One person who has commented regularly on this blog is Marie Chantal. Following her links I found that she makes skin care products using essential oils. What I really liked about her website and blog was the fact that she feels passionately about making top quality eco friendly products for sensitive skin, and you can feel that passion for what she makes come through from her site. She is somebody who hasn't just jumped on the eco-friendly band wagon, I believe she is doing it because its something she truly believes in. As a consumer this is the line on her website that grabs my attention ... this is the nitty gritty information glossed over by other skin care providers with pretty pictures and marketing blurb... 'Our products contain only natural preservatives and are free from parabens, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, mineral oils and synthetic perfumes.', heres a product that has nothing to hide ... how refreshing. Take note of the list of nasties in that sentence and check your other beauty products, even your toothpaste, for culprits.
For these reasons I mentioned her in a post last year where I gave a few links for possible eco-conscious Christmas gifts. Then early in the new year a package arrived from America on my doorstep, and a card as a way of a thank you for mentioning her product on my blog. You can't imagine what a treat this was for me because I rarely, ok never, buy skincare products. I tend to make my own, or more often, not use any!
The first thing I noticed from the skin cream and the lip balm was the amazing smell of roses. The natural aroma from essential oil of rose is so appealing in comparison to synthetic fragrances. This made the product a pleasure before it even came into contact with my body! Being a practical sort of person and spending most of the day outdoors can take its toll on the skin. Dry lips and cheeks are generally my companions this time of year, but when I remember to use them, and then if I manage to find them in a myriad of pockets, the creams Marie Chantal sent me are a real delight. They smell delicious and they do exactly what they say on the tin! They feel natural and light. The creams are as close to the raw product as one can get which to me means less room for contamination, and ingredients that are far less likely to upset the natural balance of my skin. All those qualities shine through in the final product. Unlike mass produced items with massive marketing campaigns and gross budgets thrown at creating a totally fabricated 'natural' image, Maries collection is beautiful, humble, has a sincere eco conscious ethic and putting it on my skin is like introducing it to its soul mate. Artisans like this deserve to be supported and I wish her success with her fantastic line of products.
Looks good, I've always been interested in naturally derived ingredients in skincare. The Rose Cleaner in particular has caught my eye!
I had a brief foray into the world of mineral makeup, and I may go there again. I have loads of mineral eyeshadow and blusher samples if you'd like to try a few? Just let me know the colours you go for and I can send you a few in the post.
Mineral makeup is great as it doesn't use nasties like parabens and phthalates (plasticisers), and because it's inorganic it effectively doesn't have a shelf-life either. Because of the way the particles sit on your skin, it allows your skin to breathe rather than be covered like a mask.
It's also great for people with sensitive skin, such as eczma and rosacea. The zinc oxide in mineral foundations is also widely throught to be a good anti-inflammatory for rosacea, so actually helps rather than hinders the problem!
I still have more research to do into its origins, how it's manufaturered, and I point blank refuse to use anything that has ferric ferrocyanide (pollutant) or carmine (I'm a veggie) in it. The reason I stopped developing a business around it was that I found out that there was an affiliation with one of the mica and pigment producers and the people that engineered battery hens (who would have thought?!). However there are ways and means of finding other suppliers, it's just whether it's all as naturally-derived and as good for the environment as you first think. Still, it's definitely the lesser of two evils, especially since technically it requires no animal testing for all the products used in mineral makeup.
Posted by: Lucy | February 26, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Ok, you sold me! :) I wonder if they're available in this country? em, Ireland I mean.. I'd definitely buy the rose scented skin cream.
Been lurking for a while on your blog and love it. I have a new blog and was wondering if I can link to you? It's great to see an Irish crafter combining craft with sustainable living; it's what I'm aiming for too. ;)
Posted by: Christina | February 26, 2008 at 01:55 PM
It sounds very nice (I'm a sucker for yummy skin care stuff), but: 1) Natural ingredients, especially essential oils, can be as irritating to the skin as any chemical, 2) Little pots that you have to stick your fingers in are just a petri dish for contamination, 3) I know it may not be so vital in Ireland, but a good wide spectrum sun block is the single most important, absolute best thing you can do for your skin.
Posted by: Sandra | February 26, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Agree with you on the pots, but this was a sample, perhaps the sale items are in dispensers. Also sunblock is a must here too, but I prefer to wear a hat instead if I can, failing that a mineral based sunblock which these days don't make your skin all white.
Lucy I didn't know about mineral make up but it all sounds very interesting. I'll have to read up a bit more on it.
Christina ... welcome to blogland, your new blog looks great. x
Posted by: Rebecca (author of Sallygardens) | February 29, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Hi Rebecca
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! I am so happy that you like my products. I have read the comments left earlier and hope that you won't mind if I answer some of their observations:
I am actually in Canada, not the United States. Yes, I ship worldwide and that includes Ireland. There are no parabens or phthalates in my products. The cream does come in a jar, not a dispenser ~ basic hygiene (handwashing) addresses the issue of possible contamination ~ I have sent used products off for testing and they far exceed the safety standards which indicates that the natural preservatives that I use are effective.
I agree with the comment regarding sunscreen which is essential and always buy one containing titanium dioxide. Regardless of location, sunscreen is a must.
Marie x
Posted by: Wild Rose | March 01, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Your blog is wonderful! And so great to see Marie's products here. I 've been using her creams for a while now, and love them for their pure beauty, rose scent and eco-friendly production. Happy weekend to you :o)
Posted by: Tracy | March 02, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I am a satisfied customer of Marie's products! Great review! I'm vacationing in Arizona so I will test the results as my skin usually dehydrates something awful while here! I will give Marie a review of how her products perform here in a climate that can be harsh on sensitive skin.
Love your blog..came by from Marie's..I am a nature lover blogger @
www.nature-trail.blogspot.com
Nice meeting you NG
Posted by: naturegirl | March 03, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Wow...... its so natural.
Posted by: Gypsy | March 12, 2008 at 07:01 AM
Marie Chantal is simply great with her great skin care products which are Eco-friendly products for sensitive skin and made with different natural oils.
Thanks for sharing a healthy skin care blog.
Posted by: Skin care products | March 31, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Oh really? Marie Chantal is actually making skin care products using essential oils.
-Peter
Posted by: professional skin care products | December 24, 2009 at 05:02 AM