2015 Best of Natural Beauty Award Winners

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Do you take good care of your skin, hair, and nails? If you don’t, they won’t take good care of you. That might sound trite, but it’s true. Excessive use of harsh soaps, detergent-based cleansers, or cosmetic products with dubious ingredients can strip skin of its natural oils and cause dehydration, irritation, or inflammation.

Over time, these products can damage the skin and speed its deterioration. Failing to remove makeup before you go to bed each night, for example, can clog pores, increasing the odds of a breakout and leaving you with a dull, lifeless complexion.

Forgetting to apply or reapply sunscreen can also leave skin vulnerable. Ditto for moisturizer, especially as you age. Over the years, skin, as well as hair and nails, becomes more delicate and defenseless. While protecting and pampering are important at every age, it becomes particularly critical after your 40th birthday.

The following cosmetic, hair, nail, and skin-care products feature ingredients found in nature-from healing herbs and plant-based oils to natural peptides and topical collagen boosters that fight signs of aging.

Face

ACURE Cell Stimulating Facial Mask, featuring a smart mix of French green clay, argan stem cells, chlorella growth factor, CoQ10, and seabuckthorn oil, is the mask to reach for when you want softer, brighter-looking skin.

ACURE Superfruit + Chlorella Growth Factor Facial Cleanser is perfect for combination to oily skin-it leaves your skin feeling refreshed, easily removes makeup, and helps fight signs of aging.

Annemarie Börlind Orange Blossom Energizer is an on-the-spot skin revitalizer and firming agent in one. The credit goes to nourishing orange fruit extract, jojoba oil, carrot extract, and macadamia nut oil.

Aubrey Collagen Restorative Moisturizer suits all skin types and boasts the added cache of clinical research proving it works against wrinkles!

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay has developed a cult-like following for its ability to clear blackheads
and blemishes. Try mixing with apple cider vinegar before applying as a mask.

Badger Argan Face Cleansing Oil contains an intoxicating blend of spa-scented oils (castor, argan, sunflower) to purify and replenish skin.

Botanique by Himalaya Exfoliating Walnut & Wood Apple Face Scrub has garnered its share of stellar reviews online, including one that reads, “My face simply glows when I use this scrub!”

derma e Skin, Hair, and Nail Oil is a must-have multipurpose beauty oil for a head-to-toe glow. This blend of organic argan, jojoba, and kukui oils tames frizz, hydrates dry cuticles, and is great for combating skin aging, too!

Earth Science Fruit Actives Perfecting Lotion relies on age-defying fruit acids to help combat fine lines and wrinkles. We love how quickly this silky lotion is absorbed into the skin, leaving it with a fresh glow.

Eco Lips Lipscrub delivers fresh breath and the perfect pout, free of that annoying flaky skin, thanks to organic sugar, coconut oil, and jojoba oil. Choose from Mint, Vanilla Bean, or Brown Sugar. Yum!

EO Skin Care Collection Transformative Night Serum is a sophisticated anti-aging option for men and women with two “star” ingredients: rose essential oil and tsubaki oil (from collagen-boosting Camellia flower).

Essential Formulas Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Kampuku Beauty Bar, one of our favorite soaps for clear skin, is made using ancient Japanese fermentation skills and contains an award-winning probiotic extract.

Herban Cowboy Dusk Aloe Shave Cream saves skin from razor burn with the help of soothing natural ingredients, including aloe and olive fruit oil. “I have found the perfect shave cream,” says one fan online.

Home Health everclēn Face Cream is a gem for sensitive skin types. Made with carefully chosen ingredients such as aloe, lavender, and green tea, this rich cream moisturizes and protects without causing irritation.

Hyalogic Episilk Lip Balm is one of those products you want to buy for everyone you know-hyaluronic acid, the key ingredient, softens and also helps plump up lips.

JĀSÖN C-Effects Pure Natural Hyper-C Serum infuses skin with high-quality Ester-C (as well as
vitamin E and green tea) for a brighter, more even complexion.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Wrinkle Spot Treatment blends fruit acids and age-defying peptides in a clever roll-on form.

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Advanced Argan Oil is an all-in-one beauty treatment-organic argan oil is combined with healing baobab oil to help fight signs of aging and replenish skin. Try on hair and nails, too!

Reviva Labs Nasolabial Fold+ Multi-Peptide Cream, with anti-aging peptides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamins, is a unique cream that targets those dreaded lines on the sides of the nose and mouth.

Reviva Labs Vitamin E Oil Stick is a beauty classic-and bargain at just $4 per tube. With SPF 15, pure vitamin E, and moisturizing allantoin, nothing beats this lip and skin saver.

Seabuck Wonders Himalayan Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Facial Cleanser feels amazing on skin-soft beads cleanse and exfoliate, while sea buckthorn (rich in omega fats) enhances skin tone and replenishes moisture.

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Exfoliating Scrub deep cleans pores while infusing skin with a luminous glow, thanks to nourishing sea buckthorn berries.

Suki Resurfacing Enzyme Peel is a blend of high-end natural ingredients, from rose and lavender to fruit acids and white willow, that promises effective, spa-like results.

Weleda Age Revitalizing Eye & Lip Cream is a dynamic duo of evening primrose and gotu kola that targets wrinkles and puffy eyes.

Hair

Andalou Naturals BB Sunflower Citrus Styling Gel, Medium Hold, boasts 10 multitasking benefits, which include controlled style, extra body, color protection, static prevention, and healthy shine.

Desert Essence Italian Lemon Shampoo and Conditioner smell heavenly-like freshly baked lemon bars-and the shampoo cleans oily and fine hair like nothing else.

