Customer Question: "How do I take care of blackheads that won't come clean?"

Dear Tessa,

You inquired about a common issue with women your age (20 and up) but can be removed safely and in the comfort of your home.

Blackheads need to have steam applied to open pores and soften the sebum (hardened dirt and oil). The best option is to extract blackheads immediately out of the shower. Great care needs to be taken not to damage skin while extracting the blackhead. Wrap each index finger with a tissue around the fingernails to prevent them from digging into the skin. Apply pressure evenly until the debris comes out.

In order to keep the blackheads at bay, we recommend starting the Daily Botanical Enzyme Peel twice per week to dissolve excess oil and debris from the surface of the skin. You could also try our Mineral Mud Mask once a week to help pull out any stubborn debris left in the pores.

I hope this was helpful! Thanks for writing.

Shea Butter-Up That Skin!

It’s that time of year again: dry, irritated winter skin. If you live in the Northern hemisphere, you know that winter skin needs to be moisturized with extra care. Be Natural Organic’s Shea Butter Lotion uses rich, certified organic shea butter to moisturize, avoiding the toxic petroleum base so common in well known brands.

In fact, shea butter is a powerful moisturizer high in fatty acids and vitamins A, E, and F. Shea butter has been used for centuries to nourish and protect skin from harsh climates. Traditional uses of shea butter include: treatments for dry skin, blemishes, skin discoloration, scars and wrinkles, and even as a mild sun screen. As good as it is for your skin, did you know using shea butter supports sustainable development in impoverished communities?

The work of collecting and processing shea butter is an exclusively female activity and serves as additional income for the women of West Africa. This yellow-white to ivory-colored butter starts as the nut of the Shea tree, which grows only in West Africa. Once collected, the nuts are boiled, sun-dried, shelled and then prepared for extraction by women. As one of the few economic commodities under women’s control, this work positively correlates with improved educational levels and overall economic development.

At BNO, we strive to support women in small business by using ingredients that are not only good for our bodies but also good for people everywhere.

Benefits of Aloe Vera

Chances are, you're familiar with using aloe vera on skin that's been left out in the sun too long. However, Aloe Vera's nutritional and healing properties are beneficial to the skin on a daily basis as well.

Why we use organic aloe vera juice as a base:

Research has shown aloe vera has the unique ability to regenerate cellular membranes and produce fibroblast cells (responsible for collagen production) up to eight times faster than normal cell reproduction.

It has been proven that aloe vera can soak into the skin almost four times faster than water. This allows other nutrients and botanical actives to penetrate far deeper into the underlying layers of the skin for optimal results.

Contained in Aloe Vera are almost 20 amino acids, calcium, magnesium, enzymes, vitamins, polysaccharides, nitrogen and other components that work together to heal and nourish your skin.

Aloe Vera increases the circulation of blood, which in turn facilitates an easier oxygen exchange between the cells. Aloe vera even has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects!

Products that use Organic Aloe Vera:

Niacin Complex Balancing Mist

($12, www.benaturalorganics.com)

Aloe Leaf Body Lotion

($18, www.benaturalorganics.com)

Day Light Organic Moisturizer

($24, www.benaturalorganics.com)

Health Tips & Beauty Tricks: Stay Hydrated

Summer's heating up! Beat the heat by staying hydrated!

Research has shown that we begin to feel thirsty after we have lost 28% (the equivalent of two quarts) of the average 7 quarts of water in our bodies. At this point, it's important to rehydrate yourself or risk damage to your circulatory system.

But why wait until you begin to feel the effects of dehydration?

Sipping water through out the day will keep you hydrated and enable your body to flush out all of the toxins that are accumulating in your blood. The proper amount of water to drink a day varies per person, but the bottom line is this- Drink enough water so that you can urinate two quarts a day.

The Anti-Aging Collection

Customers love our Anti-Aging Collection.

{and so do we!}

Check it out for yourself here.

Experience the new generation of healthy skin care!

Be Natural Organics On c.marchuska!

Read Joanne's full interview with c.marchuska here!

c.marchuska makes chic and sustainable clothing for the style and eco-savvy, and shares our passion for staying green.

CMar: What are your views on sustainability?

Joanne: I have a strong commitment to buying sustainable ingredients. Every sustainable ingredient used in a personal care product ensures safer products that reduce the damage to our water, soil and air.

CMar: What are your favorite items from your line?

Joanne: My Anti-aging Collection is my all time favorite because these were the first products I formulated with pure, organic aloe vera juice as a base (instead of commonly used water). I use pure aspen bark extract as a preservation system in these products. It is outrageously expensive but well worth it, due to its ability to stimulate cellular activity and enhance anti-aging results. These products are truly state of the art and you really see a difference within weeks. Repeat sales have been amazing.

The Story of Stuff - Cosmetics

It's no joke.
The stuff used in cosmetics and in so many other products are harmful. Just because you don't understand what Cocoyl Sarcosine is doesn't mean you should ignore it or assume it's safe.
Watch the video to get a better sense of what we're talking about.
You can check out a list of toxic ingredients to avoid here.