New Blog Location

Hello, all -- please follow the Organicare blog at its new location. Stay tuned for news on organic skin care, green tips, and other exciting Organicare news!

www.icareorganics.com/blog

Thanks for reading!

Organicare Ingredients 101: Vitamin A

Retinyl Palmitate ... it sounds scary but it's just vitamin A! Vitamin A can be found in dairy products vegetables, fruits, and Organicare skincare products! Our products which contain Vitamin A are Energeyes, Daily Dew, Night Nourish, Fresh Fix, Brighter Tomorrow, and Rescue Me.

In dermatology, Vitamin A is used to reduce the size and function of the sebaceous gland. What are they? Sebaceous glands are glands on the human body (found in highest abundance on the face and scalp) which secrete "sebum," or oil ... oil that causes blemishes.

The decrease in the oil production leads to a decrease in bacteria on the face, which also decreases the appearance and size of blemishes ... sounds like a deal to me!

Organicare Launch

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate Organicare's official launch at Nordstrom.
We greatly appreciate your support!

Organicare's launch party brought together Dallas's social elite and health conscious to the Galleria Nordstrom to celebrate the certified organic skincare company's debut. Demonstrations of Brighter Tomorrow, the microderma oxygenation treatment, and Energeyes, firming eye serum were given all night, cocktails were passed, and Organicare's lip line was revealed. Attendees included hosts Jamie O'Banion, Co-Creator of Organicare, and Maxine Trowbridge of PinkMemo.com along with Holly Davis, Rhonda Sargent Chambers, and Valerie Elizabeth.

Earth Saver!

Earth Hour is this month!

What is Earth Hour? Earth Hour is one hour each year when everyone is encouraged to turn off your lights, literally. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature instituted this international event to raise awareness of the need for the whole world to work together to take action against climate change.

The WWF encourages households and businesses to turn off all non-essiential lights and appliances for one hour - you can do that! This hour usually takes place the last Saturday in March and, this year, will take place on March 28th from 8:30-9:30 p.m. local time. 2008 was the first year that this event achieved worldwide participation, uniting all countries with one goal: preserving our limited resources.

Think you'll forget? Click below and we'll email you a reminder on the 28th!

Remind me
about Earth Hour

What is Your Eco Footprint ?

An eco footprint (sometimes known as a carbon footprint) is “the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an 

individual, organization, event or product” (UK Carbon Trust 2008).  Basically - how much does your day-to-day routine hurt the environment?

Calculate your eco footprint here: http://www.lowimpactliving.com/scores/calculate

Organicare's boxes are made from 80% post-consumer waste and the remaining 20% of the paperboard is made with trees from responsibly managed forests.  This means ... our boxes have a pretty small impact on the environment - not to mention our company is carbon neutral (we plant a new tree for every tree we cut down).

The average eco footprint in our office is 79.  What is yours?

Beware! Steer Clear of These Ingredients!

Due to limited government oversight in the beauty industry, many harmful ingredients are still being used in our beauty, cosmetic, and skincare products.  Among the most harmful/disturbing are mercury, phthalates, lead, and petroleum products.  The thought of these products in anything we put on our body is scary - but there are no regulations to prohibit companies from using them ... companies are not even required to tell you they use some of these ingredients!

Another disturbing ingredient is the element that WAS touted as "the next green revolution," nanoparticles.  It's too bad that they found that nanoparticles (also dubbed "buckeyballs") can be especially harmful.  Nanoparticles can cause serious health issues by invading your red blood cells and climbing up the optic nerve to inhibit sight.

Follow this link to see a complete list of the ingredients that customers should look out for when buying beauty products.

Organicare Changing Lives!

Hello,

I meet you at Bendel's in Manhattan and you introduced me to some of your products. I dont know if you remember but I was with my mother and she was saying how I don't listen to anyone about my skin and I dry it out. You had suggested the acne toner and I have to tell you, I was really shocked with the improvement that I saw just over-night. It has been about two weeks since I purchased the toner and I am very happy with it. I have since ordered the daily dew, and daily renewal, which are nice also. I want to say thank you very much because I have been suffering with acne for about five years now and it really affected my life. It came to the point where I did not want to go out with friends because I was so ashamed. And all of this causeed me to wear loads of makeup to cover it up, but that just made it worse and everyone at school made fun of me because it would cake and look like I was wearing a mask.  I still wear a little to much makeup and am a bit dry but I have seen a great improvement and it all will take time to regain the moisture and heal. So, thank you very much and I hope my skin stays this way and just keeps improving.

                                                       Thank you.

Organicare has joined the companies pledging to create safe alternatives to harmful products by signing The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics petition for safer personal care products.  Our product is currently being reviewed and will be in the Skin Deep Database by the second week in April.

Visit Skin Deep here to see how your current products are ranked: Skin Deep.

To learn more about The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, click here.

