I did not know if I would want to spend 50 to 100 dollars for a full set of the bare minerals or bare essentials line.  It seemed kind of silly to spend all that money on your foundation and concealer, when I get my foundation and concealer for fewer than 20 dollars.

With all the new make up products it’s hard to believe that any of them really make a difference.  This mascara will increase the length of your lashes or this bronzer will give you that sun kissed look.  Well I am among the palest of the pale most bronzer just turns me orange whether it’s an organic type mineral cosmetic or not.

Especially when you use something everyday you go through it so fast it seems I could not afford it.   I went to my old stand by Neutrogena make up section and found a perfect little start to wearing mineral products.  It was a little container with a brush attached called Neutrogena mineral sheers foundation.  It was awesome!

I used my daily concealer, and then I layered the mineral sheer foundation over that.  It added a little color to my face and almost made my skin look a little smoother as well.  I was fairly impressed considering it’s a product for under 10 dollars and it lasts for quite a while.  Of course you have to be careful when purchasing the shade, one shade darker and you could tell a big difference.

Overall this mineral sheer foundation gave my skin a little make over.  It is very light and goes on easy.  Be careful when you apply it though; make sure that it doesn’t get on your clothes.  The powder does fly around a little when you apply the foundation, but not too much.  Your new shirt doesn’t need a make over so I recommend putting a towel over your shirt if you would like to keep it in good condition.  I would say I used the product for about six months and was very happy with my purchase.  It was nice for a change to have a product that helped my skin rather than irritate it like most make up.

If you visit a beauty parlor frequently, notice the cleanliness of the establishment as well as the tools and products that are used there. Also pay attention to the experience of the beauty technicians as well as the owner. Be sure they work professionally and neatly. They should also be up on all the latest trends in the makeup and fashion industry. It’s important to always stay ahead of the trends.

When purchasing products you’ll use every day, buy cosmetics that are fast and easy to apply. It’s best to choose products that are easy to apply for quick touch-ups. They should be long lasting products so you really get the mileage out of each application. Don’t cake on too much, however. Using the right amount takes a little experience. You don’t want to end up looking like some plastic doll, nor do you want to look unnatural. The best makeup looks like it was always a part of you.

For cosmetics care, it’s always best to use natural tones for eye shadow and blush. A nude lip color is perhaps best for the daytime and professional meetings. Liquid eyeliners work best for defining the eyes. Eyebrow gel can be used to give color to the eyebrows, and eyelashes can be contoured with a brush. The right makeup application depends on the woman. We’re all different, so finding one that suits you just depends on your own taste and style.

When it comes to eye makeup, mascara does magic to your lashes when it’s correctly applied, lightly accentuating the body of your lashes for a beautiful feel. It’s essential that no gobs of stuff be left sticking to the eyelash. You should also keep each eyelash separate from itself, so that you can clearly see each strand separate against the light.

In order to avoid those awful unsightly gobs, always apply the mascara to the base of the lashes with a mascara wand, giving the wand a wiggle after applying to shake off any excess gook. You then carefully brush the mascara with a mascara comb, gently wiping away the excess mascara. Mascara should be wiped off the wand by a tissue so you can always apply a clean wand to your lash.

Keep in mind that mascara can look very ugly if it smudges. Mascara can smudge if the eye cream or concealer that was used is oily and still wet. If you apply a powder to your lower eyelids before applying the mascara, you can avoid smudges. Also, be careful never to blink when applying the mascara, or it will apply to your eyelids instead of your eyelashes.

A second coat can layer on the mascara even thicker, but apply it quickly after the first. If the first dries before a second coat is applied, the mascara will just clump the lashes, looking more like dried up sleep than a beauty product.

It’s really just a matter of preference and individuality. As women, we’re each unique. We have our own features, colors and highlights that require a customized makeup approach. Of course, we all have our own needs, too, whether it be a certain skin cream that just seems to wash away our wrinkles or a rouge that distracts from a mole. Women are always their own, so it makes sense that every girl find a cosmetic selection that’s perfectly suited to her.

