Handmade skincare and aromatherapy products made with 100 per cent natural ingredients and essential oils
Certified?: The company says its products are 100 per cent natural and petroleum-free
Price: From $8 for a lip balm to $60 for a body scrub
Star buy: Chocolate-in-the-Raw Body Polish ($60 for 240ml)
Available at: Purely Botanic, 01-43 Square 2
EMINENCE (right)
Award-winning Hungarian brand. Products are made with hand-picked organic fruit and vegetables, and often used in spas
Certified?: Urban was unable to find any official certification but the brand is big in greeniedom, from using natural compost to using solar and wind energy to power farms
Price: From $87 for a cleanser to $250 for an eye treatment set
Star buys: Eight Greens Masque ($126 for 60ml) and Sugar Plum Oil Whip Moisturiser ($145 for 60ml)
Available at: Botanic Source (05-02 Noel Building) and the Oriental Spa (Level 5, Mandarin Oriental hotel)
ADARA COCONUT VIRGIN OIL
From Hawaii. Can be used as a skin and hair moisturiser as well as a make-up remover. Virgin coconut oil is said to contain a high concentration of naturally occuring lauric acid that helps prevent the growth of bacteria
Certified?: Each bottle contains 100 per cent virgin oil extracted from the milk of organically grown coconuts certified by the USDA
Price: Each 60ml bottle retails for $9.20
Star buy: Refreshing green tea coconut virgin oil ($9.20)
Available at: Yogi House, 02-06 Fu Lu Shou Complex in Rochor Road
ORIGINS ORGANIC (right)
From American skincare company Origins. Unlike its normal product range, which is also made with organic ingredients, this contains ingredients certified organic
Certified?: Ingredients are certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to contain up to 95 per cent organic ingredients
Price: From $32 for a lip balm to $82 for a 30ml face lotion
Star buy: The range will be available here from April 1.
Available at: Origins counters at Isetan Scotts, Metro Paragon, Robinsons The Centrepoint and Raffles City, and Tangs VivoCity
LAVERA NATURKOSMETIK
Award-winning German organic skincare company said to be the world's first to introduce 100 per cent mineral-based sunblock
Certified?: Ingredients certified natural by the Federation of German Industries and Trading Firms
Price: From $12 for a lip balm to $65 for a sun spray
Star buy: Rose Eye-gel ($33 for 15ml); Anti-ageing Sun Screen SPF 20 ($28 for 47ml)
Available at: Watsons at B1-42 Raffles City, B1-14 Parkway Parade and B2-06 Ngee Ann City
BALM BALM
Organic face and body balm brand from Britain
Certified?: Ingredients are sourced from Britain's Organic Farmers & Growers Association and the product is certified 100 per cent organic by the Soil Association.
Price: Lip balm ($9 for 7ml), face balm ($25 for 30ml)
Star buy: Rose Geranium Lip Balm ($9)
Available at: Apothecary+Co, B1-21 Raffles City
JURLIQUE (right)
Aussie brand that's been around for 24 years. Its ingredients are biodynamically grown. Biodynamic agriculture aims to attune farms with the 'natural rhythm and cycle' of the land. This includes adding compost made out of farm waste products
Certified?: National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia
Price: From $31 for baby shampoo to $234 for Herbal Recovery Gel that moisturises and revitalises tired skin
Star buy: Herbal Recovery Gel
Available at: Tangs Orchard and VivoCity and OG People's Park
BILLIE GOAT SOAP
An Australian-based company specialising in soap made from luxury oils and fresh goat's milk
Certified?: Well, products contain just two ingredients - essential oils and goat's milk.
Price: $18 for a soap bar to $75 for a tub of goat's milk powder that exfoliates the skin.
Star buy: Plain soap bar ($18)
Available at: Purely Botanic, 01-43 Square 2
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Mar 13, 2008.
