Five products for $10 and under

Some cool products which won’t leave you skint.

Ecostore Conditioner, $9.95 for 220ml – Available in Normal, Fine and Fragile, Dry and Damaged, and Anti-Dandruff

Viola Organics Liquid Soap, $6.50 for 250ml - Available in Lavender, Summer Fresh, and Unscented Mild/Baby

Alba Botanica Terra Tints with SPF 8, $8.99 for 4.2g – Available in six shades

Primal Earth Shave Gel, $8.49 for 175ml – Available in Menthol Cool, Aloe Hydrate, and Extra Sensitive

Blue Earth soap block large $9 – Available in 18 different scents (including Lemongrass, Orange & Lime Swirl, and Rhapsody of Roses), and also a shampoo bar – see http://www.blueearth.co.nz/ for details

For every budget – Lip colours

Colour your lips, whatever amount you choose to spend.

Low-cost: Alba Botanica Terra Tints Tinted Lip Balm with SPF $8.99 – available in six shades




Mid-range: Living Nature Lipstick $38 – available in ten shades










High-end: Aveda Uruku Lip Pigment $44 – available in six shades

Stuff that smells like lime

I like the smell of lime, it smells refreshing and juicy. Check out these lime-scented products.

Antipodes Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser 200ml $42 - a gorgeous cream cleanser.

Blue Earth Lime Lip Balm $11 - contains shea butter, cocoa butter, and vitamin E to moisturise.

Alba Coconut and Lime Shave Cream 225g $13.50 - moisturising for a smooth shave.

Stuff that smells like coconut

Coconut smells yummy, and makes me think of tropical islands! Try these products for a scent of the tropics.

Trilogy Botanical Moisture Masque for Dry Hair 95ml $29.95 – A thick moisturising hair treatment with a divine coconut scent.


Ecostore Coconut Soap 80g $3.70 – A gentle soap with natural coconut fragrance.



Alba Botanica Hawaiian Coconut Cream Lip Balm 4.2g $8 – A yummy-tasting vegan lip balm.

Lip gloss

I really like lip gloss. I have tried Dr Hauschka Novum Lip Gloss, $37, available in two shades, and Living Nature Lip Gloss, $36, available in six shades. I had the Dr Hauschka one in Rose Quartz, and the Living Nature one in Pink Whisper. They are both cool pink colours.

I found the Dr Hauschka one had a slightly weird smell, and wore off quite quickly. The tube also didn’t last very long. The Living Nature one smelled better, and the tube lasted longer, but it still wore off quickly. They also both have quite a thin texture.

The best natural lip gloss I have tried is Alba Botanica Terragloss, which I bought in Australia. I haven’t seen it over here, and I’m not sure where you can order it. I have it in Blaze, a bright pinkish red.

Some other options:

$15 and under: SHE Australia Tube Lip Gloss $12.99, available in ten shades

$40 and under: Couleur Caramel Lip Gloss $38.99, available in six shades

$45 and under: Aveda Lip Glaze $44, available in ten shades, Aveda Lip Shine $44, available in six shades, Bare Escentuals Wearable Lip Gloss $45, available in five shades

The Aveda and SHE Australia glosses are not as natural as the other ones – they contain artificial flavourings, and some artificial colours, but still, they are much better options than a lot of other lip glosses.

Fake tans

You know the drill - protect yourself from the sun, and if you want to get a tan, do it safely by using a fake tanner. I like Alba Botanica Sun Golden Tan Sunless Tanning Lotion, $24 for 118ml. I'm also keen to try Nature's Gate Organics Advanced Care Upper Tanagement Self-Tanning Creme, $25 for 177ml.

If you prefer a gradual tanning lotion, try Pure Innosense Summer Skin Body Lotion, $11 for 375ml. It smells amazing, and gives a nice golden glow. However, it has been difficult to find recently. SHE Australia Gradual Tanner is pretty good, although it does smell a little odd. It's $13.99 for 100ml.

If you want a temporary tan, one which washes off in the shower, try a body bronzer like Nature's Gate Advanced Organics Care Happy Glow Lucky Bronzing Creme, available in Fresh Floral Scent, and Clean Citrus Scent, $25 for 177ml.

