Hello Dollface by Cindy Bokma, is a beauty review website featuring the best beauty brands and products on the market.   This month, Cindy kicked off her blog with a focus on Natural and Organic Beauty.  If you want to learn more about beauty brands that care about your health and safety, we recommend you check out Hello Dollface.

Cindy Bokma is an award nominated blogger aka “Distressed Jeans” whose celebrity blog, Conversations About Famous People scored tons of hits, links on top websites, and viewers from all over the world. This was back when there were very few gossip sites online.

Here’s an excerpt from her blog “I tried the Tangerine Lavender collection which included a body wash, scrub and lotion. The body wash was thick and the scent is amazing.  Im happy it does not contain any sulfates and the moisturizing ingredients include  argan oil, shea butter, olive and coconut oils.”  Read more here…

Thanks so much Hello Dollface for including us in your blog for September!

Are you about to put that sunscreen away and plan on not seeing it until next summer? Stop right there please!  One thing to keep in mind is that just because we won’t be seeing much of the sun, it’s still super important to continue using sunscreen!  Sunscreen should be that beauty product that is part of your daily routine.  Your skin is constantly exposed to sun rays even when you least expect it.  If you plan on hanging on to dewy youthful skin, I strongly recommend that you always use sunscreen.  It is one of the key anti-aging weapons.

Does it look like you traveled to the Sahara Desert and brought back a piece of it because your skin looks similar to it? Now you’ve got work to do like using a gentle body scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells, and allow for new ones to grow.  Depending on how sensitive your skin is, there are lots of body scrubs to choose from.  I have never been a fan of salt scrubs because it’s too harsh for my skin.  It stings and makes my skin red.  This is one of the reasons I wanted to make our body smoother with sugar, sans seeds, or crushed nut shells.  All natural sugar does the job and exfoliates the skin nicely and then melts away.  Coupled that with organic shea butter, argan oil and olive oil, and you’ve got a scrub that is packed with hydrating, moisturizing and anti-aging ingredients.  This is a nice blend to get your skin in tip top shape.

Are you mortified to see what the sun, chlorine and all the environmental impurities did to your skin? I have been in denial for quite some time that summer is over.  I’ve especially ignored anything that mentioned “Back-to-School”.  Of course it’s hard as my daughter needs to get ready for it.  This week she spent 2 straight days in the pool and I was mortified to see her skin…. it was so dry from the sun and chlorine… ugh…!   After taking a bath, she was so tired that she went to bed without using moisturizer.  This morning her skin was so flaky and dry that I had to slather body butter all over her.  She’s young and has such beautiful skin and I want to make sure she keeps it for a long time.

A good moisturizer is your other weapon for anti-aging and for welcoming the coming new season.  Your skin will change with the season.  Often times you will need to find a lotion or butter that is ultra moisturizing to keep up with this change.  Body butters work extremely well in the fall/winter season.  Some people with sensitive skin find that a body butter type of moisturizer helps soothe dry, itchy skin more so than lotion.  Eczema and other skin irritations flare up in colder seasons and if you are one of those people then you need to find an ultra hydrating moisturizer rich in vitamins and nutrients that’s also formulated for sensitive skin.

Do you think there are too many steps to maintain healthy and beautiful skin? Perhaps…, but your skin is WORTH it!   I am constantly running around, so I understand what most of you go through.  When we created our Four Truffles bodycare system we had 4 things in mind – simplicity, healthy, functional and performance.  Whether its Four Truffles bodycare or something else,  take the time to find one and stick to it.  I hope you find the right regimen that suits you and please share some of your thoughts or findings right here.

This blog from Amber of Beauty Junkies Unite really made our day!

Here’s an excerpt from her review… “If you like getting warm fuzzies knowing that you’re contributing to the bigger picture with your beauty purchases and/or want to experience how incredible these indigenous high-quality ingredients can make your skin feel, this would be a brand to watch. Four Truffles is definitely a “do good” brand!”

