Organic is the hottest trend, first in food, now in skincare.
With food I applaud it. I know people making food out of chemicals, GSM, hormones, fertilizers, high-fructose corn syrup and cardboard are trying hard to prove that their food is just as good for you as ridiculously overpriced organic food - but somehow I'm not buying it. I only shop in Whole Foods, I read the labels and put the product aside if there is any questionable or unknown ingredient, or if there are just too many ingredients. On an apple juice jar I like to read "Ingredients: 100% organic apples." And nothing more. On my yogurt I don't want to see anything but "milk" and "live yogurt cultures". Rye crispbreads' only ingredients must be "100% whole rye, water." Food-wise, the shorter and more natural is the ingredient list - the better!
But this is not the way it works in skincare! There, in general you want to see an extra long list of advanced scientifically proven state-of-the-art ingredients. The more the better. Each one has its own benefit, so for an optimal results the cocktail works best. That's like if you don't have specific concerns, your best choice of supplement will be not a pill with a specific vitamin, - but a balanced formula with all the vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts.
One danger of a long ingredient list is it's so easy not to notice something potentially harmful there. This is why buying anti-ageing skincare requires lots of homework, and better done at home, with an ingredients dictionary.
You'll need to learn to read those lists, - or find credible people who can do it for you!
Ironically, the ingredients that can be bad for you sound the most appealing: lavender and verbena extracts, citrus peel, etc (does it remind you of some well-known French brands?:) - are the most alarming for me. The thing is, even if your skin doesn't get visibly irritated with them now, - the effect is cumulative, and years later you may start seeing the consequences. It's just like sun damage!
So the general rule I have for myself: "Stay away from all-natural organic botanical products."
Of course there are some notable exceptions to this rule:
1. Although certain lines seem like they are better off avoided altogether, - but suddenly you meet a well-formulated product! Don't discount botanical products altogether.
2. I don't want to put irritating plant essential oils on the skin, - but they can be great as scents. I have L'Occitane diffusers all over my place, and I love to put their verbena sachets in my linen drawers. They make my bed smell like home!
3. For most categories a long complicated list is a key. But not for beautiful mineral loose powders, blushes and eyeshadows! Here "all-natural" and "mineral" are the words I really love to see. Why?
Because mineral cosmetics cannot spoil over time (so no need to toss it away 4 months later, like you do with other makeup: you can use them for years, - and no bacteria will survive there); it doesn't clog pores; it doesn't cause breakouts; it looks great.
And the ingredient list is as simple as it gets!
Take this delicious set of highlights from Jane Irredale
(love her!)
Ingredients: mica, 24-karat gold leaf, iron oxides.
And that's all! Can it BE any more simple? No wonder no bacteria wants to live there :) Yet it's so decadent... Do you LOVE 24-Karat gold?
I don't want to overcrowd the space here, but in the appendix I'd love to give you an example of an ingredient list for a truly fantastic Super Line Preventor Xtreme
Click below to see the list and links:
(Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hdi/Ppg/Polycaprolactone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Ethylene/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Xylinum Black Tea Ferment, Dimethicone, C12-14 Pareth-12, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Algae Extract, Biotin, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Caffeine, Sigesbeckia Orientalis (St. Paul's Wort) Extract, Linoleic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol/Potassium Sulfate, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Silybum Marianum (Lady's Thistle) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Fish (Pisces) Collagen, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Linolenic Acid, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Cucumis Melo (Melon) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Glycerin, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Zea Mays (Corn) Kernel Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Peg-8, Laurdimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lecithin, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate, Trifluoromethyl C1-4 Alkyl Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 80, Silica, 1, 2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Isostearyl Lactate, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Chlorphenesin.
I've counted whole 69 ingredients! See, it's VERY long!
How to find those lists, how to read those lists, what is good in them, what is bad, what is not alarming (despite a scary chemical name), what can be a red flag (despite a soothing botanical name), how to analyze the list, and how to get an expert opinion without going through this process by yourself - I will make this all a topic of another article.)
In conclusion, here are some links to this serum. Personally, I use 2-3 times a day.
If you never tried it yet, start with a smaller 30 ml container
($48, no tax, generous samples)
If you already love it like I do, the best deal is definitely a
Super Line Preventor Xtreme, 50ml 1.7 oz
:($76, no tax, free shipping, generous samples)
If you find a better deal please let me know, because I want to feature the best deals possible on the products I love!
Spashionista, tell me more...
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Desert flower eye shadow
Feel free to use this discovery of mine. When you don't have enough products in your basket to qualify for extra deluxe samples or free shipping stock up on this product - that's what I do. 