Choose from a wide variety of cosmetics brands that suit not only your color, but also your needs, moods and preferences. No one cosmetic blend is perfect for the entire job; it takes a combination of colors, brands and techniques to bring out our prettiest selves.

You should probably select makeup brands that are natural and ideally organic, especially if you have sensitive or irritated skin. Not all natural cosmetics are actually organic, so it’s helpful to check. Some may contain plants grown with pesticides or other chemicals, which can react harshly with your skin and could lead to health problems including cancer. Organic cosmetics are made without any chemicals or pesticides. Plus, many feature healing botanicals which can actually work to heal and soothe your skin.

Shop around and explore for the perfect cosmetic. It may take some time and experimentation. Read makeup reviews online. Try some out at a department store and see how it makes you feel. Makeup is a matter of individuality and preference. Finding what’s right for you just depends your unique self.

Unique bridal shower gifts are a great way to share the excitement of an upcoming wedding. A cosmetic bag is a very popular and versatile gift, perfect for everyone in the bridal party. You can get customized designs so you and your girls will have the only makeup bags like it. It will be a special bond you share for time to come.

Personalized makeup bags are also great as bridesmaids gifts, bridal showers or even baby showers. Any occasion that brings you close together as girls can be made special with unique cosmetic bags.

Often, the inside of the bags will be lined with a water-repellant fiber, so you don’t have to worry about getting it wet or about makeup spillage. Leaks can be easily cleaned with a napkin, as the inside is well-protected and versatile against messes.

There are a wide selection of colors and patterns available, and you can combine styles and blends to create your own unique signature bag. That way no one will have the same makeup bag but you and your best friends. What brings the girls together better than the thrill of cosmetics?

You can also choose from a unique selection of fonts, which you can embroider with initials, your wedding date, or a special insignia between friends.

Bags can be large or small, depending on your budget and how light you want to travel. Larger bags are ideal for more bulkier products, while smaller bags are convenient for small, essential items, the same cosmetics you might carry in a purse or a handbag.

You can even add to the fun by filling the bag with some of your favorite cosmetics, or a few beauty secrets you’d like to share between the girls. You can also pool your bridesmaids for some of their cosmetic tips. What girl doesn’t like talking about makeup? It’s a great icebreaker for a bachelorette party or bridal shower, the perfect way to bring everyone together in the special ties of friendship.

Fortunately, there’s Almay Cosmetics for the hypoallergenic. Made from all natural ingredients that organically treat and enhance the health of your skin, Almay is made for the sensitive in mind. It uses a variety of herbal extracts that medicinally heal your skin. Meadowsweet is used to treat oily skin, while cucumber extracts can naturally moisten dry, patched skin. Other Almay products use grape seed oil that’s also good at returning the skin’s natural health.

New for Almay Cosmetics is their Pure Blends Makeup. It’s 97.4 percent natural, so you know what you are getting is healthy. It’s lightweight and fragrance free, so you don’t get that heavy caked on feel or the unnatural smells that can make you sick by the end of the day. It’s good for evening out the complexion, creating flawless skin that just seems to glimmer naturally in the sunlight. It features an enhancing blend of antioxidant fruit and flower extracts, Lotus, Orchid and Acai that help to nourish and hydrate the skin. It’s a great way to feel natural, feel as if the very flesh of your skin was the petal of a flower itself. It’s also talc and paraben free, so you know it’s natural and perfect for allergic skin. It’s even been dermatologist tested and approved.

Featuring an irresistible line of colors, Almay makeup features every color in the spectrum so you can find that perfect match. Some seasons call for a more relaxed color; while other seasons, winter especially, call for a brighter boldness to keep things interesting. Almay comes in such a wide range you can meet and suit any mood and occasion, even mixing blends to create a customized complexion of your own.

Cosmetics should be good for you, be made of natural ingredients that work to medicinally heal your skin and enhance its pores. Makeup that features unhealthy parabens, oils and preservatives work against your health and make you older than your time. There’s simply no need for that. Using extracts as natural as cucumber, lilies, and aloe, Almay brings nature back to the world of makeup.

