How Can I Figure Out My Skin Type?

For many people, the answer is very obvious. However, for others the answer is not as clear. There are many skin types as well as combinations and each one deserves it's own treatment and regimen. If you are unsure as to what skin type is your own, try this quick at home trick. Wash your face with a cleanser designed for normal skin; rinse well and pat dry with a soft towel. Within an hour, you skin will be ready to evaluate. How does it feel? If your face feels tight, ashy and flaky then you are the proud owner of dry complexion. If your face is only oily across your forehead, down your nose and across your chin, you have combination skin. If at the end of the hour you need to blot your entire face with a tissue then you have oily skin. If you skin feels itchy or slightly irritated, you may have sensitive skin. Luckily, we have products that are suitable for all skin types. Make sure you know your skin type before you try our products. You skin on your face is different then anywhere else on your body and needs to be treated specially. So grab a wash cloth and figure out what product line is best for your beautiful face!

Why Choose Vegan Products?

We all have that one friend. You know the one I'm talking about, right? The friend that doesn't partake in cooking night and gives a little stink eye when anyone at the table orders a steak. The "vegan." We commonly label people based on their habits and lifestyle choices. Some choose to be meat eaters, some are vegetarians and some are full blown vegan. To most people, vegans are a different breed. Usually tooth picks in size, these people walk around in our obese society unscathed by calories. What makes this lifestyle so appealing? Well for starters, the vegan lifestyle contains absolutely no exploitation of animals in any form. Yes, this does include your leather pumps. Vegans avoid wool, leather and even honey. Eating vegan means avoiding all animal products and bi-products. More importantly, it means examining your makeup drawer and over the counter products. Living a vegan lifestyle means no animal ingredients are in any of your shampoos, lotions and even nail polish. At Be Natural Organics, we think it is important that your products are cruelty free. What exactly does "cruelty free" mean? Factory farms in America are dismal and depressing representations of how we treat those who can't speak. Animals are forced to live in atrocious conditions while countless animals needlessly die because they can't keep up with the rate that we force them to produce eggs, milk and even their own meat. If you don't want any part of this industry, you've come to the right place! It is hard to make the switch and many ridicule this decision that "goes against the norm." Luckily, there are many products to choose from that make the transition easy. We offer many lotions, cleaners and scrubs that contain no animal bi-products whatsoever. Our natural ingredients will sooth and nourish your skin and won't harm any animals in the process! So whether you want to make the switch to vegan or just dabble in cruelty free products, we hope you find exactly what you need to suit your lifestyle!

How do you prepare for fall changes?

It happens every year; summer winds down and the cool weather slowly makes its way in. As hard as it can be to pack away those shorts and summer dresses, it feels good to drag out the sweaters and the jeans. Don't forget though, just because your jeans and sweaters cover your skin doesn't mean that you can take a break on your skin care regimen. Proper care can mean the difference between healthy skin and dry flaky skin. Make sure you really analyze you skin type. Many people buy the wrong products for their faces. Remember, the skin on your face is different then anywhere else on your body. As the weather changes, so will your skin. Oily skin may become a bit more balanced and balanced skin could become more dry. Take note of your skin changes and adapt with it-don't fight it! Try gently washing your face with a neutral cleanser; such as our Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser. This rose hip seed facial cleanser is the perfect combination of gentle and powerful; treating your face to the much needed scrub it deserves. It is for ALL skin types and does wonders for your skin and your soul! http://www.benaturalorganics.com/details-Gentle-Foaming-Facial-Cleanser.html

Toxins absorbed in skin

Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It acts as a barrier to all those nasty toxins and poisons that try to make their way into our bodies on a daily basis.  Outside contaminants such as pollution from the environment and harmful products we apply to our skin cause blockages and prevent our skin from breathing. Inside contaminants from other organs detoxifying the body come to the surface as sweat and oil. This is why it is very important to not only keep your skin looking it’s best, but to also keep it healthy and functioning properly to maximize health benefits. Your daily skin routine should essentially begin at night; when your body is making repairs and detoxifying.  True a morning scrub down wakes everyone up, but it is critical to begin the habit of cleaning your face at night. Exfoliation is also a very important aspect of clean skin care. On top of the numerous outside pollutants trying to make their way into your body, the skin also produces its own skin clogging factors. Since the skin is a living organism that is constantly regenerating, it is responsible for creating dead skin cells that clog our pores as well. Exfoliation will slough off the dead skin cells and only needs to be done once a week. Too much will cause stress and irritation. With the right skin regimen, beautiful healthy skin can be achieved year round and with any skin type.

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)