Nude is a biocompatible luxury skin care line using high performance bio-available ingredients which are said to deliver exceptional skin care results. Nude recently launched Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum and a Cleansing Facial Oil, both which have performed very well and have set the natural performance benchmark for anti-ageing skin care.

“We believe Nude will be a global luxury skin care brand and are excited to work with Ali, Bryan and the team that they have built,” commented Antonio Belloni, group managing director of LVMH.

Nude bases their product development on the following:

Probiotic Technology
NUDE’s Probiotic Technology is used to optimize how the skin looks and functions at a cellular level, helping repair cellular damage and stimulate cellular renewal.

Biocompatible Formulas
NUDE uses natural high performance, bio-available ingredients the body can recognize to deliver anti-ageing results.

The NUDE range is free from Parabens, Sulphates, PEGs, TEAs, DEAs, Propylene Glycol, Phthalates, GMOs, Mineral Oils and Silicones.

Nude Skincare will continue to be based in London. LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics, will work with Nude on behalf of LVMH as they do for Benefit and Make Up For Ever.

So, if you feel like avoiding all concern of harmful ingredients or spending your hard earned doe on natural products, try making your own. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite natural homemade recipes, and now you can be in total control over what you’re putting on your body. Have fun, try them out, and let us know what you think.

1. Toothpaste

When buying toothpaste you may want to avoid fluoride or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and other ingredients. The majority of traditional brands contain these, and the ones that don’t often carry a higher price tag. The other and cheaper option is to make your own toothpaste.

Here are instructions for making your own toothpaste

Mix together:

• 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil
• 3 Tablespoons of Baking Soda
• 5 drops Peppermint Essential oil
• 5 drops Spearmint Essential Oil
• a pinch of Stevia powder

2. Perfume

Fragrances, perfumes, colognes, you name it; they all contain chemicals. Not all chemicals are bad, but what is disturbing is that the Environmental Working Group found that 66% of the chemicals in fragrances are not even tested for safety.

So, instead of wondering if the fragrances you use are toxic or harmful, why not make your own with scented essential oils?

It’s easy. You just need a few simple supplies:

• A 2 oz. spray bottle. You can clean and reuse one that’s already in the cabinet, or buy a travel size one from any drugstore.
• Rubbing alcohol
• Your favorite essential oil, such as Egyptian musk or a rosemary and lavender blend. Perfume oils usually come in floral, woodsy, earthy, spicy, Oriental and citrus. Mix and match and try to find one that works best for you.

Put 40-60 drops of oil into your spray bottle, top off with the alcohol and give it a good shake to combine.

3. Deodorant

Deodorants are a hot topic these days. There are major concerns of the link between aluminum in deodorants and Alzheimer’s, as well as the threat of Parabens causing cancer. The research has shown conflicting results, but just the idea of such risks is frightening.

Store bought natural deodorants do exist that are both safe and effective, but some come with a hefty price tag. The prices range from $4 to $23. So, if you want to avoid purchasing any at all, and would like to try making your own natural deodorant, then here is a recipe that you can try.

Mix together:

• 3 Tablespoons shea butter
• 3 Tablespoons baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons corn starch
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa butter
• 2 vitamin E oil gel caps (puncture and squeeze out the oil)
• Essential Oil (I used ylang yang and orange)

Melt all the ingredients (except the oils) and stir well. Then add the oils and stir again. Pour the mixture into a ¼ pint jar and place in the refrigerator until it hardens.

The deodorant goes on white-ish and gets clear-ish later. It does not prevent sweating, but does a great job of eliminating any bad odor, and adds a nice, fresh smell.

4. Facial Scrub

Often the most popular facial scrubs are quite costly and full of chemicals. That is why making a natural scrub is great. You eliminate the toxic chemicals and save some money.

There are many different types of facial scrubs, and different skin types tend to require different facial scrubs. That is way I have listed some of my favorite, easy-to-make recipes.

Basic Baking Soda Scrub
Perfect for everyday use.

• 2 to 3 Tbsp. Baking soda
• Small amount of water
• Mix the ingredients into a paste.
• Using a circular motion, apply to face and gently scrub.

Rose Almond Face Scrub
To brighten and soften skin.

• 1 tsp rosewater
• 1/2 tsp almond flour or finely ground almonds.
• Mix into paste and apply.

Oatmeal Scrub

A stimulating, thoroughly cleansing 3-in-1 scrub!
Smooths, tones, and hydrates.

