Toxin-free and natural tinted daily moisturizer with SPF

The best SPF daily moisturizer: Andalou Naturals All-In-One Beauty Balm! 

Andalou Naturals beauty balm, SPF 30

Andalou Naturals is a wonderful natural cosmetics brand that produces quality, toxin-free products, with a commitment to the environment and fair trade through sustainable and charitable practices. More can be read about the company's mission here. Andalou's all-in-one beauty balm with SPF 30, is really a fantastic daily facial moisturizer. It is available in both a tinted formula and non-tinted formula. The tinted formula is actually a lovely daily foundation for those who want just a little bit of coverage, without the thickness and obvious caking effect of a full-on foundation. The best fact about this skin cream is that it is one of the highest rated daily moisturizers with SPF on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database.

Check out the awesome, anti-aging ingredients in this beauty balm: Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) and Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oils*, Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Fruit Stem Cells (Malus Domestsica, Solar Vitis) and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Hyaluronic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Oil*, Algae and Cucumis Melo (Melon) Extracts, Magnesium Sulfate, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos), Hibiscus Sabdariffa and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extracts*†, Iron Oxide, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil* (*Organic, † Fair Trade, Non-GMO verified).

Although this balm contains natural sunscreen (zinc oxide), it sinks in very well, and leaves skin smooth and supple. I have found that with some natural zinc oxide products, the formulas take a while to sink into the skin or are very hard to distribute on the skin. Well, that is certainly not true with this facial cream! It glides on easily and absorbs with a few gentle pats. The cream also smells very nice, with top notes of citrus, from the sweet orange oil in the formula (yes, this balm is synthetic fragrance free!). Be sure to check out this amazing product, and the rest of Andalou Naturals' cosmetic line!

Non-toxic Hand Sanitzer

All Terrain natural antiseptic hand sanitizer - smells wonderful and a healthier choice for clean hands on the go!

The company All Terrain recently made a name for themselves by partnering with EWG (The Environmental Working Group) to create a truly natural sunscreen, free of harmful chemicals. Having been extremely impressed with All Terrain's "AquaSport" sunscreen (both by its effectiveness and natural ingredients), I decided to give their hand sanitizer a try. This is the best hand sanitizer I have tried to date! And, it's natural and toxin-free!

All Terrain’s hand sanitizer with aloe and vitamin E smells amazing! Although a fragrance-free version is also available, I would recommend at least trying the scented one, since the fragrance is from natural essential oils, and it’s so nice! The wonderful smell in this product comes from the grapefruit, orange, and lime seed oil complex in the ingredients. The formula is also non-drying and does a great job of cleaning the hands, thanks to the wood cellulose and vegetable glycerin that is used to thicken the formula. All Terrain prides itself on having formulated this hand sanitizer without the synthetic polymer known as “carbomer”; instead, natural wood cellulose and vegetable glycerin are used. I have to say that I love the feel of this “wood cellulose and glycerin” formula much more than any gel-like substances I have used that include carbomer in them.

Check out the full list of ingredients right here:

Active Ingredient: Ethyl Alcohol 62%

Inactive Ingredients: Purified water, hydroxyethyl cellulose (wood cellulose), vegetable glycerin, aloe vera (aloe barbadensis leaf juice), Vitamin E (DL-alpha tocopherol acetate), grapefruit/orange/lime seed oil complex, sea algae (food grade colorant).

All Terrain, based in New Hampshire, is a company that encourages active and healthy lifestyles. They make products that ensure natural protection (insect repellent, sunscreen, sanitizers, etc.) that may be used while exploring the great outdoors, hiking, surfing, and swimming. But they also make sure we are protected without harming the environment, or ourselves by using products that are toxic to us.

Amazing, toxin-free, all-natural deodorant by Schmidt's!

Schmidt's Natural Deodorant! One of the best natural deodorants that's effective, smells lovely, and lasts all day! 

Schmidt's Lavender + Sage Deodorant

One of the most important steps in "de-toxifying" our daily cosmetic routines is to eliminate aluminum and other toxic chemicals from our deodorants. Of course this is difficult to do because none of us wants to smell bad, or be THAT person with serious BO issues! A few months ago, I went on a personal mission to find natural deodorants that actually work. I've tried several non-toxic deodorants that work fairly well, but I wanted to showcase Schmidt's Lavender + Sage Deodorant, because it is the toxin-free deodorant that worked best for me. Schmidt’s proved its worth each day I have worn it, including on a long, grueling hike I did in Southern California’s hot mountains. This deodorant’s amazing all-natural formula keeps body odor completely under control, even while exercising hard!

