The Search for the perfect eco-friendly moisturizer
by greenlagirl

Odd thing about not being a teenager anymore: I thought breakouts would stop-- but they keep on coming like I'm still 13.

The culprit, I think, is the unusually rainy weather here. Rain means cold, which means turning on the heat, which means drier skin. And apparently, dry skin tries to overcompensate by producing lotsa oil. Hello breakouts!

I'd been using Aubrey Organics' safe and eco-friendly products, namely the Blue Green Algae with Grape Seed Extract moisturizer with SPF 15 for the day, and Natural Herbal Maintenance Oil Balancing moisturizer for nights. Both are for oily skin. But like many girls, my face isn't all oily -- it's just my T-zone that gets greasy. So my forehead remained clear and healthy and happy -- while my cheeks started breaking out due to this overcompensation issue.

Serendipitously, I got some Rare 2B samples. This new, family-owned face-and-body care line's vegan, with many organic and other eco-certified ingredients -- with no weird chemicals. According to Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep, which rates cosmetic care products on safety, all of Rare2B's ingredients fall in the "low risk" category except for one,
Tocopheryl Acetate, which ranks a "medium risk" 4.

And luckily for me, Rare 2B's Hydrating Day Cream and Restorative Night Cream are both more moisturizing than the Aubrey stuff I was using. Both products are creamy and absorb easily -- and aside from a slightly medicinal scent, are basically unscented. Rare2B's Natural Body Lotion feels and smells about the same too -- so much so that I tried comparing the ingredient lists to see if they were all the same. They weren't -- but I can't tell the difference.... The Rare2B line also includes a Natural Detox Facial Mask -- a quick-drying cool clay mask that feels and smells very natural clay-like.

Do they work? SheFindsBrynT at SheFinds.com reports that Rare2B's "organic plant-based products made my skin actually glow." As for my skin: My cheeks cleared up! But silly me -- I was putting the cream all over my face -- which meant that the oily areas got too much oil and this time, my forehead started breaking out! So I started using the Aubrey oily skin stuff on the T-zone and the Rare2B normal skin stuff on my cheeks --

As of right now, my face and I have reached a rather precarious detente --

To preserve it, I might just have to keep getting the Rare2B products -- except the day cream doesn't contain any sunscreen. Rare2B says that the marine elements -- algae and seaweed -- in the cream are "equivalent to the US FDA recommendation of 15 SPF." Sans actual SPF, however, I remain dubious.

Good vegan stuff also apparently doesn't come cheap. A 1.75 oz container of the day cream costs $53! And here I though Aubrey products were kinda pricy! I think I'm first going to try the products specifically made for normal skin in the Aubrey and other eco-friendly personal care lines that Co-opportunity carries. I mean, Aubrey has a lot of fans. Oliah of Eco-Heart Product Review loves Aubrey Organics's Vegecol Moisturizing Cream, and liquidmind of Did you know? loves the Sea Buckthorn & Cucumber with Ester C Facial Cleansing Cream. I know some of you readers like Aubrey Organics' shampoos.

But what about the facial moisturizers? Has anyone tried any of Aubrey Organics' facial moisturizers and liked them? Or really, does anyone have a recommendation for an eco-friendly, safe, facial moisturizer with sunscreen? Please share, and I'll give them a try --

But if those don't work out, I may have to plunk down the cash for Rare2B.
____

BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs for the Los Angeles Times at Emerald City, and at greenLAgirl.com.

Submitted by greenlagirl (view blog) on Mon, 02/25/2008 - 9:47pm

Comments

 

thanks

No advice, but I love the info. It's almost impossible to find specific product ratings. And when I ask at Sephora or even Whole Foods or a dermatologist's office about Skin Deep ratings, they are clueless. I feel like I need to bring a PDA with me to scan the ingredients but who's got the time for THAT research? Much appreciated.

--
Check out my blog at
http://surelyyounest.blogspot.com/

Submitted by Mama Bird on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 07:39
 

Have you tried Avalon Organics?

I have had the same trouble you've had finding a safe, natural, moisturizer that has sunscreen in it. Perhaps this is because so many of the chemical sunscreens (and even barrier ones) are on EWG's Skin Deep list of baddies.

Anyhow, the one that I'm using now that I really like is Avalon Organics Skin Nourishing Antioxidant intensive vitamin C sun-aging defense. Whew, is that a mouthful or what?

I have very sensitive skin and this one works great for me. Note, however, that I live in Colorado, so I tend toward dry skin. This one doesn't seem oily to me, but I could probably moisturize with olive oil if it had SPF in it!!!

;) Julie

Submitted by julieartz on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 10:41
 

Okay, so in the meantime I

Okay, so in the meantime I am going to stick with JASON brand and hide in the shade! Thanks for this, this is cool.

Your Pop Culture Librarian also writes almost daily at I, Asshole.

Submitted by Super Jive on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 18:16
 

Lotion Is Addictive and Causes Breakouts.

