REVIEW: Annmarie Organic & Natural Skin Care

When the first ingredient listed on a product label is love, you know you're in for some goodness. Annmarie Organic Skin Care doesn't disappoint. Using blends of natural oils and extracts to preserve her products, founder Annmarie Gianni stands firm on not using alcohol or chemicals in her line of pure, organic skincare. As a consumer, I appreciate that. A lot!

Frustrated with not being able to find products, even natural ones, without chemicals and harsh ingredients, Annmarie decided the only way she'd get them was to make them herself. She called upon the teachings of ancient cultures, herbalists and shamans to create products from what the earth provides us. Believing her products have innate healing energies that bring awareness and allow those who use her products to truly radiate their own natural beauty, she incorporates natural practices, ancient methodology and aromatherapy in her skincare line. In this, Annmarie Skin Care is designed to not only soothe your physical body, but also help shape your inner beauty by invigorating the soul. One need only gaze upon Gianni herself to see this inner beauty radiating outwardly. Her skin is gorgeous!

I had the opportunity to try a few of her products. True to the claim, these products are as soothing to the senses as they are the skin, and as such are a pleasure to use.




L-R: Aloe Cleanser, Ayurvedic Scrub, Neroli Toning Mist and Honey Coconut Mask

 Aloe-Herb Cleanser
This is a creamy, milky liquid in texture and appearance and smells delightfully of orange blossom. The blend of oil and extracts contains essential fatty acids, similar to those produced by the skin; it is rich in antioxidants like vitamin E, which help prevent and repair free radical damage. This is a very gentle cleanser (could be used with a Clarisonic for sure), and leaves skin refreshed, soft and moisturized. Key ingredients include organic aloe vera infused with lavender, calendula, hyssop, lemon balm, neem leaf, olive leaf, organic ruby grapefruit, lemon oil, green mandarin oil and extracts. I would think even the most sensitive of skins could use this without issue as it truly is just that gentle.

Ayurvedic Facial Scrub
This one took a little getting used to for me. It's very herbal and earthy in smell, which I generally enjoy, but this is a bit like using dirt on your face - yes, that earthy. The positive here is that it is loaded with fantastic ingredients: Moroccan Rhassoul Clay, fenugreek seeds, organic lavender, rosemary, lemon balm leaves, horsetail herb and more. It's a dry, powdery mixture that is mixed with either a bit of water or the Aloe-Herb Cleanser to concoct a paste, which is then gently massaged onto facial skin, neck, etc. The blend is designed to nourish and re-mineralize skin.

Neroli Toning Mist
This is a delightful toner that smells as lovely as it is effective. There are just two ingredients that make up this mist: love and pure organic neroli distillate (from orange blossoms). The mist is soothing, refreshing, and assists skin to return to balance.

Coconut Honey Mask
This is my star of the line. I looove this product. When you open the jar, is appears solid or like cold oil/wax would look. However, it is smoothe like a fine butter and blends to perfection onto the skin. It smells sweetly of coconut and honey, not too sweet, it's subtle. the product is so natural it's good enough to eat! The live enzymes nourish inside and out. It moisturizes skin like no other. I was truly impressed with the hydration and softness of my skin after the very first use. Honey is high in vitamin C, B vitamins and amino acids. It's also wonderful for dry elbows, knees and cracked heels and may be massaged in a left to soften without removing. It's a triumph in fabulous-ness!


I encourage you to learn more about Annmarie and her lovely line of organic skincare at her website.  Annmarie Organic Skin Care is available online at Renegade Health at through specialty retailers.  Most of her products retail for under $30 with the serums, oils and skincare sets available for a bit more.  Enjoy!

Exercise in Happiness: Spirit Beauty Lounge Sample Packages

Another site you MUST check out for a sweet variety of sample packages at a ridiculously low price is Spirit Beauty Lounge! If you're a reader of ftlob, you know I adore this store and for so many reasons! They are committed to organic and green beauty brands and offer really the finest there is in skincare, fragrance, cosmetics, haircare and other beauty products. Their customer service is second to none!

Spirit and her team will cater a sample package specifically to your liking and it will come prettily packaged with love and goodness directly to you. I've found so many wonderful brands and products through her sample packages I'd never have probably tried otherwise.

You can choose to include a sample from just about any item in the store: fragrance, makeup, haircare, skincare ... they'll do you up a nice little deluxe trial.  Or, you can allow the team to create a sample box specific to your heart's desire, needs, wants and/or concerns.  Most of the sample packages are offered at $10, which is almost ridiculously low considering the variety of products you'll receive, the quality and the amount.

