green beauty buys #3

My gradual switch to as many “green” beauty and body products that I can should come as no secret by this point. As I make this slow transition, I am sharing with you some of my favorites. (You can see past posts here & here). Without further ado, here is segment numero tres showcasing a few eco-friendly products I’ve picked up this past month that I am adoring! Check it out:

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The low-down:

• Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion – Don’t let the title fool you – this is actually a face moisturizer, not a body lotion. Since the seasons are changing, I decided to switch over to a light-weight moisturizer. This one is just the right consistency and gives a pleasant, spa-like scent that is not overpowering or feminine, so I would recommend this for men as well. Just like all Aveda products, this one if made from naturally-derived ingredients. The only down side? No SPF. Wah, wah, wah.

• Essie Nail Polish in “Go Overboard” – I picked this bottle of beautiful brightness a few weeks back as an impulse buy – hey, the increased temperatures and emerging spring colors got the best of me! So you might be wondering why this falls into the category of a ‘green’ beauty product. Unlike many other nail polish brands, Essie is formulated without DBP, toluene, and is formaldehyde-free!

• Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation – I can’t say keen on the price of this foundation (a whopping $38), however, I can say that I’m ecstatic over the wear of it. After reading several positive reviews and testing out a sample from my local Sephora, I was ultimately sold and shelled out the 38 bucks without a mere second thought. Despite its light, mousse-like texture, it’s a ‘12-hour full-coverage’ foundation that gives skin a flawless finish – just what a foundation should do. Added bonuses – it’s SPF 15, cruelty-free and is formulated without mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate.

• Coconut Oil – Although this is a cooking oil and baking ingredient, it also serves as a great makeup remover and moisturizer! You can read my recent “kitchen cabinet beauty” blog post to learn more about this multi-purpose oil and why you should consider adding it to your daily skincare regimen.

• Gud Shampoo in “Vanilla Flame” – I recently bought this on a whim when I saw it was on sale at the Whole Foods Market, plus it just so happened that I needed a new shampoo at the time. ‘Gud’ is Burt’s Bees latest product line featuring hair and body products in three scents: Vanilla Flame, Orange Petalooza and Floral Cherrynova. All of these scents smell fantastic but the vanilla one stands out from the rest, in my opinion. One thing is for sure – I’m definitely tempted to buy the rest of the products after using the shampoo! Not to mention this line doesn’t contain any parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals. (You can ‘like’ their FB page for a free lotion sample!)