Why should you settle for anything less than the natural earth?

Tired of spending good money on a reputed brand of makeup, only to realize you’ve wasted it because it’s comes too caked on, dries too fast or has an icky smell you never bargained for?

Cosmetics are an investment and it’s important to know that a particular product is a quality product before you buy it. Price tags are not a hint to performance, as anyone surely knows after paying top dollar for an expensive product that turns out to be gunk.

Luckily, girls, we live in the digital age. Thanks to the Internet, everyone is connected. Thankfully, you can take the hint on someone else’s dime, women love to discuss our favorite makeup brands, what works and what doesn’t. That means an unending supply of cosmetics reviews, many of them often written by consumers themselves who have no other stake in the product other than it makes them beautiful.

Let’s face it,  many cosmetics reviews are written by makeup companies and are full of appealing comments from people who don’t necessarily use the products as consumers. If we really want to test the value of a particular cosmetics brand, we need to hear from the women who actually use it. What were their experiences?

Did it make them look more beautiful, improve the complexion of their skin? There are many facets in makeup use that are inherent in the beauty of the product, many of which are never known until the product has been tried.

How long did the product last? How did it smell? How did it feel? What response did the consumer get from the people she met when she wore it? These are all important questions to be learned from the consumption of makeup, and answers can be told from the consumers themselves.

If there’s something about a particular cosmetic we don’t like, we’ll say so. Women talk, compare secrets, and evaluate products on the basis of how it genuinely performs.

If you read product reviews written by women who used the brand themselves (and aren’t getting paid), chances are you will get honest responses that can better help you make your decision in choosing the right brand.

We should never take our cosmetics at face value. Find out how it performs before you buy it. If you like a particular product, get on-line and share your enthusiasm through a product review.

If you suffered a disappointment with a particular makeup brand, let the Internet community know about it. Girls like to share secrets, especially when it comes to their makeup. So go ahead and get the inside scoop through the wide selection of reviews available on line.

Although black women make up only 12 percent of the gender, we are known for spending more than twice as much money on our hair and beauty products as the average non-black woman.

Looking good makes you feel good. Why wouldn’t you want to indulge yourself with a beauty product that suits your ethnic features? Despite dips in the cosmetics industry, ethnic cosmetics enjoy considerable growth and popularity.

An emerging line of ethnic hair-care, skin care products and color cosmetics are becoming increasingly popular as more and more cosmetic brands tailor their products for black women.

We are an important market and an important segment of the cosmetics community. Isn’t it time makeup was designed with our features in mind? A black woman desires a makeup that matches her exact skin tone, which can vary from person to person. Varying skin tone is what makes blackness so unique.

Our color is our own, and exact makeup matches are essential in African American beauty enhancement. With such a wide variety of skin color, finding that perfect match requires an open selection.

As black women, our skin also tends to be more susceptible to weather conditions. Cold weather dries out our skin, leaving it parched and flaky. On the other hand, summer months may riddle your skin with acne, requiring a lotion treatment to heal the skin.

Luckily, a range of skin moisturizing products exist on the market that not only replace moisture, but actually heal your chapped skin in cold weather. Other product lines reduce acne, saving your face from unwanted blemishes.

If you’re an African American woman, chances are your skin requires more naturally based cosmetics. As African Americans tend to be more hypo-allergenic, black women need to pay close attention to the ingredients in their beauty products.

Natural and organic brands will be better for your skin that other synthesized cosmetics. Ethnic cosmetics lines tend to keep allergies in mind, using natural ingredients that will have a medicinal effect, healing the skin through organic herbs and minerals.

We are unique. Our hair is our own, our skin has its own blends and personality. We require our own unique product line, with a special attention paid to color schemes as well as organic materials that are better for our skin. Cosmetics designed for African women are some of the fastest growing in the makeup industry. Why would you trust your skin with a product that’s not specially designed for you?

