Natural Summer Beauty on a Budget
Sweet Fun in the Summer
By Melissa Miller
Summer is upon us
and with it comes showing off more skin. It’s time to bring out the
self-tanners, scrubs, lotions, creams and all the rest, so you can
look gorgeous in that new sundress and strappy sandals.
While the economy may be putting a damper on your usual beauty
budget, here a few natural and organic skin care options for under
$20 that will do the job just as well as those pricier products.
Dr. Bronner Peppermint Liquid Soap ($14.99; 32 oz.) with organic
peppermint oil will cool you off and leave you with a tingly, clean
feeling.
This completely natural, gentle soap is packed with organic
ingredients, and touted as an “all-in-one” product that can also be
used as a household cleaning product, laundry soap and even
toothpaste! You can dilute the soap with water for added savings.
On the bar soap side,
Purple Prairie Botanicals offer an exquisite and affordable
selection of handmade soaps without sulfates or parabens.
Two
favorites in the Essential Oil Bar Soap range ($3.99; 4 oz.) are Lemongrass Oatmeal with a refreshing scent and a touch of
oatmeal to soothe dry skin and sun burn, and April’s Garden with a lovely floral and earthly blend of
rosewood, ylang ylang and sage.

For a delightfully fruity fragrance that’s perfect for a sizzling
hot day, try
100% Pure Fresh Squeezed Strawberry Lemonade Organic Juicy Shower
Gel ($15; 16 oz.), which is 100% natural and vegan.
Exfoliation is the key to shedding your dry, winter skin, as well as
prepping your skin for treatments such as waxing and self-tanners.
Uniquely fragrant
V’tae Cherries Body Buff $16; 23 oz.) smoothes with sea salts
and scents with tart cherry
extract, acacia, cardamom, anise and amber.
For a citrusy fresh
sloughing experience, try
Woodsprite Organic Body Sea Salt Glow in Grapefruit Mint ($16; 8
oz.), which has finer grains of salt for a gentler and smoother
exfoliation.

Nubian Heritage Coconut and Papaya Shea Body Lotion’s ($12; 13
oz.) heavenly tropical aroma will transport your senses to an exotic
island oasis, while softening with a host of organic ingredients
including shea butter, coconut oil, papaya enzyme and comfrey root
– minus the parabens and synthetic fragrance.
Hugo Naturals Cucumber Geranium Body Butter ($12.99; 4 oz.),
with shea butter, jojoba oil, almond oil and vitamin E, will cool
down your skin while imparting a soft floral aroma. This ultra
hydrating product does double duty as an effective hand and foot
balm.
Carol’s Daughter Mango Mélange Body and Bath Oil ($20; 12 oz.)
with a sweet, succulent aroma of fresh mango, leaves your arms and
legs silky and sexy.

To keep lips moisturized while out in the sun and heat, try
Alba Botanicals Pineapple Quench Lip Balm ($3.49; .15 oz.); the
juicy flavor is delectable, while organic coconut oil and apricot
oil nourish your pout.
For a hint of pretty peachy sun-kissed color,
opt for Yes to Carrots C Me Blush Lip Tint in Sunshine Coral Sunshine available from DrugStore.com for $4.49; .09 oz..

Lastly, don’t forget the sun block – your skin’s best defense
against wrinkles.
Desert Essence Organics Age Reversal SPF 30 Mineral
Sunscreen ($15.99; 3 oz.) offers both UVA and UVB protection, as well as the anti-oxidant
punch of pomegranate and grape seed extracts.
So now you can get out there in sun and glow, with the added
satisfaction that you don’t have to drain your bank account for
must-have summer beauty potions.
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