At age 33, I couldn't figure out why I would get breakouts with a good veg diet, occasional facials, natural products (i liked Avalon Organics). I asked what my friends with clear complexions were using. Their secret...they use nothing! So, I tried going without. My face was really addicted to lotion, it would feel dry if I didn't put it on, but like anything else, the withdrawal symptom of dryness became less and less after each wash until finally, I no longer needed lotion. Now, my skin looks great, my pores stay clean and have shrunk considerably. Oh, and I save lots of dough, a good lotion ain't cheap! Good luck to you.

Susan
Papergeist

Submitted by Papergeist on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 18:19
 

A Mixed Approach to "Moisturizers or Not"

I, too, feel duped - 44 years old and going strong with the acne. BUT, it's much better since a wise facialist told me to stop washing so much. Huh? Don't wash so much? It's just like Susan/Papergeist said... I've been to a bajillion dermatologists (give or take a thousand) and no one (nor any product) has helped as much with the balance of acne, dry skin, healthy skin as this facialist. I wash with a mild cleanser at night and only water in the day...with a new washcloth each time (guess she said the little bacteria guys like to hang out there. I use little baby washcloths so they take up less space). Then I use moisturizer only when I'm really dry. I like all things I've tried by Abra (www.abraorganics.com). Not a product line from the facialist, but even she was impressed by the ingredients list and didn't try to talk me into using one of the products she carried. Good luck (and don't pick).

Greenish now, greener as I go

Submitted by GreenishMom on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 11:53
 

facial moisturizer

Hi, this is my first time blogging on a blog site ever!
I love Aubrey's products and I really like the Vegecol moisturizing cream. I don't have oily skin, but much the opposite...very dry. The vegecol is in their skin category 6 (for dry skin I think). I love it! It works very well for me. I also use the Vegecol facial cleansing lotion. Of course, I use their shampoo, conditioner, and hair gel too. For skin care, you can check their website to determine what products work for your type of skin.

I think they are reasonably priced products compared to a lot of organic products out there. They are not USDA approved organic, but I have decided to trust what they say....especially when you look at their website and see the concern they have for the crazy chemicals that most of the cosmetics industry puts in our body care products.

Well, I hope what I said here has helped someone. Thanks for listening....or reading. ; )

Submitted by GreenMoms on Thu, 02/28/2008 - 20:45
 

thanks for the recommendations!

Okay -- Avalon Organics Skin Nourishing Antioxidant intensive vitamin C sun-aging defense. and Aubrey's Vegecol is next on my list of products to try! Thanks for the tips :)

Emerald City
green LA girl

Submitted by greenlagirl on Fri, 02/29/2008 - 09:59
 

No Cleanser. No Moisturizer. Perfect Skin.

I've been looking for somewhere to post about this, but who really wants to hear about the perfect cleansing / moisturizing routine?  Oh, a bunch of women, that's who!

Many years ago, when I was in Greece for the summer, I learned from the women there to just use Olive Oil for everything - facial cleanser / moisturizer all in one. Of course, life went on, i got sucked into the world of modern (albeit organic and green) products and forgot their simple wisdom.  About 3 months ago, faced with impossibly dry skin everywhere, I went back to using Olive Oil everywhere, all the time, for everything. And I swear, I have never been so soft, smooth, blemish free and young looking. 

Before I get in the shower, I "scrub" my face with Olive Oil, then rinse it off in the hot shower and pat my face dry.  After my shower - I rub Olive Oil over my whole body.....  Amazing.

Last week, however, I switched to Grape Seed Oil - same routine. Grape Seed contains compounds that are especially good for cell structure (as was explained to me by a naturopath when I complained that I get horrible bruises if someone just looks at me sideways.) It is also a powerful anti-oxidant and generally wonderful for your skin.  And I have to say - it's just as great as Olive Oil, maybe better.  And cheap. Totally natural. Edible. Beneficial for skin. 

A couple tips though:

1. Sometimes I do feel the need for an exfoliating scrub.  So I "wash" my face with about equal parts Powdered Vitamin C and Grape Seed Oil.  Scrub it, leave it on for about 5 mintues and then wash off with very warm water. Wow. baby skin.  (You can get the vitamin C - ascorbic acid - in bulk at any health food store.)

2. if you are going to do your whole body with oil after the shower, you'll need to allow time for it to soak in.  I usually slather myself and then put on a terry robe while I putter about for 15 minutes or so.  Then towel off lightly before getting dressed or else you will get greasy spots on your clothes, and that's a bummer.

And yes, it's great on your hair too.....  but you just want to use the oil that's left on your hands after you oil the rest of you..... and only on the tips.  :)

There are a few others of "us" out there blogging about this....  Julie Gabriel talks about grape seed for everything, and Allie's Answers shares her progress and she made the change...

____________

Alyssa Royse

Just Cause It: A Web Site To Save The World

Start Her Up: A Blog for Women Ent

Submitted by alyssaroyse on Thu, 01/01/2009 - 17:56