Winner's circle
We discovered more organic, fair trade, and eco-friendly ingredients than ever in the 434 products we tested for the 4th annual Natural Health Beauty Awards. Here are 22 of the best.
By OLESSA PINDAK
You can always tell when it's beauty awards time at Natural Health. Editors leave every night loaded down with shopping bags full of shampoos, lotions, makeup, and other assorted personal-care products, and return every morning to swap notes about what they tested.
The hardships we endure—irritated skin from too many face scrubs, limp hair from an overdose of conditioners, streaky eyes from multiple applications of mascara—are worth the discovery of favorite new products. But the winners are never up to us completely. We enlist the help of readers—this year 3,633 participated—and a panel of three dermatologists. Between the lot of us, we picked 22 winners, all of which contain natural elements. Look for our seal on winning products this fall and shop healthy.
HAIR CARE
1. Hair Treatment: AVEDA DRY REMEDY MOISTURIZING TREATMENT MASQUE ($26; aveda.com). This treatment masque was a "hands-down winner for softening the hair," says health editor Lila MacLellan, who loved the essential-oil scent and how easily it rinsed out.
2. Hair-Styling Product: JANE CARTER SOLUTION TWIST & LOCK ($22; janecartersolution.com). For wavy-haired MacLellan, this product was fun to use and practical. "The natural formula didn't weigh down my style," she says.
3. Shampoo: BACK TO BASICS FRESH MINT ENERGIZING SHAMPOO ($10; backtobasics.com). The ginkgo biloba leaf extract and lemongrass make your hair shiny, says Diane Madfes, M.D., clinical dermatology instructor at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "It smells great, too," adds associate photo editor Devon Day.
4. Conditioner: NATURE'S GATE POMEGRANATE SUNFLOWER HAIR DEFENSE CONDITIONER ($6; natures-gate.com). Packed with great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients like red tea leaf and grapeseed extract, this leaves hair clean and feeling light, says Madfes.
MAKEUP
1. Blush: PHYSICIANS FORMULA ORGANIC WEAR 100% NATURAL ORIGIN BLUSH ($12; physiciansformula.com). This blush blends easily into the cheeks and the mineral base makes it perfect for sensitive skin.
2. Eye Makeup: DHC EYE SHADOW PERFECT PRO ($18; dhccare.com). The squalane, olive oil and ceramide 3 in this eye shadow hold moisture in the delicate eyelid skin, says Madfes. We liked the flattering range of shades in each compact.
3. Mascara: NEUTROGENA HEALTHY VOLUME MASCARA ($8; at drugstores). This full-coverage mascara stayed put for senior editor Christine Richmond. It's non-irritating and the beeswax fills in the nicks in lashes, making them look full, says Madfes.
4. Concealer: L'ORÉAL PARIS BARE NATURALE GENTLE MINERAL CONCEALER SPF 25 ($12; lorealparisusa.com). "The mineral formula makes this a great product for oily or delicate skin," says Madfes. Day loved that it didn't crease.
5. Foundation: AUBREY ORGANICS SILKEN EARTH TRANSLUCENT BASE ($24; aubrey-organics.com). Sustainable silk nourishes the skin and the soft, fine powder imparts a natural glow.
6. Lip Gloss: BURT'S BEES SUPER SHINY LIP GLOSS ($7; burtsbees.com). "It's tingly, smells like grapefruit, and stays put," raves creative director Kay Douglas. The sunflower and sweet almond oils keep lips soft.
7. Makeup Remover: EVERYDAY MINERALS COSMETIC WET WIPES ($4; everydayminerals.com). These disposable wipes have great environmental credibility—they're 100 percent flushable and biodegradable. "They're also as soft as baby products," says editor in chief Mary Bolster.
BODY CARE
1. Body Cleanser: OLAY BODY WASH WITH SPA EXFOLIATING RIBBONS ($4; at drugstores). This reader favorite has seaweed extract to help moisturize dry skin while exfoliating the top layer of dead skin cells.
2. Body Moisturizer: JASON NATURAL PRODUCTS FRAGRANCE FREE MINERAL BASED HAND & BODY LOTION SPF 15 ($11; jason-natural.com). This body lotion has it all: zinc and titanium to block the sun, plus avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, willow herb, aloe, and vitamins B5 and E for hydration. It's especially kind to sensitive skin and protects it for hours, Madfes noted. "The neutral fragrance is perfect for layering," says photo director Carrie Smith.
3. Hand Cream: DOVE CREAM OIL INTENSIVE HAND CREAM ($5; at drugstores). This hardworking hand cream with hydrating glycerin is especially good for extra dry skin, says Madfes. "The light scent is pretty," adds Bolster.
