Summer is here, meaning a growing number of consumers will be looking for natural protection from the sun's harmful rays. But this summer, due to changes in regulations in Europe, consumers will have a more difficult time finding natural sunscreen protection since most manufacturers of natural sunscreen have left the market. But thanks to new distribution on target.com, Lavera -- Europe's top green beauty brand -- is offering a full line of natural sunscreen products, without the harmful ingredients that may affect hormones or even lead to cardiovascular disease.

For the 2nd straight year, the influential German consumer advocate magazine, OEKO-TEST, gave cosmetic manufacturer Laverana, with its brands Lavera and Lavere, the highest marks in its 2009 review of natural and mainstream cosmetic companies. OEKO-TEST magazine, which translated means Ecological Test, evaluates a wide range products for public health and safety. Its closest equivalent in the US would be magazines such as Consumer Reports or Good Housekeeping, which also perform independent product testing.

Ulrike Jacob, CEO of Lavera cosmetics, is visiting New York on August 12 & 13 to embark on a “Truth in Beauty” tour to not only educate consumers on the benefits of using natural and organic products, but to give a preview of some the latest in skincare and beauty for 2010. A go-to expert in the organic beauty category, she would love to share with you and your readers more information about how European regulations for beauty products are different from the U.S., what that means to consumers, and how Lavera products are some of the best, safest products available on the market today.

German-based Lavera Naturkosmetik, a leader in “truly natural” beauty and skincare products, making natural beauty and skincare products available to a wider audience. Bestsellers from Lavera skincare, makeup, hair care and sunscreen lines are now being featured at CVS/pharmacy locations in California and on cvs.com as part of their growing natural skin care section.

After testing 306 shades from all 21 lipstick brands, Oeko-Test Magazine released a study in August 2009 that gave many lipstick manufacturers the "red card" (not good) for containing ingredients that could have long-term health effects. All 13 Lavera Lipstick shades were awarded the highest ranking possible for not containing harmful ingredients found in other lipstick brands.

This summer, due to changes in regulations in Europe, consumers will have a more difficult time finding natural sunscreen protection since most manufacturers of natural sunscreen have left the market. The new European regulations for sunscreens now require certain levels of UVA protection that are challenging to achieve with all natural ingredients and have caused many European manufacturers including Dr. Hauschka, Weleda and Sante Verde to pull products off shelves. But Lavera remains committed to providing a formulation that meets these new European standards.

Introducing the Sun Protection and Self-Tanning Collection by Lavera Lavera, Europe’s premiere organic brand, now offers a complete collection of 100% mineral based sun protection collection as well as after-sun care and sunless tanning lotions. The sun protection collection provides instantaneous, broad-spectrum protection and uses only titanium oxide as the active ingredient which builds a physical protection layer on the skin and reflects the sun light without transforming into a toxic compound. The waterproof formulas are biodegradable, vegan and include ingredients such as evening primrose oil, jojoba and calendula to nourish and hydrate the most sensitive of skins.

Products formulated with 95 percent "truly natural" ingredients that pose no suspected human health risks can apply to be certified "natural" under the Natural Products Association's newly released standard and certification program.

This summer, Lavera and Hudson Bay Company proudly announces the start of a new partnership! Lavera’s top selling lines Lavere Anti-Aging skincare and Trend Cosmetics make-up will be carried in ten prestigious locations in Vancouver and Toronto area and will expand across Canada, in areas where consumers are demanding the pure and fashionable Lavera skin care brand.

At Lavera we like to push the beauty boundaries. Many of our products are prize-winners for innovation and we strive always to use only the purest, most natural ingredients. All of the products in our range are 100% natural. Nearly all of those use certified organic ingredients. But at Lavera, many products go beyond natural and organic: more than one hundred are certi-fied vegan, having earned the Vegan Society's sought after stamp of approval for being completely free of animal products, by-products or derivatives. Visit our website for a complete list of all vegan Lavera products.*