Autumn in India participating in her farm's first turmeric harvest

Lately I've been introducing some of my favorite organic beauty manufacturers to you because the "all-natural"/organic skin care market can be so confusing. I thought one of the best ways to help people better understand their choices is to ask the experts what they use in their own day-to-day life.


Organix-South products donated to the TYS Birthday celebration!

I'm very happy today that Autumn Blum has stopped by Trust Your Style. Her company Organix-South, makes some of my favorite organic beauty products--they are wonderful and affordable--I can't recommend them enough!


Autumn Blum, founder and CEO of Organix-South, the maker of TheraNeem

mj: How did you first get involved with green/conscious manufacturing?

Autumn: After receiving my BS in chemistry and environmental geology, I started working in an environmental lab. One day, there was a cyanide leak. That was enough to make me want to find a new job! I started working for a botanical company, and grew into their production manager and cosmetic chemist. Somewhere along the line, I fell in love with the neem tree. I tried to convince my boss to do something with it. His reply was 'it's stinky, no one knows what it is, too expensive and it won't sell.' After neem haunted me for several months, I finally decided to go into business for myself, offering the highest quality neem products available world-wide. We pride ourselves in only using the highest quality raw materials, truly knowing our suppliers (I personally inspect our supplies in India at least annually), and have even taken this to the level of becoming partners in a certified organic farm in India growing our herbs!

mj: Why do you think it's important?

autumn: So I can sleep at night. No, really it is more important than my rest, although my rest is important! Cosmetic ingredients have been largely unregulated. Conscious selection and conscious formulating practices can go a long way in maintaining our conscious lifestyles! Many of us pay great care and attention to what we put IN our body, yet still don't read the ingredients of what we put ON our body. The same goes with fair trade and organic standards. We are often willing to pay a few cents more for a cup of fairly traded coffee. Shouldn't the same go for our herbs and oils that go into our cosmetics.

mj: Do you consider yourself to be a green consumer? If so, what are your favorite products (besides your own)?

autumn: Besides my own...right! Yes, I am definitely a green consumer. I would like to be even greener, but I do the best I can! Speaking of cosmetics, I love Weleda (I use their Sea Buckthorne Body oil, with a few drops of our neem oil added to it, as my facial moisturizer). I'm a big fan of Harmony Cone Ear Candles - excellent when I'm feeling stuffy, or coming down with something. This time of year, I use Badger Balm's natural sunscreen whenever I get to spend time with my kayak. I love Sovereign Silver Colloidal Silver. I drink my organic greens each morning and use Aveda hair styling products. I use natural cleaning products, and organic fertilizers in my garden. Lots more, but that could be a long list.

mj: Even better, could you tell me what skin care products you use during a typical day?

autumn: Specifically... I start the day with my TheraNeem Rose Geranium and Clary Sage Facial Cleansing Bar. Then I use a few drops of Weleda's Sea Buckthorne Body Oil, with a drop of neem oil spread on my face. I use my Neem Leaf & Oil Lotion after showering. I condition daily with my Neem Conditioner, but only wash my hair with my Neem Shampoo every few days. If I'm being fancy, I will use Eco Bella's eyeliner, a little bit of blush, my TheraNeem Lip Therape, then a little gloss. A few drops of Weleda Body oil in my hair or an Aveda Humectant Pomade (I have curly hair). What else? I put my cream on my feet at night to keep them sandal ready. Oh! I brush my teeth with our Cinnamon-Cardamom Neem toothpaste. Have you gotten the hint that I like my neem? Really though, there are so many wonderful products out there. I do enjoy experimenting.

mj: Do you think it's possible to be "green" and still be stylish?


Autumn traveling in India

autumn: Of course!! You can even go so far as organic cottons, hemps and bamboo fibers. Green is no longer relegated to looking like a hippy, although hippy is getting more stylish by the minute!

Today's Fun Fact: Tumeric = A Beautiful Liver = Beautiful Skin
Autumn says, "Tumeric is a magical plant and amazing healer; turmeric smells wonderful and tastes delicious. It is what gives curry its yellow color and is used in Indian cooking. Very rich in curcuminoids. Used in Ayurveda (the Indian system of healing, literally translating to the science of life) for thousands of years. Turmeric helps in digestion, boosts the immune system, balances blood sugar, stimulates bile (meaning it is fantastic for the liver). Have we talked about the liver? If someone wants beautiful skin, they MUST have a beautiful liver! The liver is the least talked about organ it seems, but so very important...but I digress...Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, and has recently been shown in numerous clinical trials to be beneficial in fighting cancer cells."

Autumn is generously donating a wonderful Autumn Organix-South lip therape, facial complexion soap, a bottle of lotion, and a bottle of Sahana PMS support to the Trust Your Style 2 Year Birthday Celebration drawing.

To enter the June 22 TYS Birthday Celebration just email your name and address to: maryjomatsumoto@adelphia.net with "Birthday Celebration" in the header. Scroll down to read about some of the wonderful goodies that one of you will be winning!

Labels: Autumn Blum, Aveda, Badger Balm, Eco Bella, Organix-South, Sovereign Silver, TheraNeem, Weleda