Our Mission

At Bella Floria, our goal is to provide you with the best in organic and natural skin care and beauty products. We support only those brands that use quality ingredients, are ethically derived and are ecologically produced. So you will never find harsh synthetic preservatives and chemical additives like petrochemicals or parabens in the products we carry.

Let me tell you how our company is different, and why you might want to give us a try. Bella Floria was borne from my years of frustration as a consumer of organic and natural products. Having been a long-time print journalist—whose assignments included covering healthcare and medicine—and as a practicing attorney, I thought of myself as a fairly sophisticated consumer. But like many of you, I have in the past, picked up products that claim to be organic or natural, only to discover that ingredients used were anything but—or worse yet, the products contained potentially harmful chemicals.

So I educated myself. I took courses in skin care and product manufacturing, and I began reading ingredient lists religiously. However, in the end, I felt this was too time consuming, not to mention confusing for most people.

I thought wouldn’t it be ideal to shop somewhere—where all the products are prescreened so that only those containing organic and natural ingredients were offered? Wouldn’t it be great to shop where truthful and useful consumer information was provided as part of the service?

With these ideas in mind, I created Bella Floria Organics, a truly unique beauty boutique. In addition to providing our trusted brands, we will also offer a quarterly organic beauty and lifestyle on-line magazine, as well as frequent blog updates of interest to organic products consumers.

We don’t claim to have the largest selection, only products that are among the finest and purest we could find.

So take a look, explore the site, and let me know what you think. We look forward to earning your trust and serving your needs.

Emelyn Rodriguez, Founder

Visit us at: www.BellaFloria.com.

Introducing Essence of Vali Passion Gift Set

Essence of Vali Passion Massage Oil & Love Mist Gift Set

This newest addition to our Essence of Vali brand arrives just in time for Valentines Day!  Treat yourself or a loved one to this refreshing all-natural aromatherapy gift set that’s designed for those special moments.

Enhance romance with the invigorating scents of orange zest, ylang ylang petals, patchouli leaves and ginger root known for their aphrodisiac effect.  Treat your partner to an aromatic massage or share a bath and be enveloped by the intoxicating aroma and richness of pure, natural Jojoba oil.   Mist sheets and pillow cases with Passion Love Mist to continue the aromatic adventure with all natural plant essences!

This special gift set contains:  2 oz Love Mist and 2 oz. Passion Massage & Bath Oil packaged in a red organza pouch perfect for gift-giving.

Special Introductory Price: $14.95

Makeup Trends: Spring/Summer 2010

Have the “Winter Blues” got you down?  Good news is that you can look forward to spring and all the wonderful color it promises this season.  It’ll soon be time to put away bold, dark colors and whip out the pastel and soft colors.  Inspired by the shimmery, metallic-infused collections on the Spring 2010 designer runways, the upcoming season offers soft, sexy earth tone shades and luxurious golden hues.

Spring/Summer 2010 season will bring with it “splashes of sunshine” that will add a “sense of excitement to the color palette, while practical neutrals provide a safety net for cautious consumers,” predicts the Pantone Color Institute.  Popular colors for spring range from sheer pink, smooth lilacs, to creamy corals, fiery red pepper (for lips!), as well as gold shimmery eye shadows.

Here are a few trends:

Pastels and Soft Colors.  A spring perennial, pastel and soft colors will again be popular.  Shades we’ve seen include sheer pinks, corals, and melons.  According to O Magazine, coral is the perfect shade, but stay away from dark, opaque mattes.  Instead opt for sheer color glosses instead.  Also try not to go overboard.  O Magazine says you should look as if you just ate a piece of fruit.  (Perfect Organics Lip & Cheek Shimmers in Santiago (Sunbaked Bronze Glitter), Cairo (Sun-kissed Spring Rose), or Faz (Touch of Peach) are great for sheer color.)