Earth Science Citress Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner is our favorite duo for adding incredible
volume and shine to hair-without stripping it of moisture!

Giovanni Hair Care Colorflage Daily Color Defense Shampoo & Conditioner gets our vote for the best hair care line for color-treated hair-pick your shade and get ready to love your locks.

John Masters Organics Rose & Apricot Hair Milk can be used as both a leave-in conditioner and a styling product. We love the floral scent that lingers all day and the natural style boost.

Nature’s Gate Strengthening Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner is our top choice for anyone with weak, thinning hair that easily breaks. Biotin and other B vitamins deeply nourish hair.

Cosmetics

100% Pure Luminous Primer Vitamins + Antioxidants with Resveratrol adds a dewy glow to skin and softens fine lines and wrinkles-in mere minutes!

No-Miss All Natural Black Mascara is a lash-lengthening formula made with herbal extracts. This mascara delivers: No running, smudging, flaking, or clumping!

Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish comes in a range of stunning colors (e.g., Red Red Wine and Turquoise Tiara). They are free of seven chemicals traditionally found nail polish.

Supplements

BioMed Health Bao Shi Advanced Women’s Restorative Hair Nutrients is specially formulated for women with thinning and/or graying hair-and it’s something even younger women can take as a preventative measure. The secret? A proprietary blend of Asian herbs.

MegaFood Skin, Nails & Hair features a targeted blend of whole-food beauty nutrients and organic herbs that are easily recognized and used by the body. We like that it’s also vegan,
GMO-free, and kosher.

Natural Factors BioSil Hair, Skin, Nails contains a proprietary form of silicon that has been shown to boost the body’s production of collagen, offering both beauty and bone health benefits.

NeoCell Biotin Bursts marry the beauty-boosting benefits of biotin (at a therapeutic dosage of 10,000 mcg) with a candy-like soft chew in tasty Brazilian Açai Berry flavor.

New Nordic Skin Care Collagen Filler helps to combat sagging skin and lines with marine-sourced collagen, plus antioxidants such as vitamin C and astaxanthin that help to boost your body’s own production of collagen

OlympianLabs Skin Support with skin-firming and lifting DMAE and hyaluronic acid, is an all-natural way to replace essential skin nutrients that are lost as we age.

Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems Nail, Hair & Skin Connection helps to beautify nails and skin and strengthen and add luster to hair with a brilliant blend of vitamins and herbs such as horsetail.

Reserveage Nutrition Trės Beauty 3 is a smart trio of essentials for younger-looking hair, skin, and nails: collagen, keratin, and elastin.

Twinlab Skin Within, featuring CoQ10 and the potent antioxidant astaxanthin, has been shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve dry skin.

Oral Care

North American Herb & Spice OregaCARE Swirl & Swallow relies on the strong antibacterial power of oregano to freshen breath and deter bacteria from sticking to teeth and gums.

NOW Solutions XyliWhite Neem & Tea Tree Toothpaste Gel contains a higher concentration of xylitol (25%) than other products. It whitens teeth and reduces plaque without sodium lauryl sulfate or flouride.

Organix-South TheraNeem Naturals Toothpaste contains the Indian herbal secret for strong, healthy teeth and gums-neem. But you won’t find any flouride, gluten, or sulfates.

Body

Alaffia Savanna Spice Extra Rich Authentic African Black Soap is made with only simple, natural ingredients including unrefined shea butter, and is scented with pure essential oils-it leaves skin feeling super soft and is great for acne-prone skin, too.

Aura Cacia Nourishing Body Polish Patchouli/Sweet Orange feels and smells devine, with sugar crystals that slough off dull cells, hydrating shea butter, vitamin E, and groovy essential oil scents. Leaves skin glowing!

Life-Flo Magnesium Lotion combines pure magnesium chloride, mined from from the Zechstein Sea in the Netherlands, with shea butter and coconut oil-ideal for a deeply soothing massage or as a hydrating everyday lotion.

Out of Africa Whipped & Creamy Vanilla Pure Shea Body Butter feeds your skin with unrefined shea butter, rich in healthy fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins A and E, as it wraps you in a warm vanilla scent-a truly luxurious experience.

Alaffia Everyday Shea Moisturizing Body Wash, Lavender upgrades your shower experience with a luxe lather and ultra-moisturizing shea butter and virgin coconut oil. Ideal for sensitive skin.

Alba Botanica Very Emollient Coconut Rescue Body Lotion, made with unrefined coconut oil,
coconut milk, and aloe vera instantly provides potent moisture relief, and a hearty dose of antioxidants, too.

Bio Nutrition Roots & Fruits Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey Soap cleanses and detoxifies with apple cider vinegar and moisturizes and nourishes with honey-a brilliant combination that we love!

Lily of the Desert 99% Aloe Gelly is sensational after-sun or as a daily moisturizer, with organic aloe vera gel and vitamins A, C, and E.

Nature’s Answer 100% Pure Lavender Organic Essential Oil is gently distilled from the whole plant, organic, and naturally relaxing-we suggest adding a few drops to a warm bath for a soothing soak.

Nubian Heritage Shea Butter infused with Patchouli & Buriti is enhanced with sweet and spicy patchouli oil, ideal for maturing skin, and buriti oil, high in beta-carotene and vitamin E to support natural collagen production and hydrate skin.

Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant kills odors for 24 hours with a non-toxic blend of botanical ingredients that inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria-and it’s 100% aluminum-free.

Jane Iredale HandDrink Hand Cream is a super-silky (but not greasy!) moisturizer delicately scented with rose. SPF 15, along with apple, blackberry, and green tea extracts, are added to help keep hands looking young.