Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid used in plastics to make them more flexible, and are primarily found in PVC. Phthalates are slowly being phased out of many products in the United States, Canada, and European Union over health concerns.  These concerns are commonly associated with reproductive issues, birth defects, and change in hormone levels. 

In beauty products, phthalates are found in everything from anti-aging creams to fragrances. Examples of other products that commonly use phthalates: lubricants, cleaning agents, adhesives, glues, medical equipment, detergents, printing inks, pharmaceuticals, and food products. Daily exposure to phthalates is common for most people in the United States, and has been so for over 50 years.

Phthalates are difficult for consumers to detect as there is little legal requirement for manufacturers to label phthalate ingredients on products. Phthalate regulation is more stringent in the European Union and Australia, but not in the USA. Though a ban in 2009 on certain phalates in children's toys was implemented in the USA, no other strict legislation has been created to broaden phthalate transparency on ingredient labels or ban specific phalates that have been scientifically shown to compromise the health of a fetus, child, and adult.  

Phthalates to Watch-Out For: (Data provide by the Environmental Working Group)

DIETHYLHEXYL PHTHALATE: Known to cause reproductive toxicity, cancer, potential human carcinogen

DIBUTYL PHTHALATE: May cause damage to unborn child and adult fertility, endocrine disruptor, toxic to aquatic life

DIETHYL PHTHALATE: Endocrine disruptor, respiratory tract irritation

BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE: May damage fertility or unborn child, endocrine disruptor, toxic to aquatic life with lasting consequences

DI-''ISODECYL'' PHTHALATE: Potential for endocrine disruption

DIMETHYL PHTHALATE: Potential for respiratory irritation

Cosmetic and cleaning products can be examines for phthalates and other potential toxins with the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database and Healthy Cleaning Database. Au Naturale Cosmetics is among the healthy make-up brands they have reviewed, and recommend.

An informative interview with Dr. Ann Blake explores phthalates more in-depth (Click Here to view Dr. Blake's Interview). She elaborates on the "gender-bending" effects of phthalates.

Sources:

Hernández-Díaz S, Mitchell AA, Kelley KE, Calafat AM, Hauser R (February 2009)."Medications as a Potential Source of Exposure to Phthalates in the U.S. Population".Environ. Health Perspect.
Committee on the Health Risks of Phthalates, National Research Council. (2008).Phthalates and Cumulative Risk Assessment: The Task Ahead. National Academies Press. Free full-text available
GHS Hazard Codes - EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes
EU Endocrine Disrupters - EU Endocrine
EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) - Cancer - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Prop 65 - CA Proposition 65
Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis - American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
NTP 12th RoC - NTP RoC
Hallmark N, Walker M, McKinnell C, et al. (March 2007). "Effects of Monobutyl and Di(n-butyl) Phthalate in Vitro on Steroidogenesis and Leydig Cell Aggregation in Fetal Testis Explants from the Rat: Comparison with Effects in Vivo in the Fetal Rat and Neonatal Marmoset and in Vitro in the Human".
Third National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, U.S. CDC, July 2005.
http://www.ewg.org/guides/substances/8804
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate

Finding your perfect foundation match can be overwhelming, so the make-up artists at Au Naturale put together a tutorial on how to choose your perfect foundation shade from our foundation collection.  Once you have determined your skin tone, choosing the rest of our makeup will be a breeze! Follow our guide below to find what foundation color best suits you.

Step One: Choose Your Undertone

Cool: Your skin has rose undertones, and you tend to burn rather than tan in the sun.  If your skin is a deep color, you tend to turn red in the sun.

Warm: Your skin has golden/peach undertones, and tans easily. Your tan is a warm golden brown.

Neutral: Your skin is peachy with no obvious rose and yellow undertones.  You either burn immedeatly, or will burn and then become tan.

Step Two: Choose Your Shade

Step Three: Find Your Perfect Match

Au Naturale is now member #2834 of 1%  for the Planet! 

We join business members such as Patagonia, New Belgium Brewing, and Jack Johnson with making a commintment to the environment through efforts with the green business collective 1% for the Planet.  Working with 1% for the Planet enables businesses to take a lead role in being environmental stewards, and become a catalyst for change.

Au Naturale is proud to be associated with the intellectual vitality of 1% for the Planet; having their logo appear on our website, packaging, and mulit-media will reaffirm to our customers that we take our misssion to be a green business VERY seriously. We at Au Naturale believe that our responsibility does not lie in maxing out on profits, rather, our responsibility is to create cosmetic products that promote health, sustainability, and the environment.

