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For those of you who use organic skin care products (I have been one for approximately 3 years now) you will know that it is difficult to find a face cream that includes an SPF. Because it is all natural, the SPF needs to be a physical block and therefore gives you more of a mime-like glow rather than the usual sun-kissed variety. This fact has essentially made me an organic face cream tester, changing brands a few times a year, never quite finding all of the attributes that I look for: moisturizing, smells yummy but not too yummy, good value for the money, organic and ideally contains an SPF.

Along comes a spa line called Eminence. I have encountered this line before and liked the idea of the small-batch process using ingredients grown on a rural organic farm in the Hungarian hills. I once used the Sour Cherry Whip Moisturizer which literally made my mouth water every time I used it. Alas, I didn’t find it moisturizing enough for my skin. Last week I decided to give the brand another try upon discovering that they had added a face cream with an SPF - the Tomato Summer Sun Cream with SPF 16 was mine. Tomato you say? I thought the same thing, ick. I must admit that it is surprisingly refreshing with a touch of something minty that makes my face tingle with delight. At $60 it sounds expensive but it does last a long time and since they do not add water to any of their creams, you can add a little to thin it out on the days you need less. Factor in less money spent on expensive sunscreen for your face and it almost makes sense.

This might be it. The one that makes me faithful. Next on my list? The Eminence Tropical Vanilla Sun Cream SPF 32 (smells like heaven on Earth) and the Wild Plum Eye Cream (expensive but necessary for these pesky dark circles). Free shipping over $200 on the Canadian site www.eskincarestore.com. Yes, it is easy to spend that on your own but you can also team up with a friend in need.

Photos: Eminenceorganics.com

Two ways to add a pop of colour: handbag, lipgloss. And really the perfect items to purchase online because you know they are going to fit. Well, the lipgloss may arrive and fall just short of the perfect shade but who tries it on in the store anyway? You take that risk online and on the street…it’s like choosing paint colours, you get better at it the more practice you have. This new lip stain by Tarte is cheerful, easy to apply and moisturizes like your favourite little chapstick. And no oozing into the innards of my handbags. The hot pink hue called Charmed is great for the warmer weather. Then throw your essentials into either of these two bright bags to meet the girls and bask in the glow of envy. Made in LA by Treesje, they save you money on duty when shipping to Canada and by the way, buy the blue satchel here and the shipping is free. If you must have green then try here.

It’s watermelon season again - although come to think of it I have been eating the mini seedless variety from Mexico all winter long. In any case, watermelon season also means it’s time to be more scrupulous about sunscreen application. So you can see the wisdom in pairing them up as Korres does in its Watermelon Sunscreen Stick with SPF30. The stick formulation makes it so easy to tuck into a handbag and apply at first blush…or preferrably before but nobody is perfect. It also acts as a highlighter so roll it on those sun-prone spots and shimmer away. (And I don’t mean in the shiny and very painful red lobster way.) This product is quite literally sheer joy and a must-have for every natural-beauty-product-lovin’ girl this summer.

Photos: Sephora.com

Nail biter? Finger-licker? Babies sucking on your hands? You need this polish. Butter London has come up with a line of toxin-free nail polish with fabulous, fashionable colours and beautiful packaging to make you feel flirty while doing your bit for the earth and your health. Butter touts itself as ‘3 Free’ which is kind of confusing on their site since it makes it sound like you are somehow getting 3 free bottles of polish. Not the case. What it really means is that they are free of the 3 most common carcinogenic chemicals found in polish: Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP. Hooray.

They ship to Canada from their site - just change the country in the top right corner to that familiar maple leaf. You can also find it in-store at Holt’s. I would recommend the Fashionista’s Favourite Fall 2008 pack for all of the shades you might require this season. Throw a base and top coat in your shopping basket for the complete treatment. To the salon junkies - this doesn’t mean you have to do your own nails. Bring it along and they will be happy to use your brand of choice. Spread the word, Butter is delicious.

Photos: Butter London

It may be a stretch to call it a ‘Beauty Product’ but it is true that eating well and getting your daily vitamins makes you glow a bit brighter. I’m talking about vitaminwater, the vitamin-infused water that comes in 15 colourful and mouth-watering flavours that meet the different needs of your day. I am an on-again-off-again vitamin taker since I believe that I get most of what I need from the food that I choose to eat. I am also a believer in saving your calories for these vitamin-rich foods instead of wasting them on surprisingly high-calorie juices. However, these 591ml bottles have 120 calories and are an interesting and tasty alternative to pill-popping. They are also prescriptive so if one day you need more energy and one day you need more immunity to icky germs, you can customize your intake. Although I have only tried a few flavours, my preferred is XXX, the acai-blueberry-pomegranate blend. Delicious. (The kiwi-strawberry I must admit did not appeal to me with its slightly chalky aftertaste.)

For anyone that drinks Gatorade, I recommend switching immediately. I also think they would be great for those first few months of pregnancy when many of us tend to feel sickly and sluggish, are desperate for rehydration and are still looking for drinks to replace the usual caffeinated variety. You may want to check that your flavour of choice has safe doses of vitamins but I think that the flavours Charge, Formula 50 and Essential would be good picks. They should develop a new Pre-Natal flavour, it would sell like hotcakes.

