The following are BCB’s top five picks for those of you doing some green holiday shopping for the eco-chic.  All of these brands promote natural and organic ingredients as well as methods to help protect our environment.  They are lines that I personally trust and truly enjoy.  And to top it off, they can all be found at my favorite one-stop-shop…  Sephora!  So sit back and take awe in some of these gorgeously green sets.

Caudalie Spa In A Bag

Korres Yoghurt Regimen Kit

Carol’s Daughter Tui Hair Set

Jurlique Hand Cream Trio

Caudalie (yes they are on here twice for a reason! <3) My Caudalie Must Have Set

Until next time my green beauty queens…  xoxo

So looking for a healthier alternative, Kristin had asked me what my recommendation would be for an organic makeup remover.  So pleased to get an eco-question, and finding it hard to pick just one, I decided to compile a list of my top 5 organic makeup removers.  These all come from brands I trust and are all just as excellent at removing makeup as the other not so eco-friendly brands.

1. Origins Well Off- This fast and gentle eye makeup remover is probably my overall favorite.  Gentle cleansers work to quickly dissolve makeup while Rose Damascena helps to soothe and calm the delicate eye area.  By applying with a cotton pad, the cleansers break down eye makeup so efficiently that there is very little need for rubbing and tugging.  And the best part about it is Origin’s Recycling Program.  You can bring all your empty cosmetics containers (regardless of brand!) to your nearest Origins retail or department store nationwide.  They will send your empty containers to be recycled and used for energy recovery.  Being the first in the industry to do this, they are adding to their good deeds by rewarding anyone that participates with a FREE sample of choice of one of Origin’s high-performance skincare products.  It’s so nice seeing a company that really supports a good cause.
2. Caudalie Cleansing Water- Perfect for those with sensitive skin, this water cleanser attracts dirt like a magnet and sweeps it away without rubbing.  There is no need to wash your face afterwards, as there is no oily residue left over like most makeup removers can leave behind.  I actually use this product just for that reason.  In fact, it is actually a facial cleanser as well so you can use it as a secondary cleanse after you initially remove your makeup.  It also doubles as a toner including soothing and hydrating ingredients that work together to add radiance to the skin.  It’s one of Caudalie’s (one of my fav skincare brands) top sellers and is definitely suitable for contact lens wearers.  I highly recommend it.
3. Organic Wear 100% Natural Makeup Remover- These makeup removers come in every possible form you could think of making it super easy to pick what works best for you.  They come in pads, towelettes, liquid form, and lotion form.  The soft pads and towelettes are 100% natural and contain Organic Wear’s ultra gentle formula that helps to condition eyelashes and soften the skin with organic aloe vera extract.  They are also infused with organic cucumber extract to soothe the delicate eye area as well as organic soy and olive oil to moisturize and fight free radicals.  These removers even contain organic lavender essential oil, which provides the perfect calming effect right before bedtime.
4. Eminence Herbal Eye Make-Up Remover- This soothing makeup remover is gentle enough for all skin types and actually helps to keep the pH of the skin balanced.  Key ingredients contain calendula flower extract which is an anti-irritant, cucumber extract to revitalize, comfrey extract to supply Vitamin E, green tea extract which is an antioxidant and rich in Vitamin C, and chamomile and lavender to calm and balance the skin.  Having many anti-irritant qualities, as well as nourishing components, this organic makeup remover is the perfect compliment to any skin care regimen.
5. Jurlique Eye Makeup Remover- Being a moisture-based cream, this eye makeup remover effectively removes eye makeup without causing irritation.  The biodynamic ingredients include jojoba oil, organic sunflower, an astringent that corrects oiliness, and calendula to soothe and rebalance the skin.  You can apply it with your hands or on a cotton pad and it can be removed by wiping or rinsing off (whichever you prefer).  I do want to warn those of you with sensitive eye areas, as it may be a little too active for you.  What I really like about this makeup remover is the fact that it is cream based unlike most makeup removers that leave an oily residue.  I really feel like it is moisturizing my eye area while actually getting rid of impurities as well.

Well, those are my top 5!  I hope that some of you decide to try these out and switch over to a more natural, earth-friendly alternative.  And please keep in mind that I have yet to find an eye makeup remover (organic or not) that truly gets off all my mascara without a little struggle.  It just seems to be one of those things that skin care companies simply cannot figure out.  So let me know what you guys think of these and please keep those questions coming!

Until next time…  xoxo

1. The Island Beauty- This Carribean beauty is my all time favorite to watch!  Not only does she have the cutest accent, but she’s fun, she dances, and she sings too!  She provides amazingly colorful looks and is just absolute entertainment to watch.  In addition to makeup tutorials, she throws in some hair styling tips as well.  And living in Japan, you know she’s up on the latest trends.
2. Makeup Geek TV- This beautiful eyed lady does every celebrity look you can think of!  Pick your favorite celeb and she has probably done a makeup tutorial on her.  She’s super sweet and really easy to follow.  I truly love her looks because a lot of them are great day looks you can really use often.
3. Queen of Blending MUA- Her name speaks for itself!  Being another creative makeup artist, she comes up with fabulously colorful looks that you can do yourself at home.  She also does some lip and nail demos, which are really fun.  She’s very down to earth and has even thrown in a completely ridiculous off-the-wall video for April Fool’s Day.  You have to watch it.  Its absolutely hilarious!
4. Pixiwoo- Wow!  If you are looking for more celebrity looks or that far out, high fashion look, Samantha Chapman and her sister, Nicola, are just for you!  These two are so incredibly talented and hail all the way from London (so you know I’m digging their accents too).  They are so professional and really delightful to watch.  You must check out the Illa Masqua Dystopia tutorial.  INCREDIBLE!
5. AllThatGlitters21- This young lady is so intelligent and already has such a huge following on YouTube its amazing.  She really knows her stuff and is a complete product junkie like myself.  She loves a lot of the same products I do and has some really great makeup looks to follow.  She’s great at putting her own spin on other people’s looks and does a lot of product reviews which are so informative and helpful.  I have no doubt in my mind that this young lady is going to have a successful future in the beauty industry.

So grab a bag of popcorn and do as I did this past Labor Day weekend!  I hope you enjoy! 

Until next time dolls…  xoxo