Great Organic Lip Balms

I recently had the good fortune of trying two incredible lip balms.  One from Buddha Nose and one from SkinnySkinny.  I have chronic dry lip syndrome (very scientific!) and these two products have both worked really well to heal my lips.  Both are very light. One swipe is all it takes and you don't even feel them once they're on.  "So, what is in this stuff?" you might be asking. Mainly, a mixture of organic oils and beeswax.

Buddha Nose - a blend of jojoba oil, beeswax, hemp seed oil, and non GMO vitamin E. USDA certified organic.

SkinnySkinny - a blend of beeswax, honey, calendula, coconut oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter, and olive oil.

Both products available at anthropologie or online at http://www.anthropologie.com/

Company Profile: Pangea Organics

Pangea Organics creates a line of skin and body care products using gentle yet effective whole organic herbal extracts and whole organic essential oils. These ingredients cleanse, exfoliate, detoxify, balance oil production, condition, tone, nourish, hydrate, protect, soften, heal, regenerate skin cells and collagen, stimulate, revitalize and are highly antioxidant. Products are designed to create and maintain balance in your skin. The skincare products includes Egyptian Calendula and Blood Orange cleanser, Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean and Cranberry Scrub, a line of toners, creams, and masks. Body care products include bar soaps, shower gels, liquid soaps, lotions, and oils. There is also a lip care line that includes a collection of lip balms.

To view the full line of products and read testimonials, visit http://www.pangeaorganics.com/home.html

Cosmetics News: Urban Decay acquired by Castanea Partners

Newport Beach-based Urban Decay Cosmetics LLC, a maker of edgy cosmetics, has been acquired by a private equity firm. Newton, Mass.-based Castanea Partners acquired Urban Decay from former parent Falic Group, a Miami-based operator of duty-free stores.

Urban Decay was started in 1996 by Wende Zomnir, Urban Decay’s executive creative director, who got her start mixing nail polish from her Laguna Beach cottage with the help of a neighbor. She got an early boost from Sandy Lerner, cofounder of Cisco Systems Inc., who backed the company because she had trouble finding makeup that fit her alternative tastes.

Halal Products Fair - Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey will host a Halal products trade fair called Halalistexpo this year at the Istanbul Exhibiton Center between August 13th and 16th. Hundreds of companies from around the world are expected to participate and Turkey has targeted $3 billion worth of trade. It will be first and unique fair of halal products in Eurasia. Exhibitors will hail from Singapore, Malaysia, Iran, China, Australia and the United States and product offerings will include cosmetics, among other things. A spokesperson on behalf of the fair organizer, Atilim Exhibition Co., said that there were 1.8 billion Muslims in the world and halal industry had reached a total of $2.1 trillion of trade volume.

MIHAS 2009

The 6th International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2009 will be held this year at MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 6th through May 10th.

MIHAS is an annual trade fair designed to bring together vendors and purchasers of Halal-compliant goods and services. MIHAS is hosted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), and organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), and jointly organised with the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development (MECD) and the Islamic Dakwah Foundation Malaysia (YADIM).

This trade fair was pioneered in 2004 and congregates the largest annual gathering of Halal industry players and entrepreneurs in the effort to ease the sourcing and selling of global quality halal consumables, products and services. It embraces the halal concept in all its dimensions from banking and investments to cosmetics and health care.

This is an unbelievable opportunity for anyone interested in entering the Halal industry, entrepreneurs looking to market their new Halal-certified products, and Halal producers looking to strengthen their brand.

For more information or to register to attend visit http://www.halal.com.my/. Admission is free, but business attire is required from May 6th through 8th. See the website for more details and exhibitor information.

Company Profile: SheerSecret

Due to its biological similarities to human placenta and its excellent skin healing properties, swine placenta is used in many types of cosmetics especially wrinkle creams and anti-aging products. However, for people trying to stick to a Halal skincare regiment, products containing swine placenta present a problem. Although it may not be as prevalent in the US or Europe, swine placenta can still be used in products shipped to parts of the world that have little or no regulatory processes. But have no fear, there are alternative products available.

SheerSecret is a company based out of Singapore that creates a Halal certified line of anti aging products. They have been featured in Elle, Marie Claire, and Shape magazines. Their products contain a mix of ovine placenta(sheep) and marine collagen to combat the signs of aging. Both are scientifically proven to help enhance skin's radiance. Their motto is that beauty is not only how you look, but also how you feel. They believe that when you are healthy, and your skin is healthy, you will feel beautiful.

Their products are currently only sold in Singapore and Malaysia. You can check out the full line at http://www.sheersecret.net/products.html