The Fresh Face

Happy to announce the launch of Fresh Faced, an online shop for Canadians who are passionate about what they put on their skin. Shop the best in green beauty products that are free from sulfates, synthetic chemicals, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and other comprising ingredients.

If you're south of the border, this is pretty fantastic.

The Obama administration’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year calls for an additional $19 million in funding through user fees to enable the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to more effectively regulate cosmetics, signaling the White House’s acknowledgement that the agency’s current oversight is inadequate to protect consumers.

Sorry about the lack of updates! I'm busy building freshfaced.ca, my online shop for all things fresh and beautiful. Stay tuned.

Essentially, retinol is a naturally occurring form of vitamin A. Retinyl palmitate is the ester of retinol and palmitic acid. Used in cosmetics, skincare, and hair care products, retinol and retinyl palmitate are touted as enhancing the appearance of dry or damaged skin by reducing flakiness and restoring softness.

But don't let that fool you into thinking it's a miracle product. The Environmental Working Group says that excess exposure to vitamin A is associated with toxicity that affects reproduction and development. When exposed to UV light, retinol compounds break down and produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and cause gene mutations--a precursor to cancer. Another concern? Retinol may be derived from animals.

Safer anti-aging ingredients include pomegranate, green tea, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Try these natural beauties:

Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Anti-Aging Moisture: This deceptively light moisturizer is rich in benefits, antioxidants, and serious emollients.

Dr. Hauschka Regenerating Day Cream: Refines and strengthens mature skin with kalanchoe, biodynamic red clover, and raspberry seed oil.

John Masters Organics Vitamin C Anti-Aging Face Serum: Vitamin C penetrates deep into the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow's feet, and premature aging.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Serum: Resist gravity with this quickly absorbing serum that firms, brightens, and smoothes fine lines with an organic fruit acid complex and age-defying vitamin C.

So... since Intelligent Nutrients is not yet available in Canada (although I'm assured it will be very soon), I ordered some stuff online from a U.S.-based online store. Nearly two weeks ago! The frustration with duties and long waits and a general lack of availability of many of my favorite natural brands has inspired me to launch a brick-and-mortar shop in Toronto and online store specifically targeted to Canadians. Stay tuned for Fresh Faced (freshfaced.ca)! So excited.

Want to tap into Jennifer Aniston's fountain of youth? She told InStyle mag this month that she's a fan of Dr. Hauschka's Rose Day Cream, which she mixes with sunscreen. She also admitted to Glamour earlier this year:

I can’t live without Dr.Hauschka Lip Balm.

Invented in the 19th century by Eugene Rimmel, mascara typically uses a carbon black or iron oxide pigment to darken the lashes, a polymer to form a film on them, and thickening waxes or oils for volume and lustre--and, of course, a preservative. It's pretty popular stuff--one tube of Maybelline Great Lash* (arguably the world's favorite brand) sells every 1.1 seconds. Even those of us who prefer an au naturale approach to our daily makeup tend to include mascara among our bare necessities.

It's also a product that's applied very close to the eyes, and unfortunately, most conventional brands contain some nasty stuff that you'd probably never knowingly risk putting on your peepers: triethanolamine (linked to respiratory toxicity and allergies), parabens (can lead to breast cancer and cause skin irritations), fragrance (fragrances contain hormone disruptors and are among the top five allergens in the world), phenoxyethanol (the U.S. FDA warns that phenoxyethanol can cause shut down of the central nervous system, vomiting, and contact dermatitis), and propylene glycol (linked to dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver problems).

I'm no longer willing to sacrifice my health for longer, stronger lashes, so I tracked down six nontoxic alternatives: 

Inika Mineral Mascara ($39)

Jane Iredale PureLash Mascara ($16)

Oy! Organic Volumising Mascara ($22.65)

Nvey Eco Volumizing Mascara ($25)

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara ($29.95)

Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara ($9.95)

The runways of Chanel, McQueen, Valentino, Calvin Klein, Erdem, and Louis Vuitton were awash in pastel confections for Spring 2012. Master the trend on your nails with pretty polishes from Zoya, Priti NYC, and Butter London--who make their nail colors without toluene, phthalates, or formaldehyde.

What's so bad about these ingredients? Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic substance that can be released by chemicals in hair products, nail products, moisturizer, mascara, foundation, and eye shadow. A growing number of studies link phthalates to male reproductive system disorders, according to the EWG. Dibutyl phthalate, a chemical commonly used in nail polishes, is a known carcinogen associated with genital abnormalities in infants, testicular cancer, and endocrine disruption leading to the development of breast cancer. And toluene is a nervous-system toxin used as a solvent in paint thinner, dyes, explosives, detergents, rubber, and antifreeze (as well as nail polish and lacquers). Doesn't sound so pretty.