Learn more about 1% for the Planet by watching this inspiring short clip on vimeo:

http://vimeo.com/channels/onepercent

The environmental challenges we face are enormous.  The need for businesses to lead the way is even bigger. 1% for the Planet offers a simple, tangible, and proactive way for the business community to be a part of the solution. Au Naturale is excited to be part of the 1% for the Planet's community, and be part of that solution!

Read More About 1% for the Planet Here >

www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/en/

We are delighted to announce that celebrity makeup artist Kian Stave has edorsed Au Naturale Cosmetics. Ms. Stave's clients have included Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney, Elle McPherson, Queen Noor of Jordan, Christina Applegate, Christopher Walken, Bill Gates, and many others.  Ms. Stave stated:

"My favorite new eco friendly products are made by Au Naturale.  The mineral powder colors are spot on, and the blushers come in a variety of delicious shades perfect for most every skin tone.  In my work I rely heavily on their creme eye liners, which I apply to the upper and lower lash lines with a thin brush.  The effect is perfect and melds with the delicate lid area to create a very natural, professionally applied looking effect that even improves in time and sets with the effect of watercolor stain.  For a more effortless application their pencil eyeliners are also formulated for a natural creamy application."

Learn more about our Creme Eye Shadows here, and see our latest offering that includes one of our premium angle-liner brushes with the purchase of two or more Creme Shadow Products. 

We are so excited to introduce you to our first video in a series of instructional videos on how to get an array of looks using Au Naturale products.  

This first video, "Fresh Face Look", is with a great model named Heather and the very talented makeup artist, Anna Webber, from New York City.  Anna shows us a great look for a fresh face using Au Naturale foundations, Blush, Eye and Lip products.  Check out this great video now.

Fresh Face Look Video with Anna Webber

For Heather’s face Anna used:

• Foundation in Sand,
• Finishing Powder in Light, 
• Blush in Apricot,

Anna used a powder foundation brush to put the Foundation on first and then went to a smaller brush to fill in the creases and spaces.  Next, she used the Finishing Powder in Light to smooth out the finish and get rid of any shiny spots.  And last for the face she used the Blush in Apricot to give her cheeks a nice glow.  Start at the apple of your cheeks and tap with the brush don’t sweep it over the cheekbones.

For Heather’s eyes Anna used:

• Au Naturale's Powdered Eye Shadow in Peony
• Au Naturale's  Powdered Eye Shadow in Mahogany

Anna started with Peony at the corner of the eye using our All Over Shadow brush and moved over the whole lid into the crease.  She then lined the eyes with Mahogany Powdered Eye Shadow using an Angle Liner Brush.  Anna then finished the eyes with some more Peony Powdered Eye shadow in the corner of the eyes.

Anna then completed Heather’s look with a Lip gloss in Magnolia.

We hope you find this new video series helpful and inspiring for you to try new looks or improve on your current routine.

At Au Naturale, we LOVE the world of eco-beauty and eco-fashion! NYC Fashion week highlighted an array of neutral mainstays with pops of bold colors in both clothing and makeup that have inspired fresh product s for Au Naturale in the upcoming months. Makeup is our forte, but today we wanted to take a moment and address eco-fashion trends for a change. Guest blogger Jodi Truglio is associate editor for the sustainable fashion and beauty blog The Green Stylist, and is back from the massive Magic Convention in Las Vegas to update us on some eco-fashion finds and trends.  We are pleased that Jodi, who is a strict vegan, animal/human rights activist, and writer could indulge with some fashion fodder and share her view on her recent trip.  

2012 GREEN FASHION TRENDS

By Jodi Truglio

Never being one to follow the latest fashion trends, I tend to view the clothing I wear as an extension of my personality.  It is the first impression you give someone before you even say a word.  Over the years, I've learned that fashion trends come and go and then come back again.  If you're lucky the trend that makes its way back after years of being what you had thought of as extinct will come back with a fresh new appeal that makes you forget about why you disliked it in the first place.

Last month I had the pleasure of attending the Magic Convention that is held in Las Vegas every fall and spring. Huge doesn't even begin to describe how big this convention is that takes up the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and The Las Vegas Convention Center.

Since I was feeling under the weather I spent my three days at the convention wandering the aisles at Mandalay Bay on the first floor which was broken down into three sections "Project," "Workroom," and "Pool."

The simple way to put it was, once I realized there were several environmentally friendly companies that attended this spring, I was in eco-fashion heaven.

