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By Todra Payne
If you glance past the natural and organic beauty products found at health food stores and major retailers, considering the cost outside of your budget, I have good news. You can get quality, natural products without paying premium prices.
As a healthy beauty expert, I am always on the lookout for exceptional, toxin-free bath products, skincare and makeup. Repeatedly, I’ve found the best items at wallet friendly prices, not in retail stores, but online. Small beauty brands who don’t have the expense of a brick and mortar location or a staff of 20 sales associates, can offer excellent products for less than their mall based competition. Sometimes, they’ll even create a facial cleanser or body mask just for you and ship it out fresh, without chemical based preservatives.
One of my favorite places to seek out new brands with natural, homemade ingredients is Etsy.com. Esty is an online marketplace where creative people with crafty ideas sell their wares. Many savvy shoppers already know Etsy is the place to find anything from baby soft, hand-knitted scarves to off-beat original wall art. But they rarely consider they can also get the most scrumptious, fruit based body scrubs, vibrantly hued mineral makeup and luxury hair treatments. Many of the sellers on Etsy progress to opening their own websites as their popularity grows, but Etsy is a great, no risk place to premier their products to the world.
I’ve discovered fig scented bath bombs made with nourishing goat’s milk and mineral rich kaolin clay for about $3 each (from Soycomfort). A deliciously rich coffee bean butter based skin moisturizer for $15 (at RawElement). And the richest colors in mineral eye shadows imaginable at just $5 each (Orglamix). This is just a sampling of the goodies I’ve found on Etsy.
If you’re apprehensive about ordering products over the Internet, Etsy is the perfect place to start. Most of the companies selling on the site list where they are located, when they began their shop and what their policies are. Customers are encouraged to rate the products as well as the company. Some of the brands have thousands of reviews (like Orglamix). This way, you can choose not to buy from a company that has good product reviews, but bad customer service reviews. However, If you have a bad experience with a brand (I’ve never had this problem, but I’ve heard a story or two), the owner is usually eager to work it out amicably so as to avoid a bad review.
I encourage you to try these niche beauty brands. You’ll help out the little guy and get great, affordable products for yourself.
Todra Payne owns The Healthy Beauty Project , the fun online destination where women learn the latest news about non-toxic beauty products and how to apply them like a pro.
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If you're like me, fashionable cosmetics that promise to last longer and help me look like a supermodel are very tempting. “Hope in a jar” is a very effective marketing tool because manufacturers know that women will pay just about anything for beauty, arguably one of a woman’s most important assets. Need proof?
“My mama always said, ‘Don’t worry, it will always grow back!’ “