Thanks so much for your kind words and cheers to Beauty Junkies Unite!   Read the rest of the article here!

Since hope is one of the ‘four truffles’ it is only fitting that we chose this powerful organization that has brought hope for the sick, hope for the dying, hope for orphans, hope for widows, hope for gang members, hope for the young, and hope for the elderly with a model of community transformation that works!

Mission: To build bridges into the lives of those who are suffering in order to create long‐term, self‐sustaining solutions to the deep problems of our world.

Four Truffles specifically focuses our attention and donations on two aspects of their honorable hands-on work:

Micro-Enterprise solutions for women:

Bridges of Hope provides training and seed money for women of Philippi, Lower Crossroads and Sweet Home Africa to start their own sewing, knitting and beading businesses as a means of self-support for them and their families.

Starting in the fall, some of these very women will begin sewing our Wooden Truffle Jar Passion Pouches so your Four Truffles purchases will doubly impact the success of their business and future!

Schooling for children at the Bridges Academy:

A boarding school for AIDS orphans that offers full-time care, feeding, educational and medical needs of 50 children.

Bridges of Hope recently received an award from the Western Cape Education Dept earlier this year, commending them for having a 100% graduation rate (which is very rare in South Africa).

Bridges of Hope shares our belief that it is possible for individuals who live in extremely dire conditions to find hope—to dream about and actually change their future.  The Four Truffles brand was built on this philosophy, as was this nonprofit organization.  We strive to serve as a circle of goodness and empowerment for women and children around the world and our partnership with Bridges of Hope helps action our vision.

How can you help?  Purchase any 6.2oz Body Butter and we donate $4 or visit Bridges of Hope to donate directly.  The Bridges of Hope website is regularly updated with stories of hope and transformation, and will introduce you to ways that you can offer hope and bring about transformation to individuals around the world.

“Some see a hopeless end, while others see an endless hope” – Unknown Author

“Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good™”

The highly anticipated event boasted a plethora of pretty people with an eco-chic conscience from the media, retail world, charitable circles and Four Truffles fan base.  All enjoyed complimentary organic mini-Mani’s and munchies while witnessing the lovely Mary Payne from Ladies Home Journal award philanthropic Four Truffles founder, Ana Soriano, with the “Do Good” Stamp honor for the brands’ efforts to empower women and children locally and globally.

Four Truffles sources the natural ingredients in their 4T PDN Complex™ from female operated collectives in Africa and then donates 10% of net sales to local and international charities that help disadvantaged women and children. “I’m a big believer in paying it forward,” says Ana.

The event showcased Four Truffles beneficial bodycare products in each treatment:

1. Four Truffles Creamy Body Wash lusciously lathered to remove impurities, hydrate, soften and scent skin with the 4T PDN Complex™ that combines mild milk-based cleansers with Argan Oil, Shea Butter and Olive Oil with Aloe to cleanse and prep skin.

2.  Four Truffles Body Smoother was used as a gentle and effective sugar scrub that incorporates the 4T PDN Complex™ to gently smooth away dry, dull surface skin cells to reveal a fresh glow while botanical oils pampered skin, leaving it sinfully soft, smooth and moisturized.

3.  Drops of pure Argan Oil blended with Bulgarian Lavender Oil (new product launch in the winter!) were used to soften hands and cuticles.

4.  Four Truffles Body Butter was massaged into skin at the end of the treatment, prior to polish applications, to seal in moisture, deeply hydrate and rejuvenate skin for a youthful appearance.

Attendees also helped raise money for Palos Verdes Junior Women’s Club who support local women and children in crisis.  One hundred percent of all raffle ticket sales benefitted this powerful organization whose hands-on outreach, support and assistance has made a huge impact in Southern California.

Raffle Basket prizes were generously donated by many kind sponsors and made for 3 very happy women!

“Look Good” raffle basket prize went to Carmelita Flores, Four Truffles fan.

“Feel Good” raffle basket winner was awarded to Nicole Cardi from Beautyfix.