4. Body Scrub: YES TO CARROTS C THE BODY CARROT RICH MOISTURIZING BODY SCRUB ($10; walgreens.com). The Dead Sea mud in this scrub leaves behind minerals that nourish the skin. Day says it left her skin soft, but not oily. Alan M. Dattner, M.D., a holistic dermatologist in New York City and New Rochelle, N.Y. also sings its praises. "It has a slight grit and many nice herbal ingredients," he says.
FACE CARE
1. Eye Cream: BEFINE FOOD SKIN CARE EYE BLOSSOM MIRACLE EYE SERUM ($30; befine.com). The four individual applications deliver a blend of botanicals that stimulate collagen production and ease dark circles.
2. Facial Exfoliator: DERMA E NATURAL BODYCARE FRUIT ENZYME FACIAL SCRUB ($14; dermae.com). The Dead Sea salts and fruit enzymes of this scrub help slough off dead skin cells, leaving it smooth, says Dattner.
3. Facial Mask: THE BODY SHOP SEAWEED IONIC CLAY MASK ($18; thebodyshop.com). This earthy, 100 percent natural clay mask was a favorite of Smith's, who said it worked wonders. The two types of seaweed in the mask are sourced off the coast of Ireland through a community trade program.
4. Facial Cleanser: ST. IVES ELEMENTS PROTECTIVE CLEANSER ($7; at drugstores). Readers appreciated how this two-in-one formula (face wash and sunblock) helped them cut an extra step from their morning routine. One caution: you need to reapply this kind of sunscreen more often than every two hours, says Madfes.
5. Lip Balm: ORIGINS ORGANICS SOOTHING LIP BALM ($15; origins.com). The organic shea and cocoa butters protect delicate skin, Dattner explains. It was the perfect lip balm for Day. "My lips felt soft and plump," she says.
6. Anti-Aging: CLARINS YOUNGER LONGER BALM ($98; us.clarins.com). Douglas loved this elegant lotion. "Patting my face after applying it seemed to stimulate my skin's ability to absorb it," she says. Sandy Sharon Tsao, M.D., associate program director for procedural dermatology at Harvard Medical School, says, "The antioxidants A, E, and C help keep your skin hydrated and refreshed."
7. Facial Moisturizer: AVEENO POSITIVELY AGELESS LIFTING & FIRMING DAILY MOISTURIZER SPF 30 ($20; at drugstores). "Mushroom stem extract acts as an antioxidant while glycerin and hydrolyzed wheat protein protect the skin," says Madfes. Smith said she loved the easily absorbed, hydrating formula.
Read more Beauty articles.
The hardships we endure—irritated skin from too many face scrubs, limp hair from an overdose of conditioners, streaky eyes from multiple applications of mascara—are worth the discovery of favorite new products. But the winners are never up to us completely. We enlist the help of readers—this year 3,633 participated—and a panel of three dermatologists. Between the lot of us, we picked 22 winners, all of which contain natural elements. Look for our seal on winning products this fall and shop healthy.
HAIR CARE
1. Hair Treatment: AVEDA DRY REMEDY MOISTURIZING TREATMENT MASQUE ($26; aveda.com). This treatment masque was a "hands-down winner for softening the hair," says health editor Lila MacLellan, who loved the essential-oil scent and how easily it rinsed out.
2. Hair-Styling Product: JANE CARTER SOLUTION TWIST & LOCK ($22; janecartersolution.com). For wavy-haired MacLellan, this product was fun to use and practical. "The natural formula didn't weigh down my style," she says.
3. Shampoo: BACK TO BASICS FRESH MINT ENERGIZING SHAMPOO ($10; backtobasics.com). The ginkgo biloba leaf extract and lemongrass make your hair shiny, says Diane Madfes, M.D., clinical dermatology instructor at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "It smells great, too," adds associate photo editor Devon Day.
4. Conditioner: NATURE'S GATE POMEGRANATE SUNFLOWER HAIR DEFENSE CONDITIONER ($6; natures-gate.com). Packed with great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients like red tea leaf and grapeseed extract, this leaves hair clean and feeling light, says Madfes.
MAKEUP
1. Blush: PHYSICIANS FORMULA ORGANIC WEAR 100% NATURAL ORIGIN BLUSH ($12; physiciansformula.com). This blush blends easily into the cheeks and the mineral base makes it perfect for sensitive skin.
2. Eye Makeup: DHC EYE SHADOW PERFECT PRO ($18; dhccare.com). The squalane, olive oil and ceramide 3 in this eye shadow hold moisture in the delicate eyelid skin, says Madfes. We liked the flattering range of shades in each compact.
