I am a real girl when it comes to beauty and cosmetic products.  I love nice smelling creams and lotions as well as products that make your skin soft and bring out your inner glow. In my research for my book, I have come across a surprisingly huge amount of local, organic and earth friendly beauty products. The problem with earth friendly products is that marketing becomes very difficult, advertising your product by general means goes against the grain, or the tree, so to speak.  The internet and word of mouth are your only avenues.  This being said, South Africans are not happy to purchase items online either, fearing for the safety of their bank accounts and scam artists.  I therefore feel obligated to inform you of some of the amazing local products that we actually have available.  Packaging is recyclable and earth friendly, as are the ingredients.  This makes sense for your health and for the environment.  Many brides want to change their look completely when they get married, but I personally think that just being in the moment of getting married brings a glow like no other.  Stay fresh and natural, enhancing your best features.  If you exercise, drink lots of water, eat organic fruit and vegetables and cut down on caffeine and alcohol you will look your best. A good beauty plan is extremely important and if you can keep your skin in perfect condition with some delicious creams and cleaning products, even better.  Once again the images that I have attached are not my own and belong to the companies that I am showcasing.  I will attempt to get brides to try each and every product in time and give you a green rating as well as a product promise rating. 

Here are a few South African, organic and earth friendly products.

Hemporium,

The Victorian Garden Collection - Original / African Indigenous Collection /Royal Tudor Collection /Victorian Baby Collection

Enchantrix

Hemptons

Naturals Beauty

Simplicite

Better Earth

Soil

Wild Olive

Aroma Dough

SoyLites

The Olive Workshop

Rare Earth

African Bliss

House of Health

Pure Beginnings

Nature's Aromatherapy 

African Organics

Eco.Kid 

Esse

Natraloe

Inthusiasm

Zinziba Essential Oils

EarthnLove

You can purchase these products online from various places:-

www.naturalwise.co.za

www.onlineshopping.co.za (register and get a free R80 coupon)

www.shopmania.co.za

www.faithful-to-nature.co.za

www.harmoniousliving.co.za

www.healthmatrix.co.za

www.africanfairtradecosmetics.com

Enjoy being a girl and still caring about the environment. Oh, and watch this space for trials and hopefully some special offers from these companies.  Also, I have only listed a few but there are in excess of about 50 local, organic and earth friendly cosmetic and beauty companies in South Africa.  If you are one of these companies, leave your company details in a comment, for others to see.  I will check your site to make sure, so no green washers, please.

Yours in natural beauty.

Faye