BODY and SOUL

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In these pages, we often offer recipes to make your own simple, toxin-free skin- and body-care products out of the herbs you grow at home. But making more complicated cosmetics — like mascara and foundation — might be too difficult or time-consuming for many of us. Luckily, the number of companies offering natural, herb- or botanical-based and chemical-free cosmetics seems to increase every day. And while these increasing options give you easier, more widespread access to natural cosmetics, they also can increase the confusion and muddle as you search online or in your health-food store. Here are a few companies that offer high-quality, natural cosmetics that our staff has tested.

ARBONNE INTERNATIONAL
(949) 770-2610
WWW.ARBONNE.COM

Who they are: Arbonne manufactures and distributes a complete line of pure Swiss skin care, color cosmetics, nutrition and aromatherapy products. Every product is botanically based, pH correct, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, never tested on animals, and formulated with no animal products or byproducts, mineral oils, dyes or chemical fragrances.

What they offer: Arbonne has an incredibly wide array of cosmetics, including foundation, concealer, powder, eye powders and pencils, mascara and lipsticks. Their colors range widely in every category, and their packaging is attractive. Plus, you know you’re doing something good for your skin when the products, such as the concealers, include natural ingredients like green tea, chamomile, ginseng, cucumber and arnica.

Any drawbacks? Like many natural cosmetics, Arbonne products can be a bit higher on the price scale than many drugstore makeup products. But their high-quality, skin-friendly products make it reasonable to spend the extra cash.

Prices: About Face Line Defiance: $26; About Face Concealer: $16; About Face Blusher: $12.50; About Face Lash Duos: $18.

ECCO BELLA,
(877) 696-2220,
WWW.ECCOBELLA.COM

Who they are: Ecco Bella was created in 1992 to protest against animal testing in the cosmetics industry. Ecco Bella uses no animal testing, and instead ensures safety by using products proven safe over time and by testing the products themselves, the company says. They use organic or ecologically grown herbs, aloe vera and cold-pressed vegetable oils.

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