3. Mascara: NEUTROGENA HEALTHY VOLUME MASCARA ($8; at drugstores). This full-coverage mascara stayed put for senior editor Christine Richmond. It's non-irritating and the beeswax fills in the nicks in lashes, making them look full, says Madfes.
4. Concealer: L'ORÉAL PARIS BARE NATURALE GENTLE MINERAL CONCEALER SPF 25 ($12; lorealparisusa.com). "The mineral formula makes this a great product for oily or delicate skin," says Madfes. Day loved that it didn't crease.
5. Foundation: AUBREY ORGANICS SILKEN EARTH TRANSLUCENT BASE ($24; aubrey-organics.com). Sustainable silk nourishes the skin and the soft, fine powder imparts a natural glow.
6. Lip Gloss: BURT'S BEES SUPER SHINY LIP GLOSS ($7; burtsbees.com). "It's tingly, smells like grapefruit, and stays put," raves creative director Kay Douglas. The sunflower and sweet almond oils keep lips soft.
7. Makeup Remover: EVERYDAY MINERALS COSMETIC WET WIPES ($4; everydayminerals.com). These disposable wipes have great environmental credibility—they're 100 percent flushable and biodegradable. "They're also as soft as baby products," says editor in chief Mary Bolster.
BODY CARE
1. Body Cleanser: OLAY BODY WASH WITH SPA EXFOLIATING RIBBONS ($4; at drugstores). This reader favorite has seaweed extract to help moisturize dry skin while exfoliating the top layer of dead skin cells.
2. Body Moisturizer: JASON NATURAL PRODUCTS FRAGRANCE FREE MINERAL BASED HAND & BODY LOTION SPF 15 ($11; jason-natural.com). This body lotion has it all: zinc and titanium to block the sun, plus avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, willow herb, aloe, and vitamins B5 and E for hydration. It's especially kind to sensitive skin and protects it for hours, Madfes noted. "The neutral fragrance is perfect for layering," says photo director Carrie Smith.
3. Hand Cream: DOVE CREAM OIL INTENSIVE HAND CREAM ($5; at drugstores). This hardworking hand cream with hydrating glycerin is especially good for extra dry skin, says Madfes. "The light scent is pretty," adds Bolster.
4. Body Scrub: YES TO CARROTS C THE BODY CARROT RICH MOISTURIZING BODY SCRUB ($10; walgreens.com). The Dead Sea mud in this scrub leaves behind minerals that nourish the skin. Day says it left her skin soft, but not oily. Alan M. Dattner, M.D., a holistic dermatologist in New York City and New Rochelle, N.Y. also sings its praises. "It has a slight grit and many nice herbal ingredients," he says.
FACE CARE
1. Eye Cream: BEFINE FOOD SKIN CARE EYE BLOSSOM MIRACLE EYE SERUM ($30; befine.com). The four individual applications deliver a blend of botanicals that stimulate collagen production and ease dark circles.
2. Facial Exfoliator: DERMA E NATURAL BODYCARE FRUIT ENZYME FACIAL SCRUB ($14; dermae.com). The Dead Sea salts and fruit enzymes of this scrub help slough off dead skin cells, leaving it smooth, says Dattner.
3. Facial Mask: THE BODY SHOP SEAWEED IONIC CLAY MASK ($18; thebodyshop.com). This earthy, 100 percent natural clay mask was a favorite of Smith's, who said it worked wonders. The two types of seaweed in the mask are sourced off the coast of Ireland through a community trade program.
4. Facial Cleanser: ST. IVES ELEMENTS PROTECTIVE CLEANSER ($7; at drugstores). Readers appreciated how this two-in-one formula (face wash and sunblock) helped them cut an extra step from their morning routine. One caution: you need to reapply this kind of sunscreen more often than every two hours, says Madfes.
5. Lip Balm: ORIGINS ORGANICS SOOTHING LIP BALM ($15; origins.com). The organic shea and cocoa butters protect delicate skin, Dattner explains. It was the perfect lip balm for Day. "My lips felt soft and plump," she says.
6. Anti-Aging: CLARINS YOUNGER LONGER BALM ($98; us.clarins.com). Douglas loved this elegant lotion. "Patting my face after applying it seemed to stimulate my skin's ability to absorb it," she says. Sandy Sharon Tsao, M.D., associate program director for procedural dermatology at Harvard Medical School, says, "The antioxidants A, E, and C help keep your skin hydrated and refreshed."
7. Facial Moisturizer: AVEENO POSITIVELY AGELESS LIFTING & FIRMING DAILY MOISTURIZER SPF 30 ($20; at drugstores). "Mushroom stem extract acts as an antioxidant while glycerin and hydrolyzed wheat protein protect the skin," says Madfes. Smith said she loved the easily absorbed, hydrating formula.
Read more Beauty articles.
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