Cancer Survivor Cynthia Besteman Gives Back With Beauty
"After my breast cancer diagnosis I was concerned with the products I was putting on and in my body."
Things We Finish: Winter 2019
"It's now the only product I will never substitute and I always make sure I have a backup bottle...just in case."
12 Skin-Care Products to Use During Chemotherapy
This lightweight lotion is great for face, hands, and body any time you need a hit of moisture. A hint of lavender adds a welcome dose of calm.
6 BUZZY INDIE BEAUTY BRANDS YOU SHOULD KNOW
After she was diagnosed with breast cancer, Cynthia Besteman overhauled her personal-care products for non-toxic alternatives. And once she finished her treatments, Besteman wanted to share her passion for leading an organic lifestyle by creating not one but two lines of skin-care products.
9 Natural Beauty Brands That Donate to Breast Cancer Awareness in a Major Way
We waded through the pink to find some green beauty brands that are truly making change, helping women with cancer and producing products they hope will result in less women getting cancer in the future.
Second Careers: Skin-Care Entrepreneur
"The darkest period of your life may reveal a brilliant, beautiful gift."
Gift Ideas for Women Fighting Breast Cancer
Besteman gifts every women this package on her first day of chemotherapy at New York City’s Mount Sinai (where she was treated) to brighten an otherwise pretty terrible day.
Beyond Beauty: Violets are Blue Skincare
Looking good is feeling good, especially for women with cancer. But the spa and beauty industries haven’t always understood how to best accommodate those in treatment or remission. Now, that’s changing.
Natural and Organic Products to Cure Every Skin Care Concern
Unlike pore-clogging aluminum-laden formulas, this roll-on helps armpits do their job of ridding the body of trace toxins, she says. Don’t let the stink scare you: After two to four weeks on natural deo, any “funk,” as Basteman calls it, will abate.
What Brand Founders and Influencers Think About Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant Being Acquired by Unilever
“...to see I brand I am so fond of and feel is a beacon to the indie industry sell to a corp that animal tests and doesn’t show full transparency, etc., is a little heartbreaking.”
Introducing The One-Stop Shop For All Things Natural Beauty
Don’t be alarmed when this cleanser doesn’t foam — its ingredient list includes a blend of gentle oils like evening primrose, argan, and lavender that dissolve dirt and makeup without stripping your skin.
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"I cannot rave enough about Violets Are Blue facial serum! I reach for this soothing oil with evening primrose and rosehip anytime my skin is feeling like it needs some extra TLC."
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Boasting the consistency of a silky oil but with the advanced ingredient list of a serum (think everything from carrot seed oil and evening primrose to jojoba and vitamin E), this “always-natural” pick is an absolute must for dry, finicky skin.
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We love Violets Are Blue's handcrafted, small-batch process that proves that the brand strives for premium sustainable quality and truly cares for all of their beloved eco-beauty enthusiasts.
I TRIED IT: VIOLETS ARE BLUE SKINCARE
I've tried A TON of lip balms and I have to say, this is on my tippy top of favorites.
MORE THAN SKIN DEEP
“When I was in treatment I met women who didn’t have the luxury to take time off work or who didn’t have the energy to sit in the drugstore and read the backs of labels. And that’s when I decided to make skin care for women who are sick. It’s one less thing for them to worry about.”
Conversations with Cynthia Besteman, Founder of Violets are Blue
Violets Are Blue is a brand that not only has an array of choices from clean skincare to bodycare products, but most importantly each product is made and packaged with an abundant amount of love from founder, Cynthia Besteman.
Finally a trusted brand to benefit cancer patients
I’ll never be able to wrap my head around brands that donate to cancer foundations, yet use potentially toxic ingredients in their formulations.
Healthy Beauty Swap: Ditch Your St. Ives Apricot Scrub For These 3 Natural Alternatives
Gentle enough for sensitive skin but still packs a punch, this sugar-infused scrub gives those looking for the grittiness of St. Ives Apricot Scrub exactly what they want.
Violets Are Blue Signature Line Skincare
All their Tea Tree and Lemongrass deodorants are aluminum free, naturally scented and meticulously formulated to achieve high effectiveness. The line focuses on mature/aging skin and helps retain the youthful glow using only the best natural ingredients.
“Violets are Blue” is Donating Skin Care to Women Entering Chemo
“I met women in treatment who didn’t have the energy to stand in the drugstore and read labels so I thought, ‘well I’m going to do it for them!'”
indie beauty profile
It’s a quality that permeates her company’s products from sourcing, to formulation, to packaging, and it is apparent too in the brand’s overall aesthetic and social responsibility initiative.
the ultimate guide to natural face cleansers
This dreamy cleanser keeps the skin’s protective acid mantle intact while carefully washing away impurities with white tea, argan and evening primrose oils.
Luxurious Natural Beauty Gifts
The team behind Violets Are Blue truly believe that skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, and it absolutely doesn’t. Their products are so simple yet so effective, smell incredible, and feel as soft as silk.
the beauties
The luscious Violets are Blue Body Cream, with Shea Butter and Argan Oil, is rich and hydrating enough, even for super dry or compromised skin.
Indie Beauty Expo 2016 outdoes itself
Violets are Blue donates products to patients at Mount Sinai hospital here in New York City, and retails the same luxury skin care online as well as in boutiques and yoga centers.
Inside the W.E.L.L. Summit: An Interview With Violets Are Blue Founder Cynthia Besteman
I was shocked by the mislabeling of skincare and beauty products that were classified as “organic” or “natural,” as they typically contained parabens, sulfates and other chemicals known to work as endocrine disruptors linked to cancer and reproductive concerns.
Natural Deodorants That Can Take the Heat
Aluminum-free and alcohol-free, this deodorant is formulated with six essential oils—including lemongrass and tea tree—to assist in neutralizing odor. As an added bonus, the oils and extracts act as a skin-smoother while keeping odors at bay.
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The formulas contain natural ingredients that nourish, cleanse and hydrate skin without causing any harm. The products do not contain parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or other damaging toxins.
The Exact Beauty Products 7 Fitness It-Girls Keep in Their Gym Bags
"I use Dermalogica's After Sun Repair and Juno face oil together as a moisturizer, and the Violets Are Blue lip balm is my everyday life-saver. I also carry blonde hair ties, three-inch hair pins in bronze, Chanel Ultra Wear Lip Colour in deep purple, and YSL Anti Cernes concealer stick in ivory beige."
sophie’s reviews
Violets Are Blue skin care is blowing me away! The line was created by breast cancer survivor, Cynthia Besteman, who couldn’t use regular skin care when she was going through treatment. So, she decided to create a luxurious treatment safe skin line, which is truly outstanding.
GREEN BEAUTY REVIEW: VIOLETS ARE BLUE SKINCARE IS PERFECT FOR THE MOST SENSITIVE AND PICKY OF WOMEN
Working with a biochemist, Besteman created her own skincare line filled with all-natural, organic ingredients and essential oils that are beneficial to both women and men undergoing cancer treatment, as well as to individuals with sensitive or maturing skin.
a glimpse at violets are blue
It doesn't matter what you put in your body, if what you are putting on your body is toxic. Plus, with Violets are Blue, your skin will feel so much better and look clearer and more youthful.
Indie Beauty Expo 2016 Round Up
I’ve been using their White Tea and Carrot Seed Facial Cleanser. This extra gentle cleanser has a been a great addition to my morning and evening routine.
Best natural body scrub
“Coconut and almond oils make this salt scrub hydrating as it sloughs away every trace of dead skin. The grapefruit and eucalyptus essential oils wake up the senses and create a zen oasis.”