• 1 Tbsp. ground oatmeal (use steel cut oats, not instant)
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 tsp. yogurt
• Combine and apply.

Optional: let your scrub double as a mask. Let it sit a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing.

For more natural homemade facial scrub recipes and the source of the ones above check out this article by Sassy Bella.

5. Shampoo

Here is a great natural shampoo recipe that you can make at home. It not only cleans your hair, but also contains nutrients and many more benefits, like helping prevent premature baldness and flaky scalp conditions.

First collect the following items:

4 oz of castile soap with any scent is that available – plain, peppermint, eucalyptus.

½ oz of rosemary – stimulates the hair follicles and helps to prevent premature baldness

½ oz of sage – has antioxidants and keeps things from spoiling and is antibacterial

½ oz of nettles – acts as a blood purifier, blood stimulator, contains a large source of nutrients for hair growth

½ of lavender – controls the production of sebaceous gland oil and reduces itchy and flaky scalp conditions

2000 mg of MSM – provides organic sulfur to your scalp, which improves the health and strength of your hair. It also helps to drive herbal nutrient into the skin and follicles where they can do the most good.

One empty 8 oz plastic bottle or any other empty shampoo or soap bottle.

Mix the herbs in a mason jar, which has a lid. Boil 2 cups of distilled water. Add 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixed herbs into the boiling water. Pull the boiling water and herbs off the stove. Let the herb mixture sit for 30 – 40 minutes. Put the 2000mg of MSM into the herb mixture after 30 minutes of cooling. After 40 minutes and the MSM is melted, strain the herbal mixture into a bowl.

Pour 2 to 2 1/2 oz of strained herbal tea into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Now, pour the 4 oz of castile soap into the 8 oz plastic bottle. Cap the bottle and shake to mix the ingredients.

The shampoo is now finished and ready for use. Use this as a base for all of the shampoos you make. You can add different herbs as you learn what these herbs do and how they help your hair. You can vary the ingredients according to your taste. But now you have a shampoo that has no additives that can harm you.

The source of the natural shampoo recipe is Pioneer Thinking.

If you have any of your own natural personal care or cosmetic recipes we would love for you to share them with us and our readers.

The natural personal care market is full of brands misleading consumers to think their products are natural or organic when in fact only a small fraction of the ingredients used are of natural or organic origin. With the NPA’s certified natural seal of approval personal care products can now convey a message of authenticity and trust to consumers who want truly natural products.

The two year old natural standard certification program certifies products that follow strict guidelines which state that products must be made up of at least 95 percent natural ingredients that come from a renewable or plentiful source found in nature (floral, fauna, mineral). Additionally, non-natural ingredients are allowed only when viable natural alternative ingredients are unavailable and only when there are absolutely no suspected potential human health risks. Products cannot use animal testing beyond what is required by law.

“The demand for natural products continues to grow – even in the face of the recession,” said John Gay, NPA’s executive director and CEO. “Consumers are more and more concerned about the quality and purity of the products they use every day. We are delighted to provide this important service to those looking for truly natural products, and to retailers and manufacturers who want to fill that need.”

NPA also certifies ingredients as natural. These 100-percent natural ingredients can be used by manufacturers to develop products that are in compliance with the natural standard. Currently, there are 100 certified natural ingredients.

The full criteria, certified products list, certified ingredients list, and NPA’s natural certification program for home care products, can be found at www.thenaturalseal.org.

The study of nearly 4,000 consumer products discovered unverifiable information and blatant lies regarding their claim to be 100% natural, all natural, organic, or otherwise environmental friendly.

The rise of the ‘green’ craze has not only driven manufacturers and brands to search for creative marketing strategies to appeal to the new green conscious consumer, but also the 300+ environmental certification programmes are competing for a piece of the market.  Shoppers are now bombarded by irrelevant and deceptive labels, claiming to be something they are not.

Green, natural, eco-friendly, recyclable, fragrance free, we have now seen and heard it all, but are they true?  Sadly, as the study shows, 98% are false.

You may wonder how this can be true; and think to yourself: don’t I, as a consumer, have the right to be protected against such lies and deception?  Well, trust me, you are not the only one posing this question.  But unfortunately government agencies that regulate drugs, food, and personal care products, like the FDA, do not define or regulate the use of the word “natural” on personal care or cosmetic products.

Within the government agencies regulating the labeling and advertising of cosmetics there is a lack of consensus on what the term “natural” actually means.  This has led to there being very little guidance on the use of “natural” on labels and in advertising.

