After I read No More Dirty Looks, about the toxic side of the beauty industry, it was like a switch had  been flipped. Suddenly I was interested in finding organic beauty products. Non- sulfate shampoos and natural oils for the skin, products with ingredients that I could identify. Chemicals to stay away from. Toxins like heavy metals in products that I‘ve been using everyday.

Organic Seal

I started the month of September thinking I would go organic for thirty days and see what happened. I imagined reviewing all the organic products I could in a month, surely there were a thirty brands, one for each day.

Little did I know that there are tons of wonderful organic products that work well, if not better than what you might be using right now. I love natural products, I’m grateful there are many to choose from.

I’ve learned so much in this last month. I’ve also become a little bit scared of my cabinets bulging with products that contain lead, mercury, aluminum. My hope is that the major mega conglomerates who lead the way in personal care product manufacturing will begin to incorporate natural ingredients.

Coconut-Lime Lotion Stick

I’m going to continue writing about organic, natural products, I can’t stop now. Its like switching to junk food after being on a fast. Its hard for me, as a beauty writer, as someone who loves nothing more than a fabulous new mascara or lipgloss to stop writing about the big brands that make gorgeous products. I think of using these products as a treat, something to be brought out for occasional use.

In closing, educate yourself. Be healthy. Natural is beautiful.

Check out these links and learn more,  www.ewg.org/skindeep, http://nomoredirtylooks.com/, http://www.ecostiletto.com/, http://www.thekindlife.com/, http://www.naturalnews.com/

You can check out all of Cindy Bokma’s articles at Hellodollface.com

 Powered by Max Banner Ads 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month starts tomorrow, but the fight to find a cure is still ongoing. You can do your part by making a donation to your favorite foundation, or by treating yourself to a new beauty product and at the same time helping thousands of women who are struggling to beat cancer.

Each time you purchase a Pretty in Pink product from the Pink Ribbon Collection, beth bender beauty will donate a proceed of each sale to Cancerandcareers.org. Spend $36 or more on any beth bender beauty products online and get the Pretty in Pink Compact as a gift, and they’ll donate $2. Either way it’s a win-win for all.

The Limited Edition Pretty in Pink Smoky Eye Kit, and Long Wear Lip gloss are available during the month of October. So start shopping and help to knock Breast Cancer on it’s ass for good!

Check out two other companies who are giving back to help in the fight for a cure.

Buy Arcona Magic Pink Ice For BCA Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Don’t be afraid to wing out your eyeliner this season. Just go ahead and do it!

Instantly update your eyeliner look this fall by embracing the ever popular cat-eye beauty trend. Back once again for another run. To get the look extend your eyeliner up and out about half an inch on your outer corners.

Or if your hand is a bit shaky, for more precision, but just as much drama, do what we do and use a cat eyeliner stencil. It takes only seconds to do and you won’t believe how amazing your eyes will look. We promise.

You can make your liner as thick or as thin as you desire simply by moving the stencil away from your lashline.

Bronze and Gold Eyeshadow

Not ready to give up your dark smoky eyes? Then why not update them for fall with bit of shimmer seen here. Like makeup artist Beth Bender did at a presentation for Diane von Furstenberg. To brighten up the inner corners, apply a gold shimmer or champagne shimmer to “give the eye reflection,” and for added intensity rim the eye with a black waterproof liner.

If you want the bling but need to tone it down for your day gig, then go for a sultry bronze shadow (try the SGB Smoky Eye Kit, $36) 3 colors to wear separately or blend together for a shimmery, neutral look like the models seen above.

Smoky eyes have forever been a fall beauty trend, and this year is no exception. But, instead of basic black, this season’s sultriest eyes offer up lots and lots of color. Whether it’s an eggplant or plum shadow seen at Carolina Herrera, or a blue-gray at Derek Lam, the runways were full of strong colors on the eyes.

For a not-too-sweet purple palette that looks good on every eye color, try beth bender beauty’s New Backstage Beauty Smoky Eye Quad in Power Plums, $36. Also available in Brown, Grey, and Blue, and each comes with an eyeshadow and eyeliner brush, plus fail proof instructions.

The Girls in the BSW Beauty Dept.

Related: A Mega Smoky-Cat Eye That is Super Hot

Related: Yay! Cat Eyeliner is Back For Fall

Click here to do a sexy cat eye for fall!

Subscribe to BSW and get the best of our beauty blog, delivered straight to your inbox!