“Do Good” raffle basket won by Tracy Hepler, co-founder of Your Daily Thread.

“Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good™” Raffle Basket Prize Donors

Allison Dayton

Ankh Royalty

BeautyFix

Circle-of-Friends

Jewels by ASTRIK

LA Indulgence

Ladies’ Home Journal

L’Anza

Little Giraffe

Mojo Jewel

Real Solutions Hair Care                

Rocco e Dante

Tikkun Holistic Spa

Urban Organics

The “Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good™” event is one of many ongoing philanthropic parties thrown by Four Truffles throughout the year.  Every dollar adds-up, especially internationally, so each party and product positively impacts women and children to make their lives just a little better today than it was yesterday.

Thanks to all our sponsors, donors and revelers for participating and helping improve the lives of women and children!  A special thanks to Jeff Lin of 310 Studio for capturing our special day with his beautiful photography, Jeneration PR for hyping it, and to Nidhi Lal, owner of Recess Organic Nail Spa and her team for a wonderful afternoon!

Enjoy the photos and keep in touch with Four Truffles via the blog and Facebook page to find out about our next event and how you can support our Women4Women journey!

Curious about all the goodness of our 4T PDN Complex can do for your skin – combination of argan oil, shea butter & olive oil?  Now is a great time to try it out!

Last month, our Earth Apple Scent Journey was the clear favorite… which scent will it be this month?  We encourage you to stop by and leave a comment on this blog about your favorite scent journey, or simply go to our product review page.  As a thank you for your comment and review, we will send you a 10% coupon for your next purchase!

Cheers to looking good, feeling good and doing good!

Happy Summer!

Four Truffles is a woman owned, women-run skin care brand created by women, for women and their families.   We believe that women are born with an innate sense of family, community and unity.  We strive to tie those elements together to help unify the world from the inside out – with the bonds of love, hope, faith and eternity.

Four Truffles works directly with women-owned Argan Forest collectives in Morocco and Shea processing collectives in western Africa to get the best ingredients possible while simultaneously helping improve the social and economic status of rural women.  All our products are natural, organic, 100% vegetarian, paraben free, dermatologist tested, never tested on animals, hypoallergenic, ideal for sensitive skin, made in U.S.A, eco-centric, contain indigenous ingredients that support women4women.

Empowering Women Locally and Globally 

Organic skincare company Four Truffles may be a small business, but founder Ana Soriano has made a huge commitment to giving back. For starters, she buys eco-friendly argan oil and shea butter for her bodycare products from female-owned cooperatives in North and West Africa. “Cultivating these ingredients is a major source of income for women there,” says Soriano. And even though her Palos Verdes Peninsula, California-based company is a start-up, Soriano donates 10 percent of net sales to local and international charities that help disadvantaged women and children. “It’s definitely a financial challenge for us to do this but I’m a big believer in paying it forward,” she says.

GET INVOLVED

Four Truffles donates 10 percent of all product sales directly to women’s and children’s charities, you help every time you make a purchase. We also donate additional monies that we collect via promotional sales proceeds directly to a different charity every quarter.

We like to think of our Four Truffles customers as people who like to look good, do good and feel good.  We believe beauty is found inside and out and that you deserve products that perform for you inside and out.

Every dollar adds-up, especially internationally, so a little goes a long way. We like to imagine that with your support, we’re making someone’s life just a little better today than it was yesterday. We are eternal optimists and our beliefs are strong even when the world may seem bleak.

Palos Verdes Juniors Women’s Club

In the United States we are a major supporter of Palos Verdes Junior Women’s Club whose outreach to women and children in crisis is tied to the local community.

Ana, our Founder, has been a member and hands-on activist with Palos Verdes Junior Women’s Club for years. She was drawn to their hands-on support and dedication to helping women and children in her own backyard. Throughout the year, they hold multiple fundraising activities with two major events during the Holiday season and Spring. The local outreach, assistance and benefits provide community enrichment, critical needs, crisis prevention and intervention, support, public services and scholarships that make a huge impact.