Weʼve all found a particular blend of cosmetics that we have grown to love and can’t live without, that perfect combination highlighting our inner glow. Thereʼs a certain lip gloss that goes with your favorite red dress, or a specific brand of foundations that accentuates your best colors. But what happens when the shelves run dry?

Thereʼs a cosmeticʼs bag chock full of reasons why some types of makeup are discontinued. The market for that particular cosmetic may have shifted, causing waning sales to force a brand to concentrate on other better selling products, or that particular cosmetic shade youʼve fallen in love with may have been a limited edition item.

In the case of some of the more organic and naturally based cosmetics, a discontinued makeup line may be the result of certain ingredients not being in season or a depletion of supplies due to drought or a bad year.

While thereʼs probably a perfectly reasonable explanation why your favorite blend of cosmetics has been discontinued, thatʼs little solace when youʼve become accustomed to a perfect makeup match thatʼs no longer on the market..

But luckily, we live in the digital age! and it’s a big world right at our fingertips. Thanks to the Internet, discontinued makeup that has a more specifically targeted market can easily and readily be found.

Search engines are probably your simplest solution, as they can provide a wide selection with prices that are easily compared. While some discontinued blends may be more expensive, deals can be had if you just take the time to look.

Ebay is a girlʼs dream come true when it comes to finding a rare brand or blend thatʼs been taken out of stock. Youʼd be surprised just how often you can find what you are looking for, and often for a bargain.

If you regularly visit outlet stores, discontinued cosmetics can often be found at cosmetic outlets, which specialize in products that have been taken off the market. TJ Maxx and Marshallʼs can be gold mines for the products your looking for, usually for a considerable discount of what youʼd have spent at a department store when the line was still on the market.

Even when the shelves run dry, a girl still her options. Internet search engines and sites like Ebay put those options literally at our fingertips. So go search away and find that shade youʼve grown to love, even when the brand has stopped filling the orders.

Youʼre unique. No one in the world has your exact skin tones, hair ,complexion or shade of eyes. And that is exactly what makes us beautiful.

Like choosing that favorite outfit that accentuates your curves, makeup should blend with your natural characteristics. Custom cosmetics are uniquely designed for your features, enhancing your best essentials and blending your natural colors.

Luckily in this digital age, tailored make-up is readily available and affordable. A wide variety of on-line companies offer custom cosmetics, designed for your specific hair-color and features. Cosmetics at their best accentuate an inner beauty that already exists, and should be uniquely tailored to fit your best elements.

Although a variety of selections are available on-line, some of us prefer the personal touch. Stopping by a makeup counter in your favorite department store adds a human touch, as well as the expertise of a professional that can help you select the right colors and shades to bring out  the best of your features, and conceal the not so best.. Itʼs more personal and fun as you are doted on!  Once the right combinations are discovered, then those elements can be found on-line, making the most of the webʼs selection while maintaining that personal, individualized touch.

In our fast paced world, makeup is the one time we get to indulge on ourselves. Between juggling family, careers and a personal life, sometimes our few cherished moments in front of a mirror is the only girl time we get. Itʼs our one time for perfection in the day, our serenity from stress. Why use makeup thatʼs been mass produced when you can pamper yourself to your own specifications?

Whether you want a favorite lip gloss you remember thatʼs been discontinued, or a color that uniquely blends with your skin tone and lips, individualized makeup makes everything a possibility. No longer settle for colors that donʼt bring out your best features. Try combinations that accentuate them isntead… With the right research into your color and specifications, the perfect combination can be yours, prescribed to your uniqueness.

W are worth unique attention, so our cosmetics should be uniquely designed for us, bringing out that natural beauty. Turn heads in a room as your natural features work for you, brought together through the perfect blend of shades and colors. Have you ever notice that girl that looks as if she isn’t wearing any thing  but she is “done” from head to toe? That is what custom cosmetics can do for you..remember that makeup should accentuates your inner beauty through a perfectly blended combination. You will notice the difference, and so will everybody else!