Some other options:

Fake tan - Aveda Sun Source 150ml $59, Vani-T Liquid Sun® Organic Tanning Mist 200ml $39.60

Gradual tanning lotion - Vani-T Bronzing Custard 200ml $39.90

Body scrubs

Body scrubs are great for keeping your skin smooth, preventing ingrown hairs, and preparing for fake tan. I like Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sugar Cane Body Polish, $24.75 for 200g. I also like Upper Canada Naturally Coarse Salt Scrub, $20 for 300g. I have it Sweet Vanilla Fig. It smells and looks like a yummy dessert (but it probably doesn't taste like one!). It also comes in Cranberry Moro Orange, Wild Lime Mint, Pressed Olive Avacodo, and Red Tea Grape. For a scrub that combines salt and sugar, try Linden Leaves Salt Sugar Scrub, $24 for 200g.

Some other options:

$25 and under: Alba Botanica Sea Salt Body Scrub 200g $24.75

$30 and under: A'kin Sandalwood & Sweet Orange Invigorating Body Scrub 200ml $28.50, Trilogy Exfoliating Body Polish 150ml $26

$35 and under: Pure Fiji Coconut Creme Body Scrub 250ml $35 (available in Coconut, Frangipani, White Gingerlily, Mango, Pineapple, Passionflower, and Starfruit), Giovanni Cool Mint Lemonade Salt Scrub 300g $35

$40 and under: Evolu Exfoliating Body Polish 250ml $40

$65 and under: Pure Fiji Coconut Sugar Rub 470ml $65 (available in Coconut, Frangipani, White Gingerlily, Mango, Pineapple, Passionflower, and Starfruit)

Face masks

Using a face mask once a week is good for your skin. I like Trilogy Purifying Masque, $33.90 for 35ml. Evolu Purifying Mask $35 for 75ml, is also good. Although both these masks are for all skin types, they are clay-based masks, which are good for oily skin, as are mud masks. Another clay mask is Dr Hauschka Cleansing Clay Mask, $62 for 90g, which is in the form of a powder which you mix up with water. I didn't realise that it was a powder when testing it out at Farmers once, and spilt quite a large amount of it on the ground. Anyway, moving on from that...


People with drier skin will benefit from a moisturising mask in a gel or cream form, like Living Nature Ultra Nourishing Mask, $59 for 50ml. As for those with sensitive skin, try Weleda Almond Facial Masque, m$22.50 for 30ml.


Some other options:


$10 and under: Clear as Mud Face Mud $4 per 18g sachet, Skinfood Mud Masque 100ml $9.99


$25 and under: Clear as Mud, $24.99 for a box of seven 18g sachets


$30 and under: Weleda Iris Intensive Treatment Masque 30ml $25.50, Alba Botanica Hawaiian Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask 85g


$45 and under: Living Nature Deep Cleansing Mask - 10 5ml sachets for $42, Living Nature Hydrating Gel Mask 50ml $42, Antipodes Manuka Honey Treatment Mask 75ml


$80 and under: Ren Multi Mineral Detox Facial Mask 50ml $69, Ren F10 Enzymatic Skin Smoothing Facial Mask 50ml $74, Ren Jiaogulan Cell Energising Facial Mask 50ml $76

$90 and under: Dr Hauschka Firming Mask 30ml $89

$120 and under: Aveda Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque 125ml $102, Aveda Intensive Hydrating Masque 150ml $117

Face exfoliants

To get rid of dead skin cells, exfoliate your face a couple of times a week. I like Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant, $40 for 75ml. It's a very gentle, fine grain scrub. I have also used A'kin

Jojo & Corn Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub $ for 75ml, which is also very fine grain. Sukin Face Scrub, $12 for 125ml is also good, but the grains are not very fine.

Most of the facial exfoliation products I have seen exfoliate manually (ie, in the form of scrubs), however, Living Nature Vitalising Exfoliant, $42 for 50ml, does not do this; instead it uses fruit acids to exfoliate.