Do something good for yourself and check it out! Consider it an exercise in happiness. xo

WINNER: OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish

Congratulations, Erica L.

You're our lucky winner of the OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish Giveaway. Just click the link in the email notification we sent to provide your shipping address and OSEA will send you your fantastic prize.

Enjoy!

Spirit Beauty Lounge 2-Day SALE 20% Off

Beauty is as beauty does!

My love for Spirity Beauty Lounge runs deep and with good reason.  This little gem of a boutique is dedicated to bringing the best in high quality, eco-friendly products are extensively researched before they offer them to us.  All of their organic and sustainable products come from companies who have clearly defined humane, ethical, and environmental policies ensuring the care of our planet and its inhabitants.  I like knowing I'm shopping from a company that cares that much about what they put their name behind.

As Spirit mentions in her recent note to her clients, "We know you've got long wishlists," so she's making it doubly nice for folks to shop her boutique and save a little cash to boot. xo

Puchase $50 or more and enter code: SUS20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase sitewide. Nice!

Brands like Ila, Priti Nails, Vapour Organic, Intelligent Nutrients, RMS Beauty, Organic Apoteke (one of my personal favorites!), Patyka, Revolution Organics, Alex & Ani, Jurlique, Kahina Giving, Lulu Organics and many more!

Access Spirit Beauty Lounge online today!

OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish Giveaway

So, can't keep all the spa goodness to myself!  OSEA has generously offered to lavish one For the Love of Beauty reader with a jar of their nutrient rich, seaweed based Organic Undaria Body Polish. Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how happy I already am for the winner. This is a true treat, ladies and gents!

Here's how you enter:

Visit OSEA Malibu website and come back to comment in the contest form below sharing what OSEA product most intrigues you or what part of their site you liked best. oseamalibu.com

Extra Entries Available: (Please be sure to leave one comment in the contest form provided below for EACH of these you complete to garner your extra entries.)

1 Entry: Follow @OSEAmalibu on Twitter (include your twitter name in the comment below)     twitter.com/oseamalibu

1 Entry: Follow For the Love of Beauty @ftlob on Twitter (include your twitter name in the comment below)    twitter.com/ftlob

1 Entry: RT the giveaway notice shown below on Twitter and earn an additional entry in the giveaway

I just entered to win OSEA's Organic Undaria Body Polish from @ftlob and @oseamalibu http://ht.ly/2pHSV Please RT!

5 Entries: Post about this giveaway on your own Facebook Wall and earn an additional 5 entries.

10 Entries: Post a little shout out about this giveaway on your own beauty, fashion or social blog, link back to this posting (you can COPY shortened link if you'd like: http://ht.ly/2pHSV) and earn an additional 10 entries in the giveaway.  Your blog post can be as brief as 1-3 sentences with an image or a full posting if you'd like. (include your blog address in comment below)

NOTE: You must leave 1 comment per entry. Extra entries will only be able to be counted if you leave a comment for each one. xo

This contest is open to US residents only. One winner will be chosen at random to win this prize. Some restrictions may apply. Contest ends Sun., 8/22/10 at 11:55 pm (CT)


For more information about OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish and other spa treatments from the brand, please view my post below or visit OSEA Malibu.

REVIEW: OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish ~ A Spa Experience at Home

This nutrient rich, natural and certified organic ingredient laden body scrub is akin to bringing a luxurious spa treatment right into the comfort of your own bathroom.  I've quickly fallen in love with OSEA Organic Body Polish  as it treats skin from a number of different angles giving it a deserved label as a true multi-tasker. Let's explore.

KEY INGREDIENT: Certified organic undaria (wakame)

This edible seaweed from the pure waters of Patagonia, is rich in sodium, iron, potassium, calcium and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. Undaria prevents the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in the body, which we have all come to learn is necessary in keeping skin smooth and firm. Without hyaluronic acid, elastin and collagen lose their 'glue' and skin sags and wrinkles.

The body polish contains natural exfoliants that feel gentle on the skin while delivering a stimulating scrub action.  This is not a harsh, gritty, irritating scrub. It uses small pumice grains to help remove dead cells along with a bio-scrub blend of acai and guarana. Guarana (caffeine) helps tone skin and has astringent properties, as well as assists in reducing cellulite.  Acai delivers a powerful synergy of anti-aging properties to skin, and hemp and passion fruit seed oils feed the skin Omega 3-6-9 essential fatty acids.