Lucky Magazine: Dallas

Lucky Magazine: Dallas

February 2009

Organicare Ingredients: 101

Continuing our education for the new year, it would be prudent to learn about the ingredients in Organicare's product. 

Lesson #1: the açaí  berry.

The açaí berry (pronounced “ah-sigh-ee”) has become the trendy, new miracle fruit because of it's amazing antioxidant benefits.  The berry grows on the açaí palm shown on the right.  The small, purple berry has been touted as the "superberry" of all berries (you thought blueberries had antioxidants!? MOVE OVER, BLUEBERRY!).  See the below chart from the USDA for a quick idea of the

 antioxidant levels in the açaí berry. (ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, which is the system used by the USDA to measure antioxidant levels in foods)

The açaí palm grows in the rainforests in Brazil and swamplands throughout South and Central America.  While natives have harvested the berry for years, it recently became popular in North America when doctors discovered its amazing qualities.  The whole berry is actually 80% seed and skin and only 20% pulp and is harvested by the thousand and processed to separate the juice and pulp from the rest of the berry.

The berry's many benefits include:  immune system support, weight loss, improves digestion, sleep aid, energy booster, lowers blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging.  If the berry isn't great already, it also has been found to fight cancer and disease and heart disease!!

Organicare has TWO products which put this amazing ingredient to work:  Rescue Me and Fresh Fix.

Rescue Me, Organicare's anti-aging serum contains a pure concentrated form of açai berry.  Açai promotes collagen and elastin production and is known for its age-fighting ability to help skin look healthier, younger and more vibrant.  Its rich source of protein, together with omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, restores the skin’s elasticity and smoothness.  Rescue Me is packed with vitamins B1, B2, and B3 to leave skin firmer and brighter and vitamin E to reverse free radical damage.  Ginseng and ylang-ylang aid in cell stimulation and skin rejuvenation.    

Customer Testimonial

Organic skincare is for everyone ... see!

"After using brands with harsh chemicals to keep my skin clear, I thought that was as good as skincare could get -- no blemishes, no problem.  It was only after a friend recommended a couple of Organicare products that I realized that there was better out there -- and it was better for me.  I have found that Organicare is by far the best product I have used.  After only a few weeks of use, I found that my face feels and looks far healthier than I have ever experienced -- and it's nice to know they're a healthier alternative.  

With most products the results are less than satisfactory and temporary at best.  What I enjoy most about Organicare is that the effects of the two products I use, Daily Renewal and Daily Dew, is evident every day."

Daily Dew is a lightweight moisturizer penetrates rapidly, leaving the skin 

hydrated and soothed.  Packed with vitamins A and E to energize your skin and reverse free radical damage for the day, Daily Dew creates a protective barrier guarding against damage from free radicals and the elements.  Buy it here!

Education for the New Year

Organic, natural, USDA certified, petrochemical free ... all of these sound great, but when it gets down to it, which is the best for your body and the environment?

As I posted last month, many skincare companies' "organic" products are being put to the test ... and failing.  Quite a few products are labeled natural or organic when they have harmful ingredients, chemicals, and non-organic ingredients.  Below is a quick lesson on what consumer should be aware of before venturing into the world of organic skincare -- don't be duped by impostors!

If a product is labeled "natural," at least one ingredient in the product has simply made from the earth.  After ingredients are taken from the earth, they can be altered, chemicals can be added, and the end product can be harmful.

If a product bears the seal to the left reading "Made with Certified Organic Ingredients," it is 70% organic; the other 30% can be anything (petrochemicals, harmful parabens, dangerous ingredients, etc.).

If the product claims to be made with certified organic ingredients and DOES NOT have the seal, it can have LESS THAN 70% organic ingredients.

If a product simply touts itself as "organic," it was made with one or more ingredients that were organically farmed without pesticides.  Once again, the end product can contain harmful elements.

If a product bears the USDA Organic seal, it's the gold standard. USDA certified organic products are 100% free of harmful petrochemicals and parabens and are made with at LEAST 97% certified organic ingredients. Personal care products which bear this seal are evaluated with the same standards as food products which, in essence, makes Organicare's products food quality!  Not only are USDA certified organic products made of safe ingredients, but the process and facilities also must be approved.

To start the new year off on the right foot, take a walk in Organicare's shoes and see what a real organic product/company goes through before receiving the USDA Organic seal.  Read about the requirements for organic certification, click here.

Turn over a new leaf!

In true green fashion, Organicare doesn't want to waste paper sending out a newsletter when we could keep our followers up-to-date with e-mails.  So, for exclusive offers, news about upcoming Organicare products & events, and green tips ... become an Organicare Insider.  

Simply click the button below ... it will be your easiest resolution to keep!

	Become an Insider
	» click here

Another Organicare Addict!