The convention was the week of Valentine's Day, I chose to wear Revenge Is "All Love Is Equal" tank which is super comfortable.  The tank ended up being a great ice breaker because people wanted to know about it.  I ended up conducting four interviews with various brands that day.

This season I noticed that a lot more companies were using organic fabrics compared to the season before.  What surprised me and pleased me the most was to see a few companies using a cotton/hemp blend which I favor more than bamboo.  My reason for this is, although bamboo is considered a fairly easy to grow and sustainable resource, in order to make the bamboo silky soft it is heavily chemically processed which is not eco-friendly. 

I didn't notice any specific fashion trends in the area of the convention I was at.  What I did notice was the brands that used the eco-friendly fabrics and inks went in the direction of using soft earth tone colors in their collections.  In the past it was common to see anything that was made of any eco-friendly material to be more on the expensive side than non eco-friendly product, however this spring everything seemed to be a lot more affordable.

A trend I wish would go away would be the use of neon colors which several brands used for their collections.  I'm not sure if this was done to reflect a current fashion trend or to create a cheery atmosphere to draw people in to look at their clothing line.

As for make-up the natural, less is more look with bold reds and coral lip colors seemed to be a common theme.

Below are a few of the companies that I discovered and fell in love with, I hope you do too.

(** we at Au Naturale very MUCH support Falling Whistles)

Push Pull

Hydrangea

In conjunction with the awards themselves, glamour is the other reason we tune into the Oscars.  There was little creativity in the realm of fashion, but some of the alluring makeup looks prompted us to take a second look.  Guest blogger Rachel Becher and I were on the phone earlier in the week and discussed our favorites: Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Stone, and Octavia Spencer.  Yes, there were many other ladies that looked lovely, but these three were our favorites and the ones we'll focus on in this entry. (Should you desire further elaboration on how to achieve the looks we are describing, please enjoy this piece from Chic and Green.  We were happy they incorporated our products into their Oscar looks and makeup tutorials).

Gwenyth Paltrow:

The style icon and goddess of natural goodness looked radiant. Gwenyth has an eye for simple sophistication, and even if her caped dress rubbed you the wrong way, I think we all can agree that her makeup palette was beautiful, simple, and refined.  One can achieve this look organically with Au Naturale using a powdered foundation on moisturized skin to create a clean and fresh face to build upon (I personally use the SAND foundation, and Gwenyth would likely use that tint as well).  A bronzer in KISSED would create her soft bronzed glow. Adding our blusher in FIG to the apples of your cheeks would achieve Gwenyth's blush color. Our PRIMROSE lipstick topped with MAGNOLIA gloss would give your lips a long lasting pink hue with a dewy finish; a look Gwenyth wore perfectly.  Her eyes were played up with a pearlescent eye shadow in a neutral tone (like our GARDENIA shadow), and a bold black liner (similar to our creme shadow in NOIR) artistically applied with an angle liner brush on the top lid.  A subtle highlighter was used in the arch of her eyebrows, and the corners of her inner eye that can be easily recreated with our creme shadow in WHITE QUARTZ. To set Gwenyth's makeup and reduce shine, she likely used a finishing powder similar to ours in LIGHT.

Emma Stone:

Emma had an interesting makeup palette at play.  Most intriguing were her eyes; her cateye liner can be recreated with an angle liner brush and dark creme liner in NOIR. A playful pink shadow (in the shade of our HIBISCUS) applied above the eye kept her look provocative, and accentuated her gorgeous green eyes.  The dewy pink pigment on her cheeks could be achieved with our creme eye shadow in Roseate (yes, eyeshadow, but so many use it as a creme blush as well), or with our lip and cheek tint in PARISIAN PINK that will debut next week. Emma's lip stain could be done with our lipstick in PRIMROSE for a sheer finish, or with our lip and cheek tint in PARISIAN PINK for a more matte look.  Her overall look had a dusting of highlighter on her face and decolletage, like ours VERBENA.

Octavia Spencer:

Octavia Spencer's classic style and makeup was indeed a big winner on Sunday evening. Her polished makeup began with a fresh foundation similar to our MAPLE powder foundation. She sported a lovely brown smoky eye that can be recreated with our creme shadows in either SADDLE (deep dramatic brown) or COFFEE (light brown). She had a luminescent shadow above her eye (achieved with our EDELWEISS shadow),  and neutral pink above the inner corners of her eye (achieved with our PEONY shadow).  Her neutral lips were lined with a deep rose tone similar to our SPANISH ROSE lip liner, and covered with a sheer tone like our PLUMERIA lipstick. Octavia's cheeks had a small burst of a vivid pink color applied to the apples of her cheeks that greatly resembles our POMOGRANTE blusher. To set her makeup and minimize any shine that could develop on the red carpet or on stage, Octavia likely used a finishing powder like ours in MEDIUM.