Is summer wreaking havoc on your hair? In my case, it’s not the actual weather that is making it dull. I think it is more the fact that the crazy heat makes me hang up my hair dryer for a few months and it just doesn’t get the loving attention that it deserves. One night this week treat yourself to a long shower followed by a leave-in a hair mask. While waiting for the mask to work its magic, lounge around the house in your favourite bra and panties sipping chilled green tea with honey - just because it’s summer…it’s good for you…and you can. Try Fruits and Passion Monoi Nourishing Hair Mask for glossy hair that smells like a balmy Hawaiian breeze. Mmmmm. (Get the 150ml Monoi Nourishing Milk for $6.50, regularly $13, with any purchase over $15.)

Photos: Fruits & Passion

For the month of July Get $10 off if you order one or both of the Moor Allure Skin Renewal Moisturizer or Radiance Mask. Use the promo code SUMMER on their website to receive the discount.

I had to see for myself what Lipstick Queen was all about so I made a pilgrimage to my local Holt Renfrew to get the first-hand experience. The sales girls waxed poetic about Poppy King, the inspired entrepreneur and creator of Lipstick Queen’s deeply hued sticks. They loved how cool and approachable she was when she visited the store to promote her cosmetics and her new book.

I was interested because I always wonder how models and celebs get that completely saturated red lip that looks really amazing and glamorous - or rather I wondered how I could get it without a makeup artist on staff and an hour to make up my face. The answer? Lipstick Queen. They sell 2 kinds of lipstick: Saint is the sheer, 10% pigmented line, Sinner is the opaque, 90% pigmented line. Since I don’t normally wear lipstick, only gloss, I opted for Saint Red. For those of us who live our lives off the red carpet, it is as much pigment as you will ever need. I was amazed at how blue it made my eyes look and how many second glances I got as I strutted out of Holt’s with my new look. It really makes you feel dressed up even in jeans and sneakers. Be forewarned, the wrong red can age you about 10 years but this red has a bit of pink/blue in it so it makes it fresh for pale complexions like mine. They also have a great Coral colour (that has too much orange in it to look good on me) for a darker complexion. It would look smoking hot on a sultry summer night drinking sangria. At $18 they are an inexpensive way to give yourself a little swing in your step and will inspire you to try a bit harder in front of the mirror in the morning.

Unfortunately their website does not ship to Canada but if you aren’t within shopping distance of Holt Renfrew (or Mills Brothers in Halifax), try calling them in New York…I have a feeling they would send it to you if you requested it. You can order online from Elizabeth Charles or JZ Rose but shipping is expensive unless you are shopping for other items.

Photos: Holt Renfrew, Lipstick Queen, People, InStyle

‘Natural, organic and sustainable lifestyle products while embracing style and aesthetic’ - that is what Nimli.com claims to be all about. Their site boasts a large selection of fashion-forward brands that you aren’t tired of seeing in every ‘green issue’ of the style magazines. If this is helping the earth, sign me up. This ecoSkin line of just-sexy-enough dresses help to create a sylphlike shape for laid-back summer glamour. 

And it’s not just clothing, it runs the style gamut from fashion to beauty to home. I am completely smittin’ with these beachy cool coin-inspired baubles by Kim Alessi, Liza Shtromberg and M Designs.

The home category includes such finds as this Fishnet Pillow and gorgeous Embroidered Napkins by Ortolan NYC and Rosebud Pillow by House and Wear. I haven’t included pics of their beauty lines but not for lack of choice - I wanted to mention the line of amazing and luxurious Aussie eco cosmetics by NVEY ECO. Some of these items might just pop up in my May Obsessions…there are a few that I haven’t been able to get out of my head. I encourage you to treat yourself to some earth-friendly treats this Earth Day.

Photos: Nimli.com

I mentioned in a previous post that I was in love with the Korres line of natural beauty products and cosmetics. At the time I had purchased my Cherry Full Color Gloss from their retail location in London, England. However, I wanted to let you know that Sephora is now exclusively carrying their full line of makeup. I think I will try their nude shade of gloss for summer and perhaps the Lip Butter in Pomegranate for those windy days when gloss becomes a hair hazard. And while you are online, check out their wide array of Eyeshadow colours in both shimmering and matte finishes - try the shimmering pink and golden green shades this Spring.

The other beauty update I have is on mark. by Avon. I personally don’t usually think of Avon when shopping for cosmetics but their mark. line is on trend and has some very reasonable prices and waste-conscious packaging. If you read my beauty picks, I am a big fan of the all-over colour stick and their Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint is the perfect thing to throw into your tote - at $6, why not try a few colours? Save space in your cosmetic case and the landfill with the mark. Hook Up or Pop In Colour systems for gloss, eyeliner and shadow. Aside from makeup, mark. also does a small range of apparel and accessories. Check out this cute Get Set Eyelet Dress for for $35, a great basic for this time of year when you aren’t sure if you should be wearing your boots or your wedges.

Photos: Sephora, Avon