Some other options:

$10 and under: Skinfood Exfoliating Scrub 100ml $9.99

$15 and under: Natural Instinct Facial Scrub 125ml $12, The Herb Farm Rosehip Exfoliant 30ml $13.60, The Herb Farm Vanilla Seasalt Exfoliant 30ml $13.60

$20 and under: Viola Organics Renew Exfoliator 65g $15.90

$25 and under: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Pineapple Enzyme Facial Scrub 118ml $20.75, Kosmea Refining Rosehip Scrub 125g $22.50, The Herb Farm Rosehip Exfoliant 60ml $22.70, The Herb Farm Vanilla Seasalt Exfoliant 60ml $22.70, Avalon Organics Lavender Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub 100ml $24

$35 and under: Bod Facial Exfoliant 60g $34.90

$40 and under: Evolu Renewing Facial Exfoliator 125ml $37

$45 and under: Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Face Exfoliator 75ml $45, Ayurda Invigorating Scrub 65ml $45

$55 and under: Ayurda Gel Scrub 100g $52

Lip balms with SPF

Your lips need protecting from the sun as well as your skin. For the colder months I like Apicare Protect Me Beeswax Lip Balm SF 15, $7.20 for 4.5g. It moisturises really well.

Alba Botanica Sun Lipcare SPF 18 Lip Balm is also good. It's $8 for 4.2g. So is Evolu Healing Lip Treatment SPF 15, $19 for 10ml.

For a higher SPF, I like Comvita Lip Balm SPF 30, $11 for 5g. Or try Dr Hauschka Sunscreen Stick SPF 30, $26 for 4.9g.

Sunblock

Wearing sunscreen is majorly important. I am pretty militant about it. I live under a gigantic ozone hole (or near it anyway; I think it's directly above Antarctica), so I slather it on all year round.

It's now officially spring, so I'm wearing SPF 30. I was using Natural Instinct Natural Mineral Sunblock Cream SPF 30+, but it is quite drying. Although my skin is oily/combo, it can also dry out quite easily, and this sunscreen was also causing a dry patch/rash thing on my neck, and causing my hands to get dry, with cracks on my knuckles. However, I slathered it all over myself when I was in Australia, and it's great on everything apart from hands, face, and neck.

It costs $14.99 for 125g, $24.99 for 250g, and $35.99 for 500ml. It's the most affordable natural sunblock I've found, although it isn't really all that natural compared to a lot of other sunblocks.

So, for my face, neck and hands, I use UV Natural Sunscreen SPF 30+, $36 for 200g. Yes, it is quite expensive, but a little goes a long way. It's not drying at all. It feels very thick, greasy, and heavy, but it hasn't given me any pimples. It makes my face look all shiny when I first put it on, but that goes away after a while.
In the colder months (May, June, July, and August), I go for a lower SPF. For my face and neck, I like Weleda Edelweiss Sun Cream SPF 20, $18.90 for 50ml. Yes, Edelweiss, like the song in The Sound of Music! I get that song stuck in my head whenever I buy this sunblock. It doesn't clog my pores or make my face white; instead it gives me nice glow (but not in a tanned sort of way, obviously). It also smells great.

For the rest of me, I use the gorgeous-smelling NOM (No Ordinary Moments) SPF 15 Sunscreen, $22.90 for 177ml. This also comes in SPF 25, also 177ml, for $23.50.

I also like Alba Hawaiian Green Tea SPF 30+ Sunscreen, $20.25 for 118ml, and Alba Organic Lavender Sunscreen SPF 30, $21 for 118ml. These use chemical sun filters rather than mineral ones, but a lot of the ingredients are quite natural.

If you want a face-specific sunblock, you could try Nature's Gate Organics Advanced Care Be Solective Sunscreen For Face SPF 30, $25 for 88ml. It is a chemical rather than a physical sunblock. For a lower SPF, try Alba Facial Sunscreen SPF 20, 118ml for $21, Aveda Dual Nature Face Protection SPF 15, $59 for 50ml, or Dr Hauschka Protective Face Cream SPF 8, $54 for 30ml.

Some other options (not just for face-specific sunblocks, for sunblocks in general).

$25 and under: Alba Fragrance Free Sunscreen SPF 15 118ml $21, Alba Sports Sunscreen SPF 30+ 118ml $21

$30 and under: Soleo Organics All-Natural Sunscreen SPF 30 75g $29.95

$35 and under: Dr Hauschka Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15 Sensitive 100ml $34, Weleda Edelweiss Sun Lotion SPF 15 $34.90

$45 and under: Aveda Daily-Light Guard™ SPF 15 150ml $44

$50 and under: Dr Hauschka Sun Spray SPF 15 150ml $45.90

'Tween products

Preteens or ''tweens' (ages 8 - 12) will have different skincare needs to younger kids. Puberty often brings oily skin and/or acne, so a foaming facial cleanser containing witch hazel may be helpful - try Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser, $12 for 125ml, or Natural Instinct Foaming Facial Cleanser, also $12 for 125ml.

