Even when we are not physically near our mothers, we feel a spiritual string connecting us from our solar plexus to Mom’s. It spools through time, distance, it remains when we simply grow up and even through death itself.

Animal mothers nurture and protect their babies, too. Wolves and elephants famously live in families. Cows, goats, sheep and nurse and attend to their young, baby ducks follow momma duck in the cutest display of big and little ever. When I think mother, I include all mother species.

In April 2012, I read about Beetlebung Farm of Chilmark, Mass in the Wall Street Journal, http://on.wsj.com/PqzbMX

Last summer, Beetlebung had a baby goat it wanted to get rid of, recalled Mr. Fischer: “We wanted its mother’s milk. So we had a goat roast.” That goat dinner happened with friends on a long, communal table…

The people at this chic farm-to-table venue didn’t consider sacred the farm goat’s mother and child relationship.

The baby was disposable. Yes they ate it, but that reflects a culture of human entitlement to do what we will with other species’ babies, it isn’t biologically necessary. Imagine if aliens came from outer space and decided human babies were tasty. We would not agree with their cultural choices. But could we stop them
or would we hope they would stop themselves?

In order for farms to make a commodity product like milk or cheese, the baby goat or the calf who would drink the mother’s milk, must be eliminated. That is a tough spiritual trade-off that humans make—taking another mother’s milk- in order to have cheese.

So in honor of the natural beauty of all of the earth’s mothers, especially mother cows who want their calves to grow up strong on their own
mothers milk and despair when their babies are sold as veal. And in honor of all the mother sheep who love their lambs and want them by
their side instead of being sent off alone to the slaughterhouse-Ecco Bella will make a contribution to An Animal Place animalplace.org/and
For the Animals Sanctuary www.fortheanimalssanctuary.org/.

Both organizations teach humans that animal mothers love their babies as much as humans do, and it is bad luck to interfere with that sacred relationship. May is for all mothers. Because without them, where would we be?

Yes- I know how frustrating it can be to waste money on products that are not effective and cost a fortune. Ecco Bella is not only affordable but cruelty free. You can baste yourself in it knowing neither your wallet or our animals and environment were harmed for your comfort! Enjoy the skin you are in!

Be well – feel well!

Nicola Jones

In the wake of recent scandals involving toxins in beauty products, including lead in lipstick, the House Energy and Commerce Committee called the first Congressional hearing on cosmetics safety in more than 30 years, which was held on March 27th.

Surely, you know that lead is an environmental toxin we should avoid— remember the outcry over lead in paint, gasoline and imported toys? Lead exposure is more critical with products we apply directly to our skin. As the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics stated, “Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels.” Such accumulation of harmful metals can affect brain function and cause chronic diseases.

Ecco Bella natural beauty customers know they don’t need to worry about our products. Not only do we test for lead, but also for cadmium and mercury. In a test conducted by EMSL Analytical of both Ecco Bella Lipstick and Eyeshadow, the results showed lead <0.08ppm, cadmium <0.90ppm and mercury <0.05ppm. All less than 0.1ppm which is what the FDA allows for candy.

Ecco Bella FlowerColor Lipstick is a simple formula of vegetable waxes, oils and mineral pigments that are free of gluten, FD&C dyes, preservatives and fragrance. Our FlowerColor lipsticks also moisturize without flaking or chapping. They go on creamy and won’t feather. What would you expect from a lipstick that thinks it’s a lip balm? Ecco Bella products are a pure pleasure!

So, while some cosmetic companies seem okay with unacceptable levels of ingredients usually found in batteries and radiation shields, you can kiss those nasty toxins goodbye! Ecco Bella aspires to a much higher standard, that of Mother Nature. And, Mother Nature knows best! After all, she is the original Intelligent Beauty!

“It is an important and large sanctuary, housing many of the most difficult to place animals, such as chimpanzees, many species of monkeys and parrots. No matter what level of detail was requested of the sanctuary, they provided it without complaint. With more than 400 animals it was quite a task for them.” Stated Patty Finch, Executive Director of GFAS.

Many animals are cast-offs from biomedical research institutions and the pet trade. One reason for this accreditation is the addition of 19 large, outdoor natural enclosures, built since 2007 to house them in proper social groups.

The verified status also provides a trusted means for government agencies and donors worldwide to give to Primarily Primates as an organization worthy of support. Read the complete announcement about the accreditation here, and read more about Primarily Primates in my previous blog posts.

You can see me here at the entrance of the sanctuary during a recent visit.

Remember sanctuaries are an artificial refuge (no matter how nice) for these intelligent beings. Friends of Animals has a project called GRASP which calls for full legal standing for all primates large and small, that is, allowing them the right to live without harm. I hope that someday aliens don’t decide to imprison and impose upon humans the way we do to animals.