I have heard some reviewers complain about the application of this deodorant, because you have to scoop out some of the product (with a small spatula included inside the glass jar) and apply it under your arms with your fingers. This was not something that bothered me, simply because the deodorant works so well; and, after application, the tips of your fingers also smell very nice until you wash your hands! And it’s not like the ingredients will do your hands or fingers any harm either. In fact, they may just be beneficial to them! 

Check out the healthy ingredient list: butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, salvia sclarea (clary sage) essential oil, lavandula (lavender) essential oil, tocopherol (vitamin E), humulus lupulus (hop) extract.

Other than the Lavender + Sage scented deodorant I have mentioned, Schmidt’s also produces deodorants in the following scents: Bergamot + Lime, Ylang-Ylang + Calendula, Cedarwood + Juniper, and fragrance-free for fragrance-sensitive individuals. It is important and awesome to note though, that all “fragrances” in these Schmidt’s products are natural (from essential oils included in the ingredients), and not synthetic fragrance (which should probably be avoided for health reasons; check out this article for more information about synthetic “fragrance”).

Schmidt’s is a company formed in Portland, Oregon in 2010. Their mission was to create a deodorant that was healthy to wear, but that also worked and smelled really good. They certainly have been successful in their mission, and companies like Schmidt’s really deserve to be recognized for such good work!

Review: Vegan and vibrant - all-natural lipsticks by Silk Naturals!

Vibrant, pigmented, moisturizing, natural, organic, vegan lipstick by Silk Naturals in the color "Wham". What a beautiful pop of color! 

Candid Shot in indoor light:

Although the radiant orchid lip color is becoming a bit last season, I have to give a shout out to Silk Naturals' natural, vegan lipstick in the color "Wham". I personally think that purple-hued lipstick shades should never go out of season. This lipstick shade is so vibrant and beautiful!

Silk Naturals is one of the natural makeup brands that never disappoints! They create effective, beautiful and natural products for a fraction of the price that high-end, toxin-rich companies like MAC and Chanel charge. For anyone looking to switch to natural makeup brands, Silk Naturals is a great place to start - and not-to-mention their prices are so reasonable, so it won't cost you a thousand dollars to buy some safe, healthy cosmetics to try.

But let's get back to this divine lipstick shade that is sure to add a punch to your night out! Unlike most super-pigmented lipsticks out there, this gorgeous blast of color will not dry out your lips. Silk Naturals makes their lip formulas extremely moisturizing! 

Just check out these amazing, hydrating ingredients: Organic Castor oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Organic Candelilla Wax, Organic Carnuaba Wax, Vanilla Infused Fractionated Coconut Oil, Mica, FD&C Color. This lipstick is also organic, gluten free and vegan. 

The best part? It costs only $5.75!

Silk Naturals products can be purchased directly on the company’s website.

Try a natural and toxin-free face cream by BioPlasis!

BioPlasis Hydrating Day Cream: Great organic facial cream - awesome option, free of toxic chemicals! 

BioPlasis is a Greek bio-cosmetics company devoted to producing organic products that are effective naturally, and free of toxic chemicals. The company is also devoted to practices that protect the environment. Though this brand may be difficult to purchase in the United States, it can be found at Marshall’s, at a discounted rate, in the cosmetics section. This brand has been taking Europe and Asia by storm for the last few years, gaining popularity in Taiwan, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Serbia, Lithuania, Finland and the Netherlands. Hopefully we will see it appearing more in the States, since the ingredients in BioPlasis products are so wonderful.

The anti-aging BioPlasis hydrating day cream is a great option for those looking to switch to natural or organic facial creams. The formula is ever-so-slightly tacky upon the initial application, but the cream sinks into the skin fast, leaving a smooth, hydrated finish. Skin is left with a velvety feel after absorption. The mastic oil and olive oil are two of the very "Greek" ingredients in the cream’s formula that are known to prevent signs of aging. This is a wonderful cream for both daytime and nighttime, especially in a dry climate.

