Making the Move: Organic!

If you still have yet to hop on the organic band wagon, I'm not sure what you're waiting for. Organic isn't going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, more and more brands that we know and love are turning to natural and organic ingredients. WHY? Because they're better for you!

I asked Dara Kennedy, founder of Aylabeauty.com, to explain this worldwide shift toward organic - from the food we eat, to the moisturizer we put on our face.

Here's what she had to say (read up, especially you skeptics out there!):

"I’ve been excited to see a lot of great new organic skincare products available in the past few years: we’ve moved far beyond buying earthy-smelling balms at health food stores and can now choose from natural and organic products that are real problem-solvers for anything from acne to aging.
The reason why I think natural and organic products are becoming more popular is that we’re all so much more aware of the effect that the products we buy can have, both on our bodies as well as the environment.  It seems to start with food—you might start buying more and more organics after being convinced of their health benefits—and personal care is the next logical step, since up to 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream (and some experts believe that percentage is actually much higher).  Then, when you realize that the cosmetics industry is largely self-regulating, and new ingredients can be used with less testing than one might imagine, you really start to think, “Maybe I should be more careful about what I put on my skin.”  When I worked in marketing and product development, I learned that consumers experience a lot of reactions that are probably the direct result of questionable ingredients in their products. 

I don’t think you have to go all organic, all the time, but switching to a more naturally-inclined skincare regimen overall makes a lot of sense.  That’s the philosophy we follow at aylabeauty.com.  We carry a variety of brands from which we’ve picked star products that really perform—many of them are organic, some not—but we make sure that none of the products we carry contain any questionable ingredients.  After all, a lot of those reactions you might have to questionable ingredients can ultimately age your skin more quickly, and who wants that?"

Dara also gave us an exclusive list of some of her favorite organic products... and if you're still unsure, "we offer them in mini sizes," she says. (Note: Aylabeauty.com is the only retailer to offer Organic Pharmacy products in mini, travel-like sizes -- a great way to test the goods!).

Here are Dara's organic picks:

• Carrot Butter Cleanser: A deep cleanser that is out of this world – try it with the Organic Muslin Cloth
• Double Rose Rejuvenating Cream: A lightweight cream that leaves skin feeling fresh and looking radiant
• Antioxidant Gel: A nutrient-rich, anti-aging moisture gel that can be mixed with your favorite moisturizer in the summertime to lighten it up.  Mixed with the Antioxidant Serum, it’s an amazing nighttime moisturizer.
• Antioxidant Serum: A heavier-duty anti-aging serum, based on rose hip oil, which can add oomph to your daytime moisturizer.  Try it at night with the Antioxidant Gel.

all products are available at  Aylabeauty.com .

What's your take on organic? Love it or leave it? 

Do you have a favorite organic skin or body care range?