Some of you may or may not know that “get your beauty sleep” is more than just a saying.  It is actually a fact.  While we are sleeping, not only are our bodies regenerating, but so are our skin cells…Our skin cells practically double over night while we are peacefully dreaming about sugar plums and fairies (more like all the running around we will be doing the next day).  Here are the facts girlie’s…Now you can boost your 7-9 hours of sleep with a little help from FemmeScience’s new luxurious Night Cream.  Anti-aging ingredients are better absorbed and more active at night because they are not competing with the suns harmful rays!!!

This new night cream will nourish your face with yummy ingredients including avocados, acai berries, green tea, shea butter, squalene, peptides, vitamins a,c,e and hyaluronic acid. Talk about a facial boost while you sleep!  All of these key ingredients are well known for their anti-aging effects, cellular turnover, improving skins smoothness, and increasing skin resilience.  And let’s not forget…you are never too young to start preventing the aging process…(Femmescience skin care can be used by all ages)

Give your face a boost with "Night Cream" by FemmeScience

FemmeScience products are created with dermatological-grade ingredients which makes all the difference in your skins appearance.  Many over the counter brands purchased at local grocery, drug or mass outlets are actually doing nothing to improve your skin!  Read your labels girls…it may feel good on your skin as you apply it, but the effect does not last.  “Smoke n’ Mirrors,” baby!

Rejuvenate, glow, look younger, and feel great about your skin with FemmeScience Night Cream Skin Renewal Treatment. Retails for $44 and worth every penny!!!

All FemmeScience products get The Bender Sisters Lips of Approval

More ways to keep BSW on your radar:

Fall Beauty Trend: Cat Eyeliner & Wispy Brows

Backstage Beauty:  Rachel Roy Spring 2011

October Is The Month To Give Back and help Fight Breast Cancer

Subscribe to BSW and get the best of our beauty blog, delivered straight to your inbox!

I just find this look so sexy. I don’t know what it is about a heavily loaded eyelid but each time I see one I am drawn to how gorgeous it really is. The fact that actress Gemma Arterton happens to be stunning probably helps too, but something about  a mega-smoky cat eye just seems extra-fabulous to me on any occasion or red carpet.

At Rachel Roy Spring 2011 fashion show, beauty was kept clean and shimmery, with a boldly lined eye and a twisted bun.

MAKEUP: Bobbi Brown for Bobbi Brown
HAIR: Bok-hee for Redken

THE LOOK: Entrenched in Natural Beauty

THE BSW SCOOP: This season Rachel Roy reinterpreted the classic trench, in shades of khaki and with beautiful detailing. Makeup looked fresh and natural,  with black gel eyeliner in a cat eye style applied thickly to the top lid. With the hair, natural wisps barely touched the face, while the back was twisted into a bun.

GET THE LOOK-MAKEUP: Bobbi Brown and her team of artists created the look starting with Flawless and Natural Foundation, followed by Face Highlighter Pen in Pal as the blush. The eyes were the focus of the look, Black Ink Gel Liner was applied heavily on the upper lid only, and finished with a bit of the Beige Shimmer Brick above the gel liner.  Mascara in black was applied generously to the top lashes. Lips were kept neutral with a beige lip color.

GET THE LOOK-HAIR: All products by Redken. Bok-hee started with a blow-out, working Full Frame Mousse 07 throughout the hair to give great fullness, and blowing side to side for no part. The part is pulled in from the sides, with a tinge of volume left on top. Create the bun with your hands and twist it, slightly, holding in place while securing hair with bobby pins. Make sure the bottom underneath the bun is tight, and leave a few wisps sticking out. Finish the look with Forceful 23 Super Finishing Spray.

Related: Monique Lhuillier Spring 2011 – Backstage Beauty

Quinntin Speaks: Vera Wang Spring 2011 Collection

***

More ways to keep BSW on your radar:

Yay! Cat Eyeliner is Back For Fall

Fall Beauty Trend: Cat Eyeliner & Wispy Brows

Subscribe to BSW and get the best of our beauty blog, delivered straight to your inbox!

Aside from being a hot celebrity, singer, and now actress to add to her list, Fergie can really rock a smoky eye. Seen here on the Miami Dolphins Orange Carpet over the weekend looking a bit shiny, but with the high humidity it’s almost impossible to be shine free. Anyway it’s her smoky eyes we want to talk about and how much we love them!

It’s a great smoky eye look. Don’t believe us? Take a closer look:

Fergie's Sexy Smoky Eyes Close Up

She’s got a shimmery champagne shimmer on the inner corners, a taupe shimmer on the outer half of her eyes, and a coffee shimmer in her creases for shading. She finished by adding a tight brown gel eyeliner along the lash line which creates depth and makes the bed of her lashes look even thicker. The colors are soft, but when blended together they look beautiful and Miami appropriate for the tropical weather.