Dear Organicare -

I must confess my addiction. First it began with night nourish. I felt like my skin had been eating junk food it's whole life, and finally sat down to a five-star gourmet meal! I really think every skin cell was breathing a sigh of relief.....So then came daily dew, and then, a brighter tomorrow, and then.......... Don't twelve step me just yet... Im not ready to give up this addiction

I have been in dermatology for fourteen years (frequently seen on Good Morning Texas as their Dermatology expert) and my over zealous attention to ingredients has  lead me down the organic yellow-brick-road. Just say no to petrochemicals, phthalates, and carcinogens. We finally have an organic skin care line that actually WORKS - sans icky stuff.

Bravo Orgainicare!!

Ciao for now,

     Green Stiletto

The Queen of Country Music + Organicare

Last week the queen of country music walked out of Henri Bendel with Daily Dew, Energeyes, and Brighter Tomorrow. Get Faith's picks at www.icareorganics.com!

Organic Holiday: Step 1 - Organic Tree

Growing up, my family packed our hot chocolate, blankets, and saws the day after Thanksgiving and set out to the local tree farms on a search for the perfect tree.  Now, I find it somewhat easier to drive five minutes to the nearest tree lot.  This loses a bit of the nostalgia and couldn't be great for your family -- you don't know where those trees came from!

Be kind to your family this year and ensure local farm support by venturing to a local organic tree farm.

... don't forget the hot chocolate, blanket, and Fresh Fix !!!

A Gift With Purchase That Could Save the World

A bag for the boxes, double bag the milk, make sure the eggs are on top of another, another bag to keep cleaning supplies separate, and don't forget the bag for your pack of gum ... the average family accumulates over 60 plastic shopping bags in only four trips to the grocery store.

Astounding, yes.  Even worse when you know that U.S. consumers burn through 500 BILLION plastic bags ANNUALLY.  Once these bags are produced, they can remain in landfills for over 1,000 years.  Let's fix this, shall we?

With ANY Organicare purchase at Dillard's stores this season, you will receive a reusable shopping tote from Organicare.  Organicare's shopping totes are made from a natural vegetable fiber, jute, which is 100% biodegradable; which makes it not only incredibly eco-friendly ... but eco-chic!  

What is jute?

More statistics on plastic bag waste ...

Information on potential plastic bag bans in the U.S.

Customer Testimonial

Another happy Organicare user.  Read below for her testimonial.

"I have to tell you that  I LOVE ORGANICARE!   It truly is an amazing line. Aside from the fantastic results, I can not stress enough how much I adore the scent.  I always like the fragrance of products like Aveda and Origins - but this really takes it to a new level. 

Also, it’s the only line of skincare I’ve found that is actually USDA certified organic. Other products that claim to be 100% natural still carry traces of

 pesticides and other toxins that are terrible for our bodies, and just as bad for our environment. The seal speaks volumes to me and makes me feel confident that what I am putting on my body is 100% safe. 

My favorite product is the gentle foaming cleanser.  It's brilliant!"

Daily Renewal, gentle foaming cleanser, dissolves away make up leaving the skin clean, soft, and healthy.  Milk proteins provide gentle conditioning while organic extracts of coconut naturally exfoliate and help keep the skin clear by eliminating blemish causing bacteria.  Formulated to preserve the skins natural PH balance.

Available on our website (www.icareorganics.com) for $35.

Change You Can See

For the last six months, the word "change" has been thrown around quite a bit ... shouldn't you think about the things in your life that YOU can change to make a brighter tomorrow for YOURSELF?

Organicare's microderma oxygenation treatment, Brighter Tomorrow, repairs damaged skin and restores youthful elasticity.  Immediately after use, you will notice a visible relaxation of fine lines, brighter skin, and an even skin tone.

With regular use, Brighter Tomorrow will increase cell turnover, firm skin, reverse visible signs of aging, and repair sun damage.

Now that your skin is taken care of, let's think about the rest of the world.  The Organic Consumers Association recently launched a campaign call the Organic Transitions Movement to educate

 consumers on ways they can help the world change for the better -- at least environmentally speaking!  

Please get behind this fantastic effort by visiting http://www.organicconsumers.org/transitions.cfm to learn more about what YOU can do to improve your world.  (You can start by purchasing an Organicare product -- don't forget we donate a portion of annual proceeds to an organization that works to solve ecological and social issues!!!)

Get Thee to a Spa!!

It's getting into the holiday season when family will be popping in and out every week.  All the stress of changing sheets, making meals, and entertaining distant cheek-pinching aunts can cause some stress.  Don't let it show - get thee to a spa!

Organicare debuted in eight spas nationwide this past month.  Check one of them out to combat the holiday stress lines.

Spa Nordstrom: 

Dallas, Texas (Galleria)

Scottsdale, Arizona (Fashion Square)

San Francisco, California (San Francisco Centre)

Canoga Park, California (Topanga)

Atlanta Georgia (Perimeter)

Houston, Texas (Galleria)

Seattle, Washington (Downtown Seattle)

Now, get yourself to one of the fabulous Organicare spa locations so your skin doesn't look like the turkey's!