This is nothing to with skincare or anything - but, if you want your daughter to use more natural menstrual products, check out Natracare. They make enviromentally friendly menstrual products - their tampons are made from organic cotton - and their website is pretty cool - check it out at http://www.natracare.com/ It has a lot of really interesting info on it.

For girls who are just starting to get interested in makeup, suggest they try a glossy lip balm like Living Nature Lip Balm, $16 for 10ml, or a tinted lip balm like Alba Botanica Terratints, $8.99 for 4.2g.

Kids' products

We've covered products for babies, but what about kids? There are plenty of natural, eco-friendly personal care products that are designed just for kids.

To keep kids' teeth clean, try Snappy Jaws toothpaste, $5 for 100g, from Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics. It's free from fluoride, sugar, and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, and it comes in three different flavours: Punchy Pineapple, Awesome Orange, and Strawberry. Another kids' toothpaste is Weleda Children Tooth Gel, 50ml for $6.80, available from Health 2000 and Commonsense Organics. It is designed especially for milk teeth.

To protect your kids from the sun, slather them in a kids' sunblock, like Dr Hauschka Sunscreen Cream for Children SPF 30, $40.20 for 100ml. This is quite an expensive option; a cheaper one is Alba Botanica Kids' Sunscreen, SPF 30+, $19.95 for 118ml. Both are available from Health 2000, and the Dr Hauschka one from Farmers, Hardy's, and Commonsense Organics as well.

Headlice is often a problem when children are young (it sure was for me!), and there are many natural products to treat and prevent lice. Ecokid is an Australian brand of hair care products for kids, designed to prevent and treat headlice. The range consists of:

Prevent (Shampoo) 250ml $25.95

Prevent Sensitive (Shampoo) 250ml $25.95

Nourish (Hydrating Conditioner) 250ml $25.95

Daily Leave in Tonic (Leave in Conditioner) 500ml $29.95

Tuff Stuff (Leave in Clay) 100g $25.95

Bubbalicious (Shaping Paste) 100g $25.95

Lice Bomb (Nasty to Lice, not kids) 50ml $32.50

I have used Bubbalicious, and while I'm not a kid, I really liked it. I think it smells great, but apparantely lice don't agree, and it helps keep them away. Stockists can be found on the Ecokid website. New Zealand brand Botanica also has some products to treat head lice: Mr Nits 50ml and 100ml ($27.90) sprays, and Mr Nits Once-a-Week 100ml bottle ($19.90). Nature's Nurse has Lice Lather Treatment Shampoo, $18.95 for 100ml, Lice Lather Preventative Spray, $15.95 for 100ml, and Head Lice & Nit Removal Comb, $11.95. Check out their website for stockists.

For kids who like to paint their nails, there are some safer options out there. SHE Australia Nail Varnishes come in fourteen colours, and are free from formaldehyde and toulene. $14.90 each from selected pharmacies. Sparitual nail polishes are free from formaldehyde, toulene, and dibutyl phthlate. They come in heaps and heaps of different shades, although I've only seen a small selection available. I've seen them at Nature Unplugged, and Bodyscape Beauty Therapy Day Spa (New Zealand's only Aveda concept spa), both in Wellington, although I'm sure they're available in other parts of the country. The nail polishes are $25 each.

For bubble baths, Unearthed has four kids' bubble baths: Planet Bubbles, Bubbles Me Hearty, Sea Bubbles, and Bubble Magic, each $7 for 375ml. They are free from parabens, SLES, artificial colours, and artificial fragrances. They do, however, contain Ammonium Laureth (or Lauryl, can't remember which) Sulphate, so if you want to avoid sulphates altogether, you could go for Bod for Bubs Bubble and Squeakie Clean, $24.90 for 300ml. I mentioned it previously here. It is intended for babies, but it would be fine for anyone to use. Unearthed bubble baths can be bought at Hardy's and selected pharmacies, and Bubble and Squeakie Clean from Nature Unplugged, and Hardy's.