If you’re thinking of trying this fabulous look on yourself,  we’ve got a few color suggestions for you below:

Tell us your best smoky eye look. We’d love to hear from you below.

Related: Get Kim Kardashian’s New Smoky Eye Look

***

More ways to keep BSW on your radar:

Related: Yay! Cat Eyeliner is Back For Fall

Fall Beauty Trend: Cat Eyeliner & Wispy Brows

Subscribe to BSW and get the best of our beauty blog, delivered straight to your inbox!

The Girls in the BSW Beauty Dept.

Photos: WireImage

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is only days away, but the fight to find a cure is still ongoing. You can do your part by making a donation to your favorite foundation, or by treating yourself to a new beauty product and at the same time helping thousands of women who are struggling to beat cancer.

Magic Pink Ice

This October Arcona natural skincare introduces a limited edition “pink” version of their topselling Magic White Ice.

Magic Pink Ice is a lightweight, daily hydrating gel that moisturizes deep within the skin, without clogging pores. Cranberry extracts and hyaluronic acid combined with vital vitamins and minerals help to clarify skin, while leaving skin, hydrated, fresh and protected against environmental damage. Arcona products are cold-pressed and maintain high levels of active, natural ingredients.

Each time you purchase a Magic Pink Ice at Beauty.com, Arcona will give $2.00 to Cancerandcareers.org. How awesome is that! For only $38, you’ll be getting an amazing skin care product, and at the same time helping so many women.

Eight years ago Blu Sand, a manufacturer of high end salon & spa towels under the name of BleachSafe, developed a technology which allows you to wash 100% cotton in bleach, easily removing germs and stains, without fading or damaging the color of the fabric.  The response from customers has been exciting and made apparent that this technology would be a huge hit across many industries. After much demand Blu Sand is now launching it’s line of BleachSafe Home kitchen towels.  Being able to wash kitchen towels in bleach will ensure the towels will be clean, free of germs and remove unwanted stains and smells.

New Bleach Safe Towels!

With the Beachsafe process towels will look better and last longer.  BleachSafe Home is happy to announce it will be donating 5% of the proceeds on all towels sold to the Dr. Susan Love research foundation, and her fight against Breast Cancer.

Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Towel To Support Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation

Please visit Bleach Safe Home to purchase these limited time towels and help support the much needed continued research to find a cure…

Don’t think of organic beauty products as smelling like a health food store, being chalky or thick, or having pieces of plants in them. I really did imagine that organic, natural beauty products would be for lack of better term, gross. I don’t know why I had that in my brain because organic beauty is wonderful! Amazing! So worthwhile to look into.

Take Vapour Organic Beauty for example. I tried three products from this line, Aura Blush in Shimmer Whisper, Stratus Instant Skin Perfecter and Atmosphere Luminous Foundation and after I tested them I was left longing for more products from Vapour.

Stratus Instant Skin Perfecter

The Stratus Instant Skin Perfecter is a primer that will not clog pores, it brightens the skin tone and makes skin appear more luminous. I have used this and nothing else on my skin and like how my fine lines are blurred and my skin looks better.

Not only is this, as all products from Vapour Beauty, created from organic and natural ingredients but it also contains botanicals.

The Atmosphere Luminous foundation is creamy and blends well. The best way for me to apply this, since it is in stick form, is to dot it all over my face and blend with my fingers or a brush. This product is quite silky and doesn’t do anything to make me reach for extra powder- it covers, events out my skin, doesn’t sit in my pores and make them look like craters, and my skin is not shiny an hour after applying it.

Another thing I love about Vapour, is the fact they list all ingredients on their website so you can see what goes into their products and what you are putting on your skin. Do you remember that your skin absorbs 60% of what you put on it? So make sure what’s going on your skin is good for you and non-toxic!

Lastly is the Aura Blush Shimmer in Whisper is buildable, blendable color

Aura Blush Shimmer

with a bit of shimmer. You can use it everywhere- eyes, cheeks, lips. I like it on my cheeks for a soft glow. Sometimes I add it over my bronzing powder. The color is a flattering shade of pink, its not drying and looks dewy and natural on cheeks.

What else can I say? These products use botanicals, natural ingredients, vitamins and minerals so I have to give Vapour Organic Beauty an A+.

Learn more about this brand by visiting their website. Check out the lipglosses….I want one in every color!