Lotions & Potions

Back in December, Allure magazine ran a story called Underground Beauty that featured "under the radar" beauty finds. Several of the picks were eco-friendly, and I was especially interested in one: Lotions & Potions Rosemary Mint Foaming Handsoap, which is paraben-free and contains no SLS.

I visited the web site and discovered that some of the product pages didn't contain ingredient info. So I wrote to Victoria Slone, the Chicago-based company's founder. Her response came in less than an hour!

"We totally understand wanting to be sure the product you're purchasing is all natural!!" she wrote. The ingredients of the Foaming Handsoap are as follows: De-iodized water organic olive oil, kosher vegetable glycerin, organic aloe leaf juice, organic essential oils, Vitamin E & Rosemary Extract.

I ordered the soap, as well as a lip balm. The soap foams up nicely and has a fresh, herby scent. And I am absolutely in love with the vegan, organic lip balm (I got the coconut lemongrass version). The formula is creamy, soft, and really absorbs into your lips.

I'm not a big fan of ordering beauty products online—it's not eco-friendly, and when I need, say, a new body wash, I generally want it right away. But I'll make an exception for Lotions & Potions. It's a small, woman-owned business with great customer service and, more importantly, products that are worth the wait.