NEW The Body Deli Blueberry Fusion Cleanser

When the weather is humid and the sun is unflinching, this skincare junkie can't help being drawn to brands that use organic juices with names such as Sea Cucumber Gelee—that require refrigeration.

After a few sessions of sticking my head in the freezer to cool off last week (I live on the 18th floor of a pre-war highrise with no central AC), I found myself typing TheBodyDeli.com into my browser.  After discovering the brand last summer, I was instantly enamoured with its fresh cucumber juice toner.

This year, I was excited to discover the just-launched Blueberry Fusion resurfacing cleanser.  From its rich purple hue, description and ingredients, I suspected it would become my new fav face wash.

Pretty factor:  Five percent lactic and malic hydroxy acids offer professional-grade exfoliation while a mild, plant-derived surfactant (decyl glucoside) gently removes oil and makeup.  Acai and blueberry extracts deliver antioxidants and oat flour soothes.

If you have a few extra bucks, try the Sea Cucumber Gelee.  This lightweight gel moisturizer-mask hydrates sun-parched skin, calms redness, and repairs free radical damage.  Its nutrient-rich ingredients include organic aloe, wheatgrass, dandelion leaf and kale juices.  Coolest feature of all (pun unintended): It ships on ice and must be stored in your frig.

Eco factor: Body Deli products contain fresh, organic fruit and vegetable extracts and juices.  No sulfates or other harsh cleansing ingredients, paraben preservatives, petrochemicals, or synthetic dyes and fragrance.

To buy: $38 for the resurfacing cleanser and $45 for the cucumber moisturizer at TheBodyDeli.com 

Elemental Herbology Facial Detox Purifying Mask

I admit it: I'm a sucker for packaging. Despite having a journalist's quizzical mind, anything that will sit pretty in the shower or medicine cabinet raises the thought, "If the company's design taste is this lovely, then the product's performance must be!"

Though this shallow thinking has misled me many times when choosing wine, fortunately the book matches the cover with Elemental Herbology's Facial Detox Purifying Mask. Its whimsically floral packaging lured me in but its results have stamped it a skincare staple this summer.

Pretty factor: The $58 price sticker elicits an "ouch," but you're paying for excellent ingredients. To name some: Oat flour and white Amazonian clay (rich in minerals and purifying salts) gently exfoliate and absorb excess oil.  An anti-inflammatory trio of aloe, calendula and manuka honey soothe redness and help heal sunburn. And lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils kill acne-causing bacteria and enliven the senses.

Tip: Makes a great overnight spot treatment

Eco factor: Elemental Herbology products contain no parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance or dyes, or animal testing.

To buy: $58 at spacenk.com (Space NK is an upscale British apothecary with a few New York outposts that I frequently visited when living in Manhattan.)

Pumpkin-Based Beauty Products for Fall

In light of Thanksgiving and my borderline obsession with pumpkin (Starbucks is killing me by selling those pumpkin loafs...), I'm serving up my fav pumpkin-containing products this week. What are yours?

A little background: Pumpkin is high in vitamin A, which increases skin cell turnover, reducing fine lines and acne.   And because it's a natural source of vitamin A, it doesn't cause the redness and irritation that Retin-A, Differin, or retinol serums often do. So here they are:

Eminence Organic Skin Care Pumpkin & Orange Masque. This hydrating and brightening mask is so deliciously scented that you'll want to gobble it up. Pumpkin extract promotes skin renewal, fresh orange juice boosts the skin with vitamin C, honey moisturizes, and vitamins A, C and E protect against free radicals. The challenge is to apply it to your face and not eat it. $48 at dermstore.com

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Incredible Pumpkin Peel. Read review here.

Desert Essence Pumpkin Hand Repair Cream. This affordable best-seller is one of the top natural hand creams. Its impressive ingredients include vitamin-packed pumpkin seed oil, licorice extract (which helps lighten age spots) and hydrating jojoba oil. $9.49 at drugstore.com and Whole Foods

Pangea Organics Facial Mask: Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai and Goji Berry

After reading about Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai and Goji Berry Facial Mask in ELLE's green issue last May and, more recently, in the December '07 issue of Domino, I was eager to try. Here's why it's so extraordinary:

Pretty factor: This more liquid-y mask has a base of pure green clay, a superior facial clay because it contains a bevy of minerals and thoroughly absorbs oil, makeup, pollutants and other impurities. The mask is packed with youth-preserving antioxidants in the form of organic green and matcha tea, goji berry and acai—a Brazilian berry that has 33 times the antioxidants of red wine grapes.

Small warning: You'll probably freak out your roommates or significant other when you wear it. It's moss green-colored, smells heavily of basil (thanks to basil essential oil, which is stimulating and antiseptic) and basically looks like an herb garden exploded on your face.

Eco factor: Pangea products contain handcrafted, organic ingredients. They're free of petrochemicals, parabens, sulfates, and synthetic dyes and fragrances. But its packaging really sets it apart from its competitors. Cartons are made of 100% post-consumer recycled newspaper (without glues or dyes) and are embedded with seeds—moisten, plant and up will grow Genovese Sweet Basil! Now, that's recycling.

To buy: $34 at Whole Foods and pangeaorganics.com

Mychelle Incredible Pumpkin Peel

I couldn't think of a more appropriate product to feature today, Halloween, than Mychelle Dermaceuticals' best-seller, Incredible Pumpkin Peel.

Disappointed with the options and results of natural skincare products on the market back in 2000, Myra Michelle set out to make highly effective, toxin-free cosmetics. The result is Mychelle Dermaceuticals, a stellar, under-the-radar skincare company that spends its money on quality ingredients instead of quality advertising.

Pretty factor: Pumpkin is packed with vitamin A, which increases cell turnover. Its derivative, tretinoin, is the main ingredient in the popular prescription acne and wrinkle treatments Retin A® and Differin®. However, because pumpkin is natural, it doesn't cause the redness and dryness that Retin-A and Differin do.

This peel also contains pumpkin enzymes to eat up dead skin cells, revealing brighter skin. It also contains honey to soothe and ginger root oil to boost circulation. After just the first use, your face will be super smooth and glowing. After a couple months, fine lines, age spots, and acne will have faded.

Eco factor: Mychelle products are "toxin-free", lacking phthalates, parabens, propylene glycol, ureas, EDTA, and artificial fragrances and colors. The company's actively involved with a couple local animal programs.

To buy: $26 at mychelleusa.com and Whole Foods (Trial sizes are available for just a few bucks.)

Ingredients