When Rachel Becher of Grand Rapids, MI contacted me about her delight with our Bronzers, I asked her if she would consider composing a blog stating as much. The busy mother of four said she would indulge us with the reasons why she loves our bronzers, and why they can start getting us all excited for both the spring and summer months ahead!

The Winter Blahs

by Rachel Becher

How many of you at this time of year look in the mirror and go "when is it going to be summer? I really could use a little color on my cheeks."

I love the healthy glow a little sun can do for my skin and I am sure you do too. If you are not fortunate enough to take a warm vacation at this time of year or live in a warm place where you are able to get sun all of the time, one way to get some color would be to try out Au Naturale's Bronzers.  (And we all know that tanning beds are horrible, so let's not even go there.)

I personally start my day with a  tinted moisturizer containing SPF 30 and Au Naturale's Bronzer in Kissed.  It gives my face a nice healthy glow and the Bronzer even has SPF 15.  As a busy Mom of 4 children, it is so nice to know that your skin is protected from the sun when you go out for the day.  Au Naturale's Kissed Bronzer makes my skin feel great and has an incredible staying power.  I love that the ingredients in Au Naturale's products contain natural elements and active amino acids that help promote healthy skin cell growth, help fight the aging process, and detoxifies my skin.

Another great perk about Au Naturale's Bronzer is the amount of product you receive.  I have had my jar of Bronzer for at least 4 months and I still do not need to buy anymore.  One jar should last you from Spring through Summer!

Au Naturale's Bronzers are a great way to put a little color on your cheeks and get you feeling like summer is going to be here before we know it.  Spring is right around the corner, and then it will be summer, so for now think positive and enjoy what sun you are able to get.

 

It’s a new year, and I can’t help but notice the number of people I know starting the new year with a body cleanse.  I started cleansing over a year ago when I just felt crappy and could not figure out why.  I had wanted to start cleansing in the past but was far too scared (and like food too much) to do a Master Cleanse (lemon water with honey and cayenne pepper -blah).  I knew that cleansing would be for me but I also knew that it had to involve food.  Starving was not an option for me.  I started off slowly by eliminating certain foods, and then the real cleanse began – two liquid meals a day and one solid meal for lunch with snacks in between.  I noticed a difference right away.  Wow…did I really have that many toxins in my body?  It seemed that I did because the ailments I was feeling for years and thought were normal were gone and I was feeling better than I ever had before.  I was reading constantly while cleansing about digestion, our livers, and other organs including skin.  Then it dawned on me one morning as I was washing my face and drinking my lemon water, “what is in this face cleanser, and that moisturizer and make-up?”  Were the products I was using externally affecting my internal cleanse?  While I was learning about organs and digestions, I realized that I was completely overlooking my biggest organ – my skin.  That is when it all changed for me.  I got rid of the cleanser and moisturizer and opted for clean options made of pure, natural, organic ingredients (ones that I could pronounce).  Then I looked at my make-up (to be candid one of my prized processions).  I had accumulated thousands of dollars of make-up from expensive department store brands.  Getting rid of those felt like getting rid of a really good friend but one that I knew was just not healthy for me.  And then I faced the daunting task of finding a healthier option.  Not being able to find what I wanted with the right level of luxury, quality, and pureness that I knew I needed, I then met Ashley.  We became instant friends and business partners.  We were on the same journey – both just “broke up” with our toxic make-up bags and were in search of our true make-up “soul mate.”  Au Naturale was born!!!

Cleansing and Au Naturale have really changed my life.  So while I am definitely on the bandwagon for cleansing (juicing and all) in 2012, I think it’s not enough to just cleanse what we put in our bodies, but also what we put on the outside.  With that in mind, I leave you with a wonderful beautifying green smoothie (and juice) recipe sure to increase your energy and give you that beautiful glowing skin.  I got this recipe from Kris Carr of CrazySexyLife fame.  She is amazing and such and inspiration (check her out if you are not familiar).  And of course, there is no reason to forego that lip gloss ring on the glass as long as it is an all natural non-toxic lip gloss (check out our 5 amazing lip gloss colors).  Don’t goop up the outside while cleaning up the inside! 

Make Juice Not War Green Drink
This recipe makes almost 32 oz.