This was new to me, but I've learned that topical absorption of essential fatty acids (EFA's) has been shown in studies to be comparable to taking internal supplements, positively affecting the texture, suppleness and moisture content of skin. In other words, taking your vitamins from the outside in.

The intoxicating scent of this luxurious seaweed based body polish transports you to a place seemingly altogether divine. Organic melissa, lemon grass and Bulgarian lavender blend in an aroma that is truly transformative.  Other ingredients that aid in making this treatment completely irresistible include honeysuckle, organic babassu and rice bran oils.  The blend of these ingredients with the seaweed, pumice, acai, guarana, and essentail oils create a mixture that takes on a visual appearance and texture of almost a muddy-paste, and is very soothing to skin.  It doesn't dry on skin like a mud-based treatment does.  I am amazed at not only how productive yet gentle the exfoliation of Undaria Skin Polish is, but how hydrating the product is to skin simultaneously.  It provides a mantle of moisture once the polish is rinsed from skin with water, leaving skin smooth and soft to the touch.

What are the combined effects of this at-home spa treatment?

Purifies pores

Gently exfoliates

Improves skin's texture and suppleness

Provide hydration/moisture to skin

Gives skin a radiant glow

Feeds skin essential fatty acids of Omega 3-6-9

Provides antiaging benefits to skin

Treats the body, mind and soul with soothing aromatherapy

It really does seem to transform one's bath or shower into a luxurious spa experience.  OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish is perfect for getting your skin summer ready, but also aids skin long into the fall and winter months when drying, scaling and flaking can become issues. I am completely in love with this product and can recommend it to you highly with no reservations.

New to OSEA? Here's more:

OSEA Malibu is an industry innovator in natural derived, marine-based skincare.  Their intent is to provide products founded on purity, quality and effectiveness.  Their unique blend of sea nutrients and essentail oils (sourced from all over the world) provides active, effective formulas for wellbeing.  OSEA believes in employing the power of the sea and its plant life to condition and balance skin for a lifetime of results than can be seen.  Over the past few years, I've watched as their product lines have grown to include cleansers, masks, skin essentials, treatment products, moisturizers, lotions, eye and lip products, and bath, body & massage products.

A staple in their line of offerings is the OSEA Sea Minerals Facial Mist.  I was a bit upset when I first tried Sea Minerals as it sprays a light green mist on skin.  I thought, "Huh, a company priding themselves on using natural ingredients from the sea and nature and they color their signature mist an artificial green?"  Joke's on me!  As it turns out, Sea Minerals owes its light green color to algae extracts and natural chlorophyll. Whew! With this knowledge, I've a newfound respect for this product. 

Sea Minerals is "swimming in nutrients directly from the ocean" as OSEA folks will happily tell you. It delivers healing ingredients and antioxidants directly to skin.  It promotes the skin's natural ability to absorb moisture and oxygenate.  The mist provides a therapeutic mineral treatment to skin; hydrating, healing and restoring balance to sun-exposed skin.  It's cool and soothing on application, and helps reduce skin redness and tightness.

Both Organic Undaria Body Polish ($60, 12 oz jar) and Sea Minerals ($30, 4 oz mist bottle) are available directly from OSEA Malibu and at select spas worldwide.





G I V E A W A Y    A L E R T:
Hold onto your hats, my angels, as your opportunity to win a jar of OSEA's luxuriously fantastic Organic Undaria Body Polish is coming to For the Love of Beauty later tonight! xo

New! Korres Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick

New from Korres, Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick has a cooling, water-based formula that contains natural raspberry and pomegranate extracts to protect against free-radical damage and smooth lip lines for softer, more youthful-looking lips. It glides on with the creamy texture of a lip gloss and has the long-lasting, vibrant finish of a lipstick.

Everything I've tried from Korres I've been extremely pleased with.  My favorite lip balm, in fact, is their Lip Butter (have it in Quince, Jasmine and Pomegranate) for its buttery soft texture, soothing properties, rich hydration, and the fact that I can wear it to bed without getting it all over my pillow or have hair sticking to my lips.  It's the best balm I have by a longshot!

This new lip product promises to  be just as satisfying and I'm liking that it contains the fantastic for you ingredient of pomegranate.  Both the raspberry and pomegranate extracts provide antioxidant, line-smoothing benefits. These extracts are rich in antioxidant polyphenols that protect against free-radical damage and aging. The formula is also rich in certified organic acai palm pulp oil, which moisturizes and soothes lips creating a long-lasting, creamy texture. It comes available in five delicious shades. I really can't wait to try this new product.