Natural lipsticks by Vapour Organic Beauty

A wonderful lipstick by Vapour Organic Beauty:

Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick is a wonderful addition to anyone’s natural or organic lipstick “library”! Vapour Organic Beauty is a makeup and skincare company that is consistently highly rated among natural beauty lovers. The lipstick is a different formula than any other natural lipsticks I have tried, which is why I recommend it. The finish and feel of the formula is lighter than most lipsticks, but still demonstrates a good pigmentation upon application. The shade "Tempest" is a vibrant orange-red, that is perfect for the orange lipstick trend, but has the red and blue undertones that don't make the teeth look yellow.

The creators of Vapour Organic Beauty pride themselves on having created a formula of lipstick that is complementary on all skin tones, regardless of the shade of lipstick. The color has some reflective properties that change the color slightly to complement your skin.

I personally love all the Siren lipstick shades that I have sampled thus far. They are vibrant and emit a gentle, healthy sheen. They are fairly long lasting when applied in two or three swipes on the lips, but I do find that in order to keep vibrant pigmentation, it is necessary to re-apply after 2 or 3 hours (which is a fine compromise to avoid wearing "long-wearing" toxic lipsticks by companies like MAC and Dior). Vapour Organic Beauty allows people to purchase sample sizes on their website, so rather than committing to one lipstick that is a bit pricey right off the bat, it is very economical to try a few different shades in little sample containers! 

Here is a list of the ingredients in this fabulous lipstick: Organic/Bio Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic/Bio Cera Alba (Beeswax), Organic/Bio Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Essential Oils, Natural Fruit Essences, Camelina Sativa Oil, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Organic/Bio Punica Granatum (Pomegranate Oil), Organic/Bio Rosa Damascena (Rose) Buds, Organic/Bio Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm), Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh)*, Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia) Leaf Extract, May Contain (+/-):, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Carmine (CI 75470).

After reviewing those ingredients, it is easy to see why these Vapour Organic lipsticks don't dry out the lips. The lipstick leaves lips looking and feeling smooth and hydrated. The lipstick also smells delightful, and it's nice to see a lack of synthetic fragrance in the ingredients. The delightful scent seems to come from natural fruit essences, and extracts from lemon, rose, stevia and myrrh!

Vapour Organic Beauty is a company that was founded in New Mexico and New York. The creators value natural, chemical-free formulations that allow the skin to benefit from naturally-derived ingredients, rather than absorb toxic ingredients! Be sure to check this company out!

Great natural bar soaps by Beessential

A wonderful toxin-free bar soap by Beessential!

Beessential's tea tree oil bar soap is an amazing bar soap for use on acne-prone or sensitive skin. As with most tea tree oil products, the soap does leave a slight refreshing tingle on the skin. For anyone who suffers from skin breakouts or sensitivity when travelling to cold, dry climates, this soap is an excellent remedy to try. Using this soap on the face and body daily, while remaining in cold or dry weather, can help control skin irritations and break-outs!

Not only does this soap have amazing antiseptic properties, but it also leaves the skin very moisturized, which is unusual for products containing tea tree oil. The moisturizing effect is due to the other wonderful ingredients that counteract the drying effects of tea tree oil. Check out the wonderful, natural, and toxin-free ingredients in this soap: the saponified oils of coconut, olive, palm, shea butter, and avocado oil; beeswax; tea tree oil; chromium green oxide, and titanium dioxide.

With ingredients as natural and high-quality as that, it’s a wonder that the huge commercial brand-names available at most drugstores are still selling the way that that they do. Beessential offers their soaps for a very reasonable price - $5.99 - which is a bargain considering the large size of the soap bars, and the fact that they last so long. Companies like Beessential deserve to make a profit for the good work that they do, benefiting our planet and health. Beessential also donates 10% of all profits to charities!

An article written by Stacey Chillemi of The Complete Herbal Guide, does a great job with explaining the difference between natural soaps (made most often by lesser-known, small companies) versus commercial soaps. It would be great if everyone read articles such as these and switched to all-natural soaps.

Beessential makes amazing lip balm, liquid body wash, foaming hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and bar soaps. I have not been disappointed with any of their products thus far!

