The Scented Life has a fantastic post today about natural and organic perfumes. Head on over to get a crash course in the differences between the two and a list of some great fragrances to try. Did you there was a Natural Perfumers Guild? Neither did I. *Crawling back under my rock now*

Via Ecco Bella

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Kim over at Indie Style File has rounded up some pretty cute promise rings if you’re in the market. But I guess if you’re in the market you are 15, still living with your parents and trying really hard to get laid. Or you could possibly be 35, still living with your parents and trying really hard to get laid. I’m not here to judge. I could always use a pretty ring that has absolutely no commitment or promise attached to it. Unless maybe it’s, “I promise to take out the trash.”

Via Indie Style File

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I recently had the opportunity to try out the BeeCeuticals Organics skincare line. I had never heard of it until one of my lovely readers recommended it. I have to tell you that I am hooked. Their Bee-yond Lip Balm is truly emollient and not waxy. Most chapstick like products have this weird taste and they don’t last very long. You could end up reapplying it every 15 minutes. This lip balm on the other hand my friend will change your life.

The Beeyond Body Balm is over the top moisturizing. I’ve been stashing it in my nightstand for lubing my aching dogs at the end of the night. Just a little bit (about a dime size) will cover my feet in a sheath of organic goodness. If I had to compare it to another skincare line who shall remain nameless (sounds like Nurt’s Keys), there really is no comparison. They use certified organic ingredients and are completely paraben and synthetic fragrance free. That last one is a biggie with me. My son has inherited my notoriously sensitive skin and that other company’s baby bee wash and lotion would consistently leave him with an unexplained rash. I believe it was the nondescript fragrance that did it.

So lest you think this is all hype, I am giving away a BeeCeuticals High-Five Kit to two lucky readers. It contains five of their best-sellers, sorry no lip balm, so you can see for yourself. If I’m lying I’m dying. You will also be a convert. To enter just leave a valid comment starting today and ending at 12 noon (CST) next Thursday. The winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced on Friday February 1st. The catch is after you try it you have to come back and let us know how it worked for you. I already know the answer but I will act surprised anyway.

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As I’ve said before, I get territorial about my new finds. I will selectively withhold information from people who I deem unworthy. No use throwing my pearls to the swine. In this case I have decided that my find was just too fantastic to keep to myself. In all of my benevolence I have decided to share it with you today. You should feel honored.

A few weeks ago while on a hunt for new products, I stumbled across the website for Bare Naked Beauty. They are an Australian company that practices what they preach. Proceeds from your purchases go to the development of renewable wind energy in Australia and to an orangutan adoption program. Yes, orangutans. I was blown away by pages of delicious Natural and Organic products that I had never even heard of before. I was giddy and my head was spinning. Two glasses of wine and a warning from El Jefe later, I had filled up my little cart. Well, and then removed a bunch of items. Okay…then put it back when he wasn’t looking. I finally narrowed it down to MyUtopia’s Rejuvenating Cleansing Oil and Est’s Vanilla Orange Velvet Lip Balm. Seriously, I’m not putting you on here when I say, my skin has never felt so soft. I have sensitive combination skin so it’s not like I can use just anything. This cleansing oil felt like I was pouring silk over my face and it had only the faintest fragrance. I could not stop touching my face, I know a big no-no. My skin was soft and moist but not oily and it lasted all day long. I want to marry this cleansing oil and have like ten thousand of its babies.

You know how I am about my lip balms so for me to say it’s good means a lot. It sincerely feels like velvet gliding over your lips and it makes me want to go steal some Girl Scout cookies. Picture me as Ann Margaret in “Tommy” only replace the baked beans with a vat of this lip balm. The product info says that it’s “highly lickable”…um yeah, that’s an understatement. I just want to take a spoon and eat it out of the cute little glass jar. As for the customer service can I just say *in my best valley girl voice* like oh my gawd, like they totally like rock like you know. I was expecting shipping from Australia to be ridiculous and really, it would have been worth it. But it was only $13 and some change, and it got here in about a week. I giggled with glee as I opened the box to find a bevy of samples and a hand written note in addition to my purchases. I will have to tell you later about the moisturizer sample I got..LOVING IT. By the way, the orangutang’s name is Bella. I big squishy heart them.

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No Impact Man is just a normal guy in NYC trying to limit his family’s footprint. It follows his year long experiment and beyond. It’s funny and informative. Chic by Nature has the latest in green clothing and accessories. Once you “green” your makeup cabinet, make sure to move over there to get the lowdown on how to “green” your closet.

TreeHugger is hands down the best go-to site for everything from environmental news to green beauty and fashion trends. Green as a thistle makes me laugh out loud. It reminds me of a “My Name is Earl” for environmentalists. Fix is another great experiment type blog that has great, practical ideas for daily life.

I could go on and on but these are just a handful of my favorite reads. I hope you can check them out. Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Stay safe!

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As promised here is my top ten list of my favorite green beauty websites. They offer great gift ideas and lots of goodies for you. Some of these I have talked about before but gosh darn it, they deserve to be mentioned again, so there.

1. Saffron Rouge- Pretty much the online go-to for Eco cosmetics and skincare. Join Kirsten’s Inner Circle and get free samples every month.

2. Sephora-An obvious choice, but I just love them. If you haven’t “been to” Sephora then make it your New Year’s Resolution to come out from under that rock. Organic, natural, botanical and everything in between. Lovely makeup tools as well.

3. Green by Nature- I am so infatuated with their products I may just put together a gift basket for myself.

4. Lavera- A German company that uses Certified Organic ingredients. They have a wide range of cosmetics and skincare.

5. Sanre Organic Skin Food- Great products with a very “I made this in my bathroom” feel to it. Provide you’re into that kind of thing.

6. Naturopathica- Great spa type products. Excellent gift options for the high strung friend in your life.

7. Korres- Natch. There really isn’t much to say, they are perfect. No seriously.

8. Lush- Amazing products made with top notch ingredients. Fresher than fresh. Start the new year out with a bath bomb.

9. Lovelula- Organic and natural beauty and skincare with style. It’s like the younger sorority sister version of Saffron Rouge.

10. Upurea- Another great mega site bringing together the best offerings in specialized beauty and skincare.

 I hope you were all paying attention because there will be a test later. Let me know about other sites that are on your favorites list this year. Happy shopping.

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Post from: Pretty by Nature

Basically, you need to create a movie with LUSH products as the main character. The prizes are huge packs of wonderful LUSH goodies. All information can be found on their website.

Hurry, though, as the contest ends the 31st. I hope we get to see the movies that win!

Post from: Pretty by Nature