Synthetic paraben-based cosmetics have been known to cause breast cancer in some laboratory animals. Although paraben exists naturally in plants, many cosmetics use synthetically contrived paraben, made from a mixture of chemicals that better belong in a laboratory than your own body.

Some scientific studies have found paraben a possible cause of breast cancer. Some scientists believe that paraben may leak into the body through paraben-based cosmetics and deodorants.

You don’t want to take chances that compromise your health, especially when there are plenty of organic cosmetics that actually improve the health of your skin naturally.

A growing movement of environmental and health conscious consumers have fueled a market in naturally made makeup, introducing a variety of paraben-free-cosmetics.

Paraben has also been linked to a string of physical ailments, irritating some sensitive skin. Paraben has also been found to mimic estrogen in a woman’s body, interfering with her cycles as well as her chemical balance.

Is your body some lab animal? Do you want to take that risk, just to look beautiful?

Thankfully, you don’t have to. We all want to light up a room when we walk into a crowd, be stunningly attractive with colors that bring out our best. But you don’t need to sacrifice your health for that perfect color or shine.

Organic cosmetics give your skin a naturally alluring color because they’re made from nature. Not only do they add shine to your skin, they literally heal damaged skin through natural materials that are good for the body.

Why let the pharmaceutical industry dictate your makeup bag? Besides being used in many non-natural cosmetics, paraben is also used as a food preservative. Do you want something like that near your skin? Instead of adding to its beauty, paraben preserves your skin like a fossil!

In this day and age of green energy and natural alternatives, synthetic paraben is just needless pollution for you and your body. With so many alternatives of paraben-free-cosmetics available, there’s really no excuse you can give yourself for not treating your body to an organic solution.

Look beautiful, be the first thing they see when they walk in the room, but do it naturally and paraben-free. Your health is just too beautiful to take the risk!

The Dead Sea’s high mineral content is a blessing when it comes to cosmetics.  Going as far back as ancient cultures, people have praised the Dead Sea for its medical value and therapeutic properties. In the Bible, the sea was a place of refuge for King David. Herod the Great, enjoyed civilization’s first health spas on its waters, bathing in the water for its medicinal properties. Literally, millenniums of people have treasured the sea for the therapeutic and healing properties its rich minerals provide.

Today, doctors often order patients with skin problems to soak in its water because the minerals will heal their body. People bathe in its waters because of the benefits the enriched minerals have on the pores of their skin.

Deep Sea Cosmetics take advantage of all the healing therapies the Dead Sea has to offet, without an expensive plane ticket or trip to the Middle East, how wonderful is that? This line of cosmetics harvest the best of Dead Sea minerals togheter with natural herbal extracts and aromatic oils to bring out the beauty and health of your skin.

Recreated in a lab, the minerals naturally open the pores , increasing the flow of oxigen rich blood to the skin. Their enriched minerals smooth the skin, giving it a soft baby-like compexion.

From purifying Mud Masks that leave your face feeling like silk, to anti-wrinkle creams that smooth out lines and protect against aging, Deep Sea Cosmetics have a variety of options to enjoy the healing benefits of the Dead Sea, without leaving your bathtub.

If it was good enough for a queen like Cleopatra, beauty products enriched with Dead Sea minerals are perfect for a do-it-yourself spa right in your own bathroom. Treat yourself like royalty, and bask in the seas of history..add a touch of paradise to every single day, after all you deserve a royal treatment!

Today that is a thing of the past.. so shop cosmetics in your pajamas!!

Have you seen the selection of makeup available on the web today? May the Mary Kay and Avon ladies eat her little pink cars out. There’s so much selection, so much variety, so much possibility, a girl can surf until the tide comes in and still surprise herself.