Try these shades:

Years ago, I set about on a quest for a natural, nontoxic deodorant that works. I tried everything I could get my hands on, and was excited anew with the promise of every stroke of crystal, baking-soda blend, and lavender-scented tube. I'm sorry to report, however, that my hopes were dashed more often than not.

As a marathon runner, let's face it--I need a serious smell eliminator, so I was cautiously thrilled to read glowing reviews of Soapwalla Kitchen's Deodorant Cream. I tracked it down in the only shop I could find in Toronto that stocks it (shoppretty.ca), and the lovely proprietor assured me that the praises were true. (Ottawa-based Oresta sells it online in Canada.) And guess what? I'm totally sold. The smell (a blend of peppermint, lavender, and tea tree essential oils) is light and clean, and it forgoes the usual nasties like propylene glycol, aluminum, triclosan, and BHT in favor of vegetable powders, shea butter, and clays.

Soapwalla founder Rachel makes all her stuff by hand in her Brooklyn kitchen, and she's been featured in New York Times Style Magazine, the New York Daily News, and online at No More Dirty Looks.

For the scoop on what's so bad about regular old antiperspirant, check out No More Dirty Looks author Siobhan O'Connor's piece at Good Magazine.

Turns out that the amazingness of RMS Beauty's Living Luminizer is no secret - Mandy Moore told Who What Wear Beauty it's one of her go-to products.

"I love that it's organic, lasts forever, and is universally flattering on everyone. I normally put it under my brows and above my cheekbones. The texture is great and easy to build. I love that it's not too shimmery."

I fell in love last month, and I think it just might last: these three natural beauty buys have earned a permanent spot on my bathroom shelf.

1. RMS Beauty Living Luminizer: Well, in truth, I discovered this product last week, not last month, but I won't let that diminish my newfound love for this pretty luminizer. After reading about Rose-Marie Swift and her all-natural cosmetics, I hunted down her stuff at one of only two spots in Toronto that carry the line in-store (shoppretty.ca). With only five ingredients, it creates the perfect amount of glow for cheeks, eyes, nose, brow, and anywhere else you need a bit of shimmer--without loading your skin full of toxic, impossible-to-pronounce ingredients. Fresh Face Grade: A+

2. Weleda Skin Food: I'll admit it--I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I wash my hands--a lot. My go-to product for dry spots on my hands, elbows, and feet for the past few years was (for shame, for shame) Vaseline, so my recent discovery of Weleda's Skin Food couldn't have been more fortuitous. Its all-natural ingredients give it a fresh, lemony scent, and the thick, creamy texture feels like a soothing summer treat on my winter-weary skin. Fresh Face Grade: A

Uber beauty Eva Mendes knows what's up when it comes to looking after her skin naturally. She told Style.com:

I go to the other doctor, Dr. Hauschka... You can't really go wrong with Hauschka. I use the little shea butter stick - no lipsticks, no glosses - never, ever, ever glosses.

Touted as one of the beauty industry's newest "miracle" skincare products, argan oil might be just that - a true skin savior. The light, nongreasy oil is produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which is native to Morocco and extremely well adapted to drought and other climate extremes.

So what's all the fuss about? The Berber people who live in the Agadir region of Morocco where the argan tree grows have been slathering the stuff on their skin, nails, hair, and children - not to mention salads and couscous - for years. Abundant in tocopherols (vitamin E), phenols (antioxidants), carotenes, and fatty acids, argan oil is thought to soothe skin conditions ranging from dry skin to acne, psoriasis, and eczema, and is renowned for its age-defying properties.

Extraction of the oil from argan tree nuts is a lengthy, labor-intensive pursuit. The Moroccan government has established a fund for cooperatives in the area, enabling fair wages and good working conditions for the Berber women who produce argan oil. Win-win, right?

My favorite argan oil products:

Kahina Giving Beauty 100% Organic Argan Oil

John Masters Organics 100% Argan Oil

I have a serious girl crush on Zooey Deschanel (who doesn't?), and this Allure cover screamed "Try me!" the minute I saw it. Get the New Girl's look with all-natural products like these:

Dr. Hauschka Liquid Concealer: Blend away redness and irregularities with all-natural plant and mineral ingredients.

Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow: Mineral makeup at its best.

Jane Iredale Eye Pencil: Made with natural pigments, conditioning oils, and waxes for long-lasting color that stays put.

Dr. Hauschka Volume Mascara: Beeswax and rose and candelilla waxes are combined with silk powder to plump and protect lashes.

Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make-up Foundation: A gentle liquid foundation that enhances the skin's naturally radiant glow for a dewy, flawless look.

Revolution Organics Freedom Lip Gloss: This healthy, good-for-you gloss in True Strawberry Red is rich in vitamins and antioxidants to leave lips beautifully moisturized and gorgeously glossy.