-2 large cucumbers (peeled if not organic)
-Big fist full of kale or romaine
-Big fist full of sweet pea sprouts (if easy to find)
-4-5 stalks celery
-1-2 big broccoli stems
-1-2 pears or green apples (optional)
*Other optional greens we love: spinach

Directions: juice everything up together in your juicer. Drink J

Kris Carr’s Green Smoothie
Makes enough for 2 people. You can adjust the recipe accordingly. My taste buds are different than yours so don’t be afraid to play!

-1 Avocado
-1-2 pieces of low glycemic fruit: we love green apple, pear, berries & cantaloupe
-1 Cucumber
-A bit of kale or romaine or spinach
-Coconut water (or purified water)
-Stevia to taste
*You can also add a sprinkle of cinnamon and some cacao.
*You can also use coconut meat or almond butter or nut milk in place of avocado.

Directions: blend together in your blender.  Drink :)

What do parasitic beetles native to South America and the lipstick in your purse have in common?  Quite a bit actually. I find that most makeup mavens are unaware that carmine (a derivative of crushed up dead cochineal beetles) is a common red pigment found in cosmetics (your favorite lip gloss)  and food ( think delicious red popsicles or your sweet cherry yogurt).  A plethora of cosmetics on the market get their bright red hues from carmine. Your mind may be wandering to the ample supply of makeup in your vanity: blushers, eye shadows, lip glosses, shimmering pink highlighting powders, and you're oh-so chic blood red lipstick.  Could you REALLY be applying dead beetles to your face daily?  Yes!  Not only are you applying, you're also absorbing, ingesting, and inhaling these creepy crawlies.  60% of the personal care products you use are absorbed into your body; your makeup is constantly penetrating your delicate epidermis and working itself into your system.

Unfazed by this revelation? Please consider the following:

• According to a report in Glamour magazine, the average woman consumes four to nine pounds of lipstick in her lifetime.

• Carminic acid has been associated with severe allergic reactions (known as anaphylaxis) that cause shock and hospitalization.

• It takes 70,000 insects to make one pound of cochineal (aka carmine); the body of one cochineal is said to contain 18 - 20% carminic acid.

• The part of the beetle that contains the most carmine is located in the abdomen with the fertilized eggs. Insects are dried; the abdomen/eggs are separated from other organs, and then ground into a powder and cooked.

• Carmine fades relatively quickly, especially under florescent lights (bad for your makeup containing carmine).

Carmine is something most of us have been exposed to for years. It was only this year that the FDA forced food and cosmetic industries to publish the name "carmine" on product labels. Perhaps carmine doesn't bother some people, but I endorse the honorable notion of transparency in ingredient descriptions for cosmetic and food products. People have the right to know what they are consuming, and the choice to purchase products that are free of toxins, chemicals, and animal products.  Luckily, all of au naturale’s products (www.aunaturaleglow.com) are free of carmine and other toxic ingredients.  You need not sacrifice health for beauty! 

 Sources Cited: 

http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2006/01/30/E6-1104/listing-of-color-additives-exempt-from-certification-food-drug-and-cosmetic-labeling-cochineal

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=701120

http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/are-artificial-colors-harmful/

http://www.naturalnews.com/002043.html    

There is no doubt that Alex and I have been described as beauty and makeup junkies, passionately healthy (sometimes to the point of a little nuts) and socially conscious.  Both of us have embraced these descriptions and au naturale has been the culmination of our passion for all of these ideals.  We hope that through au naturale we can fill a void in a market that we both desperately were looking for and could not find. 

After learning that we absorb almost 60% of what is put on our skin, we were easily convinced that the hundreds of dollars we had spent over the years on makeup were just not cutting it. Our bathrooms were filled with all kinds of products formulated with ingredients we could not pronounce, let alone wanted to absorb into our bodies.  And so, the search began for healthy cosmetics made with ingredients that were safe for us and the environment but yet still gave us that great feeling of being beautiful both inside and out. 

At first thought, it did not seem that this search would be so difficult.  Wow, were we wrong.  All we could find were products with great colors filled with toxic ingredients or animal products - neither of which we wanted on our skin or bodies.  We then put our heads together and developed au naturale.  We passionately believe that the beauty industry needs to change and be shaken up a little with a line of cosmetics that do not irritate our skin, improve our overall well-being and add that little extra sass that we all need every now and again.

Our desire is to be each of our customer's one step closer to their healthiest and most beautiful self.

Enjoy our store and product!

oxo

Ashley