Description: A luxurious body oil leaving the skin silky-smooth and glowing. Enriched with precious jasmine, neroli and rose flower oils, this deeply nourishing body treatment helps smooth the skin, restores the skin’s elasticity and locks in moisture.

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This body oil is vegan-certified and totally free of all the body care bad guys like parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrance, PEG (Polyethylene glycol), TEA (Triethanolamine), DEA (Diethanolamine), glycol, phthalates, mineral oils and silicone.

To give you a better idea of how special this oil really is — it takes 8,000 handpicked blossoms to produce just 1 ml of jasmine, neroli or rose oil. Kō’s jasmine absolute is from India, the neroli essential oil is from Tunisia and the rose absolute is from Bulgaria.

HOW TO WIN:

1. Visit Kō and leave a comment below saying what product you would most like to try

for extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):

2.  “Like” Kō  Denmark  on Facebook

3.  Follow Kō  Denmark on Twitter

4.  Subscribe to Kō  Denmark’s email newsletter

5.  “Like”  All Natural Annie on Facebook

Good luck. You have until 10:00am ET this Friday, March 4th to enter. Visit on Friday to see if you’ve won!

I realized how good this deodorant truly is when I went camping for a few days. With only a lake as a shower and a strict scent-free to be bear-free policy, this natural deodorant really showed its true quality. When I’m not in the woods, I do miss having a deodorant with a scent, but this one works well enough that I still continue to use it (as well as my other, more pricey favorite by Lavanila).

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal is 100% natural, contains no harmful parabens or aluminum*, and is made with pharmaceutical grade mineral salts. This is a smart natural choice for people with sensitive skin. This deodorant kills odor-causing bacteria while still allowing your pours to naturally detoxify.

*Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystals contains the naturally occurring compound Alum, not to be confused with harmful, processed aluminum (Aluminum Zirconium or Aluminum Chlorohydrate). Technically speaking, aluminum is a metal while Alum is a compound.  Many of these processed aluminum molecules can be absorbed into the skin and bloodstream. Alum molecules create a barrier against odor causing bacteria and contain a large molecule which does not penetrate the surface of the skin. {via}

Keep in mind: when switching from an anti-antiperspirant deodorant to a natural deodorant, your body might take some time to adjust to this healthier, natural choice…Give it time because it’s well worth the health benefits!

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• Main ingredients include argan oil, camellia oil, monoi oil & coconut oil
• Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids
• Contains no harsh chemicals, silicones, or preservatives
• Repairs, softens, and adds shine to hair
• Promotes healthy hair growth
• Nourishes the scalp
• My favorite use for this oil is putting it on dry/split ends and fly-aways
• Totally amazing for hair, but also great for skin too (it has at least 30 benefits all together!)

Let me know if you give this one a try. Have a very happy weekend readers!

Photo Credit: Limegreen

• Made with only 4 ingredients: Deionized Water, Infused Distilled Vinegar, Organic Olive Castile Soap (made by Limegreen also) & Essential Oils
• Perfect choice for a home with babies
• Disinfects over 99% of bacteria
• The Sunflower option has a delightful scent of citrus
• You couldn’t ask for a safer cleaning product!

Well I was skeptical myself, but I’m happy to say that I have found natural versions of every piece of makeup that I would recommend to my readers. Today’s focus for a healthy switch is mascara.  Here are some options that are better for you yet still as effective as you would hope:

Mineral Fusion Lengthening Mascara — This is a great pick for making lashes dark and thick. It really feels like it’s nourishing your lashes with each stroke. This one is free of gluten, parabens, artificial colors, fragrances and talc.  It’s also hypo-allergenic. Costs around $14.99.

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Organic wear® 100% Natural Lash Boosting Mascara –100% of the ingredients are of natural origin and 44% are from organic farming.  I love this one because it goes on really easily and doesn’t clump. It’s great at separating lashes and adding length. It usually retails for around $9.95 and you can even find it at CVS!

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Today’s pick is a face mask by Naturopathica. Naturopathica, founded by a clinical esthetician and herbalist, has quickly become one of my go-to lines for beauty products, especially face masks.

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The Aloe Replenishment Gel has two desert succulents as its main ingredients – aloe and prickly pear cactus.  I love that this mask goes on clear (just like aloe) and I found it gentle enough to leave on overnight.  It’s a perfect choice for anyone who experiences redness, dryness and/or breakouts. It’s also great for unproblematic skin types who just want a healthy boost.  To make this mask even more calming, try storing it in the fridge.  An interesting fact – 88% of the ingredients in this mask are derived from organic farming!