The majority of consumers believe that “natural” products come from nature, which gives consumers a false sense of security about their safety.  In some consumers minds “natural” is synonymous with safe, but be warned not all things natural are safe.

Manufacturers and marketers alike are capitalizing on the unregulated terms that carry significant “green” appeal, like “natural”, “non-toxic”, and “fragrance free”, and by doing so are gravely misleading consumers, and in some cases just flat out lying.

This is not to say that all products with “natural” labels are not “natural”, but more likely than not the products claiming to be all “natural” include more than just natural ingredients.

Reading the fine print on labels will not necessarily help either. Companies are not required to disclose the use of some substances believed to be dangerous.  TerraChoice, has written about the 7 most common misleading and deceptive tactics used by manufacturers and marketers, and they are as follows:

1. The Sin of the Hidden Trade-off suggests that a product is ‘green’ based on a narrow set of attributes without attention to other important environmental issues. Paper, for example, is not necessarily environmentally-preferable just because it comes from a sustainably-harvested forest.
2. The Sin of No Proof happens when environmental assertions are not backed up by evidence or third-party certification. One common example is facial tissue products that claim various percentages of post-consumer recycled content without providing any supporting details.
3. The Sin of Vagueness occurs when a marketing claim is so lacking in specifics it becomes meaningless. ‘”All-natural” is an example of this Sin. Arsenic, uranium, mercury, and formaldehyde are all naturally occurring, and poisonous. “All natural” isn’t necessarily “green.”
4. The Sin of Worshiping False Labels is when marketers create a false suggestion or certification-like image to mislead consumers into thinking that a product has been through a legitimate green certification process. One example of this sin is a brand of aluminum foil with certification-like images that show the name of the company’s own in-house environmental program for which there is no explanation. This sin has been added to TerraChoice’s list since it’s previous report in 2007.
5. The Sin of Irrelevance arises when an environmental issue unrelated to the product is emphasized. One example is the claim that a product is “CFC-free,”  since CFCs are banned by law.
6. The Sin of Lesser of Two Evils occurs when an environmental claim makes consumers feel ‘green’ about a product category that is itself lacking in environmental benefits. Organic cigarettes are an example of this phenomenon.
7. The Sin of Fibbing is when environmental claims are outright false. One common example is products falsely claiming to be Energy Star certified.

As marketers and manufacturers are working hard to deceive consumers to make their product appear as something it really is not, it is our duty as consumers to educate ourselves and be able to find the 2% of products that are actually natural. And here is how you can start:

• Don’t trust the label as fact.  Understand that just cause it says natural, does not mean it really is.
• Shop with a discerning eye.  Trust your gut.  If it is too good to be true it most likely is, and the claim is just advertising hype.
• Read the ingredients carefully.  Fake natural products often will have a long list of ingredients full of chemicals that may be harmful.
• Compare similar products.  Look at the ingredients of one product that claims to be natural and one that does not, and see if there are any differences.
• When in doubt check with a health professional.
• Research the product.  How is it made and/or processed?  What is the origin and source of the “natural” ingredients?

The complete findings of the 2009 TerraChoice study can be found here.

Until recently it never occurred to me to be concerned about the ingredients in my products. Of course, I’ve read about potentially dangerous cosmetic additives like parabens and phthalates, but I also know the proof that these actually cause cancer is pretty limited. (Most of the studies have been done on rodents, not people, and the FDA assures me that the tiny amounts found in my favorite cosmetic are extremely unlikely to give me cancer.) Several oncologists I’ve interviewed have also more or less said not to worry about it.

That being said, a number of companies have developed cosmetics without these potentially-harmful additives, so perhaps it’s time to switch from synthetic cosmetics to strictly natural and organic ones? This, I know, is a very difficult task, but I believe it to be possible, as well as beneficial to both me and the environment. So, to begin my transformation I spent some time this morning on safecosmetics.com, a database run by the Environmental Working Group that lets you search by brand or product.

The site gives everything a hazard rating of 0-10 (with 10 being the most dangerous). I was especially surprised to learn that not all “natural” or “organic” products got a great rating, and that there’s a huge discrepancy in the risk rating among various products by the same brand. So, maybe just focusing on using natural or organic products is not the best way to approach this, and instead actually start reading the ingredient labels, and learning what is truly healthy, and what is merely marketing jargon.

