The First of Its Kind: A Beauty Blog & Podcast for Natural & Organic Body Care Products

Honolulu, HI, September 13, 2006 — Next year cosmetics manufacturers in California will have to disclose ingredients in their products that are found on state and federal lists of chemicals that may cause cancer or birth defects because of the passage of Safe Cosmetics Law . With the plethora of beauty blogs available offering opinions and product reviews on mostly high-end luxury body care, not one blog offers consumers a choice for finding natural and organic products … until now.

“I started The Organic Beauty Expert blog because I wanted to offer consumers a one-stop resource for natural, handmade and organic body care products,“ said Andrea Kane, editor and author of the blog. " Since I have been a manufacturer of body care products, I can offer consumers a truly objective opinion on the products currently on the market that they won't get from someone who just loves to shop."

Having a background in broadcasting, Kane also started an organic beauty podcast. Organic Beauty Radio is the only podcast of its kind, offering weekly interviews with some of the top companies in the natural beauty industry. With guests such as Kathleen Lewis of Kathleen Lewis Beauty Worldwide, Inc., Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes and Lela Barker of Bella Lucce, Organic Beauty Radio offers consumers a personal look at the people behind the products on their shelf.

“Online shopping has removed personal connection from the purchasing process,” explains Kane, “and by interviewing the people behind these companies, I give consumers information about the products they can’t get from a magazine or newspaper and I give companies the chance to reach a new audience.”

Kane appears to have tapped into the future of product marketing. More companies are realizing that consumers turn to online sources for opinions before buying a product. Nokia Corp. recently sent samples of their newest camera smartphones to bloggers to increase word of mouth sales and it worked – they cut back on their marketing campaign and had a 43% profit boost last quarter.

“Having owned a natural body care company myself, I know how to read ingredient labels and judge whether a product works,” Kane says, “ I pass this information on to the growing number of people who want to learn more about natural and organic body care without the marketing gloss over.”

For more information, visit safecosmetics.org; to read the blog visit theorganicbeautyexpert.com.

About The Organic Beauty Expert:
Andrea Kane's organic & natural beauty career began in 1991 when she moved to Manhattan. From perfume to food to recycling, New York exposed her to the true meaning of "on the job" training. In 1997 she left her crazy city life behind and served seven years in the Navy as a broadcaster and PR specialist. At age 30, she made the decision to start her own business, MarleysOwn.com. Finding a niche market in products for multi-racial and ethnic hair care, she expanded the product line to include body creams, lotions, soaps and candles. Due to the ever-changing life of a military family, Andrea was forced to close the virtual doors of MarleysOwn.com in the summer of 2006. Utilizing her experience as a “beautypreneur” Andrea created a new company, AK Consulting Group, providing coaching and consulting for spas, beauty businesses and entrepreneurs. In September 2006, she created the weblog The Organic Beauty Expert and the podcast Organic Beauty Radio. She has taught classes on aromatherapy and natural toiletry making at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, Hickam Air Force Base and for various groups, companies and schools. Her newest workshops, Making Your Own Organic Products and Creating an Organic Skin Care Line, will be available at the San Diego Learning Annex December 2006 and her first book, The Organic Beauty Bible, is due out this winter.

Are you a natural, organic or handmade company interested in being a guest on Organic Beauty Radio? Want your products reviewed on The Organic Beauty Expert? Interested in advertising on the only beauty blog catering to natural body care products? Please email us for more information.

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