Today, I wanted to share what I’m currently using on a daily basis. It’s my latest and possibly my favorite beauty regimen to date. Here are the very natural, multipurpose, and affordable products I would highly recommend:

• Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Liquid Soap – My new daily face wash. It gets rid of dead skin like no other, but doesn’t over-dry or irritate my sensitive skin. It’s powerful stuff so they recommend diluting it, but to be honest – I don’t! I use just 2-3 pure drops, put it directly on my skin, and wash it off quickly. If you google a bit, a lot of people have found this to be extremely helpful for acne. Added bonus – this soap literally has at least 17 other uses. I think I have finally found a face wash that I will use for life. ($6.39 for 8 oz)

• Baking Soda – Combine about teaspoon with a little water in your hand and you have yourself a incredibly cheap and effective yet gentel facial scrub.  I use this 1 – 2 times per week. ($1 for 16 oz)

• Heritage’s Rose Petals Rosewater - A perfect facial toner for all skin types, but especially sensitive or mature. It’s so simple yet so luxurious – it smells like pure roses! Naturally loaded with vitamin C, it aids in collagen production. I put a little on a cotton ball and use it on my entire face and neck after I get out of the shower. ($5.49 for 4 oz)

• derma e® Hyaluronic Acid Serum – I am LOVING this as my daytime moisturizer. My skin absorbs it so well and it has such a nice light scent of plumeria. The hyaluronic acid draws in moisture plumping skin and reducing the signs of aging. It’s oil-free making it a great choice for those who are blemish-prone or just don’t like a heavy moisturizer. ($29.50 or less for 2 fl oz)

• Egyptian Magic – A friend told me how she was using it around her eyes (to prevent lines) so I decided to give it a try. This all purpose balm has some of the most therapeutic natural ingredients around. When I occasionally get eczema on my hand, it clears it up within an hour or two. If used only as an eye cream, a little goes a long way so then the price becomes incredibly reasonable for the size ($37.20 for 4 oz ).

• Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick - With a roller ball applicator, this all natural blemish treatment is so quick and easy to apply. I love that it goes on clear, unlike many blemish treatments. Also, studies have shown tea tree oil to be as effective as benzyl peroxide for treating pimples! ($6.59 for .33 fl oz)

• Aloe Vera Gelly by Lily of the Desert – I use this as my night cream becomes I am so sick of products (natural and not quite so natural) clogging my pores. This cooling gel leaves skin noticeably nourished and calmer by morning. It’s an excellent choice in general if you’re prone to redness/irritation.  ($4.59 for 4 oz)

Do you have a beauty regimen? I would love to hear what it is!

Every House of Steep product is designed with relaxation in mind including their Cleansing Calm Foot Spray and Herb Soak Salts (below) made by Branch & Vine, my new line! If you try anything out, I would love to hear what you think.

Photo Credit: House of Steep

1. Please tell us a little about your journey and the founding of Living by Nature. Living Nature approached me to be their first ever spokesperson. It was perfect timing as at that time, I was seriously looking at my life and how I was going to approach my 40′s and the aging process. After making the decision that I was going to age naturally, and trialling the product for six months, I joined forces with Living Nature. Living Nature was founded in 1987 by Suzanne Hall who started using NZ native plants to make skincare products for her own skin as she wanted to use only natural ingredients. Today it is privately NZ owned.
2. How does living in New Zealand impact the formulation of the line? NZ is known for its nature and its native plants which have been used medicinally by Maori (people of NZ) for centuries. So, the range is based on the unique native botanicals like Harakeke Flax, Totarol, Manuka Honey, Manuka Oil, Hallo Clay and Kelp found only here in NZ.
3. What sets Living Nature apart from other natural beauty companies? Firstly, all the products are 100% natural and not many companies can say that. Living Nature’s products carry the BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetics Seal which is a world-leading independent auditor of natural skincare, and set some of the most rigorous standards worldwide for naturalness. The products are made here in NZ at the Living Nature’s own factory where all product development, formulation, filling and dispatching is done. Even the packaging has no nasties in it and is recyclable and 100% free from BPA and phthalates. The recyclable paper packaging uses vegetable dyes and inks and no chloride or dioxin.
4. Could you choose one or two Living Nature products as your favorite(s)? I find this really hard to do as I love so many of the products equally! But I would say the Radiance Night Oil which my skin just loves because of the wonderful bouquet of naturally healing and restorative oils-calendula, jojoba, rose,rosehip oil, frankincense, the smell is blissful! Lovely to apply just before bed. The Extra Hydrating Gel is exceptional as it truly nourishes and balances the skin and restores the vitality to my skin which at my age is a must.
5. What products would you recommend to someone trying Living Nature for the first time? Obviously, the products should be in harmony with a person’s skin and its needs ie dry/oily/normal/mature etc. But I think The Radiance Night Oil, Vitalising Cleanser which is a very gentle and effective cleanser, Eye Make Up Remover-again so gentle, no stinging or oiliness with this product and Firming Flax Cream- fantastic for softening fine lines.

Lorraine Downes, New Zealand’s only ever Miss Universe and former Dancing With The Stars champion, joined Living Nature in 2010 to encourage women around the world to turn to 100% natural skincare as the healthy, safe and effective alternative to synthetic beauty products. Lorraine’s love of New Zealand and the miracle properties of the ancient native botanicals is what propels her to help women discover what she has discovered — you can take the healing and rejuvenating properties of nature and apply them to yourself. As a professional image consultant, she has worked with women for 25 years.

  {Louise Henderson, Living Nature’s Global Marketing Manager

& Lorraine Downes, Living Nature’s Spokeswoman}