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Cosmetic Products for this specific study reviewed 71 plants and plant preparations which are used as ingredients for cosmetic products.  Out of the 71 ingredients studied, 54 are considered safe, 5 are not recommended for cosmetic use, and the remaining 12 require additional data to make an accurate assessment.

Below lists the 5 non-recommended natural cosmetic ingredients that pose serious health hazards:

• Betula alba

• Juniperus oxycedrus

• Pinus sylvestrisr

• Gaultheria procumbens

• Cinnamomum zeylanicum

The study was conducted following the methodologies similar to that of safety-in-use of cosmetic products based on man-made ingredients, whereas this study was based on plant and plant preparations.  The guidelines set forth to determine if the ingredients were in fact hazardous and toxic were based on the analysis of two types of data and characteristics: Evaluation of human exposure, and evaluation of toxicity.

Evaluation of Human Exposure to Natural Cosmetic Ingredients

The Evaluation of human exposure was classified by measuring the specific toxicity of the ingredients, as well as estimating the extent the consumer is likely to be exposed, including: the type of cosmetic, quantity of the ingredient being used, the quantity of the ingredient contacting the consumer in each application, the frequency of application, the area of the body being exposed, and the foreseeable misuse of the product.

Once the of exposure is estimated, the likely amount to enter body is calculated.  That, coupled with the review of past studies of the same ingredient provide an educated estimate of the complete extent of exposure to potentially harmful ingredients.

Evaluation of Toxicity in Natural Cosmetic Ingredients

The evaluation of toxicity is based on exsting knowledge obtained through similar studies of topical effects data and systemic effects data that has been complied through skin and other relevant exposure routes, such as eye and ingestion.  However, if the natural cosmetic ingredient is new, topical and systemic effect data should be obtained using internationally acceptable guidelines such as the OECD guidelines for testing of cosmetics.

First lets analyze what a preservative really is. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary a preservative is an “additive used to protect against decay, discoloration or spoilage”.  Other dictionaries call a preservative a “chemical substance used to preserve foods or other organic materials from decomposition or fermentation”. So, technically speaking the only way to do this is by the use of a chemical.

Why are people so interested in  products that contain natural preservatives instead of chemical or synthetic ones? People are becoming aware and troubled by the fact that cosmetic products contain ingredients that are harmful to our health. Some estimate that the amount of chemicals applied to our bodies on a daily basis is 200. Think about all the lotions, moisturizers and other skin care products you use on a daily basis. Some of which, you need to apply to your skin and allow it to absorb the product.

Also consider that products that you wash off like shower gel, for example, need less preservatives than those you leave on your body. The more it stays on your skin without being washed off, the more harm it may cause. Some of the preservatives that are absorbed by the skin, travel through the body by means of  the blood stream. Another issue is that these preservatives accumulate in the stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the epidermis an whose main purpose is to protect the skin. If these preservatives are poisonous they will kill beneficial bacteria on the skin.

Some may argue products need to have synthetic chemical preservatives to ensure the level of quality. The thing is that just because strong chemicals are added to cosmetics it does not necessarily mean that they are safe to use. Some companies use both chemical and nature preservatives, which makes no sense, when these chemicals may kill the benefits of the natural products.

Due to controversy surrounding the use of chemical preservatives in food and cosmetics, some companies are turning to other options to help extend products’ shelf life.  Some are switching from synthetic to natural. Unfortunately all natural preservatives may not be as good as they sound, especially if taken in excess. But on a positive note they aren’t as toxic as synthetic preservatives. The best option would be no preservatives at all, but products would not be able to stay fresh too long.

The issue with manufacturing products entirely without the use of preservatives is that, besides taking a lot of time to make they are very expensive. Products manufactured without preservatives need to be fabricated in a sterilized environment using a flow hood similar to that found in hospitals and laboratories. They should also be refrigerated immediately after their first use. Because of this some companies are considering making products using natural preservatives.

There are ways of reducing microbial activity (such as using essential oils) in a more natural way. Antioxidants can help in this task as well. They will protect the oils, which become rancid when hit by light or air, from spoiling and becoming susceptible to contaminants.  This is a process that cannot be stopped 100%, but antioxidants have the ability of slowing down this process.

Antioxidants and essential oils are completely natural ingredients.  Antioxidants, as the word implies,  is a substance such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C or beta carotene that protects cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. in the case of essential oils, these are powerful antiseptics that kill most of the harmful bacteria and fungi without causing any damaging effects to the human system. Essential oils are derived form plants, flowers, leaves and grasses. The discovery of these oils antiseptic properties was made in France during the cholera epidemic when it was observed that workers in perfume factories seemed to be almost fully immune to the disease while the rest of the population perished.

