While reading Time magazine last November, I came across a blurb about the very cool invention of smog-eating cement. In a town near Milan, cement was mixed with titanium dioxide, which broke down smog. Excited, I headed to my laptop where I found this article, also about titanium dioxide's smog-reducing ability.
Both of these news stories beckon the question: Can makeup, moisturizers, and sunscreen with titanium dioxide—a mineral sunscreen that naturally protects against UVA and UVB rays—also prevent free radical damage from pollution on our face (aka aging)? It can't hurt to try, right?
My titanium dioxide-containing picks are Jane Iredale Dream Tint SPF 15 tinted moisturizer, Juice Beauty Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15, and the new John Masters Organics SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen. It contains reparative moisturizers and humectants like aloe, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid plus antioxidant-rich green tea and healing calendula. It's lightweight but does leave a slight white cast on your face. Happy days of sunshine this summer!
May 27, 2009
John Masters Organics SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen
April 21, 2009
25% Off Earth Day Sale at John Masters Organics!
So excited! John Masters Organics—the Kérastase of natural haircare—is having a 25% off sale across his web site through April 25 as an Earth Day celebration! (And there's always free ground shipping.)
I finally found an affordable alternative to his amazing conditioners, but his shampoos remain unbeatable. They contain a base of organic aloe instead of water, very gentle, plant-based surfactants to clean without even slightly stripping, and tons of hair-healthy herbs and plant oils. If you haven't tried them due to cost, treat yourself to one now.
November 7, 2008
The Best Non-Drying Foaming Cleansers
It's a widely known fact in the beauty industry that Americans are obsessed with foam: foamy cleansers, foamy shampoos, foamy body washes. European and Asian women traditionally have used cleansing creams and oils, which don't strip skin like our detergent-packed washes. Not us. If it don't lather, it don't work!
I've read the articles that say that lather doesn't equal clean, it just equals lather, and that the best way to combat oil is with oil. I've tried best-selling oil cleansers, like Lavantine's and Shu Uemura's. But the heavy, un-clean feeling I was left with plus break-outs a few days later made me run for my Aveeno Ultra Calming Cleanser (a sudser that I used in my pre-green days).
Luckily, there are now lovely soap-free foaming cleansers that thoroughly remove makeup and dirt without drying. Here are the best natural ones on the market in my opinion.
For Dry/Normal Skin: John Masters Organics Rose Foaming Face Wash. This light latherer employs mild surfactants to gently cleanse, aloe and linden flower (an antioxidant) to soothe, and steam-distilled essential rose oil to rejuvenate. $19 at Whole Foods and beauty.com
For Oily/Acneic: Aveda Outer Peace Foaming Cleanser. InStyle recently named it the best cleanser for acne-prone skin, and I concur. Oat amino acids exfoliate without harshness, salicylic acid treats blemishes, saw palmetto extract reduces DHT-thus-oil production, and tamanu oil moisturizes and heals. Has a refreshing herbal-medicinal scent. $25 at Aveda concept salons and aveda.com
Runner-up: Clinique's Acne Solutions Foaming Cleanser
For Combo Skin: Evan Healy Tea Tree Gel Cleanser (click for review). I've gone through three bottles the past year. It's my all-time favorite cleanser.
August 1, 2008
Whole Foods Video Series with John Masters
After a couple months of using an eco-friendly hair line that wasn't doing much for me, I finally finished the bottle and switched back to John Masters Organics. This past winter, I lathered my locks in JM's amazing Honey & Hibiscus Reconstructing shampoo and conditioner and received numerous compliments. Since it's summer, I wanted something lighter, but not too light because I have high-lighted hair and dry ends that need moisture. I opted for JMO's Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair.
Well, after a week of use, what do ya know? My hair is again smoother, softer and more vibrant. (Evening primrose oil is loaded with rejuvenating essential fatty acids.) Better yet, while doing research, I found these new Whole Foods video interviews with John himself about ingredients to look for in natural haircare. Check 'em out—they're enlightening!