Gold Makeup is hot!  According to Stylelist, gold is finding its way from into shimmery fashions on the runway, to golden-hued nail lacquers to metallic eye creams and lipsticks.  Spring will be about shimmer—on eyes, cheeks, lips, especially paired with tanned skin. (Try Nvey Eco Eye Organic Shadow Palette No. 5—in gold, peach, brown and beige.  It features shimmer galore!)

Emphasis on Practical Neutrals, Earth Tones with Bold Accessory Color.  The fashion runways were dominated with the natural looking—models with barely there makeup, slightly bronzed skin and bright, cherry lips or sheer, glossy brown lipstick.  The Pantone Color Institute predicts that neutrals and earth tones will dominate this spring.  Latrice Eiseman, executive Director of the Institute says on the Institute’s website that women will focus on “freshening up their look with bright accents” that “address the need for practicality, as well as fun.”  (Dr. Hauschka’s eye shadow palette and Rouge Powder Duo are perfect.  Also try Nvey Eco Eye Organic Eye Shadow Palette No. 3, filled with gorgeous earth tones–cocoa, mossy green, rich beige.)

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER:  Get up to 30% off select color cosmetics at Bella Floria.com.  Offer good through 3/1/10 or while supplies last.

5 Tips to Get that Movie Star Glow

With awards show season in full-swing, we’re seeing stars on the red carpet with dewy, luminously perfect complexions.  Want to get that movie star glow?  It’s easier than you think.  First, think about getting a professional treatment or facial if your time and budget allow.  But if you are like many of us who are on a budget, the good news is there are also things you can do for yourself, that are relatively inexpensive and easy.

Here are some tips to keep skin in tip-top shape and help give yourself that screen star glow:

Exfoliate: Using a mild, non-irritating scrub can work wonders for dull, lifeless skin.  Exfoliating the top layer of dry skin helps your skin drink in moisture, as well as any revitalizing creams and treatments that you use to nourish your skin.  But make sure you don’t overdo it, especially during the winter time. Dr. John Wolf, chairman of the Dermatology Department at Baylor College of Medicine, said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle that too much exfoliating can make matters worse.  “Dry skin is a huge problem right now,” he said. “It can go from mild dry skin to inflamed dry skin, which we call the winter itch, or eczema. So you should exfoliate with caution during the winter and avoid it altogether if your skin is irritated.”  (Try Sophtyo Dual Action Exfoliating Treament paired with either Sophyto Tone & Balance Super Bioactive or Sophyto Purify & Energise Bioactive.)

Use a Mask: Apply a mask after exfoliating.  Masks are quick and easy to do at home.  The best ones are those with soothing herbals, vitamins and moisturizing oils will help tighten pores, revitalize skin by giving it a smoother appearance, and help heal blemishes.  (I recommend the Dr. Alkaitis line:  Dr. Alkaitis Organic Cellular Repair Mask, Dr. Alkaitis Organic Universal Mask, or Sophyto Purifying Active Mask.)

Moisturize: Make sure your skin has the proper amount of moisture.  Lack of moisture robs your skin of vitality and suppleness.  Also it is important to make sure your cleanser does not strip or over-dry your skin as this can cause your skin to produce excess sebum, which can contribute to breakouts.  The key to healthy winter skin, according to Dr. Wolf in the Houston Chronicle, “is to put water back into the skin” by moisturizing.  (Try Kahina-Giving Beauty Organic Argan Oil.  Just a drop or two is all it takes!  For those of you who like a creamier, more traditional moisturizer, try Sophyto Normalising Day Face Moisturizer, or Sophyto Mega Omegas Day Face Moisturizer.)

Eat Right: Your skin reflects your general state of health and well-being.  Nourish your body and eat wholesome food and drink (preferably organic) with plenty of anti-oxidants and good fats like fish oil.  The benefits aren’t limited just to healthy looking skin.  A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who ate about one serving of fish six times a month (or every five days) had a 28 percent decrease in actinic keratoses, or precancerous growths due to sun damage.  Also avoid excess sugar, salt, caffeine or processed foods, which may contribute to skin problems as well as puffiness.