As an eco-friendly and good-for-you brand, Korres creates the liquid lipstick without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances and other yucky stuff. Raspberry Antioxidant Liquid Lipstick is exclusive to Sephora as this time and retails for $22. 

Fragrance Ideas for Father's Day

Cards and wrapping available at Redstamp.com

Having a tough time figuring out what to give Dad for Father's Day?  Treat him to a new scent that suits his personality.

The Tough, Courageous Dad
If dad is the man who always takes a stand, celebrate his bravery with a daring, classic scent. Inspired by visionary artists, icons and rebels who overcome adversity and make their mark, Diesel Only The Brave is a fragrance about making an impact. The scent represents the qualities of the brave, symbolized by a fist that tells several stories: facing forward, the fist evokes power and energy; upright, it stands for self-affirmation; raised, it signifies victory, success and engagement. The powerful, provocative scent blends lemon blossom, mandarin, amber and ebony wood for a fresh fragrance that dad will love. 50ml EDT, $55; 2.5oz EDT, $67.50  Available at Diesel boutiques, Diesel-fragrances.com, Macy’s, Dillard’s and other major department stores.

Know a dad with a love of comic books or a fan of Iron Man films? Celebrate his superhero bravery with a Diesel limited-edition Iron Man version for the comic book loving dad!

The Confident, Fashion-Forward Dad
If dad is constantly updating his look, give him the ultimate accessory. A bold new scent, Express Honor captures downtown edge and big-city cool with one spritz. A watery, fresh and aromatic scent, Honor blends energizing top notes of fresh water accord, peppermint and basil, leading to a heart of grapefruit, fig and green ivy. The smoldering fragrance dries down to a base of musk, vetiver and a hint of vanilla. The fragrance is housed in an edgy, flask-shaped silver bottle which is emblazoned with Express’s signature lion logo.  50ml EDT, $44.90; 100ml EDT, $59.90 Available at Express.com and Express stores nationwide
 

The Art Lover and Pop Culture Enthusiast
If Dad is a patron of the arts, give him a fragrance worth collecting. Inspired by legendary artist Andy Warhol’s summer forays to Montauk, Long Island, Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk marks the fifth in Bond No. 9’s series of Warhol collectible eaux de parfum. Not your typical summer fragrance, Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk takes a new approach to the genre of beach scent: It riffs on the duality of country and city, rural and urban. The fresh and tangy initial flavors of blueberry and wild bergamot give way, first to sultry, sexy hyacinth, lily of the valley, and honeysuckle, and then to rich, clean forest-by-the-sea aromas—silver maple, red oak, driftwood, and amber. Choose from 2 bottle designs, each displaying two of Warhol’s iconic Sunset paintings dating from 1972, truly making this fragrance a piece of art. Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk makes its timely arrival on-counter in June, just in time for Father’s Day.
50ml, $145; 100ml, $220. Available at Bondno9.com

The Old-School Allure of The Gentlemen's Club Dad
Sacré Coeur (sacred heart) by perfumer Laurent Bruyère for the line Ego Facto gives the classic citrus-leather accord a new twist with an original and utterly unexpected Chablis accord. The tart, fruity-flinty aroma spills over an aromatic herbal blend before seeping into a rugged patchouli, tobacco and leather base. Think old-style gentlemen’s club – cool wine, a whiff of Havana from the humidor, a deep leather chair and the comfortably musty smell of old books – perked up with a dash of humor. Intoxicating.
50ml, $90. Available at Luckyscent.com

The Dad That Exudes the Heroism of a Greek God
The lucid composition of Peloponnesian Eau de Parfum by Strange Invisible Perfumes is built with the ancient perfumes of the Greek peninsula. Salted Aegean winds glide through the branches of cypress, lime, and orange trees, lifting their epic aromas into the Peloponnesian mountains. A reception of mountain sage honey collects each gallant perfume as it rises from the vineyard-patterned earth of the Peloponnesos. Strange Invisible Perfume's first exclusively male eau de parfum exhilirates and renews with its dry down of fresh botanical musk. 50ml $160. Available at siperfumes.com and Beautyhabit.com

The Nature Lover and Organic Devote'
Honoré des Prés Chaman’s Party is an explosive unisex fragrance with aphrodisiac properties. Inspired by a tree-house experience and total immersion in the heart of the virgin Amazon forest. Intended for those who know, be they women or men, how to breathe in the earth’s strength. Vetiver root from Haiti, sacred basil from Egypt, Wood of Life from Venezuela, dried clove flowers from Madagascar.
100ml $145. Available at SpiritBeautyLounge.com

Happy shopping, lovelies! xo

HAUTELOOK: Juice Beauty on SALE!