Bridges of Hope, South Africa | Visit the Bridges of Hope Website

Since hope is one of the “four truffles” it is only fitting that we chose this powerful organization that has brought hope for the sick, hope for the dying, hope for orphans, hope for widows, hope for gang members, hope for the young, and hope for the elderly with a model of community transformation that works!

We love that Bridges of Hope offers long‐term, self‐sustaining solutions to at-risk women and children who are suffering. We specifically donate money to sponsor orphans to attend boarding school as we believe that providing an education helps opens the door to a child’s hope and increased odds for a better future.

NLC, Haiti | Visit the NLC Website

We first discovered New Life to Children on Imagine This! TV and felt a tug on our hearts after reading their story. NLC is a grass roots movement that helps rescue children at risk of starvation and enslavement near Port-au-Prince, Haiti and provides them with a safe house.

Don Skow heads up a team who has been doing incredible work with the Haitians for nearly a decade. We reached out to Don and offered a donation of body care products as part of the basic essentials needed for the women and children. In a country already plagued with the nations highest poverty rates we feel that every effort helps. Our goal is to raise funds to help build homes for the families by donating the proceeds from our “Make Your Mark” promotion.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be affiliated with these two amazing retailers.

In case you didn’t know, DermStore.com was started 10 years ago by a board certified dermatologist whose mission was to provide accurate skin care information and qualified skin care products to the web.  Since then it has evolved to be one of the leading destinations online for serious skin care. DermStore offers more than 300 brands ranging from spa exclusive brands, physician-strength brands and hard to find specialty brands along with expert advice and esthetician recommended regimens.

Whatever your skin condition, they have the products to help address it – from severely dry skin to conditions like rosacea, eczema, and acne, DermStore has all you need.

glow.com was developed this year and will officially launch in 2010 bringing the makeup counter experience to “e-tail” shopping.
glow.com is the go-to online beauty destination, where social networking, beauty professionals and beauty enthusiasts come together for a personalized shopping experience.  At glow.com, customers gain access to the best that the beauty market has to offer – from mainstream must-haves and international obsessions, to posh brands and cult favorites.

With 180 brands and counting, glow offers the best in skincare, makeup, hair care, bath & body, fragrance, men’s lines, organic collections and beauty tools. Consumers will find the world of beauty at their fingertips.

4T:  I asked them, why are natural & organic ingredients so important?  People are more conscious of what they put on their bodies, in their bodies and into the environment.  Having natural and organic options for our customers is very important to us.

On glow, we have created a special section for featuring our natural and organic product offering.  On DermStore, you can search for paraben-free, mineral makeup & organic products.
This is definitely a growing interest and we see more and more brands reformulating products to start addressing the demand.

4T:  Why is being “green” so important to you, personally?  Glow President Dan Williams:  “We are very excited so many new and existing companies are using natural and organic ingredients, developing more sustainable manufacturing processes and approaching business with a more holistic approach where not only environmental but social ramifications are being addressed.”
As a complement to Four Truffles body products, you can find a plethora of skin care & hair products containing the miraculous argan oil on both DermStore and glow.  Reap the benefits of the ancient argan tree from head to toe!  And a huge plus – Both DermStore and glow offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders all the time!

Four Truffles is a woman owned, women-run skin care brand created by women, for women and their families.   We believe that women are born with an innate sense of family, community and unity.  We strive to tie those elements together to help unify the world from the inside out – with the bonds of love, hope, faith and eternity.

Four Truffles works directly with women-owned Argan Forest collective in Morocco and Shea processing collectives in western Africa to get the best ingredients possible while simultaneously helping improve the social and economic status of rural women.  All our products are natural, organic, 100% vegetarian, paraben free, dermatologist tested, never tested on animals, hypoallergenic, ideal for sensitive skin, made in U.S.A, eco-centric, contain indigenous ingredients and support women4women and tribunity.