Be careful with what products you purchase. Even some “natural” products contain toxic substances.  Check labels at the store and stay away from products that contain hexachlorophene, methyl, propyl paraben and formaldehyde.

Neem Oil – Neem is one of the most powerful oils on the market today. It has been used in India since the time of Sanskrit. Today it is recognized as an all around oil. It is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial as well as anti-protozoan and a spermicide.

Salt (sodium chloride) - most people have heard of Smithfield Hams. These hams can last forever because they are salt-cured. Salt has been used since ancient times particularly for meat, as a preservative. The salt enters the tissue and in effect binds the water, inhibiting the bacterium that causes spoilage. The salt restricts to tiny concentration and protects food from yeasts and molds. It draws out moisture and creates an environment inhospitable to bacteria.

Sugar (carbohydrates) - this organic compound, may be either refined (white) or raw (brown) and has a variety of names. It is used as a natural preservative inhibiting bacterial growth after food or products have been heated.

Lemon - it is part of the Rutaceae family also known as a citrus fruit. Lemons are grown in the milder regions and can be from 30 to 45 percent juice depending on type and climate. The acid produced mostly by the citrus and identified as C6H8O7 promotes preservation. The lemon is rich in Vitamin C and much like salt removes moisture to prevent spoilage and rotting.

Honey - is known for being highly stable against microbial growth because of it’s low moisture content and water activity, low pH and anti-microbial constituents.

Bee Propolis - is a mixture of beeswax and resins collected by the honeybee from plants, particularly flowers and leaf buds, it is used to line and seal the comb. The propolis is effective in protecting the hive offering both antibacterial and antifungal properties.

The Greeks and Romans used propolis to heal skin abscesses and through the centuries its use in medicine has received varying attention. The ancient Egyptians also knew its’ benefits and it is still used in Africa today, as a medicine, an adhesive for tuning drums, sealing cracked water containers or canoes and dozens of other purposes.

Rosemary Extract  - helps against aging processes, such as browning, thickening and wrinkling; and melanoma and other skin cancers are thought to be accelerated by the accumulation of peroxides in the skin tissues. These peroxides are produced by environmental factors such as heat and ultra-violet radiation from sunlight, a primary cause of sunburn and melanoma. In a study conducted to test photoprotectivity, it was discovered that Carnosic acid (found in Rosemary) did protect the skin from UV damage. [3] This evidence is further corroborated in expired US patents 5,358,752, which show in the examples complete elimination of peroxides as a result of UVB radiation. Rosemary also has a history of anti-bacterial and anti-microbial applications. One study found it to be effective against HIV-1 [4]

Grapefruit Seed Extract : A natural antibiotic, antiseptic, disinfectant and preservative. It is used to promote the healing of almost any atypical skin condition. According to published sources it is effective against more than 800 bacterial and viral organisms, 100 strains of fungus, and a large number of single-cell and multi-celled parasites. This preservative is used by many handcrafters in products that contain water.

Citric acid - t’s an acid, flavoring, chelating agent: ice cream, sherbet, fruit drink, candy, carbonated beverages, instant potatoes. It is versatile, widely used, cheap and safe. iT is an important metabolite in virtually all living organisms and is especially abundant  naturally in citrus fruits and berries. It is used an a strong acid, a tart flavoring and an antioxidant.

Alpha tocopherol (also known as vitamin E) - it’s an antioxidant and nutrient. Vitamin E is abundant in whole wheat, rice germ, and vegetable oils. It is destroyed by the refining and bleaching of flour. Vitamin E is used because it prevents oils from going rancid. Recent studies indicate that large amounts of Vitamin E may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Be aware that there is a synthetic on the market called variously Tocopherol, Alpha Tocopherol and /or Tocopherol Acetate.

Potassium Sorbate - effectively preserves against mold and yeast, it is not useful for protecting products from bacteria. it is also not effective at all in products with a pH over 6, which most lotions are. While potassium sorbet is found in nature, any available today would have been synthetically made so it is not all-natural. It is also believed to cause contact dermatitis.

Natural preservatives are considered safer by many because they have always existed in nature and our immune systems are used to them. Most of the preservatives that come from a plant source are safe for humans. The main disagreement when it comes down to the use of natural preservatives in cosmetics is that they are not powerful enough. This may be true but, it does not mean that because of this more chemical or synthetic preservatives need to be used.