June 17, 2008
John Masters Deep Follicle Treatment & Volumizer for Thinning Hair
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, female hair loss is on the rise and it's affecting younger women. Poor, processed diets and increased stress levels—also thought to be the culprit for the boom in adult acne—are mostly to blame. As a result, major hair care companies have rapidly developed lines that address thinning hair in the past couple years.
However, to reduce hair loss, you must get to the root of the problem—literally. John Masters Deep Follicle Treatment does. And it seems to be working for me so far.
Pretty factor: This spray bathes your scalp in organic plant extracts, vitamins and essential oils, which stimulate circulation, balance sebum production and eliminate free radicals, "resulting in optimal scalp and hair health." Perhaps most importantly, the spray contains a large amount of panthenol (vitamin B), which strengthens and plumps the hair shaft.
I've been spraying this on slightly damp hair after showering every other day for three weeks and have noticed a spurt in baby hair growth around my forehead.
Eco factor: John Masters products are 75 to 100% organic and contain wild-crafted, ECOCERT® ingredients. (ECOCERT® is an European organic certification organization.) No parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, artificial colors, fragrances or fillers. The NYC salon is powered completely by wind energy!
Ingredients
January 25, 2008
John Masters Organics Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil
Gals with oily or acneic skin like me face a frustrating wintertime challenge: hydrating and protecting our faces against the elements without clogging the holy heck out of them. Many heavy-duty moisturizers—both natural and traditional—contain potentially comedogenic ingredients in the form of emollients and thickeners. After a lengthy search, I have a surprising recommendation: John Masters Pomegranate Nourishing Facial Oil. (Don't be scared by the word "oil," we'll get to that in a minute.)
Pretty factor: The main plant oils in this serum—organic sunflower seed, evening primrose and pomegranate seed oils—are lightweight and un-problematic for pores. In fact, the natural moisture they provide can actually calms your sebaceous glands. Sunflower seed is packed with skin-plumping essential fatty acids and repairing vitamin E. Evening primrose has long been used to regenerate the skin, and pomegranate seed oil is a potent source of antioxidants and a proven cell regenerator.
If you're still leery, know this: The serum also contains lavender and ylang-ylang essential oils, which kill surface bacteria and balance oil production, warding off pimples.
To buy: $30 at Whole Foods and skinbotanica.com
Ingredients
November 12, 2007
John Masters Honey & Hibiscus Reconstructing Shampoo and Hair Reconstructor
After working for years in traditional, chemical-loaded salons, hair guru John Masters opened a green salon in New York's fashionable SoHo neighborhood—waaay back in 1994. The revolutionary salon offers ammonia-free, clay-based coloring and does not offer chemical-laden services like perms, bleaching and relaxing.
He also has a stellar hair care line, of which the Honey & Hibiscus Reconstructing Shampoo and Hair Reconstructor are must-buys. Highly-rated on beauty.com, I've received an uncommon number of compliments in just the month I've used them: "Did you do something to your hair??" "Did you re-highlight your hair? It looks brighter..." 
Pretty factor: The shampoo contains gentle, naturally derived surfactants that cleanse locks without stripping. Both it and the reconstructor (a deep conditioner) contain hyaluronic and linolenic acids—essential fatty acids found in young hair—and honey, which is uber-moisturizing and nutrient-packed. Hibiscus soothes strands and ylang-ylang regulates scalp oiliness and gives that seductive, Aveda-esque scent.
Eco factor: All John Masters products are 75 to 100% organic, containing wild-crafted, ECOCERT® ingredients (ECOCERT® is an European organic certification organization.) No parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, artificial colors, fragrances or fillers are ever used. His salon is powered completely by wind energy! No animal testing and the company supports Animal Haven, a no-kill shelter in NYC.
To buy: $26 for the shampoo, $28 for the reconstructor conditioner at Whole Foods and JohnMasters.com
Ingredients: Shampoo; conditioner
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