Juice Beauty Skincare has a 100% certified organic juice base. Some organic skincare uses only a few organic ingredients in a water base, making the total organic content diluted and often less than 5%. Instead of the typical water base that cannot be “organic or pesticide free,” Juice Beauty puts over 60 active organic ingredients (all USDA certified organic) into their 100% organic juice base (made from over 26 different certified organic fruit juices). This brings their total organic content up to 98%.

Their team searches the world for the purest, most effective organic ingredients, including their juices, aloe vera, honey, botanicals, plant oils, and raw cane sugar from farms that specialize in sustainable and organic farming. Juices are farmed by indigenous people in the rainforests of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. Their 26 organic juices come from organic family farms in the Great Pacific Northwest and from sunny California. The organic plant oils come from family farms in the plains of Canada and the U.S. Their ylang-ylang is farmed from the spectacular flowers in Madagascar, myrrh from the Ethiopian resin and blue chamomile from special blossoms in Northern Morocco.

Juice Beauty’s pure organic ingredients are packed with age-defying potency…powerful antioxidants and polyphenols, essential vitamins, vital phytonutrients and age-defying hydroxy acids. Juice Beauty's antioxidant technology combines alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, peptides, fat soluble Vitamin C, and essential fatty acids for optimum age-defying results they've validated by clinical studies that have shown an 85% reduction in free radical skin cell damage.



No pesticides, petroleum, toxic preservatives, parabens, harsh surfactants or sulfates, artificial colors or dyes, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, or toluene. Juice Beauty has a strict no animal testing policy and 100% vegetarian ingredients

Are you chomping at the bit to get your hands on some of this juice for your skin?

HauteLook's Juice Beauty skincare sale begins Tues., 6/8/10 @ 10 a.m. PT.

Click HERE to shop the SALE now!

Items go fast at these sales, so don't delay

REVIEW: Infusion Organique Sands of Morocco Parfum

Exotic and sweet!

Sands of Morocco is blended using fresh vanilla first brought to Morocco by the French in the time of the Berber Kings and incorporates aromatic sandalwood and warm oak moss with a touch of organic lemongrass oil and ylang-ylang to create a warm, rich scent drenched in sweetness.

If you're one who likes a subtle fragrance, this is not for you. However, if you're of the variety who adores being transported with one slow inhalation to lands exotic, where images of robed men and women atop camels crossing the ancient Sahara bearing spice-filled ceramic bowls laden in gold and hand-laid enamel, then Sands of Morocco is your magical elixir.  With its warmth, sweet, rich character, this is a decidedly autumn/winter scent, though those of you living in cool, moderate climates yearlong may be able to indulge in this exotic aroma with more regularity.

Notes

Top: tangy lemon zests

Middle: delicate lily of the valley, sweet rose blossoms, ylang-ylang

Bottom: creamy french vanilla, exotic musk, sensual sandalwood, warm oakmoss

Infusion Organique's packaging is exquisite. In fact, their beautiful bottles, containers and boxes may call to you before you even have a chance to breathe in their aromatic scents. The brand is the passionate brainchild of industry veterans Ron Chavers and Carole Vialars, brought to visual life under the astute art direction of Carole's sister, Gladys.

They are quick to point out that their products are not 100% organic (insomuchas losing even a bit of efficacy was not in their mantra), but are paraben and sulfate free and infused with organic botanicals, fruit extracts and leading-edge scent/science skincare. These scents are not quick to fade so a little dab on pulse points will linger for hours upon your skin.

Infusion Organique offers four scents currently; in addition to Sands of Morocco there are:

• Buddha's Fig - infused with certified organic fig extract, rose-geranium essence, organic lemongrass oil and blended with essences of wood and amber
• Indochine - combines kumquat (Chinese for "golden orange") with peach, water lily, jasmine, muguet and vanilla, as well as certified organic grapefruit extract and ylang-ylang essential oils
• Acai Rain - infused with tart berry accords of certified organic acai extract and sparkling organic orange oil with a blending of natural raspberry and currant, white peach, fresh greens and organic vanilla extract

Each scent is available in a petit parfum ($35), hand soap ($18), hand & body lotion ($20), home fragrance ($18), candle ($38) and scent diffuser ($56/$90).

For more information on the brand, visit Infusion Organique online and to shop their selection of beautifully fragranced products, visit b-glowing and Apothia.

images: Infusion Organique