they are meant for use on the face, body, or hair, are based on one of three types of cleansing agents: detergents, plant soaps, and saponins.

                Detergents are the most ubiquitous type [...]

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What they claim: Shine Refined.

Full list of ingredients:
Polybutene, pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, C18-36 acid triglyceride, tridecyl trimellitate, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, silica dimethyl silylate, linalool, geranoil, calcium aluminum borosilicate, calcium sodium borosilicate, eugenol, sodium saccharin, silica, limonene, citral, synthetic fluorphlogopite, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, alpha-isomethyl oilone, hexyl cinnamal, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, butylparaben, bht, fragrance.

Beware:

Along [...]

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What they claim: Allergy tested. 100 per cent fragrance free. Winner of Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards 2006.

Full list of ingredients:

US Version: Water (Aqua Purificata) Purified, Mineral Oil (paraffinum liquidum), Sesame (Sesamum Indicum) Oil, Propylene Glycol, TEA Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Lanolin Alcohol, Petrolatum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

UK/EU Version: contains more of natural ingredients but is abundant on triethanolamine. Still, [...]

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Benzyl alcohol, a popular ingredient in natural beauty products, is an aromatic substance naturally found in essential oils including jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang.

Even in small dosages, benzyl alcohol may cause various toxic effects including respiratory failure, very low blood pressure, convulsions, and paralysis.

MSDA Safety Data Sheet for Benzyl Alcohol: “Toxicology: Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or [...]

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Do you know that some of the most popular fragrance ingredients are clinically proven strong irritants? Let’s take a look at Lyral, chemically known as Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde, the most allergic fragrance chemical currently used.

Lyral is most commonly added to floral fragrances with fresh, romantic notes of muguet. If you sense “soft delicate, floral, [...]

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In my book, THE GREEN BEAUTY GUIDE, I give you lots of theory on why certain cosmetic ingredients are bad for you. However, some people cannot believe things are really that bad with their trusted brands that you can find anywhere, in distant villages and gorgeous supermarket chains.

In the next few posts, I want to [...]

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