"The CBD Organic Awards: The Best, Worst, And Strangest Things We…

How to Know If Your Beauty Product is Organic Botanics

When you hear "natural", images of blue skies and mellow chirping birds are what come to mind. The term"natural" is often misunderstood when is used in relation to cosmetics. Many companies simply declare their products to be "natural", even though they contain processed ingredients. How can you tell whether a product is organic or not?

Bluh Alchemy

Bluh Alchemy, an innovative clean skincare line, has a small treatment-focused range of synergistic products that are infused with rare botanical extracts. Becky Bluh studied cosmetics chemistry and found out how to harness plant-based ingredients with profound physiological effects. She scoured a broad range of rare plant extracts to form a bluhprint for optimal skin health and protect against premature ageing as well as free radical damage, oxidative stress inflammation and overgrowth of bacteria.

Bluh's studies on rare botanicals and her research led her to the revolutionary Cellular Extraction Process, which allows the extraction of the phytoactive characteristics of a plant in its most potent state. Her formulas utilize this revolutionary technology to deliver Advanced Bioactive Solutions directly to the skin.

We chose two full-size Bluh Alchemy products for February's Beauty Heroes Discovery: the Botanic Retinol Cell Regeneration Concentrate (hero however, make it even better!) and the Eye Oil serum (sidekick that every hero requires). In this concentrate, Bakuchiol replicates the corrective properties of retinol in order to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines, Organic Botanics enlarged pores, breakouts and uneven skin tone. This is paired up with a range of antioxidants, including Kakadu Plum, which stimulates cell renewal and diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Finger lime caviar can firm and tone your skin. Mountain pepper leaf cellular extraction that has ORAC levels that are beyond the norm will guard against premature ageing.

African Botanics

In a small part of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Johannesburg, South Africa grows a yellow-tinged strelitzia (known as Mandela's Gold), an endemic plant that is also one of the nation's emblems of nature. It's a tribute to the moral leader of the Rainbow Nation, and a reminder of the nation's deep connection with nature and its abundant biodiversity.

Launching the line of hyper-luxe green beauty products African Botanics was more than just a project of creative genius for Craig and Julia Noik. It was a chance to share their homeland with other people and provide them with a the feeling of belonging to the rich traditions of the land that has always been part of their lives.

The resulting skincare collection pays homage to the traditional African beauty rituals using the ancient African phytochemistry and modern botanical pharmacology. The most efficient South African plants are sustainably procured from the country's remote, unexplored regions, and then infused with potent actives that are selected by biochemists and botanists both in South Africa and across the globe. They are then encapsulated using advanced extraction and encapsulation techniques to produce the ultimate in eco-luxe, high-performance green beauty.

Fifty7 Kind

Fifty7 Kind is a web-based first company that provides products based on plants that are packaged with eco-friendly packaging. The sleek line of skincare and body care contains ingredients that come from the unique hotspots of Southern Africa; these include plant extracts, seed oils, and unique minerals harvested from the sea, desert and the earth. Gabrielle (founder Fifty7 Kind), grew up in the English countryside as a natural child. She says her mother taught her to cook using raw ingredients and gather wild herbs to enhance beauty.

Slow-fusion of artisanal processes using sustainable botanicals ensures concentrated extracts that promote skin health with nutrients, vitamins, trace minerals, fatty acid, and non-polar amino acids. The brand source rare wild-crafted, under-the-radar botanicals such as Ugandan Vanilla and a sub-species of shea dubbed Vitellaria Nilotica, which has high levels of Vitamin A + E + K as well as non-polar antioxidants.

YINA is a California-based organic skincare brand created by two female Chinese Medicine doctors. The brand combines traditional oriental herbal remedies and botanical organic luxury. YINA products include traditional medicinal plants and herbs such as Ashwagandha, Hawthorne Berry and other organic ingredients that are commonly used.

Live Botanical

Botanical skincare that bridges the gap between traditional and modern methods, bringing balance and harmony in order to enhance your unique beauty. Made in Portland, OR.

A botanical is a plant or part of a plant valued for its therapeutic properties such as flavor, aroma, or taste. Botanicals are utilized since the beginning of time to help maintain and improve health, including in skin care.

Botanicals can be purchased in fresh or dried form and in a variety of preparations. They can be found in the produce aisle at a grocery store or in the section of dietary supplements as tablets, capsules, tea bags, or liquid preparations. A single chemical may be extracted from botanicals and sold in capsule or tablet form as a dietary product.

The safety of a particular plant is determined by its chemical composition and the way it is used in the body and the method of preparation. The amount of a botanical included in a product has an impact on its safety. A cup of tea contains a small amount of the plant, while a tincture is more concentrated.

A tincture is created when a plant is immersed in some liquid, like water or alcohol, to extract its desired constituents. A tincture may be diluted into different strengths. The strength of a tincture is usually expressed in terms of an amount of botanical to extract.

YINA

The founders of YINA, Angela Chau Gray and Ervina Wu, are experts in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Their brand is a tribute to the ancient practices with TCM professionals at the steering wheel. The result is advanced, refined, Organic Botanics and artisanal formulas that are specifically designed for modern-day wellness practices such as Acupressure, acupuncture, jade rolling, and gua sha for the whole body.

YINA products are produced sustainably in California and contain powerful bio-adaptive herbal extracts. Their most popular products are NOURISH botanical cbd oil organic uk serum and the anti-pollution mask. Both are rich in camellia seed oils, safflower oils and licorice roots. They also contain anti-aging botanicals like rhodiola, bakuchiol, and Asian knotweed. The mask also contains pear powder, coconut carbon and moringa to cleanse.

Felicia is a member the extremely efficient YINA operations team. She enjoys trying new products and observing the self-care routines advocated by the brand's founders. She is a huge fan of the YINA Anti-Pollution mask, which includes cleansing agents such as pearl powder, skullcap root and moringa.

Malaya Organics

Malaya Organics is a Brooklyn-based 100% natural high-performance line founded by Katya Slepak, an expert formulator, designer of products, and certified aromatherapist. The brand's nourishing, results-driven products help skin as it gets older and are safe for both women and men. The balancing oils are infused with a therapeutic blend that is high in anti-aging essential oils, plant oils, and phytonutrients.

Their ingredients are sourced from the taigas of Siberia as well as the forests of India and the Amazon as well as the deserts of Morocco to bring you an experience that will transform your skin. specifically designed to help connect you to your own inner world of peace, balance and healing. The name "Malaya" comes from a forest of sandalwood in Shambhala tradition, and also refers to a sacred garland of flowers used in ceremonies. These were the inspirations for the carefully designed collection.

Fran Miller

Before going natural was cool Toronto-based Fran Miller launched her own beauty brand with the mantra "less is better." With the summer heat gaining momentum Miller's pared-down selection of essential oils for skin care is taking the wellness market by storm. The line includes everything, from a goji berry-infused shea butter body buff to hair smoothing spray and a multi-tasking face oil.

Prioritizing ethically sourced, certified organic ingredients and partnering with responsible manufacturers locally and globally, F. Miller has been committed to environmental sustainability since its beginning. All of their high-performance essentials are free of harmful preservatives, synthetic fragrances, colorings, parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oils, GMO's, aluminum, and SLS's.

All products are blended and packaged by hand in small batches to ensure freshness. The brand works with cosmetic chemists, who develop nutrient-rich blends of plants that nourish and promote radiant skin. Apart from their carefully selected ingredients, the brand carries an environmental conscience that extends to their packaging and practices. They make use of biodegradable and recyclable glass, and prioritize sourcing eco-friendly, reusable packaging materials. They offer a subscription program and refills to reduce waste.