The digital age is pretty sweet. Enter a few words into Google, and you’ll get literally thousands of pages listing cosmetics sale after sale. And talk about selection! : from mineral cosmetics to organic alternatives, to even makeup made from the salts of the Dead Sea, anything is possible and we love it all..like saving the earth, for example. A lot of makeup made from the big cosmetic companies is made from synthetic chemicals and petroleum, which pollute the earth, not to mention our bodies. Many women have allergies to certain synthetic materials used in some makeup, breaking out into rashes and hives and not even knowing why. A switch to organic cosmetics not only improves the environment, but it’s healthier for your skin as well. Natural cosmetics use natural ingredients that literally heal your skin like medicine.

Thanks to the wide selection possible on the web, organic makeup is finally an option to women everywhere. You don’t have to shop those expensive health spa chains or get your cosmetics from a luxurious spa. Organic alternatives are available literally at the touch of a button.

The universalism of the web makes every cosmetics sale competitive. Thousands of companies are literally competing against each other for your beauty, which mean rock bottom prices. Forget the department store!  Of course is fun to have a sales lady spray perfume on your arm, but the mall might as well be a museum anymore than a place to shop! The real sales, the real deals, are had on the web, every day, 24 hours a day.

Plus, you can shop in your nightgown, drinking coffee in the comforts of your own home. Holiday traffic? Who needs holiday traffic, unless it’s your own kids running through the living room? Though you deserve to look pretty, you don’t have to leave your house to do it anymore. Save leaving the house for a girl’s night on the town, a romantic evening at the ballet, or even a walk in the park for a breath of fresh air.

Why not pamper yourself? Why not treat yourself to the best sales on the web and save money at the same time? Shop at home. You don’t merely deserve elegance; you deserve it served in your pajamas.

But it took centuries of cosmetics history to get us this far. In the Middle Ages, makeup was a status symbol of the rich. Ladies of high society frequently dabbed white lead powder on their cheeks to go dancing at the ball. Dashing knights brought home samples of cosmetics from their visits to the Middle East, winning the heart of many a lady with rare Eastern oils and perfumes.

Later in the 19th century, makeup was the mark of prostitutes, who used dashing eye shadow to lure Victorian aristocrats to their beds, perhaps picking their pockets by morning. Even early Bible stories demoralize the use of eye shadow and other cosmetics. In 400 B.C., Jezebel tried a little mascara for the first time, only to be called an assassin and thrown out the window by the King of Israel, splattering on the rocks below for the dogs to eat her bones. Thankfully for the cosmetics industry, Biblical days are behind us!

Adolph Hitler was known for telling many ladies that makeup was for clowns, and not becoming of someone of the master race. He frequently teased his mistress, Eva Braun about her frequent use of makeup, which she wore everyday. In fact when Hitler planned to ban the use of cosmetics outright during World War II, Eva furiously confronted the Fuhrer.  Instead of banning them explicitly, the chided dictator quietly ceased their production so as not to offend his mistress.

Though cosmetics’ history is full of demonization and blame for the ladies who chose to use them, today we live in a new age. Women of all classes, nationalities, and races enjoy the use of make-up to bring out their beauty and make them their own. Make-up has become a symbol of freedom, a personal expression of loveliness in which women proclaim who they are. Whether a girl wants to turn on a little romance, look dashing and professional in the office, or just feel good about herself when she looks in the mirror, cosmetics turn life on.

Don’t you deserve to be beautiful? If makeup makes us all clowns, life must be a circus!

Hollywood put cosmetic use on the big screen to bring out the best features and glamour of its movie stars. But remember that movies had no color, so makeup was crucial to bring out the star’s beast features!!   Max Factor Sr., a Polish-American entrepreneur, realized an opportunity to sell wigs and makeup to Hollywood film producers with the advent of black and white movies. This smart gentleman later led a makeup marketing campaign with the promise that cosmetics could make every American girl a movie star.. and who wouldn’t want that?

Thanks to Mr. Factor, makeup made it’s  big screen debut and became part of American fashion forever, and of course, a girl’s best friend.  Though Factor stepped off the boat onto Ellis Island in 1904 with only $400 in his pocket, he became the father of the cosmetics industry, making makeup an American phenomenon.