Natural and toxin-free lip butter by Pacifica

Let's all switch to all-natural lip products! Here is a great one - Pacifica's Creamy Lip Butter in 'Lava'!

Pacifica is a natural cosmetics brand, based out of Portland, Oregon, that has really taken the cosmetics industry by storm in the last year. Originally a natural perfume, soap and candle company, Pacifica released a full line of makeup and skincare recently, and the results and reviews have been phenomenal. People are going nuts for this brand, and it's not hard to see why after trying some of this company's products.

The products are completely natural, vegan, cruelty-free and toxin-free, which is wonderful - but they also have managed to create some of the best, most effective formulas out there for a much more affordable price than other high-end natural brands. Part of the reason for this affordability is probably due to the fact that the company is able to reach millions of customers by selling at Target. Many popular natural brands among natural beauty enthusiasts can only be found online or at expensive natural food stores, such as Whole Foods; thus, these natural / organic brands can prove to be quite pricey. A recommendation for getting Pacifica products at the best deal is to buy them from Pharmaca or Target, using a coupon.

Among Pacifica's many highly-rated products, it's difficult to choose just one to talk about. One of the most sought-after lip products is the "creamy lip butter"; these are moisturizing, vegan and delicious! They also come in several lovely shades that give the lips just enough extra color and shine, for a finished, glossy look.

The formula is different from any other lip butter I have tried - it spreads on like a jelly and smells ever so yummy! The coconut oil content in this lip butter is apparent when using it in temperatures below 75 degrees Fahrenheit, as the texture is ever-so-slightly grainy upon application before it begins to melt on your skin (coconut oil solidifies when in temperatures below 75 degrees) . The lip color and shine has a relatively good lasting power for the fact that it's so natural.

The shade "lava" is a gorgeous, glossy red that can be built up to a very shiny true red, or can be applied lightly for a gentle wash of color (as seen in the slideshow pictures). The taste is nice too if you accidentally lick some of this off your lips - which is totally safe too, by the way, because of the incredibly natural and healthy ingredients!

Check out the ingredient list:

brassica campestris (canola) /aleurites fordi (tung tree) oil copolymer, punica granatum (pomegranate) sterols, mangifera indica (mango) seedbutter, theobroma cacao seed butter, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) esters, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed wax, caprylic/capric triglyceride (from coconut oil), parfum (all natural), persea americana (avocado ) oil, cocos nucifera (coconut oil), tocopherols (vitamin e), eupatorium rebaudianum bertoni (stevia) leaf extract. May contain: melia azadirachta leaf extract, coccinia indica flower extract, mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, vaccinium macrocarpon fruit (cranberry), daucus carota sativa root (carrot), solanum melogena fruit extract, curcuma longa (tumeric) root extract, and beta vulgaris (beetroot).

Everyone should try at least one product from this amazing natural brand! But beware - you'll definitely be tempted to get more!

Stay Active and Physically Healthy by going Hiking

Hiking, hiking, hiking!! Check out my new post about South Fortuna Trail, Mission Trails Regional Park, and get some new year's hiking done!

Among the seemingly endless supply of activities and sights in San Diego County are incredible hiking trails. Hiking options in San Diego range from exploring San Diego's natural habitat in arid mountains to discovering forested, rocky paths leading to waterfalls and water holes. Mission Trails Regional Park offers San Diego visitors and residents the option to see San Diego’s landscape as it was before major colonization brought invasive plant species to San Diego. Mission Trails Park is a protected area that covers nearly 5,800 acres of untouched mountains, flatland and hills, home to San Diego’s native flora, fauna and animals.

With dozens of trailheads to choose from when visiting Mission Trails Park, it’s tough to decide on where to trek first. Truthfully, the park is worth more than a few discovery treks because of the wonderful diversity of trails offered. The visitor’s center loop trail, which is a great starting point for first-time visitors, offers a great wealth of information about the area’s native species, as well as about the original inhabitants of the area, the Kumeyaay people, who frequented these lands since 10,000 years ago.

The South Fortuna trail, shown in the photos, is an incredible hike, which offers views of Tuscan-like, luscious green hills on one side, and arid mountain views on the other side. Check out the photos for these contrasting views; then, imagine walking in between these views; and then, take a trip to San Diego to discover them for yourself! Happy hiking!