Tinted lip balms

Like tinted moisturiser, tinted lip balm gives a bit of colour without being too full-on. A really good, affordable tinted lip balm I like is Alba Botanica Terratints, $8.99 for 4.2g, from Commonsense Organics and Homestead Health. It's available in six shades - Blaze, Bloom, Dawn, Garnet, Sienna, and Sunset, though I have only seen it in Blaze, Bloom and Sienna. I have tried Bloom, a nice shimmery pink, and also Sunlit, a bronze, which has now been discontinued. It has a yummy peppermint smell. It also has an an SPF of 8, although the ones I've seen say 18 - maybe it's been reformulated and the new ones haven't reached New Zealand yet? Anyway, while this gives the lips a really good amount of colour, I don't find it all that moisturising, so I put it on over another lip balm.

Aveda Lip Tint SPF 15, however, moisturises the lips really well, I've found. It's $27 for 4.25g, and comes in eight shades - Apricot, Copper, Coco Plum, Berry, Frosted Tulipa, Spice, Peony, and Verbena. The amount of colour it gives is awesome, as much as you'd get from a sheer lipstick. I used to have it in the peachy shade Apricot, now long used up, and I'd definitely like to try it in other shades. It lasts a really long time on the lips (like a few hours, which I consider to be a long time, at least), and it smells and tastes great.

For a much more subtly tinted balm, you could try Kereru Lipsalve in Geranium - pink, or Natural Rose - pink. Both $4.50 from Commonsense Organics. The balms are coloured with carmine, so vegetarians and vegans may wish to go for another tinted balm instead of this one.

Deodorants

I've read a lot of reviews (mostly on MakeupAlley, and some elsewhere on the internet) of various natural deodorants. Quite a lot of these reviews have not been all that great; it seems a lot of people are having trouble finding a natural deodorant that works.

I haven't had any problems with natural deodorants working. However, this may be because I apply deodorant several times throughout the day. Sometimes it's because I need to, other times it's before I work out, and sometimes I just get slightly paranoid about getting sweaty. Because I do tend to sweat a lot. Sorry if that's TMI.

I'm currently using Lavender Creek Farm Deodorant. This comes in either roll-on or solid. I have the solid. It costs around $9.80. I've seen the roll-on in Homestead Health, but not the solid (my Mum bought mine for me from the Lavender Creek Farm in Te Horo), but you can buy it online at their website http://www.lavendercreek.co.nz/.

I have The Herb Farm Fresh Natural Deodorant in my bag at all times for top-ups. This is a roll-on deodorant, it costs $10.20, and you can buy it at Nature Unplugged or Commonsense Organics. It does have a slightly strange smell, but I don't notice this at all when I'm wearing it. The Herb Farm also makes Active Natural Deodorant, which has a more unisex scent. Another roll-on I like is Miessense Aroma free Deodourant ($11.95). It also smells slightly strange (maybe it's the sodium bicarbonate?), but again, not noticable when I'm wearing it. As well as the Arome Free, Miessense also has Ancient Spice and Tahitian Breeze deodorants.

I've never tried crystal deodorants, but if you like them or want to try them, you could go for The Body Crystal Stick ($17.95), sold at Hardy's stores, or Deonat Deodorant Stick, $4.90 from Life Pharmacy stores.

There are also a range of deodorant sprays out there, such as Sukin Deodorant ($12), and Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant ($22.40).

For something completely different, you could try one of Lush's powder deodorants, such as Mr T Deodorant Powder ($11.90), or one of their new deodorant bars like Teo ($12.50, but it's not available until August).

I'd like to try one of the Alba Botanica Clear Enzyme Deodorants at some point, because I find solid deodorants work well for me. But most of the reviews I've read for it on MakeupAlley aren't very positive. Has anyone out there tried this deodorant? If so, what did you think?

Anyway, some other options:

Roll-on: Dr Hauschka Deodorant Floral Roll-On $32, Dr Hauschka Deodorant Roll-On Fresh $32, Avalon Organics Theraputic Deodorant $12.95 (available in Lavender, Lemon, Wild Yam, Rosemary, and Peppermint)

Solid: Nature's Gate Organics Deodorant Stick $11.95 (available in Chamomile & Lemon Verbena, Lemongrass & Clary Sage, Lavender & Aloe, and Tea Tree & Blue Cypress), Lush Aromacreme $14.50 for 100g

Spray: Natural Instinct Natural Deodorant $12, Weleda Sage Deodorant $19.60

Powder: Lush The Greeench $14.50, Lush Coconut $11.90