Makeup is widely used around the world, but there’s a touch of elegance to American cosmetics.   Girls in America love to look glamorous and stunning, we absolutely love to feel like movie stars!  We are proud of who we are and we like to look our best all the time!

So it’s no wonder that the best makeup on the market comes from right here ,in America.  America not only knows fashion, it makes fashion..think Sara Jessica Parker or Kimora Lee Simmons.  Our women lead the cosmetic industry because they know how to look good, From choosing the right shade of blush to go with our favorite cami, or selecting a lip gloss shade to bring out a shiny smile, American designers are the trendsetters of today’s industry.

There’s a wide range of American beauty cosmetics for every age, style and taste.  Whether your style is classy, hip or trendy wanting to look good is something we all want.  If you’re thinking about impressing that cute bartender at the club or simply look and professional for your next meeting at work, there is a perfect cosmetic out there to help you achieve the look you want, and the best part is..you have to  look no further than America to find it!

American women know what we want, and  know how to look stunning. So don’t be afraid to try different things and let makeup help you bring out the best in you when you’re in the spotlight..after all we are all movie stars!

Once upon a time, women did not care where their beauty products came from. Call it the need-to-know basis and not asking meant you really didn’t need to know. Well, those days have changed.

Organic products were not always in style. Aerosols in hair spray replaced with eco friendly propellants, whale fat and blubber used as a base for lipstick, and various other products that involved animal testing or some facet of the inclusion of a body part or two from animals has now been removed from the mainstream in the manufacture of cosmetics.

Organic beauty care is the new green for cosmetics, meaning if it is natural, its ok. Fortunately big business has had to make changes based on organization such as PETA, Greenpeace and others fighting for animal rights to clean up their act, but how does this affect consumers?

Is the lipstick as lustrous?
Does the foundation last as long?
Will the nail polish stay put without chipping?

Yes, in fact, synthesizing many of the components with organic alternatives such as Aveda’s product lines are proof enough that being conscious amidst the norm has merit, and women are willing to pay the difference to cast their vote in support of organic beauty care.

In today’s beauty market, we are overwhelmed with the all the different choices we have. Although not everything we find in the shelves is of organic origin, almost every brand out there has a line of “Natural’ or “Mineral” cosmetics. Us women can make a difference in the environment by choosing brands that are cruelty-free and Not tested on animal, after all the choice is ours..

It seems that everyone and everything is going “green” these days. This includes the cosmetics industry. One of the hottest niches in cosmetics right now is organic cosmetics. Following is a brief overview of what this healthy skin care is all about, and how it can benefit you.

What Are Organic Cosmetics?

Organic cosmetics are cosmetics manufactured with all natural ingredients. The ingredients must originate from organic agriculture, and meet the following three guidelines.

No Chemical Additives: All organic cosmetics are 100% chemical free. There can be no chemical additives at all.

Safe Ingredients: While this can be a bit ambiguous depending on how the word “safe” is defined, the foundation of the meaning is that all ingredients are natural.

No Animal Testing: Organic cosmetics are not tested on animals, making them cruelty free.

The Benefits of Organic Cosmetics

Many of us suffer from allergies, rashes, skin irritations, etc. All of these conditions can be exacerbated and/or caused by everyday products we use – like cosmetics. Organic cosmetics, because they are made with natural ingredients, work in concert with the body.

Many cosmetics commonly contain chemicals and other harmful additives like petroleum and propylene glycol. These are foreign substances to the body that can lead to serious health issues. They do not work in harmony with it to produce natural healing abilities.

Organic Cosmetics are More than Makeup

When most of us hear the term cosmetics, we think of makeup. But, technically, a cosmetic is any beauty product you put on your body. Take a look at your bathroom sink and in/on your tub/show. How many “cosmetics” are there?

There are lotions, hand creams, shampoos, foot powders, nail polish, Vaseline, etc. The list is endless. Now, how many of these are organic cosmetics? If you answered none, just think:  how many chemicals are you putting on/in your body every day?

