Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Bellaboo Skin Care: All-Natural Products for Teens, All-Natural Approach to Self-Esteem




I love learning about companies that aren't simply committed to creating great products, but are also committed to having a positive influence on the lives of those who use them.

Bellaboo Skin Care is one such company. Ever heard of them? If not, soon you will. Bellaboo hails from Australia and they're just starting to make an impact on the lives of girls here in the U.S. Their goal is not only to provide girls with all-natural skin care products---chemical-free face washes, moisturizers, masks, exfoliators, blemish serums---but also to help counter the media's unrealistic definition of beauty and to promote higher self-esteem in girls.

Bellaboo was founded by Snezna Kerekovic, an ex-beauty editor and mom who had a hard time finding skin care products for her daughter that did not contain a cocktail of chemicals. Snezna set out to change all that, and in doing so created Bellaboo Skin Care---a line of products made from natural, nurturing botanicals that are more beneficial for young skin than our common chemical-laden ones.

Rather than trying to guess at what girls wanted in skin care, Snezna formed the "Bellaboo Crew"---a group of girls aged 13-20 who weighed in on what teen girls really wanted: products that are unique, natural, effective and socially conscious.

The result? I decided to see for myself. I tried the cleanser, exfoliator, mask and moisturizer. I figured I had samples that would last me a week or two, then I'd be back to my regular routine. I'm no teen, but after having the Bellaboo experience, I'm kissing my shelf of Neutrogena cleansers and moisturizers goodbye! Each item smelled amazing and felt even better on my skin. I really think my skin looks better for it. And I'm not the only one---my hubby agrees! All Bellaboo products range in price from $9.99 to $14.99 and are now available at Drugstore.com and Rite Aid. None are tested on animals and all come in recycled packaging.

Bellaboo is also committed to improving girls' self-esteem. In an age where super-skinny, airbrushed supermodels grace nearly every magazine cover, it is now more important than ever that girls realize how unnatural those images really are. To learn about Bellaboo's take on the issue and read their action plan, check out an article recently posted on their site, "Ban the Beauty Brain Wash." My favorite point encourages girls to create a 'Circle of Confidence' by directly trying to boost the confidence of their friends and other females around them. Now that's the true definition of what the teen girls on my block might call 'wicked!'

Or grab your daughter and watch this moving short documentary created by Bellaboo, where real girls talk about their feelings about body image and self-esteem:



To learn more about Bellaboo, visit their website at BellabooBabe.com.