Beauty Busters

Getting back to nature with farm-to-table foods, organic grocery store goods and sustainable living has swept many of us up in a whirlwind of healthier living. But your ingredient-checking shouldn’t stop at food.

Did you know your skin—your body’s largest organ—absorbs approximately 64 percent of what you apply topically? Your skin is porous, and even though you’re not ingesting the lotions, body washes, soaps and makeup products you use, you’re still getting a good dose of the harmful chemicals many of them contain. Making the switch to all-natural and organic products will not only give you a healthier complexion, it’ll keep more toxins out of your body. And who doesn’t want that?

Kick those harsh, bad-foryou chemicals to the curb once and for all and explore several of the all-natural and organic skin care and makeup lines out there. We’ve listed prices for foundations and facial cleansers to give you a price point, but we’ve also highlighted two budgetfriendly options.

The list of both Certified Organic and Certified Natural ingredients in this line is stunning. The Italian-made makeup is just as luxurious as it is good for your skin. You’ll pay $68 for your first foundation but can refill it for $40. Founder Kjaer Weis was aiming for modern design, luxury, sustainability and, of course, natural and organic ingredients when she created this line. Well done, KW. kjaerweis.com

100 PERCENT PURE: Like its name, this skin care and makeup line is 100 percent natural, cruelty free and free of artificial anything. Makeup products are fruit-dyed to achieve shades and colors, and there are more than enough pure cleansers, tonics and moisturizers to keep your face radiant. What we love most? Shipping and returns are always free. Foundations are $45, and facial cleansers are $29. 100percentpure.com

JUICE BEAUTY: This line takes skin care and makeup products to all-organic heights, packing them full of antioxidants. Products include green apple creams, scrubs, serums and cleansers formulated to have anti-aging and acne-clearing benefits. Hollywood’s green queen, Gwyneth Paltrow, recently introduced her PhytoPigments organic makeup line to Juice Beauty, too. If spending $42 on foundation and $22 on cleansers is about what you’d normally spend, this line of products has what it takes to clean up your whole beauty and skin care routine. juicebeauty.com

GOOP: Paltrow also has a skin care line through Juice Beauty, but it’s named after her brand, goop. It promises to be “safe enough for our daughters, and powerful enough for those of us who have maybe spent too much time in the sun ” Sounds about perfect, right? You’re sure to get smoothing, anti-aging and radiance-boosting effects, but you’ll have to pay for it—the cleanser is $90, the moisturizer is $100 and the other four products range between $90 and $140 goop.com

For all of you budget-savvy beauties, you can get the same glowing skin, clear pores and natural or organic treatment with these two budgetfriendly lines.

Lemongrass Spa products are all-natural or organic, handmade and include everything from makeup products, creams, scrubs and cleansers to sunscreens, bug sprays and products made especially for men or the kiddos. Founder Heidi Leist started by making the products herself, but now the business has expanded to thousands of independent consultants all over the country. The cleansing facial gel is $13, and the foundation is $20 ourlemongrassspa.com

AU NATURALE COSMETICS: Organic, non-toxic, vegan, paraben-free—these are just a few of the adjectives that make this makeup line worth trying. Lip, face and eye makeup products are handmade, sold online and carried in more than 100 stores worldwide. All products are made in the USA and are safe for even the most sensitive skin. The powder foundation is $32 aunaturale-cosmetics.com

JANE IREDALE: Founder

Jane Iredale claims to be the first to bring makeup with skin care benefits to the market. Her mineral powders act as a foundation, powder, concealer and sunscreen—all in one. Face and body care products are also available, listing natural and organic ingredients along with customer reviews for each. The facial cleanser is $28, and the pressed mineral foundation is $42 janeiredale.com

ROOT: Root’s focus is natural, healthy skin care and makeup that performs well and doesn’t cost a fortune. These products leave out harmful chemicals and fillers, keeping only natural ingredients that are safe for all skin types. Mineral foundations provide buildable coverage and can be applied as a powder or liquid. Simply add a couple drops of water to some of the powder and mix together before applying to your face. Skin care products include cleansers, tonics, serums and creams. The foundation sells for $18, and the cleansers and tonics are around $6 or $7 rootpretty.com

Check out these two we’ve rounded up—they’re simple, streamlined and guaranteed tasty.

An entrée and two sides sounds like a sink full of dishes, but that doesn't have to be the case. Take this recipe by Marzia Aziz of Little Spice Jar (littlespicejar.com) for example.

6-8 chicken breasts or thighs

2 tsp lemon zest + 2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp orange zest + 2 tbsp orange juice

1 tsp lime zest + 2 tbsp lime juice

1 tbsp minced garlic

2 tbsp sugar

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp salt

1⁄2 tsp black pepper

One-pot pastas are common fare, so flip the script with gnocchi and healthy, filling add-ins like chicken and spinach. Blogger Amy Dong of Chew Out Loud (chewoutloud.com) really nailed this one.

2 tbsp salted butter

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 1⁄2 cups whole milk

1 cup chicken broth

1⁄2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp onion powder

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 package (8oz) thinly sliced baby bella mushrooms

1 lb. shredded rotisserie chicken

1 (17.5) oz package potato gnocchi (usually found in the dry pasta aisle; not frozen)

2 cups baby spinach leaves

1⁄2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 425°F with rack on upper middle position. › In a deep, oven-safe skillet, melt butter over medium heat. › Add flour, and whisk for 3 minutes until a smooth roux forms.

› Whisk in milk and chicken broth until incorporated. › Simmer, whisking constantly until slightly thickened (about 5 minutes). › Whisk in nutmeg, onion powder, garlic, kosher salt and ground pepper to taste. › Add shredded chicken, mushrooms, uncooked gnocchi and spinach to mixture. › Stir gently until coated. › Sprinkle Parmesan evenly over top, and bake in oven 15 to 20 minutes until sauce is bubbly around the edges and gnocchi is tender.

› If desired, broil 2 to 3 minutes to brown top.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Amy Dong of Chew Out Loud, chewoutloud.com.

5 tbsp olive oil, divided

1 lb. Brussels sprouts, halved

1 lb. sweet potatoes, 1-inch dice

Position rack near the center of the oven, and preheat to 425°F. › Combine zests, juices, garlic, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and 3 tablespoons of olive oil in medium bowl. › Stir until sugar dissolves.

› Place chicken in gallon zip-top bag. › Add marinade to the bag, zip and toss. › Allow chicken to marinate 20 minutes. › Combine Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes around edge of sheet pan. › Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, adding salt and pepper to taste. › Place chicken in center of pan, and drizzle half of marinade over top. › Bake for 25-30 minutes or until internal temperature registers at 165°F. (If the chicken starts browning too quickly during roasting, cover tray loosely with a piece of foil.)

Recipe and photo courtesy of Marzia Aziz of Little Spice Jar, littlespicejar.com.