As most eco-conscious shoppers will tell you, there are a lot of chemicals and preservatives out there in beauty products that are toxic to humans. The notion that you shouldn’t put on your body anything that you wouldn’t eat is quickly becoming a #1 beauty rule. Currently, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) does not authorize the FDA to approve cosmetic ingredients, thus cosmetic manufacturers may use any ingredient they choose. So you’re thinking that if the FDA thinks it’s fine, then it must be okay, right? Think again.
Parabens are an often used preservative in beauty products that prohibit microbial growth. Cosmetics that may contain parabens include makeup, moisturizers, hair care products, and shaving products. Parabens have been linked to breast cancer. According to a study released by the Journal of Applied Toxicology (1) parabens in cosmetic products (like make-up, lotion, and lip products that stay on the skin for extended periods of time) run the greatest risk to producing cancerous cell growth. The long-term exposure of these sorts of products to the skin increases the opportunity for parabens to reach the bloodstream. A study by Brunel University (2) showed parabens are xenoestrogens (AKA hormone disrupters) that penetrate the skin and are believed to lend a hand in the onset of early puberty as well as increase the chances of breast cancer in men and women.
Another ingredient that should send off some alarms is PABA, most often found in sunscreens. Dr. John Knowland of Oxford University (3) found that PABA and its’ derivatives can actually cause damage to your DNA. Yikes.You’re slathering up the SPF 50 to avoid the aging effects of the sun only to be messing with your DNA — shut up, right?
Phthalates are another common cosmetic criminal preservative used to maintain product color and scent. It’s found in nail polishes, perfumes, hair sprays, lotions, household items like clothes, cleaners, baby toys, and even biodegradable tampon injectors. Phthlates are also xenoestrogens that a Harvard University study found to damage sperm, and have also been linked to liver and kidney damage, birth defects, testicular cancer, and early puberty in boys and girls. (4)
All natural beauty products are the wave of the future. A lot of times, though, these organic beauty products are astronomically expensive ($36 for a moisturizer, sorry I’d rather go out to dinner!) or don’t work or dry up. Lame.
Fear no more, you green Recessionistas out there! Check out Evolution of Smooth – a company that creates all natural, organic beauty products (that actually work!) at a fantastic price. Everything about eos – from their ingredients to the why-didn’t-anyone-think-of-this-before packaging to the irresistible feel and scent of their lotions and creams and balms – is created to be pretty remarkable…and remarkably pretty. EOS fits a woman’s sense of style and also lets her have fun in the process of getting more beautiful.
Did I happen to mention that their packaging is recyclable? (I’m talking like 1’s and 2’s not 5’s and 6’s!)
Here’s What You’ll Get:
EOS SPF 15 Lip Balm Smooth Sphere in Lemon Drop
A “Smooth Sphere” you ask? You’ve tried the little lip balm pots where you have to dig your finger in, put the product on your pucker, and are left 
with a gooey finger, right? EOS thought the same thing when they created the sphere applicator. The picture shows how easy the application is and I love the small size — perfect for a pocket or a clutch.
Now it’s no secret that I can’t stand lip balms with an SPF that leave a funny aftertaste. EOS Lemon Drop SPF 15 Lip Balm Smooth Sphere has NO awful aftertaste! Not only that but unlike many lip balm products that give up after about 20 minutes, or (as in my case) cake up on your teeth, the Smooth Sphere manages to keep my lips perfectly moisturized and stays off my teeth thankfully!
More importantly, the Smooth Sphere uses a PABA-free sunscreen, and is petroleum and paraben free. It has some great moisturizing ingredients like Jojoba Oil (for that long-lasting moisture!), Shea Butter (long known in Ghana, Africa for its moisturizing properties) and Vitamin E (for the extra antioxidant protection that soothes and heals). Here’s a list of ingredients:
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Beeswax (Cire D’abeille)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Flavor, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Tocopherol, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Seed Extract*, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract*, Limonene, Linalool. *Organic. Certified Organic By VOF.
The ingredients are 100% natural and USDA-certified Organic — 95% of all their ingredients are organic! Did you notice no animal ingredients? And did I mention that they don’t engage in animal testing?
The Smooth Sphere comes in Lemon Drop, Honeysuckle Honeydew, Summer Fruit, and Sweet Mint flavors. For those of you not down to try the sphere, they have a Smooth Stick applicator as well.
EOS Lip Balm Smooth Stick in Sweet Mint
While not an SPF, this balm is amazing and certainly does the trick! It’s the same formula as they Smooth Spheres, with the same organic and natural ingredients. I really like the way the packaging is easily grippable, making it easy to find when it’s buried at the bottom of your purse.
The Smooth Stick comes in Vanilla Bean and Pomegranate Raspberry as well, though I suspect the Sweet Mint helps my bad breath not be so dragon-like on the days when I can’t seem to find a piece of gum.
Both balms smooth on clear. They retail for about $3.29 each, though I was in Safeway here in Boulder yesterday and found the Smooth Stick on sale for $2.99.
But EOS doesn’t stop at lip balms.
EOS : The Evolution of Smooth Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream
I found this little gem in Target for $3.49 when looking for a new shave gel. You can shave with it wet or dry and it is über moisturizing. I got the Vanilla Bliss which smells like Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar. I have also tried the Lavender Jasmine and Pomegranate Raspberry though I’ve yet to experience the scented beautitude of Island Blue and Cucumber Melon. For all you recessionistas with sensitive skin they have a Sensitive – Fragrance Free version for you.
It contains natural moisturizers like aloe, oat, and shea as well as antioxidants A & C. To boot it’s not tested on animals, contains no animal ingredients or parabens, and the package is made of 25% post-consumer recycled materials.
The Real Recessionista 