By switching to organic cosmetics, you can eliminate putting all of these potentially harmful toxins in/on your body everyday, and start reaping the benefits of using all-natural products.

Baby Boomers and Cosmetics

Baby boomers are living longer and, compared to their parent’s generation for example, they take better care of themselves. They are accustomed to taking care of themselves and experiencing the finer things in life. Indulgences like spas, beauty treatments, yoga and other wellness exercises are all a part of their life experiences.

So, what are the best cosmetics for aging skin? One of the most interesting things about cosmetics or makeup for aging skin is that some of the ingredients found in them can actually be harmful to a user’s health. Many of the ingredients commonly used in these products are carcinogens and neurotoxins for example. These can lead to a plethora of side effects.

What to Look for In Cosmetics for Aging Skin

Natural is the word to remember, for this is what you want when you are looking for cosmetics for aging skin. This can be difficult to assess, as many cosmetics producers are not forthcoming about what exactly is in their products. Hence, you’ll need to search for companies that are open about how their products are made.

As Baby Boomers age and their demand for cosmetics increase, smart companies realize that using natural ingredients – and telling customers about it – will pave the way to prosperity.

Many shoppers buy cosmetics online. There are advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Following are two tips to help you buy cosmetics online – and get your money’s worth.

Take Advantage of Product Reviews: When you buy cosmetics online, one of the best things you can do is to take advantage of product reviews. Product reviews offer the following advantages when you buy cosmetics online:

(i) Unbiased Opinions: Instead of buying into what the manufacturer says, product reviews are given by satisfied/dissatisfied customers. This is honest feedback from an unbiased source who has no interest in you purchasing the product.

Product reviews are often insightful and detailed, which allows you to make a purchase with much more assurance than if they didn’t exist.

(ii) Comparative Analysis: When you buy cosmetics online, many of the product reviews from those who’ve written in will mention other, like products that you may not have been aware of. For example, a review may say something to the effect of, “I tried this product, but compared to XYZ product, it didn’t measure up. And, XYZ cost less too.”

Price Shop: Cosmetics can be expensive. Prices on products also tend to run the gamut. How do you know what you “should” be paying, as opposed to what is too high or too low (is there such a thing?).

When you buy cosmetics online, one of the distinct advantages this medium offers is the ability to price shop. You can check out as many retailers as you want. This is hard to do when you shop for cosmetics in a store.

When you buy cosmetics, you’re not buying a product, you’re buying a feeling. Buying cosmetics online ensures that you get your money’s worth.

Where to Find the Best Deals

If your budget is a little stretched during tight economic times, you may find yourself thinking about “beauty on a budget.” After all, you still want to look gorgeous, but you may not be able to spend extravagantly to do so. Following are some tips for finding the best discount cosmetics your budget can afford.

Discount Cosmetics: Recessionary Shopping for the “Beauty on a Budget” Babe

If you turn your makeup bottle upside down to tease the last drop of foundation out, or scrape bottom of your lipstick tube for that last dab of your favorite color, the following tips are for you. You can afford new beauty products, if you shop for discounts.

Departments Stores: This is one of the best places to find a discount cosmetic. Why? Because particularly in difficult economic times, many department stores offer special deals and discounts. After all, they know that many see cosmetics as a splurge. So, when the economy is in the tank, they need to generate revenue as well.

Hence, that MAC lipstick you’ve been eyeing may be 50% off. Now that’s a deal any beauty can appreciate!

Discount Retailers: Discount retailers like WalMart, Target – and sometimes even your local supermarket – will often carry quality name brands at relatively cheap prices. While you may not find the ultra name brand cosmetics, the discount cosmetic brands they do carry are used by millions, which speaks to their safety and effectiveness.

Online Outlets: One of the best places to find almost any product at a cheaper price is to shop online. If you’re in the market for a discount cosmetic, this is no exception.

The best part of shopping online for a discount cosmetic is that you can often find product reviews. These are invaluable in making a purchasing decision – particularly if you’re buying a brand that may be unfamiliar to you.