Get Plenty of Sleep: Sleep is one thing you shouldn’t skimp on.  Lack of sleep can contribute to dull, lifeless-looking skin, not to mention breakouts that may result from stress and lack of rest.  Try to get enough shut-eye each night with the natural way with pure essential oils like lavender and sandalwood.  I highly recommend Essence of Vali Sleep Concentrate , Essence of Vali Sleep Soothing Mist or Nectar Essences Organic Sleep Spray.

Mislabeled “Organic” Products?

The Organic Consumers Association (“OCA”), along with some organic personal care companies, has filed a complaint with the USDA’s National Organic Program (“NOP”) asking for an investigation into what it calls “widespread and blatantly deceptive labeling practices” of leading personal care brands that claim to be “organic.”

The OCA says it filed the complaint on behalf of 50 million consumers organic personal care products, alleging that some well-known brands—such as YSL Beaute, Kiss My Face Corporation, Giovanni Cosmetics Inc., Eminence Organic Skin Care, Inc., Physicians’ Formula Holdings, Inc. (makers of Organic Wear) and the Hain Celestial Group—use the word “organic” in marketing their products but do not have the right to do so.  OCA alleged that the companies named in the complaint do not meet USDA’s national organic program standards and called on the USDA to crack down on companies that misuse the “organic” label.

“Unfortunately, the hands off regulatory approach by the USDA’s National Organic Program” has “failed to protect consumers from deceptive labeling in the personal care marketplace,” said OCA Executive Director Ronnie Cummins in a prepared statement.

OCA asserts that consumers who pay more for organic products expect that the ingredients of products labeled “organic” be made from certified organic material produced on organic farms and not contain petrochemicals or pesticides from conventional farming.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps founder, David Bronner, said in a statement that his company has amended its pending lawsuit (filed in April 2008) against companies that he claims engage in misleading labeling.  The lawsuit was refiled in federal court against various companies alleging violations in the federal Lanham Act for false advertising.  “One way or another, the era of ripping off consumers in personal care will soon come to an end.”

No doubt the controversy regarding this issue will continue for some time.  I’d be interested in what you have to say.  Please tell us what you think.

Smart Skin Care

This month’s Organic Spa Magazine rings in the New Year with a heavy emphasis on one of our top organic skin care favorites:  the Kahina-Giving Beauty organic argan oil skin care line.

The Kahina-Giving Beauty Travel Basics Kit ($64) was featured in the magazine’s Smart Travels section under “Editor’s Picks.”  Organic Spa had this to say about the kit:  “The all-purpose, 100-percent organic argan oil moisturizer is as effective in moisturizing a dry face as it is softening rough elbows and calloused feet.”

The magazine also did a full-page feature on the relatively-new Kahina-Giving Beauty line, which features as its central ingredient, organic argan oil, a centuries-old Moroccan beauty remedy. It emphasized Kahina-Giving Beauty’s benefits for “the body, the environment, and [the Berber] women” who help extract the argan oil.  The Organic Spa Magazine article focused on Kahina-Giving Beauty’s commitment to the women in Moroccan cooperatives who labor to produce the organic argan oil that is the foundation of the New York-based beauty brand.  It also praised the argan oil skin care line for its eco-friendly approach to packaging (recycled paper boxes and beautiful dark violet recyclable glass bottles).

Here’s to great beginnings with this new beauty brand!

Introducing Piper Tate: Natural Baby Care Products

Bella Floria is now proud to offer luxurious and pure natural baby care products from San Francisco-based company Piper Tate.

Bill and Valerie Rice are founders of this innovative natural skin care company.  Bill used to be a chef, and Valerie was a costume designer who styled everything from Barbie dolls to Luther Vandross.  Longing to combine their passions, and dreaming about creating a business with family in mind, Piper Tate tapped into Bill and Valerie’s culinary and design skills, and began stirring up organic, botanically infused body products for babies and their parents. Piper Tate was born.