And so Intelligent Beauties, here’s a way you can be part of Primarily Primates success. When you purchase our special Primarily Primates Natural Mascara, in Brown or Black, for just $20, you’ll also receive a one-year membership in both Primarily Primates & their parent charity, Friends of Animals–a value of $69.95. You’ll look beautiful, and help a beautiful cause at the same time. Please join us! Sally Malanga, Founder Ecco Bella

I went to New York City and created for you a slideshow of the many fantastic Holiday sites and windows. Try to view this in a larger format than is posted here, so you see the details of the holiday windows better.

I wish you, all the animals and our planet a healthy New Year!

Sincerely yours, Sally Malanga, Founder

Prior to last year’s hunt, I attended five protests and faxed Governor Christie every single day. He refused to cancel it. Some people say it’s futile to protest, but I disagree.

This year I brought my nephew Anthony, age 13 to the protest. It was his first protest. He has friends who hunt. I am glad he was willing to show up to learn how to express his right to free speech.

As our car approached the town, we saw men in orange vests on the side of the road preparing to enter the forest. Anthony pointed them out and said, ‘You can tell they are hunters because they wear camouflage with orange over it, even a bear would see it.”

We arrived at the protest and we took our places across the street from the bear check-in station, which had at least a dozen men in police uniform standing around. Anthony could see for himself the respectful approach of the protesters as compared to the hunting crowd, who shouted insults at us like “Kill all the bears, kill them all!” as we stood holding our signs. Anthony asked, “Aren’t the police here to protect us, too?” “Yes.” I said ruefully, even though it didn’t seem like it.

At one point a red jeep pulled into the check-in station and then pulled out, I saw a small dead bear lying on the vehicle’s rear platform, with a loose blue tarp over it. I felt a revulsion and sadness. Anthony saw it too. He said nothing.

I began a conversation with others around me, who were holding signs. One woman stated that her cat alerted her to a bear that was on her porch where she had

left some unprotected bird seed. She saw it pull the bag of seed out of a milk can. She waved it off. It turned to leave and she noticed it was drooling. She said, “I felt so bad, he was so hungry. But I felt so happy to have him around. No one in our neighborhood wants to harm the bears.” “They are just big vegetarians.” I said. She nodded and smiled.

The whole world cares about the bears, and the hunters in New Jersey embarassed us. Even natural beauty Brigitte Bardot, heard about it in France. She was quoted in the New York Post, “What can we think about the state of New Jersey, where 592 bears are condemned to death?” Bardot wrote personally to our heartless Governor, Chris Christie.

In buddhist terms, we identify this act of voracious desire by hunters, a desire so strong that it causes them to kill the very object they crave, as living in the world of hunger. It is an exhausting way to live. I am confident that some day people will become enlightened and stop behaving this way. I will do what I can by being as aware of my own hunger as much as possible. Take care.

Ceramides are very precious natural lipids that bolster the structure of your skin–something like “mortar between bricks.” Just a small amount is vital in keeping skin healthy and young-looking.  But over time, your skin produces less ceramides, resulting in more wrinkles.  What’s worse, every time you wash your face, you wash away these very ceramides that nature so patiently gave you.

Now, my secret is yours.  I added very precious ceramides to Ecco Bella Night Rebuilder.  Night after night, you can replenish your own ceramides, helping to build firmer skin while you sleep.

Night Rebuilder Cream also includes our signature VitaminCells–lutein, lycopene, astaxanthin, beta-carotene, CoQ10, Vitamin C and SuperVitamin E.  These vitamins are time-delivered during the night, bringing new meaning to the concept of “beauty sleep.”

Thank you for inspiring us to continue as an innovator in natural beauty, while looking out for you, animals and the planet.

I am always thinking of you, so I made a video postcard of our 12-day adventure.  To see it, please click below.  Don’t miss the scenes of Anthony putting his foot into Normandy quicksand. I hope you like it!

Wishing you a wonderful summer finale! Please keep in touch!

Ecco Bella Flower Color Lipstick is the only lipstick that thinks like a lip balm.  Like your favorite lip balm, it moisturizes without flaking or chapping.  By the way, the Natural Beauty Gurus want you to know that this gorgeous wine-colored shade is translucent, and looks amazing on any skin tone.  What’s more, the simple formula of vegetable waxes, oils and mineral pigments goes on creamy smooth, without feathering.

Want to enhance that awesome Merlot color? For perfect definition, try pairing it with Ecco Bella’s Plum Lip Liner.

Put a little natural color splendor on your lips this season with Ecco Bella Flower Color Lipstick in Merlot.

Thank you for inspiring us to continue as an innovator in natural beauty, while looking out for you, animals and the planet.

     You’ll love how the formula of essential oils, organic herbs and vitamins soothes, nourishes and detoxifies your delicate skin. Revitalize is a little gem because it has the expensive essential oils of jasmine, sandalwood and neroli (also known as “bitter orange”) to bring you a truly intoxicating beauty secret.

     How do you use it? This precious formula should be applied directly to the face, or under night cream–and to the scalp. And, applied to the neck and wrists, it even doubles as a fine perfume. Now that’s a triple advantage, and that’s how I like all Ecco Bella formulas to benefit you!

     Thank you for inspiring us to continue as an innovator in natural beauty, while looking out for you, animals and the planet.