Natural Beauty News: Jurlique and Kneipp

We're celebrating this month's Earth Day with a look at what's new from two of our favorite holistic beauty lines.

For over 24-years, Australian brand Jurlique has put the emphasis on quality and purity with their line of biodynamic plant- and flower-based products. Using ingredients like chamomile, calendula, lavender and rose—all hand-harvested in South Australia and certified organic—the line has yielded cult-favorite products like the hydrating Rosewater Balancing Mist, which features rose essence and marshmallow to tone and restore skin; the Herbal Recovery Gel, with a mix of potent herbs and plant oils to firm and minimize the signs of aging; and the gentle Calendula Cream, with calendula and witch hazel to soothe troubled or sun-burnt skin.

In keeping with their dedication to using high-quality ingredients for visible results, Jurlique has recently launched a Citrus line of treatments all featuring tangerine and lemon essential oils to refresh and balance skin. First on the market last September was the Citrus Purifying Mist, a refreshing mix of aloe vera, marshmallow and witch hazel to soften, tone and hydrate. This January saw the release of the Citrus Silk Finishing Power, in which extracts of sage, rosemary, arnica, daisy and calendula work to soften and soothe troubled skin and absorb excess oil and shine. Finally, in March, the Citrus Hand Cream was unleashed to both moisturize skin and offer natural antiseptic and antibacterial treatment.

Jurlique will be launching more new items this summer. For store info, visit www.jurlique.com.

Like Jurlique, Kneipp has a long history of dedication to natural healing—though their roots go back to a forward-thinking monk from the late-1800s who developed a now-famous curative bath. Today, the Kneipp line has grown from mainly bath-related products to a whole roster of German-made skin and body care items that emphasize holistic healing and use high concentrations of natural plant extracts. Best-sellers include the grapeseed oil-rich Herbal Bath, available in eleven scents from Almond Blossom to Wildflower; and the Thermal Springs Bath Salts, made from crystals that are generated 460 meters below ground, turned naturally into salts, then infused with essential oils—leaving them with a higher concentration of healing minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron.

Starting this month, Kneipp is rolling out a slew of new goods designed to target specific concerns. First up: the Arnica Warming Massage Oil—an addition to the popular Arnica group of products launching this month—which contains active ingredients like Arnica Blossom, Ginger and Almond Oil to help relieve sore muscles, reduce bruises, and increase circulation. In May, check out the Lavender Herbal Body Lotion, a pampering, uplifting blend of lavender and sweet almond essential oils, and in June, treat heated summer feet to the Healthy Feet Cooling Foot Gel, which deodorizes and moisturizes with extracts of natural calendula and rosemary.

Kneipp products are available at CO Bigelow, Nordstrom department stores and online at www.kneippus.com.

--Sandra Ramani