The company’s luxurious natural body care collections are handmade in small batches with plant-based and naturally derived ingredients, combined with essential oils and botanicals to produce sophisticated and soothing scents. Piper Tate’s natural baby care line—Baby Tate—consist of natural baby products that are free of harsh chemicals, mineral oil, sulfates and parabens. Piper Tate uses gentle ingredients such as jojoba oil, aloe vera, shea and mango butters. Piper Tate believes that your baby’s daily moisturizing ritual should not only hydrate the skin but also nurture his or her soul.

In creating its all-natural body products, Piper Tate is passionate about using local, sustainable and organic ingredients, whenever possible. Visiting a local bee farm, in search of wild harvested honey, is all part of the adventure. Piper Tate is mindful of its environmental responsibility and believes it is crucial to blend these beliefs with its business practices.

Bella Floria now offers the following Baby Tate products:

Baby Tate Soothing Bum Balm:  Enriched with jojoba oil and beeswax, Piper Tate Bum Balm calms and soothes baby’s tender bottom.  The balm forms a protective barrier while moisturizing, thanks to the hydrating benefits of shea butter and a blend of botanicals, including calendula and chamomile.  Piper Tate believes that a little kindness shown to a delicate bum will lead to a peaceful household and maybe a kinder world.  (Price: $14, 2 oz.)

• 100% natural
• Cruelty-Free
• Sulfate & Paraben-Free
• Recyclable plastic jar, 2 oz.
• Hypoallergenic
• Made in the USA

Ingredients: Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Oil, Zinc Oxide, Apis Mellifera (Beeswax), Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Essential Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Limmnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Essential Oil, Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Essential Oil, Sodium Bicarbonate, Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip) Oil, Butyrospermun parkii (Shea) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Matricaria Chamomilla (German Chamomile) Essential Oil, Allantoin (Comfrey), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Extract in Olea Europaea (Organic Olive) Oil.

Baby Tate Milk & Honey Lavender Baby Soap. Pure milk and honey with a whisper of lavender will leave baby’s skin soft and smooth. Although extra gentle and mild for baby’s sensitive skin, the whole family will adore the creamy lather and calming lavender scent. Made with organic ingredients. Always free of synthetic fragrances and colors. Each bar is hand wrapped and delicately scented with honey and lavender.  (Price: $7.00, 5oz)

Ingredients: Certified Organic Saponified Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Certified Organic Saponified Coconut and Palm oils, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Essential Oil, Honey, Goat’s milk, Vitamin E.

A Bella Floria Exclusive! The Luxe Baby Gift Set comes wrapped in soft cream tulle and delicately tied with satin ribbon. Filled with Piper Tate’s all-natural Soothing Baby Bum Balm and Milk and Honey Lavender Baby Soap.  (Price: $18 for the set)

You choose the soap wrapping in either pink or blue!

Contains: Piper Tate Soothing Baby Bum Balm (2 oz.) & Piper Tate Milk and Honey Lavender Baby Soap (5 oz.)

There’s still time to ship for the holidays!  Orders sent by USPS Priority Mail on Monday, Dec. 21 are guaranteed for Christmas delivery.

Guilt-Free Gift Guide

For those still on the lookout for this season’s Gotta-Have-It Goodies, we’ve compiled a green, guilt-free selection for everyone on your holiday list.

Kahina-Giving Beauty Travel Kit:

Perfect for guys and gals, this natural and organic argan oil skin care system is just what your parched winter skin is craving.  Full of anti-oxidants and Vitamins A and E, and nourishing moisturizing argan oil, this skin care treat is sure to banish the winter blues.  (1 oz travel sizes: Organic Argan Oil, Facial Lotion and Facial Cleanser: $64.95.)

Dr. Alkaitis Organic Travel Kit:

For those purists on your list, this skin care regimen has to be one of the purest and greenest out there.  Indeed it has a devoted celebrity following including supermodel Gisele Bundchen who counts Dr. Alkaitis Organic Eye Crème as one of her favorities.  Made with only organic and wild crafted ingredients such as Aloe Vera gel, French Lavender, Roman Chamomile flowers and Andean Mountain Rose Hip seed and Borage oils, these holistic skin care products  are edible and easy absorbed by the skin.

(Eight travel size items: Day Creme 7ml; Night Creme 7ml; Eye Crème 5ml; Purifying Facial Cleanser 30ml; Nourishing Treatment Oil 30ml; Soothing Gel 30ml; Herbal Toner 30ml; and
1 Mask: $45.)

Essence of Vali Aromatherapy Gift Sets:  Give the gift of peace and relaxation this season with stress-soothing scents that help you wind down from a busy day or hectic holiday schedule.

Gift of Peaceful Sleep: This set is beautifully packaged for gift giving!  Made with a base of  100% pure golden jojoba oil, it soothes with essential oils of lavender flowers, cedar wood, marjoram leaves and ylang ylang petals.  (Price: $16.) Kit contains: 1 oz Sleep Massage and Bath Oil; 1 oz Sleep Soothing Mist and .02 oz of Sleep Concentrate.

Essence of Vali Sleep Travel Kit: This set contains Essence of Vali’s award-winning sleep blend in a convenient gift set, consisting of sleep soothing mist, sleep bedtime balm & 2 mini size sleep concentrates.  Each item can be used at bedtime for relaxation.  (Price: $17.)

Essence of Vali Relief Gift Set: A thoughtful gift that provides comfort and soothing relief with the scent of lavender flowers, peppermint leaves and birch bark.  Packaged in a light blue organza pouch with a matching satin ribbon ideal for gift-giving, this set includes a 2 oz bottle of Relief Massage and Bath Oil & Relief balm. (Price: $19.99.)

Nectar Essences Sleep/Awake Set: Nectar Essences aromatherapy sprays are made with certified organic and wild-crafted essential oils of grapefruit, lavender and citrus, organic grape alcohol, and Nectar’s proprietary blend of flower essences including jasmine and white chestnut.  The Awake formula is uplifting and stimulating, soothing and revitalizing.  The Sleep spray helps calm and relax.  These sprays come packaged in elegant blue paper tubes with silver end caps. They are gift wrapped and ready to make someone’s day and night! 1.69 fl oz each (Price: $50 for the set.)

Woodsprite Organic Body Gift Sets: Soak, Scrub, Smooth, Soap and Soften with this fresh and fragrant organic spa kit.  Woodsprite Organic Body Spa Sampler Gift Boxes feature five of its most popular body care products, each designed to pamper and nourish from the outside in.  Each Gift Box Contains: 2 oz. Organic Soap, 4 oz. Spa Salts Packet, 2 oz. Sea Salt Glow, 1 oz. Organic Massage & Body Oil and a 16-hour Soy Aromatherapy Votive Candle.  Box measures approximately 6 x 4.5 x 4.5″, and is made from recycled paper, with recyclable paper fill. Available in Ginger Glow, Grapefruit Mint and Lavender.  (Price: $36.)

Stocking Stuffers:

Aromatherapy Personals Organic Aromatherapy: A quick and easy way to enjoy the benefits of pure, natural and organic aromatherapy. The pulse-point roller provides for smooth and gentle application. Made with naturally active plant seed and essential oils, Aromatherapy Personals offers eleven synergistic blends in a Vitamin E enriched certified organic Jojoba base. The products are made with more than 90% certified organic ingredients including Lavender, Chamomile, Sweet Orange, and Peppermint. 9.6 ml each $16.99

Essence of Vali Balms:  Sleep and Uplift Balms: Indulge in natural plant essences. A convenient and luxurious way to benefit from the uplift synergy blend of lavender flowers, spruce needles, bergamot peel & litsea cubeba in a beeswax base. Bedtime Balm has soothing essences of lavender flowers, cedar wood, marjoram leaves and ylang/ylang petals. $8 each

Woodsprite Organic Body Organic Soap Sampler Set: These lovely little bundles of soaps are a great way to try a selection of the most popular scents! All-Star: Grapefruit-Mint, Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Ginger Glow & Lavender.  4 oz $10

Nvey Eco Organic Eye Shadow Duos

Nvey Eco has just launched a new set of gorgeous organic eye shadow duos just in time for the holidays — and Bella Floria has them!  Bold with just the right touch of shimmer, the colors look fabulous paired together or worn separately.

The Nvey Eco organic eye shadows are made with soothing Chamomile and antioxidants Vitamins C, E and A.  They go on smoothly and are gentle on sensitive and dry skin.  Corn silk and jojoba oils add to the depth of color, ease of application and long-wearing ability.

Earthly Desire: An adventurous study in bronze and infused earth tones delivering a perfectly warm finish.

Eco Chic:  A sexy and stylish combination of muted nude shimmer and muted sandstone mauve.

How To Read Cosmetic Product Labels – Tips From Dr. Alkaitis

With all the confusion about beauty product claims and what to look for in ingredient lists, we decided to do some sleuthing ourselves.

We decided to go straight to the source—and got some answers from Dr. Saul Alkaitis himself, a nationally recognized organic beauty product manufacturer and organic skin care expert.

Ever the iconoclast, Dr. Alkaitis recommends ignoring a product’s marketing, PR, and buzz campaigns.  “The point is, we have PR and we have ingredient labels,” Dr. Alkaitis says.  “The law only applies to ingredient labels.”

Here are some of the Dr. Alkaitis’ tips on what to look out for to judge the quality of a cosmetic product:

• Don’t Believe the Hype: Ditch the glossy advertising literature, and tune out the slick television and radio commercials. These materials, the Dr. says, often mislead, and give false expectations.

• Read Ingredient Labels: Pay close attention to the ingredient labels.  If an ingredient is not listed, then it is not in the product.  For instance, a number beauty products claim to be “organic” and even use it as part of the product name, but do not have any organic products in their ingredient lists.

• First Three Listings: The first three to four ingredients in a product are likely the most important.  As a general rule of thumb, they are ingredients with the highest concentrations.  Everything else may be less than 1% and would only be in trace amounts.

• Avoid Mystery Ingredients:  Steer clear from products with ingredients that contain words you don’t recognize and/or can’t pronounce.

Deciding on a quality beauty care product is fairly simple, according to Dr. Alkaitis.  He says if you don’t understand what’s on a product label, you should put it down and look for something else.  “If the words have no meaning, walk away from it,” he said. “It’s a very simple rule.  You’ll be actually helping yourself.”

Beauty That Gives Back: Kahina – Giving Beauty Giveaway

Who doesn’t love a great deal?  How about $134 worth of free organic skin care from the Kahina – Giving Beauty line?

The giveaway includes a Kahina – Giving Beauty travel kit which includes 1 fl. oz each of the facial cleanser, facial lotion and organic argan oil.  It will also include a full-size restorative facial serum packed with organic argan oil, organic sea buckthorn seed oil and organic coffee oil to aid skin healing and rejuvenation.

Kahina – Giving Beauty is a luxurious but simple all-natural skin care line centered on organic argan oil.  It’s an organic beauty skin care line that gives back.  Its founder Katharine L’Heureux is so committed to bettering the lives of the Berber women who work in the cooperatives to produce the argan oil in Kahina – Giving Beauty products that her company is giving 25% of its profits to social and educational programs for the women.

Bella Floria is sponsoring this exclusive giveaway with Fig + Sage, one of our favorite sources for honest, straight-forward reviews of the latest and greatest organic products on the market.  Read Fig+Sage’s review of the Kahina – Giving Beauty line.

But hurry, entries must be received by Friday, October 30, 2009 at 5pm EST.